Commodores talking BCS

SEC Notes

HOOVER, Ala. — South Carolina's not the only SEC East school ramping up its goals for the coming season.

Vanderbilt is thinking BCS. Yes, that Vanderbilt. The one in Nashville, Tenn.

"It's very important to us that we can feel that we can go to a BCS game this year," Commodores receiver Earl Bennett said.

Bennett, a first-team all-conference selection by the coaches, was serious. Even though Vandy has been to three bowl games in program history, the last being the defunct All-American Bowl in 1982.

Bennett went on to drop the acronym "BCS" five more times in his meeting Thursday with the print media.

"The expectations are BCS," said Bennett, who had 1,146 receiving yards a year ago. "I feel like we have great athletes this year where we can go to a BCS game if we stay focused and win the games and get over that hump."

It's not just Bennett, either. Linebacker Jonathan Goff quickly backed Bennett's comments.

"We don't want to make it to just any bowl," Goff said. "We want to make it to the best bowls."

To their credit, the Commodores did manage wins at Tennessee and Georgia in the past two years. The players said, too, that watching Kentucky make it to — and win — a bowl game last season served as proper motivation. To them, the next stop is the BCS.

"We're getting great players who can compete and come into a league like the SEC," Bennett said. "By just playing hard and staying focused, we feel like we can go to a BCS bowl game this year."

Spurrier on Saban

Steve Spurrier and Nick Saban both won national titles, went to the NFL for a pair of so-so seasons and then returned to the college game.

Entering his third year at South Carolina, Spurrier said don't get carried away with comparisons to the first-year coach at Alabama.

"I didn't go to Alabama. I came to South Carolina, where they'd never won a division or the SEC and three bowl games in the history of the school," Spurrier said. "We had nowhere to go but up. It's completely different as far as that's concerned."

There's also a financial disparity on the part of the coaches.

"He got a lot more money than I did, too," Spurrier said, smiling, "but that's OK."

Saban's $4 million per season is tops among college coaches. Spurrier's latest raise takes him to a more modest $1.75 million a year.

Spurrier said he's curious to see what sort of buzz Saban brings to the West.

"The Bible says, 'To whom much is given, much is expected,'" Spurrier said. "So, uh, coach Saban's expectations are way up there. It'll be interesting to watch it."

He said he's particularly intrigued by the Tide's game against Auburn.

"I hope we're not playing at the same time that one's on," Spurrier said. "I want to watch that one."

Although game times could still allow, unfortunately for Spurrier, Saban's first Iron Bowl coincides with USC's Palmetto Bowl game against Clemson.

Tebow can throw

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow wasn't at these media days, but there was plenty of talk about the sophomore with a folklore sort of following.

As a freshman backing Chris Leak, Tebow proved himself by bowling over defenders as a runner. But teammates feel confident in his ability to throw, too.

"A lot of people don't think he can throw the ball. That's good," said receiver Andre Caldwell, adding that he's a "little better" downfield thrower than Leak. "We didn't need him last year to the throw passes. This year, we're going to need him to do that. He throws a great ball. He's a good down-the-field passer. He puts it right on the money."

That Sly dog

If he's on a metaphorical hot seat, Mississippi State's Sylvester Croom doesn't care.

"If you're asking me whether I'm worried about whether I'm going to get fired, no," said Croom, when asked if he's feeling any pressure these days. "I've coached for 30 years. I've never had to go look for a job. I've always had one. The good Lord has blessed me with one. I know we're doing things the right way. I know our plan is on track."

Croom's Bulldogs went 3-9 last season and they're 9-25 in his three seasons in Starkville. He says, creatively, that things are different now.

"You ever been bear hunting with a switch?" Croom asked reporters. "The last three years, we've been bear hunting with a switch. Now, we've got a gun."

Despite the variety of wildlife in the SEC, there are no Bears.

Reach Travis Haney at thaney@postandcourier.com.