LITTLE ROCK — 4-0 isn’t enough at LSU
LSU is 4-0 and ranked 10th nationally, but some fans at Tiger Stadium booed quarterback Jordan Jefferson, the offense and Coach Les Miles during and after last week’s 20-14 victory over West Virginia.
“Those are the type people who go to work and complain about the coffee when they didn’t make it,” Miles, who was booed running off the field,said in his postgame news conference. “I wonder if they realize how they represent themselves when they boo.”
Jefferson completed just 4 of 12 passes in the second half and threw 2 interceptions to draw some boos.
Fans then cheered when he was replaced by backup Jarrett Lee with 6:43 to go.
After Lee played for a series - which ended with a punt - Jefferson went back into the game.
“We needed a change right there,” Miles said. “I just thought it would be a good chance to take some of the weight off of [Jefferson], let him clear his head and relax.”
When Jefferson replaced Lee on the next series, the boos returned.
“We’re 4-0,” Jefferson said after the game when asked about the fans’ negative reaction. “What more do you want ?”
LSU fans apparently want Jefferson to play better. He finished the game 10 of 22 for 75 yards as he failed to throw for 100 yards for the third consecutive game.
“We didn’t throw it as well as we would’ve liked,” Miles said. “Our quarterback play has to get better. It’s just that simple. Our guys know it.”Return your calls
Alabama Coach Nick Saban missed a chance to hire Urban Meyer 20 years ago.
Saban was finishing up the 1989 season as the Houston Oilers’ defensive coordinator and had accepted a job to become Toledo’s head coach.
Saban said Meyer - then an Illinois State assistant - called his house to express interest in joining Saban’s staff at Toledo.
Saban wasn’t home, but his wife, Terry, spoke with Meyer and was impressed. She told her husband he should call Meyer and talk with him about a job. But Saban said he got too busy finishing up his duties with Houston and putting together a staff at Toledo and never called Meyer.
“That obviously was one of the biggest mistakes I ever made,” Saban said.
Meyer has a 100-18 record in 10 seasons as ahead coach, including 61-10 with two national championships at Florida.
The No. 7 Gators and Meyer will take on Saban’s No. 1 Crimson Tide on Saturday night. Meyer and Saban have split their previous two meetings, both in the SEC Championship Game, with Florida winning in 2008 and Alabama in 2009.Six for Trey
Florida’s Trey Burton set a school record and an SEC freshman record by scoring six touchdowns against Kentucky last week. He had five rushing touchdowns and one receiving.
Burton was one touchdown shy of the NCAA freshman record of seven touchdowns set by San Diego State’s Marshall Faulk against Pacific in 1991.
Prior to Burton, the last freshman to score six touchdowns was West Virginia’s Steve Slaton in 2005 against Louisville, which at the time was coached by Bobby Petrino.
Cam can
Auburn junior quarterback Cam Newton is leading the SEC in rushing (121.1 yards per game) and pass efficiency (43 of 68 for 683 yards and 9 touchdowns).
Newton’s stats combined with the Tigers’ 4-0 start - including victories over Clemson and South Carolina - have at least put him on the radar for Heisman Trophy consideration.
“I’m not going to act like I’m an expert on that, but certainly his numbers grab people’s attention,’’ Auburn Coach Gene Chizik told reporters. “He’s played really well, and he’s doneeverything we’ve asked him to do.”
Newton has 75 rushing attempts this season, but said he’s not wearing down.
“I pick and choose when I deliver the blows,” he told the Birmingham News.
Bad streaks
Last week marked Kentucky’s 24th consecutive loss to Florida. That’s the nation’s second-longest active streak, behind Kentucky’s 25 consecutive losses to Tennessee.
Green ready
Georgia junior receiver A.J. Green finally is set to make his 2010 debut Saturday at Colorado after serving a four-game NCAA suspension for selling his Independence Bowl jersey for $1,000.
“I broke the rule, and I paid my price,” Green said.
“I’m just ready to play again.”
The Bulldogs have started 1-3 without Green, and he said it’s been “a painful process” watching his team struggle.
“Now it’s about that time to show people what I was missing,” he said. “I feel like I still got stuff to prove, that I’m behind and that I’m going to have a lot of catching up to do.”
Richt said the Bulldogs are excited to have Green back.
“I think everybody realizes it’s more than a one-man game, too,” Richt said. “So we have to make sure we play better in all areas.”
Green has been able to practice with the Bulldogs allseason, and Richt said he’s probably practiced harder than at any time in his career.
“I think that’s a sign of his remorse for what happened,” Richt said. “And his maturity also.” On guard
Ole Miss had two firsttime starters at guard last week against Fresno State - true freshman Patrick Junen and junior Logan Clair - when the Rebels gained 578 yards in a 55-38 victory.
The Rebels’ 425 rushing yards were the eighth-most in school history and the most since 1977, when Ole Miss rushed for 433 against Tennessee.
“We felt like we weren’t getting production that we needed,” Rebels Coach Houston Nutt said of inserting Junen and Clair into starting spots on the offensive line. “We needed help in the middle, and you try to keep working and get your best guys on the field that give you the best chance to win.”
Junen came to Ole Miss as a walk-on from Huntsville, Ala., but was awarded a scholarship in the preseason.
Truth hurts
Tennessee beat Alabama-Birmingham 32-29 in double overtime despite being outgained 554-287 in total offense and running 61 offensive plays compared to 92 by the Blazers.
The Volunteers were aided by five missed field goals by Alabama-Birmingham sophomore Josh Zahn in regulation from 41, 35, 49, 30 and 54 yards.
“That looked like two equal teams out there,” Tennessee Coach Derek Dooley said after the game. “Actually, it really didn’t. It looked like one superior team [Alabama-Birmingham]. It’s where we are right now.”By the numbers9.8Average points allowed per game by Alabama, the fewestin the nation2-7Georgia’s record in its past nine SEC games28.1Average yards per punt return by LSU return manPatrick PetersonGame of the week NO. 7 FLORIDA AT NO. 1 ALABAMA 7 p.m., CBS
These teams usually meet in the SEC Championship Game but have their first regular-season matchup since 2006. The Gators will be out to stop the Crimson Tide’s 18-game winning streak and avenge last season’s 32-13 loss in Atlanta.
Overheard
“Dude had six touchdowns. That’s some high school stuff.” - Kentucky running back Derrick Locke on Florida’s Trey Burton scoring 6 TDs against the Wildcats
Sports, Pages 23 on 09/30/2010