Bewerben zum clanbeitritt » Koenning, who directs Troys defense and

Last weekend was the best opening set of games I have seen in my three decades of covering the SEC. I cant promise that this Saturday will give us the same amount of drama, but here are some significant storylines to watch:Kentucky tries to break the streak The last time Kentucky beat Florida in football, Ronald Reagan was president. That would be 1986 when the Wildcats beat the Gators 10-3 in Lexington. Since then it has been 29 straight years of misery for Kentucky, which has had half a dozen very close games with Florida in that span but has not found a way to win.The last time the two teams played in Gainesville, Kentucky had a 27-20 lead in the first overtime. The Wildcats forced Florida into a fourth down and the play clock appeared to wind down to zero. But a delay of game was not called and Jeff Driskel hit Demarcus Robinson for a touchdown to tie the game. Florida went on to win in triple overtime 36-30.So Kentucky hasnt beaten the Gators for three decades. Its been even longer since the Wildcats won in The Swamp, which last happened in 1979.Kentuckys stated goal this season is to get to a bowl. Its going to be hard for the Wildcats to get to six wins if they dont get it turned around soon. They host New Mexico State on Sept. 17.Tennessee and Virginia Tech make history This game has been years in the making and finally it will happen on Saturday (8 p.m. ET, ABC) when Tennessee and Virginia Tech meet at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee. It took workers 19 days to transform the quarter-mile NASCAR track into a football facility that is expected to draw 150,000 fans, which would be a record for an American football game. The current record is 115,109 which was set during the Notre Dame at Michigan game in 2013.By the way, this is not the first time the Bristol Motor Speedway has hosted a football game as the NFLs Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles played there in 1961.While everyone is getting caught up in what will be a unique event, this is an awfully important game for Tennessee. The Vols were fortunate to escape with a win over Appalachian State on Sept. 1 at home. They need to take care of business against the Hokies, who have a new head coach in Justin Fuente.Vandy-MTSU in the I-24 Backyard Brawl Vanderbilt and Middle Tennessee State are separated by only 34 miles on Interstate 24. And if history is any indicator it will be close when they meet on Saturday at Vanderbilt Stadium (4 p.m. ET, SEC Network Alternate).A year ago the Commodores needed a 39-yard touchdown run by Ralph Webb with only 1:12 left to beat the Blue Raiders 17-13. It snapped a three-game losing streak to MTSU, which posted victories in 2001, 2002, and 2005. It was Vanderbilts first trip to Murfreesboro since 1920.Vanderbilt (0-1) needs to get back on track after last weeks 13-10 conference loss to South Carolina, a game in which the Commodores led 10-0 at halftime.A few other quick storylines to watch on Saturday:Arkansas (1-0), which barely got past Louisiana Tech (21-20) will go on the road to meet TCU (1-0), its former rival in the Southwest Conference. In fact, the two teams have not met since Oct. 5, 1991, which was Arkansass last year in the SWC before joining the SEC in 1992. Arkansas won that game, rallying from a 21-0 deficit to win 22-21.A side note on this one: The starting quarterback for TCU will be Kenny Hill, who began his career at Texas A&M in 2014 before transferring to TCU. Hill sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules.Alabama (1-0) will be going for its 16th straight win over teams from the non-Power Five conferences when the Crimson Tide host Western Kentucky (1-0).Georgia running back Nick Chubb made a triumphant return from injury when he carried 32 times for 222 yards in a 33-24 win over North Carolina. It will be interesting to see how many carries he gets in the home opener with Nicholls, especially with road games against Missouri and Ole Miss coming up the next two weeks.LSU (0-1) will try to bounce back from a disappointing 16-14 loss to Wisconsin with a home game against Jacksonville State (1-0). Remember that Jax State took Auburn into overtime last season before losing 27-20.South Carolina (1-0) will try to go to 2-0 in the SEC under first-year coach Will Muschamp when the Gamecocks travel to Mississippi State (0-1). The Bulldogs lost to South Alabama 21-20 last week after leading 17-0 at halftime.Ole Miss will debut some major renovations to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium when the Rebels host Wofford. The school has spent over $54 million on the stadium since the end of last season. Alabama comes to Oxford on Sept. 17.Auburn (0-1) needs to get back on track after losing its opener to No. 2 Clemson last week 19-13. The Tigers will start Sean White at quarterback against Arkansas State. Auburn will open SEC play next week against Texas A&M.Missouri (0-1) which lost its first game under new coach Barry Odom last week to West Virginia, hopes to fare better against Eastern Michigan. Air Max Cheap Uk . -- Charline Labonte couldnt have asked for a better homecoming. Air Max Sale Uk .35 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. 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CLEMSON, S.C. -- Clemson coach Dabo Swinney had a message for Tigers fans worried about the teams too-close-for-comfort victory over Auburn last week: We won.Swinney and the second-ranked Tigers (1-0) look to do more of the same Saturday when they open their home season against Troy (1-0).Swinney understands the angst of supporters who dream of long touchdown passes, quick scores and points nearly every time the Tigers touched the ball. Now that it did not happen in Clemsons 19-13 season-opening win only means the stakes have risen dramatically for Swinneys team.Im sorry we disappointed them. Thats all I can tell them, Swinney said. We went to win the game and thats what we did.Swinneys not ignoring the mistakes and poor execution he saw at times in the win. There was a dropped TD pass and a fumble by Mike Williams, missed connections from quarterback Deshaun Watson to receiver Deon Cain and tight end Jordan Leggett and some failures on offense Clemson didnt have much last season.We werent quite as clean, Swinney said.Watson said any bobbles are things that can and will be worked out this week as Clemson tries for its 17th straight win at Death Valley. So its just a learning process, Watson said.Troy comes in off a 57-17 win over Austin Peay that coach Neal Brown said enfused them with confidence heading into week two.Were taking the field with belief, he said.---Things to watch when Troy plays at Clemson:CLEMSONS ROCK: The inspirational Clemson talisman, Howards Rock, turns 50 this season and will be honored by the program all year long. It was coach Frank Howard who in 1966 put the rock on a pedestal at the stadium, telling players if they werent willing to give maximum effort they should keep their filthy hands off of my rock. Ever since, Tigers have rubbed the rock before entering the field believing in the power and spirit of those whove gone before.USING THE WEAPONS: Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson figures to utilize many more players on offense than he did in the opener against Auburn. Look to receivers Deon Cain and Ray Raay McCloud, tight end Jordan Leggett and freshman running back Tavien Feaster to see more action against Troy.dddddddddddd Clemsons offense averaged more than 500 yards and 40 points on the way to an Atlantic Coast Conference title. It put up 399 yards and 19 points at Auburn last week.DONT I KNOW YOU? It will be the second straight week Clemson and coach Dabo Swinney will see a defensive coordinator he used to employ. Last game, it was Kevin Steele who led Auburns defense and who was in charge of Clemsons group under Swinney from 2009 through 2011. This time, its Vic Koenning, who directs Troys defense and was at Clemson for four seasons from 2005 through 2008, including six games that final year when Swinney was elevated to interim coach. When Swinney gained the fulltime job, he told Koenning he would not be retained and the defensive assistant resigned before the bowl game. Koenning says he still has friends on staff, although he and Swinney have not maintained a relationship.LAST MEETING: Clemsons run to the top of the college football world started in earnest in 2011 in a season opener with Troy. The Tigers had come off their last losing season, 6-7 in 2010, and trailed Troy 16-14 at halftime with some disgruntled fans at Death Valley booing Swinney and the Tigers. Things turned around in the second half as Clemson rolled to a 43-19 win. The Tigers started 8-0 that season and won the ACC crown, starting a run of five straight seasons with 10-or-more victories.BUYING IN: Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and wife Kathleen donated $1 million to the schools booster group, IPTAY, in support of the football team. The fund-raising group helps pay for athletic scholarships. Swinney received a new contract in April that will pay him $30.75 million over six years. It also raised his salary $1.1 million from last year to this as hell make $4.55 million in 2016.---AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '