Midseason SEC Awards

[AUChizad]

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/10/super_cam_midseason_sec_player.html

Super Cam midseason SEC Player of the Year

With most teams half way through the conference schedule, it's time for our annual SEC Midseason Awards. This is the year of the no brainer for most categories.
But remember these wise words: Half a season does not a season make.

It's a long road to Atlanta, and it's a marathon to Glendale where the biggest prize of all awaits. So take it all in, but re member much can change in the second half.

Especially in the SEC.

> Player of the Year -- Why waste time with even suggesting there is a debate? Through seven games, Auburn's CAM NEWTON has been the best player in the nation. He leads the SEC in rushing and passing efficiency and he's the key reason the Tigers are ranked in the BCS top five.

> Coach of the Year -- In his second year, Dan Mullen has led Mississippi State to four straight wins after dropping two in a row to No. 5 Auburn and No. 6 LSU, upsetting Georgia and Florida along the way.

Arkansas has reemerged on the national scene under Bobby Petrino, with only tough losses to Alabama and Auburn sullying the record. Les Miles survived one epic clock meltdown, yet LSU remains perfect. And the old visor thrower himself, Steve Spurrier, has es tablished South Carolina as the team to beat in the SEC East.

But the halfway winner is Auburn's GENE CHIZIK. The Tigers have escaped from Alabama's long shadow and are now the team to beat in the SEC West. At least this week. That's way ahead of any reasonable timetable.

> Freshman of the Year -- Redshirt quarterback Aaron Murray helms the Georgia of fense, which is kicking into gear now. Mike Dyer has provided oomph to Auburn's running game. Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley has shown a penchant for the big play.

But is there any doubt about this one? South Carolina running back MARCUS LATTIMORE dazzled in the upset of Alabama and has given the Gamecocks the power they've lacked for so long.

> Biggest surprise -- There was so much hype about Newton that his arrival and Auburn's return don't come as a total shock.

The same can't be said about MISSISSIPPI STATE, a program on the rise and one that has proved it can play with the big boys of the SEC. If the recruiting pays off, State could be a force in the West for the next four years.

> Biggest disappointment -- Florida has lost three straight in a season in which the Gators were expected to contend again.

Georgia endured a four-game losing skid that has Mark Richt coaching for his future. Tennessee has fallen off the radar and it may be a few years before Derek Dooley has the talent to return the Vols to respectability.

What's the common thread? The biggest disappointment is the SEC EAST. Once the dominant division, this year it would fit in as part of the Big East.

> Best game to date -- Jacksonville State's opening-day upset of Ole Miss will be remembered for years to come. Alabama and Arkansas played a thriller in Fayetteville and Auburn won five games that came down to the wire - take your pick of the most thrilling.

South Carolina's hangover was evident Saturday, when the Gamecocks blew an 18-point lead against Kentucky, losing on Mike Hartline's 24-yard pass to Randall Cobb with 75 seconds left.

But for pure dramatics, LSU went on the road, gambled with a fake field goal and PULLED OUT A 33-29 VICTORY AT FLORIDA on Jarrett Lee's short touchdown pass with six seconds remaining.

> Best game to come -- Three games will decide the West -- Auburn vs. LSU, Alabama vs. LSU and Auburn vs. Al abama. There's also LSU's visit to Little Rock.

This year, one of those games emerges above the others. Perhaps the best rivalry in college football takes it to another level when Alabama and Auburn SQUARE OFF IN THE IRON BOWL.

[AUTailgatingRules]

They forgot defensive player of the year:

Nick Fairly

[AUChizad]

They forgot defensive player of the year:

Nick Fairly

Also, admitting homerism is coming into play here, I've got to rank Dyer over Lattimore for Freshman of the Year, just because he completely and utterly outperformed him in our head-to-head matchup.

Just because we don't rely on him much as they do Lattimore doesn't mean Lattimore's the better player.

[Tiger Wench]

Also, admitting homerism is coming into play here, I've got to rank Dyer over Lattimore for Freshman of the Year, just because he completely and utterly outperformed him in our head-to-head matchup.

Just because we don't rely on him much as they do Lattimore doesn't mean Lattimore's the better player.

You beat me to this SAME comment...

[Saniflush]

Also, admitting homerism is coming into play here, I've got to rank Dyer over Lattimore for Freshman of the Year, just because he completely and utterly outperformed him in our head-to-head matchup.

Just because we don't rely on him much as they do Lattimore doesn't mean Lattimore's the better player.

Which is a red herring in this discussion.