Around The SEC: Gary Crowton Headed To Maryland—LSU Fans Cheer!

Crowton moving to College Park, gives LSU his walking papers

Gary Crowton, the former offensive coordinator for the LSU Tigers, will now fill the same role at the University of Maryland for coach Randy Edsall.

Crowton was the behind the Tigers' stellar 2007 offense, which helped Les Miles win a national championship for LSU, but he has been mediocre since that time, and no one in Baton Rouge is likely to be crying crocodile-sized tears upon hearing of his resignation.

The real question has to be why would Maryland want him? Do they really believe that all of LSU's offensive troubles were due to the ineptitude of Jordan Jefferson—LSU's underachieving quarterback? And, even if that was the case, he didn't prove to be that much more successful with Jarrett Lee either.

The problem with Crowton appeared to be less about personnel than playcalling. He just couldn't seem to get his act together long and his schizophrenic way of handling the playbook showed on the football field where the Tigers finished 107th and 112th in passing offense over the last two years—respectively.

Perhaps the ACC will be a more welcoming atmosphere for a man of his talents—we'll see. But, I gotta tell you, it makes little sense that Maryland is willing to pay more for less.

Cobb leaving Kentucky to try his talents in the NFL

Hoping to cash in on the "do-everything" appeal offered by Percy Harvin in 2009 and Dexter McCluster in 2010, the all-american wide receiver has opted to see if he can excel at the next level in much the same way he has in the SEC.

Cobb was the catalyst behind a much-improved Wildcats offense this past season and, at one point, was the focal point of the team—after an injury to Derrick Locke forced him into more offensive responsibility.

With a change at quarterback forthcoming at Kentucky, Cobb may be thinking there is no time like the present to make the jump.

Fairley set to announce NFL decision Friday

Nick Fairley, the much-maligned, but equally talented, defensive lineman of the Auburn Tigers is scheduled to announce his NFL decision on tomorrow. Fairley has been projected, by some, as a possible No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and there are few who don't believe he is poised to make the jump.

Fairley's decision will broadcast from his high school in Mobile.

Related articles

• Report: LSU assistant Gary Crowton headed for Maryland (sports.espn.go.com)
• Falling upwards. (blutarsky.wordpress.com)

Will Houston Nutt Take A Chance On Former Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli?

The latest saga in the Houston Nutt Trilogy is who will replace Raymond Cotton?

Cotton, the disgruntled and disgusted No. 2 quarterback for the Ole Miss Rebels, decided that his playing future was better served elsewhere—leaving the Rebels and Houston Nutt wondering "what now?"

If reports are to be believed, former Oregon quarterback, Jeremiah Masoli is getting some major consideration, despite his checkered past. The first question that many will ask is why would Ole Miss or Houston Nutt want a guy like Masoli?

Seriously, do you really have to ask? Despite the fact that he Masoli was a complete idiot off the field in 2009, he was a star on it for the Oregon Ducks last season. Barring any significant injury, had he played for the team in 2010, he was a lock for garnering some Heisman consideration after putting up some impressive numbers in 2009 (2147 yards passing, 668 yards rushing, and 28 total touchdowns).

His presence on an Ole Miss team that not only lost Jevan Snead, but also Dexter McCluster, and Shay Hodge, would be a definite improvement over the relative inexperience of Nathan Stanley. That said, it is tough to discount the baggage that Masoli would bring.

His multiple arrests and all-around ill-advised behavior off the field would offer a huge red flag to the Ole Miss admissions committee and they might not be willing to overlook his past transgressions in favor of their institutions desire for some quality depth at quarterback.

However, if they were to open the door and allow the troubled, former-star to enter the hallowed halls of their program, there would only be one hiccup to consider. According to NCAA transfer rules:

If a student-athlete wants to transfer and immediately compete as a graduate student, the college or university they are transferring to would need to seek a waiver, because in most cases they would have to sit out a year before competing under NCAA transfer rules and would not have any remaining eligibility. One of the factors our members have determined is appropriate for a graduate student waiver is if the transfer is academically motivated.

By "academically motivated", the NCAA means that the student-athlete would need to choose his/her school based on an inability to complete his graduate studies at the institution that formerly held his eligibility. In other words, Ole Miss would have to offer a graduate program that the University of Oregon does not. 

Assuming Masoli is able to apply and be admitted to Ole Miss, under those guidelines, he would be eligible to play immediately.

It's all speculation for now as Masoli is also looking at other Division I programs—including Ole Miss rival, Mississippi State, but one thing is for certain, someone may be willing to take a chance on Masoli in 2010.

Ole Miss To Finish Last in The SEC West, Is Mississippi State Really That Good?

To the surprise of absolutely no one, both Alabama and Florida were picked to win their respective divisions and meet up in Atlanta for the SEC Championship—again. That said, what was more surprising was those who would finish behind them in their quest for the same goal.

Here is the predicted order of finish as dictated by the media in attendance at SEC Media Days in Hoover, AL:

Eastern Division (First Place Votes)
1. Florida (153) 1030
2. Georgia (15) 791
3. South Carolina (8) 790
4. Kentucky 462
5. Tennessee 450
6. Vanderbilt (1) 194

Western Division (First Place Votes)
1. Alabama (157) 1034
2. Arkansas (6) 726
3. Auburn (10) 691
4. LSU (1) 653
5. Mississippi State 320
6. Ole Miss (3) 293

Two things jump out when looking at this list, 1) Mississippi State has been picked to finish ahead of Ole Miss, and 2) Someone actually gave Vanderbilt a first place vote—the hell?

That first point is both a hat tip to what Dan Mullen has been able to accomplish in Starkville over the last three-years and a kick in the stomach to where some people believe Houston Nutt is heading with  his program over in Oxford.

The pick is only mildly surprising given the momentum the Bulldogs have coming into this season. They are deep sleepers in the SEC West this season and though no one is looking for them to challenge for the title, they are expected to steal a win or two more than last season—earning a bowl bid in the process.

Even still, they will face the Rebels in Oxford this year and the Bulldogs haven't won a contest there there since 1996 (College Football Warehouse). Can Dan Mullen live up to the expectations of being picked to finish above his teams fiercest rival?

It's a tall task given the holes he needs to fill on both sides of the ball—moat glaringly at the running back position. Anthony Dixon is gone and there are legitimate questions about just how capable his replacement will be this season. Throw in some hefty questions about the consistency of quarterback Chris Reif and it's just as easy to see Mississippi State having another down year in 2010.

As for Houston Nutt, he lost Jevan Snead (if you consider that a big deal given his poor performance in big games last season) but he did have two talented, yet, inexperienced quarterbacks battling it out at the start of spring. However, now he may face a quandry of his own as Raymond Cotton could be seeking a transfer.

If does happen, Nutt would be left with a whole lot of Nutt-hin' as I don't know that many are sold on Nathan Stanley.

Add to that, what players will be able to replace the production of both Dexter McCluster and Shay Hodge on offense? Stanley may be better than Cotton but is he that much better—really? Especially if he has no one to hand it off to in the backfield or pass it out to down the sidelines?

There is certainly just as much room to worry if you are an Ole Miss fan but I don't know that those finely dressed students who congregate in The Grove need to be worried enough to consider hiding from what Mississippi State will have to offer.

Dan Mullen may be a fine coach but the players have to play the game and his team is definitely not without its weaknesses—I'd call the two even at worst.

Now, about that lone first place vote for Vanderbilt. My guess is the one media representative who did so was really giving his opinion on interim coach, Robbie Caldwell. He (Caldwell) certainly was the most refreshingly entertaining coach to appear at the event this year—I give him an A++ for the "turkey insemination" story alone.

That said, if that lone media vote was actually serious, well...honestly...I just don't know what to say.

A full transcript of Houston Nutt's Media Day session can be found here.
A full transcript of Dan Mullen's Media Day session can be found here.

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