They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. The same can be said for highlight reel plays where one athlete’s glory often comes at the expense of another’s goat. Put the chapter in the annals of SEC football as Week 7 drew its fair share of glory, especially for the likes of Alabama and LSU.
But, in the spirit of reciprocity, here’s a look at a few of the not-so-finer moments in the SEC during Week 7 action.
5. Nasty Neck Tackles
Auburn picked up the win over Kentucky in Week 7, but quarterback Sean White also earned a sore neck in the process. This broken play Thursday night against the Wildcats was doomed from the start, with White wheeling around to hand off … only to find no one waiting for him. It painfully ends with the freshman signal caller viciously dragged to the turf from behind by Kentucky linebacker Josh Forrest.
Joining White in the horse collar club is cross-state’s Jake Coker. Texas A&M’s Brandon Williams yanked the Alabama quarterback down by the neck near the sidelines and went unpunished by officials. Coker got the last laugh, however, downing the Aggies, 41-23, in College Station.
4. Teammate Takeout
Ole Miss found out that it’s difficult to win when you’re busy tackling your own teammates, rather than opposing ball carriers. Tony Bridges and Terry Caldwell collided late in the second quarter of the Rebels’ Week 7 loss to Memphis, allowing Tigers’ wide receiver Anthony Miller to convert a third-and-13 attempt. While comedic to watch, Miller struck again two plays later with a 6-yard touchdown score. The Tigers took a 24-14 lead into the half and won 37-24.
3. What Not To Do, Kids
We’ll give Damien Harris the benefit of the doubt that he’s a freshman, but the Berea, Ky., native put on a “how-not-to-return-a-kickoff” clinic during Alabama’s Week 7 tilt with Texas A&M. The Tide went three-and-out on the drive, but no harm, no foul, as Alabama rolled to a 41-23 win.
2. Kicker Krime
Want to know one reason why football players wear face masks? Just ask Will Gleeson. Several kickers took their lumps in Week 7, including Ole Miss’ Gleeson. The sophomore punter bounced twice on his face after taking a shot from Memphis’ Austin Hall during the first quarter of the Tigers’ win.
The kicker carnage continued in Starkville as Louisiana Tech kicker Jonathan Barnes and punter Gerald Shouse each took home souvenir bruises in the 45-20 Mississippi State win.
1. Targeting Targeting
Here’s an uncouth trend from Week 7: officials booting players from games due to targeting.
Three SEC players were flagged this week for essentially using the crowns of their helmets as weapons. Linebackers T.J. Holloman of South Carolina and Alabama’s Shaun Dion Hamilton, along with Georgia strong safety Dominick Sanders, got ejected.
Sanders will miss the first half of the Florida game, since he was not ejected until the third quarter. Holloman’s drilling of Vanderbilt’s Kris Kentera was especially jarring. See all three targeting calls here.
Chris Wuensch is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers South Carolina and Tennessee.
