Archive for December, 2012

Some SEC football fans may be frustrated by the rule that limits conferences to just two representatives in BCS bowls but the Chick-fil-A Bowl is among the post-season games that will reap the benefits.

SEC power LSU will face Clemson in the Dec. 31 game at the Georgia Dome. LSU (10-2, 6-2 SEC) finished second to Alabama in the SEC West but the Crimson Tide and Florida filled two BCS slots for the league.

LSU finished No. 9 in the final AP poll and No. 8 in the BCS standings and Clemson (10-2, 7-1 ACC) is ranked No. 14 in both.

“We’re about as excited as you can be to have two 10-win teams for the first time in our history with a Clemson-LSU match-up,” said Gary Stokan, the Chick-fil-A Bowl president and CEO. “These teams are two of the top teams in the country and create one of the best bowl game match-ups of the post season.”

LSU is 5-0 in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, including four victories when the game was known as the Peach Bowl. LSU defeated Clemson 10-7 in the 1996 …

Continue reading LSU to face Clemson in Chick-fil-A Bowl »

Alabama coach Nick Saban, a noted workaholic, said he would likely enjoy his team’s 32-28 victory over Georgia in the SEC Championship game for about two weeks.

After that, he will focus on Notre Dame and the BCS National Championship on Jan. 7 in Miami.

Saban said he’s found that work-break has worked well in the past. This will be Alabama’s third appearance in the national championship game under Saban.

“You can’t practice your way to the game,” he said. “It’s too long. The players get, you know, too stale and too bored with it. So it’s a one game season.”

Tying a record

With the win, Alabama tied the NCAA-era record for wins in a five-year period (60) set by Nebraska (1993-97).

Saban seemed especially proud of that number, pointing out that many of the players in the senior class signed with Alabama after it went 7-6 and played in the Independence Bowl in 2007.

“(Someone) asked me the other day what’s the biggest difference between going to the …

Continue reading Saban says he’ll enjoy SEC title for two weeks »

Alabama’s Eddie Lacy slammed into three Georgia defenders who met him in a hole at the line of scrimmage. Instead of going down, Lacy spun out and finished with a 32-yard gain.

A few plays, later he dove into the end zone from an inch away. Whether the Crimson Tide needed an inch or a mile, Lacy and Alabama’s running game could practically call their shot in the Tide’s 32-28 victory over Georgia in the SEC Championship game on Saturday night at the Georgia Dome.

Lacy rushed for 181 yards and two touchdowns to earn most valuable player honors. The total was the third-highest in SEC Championship game history. He wasn’t the only weapon. T.J. Yeldon rushed for 153 yards as the Tide totaled 350 rushing yards, breaking the record of 300 they set against Florida in 1999. Yeldon and Lacy became the first two backs on the same team to break 100 yards in SEC Championship game history.

“The offensive line did a great job opening holes for T.J. and I,” Lacy said.

The duo was …

Continue reading Lacy and Alabama overpower Georgia »

Update 7:59 Alabama wins 32-28 to capture the SEC Championship and a date with Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship Game. Bulldogs fans were left to wonder a) why quarterback Aaron Murray didn’t spike the ball stop the clock in the final moments and b) why Chris Conley caught that deflected pass instead of letting it drop incomplete and stop the clock.

You know who clocks that ball with 13 seconds left, @aaronmurray11 & @markricht? AJMcCarron & NickSaban! #UGA@jeffschultzajc @ajcjunkyard

— Intellectual Ninja (@UGABugKiller) December 2, 2012

Completed pass in bounds.For the first 59:55 of the game that’s great, just not in the last :05. #uga #sec

— -SA (@seanale) December 2, 2012

Update 7:35 Alabama goes up again on AJ McCarron’s 45-yard TD pass to Amari Cooper.

I smell burnt toast#uga

— Edwin Ortiz (@EddyOrtiz) December 2, 2012

#Bama smacks the “easy button” on #UGA. Play action deep for 6. #Bama now up 32-28.

— Gator Content from (@OurTwoBits) December 2, …

Continue reading SEC Social minute by minute »