By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
July 30, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. Vanderbilt head football coach Bobby Johnson is looking at his team's season opening game against the Ole Miss Rebels on both sides of the coin.
Of course, the game's big build up is also helping the second-year Commodores coach.
Ole Miss first on air in 2003
Ole Miss' Aug 30 game against Vanderbilt will kickoff another jam-packed television schedule for the SEC.
The Rebels season opener against the Commodores will be aired by Jefferson Pilot Sports, as the opening Saturday's game of the week. The broadcast is scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m.
Auburn's home opener against Southern California will be the first game aired in the 15-contest slate by CBS Sports at 5 p.m. on Aug. 30.
Fourteen games that will be televised in the opening two weeks of the college season will feature a SEC school.
Slive backs BCS system
SEC commissioner Mike Slive reaffirmed his and the conference position supporting college football's Bowl Championship Series.
During the second-year commissioner's opening address at the conference's media, Slive expressed his staunch opposition to a NFL-style playoff.
Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt reflected the commissioners views when asked if he would like to see a playoff system.
OT system just fine with Hogs
Arkansas has logged some impressive field time over the last two years.
The Razorbacks have been involved in two games that lasted a combined 13 overtimes because of the current college overtime system.
Arkansas battled for seven extra periods against Ole Miss in 2001 before finally getting a 58-56 victory.
Nutt and crew went well past the allotted game time again in the 2002 season losing in six overtimes to Tennessee on Oct. 5, 2002.
Despite playing essentially 3 1/4 extra games, Nutt said he doesn't want to see the current system of overtime changed.
New looks for Wildcats
Kentucky fans could see some new formations behind center in 2003.
First-year Wildcats head coach Rich Brooks said he plans to employ a two-quarterback system this season, with Jared Lorenzen and Shane Boyd sharing signal calling duties.
The former Oregon Ducks coach also plans on using some of the trickery that made him famous in his stay in the Pac-10 and as the coach of the Rams in the NFL.
Brooks said no matter what Lorenzen and Boyd will be on the field at the same time, and they could even end up next to each other awaiting the snap.
Wildcats scale watching
The always interesting topic around Kentucky football of how much does quarterback Jared Lorenzen weigh?' was proposed to Brooks a little earlier than the new coach expected.
The new Wildcats coach said he wasn't concerned about Lorenzen's weight, and he would not make it an issue with the media.
Brooks said his goal is to have Lorenzen in good cardiovascular shape.
Still watching their mouths
Johnson said the Commodores restrictions against players cursing will be in affect for a second straight year.
In his first season at Vanderbilt, the nine-year coaching veteran outlawed swearing by his players. The rule gained Vanderbilt national notoriety as the clean-mouth program, capped with a feature on ESPN's Sportcenter.
Johnson said the publicity surrounding the team's no cursing rule came purely from outside the program.
Quotable coaches
Kentucky's Rich Brooks: "When the clock runs out and you're ahead. That's a real light note in Kentucky, I'll tell you that," responding to a question about when players will be allowed to pour Gatorade on a coach this season, with a hardy laugh from the media.
Another coaching zinger
Vanderbilt's Bobby Johnson: "I put on a wig and some glasses when I go out. Nobody has caught me yet, so I think it is working pretty good," responding to a question about whether coaches are changing the way they act in public due to recent college coaching scandals that have resulted in three coaches being fired.