Steele ❤ Georgia, too.

Okay, now it’s our turn to go nuts over a Phil Steele prediction.  Stick around to the end of this one:

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“This program is a sleeping giant and Spurrier…”

Believe it or not, Phil Steele is writing that about Spurrier’s current program.

And he is really high on the Gamecocks.

… SC is a legit SEC contender and even made my list of Surprise Teams (Darkhorse National Title contender, pg 20).

You can hear the chest beating from the Carolina fan base already, can’t you?

Here’s my favorite tidbit:

… SC had only allowed one off TD to UGA in ‘07 and ‘08 before allowing 4 in LY’s 41-37 shootout loss. SC is 5-13 vs UGA since joining the SEC (‘92) incl 1-7 since 2002.

I loves me some trend.

Back to Jax

Some of you no doubt don’t want to hear about it, but Marc Weiszer has some details from the new contract being ironed out between Florida, Georgia and the City of Jacksonville:

• Jacksonville will pay Georgia up to $300,000 in 2010, $330,000 in 2011 and $363,000 in 2012 and 10 percent more each year of the contract to charter three 50-seat passenger jets to transport the football team, coaches, administration personnel and other official traveling party members from Athens to Georgia’s chosen destination (St. Augustine) and back.

That’s on top of the $50,000 that each school will get to offset travel expenses, which include hotel costs and meals.

• The City of Jacksonville would have a “right of first negotiation,” under which the schools can negotiate with one another for an extension to play in Jacksonville beyond 2016. The schools are allowed to negotiate starting 10 days after the 2014 game through June 15, 2015. After the June date, the schools can negotiate with other cities to hold the game. Atlanta has been a suitor to land the game on a rotating basis.

As previously reported, control of the marketing assets to the game would go to the two schools instead of being split three ways with Jacksonville. The deal also will ensure that the Duval County Agricultural Fair near the stadium won’t be held at the same time as the game to avoid additional traffic.

And for Atlanta to get into the conversation, here’s the key threshold it’s going to have to cross:

… Georgia nets about $1.6 million annually for the Florida game compared to $2.8 million for a home game that is rotated home and away with SEC opponents.

Now if they could just write something into the contract about the weather…

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UPDATE: Tim Tucker reports on another interesting provision in the contract.

Georgia and Florida would have expanded opportunities to market their annual football game, including the right to sell the name of the game to a corporate sponsor, under terms of a contract still being hammered out with the city of Jacksonville.

I’m ready to pass the hat right now, so that we can officially name the sucker the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.  Who’s with me?

“When I was running the play I was asking myself why in the world we were running this play.”

Make sure you read Patrick Garbin’s post about one of my favorite games of the Georgia-Florida series.  It’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Breaking down Steele’s preseason All-SEC teams

If you haven’t seen Phil Steele’s preseason All-SEC teams (he sets up four), here they are:

A few choice observations, by position:

• Quarterbacks. I guess Phil’s taken Steve Spurrier’s Garcia message to heart.  I’m a little surprised at Newton’s appearance, but the more I think about it, if you think Malzahn’s system works, then it’s not much of a stretch.  After all, Chris Todd, a far less gifted quarterback than Newton, finished third in the conference in passing efficiency last year.  Bottom line, though:  it’s not shaping up as a great year for SEC quarterbacks.
• Running backs. I can’t really question the first or second team choices, but I think you can make a good case for challenging the third and fourth team picks.  I like both fourth teamers better than either of the two on the third.  In fact, I don’t really know what Demps is doing on the list at all.  If Steele is basing this on projected production, it’s hard to see how somebody like Tauren Poole doesn’t make the list, as UT figures to be doing a lot of running this year.  And Steele must have a lot of faith in Lattimore’s talent, especially since he doesn’t include a single South Carolina offensive lineman in his top four teams.  Any way you look at it, though, the conference looks to be well stocked at the position in 2010.
• Wide receivers. Randall Cobb ahead of Alshon Jeffery?  I don’t think so.  Darvin Adams is one of those guys who deserves more attention than he’s gotten; it’s a good decision to place him first team.  Deonte Thompson’s inclusion feels like one of those “you know Florida’s gonna throw the ball, so put somebody on the list” picks.   I’d probably put SC’s Gurley ahead of Bumphis.  And Russell Shepard strikes me as a wee bit of a stretch, given it’s his first year at the position full-time and the state of LSU’s quarterback position.  Still, you know what?  There are a lot of pretty good receivers in the SEC.
• Tight ends. Hard to argue with any of Steele’s picks here.
• Offensive line. I like this part of Steele’s projections.  He’s always been good at finding guys who are ready to step up, like Florida’s Xavier Nixon.  I really like the Cordy Glenn second-team inclusion, too.   MSU’s Sherrod is another guy who deserves more attention.  He’s good.  On the other hand, and maybe it’s just me, I think Lee Ziemba is overrated.  I’d switch him with Sherrod.
• Returners. I’m not sure where Steele came up with his list of punt returners, other than Cobb, who’s a pretty obvious pick.  It’s true that most of the top guys from last season are gone, but why Gilmore and Rainey?  Kick returners are better, but I’d probably put MSU’s Leon Berry ahead of Grandy.
• Defensive line. Drake Nevis is another one of those guys – he didn’t start for LSU last year, but still wound up as one of the conference leaders in tackles for loss.  Omar Hunter looks like a stretch at second team – don’t get me wrong, he’s hugely talented, but he’s battled injuries and he’s not currently listed first team on Florida’s depth chart.  It’s not a strong year for defensive tackles in the SEC.  The ends are better – look at a guy like DeQuin Evans sitting at third team.
• Linebackers. This position is loaded.  Ole Miss’ Walker and Cornell are both underrated guys, so kudos to Steele for recognizing that.  I think he’ll regret not squeezing Cornelius Washington in there somewhere, though.
• Defensive backs. Bacarri Rambo, fourth team.  Way to go, Phil.  Overall, he’s done a solid job with his picks here.  Corey Broomfield is another guy to watch.
• Kickers. I’d move Byrum ahead of Jasper.  And I’m not sure why Tydlacka makes the punters list and Ole Miss’ Campbell doesn’t.

And some team observations:

• By far, the biggest overall surprise is how few LSU players appear on the offensive teams.
• Alabama has three outstanding players to build around on defense, but there ain’t much after them right now.
• If you want to look at why Georgia should be better than South Carolina in the East, look no farther than the offensive line picks.
• Steele isn’t buying Arkansas fans’ confidence in an improved defense.
• How bare is Tennessee’s cupboard?
• The Florida secondary will be outstanding.

So, your thoughts?

Friday morning buffet

Sample the wares, friends.

• Somehow, College Football News has managed to fashion a list of the top twelve running backs in the SEC without bothering to include Washaun Ealey’s name on it.
• Just what the SEC needs:  “The NCAA plans to study whether the on-field head official should be in charge of overturning calls via instant replay instead of a replay official in the press box.”
• We’re not even in June yet and 37 of The Sporting News’ top 100 recruits have already given verbal commitments.  The NCAA needs to come up with an early signing rule.  It can’t be that hard.
• If Derek Dooley agrees to this, he’s either desperately foolish or foolishly desperate.
• There are fan bases whose trash talk I can accept, but Louisville?
• Despite the economy and the mediocre football season, the Georgia athletic department did quite well this past year, financially speaking.
• Which should be a reminder about the engine that’s driving all of this expansion talk…