THE SCOOP
With South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw out two to three weeks with a sprained shoulder, it puts Dylan Thompson behind center. It’s been noted that Thompson tends to play better when he knows he’s going to start.
“Last two games, we told him he’s going in there somewhere in the first half, which he did,” coach Steve Spurrier said. “He prepares every week as if he’s going to play a lot. Whether or not he plays better when he knows he’s starting, I don’t know. Let’s hope so, because he’s starting this week (vs. Kentucky).”
A dislocated elbow has put tailback Brandon Wilds on the sideline for three to four weeks and that means that Stephenson High School’s Mike Davis, already having a big season with more than 500 rushing yards, will be the featured back.
Spurrier commented with more than the usual coach-speak about the suspension of wide receiver Shaq Roland. Roland was left off the UCF trip last weekend for a violation of university policy. Spurrier said Saturday that it had nothing to do with drugs and on Sunday, he added it had nothing to do with an arrest, a social media violation or misbehavior in class.
ALABAMA FOUL?
ESPN’s cameras captured Alabama associate director for player personnel Tyler Siskey in the coaches’ box with binoculars during Saturday’s game and Ole Miss fans are calling foul. If Siskey was coaching, it would be a violation of NCAA bylaws about the number of coaches involved in a game.
Rebels’ fans took to social media and accused Siskey, a former Ole Miss staffer, of helping the Crimson Tide’s defense stifle the Rebels’ offensive attack (205 total yards, no points). Once the cameras spotted Siskey, ESPN analyst Todd Blackledge said Siskey was “very involved” with Alabama’s defensive preparations.
“He didn’t really assist in the game plan,” Bama coach Nick Saban said during his Monday news conference. “He wasn’t on the headset, didn’t talk to anybody during the game. I don’t know if there’s any rule that says he can’t go in the press box and watch the game. He wasn’t in any different position than he’s ever been in any game.”
VOLS GOING GRAY
Tennessee will have a new look for its game Saturday with No. 6 Georgia. Volunteers coach Butch Jones said Sunday night on a Knoxville-based radio show that the team would wear its “Smokey gray” uniforms for the Georgia game. The university confirmed it immediately afterward on its football team’s official Twitter account.
OCT. 12 TV GAMES
Noon, Missouri at Georgia, ESPN
12:21 p.m., South Carolina at Arkansas, WPCH
2 p.m., Western Carolina at Auburn, pay-per-view
3:30 p.m., Florida at LSU, CBS
7 p.m., Alabama at Kentucky, ESPN2
7:30 p.m., Bowling Green at Miss. State, FSN
7:30 p.m., Texas A&M at Ole Miss, ESPN
BY THE NUMBERS
21
Three-and-out series for Florida’s defense in 44 opponent drives.
.879
Florida home winning percentage (131-18) since 1990, the best in the nation.
4
Tackles vs. Alabama, including one that forced a fumble, by linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche (Grayson High), who returned for the game after sustaining an MCL knee sprain against Vanderbilt on Aug. 29.
Compiled by Ray Cox
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