SEC EAST
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS 10 RETURNING STARTERS O:5 D:5
HC PHIL FULLMER 95-20 SU
Who will replace RB Stephens in the backfield??
How will the D-line recover w/ the major losses??
Will they not choke at home this year??
The 2001 Vols National Championship dreams fell through when they laid an egg vs. LSU in the SEC title game. Then they completely dismantled Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. Think these boys are pissed?? This year's squad has some major losses, but they're loaded w/ tons of talent. Back is QB Clausen for his Jr. year, and WR Washington. Both of which might be Heisman candidates. Gone is RB Stephens, but they go 4 deep at RB, & they're all very talented. Whoever steps in at RB just might have the country's best O-Line in front of them. The D-Line will suffer from the loss of LY's talent, but the Vols always have stud linemen waiting for their shot. The back 7 will be the heart of the defense until the D-Line starts to gel. there's tons of experience returning in the back 7, and the Vols secondary could rank in the top 10 when its all said and done. This year's conference schedule looks very favorable, but you can never tell what'll happen on the SEC road. The Vols are clearly a National Title contender this year.
FLORIDA GATORS 10 RETURNING STARTERS O:5 D:5
HC RON ZOOK 0-0 SU
How will the Gators adjust to the new coaching staff??
The Gators of 2002 are a very interesting club. The team is loaded w/ talent, but they lose their head coach. I know the loss of Spurrier will affect this team, but I'm not sure how bad. In comes new Head Coach Ron Zook, and a very solid coaching staff. QB Grossman returns, and is a favorite in the Heisman race. He'll have speedy WR's Jacobs & Perez to throw too. HC Zook wants to turn the offense into a more conventional smash mouth offense that rams the ball down your throat. He's gotta huge O-Line to help install the new schemes, and RB Graham will benefit tremendously. The defense will have anew look as well since John Thompson's been brought in as the Defensive Coordinator. Expect the Gators to do a ton of blitzing this year. The stop unit is loaded w/ talent once again, and I don't expect too much of a drop-off from LY's number's. The Gators have 2 tough roadies at Knoxville & FSU, but everyone else that could beat them has to visit the swamp. HC Zook has a great team, but they've got to believe in his system right away since they have a date w/ the defending champs at The Swamp on Sep 7.
GEORGIA BULLDOGS 13 RETURNING STARTERS O:8 D:5
HC MARK RICHT 8-4 SU
Will there be a QB rotation throughout the season??
Can the RB's stay healthy??
Will the secondary kill this team??
HC Richt took over last season, and better results occurred immediately. The Dawgs finally beat the Vols, and GTECH on the road. This year's squad could be a dark horse to get to the SEC championships. Their offense is loaded, and they've got one of the best O-Lines in the SEC. QB Green showed a ton of Moxy when he rallied the troops down the field late in the 4th quarter to upset the Vols in Knoxville. DJ Shockley is nipping at his toes, and HC Richt could possibly have a QB controversy. The defense has to come around for the Dawgs to make any real noise in 2002-03. Hopefully the special teams puts the "D" in favorable positions to give them confidence early on. They return everyone on special teams, and they could rank in the top 5 at the end of the season. All the big dawgs come to play b/n the hedges, and they have some very winnable roadies. This could be Georgia's year to go BCS bowling if everything falls into place.
SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS 9 RETURNING STARTERS O:5 D:4
HC LOU HOLTZ 17-18 SU
How will the Cocks deal w/ rebuilding after the L/2 successful seasons?
Will the young "D" be able to compete in the SEC??
I've been all over the Gamecocks the L/2 years, and it's been very profitable. Lou Holtz is a great coach, and I knew it was just a matter of time for him to turn the program around. Now we will see just how good he's recruited. It pains me to say this, but the 2002 Cocks just don't have the same MOJO as the last 2 teams. The main reason for SC's success has been its defense, and the well just might have run dry. They're way to young on "D" with very little experience, and I just can't see them performing well in this smash mouth conference. It'll be interesting to see how they fare this season. Hopefully, they'll prove me wrong. The offense looks solid w/ the return of QB Jenkins, FB Pinnock, HB/WR Brewer, and WR Adkisson. Expect Lou to install a bunch of option w/ beefy QB Jenkins leading the way. The Special teams will also be the best since Lou's tenure. I feel that this will be a sobering year for SC. They've lost too many players, and their schedules terrible from Mid-October on. They'll flirt with a .500 record.
KENTUCKY WILDCATS 11 RETURNING STARTERS 0:7 D:4
HC GUY MORRISS 2-9 SU
Can their "D" keep them in the game??
Will the Cats have adjusted to their new schemes??
Even though the Cats went 2-9 SU LY, they were a hell of a lot more competitive. They were only outscored by less than 10 ppg in SEC play, and had an opportunity to win a few close ones. I expect more progress to be made in HC Morriss's sophomore season. He's got one hell of an offense returning led by Bulky QB Lorenzen, and he's gotta bunch of skilled players to get the ball too. I expect them to improve on LY's numbers. The defense is what needs the most work. They're very young, and they don't have much experience. Bottom line, KY won't be a pushover this year, and they might win some of the close ones this time around.
VANDERBILT COMMODORES 13 RETURNING STARTERS O:6 D:7
HC BOBBY JOHNSON 0-0 SU
REBUILDING YEAR!!! Don't expect much from this team, and don't take the gobs of points they'll be giving you this year!!!!
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS 10 RETURNING STARTERS O:5 D:5
HC PHIL FULLMER 95-20 SU
Who will replace RB Stephens in the backfield??
How will the D-line recover w/ the major losses??
Will they not choke at home this year??
The 2001 Vols National Championship dreams fell through when they laid an egg vs. LSU in the SEC title game. Then they completely dismantled Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. Think these boys are pissed?? This year's squad has some major losses, but they're loaded w/ tons of talent. Back is QB Clausen for his Jr. year, and WR Washington. Both of which might be Heisman candidates. Gone is RB Stephens, but they go 4 deep at RB, & they're all very talented. Whoever steps in at RB just might have the country's best O-Line in front of them. The D-Line will suffer from the loss of LY's talent, but the Vols always have stud linemen waiting for their shot. The back 7 will be the heart of the defense until the D-Line starts to gel. there's tons of experience returning in the back 7, and the Vols secondary could rank in the top 10 when its all said and done. This year's conference schedule looks very favorable, but you can never tell what'll happen on the SEC road. The Vols are clearly a National Title contender this year.
FLORIDA GATORS 10 RETURNING STARTERS O:5 D:5
HC RON ZOOK 0-0 SU
How will the Gators adjust to the new coaching staff??
The Gators of 2002 are a very interesting club. The team is loaded w/ talent, but they lose their head coach. I know the loss of Spurrier will affect this team, but I'm not sure how bad. In comes new Head Coach Ron Zook, and a very solid coaching staff. QB Grossman returns, and is a favorite in the Heisman race. He'll have speedy WR's Jacobs & Perez to throw too. HC Zook wants to turn the offense into a more conventional smash mouth offense that rams the ball down your throat. He's gotta huge O-Line to help install the new schemes, and RB Graham will benefit tremendously. The defense will have anew look as well since John Thompson's been brought in as the Defensive Coordinator. Expect the Gators to do a ton of blitzing this year. The stop unit is loaded w/ talent once again, and I don't expect too much of a drop-off from LY's number's. The Gators have 2 tough roadies at Knoxville & FSU, but everyone else that could beat them has to visit the swamp. HC Zook has a great team, but they've got to believe in his system right away since they have a date w/ the defending champs at The Swamp on Sep 7.
GEORGIA BULLDOGS 13 RETURNING STARTERS O:8 D:5
HC MARK RICHT 8-4 SU
Will there be a QB rotation throughout the season??
Can the RB's stay healthy??
Will the secondary kill this team??
HC Richt took over last season, and better results occurred immediately. The Dawgs finally beat the Vols, and GTECH on the road. This year's squad could be a dark horse to get to the SEC championships. Their offense is loaded, and they've got one of the best O-Lines in the SEC. QB Green showed a ton of Moxy when he rallied the troops down the field late in the 4th quarter to upset the Vols in Knoxville. DJ Shockley is nipping at his toes, and HC Richt could possibly have a QB controversy. The defense has to come around for the Dawgs to make any real noise in 2002-03. Hopefully the special teams puts the "D" in favorable positions to give them confidence early on. They return everyone on special teams, and they could rank in the top 5 at the end of the season. All the big dawgs come to play b/n the hedges, and they have some very winnable roadies. This could be Georgia's year to go BCS bowling if everything falls into place.
SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS 9 RETURNING STARTERS O:5 D:4
HC LOU HOLTZ 17-18 SU
How will the Cocks deal w/ rebuilding after the L/2 successful seasons?
Will the young "D" be able to compete in the SEC??
I've been all over the Gamecocks the L/2 years, and it's been very profitable. Lou Holtz is a great coach, and I knew it was just a matter of time for him to turn the program around. Now we will see just how good he's recruited. It pains me to say this, but the 2002 Cocks just don't have the same MOJO as the last 2 teams. The main reason for SC's success has been its defense, and the well just might have run dry. They're way to young on "D" with very little experience, and I just can't see them performing well in this smash mouth conference. It'll be interesting to see how they fare this season. Hopefully, they'll prove me wrong. The offense looks solid w/ the return of QB Jenkins, FB Pinnock, HB/WR Brewer, and WR Adkisson. Expect Lou to install a bunch of option w/ beefy QB Jenkins leading the way. The Special teams will also be the best since Lou's tenure. I feel that this will be a sobering year for SC. They've lost too many players, and their schedules terrible from Mid-October on. They'll flirt with a .500 record.
KENTUCKY WILDCATS 11 RETURNING STARTERS 0:7 D:4
HC GUY MORRISS 2-9 SU
Can their "D" keep them in the game??
Will the Cats have adjusted to their new schemes??
Even though the Cats went 2-9 SU LY, they were a hell of a lot more competitive. They were only outscored by less than 10 ppg in SEC play, and had an opportunity to win a few close ones. I expect more progress to be made in HC Morriss's sophomore season. He's got one hell of an offense returning led by Bulky QB Lorenzen, and he's gotta bunch of skilled players to get the ball too. I expect them to improve on LY's numbers. The defense is what needs the most work. They're very young, and they don't have much experience. Bottom line, KY won't be a pushover this year, and they might win some of the close ones this time around.
VANDERBILT COMMODORES 13 RETURNING STARTERS O:6 D:7
HC BOBBY JOHNSON 0-0 SU
REBUILDING YEAR!!! Don't expect much from this team, and don't take the gobs of points they'll be giving you this year!!!!
