Well, SEC fans, this is it. Football season has come and gone for another year, so it’s time for a final SEC summary. The conference is again home to the BCS national champion (for the seventh year in a row) and can also claim this year’s Heisman winner, Johnny Manziel. The SEC sent nine teams to bowls and came away with a record of 6-3. Five teams didn’t make it to the postseason: Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Auburn. Of those five, Missouri is the only one who won’t have a new coach next season. None of them finished with more than two wins in the conference or more than five wins overall, and both Auburn and Kentucky went winless in SEC play.

Vanderbilt 38, North Carolina State 24

The Commodores capped off a fantastic season by topping the Wolfpack in the 2012 Music City Bowl. Vandy got the scoring started in the first quarter, as QB Jordan Rodgers hit Chris Boyd with a 5-yard TD pass just over five minutes into the game. The ‘Dores took a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter, when Zac Stacy ran six yards to the end zone, but NC State got on the board with a touchdown of their own with just over six minutes remaining in the quarter. Vanderbilt went back up by two scores on their next possession, but then the Wolfpack’s Tobais Palmer took a kickoff 94 yards to cut the lead. Rodgers found Jordan Matthews for an 18-yard TD with less than a minute remaining in the half, though, to put the Commodores up 28-14 heading into the locker rooms. The Commodores tacked on a field goal in the third quarter before NC State added one of their own to open the fourth quarter. Each team scored once more, both touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough for the Wolfpack to overcome the deficit.

Rodgers went 16-of-25 for 108 yards and two touchdowns. NC State QB Mike Glennon was 35-of-53 for 383 yards, a TD, and three interceptions. Stacy had 25 carries for 107 yards and a touchdown and Matthews had seven catches for 61 yards and a TD to lead the Commodores. Creecy had nine carries for 43 yards and a touchdown and Palmer had eight receptions for 111 yards to lead the Wolfpack. NCSU racked up 24 first downs compared to Vandy’s 17 and outgained the ‘Dores 424-225 in total yardage, but managed only 41 yards on the ground and turned the ball over five times.

Vanderbilt finishes the season 9-4 overall and 5-3 in the SEC. North Carolina State finishes 7-6 overall and 4-4 in the ACC.

» Continue reading “SEC Summary: Bowl Game/2012 Wrap Up Edition”

Though it feels like we just got started, the final week of the regular season has now come and gone. Of the 14 SEC teams, there are three who have only one loss overall and in the conference (Alabama, Georgia, and Florida) and two who went winless in the SEC (Auburn and Kentucky). Nine teams are bowl eligible, with the two 0-fer teams plus Arkansas, Missouri, and Tennessee failing to reach the necessary number of wins. Three coaches are out, too, as Joker Phillips of Kentucky, Derek Dooley of Tennessee, and Gene Chizik of Auburn, have coached their last game at those schools. Read on for recaps of all the action from the final games of the regular season.

(7) LSU 20, Arkansas 13

It was closer than the Tigers would have liked, but they managed to do just enough to beat the Razorbacks Friday afternoon. LSU put up a first quarter field goal and a second quarter TD on a 22-yard pass from Zach Mettenberger to Jarvis Jones to take a 10-0 lead at the half, but Arkansas had three chances to score themselves in the first half. Their first opportunity came on the game’s opening drive, when they got all the way down the field before Dennis Johnson fumbled at the goal line. Kicker Zach Hocker also missed two field goals. The Hogs finally got on the board early in the third quarter, when John Henson hit a 25-yard field goal. The Tigers answered with a TD a minute and a half later, but Arkansas found the end zone themselves before the quarter was over to pull within one score. Each team scored once, both, more field
goals, in the fourth quarter. LSU’s came with just a minute and a half left, and though the Razorbacks tried to rally in the final seconds of the game, Wilson’s pass fell incomplete as time expired.

Mettenberger finished the day 16-of-29 for 217 yards and a touchdown. Wilson went 31-of-52 for 359 yards, a TD, and an interception. Jeremy Hill had 17 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown and Odell Beckham had four receptions for 112 yards to lead the Tigers. Wilson had 38 yards on nine carries and Cobi Hamilton had 10 catches for 98 yards to lead the Hogs. Arkansas turned the ball over twice (LSU didn’t do it at all), but the Razorbacks also had more first downs (24) than the Tigers (16), allowed them only 89 yards on the ground, and outgained them in total yardage 462-306.

LSU finishes the regular season 10-2 overall and 6-2 in conference play. They will await a bowl bid. Arkansas finishes 4-8 overall and 2-6 in the SEC. They will not be eligible for a bowl game.

» Continue reading “SEC Summary – Week Thirteen”

A few items of note:

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney was pulled over for speeding while on the way to his weekly radio show a few weeks ago. Swinney was caught going 63 miles an hour in an area where the speed limit is 35, and he said it was because he was late for the show.

Swinney then proceeded to sign autographs in the parking lot of a Bi-Lo (that’s where he was pulled over; his show is held at the store) while the officer wrote him up. Swinney then took his citation and went inside to do the show.

The officer who pulled him over, Michael McClatchy, took to the internet a few days after this story became public in order to give his version of the events. From the Pickens County Courier:

“[McClatchy] used company equipment at approximately 3:37 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 14, to make a post on Sports247.com, detailing his version of events.

In the posting, the officer said he didn’t plan on posting about the incident, but “wanted to clear the air for all involved.”

The officer said he believed Swinney “thought he would be excused for the violation and continue to his appointment.” He said Swinney and his brother were asked to have a seat in the vehicle, which they did not. The officer also said the Bi-lo store manager approached him and told him a city official was on the phone and would like to speak with him, but the officer declined.

According to the officer, Swinney’s brother said that he was a retired Alabama police officer with more than 30 years of experience and asked the officer to take the fact into consideration.

After placing the citation in his vehicle, the officer said, Swinney gave the officer “what I would call an unfriendly glare, shook his head and proceeded to enter Bi-lo.” The officer said after Swinney entered the store, his brother once again approached the officer, expressing disappointment in his actions as a police officer.

The posting was later removed from the website.”

McClatchy was fired Monday, Sept. 17 for violating the city computer policy, the code of ethics, and general orders. For his part, Swinney paid his fine and apologized in a letter.

» Continue reading “College Football Police Blotter”

Week One was a good one for the SEC, with 10 of the 13 teams who played coming away with victories. Newcomer Texas A&M was the only team not in action, as their game against Louisiana Tech was postponed due to Hurricane Isaac. That means the Aggies won’t have a bye week this season, and they’ll play their first game of the season next week, against fellow conference member Florida. That’ll be Texas A&M’s home opener, too, and ESPN’s College GameDay announced that they’ll be in College Station to broadcast. Welcome to the SEC, Aggies. Read on for a recap of what went on around the conference in Week One.

(9) South Carolina 17, Vanderbilt 13 

The Gamecocks and Commodores kicked off the season – and SEC play – on Thursday night in Nashville. It was an ugly, somewhat boring game, but USC managed to come away with a narrow victory. That was somewhat overshadowed by the injury to QB Connor Shaw, though, and Cocks fans will now have to wait and see if their No. 1 guy will be able to play next Saturday in their home opener.

Vandy outplayed Carolina in almost all facets, but they just couldn’t capitalize when given opportunities. The Dores had a strong passing game, racking up 214 yards through the air, while South Carolina had less than 70. The Gamecocks won the battle on the ground, though, amassing 205 yards compared to Vandy’s 62. In his return from injury, Marcus Lattimore rushed for 100 yards for the ninth time in his career and notched two touchdowns.

South Carolina starts the season 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the SEC. They’ll be home next weekend to take on East Carolina. Vanderbilt is 0-1 overall and in conference play. They’ll travel to Evanston to take on Northwestern next Saturday.

» Continue reading “SEC Summary – Week One”

Oh, Chad Kelly. Clemson’s freshman QB has yet to actually play a down of college football, but that won’t stop his swag. You may remember this rap from a few months ago, which was equal parts stupid and horrifying. If you were jonesing for a new tune about the swagalicious QB (and who wasn’t, really?), you’re in luck.

I’ll give you a moment to collect yourself after watching and hearing that.

I can’t fathom why people feel it’s necessary to rap about this kid who has yet to prove anything, but okay. Some of the best (worst) lines:

• “This for everybody that hated on my brother Chad Kelly.”

Uh huh. Well. You can have it back, because this was a terrible gift.

Chad Kelly, QB

• “Clemson football they be shuttin’ it down.”

Yes, of course, because that whole “Shock The World Tour” thing worked so well last season. 70-33, y’all.

• “Chad Kelly, QB reppin’ for his team, you can hate him, you can doubt him, you ain’t stoppin’ the dream.”

I don’t know about the Swag King’s dream, but my dream is that we never hear another song about him.

• “My momma birthed out a winner, I’m just lookin’ for dinner, I think I’ll eat some haters.”

Uh, gross.

• “I’m destined for greatness, my uncle’s amazin’. Jim Kelly on them haters.”

Yes, because having a former NFL player be your uncle automatically means you’ll be good. As for the bit about the haters, what Jim Kelly should really be concerned about is his nephew, who appears to be a cocky tool.

• “I pull bad broads, got different cars, you livin’ life while I’m livin’ large.”

Glad you’re focused on football, bro.

• “Clemson. Football. Clemson. Football. Kelly. Kelly. Kelly. Kelly. Kelly. Kelly. Chad Kelly. Kelly. Kelly. Kelly. Chad Kelly.”

How articulate. Glad you remember the subject of this masterpiece.

All the autotune is a nice touch. As for the images in this gem,  my favorite is the Clemson money clip with wads of $100 bills stuffed in it. The Tigers have had other recruits and players flash wads of cash in photos, and it looks a little suspicious. I’m not saying, I’m just saying.

In short, dear YouTube rappers, please do us a favor and zip it, at least until Chad Kelly QB has actually proved something (other than that he’s obnoxious).