SEC FOOTBALL TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTES (Week 3)
ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
Alabama improved to 2-0 on the season and notched its first SEC victory under head coach Nick Saban, as the Crimson Tide defeated the Vanderbilt Commodores 24-10 in Nashville. Redshirt freshman running back Terry Grant rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries to record his second 100-plus yard game of the season. Defensively, the Crimson Tide held the Commodores to just 57 rushing yards and held receiver Earl Bennett to just four catches for 52 yards. Alabama gave up their first touchdown of the season when Vanderbilt’s Mackenzi Adams threw a 15-yard TD pass to George Smith in the fourth quarter. Prior to the fourth quarter, Alabama had not allowed a touchdown in seven full quarters. Senior receiver DJ Hall is just 34 yards shy of becoming the school’s all-time leader for career receiving yards after he gained 67 yards on three catches against Vanderbilt to become only the second Alabama receiver to reach the 2,000 mark. Former All-American and NFL Hall of Famer Ozzie Newsome (1974-77) holds the all-time record with 2,070 career yards while Hall stands at 2,037.
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS
Arkansas had a bye week and used it to prepare for their first SEC game of the season. The Razorbacks will travel to Tuscaloosa Saturday to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide at 5:45 (CT). In their last outing, Darren McFadden and Felix Jones combined for 280-yards and four touchdowns as the Razorbacks handled Troy 46-26 in the season opener. With his 151-yard performance against Troy, McFadden sits fourth on Arkansas’ all-time career rushing list with 2,911 yards. In the second quarter against Troy, Cedric Cobbs recorded a touchdown to tie for fourth in career rushing touchdowns with 26. McFadden also caught two 30-yard passes, and threw a 42-yard pass to Crosby Tuck for his first career touchdown reception. Jones is the first player in school history to have three kickoff returns for touchdowns of 90-plus yards. Despite the bye week, Arkansas moved up two spots to No. 16 in both the Associated Press and the USA Today Coaches Poll released Sunday.
AUBURN TIGERS
Auburn fell to South Florida in overtime, 26-23. This marked the first overtime loss for Auburn since Oct. 22, 2005, in Baton Rouge when LSU defeated the Tigers, 20-17. Overall, Auburn is 3-5 in overtime games and 3-4 under head coach Tommy Tuberville. Auburn is also now 12-2 in night games at Jordan-Hare Stadium since the 2000 season. Kicker Wes Byrum’s 49-yard field goal in the first quarter was a career-long and he finished the game with three on the night. Brandon Cox moved into fifth-place in school history for career pass completions, passing Patrick Nix, with 395. Defensive end Quentin Groves still needs just one sack to tie the Auburn career record of 26, held by Gerald Robinson (1982-85). Ryan Shoemaker had two punts over 50 yards against South Florida and is currently 13th nationally and leads the SEC averaging 45.1 yards per punt.
FLORIDA GATORS
Florida scored 49 points in the first half to post a 59-31 win over Troy. The 49 points ties the most Gator points in a half under head coach Urban Meyer. The 59 points scored by the Gator offense are the second most by a Gator team under head coach Urban Meyer. The most is 62, set last season against Western Carolina. With the win, Florida extends its home win streak to 17 games, tied for fourth longest in school history. The win also gives Meyer a 15-0 record at the Swamp. Quarterback Tim Tebow went 18 for 25 for 236 yards and three touchdowns and was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week. The Gator defense did not give up their first touchdown of the season until 7:55 remaining in the first quarter. It was the first touchdown they had given up since the second quarter against Ohio State in the national championship game. Florida also blocked two punts against Troy. The last time the Gators blocked two punts was last season against Vanderbilt. Brandon James returned the Troy kickoff in the first quarter for a career-long 59 yards. He finished the day with a career-high 127 yards in kick returns.
GEORGIA BULLDOGS
Georgia dropped a 16-12 decision to South Carolina in their conference opener, snapping a five-game win streak over the Gamecocks. Senior PK Brandon Coutu had a career night as he made four field goals in five attempts (33, 44, 39 and 34 yards). Coutu missed his first attempt of the season 48-yards out. Coincidentally, the last time the Georgia offense failed to score a touchdown in a game was a 14-9 loss to South Carolina in 2001. For the fifth time in the last seven meetings with South Carolina, the margin of victory was six points or less. Redshirt freshman TB Knowshon Moreno tallied 104 yards on 14 carries for his first career 100-plus yard game. He recorded a 50-yard rush in the third quarter which was the longest run for the Bulldogs since Thomas Brown posted a 52-yard run in the 2006 Sugar Bowl. It was the first 100-plus yard game by a Bulldog since Kregg Lumpkin had 105 yards against Auburn in 2006. Junior TE Tripp Chandler finished with a career-high three catches for 44 yards and picked up first downs for Georgia on all three catches. For the second week in a row, junior MLB Dannell Ellerbe led the Bulldogs in tackles as he had 6.5, including one for a loss.
KENTUCKY WILDCATS
With a 56-20 win over Kent State, Kentucky opens the season 2-0 for the first time since 2002. Dating back to last season, Kentucky has won seven of its last eight games. The win also gives the Wildcats a five-game win streak at Commonwealth Stadium, the first time that has happened since a seven-game win streak from 1986-87. For the second week in a row, the Kentucky offense had more than 200 yards passing and 200 yards receiving. In addition to the productive passing, the Wildcats rushed for 266 yards and has now recorded back-to-back games with 200 yards or more rushing. The last time UK had back-to-back games with 200 or more yards rushing was in 1994. TB Rafael Little surpassed the 1,000-yard career receiving mark, making him the fourth player in SEC history to reach both 2,000 career rushing and 1,000 career receiving yards. He joins Florida’s Errict Rhett, and LSU’s Dalton Hilliand and Garry James. Little is third all-time at Kentucky with 4,160 career all-purpose yards. Keenan Burton tied Derek Abney for second place on the UK career pass receptions touchdown list with 18.
LSU TIGERS
LSU has outscored its opponents 113-7 over the last 10 quarters, including the 48-7 final margin on Saturday. Before the Hokies’ touchdown in the third quarter, opponents had not scored against the Tigers since Notre Dame did so in the second quarter of the 2007 Sugar Bowl. LSU has outscored it opponents 157-7 in the first quarter in the 15 home games under head coach Les Miles (15 home games), including the 14-0 score Saturday. Alabama was the only team to score on the Tigers in the first quarter during that stretch. The Tigers extended their overall winning streak to nine games, and as a result of losses by Boise State, BYU and TCU, LSU now holds the second-longest winning streak in the nation. The Tigers stretched their home winning streak to 14 games and 18 games at home against non-conference teams. LSU’s 598 yards of total offense is the most by the team since racking up 653 yards against Louisiana Tech on Nov. 1, 2003. The 48-7 win was the largest margin of victory by LSU over a ranked opponent since downing No. 16 Ole Miss, 61-17, on Dec. 5, 1970 in Baton Rouge. The 48-7 win was also the largest margin of victory by LSU over a Top 10 team in school history.
OLE MISS REBELS
Ole Miss and Missouri combined for 1,093 total yards, the most since the 2003 Texas Tech game, when the two teams totaled 1,291 yards. BenJarvus Green-Ellis went over 200 yards for the first time in his career, finishing with a career-high 226 yards on 33 carries. It also marked his fifth career game with at least 100 yards. His 226 yards are the sixth most in a single game in Ole Miss history. Seth Adams had a career-high 305 yards passing, completing 23 of 41 passes, including three TDs. Adams completed the longest pass of his career, a 68-yard touchdown throw to Mike Wallace, in the third quarter. Wallace had a career-high 136 receiving yards on 7 receptions, the most receiving yards by a Rebel since Mario Hill had 187 against Memphis in 2005. This marks the first time since the 2004 Wyoming game that Ole Miss has had a 100-yard receiver and 100-yard rusher. In that game Vashon Pearson had 133 yards rushing and Mario Hill had 142 yards receiving. Ole Miss’ 534 total yards is the most in the Ed Orgeron era, and the most since 567 total yards against Wyoming in 2004.
MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS
Mississippi State opened the scoring at Tulane with a 47-yard interception return by Gabe O ’Neal. It was the Bulldogs first defensive score since Quinton Culberson returned an interception against Alabama last season. The Bulldogs had 489 yards of total offense which was the most since State racked up 547 total yards against Jacksonville State in 2002. Mississippi State finished the game with 290 yards rushing, which was the most by the Bulldogs on the ground since rolling up 304 yards against Ole Miss in 2005. Mississippi State finished the game with 10 converted third downs, the most by a State team since converting 11 against Jacksonville State in 2002. For the second-consecutive week, Mississippi State completed passes to 10 different receivers. Anthony Dixon finished with 131 yards rushing on 27 carries. Both are career bests for the sophomore (previous: 25 carries, twice; 125 yards,Ole Miss 2006). Dixon ’s two touchdowns were the 10th and 11th of his career. Mike Henig finished with 223 yards passing ,his fourth career 200-yard game.
SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS
With Saturday's upset victory, Carolina is 5-11 in SEC openers, including a 2-1 mark under third-year head coach Steve Spurrier. Additionally, Spurrier's all-time record against Georgia improves to 12-3 (1-2 at USC). The victory marks the highest ranked SEC opponent that Carolina has ever defeated on the road. The previous was a 1993 victory over No. 14 Georgia. The win over Georgia marks the first time the Gamecocks have defeated the Bulldogs since the 2001 season. (14-9 win in Athens). Under the direction of head coach Steve Spurrier, the Gamecocks are 13-4 when scoring first in a game. Junior WR Kenny McKinley extended his streak to 23 straight games with at least one catch. Junior PK Ryan Succop matched his career high for field goals in a game with three (also kicked three in the season-opening win at Mississippi State in 2006) and was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week. He has 19 career field goals.
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
Vols senior QB Erik Ainge was 23-for-36 against Southern Miss for 276 yards and two TDs. Ainge has thrown 83 passes this season without an interception. The 276 yards is the fifth-highest passing total of his career. Ainge completed his first seven passes against Southern Miss. He completed his first 10 passes in the season-opener against California. In the first quarter this season, Ainge is 17-of-21 for 201 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs and has a QB rating of 192.78. Ainge is now 18-7 as a starter. Austin Rogers (112) and Lucas Taylor (118) both had over 100 yards receiving vs. USM. That feat marked the first time UT has had two receivers post more than 100 yards receiving in a game since Marcus Nash (126) and Peerless Price (161) accomplished it against Auburn in the 1997 SEC Championship game. TB Arian Foster rushed 23 times for 125 yards and two TDs and had no rushes for negative yardage. It marked the first time since Kentucky in 2005 that Foster went over the century mark.
VANDERBILT COMMODORES
Sophomore CB D.J. Moore collected a career-best 13 tackles versus Alabama, including 12 that were solo. Moore was also a part of the Commodores defensive secondary that held John Parker Wilson to just 150 yards through the air. On special teams, Moore returned four kicks for 75 yards. Moore leads the team with 24 tackles this season after totaling 11 stops in the season opener against Richmond. Junior WR Earl Bennett collected four receptions for 52 yards Saturday. He now needs just 31 catches and 796 yards to become the SEC's all-time leader in career receptions and receiving yardage. A sellout crowd of 39,773 attended the Alabama game. The capacity crowd marked the second sellout in the last three games played at Vanderbilt Stadium. Vanderbilt's final game of the 2006 season against Tennessee was also sellout. Jeff Jennings (R-Jr.) earned his first start at tailback in more than a year against Alabama. Jennings missed the 2006 season with a knee injury suffered on Nov. 12, 2005.
MISS. STATE (1-1, 0-1) at AUBURN (1-1)
11:30 a.m. CT
Auburn, Ala.
Pat Dye Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451)
LIVE TV: Lincoln Financial Sports (Dave Neal, play-by-play; Dave Archer, analyst, Dave Baker, sideline reporter)
THE COACHES
Sylvester Croom is in his fourth season at Mississippi State and overall with a record of 10-25 (.286). The Bulldogs’ offensive coordinator is Woody McCorney and the defensvie coordinator is Ellis Johnson.
Tommy Tuberville is in his ninth season at Auburn with a record of 71-30 (.703) and in his 13th season overall with a record of 96-50 (.658). The Tigers’ offensive coordinator is Al Borges and the defensvie coordinator is Will Muschamp.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN MISSISSIPPI STATE HAS THE BALL
Anthony Dixon eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in the Bulldogs' win against Tulane this past Saturday. He rushed a career-high 27 times for a career-best 131 yards, a 4.9-yard per rush average, and two touchdowns against the Green Wave. It was the third time in the last five games, dating to those final three games of '06, that Dixon has surpassed 100 yards on the ground.
Senior DE Quentin Groves was named to preseason watch lists for the Lombardi Award, the Bednarik Award, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Hendricks Award, and his play through the first two games has shown why. Groves is tied for second on the team with 14 tackles in the first two games, including a career-best nine against South Florida, and leads the SEC and ranks tied for sixth nationally with five tackles for losses. Groves also has two sacks, a forced fumble and 12 quarterback hurries through two games played.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN AUBURN HAS THE BALL
After recording at least one tackle for loss in each of the season's first two games, Titus Brown has now had at least one TFL in nine of the last 10 games, dating to last season, and a QB sack in seven of the last 10. LB Gabe O'Neal tallied four total tackles and had an interception return (his first career interception) for a touchdown and a fumble recovery in Mississippi State's 38-17 win at Tulane, being named SEC Player of the Week for the effort.
Senior quarterback Brandon Cox has been on target in three previous appearances vs. Mississippi State. Cox is 35-of-50 (70 percent) for 494 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions during his career against MSU. He was 18-of-27 for 249 yards and two scores in last year's game, completed 12-of-18 for 202 yards and two TDs in the 2005 game and connected on all five of his passes for 43 yards and a score during his freshman season in 2004.
SPECIAL TEAMS
MSU’s Derek Pegues returns as one of the league’s top specialists. He returned 25 punts for 350 yards, a 14-yard per return average, second best in the SEC and 10th nationally. He also brought back 29 kickoffs for 687 yards, a 23.7-yard average, good for fifth in the league.
True freshman Wes Byrum is tied for the national lead with Georgia Tech's Travis Bell with six made field goals. Byrum had made three field goals in each of the first two games, including a season-long 49-yard field goal against South Florida. Redshirt freshman Ryan Shoemaker is currently leading the SEC and ranks 13th nationally, averaging 45.1 yards per punt.
SERIES/GAME NOTES
Record: AU, 56-22-2 • Last: AU, 34-0 (2006 at Starkville)
Auburn leads the all-time series with Mississippi State, 56-22-2 ... Saturday's meeting between the two schools will mark the 53rd consecutive year the two schools have played each other ... Auburn has won six straight in the series and 19 of the last 25 ... Mississippi State has been held to 18 or fewer points in each of the last eight games in the series, averaging 11.3 points per game during that span ... Just 10 games in the last 37 years have been decided by seven points or less, including three consecutive from 1999-2001 ... The Auburn defense has held Mississippi State to an average of 90.0 rushing yards in the last eight meetings.
WESTERN CAROLINA (0-2) at GEORGIA (1-1, 0-1)
1 p.m. ET
Athens, Ga.
Sanford Stadium (92,746)
LIVE TV: PPV
THE COACHES
Kent Briggs is in his sixth season at Western Carolina and overall with a record of 21-35 (.375). The Commodores’ offensive coordinator is Doug Malone and the defensive coordinator is Don Powers.
Mark Richt is in his seventh season at Georgia and overall with a record of 62-18 (.775). The Bulldogs’ offensive coordinator is Mike Bobo and the defensvie coordinator is Willie Martinez.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN WESTERN CAROLINA HAS THE BALL
Junior Kyle Garland caught a career-high four passes for a career-best 38 yards last Saturday. He had previously had three career catches, all coming two seasons ago. QB Adam Hearns tossed two touchdown passes last week, the first two of his career. The 21 points WCU scored Saturday marked the most since scoring 27 at The Citadel in late October of last season.
For the second week in a rown, junior MLB Dannell Ellerbe led the Bulldogs in tackles as he has 6.5 including one tackle for a loss versus South Carolina. Last week versus Oklahoma State, he had a career-high seven.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN GEORGIA HAS THE BALL
Injuries plagued the Catamount defense a year ago resulting in allowing the most points (316) since 2000 (371). Hit hardest was the defensive line in which no player started every game in the same position. The return of players such as John Martin (#53), who earned a fifth-year of eligibility, Jeff Bradley, Brandon Drumgoole and Marcus Nelums at ends will bolster the experience level of the squad which lost its
leading tackler from a year ago, linebacker Shelton Gaffney.
In his second collegiate game, redshirt freshman tailback Knowshon Moreno tallied 104 yards on 14 carries. Midway through the third quarter, he recorded a 50-yard rush, which was the longest run for the Bulldogs since Thomas Brown’s 52-yard touchdown scamper in the 2006 Sugar Bowl against West Virginia at the end of the 2005 season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Junior Jonathan Parsons will handle all of the place kicking on field goals and PAT’s for the third-straight season. In his first two seasons as the primary placekicker, Parsons has connected on a perfect 30-for-30 PAT attempts and is 9-of-13 (69.2-percent) on his field goal attempts, missing four last season in a 6-for-10 year.
Senior Brandon Coutu attempted the first five field goals of the 2007 season against South Carolina and made a career-high four. Coutu was 5-for-5 for PATs during Georgia’s win over Oklahoma State to open the season. Last year, Coutu only missed one field goal attempt all year (in five games) – a 53-yarder against Colorado. He was 7-for-8 for field goals in 2006.
SERIES/GAME NOTES
Record: UG, 1-0 • Last: UG, 48-0 (1991 at Athens)
Georgia will face Western Carolina Saturday in only the second-ever meeting between the two schools. Both teams are in need of a win after falling last week. On Saturday, Western Carolina completes a three-game road trip to start the season. The Catamounts started the season with a 52-6 loss to Alabama followed by a 45-21 loss to Eastern Kentucky. Georgia fi nds itself at 1-1 for the fi rst time since 2001. The Bulldogs last faced a team that plays in the NCAA Division I - Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA) when they faced Western Kentucky in 2006. Georgia beat the Hilltoppers 48-12 in Athens to open the season. Western has trailed for 24-straight quarters dating back to last season … WCU last led at The Citadel back on October 21, 2006 – the Catamounts jumped out on top 17-0 with its last lead coming in overtime of that game – a 27-24 advantage before falling, 30-27.
TENNESSEE (1-1) at FLORIDA (2-0)
3:30 p.m. ET
Gainesville, Fla.
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field (88,548)
LIVE TV: CBS (Verne Lundquist, play-by-play; Gary Danielson, analyst, Tracy Wolfson, sideline)
THE COACHES
Phillip Fulmer is in his 16th season at Tennessee and overall with a record of 138-41 (.771). The Volunteers’ offensive coordinator is David Cutcliffe and the defensvie coordinator is John Chavis.
Urban Meyer is in his third season at Florida with a record of 24-4 (.857) and in hisseventh season overall with a record of 63-12 (.840). The Gators’ offensive coordinator is Dan Mullen and the defensive co-coordinators are Greg Mattison and Charlie Strong.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN TENNESSEE HAS THE BALL
Senior QB Erik Ainge is 18-7 as a starter, including a 9-2 mark on the road. He has thrown only one interception in his last seven games (199 att.). He has an efficiency rating of 141.50, which is the fourth-best mark in the SEC this season. Junior Arian Foster ran for 125 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries, only the second 100-yard rushing performance in Tennessee’s last 10 games. His 5.94 yards-per-carry average is second in the SEC and 15th in the nation among backs with at least 30 carries.
For the second-straight game, Brandon Spike and Dustin Doe led the team in tackles with nine each in the contest against Troy. Doe also recorded the first fumble recovery of his career in the second quarter. Spikes had the game’s only sack for a nine-yard loss. Defensive end Derrick Harvey had two sacks in the season opener against Western Kentucky to bring his career total to 14.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN FLORIDA HAS THE BALL
Through two games, Tim Tebow’s passer rating is 228.2, which is the second-highest in the nation, just ahead of Brian Brohm’s (Louisville) 226.5. Tebow has completed 73.8 percent of his passes, which is the sixth-highest mark in the country and is the best in the Southeastern Conference. Tebow has thrown four passes for 40-or-more yards this season, equaling Florida’s total of 40-plus yard throws from 2006.
Jerod Mayo and Rico McCoy are tied for the team lead with 14 tackles apiece. McCoy led the team vs. Southern Miss with nine tackles, and Mayo led the team at Cal with 10 tackles. The other starter in the LB group, Ryan Karl, has six tackles through two games. All-American FS Jonathan Hefney is fourth on the team with 11 tackles after finishing 2006 ranked eighth in the SEC with 7.4 per game
SPECIAL TEAMS
Daniel Lincoln is a perfect 4-of-4 on field goal attempts and 8-of-8 on PATs through two games this season. Lincoln kicked a career-long 47-yard field goal vs. Southern Miss. Three returners combined for 125 kickoff-return yards vs. Southern Miss.
Florida has opened the 2007 season with a new punter (Chas Henry) and placekicker (Joey Ijjas). Throught the first two games, Henry has punted six times for an average of 37.5 yards. His long was 49 against Western Kentucky and he has placed three inside the 20 this year. Ijjas is a perfect 15-of- 15 on extra points through the first two outings.
SERIES/GAME NOTES
Record: UT, 19-17 • Last: UF, 21-20 (2006 at Knoxville)
Tennessee leads the all-time series with the Gators 19-17 and owns a 5-8 record in Gainesville. The Vols won two of their last three contests in “The Swamp,” claiming a 34-32 win in 2001 and a 24-10 triumph in 2003. UT head coach Phillip Fulmer owns a 5-10 career mark against Florida. This series recently has been dictated by the running game, as the team with the most rushing yardage has won 15 of the last 17 meetings (UF won in 2000 and 2002 despite being outgained on the ground). Over the last five games in this series in Gainesville, Tennessee has averaged 117.4 rushing yards per game and Florida has averaged 78.8.
ARKANSAS (1-0) at ALABAMA (2-0, 1-0)
5:45 p.m. CT
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Bryant-Denny Stadium (92,138)
LIVE TV: ESPN (Mike Patrick, play-by-play; Todd Blackledge, analyst, Holly Rowe, sideline reporter)
THE COACHES
Houston Nutt is in his 10th season at Arkansas with a record of 68-44 (.607) and in his15th season overall with a record of 104-66 (.612). The Razorbacks’ offensive coordinator is David Lee and the defensvie coordinator is Reggie Herring.
Nick Saban is in his first season at Alabama and in his 14th season overall with a record of 108-59-1 (.646). The Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator is Major Applewhite and the defensvie coordinator is Kevin Steele.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN ARKANSAS HAS THE BALL
Darren McFadden kick-started his junior season in grand fashion against Troy in the opener with 151-yards rushing on 24 carries, two receptions for 30 yards, a kickoff return for 19 yards and a 42-yard touchdown pass to Crosby Tuck out of the WildHog formation. He accounted for 193 yards of total offense and 200 all-purpose yards.
Alabama’s defense has a three-man front, led by senior defensive end Wallace Gilberry. Gilberry will play his 40th career game for the Crimson Tide this Saturday against Arkansas. In 39 career games, Gilberry has 114 tackles, 30.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks. He has also added four four forced fumbles, three fumbles recovered and two pass breakups. Gilberry had a career-high four quarterback
pressures in the Tide’s win at Vanderbilt on Sept. 8.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN ALABAMA HAS THE BALL
The Crimson Tide running game has been solid, led by redshirt freshman Terry Grant, who leads the league in rushing. Grant has 42 carries for 307 yards (7.2 average) and five touchdowns in wins over Western Carolina and Vanderbilt. Grant leads the SEC and ranks eighth nationally with 153.5 rushing yards per game. He is second in the SEC and sixth nationally in scoring with 15 points per game.
Arkansas returns six players on defense from 2006, including LT Ernest Michell, RE Antwain Robinson, LB Weston Dacus, S Matt Hewitt, FS Michael Grant and CB Matterral Richardson.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Felix Jones was just as good as McFadden vs. Troy with 129-yards rushing
on 12 carries (10.8 ypc), a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown (144 kickoff return yards) and one catch for 14 yards. Jones racked up the third-most all-purpose yards in school history with 287. He was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week.
The return game for ‘Bama is highlighted by Javier Arenas, who leads UA in both punt and kickoff returns. Arenas is second in the league and 14th nationally with a 18.4 average in two games. He had a 65-yard return against Vanderbilt in the 2007 SEC opener. He has 36 career punt returns for 378 yards (10.5 average) and two touchdowns.
SERIES/GAME NOTES
Record: Alabama, 9-8 • Last: Arkansas, 24-23 2 OT (2006 at Fayetteville)
Alabama holds a 9-8 (.529) series lead over Arkansas in a series that dates back to the 1962 Sugar Bowl at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans. The two teams have also played a pair of double-overtime games in the last four seasons. Arkansas won 34-31 in double-overtime in 2002 and 24-23 in double-overtime last season. The two teams met only twice before the Razorbacks joined the league in 1992. The Crimson Tide and Razorbacks first met in the January 1, 1962 Sugar Bowl at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans. Alabama won the game 10-3 to clinch its first of six national championships under legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.
OLE MISS (1-1) at VANDERBILT (1-1, 0-1)
6 p.m. CT
Nashville, Tenn.
Vanderbilt Stadium (39,773)
LIVE TV: PPV
THE COACHES
Ed Orgeron is in his third season at Ole Miss and overall with a record of 8-17 (.320). The Rebels’ offensive coordinator is Dan Werner and the defensive coordinator is John Thompson.
Bobby Johnson is in his sixth season at Vanderbilt with a record of 16-44 (.267) and in his 14th season overall with a record of 76-80 (.487). The Commodores’ offensive coordinator is Ted Cain and the defensive coordinator is Bruce Fowler.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN OLE MISS HAS THE BALL
In his first two starts, Rebel QB Seth Adams has thrown for 506 yards and four touchdowns with only one interception. BenJarvus Green-Ellis followed up his 79-yard performance at Memphis with a monster day against Mizzou. The senior tailback went over 200 yards for the first time in his career, finishing with a career-high 226 yards on 33 carries with a touchdown. It was the sixth-most yards on the ground in school history.
One of the league's top performers at linebacker for the past two seasons, Jonathan Goff is the SEC's third leading active career leader in total tackles and solo
tackles. Goff opened the season with seven tackles and an interception vs. Richmond, and added nine total tackles against Alabama.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN VANDERBILT HAS THE BALL
After producing three new records and earning SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors in a sensational season-opening performance against Richmond, Earl Bennett caught four passes for 52 yards against Alabama last Saturday. After opening the season hitting 19 of 25 passes for 284 yards and a career-high four touchdowns, Chris Nickson struggled against Alabama, hitting just five of 18 passes for 67 yards.
With just two D1 games under his belt, junior LB Ashlee Palmer is tied for the SEC lead in tackles per game with a 12.0 average. Junior DB Jamarca Sanford led the team with career highs of 13 tackles and eight solo stops against Missouri ... It marked his third career game with double-digit tackles.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Sophomore Marshay Green notched career highs of six kickoff returns for 146 yards in the Mizzou game. Junior Mike Wallace had his longest career kick return with a 21 yarder against the Tigers. Ole Miss has yet to have a true punt return through the first two games. Of Missouri’s five punts on Saturday, two were touchbacks, two were fair catches and one was downed.
While junior Bryant Hahnfeldt continues to show signs of returning to full strength as a placekicker, other areas are not enjoying such results. On Saturday, a missed tackle and lost containment on Vanderbilt's opening punt resulted in a touchdown-producing 69-yard return by Alabama. One week earlier, Richmond reached paydirt on a kickoff return. The Commodore punting game also ranks last in the SEC with a 27.4-yard net average.
SERIES/GAME NOTES
Record: UM, 46-33-2 • Last: UM, 17-10 (2006 in Oxford)
This game will be the 82nd meeting between Ole Miss and Vanderbilt dating back to 1894. The Rebels lead the series 46-33-2 and have won 12 of the last 14 meetings since 1992, including last year’s 17-10 victory in Oxford. The Commodores hold a 25-20-2 lead in games played in Nashville, although the Rebels have won five of the last six meetings at Vanderbilt Stadium. The Dores took the last meeting in Nashville, 31-23 in 2005. Ole Miss is looking to snap a streak of three straight losses in SEC openers ... This game features the SEC’s leading tacklers in Rebel junior LB Ashlee Palmer and VU sophomore DB D.J. Moore, each averaging 12.0 stops per game.
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE (1-1) at SOUTH CAROLINA (2-0, 1-0)
7 p.m. ET
Columbia, S.C.
Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250)
LIVE TV: PPV
THE COACHES
Oliver "Buddy" Pough is in his sixth season at South Carolina State and overall with a record of 41-17 (.707). The Bulldogs’ offensive coordinator is Joe Blackwell and the defensvie coordinator is John Hendrick.
Steve Spurrier is in his third season at South Carolina with a record of 17-10 (.630) and in his 18th season overall with a record of 159-50-2 (.758). Spurrier serves as the offensive coordinator and the defensvie coordinator is Tyrone Nix.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN SOUTH CAROLINA STATE HAS THE BALL
SC State, picked to win the MEAC this season, is paced by senior quarterback Cleveland McCoy. Despite a slow start with just one completion in five tries for four yards in the first half last week, for the game connected on 10 of 18 tries for 88 yards and two scores. McCoy also had seven rushes for 66 yards in the contest.
Defensive end Eric Norwood was a first team Freshman All-American by The Sporting News and earned second team Freshman All-America honors by Rivals.com. Linebacker Rodney Paulk was named to The Sporting News’ second team Freshman All-America squad. Senior middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley is an All- America candidate after earning fi rst team All-SEC honors a year ago.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN SOUTH CAROLINA HAS THE BALL
Marshall McFadden, a preseason first team All-MEAC seclection, leads the defense. DB/SS Markee Hamlin, the current MEAC Player of the Week, helped spearhead the Bulldog defense that limited Bethune-Cookman to 247 total offensive yards and no offensive touchdowns in a 24-13 victory. He recorded 11 tackles, four solos, with one for a loss of two yards.
Blake Mitchell had a solid night in the win at Georgia, completing 20-of-31 for 174 yards. Cory Boyd ran for 76 yards and Mike Davis chipped in with 56. WR Kenny McKinley extended his streak at Georgia to 23 straight games with at least one catch. McKinley also recorded a season best with seven receptions for 102 yards, including a season-long catch of 31 yards in the opening quarter. This was McKinley’s third career 100-yard reception game.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Stephen Grantham marked his return to the Bulldog squad in dramatic fashion week one, nailing a career- best 51-yard field goal for the team’s only points in the 34-3 loss to Air Force. His successful kick was just one yard short of Cedric Oglesby’s school record 53-yarder at Delaware State in 1998. As a freshman in 2005, Grantham was 9-15 on FGs and 45-51 on PATs, with his longest 47 yards.
Ryan Succop was perfect on all three of his field goal attempts at Georgia, matching his career high, and averaged 40.7 yards on seven punts. His field goals came from 41, 35 and 34 yards out, as he accounted for 10 of Carolina's 16 points in the contest. On his seven punts, two were inside the 20-yard line, with a long of 52 yards. He also had one touchback on five kickoffs, while the Bulldogs average starting position from the kickoffs was its own 30-yard line.
SERIES/GAME NOTES
Record: First Meeting
This will mark the first meeting of the two in-state schools. Two South Carolina State players were among those earning weekly honors in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Redshirt sophomore Markee Hamlin was named Defensive Player of the Week and senior James Lee was chosen as Offensive Lineman of the Week, the league announced Monday. Prior to returning to his alma mater as head coach, Oliver Pough spent five seasons at South Carolina, the last three as running backs coach under Lou Holtz. During his stint at USC, he helped build the Gamecocks into one of the top offensive teams in the SEC. USC made back-to-back appearances in the Outback Bowl in 2000 and 2001.
LOUISVILLE (2-0) at KENTUCKY (2-0)
7:30 p.m. ET
Lexington, Ky.
C.M Newton Field/Commonwealth Stadium (67,606)
LIVE TV: ESPN Classic (Eric Collins, play-by-play; Bill Curry, analyst]
THE COACHES
Steve Kragthorpe is in his first season at Louisville and fifth season overall with a record of 31-22 (.585). The Cardinals’ offensive coordinator is Charlie Stubbs and the defensive coordinator is Mike Cassity.
Rich Brooks is in his fifth season at Kentucky with a record of 18-30 (.375) and in his 23rd season overall with a record of 109-139-4 (.440). The Wildcats’ offensive coordinator is Joker Phillips and the defensvie coordinator is Steve Brown.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN LOUISVILLE HAS THE BALL
Senior quarterback Brian Brohm now has 7,527 career passing yards, which places him third all-time. His 513 career completions are also fourth in school history. He threw for a career-high 401 yards in a win over Middle Tennessee — the 11th time in school history that a QB threw for 400 or more yards. Three different UL receivers hit the 100-yard mark last week.
Wesley Woodyard notched a season-high15 tackles in a win over Kent State. He also knocked down one pass with a thundering hit on a Kent State receiver going over the middle. He Sstarted his 30th career game against Eastern Kentucky. Woodyard is the leading UK tackler each of the last two seasons.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN KENTUCKY HAS THE BALL
Defensive tackle Earl Heyman is racking up the tackles so far through two games. After entering the season with just 39 career tackles and one sack in 24 career games, Heyman already has nine tackles and a sack through the first two games. Junior Malik Jackson leads the team with 12 tackles and an interception.
Senior quarterback André Woodson has looked impressive in Kentucky’s first two games as he has completed 68.6 percent of his passes (35- of-51). Woodson, who has completed at least 67 percent of his attempts in eight consecutive games, ranks second in the SEC in passing efficiency with a 178.1 rating. He extended his school-record streak of consecutive passes without an interception to 213.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Senior placekicker Art Carmody is easily the best kicker in the school’s history and now is close to becoming one of the best in the history of the NCAA. Carmody, who owns numerous school records, is closing in on a pair of NCAA scoring records. Carmody needs just 54 points to break the mark for points in a career.
Despite changing the line of scrimmage on kickoffs from the 35-yard line to the 30-yard line - a change that was thought to cut down on touchbacks - UK kicker Tim Masthay has shown his leg strength as seven of his 18 kickoffs have gone for touchbacks, the highest number of touchbacks in the SEC. UK currently leads the league in kickoff coverage, averaging 50.1 net yards per kickoff.
SERIES/GAME NOTES
Record: UK, 10-9 • Last: UL, 59-28 (2006 at Louisville)
Kentucky and Louisville meet for the 20th time in program history ... The teams have met annually since the renewal of the series in 1994 ... UK leads the overall series 10-9 but has dropped the last four meetings ... UK hopes to return the Governor's Cup trophy to Lexington for the first time since defeating the Cardinals in 2002 ... The all-time series is tied at 6-6 when the game is played in Lexington … Kentucky’s last win in Lexington came in 1997 when the Wildcats defeated the Cardinals 38-24 … The Cats are 47-29-5 vs. members in the current alignment of the BIG EAST Conference ... UK is 1-2 vs. a nationally-ranked Louisville team ... UK’s last win over a Top10 team was 1977, 24-20 over No. 4 Penn State.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE (0-2) at LSU (2-0, 1-0)
7 p.m. CT
Baton Rouge, La.
Tiger Stadium (92,400)
LIVE TV: PPV
THE COACHES
Rick Stockstill is in hissecond season at South Florida and overall with a record of 7-8 (.467). The Blue Raiders’ offensive coordinator is G.A. Mangus and the defensive coordinator is Manny Diaz.
Les Miles is in his third season at LSU with a record of 23-4 (.852) and in his 7th season overall with a record of 51-25 (.671). The Tigers’ offensive coordinator is Gary Crowton and the defensive coordinator is Bo P elini.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN MTSU HAS THE BALL
Every three times Phillip Tanner touched the ball at Louisvillehe found the end zone, including runs of 23, 1, and 79 yards. By the time the evening was complete Tanner had run for a career-best144 yards and three touchdowns on just nine carries, averaging a monstrous 16 yards per touch. Junior Joe Craddock has responded nicely in his new role as starting quarterback. After two games, Craddock has completed 34 of 58 passes for 489 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, LB Ali Highsmith is tops on the team with 14 tackles, while DT Glenn Dorsey has11 tackles, 2 TFL, and a sack. S Craig Steltz leads the nation in interceptions with four to his credit.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN LSU HAS THE BALL
Senior corner Bradley Robinson fi nished with two interceptions in his last fi ve games last season to give him nine for his career. The Duncan, S.C., native needs just one more pick to move into the Top 10 all-time at MT and tie for sixth overall. Two more will put him in a tie for fi fth and four will take him to third. Robinson’s nine picks also rank fi fth all-time in Sun Belt history.
QB Matt Flynn has been nearly flawless; connecting on 29 of 46 passes for 345 yards and 2 TDs. Flynn has also rushed for 54 yards and a score. RB Jacob Hester leads the Tigers in rushing with 149 yards and 1 TD, while RB Keiland Williams has 144 yards and 4 scores for the Tigers. WR Early Doucet has caught 15 passes for 153 yards and 2 scores, while WR Brandon LaFell is LSU's other top target, hauling in eight balls for 140 yards and a score.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Sophomore multi-purpose performer Desmond Gee was inserted as the team’s primary kickoff returner against Louisville and quickly paid dividends with one of the best return games in school history. Gee’s 160 kickoff return yards also were the fourth-most in school history and the second-most in a I-A game.
Punter Patrick Fisher is averaging 44.8 yards over 10 punts this season. His average ranks as the 2nd best in SEC and14th best in the NCAA this year ... Has pinned four of his 10 punts inside the 20-yard line. He booted the ball a career-long 61 yards against Virginia Tech.
SERIES/GAME NOTES
Record: LSU, 1-0 • Last: LSU, 30-14 (2001 at Baton Rouge)
LSU and Middle Tennessee meet for the second time when the Blue Raiders travel to Tiger Stadium on Saturday night … LSU posted a 30-14 win over Middle Tennessee during the 2001 season in the only other meeting between the teams … LSU is 30-0 all-time against current members of the Sun Belt Conference… MTSU is 3-25 against the SEC with all three of its wins coming against Vanderbilt … Former LSU assistant basketball coach Kermit Davis is the head men's basketball coach at Middle Tennessee.
