Lady Vols Head Coach Pat Summitt Diagnosed With Dementia. Will Try To Coach This Season (PM UPDATE w/REAX)

[HT: CBS Sports.com]

Gregg Doyel of cbssports.com is reporting that Tennessee Lady Vols head coach Pat Summitt has been diagnosed with dementia.

An announcement from the Lady Vols is expected sometime today. Former Lady Vol players are flying into Knoxville to see their former coach.

According to a former player Summitt will coach this season.

Dementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. It affects memory, thinking, language, judgment, and behavior.

Govolsxtra.com released a story on Pat Summitt's medical condition...

“There’s not going to be any pity party and I’ll make sure of that.” Summitt told govolsxtra

Typical Pat Summitt.
The University of Tennessee released this statement from Summitt...


PM UPDATE: Here's the latest from our friends at both WVLT-TV
Rick Russo leads coverage for Volunteer TV


And our friends at WBIR-TV caught up with the voice of the Lady Vols, Mickey Dearstone...

Done Deal. Mike Anderson To Arkansas

As expected Mike Anderson was named the new head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks.

It's a homecoming for Anderson who spent 17 years as an assistant to Nolan Richardson at Arkansas.

"We are extremely excited to welcome home Mike Anderson to the University of Arkansas as our new head men's basketball coach," Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long said.

"Under Mike's leadership, I am confident the Razorbacks will be successful in the future on and off the court. The decision to hire Mike Anderson as head coach is based on my firm belief that he is the right person to lead the Razorback program today and in the years to come."

"I am extremely excited to once again be a part of this special University and Razorback Athletics." Mike Anderson said. "With the continued passionate support of all Razorback fans, I am confident that we will have the opportunity to succeed on and off the court and continue to build on the University of Arkansas' championship tradition."

The Razorback Foundation board has approved a contract that will pay Anderson $2.2 million a year for seven years, with a $500,000 buyout clause.

After years of stability and NCAA Tournament appearances first under Eddie Sutton and then Nolan Richardson, the Arkansas men's basketball program had been anything but stable since Richardson was let go in 2002. Razorback fans are hoping with Anderson returing to Fayetteville the program will stablize and return to it's winning ways.

Here's player reaction, thanks to our friends at KTHV-TV in Little Rock.

DEVELOPING: Are Bruce Pearl's Days Number At Tennessee

Wednesday night Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton is not sure Bruce Pearl will be his coach next year.
In an interview with Knoxville radio station WNML Tuesday that aired Wednesday Hamilton was asked if Pearl would be back next season.

“We don’t know the answer today,’’ Hamilton responded.

“I think that we’ve done a lot of soul-searching about the direction of our program and we’ll continue to do that, and we’ll decide after we’re out of the NCAA tournament what the direction is we’ll go next,’’

The Tennessee men’s basketball program is alleged to have committed 10 violations, including a charge of unethical conduct levied against Pearl that involved a June 14, 2010 interview with NCAA investigators about a picture of him taken with a recruit on Sept. 20, 2008. One in which Pearl wasn't exactly forthcoming.

One can conclude that Tennessee better win the NCAA Championship to save Pearl's job. When it looks as if you have lost you boss, in this case your athletic director, your days seemed to be numbered.

This might be a move as well for Mike Hamilton to save his own backside. The last few years have been hell for the Tennessee A.D. What with the whole Lane Kiffin disaster and now this.

You might want to get rid of that ugly orange blazer coach Pearl.

Job Opening At Arkansas, Update Your Resume's

For those who want the head basketball coach opening at the University of Arkansas, you must go through the process.

http://hr.uark.edu/jobdetails.asp?ListingID=6488&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+UARKjobs+%28University+of+Arkansas+Human+Resources%29

John Pelphrey Fired As Arkansas Head Coach

OSG Sources have confirmed that Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long informed John Pelphrey that he has been fired as head coach.

Should Arkansas receive and NIT bid assistant Rob Evans will be head coach.

This quote from Pelphrey was tweeted by Aaron Peters of Razorback Nation. "We loved every second of being here and that has not changed"

After leading the Razorbacks to the NCAA tournament his first year Arkansas has won only 46 games the last three years. More alarming is the drastic drop in attendance at Bud Walton Arena during Pelphrey's tenure.

The Razorback fan base had turned on Pelphrey to the point that they were not showing up to Bud Walton Arena anymore.

Pelphrey had put together an outstanding recuriting class for next season but with this news that class might be blown apart and every Division I head coach searching for their families phone number.

Arkansas is expected to go after Missouri head coach Mike Anderson, who was Nolan Richardson's top assistant during his 17 years as Razorback head coach. Marquette head coach Buzz Williams is also near the top of the list.

Boss Hog On Thin Ice? Pelphrey To Meet With His AD, UPDATE: He's Done...

KHBS/KHOG-TV in Fort Smith/Fayetteville, Arkansas is reporting that Arkansas head coach John Pelphrey will not return next season.

OSG sources close to the situation will not confirm nor deny.

OSG does know that Pelphrey and Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long will meet Sunday morning. OSG sources wouldn't comment if this was to inform Pelphrey he would be relieved of his head coaching duties.

After leading the Razorbacks to the NCAA tournament his first year Arkansas has won only 46 games the last three years. More alarming is the drastic drop in attendance at Bud Walton Arena during Pelphrey's tenure.

1345 UPDATE: Yep, he's done...

Arkansas finished fourth in the SEC West this season. Pelphrey has three years remaining on his contract and will be paid a negotiated buyout number.

Look for the chasing to begin with Mike Anderson at Mizzou and Buzz Williams at Marquette. Arkansas is willing to pay for a coach to play...

More when we know more...

Until then, 5News Mike Irwin gives his 67 seconds on what was happening before it happened...
((HT: KFSM-TV Fort Smith))
 

In First Meeting Since Tree Poisoning, Alabama Gets By Auburn With Last Second Tip In

For the first time since an uber Alabama fan, Harvey Updyke, revealed on Paul Finebaum's radio show that he poisoned the oak trees on Toomers Corner, Auburn and Alabama competed against each other in Tuscaloosa.

While the men's basketball game was important the recent tree poisoning was still top of mind. Bryant Somerville of ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, Alabama provided this report on the mood of the fans in the aftermath.



As far as the game it was a dandy. Alabama's JaMychal Green's tip in with 0.3 seconds left to win it for the Crimson Tide 51-49.

Here's the only video we could find of the game. The buzzer beater is at the 7:45 mark. (Thanks michaelcasagrande/Youtube.com

DEVELOPING: Pearl Suspended For 8 SEC Games

((HT: WBIR-TV Knoxville/GoVolsXtra, Griffith))

University of Tennessee Mens' Basketball Head Coach Bruce Pearl is suspended for the first eight games of the 2011 Southeastern Conference season.

In a press release from the SEC, the violations that led to the suspension were discovered during the recent investigation by the NCAA into his basketball program. The results were reported to the SEC by the institution.

"The suspension from coaching duties has been imposed after a careful review of the facts established during the NCAA's investigation and reported to the SEC office," said Slive. "I am extremely disappointed in the nature of the violations involving Coach Pearl and the Tennessee men's basketball program. The penalty applied to this circumstance is significant, which is consistent with the directive approved by the SEC membership in 2010 granting the Commissioner authority to act in such cases."

Pearl is suspended from all team activities on the dates of the following games:

Jan. 8, 2011 Tennessee at Arkansas
Jan. 11, 2011 Florida at Tennessee
Jan. 15, 2011 Vanderbilt at Tennessee
Jan. 18, 2011 Tennessee at Georgia
Jan. 26, 2011 LSU at Tennessee
Jan. 29, 2011 Tennessee at Ole Miss
Feb. 3, 2011 Tennessee at Auburn
Feb. 5, 2011 Alabama at Tennessee

"Team activities" means practices, meetings, pre- and post-game activities and the games.

Associate head coach Tony Jones will take over while Pearl is sitting on the sidelines, and his first game back is February 8th against Kentucky.

Pearl is still working without a contract...

Here's your reminder from Steve Phillips when that went down...

Ex-Vols Players Cases Resolved In Knoxville Court

((HT: WVLT-TV))

The criminal court cases for three UT basketball players and former player Tyler Smith stemming from a January 1st arrest, have been resolved. Smith, Melvin Goins, Brian Williams, and Cameron Tatum all appeared in court today.

Smith pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and altering a firearm
identification. He received judicial diversion and two sentences of 11 months and 29 days of probation that will run concurrently.

All charges against Melvin Goins were dismissed. he will pay court costs. Williams pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana and received eleven months and 29 days of probation. Tatum pleaded guilty to speeding. A possession of a firearm charge was dropped.

Smith was removed from the team back in January, Goins and Tatum were reinstated in late January and Williams was reinstated last week.

More when we know more...

So You Wanna Be Number One...???

And you run in to Columbia, South Carolina and get upset...

The Leader of the Free World warned UK head coach John Calipari about a game like this one in their phone call earlier in the afternoon, but the home team came up and bit them...

Devan Downey, the SEC's leading scorer, lit up Kentucky for 30 on his own as the Gamecocks beat Kentucky 68-62... no word on if Ashley Judd was in attendance...

((Crowd goes wild after game//Courtesy: Gerry Melendez/TheState.com))

Downey was 9-for-29 from the floor, but was 10-for-11 from the free throw line...

***Late Breaking News***- The University of South Carolina was fined $25k for what you see in the picture. More on that from TheState.com RIGHT HERE

Here's the wrap from our friends at WKYT-TV in Lexington...
Brandon Fisher was on site...

The Great Wall And A Grey Beard...

You've seen the hype.

You followed all the trials and tribulations when he was a high school senior trying to determine whether or not his time of Raleigh-Word Of God would send him to Miami or Duke.

Sure, Coach Cal was at the front of the line, but the whole Memphis fiasco put that in limbo- as did the illegal contact from his AAU coach that forced him to sit the first two UK games this year.

You wonder what all the hype is about... you know he's a one-and-done, but it's like that wreck on the side of the road. You want to check it out on your way past...

Thus, another game at the last year of Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum on the corner of Roosevelt and Donahue on the Auburn campus.

((Ashley Judd is on the front row somewhere behind the UK bench, pictured thanks to me... What...? You don't see her...???))

Before the game was over, I think the entire world saw a bit of a blueprint on how to beat Kentucky come tournament time. It starts with free throw shooting...

I know that comes as some short of a shock when it comes to a Cal-Coached team...
The second-ranked Wildcats went 23-for-35, but at one point were 15-for-26. Wall's free throws down the stretch saved that average. Auburn only went 8-for-14, but the ridiculously one-sided whistling by SEC officials gave it that margin.

Auburn drew close in the first half, but a DeMarcus Cousins block/no-call and a bucket at the other end turned what could have been a four-point game to an eight-point game. That also happened on two possessions in the second half where the Tigers could have drawn even, but block/no-calls ((and a 10-second call on a walk-up and a bad cross-court pass on offense)) gave away too many opportunities.

There's your second point... you can't give away possessions. Auburn was smaller on the inside and had to live and die by the three. They were 9-for-24. At times, DeWayne Reed was out of his mind from the outside for an over matched Jeff Lebo-coached team.

Kentucky tried to turn the game into a track meet, but Auburn wasn't buying. The possessions were slowed down, the ball was worked around, and there were a lot of chacnes with the paint wide open that went ignored off a back door look.

One last thing...

Kentucky's speed can not be taken for granted- ever. Ever. Ever. Ever. Ever. Ever.

And I'm talking on both offense and defense. Their closing speed when the other team is in transition is unreal, their size on the inside needs to be matched for any level of success if your favorite team can't shoot from the outside.

And Wall...??? Flashes of brilliance, freshman mistakes, and team that's now 18-0.

Who Will Be The New Head Men's Basketball Coach At Alabama?

You want to be a head basketball coach in the SEC? There's an opening at the University of Alabama. There are a few banners hanging from the creaky rafters of Coleman Coliseum so the Crimson Tide has had success. Yes there's talent there to be had.

Then again the fan base treats college basketball as something to do before spring football, Sarah Patterson's gymnastics program sells out Coleman and you probably won't and then there is the Nick-tator, who casts a menacing shadow on campus.

With that said, names are being thrown around and lists are being compiled. Here's a few names making the rounds and a few to think about.

Anthony Grant - VCU head coach: Grant should be coaching in the SEC anyway at Florida but Billy Donavan decided there was no Magic in Orlando and came crawling back to Gainesville. Grant might feel he has maxed out at VCU and ready to make the next step. He would be a great hire but VCU is not a bad mid-major job.

Sean Miller - Xavier head coach: Xavier is the gold standard of the mid-majors. A program willing to spend much of it's resources on it's basketball program and they do take care of Miller financially. He won't get kind of love at Alabama. Unless you are chomping at the bit to coach at a big boy school, stay with the Musketeers.

John Calipari - Memphis head coach: Yeah right, Calipari is the king of Memphis. He's got all that talent in the city to recruit and an NBA arena that draws big crowds. Heck, the Tigers outdraw the Grizzlies. Thanks but no thanks.

Mike Davis - UAB head coach: He is an Alabama native and played for the Crimson Tide under C. M. Newton for a year (don't be surprised if Newton assists in the search.) and then played for Wimp Sanderson. Davis did lead Indiana to the NCAA Title game in 2002 so he has proven to be a success at the elite level. The question with Davis is whether he is charismatic enough with the media to sell the program to recruits?

Mike Anderson - Missouri head coach: He's struggling at Mizzou, not likely.

Scott Drew - Baylor head coach: What Drew has accomplished with the Bears is simply remarkable. He took a program from the lowest of the lows to the upper division of the Big 12 conference. Drew should be at the top of Alabama's list but it will be a tough sell to lure him to Tuscaloosa.

Tubby Smith - Minnesota head coach: It's going to take a you know what load of money to lure Tubby from Minnesota, he's got something going on with the Golden Gophers. The SEC I'm sure is a been there done that deal for him. But hey the weather is warmer.

Frank Haith - Miami head coach: Haith knows what it's like to be a head basketball coach at a football school and in many ways upgraded the Hurricane men's basketball program. Under Haith Miami is always a factor in the ACC. In other words, playing a game at Miami has been a pain in the butt for the ACC elite. This is a guy that should be in Alabama's cross hairs.

All those names are head coaches already and might command a large paycheck to make the move. Alabama could go the cheap rout a find a hot shot assistant coach foaming at the mouth to be a big time college head basketball coach. Crimson Tide fans, play out the string and enjoy the silly season.

Tide Turns For The Worse For Mark Gottfried

Mark Gottfried quit Monday as the head basketball coach at the University of Alabama. Here's the statement released by the University:

University of Alabama head men's basketball coach Mark Gottfried has resigned effective immediately, UA Director of Athletics Mal Moore announced today. Crimson Tide assistant coach Philip Pearson will assume the role of interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

"My number one priority is to do what is best for the University of Alabama, this basketball program, and these young men," Gottfried said. "Mal and I sat down today and we talked. At that point, I notified him of my intention to resign as head coach of the men's basketball program. I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity and the privilege to lead our men's basketball program at Alabama for the past 10 and a half seasons. It has been a wonderful decade for me and my family, and I love the University of Alabama, but I feel that it is in the best interests of everyone involved. I want to thank our players, their families, our coaching staff and their families, and our great fans for all of their support over these last 11 seasons."

"I accepted Coach Gottfried's resignation," Alabama athletic director Mal Moore said. "I respect Mark's decision and will begin immediately working on a permanent replacement. I agreed with him that it is in the best interests of the men's basketball program for us to move in a different direction."

Assistant coach Phillip Pearson will take over immediately as interim head coach.

Gottfried has been criticized over the recent departure of star guard Ronald Steele, who skipped the end of his senior season. The school cited an injury, but Steele said there was more to his decision than that.

This move is probably a couple of years to late. Alabama hasn't done anything on the hardwood for quite some time. Judging from Ronald Steele leaving the team, the players were fed up and tuning Gottfried out.

Lately Alabama has been at best mediocre to the point the Crimson Tide were irrelevant to their fans who have drunk the Nick Saban cool aid. Gottfried's early success at Alabama was old news.

Photo Courtesy: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Arkansas Razorbacks: Your 2008-09 Big 12 Champion

Hey, if the Arkansas Razorbacks do not win the SEC championship or even the SEC West they could lay claim to being the best team in the Big 12 Conference. The Hogs have defeated the top 2 teams in the Big 12. On December 30th Arkansas beat Oklahoma, then ranked #4, 96-88 giving the Sooners their first loss of the year. Then Tuesday night Arkansas defeated #7 Texas 67-61.

Yes Arkansas, now 12-1 on the season, did win those games at Bud Walton Arena but the Razorbacks are doing exactly what you have to do to win 20 games, protect your home court. Most importantly there wasn't much excitement from a team expected to finish at the bottom of the SEC West. But those 2 big wins over Oklahoma and Texas has got the fans high on the Hogs. Talk about a huge confidence boost heading into SEC play.

This has to please the SEC to see Arkansas having this kind of success. One of the big reasons why the Razorbacks were invited into the SEC in 1990 was to counter balance Kentucky's basketball dominance. Those Arkansas/Kentucky games in the 90's were battles and I witnessed a few of those.

This year the SEC West is up for grabs. Tennessee is the class of the SEC this season, but Arkansas may have the talent and the athletes to challenge the mighty Volunteers. The Hogs and Vols meet February 4th in Fayetteville. Has the schedule work out great for Arkansas or what.

All the Razorbacks have to do is protect it's house and special things could happen in my home state. I guess you could say I'm a little biased.

Photo Courtesy: Wesley Hitt/Arkansas

Andy Kennedy Accused Of Assault

Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy returns to Cincinnati and ends up in jail.

Kennedy was arrested early Thursday morning charged with misdemeanor assault. He is accused of attacking a taxi driver and shouting racial slurs at him.

A report says that Kennedy was the "aggressor" and punched the cab driver, Mohammed Ould Jiddou, and used racial slurs during the attack.

Kennedy has hired an attorney, Mike Allen who is a former prosecutor in the Cincinnati area and entered a not guilty plea on behalf of Kennedy this morning. Hamilton said Kennedy, "emphatically denies this and emphatically denies making any racial slurs."

According to an OSG source, Kennedy and Ole Miss athletic director Pete Boone are meeting about his immediate future. The Rebels play Louisville tonight in the SEC/Big East challenge it is not known at this time whether Kennedy will coach in the game.

Kennedy was the interim head coach at the University of Cincinnati during the 2005-06 season when Bob Huggins stepped down.

Photo Courtesy: University of Mississippi

College Basketball: Southeastern Conference

There are 4 quality teams in the SEC, Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky and Vanderbilt. That quartet all come from the SEC Eastern Division. The SEC Western Division is a vast wasteland. Alabama, well Ronald Steele is the key. LSU, Tasmin Mitchell is back but new coach, new system. Andy Kennedy is a gem of a head coach but can't seem to get Ole Miss into the NCAA's. Auburn, not much there. Mississippi State, in full rebuilding mode. Arkansas is rebuilding, retooling and in for a long year.

Best Team In The SEC: Tennessee Volunteers

Is Bruce Pearl the most marketable head basketball coach in SEC history? He's a rare commodity that can sell the product and deliver the goods above and beyond what was expected. Pearl has made men's basketball matter at a University where football and women's basketball ruled on campus. Chris Lofton, JaJuan Smith and Jordan Howell are gone but Pearl brought in a great recruiting class. Couple that with Tyler Smith and those are ingredients for an SEC title up in Rocky Top and a deep NCAA Tournament Run.

Best Player In The SEC: Tyler Smith - Tennessee

Smith led the Vols in field goal percentage, rebounds and assists and thought about going into the NBA Draft. Smith returns for his junior season as the focal point of the Vols. UT will need Smith to take some of the scoring load with the departure of Chris Lofton. He's been working all summer on his perimeter jumper. Add that to his resume' and Tyler Smith could be getting paid to play next year.

Team That Could Surprise - Ole Miss Rebels

Bruce Pearl may be the media darling among the head coaches in the SEC. Andy Kennedy is the most underrated. In 2 seasons at Oxford he's made Ole Miss a factor in the SEC. The Rebels somehow stumble in mid-season the last 2 years and end up playing in the NIT. This year Ole Miss has the best backcourt in the SEC in Chris Warren and David Huertas. The frontcourt is inexperienced but if Kennedy can get his young bigs to handle the next level, Ole Miss might take the West and make the big dance for the first time in 7 years.

Who Goes Dancing: Tennessee, Florida, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Ole Miss

Who Plays For Number 66: Alabama, LSU

SEC Notes: Georgia's run during the SEC Tournament last season was one for the ages. It bought Dennis Felton some time. Will Felton be a lame duck coach at the SEC Tournament this year? Darrin Horn turned his Sweet 16 run at Western Kentucky last year into a employment upgrade to South Carolina. The Gamecocks have been were stale as a 3 day old doughnut last season. Horn's job is to freshen things up and get 'Cock fans excited again. Trent Johnson takes over at LSU trying a to reverse a 2 year slide to mediocrity under John Brady.

SEC Predictions

Eastern Division

Tennessee

Florida

Kentucky

Vanderbilt

South Carolina

Georgia

Western Division

Ole Miss

LSU

Alabama

Auburn

Mississippi State

Arkansas

Photo Courtesy: AP

The Big Deal: SEC & ESPN

The SEC and ESPN have become a marriage worth in the billions of dollars. The 4-letter word paid a staggering $2.25 billion to the SEC for the conference’s TV content not taken by CBS for the next 15 years, about $150 million per year.

“This agreement makes the SEC the most widely distributed conference in the country.” SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said.

“We’re thrilled too with the historic nature of this deal.” John Skipper, ESPN Executive Vice President for Content said. “15 years is the longest deal we have ever done.”

So everyone is happy. ESPN gets programming from arguably the best league in college sports and can distribute that content to its numerous platforms while the SEC’s can deposit 9 figure checks for the next 15 years.

Here’s a break down of what ESPN gets:

ESPN has televised the SEC since 1982. All national programming will fall under the branding “SEC on ESPN.” As part of the agreement:

ESPN and ESPN2 will continue to offer premier SEC games, including Saturday night and two primetime Thursday football games, triple the basketball offerings with three nights (two new) of men’s basketball and present SEC Championships in women’s basketball, baseball, softball and gymnastics.

ESPN Regional Television will become the new over-the-air syndication home for SEC football and basketball games. In addition, ESPN and the SEC will work together to offer multi-sport packages (including football, men’s and women’s basketball, Olympic sports and conference championships) of SEC content for regional cable syndication.

ESPNU will now offer exclusive SEC telecasts, including football and basketball and selected conference championships. In addition, the network will present a weekly, hour-long program on SEC sports throughout the academic year as well as sport-by-sport previews, reviews and specials.

The semifinals and championship of the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament will be televised nationally for the first time on ESPN on ABC.

All SEC championship games except football will be aired on either ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN on ABC, ESPNU or ESPN Classic.

The agreement will also showcase the academic successes of SEC student-athletes by including twice-annual programs dedicated to academic accomplishments of SEC student-athletes; an annual Campus Connection (students take part in the production) telecast at each SEC institution; a weekly segment on an SEC show featuring academics; and an online SEC Academic Network utilizing ESPN360.com technology.

Extensive coverage of women’s basketball and Olympic sports will be offered nationally through ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU and regionally through ESPN Regional Television, including both regular-season and conference championships.

Comprehensive multimedia rights are also an integral part of the agreement as live SEC action, including football and basketball, will be offered via simulcasts on ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV and extensive content rights have been granted to ESPN.com.
ESPN International, ESPN GamePlan, ESPN FULL COURT, ESPN Classic and ESPN Deportes will also feature the SEC.

Each SEC institution retains the right to continue a local multi-media rights package.

“The SEC delivers tremendous quality and depth and a devoted, widespread fan base,” Bodenheimer said. “This historic deal will offer fans more SEC access than ever before through every form of media that exists today or may be developed during the life of this long-term arrangement. We applaud the leadership of the conference as well as these great academic and athletic institutions for supporting this groundbreaking collaboration.”

Slive said, “The Southeastern Conference has embodied excellence for 75 years and during the last 26 years, ESPN has carried the stories of our 12 member institutions throughout the nation and the world. With this landmark agreement, ESPN and its platforms will continue to showcase the SEC with more games and original SEC-dedicated content than ever before. The SEC is looking forward to continuing its relationship with ESPN as we move into our next 75 years.”

“The Southeastern Conference is pleased to extend its relationship with ESPN and its wide-ranging outlets in this milestone agreement,” said Dr. Lee Todd, President of the University of Kentucky and the Southeastern Conference. “This contract represents an innovative and revolutionary direction for the SEC that will showcase our conference in a variety of means both academically and athletically.”

Following are the key details of the new agreement:

Football ESPN has acquired rights to every SEC home football game (excluding those on the network broadcast package) and will serve as the exclusive national cable home and the syndication rightsholder for the conference.

ESPN and ESPN2: The networks will increase coverage by combining to televise a minimum of 20 SEC games annually, including Saturday night and two primetime Thursday matchups.

ESPNU: The 24-hour college sports network, which launched in March 2005, will present a package of SEC football for the first time, with a Saturday game-of-the-week (generally in primetime and a minimum of 13 games annually).

ESPN Regional Television (ERT): The nation’s largest syndicator of collegiate sports programming, becomes the official over-the-air syndication home for the SEC and will feature a game-of-the-week package (generally at 12:30 p.m. ET), with a minimum of 13 games each season throughout the SEC footprint and beyond. In addition, ERT will produce and distribute a studio show.

ESPN360.com: Simulcasts of SEC game telecasts will be offered on the broadband network.

ESPN Mobile TV: Live games will be simulcast on mobile phones. ESPN International: The agreement includes global rights to present live games and encore presentations. ESPN Deportes: ESPN has acquired domestic Spanish-language rights for SEC football on the 24-hour, U.S.-based network.

ESPN GamePlan: The out-of-market college football pay-per-view service, will offer SEC action. ESPN Classic: The network may telecast select SEC live games as well as historic and immediate encore presentations. ESPN.com: Extensive SEC content, including highlights, will be presented online.

Men’s Basketball: As the exclusive national cable home and syndication rightsholder, an ESPN outlet will offer every SEC intra-conference game (excluding those on the network broadcast package) and numerous inter-conference matchups.

ESPN and ESPN2: The networks will triple the offerings by featuring SEC action three nights per week through a minimum of 24 intra-conference games plus an additional six inter-conference matchups involving the SEC each season. Highlighting the increased schedule will be the return of the SEC to ESPN’s Super Tuesday and the addition of SEC slots on Thursday and Saturday (ESPN or ESPN2). The SEC will also continue to participate in an annual inter-conference basketball challenge event (e.g. – SEC/Big East Challenge).

ESPNU: The network will televise exclusively a minimum of seven intra-conference and five non-conference games. ESPN on ABC: A minimum of two regular-season games each season plus the addition of a national telecast of the SEC Tournament Semifinals and Championship Game, giving ABC its first entry into the annual Championship Week.

ESPN Regional Television (ERT): Similar to football, ERT takes over the rights to SEC syndication and will produce and syndicate a minimum of 37 intra-conference games each season throughout SEC territories and beyond. Highlights will include weekly doubleheaders on Saturdays, Wednesday night games, a studio show and the first two rounds of the SEC Tournament.

ESPN360.com: Simulcasts of SEC game telecasts will be offered on the broadband network.

ESPN Mobile TV: Live games will be simulcast on mobile phones. ESPN International: The agreement includes global rights to present live games and encore presentations. ESPN Deportes: ESPN has acquired domestic Spanish-language rights for SEC basketball on the 24-hour, U.S.-based network.

ESPN FULL COURT: The out-of-market college basketball pay-per-view service, will offer SEC action. ESPN Classic: The network may telecast select SEC live games as well as historic and immediate encore presentations. ESPN.com: Extensive SEC content, including highlights, will be presented online.

Women’s Basketball:

ESPN and ESPN2: SEC teams will make a minimum of 16 appearances on ESPN or ESPN2 and one of the networks will also televise the conference tournament championship game.

ESPNU: The network will also feature a minimum of 16 appearances by SEC teams, in addition to the women’s conference tournament semifinals.

ESPN Regional Television: ERT will syndicate a game-of-the-week during the regular season as well as the early rounds of the women’s conference tournament.

Olympic Sports:

ESPN and ESPN2: A minimum of three regular-season baseball or softball games will be offered on ESPN or ESPN2 as well as three regular-season gymnastics matches. In addition, the conference championships in gymnastics, softball and baseball will be televised.

ESPNU: A minimum of 25 regular-season events annually will be televised, including baseball, softball, volleyball, gymnastics, soccer, swimming and diving, track and field and others.

ESPNU will cover all SEC Conference events not on ESPN or ESPN2, including swimming and diving, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field and women’s soccer.

The big loser in this is Raycom Sports who has had the SEC syndication package since 1986. This agreement with ESPN ends the SEC’s relationship with Raycom starting in the 2009-10 academic year.

As for the regional sports networks there is still a ray of hope.

“..we expect to have very significant regional cable packages, and ESPN and the SEC will work together to offer multi-sport packages, including football, men’s and women’s basketball, Olympic sports and conference championships with SEC contact for regional cable syndication.” Slive said.

In other words, regional sports networks like FSN South or CSS can buy what the 4-letter word doesn’t want. The SEC expects one or more regional cable package to be sold and coupled with the CBS and ESPN agreements would make the league the most widely distributed conference in the country.

As far as an SEC Channel, that won’t happen for at least 15 years but SEC Commissioner Mike Slive had very strong feelings about starting that network.

“I think I started out with the mind to do the (SEC) channel.” Slive said. “I think I was there about a year.”

But ESPN was able to persuade commissioner Slive that the worldwide leader in sports shared the same vision and goals as the SEC, plus had the cash on hand to pay for it.

“Every time we told them the channel allows us to do this, and they came back with an answer to do that.” Slive said. “Then slowly, but surely, it began to happen.”

The SEC’s goals throughout this process was to make a lot of money which they have, take care of their member institutions which they have and not screw their fans. Check yes to that one to. Now an SEC fans from Albuquerque to Walla Walla can view their favorite SEC school on the numerous platforms available.

August was a good and profitable month in the SEC.

SEC+CBS= $$$$$$$

In a move that, once again, surprises no one the Southeastern Conference and the CBS Television network have signed a 15-year deal extending their relationship until the year 2023.

Ahem...quote... courtesy of the SEC themselves...

"CBS Sports has reached a historic 15-year contract extension with the Southeastern Conference to broadcast its football and basketball games, it was announced today by Sean McManus, President, CBS News and Sports and Mike Slive, Commissioner of the SEC.

"In the new agreement, beginning with the 2009-10 season, CBS Sports continues to be the exclusive national network broadcaster of SEC home football games, including the SEC Championship Game. CBS Sports will showcase the top conference matchups each week of the package with the “SEC Game of the Week”. The agreement also includes a prime time game and doubleheader opportunities. In addition, CBS Sports continues its coverage of SEC regular-season basketball.

“This landmark deal allows THE SEC ON CBS to continue to be a cornerstone of our fall programming for many years to come,” said McManus. “The agreement provides CBS Sports with the opportunity to showcase the excitement, pageantry and rich traditions of the SEC across all CBS platforms. We are thrilled to continue our long-standing relationship with one of the premiere conferences in the nation. ”

"The Southeastern Conference is proud to continue its association with CBS Sports,” said Dr. Lee Todd, President of the University of Kentucky and the Southeastern Conference. “This national network agreement provides a unique platform to share both the athletic and academic achievements of the 12 member institutions."

“The SEC is the gold standard in college athletics, and we are proud to be associated with this great conference and its outstanding administrators, coaches and student-athletes,” said Mike Aresco, Executive Vice President, Programming, CBS Sports. “The length of this deal is a testament to the great brand that THE SEC ON CBS has become.”

"The Southeastern Conference is extremely pleased to extend its long-standing relationship with CBS Sports,” added Slive. "THE SEC ON CBS enables the conference to continue its unique full, national network exposure. We have enjoyed working with CBS Sports over the past 13 years and we are excited about our long-term future."

In addition to the broadcast rights on CBS Sports, this comprehensive long-team deal includes certain digital, internet, wireless, Video-on-Demand, data and enhanced highlight rights across all CBS platforms, including CBS College Sports Network and CBSSports.com. Also, simulcasts of CBS Sports games will be available for distribution by the CBS College Sports Network.

Everyone used to call the CBS network the "Tiffany Network." Does this mean the SEC is now the "Tiffany Conference?"

More on the story as it develops...