TUSCALOOSA — Greg McElroy could prepare for the Tennessee defense, the ferocity of LSU’s front four, the tenacity of South Carolina’s defensive ends, the complexity of Jim McElwain’s playbook, the frustration of missing open receivers, even the wrath of Nick Saban.

AUBURN — Mario Fannin picked Auburn over in-state Georgia for a variety of reasons, but one of them, in retrospect, has a bit of an ironic twist.

TROY — Troy head coach Larry Blakeney denied a summer report that had him saying the Trojans would beat Arkansas, and the originator of the report Monday said it was a misunderstanding.

TROY — It didn’t take long for Troy freshman running back Shawn Southward to pick up a nickname.

TUSCALOOSA — As besieged Southeastern Conference officials continue to get ripped for perceived poor performance, a white knight wearing a straw hat came riding to their rescue Monday.

TUSCALOOSA — Alabama coach Nick Saban said Mississippi State presents several challenges for his team this week.

AUBURN — The search continues.

TUSCALOOSA — Alabama fans partied like it was 1999 Saturday night.

Freshman Travante Stallworth, who had seen his role in the Auburn offense increase over the past few weeks, suffered an apparent right ankle/foot injury on kickoff coverage in the first half Saturday.

AUBURN — The astronomical numbers put up by Chris Todd and Co. weren’t the most important stats to come from Saturday’s homecoming romp over Furman.

The first touchdown of the game for Troy came when receiver Zack Marcum scored on a 10-yard pass from Levi Brown in the first quarter.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The future is now for Troy at the running back position.

When Leigh Tiffin kicked through a 40-yard field goal to clinch the win for Alabama, it gave him 348 career points to set a new career scoring record at Alabama. The previous record of 345 points was held by Phillip Doyle (1987-90). Tiffin made three field goals and one extra point on Saturday. He now has 76 career field goals, second all-time at Alabama and two shy of the record held by Doyle.

TUSCALOOSA — Leigh Tiffin leaned against a wall in the media room wearing a black Polo T-shirt, blue jeans and cowboy boots.

TUSCALOOSA — Alabama survived a 60-minute gut check Saturday.

ELBA — Carlos Matias ran for 154 yards and two touchdowns (31, 42) as Elba (11-0) rolled past Excel 31-0.

WETUMPKA — Enterprise head coach Kevin Collins spent much of the past week figuring out ways to surprise Wetumpka in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs.

BRUNDIDGE — Luverne’s defense held Pike County to just one first down and a net minus-7 yards of offense in the second half and the Tigers surprised the undefeated Bulldogs 13-7 Friday night.

EUFAULA — Eufaula’s season ended on a disappointing note Friday as the Tigers were trounced by sixth-ranked Spanish Fort 45-14 in the first round of the AHSAA Class 5A Playoffs.

LEROY — William Gartman passed for three touchdowns to lead No. 2-ranked Leroy to a 34-21 victory over New Brockton Friday night as the Bears opened their quest for a fourth straight 2A state title.

No. 5-ranked Jackson scored six touchdowns on eight first-half possessions to race to a 42-point halftime lead before settling for a dominating 42-14 victory.

DALEVILLE — Bayside Academy normally lives by the running game. Friday night, the Admirals sailed through the air with key passes, sparking a first-ever state playoff win for the football program from Daphne.

After a near-perfect first half in which Houston Academy built a three-touchdown lead, it was a couple of big defensive plays in the secondary which preserved a 21-14 win over Millry.

PRATTVILLE — Dothan jolted Prattville on the first possession Friday night. But the three-time defending Class 6A state champions weren’t stunned long.

Glenn Northcutt, a former Auburn golfer, will be honored Saturday, Nov. 7 as the Cliff Hare Award recipient at Jordan-Hare Stadium during pre-game ceremonies of the Auburn-Furman football game.

Auburn’s football team received a huge commitment Friday morning from one of the nation’s top prep running backs, Michael Dyer of Little Rock (Ark.) Christian.

TROY — Two teams heading in different directions will square off today at Houchens-Smith Field in Bowling Green, Ky.

TUSCALOOSA — The loudest Javier Arenas has ever heard Bryant-Denny Stadium was when Terrence Cody blocked a field goal on the final play of the game against Tennessee two weeks ago.

Furman coach Bobby Lamb has seven players on his roster who grew up learning that the Iron Bowl was the real Super Bowl and will treat today’s game as if it’s the next best thing.

Alabama writer Ken Rogers and Sports editor Jon Johnson preview Alabama’s matchup with LSU set for Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009.