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Week In Pictures
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Being the official band of summer, it was the Beach Boys who hit upon the idea of ”Good Vibrations.“
It's the same idea when it comes to Southeastern Conference football. Summer vibrations have much to do with how things might fall in the fall. The absence of pad-popping doesn't restrict us from figuring out which teams have had an enjoyable summer and which have experienced a deplorable one as we enter the final month before training camps.
The up, the down, and the mixed:
Florida (up): Tim Tebow, the quarterback, has a bronze tan and a bronze trophy — you know, that little guy called the Heisman. Meanwhile, Urban Meyer, the head coach, has a biography heading to a book store near you. And Percy Harvin is healing this summer so that the Gators can figure out a thousand more ways to get his flying feet involved in the offense this season.
Georgia (mixed): The Bulldogs boast top returning talent, including running back Knowshon Moreno and gunslinging quarterback Matt Stafford. Thus, several pre-season sages have made Mark Richt's club the team to beat in 2008. But there have been a few off-the-field incidents this summer. And the heightened expectations will put some pressure between the hedges.
Tennessee (up): Rocky Top rumblings over Phil Fulmer's job status aside, Tennessee fans are anxious to gain a read on new offensive coordinator Dave Clawson, who slipped into Knoxville advocating the spread offense for this season. The Vols might not be any better than last year, but they figure to be more interesting.
South Carolina (down): The grumbling Gamecocks are developing doubts as to whether Steve Spurrier has enough tricks left under that visor to pull South Carolina into college football's upper echelon. It's not a good sign when the two new basketball coaches, Darrin Horn and Dawn Staley, are receiving more positive pub than the former grid giant.
Kentucky (up): When your 66-year-old head coach, i.e. Rich Brooks, swims to safety after his fishing boat capsizes in Oregon, then you know you are having a good summer.
Vanderbilt (down): The guess here is that all the Commodores are busy doing internships at Fortune 500 companies this summer.
Alabama (down): Nick Saban is earning that fat paycheck this summer, what with a now-former player Jimmy Johns allegedly selling drugs in the parking lot of the football complex and top signees failing to make grades. Ken Stabler being pulled over for a third DWI did nothing for the Tuscaloosa karma either.
Auburn (up): See Alabama's troubles. See the excitement created by new offensive mastermind Tony Franklin. See Auburn Coach Tommy Tuberville raking in the commitments, a league-leading 17 thus far.
Louisiana State (down): Nowhere to go but down after last year's national crown. Quarterback Ryan Perrilloux being booted from Baton Rouge over bad behavior makes the Tigers' chances of repeating a bit tenuous.
Mississippi (up): Most anything after Ed Orgeron is an improvement, but Houston Nutt has Oxford oohing and ahing, picking up commitments, creating a buzz, going a million different directions at once. Ole Miss fans just hope Nutt's primary direction is up.
Mississippi State (up): Coach Sylvester Croom received a deserved pay hike, and he has a young, energetic new athletic director in Greg Byrne. Starkville has reason for optimism considering last year's team managed to win eight games largely without the help of a quarterback.
Arkansas (mixed): The Razorbacks are happy to have Bobby Petrino, even if the entire city of Atlanta was just as happy to see him leave. But the Razorbacks are shaky at quarterback, lost Darren McFadden and Felix Jones at running back and have a linebacker (Wendel Davis) facing a felony charge. Things are tough all over, huh Bob?
