The Southerner Journal

by Ronald Sitton

NORTH LITTLE ROCK (Nov. 27) - Well, it was bound to happen. A 6-6 mark won't win you any friends in the "what have you done for me lately" wacky world of college football.

First Larry Coker at Miami, then Mike Shula at Alabama. I guess their athletic directors, alumni and boards of trustees didn't take a look at Arkansas, the red-headed step-child of the Southeastern Conference.

Houston Nutt wallowed through 5-6 and 4-7 campaigns before returning the Razorbacks to the Top 10 of college football. Even with the upsetting loss to LSU last Friday, Nutt looks much better than the last two years and is even being mentioned for the Miami position. I imagine Alabama will probably take a look at Nutt, too.

While Miami coaches usually leave after six years, Coker's firing represents a new chapter, i.e. "if you won't leave, we'll dump ya!" Alabama's case at first seems harder to explain, until you look at Tommy Tuberville's "one for the thumb." If Shula had beat Auburn once ...

I'm starting to wonder who'd want to coach Alabama considering that school fired two alumni (Mike Dubose and Shula) and a coach allegedly at a strip club (Mike Price), and watched Dennis Franchione jump ship to Texas A&M despite a winning record with the Crimson Tide. Note of interest: Don't apply to 'Bama if your name is Mike.

After having an ultra-sound on my abdomen this morning, I think I can talk about the gut-wrenching performance I saw Friday when LSU stuck The Boot square in Arkansas' backside in an otherwise record-breaking performance:

• LSU had not allowed a hundred-yard rusher in 2006 until both Darren McFadden (182 yards) and Felix Jones (137 yards) broke the century mark in the same game.

• McFadden broke Madre Hill's school season rushing record (1,387 yards in 12 games) with 1,485 yards rushing (in 11 games) 14 touchdowns. He also completed two of three passes for 33 yards. No, he won't win the Heisman this year, but the campaign has already started for 2007.

• Jones neared the 1,000-yard mark - 961 yards on 127 carries. He'd start on most teams in the United States.

• Marcus Monk's one reception tied him Anthony Lucas for the all-time touchdown reception mark (23) and the single-season touchdown reception mark (10).

Yet Monk's one reception also marked the longest reception, 21 yards, completed by Casey Dick on Friday. His three-completion performance gave the Nutt-haters ammunition once again, and with good cause: Dick completed nary a pass in the second half. Dick's completions consistently arrived behind the receiver, allowing one interception that set up a Tiger touchdown. Granted, an LSU cornerback knocked the snot out of Dick after the quarterback caught a throw-back pass, but that was late in the game. And still Nutt allowed freshman Mitch Mustain to sit the bench.

When pulling the undefeated Mustain following an interception against South Carolina, Nutt spoke of a quick trigger to keep the Razorbacks winning. Where might that trigger have gone? Apparently Mustain will get 40 percent of the snaps leading up to the Razorbacks clash with Florida in the SEC title game in Atlanta this weekend, and the trigger will be a lil' quicker if Dick can't get it going.

For all of the focus on the Hogs offense, the Arkansas defense brought this team to the brink of its first overall championship. In the LSU game, Arkansas' defense played well, including stopping two drives with fumble recoveries. Yet neither turnover led to an Arkansas score. Ranked 34th overall in 2005, the defense seems to have improved as evidenced by its national ranking of 29th overall at this point of the season. Granted five spots isn't a huge jump, but this defense plays with heart and not a lot of superstars. It may not have the ranking of an LSU (second) or Florida (10th), but it doesn't back down from anyone.

As everyone knows, defense wins championships. Yet LSU's defense couldn't stop everyone. Miami (fifth) and Alabama (18th) boasted good defenses, but did not have the offensive production to capitalize this year. That being said, I think Alabama should look in-house at its defensive coordinator and interim head coach, Joe Kines, who also held the interim title before Frank Broyles gave the job to Kines' friend, Danny Ford.

Not only would Kines keep 'Bama's defense among the best in the nation, he would want the job at Alabama and the players already respect him.

If nothing else, his name is Joe, not Mike.

Posted by Ron Sitton at 01:41 PM | Permalink

By Ron Sitton

(Nov. 23) - The discount stores of suburbia started selling Christmas gear the day after the Halloween candy disappeared, but I really don't get into the season until Thanksgiving. Granted, I celebrate the majority of my siblings birthdays (and my own) from October to December, but those are individual, not group, celebrations.

As a kid, we'd go to Harrison every Thanksgiving because Papaw's birthday fell on Nov. 23, a week after mine. However, that didn't seem any different from the normal routine as we drove up to see Nana and Papaw at least once or twice every month through my high school years. My sister Aronna and I flew to Atlanta one Thanksgiving when I was an undergrad, but that was the routine until I moved to Tennessee for graduate school.

From Knoxville, I'd travel to Atlanta for Thanksgiving and back to North Little Rock for Christmas. A product of a split family, I've always had to juggle where to spend the holidays, sometimes even going to multiple places to see the different members. It prepared me for marriage.

Since returning to Arkansas, I've normally attended Thanksgiving in Maumelle with Aronna and her family. After getting married, I spent Thanksgiving eve at my father-in-law's, Thanksgiving dinner at Aronna's and Thanksgiving supper at my mother-in-law's. Under normal circumstances, that would be a lot of turkey.

Luckily, I didn't marry into normal circumstances. My mother-in-law refuses to serve the traditional Thanksgiving, much to everyone's delight. Instead of turkey and dressing, there's shrimp, scallops and cheesecake, along with crab-stuffed mushrooms from Tanya. I must admit, I've gorged the last two years, which helps explain the expanding waistline.

But this year things are changing. First and foremost, I can't gorge until the doctor says it's OK to eat dairy and fats. I didn't exactly follow directions last night at my father-in-law's due to the large bowl of cheese dip and the mini-wraps of cream cheese, feta cheese, chives and cranberries - yum! - that distracted me. However, we did eat Papa John's stew, a vegetarian meal that was rather tasty.

Aronna and crew are eating with her brother-in-law's bunch today, so we're hosting Thanksgiving for the first time in our marriage. I even mowed the front yard yesterday. :)

After only a little deliberation, we decided on the non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner instead of the turkey, i.e. we're going to eat what we're thankful for. For appetizers, Tanya's portobello, crab and gouda dip that previously graced mushrooms will now top pita chips. She also made a mandarin-poppy salad, while Mom's bringing a fruit salad.

Luckily, Hilda's bringing the pan-fried shrimp and scallops. Tanya's prepared cumin-encrusted Tilapia or turkey cutlets with a choice of a sweet pineapple or spicy chipotle-lime sauce to go along with French bread. Afterwards, Hilda's made a lemon-cream cheese pie and I'm making a chocolate delight.

What's a person supposed to do when hosting? I think the first thing is to make sure everyone's having a good time. I've always approached having a good time from a "me-first" perspective, i.e. if I'm having a good time, others will have a good time; if they're not having a good time, at least I'm having a good time.

This self-centered perspective works for marriage, dating and most other aspects of life. Of course my proof relies on a postulate: A person can seldom change another's attitude, but a person can always change his or her own attitude. When smiles abound, happiness follows.

I'm thankful for life, my wife and son, my family, my friends I choose as family, non-traditional Thanksgivings, the opportunity to talk with loved ones miles away through the Internet, and, of course, the Razorbacks. I've even been accused of a self-centered perspective on tomorrow's Arkansas-LSU game, but today's about Thanksgiving, so I'll have to get into that then instead of now.

Posted by Ron Sitton at 11:58 AM | Permalink

Woke up this morning, nearly wet.

The waterbed I've owned for 22 years sprung a leak. I don't know if it's due to the cats, who occasionally like to knead the bed as they knead my chest, or perhaps the dogs, one of whom jumped into bed above Tanya's head when a thunderstorm scared her (the dog, not my wife).

At least it's a small leak. As an undergraduate in college I had the unfortunate experience of waking up with my feet in a foot of water when the seam split on the side of the mattress. At least it woke me up! I used buckets to drain it as the water hose wouldn't work.

I've owned this mattress at least three or four years, so I don't feel upset about paying the $50 it'll take to replace it. I'll even buy some new waterbed sheets, since you seldom find those at the local discount stores. I'll use the water hose today to drain it, but I cannot get another mattress until tomorrow. Even then, I'll have to wait until Thanksgiving to sleep on it to let it warm up. Joy.

As such, I don't have time for a SEC recap, but just a moment for a Razorback Reaction.

Arkansas did what it had to do to win against Mississippi State, taking the SEC-West outright for the first time since 1995. At 10-1, they've already won more than anyone expected after the USC stomping in the first game of the season. Houston Nutt finally broke the 10-game barrier.

I expect Friday's game against LSU to be one of the more memorable games in the history of The Boot. The Tigers didn't exactly come away smelling like roses in a victory over Ole Miss. But history beckons the Razorbacks as they could become the first team to finish the regular-season SEC slate undefeated since my alma mater accomplished the feat on its way to the 1998 national championship.

The cat crosses my keyboard and drops into my lap to start kneading while I try to replace the mistakes he left on my paper. He's covered with dead grass or leaves or whatever he's been rolling around in this morning. He sounds like a loose belt in a V-8 when he starts purring in between attempts to stop my writing. After all, he is Kilroy and he expects his intensive petting session to commence immediately.

Hope everyone enjoys the holidaze before us. Until.

Posted by Ron Sitton at 11:34 AM | Permalink

by Ronald Sitton

NORTH LITTLE ROCK (Nov. 17) - Easy now ... two posts in one day? What will people think?

I drove to downtown Little Rock to the bank and decided to stop at Go Green Biofuels at 801 South Chester to fill up my S-10 with E-10 unleaded, i.e. ethanol.

I saw a news spot on the business a few weeks ago, but had not stopped to fill up since it's open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and I often do not get back into Little Rock until at least 8 p.m.

It's not the easiest access either, as you cannot enter the station from Chester. In addition, 8th Street runs one-way, requiring the driver to turn on 7th Street and make the block.

When I entered the station, only the owner's Prius sat in the lot. He stepped out as I pulled up. Buddy Rawls, 58, works as a psychological examiner but wants to establish a thriving independent business.

"I guess you can call it moonlighting," he said when I called later to make sure I got his name correct. "It seems to be filling that role. I'm doing this in addition to my full-time work."

Before I pumped, we talked about the octane in ethanol. I always run at least mid-grade in our Prius, and usually regular unleaded in the S-10. Rawls said E-10 Unleaded consists of 90 percent gasoline and 10 percent ethanol.

Eco-Friendly - Our Toyota Prius sits packed on the Oregon Trail during summer vacation. The car requires fuel with no less than a 89 octane rating

He stepped back in the store and brought out a couple of pamphlets, including one from drivingethanol.org that notes ethanol-enriched gasoline burns cooler, saves engine wear and reduces emissions and air pollution by 30 percent. It also notes the IndyCar Series started using ethanol in 2006.

The other pamphlet from Ethanol Across America disputes the notion that any automaker in the world disapproves of E-10 Unleaded. It provides quotes about ethanol use from automakers owner's manuals including GM, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Acura, Audi, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Isuzu, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Rolls Royce/Bentley, Saab, Saturn, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.

I ask Rawls if he expects to stay open later so there's a better chance I can stop more often. Apparently, a mechanic plans to take over the garage area, so the hours should get better starting in early December. As far as access, Rawls plans to ask the highway department to approve changing 8th Street back to two-way. If that could happen for at least a block, it would help.

The downside: E-10 Unleaded costs $2.19 when I can get on littlerockgasprices.com and find unleaded at $2.01. Yet as I'm driving home, I note Exxon fleecing the Park Hill patrons at $2.13 for unregular. I feel better about taking a stand for a choice that may prove beneficial down the road.

Final thought - it ain't easy being green, but nothing good for you is ever really easy.

Posted by Ron Sitton at 02:37 PM | Permalink

Editor's Note: A controversy rages in Alabama over whether to continue calling the Alabama-Auburn game the "Iron Bowl."

Over at Tuscaloosa News columnist Tommy Stevenson's new blog, he's asking the question.

We raised the issue last year in this story, which should tell you where we come down on the subject: It ain't "The Iron Bowl" no more.

What do you think? Sign in below and give us your comments. Onto the story...

by Paul Rockne

It's Traditional Rivalry Week for Southeastern Conference football.

Photo by Glynn Wilson

Funny, when Paul "Bear" Bryant was alive, it was hard to get a picture of him where you could see his eyes, especially on the football field. Now, with the sun behind Bryant-Denny Stadium, it's hard to get a photo of his new statue with his eyes in the picture...

There are three of these throw-out-the-record-books games, in which the outcome is the be-all and end-all for rabid fans, on tap this weekend - headed by the Iron Bowl, which annually pits Alabama against Auburn.

In the state of Alabama, polls have shown that over the years some three-fourths of the population - young and old, women and men - watch the Bama-AU battle if it is offered on TV. This year it is being carried live on CBS (not a good omen for Alabama, which has fared poorly on that particular network in the past few years).

Outside of Alabamians, few football fans in the other 49 states will be tuned into CBS Saturday because they will be tuned into the big No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Michigan game over on ABC that will determine the Big Ten title and put the winner into the BCS national championship game.

The Tide-War Eagle game is more important than life or death to a good number of the teams' fans. While it doesn't quite mean that much to the teams and players - winning or losing won't mean a winning or losing season for either and a win won't put either into the Western Division title game - it does have it's importance to both.

For Alabama, it will mean stopping a four-game losing streak to Auburn. A Bama win would also be big in that it would be the first-ever for the Tide in Tuscaloosa. Right now Auburn owns a five-game winning streak in T-Town, owns the Alabama home field. Add to that the fact that, so far, Bama Coach Mike Shula is 0-for against Auburn. No coach can last for long at Alabama if he can't beat Auburn - and Shula knows that.

A win for Auburn would erase the two losses this season and send the Tigers a-bowling with a good taste in their mouths. It would also be win No. 10 for the season for Coach Tommy Tuberville's team. And it would probably mean a new version of the “Fear the Thumb” T-shirts that AU unveiled after last year's Iron Bowl triumph.

People outside Alabama have a hard time understanding exactly why the "Iron Bowl," if we should still call it that, is such a big deal (although ESPN announcers have been debating among themselves if it is or isn't the nation's fiercest rivalry, thus giving the game more national attention).

Remember, this is a series that was put on hold for 41 years over a dispute - following a tie game - over a referee and per diem money paid to players to travel. Alabama owns a 38-31-1 edge in the series, with the lone deadlock coming in that final game before the 41-year break. There have been 22 shutouts in the series (meaning a close, low-scoring game benefits the Tide?), while Auburn owns a 4-1 record in one-point games in the series (meaning a close game is a good omen for AU?).

One final historical fact does seem to lean the Tide's way. This is the eighth time since the series was rekindled in 1948 that both teams come into the Iron Bowl off losses. Alabama holds a 5-2 edge in games that followed the double losses.

The other two other rivalry games set for Saturday include Ole Miss (3-7, 1-5) at No. 9 LSU (8-2, 4-2) and No. 22 Tennessee (7-3, 3-3) at Vanderbilt (4-7, 1-6). The schedule also includes one big non-rivalry matchup - No. 5 Arkansas (9-1, 6-0) at Mississippi State (3-7, 1-5). Arkansas can clinch the Western Division crown with a win over the Bulldogs, or a win over LSU next week.

Other league games on tap this week include a trio of cremepuffs with the SEC taking on two Sun Belt Conference squads and one Divison 1-AA team: No. 3 Florida (9-1) will get no computer points for its national title game bid with a win this week. The Gators host Division 1-AA Western Carolina (2-8). South Carolina (5-5) looks pretty assured of getting that sixth win to become bowl eligible as the Gamecocks host Middle Tennessee (7-3). Kentucky (6-4) will be at home against Louisiana-Monroe (2-7).

Saturday's weekend TV football lineup, other than pay-for-view is as follows:

Miami at Virginia, 11 a.m. (WB)
Yale at Harvard, 11 a.m. (WGN)
Iowa at Minnesota, 11 a.m. (CSS)
Maryland at Boston College, 11 a.m. (ESPN)
Michigan St. at Penn St., 11 a.m. (ESPN2)
Buffalo at Wisconsin, 11 a.m. (ESPNU)
Oklahoma at Baylor,11 a.m. (FSNS)
Tennessee at Vanderbilt, 11:30 a.m. (Lincoln Financial)
Charleston Southern at Coastal Carolina, 12:30 p.m. (SS)
Army at Notre Dame, 1:30 p.m. (NBC)
Michigan at Ohio State, 2:30 p.m. (ABC)
Auburn at Alabama, 2:30 p.m. (CBS)
Alcorn St. at Jackson St., 2:30 p.m. (CSS)
Kansas St. at Kansas, 2:30 p.m. (FSNS)
Bethune Cookman at Florida A&M, 2:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
San Diego St. at TCU, 3 p.m. (VS)
Arkansas St. at Troy, 6 p.m. (CSS)
Washington at Washington St., 6 p.m. (FSNS)
Virginia Tech at Wake Forest, 6 p.m. (ESPN2)
South Florida at Louisville, 6 p.m. (ESPNU)
Rutgers at Cincinnati, 6:45 p.m. (ESPN)
California at Southern Cal, 7 p.m. (ABC)
UCLA at Arizona St., 9:15 p.m. (FSNS)

Posted by Glynn Wilson at 02:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

by Ronald Sitton

NORTH LITTLE ROCK (Nov. 17) - Yesterday, I found another item for my birthday trivia as Arkansas announced the Darren McFadden for Heisman campaign with a postcard sent to journalists nationwide and found on hogwired.com (see below). You can also help McFadden in the Doak Walker Award campaign as you pick through the 10 semi-finalists.

D-Mac, aka dog, seems to be one smooth cat, but not Felix. Yet without that cat, it might be easier for teams to load up on the dog in hopes of landing him in the pound. How silly of me to once think the backfield needed thoroughbreds. Maybe I'm getting old enough to be put out to pasture?

McFadden has already gained 1,219 yards and 12 touchdowns on 197 carries, caught 22 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown, and even passed twice out of the "Wildcat" single-wing package for two touchdowns, which gives him an off-the-charts 518.20 quarterback rating. Those kind of numbers deserve Heisman attention. Former coaches Vince Dooley of Georgia and Pat Dye of Auburn both called McFadden the best Southeastern Conference tailback since Auburn great Bo Jackson, the last SEC running back to win the Heisman. Those kind of references may make Heisman voters think a little harder about just giving the bronze statue to Ohio State's quarterback, especially if Michigan knocks off the Buckeyes this weekend.

Yet I find it interesting that Arkansas may have two 1,000-yard rushers and a 1,000-yard receiver by year's end. Felix Jones' 786 yards and three touchdowns on 101 carries puts the sophomore back in reach of the elusive plateau with two regular-season games and at least a bowl to play, not to mention the SEC Championship game if Arkansas can win one of their final Western division tilts. Jones already sits at fourth in rushing in the SEC, while McFadden tops the league in an offensive juggernaut currently ranked fourth nationally in rushing.

But running isn't the only thing the Razorbacks do well. Monk's 41 catches for 779 yards account for the majority of catches by Hog receivers this year. I'm concerned that the junior seems to be the only receiver quarterback Casey Dick sees. Granted, any 6-6 receiver stands head-and-shoulders over the average-sized cornerback. I expect Monk will not only reach 1,000 yards, but he'll most likely break Anthony Lucas' school record for career touchdown receptions (23) as his eight this year give him 21 in his career. But especially in light of Monk's bruised ribs last week, it's time to spread the ball around in the passing game.

I don't expect Mississippi State to lay down in Starkville, but I also don't expect the Bulldogs to gain very many yards against a defense that's coming into its own as the season winds down. Truism: Offense puts fans in the seats, but defense wins championships. Arkansas 34-14.

Posted by Ron Sitton at 09:20 AM | Permalink

by Ronald Sitton

North Little Rock (Nov. 12) - "Woooooooooooo, Pig! Sooie!"

Last night I watched the Razorbacks humble my alma mater 31-14. If you don't know me, you might think I'd have mixed feelings. The truth: I pull for Tennessee whenever they're not playing Arkansas.

Even though I watched from home, I felt a bond with the majority of the record-breaking 76,758 people who stayed in Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium to see the end. Never before did a win over the Volunteers come so easy.

For a moment, I thought I might be getting superstitious. After all, I've sat in my recliner week-after-week watching the Razorbacks. I thought back on the eight games Arkansas appeared on television and the two games I had to listen to the radio to catch. I remembered sitting in a sports bar in St. Louis to catch the Louisiana-Monroe game; I smile. I'm going somewhere else next week just to keep away from superstition.

For the first time in history, Arkansas will play at least 10 games (and possibly more) on television this year. Prior to this season, Arkansas held a .444 winning percentage in televised games with a 86-108-2 record. Arkansas lost its first nationally televised game to Ole Miss in 1953, and plowed its way to a 20-38-1 record on national television by 1992. Luckily, the Razorbacks owned a 33-16-1 record on regional television in the same period, for a 53-54-2 record on television prior to entering the Southeastern Conference.

Since joining the SEC, Arkansas has enjoyed more televised opportunities than it ever did in its Southwestern Conference days. The 1988 Razorbacks won five regionally televised games to go 7-0 and win the SWC championship, but lost two nationally televised games to end the season. Both the 1999 and 2002 Hogs matched the seven televised games, while the 1998 and 2004 Hogs played eight and the 2001 and 2003 Hogs played nine.

Yet while enjoying more time on the tube, the Hogs enjoyed fewer wins with a 13-20 regional mark and a 20-33 national mark up through last year, for an overall SEC mark of 33-53 for a 38 percent winning total. That's not something you brag about to recruits. However, Nutt owned an 8-9 regional and 17-23 national record in televised games prior to this season.

It's no wonder national voters have had a hard time moving the Hogs up in the rankings. The last time the Razorbacks got in the Top 10 in 2003, they got as high as No. 7 before dropping three straight. In the last two years, Arkansas owned a 1-7 record in nationally televised games and a 1-4 record in regionally televised games. Recruits want to play on TV, but not get beaten on TV.

Following the nationally televised win over the Volunteers, Arkansas jumped to No. 5 in the Associated Press poll and moved to 5-1 in national telecasts and 2-0 in regional telecasts on the year. Winning nearly 88 percent of your TV games also attracts recruits. Arkansas 6-0 SEC start marks the best in school history, while the 9-0 run represents the best since the Hogs started 10-0 in 1998.

Even if no station picks up the opportunity to show the Razorbacks possibly clinching the SEC-West in Starkville next weekend, the remainder of the season appears on national television. The UA-LSU game will mark the team's ninth television appearance this season and a bowl game will make 10 games on TV, with an 11th if the Razorbacks play in the SEC Championship game against Florida.

If that kind of exposure won't help Darren McFadden's Heisman push, I don't know what will.

501 blues

Sports Illustrated's Stewart Mandel blogged that he'd take Arkansas over Florida because "the Razorbacks are the hottest one-loss team in the country –- and Darren McFadden has got to be climbing up that Heisman chart." The Los Angeles Times described his stint as tailback, quarterback and wide receiver against Tennessee as "Star Material." ESPN commentator Ed Cunningham said after the game that he plans to switch his Heisman vote from Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith to McFadden.

According to the post-game comments, even his opponents sing praise. Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer called McFadden "the best back we have seen this year." After chasing McFadden all night, Tennessee linebacker Ryan Karl said, "They have the best running back I've seen since I've been here and I've been here three years.”

McFadden notched his third consecutive 100-yard rushing game - his sixth this season – while running for 181 yards and two touchdowns, throwing for a third touchdown and becoming only the fourth running back to crack the century mark against the Tennessee defense in 34 games. In the last two games, McFadden rushed for 400 yards with four touchdowns.

After rushing for 1,113 yards as a freshman, he has already gained 1,219 yards rushing and scored for the seventh straight game this season. His 12 touchdowns ties for the ninth-most in a single season in school history, while his 23 career touchdowns rank ninth and his 11 career 100-yard games ties for fourth in school history.

Those kind of numbers scream Heisman potential - if not this year, probably next. However, I wince every time McFadden strikes his body-builder pose to show off the "501" on his biceps, which represents the area code of Little Rock, his home town. Granted, he waited until he was nearly on the sideline this game. But it's already cost the Razorbacks an unsportsmanlike penalty against South Carolina this year. A second penalty likely happens in a more important game.

SEC Recap

I got up yesterday in time to watch College Gameday, which came to Fayetteville for the first time in history. If I start prognosticating, it's due to watching the crowd lose its mind when ESPN's Lee Corso put a mascot's hog hat on his head, indicating he thought No. 11 Arkansas would take out Tennessee. Kirk Herbstreit donned a normal version of the hog hat.

I sat in my recliner and watched the Georgia Bulldogs put the first thumpin' of the day on the Auburn Tigers, which blew its chance at a national or conference championship with the 37-15 loss. I'd previously questioned whether the Bulldogs would even want to continue the season after losses to Vanderbilt and Kentucky, but they showed heart in gaining 446 yards and class by not running up the score late while winning the oldest rivalry in the SEC and ending conference play at 4-4.

Mark Richt ranks among the elite SEC coaches in both word and deed. Though my cousin in Birmingham temporarily grieves, I know Georgia's win put smiles on my family's faces in the Atlanta area as the Bulldogs take a week off to prepare for Georgia Tech.

I also caught the now No. 3 Florida Gators squeaking by South Carolina 17-16 in both teams' regular-season conference finale. I say caught because somewhere along the way I snoozed; Tanya let me sleep, bless her heart. I woke up in time to see Spurrier's Gamecocks blow the opportunity to send him home with a smug look.

Florida finished 7-1 in conference, while USC finished 3-5. If South Carolina ever develops depth, look out. For now, USC must content itself with a probable win over Middle Tennessee this week and prepare for the season-ending throw-down against Clemson. On the other hand, Florida gets Western Carolina at home before playing Florida State on the road and finishing Dec. 2 in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.

Though I didn't get to see it, I'm sending out condolences to my sister-in-law following Vanderbilt's latest heartbreak. Her alma mater has not gone bowling since 1982, this time stopped by a Kentucky team becoming bowl-eligible for the first time since 1999.

Vanderbilt finishes its season this weekend against Tennessee, which fell to No. 22 in the AP poll following its loss to the Razorbacks. The Volunteers finish the SEC slate a week later against Kentucky, which next feasts on Louisiana-Monroe. Unless my alma mater implodes, look for Atlanta to turn orange for the Chick-Fil-A bowl.

The western conference features a two-game switch and two bowls to finish the season.

Arkansas travels to Mississippi State and LSU hosts Ole Miss this week. The day after Thanksgiving features LSU at Arkansas, while the Rebels host the Egg Bowl in the season finale for both Mississippi schools.

I believe the Bulldogs present the bigger challenge this week as the Tigers should devour Ole Miss like Tiger Bait. I realize Ed Orgeron possesses some Cajun flavor, but the Rebels present less resistance than hot boudoin at a night game at Tiger Stadium.

MSU basked in the glory of beating Alabama last week while watching two weeks' worth of film on Arkansas. I expect Sylvester Croom to lay a trap for Arkansas, which might be looking forward to its Little Rock finale against LSU. I expect Houston Nutt to convince the Hogs that they need to beat MSU to clinch so they can play loose after Thanksgiving turkey. I also expect an Arkansas win.

That leaves the Iron Bowl. Though not the finale the Egg Bowl will be, the Iron Bowl completes the SEC schedule for both teams. I'm sure Mike Shula is telling his players 7-5 looks better to the bowls than 6-6 and a four-game SEC-losing streak. Tommy Tuberville sits in a stupor following another daylight loss. Why can't all Auburn games be played at night? No. 15 Auburn falls to 'Bama in Tuscaloosa and the Shula haters shut up ... for awhile.

HOOPS

When Arkansas signed Patrick Beverly in April, an old friend e-mailed and said Beverly would be the "shooter we have been waiting for." I skeptically replied I'd wait and see. Beverley scored 29 points as a freshman in the season opener. The record for most points in a season opener? Sidney Moncrief dropped 30 as a senior against Oklahoma. My eyes are opening.

Posted by Ron Sitton at 04:13 PM | Permalink

Good writing is good writing … it sets you free, if you are an artist.
- Anonymous

by Glynn Wilson

TUSCALOOSA, Ala., Nov. 11 - It is an almost surreal feeling to be standing in the cold fog within earshot of Bryant-Denny stadium during an Alabama football game and there's not a person in sight. Not a soul yelling "Roll Tide."

At this moment Alabama is hanging in there with LSU and only trailing by a touchdown in the first half. But there is not a sound around the campus in the dark.

Except for the voices coming from the TV.

Half of the inhabitants from here are on the road too, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Sipping on just enough Jamaican rum to keep the bones warm, I am watching the game and at the same time trying to think some more about what I might say to journalism students at the university about the state of writing for the Web.

While LSU punts, the first thing I want to tell them is why I call it "writing for the Web" and not "writing for the Net."

It's an easy slip to make. I've likely done it myself a few times.

But it is wrong, and being right matters.

So the first rule of any kind of writing - for a Weblog with 50 readers, an independent news Website like this one with 75,000 visitors a month or the Washington Post's Website with 6 million - is to do the reporting so you know what you are talking about to get it right.

It is hard if you are by yourself and don't have much of a budget. But as I said in a recent column, "you can't fake it and make it."

This is sometimes called accuracy in the textbooks and in the biz, although the temptation is great among the creative writing crowd, sometimes, to stretch it. It is true in journalism and in history.

If it is not somehow accurate, it should be referred to as fiction. Which is fine. And quite publishable on the Web.

There's an old American writing saw that goes, "Don't let the facts stand in the way of a good story."

Not anymore.

Not in the intense political and economic media climate that has heated up in the past few years with the rise of the Internet like the average global temperature is rising due to global warming.

Don't believe me. Or the president.

But it is true.

Oh, wait. Bama just fumbled away a chance to tie the game at half time. Time out...

Oh, well. As I was saying, the Net is the almost endless series of computers connected all over the world by telephone lines and cables. There is no way to publish anything on the Net without the World Wide Web.

"Web browsers" are programmed to turn zeros and ones of computer code into words and pictures on your computer screen. That's why I recently started calling it "the Web Press" - so people will know.

It deserves the same First Amendment rights as newspapers printed with ink on paper in our view.

The Net is different.

If you use an Internet e-mail program such as Microsoft Entourage, for example, rather than Web mail, you are simply passing along information on the Net. People cannot read it on the Web. So it is not "printed" or "published" in any sense of the term, unless it is being archived on the Web like posts to a listserv.

Think of the Net as a series of service roads and on-ramps to the Information Superhighway - another name for the Web. Web sites have addresses on that highway because even scientists and computer programmers are sometimes creative people too.

So are football players, given some of the trick plays attempted in the game.

So, you may ask, now fully understanding the Net and the Web: "What is a blog?"

Wait. The third quarter is grinding along with the Tide still trailing, but it's time to sip on a Yuengling before tackling that question...

The best way to look at it is that a blog is simply newfangled software that makes it easy to publish on the Web.

I don't much like the term blog, so I call it a journal. Hopefully that helps people understand it.

You know, a journal can be a diary, the name of a newspaper or a scholarly publication dedicated to research. Or it can be all three.

As educated writers hanging around journalism training programs, we know all about "new journalism." But the tradition goes back further than that. In a journal such as Henry David Thoreau's Walden, or a book of essays like some of Ed Abbey's work, including Desert Solitaire, the writer injects himself into the story line. Hunter Thompson did it in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

This is different than what we think of as "objective journalism." Although in a sense, I would argue that it can in some ways be more "scientifically objective" than "economically objective."

I like to think of the Web as the printing press for the "new" new journalism.

Hey, it's not unlike what happens over time in nature. It evolves. Language evolves. Writing evolves. The way we take and display photographs evolves. The game of football evolves.

So-called "bloggers" just happen to be on the current cutting edge of the writing and publishing evolution. The medium changes the message.

Some would rather sit on the sidelines and try to wait and see what the future looks like. Funny, they never seem to get there. But maybe they make money all along the way...

The special thing about the blog format is that it allows you build to an archive and a knowledge base that is linkable from other Web publishers in your community - or all over the world.

One problem. If those links only work for a couple of weeks or so, whatever publication you work for is not making an investment in the online library of the future.

Which brings us to the subject of the state of newspapers or even broadcast news outlets online.

Point one is that if they require you to pay for the "privilege" of using their Website as a news, information, entertainment and advertising source, or even require demographic information on you to login, they are limiting their potential audience and ultimately their revenue stream.

Traffic is the name of the game in making money online.

Making a few bucks off an online subscription will never make up for the lost revenue of dropping print circulation and advertising pages, so I argue they should abandon the subscription model and go open. Build the largest audience possible into the uncertain future.

But then I'm a charter member of the "free" free online club. Even Sen. John McCain is into it as one of the staunchest defenders of no taxes on the use of the Net - to get to the Web.

Whoa. It ain't looking so great for the Crimson Tide on the bayou. And outside, it is getting even colder and I am yet to hear a "Roll Tide" or "yeehaw."

It may hit a low of 36 tonight, and it is bone-aching wet. You feel it especially if you suffer from arthritis like I do sometimes in my knuckles and knees.

[ Note to self: Notice the new hyphenated term "bone-aching." It's more accurate than the cliche it replaces. Quiz question designed to provoke thought, not rote memory: Can you name the missing cliche? ].

Oh, to hell with the details.

Punt Bama punt.

It does not matter whether you are writing for a newspaper or a book or a television show - or a blog.

To build an audience, writing well is important. (Nice pictures help too).

Should you publish your own Website or a blog journal?

If you are an aspiring professional, think hard about it first. It is a great way to get your name out there and market yourself. I highly recommend it as a creative outlet and even a place to learn more about how to write; a place you can practice writing and build an audience too.

But don't forget this. Be careful what you say. Once it's out there in the ether, so to speak, it can help your reputation - or it can come back to bite you.

For myself, the decision to go independent involved an analysis of the state of the U.S. news business and American politics - an issue of freedom.

In producing your very on online newspaper and/or journal, you have in front of you an unlimited news hole (space to write) - and best of all, no corporate publishers or editors to limit your freedom.

That includes the freedom to screw up, but what the heck.

When it comes right down to it, I actually believe in freedom. And I happen to like a lot of it - maybe even more than a hardcore Tide fan likes a winning season.

The Tide lost tonight, but think about it. Freedom.

What is more important to you: Security or freedom?

Do you want to be a professional - or an artist?

Do you think it is possible today to be both?

And what does that have to do with the Democrats taking back control of Congress?

Ah, tricky question. Better left for another day. That would require an essay on objectivity.

I'm not in the mood, tonight. And it's time to update the headlines for Sunday, time to light another smoke and crack another Yuengling.

Roll Tide anyway.

Posted by Glynn Wilson at 11:01 PM | Permalink

By Ronald Sitton

North Little Rock (Nov. 10) – My alma mater plays my life-long love this weekend.

As a graduate student at the University of Tennessee, I often faced too much work on the weekends to take time out to attend the football games at Neyland Stadium. Yet I never missed the Arkansas game.

I always dressed in my Razorback paraphernalia and sat in the UT student section. You can imagine the fuss: students shouting occasional obscenities and throwing ice, popcorn, etc., all in fun of course. I’d invite them to take my journalism course. We’d laugh; the Hogs would lose and all of my students were happy.

I saw “The Fumble” unfold right in front of me after my Tennessee friends left the game because it was too rainy and the Volunteers were losing in a battle of unbeatens in Houston Nutt’s first year as Head Hog. I sat in disbelief as Tennessee drove for the winning touchdown, 28-24. Two years later, I took my roommate to her first UA-UT game and watched the Vols thump the Hogs, 63-20. I refused to leave though my fellow Tennessee student body gave me plenty of good-hearted encouragement.

I quit going to UA-UT games; the Hogs play better when I’m stuck in front of a TV. I vividly remember Barry Lunney Jr. leading the Razorbacks to an upset of No. 3 Tennessee in Joe Kines’ season as interim head coach. I watched Clint Stoerner and Anthony Lucas hook up in Fayetteville to redeem the quarterback for “The Fumble,” 28-24. Of course, I also watched the last six-overtime game in Knoxville.

I’ve missed the rivalry.

OK, it’s hard to call anything a rivalry when one school’s on the losing side of a 12-2 run. But Arkansas usually plays Tennessee close. That and last week’s win over South Carolina convinced ESPN’s “College Game Day” to shoot live from Fayetteville for the first time in the show’s 13-year run. I imagine the Razorback Nation will give them a warm, perhaps record-setting, welcome.

If the Razorbacks win, they only need one more to wrap up a Western division championship and a trip to the Southeastern Conference championship. If the Hogs lose, they’re still looking at the Cotton Bowl at worst. The Volunteers can play for little more than pride and a second-tier bowl after losing to LSU last week. Tennessee’s only eighth against the rush in the SEC. This ain’t Rocky Top: Arkansas 35, Tennessee 28.

Now that I’m finished perseverating, I plan to get ready to go downtown tonight to catch up with old friends and head to the best seafood in town, The Flying Fish in The River Market. After that, we’re heading to The Art Scene in downtown North Little Rock. We went there a few weeks ago to see about the place I had only written about. We painted and enjoyed ourselves for more than five hours for only $30. I hope to do the same tonight. :)

Photo by Tanya Sitton

He Ain't No Tattau -- Ron Sitton sits with his first attempt at painting since his elementary days.

Posted by Ron Sitton at 04:32 PM | Permalink

The return of the king … a different kind of homecoming … the oldie-but-goodie hit song, “The Boys (make that “boy”) Are Back in Town” … all could be the theme for the SEC Game of the Week in this, the second week of November, 2006.

Steve Spurrier, the ex-Florida Gator head coach who brought the national championship trophy to Gainesville in 1996 and built a dynasty on the way to the title, returns to The Swamp Saturday, bringing his South Carolina Gamecocks in to face Urban Myer’s version of the Gators.

This game has more story lines than a national election. Spurrier is the winningest coach in the SEC, with a 95-21 record at Florida and now South Carolina. His name stands atop a list of legends. No. 2 is Tennessee’s Gen. Robert Neyland. No. 3 is Alabama’s Frank Thomas, followed in fourth place by Alabama’s (and Kentucky’s) Paul Bear Bryant.

Spurrier, who won a Heisman Trophy while playing for Florida, will be making his third trip to Gainesville this season and he is only hoping the third trip will be as pleasant an experience for him as the first two. Spurrier attended a reunion for the ’96 national title team in early September and then later in the month came back to be inducted into the Florida Ring of Honor.

Another question Saturday in Gainesville is can Spurrier keep his winning streak alive in Florida-South Carolina games? Spurrier has never been on the losing sideline of a Gator-Gamecock matchup. He posted a 10-0 record at Florida against South Carolina and is 1-0 at S.C. vs. the Gators. Spurrier’s Gamecocks beat Meyer’s Gators last season in Columbia, S.C. – the first and only time Florida has lost to S.C.

And while the storyline being watched by most is that of Meyer trying to escape the shadow of Spurrier’s legend at Florida, there are some real-time storylines as well. Spurrier bringing his 5-4 Gamecocks into Florida hoping for a win that will make his team bowl eligible and send South Carolina bowling for a second year in row. Meyer has his 8-1 Gators in the national championship mix, ranked No. 6 in AP and No. 4 on the BCS list.

Other league games on tap this week include: Georgia (6-4, 3-4) at Auburn (9-1, 5-10), Vanderbilt (4-6, 1-5) at Kentucky (5-4, 3-3), Tennessee (7-2, 3-2) at Arkansas (8-1, 5-0), Alabama (6-4, 2-4) at LSU (7-2, 3-2).

This week’s college football TV schedule kicks off tonight with Texas El-Paso at UAB live from Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., at 7 p.m. on ESPN2. Saturday’s weekend TV lineup, other than pay-for-view is as follows:

N.C. St. at Clemson, 11 a.m. (WB)
Samford at Jacksonville St., 11 a.m. (CSS)
Wisconsin at Iowa, 11 a.m. (ESPN)
Cincinnati at W. Virginia, 11 a.m. (ESPN2)
Minnesota at Michigan St., 11 a.m. (ESPNU)
Georgia at Auburn, 11:30 a.m. (Lincoln Financial)
Baylor at Okla. St.,11:30 a.m. (FSNS)
Miami at Maryland, 2:30 p.m. (ABC)
South Carolina at Florida, 2:30 p.m. (CBS)
Michigan at Indiana, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Texas Tech at Oklahoma, 6 p.m. (FSNS)
Tennessee at Arkansas, 6 p.m. (ESPN2)
Duke at Boston College, 6 p.m. (ESPNU)
Alabama at LSU, 6:45 p.m. (ESPN)
Wake Forest at FSU , 7 p.m. (ABC)

Posted by Glynn Wilson at 11:39 AM | Permalink

Rumsfeld Ousted As Secretary of Defense

by Glynn Wilson

The sweep is final and complete. The Democrats will now control a majority in both the Senate and the House for the first time since 1994 as the two close races still in play on Wednesday in Montana and Virginia ended up going to the Democrats, according to the Associated Press and other news organizations.

Jim Webb's close victory over incumbent Sen. George Allen gave Democrats their 51st seat in the Senate, an astonishing turnabout at the hands of voters unhappy with Republican scandal and unabated violence in Iraq, according to the AP, which called the race first this evening.

The Senate teetered at 50 Democrats, 49 Republicans and one independent for most of Wednesday, with Virginia hanging in the balance. Webb's victory ended Republican hopes of eking out a 50-50 split, with Vice President Dick Cheney wielding tie-breaking authority.

The AP contacted election officials in all 134 localities where voting occurred, obtaining updated numbers Wednesday. About half the localities said they had completed their postelection canvassing and nearly all had counted outstanding absentees. Most were expected to be finished by Friday.

The new AP count showed Webb with 1,172,538 votes and Allen with 1,165,302, a difference of 7,236.

An adviser to Allen, speaking on condition of anonymity because his boss had not formally decided to end the campaign, told the AP the senator wanted to wait until most of canvassing was completed before announcing his decision, possibly as early as Thursday evening. The adviser said that Allen was disinclined to request a recount if the final vote spread was similar to that of election night.

The victory puts Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., in line to become Senate majority leader.

Combined with the major victory in taking over the House of Representatives on Tuesday by re-capturing at least 27 seats and leading in four other races, Election Day 2006 was a repudiation of the failed policies of President George W. Bush.

In an acknowledgement of that defeat and the failed war strategy in Iraq, the president handed the Democrats the head of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in a last gasp attempt to appear willing to acknowledge mistakes and avoid total lame duck status by appearing to be willing to work in a non-partison fashion for his last two years in office.

Rumsfeld resigned with a short statement in which he quoted the great British war strategist of World War II Winston Churchill.

To paraphrase Richard Nixon, let's make one thing perfectly clear. Mr. Rumsfeld, you are no Winston Churchill.

Bush replaced Rumsfeld with Robert Gates, who may come under close scrutiny during his Senate confirmation hearings, which will now be led by Democrats, for his controversial role in the Iran-Contra scandal when he worked for then-Vice President George H.W. Bush in the late 1980s.

Posted by Glynn Wilson at 10:04 AM | Permalink

by Glynn Wilson

Turning to the polls online to look for hope or impending disaster on election day 2006, it is surprising to find the online pollsters more optimistic for the Democratic Party than even the national corporate broadcast media at this point.

It's a balanced picture on TV, of course, with the Republicans coming back in the end.

But the best pollsters seem to think it's over and the Democrats will take back both houses of Congress.

We are not so sure, due to the "too close to call" nature of many races - and our fear that the Republicans will likely do their best to disengranchise voters where they can and "steal" any close election.

Let's hope the pollsters are right.

According to the Cook Political Report, the Democratic Party should pick up 20 to 35 seats in the House, four to six seats in the Senate and a six to eight more governor's races than the GOP.

"All Monday there was considerable talk that the national picture had suddenly changed and that there was a significant tightening in the election," Cook says, but it's not true.

"This was based in part on two national polls that showed the generic congressional ballot test having tightened to four (Pew) and six (ABC/Wash Post) points," he says.

But seven national polls have been conducted since Wednesday, November 1 and give Democrats an average lead of 11.6 percentage points, "larger than any party has had going into an Election Day in memory."

Even if you knock five points off of it for the margin of error, it's 6.6 percentage points, he says, "bigger than the advantage that Republicans had going into 1994."

"Furthermore, there is no evidence of a trend in the generic ballot test," he argues.

In chronological order of interviewing (using the midpoint of field dates), the margins were: 15 points (Time 11/1-3), 6 points (ABC/Wash Post), 4 points (Pew), 7 points (Gallup), 16 points (Newsweek), 20 points (CNN) and 13 points (Fox).

In individual races, some Republican pollsters see some movement, voters "coming home," in their direction, and/or some increase in intensity among GOP voters," he says. But "all seem to think that it was too little, too late to significantly change the outcome."

It might be enough to save a few candidates, but no one thinks it is a major change in the dynamics of races.

For all the details on each individual race, go to the Cook Political Report.

Sabato's Crystal Ball is predicting about the same result, 4, 5 or 6 seats going to the Democrats, "resting party control of the Senate squarely on the edge of the butter knife," according to Larry J. Sabato and David Wasserman of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

"We think the Democrats may replicate their feat from 1986 (the sixth year election of Ronald Reagan's Presidency) and capture just enough seats to take over," they said. When they add together all their predictions, Democrats pick up six seats, "sufficient to wrest control from the GOP."

For all the details on each individual race, go to Sabato's Crystal Ball.

So, it looks good tonight, but don't count on it. Go to the polls yourself and make it happen. Your future freedom depends on it.

If the power does change hands, it means above all, that Rep. John Conyers will become chair of the House Judiciary Committee. No one is campaigning on the issue, but he will no doubt launch a major investigation into President George W. Bush's war crimes and bring articles of impeachment against the dicktater in chief.

He's already drawn up the articles and held hearings in the Capitol basement, since the Republicans would not use their Constitutional oversight responsibilities to do the right thing for their country. They won't even give him a room or put his hearings on the agenda.

It's at least worth an investigation, some hearings, a national discussion and a damn vote. Otherwise, we are a democratic republic no more and the world will never believe us or look up to us again...

Posted by Glynn Wilson at 07:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

By Ronald Sitton

I sat in my recliner yesterday watching football and pondering the fates that force me to forego dairy products and fats during my favorite feasting time of the year. (Fie!)

Apparently stress and gluttony sour the stomach. My mind says, “Fix it now and feel better later;” my stomach screams, “Birthday! Thanksgiving! Christmas! Feast, feast, FEAST!” My wife reminds me she wants to grow old with me ... I guess I’m dieting over the holidaze.

Tanya immediately tested my resolve by leaving me alone for hours watching the wacky world of Southeastern Conference football. My stomach turned over watching Alabama fall to Mississippi State 24-16, though I’m happy Sylvester Croom finally got a quality win. I thought MSU would be the easy game remaining on Arkansas’ schedule, now I’m not so sure as the Bulldogs snapped a 23-conference-game losing streak on the road.

Also prior to the evening’s festivities, Kentucky beat Georgia 24-21. The first Wildcat win since 1996 leaves the Wildcats one win shy of bowl eligibility. While the Bulldogs are eligible, it’ll be interesting to see if they’ll want to go bowling after games like this.

The main appetizer for the evening involved Louisiana State and Tennessee, my alma mater. I pull for UT when the Volunteers are not playing Arkansas. Unfortunately, the defense could not stop JaMarcus Russell and LSU silenced the orange-clad crowd 28-24.

About this time, the fact I hadn’t eaten the majority of the day registered in my head and stomach, calling me to check out the pantry. Evil … chocolate Little Debbies and leftover peanut-butter cups stared at me from the shelves, calling out “It’s only a little, Ron … you won’t feel a thing.” For a second I thought about cereal, but Dr. J recommended skim milk or soy milk – I’ll pass.

And there before my wandering eyes … popcorn. Why it’s genius! Something that truly goes along with football and it’s low-fat and tasty and … I’m not the biggest fan of popcorn. Remember back when everyone gave decorative cans of the tri-flavored popcorn for Christmas? I got five or six cans of popcorn that year and resolved to hold a dirty Santa party on Christmas night forevermore.

But to tell you the truth, the popcorn looks damn good right now. So I chow.

Jim stops by to watch the Hogs play the Gamecocks. I point out when Mitch Mustain gets pulled after his interception that it goes against common sense to change horses midstream when your starting quarterback is undefeated. I’ll give Houston Nutt credit for sending a message about taking care of the ball. That said, if he loses, the critics howl.

Casey Dick looks good throwing the ball 11-for-19 for 228 yards and obviously relies on Marcus Monk, who grabs nearly everything while catching a career-best 192 yards. Darren McFadden motored along to a career-high 219 yards and two touchdowns, while cracking the 1,000-yard-barrier for the second straight year. The only problem with the offense is sometimes it scores too quickly.

After watching the defensive line limit the Gamecock running game, I made the mistake of telling Jim that our defense looks like a complete SEC unit for the first time in years. Voila. Quarterback change and our defensive backs looked spotty as South Carolina moved the ball at will for a 92- and a 99-yard drive. Senior Darius Vinnett stepped in front of Blake Mitchell’s one mistake to save the game.

While Arkansas improved to 8-1 with the 26-20 win on the road and beat the Old Ball Coach for the first time in history, it lost Michael Grant, the safety who stepped up in pre-season to solidify that position. Money says Tennessee looks to exploit the secondary next weekend in Fayetteville.

Most likely, though, the fans and the media will focus on the quarterback situation. Though he only played a series, Mustain moves to 60-2 as a starter since the 8th grade. Can Arkansas effectively use two quarterbacks? Will Mustain take one for the team and learn from this experience to become one of the best Razorback quarterbacks in history? Does it matter who’s behind center as long as the offensive line opens holes for the best set of running backs in the country?

After the LSU loss, a couple of Volunteers got in trouble with the law, including starting running back Arian Foster. Combine that with the deflating LSU loss and the uncertainty surrounding starting quarterback Eric Ainge, and Arkansas should be favored going into this game even though the Hogs have only won twice in the 14 meetings between the two teams.

Tennessee vs. Arkansas gets me antsy and I have one peanut-butter cup. Ouch. Where’s the Prevacid? I cannot believe they’re relegating this game to ESPN2. Arkansas remains the only undefeated SEC team, yet CBS picked up South Carolina at No. 6 Florida at 3:30 p.m. since Steve Spurrier’s headed back to the Swamp to coach an opposing team for the first time since he left. No. 5 Auburn hosts Georgia on Lincoln Financial Sports at 12:30 p.m. as Tommy Tuberville patiently waits for the Hogs to stump their toes.

SECsports.com promotes the Hogs-Vols as “a nationally-televised contest;” should that make Hog fans feel better to be on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. instead of on ESPN at 7:45, when LSU hosts Alabama? I need to calm down and take one for the team. The best thing that could happen to Arkansas is to fly under the radar and let the wins take care of the standings. At least the undefeated conference record pushed the Hogs to No. 11 in the Associated Press poll, just ahead of No. 12 LSU and No. 13 Tennessee.

With all the craziness that IS SEC football, I can only wait for next weekend to see if the Razorbacks can finish what they’ve started. By that time we’ll also know who’s going to hold all of these offices after the midterm elections and we’ll find out about the consequences for the real battles overseas. Between SEC football and midterm elections, why would anyone’s stomach be upset?

Posted by Ron Sitton at 02:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The SEC spotlight falls on Tennessee Saturday, where the Vols (No. 8 in the national polls) will entertain No. l 3 LSU in the only matchup of ranked teams on the SEC slate this weekend.

The game is a big one for Tennessee (3-1 in league play, 7-1 overall) because the Vols are one of the many one-loss teams still hoping to run the table the rest of the way and somehow make it to the BCS title game. Teams with two losses, like LSU (2-2, 6-2) are already out of that discussion.

That said, Saturday’s tussle is very important to the Bayou Bengals as well. Fair or not, there’s a feeling around Baton Rouge that this week’s trip to Tennessee is a defining moment for the LSU program, it’s quarterback and head coach.

The questions haunt LSU: Can QB JaMarcus Russell win the big road game? Can Tiger head coach Les Miles overcome the stigma that fans have attached to him – a coach who took Nick Saban’s leftover talent and then underachieved with it?

Russell, a junior from Williamson High in Mobile, has great numberfs for the season – 135-for-194 in passing for 1,190 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has thrown just four interceptions in the 194 attempts – however, all four of the picks came in the two games the Tigers lost, to Auburn and Florida.

The game, on paper, looks to be an entertaining offensive showcase. LSU and Tennessee rank first and second, respectively, in scoring in the SEC. Tennessee, behind QB Erik Ainge, leads the SEC in passing offense and total offense, with LSU’s Russell right behind him in second place. LSU and Tennessee are two of the 12 teams in the nation converting on at least one-half of their third-down conversions. And if the Vols are trailing heading into the fourth quarter, they certainly shouldn’t panic. Tennessee has overcome fourth-period deficits in each of its past three games to win.

Other league games on tap this week include Arkansas State (5-3) at No. 6 Auburn (8-1, 5-1), Mississippi State (2-7, 0-5) at Alabama (6-3, 2-3), Florida (7-1, 5-1) at Vanderbilt (4-5, 1-4), Georgia (6-3, 3-3) at Kentucky (4-4, 2-3), Northwestern State (4-4) at Ole Miss (2-7, 1-5) and Arkansas (7-1, 4-0) at South Carolina (5-3, 3-3).

This week’s college football TV schedule kicks off tonight with an armed services special - Air Force at Army - at 7 p.m. on ESPN2. Saturday’s weekend TV lineup, other than pay-for-view is as follows:

Missouri at Nebraska, 11 a.m. (ABC)
Virginia at FSU, 11 a.m. (WB)
Wofford at Georgia Southern, 11 a.m. (CSS)
Baylor at Texas Tech, 11 a.m. (FSNS)
Maryland at Clemson, 11 a.m. (ESPN2)
Ball St. at Michigan, 11 a.m. (ESPNU)
Miss. St. at Alabama, 11:30 a.m. (Lincoln Financial)
North Carolina at Notre Dame,1:30 a.m. (NBC)
TCU at UNLV, 2 p.m. (VS)
LSU at Tennessee, 2:30 p.m. (CBS)
Kansas St. at Colorado, 2:30 p.m. (FSNS)
Ohio St. at Illinois, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Purdue at Michigan St., 2:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Washington at Oregon, 2:30 p.m. (TBS)
La. Lafayette at Troy, 6 p.m. (CSS)
Southern Cal. at Stanford , 6 p.m. (FSNS)
Oklahoma St. at Texas, 6 p.m. (TBS)
Boston College at Wake Forest, 6 p.m. (ESPN2)
Georgia Tech at N.C., 6 p.m. (ESPNU)
Arkansas at S.C., 6:45 p.m. (ESPN)
Virginia Tech at Miami, 7 p.m. (ABC)

Sunday’s ESPN game at 7 p.m. will feature Southern Miss at Memphis.

Posted by Glynn Wilson at 09:18 AM | Permalink