Talking SEC Football

SEC Football News Now Available as Mobile App

2011-06-02T13:16:00.001-04:00

App Follows SEC Football Exclusively

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Atlanta, Georgia- June 2, 2011-- SEC Football fans just got a new way to keep up with all the latest SEC Football news while they are mobile. SEC Football Breaking News App has just been released and is available for Iphone, Ipad and Android phones.

The app offers daily top SEC news stories, SEC recruiting commitments, and the latest happenings from SEC coaches and players. The App developers do the research, the subscribers get to be the experts on SEC football.

“SEC Football News” App was originally created to be one mobile source for SEC football coaches, journalist and oddsmakers with a premium price tag. But during the test launch, so many people downloaded the free app in the first hour, it was obvious there was fan demand. So the developers decided to create the app with a nominal $4.99 one time fee and open it up to the general public.

In less than 5 minutes, viewers can know everything that is happening in the SEC football world. For less than the price of a magazine, smart phone users have updated SEC Football News.

The SEC Football Breaking News App is broken down into categories including Most Recent news, SEC East, SEC West, Recruiting and a Fan Tip line for inside scoop on SEC football. The developer recently added a Big Board which follows top athletes who have not made a commitment yet.

When starting running back Washaun Ealey announced that he was leaving Georgia, the info was on the SEC Football News app within 8 minutes of the announcement. It took several hours for the worldwide leader in sports to post information and the regional newspapers posted the news over the following 24 hours.

With the increases in technology, fans can get all their SEC Football news from one source. Being mobile allows subscribers to save hours everyday from being in front of a computer screen.

SEC Football News App Released for Iphone and Android Phones

2011-05-24T09:48:00.007-04:00

ATLANTA, Ga--Just Released SEC Football Breaking News for Iphone and Android phones.

The best mobile source for updated SEC Football News. App gives a summary of the Top News stories with a link to the source.

App was created to be one source for SEC football coaches, journalist and oddsmakers. Now we're opening it up to diehard SEC fans too.

Viewers can read 172 on-line newspapers daily or get this app.

In less than 5 minutes, viewers can know everything that is happening in the SEC football world. For less than the price of a magazine, smart phone users have updated SEC Football News.

All SEC stories are reviewed but only the best of SEC Football are published. This is much more comprehensive info than the E$PN app, regional newspapers and and more comprehensive than subscription sports sites.

Get the daily top news stories in SEC recruiting, latest happenings from SEC Coaches and and find out which SEC Players are making it in the news. Get this app for filtered SEC football news.

Top stories updated around the clock. Purely content driven so you can stay on the cutting edge of SEC Football News.

Football news for Alabama Crimson Tide, Auburn Tigers, Arkansas Razorbacks, LSU Tigers, Ole Miss Rebels, Mississippi State Bulldogs.

More football news for Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs, South Carolina Gamecocks, Tennessee Volunteers, Kentucky Wildcats, Vanderbilt Commodores.

Following Nick Saban, Gene Chizik, Bobby Petrino, Les Miles, Houston Nutt, Dan Mullen. Will Muschamp, Mark Richt, Steve Spurrier, Derek Dooley, Joker Phillips, James Franklin.

To see video promo, click here.

Southern Football TV on ESPN2

2010-10-22T10:39:00.004-04:00

One of my dreams has always been to be on ESPN2. On Saturday, October 16, Southern Football TV aired on ESPN2. What a grand moment. If you want to see the Athens show, go to http://www.secsportsreport.com/seceast/southern-football-tv-visits-athens-ga.shtml

If you would like to see the Auburn show, go to http://www.secfootballtv.com/

Go After Your Dream by Coach J

2010-04-08T12:26:00.002-04:00

A Message from Coach J

Fortunately, I get to meet a lot of young people when I'm out in public. My message to them is always the same. "Go after your dream." Do what you love, follow your heart and pursue a career path that gets you excited in the morning.

The next question that follows is what should I do? Start with volunteering or get any job in the chosen field. If you want to be a writer, start writing stories about your favorite teams and publish them on some place like Bleacher Report. Fans and writers will give you feedback which will increase your writing skills.

If you want to be a coach, start working with a high school program as a volunteer. Turn off the tv and start spending time with people working in your dream job. You have to pay some dues in whatever you pursue so the sooner you get started, the better off you will be.

When you first launch out, the criticism can be tough because the dream is so close to your heart. But as time goes on, you learn to welcome it, because usually some criticism is good because it helps you refine your dream into a reality.

Whatever you choose, there will be resistance. If you love it, you will pursue it regardless of the obstacles. As people punch holes in your dream, it forces you to make the dream real. Making it real means connecting a revenue stream to your chosen field.

Great ideas are a dime a dozen. If you know your dream, you have opened the first door. But there are many doors on this journey. What seperates the winners from the losers is the execution of a sound strategy. Next time, we will talk about strategy...

If you want me to coach you to your dream job, call me at 770-844-9377. I don't want anybody to miss out on their dream, so I use a sliding scale based on your income.

Jay Holgate is an SEC Football writer and motivational speaker/coach. Check out Jay's bio at Football Speakers.

Urban Meyer Snatched the Momentum Back to His Florida Gator Team

2010-04-01T16:36:00.002-04:00

ATLANTA, GA- Urban Meyer’s back! It doesn’t surprise me one bit that Urban Meyer struck out at a Orlando Sentinel beat reporter. Meyer’s response was predictable. It was most likely calculated, and now that the dust is settling, it looks like Urban got the momentum back for his team.

Urban Meyer has been taking a beating in the press for several months. It started with the whipping by Alabama for the SEC Championship. No reason under the sun that the Gators should have been beaten 32-13. I saw it coming when Carlos Dunlap got pulled for a DUI the week of the big game. Coach Meyer didn’t see it coming because he was still on the Undefeated National Championship train. The huge loss took its toll on Meyer’s body and his pride.

The loss to Alabama was followed up with a resignation said to be spending more time with his family. Then a quick return without consulting his family and what could best be termed as emotional turmoil for a period of time. Meyer did the “staycation thing”, but he was getting ripped by journalists for his inconsistent behaviors.

Then came the Tebow evaluations. For over a month, every football analyst in the country had rated Tim Tebow and the consensus is that he wasn’t fully developed as a passing quarterback at Florida. No doubt, he can run on third and five all day long and get the yardage needed. He is a great leader and motivator.

But at the end of the day, he may not have what it takes to play quarterback in the NFL, and that points directly to Meyer. Tebow is the most teachable athlete in America. Why wasn’t Tebow taught better mechanics?
When beat writer Jeremy Fowler wrote his story which included the differences in quarterbacks, that gave Meyer his chance to draw a line in the sand and fire some shells into the enemy’s camp. The fact that it was videotaped was probably not anticipated.

There is one thing I know for sure about Coach Meyer. Urban Meyer cares most about winning. Winning games, winning recruits and winning messages. He is a momentum guy and who is constantly manipulating circumstances to get better results from his players. And he has had a lot of success with it.

By going after Fowler, Meyer put a big circle around the Swamp and let it be known to all the beat writers that if you write anything negative about the players, you will lose access. Every beat writer in Florida will take a big breath before quoting another Florida player. It basically guarantees positive headlines in Florida newspapers for recruits for awhile. Mission accomplished.

In the process, the Florida players felt like their coach was sticking up for them which served as a high energy team building exercise. Don’t forget, Meyer has his psychology degree, and everything is based on motivating his team. Once again, the Gators came together because of their head coach.

The event pulled the attention away from Tebow’s throwing motion, comparisons with Brantley, and stopped the bleeding on Gator football public relations. Sports writers across the country have commented on the episode but Meyer doesn’t care what they think. In the end, he’s fighting for his players and nobody can fault him for that.

Jay Holgate is an SEC Football writer and motivational speaker. Jay Talks SEC Football year round to companies, sports events and churches.

Holgate Speaks to No Longer Bound in Atlanta

2010-03-24T10:59:00.004-04:00

SEC sports writer and motivational speaker Jay Holgate was a guest speaker for No Longer Bound in North Atlanta last week. The event was held on campus in the dining hall which became a SEC decorated facility with pre-game music and a promotional video highlighting Holgate’s journey following SEC football.

The theme of the night was a Champions Club Meeting, and the men were treated to a steak dinner by the parent organization. There was a sign at the door with big letters indicating Champions Club Meeting and each man had to walk across a winners line taped to the floor.

The success of No Longer Bound has been phenomenal and is ten times better than the national average for recovery centers. The focus at No Longer Bound is not just a man’s sobriety but making him into a disciple of Jesus Christ. The organization is funded primarily by citizens donating their cars, trucks, boats and RV’s. There is a major advertising effort on the radio to encourage people to give away older vehicles to the charity. Donations are accepted year around.

The non-profit organization also has a community closet, a greenhouse and printing services which all help pay the expenses of a full time men’s ministry dedicated to the rehabilitation of alcohol and drug addicts. For more information about No Longer Bound or to make a donation, call Mike Harden at 770-886-7873.

Jay Holgate is an SEC sports writer and motivational speaker based in Atlanta, Georgia. As a credentialed member of the SEC, he reports exclusively on SEC football and basketball. His column is published in over 200 on-line newspapers in the Southeast and he can be heard weekly on sports radio stations across the South.

No matter the size of the organization, Jay’s encouraging and message about hope, focus, goals, and perseverance is both motivating and inspiring. For more information about Jay’s speaking engagements, call Todd Greene at FootballSpeakers.com at 1-866-977-6787.

SEC Recruiting-How I Got Involved with #1 Running Back in America

2010-02-09T11:06:00.000-05:00

I wrote the story about Marcus Lattimore, making my points that recruits should stay in-state if given the choice. The closer to home, the more parents can be involved. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/330742-marcus-lattimore-big-decision-auburn-or-south-carolina.

I had never written about a recruit before, but something pushed me to single him out. I knew what he would do for his home state if he chose the Gamecocks. I also knew Auburn’s rich history of putting running backs in the NFL.

I wrote a story, talked about it on a couple of sports radio programs, and uploaded my interviews to YouTube. My story and videos got a lot of traffic and comments, both positive and negative.

One night, the phone rang. “This is Marcus Lattimore’s step father. Can I talk to you about your article?”

Marcus is the top running back recruit in the country. Every major college wanted him, and coaches were calling around the clock. The family had issued a freeze for the media, but the coaches were still calling.

Even the teams that had been eliminated were still calling Marcus, his Mom, his step dad, and his sister.

I found myself in the late hours of the night talking to a father, not as a sports writer, but as a father. He said he had seen my videos and he felt he could trust me, and that I would shoot him straight.

I knew both schools well. The next few hours, two fathers discussed all the positives and negatives of two great schools—Auburn and South Carolina.

My article had resonated with the step-father. My videos touched him and Marcus. A lot hung in the balance. Marcus’ decision would greatly impact two coach's careers.

Steve Spurrier would have been criticized for losing an in-state star. For Gene Chizik, signing Marcus could move his class to No. 1 in the country.

Over the next few days, both coaches came and went for their last home visits. The father would again call me and talk about the experience. Sometimes we talked football, other times we just talked.

On Sunday, he invited me to come down and spend Monday with the family, the same day Marcus would be announcing his school of choice. I knew having some time with a big recruit would be memorable.

When I arrived in Duncan, South Carolina, I knew two fan bases were dying to know which path Marcus would take. I found a house full of trophies and memories of a loving family.

Two hours before the announcement, Marcus was cool and calm. He played a game on Playstation.

I asked if he was playing South Carolina vs Auburn and and the winner would be his choice. He just laughed. A great, humble guy, but a competitor who has big dreams. I knew he had a great future.

We joined hands in the middle of the living room for prayer. I prayed for this family and Marcus, and that every step forward would be successful. We went to the church, which was half full two hours before the announcement.

So people ask me, why did Marcus go to South Carolina? Marcus told me every time he went to Columbia, he really enjoyed his time there. It just felt right.

Secondly, Steve Spurrier and staff worked very hard to have a relationship with his entire family. The entire family had to be in agreement on this one.

And finally, Stephen Davis told Marcus that he loved playing at Auburn, but his only regret was his family and friends didn’t get to share it with him in person.

His reasons confirmed why I wrote the story.

Until next time, I will see you on the ball field.

Jay Holgate is a sports writer and motivational speaker talking about SEC football. Jay is listed with www.FootballSpeakers.com

Here is my link to the Marcus Lattimore announcement taped from my camera.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY_Meczd-18

#2 Alabama Will Beat #1 Florida in SEC Championship Game

2009-12-03T11:29:00.003-05:00

ATLANTA, GA —Last week, I predicted an upset weekend for Thanksgiving. South Carolina and Georgia knocked off the two best teams in the ACC, Miss. State stuck it to the Ole Miss Rebels, and Kentucky and Arkansas were a field goal away from celebrating upsets.

This past week was clearly full of upsets.

Now we are down to the rematch that everyone wanted: No. 1 Florida vs. No. 2 Alabama, Meyer vs. Saban, and Tebow vs. Ingram. Two undefeated SEC teams playing for what could be the national championship on a neutral field with a 50/50 ticket split for the fans. One play could determine the outcome of this game; it doesn’t get any better than this.

Last week, Florida handed their in-state rival Florida State a huge defeat and may have tipped the scales on the decision for moving Bobby Bowden closer to retirement.

Either way, the Gators ran over the Seminoles and definitely looked like the championship team we came to know last year. Perfect timing for a peak performance against the SEC West champion Alabama Crimson Tide.

Alabama became focused after Auburn put up two big scores. The Tide finally closed the deal, but it went deep in the fourth quarter before any fan could breath. Regardless, Bama won, stayed undefeated, and lived another day to play one of the greatest Florida football teams in history.

Everything points to another Florida victory on Saturday. Tim Tebow is playing his last SEC game, and he doesn’t lose when he sets his mind on winning; i.e. “The Promise.”

The Gators have momentum that carried over from last season’s BCS championship and they are healthy and playing at a top level again. Coach Meyer has been preparing for this game since last spring and the man is a football genius.

But not so fast. Coach Saban has replayed the second half of last year’s SEC championship 1,000 times in his head. After the 10th time, he figured out how to win it by a field goal. Alabama is tough, battle tested, and undefeated. They are also feeling disrespected, which always plays in Saban’s favor.

How This SEC Championship Game Will Play Out

Alabama Offense vs. Florida Defense
Alabama will try to control the clock with a dominant ground game, short passes, and a clock that continues running. The more the clock runs, the more Meyer feels constricted.

Saban wants to grind it out. Bama will try to keep Tim Tebow and company off the field as long as they can, because they know he is the heartbeat of this team. A low scoring game favors Alabama.

The Florida defense will stack the box and challenge McElroy to throw the ball because they believe their corners can play man to man all day long with Bama. Florida is looking for some interceptions to capture the momentum and swing the game their direction.

Florida Offense vs. Alabama Defense
Florida will spread the ball out and give Bama another taste of the 2008 Sugar Bowl. Look for some trick plays, misdirections, and opportunities for Tim Tebow to shine.

Meyer always goes for the biggest playmakers in the big games. Tebow, Cooper, Hernandez, James, Demps, and Rainey will see all the action on Saturday. Meyer lives off adrenaline rushes with his team making the big plays. An early score by Florida would tip the scales to the Gators.

Saban will be committed to stopping Tebow first and foremost. The only way to kill a snake is to cut his head off. Everything starts with Tebow in this offense, and Alabama will blitz someone on Tebow on every play.

Coach Saban will not let Florida win this game on Tebow’s back. He will force someone else to win it. I believe the Alabama defense will figure out a way to give Tebow plenty of trouble, which would this game wide open.

Who Wins?

Florida is the obvious choice. The Gators are defending their turf, but Alabama feels disrespected and is hungrier. This game could come down to two plays, and only God knows when they will happen. This game is truly a coin toss. I believe Alabama pulls the upset 24-21.

What Tipped the Scales?
The arrest of defensive end Carlos Dunlap was shocking. One of the leaders of the Florida Gators was out late drinking the week of the SEC Championship game?

Dunlap was the MVP of the 2008 SEC Championship game; I’ve never seen a winner celebrate until after the fight. A leader’s actions are always clues to the bigger picture. What is the mindset of this Florida team the week of the big game? Distractions kill focus and I guarantee you Alabama is getting ready for a ferocious battle.

Until next time, I will see you on the ball field.

Original Article Published on SEC Sports Report.

Jay Holgate is a sports analyst, freelance writer, and life coach based in Atlanta, Georgia. Jay can be heard on sports radio around the South.

Steve Spurrier Needs to be More Positive after Big Win

2009-09-28T18:56:00.005-04:00

ATLANTA, Ga—Some feathers have been ruffled. The Ole Ball Coach is spending a lot of time making negative statements about his Gamecock team and I believe it will be costly as the season goes on.

Many, many statements should have never been said publicly and it needs to stop if this team wants to go to the next level.

South Carolina Head Coach Steve Spurrier has been a great offensive play caller and his success at Florida cannot be questioned. But this is a new era in college football.

Florida Coach Urban Meyer gets it. So does Alabama’s Nick Saban. Even Georgia’s Mark Richt understands what can be said and what cannot. But the Ole Ball coach needs a refresher course in public relations.

Spurrier tends to speak too openly to reporters at the expense of his team. He needs to use the public forum to his advantage. When he becomes an ESPN analyst, he can tell it like it is and it will be priceless analysis.

But as a head coach, Spurrier needs to say things publicly that build his team up, not tear them down. Say positive statements or we are working on that and it should be better.

The players read the quotes and constant criticism is damaging. No college athlete wants to be singled out or joked about in the news.

After a historic school win over #4 Ole Miss that was seen nationally on ESPN, one of Coach Spurrier’s comments was:

“It was interesting to me how the guys all celebrate the victory so much, even guys that didn’t play very well,” Spurrier said Sunday. “I’m one of those guys that if I didn’t play very well or the people I coach didn’t perform all that well, it puts a little bit of damper on it.”When your team wins, everybody on the team wins. Whether it is ugly, miraculous or just pure lucky breaks, a win is a win and the team and the fans celebrate.

I’ve been watching this team for a long time. They need to celebrate a big victory because I’ve seen too many games slip by on Spurrier’s watch. As a matter of fact, the Georgia game just two weeks ago should have been won.

It kills the team chemistry if only the players who do well can celebrate. Sometimes you just don’t play that well, but you still get the win and you need to celebrate. Despite your play, you reached the goal of winning.

Year in and out, the Georgia Bulldogs consistently beat South Carolina despite being outplayed. And all the Bulldogs players celebrate the win because it is another tough SEC win, and it moves them closer to an SEC title.

Last year, Coach Spurrier spent most of the year publicly complaining about quarterbacks Chris Smelley and Stephen Garcia and they tended to get worse after every comment. His players had a team meeting and they let him know it was hurting their performance.

Spurrier backed off and acknowledged that he was too critical but too much harm had been done. Several players that may have returned left early for the draft. Maybe they would have left anyway, but the turmoil with the coaches didn’t help.

Spurrier is walking dangerously close to that line again. When you are pushing college athletes to go past their limits, one question always in their heads is, “Is this worth it?”

A Coach’s praise promotes. Criticism kills. No different than any other team effort. Coach Spurrier needs to lay off the public criticism unless he wants to suffer the wrath of the Gamecock nation publicly criticizing him for his team’s losses.

Until next time, I will see you on the ball field.

Jay Holgate is an SEC sports analyst, freelance writer and editor of SEC Sports Report. He can be heard around the South on sports radio. Send comments to editor (at) SECsportsReport.com

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Florida Gator Urban Meyer Was Right; Lane Kiffin Was Not Playing to Win

2009-09-24T12:36:00.008-04:00

ATLANTA, Ga.—Who's right? Urban Meyer or Lane Kiffin? Was Kiffin going for the win?

Here is the full story on Urban Meyer’s claim that Lane Kiffin wasn’t playing for the win. I watched the game on CBS and I saw it again on SEC Sports Digital. There are definitely some conclusions about the way this game ended that non-partisan observers can agree on.

Summary of What Happened
The score is 23-6. Florida is on a nice drive and looks like they will score again. The CBS commentators were of the opinion that the game was out of reach. Then Tim Tebow fumbles inside the five-yard line with less than 12 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
At 11:37 in the fourth quarter, Tennessee gets the ball back.

On Tennessee’s first play, they lose yardage and it takes 37 seconds off the clock before they snap the ball for second down. There is no indication by the Tennessee players to hurry.

Jonathan Crompton pass complete to Bryce Brown for three yards to the Tennessee 37. The next play takes another 35 seconds from the end of the play to the next snap. Tick, tick, tick.

Jonathan Crompton pass complete to Bryce Brown for 21 yards to the Florida 42 for a first down. Play No. 3 takes 25 seconds from the end of the play until the hike of the ball. Running back Bryce Brown had an opportunity to go out of bounds, but did not. The clock keeps ticking.

The Tennessee Volunteers score their first touchdown of the day with 8:11 left in the fourth quarter. The drive is for seven plays, 66 yards and takes off three minutes and 26 seconds. The CBS commentators do not speak as if the Vols are back in the game.

Florida gets the ball back for three plays and three yards, taking another 2:10 off the clock.
Tennessee gets the ball back for nine plays 27 yards, and another 04:10 is wiped off the clock before Crompton throws an interception. Florida runs out the clock for the last 1:51.
Game over. Florida wins 23-13.

Florida Coach Urban Meyer’s Statement:

"I didn't feel like they were going for the win. They wanted to shorten the game," Meyer said. "I think that was the plan. I remember looking out there and there's 10 minutes left in the game and there's no no-huddle, they are down, I think it was 23-6 and no urgency on Tennessee's part."

There are several camera shots of Coach Kiffin during the drive in question but no indication to hurry up by the Vol coach. There was no indication that he was trying to milk the clock either.

Conclusions:

1) It appears to be an accurate statement by Meyer that the Vols were trying to shorten the game as a general strategy. It wasn’t necessarily a fourth-quarter strategy.

2) Coach Meyer was relaying his expertise in coaching that, with less than 12 minutes, and down by two touchdowns, you better hurry it up. With 10 minutes left in the game, and down by 17, it appears that Urban Meyer was one of just a few people that believed the Vols could still win. Kiffin did not believe Tennessee could win or he would have managed the clock differently.

3) Coach Kiffin seems to be just trying to call a play that would have a positive result. Coach Kiffin was not managing the clock well or hurrying his team up so they could win the game.

In hindsight, the reality is Tennessee could have gotten back in the game. It’s a long shot, but Tebow fumbling inside the five isn’t on the mark either. If Kiffin had a chance to do it over, he would have run a hurry-up offense, starting with the Tebow fumble. It would have given the Vols a chance.

Urban Meyer was right. There was no urgency by Coach Kiffin in the fourth quarter. After looking at the facts, I believe that Tennessee was not going for the win but merely for a respectable loss. Kiffin beat the spread but that was it.

Until next time, I will see you on the ball field.

Jay Holgate is an SEC analyst, freelance writer and editor of SEC Sports Report. He can be heard around the South on sports radio. He can be reached at editor (at) SECsportsReport (dot) com.

SEC Sports Report is sponsored by MicroStaffIT—Emerging Technology for IT Professionals.

Rich Brooks Leading SEC Coaches in Week 3.....Go Wildcats

2007-09-18T17:44:00.001-04:00

After beating #9 Louisville in Lexington, Kentucky Wildcats Head Coach Rich Brooks is sitting high in the Southeastern Conference. SECSportsReport.com has Brooks listed #1 in the SEC Coaches Market for Week 3. Read this column on how the coaches are ranked from #1-12 and see what their confidence ratings are going forward.

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Atlanta Courier Companies Goes Green! with Hybrid Cars....

2007-08-30T16:35:00.001-04:00

An Atlanta based company has made the switch to go with hybrid cars. Green Express is the first courier company in America to make the switch to hybrids. The company states high fuel prices and trying to be more environmentally responsible as the primary reasons for making the changes.

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SEC Football Fanatics: Announcing SEC Sports Report

2007-08-28T22:39:00.001-04:00

Just SEC sports! Finally, one site for all 12 SEC Schools. This sports web site just covers football, basketball and baseball. With breaking news, feature stories and the best SEC stories updated daily, this site is a new favorite site for avid SEC fans. This is not a blogger site. The site is professional with analysis on coaches and teams.

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SEC Sports Site Picks Steve Spurrier to Win SEC East in 2007

2007-08-27T10:29:00.001-04:00

SEC Sports Report has been following all 12 teams in the Southeastern Conference and now they have made their pre-season choices. Analyst Jay Holgate chose South Carolina primarily because of Steve Spurrier and his leadership. Find our where the Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs and Tennessee Volunteers end up in this pre-season ranking.

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SEC West Rankings for 2007 Football

2007-08-21T22:08:00.001-04:00

The SEC Sports Report ranks the SEC West in a year that should be challenging for all parties. Analyst Jay Holgate breaks it down from #1 to #6 and tells you who is up this year and why. The SEC West could have a number of upsets this year with not a whole lot of difference between #1 and #4. This article is a must read for all avid SEC fans.

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Phillip Fulmer and Tennessee Football Need to Make it Happen in 2007

2007-08-16T22:36:00.000-04:00

by Jay Holgate
SEC Sports Report

ATLANTA, GA-- The Volunteers in the Southeast are getting restless. Tennessee fans are ready to be the SEC East Champions. And it's about time Tennessee returned to the top of the SEC. If not in 2007, when? Tennessee has a seasoned Senior quarterback, Senior and Junior dominated defense and best of all, Florida and Georgia are in a re-loading year with new players and new defenses. Head Coach Phillip Fulmer begins his 16th year with more pressure than ever and is finding that it is rocky at the top of the Southeastern Conference.

Couple of Weeds in the Garden. Most fans have not forgotten the 2005 season which ended 5-6 with no bowl game. The loss to Vandy at the end of the season was the heartbreaker. Phillip Fulmer was forced to shake up his staff, and he traded offensive coordinator Randy Sanders for David Cutcliffe. For two years in a row, Tennessee has not given Phillip Fulmer a raise but they have extended his contract. When giving raises to Fulmer's assistants, the University stated that the raises were based on performance. The statement was a signal to Fulmer that he needed to do better. Fulmer got the message and in the spring, Fulmer even said that a national championship for football could happen very soon. We found this to be a surprising statement. However, Fulmer should be able to live off the 2 million a year paycheck, but it always helps when the University establishment gives a vote of confidence with yearly increases in salary. After all, Tennessee finished 2nd in the SEC East in 2006 behind the National Champion Florida Gators.

Thorns in the Flesh. Three Coaches could give Fulmer major problems in 2007 from a psychological viewpoint. Saban, Spurrier and Brooks. If Tennessee loses to Alabama and South Carolina, Vols all over the country will feel their program has slipped and the other schools have moved up the competitive ladder. Fulmer can't afford to lose to Spurrier and Saban in 07 because they are just going to be better in the future. A loss to Kentucky would end a series of 22 wins in a row for Tennessee. Kentucky played Tennessee until the end in 06 and is returning all their playmakers in 07. Should be a good game in Lexington, Kentucky, but Vols consider this game every year to be a gimme; so a loss would be hard to take.

It's a Slippery Slope in the SEC. Tennessee has been getting great talent for years. The Tennessee roster is full of superior athletes from all over the country. The SEC East was Tennessee and Florida dominated for years. But now the dominator from Florida is at South Carolina; another great coach has moved into Florida; and Georgia has emerged as a consistent challenger for the SEC title every year under Coach Mark Richt. Vanderbilt and Kentucky have improved, and Tennessee's SEC West rival Alabama is on track for greatness with Nick Saban. So that means Phillip Fulmer is going to have to get used to the pressure because it will be there week in and week out. Fulmer knows it. The fans can feel the competition getting better. It's a bad feeling when you are used to being at the top.

2007 Must Be A Rock Solid Year for the Vols. Tennessee starts the year with an experienced quarterback and potential Heisman candidate in Erik Ainge. At 6'6 and 220 lbs, the Senior has the talent to get it done. Ainge has worked under the tutelage of David Cutcliffe who is one of the best offensive coordinators in the country. If Ainge can't get it done, there is 6'4, 230 lb Jonathon Crompton waiting in the wings. If you look at the defense, it has the advantage of being covered with seniors and junior starters. Tennessee plays an inexperienced but talented Florida team early and an inexperienced but athletic Georgia team before mid-season which is the best time to play them; so they are catching two great schools before they get their rhythm. The big rivalry with Alabama is in Tuscaloosa but Tennessee will be playing the Crimson Tide in a transition year with a new coach. Alabama will be better next year than this year and so will Florida and Georgia. South Carolina and Arkansas are played at home so that should help in competing with these two teams.

Rock, Paper, Scissors. In recent years, Tennessee has been too inconsistent to predict their performance from week to week. The Vols had moments of pure brillance in Athens and then gave up 4th quarter leads in big games in Knoxville. Fulmer is an optimist and has stated that the Vols were a couple of plays from being undefeated in 06. Most of the fans remember the close games of Air Force 31-30, South Carolina 31-24 and Kentucky 17-12 and see the season as being a couple plays from being 6-6. It's all a matter of perspective. From where I'm sitting, Tennessee has their best chance to win the SEC East in 07, and they had better take advantage of it. Because the SEC East is getting bigger, stronger, and faster every day. And it's rocky at the top of the Southeastern Conference in 2007.

Jay Holgate is an analyst and sports writer for http://www.secsportsreport.com

Where Does Georgia Bulldogs Football Sit at the SEC East Table in 2007?

2007-08-08T14:19:00.001-04:00

Mark Richt has done an incredible job with the Georgia Bulldogs Football program. In 2007, the Southeastern Conference has more parity than ever before. What does this mean for the Georgia Bulldogs? In this article, SEC Sports Report columnist Jay Holgate analyzes what happened to the Dogs in 2006 and what is to be expected in 2007.

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NCAA 08 Football by EA Sports .....sec sports report

2007-07-21T00:30:00.000-04:00

EA Sports has hit another home run. The NCAA 08 Football is tough, exciting and more challenging than previous games. SEC Sport Report takes a look at our experience in playing the South Carolina ***** vs LSU Tigers.Senior analyst Jay Holgate reports that you better have your game face on when playing this latest version.

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Evaluation Time for NCAA 08 Football by EA Sports .....sec sports report

2007-07-19T12:27:00.000-04:00

By Jay Holgate
SEC Sports Report

Atlanta, GA--At first look, the fine people at EA Sports have hit a home run. The NCAA 08 football is tougher. Defenses don't give up the long passes as easy and quarterbacks have to make quicker decisions. Tougher is better.

In the 07 version, I basically could dominate any SEC team with another SEC team. Some games were closer than others but basically I could win without a complete intensified effort. In the 08 version, I played three times and lost twice. Granted, I lost to the fine folks from Athens and Louisiana, but they smoked me. LSU had me so dominated by half time in one game, I was forced to hit re-start. That has never happened before.

Why the game is more exciting. It's intense. Running backs actually break tackes which can result in 85 yard runs. Interceptions and fumbles seem more frequent which definitely changes the dynamics of the game. The defense is hard to beat with the deep throws. All this being said, it is tougher to win which makes it more fun.

Last night, I had a rare moment. My wife had left to go to a meeting and the only thing standing between myself and being the coach of an SEC football team was a 4 year old little boy named Jackson. Jackson had not had a nap for the day and had already had his bath so things were lining up in my favor. Fortunately, he seemed pretty excited about playing football on the big screen tv.

So what did I do? I got out the NCAA 08 game, moved his controller to the middle area, and the two of us lit up the skies of Baton Rouge. We had to see if LSU was as good as they say they are. We played as South Carolina and it was tough. Can't run up the middle and unless someone is in single coverage, USC can't catch it because the LSU players hit the receivers so hard. After a loss by three touchdowns, it was time to put Jackson down. He needed the rest, I needed my game face on.

Re-Match Time. My son was in his room asleep, my wife was out of the house. A rare moment was upon me. It's time to play some Xbox NCAA football. LSU won the toss and took the ball first. Since I had already been burned by their running back breaking tackles in game 1, I moved to a different strategy. Stop blitzing, play containment, stop the big plays. It worked, I got an early interception. The LSU defense is brutal, so nothing is easy. LSU made me work for it, but I scored. By halftime, the score was 21-14 in my favor.

Then my world changed. My wife came home. She wanted to talk about her meeting. I was listening as best I could but I had a great game going on and it's hard to switch gears like that. After she finished, I went back to my game and she asked me the million dollar question.

"Are you going to be playing game much longer?" I answered, "it's already half time." In my mind I'm thinking, I have so few moments to play XBOX games that to ask me when I will be done is a little insulting. Plus I had a lead on LSU and you can't end a game on that note. So I took the higher ground. I said nothing. The less I say, the better everybody gets along. The second half was brutal with probably 6 turnovers total. I finished out the game with a victory and it felt good. After the game, I had to stretch, so I wouldn't be sore the next day. All the features look like awesome stuff, but for me, it will have to wait until my wife goes out again.

Jay Holgate is an analyst and sports writer for http://www.secsportsreport.com
Just SEC Sports!

SEC Sports...Nick Saban Brings Promise to Alabama Football in 2007

2007-07-18T12:22:00.001-04:00

Tuscaloosa, Alabama is a new town. And it has a new sheriff. SEC Sports Report takes a look at how Nick Saban took over in Alabama by closing practices, setting boundaries, and reducing exposure to the media. Analyst Jay Holgate reveals Saban's intent, winning football games. Everything else is secondary. Things are different, that's for sure.

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Les Miles and the LSU Tigers Have All the Stars Lining Up in Their Favor

2007-07-12T15:10:00.001-04:00

SEC Sports Report takes a look at why LSU fans are smiling so much. With loads of talent, a favorable schedule, momentum from last year, a great coaching staff and a football team focused on winning, the SEC championship is attainable. Analyst Jay Holgate takes a closer look to see why everybody in Louisiana is counting the days until kick-off.

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The Florida Gators Football Team is Dealing with Crime and Punishment

2007-07-04T18:04:00.001-04:00

The Florida gators have recently decided to suspend two players from the team. Ronnie Wilson was arrested for shooting an AK-47 assault weapon into the air. Brandon James was suspended for buying marijuana from a police informant. SEC Sports Report assigns writer Jay Holgate to take a closer look at why these players were not dismissed.

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SEC Sports—Florida Gators, Shooting Guns, Jail Time

2007-07-03T17:58:00.000-04:00

By Jay Holgate
SEC Sports Report

ESPN is reporting that the University of Florida has suspended two players who were recently arrested for off campus incidents. A story like this is normally just passed through the system and life goes on. But there needs to be a look at the facts, the timeline, and then we can all make a logical conclusion.

Shooting an AK-47 Assault Weapon in the Air. Ronnie Wilson was arrested for firing a weapon into the air after an incident that carried over from a local bar. Wilson weighs over 300 lbs and is a football player for a national championship team. Why would a guy like this, need to carry a Russian assault weapon? Has the Gainesville bar scene turned into Iraq where a man needs to carry a gun to get his taste of some pretzels and a beer?
His Punishment: Suspended for one year. You got to be kidding. You mean, Meyer thinks this gun toting soldier of fortune deserves to be on the roster after he sits out one year?

Busted in a Police Sting Operation. On June 11, Brandon James was unfortunate enough to buy marijuana from a police informant. His partner in crime was Brandon Powell, a basketball player that has decided to transfer because he is not getting enough playing time. James was arrested, spent the night in jail and will see a judge in the near future.
His Punishment: Suspended for 1 game, Western Kentucky.

Don’t Rush to Judgment. James was just arrested less than 3 weeks ago. We will give him the benefit of the doubt that he was in the wrong place, at the wrong time. If that story doesn’t pan out, he must have told Coach Meyer that it would never happen again. So Coach Meyer determined that since Brandon James is his top kick returner from last year, we have to give him some grace. After all, every body deserves a second chance.

Wake up and Smell the Roses. The NFL recently determined by watching the NBA that men of bad character are bad for the institution. When the institution looks bad, ticket sales go down, tv ratings evaporate, concessions dry up, owners make less money and on and on it goes. Florida isn’t worried about ticket sales but they do know than men of bad character typically are not “team” players which will bring chaos to an organization. A fine institution like the University of Florida will be weakened by a discipline policy that allows criminals to exist on a team with student athletes. Or maybe, Florida is just in a league of their own. Time will tell.

Jay Holgate is an analyst and writer for www.secsportsreport.com He can be reached at editor@secsportsreport.com

The Winds Have Changed. Can the Florida Gators Re-Gain Momentum

2007-06-14T11:14:00.001-04:00

Everything is going Florida's way. The Gators have a national championship in football and basketball. Then the wind changes. Billy Donovan says he is leaving. Surprisingly, Foley determines the basketball coach is worth more than the football coach. Foley fires the baseball coach. Can Florida re-gain the momentum? Secsportsreport.com reports.

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AROUND THE SEC-----Can the Florida Gators Re-Gain Their Momentum....

2007-06-13T22:51:00.000-04:00

By Jay Holgate
secsportsreport.com

ATLANTA, GA-- From January to May of 2007, Florida Gator fans were walking on water. Whether in the swamp or on the road, the wind was always at their back.

On January 8, 2007, the Florida Gator football team were the SEC East champions, the SEC champs with a win over the Arkansas Razorbacks and finally the national champions of college football with a decisive win over Ohio State.

Ironically, the Florida basketball team had a similar path to the national championship. After winning the SEC East, the Gators beat the Arkansas Razorbacks for the SEC championship and then beat Ohio State for the national championship.

The chances for one college to win the national championship in both football and basketball in the same year are nearly impossible. Yet, the Florida Gators with their two young coaches looked liked a dynasty in the making. Nothing could go wrong for Florida.

The Winds Begin to Change-- First, the Kentucky Wildcats go after head coach Billy Donovan. Gator fans could hardly enjoy the full measure of a 2nd national championship for a gut feeling that their basketball leader could be returning to an SEC basketball rival. Next up, the rumor mill starts pumping out information during the heights of recruiting, that Billy the Kid, will be going to the NBA. Then the fatal news comes, Donovan has signed a contract with the Orlando Magic. Within 12 hours of signing, Donovan wants out of the contract and wants to return to Gainesville. For fans, it was a mess.

The Calm Before the Storm--Now, all of a sudden, Gator fans feet are fully touching the ground. The honeymoon is over. What had been feared, came true. For one of the longest six days in school history, the Florida faithful waited to hear if their fearless coach would be coming home. Finally, the Orlando Magic realized that a coach with no heart for their team could not lead the franchise to success. Orlando released Donovan from the contract with a clause to keep him out of the NBA for five years.

The Dust Starts to Settle--Florida fans welcome back their leader but it's not the same. Donovan had left, looked indecisive in the transition, and then wanted back in. Somehow, it had kind of a high school feel. Like your girlfriend had cheated on you and then it didn't really work out so she wanted back in the relationship. It takes a long time to heal a broken heart and even if you forgive him, you don't ever fully trust him again. It's just the way it is.

The Dust Turns Muddy--As gators fans start getting settled that Donovan is back, they kind of take a sigh of relief that it didn't get too ugly. Then, Athletic Director Jeremy Foley extends both Donovan and Urban Meyer's contracts on the same day. One small technical point needs to be identified. The basketball coach is given a bigger contract than the football coach. There are only two people in the entire country that would structure the contracts in this order. Jeremy Foley and Donovan's agent. Donovan's own kids wouldn't try such a move with college football being the official state sport.

The Sopranos, Final Episode--Gator fans across the state all wake up to horse heads in their beds. In one week, the basketball coach has his national stature diminished, the head football coach has his ego bruised by a 2nd tier contract and the baseball coach gets whacked for being a nice guy. Three men, three hits. Georgia's Damon Evans couldn't have orchestrated a better attack.

Tomorrow Has to be Better than Today--For Florida fans, fortunately football season is right around the corner. When Tim Tebow is on the front of Sports Illustrated as a Heisman candidate, all the pain of early June will go away. Then again, when you are at the top, keep in mind everybody is gunning for you, it just comes with the job. And even if their leaders egos are bruised, they aren't dead. Florida still has two young competitive coaches at the helm and they can compete for championships for years to come. Momentum can always be re-gained.

Jay Holgate is a writer for secsportsreport.com He can be reached at editor@secsportsreport.com To read more SEC stories, go to www.secsportsreport.com