SEC Sports

• Tide to honor seniors by 'taking care of business'
TUSCALOOSA ? Alabama's football team doesn't have one reason to get up for today's perceived snoozer against UT-Chattanooga. It has 27.

• Tide makes statement
TUSCALOOSA ? The mighty Big East Conference won its first 41 men's basketball games of the 2009-10 season.

• Impact players leaving
TUSCALOOSA ? How much pride is there in leaving a college football program in a better position that you found it?

• Auburn notebook: Linebacker depth low for Tigers
AUBURN ? Starting linebacker Eltoro Freeman missed a second day of practice this week after suffering a concussion and possible foot injury against Georgia.

• Crimson Tide to face SEC-caliber QB
TUSCALOOSA ? When B.J. Coleman was in high school, his favorite cap was one that read "Top Gun" across the front. He made sure he wore it for photos.

• Grant, Alabama learning on the go
TUSCALOOSA ? In the two days between Anthony Grant's visit to campus and his eventual acceptance of Alabama's head coaching job, the calculating coach weighed all his options before reaching a conclusion.

• Shorthanded Auburn faces quick stretch
AUBURN ? Junior college transfer Kenny Gabriel is out, senior starter Tay Waller is questionable, and the Auburn men's basketball team must play three games in three days.

• Postseason destinations up in air for full field of SEC bowl teams
Last year, the conference regarded by many as the best in college football did not fill all its bowl tie-ins. The SEC had eight bowl-eligible teams last season and, with both Florida and Alabama in BCS bowls, filled only seven of its nine bowl obligations, leaving the Independence and the Papajohns.com bowls scrambling for at-large teams.

• Saban plays key role in 'Blind Side' story
TUSCALOOSA ? To Sean Tuohy, the recruiting process for his adopted son Michael Oher "went from zero to 100."

• Tigers try to make grade in recruiting
AUBURN ? When Auburn coach Gene Chizik unveils his first full recruiting class in February, he won't be signing a raft of academically questionable players.

• Alabama football notebook: Awards don't concern Saban
TUSCALOOSA ? Alabama tailback Mark Ingram's role Saturday against Chattanooga won't be affected by his candidacy for the Heisman Trophy, said Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban.

• Alabama football notes for Saturday's game against Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA (6-4) at No. 2 ALABAMA (10-0) 11:20 a.m. Saturday (WJTC) Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa -- LINE: None

• Auburn football notebook: Tate drawing comparisons to Ingram ? from himself
AUBURN ? So, did Auburn senior Ben Tate really say he was the best back in the state?

• Auburn football notes for Saturday's open date
AUBURN (7-4, 3-4) does not play this week. -- NEXT GAME: vs. Alabama at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 27 (CBS)

• Inside the SEC: Vanderbilt wasting Norman's big year
Vanderbilt's Warren Norman is on the verge of breaking Herschel Walker's SEC record for all-purpose yardage by a freshman.

• Mike Herndon's AP Ballot
Press-Register sports reporter Mike Herndon is one of 60 voters in The Associated Press college football poll. Each week, his ballot, along with his brief analysis, is published in SEC Extra:

• SEC Football by the Numbers
2 Players in SEC history with more kickoff-return yards in a season than Mississippi State's Leon Berry has in 2009. Berry's 899 kickoff-return yards would be 6 short of the SEC single-season record set by Arkansas' Dennis Johnson last year, but Vanderbilt's Warren Norman already has broken that mark with 989 yards in 2009. With 894 yards this season, Johnson ranks fourth in SEC history and third in the league this year.

• SEC Matchup: Florida's seniors vs. the all-time SEC best
If Florida beats Florida International on Saturday, the Gators' seniors will own more victories than any other class in SEC history.

• This Week's SEC Football Games
MISSISSIPPI STATE (4-6, 2-4) at ARKANSAS (6-4, 2-4) 11:20 a.m. Saturday (WXXV) War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock -- LINE: Arkansas by 10cm HALF

• Tommy Hicks' Harris Ballot
Press-Register sports reporter Tommy Hicks is one of 114 voters in the Harris Interactive college football poll. Each week, his ballot, along with his brief analysis, is published in SEC Extra:

• Auburn's Smith sued for assault
AUBURN ? Auburn running back Eric Smith is being sued for allegedly injuring a student in a fight near campus in August.

• Harts excited about family reunion at Alabama
TUSCALOOSA ? Trevor Hart has been counting down the days.

• ALABAMA NOTEBOOK: Tide senior Anders back to full speed
TUSCALOOSA ? Alabama senior linebacker Eryk Anders returned full speed to practice Tuesday and said he plans to play Saturday against UT-Chattanooga despite a lingering right ankle sprain.

• High-water Mark: Former St. Paul's star Barron leads SEC with six interceptions
TUSCALOOSA ? Alabama safety Mark Barron admits to probably enjoying "a little luck."

• Grant, Tide seek first win of season
TUSCALOOSA — Alabama's basketball team enters its second game still in search of a first victory under new men's coach Anthony Grant.

• Grant, Tide seek first win of season
TUSCALOOSA — Alabama's basketball team enters its second game still in search of a first victory under new men's coach Anthony Grant.

• Saban focuses on the Mocs
TUSCALOOSA ? With big games looming against Auburn and Florida, Alabama coach Nick Saban is trying to keep his second-ranked team's attention for Saturday's 11:21 a.m. home game against UT-Chattanooga, a six-win Division FCS team.

• Bama goes to the air
TUSCALOOSA ? Alabama's offense ended October with growing concern about a new label it didn't want: One-dimensional.

• Flags, miscues haunt Auburn
AUBURN ? For the second time this season, Auburn was on the brink of a game-tying score.

• Flags, miscues haunt Auburn
AUBURN ? For the second time this season, Auburn was on the brink of a game-tying score.

• Alabama notebook: Johnson proving himself in secondary
TUSCALOOSA ? On the first play Saturday night, Mississippi State threw deep to a receiver being covered by Alabama cornerback Marquis Johnson.

• Auburn hits road with ailing Waller
AUBURN ? The success of Auburn's four-game road trip could hinge on the health of senior guard Tay Waller, who was sidelined by a sore quadriceps in Friday night's season-opening win.

• Auburn hits road with ailing Waller
AUBURN ? The success of Auburn's four-game road trip could hinge on the health of senior guard Tay Waller, who was sidelined by a sore quadriceps in Friday night's season-opening win.

• Auburn notebook: Freeman may be out for Iron Bowl
AUBURN ? Linebacker Eltoro Freeman's status for the Nov. 27 Iron Bowl is not clear, Auburn coach Gene Chizik said, although several teammates expressed confidence he would play against Alabama.

• 'Professional' victory: No. 3 Alabama takes care of business, routs Mississippi State
STARKVILLE, Miss. ? There were plenty of bells, and like any good coach, Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen had the whistle at the ready.

• Tigers' early dominance fades into loss at Georgia
ATHENS, Ga. ? The drama was delayed by timeouts, penalties and even a heart-stopping injury that suspended play for nearly 15 minutes as the game hung in the balance late in the fourth quarter.

• ALABAMA BEAT REPORT: Tide runs over Bulldogs
-- OFFENSE: Alabama has not faced a defense as flawed as Mississippi State in a while, and the difference showed.

• ALABAMA NOTEOOK: Tide favors nickel vs. the spread
STARKVILLE, Miss. ? Those wondering how Alabama's defense may attempt to play Florida in the SEC title game got a few hints Saturday night.

• ALABAMA RECRUITING CORNER: Saban could face tough decisions
STARKVILLE, Miss. ? The final months of the 2010 recruiting period could contain some tough choices for Alabama's coaches.

• Auburn football notebook: Punt returner still trouble spot
ATHENS, Ga. ? Defensive back Demond Washington is the newest Auburn player to try returning punts.

• Auburn recruiting corner: Tigers state their case in talent battle
ATHENS, Ga. ? Auburn's 2010 recruiting class now includes commitments from the No. 1 player in Mississippi (offensive lineman Shon Coleman), Arkansas (running back Michael Dyer) and Louisiana (wide receiver Trovon Reed), according the rankings of Rivals.com. Reed, a 6-foot speedster from Thibodaux, is the most recent of AU's 21 commitments.

• Evan Woodbery's Auburn Beat
-- OFFENSE: Auburn's offense was brilliant in the first quarter, and Chris Todd was ? almost literally ? perfect. But the unit traveled a bumpier road for most of the game due to the Tigers' surprising lack of a ground game.

• Border war: Auburn, Georgia meet in South's oldest rivalry
Perhaps it's a sign of mutual respect in the Auburn-Georgia rivalry that there has been relatively little bragging about the Bulldogs' three-game winning streak in the series.

• Grant's era starts tonight
TUSCALOOSA ? Ready or not, it's time for the Anthony Grant era to begin for Alabama's basketball program.

• Record crowd expected to watch Tide, Bulldogs fight to achieve goals for season
TUSCALOOSA ? Mississippi State's campus is gearing up for one of its bigger games in recent memory, while visiting Alabama just needs another win.

• Reed commits to AU
AUBURN ? Auburn added another important piece to its burgeoning recruiting class Friday by snagging wide receiver Trovon Reed, one of Louisiana's top prep prospects.

• Tigers escape Niagara's fall
AUBURN ? The final opening night in the 42-year history of Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum ended with a bang.

• Alabama football notebook: Graduate students help Tide focus on football
TUSCALOOSA ? Can class schedules be an advantage to a football team?

• Auburn football notebook: Tate among final 10 for top running back award
AUBURN ? Senior Ben Tate was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award Thursday.

• Auburn opens tonight
AUBURN ? Auburn coach Jeff Lebo has praised Niagara so robustly leading up to tonight's season opener that he might as well be a publicist for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference school.

• Auburn opens tonight
AUBURN ? Auburn coach Jeff Lebo has praised Niagara so robustly leading up to tonight's season opener that he might as well be a publicist for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference school.

• Dawg back starting to measure up
Washaun Ealey never asked to be compared to Knowshon Moreno. But when the Georgia coaching staff assigned him Moreno's old number, 24, it was bound to happen.

• MSU finds player in White
When Dan Mullen was hired as Mississippi State's head football coach, one of the first recruits he went to see was a linebacker at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College named Chris White.

• Wells knew in advance he was done
TUSCALOOSA ? Long before Alabama's baseball team lost two games in an NCAA regional to end Jim Wells' 15th season in charge, the Crimson Tide's former coach knew there wouldn't be a 16th.

• Wells knew in advance he was done
TUSCALOOSA ? Long before Alabama's baseball team lost two games in an NCAA regional to end Jim Wells' 15th season in charge, the Crimson Tide's former coach knew there wouldn't be a 16th.

• Alabama football notes for Saturday's game against Mississippi State
No. 3 ALABAMA (9-0, 6-0) at MISSISSIPPI STATE (4-5, 2-3) 6 p.m. Saturday (ESPN) Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, Miss. -- LINE: Alabama by 12

• Alabama signs pair
TUSCALOOSA ? Alabama's basketball program signed two high school prospects Wednesday as the start of the NCAA's early signing period passed without a surprise for Crimson Tide coach Anthony Grant.

• Auburn football notes for Saturday's game against Georgia
AUBURN (7-3, 3-3) at GEORGIA (5-4, 3-3) 6 p.m. Saturday (ESPN2) Sanford Stadium, Athens, Ga. -- LINE: Georgia by 5

• AU picks up Kemp's signature
AUBURN ? The oldest son of NBA star Shawn Kemp was one of five players to sign with the Auburn men's basketball team Wednesday.

• Mike Herndon's AP Ballot
Press-Register sports reporter Mike Herndon is one of 60 voters in The Associated Press college football poll. Each week, his ballot, along with his brief analysis, is published in SEC Extra:

• SEC Matchup: Georgia, Auburn vs. referees
/cut/p9.8/cAP photoAuburn coach Gene Chizik argues about a call against the Tigers this season.

• This Week's SEC Football Games
TENNESSEE (5-4, 2-3) at OLE MISS (6-3, 2-3) 11 a.m. Saturday (CBS) Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Miss. -- LINE: Ole Miss by 4

• Tommy Hicks' Harris Ballot
HICKS' BALLOT -- 1. Alabama

• Alabama struggles in victory
TUSCALOOSA ? Anthony Grant wanted his team tested by an exhibition matchup with NCAA Division II powerhouse Augusta State, but he didn't like what he got.

• Crimson Tide defense gets another shot at Mullen's spread offense, this time at State
TUSCALOOSA ? The first week after assuring a spot opposite top-ranked Florida in the SEC title game, third-ranked Alabama gets a preview of the Gators' quirky offense during Saturday's 6 p.m. game at Mississippi State.

• Malzahn, Taylor among candidates?
AUBURN ? The end of the college football season typically brings a barrage of open head coaching positions, and Auburn has at least two coaches who might have a chance to be considered for jobs.

• SEC's best on display Saturday
TUSCALOOSA ? A side note to Saturday night's game between Alabama and Mississippi State will be a battle between two of the SEC's top running backs.

• Versatile Fannin finds niche at AU
AUBURN ? The big reason Auburn all-purpose back Mario Fannin wasn't interested in staying in his home state to play for the Georgia Bulldogs?

• Tide QB responds to pressure
TUSCALOOSA ? Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy responded to a key interception Saturday just like any passionate Crimson Tide fan, and perhaps a good deal worse.

• Tiger WRs formed fast friendship
AUBURN ? Darvin Adams refers to Auburn teammate DeAngelo Benton as his "little brother."

• Trooper changing stripes?
AUBURN ? The names of two current Auburn assistant coaches and one former head coach have already been tossed out as possible replacements for Memphis head coach Tommy West, who was fired by the school Monday but will serve for the remainder of the season.

• Mississippi State puts out welcome mat for Alabama
TUSCALOOSA ? Each week, Alabama has grown closer to realizing dreams of Los Angeles and a BCS title game played at the Rose Bowl.

• Rivalry big for Georgia Tigers
AUBURN ? Defensive coordinator Ted Roof grew up in Georgia, attended high school in suburban Atlanta and played and coached for Georgia Tech.

• Auburn receivers form brotherly bond
AUBURN ? Darvin Adams refers to Auburn teammate DeAngelo Benton as his "little brother."

• One play didn't define game
Officiating controversies are snowballing for the Southeastern Conference right now, so much that one play ? again ? becomes the focal point for an entire week's worth of discussion.

• Punt return problems persist
AUBURN ? With only two weeks left in the season, Auburn has yet to resolve persistent problems on its punt return team, and coach Gene Chizik is growing frustrated.

• Saban defends league officials
TUSCALOOSA ? Alabama coach Nick Saban is fed up with the recent rash of criticism involving SEC officials.

• Tide QB McElroy ends midseason slump with pair of TDs
TUSCALOOSA ? Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy responded to a key interception Saturday just like any passionate Crimson Tide fan, and perhaps a good deal worse.

• Will Auburn's Taylor be changing stripes?
AUBURN ? The names of two current Auburn assistant coaches and one former head coach have already been tossed out as possible replacements for Memphis head coach Tommy West, who was fired by the school Monday but will serve for the remainder of the season.

• LSU can't keep up with Bama's Jones
TUSCALOOSA ? Last week's verbal jabs from LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson toward Alabama receiver Julio Jones were nothing compared to ones in person.

• Alabama football notebook: McElroy has answer to criticism
TUSCALOOSA ? Vindication was at hand for Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy, who fired back at critics after Saturday's 24-15 victory over LSU.

• Alabama Recruiting Corner: Mosley takes in game, Tide gets commitment
TUSCALOOSA ? It might be easier to list the top Southeast recruits who were not in Tuscaloosa for the top attraction in college football Saturday. Alabama expected 150 visitors for the game, including the state's top-rated uncommitted player, Theodore linebacker C.J. Mosley, as well as some of the country's best.

• Gentry Estes' Alabama Beat
-- OFFENSE: This was more like it for Alabama's offense. Nick Saban promised during the bye week that the Crimson Tide would open things up and test the middle of the field with the passing game, and he meant it. Quarterback Greg McElroy threw 25 times in the first half, effectively spreading out LSU's stingy defense for tailback Mark Ingram to roll for 106 of his 144 yards in the second half.