SEC Sports

• Sources say Texas Tech's Mike Leach on Auburn wish list
Might Auburn have said goodbye to one spread-offense guru just to say hello to another?

• Florida's Urban Meyer, Alabama's Nick Saban battling on field, in recruiting
TUSCALOOSA ? A decision on where to attend college for years couldn't possibly be affected by just one big game, right?

• Auburn coaching shakeup causing recruits to ponder future
Wednesday's resignation of Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville left the 20-plus members of the Tigers' 2009 recruiting class unsure about their future.

• Nick Saban defends SEC colleagues: Alabama coach angered by departures of Tuberville, Croom, Fulmer
TUSCALOOSA ? Alabama coach Nick Saban responded angrily and defended his fallen peer Wednesday after learning that Tommy Tuberville had been forced out as the head coach at Auburn.

• Reaction mixed to Tommy Tuberville's departure: Most think finding replacement could be tough
Stan White said Auburn football is bigger than one man.

• SEC championship game teams Alabama, Florida have found that fast starts lead to good finishes
It shouldn't take long to get a feel for how the SEC championship game is going to go on Saturday. By the time the first quarter's over, something will have to give.

• Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville remains under review in postseason meetings
AUBURN ? The postseason review of Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville could extend through the end of this week, athletic director Jay Jacobs told reporters Tuesday night.

• Alabama holds on for win
TUSCALOOSA ? There was little difference in the final score or the expressions of each team.

• CBS broadcasters not surprised to see No. 2 Florida favored over No. 1 Alabama in SEC title game
TUSCALOOSA ? CBS play-by-play announcer Verne Lundquist said he was not surprised to see second-ranked Florida listed as a 10-point favorite for Saturday's SEC championship game against No. 1 Alabama.

• Taking nothing for granted
AUBURN ? When Auburn senior guard Quantez Robertson looks up into the stands at the Cintas Center tonight in Cincinnati, he'll see plenty of familiar faces from his family, his high school and his hometown ? and almost all will be seeing him play college basketball for the first time.

• 'D' is the key: Alabama's highly ranked defense must find way to slow Florida's offense
TUSCALOOSA ? Alabama's Javier Arenas thinks it's all a matter of confidence.

• Alabama coach Nick Saban will headline April fundraiser in Mobile
For many Alabama football fans, all they want for Christmas is an SEC championship and maybe a national title next month.

• Auburn president, athletic director meet with Tommy Tuberville, but future is still cloudy on the Plains
AUBURN ? Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville emerged from his annual end-of-season review with university administrators Monday holding onto his job, but lacking a clear vote of confidence.

• Dislike for Florida instilled early in some Tide players
TUSCALOOSA ? From left tackle Andre Smith to defensive end Bobby Greenwood to cornerback Javier Arenas, Alabama is full of players who say they grew up as fans of Florida State's football pro gram.

• Mississippi State moving forward after Croom's resignation
The Mississippi State Bulldogs publicly faced the future Tuesday.

• Tide regroups tonight against winless A&M
TUSCALOOSA ? They saw a whale and a turtle. Overall, said Alabama coach Mark Gottfried, "it was a great trip."

• Two styles, one goal
TUSCALOOSA ? The biggest showdown to date of this college football season is being dubbed as a meeting of lightning and thunder, speed versus power, new-school clashing with old-school.

• Tubs goes about business
AUBURN ? Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville wants to visit this week with the four or five recruits most worried about rumors surrounding his job security.

• Alabama notebook: Florida's Percy Harvin's status in question for SEC title game
TUSCALOOSA ? Florida's fleet-footed offensive express is now fixing a flat tire.

• Alabama snaps six-year losing streak in Iron Bowl by stomping Auburn 36-0
TUSCALOOSA ? It was over long before the final whistle, six years of frustration boiling over into three hours of crimson jubilation loud enough for a nation to notice.

• Tuberville 'committed' to AU, but his future on the Plains remains uncertain after loss
TUSCALOOSA — When Auburn coaches hit the road for recruiting trips this week, they'll do so with the status of head coach Tommy Tuberville still uncertain.

• Alabama stalks bigger game against Florida in SEC title contest
TUSCALOOSA - When it was over, Julio Jones walked off the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium like it was any other practice.

• Alabama beat report by Gentry Estes
-- OFFENSE: There was no deception in what Alabama's offense threw at Auburn. The Tigers got the same cautious, run-first approach that so many other Crimson Tide opponents have seen. And much like those other teams, Auburn knew what was coming and still couldn't consistently stop it.

• Alabama capitalizes on Auburn fumbles in Iron Bowl
TUSCALOOSA ? Alabama had Auburn and the Iron Bowl under control at halftime. Then a pair of third-quarter fumbles enabled the Crimson Tide to wrap its hands around the Tigers' throats and pave the way to a 36-0 victory Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

• Alabama seniors go out to cheers after Iron Bowl
TUSCALOOSA ? Near the seven-minute mark of Saturday's 36-0 victory over Auburn, Alabama senior quarterback John Parker Wilson went last. His was the final of the staged exits to a memorable standing ovation.

• Auburn beat report: Tigers finish dismal season in disappointing fashion
-- OFFENSE: After weeks of slow progress, Auburn quarterback Kodi Burns looked almost helpless Saturday in Tuscaloosa. The Tigers' only sign of life was a two-minute drill that featured a handful of quarterback draws and designed runs leading to an unsuccessful field goal attempt just before halftime. Other than that, Saturday's performance was a miserable new low in a season filled with offensive problems.

• Auburn notebook: QB Kodi Burns falters in finale for Tigers
TUSCALOOSA ? For the past month and a half, Auburn coaches and players have spoken glowingly of quarterback Kodi Burns' progress. But the only step in Saturday's season-ending Iron Bowl was a giant stride backward.

• Auburn recruiting corner: Tigers looking to Gulf Coast for 2009 class
TUSCALOOSA ? The Auburn Tigers already have 26 players committed for the Class of 2009, and five of them have a strong Mobile connection (although only three of them played in Mobile this season).

• Top high school football talent considering Alabama
TUSCALOOSA ? Coming off a 7-6 season, Alabama coach Nick Saban and his staff still managed to sign the nation's No. 1 recruiting class in 2008. With a run at the national championship still alive deep into this season, there is a chance the encore class could be even better.

• Alabama's offense easy to diagnose but tough to stop
TUSCALOOSA ? Paul Rhoads may just as well receive a copy of Alabama's game plan.

• Auburn offense facing big obstacle in Alabama's Terrence Cody
AUBURN - Offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger will be calling today's game from the coaches' booth. Center Jason Bosley will be snapping the ball with a 365-pound behemoth lined up over him.

• Top-ranked Alabama's players say they're focused on Auburn
TUSCALOOSA - The prelude to the next chapter in college football's fiercest rivalry is a grainy photo taken months ago on the other side of the planet.

• 2008 Iron Bowl by the numbers
/drop/3/t0Losses in Tuscaloosa for Auburn, which has won in all six of its visits to the Crimson Tide's home. Auburn defeated Alabama in Tuscaloosa 48-0 in 1895, 17-0 in 1901, 9-0 in 2000, 17-7 in 2002, 21-13 in 2004 and 22-15 in 2006.

• Five reasons Alabama could win Iron Bowl
TIME OF POSSESSION Alabama's offensive plan this year has been remarkably simple.

• Five reasons Auburn could win Iron Bowl
THE DEFENSE IS HEALTHY AGAIN Defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks says he's feeling as great as he's felt since the Vanderbilt game. That might not seem like a big deal, but it's worth remembering that the Vandy game is when Auburn's injury bug bit and the Tigers' season started unraveling.

• Iron Bowl game by game: Auburn on a tear in the past decade
2007 in Auburn Auburn 17, Alabama 10

• Ole Miss regains Golden Egg by routing Mississippi State
OXFORD, Miss. ? The 105th annual Egg Bowl officially ended around 2:30 p.m. Friday, with Ole Miss polishing off a 45-0 win over Mississippi State and laying claim to the Golden Egg.

• Press-Register's staff predictions: Alabama overwhelming pick to win Iron
Before last year's Iron Bowl, the collection of Press-Register staff members correctly predicted a seven-point Auburn victory. Eighteen of 20 Press-Register sports reporters predict a different winner this season ? and by a more comfortable margin of 26-14. It's worth pointing out that only three Iron Bowls in the past 27 years have been decided by 12 or more points.

• Auburn looks to extend Iron Bowl streak
AUBURN ? Since Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville jokingly held up seven fingers this summer after winning a flag football game with troops in the Middle East, the finger-pointing and finger-wagging has slowed to virtually nothing.

• Auburn men's basketball team making first road trip
AUBURN ? While most fans are riveted to football, Auburn will face a basketball-packed weekend in suburban Chicago.

• Cody embraces extra time off
TUSCALOOSA ? Few players on Alabama's team were happier to receive an off weekend than big nose tackle Terrence Cody.

• Cody embraces extra time off
/Cut/p21.2/cMARK ALMOND/ Birmingham NewsAlabama defensive back Kareem Jackson and Mississippi State receiver Eric Riley dive for an overthrown pass in the fourth quarter ealier this month at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

• Football serious matter for Coleman
AUBURN ? Junior defensive end Antonio Coleman takes the game of football so seriously that sometimes teammates know to stay out of his path.

• Football serious matter for Coleman
/Cut/p13.7/cTODD VAN EMST/ Associated PressAuburn's Antonio Coleman sacks Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton in the Tigers' 14-12 win earlier this season.

• Auburn University coach Tommy Tuberville should have a meeting about future with the Tigers soon
AUBURN — Tommy Tuberville said he expects to sit down and conduct a post-season review with Auburn President Jay Gogue and Athletic Director Jay Jacobs some time next week.

• SEC coaches' votes may play role in figuring out BCS
As though college football coaches didn't have enough to worry about this time of year, their votes in the USA Today Coaches poll will help determine which team in the Big 12's South Division goes to that conference's championship game.

• University of Alabama Crimson Tide will redshirt nine freshmen
TUSCALOOSA — Alabama has used 16 true freshmen this year, a number that isn't expected to change with only two games remaining until bowl season.

• Alabama senior class considers legacy
TUSCALOOSA — They represent the smallest class of scholarship senior players of any football team in a major conference.

• Auburn players exceeded expectations
AUBURN ? Receiver Rod Smith didn't have an invitation to walk-on at a Division I school, let alone a scholarship offer.

• Auburn wins in sloppy fashion
AUBURN?Auburn's painfully slow and sloppy 61-46 victory over Bethune-Cookman Tuesday night wasn't the best advertisement for Tigers basketball, but only a sparse holiday-week crowd at Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum was around to see it.

• Bama bench comes up big %%head%%WOMEN'S ROUNDUP
Staff, wire reports%%eby%% %%source%%TUSCALOOSA ? The Alabama bench scored 52 points to lead the Crimson Tide over Alabama State 75-47 Tuesday night at Coleman Coliseum.

• Byrum may miss Iron Bowl
AUBURN ? Place-kicker Wes Byrum sat out Tuesday's practice after his inflamed knee flared up.

• Davis heading back to Big 10
TUSCALOOSA ? Alabama director of player personnel Tim Davis was announced Tuesday as the new running game coordinator/offensive line coach at Minnesota.

• It's not just a game for Nick Saban, Alabama
TUSCALOOSA ? How big is the Iron Bowl?

• Auburn QB Kodi Burns must avoid errors
AUBURN ? The biggest difference between the haves and have-nots in the SEC?

• Marks expects to return, dispels Blackmon rumors
AUBURN ? Sen'Derrick Marks expects his household to return intact in 2009.

• Outland names Smith finalist
TUSCALOOSA ? Alabama junior left tackle Andre Smith sees the question coming like a defensive end, and pushes it aside just as easily.

• Outland names Smith finalist
TUSCALOOSA ? Alabama junior left tackle Andre Smith sees the question coming like a defensive end, and pushes it aside just as easily.

• Tigers warm up for weekend tests
AUBURN ? Tonight is the warm-up game in a five-day stretch that will test the early-season progress of Auburn's men's basketball team.

• Arenas on his game for No. 1 Alabama
TUSCALOOSA ? While Auburn's players danced in front of its band and held up six fingers, Alabama's Javier Arenas hobbled the other direction on crutches, far slower than he would have liked.

• Red zone a hurdle for Auburn
AUBURN ? After Saturday's games were played and the NCAA's Web site spat out new statistics, Auburn remained dead last in red-zone efficiency.

• Alabama center Justin Knox's rebounding a key against Oregon in the Maui Invitational
Coaches approached Alabama's 6-foot-9 sophomore center Justin Knox the day after a season-opening loss to Mercer.

• Byrum returns from knee injury
/Cut/1/cThe Huntsville TimesAuburn kicker Wes Byrum stares down one of his three field goals in the Tigers' 37-20 win over Tennessee-Martin on Nov. 8.AUBURN ? Auburn place kicker Wes Byrum returned to practice Sunday after taking a week off to rest his inflamed knee.

• No. 20 Auburn beats No. 17 Ohio State in overtime
AUBURN ? After playing 40 minutes of up-tempo basketball, the Auburn women's basketball team still had plenty left in its tank for overtime.

• Forever focused: Nick Saban's never-ending drive has Tide closing in on SEC, national titles
TUSCALOOSA ? After about 15 minutes, that right leg begins to twitch. Slowly at first, then faster, an unmistakable sign there's a rising tide of anxious energy. It's time to wrap this up.

• Auburn's Gabe McKenzie glad to be back on offense
AUBURN ? Gabe McKenzie's move to defense in August was voluntary, but the decision wasn't made without a push.

• AU in foul mood as GW comes in
AUBURN ? For Auburn's basketball team, any shred of bravado left over after Wednesday's humbling 78-74 defeat to Mercer quickly disappeared when coach Jeff Lebo dimmed the lights and rolled the game's low-lights: every failed lay-up, botched dunk and missed opportunity spliced together in a cinematic display of basketball futility.

• Dickson adds new dimension to tight end spot for LSU
On the Thursday before last year's BCS championship game, LSU's players continued a bowl-week custom of trading jerseys at practice.

• Auburn's Kodi Burns likes huddling up
AUBURN ? When Auburn started huddling extensively last Saturday for the first time this season, quarterback Kodi Burns noticed one not-so-obvious difference.