SEC report

Mizzou’s kicker still positive

 In this Oct. 26, 2013, file photo, Missouri kicker Andrew Baggett, rear, watches his field goal attempt hit the goalpost with teammate Sean Culkin (80), during the second overtime of an NCAA college football game against South Carolina, in Columbia, Mo. South Carolina won 27-24. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson, File)
In this Oct. 26, 2013, file photo, Missouri kicker Andrew Baggett, rear, watches his field goal attempt hit the goalpost with teammate Sean Culkin (80), during the second overtime of an NCAA college football game against South Carolina, in Columbia, Mo. South Carolina won 27-24. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson, File)

Missouri kicker Andrew Baggett managed to inject a little humor when he met with reporters this week after missing a 24-yard field goal on the last play of the Tigers’ 27-24, double-overtime loss to South Carolina last Saturday night.

Baggett spent a little time with his parents after the game.

“They still love me,” he said. “I guess that’s good.”

Baggett, whose kick bounced off the left upright, received some nasty comments on his Twitter account but said he received far more positive feedback.

“If anybody’s saying Mizzou fans are terrible, absolutely not true,” Baggett said. “I’m still getting stuff today, positive comments.

“Nobody’s comment will ever make me feel worse than I did on that field. So, the negative comments, I don’t pay attention to that.”

Baggett, who hit five field goals the previous week in a victory over Florida, said the snap and hold were all good on his final attempt against South Carolina.

“That’s my job to make that kick,” he said. “I didn’t do it, so I didn’t do my job. Do I want it back? Absolutely. Am I going to dwell on it? No.”

He likes Mike

Texas A&M Coach Kevin Sumlin took the opportunity during his Tuesday news conference to lobby for an Aggie to be a Heisman Trophy candidate, but he wasn’t speaking about quarterback Johnny Manziel winning the award for the second year in a row.

Sumlin said he’s “puzzled” why Mike Evans isn’t being mentioned in the Heisman race.

Evans, a sophomore wide receiver and Manziel’s favorite target, has 48 catches for 1,101 yards - an average of 23.9 yards per catch - and 11 touchdowns.

“I think he’s as good a player as there is in the country,” Sumlin said. “Everybody knows we’re going to throw him the ball, and he continues to play at an extremely high level.”

Michigan’s Desmond Howard, in 1991, was the last receiver to win the Heisman Trophy.

Freeze’s take

Ole Miss Coach Hugh Freeze and Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn have become good friends since their high school coaching days, so it’s interesting to hear Freeze’s take on Malzahn’s return to his home state for the Tigers’ game at Arkansas on Saturday night.

Freeze said he’s certain Malzahn is focused on preparing his players for the game, but also has some personal feelings that he’ll keep hidden.

“I’m sure it’s something that he’ll deal with,” Freeze said, “but you’ll never know he’s dealing with it.”

Sweet home Carolina

South Carolina has won 14 consecutive home games and will get a chance to tie the school record of 15 (in 1978-1980) when the Gamecocks play Mississippi State on Saturday.

Auburn was the last visiting team to win at South Carolina, 16-13 on Oct. 1, 2011.

Small club

Senior Aaron Murray can become just the third Georgia quarterback with three victories over Florida if the Bulldogs beat the Gators on Saturday.

Georgia beat Florida 24-10 and 17-9 the previous two years with Murray leading the offense.

The only Georgia quarterbacks with at least three victories over Florida are Johnny Rauch (four in 1945-1948) and Buck Belue (1979-1981).

In addition to Murray, Georgia quarterbacks with two victories over Florida include Ray Goff (1975 and 1976) and James Jackson (1985 and 1987).

Seeing red

Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron didn’t appreciate Tennessee Coach Butch Jones referring to the Crimson Tide as “the red team” leading up to the Volunteers’ game at Bryant-Denny Stadium last week.

“I never really say anything about the other team, but I kind of took this personal,” McCarron said after the Tide beat the Vols 45-10.

“I felt disrespected.

“To say we don’t deserve the respect of calling us ‘Alabama’ and calling us ‘red team’ … I don’t think we’re just anybody. We won two national championships in a row and we’re undefeated right now.”

Jones said he meant no disrespect to Alabama, which has won seven in a row over Tennessee.

“I think Alabama’s built such a great reputation, and very deservingly so, that I think when you go play Alabama, the name Alabama gives them 14 points already because of the respect that people have,” Jones said. “I respect their football program and what they’ve done as much or more than anyone in the country.”

SEC top to bottom

RK (PREV.) TEAM REC. (SEC) COMMENT

  1. (1) Alabama 8-0 (5-0) Open date to get ready for LSU

  2. (3) Auburn 7-1 (3-1) Gus makes stop back home

  3. (4) LSU 7-2 (3-2) Open date to get ready for Alabama

  4. (5) Texas A&M 6-2 (3-2) Should roll over UTEP

  5. (6) South Carolina 6-2 (4-2) Pulls off “Miracle at Mizzou”

  6. (2) Missouri 7-1 (5-1) Oh, the humanity

  7. (7) Ole Miss 5-3 (2-3) Open date to rest up for Hogs

  8. (8) Georgia 4-3 (3-2) Gurley back for Gators

  9. (11) Florida 4-3 (3-2) Lost two in a row since beating Hogs

  10. (9) Vanderbilt 4-4 (1-4) Roughed up by Aggies

  11. (10) Tennessee 4-4 (1-3) Can’t stop losing streak to Tide

  12. (12) Mississippi State 4-3 (1-2) Road trip to face Spurrier

  13. (13) Arkansas 3-5 (0-4) Hoping to hold Gus under 52

  14. (14) Kentucky 1-6 (0-4) Glad to see Alabama State

Game of the week

Florida vs. Georgia At Jacksonville, Fla.

2:30 p.m. Central Saturday, CBS

The Gators and Bulldogs have been hit hard by injuries and fallen out of the national rankings, but this is still a big rivalry game and it’s the best SEC match up in a light week with Alabama and LSU having open dates before their showdown.

Georgia will be looking to win a third consecutive game over Florida for the first time since a three-game streak in 1987-1989, before Steve Spurrier took over as the Gators’ coach.

The Gators and Bulldogs have lost their past two games to fall to 3-2 in the SEC, but they remain in the SEC West title hunt thanks to South Carolina’s victory at Missouri.

By the numbers

16739◊Margin Alabama has outscored Tennessee in the Tide’s seven consecutive victories over the Volunteers.

1981◊The last season South Carolina had won on the road against a top-5 team prior to last week’s 27-24 double overtime victory at No. 5 Missouri. The Gamecocks won 31-13 at No. 3 North Carolina in 1981.

“Overheard”

“I’ve been playing football all my life, and I’ve never felt that happiness. It was something you just can’t explain.” - South Carolina defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles on the Gamecocks’ 27-24 double-overtime victory at Missouri after they trailed 17-0 in the fourth quarter

Sports, Pages 20 on 10/31/2013

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