BOSCO'S BEAT: This Week In SEC College Football Plus News And Notes From 'Round The Nation

Weeks 1 And 2

Winning And Loving It:

Here it is college football fans -- only weeks before kick-off and fans are already talkin' about a possible repeat of a national championship for the Florida Gators. Can the Gators repeat? Or will they even compete for the Eastern Division of the SEC? What about LSU who some feel could have a legitimate shot at the top spot? And even more bizarre is the buzz about Vanderbilt, who some believe may be fielding the most talented team that school has seen in years! Let's break it down for you in the SEC College Football Preview in this fresh edition of Bosco's Beat, the official source for SEC Fans who want to be in the know! That's what I'm sayin'!

Cream Of The Crop: There will automatically be argument that Florida should be a good bet to repeat as SEC Champs, but most pre-season publications pick LSU to represent the SEC. Lindy's, Athlon, FoxSports and Rivals-dot-com all have the Tigers in their Top 3 with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution picking them at number 6. The 2007 Sugar Bowl champs kick off the third season under Les Miles with a road trip to Mississippi State on August 30th. A favorable schedule includes home games against Florida, Auburn and Arkansas. An early test could come September 8th as the Tigers host non-conference Virginia Tech. Player to watch: Senior QB Matt Flynn who replaces JaMarcus Russell, taken as the number 1 pick in the NFL Draft......It's general consensus among those in the know that the Florida Gators should be a legitimate Top 10 team with the Gators ranking in pre-season polls from the Number 11 spot (Lindy's) to Number 4 (FoxSports). The Gators will lose most of their defensive starters but will most likely get their 20th consecutive winning season under the leadership of starting QB Tim Tebow. A 15 game home streak is likely to continue with early games against Western Kentucky and Troy, but the Tennessee Vols come calling on Sept. 15th as the Gators' first test. Away games at LSU and South Carolina are probably the biggest challenges on an otherwise easy schedule which includes home games against Auburn and Florida State.

Representin': Returning QB Brandon Cox, among 10 upperclassmen on Auburn's offense is one reason why the Tigers could compete for a spot atop the Western Division of the SEC, but a tough road schedule (at Florida, Arkansas, LSU and Georgia) could derail those hopes. Pre-season polls put Auburn as high as No. 14 (AJC, Rivals.com, FoxSports) and as low as No. 23 (Lindys), probably due to the 'road hazards' the Tigers will face. All four of these road teams were at one time or another in the Top 10 during the 2006 season, but Auburn comes into the season with an SEC best 11-and-1 road mark over the last three years......Positives for the Georgia Bulldogs include the return of Groza Award and All-America candidate Brandon Coutu for placekicking duties and two strong defensive ends, Marcus Howard and Rod Battle, replacing Quentin Moses and Charles Johnson who left for the NFL. But bad news for the Dogs include a slew of arrests and suspensions during the off-season. Those suspensions are likely to come during the first game of the season against an upstart Oklahoma State team that could be a scary one for the Dogs. Key games for the Dogs include at home versus South Carolina, at Knoxville and versus Auburn in Athens......Tennessee gets leadership back at the quarterback spot with the return of Eric Ainge who was the bright spot in what Vol fans would consider a down year with four losses and a humiliating defeat at the hands of Penn State in the Outback Bowl. Thanks to Ainge, Tennessee ended the 2006 season number 2 in the SEC in passing offense, 12th in the NCAA. Four losses on offense include two big names, wide receivers Jayson Swain and Robert Meachem. Key away games for the Vols include visits to the Cal Bears out west, a scary trip to Gainesville, Florida and at T-Town to face Nick Saban and Alabama. Mark Bradley of the AJC has UT losing at Kentucky and Fulmer getting fired. But I wouldn't believe all that!.....Arkansas lost talented QB Mitch Mustain and got a nasty fan-driven storm in its place, so some analysts say the 'Hogs could be a disappointment from last year's runner-ups in the SEC Championship Game. The good news is they get talented TB Darren McFadden back as a junior and 2006 SEC Offensive Player of the Year. The Hogs open with what I believe will be a scary visit from Troy. Then comes an early bye to get ready for September 15th's road trip to Tuscaloosa to play Alabama. A brutal November schedule will determine perhaps the fate of head-coach Houston Nutt with a visit from South Carolina, a trip to Knoxville and a trip to Baton Rouge.....South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier believes his 'Cocks could contend for an eastern division title, but of course he'd have to beat three premiere teams in the league- Tennessee, Georgia and Florida and that's a tall order! But USC's running game is improved and nearly all the defensive unit will be back with the exception of corner Fred Bennett. South Carolina opens with a visit from UL Lafayette, but travels the next week to Georgia for a September 8th matchup and its first big test. Other key games include road trips to LSU, Tennessee and Arkansas.....Imagine the possibilities of how huge the Alabama - Florida State game is gonna be on September 29th. Both storied programs are expected to turn around and this is a key year for both. Legendary Bobby Bowden's 'Noles are being called the surprise team of the league coming into the season. After staff shake-ups, there's an awful lot of expectations here. Even more is expected of coaching guru Nick Saban, sent in to roll the tide from two conference wins all season into a restoration of national prominence. Now, which team of the two do you think has more expectations? After season opener Western Carolina and a road trip to Vandy, UA hosts Arkansas and Georgia back-to-back before heading to Florida to play FSU.

...And The Rest: You can put Rich Brooks' talented Kentucky squad at the top of the best of the rest, lead by QB Andre Woodson, who some call the best player to have ever played at UK. The QB's decision to come back to school for his senior year will spark an offense already loaded with power players like receiver Keenan Burton and versitile back Rafael Little. A big test for the 'Cats will come September 15th with a visit from state-rivals Louisville followed by a trip to Fayetteville to face the scrappy 'Hogs. Key home games include LSU and Florida in consecutive weeks and a visit from the 'Vols on November 24th.....Mississippi's got a little 'D goin under new defensive coordinator John Thompson and is getting praises from head coach Ed Orgeron. Some pretty big road-games will test that defense with trips to hated rivals Memphis, to Vandy, on the road to Athens, Georgia, at Auburn and at Mississippi State. Home games versus Florida and LSU are also in the mix. Just my two cents: Mississippi will upset one of the big boys, maybe Arkansas or Auburn. Hmmmm....They say Vandy could very well be the best 1-and-7 team in the south. That's the overall record versus the SEC from the 2006 season, losing to Alabama and Arkansas by a combined five points. And they made Michigan sweat a little for a whileas well. This season, talented QB Chris Nickson returns after throwing for more than 2,000 yards, running for another 694 during last season. The problem with Vandy is that between a trip to Auburn on October 6th and a trip I-40 eastbound to Knoxville on November 17, the 'Dores play Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. That's pretty tough for anyone, much less Vandy....The Mississippi State Bulldogs are expected by some sports pundits to be 3-and-9 by the end of the upcoming season. Strengths include a 'kickin' Special Teams unit, with Adam Cralson back in place to handle placekicking duties. And watch for junior college transfer Tony Burks who, on only 35 catches, totaled 850 yards and five touchdowns on the 2006 season. The weaknesses include a Defensive squad that has to replace six starters from last season. The schedule is brutal, season opener versus LSU followed two weeks later by a trip to Auburn. Other key games include visits from Tennessee, and trips to South Carolina and Arkansas.

Last Minute News: Alabama star cornerback Simeon Castille was arrested on Sunday, August 19th for disorderly conduct near an entertainment district in Tuscaloosa. Castille is the fourth high-profile Alabama football player arrested in the past two months.....Mississippi State head coach Sylvester Croom has announced the suspension of back-up QB Josh Riddell for what is believed to be a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.....South Carolina QB Blake Mitchell is appealing his suspension from the team due to missing summer school classes. The ol' ball coach says if the suspension sticks, back-ups Chris Smelley and Tommy Beecher would see action against Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 1st.....Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt says QB Casey Dick's little brother Nathan will back up his big bro this season.

News 'N Notes From 'Round The Nation: Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis says he has decided on a starting QB for the season opener against Georgia Tech, but won't say if it will be Evan Sharpley, Demetrius Jones or Jimmy Clausen.....Drew Weatherford gets the nod as starter over Xavier Lee as the FSU Noles open at Clemson on Sept. 3rd.

A Trip To The 2007 SEC Women's Basketball Tournament In Duluth, Georgia

You can feel the excitement in the air throughout the southeast as basketball is headed for tournament time, baby! The men are finishing up the regular season games this week headed toward the Georgia Dome on March 8th - 11th for the SEC Championships. The women are ready to rumble at the Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Georgia where big crowds are expected at the biggest sporting event yet to be held at the arena! Well i just happen to have my press pass in hand, headed Friday morning up to day 2 of the tourney.

First Round Byes:

Tennessee, Georgia, LSU and Vandy get byes on Thursday's first round games. All four teams had regular season winning percentages of .800 or better and are all nationally ranked.

Thursday's Early Round Summary:

South Carolina came from behind to beat #9 seed Auburn 65-63 in game 1. The Gamecocks meet up with Tennessee on Friday afternoon. Kentucky gets a red hot Georgia Lady Dogs on Friday after clawing the Arkansas Razorbacks 72-57. Ole Miss advances after beating Alabama 78-49. The Rebs get the LSU Tigers on Friday. Vanderbilt takes on Florida after a rare Gator win, beating Mississippi State 67-60 on Thursday.

In a side note, there is another women's basketball tournament being held this month in Georgia - down in Warm Springs - as the 33rd Annual National Women's Wheelchair Basketball Tournament at Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute began on March 1st. Congratulations, girls.

My journey to the SEC Women's Tournament began on Friday with a trip to the Arena at Gwinnett Center. If you didn't already know, watching four basketball games in a row is exhausting! But I will say the staff at the Arena took good care of us media types with a nice food spread and pretty comfortable surroundings. After picking up my credentials, I leisurely walked into the Tennessee/South Carolina game, surrounded by orange-clad fans makin' some noise. The Lady Vols were up 40 to 28 at the half and would go on to win, advancing to the next round early Saturday evening. I quickly found a great seat, beside the USC pep band, right on the floor at the foot of all the action. I decided that I would sit there as much as I could. Occasionally, I would be gently nudged from my spot to make room for the next team's pep band, so I moved to a nearby seat, right in front of a nice older couple, Vanderbilt fans from Nashville. They were nice and I must give it up to them, for a couple in their 60's, they were at every game whether or not their 'Dores played. And the funny thing was, due to seeding schedules, Vandy always played the late games. But they didn't complain despite getting to bed well after 1 o'clock in the morning. Sure enough, they were back the next day, ready for some action. While I was sitting close to my folks, sure enough Georgia Coach Andy Landers took a seat across the aisle only a few feet from me. I must say, he is the most relaxed head coach I think I've ever seen when he's not on the court coaching, slamming his fists into his forehead in anguish for one reason or another, usually when his team is not making their shots. Other coaches literally within my reach included a smartly-dressed Mickey DeMoss. The Kentucky coach was looking good dressed in a dark blue pin-striped suit. She's a little more high-strung than coach Landers, but considering what she has done with a formerly dormant Wildcat team, I think she can be forgiven. Kentucky, way far behind (53-20) with a little over nine minutes left, would fall to Georgia 72-40.

The next game in the session was probably the most exciting game of the weekend when scrappy Ole Miss took it to mammoth LSU, cooling off toward the end of the first half, but staging a major come-back in the last ten minutes, down by only five with 7:52 left in the game. I've never heard Mississippi sports fans as loud as they were in the last three minutes of the game, seeing their girls lose a heartbreaker to the Lady Tigers 52-46 after the Rebs tied it up with free-throws with one minute remaining in the game. What a thriller! Ole Miss Coach and alum Carol Ross called the last three minutes of the game a "classic", straight from her lips to my notepad. The next game on tap was a little uglier, due in part to a technical called on Florida coach Carolyn Peck. If you didn't already know, the embattled coaching legend was fired earlier in the season after producing only three SEC wins this season. Down by 20 to Vandy at the half, the imposing and beautiful Peck ran down to my end of the floor and let loose a profanity-laced tirade, using the 'F' word repeatedly on a referee who called the technical. That sparked a bit of a rally by the Gators in the last 13 minutes of the game, but wound up getting schooled by the lady 'Dores 105-77. Can I just say that I believe coach Peck is one of the classiest, tallest and most beautiful coaches I've ever seen. She teared up when I asked her at the press conference why she couldn't produce a championship caliber team at Florida like she did when her Perdue Boilermakers won the national championship a few years back. She did not lay the blame on anyone, but did give herself proper credit for cleaning up a program in complete disarray. I believe Florida has a bright future because of Coach Peck and we wish her the best.

Semi-final action began on Saturday with a packed house! Yes, the crowd was largely clad in Tennessee orange, but LSU fans were their typically rowdy selves as the Lady Vols and the LSU Tigers took the court in early evening action. LSU knew they had to minimize Candace Parker, which they did. LSU's Sylvia Fowles got her 60th double-double in the 63-54 victory, advancing LSU to the championship final on Sunday. Most Tennessee fans remained for the Georgia/Vandy game later that night. Georgia looked flatter than a pancake in the first half- only scoring 18 points, down 37-18 at the half, only to lose 81-56. During the game, the entire LSU Lady Tigers squad, including their assistant coach surrounded me at my seat on the floor. I was nervous at first, but soon felt comfortable chatting it up with the ladies. Sylvia Fowles, the team's biggest star, sat right next to me, texting and eating with her teammates, fending off autograph hounds from nearby. I don't blame her for not wanting to be bothered. She was nice about it, but she was right in wanting some down time before the team had to go back to their hotel.

So it was Vandy and LSU for Sunday's finals, set for 7:30 PM. The crowd was a bit smaller, but was still loud. One thing I learned about LSU fans is that they're very loud and rowdy, much like they are at football games. It's nice that SEC women's basketball teams are drawing not only large crowds, but vocal ones as well. It was a little surprising how excited these fans got, enthusiastically pulling for their gals. Major shouts to all the fans who showed up, supporting their schools. Thanks to the great, friendly and helpful staff of the SEC, the NCAA and the staff of the Gwinnett arena for a great tournament. And congratulations to Vanderbilt, who beat LSU, the number one defensive team heading into the tournament, 51-45. Vandy gets an automatic bid to the NCAA tourney in March.

The Good: Beginning with the tournament champions Vanderbilt Commodores, at first glance they're arguably the smallest girls in the SEC, but they're fast and likely to score 100 on you after quick, explosive starts. I believe Vandy, with their rock solid defense will surprise many in their run through the NCAAs.....One of the most amazing stats of the weekend - 73 percent three-point shot completions by Vanderbilt heading into Sunday's victory. Wow!......I found it particularly classy that during halftime of the first rounds Thursday and Friday, they honored some of each school's legendary players, such as former Georgia star Bernadette Maddox...... The award for rowdiest pep band has to go to Florida whose band and cheerleaders never lost their spirit or their smiles despite their Gators getting ROCKED late Friday night. (Runner-up, Mississippi)......The award for hottest dance team goes to Kentucky who looked good in a powder-blue sweats and t-shirt combo, doin' their thing! (Runner-up, Georgia)......Tennessee fans filled the Gwinnett arena nearly all weekend, prompting arena officials to openly hope the Lady Vols advanced to Sunday's finals. They didn't make it, but fan support of one of the nation's best women's teams is impressive anywhere they go......I was impressed by Georgia coach Andy Landers, who posed for pictures while relaxing in the stands before his game. He brought smiles to several star-struck little girls who got a souveneir picture to keep......The food spread was great. We were treated to a Mexican fiesta Friday night and had snacks and beverages all weekend.

The Bad: One of the only celebrity-types that was not particularly nice to me was former WNBA and college coach Van Chancellor, whose game-calling and color-commentaries can be seen on Fox Sports Net during the season. I said hello to him. He snubbed me and moved on......I saw fans from every team at the tournament except Mississippi State. Bulldogs fans - if you want your team to win, it would help if you showed up to cheer them on!.....The arena was nearly empty at the half of the Vandy/Florida game. Yes it was late and the game was very one-sided, but it takes alot away from the atmosphere when no one is there to see it.

The Ugly: During the tournament, one of the sponsors - Chick-fil-A, gave away prizes to person's sitting in certain seats of the arena. When it was announced that someone sitting in the LSU section had won a prize, the over-sized Chick-fil-A Cow made a scary trip down the steps of the upper decks through the rowdy crowd. He survived, but I had my doubts for a moment or two.

Well that's my trip to the SEC Women's tournament. It was a blast. I would have actually had to really work had home-town Georgia advanced to the finals. But they didn't, so I got enjoy myself. Next year's tournament is at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville. But stay tuned, as Bosco's Beat heads for the NCAAs later this month! See you then.