Geauxlden: Les Miles has been named The Associated Press’ SEC Coach of the Year, while cornerback Tyrann “Honey Badger” Mathieu has been named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. Mathieu, a sophomore, is also on the AP’s All-SEC First Team, joined by LSU offensive guard Will Blackwell, defensive end Sam Montgomery, cornerback Morris Claiborne and punter Brad Wing. Representing LSU on the AP’s Second Team are wide receiver Rueben Randle, offensive tackle Chris Faulk, defensive end Barkevious Mingo, defensive tackle Michael Brockers, safety Eric Reid and placekicker Drew Alleman. Read more at the LSU sports website here.
The next wave: Tulane introduced its new head coach today: New Orleans Saints wide receivers coach Curtis Johnson. Johnson was on the sideline with the Saints on Sunday night for their 31-17 victory over the Detroit Lions. The Times-Picayune reports Johnson will remain with the Saints through the end of the season and split duties. Read that story here. Tulane is hoping that Johnson, a New Orleans native who has been with the Saints since 2006, can turn around a program that has not been to a bowl since 2002. The Green Wave has gone 31-76 since then, never winning more than five games in a season. In October, coach Bob Toledo resigned with a 15-40 record.
Rebel yell: Arkansas State’s Hugh Freeze has confirmed he’ll become the head coach at Ole Miss. Freeze, 42, led Arkansas State to the Sun Belt Conference championship and a 10-2 record in his first season as its head coach. He served as an assistant under former Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron from 2005-07, coaching receivers and tight ends and also serving as the Rebels’ recruiting coordinator. He had a 20-5 record at NAIA member Lambuth (Tenn.) in 2008-09, then left to become the offensive coordinator at Arkansas State in 2010. The Red Wolves have accepted a bid to the GoDaddy.com Bowl, but it’s not known if Freeze will coach in the Jan. 8 game. Freeze replaces Houston Nutt, who finished 2-10 overall and 0-8 in the SEC this season.
