Around the SEC (June 5, 2007) – The Memphis Commercial Appeal lists LSU 2007 football recruit Josh Jasper (kicker) as a finalist for it Best of the Preps in Soccer. Jasper scored 21 goals for his Ridgeway team this spring. Rod Delmonico, the Southeastern Conference's longest-tenured baseball coach (18 seasons at Tennessee), has been the released by Tennessee. Athletics Director Mike Hamilton announced the release Sunday citing a lack of consistency in regular-season and postseason play. Delmonico ranked fourth on the Southeastern Conference's all-time coaching wins list, posting a 699-396 overall record, including a 263-255 mark in regular-season SEC play. Hamilton said a national search for Delmonico’s successor will begin immediately. Iowa sophomore Tyler Smith, a 6-foot-7 Smith, a third-team All-Big Ten selection last season as a freshman, was released from his scholarship at Iowa by new Coach Todd Lickliter to be closer to his father, Billy, who's battling lung cancer and now living in McMinnville, Tennessee. Smith led Iowa in rebounding (4.9) and steals (45) and was second on the team in scoring (14.9 points) and assists (111). He has enrolled at Tennessee and will begin summer school classes on Monday. Tennessee Coach Bruce Pearl said Tennessee officials would begin processing an appeal on Smith's behalf in hopes he will be eligible next season without having to sit out a year. That appeal will seek to have the NCAA's transfer rule waived based on the "extenuating family circumstances" clause. "There is good recent case precedent on our side," Pearl said. "I think it's got a real chance. Obviously, you want what's in the best interest of the student-athlete, and I think this is." ldskule:
