Tuberville doesn't want knuckleheads

So what does Auburn do that other teams don't?

"We owe it to our staff and our chaplain, Chette Williams," Auburn linebacker Travis Williams said. "But we owe it mostly to (Auburn) Coach (Tommy) Tuberville. He doesn't know what he's getting when he gets to a kid's house, but if you get here (to Auburn) and act like a knucklehead, you won't last long."

Tuberville said he has low tolerance for unacceptable behavior.

"I don't put up with a whole lot," Tuberville said. "It's an honor and privilege to go to a major university, get your education paid for and play college football. If they don't respect that, they don't deserve to be at Auburn."

Staying on The Plains: Unlike other SEC teams of late, Auburn has had a string of star underclassmen bypass the NFL draft and return for their senior seasons.

Two years ago, linebackers Dontarrius Thomas and Karlos Dansby came back as seniors. Last year, running backs Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown returned. This season, it's offensive tackle Marcus McNeill who came back for a senior season.

"I don't get involved that much, I don't tell a guy the positives of staying and the negatives of leaving," Tuberville said. "I want players to understand that if they come back, they're coming back for the right reasons. I get the NFL involved, I get the parents involved, and we talk out the decision in an educated way."

Philosophical similarities: Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom said he doesn't necessarily need the most talented players to win, but he needs players that fit his philosophy and program.

"I had an interesting conversation with (former Auburn) Coach (Pat) Dye recently," Croom said. "He said the last time Alabama won the national championship in 1992, that they had about 10 players who were starters that he didn't offer scholarships.

"He said you don't always have to have the great blue-chip players. Find your kind of guys, the guys that believe in doing the things the way you want them done, coach them up, get them ready to play and then go out and win football games."

Pain will pay off: Mississippi State senior center Chris McNeil is a physical education major who will be likely become a weight coach if he doesn't have an NFL career.

Though McNeil is in pristine physical shape, he admits that State's off-season program, from the winter to spring drills to this past summer, is the toughest thing he's ever been through.

"I felt like I was in the Junction Boys camp," said McNeil, referring to the preseason camp that the late Bear Bryant conducted at a desolate location his first year as Texas A&M's coach in the 1950s. "I've seen guys in so much pain they were almost in tears. But I think it will all be worth it in the long run."

Friendly skies: If there's one thing Georgia offensive guard Max Jean-Gilles has learned during his college career, it's the beauty of frequent flyer miles. His wife, Maggie, attends the University of Tampa.

''I see her every other month when she comes and visits me,'' Jean-Gilles said. ''I know my phone bill is high because I call her every time I can.''

The two have been together since the 10th grade, when they attended North Miami Beach High School

.

Life's a beach: While vacationing in South Carolina recently, Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson was riding a bike on the beach.

''Just like those Tour de France guys, I fell off my bike and broke my collarbone,'' Johnson said. ''Unlike those Tour de France guys, I was going really slow for a really short period of time.''

Naturally, Johnson took some abuse from his players when they learned of his mishap.

''Falling off a bike on the beach, I didn't know that was possible,'' quarterback Jay Cutler said. ''When he called me and told me, I just laughed. I said, 'No one breaks their collarbone at the beach, especially falling off a bike.' ''

Big potential: Johnson is excited about the year he thinks senior receiver Erik Davis can have. The 6-2, 192 pound Nashville native has all-SEC potential. He is coming off a career-best year with 37 receptions for 510 yards and three touchdowns.

''Right now, Erik is in the best shape of his life,'' Johnson said. ''I don't think a day has gone by that he's not been out there trying to get better. He had a wonderful spring, and he's having a great off-season program. Obviously, he's going to be big in our plans.''