SEC preview:
Things are tough all
overby Dan Shanoff,
CNN/SI
Posted: Wed Aug 19, 1998
Kentucky junior quarterback Tim Couch is "the bomb" in the Wildcats' Air Raid offense.
(Bob Rosato) | |
| Projected Order of
Finish
|
| East | West |
| 1. Florida | 1. LSU |
| 2. Tennessee | 2. Mississippi
State |
| 3. Kentucky | 3. Mississippi |
| 4. Georgia | 4. Auburn |
| 5. South
Carolina | 5. Alabama |
| 6. Vanderbilt | 6. Arkansas |
|
| |
|
|
Offensive Player of the
Year
|
|
Tim
Couch, QB, Jr.,
Kentucky
| | Should rewrite nearly every conference single-season
passing record. He already holds 10 of them after his '97
season, including most TD passes in a game (7), most passes
attempted in a game (66) and most passing yards in a season
(3,884).
| |
|
Defensive Player of the
Year
|
|
Jevon
Kearse, LB, Jr.,
Florida
| | Anchors one of the country's best defenses—a unit that
happens to be the Gators' best
offense.
| |
|
Newcomer of the
Year
|
|
Eric
Parker, WR,
Tennessee
| | Continues the tradition of top-notch Vols receivers and
should see significant playing time, even as a redshirt
freshman.
| |
|
Coach on the Hot
Seat
|
|
Brad
Scott, South Carolina (5-6 in
1997)
| | Only SEC coach who isn't successful or green. In his fifth
year, Scott is trying the patience of Gamecocks
fans.
| |
|
Conference
Game-Breaker
|
|
Champ
Bailey, DB/WR, Jr.,
Georgia
| | Reminds many of former Bulldog-slash-current Steeler Hines
Ward, but whereas Ward played everywhere on offense, Bailey
does exceptional things on both sides of the ball. Last
year he had 48 tackles (39 solo) and three interceptions as
an all-SEC
cornerback; 22.7 yards per return on kickoffs; and averaged 19.5
yards per catch in 12 grabs as a spot
receiver.
| |
|
Most Underrated
Player
|
|
Fred
Vinson, DB, Sr.,
Vanderbilt
| | The Commodores aren't very good, but that's not Vinson's
fault. With sub-4.4 speed in the 40, he anchors a sweet
secondary that seems to be Vandy's only bright
spot.
| |
|
Best
Name
|
|
Nemessis
Bates, WR, Jr.,
LSU
| | Runner-up:
Peerless
Price, WR, Sr.,
Tennessee
| |
|
Toughest
Schedule
|
|
Kentucky faces brutal road games at Florida, LSU and
Tennessee
| |
|
Creampuff
Schedule
|
|
Kentucky's home cooking more than makes up for the rough road trips. The Wildcats host Eastern Kentucky, Indiana, South Carolina and Vanderbilt
| |
|
Red-Letter
Games
|
| Florida at
Tennessee, Sept.
19 | | Vols have no title hopes, but would love to exorcise Gator
ghosts.
|
|
Kentucky at
Florida, Sept.
26 | | How good is
QB Tim Couch? The Florida defense will serve as the
benchmark.
|
| LSU at
Florida, Oct.
10 | | SEC Championship
preview.
|
| Florida at Florida
State, Nov.
21 | | 'Nuff
said.
|
|
|
Drop This Name to Make Yourself Sound Smarter at the Water
Cooler
|
|
Jamal
Lewis, RB, So.,
Tennessee
| | Racked up 1,364 yards as a true freshman, playing alongside
pass-happy Peyton Manning. This
season: more carries, less defense-stretching by inexperienced QB
Tee
Martin.
| |
|
Going
Bowling
|
Locks: Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State,
Tennessee
Maybes: Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi, South
Carolina
No
Way: Arkansas,
Vanderbilt
| |
|
Top Three
Storylines
|
|
Air
Raid
| |
Win or lose, Kentucky coach Hal Mumme's offense will be fun
to
watch.
|
| Later,
Gators?
| |
Last season, Florida watched as Tennessee defeated Auburn
in the
SEC championship game. This season,
LSU is poised to make the Gators bridesmaids. Florida's
two-headed
QB situation is as ridiculous as a WWF tag-team
bout.
|
| Tee
time
| |
Filling the biggest shoes in college football, Tennessee
junior QB Tee Martin has quicker feet than Peyton Manning
but little experience other than mop-up
duty.
| |
|
