SEC Basketball Bubble Blurbs - 2/28 Update

A while back, I gave my opinion of what each potential SEC basketball team needed to do in order to make the NCAA Tournament. I thought I would update that post as we drive into the final regular season games and the conference tournament.

The Teams That Are In:
1. Florida - They've struggled down the stretch, but the Gators are the best team in the conference. They need to finish strong though if they want to keep their No. 1 seed. Last night's whipping at Tennessee didn't help their cause as Kansas has looked strong and will be tough to seed at No. 2 if the Gators falter any more.

2. Vanderbilt - Vandy was in the moment that Brandon Powell punched their ticket. They have nine conference wins and should add two to that total before heading to Atlanta.

3. Tennessee - The Vols won big last night and how could they not? Coach Summitt would have run them until they puked if her cheerleading routine went to waste. (Phil looked on with his finger up his nose. ) The Vols are in whether or not they beat UGA Saturday.

4. Kentucky - The Wildcats are clinging to their NCAA bid, but it is proving slippery. Yes, they have a wonderful RPI, a ridiculous strength of schedule, and will likely get their twentieth win tonight in Rupp. But, if they were to lose tonight and Saturday against the Gators, they would have an 8-8 conference record. If that were to happen, how could the NCAA keep Georgia out? (See below.) Kentucky will get in because they are Kentucky.

Sitting Squarely On the Bubble:
5. Georgia - The Dawgs have a strong schedule, some quality wins, and the potential to get a winning conference record if they beat Kentucky tonight in Rupp (not likely) or Tennessee in Athens Saturday (maybe?). If they win one of those games, especially at UK, I think it will be tough to keep them out. If they drop both, they will need a strong showing in Atlanta, including at least one big upset, to dance. My prediction: the Dawgs win Saturday and get in. UPDATE: Reports abound that UGA guard Levi Stukes is out tonight and maybe for the rest of the year. If Stukes can't play Saturday, I don't like Georgia's chances to win or make the NCAAs.

6. Alabama - Bama has a good record, but they also have lots of visible warts. First, they played a mediocre schedule in the preseason. Second, they fell apart during conference play, including two losses to Auburn. Third, they need to win out to finish at .500 in the SEC. The Tide will need to win out and win a game or two in Atlanta to have a chance. My prediction: Bama falls in Starkville Sunday and misses the NCAAs.

Need a Big Finish:
7. Ole Miss - The Rebs look like they should have a shot, but their RPI and their schedule is weak. They have two more winnable games. If they win them both and get one in Atlanta, they will be in good shape. Drop one of the next two and their toast. Prediction: Ole Miss will lose in Auburn and miss the dance.

8. Mississippi State - State has a similar profile to Ole Miss. Their record isn't as good as the Rebs, but their schedule was tougher. Both teams have similar RPIs. The problem for State is that they have two tough games remaining: in Fayetteville and Alabama at home. State, like Ole Miss, needs those two games and probably a tournament win to be considered. My prediction: State loses in Fayetteville tonight.

Spring Break Outs

In anticipation of spring football, I'm going to try to compile a few lists for the SEC. Today's inaugural list is players on the verge of breakout seasons. These are players who have been used sparingly, spent last year on the bench, or have taken a redshirt year that are expected to make an difference in 2007.

• Brandon LaFell - LSU WR - LaFell played last year, but didn't make a huge impact. He had DeWayne Bowe and Craig Davis in front of him, so his relative inactivity is quite excusable. This year, however, Bowe and Davis have moved on to the NFL. LaFell has the size and speed to ease the pains of losing two receivers of the caliber of Bowe and Davis. Early Doucet should keep defenses from focusing on LaFell and Gary Crowton's new offense should give LaFell plenty of opportunities to catch passes.
• Ricky Lumpkin - Kentucky DE - If you listen to the whispers out of Lexington, Lumpkin could be a special player up front for the Wildcats. He is rumored to have been a beast on the scout team last year while he redshirted. The former Tennessee Mr. Football looks to give UK the first big pass rusher they've had in a long time.
  
• Knowshon Moreno - Georgia RB - The Dawgs return a lot of running backs. So many that Danny Ware, the third team back, left early for the NFL despite not putting together a stellar year because he knew he wouldn't get many carries next year. Even with that said, look for Moreno to make an impact in 2007. Everyone who has seen Moreno play seems to rave about him, whether they be coaches or players. Moreno will not be a featured back next year, but look for him to make an impact on the Bulldog running game.
• Nevin McKenzie - Tennessee S - McKenzie didn't played a down for the Vols last year, but he will need to do his best Reggie Nelson impression soon. Like Nelson, McKenzie is a junior college guy that needs to step in and start. The Vols really don't have a reliable safety after Demetrius Morley flunked out. Johnathan Hefney, a converted corner, started safety last year and did a good job, but he really belongs at corner. The Vols would love to have a big headhunter to add another dimension to their experienced defensive backfield.

I would include Tray Blackmon from Auburn, but no one seems to know if he will play next year for the Aubs.

The Orange Rush

Phil Fulmer, emboldened by the return of his offensive mate David Cutcliff, is reportedly tinkering with running a spread'em out, fling it around, no huddle offense this spring. They've even told the fullbacks to find employment elsewhere. Erik Ainge is said to be so excited he is considering spelling his name correctly. My heartfelt concern for the Big Urnge: Who is Erik going to be throwing the ball to? They lost almost all of their proven receivers last year, so it looks like they'll rely on Lucas Taylor, a junior college transfer, a prep school guy, and true freshmen.

This is the type of move you'd expect out of Randy Sanders. After all, the Vols were 96th in rushing last year. So, if you can't run it, tell your fullbacks to get lost in the spring. Where are you Jamal Lewis, Travis Stephens, Travis Henry, James Stewart, etc.? Where will the power T come from? Adrian Foster in a single back set or LaMarcus Coker running sprint draws? That's not UT football. The Vols were at their best when they were running the ball down your throat, hitting a deep ball, and stuffing you with a nasty defense. This seems like a gimmick from the least gimmicky team in the league.

Also, I guess Mr. Fulmer has had a change of heart about the clock rules relating to the no huddle offense. He complained that Georgia's no huddle attack of 2001 didn't give his defense time enough to adjust and it was therefore against the rules. Be sure to remember that complaint Phillip when Erik is standing around waiting for the snap.

Discipline: Carolina Style

The University of South Carolina, one of the teams that gave us this image:

and was the victim of a player looting session, and who had a quarterback arrested during the season last year, has learned its lesson. Four days after star recruit Stephen Garcia was arrested for "intense beer consumption and belief in his own invisibility," disciplinarian Mr. Shiny Pants has lifted the suspension imposed on Garcia. That's the way to send a message. You're suspended until your hangover subsides or you are released from jail.

How can any program other than the other notoriously lax, yet stupendously successful programs (Florida, Tennessee, Florida State, Oklahoma) compete with such a hard driving boss as Spurrier? Georgia's starting center will miss at least six games this year partly because he passed out on the toilet in an Athens restaurant. Garcia threatens a police officer and is suspended from running for four days. Looks like Spurrier is starting to dole out the same punishments that made Lou Holtz the complete totalitarian that he was. Spurrier needs to learn to drop the hammer on these evildoers, just like he dropped the hammer on the Dawgs with double reverse passes with three minutes left in a game he was winning by 40. I would write more but my eyes are bleeding because of that last sentence.

Wall Street Comes Through For You

The trading floors were closed today, but that doesn't mean some big business news didn't come out. The long awaited merger of XM Radio and Sirius Radio was announced today in New York. The two companies are the two largest and best known satellite radio providers in the U.S.

Why should you care? The two companies have spent the last four years cutting up the rights to broadcast sports. XM has baseball and some college conferences. Sirius has the NFL and most SEC teams along with other colleges. So if you are a Braves fan and a Alabama fan, you need both services, each with a separate receiver and monthly charge. That's a real headache. Thankfully, the companies have purportedly solved that problem today. It's a real victory for all sports fans. Now you can drive anywhere without losing your team's broadcast network. Eli Gold in Wyoming! Jim Hawthorne in Minnesota!

The deal's not done, yet. It still has to clear some hurdles at the FCC and the Federal Trade Commission, who oversees the nation's anti-trust laws.

The only SEC team not to be on either service? It's the legendary Larry Munson and the Georgia Bulldogs.

Vandy Attacks!

Vanderbilt students, always a rowdy bunch, look like they've put those lofty tuition payments to good use. The SEC is contemplating a $25,000 fine for the Vandy "athletics department" because the students stormed the court after upsetting No. 1 Florida this weekend. The SEC instituted a new security policy a few years ago after the great assault upon goalposts in 2001 and then several incidents on the basketball court. This would be Vandy's second offense under the new policy after they stormed the court in an NIT game last year. I can't imagine the pent up emotions unleashed in rushing the court after beating mighty Wichita State in the NIT.

In their defense, the Vandy students were merely defending their coach after Joakim Noah's attack. I really like the attempts by the 87 year old security guard trying to stop the onrush of college students.



Storming the court is a quaint tradition that has gotten a bit out of hand, just like taking down the goalposts. It is a tradition of the downtrodden when they rise up to trip the powerful. Times can change, but I don't remember Kentucky storming the court or Alabama ripping down their goalposts. Have fun kids, but stay in your seats. You can pat the players on the back Monday in class. Plus, it's more fun to throw ice at the Gators than kicking them in the shins. This also greatly reduces the chances that you will get punched in the face.

It looks like Ohio State will work off a little bit of their massive rage against the Gators by overtaking them for No. 1 in the polls.

The AD Shuffle

Two stories of note are out about SEC West athletic directors. First, there are reports that Frank Broyles is being forced out at Arkansas. If true, Houston Nutt has just lost his reserve firepower in the Mitch Mustain debacle. Broyles has been at the center of that ongoing crisis supporting Nutt and making odd comments to alums. Grant Hall has a good run down of all the drama. Fayetteville produces one bizarre story after another these days. Broyles is older than dirt though, so it makes some sense to remove him. However, Broyles is one of the most respected ADs in the country.

In other, more expected news, Skip Bertman has announced his intention to step down as LSU AD next year. Skip has presided over a hell of a run by LSU athletics, including a football national title and a Final Four appearance. Now if they could only get back to Omaha, where Skip was a fixture during his days as baseball coach. All signs point to Georgia Tech AD Dan Radakovich taking the reigns in Tigertown.

Georgia v. Duke Next December?

The Athens Banner Herald reports that Georgia's Hoop Dawgs are in contract negotiations to play the blue blooded Duke Blue Devils next year in Madison Square Garden. Nothing is final yet, but it seems promising. Georgia has never played Duke in basketball.

I once lived in New York and went to see the cheating, Jim Harrick-led Dawgs take on Texas at MSG when both teams were in the top 20. I had never been to any variety of Texas game and kept asking my wife why their band kept playing "I Been Working on the Railroad." Ooops. That was actually the Longhorn fight song. At least Texas brought their band. Georgia was adopted by one of those amalgams of local high school bands enlisted to provide entertainment for the event. They could only play one song, which they played badly all night. If I was making fun of Texas, I can only imagine what they thought of "our" band that night.

Dennis Felton has done a good job of scheduling opponents that are good teams, but not teams that the Dawgs can't compete with. Duke is having a down year this year, but I imagine they'll be back to their normal dominating ways next year. The Dawgs should be improved next year too, assuming no one leaves the program and Mike Mercer can still play.

The Duke basketball universe has collectively responded, "Georgia has a basketball team?"

King Bee and I will have to place a friendly wager if the game comes to pass.

Glen Davis Suspends Arkansas Players

LSU star forward Glen Davis was working overtime for Mississippi State last Friday night. Davis was out in Baton Rouge with two Arkansas guards into the wee hours evidently. The Hogs were in town to play LSU and Davis decided to show them a little Louisiana hospitality. The only problem was that the Arky players had a curfew, a term unknown to LSU athletes. Stan Heath promptly suspended the two Arkansas players from the opening nine minutes of their game last night with Mississippi State. Both LSU and Arkansas lost last night.

What were they supposed to do, Stan? Ignore the "irrepressible" Big Baby? Shun the tongue-wagging forward and pass up a night out with Cajun (not "coonass") women in Baton Rouge? It's Mardi Gras season. What could possibly go wrong, Stan? Oh, this.

Braves Finally Sold

After what seems like years of negotiations and haggling, Liberty Media finally finalized its deal for the Atlanta Braves today, pending MLB approval. The driver of this deal has always been the federal tax consequences of Liberty's Time Warner stock swap for the team.

Braves fans have longed for the days when Ted Turner would wheel and deal for expensive free agents, but those days were over the minute Ted went on the Time Warner board after his buy out. John Schuerholz and Bobby Cox worked their magic for a few years, but eventually Time Warner's tight purse strings and the big payroll of the Mets ended the Braves run of playoff appearances. Braves fans have since wanted an individual tycoon owning the team, not a corporate behemoth accountable to shareholders.

I expect Liberty Media to demand just as much efficiency as Time Warner. So, it looks like Braves fans need to wait for one more sale before they get too excited. There were rumors that Arthur Blank was going to buy the team from Liberty. Hopefully, we'll find out soon if those rumors were true.

SEC Basketball Bubble Blurbs

It's crunch time for basketball teams. Some teams are on cruise control while others are desperate to bolster their tournament resume. I'll take a look at each team with a chance for post season play and give a likelihood of an NCAA birth.

Teams That Are In:
1. Florida - The Gators are the best team in the country and No. 1 in the polls. Proceed directly to a No. 1 seed. Chance at NCAAs: 100%

2. Kentucky - Big Blue has played a brutal schedule and has performed well. Their six losses were all to teams in the top 50 in the RPI ratings and they have quality wins against Louisville and Indiana. The 'Cats are fighting for a three seed or better, but their remaining games are all challenges and most are on the road. Chance at NCAAs: 100%

Need to Finish, But Look Strong:
3. Vanderbilt - Vandy is a team that until a week ago looked like one of those teams that would get on a roll at the end of the season and get a "hot team" bid. After all, the 'Dores have some dreadful losses, Furman, Wake Forest, Auburn. At the same time, they have a win over Kentucky and Tennessee. They should finish above .500 in the SEC and that will probably be enough, although a win or two in the SEC tournament would help. Chance at the NCAAs: 80%

4. Tennessee - The Vols have a decent resume, but the injury to Chris Lofton really slowed them down. They only have one really bad loss, at Auburn. Their RPI is in the top 15, but they have not won one SEC road game. The Vols have a brutal home stretch in the SEC and they need to beat Alabama and Georgia to have a shot at a winning conference record. If they don't get them, they'll need a couple of wins in the SEC tournament. Chance at NCAAs: 75%

5. Alabama - Remember when Bama was in the Top 5? That was before they played anyone. The Tide doesn't have a real sexy win, although Xavier and Georgia are decent teams. They have a shot at winning at least three of their last six, anything more will be icing on the cake. They'll make it in based on wins alone, but if they had Tennessee's schedule, they wouldn't make it. Chance at NCAAs: 75%

Bubble Teams:
6. Arkansas - Losses to Missouri and South Carolina really hurt the Hawgs. Their RPI is good and they have played a great schedule. The problem is they need a few more wins in conference and they need to win a couple of road games. They have some good wins against West Virginia, Alabama, and Southern Illinois. If they win their remaining SEC West games and get a road win at Vandy or beat UT in Bud Walton, I think they're in. Chance at NCAAs: 55%

7. Georgia - The Dawgs looked solid after beating LSU in Athens a few weeks ago. Since then, they have slowed considerably and their leading scorer is out for the year after a nasty knee injury Saturday. The other Georgia guards must step up because Georgia needs win two or three more conference games. That's possible, if they hold court in Athens against Auburn and Mississippi State. A win at Ole Miss would be great, but a challenge. Chance at NCAAs: 50%

8. Ole Miss - The Rebel's record would say they deserve a shot at the tournament, but their nonconference schedule was pitiful. Their RPI is bad and they have a couple of bad losses. Despite this, they are still in the SEC West and could finish with a winning record in the conference. If they get hot, winning five of their last six (very possible) and get a couple of wins in Atlanta, it's possible. Chance at NCAAs: 40%

9. LSU - Last year's other SEC Final Four participant has struggled this year. They have a great win against Texas A&M, but little else. The Tiger need to go on a streak, beating the rest of their SEC West opponents, and get an upset win against the Gators or in Lexington. That's going to be even tougher if Big Baby can't play. It's going to be tough. Chance at NCAAs: 30%

The conference will be lucky to get seven teams in the NCAA this year. I think five will actually get in because they last few weeks of the conference schedule is more likely to provide bubble teams stumbling through mediocrity rather than teams streaking to greatness.

In related news, the conference has compiled what the SEC tournament would look like if the season ended today.

Weekend Baseball Notes

Pedro likes Rice

Vanderbilt had a whale of a weekend. The 'Dores beat No. 1 Rice and No. 16 Arizona State at this weekend's Houston College Classic. Ace David Price gave up a few runs early, but Pedro Alvarez helped Vandy break through against Rice. Then the 'Dores outlasted Arizona State in 10 innings. Vandy has started strong.

A team that came into the weekend with high hopes was Georgia, but they got swept in Athens by defending national champs, Oregon State. All-American closer Josh Fields couldn't throw a strike in the ninth Friday and neither could anyone else in the Bulldog bullpen. It looks like middle relief could be a big problem for the Dawgs, as the starters performed well this weekend, but the games got away from the Georgia staff late.

Georgia wasn't the only team getting swept this weekend in a big series. No. 11 UCLA dropped three in Miami to the No. 5 Hurricanes. In the Bruins's defense, the first two games were nip and tuck affairs, both one run Miami wins.

Georgia Recruiting Recap

I let a few days pass before I posted any recruiting thoughts. Recruiting is an emotional diversion. Fans seem to get way too excited and way too down about recruiting. I've posted before about how recruiting is fun to follow, but it is only a part of college football, unable to guarantee success or failure. While a great recruiting class does not necessarily grant great teams, it is obviously better to be closer to the top of the rankings than the bottom.

With that preface, we Georgia fans seem to be way too down about this class. The Dawgs didn't get a top 5 class, by any measure. One service even ranked us below Georgia Tech, ouch. So, we have to fall back on the old line, "we addressed our needs." Despite the fact that this is a normal statements for those schools that disappointed, in our case it is true. UGA needed two things, offensive linemen and a bluechip running back. That is exactly what we got. Georgia signed a ton of linemen, literally. They signed high school seniors, prep schoolers, and JUCOs. Now Stacey Searles has to whip them into shape because several of them will play immediately.


The Dawgs also got Caleb King, one of the top running backs in the country. You must be doing something good when a down class is still ranked in the top 10 in the country.

Despite the good, this class also exposes some disturbing trends for the Bulldogs. First, Florida continues to outrecruit them. The Gators won the recruiting championship again this year. In fact, Georgia finished behind five other SEC schools, including UT and South Carolina. So, despite a solid class, it isn't like we're getting ahead of anyone.

Second, Georgia signed only two of the top 10 players in Georgia. This group does not include the state's top lineman who defected on signing day. Last year, we got five out of those 10. In 2005, three of the top 10 and five of the top ten in 2004. Richt has talked about simply keeping the Georgia boys home to play for Georgia. There are simply too many good players in Georgia to sign them all, but it should not be too much to ask to get most of the top players. It seems that more and more of the elite players in Georgia are looking elsewhere. This trend looks to change next year as the Dawgs look like they are in good shape with several of the state's best already.

Lastly, as previously mentioned, Georgia signed lots of linemen this year because they had huge holes to fill in next year's line. The Dawgs missed out again on the state's top offensive lineman, Antwane Greenlee. Other than last year's signing of Justin Anderson (who we had to resign this year because he didn't qualify) and Seth Watts, UGA hasn't signed an elite Georgia offensive lineman since 2003. Some have speculated that this is because of Niel Calloway, so I hope Stacey Searles can help to remedy this, although it sounded like Searles lost a personality contest with FSU's Rick Trickett for Greenlee.

In any case, welcome aboard pups.

Reggie Bush, Loved & Hated in Louisiana

Reggie Bush, former Heisman Trophy winner for USC and current savior of the New Orleans Saints, went from hated Trojan to beloved Saint last year all in the matter of a few hours. When the Texans inexplicably signed Mario Williams right before the draft, the bayous of Louisiana were awash in Cajun yelps of joy. Louisianans understood that Bush was a fantastic player despite the fact that he played for USC, a team that LSU will forever hate because of the "shared" national championship of 2003. Bush delivered on his immense promise as a player that could lift the Saints from their dreary history to a possible Super Bowl. Louisiana forgave Reggie for his past indiscretions in LA and loved him, not only for his spectacular play, but also for his considerable community work in post-Katrina New Orleans.

Consider those days gone, Reggie. Hardcore LSU recruitniks may have a hard time forgiving Reggie for helping USC snag uber recruit Joe McKnight away from the home state LSU Tigers by possibly committing a NCAA violation. It seems there is some question as to how involved Reggie Bush was in McKnight's recruitment. Former players are not supposed to contact recruits.

I figure this latest spurt of Reggie hate will last until Reggie makes one of his spectacular cutback runs in the Saints's opening game.

Wrestling With Nebraska

There is a disturbing development in Minnesota wresting. It seems that Minnesota high school wrestlers are contracting herpes in record numbers. Actually, it is special type of herpes called herpes gladiatorum that, evidently, only gladiators get. Have fun explaining that one later in life. "Yeah, I've had herpes, but it was from gladiatin', baby."

The culprit, according to Minnesota, is filthy wrestlers from Nebraska.

Now you have another possible explanation when your wife asks you how she got herpes, if "the toilet seat gave it to you" doesn't work.

Why I'm pulling for the Bears

I'm pulling for Chicago in tonight's game because of a former Dukie, Bears long snapper Patrick Mannelly. The Bears drafted Mannelly in 1998 as a sixth-rounder (198th overall), not typically a spot where you expect to find a long-term starter. But Mannelly made the team and played from day one, and has now played in more games than anyone on the Bears roster. He has snapped every kick and punt in a season several times in his career. Mannelly was part of Chicago's record 180 games without a punt blocked, which ended in 2003.

Pro Bowl kicker Robbie Gould made 47 of 47 extra points and 32 of 36 field goals this season, and a big reason was Mannelly's steady snapping. Two neat pieces of trivia: Mannelly's father-in-law is former major league pitcher Tommy John. And, Mannelly can long-snap a basketball into the bucket from half court! Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri will get more attention, but if tonight's game comes down to a Bears field goal, keep an eye on the snapper and expect the snap to be perfect. Good luck to Patrick Mannelly and the Bears!

Klosterman on Color Commentators

In the February Esquire, Chuck Klosterman has an essay rating various color commentators according to whether they were better as players or talking heads. It contains what it almost certainly the most thoughtful analysis you'll ever see of Gary Danielson's career for Purdue and the Lions.

Richt to Leave Athens for ... Clemson?

It's true, but not the Richt you're thinking of. Jon Richt, son of Georgia head coach Mark Richt, has verbally committed to Tommy Bowden and the Clemson Tigers. While Richt the Younger is just a junior, this will only add to the suicidal feelings of Georgia fans over our current mediocre recruiting class. Well, our class is supposedly pretty solid until you compare it with Florida, Tennessee, and LSU, all of whom are loading up on blue chippers. Mark Richt has had Top 5 classes almost every year, but this year the perception is that UGA has slipped. That perception isn't really that fair because we still have a top 10 class as of today. It's just that Richt has missed some of the biggest guys in Georgia for several years now. Calvin Johnson, Chris Scott, Kyle Moore, Tray Blackmon, James Davis, were all big misses. This year, the fence around Georgia has turned into a sieve, as Eric Berry, Cameron Newton, Allen Bailey, and Cameron Heyward are all looking elsewhere. Now Richt can't even convince his own son to play in Athens?

It should return to normal next year because UGA already has some big commitments for 2008 and supposedly leads for most of the state's top prospects.

Could we see a father versus son matchup when UGA visits Clemson in 2013? It's possible, but unlikely.

SEC Baseball Begins Today

SEC baseball gets underway this afternoon when Tennessee visits FSU. Arkansas also has a series this weekend with Louisiana Tech.

The SEC coaches picked Justin Smoak and the Cocks to win the conference this year. It's hard to argue that pick considering the talent on SC's roster. The Cocks seem to always win the recruiting national championship for baseball, but have had a couple of disappointing seasons in 2005 and 2006 (although last year would only be a disappointing season for a baseball power like Carolina). Vandy is picked second in the SEC East, but I think the Commodores are as strong as the Cocks or any other team in the SEC. They have the league's best pitcher in David Price and an All-American third baseman in Pedro Alvarez. The SEC East is just brutal, with Carolina, Vandy, and Tennessee, all with shots at the conference crown, plus last year's conference champ, plus a 2006 CWS participant.

The Q-Dog Looks to Drop Bombs

My 2007 to-do list just got one entry longer.

Quincy Carter, once the holder of all Dawg hopes, once the apple of Jerry Jones's eye, is now a Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wing. As a Shreveport resident, I have yet to see the Battle Wings play and feel I must now get acquainted with their players. So, I resolve to buy Quincy dinner in 2007. I don't imagine it could be that hard. I owe him dinner after all, if only for that night in Baton Rouge when he shredded Lou Tepper's genius defense by continually hitting Champ Bailey. The rest of Q's career never lived up to that night, but it did get Q an NFL contract. I'm glad to see the Q-Dog has another shot at football. Maybe I'll even buy a ticket to watch him play one more time.

Drop me an email, Q. You can't resist a Shrimp Buster or some boiled crawfish. I can't have a to-do left uncrossed.

If you thought Quincy was dead, you can get caught up with him through this article from the AJC.

Pork Bellies, SPDRs, BCS Tickets

The Super Bowl has already spawned numerous stories about how normal people got their tickets to Sunday's game. Some of the more interesting stories involve Chicagoans who purchased a nifty option to purchase Super Bowl tickets at face value way back in 2005. Their magical source was a sports ticket option website. The website, Ticketreserve.com, operates an option market only for big game tickets. You can go on the site and purchase an option to purchase tickets at face value. If your team goes to the big game, you can exercise your option and purchase a ticket at face value. If your team ends up in the Emerald Nuts Bowl, you forfeit your option purchase amount. Additionally, you can sell your option to other fans during the year. So, if I buy Georgia options today for $44, I can sell them during the year, presumably when UGA is winning and the option price is above $44 and turn a profit. Or, I can hang on to my options and see if the Dawgs can get to the championship game.

Here is the Big Board for the 2008 BCS Championship game for each SEC school:

Alabama - $15
Arkansas - $94
Auburn - $94
Florida - $156
Georgia - $44
Kentucky - $15
LSU - $94
Mississippi State - $15
Ole Miss - $15
South Carolina - $15
Tennessee - $76
Vanderbilt - $15

Looks like the Gators are pretty confident in Tim Tebow and a rebuilt defense. Then again, the Gators are pretty confident about anything.