The notebook: Poll puts Dogs No. 2 in East … SEC happy in ATL … Etc.

Cleaning out the notebook after an interesting week at the SEC meetings:

  • In the Birminghan News’ 64th annual Spring SEC Football Preview, Alabama and Florida again are picked to win their divisions, with Georgia predicted to finish second in the East. The News surveyed the SEC  schools’ football information directors, asking them to predict the order of finish in their division (without including their own team). Florida and Alabama got the maximum available five first-place votes in the East and West, respectively.  Georgia got the other first-place vote in the East (Florida’s), three second-place votes and one third-place.  This is how the poll turned out:

West: 1. Alabama. 2 (tie). LSU and Arkansas. 4. Auburn. 5. Ole Miss. 6. Mississippi State.

East: 1. Florida. 2. Georgia. 3. South Carolina. 4. Tennessee. 5. Kentucky. 6. Vanderbilt.

Separately, the SEC football info directors were asked to rank the league’s teams without regard to division (and again without voting for your own team). Alabama got the maximum 11 first-place votes in this exercise, and three of the top four teams were from the West.  This is how the overall poll turned out: 1. Alabama. 2. Florida. 3. LSU. 4. Arkansas. 5. Georgia. 6. Auburn. 7. South Carolina. 8 (tie). Tennessee and Ole Miss. 10. Mississippi State. 11. Kentucky. 12. Vanderbilt.

  • While the Atlanta Falcons want a new open-air stadium, the SEC remains very happy with the Georgia Dome, where the league plays its football championship game each year. Asked if the SEC has any thoughts of having to move the game out of Atlanta given the uncertain future of the Dome, commissioner Mike Slive said: “Hypothetically there’s always a chance of something, but the game has been extraordinarily successful for us in Atlanta. At this point we have absolutely no intention of moving it out of Atlanta.”
  • The SEC will decide late this year whether to keep its baseball tournament in Hoover, Ala., after 2011, the final year remaining on the current contract. The league also will consider pitches from Gwinnett County’s Coolray Field and Memphis’ AutoZone Park. But it sounds as if prying the event out of Hoover will be difficult. Slive noted that Hoover has become part of lexicon of SEC baseball. “The kids talk about . . . ‘we have to get to Hoover,’” Slive said. “In football, our [teams'] goal is to get to Atlanta. In some sports, [a particular postseason destination] becomes part of the fabric of the sport.”
  • Georgia’s $17.4 million share of the SEC revenue pie represents about 20 percent of the UGA Athletic Association’s $84.75 million budget.
  • Vince Dooley has said he won’t be in Sanford Stadium for the Georgia-Tennessee game on Oct. 9, opting instead to watch on television at home and privately root for his son Derek, the new Vols coach, who by the way agrees with his dad’s decision. “I think his point really is, it’s not about him and it’s not about me,” Derek Dooley said. “He doesn’t want it to become a spectacle. How many times have you had to look at the quarterback’s dad on TV before you go, ‘Please…’ You see it all the time. So every time I go out there and make a dumb call, it’d be,  ‘Let’s see what Dad thinks.’ Great theater, you know.”
  • Georgia associate athletics director Carla Williams was elected to the seven-person SEC Executive Committee for 2010-11.
  • Former Georgia gymnastics star Courtney Kupets was nominated by the SEC for the 2010 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.

Please follow @ajcuga on Twitter for the latest Bulldogs news, notes and anecdotes.

187 comments Add your comment

Jerry Jones

June 7th, 2010
2:33 pm

N. Saban, you’re my kind of guy, cant wait til you coach the boys next year. By the way, can you believe those idiot dogs like fat boy Grantham?

Ray Goff

June 7th, 2010
2:34 pm

Miss me yet?

N. Saban

June 7th, 2010
2:34 pm

Orlando Dawg….I was with you all the until that last sentence……..whoa now little doggie……The Tide is here to stay…………………that is, as long as I do……………………..A whole case of Chestnut brown hair dye came UPS today……..I’m one happy elephant…….

N. Saban

June 7th, 2010
2:35 pm

Jerry……………….PO Box 1453 zip 32285…………………………You know the town.

The answer to the question is the answer to your future

June 7th, 2010
2:37 pm

Question for all Dawg fans: Why did Spurrier own you at UF and why doesn’t he at USC?

74Dawg

June 7th, 2010
2:38 pm

Gatormater, you and the bulldog football team will have ONE thing in common this fall.

PTC DAWG

June 7th, 2010
2:40 pm

Arkansas? LOL

Hey Vince, KISS IT…

N. Saban

June 7th, 2010
2:40 pm

Aren’t Joepa and Spurrier about the same age ?

Jerry Jones

June 7th, 2010
2:41 pm

Nick my boy that is a Jax zip code.

meh

June 7th, 2010
2:41 pm

Spurrier can’t pull the recruits ot SC that could at UF. Also, I think he’s more concerned with playing golf than winning football games now a days.

N. Saban

June 7th, 2010
2:42 pm

That’s were my clearing house is for my offers…………………..

Evil Genius

June 7th, 2010
2:42 pm

# 2 in the SEC East is comes through Columbia.

N. Saban

June 7th, 2010
2:45 pm

Saw Al Groh and Spurrier filming a bionic hearing aid commercial last week at CNN studio’s. Lee Majors had to quit……….Just doing hair piece commercials now.

Delbert D.

June 7th, 2010
2:46 pm

If Urban Meyer decides the the stress is too much and retires, would Florida go after Mark Richt? Or Bob Stoops? ( if the Big 12 breakup occurs as speculated on the Rivals article today.) I’m not trying to incite a riot, here, just looking for input from Florida fans.

N. Saban

June 7th, 2010
2:48 pm

I asked Al how he liked coaching at Tech…..He looked at me dazed for a moment…..and said where?
I “yelled “Tech”……he paused……..and said it’s great…….But I still don’t drive on the interstate.

termigator

June 7th, 2010
2:49 pm

Delbert, I would hope they would go after Dan Mullen. Stoops and CMR are in their last jobs; If Richt wouldn’t go to FSU, he certainly would not go to UF. OK, UGA and UF are all destination jobs.

Delbert D.

June 7th, 2010
2:51 pm

Groh will be 66 in July. 66 is the new 56. That feels about right. I know I haven’t aged in the last ten years. Heck, I can’t even remember the last ten years.

Mike Dubose and Mike Shula and Mike Price

June 7th, 2010
2:52 pm

I thought Bama was a destination job?

Delbert D.

June 7th, 2010
2:53 pm

termigator – Good point on Mullen.

UGA is Just Fine....

June 7th, 2010
2:56 pm

So let me get this straight UGA has WAY more questions than UF?:

UF- Starts a New QB with little exp. (mop up duty in blowouts against lesser opponents is just a hair better than practice exp.)
UGA- Starts a New QB

UF- Must replace several starters on Defense and one of the best DCs in the SEC over the last few years
UGA-Replaces a sub-par DC, but returns a ton of talent, and replaces a few seniors with better talent

UF- must replace on offense (in addition to Tebow)the #1 WR, #1 TE, #1 RB
UGA- Brings back entire starting offense-save the QB who can’t be worse than Joe “17 INTs” Cox.

UF-Has a new offensive scheme(not sure why this isn’t discussed more) Brantley is very talented, but they will not run the same offense they did with Tebow, so there has to be some learning curve for him and the rest of the O doesn’t there?)
UGA- New Defensive scheme.

X-Factors-
UF- Will B.James’ replacement on returns produce the field position advantage for the Gators that he did (another factor with the gators that is hugely overlooked)
UGA -Will the Dawgs fix the turnover margin and penalties?

So what other questions does UGA have going into the season, that makes them have WAY more questions to answer than UF?

The only difference I see is that UF is given more benefit of the doubt (rightfully so I might add)to successfully answer their questions than UGA, but let’s be real, as outlined above, they have just as many questions to answer.

note:If Spurrier can get Garcia’s head screwed on straight SC could sneak up on both the Dawgs and Gators this year.
Go Dawgs!

how2fish

June 7th, 2010
2:58 pm

termigator I agree

UF. OK, UGA and UF are all destination jobs. However Saban could be in the mix as since the Bear died Bama really can’t be considered one.I mean does anyone really think Saban will retire from Bama..no really?

BullGator

June 7th, 2010
3:01 pm

Gators have a very good starting O-line , but no experienced depth, no one really knows how Brantley will perform, we have wide receivers with a total of about 60 career catch’s, and we have a new d co- ordinator, and trying to replace 9 players off to the NFL, Lot of ?? that will hopefully have positive answers. UGA has questions, but they do have an very experienced and deep O-line, experienced play makers, and possibly the best two kickers in the nation. Will Grantham be the answer on defense?

N. Saban

June 7th, 2010
3:02 pm

Dubose,Shula, Price…………………………..Darkest moment over here till ME !

N. Saban

June 7th, 2010
3:03 pm

how2fish………………………………………………psssst………………………..shuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu !

termigator

June 7th, 2010
3:04 pm

UGA is just fine..

All good points except you have to admit logically, you would think with the quality of recent recruiting classes UF’s replacements are probably better than UGA’s second team. The big plus; Brantley and his backups all had very strong spring games and even the most ardent UGA fan would have to admit Murray looked pretty bad, and very nervous during G day.

termigator

June 7th, 2010
3:05 pm

how2fish are you saying Saban would be in the mix at UF? Lord I hope not!

Al Groh

June 7th, 2010
3:08 pm

Best place to buy Ensure is Walmart. I get the Calcium formula for these bones…….and the one by my house, you can get to without getting on the interstate.

N. Saban

June 7th, 2010
3:10 pm

I will never Coach at Florida……..I’ll be busy getting this Dolphin team ready for next year………Whoops…….Said that before…………………

how2fish

June 7th, 2010
3:28 pm

termigator if Meyer leaves I can’t imagine that at the very least a “back channel” discussion is held with Saban’s people, if he would be willing not sure…he wouldn’t be leaving to go to replace a underperforming fired coach..he would be replacing a man with 2 NC’s and one of the best records at one of the best program in college football..not as a savior on a white horse.Not sure if following Meyer would interest him or not..but someone would ask him that question.

Bulldog59

June 7th, 2010
3:32 pm

Agree guys, you hit it on the head, Mullen is a natural fit to succeed Meyer.

DawgDad

June 7th, 2010
3:34 pm

With six DL’s running 4.2 40’s how can they miss?

Seriously, they will go as far as the defense takes them. They WILL generate some offense; too much talent behind an experienced line not to score some points. But the SC and Ark games will be won by the defense, not the offense.

N. Saban

June 7th, 2010
3:36 pm

“back Channel”…………………I’d look those 100 camera’s right in their lens and say ” I’ll be busy getting this Bama team team ready for next season”……….Geez, you think I would lie on Camera.

Spike

June 7th, 2010
3:37 pm

How2Fish.. Thanks. It is the painful truth. Until we start beating them, we get what we deserve from them.

?

June 7th, 2010
3:38 pm

What does HBTD mean? I tried to google and can’t find an answer.

Coon Ass

June 7th, 2010
3:38 pm

If we can get rid of Miles and miles of Less, LSU will make another run at Nick, We have no pride.

N. Saban

June 7th, 2010
3:42 pm

I’ve talked to coach Mullen……..Met him and the Mrs. Mullen at the Crackel Barrel in Huntsville. Took him a day and half to get there from somewhere in Mississippi……no air Service he said. We’ll after his
roast beef and my beans and beets, he told me right up front he’d love to go back to Florida, unless this Bammer job came open…..I told him I’d be busy getting these boys ready for another run, and THAT’s without out a single TV or Newspaper guy listening. I told him good luck, and if he saw that Michigan AD in the lobby, send him back here……

UGA is Just Fine....

June 7th, 2010
3:44 pm

Termigator- good points as well, however I’ve learned not to put too much stock into spring games as they are really just glorified scrimages.

Case in point- last year Joe Cox had a decent showing in the spring game and look how that worked out for us.
by the same token DJ Shockley had a horrible spring game and had many worried about the season and he ended up winning the SEC championship (may have been more had he not got injured in the Ark game the week before UF)
Just don’t put too much stock into what happens in spring, it rarely is an accurate determination of what happens in the fall.
A. Murray was just presing because of Metenberger’s performance.

N. Saban

June 7th, 2010
3:45 pm

Coon Ass………………..did my 8,000 SQ Ft. house ever sell ? I know the University paid a lot of money for me to live there.

JB

June 7th, 2010
3:48 pm

A. Murray will be fine…….We will run the ball and roll him out to run or dump pass in the early games to get him ready……..But knowing Richt, he might let him chunk it early…….GATA

how2fish

June 7th, 2010
3:48 pm

N. Saban u make a good point..LOL Spike it is a painful truth, but I have hope. Coon Ass at least you know your program..and I won’t blame you if you do.

Spike

June 7th, 2010
3:49 pm

N. Saban… Come on down to Miami, if you are man enough. We Dolphin fans got something for you tough guy.

doo doo ley

June 7th, 2010
3:51 pm

whew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!No. 2 oh wait that’s right DOGPOOP is number 2 so It is what It is hahahahahahhahaha

JB

June 7th, 2010
3:53 pm

Only way I go back to Miami is to play for a National Championship if the Orange bowl is the host. I hate it didn’t work out, but those big grown men would not listen to me….and insisted on talking.
I’m the only voice of Alabama football and it’s working pretty good. I don’t like that the only cheese over here to go with my wine comes in a jar, but hey, it’s Bammer.

how2fish

June 7th, 2010
3:54 pm

doo doo ley…come up with all that wit all by your self did you?

YELLOW HAMMER

June 7th, 2010
3:58 pm

where did georgia all of a sudden get all this great talent ?same players that were 8-5 could have just as easily have been 6-7 coming back, starting a new qb, conditioning is the key to staying healthy . just asking about the talent,i didn’t see it

N. Saban

June 7th, 2010
3:59 pm

JB……..this is my gig…..and there are 3 JB’s on here………….Roll Tide…………………………………………………………….

[...] More UGA news and notes: Poll puts Dogs No. 2 in SEC East. [...]

how2fish

June 7th, 2010
4:07 pm

YELLOW HAMMER all you need to remember are the 2 running backs and the O line who all return this year…unless it makes you still twitch when you do..

YELLOW HAMMER

June 7th, 2010
4:18 pm

yup, same O same team no better,why should we twitch,we make their a$$’s quit

Chad

June 7th, 2010
4:35 pm

Wow #2. So to get there they need to finish ahead of vandy, kentucky(new coach) tenn ( new coach) and sc. So it’s basically SC. A coin flip. I think sc finishes ahead as they have a better team and better qb plus spurrier.