SEC report

— A lot has changed for Tigers

Auburn improved to 8-0 and moved to the top of the Bowl Championship Series standings after beating LSU 24-17 Saturday.

It’s hard to believe that just two years ago, the Tigers finished 5-7.

“It means a lot, especially for the guys who have been here for the five-win season,” Auburn senior linebacker Craig Stevens told the Birmingham News.

But Stevens added the Tigers can’t get caught up in the BCS standings right now.

That’s being pounded into their minds by Coach Gene Chizik.

“Coach says we can’t focus on that, because once you start to do that, that’s when the team starts to backslide because you think you’re more ready than you really are,” Stevens said. “We just go out every day and try to make improvements as a team, and once we do that everything will handle itself.”Less cowbell

When Arkansas plays at Mississippi State on Nov.

20, it could mark the last time Bulldogs fans can ring their cowbells at Scott Field without breaking SEC rules.

Ringing cowbells is a tradition at Mississippi State games, but the practice had been in violation of the SEC policy on artificial noisemakers.

SEC and Mississippi State officials worked out a compromise this season which allowed fans to ring the cowbells during deadball situations.

But cowbells too often are being heard while the game is being played this season, and Mississippi State could face fines from the SECoffice, the Jackson Clarion-Ledger reported.

The SEC also could revoke its approval of ringing cowbells in the stadium at what are deemed appropriate times.

“I don’t think it’s an education issue. I think our people understand,” Mississippi State Athletic Director Scott Stricklin told the Clarion-Ledger. “They know the policy. Now it’s just how important the cowbell is to our fan base.

“If it’s important enough, they’ll follow the policy. If it’s not important enough, we’ll have our answer, too.”

Time to modify

Florida Coach Urban Meyer said there will be some changes on offense in the wake of the Gators’ firstthree-game SEC losing streak since 1988.

“I’m not going to share much with you, but we have modified quite a bit,” Meyersaid when asked about the offense at his weekly news conference. “I’m obviously not going to say, ‘Here’s what we’re going to do,’ but things are modified.”

Florida ranks ninth in the SEC in total offense (329 yards per game) and scoring offense (27.6 points), and has committed 14 turnovers in seven games.

Can’t catch Jones

Alabama junior receiver Julio Jones had 12 catches for a school-record 221 yards in the Crimson Tide’s 41-10 victory at Tennessee last week.

“Everybody’s throwing it on us,” Volunteers Coach Derek Dooley said after the game. “They watch the film.

The film says, ‘Throw it,’ so they threw it. And they threw it for 326 yards.

“We’re struggling to stop anybody. I mean, we’re juststruggling. We fight a little bit, and we fight a little bit, and then we just break.”

Jones broke the Alabama record of 217 receiving yards set by David Palmer against Vanderbilt in 1993.

Gus in a rush

Auburn has ran the ball on 72 percent of its 533 snaps this season.

The Tigers have rushed 385 times for 2,426 yards and completed 96 of 148 passes for 1,468 yards.

“We could throw it more,no doubt,” Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahnsaid this week. “But when you’re running successfully, we’ll keep running.”

Auburn ran for 440 yards against LSU while passing for 86.

Murray vs. Florida

Georgia redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray grew up in Tampa, Fla., and attended many Florida games. But Saturday he’ll play against the Gators for the first time.

Murray narrowed his recruiting choices to Georgia and Florida before signing with the Bulldogs.

“Both were great schools [with] great teams, great coaches, a lot of tradition,” Murray told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “But in the end, it was just a gut feeling. In my heart, I justfelt like Georgia was the place for me. ... When I came here, I didn’t want to leave.

“I think Georgia is the perfect distance. It’s not too close to home, but it’s close enough that my parents can come to the games.” Bad breaks

Tackle Melvin Ingram became the third South Carolina defensive lineman to suffer a broken hand this season when he was injured against Vanderbilt last week.

Also suffering broken hands were tackle Ladi Ajiboye and end Chaz Sutton.

All three linemen have continued to play with their hands heavily wrapped.

“It’s one of those thingsthat happens,” South Carolina defensive line coach Brad Lawing told the Charleston Courier & Post.

“To try and pinpoint on why, we don’t know. It just is.” Going the distance

Tennessee junior running back Tauren Poole was a bright spot in the Volunteers’ 31-point loss to Alabama.

Poole rushed 14 times for 117 yards to become the first player to rush for 100 yards against the Tide in 41 games. The last player to do it was Ole Miss’ BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who had 131 rushing yards on Oct. 13, 2007.

Special night

Mississippi State senior Derek DePasquale went 5 for 5 on field-goal attempts, with a long of 43 yards, in the Bulldogs’ 29-24 victory over Alabama-Birmingham last week.

DePasquale became the first Bulldog to hit five field goals in a game since 1998, when Brian Hazelwood had five as Mississippi State beat Arkansas 22-21.

“I don’t think I’ve kicked five in two games before,” DePasquale told the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. “That was really cool. I actually lost count. It was a good night.”

It also was a big night for Mississippi State deep snapper Aaron Feld, who recovered a fumbled punt and then proposed to girlfriend Blakely Bailey on the field after the game. She said yes.

Two-minute drill

Wes Byrum’s 42-yard field goal against LSU made him Auburn’s all-time leading scorer with 315 points. The Tigers went on to win the game 24-17.

Alabama leads the nation with 15 interceptions, after getting two last week against Tennessee by Robert Lester and B.J. Scott.

South Carolina broke a seven-game SEC road game losing streak with its 21-7 victory at Vanderbilt.

Game of the week GEORGIA VS. FLORIDA 2:30 p.m. Saturday, CBS This game may not draw as much national attention as in most years, but its outcome is huge for the SEC East race. The teams come into the game going in the opposite direction as Georgia has won three in a row and Florida has lost three in a row. Having an open date may help the Gators address their offensive problems.

Overheard “Every team on our schedule can beat us if we don’t play our best. And if we

play our best, it doesn’t mean we’re going to beat them. It only means we’ll have a chance. Period.” - Tennessee Coach Derek DooleyBy the numbers31-3Florida Coach Urban Meyer’s record when his team hasmore than a week to prepare between games.

440Rushing yards for Auburn against LSU.

Sports, Pages 22 on 10/28/2010

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