This is our early look at the conferences. The "Pre Signing Day" look if you will. Today, we will look at the SEC East:
Once again, FLORIDA will be the pre-season favorite to win the SEC East. This is due to recent history as much as anything else, because Florida has a major rebuilding job ahead of them. Florida lost 4 juniors and 4 seniors off of their defense, which was the main reason why they went so far last year. They also lose team leander Tebow, several WR's and TE Hernandez from the offense. HC Urban Meyer and his health will be a soap opera until September. The schedule is not real kind to Florida, going to Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida State, playing UGA in the Cocktail Party game, and hosting LSU. 3 losses would not be suprising here.
GEORGIA gets a new look defense, and returns everyone on offense except their QB. With a potentially potent offense, the defense will once again determine how well the Dawgs fare in the SEC. With 3 starters on the DL graduating, now would be the time to move to a 3-4 defense, if that is what UGA is thinking about. The schedule is doable, with Tennessee, Arkansas, and Ga. Tech at home and no 'Bama or LSU. After a warm up opener against La. Lafayette, UGA goes to South Carolina and then plays at home against Tennessee. We should know the fate of UGA early this season.
SOUTH CAROLINA is, well South Carolina. Spurier returns for his 6th season as HC. The first 5 were certainly less than spactacular. If South Carolina is ever going to make a serious challenge for an SEC crown, this is the year. South Carolina loses only 3 starters on each side of the ball. Spurrier returns his skilled position players in tact. The defense returns the entire secondary. Inconsistancy has plauged this team for years now, and seems to be a Spurrier trade mark. Last year, they opened on the road with a 7-3 win at NC State, then score 37 at home the following week, only to lose to UGA 41-37. The Gamecocks will have to be more consistant than that this year.
The drama that is TENNESSEE will play out with a new HC this year. After the Kiffin's jumped ship, Tennessee started a search that resulted in choice #5 or 6, Derek Dooley ending up as their new HC. Dooley's biggest claim to fame is that he is the son of former UGA great HC Vince Dooley. Last year at La. Tech, Dooley went 4-8. To add on to Tennessee's problems is the fact that they lose their QB, a WR, and their entire starting OL except at RT. The DL also gets hit hard, and All Everything FS Berry leaves early. The schedule includes trips to LSU, UGA, and South Carolina, and home games against Oregon, Florida, and Alabama. That looks a lot like a 6-6 schedule to me.
KENTUCKY loses it's HC Rich Brooks, 7 starters on each side of the ball, and their kicker. Needless to say, former OC and new HC Joker Phillips has his work cut out for him this season. He does get QB Hartline back. A soft non-con schedule gives the Cats a shot at finishing the season at 6-6, and going to a 4th straight minor bowl, but a loss to rival Louisville ends that hope. Phillips has his work cut out for him in his first year.
After a suprise 2008 season, which inculded a bowl win over Boston College, VANDERBILT returned to form last season, going 2-10. Their chances of major improvment do not look real good this year, losing 5 starters on offense, and 6 on defense. Both lines take a hit, and the skill players who return just do not have a lot of talent. The non-con schedule includes Northwestern, UConn and Wake. This is defiantely a rebuilding year for Vandy and HC Bobby Johnson.
Next: SEC West.
Once again, FLORIDA will be the pre-season favorite to win the SEC East. This is due to recent history as much as anything else, because Florida has a major rebuilding job ahead of them. Florida lost 4 juniors and 4 seniors off of their defense, which was the main reason why they went so far last year. They also lose team leander Tebow, several WR's and TE Hernandez from the offense. HC Urban Meyer and his health will be a soap opera until September. The schedule is not real kind to Florida, going to Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida State, playing UGA in the Cocktail Party game, and hosting LSU. 3 losses would not be suprising here.
GEORGIA gets a new look defense, and returns everyone on offense except their QB. With a potentially potent offense, the defense will once again determine how well the Dawgs fare in the SEC. With 3 starters on the DL graduating, now would be the time to move to a 3-4 defense, if that is what UGA is thinking about. The schedule is doable, with Tennessee, Arkansas, and Ga. Tech at home and no 'Bama or LSU. After a warm up opener against La. Lafayette, UGA goes to South Carolina and then plays at home against Tennessee. We should know the fate of UGA early this season.
SOUTH CAROLINA is, well South Carolina. Spurier returns for his 6th season as HC. The first 5 were certainly less than spactacular. If South Carolina is ever going to make a serious challenge for an SEC crown, this is the year. South Carolina loses only 3 starters on each side of the ball. Spurrier returns his skilled position players in tact. The defense returns the entire secondary. Inconsistancy has plauged this team for years now, and seems to be a Spurrier trade mark. Last year, they opened on the road with a 7-3 win at NC State, then score 37 at home the following week, only to lose to UGA 41-37. The Gamecocks will have to be more consistant than that this year.
The drama that is TENNESSEE will play out with a new HC this year. After the Kiffin's jumped ship, Tennessee started a search that resulted in choice #5 or 6, Derek Dooley ending up as their new HC. Dooley's biggest claim to fame is that he is the son of former UGA great HC Vince Dooley. Last year at La. Tech, Dooley went 4-8. To add on to Tennessee's problems is the fact that they lose their QB, a WR, and their entire starting OL except at RT. The DL also gets hit hard, and All Everything FS Berry leaves early. The schedule includes trips to LSU, UGA, and South Carolina, and home games against Oregon, Florida, and Alabama. That looks a lot like a 6-6 schedule to me.
KENTUCKY loses it's HC Rich Brooks, 7 starters on each side of the ball, and their kicker. Needless to say, former OC and new HC Joker Phillips has his work cut out for him this season. He does get QB Hartline back. A soft non-con schedule gives the Cats a shot at finishing the season at 6-6, and going to a 4th straight minor bowl, but a loss to rival Louisville ends that hope. Phillips has his work cut out for him in his first year.
After a suprise 2008 season, which inculded a bowl win over Boston College, VANDERBILT returned to form last season, going 2-10. Their chances of major improvment do not look real good this year, losing 5 starters on offense, and 6 on defense. Both lines take a hit, and the skill players who return just do not have a lot of talent. The non-con schedule includes Northwestern, UConn and Wake. This is defiantely a rebuilding year for Vandy and HC Bobby Johnson.
Next: SEC West.
