Published December 1, 2010 - 2:30pm
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Saturday Down South names the top 10 duds from the 2010 SEC football year:
1. John Brantley and the Florida Gator Offense
Look no further than John Brantley and the Florida Gators as the biggest dud of the year. Brantley was the heir to the throne at QB for the Gators and what a dud he turned out to be – the whole offense was a dud. Brantley was considered to step right in and the offense would be catered to his abilities and strengths. Nah, hardly was catered at all. The Gators then proceeded to go with the three-quarterback system. Essentially, they had three different quarterbacks trying to replace that Tebow guy. They never could figure it out, but many teams got back at the Gators this season for the previous four.
2. Cam Newton Saga
What a fiasco this ended up being, and it isn’t over yet. The saga broke about his possible pay-for-play scheme at Mississippi State and his father receiving money for code updates at his church in Newnan, Georgia. This could be far from over, and Auburn hopes none of this comes back to haunt them. It really does put a damper on the way people looked at Newton on the field – which is a shame. Hopefully, the smoke will clear, and he will get his rightful due.
3. Alabama finishing 4th in the West
You have the reigning Heisman trophy winner coming back, and you return your starting quarterback, stud back-up running back and star wide receiver, and the Tide still finished with three losses. Frustration came to a head when they blew a 24-point lead to their most-hated rivals in the Iron Bowl. Will Nick Saban leave for another NFL opportunity? What will happen if the Tide finishes 9-4?
4. Georgia Losing To Colorado
Ouch, this one hurt – not only for the program but for the respect of the conference. All they seemingly had to do is show up in Boulder, and they would win the game. Colorado usually doesn’t even get off the bus. However, the Bulldogs proceeded to lose to the worst team in the Big 12 conference. Was it the lowest point of the season?
5. Jailhouse Blues
What is it with the SEC? I guess better talent equals more limelight, and thus, more opportunity to get in trouble with the law? Something like that I guess. From all of Georgia’s arrests to Chris Rainey infamous “Time To Die” text, the SEC has a dark cloud hanging over it with respect to arrests. Everyone should take a page out of Derek Dooley’s book and teach kids discipline, and more importantly how to take showers.
6. Tyler Bray’s Tattoo – Tennessee
Don’t get me wrong, Tyler Bray is a stud on the field. However, his tattoo on his back lands him in the dud category. If Florida wasn’t so bad on offense, this could have landed at #1. Look at that thing, it’s awful.
7. Kentucky Not Finishing Strong
The Kentucky Wildcats started hot this year, going 3-0 and beating in-state rival Louisville. They finally had a serviceable quarterback since Andre Woodson in Mike Hartline, and stud players like Randall Cobb, Danny Trevathan and Derrick Locke. After the hot start and hype they were receiving, the Wildcats proceeded to go one for five in their next six games. This was the year to beat Tennessee, and they could not get it done. It was definitely a dudly finish for the Cats.
8. Mark Ingram – Alabama
The reigning Heisman trophy winner was figured to have a great season for the Tide. He was banged up early in practice and missed first two games because he had to get his knee scoped. However, he was mostly outplayed by his ultra-talented backup Trent Richardson throughout the year. After rushing for 1,658 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2009, Ingram proceeded to follow it up this year with 816 yards and 11 touchdowns – far from what he was projected in 2010.
9. AJ Green’s Suspension
AJ Green’s suspension for selling his game jersey was quite a dud this season. I know he “knew nothing” about the repercussions, but it was more so a dud because all of us viewers and fans of the game could not watch him solidify himself as the best receiver in the SEC over both Julio Jones and Alshon Jeffery. Green will be great at the next level.
10. Jeremiah Masoli – Ole Miss
Once considered a Heisman favorite last season in the Pac 10, Masoli got a waiver to play for the Ole Miss Rebels this year after being kicked off the team at Oregon. Much hype surrounded his transfer and the possible positives he would bring to take the Rebels to the next level. I mean, the guy might have had one good week in the 2010 season. I guess that shows the difference between coming from a weak conference and going to a strong conference. Masoli had the most interceptions in the conference with 13, and he was slightly above John Brantley in passing yards, with 2,039. I think everyone thought he would have more of an impact than he did for the Rebels.
I know you have more duds, so let’s hear about them!
Unless I’m missing something, the Cam Newton saga has ended. The NCAA found Cecil Newton and Kenny Rogers to be in collusion to get money from Mississippi State for Cam Newton’s services. Mississippi State disassociated itself from Kenny Rogers. Auburn disassociated itself with Cecil Newton and declared Cam Newton ineligible on Monday of this week. They immediately petitioned the NCAA to reinstate this eligibility, which they did this morning. In statements from the NCAA, SEC and Auburn University, it has been noted that at no time was Cam Newton ineligible to play for Auburn, that Auburn is not in any danger of vacating any wins, and that Cam Newton is declared eligible to resume his career at Auburn University, effective immediately.
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/12/ncaa_rules_auburns_cam_newton.html
You’re missing something. Remember these words…”at this time.”
It’s funny now, but a few Oregon fans showed up on the Alabama Live message boards when Masoli transferred to Ole Miss. They kept going on about how he would dominate in the SEC, and that our conference didn’t see QBs of that talent, and wouldn’t have an answer for him. I think most everyone solved that riddle.
Masoli and ole miss should be number 2. nice losing record, especially after trying so hard to land masoli
I’d move the Alabama meltdown to the second slot. Saban leaving is highly unlikely.
He should have learned his lesson the first time. Other than Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer (who rode the leftover Johnson wave) name the College-to-NFL coaches who have been successful.
UGA loss to Colorado was ugly…..another fumble cost Dawgs the game. Even if AJ did play in this game, he cramped the entire 2nd qtr and the dawgs tanked.
I have two duds but not really sure where they place in the list.
Sorry.
A. Tennessee having half their team on the field at the end of the LSU game.
B. South Carolina losing to Kentucky a week after knocking off #1 Alabama.
Bonus- Florida’s cleats worn during the FSU game.
Well, Calvert’s #1, looks like you have brought up some very interesting duds. The Tenn 13th man was huge and SC losing to KY was definitely a dud for sure. You’re name is most likely the number one dud though.
The Vols are a young, up and coming team. They made freshmen mistakes as expected…I wouldn’t exactly call that a dud. We are VERY proud of what Dooley has done this year, he basically turned nothing into something. When the season started everyone said 2-10 if we were lucky. So I think 6-6 is great!
Perhaps you didn’t read what I wrote about Tyler Bray. I think the Vols have done fantastic this season.
My comment wasn’t meant for you it was meant for Calvert’s #1…sorry!
you say the Vols are young but yet the only players you have on offense that are worth anything are gerald jones and denarius moore? Tauren Poole is a junior, your defense is significantly older than offense sure, I’m still not convinced the vols will be much challenge for the east next year either. God forbid any of those star juniors leaving early for the NFL. The vols are quickly slipping off being a dominant team team in the next decade and if all you can really throw out there like most UT fans is that “we won the NC in 1998″. Sure you can have hope, but lord all mighty, It’s nice seeing them shut their mouths and stop being cocky pricks about their 11 student athlete arrests in the past year and a half. Run a clean program and win, stop picking up thugs. And i’m a student there!
listen out for justin hunter and darick rogers…we will have best reciever corps next year…stick to your team, dont talk about others if you dont have any facts
I have 2 for you:
1. How about the move by Florida of Pouncey to center? Terrible decision with worse results.
2. The Offensive Line at Georigia. Touted by most experts as the top offensive line preseason in the SEC, they could not even push around the smallish Colorado or Georgia Tech Lines. In fact they pushed no defense off the ball and finished near the bottom of the SEC in rushing.
Bonus:
- Alabama’s secondary which most of the season was dreadful.
Nah Bama secondary is not a dud. They started a true freshmen, a redshirt freshmen from last year, a banged up all american safety, and robby green, their free safety, was suspended a few weeks before the regular season. So they had players in platoon at that spot. Oh and their nickleback corner is a true freshmen too. And what did they do? Sure they were a little porous, but they had little experience and still ended the regular season #1 in the NCAA in interceptions. Next season, they’ll be studs.
Mike Pouncey was definitely considered as a dud for this list. The snap problems were all throughout the season.
Gotta put alabamas oline on this list. They had most of the starters back on the replacements were 5 star recruits. The secondary wasnt expected to be very good becasue of their youth and inexperience
eh Fluker was a 5 star but a freshmen. when you’re playing in the hardest conference in the NCAA and especially seeing how tough the SEC West was, you can’t blame him for not playing that well considering he hadn’t seen this kind of talent/coaching in high school. He’s young and will learn. However, the rest of the line was disappointing, no push in the run game and couldn’t pass block.
As an Ole Miss fan, we should have number one. Georgia losing to Colorado, bad. Ole Miss losing to Jacksonville State? I had to look up where Jacksonville State was.
Billy. No kidding. Jax State was bad. Should have included in the Ole Miss section.
My father graduated from Jacksonville State, so I knew who they were. They made it to the FCS playoffs this year. Just be glad it wasn’t a Virginia Tech-style collapse against James Madison.
I know this is splitting hairs, but Colorado did not finished with the worst record in the Big 12. Kansas was 1-7 in the conference….Colorado and Texas…yes, Texas…were 2-6.
What the hell does a tattoo have anything to do with football? It’s not as bad as some others I have seen. And if he keeps playing like he has been, he can get all the damn tattoos he wants as far as I am concerned!! I just think y’all couldn’t come up with anything bad about the Vols, so you pulled this one out your a$$!
5ash. Perhaps you haven’t read any of my other pieces. What can you expect out of a team that was expected to get 5 or 6 wins? They got 6 wins and are bowl eligible, right where everyone though they would be. From being at 2-6 to bowl eligible, I have given Tennessee love all year. I have a piece coming out tomorrow about Tyler Bray and Peyton Manning. I think the Vols future looks fantastic, but the tattoo, not so much.
No, I am new to the website…I apologize. It seems like I am constantly taking up for the Vols, I guess it’s just habit! Can’t wait to read your article about Peyton and Tyler!
That’s cool, 5ash!!! We all get pretty defensive when it comes to the team that we love. Tennessee is definitely on the road back in the East!!!
I have to agree with 5ash. What does a tattoo have to do with anything? If it wasn’t for Tyler Bray, the Vols would undoubtely be 2 and 10 and not on their way to the Music City Bowl. I think you should be looking at his throwing arm …. you know, the one that lead to12 touchdowns in 4 games , not his backside.
if it wasn’t for tyler brays veteran receivers you mean? bray is good, but with 2 senior receivers (that are outstanding players) he’s better, I’d like to see what they do on offense next year, with out some of these older players
they will have the best receivers next year, everyone forgetting about justin hunter and da rick rogers..two top ten recievers outta highschool and have alread made their mark as backups…and an experienced offensive line….the only thing they really lose is some linebackers..everyone is back.
Those so called “veteran receivers” didn’t help Simms out too much did they? Just sayin’…
Are you talking about the Alabama secondary that led the nation in interceptions? Yeah, there were some blown coverages due to inexperience, but to say that the secondary was one of the biggest duds of the season? Everyone knew that Bama’s secondary was going to be a weak point after losing the entire defensive backfield to the NFL last year. 21 ints on the season, through 12 games, is pretty good for a young inexperienced secondary to me.
all you guys do is talk about kentucky and players from kentucky that no one has ever heard of… good article until i get to #7 and then its obvious that some kentucky homer wrote this article… kentucky winning its out of conference joke of a schedule, then losing to everyone else for the twenty-something time in a row sounds pretty much normal to me.
Mike Hartine: 2nd best SEC QB statistically (behind Ryan Mallett) – 3200 passing yds/ 23 TDs/ 9INTs
Randall Cobb: 3rd in the SEC in Recieving (behind A. Jeffrey and J. Jones) – 79 Rec/ 955 yds/ 7 TDs
These are two of the best players in this conference. If you don’t know who these guys are then you’re not a fan of college football or the SEC!
Danny Trevathan!??!! I didn’t know who he was until I looked him up, and he was just was I thought he would be… Another 2-Star recruit by Kentucky! Woohoo! Maybe he will leave early to become a 7th round pick and get cut?
I can’t believe Kentucky lost to Tennessee for the 26th time in a row with a stud like Danny boy.
Hunter. Trevathan led the SEC in tackles this year. The guy is a stud. 2 Star recruits make it into the league as well. Look at Brantley – he was a five star. Some guys bloom later than others. Trevathan is a tackle-machine, son.
Here is a dud for you. Rob; claims to go to UT but has busted our balls every chance he gets. You are a dud Rob. Did you catch a beating in Bar Knox or something?
A tatoo made the list….seriously? What the heck does a tatoo have anything to do with football? I agree with the number one dud being Florida but Bama should have been 2 and Ole Miss 3.
Have you looked at the picture of the tattoo???? Retarded.
I don’t get why so many had Bama repeating. The offense was never going to put up 50 points, no matter what we had returning and the defense lost 9 starters. Couple that with the fact that we lost 2 on the O-line that ended up hurting more than we thought it would. Bama will probally have up to 17 returning starters next year, I think that just shows how young this year’s team was, and injuries didn’t help this team either. However, the loss to Auburn was a mix of mental errors in the seconday, and bad coaching and execution in the 2nd half. I don’t think I have ever seen a game that made me that sick.
Wow, I’m surprised the SEC refs didn’t make the list!
I think we should’ve focused on FOOTBALL, not some stupid tattoo. Give the kid a break…
Sorry Ashley. I will do better next time! BUT you have to agree that tattoo isn’t the best looking thing ever…
I agree 100% about Jeremiah Masoli- even though it pains me to. The SEC is obviously too tough for him!
The scam newton issue isn’t over, they may have ruled him eligible today.. after ruling him ineligible yesterday, there will be some law suits of this.. and the NCAA will be forced to revisit this issue, and give justice… they seem to be like the SEC.. wanting him to have a winning season, and bring Scam Auburns status up…all they have done by saying he is eligible, only his dad and kenny rogers are guilty… they have show some kind of collusion.. like I said, there are going to be lawsuits over this… watch and see
8 Mark Ingrim a dud… after a torn acl, and surgery, he came back and did well… yes well, see any of you nay Sayers get out and play in the obvious pain he was in…… watch your pansy Aces snivel in the corner.. when he got out and gave his all, and when the camera panned on him when he was resting between plays, you could tell he was in pain when he stood up…
Ron. If Ingram would have had an ACL, he would be done for the year. He had a minor arthroscopic knee surgery / scope. Athletes do that all the time. Coming back and giving half of a performance from this year as compared to last is a dud, especially since he’s the reigning Heisman winner, IMO. However, hope he gets healthy so he can be a force on Sundays!
Ron C, the NCAA never ruled Cam Newton ineligible. When Auburn was notified that there was a recruiting violation between Cecil Newton and an agent from Mississippi State, Auburn followed proper protocol and ruled him ineligible, not the NCAA. Auburn petitioned the NCAA to have his eligibility restored, which they did without penalty, because they said they had no evidence that Auburn University, nor Cam Newton, knew anything about the dealings between Mississippi State’s Kenny Rogers, and Cecil Newton.
Cam Newton is far from a dud and the entire “saga” appears to be null and void following yesterday’s NCAA press release. Ingram is a dud due to the fact he couldn’t get more than 30+ yards against AU’s defense (practically 2 years in a row!). Florida should get the number 1 spot. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a worse meltdown. Tennessee is young and will be heck on wheels next year. I was also disappointed in Kentucky’s overall performance with the likes of Hartline and Randall Cobb on the team. They are both beasts on the field. I want to add the Georgia bulldogs to the dud list for instigating fights on the field. What a group of losers!
Great comments. Thanks for posting!
The Poo Bears are horrible. Only west team already at home.
I think Ga. season is the biggest dud of the year, they should have been inthe top ten this year but there’s next year!!!
Masoli was overrated going into the season, he was a just a product of the system at oregon. as for bray, how bout his gestures during the bowl game and then crying afterwards.