THE SCOOP
A few days after Alabama won the 2012 BCS championship, a University of Texas regent and a former regent talked with Nick Saban’s agent about the possibility of the Crimson Tide coach replacing Longhorns coach Mack Brown, the Associated Press reports.
Regent Wallace Hall of Dallas told the AP he spoke by telephone with agent Jimmy Sexton a few days after the Jan. 7 game. Tom Hicks, a former regent who is the brother of current regent Steve Hicks, also was on the call. Tom Hicks, the former owner of the Texas Rangers, the Dallas Stars and the English professional soccer team Liverpool, was a regent in 1997 when Brown came to Texas and was instrumental in hiring him away from North Carolina.
Two days after the call with Sexton, Tom Hicks met with Brown over lunch and told him about the call, according to several people who spoke with the AP. He asked Brown if he was ready to retire. Brown, who had just finished his 15th season at Texas, said he wanted to keep coaching, and the matter was dropped.
As of now, Brown is under pressure after a 1-2 start and fired his defensive coordinator after Week 2. Brown on Monday was dismissive of “rumors” about his job.
INJURY UPDATE
Tennessee freshman defensive end Corey Vereen (sprained knee ACL) is expected to make his collegiate debut Saturday at No. 19 Florida after missing a few weeks of practice time. Linebacker Curt Maggitt (torn knee ACL) remains sidelined as he recovers from the injury sustained in November.
COACH PRAISE
Some coaches just simply won’t give any player credit in the media. Steve Spurrier isn’t one of those, although his praise this week during the bye week was calculated. He said two-sport athlete Bruce Ellington is leading the way effort-wise and should be an example. Ellington, who has played football and basketball the past two seasons, is coming off his best showing for the Gamecocks, with eight catches for 111 yards against Vanderbilt. “He’s out here trying to get better every day,” Spurrier said. “I hope we can make it contagious.”
SCHEDULING
New coach Butch Jones either will improve Tennessee quickly or find out what it felt like to be Derek Dooley in Knoxville: The Volunteers have signed to play at Oklahoma on Sept. 13, 2014 and the Sooners will return the favor with a trip to Neyland Stadium in 2015.
LEGENDS
The 2013 SEC class of 14 players has been chosen, with the West Division legends revealed Thursday. The class will be honored at the “Weekend of Champions” on Dec. 6-7 in Atlanta. The selections in the West: Alabama DT Marty Lyons, Arkansas DT Wayne Martin, Auburn WR Frank Sanders, LSU RB Kevin Faulk, Ole Miss LB Jeff Herrod, Mississippi State DL Glen Collins and Texas A&M LB Dat Nguyen.
BY THE NUMBERS
5 Interceptions by Missouri this season, one less than all of last season, and one was returned 70 yards for a touchdown by Markus Golden, the Tigers' first defensive score against an FBS team since 2008.
30-0 Record last season by the top six SEC schools against the bottom eight teams in the league.
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