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Kimrey's 15 minutes may already be up
Erik Kimrey is the walk-on who came off the bench to throw a fourth-and-10, 25-yard touchdown pass to lift South Carolina over Mississippi State last weekend. Kimrey told me Sunday that he didn't have time to celebrate. With starter Phil Petty questionable for this Saturday's game at Alabama with an ankle sprain, Kimrey knew he had to prepare for a possible start. But Kimrey may not get the call even if Petty is hurt. Coach Lou Holtz said he wanted to see how fast freshman Dondrial Pinkins is coming along. In other words, Kimrey, hero or not, you're still a walk-on. Maybe Holtz wants only one new experience per week. He's been coaching for 29 years. Saturday's game will be his first at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Another painful sightThe news that Arkansas tailback Cedric Cobbs would miss the rest of the season with a shoulder separation came on the same day that Michigan tailback Justin Fargas asked to be switched to free safety. Fargas may have been the most impressive freshman tailback in 1998. He moved through the hole in high gear and still had acceleration to spare. But Fargas broke his leg late in the season and missed all of 1999. He hasn't shown his old speed this year and had fallen down the depth chart. Cobbs may have been the most impressive freshman tailback a year ago. He should be as good as new next season. But every time a player is taken off the field, you have to hold your breath. One play away, indeed. Hobby gone awryIllinois' Rocky Harvey fumbled but he really didn't. Michigan's Anthony Thomas didn't fumble but he really did. UCLA wideout Freddie Mitchell didn't catch a touchdown pass but he really did. Arkansas kept its game-winning drive against Alabama alive by converting a third and 11 with 12 Razorbacks on the field.SEC supervisor of officials Bobby Gaston says there have not been more controversial calls this season than in the past. I don't buy that. What's the solution? It's not instant replay. It's not feasible for the college game. Games that aren't televised shouldn't be officiated differently than games that are. Don't forget that officials all have day jobs, an arrangement that drives coaches nuts. As one wronged assistant coach told me, "It's our profession. It's their hobby." Sports Illustrated senior writer Ivan Maisel covers the college football beat for the magazine and appears each Saturday on CNN's "College Football Preview." Click here to send a question to his mailbag.
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