LSU isn’t the only football team that has played its spring game this year.
Four Southeastern Conference teams played their spring games this past weekend, and all of them involved quarterback issues.
Florida’s Blue and Orange teams competed Saturday before 53,000 fans at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. But the fans were not pleased senior quarterback John Brantley’s performance when he went 4-of-14 for 45 yards in one half.
“Brantley didn’t look good or comfortable,” said Adam Berry, sports editor of the Independent Florida Alligator.
South Carolina’s Garnet and Black spring game was marked by the senior quarterback Stephen Garcia’s absence. He was suspended indefinitely from the team April 6 for the second time this spring and fifth time total. Further details were not released other than Garcia was not arrested and neither drugs nor alcohol were involved.
Quarterbacks Connor Shaw and Dylan Thompson did not sweep coach Steve Spurrier off his feet. Shaw overthrew open receivers twice before leaving the game with cramps and dehydration, and Thompson threw two interceptions.
“Our quarterbacks have a lot to learn,” Spurrier told The Daily Gamecock. “Connor needs to have a wonderful summer if he is our quarterback.”
Meanwhile, Mississippi State played its Maroon and White game Saturday after finishing 9-4 in 2010.
Sophomore Dylan Favre tried to make his case for the backup quarterback spot behind senior Chris Relf. Favre went 17-of-26 for 199 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 55 yards on 10 carries.
The White team lost the game, 23-20, and had to clean the stadium as “punishment” the next day.
Six Southeastern Conference teams will cap their spring practices with games April 16.
Georgia’s Red and Black teams square off at noon Saturday. The Bulldogs will be without left tackle Trinton Sturdivant, who suffered a torn right ACL in spring practice. Sturdivant has torn his left ACL twice before. The injury will result in some shake-ups in the Georgia offensive line, leaving only left tackle Cordy Glenn and center Ben Jones as returning starters. Glenn was an offensive guard in his first three seasons.
Ole Miss and Tennessee’s spring seasons conclude at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Ole Miss senior running backs Enrique Davis and Devin Thomas combined for 165 yards in a scrimmage Sunday in place of injured Brandon Bolden and Jeff Scott. The Rebels lost a rushing threat in former quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who scored three times against LSU.
Tennessee toted a new coaching lineup into spring practice. Former linebackers coach Lance Thompson became defensive line coach, and Peter Sirmon was promoted from a graduate assistant to linebackers coach.
Alabama’s spring game will be broadcast on ESPNU at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Two key departures for the Crimson Tide are quarterback Greg McElroy and left tackle James Carpenter. Senior wide receiver Darius Hanks made some noise in Alabama’s Sunday scrimmage with six catches for 131 yards and three scores.
Iron Bowl rival Auburn’s spring game will take place at the same time. Auburn is taking a hit on both sides of the ball with the departures of star quarterback Cam Newton and defensive end Nick Fairley, Defensive MVP of the BCS National Championship Game. A potential starting slot receiver is redshirt freshman Trovon Reed, the No. 1 recruit from Louisiana who coaches say can also be a wildcat quarterback and punt returner.
Arkansas’ spring game will be nationally televised on ESPN at 3 p.m. Saturday for the first time in school history.
Vanderbilt’s Black and Gold squads will square off in a night game Sunday at 6 p.m. The Commodores have a major overhaul on their hands with new coach James Franklin.
Their total offense and defense were last in the SEC.
The final SEC spring game is Kentucky on April 23 at 2 p.m. Joker Phillips begins his second year at the helm of the Wildcats after a 6-7 first season. Wide receiver Randall Cobb declared for the NFL draft, and quarterback Mike Hartline graduated, leaving holes to fill on offense. Kentucky’s rushing defense was No. 11 in the SEC in 2010 with its leading tackler recording just 2.5 sacks and six tackles for loss.
 
—-
Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]