SEC Open Thread

[Bishop2b5]

I'm pretty sure that if he graduated, but didn't get accepted to grad school, he can't play or remain on scholarship.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I'm pretty sure that if he graduated, but didn't get accepted to grad school, he can't play or remain on scholarship.

But he's penciled in Bishop. PENCILED IN!

 

[Bishop2b5]

But he's penciled in Bishop. PENCILED IN!

Pencils have erasers! lol

I feel bad for the kid and understand where he's coming from, but I also understand Saban not wanting to release him to go play for a program we could very well face in the SECCG. Smith should've gotten his application in earlier so that he had more options too. I think that given Smith's contributions to the team, the type of person he's been, and the fact that it's all but UGA or nothing for him at this point (even if that's his fault), I'd just make an exception and say, "Tell Kirby hi for me when you get there."

 

[Legacy]

Well said, Bishop. Smith may never compete against Alabama. Both have to win their divisions. This is about the kid. Probably a unique situation that may not occur again. Football players have this hold on them. Any other student just moves on to his next school. Scholarship renewal is not a mutual decision. Smith sounds like the mode student/athlete who's contributed to the program, is seeing the scheme change with a new coach and wants to optimize his chances of going to the NFL. Maybe he'll get to play against ND with Miami.

Alabama releases statement about blocking Maurice Smith’s transfer to Georgia

Bama is at eighty-two scholarship players with Charlot's transfer.

 

[Legacy]

Former Patterson receiver Daylon Charlot to transfer from Alabama

Report: Tide's Tony Brown to see suspension reduced

 

[pkt77242]

Report: Antonio Callaway, Treon Harris accuser to skip Title IX hearing after Gators booster chosen as judge – CollegeFootballTalk

I don't know if the players are guilty or not but Florida probably shouldn't have chosen a booster to hear the case.

The man at the center of the case is Jake Schickel, a Jacksonville attorney and Florida law grad. Schickel is a former trustee of UF’s law school, a former track and field athlete, and a booster that contributes at least $6,800 annually to the Gators’ football and basketball programs.

 

[IrishLion]

People want to go on a witch hunt against UF for making a poor decision (which they did), but I don't think it's worth the uproar that I've seen. The guy is a "booster" in the sense that he's a season-ticket holder. I don't think "the fix was in," so to speak.

I just think someone at UF didn't think things all the way through.

 

[pkt77242]

People want to go on a witch hunt against UF for making a poor decision (which they did), but I don't think it's worth the uproar that I've seen. The guy is a "booster" in the sense that he's a season-ticket holder. I don't think "the fix was in," so to speak.

I just think someone at UF didn't think things all the way through.

Agreed. The University just made a boneheaded (or tone deaf) decision, they probably didn't mean to "fix" the proceedings but the choice gives the appearance of favoritism even if there isn't any.

They would be smart to find someone else to hear the case.

 

[Legacy]

Kirby Smart addresses Maurice Smith situation

Evidently, Chris Black, WR, was able to transfer within the SEC to Missouri because, after he submitted the letter of intent to transfer, Alabamma did not act on it within the seven days, which the NCAA requires for an objection.

 

[Bishop2b5]

One on One: An exclusive conversation with Charles Barkley and Nick Saban | AL.com

Barkley travels to Tuscaloosa for a one-on-one chat/interview with Saban. It's only a few minutes long and it's funny and insightful. Barkley's long been a Saban admirer, despite being an Auburn guy, and Saban seems very relaxed and open. There's some funny stuff, but Saban also talks about his approach to handling players who've gotten into trouble.

 

[NDbrbkny]

i do have something to say i thought if you are a grad xfer i thought they cant block you in maurice's case?

 

[irishtrain]

Why don't we just call this thread pro football news---er maybe semi pro football news

 

[Legacy]

LSU's 2016 season is off to a rough start after a five-star transfer surfaces

So it's not great that the biggest headlines from LSU camp have been tied to the loss of potentially significant contributors. Presumed starting defensive end Christian LaCouture and reserve linebacker Isaiah Washington both went down with knee injuries on Sunday. According to the Associated Press and The Advocate, the injuries are expected to keep both players out for the entire 2016 season.
On Wednesday, senior outside linebacker Corey Thompson sustained a lower leg injury that, according to The Advocate, will likely cost him a few games, but not the entire season. Thompson, like LaCouture, was expected to be a starter in 2016.
Then on Thursday, wide receiver Tyron Johnson announced on Twitter that he had been granted his release and will transfer out of the program.

 

[Legacy]

As Nick Saban backs down on Maurice Smith, time for Greg Sankey to step up

"We have done everything that we can do institutionally to allow the conference to make the decision about whatever they decide is in the best interest of the conference and the SEC rules relative to Maurice Smith," Saban said. "So that is past us now. It is beyond us. So we don't really need to talk about that anymore, and I don't have any other comments to make about it."

Alabama gives full release to DB Maurice Smith

 

[Legacy]

Les Miles believes in second (third, fourth) chances. Valentine completed a final course this summer at Mississippi Gulf Coast CC in order to continue his studies towards an Interdisciplinary Studies degree.

LSU teammates expect huge impact from DT Travonte Valentine

Valentine has a number of strikes against his record, first getting suspended by Miles for all of 2015’s spring practices, then getting dropped from the program altogether for the always ambiguous “violation of team rules.”

Valentine, a sophomore in eligibility, spent last fall in Yuma, Ariz. at Arizona Western Junior College. But in a town where the high school mascot is literally the Criminals, Valentine found trouble. He was dismissed midway through the season following an arrest for disorderly conduct, though charges were dropped last November.

Valentine spent the spring and summer at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, completing the coursework necessary for his return to LSU. According to The Advocate, Valentine still has to complete a course at LSU in the summer session that ends on Aug. 20 to actually play this fall, but at this point, that would seem to be a formality.

 

[Bishop2b5]

Maurice Smith headed to Georgia; SEC approves waiver | AL.com

Maurice Smith is headed to Georgia.

The SEC has approved a conditional waiver that allows the former Alabama defensive back to join Georgia as a graduate transfer and to be eligible to play immediately, the conference announced Friday afternoon.

 

[Legacy]

Joseph Putu, a war refugee for six years, overcame long odds to reach Florida

Kebbah Zumoh settled near the coast of Liberia, a West African country, in the 1980s to raise a family. Liberia means “Land of the Free.” Freed American and Caribbean slaves founded the country, which became Africa’s first republic. But in 1989, the nation’s self-proclaimed independence fell to the wayside as political and economic corruption from Samuel Doe’s military coup led to the First Liberian Civil War. The conflict claimed the lives of more than 100,000 civilians. Child soldiers were perpetrators and victims in the killings. By 1995, Zumoh had two young boys and was pregnant with a third — Putu. With the war at its worst and another son on the way, she decided to flee from her homeland. “She had to get out of there,” Putu said. “She wanted a better life for her children.” Zumoh had relatives who were fishermen along the coastline near her home. Their 15-foot wooden canoe would serve as her getaway. “This is a time when things were really tough,” said Zumoh’s uncle, Cornelius Tay. “Food was very scarce. There was shelling every day. “They lived by the beach, so his mother rode a canoe — not even a boat, a fishing canoe — and traveled for two weeks through the Atlantic Ocean. That’s how they escaped from the war.” Tay left Liberia in 1994 after experiencing the first years of the conflict. He remembers entire villages being wiped out — people fled, hid or were murdered during attacks. More than two decades removed from the bloodshed, the horrific moments live with him. “I was walking among dead bodies,” Tay said. “Having to run from place to place, or just lay down on the floor — sometimes for hours. The bullets would pierce the house and come in, so we’d have to be hiding underneath tables. It was horrible.” The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations brought a ceasefire agreement and new national elections to Liberia in 1997. However, peace did not last and the Second Liberian Civil War broke out two years later between a pair of rebel groups and the government. The 14-year civil war ended in 2003 with a total death toll around 250,000 and more than 1.3 million displaced throughout refugee camps in other countries.

Putu’s determination and resilience is as rare as his story, but the embers of his past fuel the fire for his future. He hasn’t forgotten where he came from, nor is he on a mission for himself alone. “In my culture, when the people who raised you get old, it’s your turn to take care of them,” Putu said. “That’s what I plan to do. I go hard for everyone who helped me out and invested in me. I’m not going to let them down.” Though new challenges await him, Putu’s potential has finally been realized. His mother’s intuition predicted it back in Buduburam. “From the day I was born, she constantly told me I would be the kid to go far and make their dreams come true,” Putu said. “She just knew I’d make the whole family proud.
“I’m just happy I can honor her now. This is the life she wanted for me.”

 

[Legacy]

With Maurice Smith's transfer (as a graduate) to Georgia reuniting with his former DC, Kirby Smart, did you know that Johnathan Abram, a freshman Safety in '15 for Georgia, left the Bulldogs, reportedly to join his former DC, Jeremy Pruitt who went to Alabama when Mark Richt was let go?

Abram is at JC now and has scholarship offers from Alabama, Georgia and Miami among others. South Carolina now has one of Georgia's former coaches and has offered Abram, too. Abram was a two star out of high school. He played in ten games as a freshman for Georgia last year, starting four.

 

[dublinirish]

Jumbo Package: Thin DB corps may be getting thinner as Kendall Sheffield is not practicing - Roll 'Bama Roll

#Processed

 

[Bishop2b5]

Jumbo Package: Thin DB corps may be getting thinner as Kendall Sheffield is not practicing - Roll 'Bama Roll

#Processed

Why would Saban "process" Sheffield? He's only a redshirt freshman, former 5-star recruit, and definitely in the mix for a starting job in a unit that's very short on depth, not to mention that Bama is only at about 83 scholarship players. This is from Saban earlier today:

“Kendall Sheffield has not been here for the last couple days,” Saban said. “I don’t really know what his status is, so there’s no need to ask me. We’re happy to have him back, he’s a fine young man, he’s worked hard, he’s made a lot of improvement here. We enjoy having him be a part of the team, if that’s what he chooses, and we will continue to work with him in a positive way to help him develop personally, academically and athletically.”

Sheffield was not present at either of Alabama’s latest three practice sessions. He had seen some reps at cornerback with the first-team secondary in previous practices’ nickel drills, but the Tide secondary was far from set with a lot of moving pieces during fall camp. Sheffield has been concerned with possible playing time, sources told BamaOnLine.

There is not, however, a cutoff date for Sheffield to return to the team, Saban said Tuesday.

“We want what’s best for the people on our team, aight?” Saban said. “If there’s something that we can do to help resolve this from their family’s standpoint, we’re certainly available to do that, and there’s no pressure from our standpoint. School starts tomorrow. It’s really important that our players develop the right habits, have success in school. That’s what they’re here for. And hopefully he’ll make a decision so he doesn’t get behind from that standpoint.”

Sounds more like he's having some personal or family problems, maybe not sure if he wants to continue playing, or is discouraged about possible playing time.

 

[dublinirish]

Why would Saban "process" Sheffield? He's only a redshirt freshman, former 5-star recruit, and definitely in the mix for a starting job in a unit that's very short on depth, not to mention that Bama is only at about 83 scholarship players.

its a running joke when ever a player leaves bama for whatever reason

 

[Irish#1]

Why would Saban "process" Sheffield? He's only a redshirt freshman, former 5-star recruit, and definitely in the mix for a starting job in a unit that's very short on depth, not to mention that Bama is only at about 83 scholarship players. This is from Saban earlier today:

“Kendall Sheffield has not been here for the last couple days,” Saban said. “I don’t really know what his status is, so there’s no need to ask me. We’re happy to have him back, he’s a fine young man, he’s worked hard, he’s made a lot of improvement here. We enjoy having him be a part of the team, if that’s what he chooses, and we will continue to work with him in a positive way to help him develop personally, academically and athletically.”

Sheffield was not present at either of Alabama’s latest three practice sessions. He had seen some reps at cornerback with the first-team secondary in previous practices’ nickel drills, but the Tide secondary was far from set with a lot of moving pieces during fall camp. Sheffield has been concerned with possible playing time, sources told BamaOnLine.

There is not, however, a cutoff date for Sheffield to return to the team, Saban said Tuesday.

“We want what’s best for the people on our team, aight?” Saban said. “If there’s something that we can do to help resolve this from their family’s standpoint, we’re certainly available to do that, and there’s no pressure from our standpoint. School starts tomorrow. It’s really important that our players develop the right habits, have success in school. That’s what they’re here for. And hopefully he’ll make a decision so he doesn’t get behind from that standpoint.”

Sounds more like he's having some personal or family problems, maybe not sure if he wants to continue playing, or is discouraged about possible playing time.

If his concern is playing time, then I would question his character a little. Everyone wants to start, but not everyone gets to start. It is, after all a "team" sport. Prove you're worthy.

 

[Bishop2b5]

If his concern is playing time, then I would question his character a little. Everyone wants to start, but not everyone gets to start. It is, after all a "team" sport. Prove you're worthy.

Absolutely... he may have room for growth in the maturity area. From what I've read this morning, the issue is playing time and having a starting role. He's a redshirt freshman who would almost certainly see major playing time this year and likely start by next year. Wait your turn and earn it.

 

[Legacy]

Florida suspends Jalen Tabor, C'yontai Lewis

Fight between the two. Suspended for the opener against UMass.

 

[Legacy]

Tennessee

Tennessee

Offseason news

Tennessee settled their sexual assault Title IX lawsuit with eight women for $2.48 million.

Drae Bowles, the WR who helped a woman who said she was raped b A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams, transferred to UT Chattanooga after being called a "traitor" by Butch Jones and being punched as retribution by another player.

AJ Johnson's and Michael Williams rape trial has been delayed.

The longtime liaison with the Knoxville Police Department, Sam Brown, who had worked with four head coaches was relieved of his duties due to a two minute phone call he made to Butch Jones, alerting him to the alleged rape by Johnson and Williams. The call came to light as a result of the Title IX lawsuit and was a condition for settling the lawsuit.

Brown said he has made such courtesy calls to four different head coaches over 19 years and that he was never told there was a policy against such actions. He estimated that he has made about 100 such calls.
Brown said he saw nothing wrong with alerting a coach, provided he didn’t get involved with the investigation.

Butch Jones then made three calls to Johnson in the next ten minutes, which was two hours before investigators could obtain a search warrant for Johnson's apartment to collect evidence. Jones called Johnson twice more that day.

Alexis Johnson, DT, who was arrested for aggravated assault and false imprisonment of a woman, reached an agreement to reduce the assault charge to a misdemeanor domestic violence and to dismiss the false imprisonment charge. He has now been cleared by a Tennessee Student Judicial Panel.

UT's football operations director, Chris Spognardi, was put on paid administrative leave due to a financial audit reportedly found "irregularities related to his job". Spognardi worked under Jones on the football staffs at Cincinnati and Central Michigan, first under Brian Kelly, and came from Cincy to Tennessee with Jones as a negotiated condition of hiring Jones in 2012. Spognardi was promoted to director of football operations in 2014 when the associate athletics director for business and internal operations, requested that the search process be exempt because "a search at this point would be counterproductive as Mr. Spognardi has a current working knowledge and understanding" of the UT football program.

 

[dublinirish]

Sheffield has landed at Blinn CC in Texas (former Juco of Cam Newton)

 

[Bishop2b5]

Sheffield has landed at Blinn CC in Texas (former Juco of Cam Newton)

I'm having a hard time making any sense of this decision. Saban made it clear that Sheffield was wanted and had a place on the team (and badly needed, as our depth at DB is almost nonexistent). Sheffield was in the mix for a starting job and at worst, was expected to see major playing time this season and step into a starting role next year. By all accounts he was well-liked, never in trouble, a hard worker, and his development as a player was on track. Personal issues or maybe academics?

 

[dublinirish]

I'm having a hard time making any sense of this decision. Saban made it clear that Sheffield was wanted and had a place on the team (and badly needed, as our depth at DB is almost nonexistent). Sheffield was in the mix for a starting job and at worst, was expected to see major playing time this season and step into a starting role next year. By all accounts he was well-liked, never in trouble, a hard worker, and his development as a player was on track. Personal issues or maybe academics?

im sure it will play out at some stage. maybe he see how Maurice Smith was treated and wanted nothing more to do with Saban perhaps?

 

[Legacy]

im sure it will play out at some stage. maybe he see how Maurice Smith was treated and wanted nothing more to do with Saban perhaps?

If not academics, hr may want to play elsewhere in the SEC. Also may like Smart better.

 

[T Town Tommy]

I'm having a hard time making any sense of this decision. Saban made it clear that Sheffield was wanted and had a place on the team (and badly needed, as our depth at DB is almost nonexistent). Sheffield was in the mix for a starting job and at worst, was expected to see major playing time this season and step into a starting role next year. By all accounts he was well-liked, never in trouble, a hard worker, and his development as a player was on track. Personal issues or maybe academics?

Daddy Ball. His dad thought he should be starting.