Those predictions didn’t go as well as they could have, so I’m hoping to redeem myself now with football season quickly approaching.

So here they are, my 2008 SEC predictions.

SEC East

1. Florida Gators - Question marks on the defensive front and in the secondary are there for the Gators, but Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin will connect too many times.

2. Georgia Bulldogs - That schedule is too tough to remain No. 1 all season long, let alone take the East. The Dawgs will finish one game worse than the Gators.

3. Tennessee Volunteers- Don’t be surprised if the Vols make another run to take the East, but also don’t be surprised if UT finishes with five losses.

4. South Carolina Gamecocks - The Gamecocks could play spoiler to a lot of highly-ranked teams this season. Upsets are likely.

5. Kentucky Wildcats - Kentucky’s best skill players from a year ago are gone. Just not enough talent for Rich Brooks in Lexington.

6. Vanderbilt Commodores - Three wins is a stretch. Enough said.

SEC West

1. LSU Tigers - All the leaders have departed from last year’s national championship team, so this pick may not happen. But it’s the West, anything can happen.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide - Aren’t I the optimist? Hey, it could happen. First place could also happen.

3. Auburn Tigers - The Tigers have a shot at taking the West as well, as long as teammates stay away from beating each other up.

4. Mississippi State Bulldogs - Another bowl game for Sylvester Croom this season, but this conference is too tough to get to eight wins.

5. Ole Miss Rebels - This program is definitely on the rise. Don’t be surprised if Ole Miss knocks off a couple of the superior teams in the SEC.

6. Arkansas Razorbacks - Quarterback Casey Dick had the easiest job in college football last year, handing off to Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. After the NFL draft, his job became just about the toughest.

Today, Sparkman (Ala.) High School defensive end Anthony Orr committed to the Tide.

Former Tide point guard Antoine Pettway is returning to the Capstone as an assistant basketball coach.

Former Bama standout and All-SEC forward Richard Hendrix inked a deal with the Golden State Warriors last week. Jermareo Davidson also had his option picked up by the Charlotte Bobcats.

William Ming, Rod Woodson and Gerald West all committed to the Tide last week, pushing the commit total to 12 for the class of 2009.

The media at SEC Kickoff 2008 picked Alabama to finish third in the SEC West this season, behind Auburn and LSU. Five Tide players were picked as preseason All-SEC performers by the media.

On the diamond, Alabama head coach Jim Wells got a commitment from Oxford (Ala.) pitcher Trey Pilkington.

Finally, all you Tide fans should check out this radio show that streams online weekdays from 12:00-2:00. Hosts are Step and Stevon Lewis.

Also, Tide commit AJ McCarron is a special talent.

That’s all for now from Tide land.

I’ve got a position now with www.crimsonconfidential.com, an affiliate of ESPN.

Combine that job with school and other stuff, and I’ll be pressed for time. So, if my posts here significantly decline, then that’s why.

I may still drop a line from time to time.

Anyway, back to work.

Since then, how much of the talk has really been about his quickly-approaching career?

The answer is - not much.

I’m here to give Mitchell some much-deserved props.

Sure, Alabama landed a top-15 recruiting class this year and much of the talk has been about other signees, but that shouldn’t be the case.

JaMychal Green was a five-star power forward from Montgomery. He played in the McDonald’s All-American Game and recently made the USA U-18 team, so the level of exposure is extremely high for him.

Andrew Steele was a four-star combo guard from Birmingham. I’m not sure about national exposure in tournaments and whatnot, but Steele is the younger brother of one-time All-American point guard Ronald Steele. Popularity increases with the last name around Tuscaloosa.

The two aforementioned in-state prospects were recently featured in an article by the Alabama Media Relations department. I’m not taking anything away from that article, because I read it and enjoyed it and have met the nice lady who wrote it, but no mention of Mitchell?

I guess he’ll just have to let his game do the talking. And from what I’ve seen, his game speaks loudly. Watching the little bit of footage available, I think a fair comparison (high school games, of course) is current Tide small forward Alonzo Gee. Mitchell is a slasher who finishes at the rim. That little bit of footage really showed nothing but drives to the bucket and transition opportunities, so I can’t really comment on his perimeter game and defense. All in all, though, he looks like a sure bet to be an All-SEC performer in the coming years.

Green will be a star. As will Steele. But don’t forget that third incoming freshman, Tony Mitchell, who is sure to have a profound impact on Tide basketball for the next few years.

Former Tide sharp-shooter Mykal Riley is listed on two NBA summer league rosters.

During the Orlando Pro Summer League to be held July 7-11, Riley will suit up for the former Seattle Supersonics, now the Oklahoma City [insert your own mascot here].

Later this month, Riley will apparently lace up for the Golden State Warriors, the same squad that drafted Richard Hendrix last month.

Good to see an assassin from three-point range getting some quality opportunities. Hopefully he’ll make a team.

Dowell is switching AAU teams this summer and wants to make sure he gives all interested schools a chance at his services.

“Overall this is such an important overall decision that we want to make sure that we give everyone a fair chance and give ourselves a fair chance to visit the schools and meet the coaches,” said Dowell’s father.

Dowell believes the same.

“I still really like Alabama a lot. The coaches are great and I had a great time on my visit there. This really isn’t about them but more about me and making sure that I didn’t rush into anything,” said Dowell. “I want to weigh my options and give other schools a chance to get involved. I’m looking for a school that needs a point guard to run their team.”

Dowell’s schools of interest are now Alabama, Arizona, Baylor, Marquette, Ole Miss, Nebraska, Texas and Texas A&M.

I just learned this a few minutes ago while talking to Tubbs through Facebook.com. I’m sure a press release of some sort will be online later in the afternoon, just figured I’d go ahead and break the news here.

Tubbs will have to sit out the upcoming 2008-09 season since he’s transferring to another Division 1 school. He will, however, have two years of eligibility remaining after this year.

Hendrix starts getting some questions thrown his way around the 7:15 mark. Warriors head coach Don Nelson says that Hendrix should get opportunities with his size.

Enjoy.

Sports around the nation is at somewhat at a standstill, that agonizing time between the NBA Finals and college football season. Trust me, it is agonizing.

Therefore, since nothing major is happening around the Capstone, I figured I’d just update you on a few things.

• Former Tide All-SEC forward Richard Hendrix was drafted by the Golden State Warriors with the 49th overall pick in last week’s NBA draft.

• Tide senior-to-be linebacker Jimmy Johns was arrested and charged with the sale of cocaine last week. He also bred Pitbulls. He was going to school for free, playing at one of the greatest football schools in America, and may have played his way to the NFL this season. Way to go, Jimmy.

• Prince Hall is back in school at UA and is working out with the team. If he is able to earn a spot back on the team, a suspension will follow, but the Tide could definitely use him considering the depth issues at linebacker.

• Nick Saban is well on his way to putting Alabama football back on the national map, as the Tide now has pledges from eight recruits for the class of 2009.

• Alabama golfer and SEC Golfer of the Year Michael Thompson will soon be earning money doing what he does best.

And that’s honestly about it at the moment on Alabama fronts. I’m sure it’s news you’ve already heard or read, but I felt updates were in order.

Less than two months until football season now. It can’t come soon enough.

It seemed to be a bit of a slip for Hendrix, but he’ll have a great opportunity for a team that is dominated by guards and has problems rebounding the basketball.

Hendrix is the second Tide player in the last two NBA drafts to be taken in the second round by the Warriors (Jermareo Davidson, 2007).