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SEC: Kliff Kingsbury
AutoZone Liberty Bowl will reunite familiar faces
Laughs and jokes were exchanged upon the announcement that Texas A&M and West Virginia would meet in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Head coaches Kevin Sumlin and Dana Holgorsen and Aggies offensive coordinator Jake Spavital are among those involved who once shared time on the same coaching staff -- relationships that provide an intriguing backdrop for the reunion.
They're part of a group that shared time together five years ago, interestingly, while trying to get to a Liberty Bowl. During the 2009 season at Houston, Sumlin was head coach and Holgorsen was offensive coordinator. Clarence McKinney, Texas A&M's current running backs coach, held the same position with the Cougars at the time. Spavital was a graduate assistant and current Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury was the offensive quality control coach.
Making it more interesting was the fact that, at one time, Holgorsen, Kingsbury and Spavital all lived together in an apartment in Houston's Midtown district, a trendy neighborhood with a thriving business scene and nightlife. What could happen with three young, single coaches in close proximity to such an area?
"I'd better not say anything about that," Sumlin said, with laughter. "I didn't go over there at all. Anybody who knows Houston knows that Midtown has a lot of nice restaurants that stay open late at night, I'll just put it that way."
When he took over at Houston in 2008, Sumlin made Holgorsen -- who he describes as "brilliant" -- one of his first hires to install an innovative up-tempo offensive attack.
Holgorsen called Kingsbury, who was still pursuing a pro playing career, that summer. Sumlin agreed to add Kingsbury to the staff while also allowing him time to try out for the NFL.
"He spent more time out there throwing the football and practicing with guys than he did coaching," Sumlin joked. "Over time, thank God he got cut."
In 2009, Spavital's older brother, Houston defensive backs coach Zac Spavital, encouraged Jake to join the Cougars staff. Zac saw promise in Sumlin and Holgorsen and thought Jake could benefit from working with them. After interviewing with Holgorsen, Jake was hired on the spot.
"I loved him," Spavital said of Holgorsen. "He was great to me. He coaches his ass off. He's hard on the kids, he was hard on me. But he would separate work on and off the field. He was hard on me about things and he wanted me to grow as a coach, but then afterwards he was one of my buddies and he treated me that way."
Kingsbury was already living with Holgorsen in that two-bedroom apartment. Spavital would go from couch to couch, from his brother's to Holgorsen's.
"I wanted to be around Dana the whole time, so I'd sleep on his couch a lot," Spavital said. "I'd sleep at the offices, depending on whether Dana had his kids in or anything. I'd just move around because it's a two-bedroom apartment."
The bachelor pad was pretty bare in terms of furnishings.
"We were very minimalist in that household," Kingsbury said. "There wasn't anything to get in your way. ... You know, in Houston there's a lot to do. We would be there to sleep and that was about it."
Added Spavital: "There was no silverware and plates and stuff like that. It was two rooms, two bathrooms and a couch and a TV. We never were there."
McKinney, who joined the staff in 2008, recalls some of the late-night meetings the offensive staff had.
"We spent a lot of time together in meetings after practice," McKinney said. "We'd go from the office to somewhere down the street to grab something to eat, grab some drinks and the meetings would still be going until 2 in the morning."
Certainly it wasn't only football, though, right? When Holgorsen, Spavital and Kingsbury hit the town, there have to be some entertaining stories.
"You can't put that in the paper," Kingsbury said coyly. "It was fun."
Each of them have distinct traits. There's Holgorsen, the casual dresser ("I don't even think Dana owned a suit until he got to Oklahoma State," Spavital said. "He would always say, 'How many games has that suit won?'") and Red Bull devotee ("It's amazing that he's still functioning," Kingsbury said. "I guess his kidneys are pretty strong. He gets after those.").
There's well-dressed Kingsbury, who might still be holding on to NFL dreams. ("If Kliff could play right now, he'd play," Spavital said. "That's why Kliff works out all the time, because I know he believes that he can still do it.")
And there's Spavital, the youngest who deferred to his elders. ("He listens a lot," Kingsbury said. "He's not just going to talk a lot, he likes to listen and soak things up.")
It wasn't just tomfoolery; they had significant success. The 2009 Houston team ranked No. 1 nationally in offense (563.4 yards per game; 42.2 points per game), upset Oklahoma State in Stillwater and triumphed over Texas Tech. The 10-4 Cougars came within an incomplete pass of a Conference USA championship and a Liberty Bowl berth.
As each moved on, they kept in touch daily. They've traded game film, though that practice stopped between Holgorsen and Kingsbury once they became opposing Big 12 head coaches. They still talk, but the relationship dynamic is different now.
It didn't change for Spavital and Holgorsen until this year's Liberty Bowl announcement. They still communicate daily, but they obviously weren't trading tape or exchanging ideas in preparation for Monday's game (2 p.m. ET, ESPN).
"He gave us all his offensive stuff and we didn't give him any of our offensive stuff; I pulled the wool over his eyes in the last couple of weeks," Holgorsen joked. "When it gets competitive and you've got to play a game, you're going to have a good time talking about anything than actual football."
SEC viewer's guide: Week 3
UMass at Vanderbilt, FSN
When these teams met last season in Foxborough, Massachusetts, it was a competitive game before a Vandy team that would win nine games locked down a 24-7 victory. UMass gave Colorado a scare before falling 41-38 last weekend, so reeling Vandy had better come to play or it might be on upset alert.
Central Florida at No. 20 Missouri, SEC Network
When last we saw UCF, the Knights were suffering a heartbreaking 26-24 loss to Penn State in their season-opening matchup in Ireland. Mizzou is a 10-point favorite over the Knights, who won the Fiesta Bowl last season before stars Blake Bortles and Storm Johnson jumped to the NFL, but the opener made it clear that UCF can still compete with Power 5 opposition.
3:30 p.m. ET
Georgia's visits to South Carolina are almost always must-see TV, although these trips are rarely much fun for Mark Richt's Bulldogs. Even when Georgia has won in Columbia -- and it has lost its past two trips to Williams-Brice Stadium -- the outcome has frequently been in doubt even in the final seconds. Heisman Trophy candidate Todd Gurley should get plenty of work for Georgia in this one.
Arkansas at Texas Tech, ABC
Here's a fun clash of cultures for a national TV audience, which will see Bret Bielema's ground-and-pound face Kliff Kingsbury's passing attack. Texas Tech has a couple of nail-biter nonconference wins on its resume, while Arkansas is coming off a 73-7 drubbing of Nicholls State. The home team is a narrow favorite here, but this could be a good one.
4 p.m. ET
Louisiana-Lafayette at No. 14 Ole Miss, SEC Network
This looked like a sneaky good game before the season, with ULL coming off three consecutive bowl appearances. But the Ragin' Cajuns absorbed a 48-20 beating from Louisiana Tech last week and Ole Miss dominated Vanderbilt in Nashville, so it doesn't look like an upset is in the cards for this one.
Mississippi State at South Alabama, ESPNEWS
This will be the first time an SEC opponent has played at South Alabama and excitement is high in Mobile -- particularly after the Jaguars opened the season with a win and Mississippi State struggled to put away UAB for a while last Saturday. Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott and company need to turn in a complete performance with a trip to LSU ahead next week.
6 p.m. ET
Southern Mississippi at No. 3 Alabama, ESPN2
Alabama gets another opportunity to kick around an overmatched nonconference opponent, just as it did last week against Florida Atlantic. The good news for the Crimson Tide, a 48-point favorite, is that most of the starters should be watching from the sideline in the second half, resting up for a visit from Florida next Saturday.
7 p.m. ET
Louisiana-Monroe at No. 10 LSU, ESPNU
Les Miles is a perfect 11-0 against in-state opponents and most of those games have been blowouts, so there is little reason to believe this will be a close contest. That said, the Tigers' secondary should face a reasonable challenge from the Warhawks' no-huddle spread attack.
7:30 p.m. ET
Kentucky at Florida, ESPN
Wildcats running back Jojo Kemp (a native Floridian) poked the bear this week when he made comments about how good it would feel to beat a couple of his former high school teammates -- and current Gators -- and rub it in their faces. Kentucky looks to be a greatly improved team, but it will be a major upset if this game is still close in the fourth quarter, and Kemp's comments probably didn't help the Wildcats' cause.
8 p.m. ET
Tennessee at No. 4 Oklahoma, ABC
As with Kentucky, this is a major measuring-stick game for an improving Tennessee team -- going on the road to face an opponent that virtually nobody expects the Volunteers to challenge. Butch Jones' Vols have been impressive so far, but their inexperience along the line of scrimmage will be their undoing in this one.
9 p.m. ET
Rice at No. 7 Texas A&M, ESPN2
For the second straight Saturday, the Aggies can help SEC viewers get to sleep by drubbing an in-state opponent in a late-night matchup. Rice, a 31-point underdog, might put up more of a fight than Lamar did in losing 73-3 to Texas A&M a week ago, but it won't be much more of one. Kenny Hill and the Aggies win big again.
Most important game: Arkansas
Most important game: Sept. 13 at Texas Tech
Key players: Arkansas should have a quality running game again with its two leading rushers from 2013, Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams, returning for 2014. Collins and Williams make up a quality rushing duo, with Collins compiling 1,026 rushing yards last season and Williams checking in with 900.
The Razorbacks also have a promising young tight end in Hunter Henry. He had a quality freshman season (28 catches, 409 yards, four touchdowns) and will be looking to build on that as he establishes himself as a premier SEC tight end and perhaps one of the better tight ends in the country.
On the defensive end, the Razorbacks return one of the SEC's best defensive ends, Trey Flowers. The 6-foot-4, 267-pound Flowers had five sacks and three forced fumbles last season and bypassed the NFL draft to return for his senior season. Defensive tackle Darius Philon, a sophomore, returns after a 2013 campaign when he had 46 tackles, nine tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. Those two should combine to be a solid duo for the Razorbacks on the defensive front.
The secondary has a lot of upperclassmen, led by Alan Turner, who led the team in tackles last season.
Why it matters: Traditionally, the most important games involve a conference opponent and have an impact on the division race, but we'll make an exception here for several reasons. When you're coming off a tough season (Arkansas was 3-9 overall and 0-8 in the SEC in 2013), finding success early is important. Bret Bielema is entering his second season as head coach, and though the reclamation project is a marathon and not a sprint, positive results go a long way toward accelerating the growth process.
The Texas Tech game could be a springboard game if the Razorbacks are to win. Nobody outside of Fayetteville is going to expect the Razorbacks to open the season by beating Auburn on Aug. 30, but Texas Tech is a quality nonconference opponent that the Razorbacks should be competitive with. The game is on the road, it's on national television (ABC) and is against a team that plays a style that Bielema isn't enamored with: the hurry-up no-huddle offense, led by offensive guru Kliff Kingsbury. Arkansas will have already faced an up-tempo offense in Auburn and will be due to see another two weeks after the Red Raiders, when the Razorbacks meet Texas A&M.
The trip to Lubbock, Texas, kicks off a tough stretch of games for the Razorbacks. It is followed by games against Northern Illinois, Texas A&M, Alabama and Georgia. A victory at Texas Tech could generate some much-needed positive momentum going into this schedule stretch, and who knows what could happen from there? The Razorbacks were pretty competitive with Texas A&M last year and perhaps a key victory in Lubbock could trigger some confidence for Bielema's bunch that they can carry into the games against NIU and A&M. Four of the five games that follow the Texas Tech game are home games for the Razorbacks and the other (against A&M on Sept. 27) is a neutral-site game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
A loss would likely leave the Razorbacks at 1-2 at that point and staring down that mean schedule stretch, and it could start a snowball in the wrong direction.
SEC's lunchtime links
- Missouri opened spring practice on Tuesday looking to build on the momentum of a 12-2 record last season.
- Spring practice got started at Vanderbilt, and with it the quarterback derby began as well. Presumed starter sophomore Patton Robinette looks to fend off redshirt freshman Johnny McCrary.
- Pro Football Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton has been compared to Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel and is among Johnny Football's many advocates, calling him "a quarterback savant."
- LSU's first day in pads revolved around the "Big Cat drill," and there was a minor scuffle between DE Lewis Neal and OL Josh Boutte. The Tigers expect to have stiff competition at guard this spring.
- The first of Alabama's two pro days is today. Injured players Anthony Steen and Vinnie Sunseri are aiming for the second pro day on April 8.
- One year after signing a three-year contract, Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo gets a one-year extension.
- Auburn's message on Twitter about the now-tabled 10-second rule? "We're only going to get faster."
- Florida players are excited about the new offense that will be installed this spring.
- Tennessee linebacker A.J. Johnson chose not to go early into the NFL draft, and as a result he'll be facing greater expectations with the Vols.
- Former Texas A&M offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, now head coach at his alma mater Texas Tech, said he felt conflicted about his time in College Station, Texas.
- If you remember watching Auburn running back Stephen Davis star in the mid-90s, this might make you feel a bit older. His son, Stephen Davis Jr. is a 6-foot-3 safety who is -- surprise, surprise -- favoring the Tigers in recruiting.
- Many coaches favor some form of an early signing period in football recruiting. Georgia's Mark Richt, however, says, "Be careful what we ask for."
- Athlon ranked all 128 NCAA coaching jobs. Florida, Alabama, Georgia and LSU made the top 10.
- Recently engaged Gamecocks QB Connor Shaw is a busy man preparing for the NFL draft.
Can SEC offenses keep firing in 2013?
The SEC is bringing back some real offensive firepower in 2013. Sure, this is still a defensive league, but as we've seen over the past couple of years, the offenses are really evolving and getting better.
So can the top five SEC offenses from last year duplicate what they did in 2012? Let's take a look:
1. Texas A&M
2012 total offense: 558.5 yards per game
2012 scoring offense: 44.5 points per game
The Aggies bring back Heisman winner Johnny Manziel, but a lot of Johnny Football's supporting cast is gone. Gone are offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, left tackle Luke Joeckel and senior receivers Ryan Swope and Uzoma Nwachukwu. Joeckel was the best tackle in the SEC last year, Kingsbury and Manziel had a special on-field relationship, and those receivers are taking 1,398 yards and 15 touchdowns.
The Aggies have a stacked backfield that should be headlined by senior Ben Malena and Oklahoma transfer Brandon Williams, and Mike Evans leads a younger but very talented receiving corps. But teams will have better game plans for Manziel and those youngsters at receiver will have to grow up quickly. Manziel is special, but that target on his back is enormous. The Aggies were great on offense last year, and they'll be good again, but I expect the Aggies' numbers to dip in 2013.
2. Tennessee
2012 total offense: 475.9
2012 scoring offense: 36.2
The Vols lost their starting quarterback and top four receiving targets. Tyler Bray accounted for 3,612 passing yards and 34 touchdowns. His top four targets, including Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson, caught 187 passes for 2,914 yards and 26 touchdowns. Tennessee returns one of the top lines around and has a solid trio at running back, but so much is different on offense.
Can the Vols adapt to Butch Jones' new hurry-up offense before the season starts? Can either Justin Worley or Nathan Peterman play beyond their inexperience this fall? There isn't a lot of experience at quarterback or receiver, and that's a major problem when Tennessee's offense revolved around its passing game last year.
3. Georgia
2012 total offense: 467.6
2012 scoring offense: 37.8
Record-setting quarterback Aaron Murray is back along with his entire offensive line, arguably the top running back duo in the SEC (Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall) and a host of talented receivers. Tavarres King and Marlon Brown, ranked first and third on the team in receiving last year, are gone, but Malcolm Mitchell is back and Michael Bennett should be healthy for the start of the season. Bennett might have been the Dawgs' top receiver before he went down with an ACL injury early last season.
There are some young players to keep an eye on as well in Chris Conley and Justin Scott-Wesley. Junior college transfer Jonathan Rumph and seasoned tight end Arthur Lynch should both be valuable options as well. This could be one of the most balanced offenses in the country this fall.
4. Alabama
2012 total offense: 445.5
2012 scoring offense: 38.7
Running back Eddie Lacy and three starters along Alabama's offensive line are gone. Two of those linemen were first-round picks and Lacy was a second-rounder. But quarterback AJ McCarron is back and he has a lot to work with. Amari Cooper is one of the top receivers in the league and Chris Black should be 100 percent this fall, giving McCarron another deep threat to complement Cooper and Kenny Bell. Kevin Norwood is also a reliable target for McCarron.
We know the offense goes through the running game first, and Alabama's backfield is once again stacked. T.J. Yeldon will battle to be one of the top rushers in the league and he'll have big boy Jalston Fowler and speedster Dee Hart to share time with. Youngsters Kenyan Drake and Derrick Henry, who is returning from a spring injury, should both contribute as well. Henry can be used in both the rushing and passing game. Alabama's line seems fine, so there isn't much worry in Tuscaloosa.
5. Ole Miss
2012 total offense: 423.8
2012 scoring offense: 31.5
The Rebels return a lot of pieces on offense and you'd think they'd be even better in Year 2 of Hugh Freeze's spread offense. Ole Miss managed to get through last season without any major injuries. Even Freeze doesn't know if that's likely to happen again. If it does, the Rebels should be fine, considering starters Bo Wallace (quarterback), Jeff Scott (running back) and Donte Moncrief (wide receiver) are all back. There are some talented younger players the Rebels can use as well, but the continuing theme in Oxford is that there are still depth issues along the offensive line and at receiver.
Any sort of injuries to those positions could rock the Rebels. Plus, Wallace is coming off of shoulder surgery and threw 17 interceptions last year. Wallace can't be as careless with the ball this fall. Vince Sanders and Ja-Mes Logan, along with true freshman Laquon Treadwell, should take some pressure off Moncrief, and the Rebels are also deep at running back, but the Rebels won't sneak up on people this fall.
SEC post-spring power rankings
1. Alabama: Nick Saban is equipped with yet another national championship contender. Yes, it would be his third straight at Alabama and fourth in five years. An all-star cast returns on offense, led by veteran quarterback AJ McCarron and topflight receiver Amari Cooper. The offensive line lost three draft picks but had a good spring, and the defense is still loaded.
2. Texas A&M: The Aggies lost some important offensive pieces, including offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and left tackle Luke Joeckel, but there are still a lot of weapons to use. Johnny Manziel is still in town, and he'll have a loaded running back stable to work with as well as a host of talented, young receivers led by Mike Evans. The real worry has to be on defense, where five starters are gone from the front seven.
3. Georgia: We all know that the Bulldogs will score a lot of points this fall. Aaron Murray has his entire offensive line back, the league's top running back duo (Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall) and a slew of receiving targets, led by Malcolm Mitchell. But the defense is very young. There is talent, but replacing 12 players who started or saw significant time will create early growing pains.
4. South Carolina: The Gamecocks return good balance on offense, starting with two quality quarterbacks in Connor Shaw and Dylan Thompson and running back Mike Davis. The defense also has the luxury of having Jadeveon Clowney anchor what should be a very solid defensive line. The two-deep at linebacker is gone and there are holes in the secondary, so youth could be an issue.
5. Florida: Nobody will question the talent Florida possesses on defense. The Gators lost two first-round draft picks there, but Will Muschamp & Co. should reload with solid younger talent. But how good will the offense be? Quarterback Jeff Driskel will be a year older in the offense, the line should be better and the Gators will be stout running the ball, but there are no consistently reliable receiving targets.
6. LSU: Gradation and the NFL draft ravaged LSU's defense. Questions loom at linebacker and in the secondary, but coach Les Miles left spring pretty pleased with the defensive line. The offense should be improved with quarterback Zach Mettenberger's development, a solid line and all the receiving targets returning. But if running back Jeremy Hill's legal trouble sidelines him (he was suspended indefinitely after being charged with battery last week), the Tigers could be in trouble.
7. Vanderbilt: Coach James Franklin has to be pretty excited with the personnel he has coming back. He has competition at quarterback and running back, but receivers Jordan Matthews and Chris Boyd, along with a stout offensive line, will help this offense go. The defense got stronger up front this spring, and there are quality starters at linebacker and in the secondary.
8. Ole Miss: Coach Hugh Freeze wants to make sure expectations are tempered in Oxford after last season's success and a monster recruiting haul. He lost just three starters from last season's team, and guys are motivated to top last year's 7-6 season. But injuries hurt the team this spring, and depth issues still exist at receiver and along both lines.
9. Auburn: The return of Gus Malzahn as coach has people on the Plains very excited. The offensive personnel fits his spread offense, and Ellis Johnson has instilled a new attitude on defense. The Tigers have to figure out their quarterback situation, and there are no proven receiving threats. Auburn will be better, but this team still has a ways to go.
10. Mississippi State: The Bulldogs had a Jekyll and Hyde 2012 but also lost some key parts to last season's squad. Quarterback Tyler Russell has to work with a new receiving corps, while the secondary has to replace three starters, including Thorpe Award winner Johnthan Banks. It sounds as though the defensive line made major strides this spring, especially ends Denico Autry and Ryan Brown.
11. Missouri: The Tigers didn't lose a lot from last season's 5-7 squad, but the offense dealt with a quarterback battle and protection problems from its offensive line. That's not good for a team that stumbled offensively all last season. The defense seemed to impress up front, but Mizzou is replacing two starting linebackers with a gang of inexperienced players.
12. Arkansas: Under new coach Bret Bielema, the Razorbacks got tougher across the board this spring. Bielema also found his quarterback in redshirt sophomore Brandon Allen, and both lines seemed to progress. But there are still questions at receiver, running back and with the lack of depth at linebacker. Plus, that regular-season schedule is just ugly for any first-year coach.
13. Tennessee: Butch Jones did a good job of supplying some much-needed energy within this football team, but he sure does have his hands full. Gone are the starting quarterback and basically all of last season's receiving production. He has a strong offensive line, and the defense seemed to adjust to the 4-3 scheme, but these players have to be much more consistent going forward.
14. Kentucky: Coach Mark Stoops has received a ton of support from Big Blue Nation, but he knows that his team has a long way to go. He has to find his quarterback and offensive playmakers. He has to replace three starters in the secondary and is thin at linebacker. The good news is that the defensive line will be the core of this team, which is huge for the first-year coach.
Aggies are still fighting to climb in 2013
There's no point in trying to sugarcoat this for Texas A&M: The Aggies have become the hunted.
A year after the real training began for their official move to the SEC from the Big 12, the Aggies enter spring practice with loftier expectations and more eyes fixated on them. They can no longer be considered the supposed ragtag group that was expected to struggle for relevance in their new home.
After shocking their new conference mates with 11 wins, including one over eventual national champion Alabama in Tuscaloosa, A&M enters spring figuratively glancing over its shoulder.
"Now that we know for a fact that we have enough talent and a new group of guys coming in, we know that this year we have a target on our back," rising senior running back Ben Malena said. "The workouts have stepped up even more. The work ethic of the team collectively has stepped up even more. Coach [Kevin] Sumlin, he's let us know that last year's success was last year's success, but this year's success is gonna be even harder because now you have a target on your back."
Teams don't lead the SEC in scoring (44.5 points per game), rushing (242.1 yards per game), passing (316.5 YPG) and total offense (558.5 YPG) in their first season in a new conference without feeling the heat in Year 2. And this league intends to bring more than just the heat to the Aggies.
If A&M is going to make strides in 2013, it has to push for conference supremacy. It'll have to be better than it was in 2012, and it'll have to pursue dethroning the mighty Crimson Tide. It's a tough job, but it really is the next step.
To do that, Sumlin and his crew will have to work even harder than they did last season. Players will have to be willing to sweat, bleed and push even more as the Aggies enter spring shorthanded once again.
Defensively, five starters from the front seven are gone, including All-America defensive end Damontre Moore and top-notch linebackers Jonathan Stewart and Sean Porter. Dustin Harris and Steven Terrell must also be replaced in the secondary.
"We got a lot of young guys -- a bunch of new guys," defensive coordinator Mark Snyder said of his defense.
And those youngsters need to learn quickly because the injury bug attacked the defense this spring, especially up front. It's a necessary evil, but getting young players these kinds of reps excites Snyder because it helps with depth, which the Aggies need.
Not only did A&M lose two valuable linebackers but a wide receiver was moved to the position this spring and linebackers coach Matt Wallerstedt was replaced by Mark Hagen, giving the Aggies even more change to deal with.
"There will be some challenges there," Snyder said about the new faces on defense, "but that's what makes spring ball fun."
What will also be fun is finding out who the new leaders are.
Senior Toney Hurd Jr., who is battling for a starting safety spot, has been pegged as one of those new leaders. He's always led by example, and Hurd knows younger players are looking up to veterans like him. He'll have to come through because, although the talent might be there, inexperience needs guidance.
"I wouldn't say I'll be this year's Sean Porter, but I'll be this year's Tony Hurd Jr.," he said. "I'll give the vocal leadership when needed."
Some interesting months lie ahead for the Aggies, as they look to make more upward moves in 2013. But before A&M can worry about challenging Alabama -- or anyone, really -- Sumlin needs his team to get better. He needs youngsters to take advantage of more reps and he needs the veterans to evolve on the field and in the locker room.
It sounds clichéd, but it's true.
To be elite again and embrace this new-found target on its back, A&M needs even more resolve and toughness in Year 2. And to Sumlin, it'll be quite an uphill battle.
"We're nowhere near that stage," he said. "I've said that from every standpoint, from every aspect of this program, we're still playing catch-up to everybody in the SEC.
"From my standpoint it's always a new team, it's always a new personality. As coaches, what you're trying to do is figure out where you are, who can do what and put them in the best position to try to win games."
SEC teams with the best BCS title paths
Colleague Travis Haney took a look at which conference has the best playoff path starting next year. He makes a pretty good case for the SEC, which should be able to get its conference champion in every year.
But who can wait for 2014 title talk? Yeah, me either, so why not take a look at SEC teams with the best BCS title paths in 2013? Spring practice begins this month, so we might as well throw out some very, very early thoughts on teams' championship hopes.
Let's take a look at which SEC teams have real BCS title shots in 2013:
Pros: The Crimson Tide still have Nick Saban. That should be reason enough to make Alabama the odds on favorite to win its third straight national championship and fourth in five years. But there are many other reasons why Alabama tops our list. The offensive line might have to be rebuilt, but Alabama returns the nation's most efficient quarterback in AJ McCarron, who could have easily opted for the NFL after his junior year, a beast at running back in rising sophomore T.J. Yeldon, a host of talent -- and explosiveness -- at wide receiver, and most of the pieces to last year's top-ranked defense. Some big names have to be replaced on both sides, but this team really is reloading in 2013. Also, if the Tide can escape Virginia Tech (in Atlanta) and Texas A&M (in College Station) early, Alabama could go through the year unscathed, with road games coming against Kentucky, Mississippi State and Auburn.
Cons: Forget the pressure. Saban doesn't allow pressure to eat at his players. What Alabama has to do is replace three studs on that offensive line. Barrett Jones, Chance Warmack and D.J. Fluker are all gone. Winning the battle in the trenches is essential to competing in the SEC, so Alabama's less experienced linemen have to grow up in a hurry. Also, no team can do it three times in a row, right?
Pros: Johnny Manziel is back and last year proved that the Aggies are tough enough to compete in the big, bad SEC. Kliff Kingsbury might not be calling the plays anymore, but there is a lot of young talent on offense, including wide receiver Mike Evans and running backs Brandon Williams and Trey Williams, that should still give SEC defenses fits. A&M gets Alabama at home in Week 3 and trade Florida for Vanderbilt.
Cons: The Aggies lost a lot from their 2012 team. Left tackle Luke Joeckel is gone, along with receivers Ryan Swope and Uzoma Nwachukwu, who combined for 98 catches for 1,398 yards and 15 touchdowns. The front seven has a lot to replace, including All-American defensive end Damontre Moore and linebackers Jonathan Stewart and Sean Porter. Kingsbury's sideline work with Manziel will be missed, and the Aggies have to play LSU, Ole Miss and Arkansas on the road.
Pros: Georgia will be down wide receiver Tavarres King on offense, but it shouldn't be too hard to find someone to help make up for the loss of his production with all those talented receivers. "Gurshall" returns and so does quarterback Aaron Murray, who could become the first SEC quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards in each of his four years on campus. Bringing back the entire starting five on offense will also keep this offense trending upward.
Cons: The Bulldogs lost 12 players who either started or saw significant time on defense. Jarvis Jones, Alec Ogletree and Bacarri Rambo are just a few of the big names that are gone. There certainly is talent remaining, but replacing all those players would be tough for anyone. Also, look at that schedule. The Dawgs start the year with Clemson, South Carolina and LSU before September even arrives. Losing more than one game during that stretch could all but end Georgia's title hopes.
Pros: The Gators lost some key players on defense, but coach Will Muschamp is bringing back a host of defensive talent that should do just fine in 2013. Marcus Roberson could be an All-SEC performer at cornerback, and incoming freshman Vernon Hargreaves III has the talent to start opposite him immediately. Ronald Powell returns to help out a young but very talented front seven that includes rising sophomores Dante Fowler Jr. and Jonathan Bullard. Also, the Gators should be very deep at running back and have a more complete offensive line in 2013.
Cons: No one is quite sure what to make of that offense. Sure, the Gators should be able to run the ball, even without workhorse Mike Gillislee, but what about throwing it? Jeff Driskel really struggled last year, and the Gators lost their best receiving option in tight end Jordan Reed. Florida will have to rely on five true freshmen to help at receiver, but Driskel has to increase his confidence and become a better presense in the huddle for this offense to improve at all. Florida also takes on Miami, LSU and South Carolina on the road.
Pros: The Gamecocks might be without Marcus Lattimore and Ace Sanders, but they should be very balanced on offense in 2013. South Carolina has two very capable quarterbacks to work with in Connor Shaw and Dylan Thompson, a talented group of running backs returning, led by rising sophomore Mike Davis, and more experience at receiver. One-man wrecking crew Jadeveon Clowney is back, and could be a legit Heisman candidate. South Carolina also spends the final month of the season at home.
Cons: Replacing Sanders will be tough because he did so much on offense and special teams. Clowney will have help up front, but South Carolina must replace its two-deep at linebacker. That's going to be quite the chore. Also, stud safety D.J. Swearinger, Spur DeVonte Holloman and cornerback Akeem Auguste all have to be replaced. Right now, this staff will have to rely on a handful of youngsters to help out this spring. The Gamecocks must also go to Georgia, Tennessee and Arkansas.
Pros: The offense has to be more well-rounded in 2013. Cam Cameron is in at offensive coordinator, and quarterback Zach Mettenberger made major strides during the last month of the season. All of his receiving weapons are back, the offensive line should be better and there is a wealth of talent still at running back. The Tigers also get Florida, Texas A&M and Arkansas at home.
Cons: The defense was gutted after the 2012 season. The defensive line has to be rebuilt, someone has to step in for Kevin Minter at middle linebacker and the secondary must fill in the holes left by Eric Reid and Tharold Simon. There is a lot of young talent on defense, but guys have to grow up quickly in Baton Rouge this year. Playing Alabama and Georgia on the road will be very tough as well.
Season report card: Texas A&M
OFFENSE: Remember how the Aggies' offense was supposed to struggle without Ryan Tannehill running things and a redshirt freshman replacing him at quarterback? Yeah, that really worked out. Thanks to the minds of Kevin Sumlin, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and a Heisman Trophy winner in Johnny Manziel, the Aggies ran over most of their new opponents in 2012 with the SEC's top offense. Texas A&M averaged a league-high 558.5 yards per game (third nationally). The Aggies also led the SEC in rushing (242.1), passing (316.5) and scoring offense (44.5). A&M registered more than 400 yards in 12 games and more than 600 yards in seven games. Johnny Football became the first freshman to ever win the Heisman and broke the SEC record for total offense with 5,116 yards (3,706 passing and 1,410 rushing). He also totaled 47 touchdowns and led the SEC in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns (21). Manziel had a special year, but he also got help from a dynamic receiving duo in freshman Mike Evans and senior Ryan Swope, who combined to catch 154 passes for 2,018 yards and 13 touchdowns. Uzoma Nwachukwu only caught 26 passes, but he added seven more receiving touchdowns. When Manziel wasn't darting past or slipping by defenders, A&M's running game mostly went through running back Ben Malena, who finished the year with 808 yards and eight touchdowns. Christine Michael added 12 more rushing touchdowns. A&M was also equipped with one of the top offensive lines in the country led by Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews. Grade: A+
DEFENSE: The Aggies ranked seventh or lower in the SEC in the four major defensive categories, including ranking 12th in pass defense (250.7 yards per game). Teams scored 36 touchdowns on the Aggies and averaged 21.8 points per game. The Aggies surrendered 20-plus points in seven games, including allowing 57 points in a back-and-forth win over Louisiana Tech. A&M might have had some issues when it came to slowing down the yardage and points, but in its two losses, the Aggies allowed just 20 and 24 points. The Aggies gave up 390.2 yards per game and grabbed just 16 takeaways. Defensive end Damontre Moore became a real star. He was one of the top defenders in the country, tying for eighth nationally with 12.5 sacks and seventh with 21 tackles for loss. He also led the Aggies with 85 total tackles and nine quarterback hurries. The defense, which was relatively young in the back end, might have had a little more bend than the coaches would like, but it rarely broke down and held an Oklahoma offense to just 13 points in the AT&T Cotton Bowl. Grade: B-
OVERALL: The Aggies were supposed to struggle in their first year in the SEC, but flourished instead. Johnny Football was a major reason why, but Sumlin instilled an extremely tough personality during spring ball that carried over to the season. Alabama might have been crowned college football's national champion, but after a 41-13 beat down of Oklahoma, the Aggies made a solid case for being the nation's top team -- and A&M was the only team to top the Crimson Tide with a 29-24 win in Tuscaloosa. The defense needed to be bailed out by the offense at times, but even with no bye week during the regular season, the Aggies never seemed to slow down. If not for the opener against Louisiana Tech being postponed, the season might have been even better with a game under the Aggies' belt before taking on Florida. A&M wasn't as sharp against LSU, but was in serious contention for a BCS bowl game late in the year. Grade: A
Past grades:
Who's in, who's out in the coaching circle
Here is the list of who's in and who's out in the SEC coaching world:
- Secondary: Jeremy Pruitt
- Secondary: Greg Brown
- Head coach: John L. Smith
- Defensive coordinator/secondary: Paul Haynes
- Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks: Paul Petrino
- Special teams coordinator/defensive ends: Steve Caldwell
- Secondary: Bobby Allen
- Wide receivers: Kris Cinkovich
- Wide receivers: George McDonald
- Running backs/Recruiting coordinator: Tim Horton
- Offensive line: Chris Klenakis
- Defensive tackles: Kevin Peoples
- Head coach: Bret Bielema
- Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks: Jim Chaney
- Cornerbacks: Taver Johnson
- Defensive line: Charlie Partridge
- Linebackers: Randy Shannon
- Defensive coordinator: Chris Ash
- Tight ends: Barry Lunney Jr.
- Offensive line: Sam Pittman
- Running backs: Joel Thomas
- Head coach: Gene Chizik
- Special teams coordinator/Tight ends: Jay Boulware
- Offensive line: Jeff Grimes
- Offensive coordinator: Scot Loeffler
- Running backs/Recruiting coordinator: Curtis Luper
- Secondary: Willie Martinez
- Defensive line: Mike Pelton
- Wide receivers: Trooper Taylor
- Linebackers: Tommy Thigpen
- Defensive coordinator: Brian VanGorder
- Head coach: Gus Malzahn
- Offensive coordinator: Rhett Lashlee
- Defensive line: Rodney Garner
- Defensive coordinator: Ellis Johnson
- Special teams/Running backs: Rich Bisaccia
- Co-Offensive coordinator/Wide receivers: Dameyune Craig
- Co-Defensive coordinator: Charlie Harbison
- Offensive line: J.B. Grimes
- Cornerbacks: Melvin Smith
- Tight ends: Tim Horton
- Wide receivers: Bush Hamdan
- Wide receivers: Joker Phillips
- Defensive line/Recruiting coordinator: Rodney Garner
- Defensive line: Chris Wilson
- Head coach: Joker Phillips
- Defensive backs: Mike Cassity
- Defensive coordinator: Rick Minter
- Tight ends/Special teams: Greg Nord
- Running backs: Steve Pardue
- Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks: Randy Sanders
- Linebackers/Recruiting coordinator: Chuck Smith
- Offensive line: Mike Summers
- Defensive line coach: David Turner
- Wide receivers: Pat Washington
- Head coach: Mark Stoops
- Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks: Neal Brown
- Defensive coordinator/Linebackers: D.J. Eliot
- Cornerbacks: Derrick Ansley
- Defensive line: Jimmy Brumbaugh
- Wide receivers: Tommy Mainord
- Tight ends: Vince Marrow
- Safeties/Special teams coordinator: Bradley Dale Peveto
- Offensive line: John Schlarman
- Running backs: Chad Scott
- Defensive coordinator/Defensive line: Chris Wilson
- Cornerbacks/Nickels: Melvin Smith
- Defensive line: David Turner
- Cornerbacks: Deshea Townsend
- Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks: David Yost
- Offensive coordinator: Josh Henson (promoted from co-offensive line coach)
- Quarterbacks/Associate head coach: Andy Hill (promoted from wide receivers coach)
- Wide receivers: Pat Washington
- Head coach: Derek Dooley
- Offensive coordinator: Jim Chaney
- Defensive coordinator: Sal Sunseri
- Cornerbacks: Derrick Ansley
- Tight ends/Special teams: Charlie Coiner
- Safeties: Josh Conklin
- Wide receivers: Darin Hinshaw
- Defensive line: John Palermo
- Offensive line: Sam Pittman
- Head coach: Butch Jones
- Offensive coordinators/Quarterbacks: Mike Bajakian
- Defensive coordinator: John Jancek
- Defensive line: Steve Stripling
- Wide receivers/Recruiting coordinator: Zach Azzanni
- Tight ends: Mark Elder
- Offensive line: Don Mahoney
- Defensive backs: Willie Martinez
- Linebackers: Tommy Thigpen
- Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks: Kliff Kingsbury
- Special teams/Tight ends: Brian Polian
- Linebackers: Matt Wallerstedt
- Special teams: Jeff Banks
- Co-offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks: Jake Spavital
- Co-offensive coordinator/running backs: Clarence McKinney (promoted from running backs coach)
Clarence McKinney elevated at Texas A&M
The source also said that McKinney will be the Aggies' primary play-caller. Former West Virginia quarterbacks coach Jake Spavital will serve as the other co-offensive coordinator and will coach quarterbacks, the source said. CBSSports.com earlier reported the hiring of Spavital.
With McKinney calling plays, the Aggies registered 633 yards of offense and 28 first downs against the Sooners. Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel also set a bowl record for total offensive yards (516).
McKinney has been with first-year A&M coach Kevin Sumlin since 2008, and will help keep some familiarity within the offense after former offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury left to become the head coach at Texas Tech. There will likely be some tweaks, but nothing major.
The thing to watch is how McKinney and Spavital interact with Manziel during games. Kingsbury did a very good job guiding Manziel through games. He was extremely patient with Manziel, who had a thirst for improv during games. He's obviously growing, but I doubt any coach will be able to get rid of Manziel's off-the-cuff mentality. But being able to teach Manziel as he goes is something Kingsbury was really good at, and now Manziel will be learning from two other people.
What we learned in the SEC bowls
2. The SEC's dominance is still being challenged: Even though Alabama brought home the SEC's seventh straight BCS title, the SEC's perception is still being challenged. Social media has been buzzing with chants of "overrated" directed toward the SEC because Mississippi State, LSU and Florida all fell flat in their bowl games. Mississippi State lost by 14 to Northwestern, LSU lost to Clemson on a last-second field goal and Florida was run ragged by Louisville in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Heading into bowl season, Florida and LSU weren't expected to lose, but they got away from their ground games and paid for it dearly. Still, the SEC went 6-3 (.667) in bowl games, including Texas A&M's 41-13 rout of Oklahoma in the AT&T Cotton Bowl, and Georgia and South Carolina downing Big Ten teams. Only the WAC (2-0) and C-USA (4-1) had better winning percentages, and neither had nearly as many bowl teams. So is the SEC down? Well, while the SEC took a couple of bad losses in bowl season, seven teams finished the year in the Associated Press Top 25, including five in the top 10. The Big Ten and Big 12 had losing bowl records, the Pac-12 went 4-4 and the ACC was 4-2. So, if the SEC is overrated, what are the other conferences?
3. Florida's offensive issues are still a major problem: All season, we wondered what we'd see from Florida's offense. However, for 11 games, even if the offense came up short, the Gators found ways to win. Against Louisville, the Gators went in reverse and never got right again. Jeff Driskel threw a pick-six on the first possession, and the offense imploded from there. Mike Gillislee, who was easily Florida's best offensive weapon, carried the ball just nine times. The Gators panicked, but when they had to pass, they couldn't.
This has to be a major concern for the Gators going forward, because Gillislee is graduating and tight end Jordan Reed declared for the NFL draft. Driskel has to find some major help in the passing game this spring/summer, or Florida's offense will get pummeled again. Driskel's health is now a major concern because backup Jacoby Brissett is transferring, leaving the Gators with no experience behind Driskel.
4. More eyes will be on Ole Miss ... and Vanderbilt: Before the season, no one gave Ole Miss a chance at the postseason -- or even five wins -- but the Rebels went out and had a tremendous first year under Hugh Freeze. If not for a couple of horrendous second halves, the Rebels might have won eight games during the regular season. After a dominating performance in their BBVA Compass Bowl win against Pittsburgh, the Rebels could be looking at a spot in preseason Top 25 polls. Most of this team, including what could be a stellar recruiting class, will be in Oxford next fall, so expectations will be much higher.
The same can be said about James Franklin's Vanderbilt Commodores. After a historic nine-win season that ended with a commanding bowl win over NC State, the Commodores will be expected to keep up this act after being even better in Year 2 of the Franklin era. Vandy will lose some talent up front defensively, and Jordan Rodgers and Zac Stacy will be gone, but a host of playmakers will return, including receivers Jordan Matthews and Chris Boyd.
5. Johnny Football's legend just keeps growing: After Texas A&M lost offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury to Texas Tech, Johnny Manziel's field maturity was really going to be judged in the AT&T Cotton Bowl against the Sooners. Well, all he did without one of his best mentors was set a bowl record for total yards (516) in the Aggies' rout inside Jerry's World. Manziel zigged and zagged as though Kingsbury was feeding him info through an earpiece. People don't understand how much Kingsbury helped Manziel with his composure during games, but Manziel did just fine without him. It shows how much he's grown during his Heisman year. Things will be different next season with some key players also missing on offense, but to see Manziel play like that without Kingsbury has to be very encouraging for Kevin Sumlin and the rest of the Aggies' coaching staff.
Instant analysis: Texas A&M 41, OU 13
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Another Cotton Bowl, another bad loss for the Big 12. Excluding current SEC member Missouri's win back in 2008, the Big 12 has lost the Cotton Bowl to an SEC opponent in eight consecutive seasons. Johnny Football put on a show after a month away and showed zero signs of rust and a zillion signs of being an endless source of frustration for Oklahoma's defense.
The Big 12 finished 4-5 in its nine bowl games, and the SEC improved to 4-3 in its bowl games. Let's take a look at some instant analysis for Texas A&M's 41-13 blowout win over the Sooners.
It was over when: Facing a fourth-and-5 late in the third quarter, Manziel hit Ryan Swope over the middle on a short slant. Swope shed a tackler and raced 33 yards to put the Aggies up, 34-13. That capped a run of three Oklahoma three-and-outs to begin the second half and spelled doom for the Sooners.
Game ball goes to: Johnny Manziel. I mean, who else? He broke the Cotton Bowl record for total yards with 516 and accounted for four touchdowns. It could have even been five, too, if not for Malcome Kennedy's bobbling a pass in the end zone that was eventually intercepted by Oklahoma's Javon Harris.
Stat of the game: Oklahoma averaged 4.8 yards per play. Texas A&M averaged 9.6 yards per play. It was really that simple in this one. Johnny Football made the Aggies dangerous on what seemed like every snap. Oklahoma's offense played well in the first half, but it rarely looked easy, and Texas A&M prevented the Sooners from breaking big plays. It also clamped down in the red zone.
Unsung hero of the game: Texas A&M's offensive line. Get a good, long look at Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews serving as bookends on this line. They might be gone soon, cashing big-time checks as NFL first-round picks. Mike Sherman had well-chronicled struggles, but the offensive line guru left some big beef for Manziel and the Aggies offense to operate behind. It showed tonight. Oklahoma rarely blitzed, for fear of Manziel running loose in the second level, but he had all day to throw and little pressure on most snaps.
What Texas A&M learned: Heisman jinx, December distractions, coaching changes, whatever. It all seemed pretty irrelevant in this game. Johnny Football looked like his usual self, if not better. He broke loose for 47 rushing yards on Texas A&M's opening drive and didn't slow down from there. Kliff Kingsbury checked out as Texas A&M's offensive coordinator, but Clarence McKinney had a solid performance in his debut as play-caller. Manziel insisted he wasn't distracted and that the whirlwind of awards and television appearances after winning the Heisman hadn't changed him. His performance validated those claims.
What Oklahoma learned: Just like Kansas State and Notre Dame, the Sooners were incapable of beating the elite teams in college football this year. A 10-3 season isn't bad, but it's not good enough at Oklahoma. The Sooners might not have even been happy going 1-2 in those losses, but 0-3 will leave a very bitter taste in their mouths thinking back on a season that was very average by the Sooners' sky-high standards. Any notion that it had a formula for stopping or even slowing down the Johnny Football train went out the window. He had his way with the Sooner defense, which tackled poorly, too.
Texas A&M keys for the Cotton Bowl
1. Don't change the script: Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury might be gone, but all those athletes who made the Aggies' offense so potent in 2012 will still be lining up inside Jerry's World. And that includes Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, who made just about every defense he faced look silly. Kingsbury and Manziel had a special in-game relationship, but Kingsbury is now at Texas Tech, so Manziel won't have the luxury of Kingsbury's guidance on the sideline. But the Aggies can't divert from the plan that got them to 10 wins in their first year in the SEC. Trying anything new or restricting parts of the offense probably isn't the way to go at this point in the season. The athletes are there to stay the course, and with Oklahoma's high-powered offense, the Aggies can't afford to get too far behind the Sooners. Keeping the run game going will be key as well, as Oklahoma ranks 79th nationally in rush defense and gave up 200-plus rushing yards six times during the regular season.
2. Force Landry out of the pocket: Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 3,989 yards and 29 touchdowns this season and had two 500-yard passing games during the regular season. The man can throw the pigskin around, and it helps that he has four players to throw to who have more than 40 receptions on the year. That means the Aggies have to make him as uncomfortable as possible tonight. While Jones has done well against the blitz this season, he struggles when he's forced out of the pocket. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Jones has attempted 12.2 percent of his passes from outside the pocket in his career and has thrown 25.5 percent of his career interceptions from outside the pocket. Defensive end Damontre Moore was a terror in opposing backfields this season and if he can consistently get into Landry's face, he should make it tough for Landry to make a lot of plays on the Aggies' defense.
3. Contain Oklahoma's returners: The Sooners rank fourth nationally in kickoff return average, registering 26.5 yards per return. The Sooners have returned 32 kicks for 849 yards and a touchdown. Roy Finch recorded the Sooners' lone touchdown, but Brennan Clay has done the most damage on kickoffs, averaging 26 yards on 18 returns. The Aggies will also have to deal with punt returner Justin Brown, who averages 13.6 yards per return and has a touchdown. Texas A&M allowed just 18.7 yards per kickoff return during the regular season and 5.9 yards per punt return. The Aggies didn't allow any return touchdowns in 2012.
Poll: What's the top SEC bowl game?
We won't be using the Discover BCS National Championship between No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 2 Alabama because it really is the game of games and everything is riding on that one. Instead, we're looking at four other intriguing bowl games involving SEC teams outside of the national championship.
Johnny Manziel will play in his first bowl game, and he'll do so against an old Big 12 foe. Kliff Kingsbury might be gone, but the playmakers who made A&M's offense go will still be on the field inside Jerry's World.
What about LSU's matchup with Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl? Two sets of Tigers. Both claim Death Valley as home. LSU comes equipped with one of the nation's best defenses, while Clemson has one of the nation's best and most explosive offenses. However, Clemson now has to make sure its defense is on its game inside the Georgia Dome because LSU found a pretty balanced offense in the last month of the season.
Does Florida-Louisville in the Allstate Sugar Bowl strike your fancy? It's the other BCS bowl game involving an SEC team, and this one has some pretty interesting storylines. Will Muschamp is looking to take the Gators to 12-1 in his second season in Gainesville, while the Cardinals are equipped with former Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong. There were some around the program who thought he might have a legitimate shot at the Florida job before Muschamp got it.
Then, you have the Outback Bowl between South Carolina and Michigan. Jadeveon Clowney chasing around Denard Robinson? Yes, please! The Gamecocks are equipped with one of the SEC's top defenses and own one of the most aggressive front sevens around. Remember the last time Michigan tangled with a top defense from the SEC? Yeah, not so much fun for the Wolverines.
But is there another SEC bowl that is more exciting? Is Georgia's matchup with Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl more exciting? What about the TaxSlayer.com Bowl between Mississippi State and Northwestern? There's Vanderbilt's matchup with NC State in the Franklin Mortgage Music City Bowl, which will make back-to-back bowls for the Commodores for the first time in school history. And Ole Miss' game with Pittsburgh in the BBVA Compass Bowl is the first bowl for the Rebels since 2009.
There are plenty of bowls to choose from, so have at it.


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Seattle Seahawks & NFL News
Seattle Seahawks news, including Seattle Seahawks trades, statistics, roster and draft news, Hawks and NFL rumors, game scores and game schedule information
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Seahawks' Chancellor questionable, Unger doubtful for Cowboys
The Seattle Seahawks could enter Sunday's matchup with the 4-1 Dallas Cowboys without some of their longtime contributors after safety Kam Chancellor and center Max Unger missed practice on Friday. Chancellor, a founding member of the Hawks' Legion of Boom secondary, is listed as questionable with a hip strain according to head coach Pete Carroll, […] [Read More]
Seahawks' Pete Carroll proud of Russell Wilson, other players for working toward 'social change'
A common perception about NFL coaches is that they'd like to see their players eat, drink and sleep only football, but Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll told reporters Thursday that he encourages efforts by some of his star players to lend their voices to bigger issues. Carroll said he was on board for quarterback […] [Read More]
With upcoming trip to D.C., Seahawks have 2012 playoff in mind
By the time the Seattle Seahawks take the field in Washington D.C. Monday night, it will have been 15 days since the team last played a game. Monday night's affair also takes the Hawks back to FedEx Field for the first time since their 24-14 win in the wild card round win over Washington in […] [Read More]
Seattle Seahawks hoping to take advantage of bye week
Enjoy your weekend off, Seahawks fans, because it's going to be your last free one in a while. The Hawks are one of six squads with the earliest possible bye week of the 2014 season. And while that's generally considered a disadvantage in the 16-game slog that is the NFL regular season, Seattle will make […] [Read More]
Seahawks notebook: Carroll says defensive effort against Broncos better than Super Bowl
The Seattle Seahawks put together a better defense performance in their 26-20 overtime win against the Denver Broncos Sunday than they did in the 43-8 romp over the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII, at least according to head coach Pete Carroll. "It was good-looking film," Carroll told reporters on Monday. "We played really hard on […] [Read More]
Report: Seahawks' Kam Chancellor mulling foot surgery
Seattle Seahawks strong safety Kam Chancellor reportedly is mulling surgery on his foot/ankle to remove bone spurs that limited him a week ago in San Diego. But the team's plan — to send Chancellor to the operating room during this bye week, with an expected return by Thanksgiving — is now on hold after Chancellor's […] [Read More]
Seahawks notebook: Third down a key against the Broncos
A week after allowing the San Diego Chargers to convert nearly 59 percent of their third-down opportunities, the Seattle Seahawks will need to get off the field against the Denver Broncos to secure a victory in the teams' Super Bowl XLVIII rematch on Sunday. The Hawks ran just 40 offensive plays last week, limiting the […] [Read More]
Seahawks' Pete Carroll: Earl Thomas to stop returning punts, Marcus Burley to start at nickel cornerback
Many Seattle Seahawks fans were feeling uneasy about depth on the Legion of Boom after last Thursday's season opener, in which free safety Earl Thomas muffed a punt return and nickel cornerback Jeremy Lane went down with a groin injury. Head coach Pete Carroll addressed both topics in his Wednesday news conference, announcing that Thomas […] [Read More]
Seahawks' Pete Carroll says Ray Rice incident will change way he evaluates players
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said the Ray Rice incident will have long-lasting effects for the way the National Football League deals with domestic violence. "It will never be the same," said Carroll said when asked if the episode would change how he evaluated players. "Unfortunately, I've got to admit, my awareness is different […] [Read More]
Seahawks waive WR Phil Bates, need new cornerback
The Seattle Seahawks have cut wide receiver Phil Bates for the second time in a week, waiving him Saturday after the team won its season-opener against Green Bay on Thursday. The move opened a spot on Seattle's 53-man roster. The Seahawks are likely in search for a new cornerback after Jeremy Lane, who had impressed […] [Read More]
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Mike Reynolds always prided himself on being in complete control, and then his world topples into the unfamiliar. Disturbing dreams plague him, leaving helplessness in its wake and his control slipping away. Though adventurous and fearless, the young and petite Maggie O'Reilly doesn't recognize the devastating consequences of staring unswervingly into the black piercing eyes of absolute
Everyone who knows April knows that she has talked about Luke Daniels, her "dream man," since she was twelve years old. Now her dream has become her reality, and she is living her dreams. A relationship with Luke isn't the fairy tale that most dream of, but it is the prefect fairy tale in April's eyes. When Luke met April, he felt an instinct connection to her that could not be denied. He knew
Biff held up a big bottle. It was almost empty. "This bottle was full this morning!" he laughed. Something in his laugh was not funny. "You've been drinking all day?" Abby shouted. Abby loves Biff. But she begins to hate their life together. The alcohol. The fighting. Something has to change. Biff begins to go to AA meetings. He finds out that making a change is not always easy. Is Biff able to
Promise of Tomorrow - Volume 2 - Discovery"Here is a different take on the Amish and it's a good tale that is well told. Mark writes with honesty, compassion, elegance and strength. Any lover of the Amish and of Amish fiction will be blessed by this book. Five stars, Mark!" –Murray Pura, Bestselling author of The Face of Heaven Luke Umble believed he was a man of God. One fateful decision could test all of his beliefs. With the support
Do Christmas wishes ever come true? Ask Abigail, who at age eight met a real live "Christmas angel." Thirty years later, Abby is a single mom and successful book editor and author of the popular holiday children's story, "My Christmas Angel." But she's never stopped wondering about Dickie Daniels, the scruffy little boy from the wrong side of the tracks her mother brought home one memorable--life
A second chance at love story. After her husband left her for dead when a tsunami hit their vacation island, Kate Sommers returns to reclaim her life. Her return home from the dead is on the same day her husband is standing in church to marry another woman. Kate's attempt to prevent a major legal disaster from happening, throws her right into the arms of The Best Man. Kate ignored her feelings for
Ten-year-old Jeremy must save his mother, Paula. A scientist, Paula is stranded on an iceberg in the Arctic, being stalked by a polar bear. Jeremy asks Felix, his Inuit friend, if his father can fly the helicopter stored at the Global Warming Research Station to save his mother. Felix is uncertain, because his father has not flown since the terrible helicopter accident where he almost died. Author
My Journey through Hell on My Way to HeavenLucy McEachern learns that abuse and pain fallow her throughout her entire life. After many stages in her life she discovers that heartache is her middle name. She starts her journey from the time she is a damaged first grader, through her teen love, through her first death, and then on to meet the love of her life that begins to abuse her, and then she finds her self-planning not one, but three


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Q: Not losing weight
I have been on Cardio Scuplt since January and have gained 15 lbs. Added onto my DailyBurn I do other activities as well. I started out needing to lose 20 lbs and now I need to lose more. I have...
Q: I accidentally put in the wrong score for a workout. Can I fix it?
I entered a score via my TV then realized I did my math incorrectly. Is there a way to update this score to reflect my actual workout?
Q: I'm on day one. And I see a spot to see I can enter my "challenge score" - What is that?
I did the plank for 1 minute on my toes - but how do I know my "score"
Q: ignite-diet
This website dont have the ignite diet. I would like to to again. thanks Emma
Q: How to get a hold of these people?!
I ordered from the dailyburn store last week, got an order confirmation but have not gotten any info on when it would ship.... I have emailed them twice and have no response. I want to work out but...
Q: What is the scoring system?
how do i do it?
Q: How do I enter my weight on my profile?
after i enter my current and goal weight, it does not do anything after i click the "add both" button.
Q: where did the ignite plan go?
i logged in after about 6 months away, and see no options for the ignite plan now. does it show up based on my personal goals or based on the program i selected?
Q: Please add support for background audio on android (i.e. enable playing while locked)
Android OS stops the video when the screen is turned off. This makes the app unusable on my HTC One, which means I cannot use it to do these workouts at the gym. Please find a way to enable locki...
Q: I have been doing ignite without cheating but still have no weight loss, why?
I am on day 20 of ignite and have followed the plan to the letter, I initially lost two pounds but when I weighed this morning, it was back. How am I cutting all of the evil 6 out, and eating much...
Q: How do I improve my flexibility?
I've been part of Daily Burn for close to a year now and I've done various stretching as part of my DB routine. There's the yoga after a TBT workout, there's Briohny's yoga videos, and so on. But I...
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I'm a big fan of the TBT series with Cody Story. Great combination of pushing hard with a real focus on recovery, which I need for my stiff back. Are we going to see any new TBT workouts anytime so...
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I'm doing True Beginner and looking at my calendar I realized there are a lot of repeats. I have 3 new workouts every 2 weeks only and then 15 Minute Mobility every Saturday. So, every week the wo...
Q: Why am I not losing weight?
Why am I not losing weight? I have worked out every day this week, and eaten clean and 1200 calories each day. I am aiming to lose 2lbs/week, but in two weeks I have only lost 1 pound. Why am I not...
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I haven't worked out this hard in a really long time, and all the new information can get confusing. Are pre and post workouts necessary for someone trying to lose weight and get toned? If so, wh...
Q: How often does Ignite add new recipes?
I am on my last week of ignite and want to keep it going. I am curious, though, how often they add new recipes. I like the recipes they have, but I'm sure in the future will get bored and am hopi...
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I went to the manage my account section and it just gives me the option of canceling my account. I don't want to get rid of the workout part just the nutrition.
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So I've done Daily Burn religiously for almost 3 full weeks now. Not just that, but on the so called "off" days where they do mobility and yoga, I do the P90X YogaX video instead (which, if any of ...
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I am a student and work part-time. With my schedule through the week it is often easier for me to make a good protein packed breakfast and then go super light on dinner. Is it possible to do the ig...
Q: gaining inches
I have been on weightwatchers for 7 months and have lost 30lbs. I am still about 30lb away from my goal and thought I would rev it up with workouts. I am on day 20 of the cardiosculpt program and h...
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My wife and I live on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. I'm retired, she's getting there.
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James is lovely and a pleasure to Host. He took excellent care of my place and is welcome back anytime. Clean, nice and gentle guest!! Everything was fine I would recommend him as a guests to anyone. It was a pleasure being his host! Come Back soon!
We enjoyed hosting James in our hermitage. He was a great guest and left the hermitage very clean and tidy. He communicated well with us and we would be delighted to host him again.
James & Laura are a delightful couple and we were more than happy to host them and thoroughly enjoyed joining in with them with their evening meal.
Conversation was so easy and if or when they return to these shores, we will be more than happy to have them stay with us again.
I could write a wonderful short story about the 5 days James and Laura stayed at my place in Barcelona. They seem to unite some of the best blessings of existence, and so they seem to bless and love all they meet: the magic concert at the Palau, the houses of Gaudi, Gracia, Mathieu from Paris who took them for a ride around the city, the fantastic food and the incredible desserts! "And the desserts!" Laura would say! They delight in the blessings of life, and you will be enchanted.
If they were a dessert I think they would be a chocolate cake with a colorful fruit salad :)
James was kind, interesting, and considerate--a model guest, he'd be welcome back anytime. Good luck in all future marathons!
James and Laura were lovely guests. We really enjoyed our conversation over breakfast. I would highly recommend them and love to have them return.


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Treating Brown Spots Before Summer
Mar 29, 2013
We all have things about our faces that we want to improve. For some, it's sagging. For others, redness. For most of us who have had a fair amount of sun in our lives, it's brown spots . Brown spots are actually pigment, so you may hear me call this pigment in some of my articles on SkinTour.
Lasers are the best way to treat brown spots. And you may want to consider doing that now, before summer comes. To get the most out of your laser treatment, you want to avoid the sun for several weeks at least after your treatment, and that can be hard to do in the summer.
If your main concern is brown spots, one of the best options is the Fraxel Dual. I have lots of information on this in my article on the Fraxel Dual. For some brown spots accompanied by redness, you could stick with the tried and true IPL/Photorejuvenation laser. If you are over 50 or so, you may want to consider a fractionated CO2 laser. This provides a deeper treatment, and has more downtime. On all of these, if you think you have melasma, make sure your doctor sees that and recommends the right laser for you.
Dr. Irwin
Posted in Pigment problems, Lasers, IPL and Photorejuvenation, Fraxel laser, Carbon Dioxide Lasers, Brown Spots, 2013
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Autoimmune diseases - are injectibles and lasers safe? Is there such a thing a too much exfoliation or peeling? When a filler treatment doesn't look good??? How can I figure out if I'm a good candidate for Thermage or other noninvasive lifting treatments? Could this cleanser or other skincare product be giving me acne? Do chemical peels build collagen? Can you have beautiful skin if you have acne??
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Common Treatments: Botox - Restylane Juvederm - Lasers for brown spots - Fractional Lasers - Thermage - Sculptra - Laser Hair Removal


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Gov. Barbour asks court to reconsider
Published: September 7,2009
Tags: Haley Barbour, Mississippi Supreme Court, Mississippi Tort Claims Act
Gov. Haley Barbour has joined the state's leading medical associations in asking the Mississippi Supreme Court to reconsider a decision, which could reverse the progress made by tort reform.
In an amicus brief, Barbour stated that the court's "decision, coupled with two more recent decisions of this court, will erode part of the progress Mississippi has made regarding tort reform. This slow erosion risks returning our state to an era when healthcare professionals stopped practicing because of sky-high insurance premiums (or no available insurance at all), and when job-creating business avoided Mississippi for fear of liability. Our state has made too much progress to return down that path."
According to the Governor's Office, the case before the Supreme Court, Price v. Clark, 2007-CA-01671-SCT, involves pre-suit notice requirements contained in the Mississippi Tort Claims Act, and in tort reform legislation passed earlier this decade. Under the laws in question, a potential plaintiff must give either 60 or 90 days notice to a defendant before filing suit. This notice period allows defendants to investigate claims, and allows parties to settle disputes outside of court, without the costs associated with trial. Both defendants and plaintiffs benefit from a system that encourages the speedy and low-cost resolution of meritorious claims.
In its July 23, 2009, decision, the Supreme Court held that a lawsuit filed without giving adequate notice should be dismissed, but effectively extended the period of time during which a lawsuit could be filed. This extension will increase "litigation and insurance costs…while doing nothing to expand the public's access to justice."
Barbour said in his amicus brief this result "contradicts the Legislature's clear intention in adopting (these) statutes, and risks resurrecting problems from the pre-tort reform era."
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MD Anderson Events
2014 R.E. "Bob" Smith Distinguished Lecture
"The von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein: Insights into Oxygen Sensing and Cancer Metabolism".
Date: 5/13/14, 4pm to 5pm
Time: 5/13/14, 4pm to 5pm
Location: Hickey Auditorium, Main Building, Floor 11 (R11.1400)
Format: All Employee Meeting
Facilitator: Raghu Kalluri, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman of Cancer Biology, Director of Metasis Research Center
Speaker: William Kaelin
Speaker Bio: William Kaelin obtained his undergraduate and MD degrees from Duke University. Currently a Professor in the Department of Medicine at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, he also serves as Associate Director, Basic Science, for the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and Chair of the Executive Committee for Research for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Dr. Kaelin is a member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation, American College of Physicians, Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He is a recipient of the Paul Marks Prize, Richard & Hinda Rosenthal Prize, Doris Duke Distinguished Clinical Scientist Award, Canada International Gairdner Award, Stanley J. Korsmeyer Award, and Scientific Grand Prix of the Foundation Lefoulon-Delalande and the Institute of France. His research seeks to understand how, mechanistically, mutations affecting tumor-suppressor genes cause cancer.
Sponsor: Isaiah J. Fidler, D.V.M., Ph.D. R.E. "Bob" Smith Distinguished Chair in Cell Biology, Professor, Department of Cancer Biology
Contact: Tom Chumbley - (713) 563-9637 - email@example.com
William Kaelin Short Bio w-Pic2014.doc (DOC, 555 KB)
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Get artistic with an extra 20% off hundreds of items from our Art category. Click for terms & conditions.
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This is the first-story floorplan of Edith and Archie Bunker's home in Queens, New York, and of course, it had to note their iconic living room chairs. This Victorian row house looks just like the one next door. The style is a bit spartan, but it's functional for their needs.
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Overnight to Amman
We arrived in Amman at 5am local time feeling very weary and crumpled. I did not know if we would be able to check in to our hotel until midday but was very happy to find that not only did they have a room for us but we also had breakfast. Result!
After a few hours of much needed sleep we decided to go to the old town as John (my husband …
Maple syrup
... dust on the sidewalks.
It's the snowy morning that made me decide to eat pancakes, with real maple syrup, for breakfast. It felt so... right, so Canadian to dig my fork into that heap of pancakes drenched in syrupy deliciousness. There is something about maple syrup that has a special place in my being. No, it's everything about maple syrup that creates that special place.
It's walking through the woods ...
Jordan Rocks!
... bidet (first, because it's cool and secondly because I had eaten my way through half of Amman). Let's just say it was a big fail. That thing ain't ergonomically built to work on tall people. Lots of splash and virtually NO ass! Haha….I expect that housekeeping will be cursing my name tomorrow! hah
Monday, November 17th
Today's visits were really outstanding. My driver, who spoke virtually no English, was very nice ...
Amman after my own heart
... east are an absolute necessity.
Completely over the extra attention we decided to head on again this time to City Mall and the environment could not have been more different with the shops, fashion and food being so western that we could have been in any mall in America. Finally finding a place that had what we were after and afforded the anonymity that we wanted we picked up almost everything we needed.
Once done shopping and after 2 and a half weeks ...
The Dead Sea Scrolls
... course, so we bought nothing but lunch. The really big disappointment was the ice skating rink in the middle of the mall. We noticed that everybody there were such terrible skaters, until we realised that they were trying to skate on a white painted wooden floor!
Back to the hotel, then out to Jafra Restaurant again, our favourite haunt, for another cheap and lovely dinner. We're getting to be known there. They now shake hands with us when we ...