Team Speed Kills Now at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT. Some details are still up in the air at this point, but to mark the Third Fourth Saturday in October, we'll talk with Crimson Daddy and Ghost of Neyland from the schizophrenic 3rd Saturday in Blogtober. And we'll unveil the weekly SEC Power Poll results, with no revisions this time. All that and more on TSK Now.
Dr. Saturday isn't fond of your officiating complaints
The Doc makes some valid points about the torrent of apologies that the SEC office is issuing.
Complaining about the refs is an inherent, time-honored aspect of losing -- most of us accept this by age 13 or so -- but there's no reason in this case the SEC couldn't have publicly called the flag against Sheppard a "judgment call" and communicated the results of that review to Arkansas; it didn't carry the urgency of a last-second decision that directly, obviously affected the outcome with no time to overcome it.
I don't think it's quite as simple as this, just because of how egregious the call is and the fact that it came on a critical drive. But I do think we need to move beyond this particular mistake and focus on a larger issue: This conference has a serious officiating problem that rivals the Big Ten's issues earlier this decade. That series of botched calls led directly to instant replay in the college game, which has greatly benefited the sport and helped undo some of the worst calls.
We need to fix this, because it's not going away if nothing is done. And it will harm the conference.
TO's take: 'Refs r str8 CHEATING n this florida/arkansas game!!'
Now that his voice has been heard, the matter has been settled.
ALABAMA-TENNESSEE
Heismanpundit on Ingram's Trophy chances
Stout defenses from Tennessee, LSU and, most likely, Florida stand in the way. Ingram really has to dominate from here on out to create a streamroller effect for his candidacy. And if McCoy gets hot, or if Tebow hits his stride, then it will be hard for him to break through.
I think this week is critical for Ingram. Tennessee might have the best defense in the league, and Gramps Google will be devoting all his resources to shutting down Ingram first and forcing McElroy to win the game with his arm.
SI puts Ingram in the Heism@n lead
He's ahead of Ndamukong Suh, whose name tells you everything you need to know: This is a man who picks his teeth with the shards of broken headlights.
In which I agree with Boy Wonder
I can't believe I'm saying this, but Alabama officials managed to make Lane Kiffin look more mature than them. I'm not sure whether to call this a failure or an achievement.
Kiffin and UT athletic director Mike Hamilton said Monday that Alabama denied Tennessee’s request to wear orange jerseys against the No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa.
"We tried," Kiffin said. "Talking with some people in the offseason about the history here and both teams wearing the home jersey, I thought that would be something really neat for our fans and for their fans, too.
"We were approved by the SEC and Alabama denies us that."
Alabama AD Mal Moore defended the decision.
"Mike (Hamilton) and I had a good conversation this morning and I told him that it is our desire to maintain the custom of the visiting team wearing their visiting jerseys. We’ll continue to wear our white jerseys when we visit Knoxville next year."
Apparently, The Process includes playing meaningless mind games.
Tennessee looking for another moral victory?
Some think so.
OTHER NEWS
There's no such thing as too much Tebow -- is there?
Gator Bytes has one of the fairest looks at Florida's offensive woes that's out there.
Spikes to return
But practically the entire Florida defensive line is doubtful.
Our long, endlessly-covered national nightmare is over
Tim Tebow has finished his concussion testing.
Well, that's unfortunate
Remember Auburn's big Navy Nightmare game and how impressive Jordan Hare was going to look with all those dark blue shirts on a cool Halloween evening?
The game's been scheduled for 11:21 a.m. local time. So Auburn will essentially be asking its fans to get sunburnt for their team.
When hope turns into delusion
Houston Nutt hasn't given up on winning the SEC West.
"This league is so crazy any given Saturday. You can’t say it’s locked up and done."
Ole Miss is essentially three games behind Alabama right now. Alabama has four SEC games left and Ole Miss has five. The Rebels' elimination number is two, which means any combination of two Ole Miss losses and Alabama wins will officially eliminate them.
Vandy TE out for season
Not that they've had enough injuries already to sink the thin Commodores.
Police are close to arrests in Howard's stabbing
I hope the people in question spend a long time in a very dark cell if they're guilty.
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em
Those who decry the BCS for being driven by money ... have formed a PAC to try to influence the political process with money. Hooray hypocrisy! And pay no attention to the fact that, with two wars, a historic economic situation and a debate over health care underway, a politician's stance on a college football playoff is about the most asinine reason to support them that I can think of.