What's the Fuss?

I just got word from a source that East Carolina’ Skip Holtz will be named the next coach at Auburn either later today or sometime Friday.

Holtz, the son of legendary college football coach Lou Holtz, reportedly turned down Syracuse earlier today, withdrawing his name from consideration to be the Orange’s next coach. Holtz was in Memphis this afternoon promoting the Liberty Bowl, where the Pirates will play Kentucky on Jan. 2

According to other media reports, Auburn has interviewed Buffalo coach Turner Gill, Tulsa coach Todd Graham of Tulsa, Ball State’s Brady Hoke and most recently TCU coach Gary Patterson.

East Carolina started the season with upsets over Virginia Tech and West Virginia before finishing the season 9-4.

The top-ranked Florida Gators placed four players on the Southeastern Conferences’ freshman All-SEC team.

Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey were two of the three running backs selected to the offense.

Defensive backs Janoris Jenkins and Will Hill were chosen for the defense.

Here’s a list of the entire All-SEC freshman offensive, defensive and special teams.
(*-Ties / #-Unanimous Selection / Coaches could not vote for their own players)

FRESHMAN ALL-SEC OFFENSE
TE Brandon Barden, Vanderbilt
OL Justin Anderson, Georgia
OL Cordy Glenn, Georgia
OL *John Michael Boswell, Alabama
OL *Grant Cook, Arkansas
OL *Kyle Fischer, Vanderbilt
OL *Quentin Saulsberry, Miss. State
C #Ben Jones, Georgia
WR #A.J. Green, Georgia
WR Julio Jones, Alabama
QB Randall Cobb, Kentucky
RB Mark Ingram, Alabama
RB *Jeffery Demps, Florida
RB *Chris Rainey, Florida

FRESHMAN ALL-SEC DEFENSE
DL Jake Bequette, Arkansas
DL *T.J. Greenstone, Vanderbilt
DL *Zach Stadther, Arkansas
DL *DeAngelo Tyson, Georgia
LB #Chris Marve, Vanderbilt
LB Dont’a Hightower, Alabama
LB Jerry Franklin, Arkansas
LB *Spencer Pybus, Auburn
LB *Daryl Vereen, Tennessee
DB Janoris Jenkins, Florida
DB Will Hill, Florida
DB Charles Mitchell, Miss. State
DB Neiko Thorpe, Auburn

FRESHMAN ALL-SEC SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Blair Walsh, Georgia
P #Clinton Durst, Auburn
RS Dennis Johnson, Arkansas

The Florida Gators are a 3.5-point favorite over the Oklahoma Sooners in the FedEx BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 9 in Miami, according to Harrah’s Race and Sports Book.

The over/under for two of the nation’s highest-scoring teams is set at 72.

Bet wisely.

A day after being named the Southeastern Conference’s offensive player of the year by the Associated Press, the league’s coaches voted Tim Tebow as the All-SEC first team quarterback.

Tebow was joined by offensive lineman Phil Trautwein and wide receiver Percy Harvin. Brandon Spikes and Brandon James were named to the defensive and special teams first teams, as well.

Four Gators — Mike Pouncey, Ahmad Black, Joe Haden and Chas Henry — were named to the second team.