Arkansas Sports 360.com - July 2008 - (Page 20) ConferenCe Southeastern SEC (continued from Page 19) could figure anywhere from second to fifth in the league. Ten of 11 starters are back on defense – but is that a good thing considering USC gave up 600-plus yards to Arkansas last fall? Spurrier has a good tailback in Mike Davis but needs to find a quarterback, which everyone expects the former Heisman Trophy winning QB at Florida to do. As for defense, he has entrusted it to Ellis Johnson, who had a cup of coffee with Bobby Petrino at Arkansas after leaving Mississippi State where he did an outstanding job with average talent. Johnson will appreciate the skills of Captain Munnerlyn at cornerback, Emanuel Cook at safety, Eric Norwood at end, and Jasper Brinkley at linebacker. South Carolina led the league last year in pass defense – maybe because everyone could run on them. Kentucky went 8-0 outside the league last year, beat eventual national champion LSU in three overtimes, and won another bowl game for Rich Brooks, who has outlasted everyone’s prognostications for how long he’d stay at UK. Without Andre Woodson at quarterback, though, the Wildcats offensively will be starting over. Receiver and returner Dicky Lyons gives Brooks something to build around, along with Derrick Locke at running back. Eight defensive starters return. Vanderbilt’s best chance to win six games and make a bowl may have passed. At least the nonconference schedule includes similar brainy schools Rice and Duke, so wins there would mean something to the student body. Coach Bobby Johnson, always admired for doing more with less, will only have three offensive and six defensive starters back. The West Les Miles’ good fortune from last year has to turn, and LSU’s rabid fans know it in their heart. They also fear that Nick Saban’s building in Alabama is going to unseat the Tigers from their throne one day, though probably not this year. There is just enough balance throughout the West, though, that whoever ends up atop the division will be a survivor and not an awesomely superior team. For that matter, LSU was the country’s No. 1 team in January, but was lucky to even get to play for the national championship because of the dog-eat-dog (and Tiger, and Hog) world of the SEC. Plus, the West has an amazing array of quality coaches. There are also top linemen, if not the marquee names at quarterback and receiver found in the East. Can anyone imagine a coach of the notoriety of Bobby Petrino being last in a six-team race? Unfortunately for Petrino, he has some building to do at Arkansas, where Houston Nutt left after 10 years, only to surface at Ole Miss, where much of the talent building has been done for him by the fired, bungling field general Ed Orgeron. Tommy Tuberville at Auburn continues to prove his worthiness as one of the league’s better coaches – and to think Auburn higher-ups were flying to Louisville to try to hire Petrino to replace him just five years ago. Let’s also not forget that Mississippi State’s Sylvester Croom was the SEC Coach of the Year in 2008. Somebody Has to Lose Most figure it will be Arkansas, having lost NFL first-round draft picks Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, do-it-all back Peyton Hillis, and the one top receiver, Marcus Monk, not to mention the entire secondary and most of the linebacker corps. Petrino was complimentary throughout the offseason of what the previous staff had left him in the lines. And quarterback Casey Dick, entrusted now to actually win games instead of not losing them like the previous staff urged, could blossom in Petrino’s Power-Spread. Just where the “power” is coming from this season is anybody’s guess, though. Arkansas may look a lot like Missouri of 2007 on offense, but more like Fayetteville High of 2007 on defense. OK, we have one team out of the way. Let’s also cross off Mississippi State for title contender, though the Bulldogs have enough talent back to repeat last year’s seven regular-season wins (plus a Liberty Bowl victory). Anthony Dixon is the league’s best running back this side of Knowshon Moreno. Wayne Carroll showed promise as a passer (only seven interceptions in 255 attempts, 52.5 percent completion rate). Derek Pegues is one of the league’s best return men, as well as a top free safety. The Dawgs return 15 of 22 starters and both kickers. Croom, after having to boot inherited undesirables and SEC (continued on Page 40) SUCCESS …starts with a dream and determination. Mix in a team of individuals with great skills and quality materials. Add to that good work ethics, integrity and a sense of pride in a job well done. To top it all o , sprinkle in a little sense of humor! 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