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A number of SEC coaches have formed a chorus singing the blues about the league’s officials. But you won’t hear Steve Spurrier complaining about the officiating.
Not this week, anyway.
While conceding during his Tuesday news conference that SEC “referees have struggled a little bit lately,” Spurrier later acknowledged the Gamecocks received two favorable instant-replay reviews during their 14-10 win against Vandy.
A first-quarter fumble by USC tailback Kenny Miles was overturned, while D.L. Moore’s bobbling, 35-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter was upheld by replay official Doyle Jackson.
Vandy coach Bobby Johnson took particular exception with the catch by Moore, whose right foot appeared to be out of bounds when Moore corralled the ball.
“I watched it and it was very close,” Spurrier said. “He had one foot that came down out of bounds. We thought he had the other one in (and) repossessed it. I think they could have ruled it out. We got all the good replays.”
When Miles reached the sideline after his apparent fumble, Spurrier asked him if he was down before fumbling.
Miles said he didn’t know.
“Usually when they say that … but they said he was down. They ruled him down somehow,” Spurrier said. “We got some good breaks.”

Better late than never.
(Disclaimer: I would have had these out sooner but the dog ate my Web browser.)
Without further procrastination …

Offense
This week was easy. When you have a guy pass for 300, another run for 100 and a third hit a hundy in receiving yards – the first time that’s happened at USC since 1996 – they, and only they, get game balls on offense.
I usually like to reward linemen, as well. Sorry. Go see Lou Holtz for a helmet sticker.
QB Stephen Garcia – 22-of-33, 312 yards and two TDs, including the game-winner
RB Kenny Miles – a grind-it-out night: 102 yards on 18 carries, none longer than 15

WR Alshon Jeffery – career highs of eight catches for 161 yards and the game-winner (see above)

Defense
Steve Spurrier said the coaches couldn’t figure out whom to give a game ball to on defense.
We’ll help them out.
LB Shaq Wilson – a game-high dozen tackles
S Chris Culliver – only four tackles, but the last one saved the Gamecocks’ bacon: a sack/intentional grounding that resulted in a loss of 24 on third-and-8

Special teams
We wont’ go there.

Better late than never.
(Disclaimer: I would have had these out sooner but the dog ate my Web browser.)
Without further procrastination …

Offense
This week was easy. When you have a guy pass for 300, another run for 100 and a third hit a hundy in receiving yards – the first time that’s happened at USC since 1996 – they, and only they, get game balls on offense.
I usually like to reward linemen, as well. Sorry. Go see Lou Holtz for a helmet sticker.
QB Stephen Garcia – 22-of-33, 312 yards and two TDs, including the game-winner
RB Kenny Miles – a grind-it-out night: 102 yards on 18 carries, none longer than 15

WR Alshon Jeffery – career highs of eight catches for 161 yards and the game-winner (see above)

Defense
Steve Spurrier said the coaches couldn’t figure out whom to give a game ball to on defense.
We’ll help them out.
LB Shaq Wilson – a game-high dozen tackles
S Chris Culliver – only four tackles, but the last one saved the Gamecocks’ bacon: a sack/intentional grounding that resulted in a loss of 24 on third-and-8

Special teams
We won’t go there.

Headed to Knoxville this weekend?
Leave now.
The pretty drive through the mountains got a lot longer after a weekend rockslide shut down a section of I-40 west of Asheville near the North Carolina-Tennessee state line. It could be closed for months, officials say.
The North Carolina DOT recommends this detour: For drivers traveling west, take I-40 West to I-240 West in Asheville to I-26 West. Follow I-26 West from Asheville to I-81 South in Tennessee and back to I-40.
Forget flying, unless you want to pay $1,000 and make a connection in Charlotte or Atlanta.
Better just to put in some music, expect delays and enjoy the views.

Headed to Knoxville this weekend?
Leave now.
The pretty drive through the mountains got a lot longer after a weekend rockslide shut down a section of I-40 west of Asheville near the North Carolina-Tennessee state line. It could be closed for months, officials say.
Received the following e-mail from a Gamecocks’ fan who lives in Asheville. Seems as though the NCDOT’s detour was off a bit. Sorry about that. Anyway, here’s a local’s suggestion:
The rock slide will definitely cause a longer trip but it’s not nearly as long as it seems. It will take about 45-50 extra minutes but the views you will see on that route will be unbelievable compared to the other route. Your directions may have been off a little as well. Travelers will follow I-26 to Asheville and will then see signs for the new I-26. This will put them on I-240 EAST for about 5 miles and then hit US 19/23 (aka new I-26 West) towards Johnson City. They will then hit I-81 south towards Knoxville just after Johnson City. But I promise you, this is the quickest way by far. Some routes may look quicker on a map but the roads are horrible
Traffic coming into Asheville on 26 from Columbia is horrible this time of year on Fridays, especially from 3-6 pm. I would advise people to try and avoid coming through here at that time
The North Carolina DOT recommends this detour: For drivers traveling west, take I-40 West to I-240 West in Asheville to I-26 West. Follow I-26 West from Asheville to I-81 South in Tennessee and back to I-40.
Forget flying, unless you want to pay $1,000 and make a connection in Charlotte or Atlanta.
Better just to put in some music, expect delays and enjoy the views.

South Carolina needed Erik Kimrey last weekend.
Kimrey is coaching at Hammond these days, but no doubt can still throw the fade.
Stephen Garcia could not throw the fade – or complete it, anyway – in last week’s loss at Alabama. But it wasn’t for a lack of trying.
It’s worth noting that Alabama’s second-string corner is a senior who had played in more than 40 games, unlike the Kentucky true freshman who was victimized by Alshon Jeffery while subbing for Trevard Lindley.
But Garcia and the rest of the Gamecocks will find the end zone against Vanderbilt, which has returned to being the Vandy your older brother knew and loved beating up on. The ‘Dores are 0-4 in the SEC, and that December bowl “trip” to the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl seems like a distant memory.
Here’s hoping Vandy, which didn’t get to leave Nashville after earning its first bowl bid in 26 years, at least enjoyed a night or two at the Gaylord Hotel.
The ‘Dores have done some traveling this year, going from Baton Rouge, La., to West Point, N.Y., in an unsuccessful search for their offense.
Vandy did not score an offensive touchdown against Army, which does not say much for Commodores QB Larry Smith, but bodes well for our country’s future.
Of course, no one outside of Bobby Johnson’s family thought Vandy was going to beat USC the last two years, either, and Johnson, a dead ringer for funny-man Steve Martin, had the last laugh.
Steve Spurrier said this week he has only thrown his visor once this year – and that was during a win against Kentucky. If the HBC loses to Vandy a third year in a row, it will look like a giveaway promotion, with visors flying all over Williams-Brice Stadium.
But hold on to your hats, Gamecock fans – Vandy’s two-year reign over USC will end Saturday. As long as Garcia and the offense can manage a couple touchdowns – via the fade or otherwise – the Gamecocks’ defense is too fast and athletic for the ‘Dores to mount much of a threat.
Of course, we said the same thing last year, too. And the year before that. This time we mean it.
USC 27, Vandy 10

Tape-gate rolled into its second day Wednesday, when Alabama coach Nick Saban accused half of the SEC teams of marking its kicks – a day after Steve Spurrier pointed out a piece of white tape he noticed the Crimson Tide using on their field goals and extra points last weekend.
Look, this obviously doesn’t rise to the level of UT coach Lane Kiffin falsely accusing Florida’s Urban Meyer of breaking NCAA recruiting rules last winter.
The penalty for using “any device or material used to mark the spot of a scrimmage place kick” is 5 yards for an illegal kick.
But if it’s against the rules, it’s against the rules – which is why Spurrier called the tape into question Tuesday at his weekly press conference.
Saban’s response: “We’ve done some research on it, and over half the teams in the league do something, whether they put grass there or a piece of mud or whatever it is, so the kicker knows where the ball’s going to be spotted. We even saw verification where last year South Carolina’s kicker did it.”
Ex-USC kicker Ryan Succop said he never used tape to mark a kick. Holder Stephen Flint said he would find a mark in the grass and point to it for Succop, which sounds a lot different than pulling a piece of tape out of your pants and putting it on the turf.
“We’d go out there and there’d be something like that,” said Flint, pointing to a small spot in the grass. “And I’d just put my finger there. Nothing like a piece of tape.”
Spurrier didn’t seem real pleased when asked about Saban’s claim.
“If we did that last year, why didn’t they turn us in if it was illegal?” Spurrier said. “Shoot, I’m available to be turned in for anything if it’s illegal.”

USC tight end Weslye Saunders, who started the season with a bang before disappearing in the offense, is one of 22 players on the midseason watch list for the Mackey Award, which goes to the nation’s top tight end.
Saunders had 12 catches the first two games at N.C. State and Georgia, but only five in four games since (he missed the Kentucky game with a sprained ankle).
Eight of Saunders’ catches came against Georgia, which played soft coverage and left the middle of the field open. Receivers coach Steve Spurrier Jr. said last week other teams have used different schemes against USC that made it difficult to get Saunders the ball.
The 6-5, 280-pound Saunders was more involved at Alabama, catching three passes for 38 yards, including a leaping 15-yard reception on a scramble play by Stephen Garcia.
Saunders is third on the team with 17 catches for 194 yards.
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Speaking of disappearing, put out a missing persons report on WR Tori Gurley.
After catching four passes in each of the first four games, Gurley has been nowhere to be found of late. He had one reception against S.C. State and Kentucky, then barely saw the field at Alabama as the Gamecocks tried to ride the hot hands of freshman Alshon Jeffery.
Gurley did see action after Moe Brown left with a concussion, but it was not for very long.
Word is that coaches would like to see Gurley practice with more intensity and do a better job on jump balls.
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It will be interesting to see if OL Heath Batchelor is back at practice this week.
Batchelor left the team last week, but apparently didn’t bother to tell Steve Spurrier.
He wasn’t eligible to play against Alabama, anyway. For the second time in three weeks, Batchelor was suspended for missing classes.
After telling friends last week his heart wasn’t in it anymore, Batchelor now is said to be reconsidering his decision. During his Sunday teleconference, Spurrier seemed to leave the door cracked for Batchelor to return.
Spurrier will want some assurances from Batchelor that he is motivated and has his personal and academic affairs in order.

USC linebacker Eric Norwood made the first cut for the Lombardi Award. Norwood is one of the 12 semifinalists announced Wednesday for the award that goes to the country’s top lineman (linebackers included).
Norwood’s on the watch lists for just about every major defensive award, and figures to make the semifinal list for most, if not all of them.
Will Norwood win one of them?
If he keeps playing like he did the first half of the season, he’ll certainly have a chance. But Norwood could be the victim of the SEC’s reputation, and might have trouble just getting out of his region, so to speak.
Check out the Lombardi semifinal list below. Half the names come from the SEC, including two off the Alabama defense – Mt. Cody and Rolando McClain – that the Gamecocks will face Saturday.
Norwood’s had an amazing start to his senior year. Even in the games when he doesn’t get a sack, he manages to put his stamp on the game by coming up with a critical stop or getting his hand on a punt or field goal.
USC’s sports information department is going to make a publicity push to get Norwood on an All-American team or two. But when you consider the competition just within the conference, making the All-SEC team is an accomplishment in its own right.
Here’s the Lombardi release …
Houston, Texas – The Rotary Club of Houston today announced the 12 semifinalists for the 2009 Rotary Lombardi Award.
Since 1970, the Rotary Lombardi Award has been presented annually to the nation’s top college football lineman (offense or defense) who, in addition to outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the discipline of Vince Lombardi.
In alphabetical order, the 12 semifinalists are:
Terrence Cody, Alabama, NG, #62, Sr., 6-5, 365, Ft. Myers, FL
Rennie Curran, Georgia, LB, #35, Jr., 5-11, 228, Snellville, GA
Carlos Dunlap, Florida, DE, #8, Jr., 6-6, 290, North Charleston, SC
Jerry Hughes, TCU, DE, #98, Sr., 6-3, 257, Sugar Land, TX
Rolando McClain, Alabama, LB, #25, Jr., 6-4, 258, Decatur, AL
Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma, #93, DT, Jr., 6-4, 297, Oklahoma City, OK
Eric Norwood, South Carolina, LB, #40, Sr., 6-1, 252, Acworth, GA
Russell Okung, Oklahoma State, LT, #76, Sr., 6-5, 300, Houston, TX
George Selvie, South Florida, DE, #95, Sr., 6-4, 250, Pensacola, FL
Brandon Spikes, Florida, LB, #51, Sr., 6-3, 258, Shelby, NC
Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska, DT, #93, Sr., 6-4, 300, Portland, OR
Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri, LB, #12, Sr., 6-2, 245, Jasper, TX