Trent Richardson Shares Challenging Life Experiences With Pensacola Church Audience During Offweek

By Bill Vilona, Pensacola News Journal
"Growing up was hard," said Richardson, an Escambia High graduate, who has grown into one of college football's megastars as tailback for the No. 2 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. "My brothers and I, there might be days we would go without eating. I didn't know what was going to be in front of my life." On his only off-weekend, exactly one week before a Super Bowl-hyped showdown against LSU that will mean the season and his own Heisman Trophy status, Richardson returned home to pour his soul.
He wanted the youth football players, their parents, the fanatical Crimson Tide fans and everyone else in the overflow crowd to understand what shaped his life, what made him plow through adversity the way he now sheds tacklers.
For full article:  http://www.pnj.com/article/20111030/SPORTS/110300332/Alabama-s-Trent-Richardson-comes-home?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p

Les Miles: The Steady Hand Behind Team Turmoil

That ability Miles possesses -- to compartmentalize anything, from a major tragedy to minor distractions, and focus on the now -- has served him well while coaching "Team Turmoil" to an 8-0 record and No. 1 ranking heading into Saturday's epic clash against No. 2 Alabama. That game will provide another test of his ability to insulate his team from the massive hype buildup coming this week.
Besides the personal loss of his sister, he's dealt with an assistant coach's illness that forced a juggling of duties, a bar fight involving several Tigers that brought weeks of unwanted national attention and the suspensions of seven players stretching across the past three months.
It's the other side of the Miles' "Mad Hatter" public persona -- awkward in his syntax, devil-may-care with his in-game coaching strategies and occasionally eccentric in his behavior, such as nibbling on the field grass during games.
For full article:  http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2011/10/les_miles_leads_lsu_football_t.html

BAMA FAN BASE GROWS AROUND THE BIG EASY

To chat with Julie Moreau about college football is to find a kindred spirit. She's cordial, pleasant, well-schooled in the Southeastern Conference and the storied traditions that make Saturdays so special each fall. Until she goes for the jugular.
"Roll Tide!" the Mandeville resident says cheerily, with nary a hint of trepidation, as if it's something to be accepted.
Certainly "Roll Tide" doesn't carry the clout of "Geaux Tigers" in these parts, but Moreau is part of a larger-than-you-probably-realize group of University of Alabama football fans living in metro New Orleans.
For full article:  http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2011/10/bama_fans_infiltrating_traditi.html

Jones County Runs Over Pearl River

POPLARVILLE – Jones Junior College put a Tiger in its tank Thursday night, and rode him to a most satisfying finish.
Bobcat sophomore tailback Lavoris Powell, who answers to the nickname of Tiger, powered Jones to a convincing 35-7 thumping of Pearl River in the 81st annual Cat Fight at Dobie Holden Stadium.
With both teams already out of the South Division playoff race, pride was the only thing at stake, and it was pretty clear that the Bobcats wanted this one a lot more than the Wildcats. Jones finished 6-3 overall and 3-3 in the division, while PRCC dropped to 4-5 and 3-3.
To continue reading:  http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20111028/SPORTS/111027015/JCJC-bests-PRCC-Catfight-?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p

CAGED TIGERS BACK ON PRACTICE FIELD

By Les East of the Baton Rouge Advocate:

 LSU cornerbacks Tyrann Mathieu and Tharold Simon and running back Spencer Ware returned to practice Tuesday after being held out of last week’s game against Auburn as disciplinary action.

Coach Les Miles made the announcement Tuesday night after the top-ranked Tigers returned to practice for the first time since the 45-10 victory on Saturday. LSU has an open date this week before visiting No. 2 Alabama on Nov. 5.

“If they continue to do the things that they’re doing, we would anticipate that they would play (against the Crimson Tide),” Miles said. “We’re not going to live in deadlines in any way. We’re practicing and preparing them to play and operating along that way. We’re going to practice them and plan on using them.

For full article:  http://theadvocate.com/sports/1167052-123/miles-tigers-trio-returns-to.html

Is First Year Ragin Cajun Coach Mark Hudspeth To Dan Mullen, What Mullen Was To Urban Meyer?

Mark Hudspeth is off to a roaring start in his first year as head coach for the University of Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns.  After losing their opener to Oklahoma State, the Cajuns have reeled off six straight victories and are leading the Sun Belt Conference.  Hudspeth comes to ULL from Mississippi State where he served as receivers coach and passing game coordinator.  His absence is apparent in Starkville as the Bulldogs passing game has struggled mightily this year.  Could Hudspeth be to Dan Mullen, what Mullen was to Urban Meyer?  While there are certainly other factors to be considered, parallels can be made betweent the drop in Florida's offensive production after Mullen left for Starkville, and the decline in Mississippi State's offensive effectiveness after Hudspeth left to takeover the Cajuns.

Hudspeth's success has also earned him national attention.  He has been named a finalist for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award.  Hudspeth has also received very positive media reviews both for his team's on field success and for reigniting the Ragin Cajun fan base (much like Mullen has also done with Bulldog fans).

Below is an excellent article from Andrea Adelson of ESPN.Com on Hudspeth's success.  Be sure to also check Bill Bumgarner's thoughts on Hudspeth's impact on his sportsnola.com blog at http://www.sportsnola.com/sports/local-sports-news/ull-news/576368-hudspeths-first-season-has-energized-ragin-cajuns-football.html.

Mark Hudspeth rejuvenates ULL

He is in his first season as a head coach. His team is young. Not particularly deep, either.

Does that sound like a recipe for success?

Louisiana-Lafayette coach Mark Hudspeth laughed when asked that very question. His team has bucked convention at 6-1, setting the record for best start in Sun Belt history as it prepares to play Western Kentucky on Saturday. Hudspeth took over a team that went 3-9 last season and a program that many said could never win.

“Our team has bought into the work ethic I wanted to bring into our program,” Hudspeth said in a recent phone interview. “I feel we’ve outworked everybody in the country to prepare our team physically and mentally.
To continue reading: 
http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/50273/mark-hudspeth-rejuvenates-ull?DB_OEM_ID=15400

  

HONEY BADGER JUST SMOKES WHAT HE WANTS

Here is Jim Kleinpeter's article from The Times Picayune on the suspensions of LSU's Tyrann Mathieu, Spencer Ware and Tharold Simon.  Since LSU will not confirm the reasons for the suspensions, obviously the blogpost title is an assumption.

LSU coach Les Miles on Wednesday declined to confirm that three key players on his top-ranked team will not play against No. 24 Auburn on Saturday afternoon at Tiger Stadium.

Sources told The Times-Picayune that cornerbacks Tyrann Mathieu and Tharold Simon and running back Spencer Ware, all sophomores, would be held out of the game after testing positive for synthetic marijuana.
The LSU school newspaper, The Daily Reveille, first reported Mathieu and Ware were suspended.

Miles asserted that it was an internal matter.
For full article:  http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2011/10/lsu_tigers_trio_said_to_be_sus.html

THE HONEY BADGER AND TWO OTHERS FACE SUSPENSIONS FOR LSU

From Scott Rabalais of The Baton Rouge Advocate:

Three players for the No. 1-ranked LSU football team -- cornerbacks Tyrann Mathieu and Tharold Simon and running back Spencer Ware -- have been suspended for violation of team rules for Saturday's game against No. 19 Auburn, a source familiar with the situation said Wednesday.

There was no word whether the suspensions will extend beyond this week's contest. LSU has an open date next week before traveling to face No. 2 Alabama on Nov. 5.
For full article:  http://theadvocate.com/home/1116932-125/lsu-suspends-three-football-team.html

Trent Richardson's Heisman Stock Rises

Good editorial from Bill Vilona of the Pensacola News Journal regarding the surge in the Heisman race by native son Trent Richardson following his 17 carry 183 yards rushing performance in Alabama's victory over Ole Miss on Saturday.

When you're Trent Richardson, you don't need a slogan, a poster, promotion trinkets or a campaign manager.
You just need a football.
The mention of Richardson and the Heisman Trophy has now gained closer connection. He's gone from the others-to-watch list a few weeks ago into a fast elevator ride toward top billing.
Various Heisman Trophy candidate rankings, including ESPN, have Alabama's star tailback and Escambia High graduate among the top three in the race.
For full article:  http://www.pnj.com/article/20111019/SPORTS/110190343/Bill-Vilona-Trent-rushes-front-Heisman-race?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Sports

Muschamp Apologizes For Dirty Words

Muschamp apologized Tuesday for his colorful words that were caught by television cameras during his team's 17-6 loss at Auburn last week. But the emotional first-year coach said he has no plans to temper his sideline antics.
"Just the language," Muschamp said. "It's hard when you've got a 6-year-old and a 10-year-old at home and you've got to go home and explain to them what you said. So that's not good and that's not how we're going to run our program. That's it. Again, as far as the sideline stuff's concerned, we're going to be who we are. I'm just apologizing for the language, nothing else."
For full article:  http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7119493/florida-gators-muschamp-apologizes-foul-language

RAGIN CAJUNS RIDE INTO HOMECOMING WEEK WITH IMPESSIVE 5-1 RECORD

Its homecoming week at The University of Louisiana at Lafayette.  The 5-1 Ragin Cajuns, under first year head coach Mark Hudspeth, are off to one of their best starts in a long time and are coming off an impressive 31-17 victory over Troy State.  Their only loss is to Top 10 ranked Oklahoma State.  Kickoff is at 4:00 Saturday against North Texas. 

Here is more from the Lafayette Advertiser on upbeat vibe on campus:

"Our football team is doing so well that it has really made homecoming week so much more exciting," senior Danielle Cottonham said. "There is so much excitement around campus that I've noticed a lot more people are wearing red on Fridays. There is more Cajuns gear being worn around campus and less LSU stuff. I feel like a lot more people around here are taking more pride in their university and that is great to see."

For full article:  http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20111011/NEWS01/110110312/Cajuns-spirit?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

McCarron Sets Personal Records, Eliminates Mistakes

Alabam first year starting quarterback AJ McCarron from Mobile St. Paul High School had several career highs in the Crimson Tide's 34-0 victory over Vanderbilt, while also continuing to demonstrate effective game management skills.

AJ McCarron acing Alabama's course in Game Management 101

By Izzy Gold, Tuscaloosa Bureau
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- The progression of AJ McCarron continued Saturday night in a 34-0 win against Vanderbilt. 

The Crimson Tide's starting quarterback completed 23-of-30 passes for 237 yards and four touchdowns -- all career highs.

For full article:  http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/10/aj_mccarron_acing_alabamas_cou.html

THREE WEEK ROAD TRIP CONCLUDES WITH HARD FOUGHT VICTORY FOR SOUTH ALABAMA JAGUARS

By Tommy Hicks of The Mobile Press-Register
SAN ANTONIO -- Ladd-Peebles Stadium probably looks pretty good to Joey Jones and his South Alabama football team right now. After three straight road games and an off week, the Jaguars are looking forward to playing in front of the home crowd again.
The three-game stretch, which ended with a 30-27 double-overtime victory against Texas-San Antonio at the Alamodome on Saturday, is the longest of the program's history. It began with trips to FBS schools North Carolina State and Kent State, the school's first defeats.
Read more:  http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/10/south_alabama_jaguars_ready_to.html

Disappointment Continues For Florida State

From Joedy McCreary of the AP republished in The Pensacola News Journal online:


WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Josh Harris kept breaking off long runs, and Tanner Price followed with touchdown passes. They gave Wake Forest its best start to ACC play -- and yet another victory over Florida State.
Price threw three scoring passes, Harris rushed for 136 yards and Wake Forest upset the 23rd-ranked Seminoles 35-30 on Saturday.
Price was 21 of 35 for 233 yards with touchdowns covering 22 yards to Chris Givens, 2 yards to Tommy Bohanon and 8 yards to Terence Davis.
For full article:  http://www.pnj.com/article/20111009/SPORTS/110090332/FSU-continues-losing-streak-35-30?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Sports|p

AJ McCarron Sets Personal Record With 4TD Passes In Bama Win Over Vandy

It took a while for the Alabama offense to get things going in their 34-0 win over Vanderbilt, but when they did Quarterback AJ McCarron set a personal record with 4 touchdown passes.  McCarron prepped at St. Paul's in Mobile where his favorite target was Crimson Tide teammate and All American free safety Mark Barron.  Here is more on the game from John Zenor of the Associated Press publised in the Pensacola News Journal:

'Bama QB McCarron sends Tide's past Vanderbilt

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — AJ McCarron passed for career-highs of 237 yards and four touchdowns as No. 2 Alabama beat Vanderbilt 34-0 on Saturday night.
Trent Richardson rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown in his fifth straight 100-yard effort for the Crimson Tide (6-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference), which already has two shutouts.
The Commodores (3-2, 1-2) trailed by only seven points until the final minute of the opening half, then Alabama brushed them aside with four straight touchdown drives.
To continue reading:  http://www.pnj.com/article/20111009/SPORTS/110090336/-Bama-QB-McCarron-sends-Tide-s-past-Vanderbilt?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s

South Alabama Gets First Ever Overtime Win

Double-overtime win just what South Alabama needed

By Tommy Hicks, The Press-Register
SAN ANTONIO -- There was a lot to be learned by South Alabama from a three-game road swing. On Saturday, it seemed some of those lessons paid dividends, at least at the end.
Just when it seemed the missed assignments and missed opportunities that plagued them in losses at North Carolina State and Kent State were destined to cost them again, the Jags delivered. When it seemed the losing streak would stretch to three games, they demonstrated a bit of big-play capability in the clutch and some moxie.
This time, USA won in difficult surroundings -- on the road, before a crowd of 32,886 and in its first overtime game.
For full article:  http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/10/double-overtime_win_just_what.html

Seminoles Looking To End Skid Verse Deamon Deacons

FSU looking to rebound against Wake

By Heather Dinich, ESPN.Com
Following its disappointing loss to Clemson on Sept. 24, Florida State used the bye week to get healthy, get better, and, well, talk.

It hasn’t quite been the strong start the Seminoles (2-2, 0-1 ACC) had hoped for, and it certainly hasn’t lived up to the preseason billing of a top-10 team. Florida State’s national title hopes were dashed by Oklahoma on Sept. 17, and one week later the Seminoles’ ACC title hopes took a significant hit from Clemson.

Now, as the Seminoles prepare for their Atlantic Division matchup at Wake Forest, they do so knowing their previous mistakes have made each of their remaining games must-win situations. The Noles need Clemson to lose twice in order to get back into the ACC race, but meanwhile, they can’t afford any more letdowns along the way.
To continue reading:  http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post?id=30302.

From High School All American QB To The Tiger's Den

Driskel was the Maxwell Football Club National High School Player of the Year last season at Hagerty High School in Oviedo, which is in the Orlando area. He was rated the nation's top QB recruit by Scout.com and Rivals.com. But against Alabama, he completed just 2-of-6 attempts for 14 yards. He ran the ball six times for a net of 18 yards.
Driskel, however, could have his own physical issues.
"He may have a sprained ankle but he's fine," Mushchamp said of the backup.
Players were confident after the game that Driskel could handle the job.
For full article:  http://www.pnj.com/article/20111004/SPORTS/110040326/It-s-Driskel-s-show-UF?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Sports|s

It's Driskel's show at UF

By David Jones Florida Today

Beckham Making Case For SEC Freshman Of The Year

From Les East of The Baton Rouge Advocate

Beckham’s preparation helps him contribute early for Tigers

If LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. seems unusually well prepared to excel in college football as a true freshman, it’s because he is.

First there are the genes. His father, Odell Beckham Sr., played running back for the Tigers from 1989-92, and his mother, Heather Van Norman, was an All-America track runner at LSU from 1991-93 and helped lead the Tigers to five national championships.

On top of that, when Beckham arrived on campus during the summer, he started laying the groundwork for an eye-catching pass-catching freshman season.

To continue reading:  http://theadvocate.com/sports/lsu/1011914-123/immediate-impact.html

Jordan Jefferson Ready To Resume Starting Role

AP article republished on ESPN.Com:

"I was positive I was going to play at LSU again," Jefferson said. "This was a tough experience for me. Sitting there watching the guys play all these tough games was the hardest thing I've done in my life. They did a great job.
"This was a learning experience for me. I can't imagine anybody in the country going through more than I did. But, I'm now wiser and more aware. God puts people in certain situations. I don't regret anything. Everything happened for a reason. I've learned a lot from this."
For full article:  http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7056929/jordan-jefferson-wants-lsu-tigers-starting-quarterback

South Alabama Preps For Trip To San Antonio

From Tommy Hicks of The Mobile Press-Register:

The Jaguars also had a rare Monday morning practice. They are usually off on Mondays, but the school is observing a fall break, with no classes scheduled Monday or today, so the Jags took advantage of the opening.
"We had a short practice today," coach Joey Jones said. "We've got three more practices this week, so we'll see more then. We went out today and worked on special teams a good bit. It was a good day of practice. We just need to carry that over and have another good practice every day."
For full article:  http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/10/post_276.html