SEC in the headlines: Trucking toward the Bluegrass

Posted by ESPN.com’s Chris Low

If you’re looking for the best routes to take while traveling through Alabama and Mississippi, I’m your guy.

I just spent the last week in those two fine states and am up to speed on every highway and back road leading to and from Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State and Ole Miss. The folks at all four schools were great, and the anticipation on all four campuses was the kind of thing that makes this time of year so much fun.

Students were moving into their dorms. Band practice could be heard all across campus. Sorority rush was in full swing, and the football practice fields were dotted with a bunch of players and coaches convinced that this is their year.

At each of my four stops, I had a chance to sample some of the tasty cuisine. Some of my recommendations include Chuck’s Fish in Tuscaloosa, Momma Goldberg’s in Auburn, the Cotton District Grill in Starkville and BBB (a killer breakfast) in Oxford.

There’s no rest for the weary, and I’m headed to Kentucky on Monday morning to spend some time with coach Rich Brooks, who’s attempting to do something this season that hasn’t been done since Bear Bryant was roaming the sidelines in Lexington.

If the Wildcats make it to a bowl game for a third straight year, it would be the first time that’s happened at Kentucky since 1949-51. Brooks, who turns 67 on Wednesday, faces a difficult challenge in making it three in a row after losing so many key players on offense from last season’s 8-5 team.

But this time two years ago, there were a lot of people around the league (and in Kentucky) who didn’t even think Brooks would still be coaching the Wildcats, much less making a run at the Bear.

Check back on Monday afternoon, and I’ll have something up from my chat with Books. I’ll also catch up with a few of the Wildcats’ players. Is it really true that the defense might have to carry this team this season, especially early?

We’ll see what they think in the Land of the Big Blue.

As for what’s coming up later this week, I’ll fly to Arkansas on Wednesday to look in on the Hogs and Bobby Petrino. Don’t know if he’ll do it, but I’ll ask him to call the hogs while I’m in town.

Here are a few links from around the conference over the weekend:

* Jonathan Crompton comes back strong in his second scrimmage for the Vols.

* The more he scrimmages, the more Alabama freshman receiver Julio Jones is making believers out of everybody.

* The Hogs’ Ben Cleveland has his work cut out in the battle for playing time at tight end.

* The ‘Head Ball Coach’ is simplifying his offense, and quarterback Tommy Beecher says a big thank you with a more efficient scrimmage.

* LSU quarterback Andrew Hatch has to leave the scrimmage with stiffness in his back, and redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee takes advantage with a solid showing.

* Another setback for Vanderbilt’s George Smith, who continues to show his teammates his unbreakable will and unyielding spirit.

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