The SEC Weekly: Reviews, Previews, and Thoughts on SEC Football

Welcome to my newest venture. This is the first of a weekly article that will run throughout the remainder of the football season and will carry over to basketball as well. Hopefully you will enjoy what you see and keep coming back for more.

Mr. Slive, Where are you now?

After weeks of hearing new and improved methods for handling "rowdy" coaches who like to complain about officiating, SEC Commissioner Mike Slive had an opportunity today to flex his newest muscle.

After Coaches Dan Mullen, Bobby Petrino, and Lane Kiffin voiced their displeasure over the putrid officiating that has become an eyesore in the SEC this season, Commissioner Slive, or Don Coleone as I like to call him, issued the edict that reprimands will no longer suffice. Now when a coach publicly criticizes a missed call or uses the media to talk unfavorably about the officials that coach will face suspension and/or fines.

Some on this very website dubbed this the "Lane Kiffin Rule."

Yet today, when Slive had an opportunity to use his newest and grooviest tool, he apparently chose to look the other way.

Florida head coach, Urban Meyer publicly stated in his mid-week teleconference that SEC officials missed a late hit call on a Georgia defender who hit Tim Tebow late on a play Saturday.

Meyer told reporters, "That should have been a penalty in my opinion," Meyer said. "Obviously, it should have been. You've got to protect quarterbacks. That's the whole purpose. It's right in front of the referee. I'm not sure how they're going to handle that, but ... that was one of the plays we did send in."

At this hour there is no word on an impending fine or suspension for Meyer.

Tennessee head coach, Lane Kiffin was asked for comment on Meyer's remarks, his response was, "Urban Meyer? Criticized the officials? That will be interesting. We'll see."

I don't expect we will hear anything from Commissioner Slive about Meyer or Florida. The silence will once again be deafening and the conspiracy theorists will have even more evidence to support their outlandish conclusions.

The Week that Was

What an eye-popping, oops, I mean eye-gouging, Halloween Saturday in the SEC!

Georgia tried to use the black-uni gimmick yet again, and was, again, blown out of the stadium. This time Florida intercepted their way to a 41-17 victory over the hapless 'Dawgs.

Another team tried the black-uni gimmick. The Tennessee Vols upset many loyal fans by donning the black and orange for Halloween. Their night turned out much better as they handed Steve Spurrier his worst loss to the Vols ever, 31-13.

Mississippi State defeated Kentucky, 31-24, and Vandy held on against Georgia Tech until the Yellow Jackets proved too much in the second half of their 56-31 victory.

Auburn got up off the deck to defeat a seemingly hot Ole Miss squad, 33-20.

LSU and Arkansas both ripped their competition to shreds. Eastern Michigan gave up 63 to Arkansas by the third quarter. Tulane was clueless against LSU losing 42-0.

The Week Ahead

LSU @ Alabama

You want a playoff? SEC fans have definitely got their own version of that this weekend.

The winner of this game will be in the driver's seat to win the SEC West and will have the distinct possibility of potentially playing for a national title in a couple of months.

Alabama is coming off a much needed bye week and LSU struggled offensively all year until it picked on a weak Auburn defense two weeks ago. The Tide remains undefeated, 20-17 over the Tigers.

South Carolina @ Arkansas

Steve Spurrier finds his Gamecocks team in a must-win just weeks after being 5-1.

South Carolina is now 6-3, with Florida and Clemson remaining on the schedule after Arkansas. It's this fact that keeps the 'Cocks from losing focus at Arkansas. The other USC wins 24-17.

Florida vs. Vanderbilt

How will the Gators ever defeat the 'Dores without Brandon Spikes? Easily.

Florida 44-14

Tennessee vs. Memphis

If this were basketball the Tigers would have a shot. It isn't and they don't.

Vols win 45-6

Auburn vs. Furman

The Paladins might whip up on Southern Conference foes, but the SEC is a whole different animal.

Auburn 52-17

Northern Arizona @ Ole Miss: Close until the coinflip, Rebs 49-0

Tennessee Tech @ Georgia: 'Dawgs go 2-1 vs. the state of Tennessee, 52-21

Eastern Ketucky @ Kentucky: Yawn, Wildcats 37-13

Random SEC Musings

• At least someone on the Florida team felt bad for trying to blind an opposing player. After much consideration Brandon Spikes decided to suspend himself for the entire game Saturday instead of just the first half penalty the Urban Meyer and Mike Slive agreed upon. Oddly the wisdom of the offender dwarfs that of a great head coach and the league's commissioner.
• Is it just me or does the SEC get too much credit for being the greatest conference in the land? Sure the top of it is unstoppable, but the rest resembles the ACC on a week-to-week basis. You never know who is going to win!
• There were reports of some fans getting up and walking out of the stadium when the Big Orange came out in the Big Black. Those fans were the one's the leave at halftime to beat the traffic every home game anyway, so it really didn't affect things much.
• Has anyone ever seen a potential Heisman candidate go from hero to zero as quickly as Jevan Snead? The poor guy threw two more interceptions Saturday to bring his season total to 13.
• Is Steve Spurrier ready to hang it up? If his Gamecocks lose out, which is a distinct possibility, I can definitely see it happening. His replacement? Skip Holtz from East Carolina.
• Mark Richt needs to wake up and start throwing some assistants under the bus. I know loyalty means a ton in the real world, but SEC football is about as far from the real world as it gets. It's closer to cut-throat island. Cut or be cut. Richt better start chopping or he'll find his seat getting incredibly hot sooner rather than later.

Next week I'll be back with even more food for thought on the SEC. Let me know if you enjoyed the read or if you'd just like to insult and harass me for my views.

Till next week,

Good luck and happy Saturday!