Monday, August 28, 2000
SEC West overview
1. Alabama
Last year: 10-3, 7-1.
A glance at the preseason All-SEC teams says a lot. No team had more players on the first and second units than Alabama's seven. Neither quarterback made the list, but that's OK with DuBose. He says Andrew Zow and Tyler Watts “should be good enough.
DuBose is hoping that improvement helps offset two big losses: running back Shaun Alexander and tackle Chris Samuels, both first-round NFL picks. Slippery wide receiver Freddie Milons will help. New tailback Brandon Miree is a Winton Woods High graduate.
2. Mississippi
Last year: 8-4, 4-4.
The Rebels are hoping this is the season they earn their independence — from the Independence Bowl, that is. After back-to-back trips to Shreveport, La., they're aiming higher and hoping the legs of Deuce McAllister and the arm of Romero Miller take them there. McAllister is a 220-pound tailback with world-class speed.
3. Mississippi St.
Last year: 10-2, 6-2.
Only three starters return from the league's best defense. The good news is that backups logged nearly as many minutes. The bad news is that middle linebacker Barris Grant blew out a knee in the spring and is questionable. With quarterback Wayne Madkin back for his third season, the offense should be improved.
4. Auburn
Last year: 5-6, 2-6.
The Tigers return nine starters on offense but have a lot of holes to fill on defense.
It won't take new coach Tommy Tuberville long to stir things up. Auburn's second game is at Mississippi, the school from which he bolted two years ago.
5. Arkansas
Last year: 8-4, 4-4.
Running backs coach Danny Nutt apparently has recovered from bleeding on the brain, but head coach Houston Nutt said doctors have told his brother to stay off short airplane flights and quit lifting weights.
“So I told him to do three things,” Houston Nutt said. “I told him that he'd drive to all his recruiting trips; he has to stop lifting weights with his running backs and he has to make sure that No.4 knows exactly when the bus leaves.”
No.4 is tailback Cedric Cobbs, who'll get 25-30 carries a game.
6. Louisiana St.
Last year: 3-8, 1-7.
New coach Nick Saban has the third-largest salary in college football ($1.2 million), and LSU fans have equally inflated expectations.
Saban said he inherited players who had little trust in each other, so “we need some chemistry and togetherness and leadership.”
Quarterback is usually where you turn first for leadership, but highly touted Josh Booty threw a school-record 19 interceptions last season and the position is unsettled going into the fall.
— Louisville Courier-Journal
Kentucky's fate in young QB's hands
Kentucky Scouting Report
SEC East overview
SEC West overview
Other college football previews
