Rocky Top Talk, a Tennessee Volunteers community

Chris Low, ESPN's lead SEC blogger, today compiled a ranking of the SEC football facilities. MSU came in 9th out of 14 (list includes new members aTm and Mizzou), but Chris appears to have not updated his info on the new football facility: "The Bulldogs are breaking ground on a new $25 million football complex sometime this year..." Try LAST year, Christopher. Do you agree with this ranking? At first I thought we were ranked low, but there are some really good facilities ahead of us.

I am torn on this one. On the one hand, a New Year's Eve bowl would be a gift; on the other hand, I don't want to play a team from Conference USA. The Music City Bowl is the earliest SEC bowl game (December 30), but it offers an opportunity to renew the rivalry with Clemson. The Compass Bowl is the weakest SEC tie-in, but it also takes place on January 8. While I am not crazy about any of these options, each has advantages that might make it the dog with the fewest fleas. Go 'Dawgs!

I'm going to have to look that one up, because it's a new one on me; I don't even know where it's played, or what the corporate sponsor makes. Here's the kicker, though: it's a January 8 bowl game, making it the third-latest bowl game (behind only the Fight Hunger Bowl and, of course, the BCS National Championship Game). I'm still holding out hope for a Music City Bowl matchup with Clemson, but, failing that, I have to say that a January bowl game (with the accompanying practice time stretching into the new year) has a lot of appeal. Of course, first the Bulldogs have to get bowl eligible. First things first. Go 'Dawgs!

Chris Low, ESPN's SEC correspondent, is in Tuscaloosa for the next few days to cover Alabama's pre-season preparations. "I'm getting ready to catch the first part of the Crimson Tide's morning practice and plan to sit down with coach Nick Saban sometime in the next two days to get his thoughts on where this program is in Year 3 under him. I'll also have several updates with the players over the next two days."