Tebow breaks his non-throwing hand

Maybe it's just as well Florida didn't make the SEC championship game. It would be without star quarterback Tim Tebow.

Tebow broke his right, non-throwing hand on a 5-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter in the Gators' 45-12 rout of Florida State on Saturday. He stayed in the game, but post-game X-rays revealed a broken hand.

Tebow will have his hand in a cast for two weeks but should be OK for Florida's bowl game, according to the Gainesville Sun.

This isn't the first time Tebow has played with an injury. He finished a high school game on a broken leg.

Tuberville Update: Most Auburn fans are hoping a Houston Chronicle story is accurate.

According to the story, Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville isn't the leading candidate to replace Dennis Franchione, who resigned as Texas A&M's coach after Friday's victory over Texas.

Texas assistant head coach Mike Sherman is the top candidate, according to the Chronicle. Former Notre Dame coach Bob Davie and Boise State coach Chris Peterson are the other finalists, according to the Chronicle.

Tuberville, who has won six consecutive games against Alabama, has been rumored to be in the running for the Texas A&M job.

Tuberville wouldn't discuss the Texas A&M job in post-game interviews following his team's 17-10 victory against Alabama on Saturday night.

"We're talking about Alabama," he said.

That's a pleasant subject for Auburn fans. The Tigers have won six consecutive games in the fierce rivalry.

Manhood Challenge: Auburn running back Ben Tate had a simple explanation for his team's victory over Alabama.

"We 'out-physicaled' them for four quarters, and that won the game for us," Tate told the Huntsville Times. "We wanted to show them that we were men and they weren't.

Tide Side: Alabama senior linebacker Darren Mustin didn't attempt to minimize the impact of another loss to Auburn.

"It's probably one of those things that will haunt you the rest of your life," Mustin told the Birmingham News. "I just have to swallow my pride and keep moving forward."

Orgeron Fallout: Football recruiters might take a renewed interest in Mississippi prospects after Ole Miss fired coach Ed Orgeron.

Running back Tig Barksdale, and linebacker Marlon Walls were among the top in-state recruits who had committed to Ole Miss.

Ole Miss recruiting coordinator Hugh Freeze and defensive coordinator John Thompson will serve in leadership roles while the school searches for a new head coach.

"Coach Orgeron did an awful lot of good things for the program while he was here," Freeze said in the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. "It's a sad day when he has to go. But now, we'll be working to keep this program strong until the next guy steps in."

Ole Miss won only 10 games in Orgeron's three years as head coach.

Bowl Worthy?: South Carolina and Alabama, a couple of six-loss SEC teams, are still in the running for one of the league's nine bowl slots. South Carolina safety Emanuel Cook won't help his team's chances.

Cook was asked if he thought his team deserved a bowl bid after losing five consecutive games to end the regular season.

"Five straight losses?" he told The State newspaper. "I don't think we do (deserve a bowl bid). "But hey, I don't know what to say about that. That's a tough one."

A Little Late: Trailing Wake Forest by 28 points, Vanderbilt turned to third-string senior quarterback Richard Kovalcheck early in the third quarter. The Arizona transfer didn't pass like a third-stringer.

Kovalcheck completed 23 of 38 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns in the 31-17 loss.

"I was just throwing the ball to the open man," Kovalcheck told The Tennessean. "It was a fun way to end my college career, better than being on the sideline."

Extra Points: Vanderbilt's Cassen Jackson-Garrison, a former star running back at Central High School, finished his college career with 1,814 yards, which left him tied him for eighth place on the school's all-time rushing list. … Alabama star punt returner Javier Arenas missed the Auburn game with a high-ankle sprain. … Two freshmen, cornerback Addison Williams and defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis, started their first game for South Carolina on Saturday. … South Carolina wide receiver Kenny McKinley, who has a school-record 77 pass receptions this season, said he plans to return for his senior season.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.