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IP SHEET
GEORGIAATTENNESSEE
Time:3:30 p.m. at Neyland
Stadium
TV: WVLT (Craig Bolerjack,
Steve Beuerlein)
Radio:WIVK-FM 107.7, WNMLAM 990/FM 99.1, WNRX-FM
99.3
Line: Georgia 1
VolWalk:1:15 p.m.
Gametimeforecast: Party
cloudy, 88 degrees
NEWS SENTINEL
GAMEDAY
[[
VV OO LL
RR EE PP OO RR TT
]]
GV3
GOVOLSXTRA.COM | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2007 | 50¢
GAMEOFSTREAKS
Coach Mark Richt has led Georgia
to three consecutive victories at
Neyland Stadium. Not even Florida
did that under coach Steve Spurrier.
But that’s not the only streak on the
line tonight. Georgia has lost four
consecutive games in the SEC East.
That includes three consecutive
divisional losses last season and a
loss to South Carolina last month.
The most amazing aspect of that
streak: losses to Vanderbilt and
Kentucky in the same season. That
hadn’t happened since 1973.
In case you’re wondering, UT last lost
to Vanderbilt and Kentucky in the
same season in 1964.
WINNINGUGA-LY
Richt isn’t the only Bulldog with a
winning record against the Vols. Uga
VI, the latest in Georgia’s long line
of English bulldog mascots, is 5-3
against the Vols and Smokey.
Uga VI also has gotten the best of the
SEC’s other dog mascot. Georgia is 20 against Mississippi State and Bully
since Uga VI went to work in 1999.
ADEFENSEFORTHE80S
UT’s defense is off to its worst start
ever. After four games, the Vols
have given up 150 points. Not even
the 1988 team, which lost its first
six games, was that generous on
defense.
UT gave up 131 in its first four games
in 1988. But it didn’t bottom out until
the fifth game when Washington
State scored 52 points.
The Vols will have to give up 33
points to Georgia to match the 1988
team’s points-allowed pace through
five games.
POLL
DoyouapproveofthejobPhillipFulmer
isdoingascoachoftheTennessee
footballteam?
Yes
28 percent (1,391 votes)
No
71 percent (3,489 votes)
4,880totalvotes
ON GOVOLSXTRA.COM
■ Podcast: Dave Hooker previews
today’s game.
■ Blog: Leave your comments during
the game with Josh Ward
MORE
■ Adams: Advantage in eye of
beholder. GV2.
■ Fulmer wants Vols to give fans
plenty to cheer about. GV2.
■ Pennington: Former Vols also
questioning state of program. GV4.
■ Hooker: Vols want recruiting replay
in South Florida. GV7.
Playing for big stakes
UT’s season at crossroads;
win would silence critics
BY DREW EDWARDS
edwardsd@knews.com
Open a thesaurus, and flip to the entry for
“big.”
Use just about any of the synonyms listed to
describe the University of Tennessee’s game
this afternoon, and you’d be right more often
than wrong.
The hype, the buildup and the stakes of No. 12
Georgia’s visit to Neyland Stadium (TV: WVLT,
3:30 p.m.) are hard to exaggerate. Tennessee
quarterback Erik Ainge, a player not prone to exaggeration, has his own synonym of choice.
“It’s huge,” he said. “It’s not do or die, but it’s
very, very important.”
In Phillip Fulmer’s 15 full seasons as head
coach at his alma mater, the stakes have rarely
been higher.
Discontent has rarely been as loud — or as
widespread — as it’s been after a 2-2 start to the
season.
But win today, and the volume gets turned
down on Fulmer’s critics.
Win today, and the Vols are still very much
have a chance to win the SEC East.
Win today, and the Vols will have defeated a
top 15 opponent in Neyland Stadium for just the
fourth time in their last nine tries.
Win today, and it can all change.
“It’s a championship-type game, yeah,” says
linebacker Rico McCoy. “This is a big game in
the East. This game is really going to add up at
theend.ItcoulddeterminetheSECEastchamps.
See VOLS on GV2
HOME FIELD DISADVANTAGE?
Georgia coach Mark Richt is 3-0 against the Vols in Neyland Stadium.
Here’s how the Vols have fared against teams ranked in the Associated
Press top 20 at home since 2000.
2000
No. 6 Florida
L, 27-23
2001
No. 14 LSU
W, 26-18
No. 12 South Carolina W, 17-10
2002
No. 10 Florida
No. 19 Alabama
No. 1 Miami
2003
No. 8 Georgia
L, 30-13
L, 34-14
L, 26-3
L, 41-14
2004
No. 11 Florida
No. 8 Auburn
2005
No. 5 Georgia
2006
No. 9 Cal
No. 7 Florida
No. 13 LSU
Vs. 1-10: 1-7
Totalrecord: 4-9
W, 30-28
L, 34-10
L, 27-14
W, 35-18
L, 21-20
L, 28-24
Vs. 10-20: 3-2
GV2 Saturday, October 6, 2007
GOVOLSXTRA
knoxnews.com | NEWS SENTINEL
Advantage in Georgia vs. UT in eye of beholder
Georgia coach Mark Richt caught
me by surprise at his Tuesday press luncheon when he pointed out that Tennessee currently has the upper hand in
the UT-Georgia series.
If he weren’t known
as the most honest
coach in the SEC,
I would have challenged him right
there.
But he was right.
UT has won two of
the last three games
between the teams. So
technically,
the Vols
JOHN
have the upper hand.
ADAMS
It just doesn’t seem
that way.
Maybe that’s because Georgia’s overall success overshadows anything the
Vols have done recently. The Bulldogs
have won two SEC championships in
the last five years, and the Vols haven’t
won one since 1998. The Bulldogs have
finished in the top 10 four times in the
last five years. UT hasn’t finished in the
top 10 since 2001.
Or maybe I think the series has been
more pro-Georgia because I subconsciously connect the Bulldogs to UT’s
mishaps in the Georgia Dome (i.e.,
back-to-back Peach Bowl fiascos and
losses in their last two SEC championship games).
Georgia 30, Tennessee 27: Never mind
that the loser will have two SEC losses.
It won’t be out of the East Division race,
which is so muddled that Georgia Tech
might think it has a shot. And it has
been out of the league for 44 years.
LSU 31, Florida 17: How stupid is Florida
senior safety Tony Joiner? He was arrested for felony burglary after attempting to take his girlfriend’s car from a
tow lot in the wee hours of the morning.
All he had to do was ask his roommate to take the car. Nobody in Gainesville would arrest Tim Tebow.
But Tebow won’t get any preferential
treatment in Tiger Stadium, where LSU
is 7-3-1 in match-ups between top-10
teams and where quarterbacks don’t
run over the home team’s linebackers.
Auburn 30, Vanderbilt 20: A week
after the Tigers upset fourth-ranked
Florida in The Swamp, they’re only a
seven-point favorite at home against
Vanderbilt, the consensus pick to finish
last in the SEC East. What does that tell
you?
It tells you a couple of things you
probably already knew: (1) The SEC
is the most balanced conference in
the country; (2) Odds-makers do their
homework.
They didn’t have to do much digging
to find these key stats: Vanderbilt ranks
third in the SEC with 11 forced turnovers. Auburn is last in the SEC with 14
turnovers.
Sabama 37, Houston 24: A fire Nick
Saban website was already up and running the day after the Tide lost its second consecutive game.
That’s so premature. You don’t start
talking about firing an Alabama coach
after back-to-back losses.
You wait until he loses back-to-back
games to Auburn. Then, you start talking about firing him.
Arkansas 72, Chattanooga 13: Just when
you think the Razorbacks’ non-confer-
ence schedule couldn’t get any easier,
along comes Division I-AA Chattanooga.
Since Arkansas can’t do anything to
improve its stock in the SEC West this
weekend, why not go all-out for Heisman Trophy candidate Darren McFadden? Give him the ball 35 times and see
if he can break college football’s singlegame rushing record.
So what if coach Houston Nutt would
get accused of running up the score. He
has been accused of much worse in the
last year.
Mississippi State 30, UAB 17: First, the
Bulldogs lost quarterback Michael
Henig to a broken hand. Then, last
week, they lost quarterback Josh Riddell to a season-ending knee injury.
Injured quarterbacks are nothing
new at Mississippi State. In fact, its
quarterbacks have been beaten up so
frequently the last couple of years, I
wonder what the coaches tell the parents of a prospective quarterback recruit.
Maybe something like: “None of our
quarterbacks has been permanently
VOLS
from GV1
There’s a lot riding on it.”
Specifically, there’s a lot riding on the
defense.
Georgia (4-1, 2-1 SEC) enters today’s
game with back-to-back wins over Alabama and Ole Miss.
Against the Rebels, Georgia flexed its
muscle on the ground, rushing for 328
yards on 45 carries, led by Thomas Brown
with 180 yards and three touchdowns.
Redshirt freshman tailback Knowshon
Moreno leads the team with 432 rushing
yards.
“Georgia’s always had great backs,” UT
defensive coordinator John Chavis said.
“Every year they’re going to have three or
four.They’regreattailbacks,andwe’vegot
to do a great job tackling and do a great job
swarming to the football.”
Exceptthat’sexactlywhatTennesseehas
struggled to do in its losses this season.
Missed tackles and busted assignments
are two of the major reasons why Tennessee’s defense ranks ninth in the SEC and
88th in the country with an average of 188
rushing yards allowed per game.
Tennessee hasn’t been great against
the pass (12th in the SEC in pass efficiency
MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL
Tennessee wide receiver Austin Rogers can’t reach this pass in front of Arkansas State’s Tyrell
Johnson during a game on Sept. 22.
defense) or as a whole (11th in total defense
and 12th in scoring defense).
“Of course it’s a problem,” McCoy says.
“No one wants to be ranked last, or close
to last.”
The Vols (2-2, 0-1) are still dead last in
thecountryinpuntreturncoverage,allowing a 28.8 yard average on six returns.
Tworeturnshavegoneforatouchdown,
crippled during a game.”
Ole Miss 41, Louisiana Tech 27: This
week’s SEC character award goes to Ole
Miss coach Ed Orgeron. After a 45-17
loss to Georgia, he stood bravely before
the media and put all the blame on his
untalented players.
“It is obvious now we do not have
SEC-caliber players,” Orgeron said.
Others might wonder if they have an
SEC-caliber head coach.
Top 25: Southern Cal 48, Stanford 10;
Ohio State 37, Purdue 21; Wisconsin
34, Illinois 31; Oklahoma 34, Texas 23;
South Florida 38 Florida Atlantic 17;
Boston College 38, Bowling Green 24;
West Virginia 34, Syracuse 20; Clemson 27, Virginia Tech 23; Hawaii 51,
Utah State 17; Missouri 37, Nebraska 34;
Arizona State 41, Washington State 27;
Rutgers 27, Cincinnati 24; Kansas 31,
Kansas State 27.
Record: 92-22 (.807) overall, 49-45
(.520) against the spread.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached
at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.
changes they could unveil this afternoon.
On offense, the Vols have been solid in
the passing game, led by a stellar Ainge,
whohascompleted66percentofhispasses
for more than 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns with just two interceptions.
UT’s offense line has been among the
nation’s best in pass protection, allowing
just two sacks.
Aingehasn’tbeensackedsincethethird
play of the season against Cal, a streak of
160 consecutive pass attempts.
ButGeorgia’spassdefenseisrankedsignificantlyhigherthananyofUT’sprevious
opponents.It’spartofaunitthatranksthird
in the SEC in total defense.
And then, of course, there’s the Mark
Richt factor.
Since Richt took over seven years ago,
the Bulldogs have not lost in Neyland Stadium.
ThatrunbeganwhenGeorgiadrovethe
field in 39 seconds for the game-winning
touchdown in the famed “Hobnail Boot”
game in 2001, and extends through a 27-14
win here in 2005.
“I don’t know,” McCoy said when asked
the reason for Georgia’s success in Knoxville. “It’s time for a change, isn’t it?”
one by Cal’s DeSean Jackson and the other
by Florida’s Brandon James.
That’s good news for Georgia’s Mikey
Henderson,whoaverages14yardsareturn
andtookapuntbackforatouchdowninlast
year’s loss to Tennessee in Athens.
Drew Edwards covers University of
The Vols spent plenty of time during
their lone bye week this season working Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865on punt coverage, including a few scheme 342-6274.
Fulmer wants Vols to give fans plenty to cheer about
BY MARK BURGESS
burgess@knews.com
PhillipFulmer’shopingtoavoid
strikethree.
The Tennessee football coach
has seen his team take on two upper-echelon teams in California
andFlorida.
Neitheronewaspretty.
Now the Vols (2-2, 0-1 SEC) get
another shot at a quality opponent
with No. 12-ranked Georgia (4-1,
2-1) visiting Neyland Stadium for
today’s3:30p.m.kickoff(WVLT).
“I’manxioustoseeusbefocused
andplay60minutesofreallygood
football against a really outstandingteam,”FulmersaidFridayafter
UT held its usual walkthrough at
Neyland. “We haven’t done that.
We’ve had two opportunities and
we haven’t done that consistently.”
Atleastthisone’sathome.
Butthathasn’tmeantawholelot
inthisserieseither.
Georgia has won the past three
meetings in Knoxville. Tennessee
haswontwoinarowinAthensand
sixofthepasteight.
“It’salittlebitoddthattherehas
been that kind of record on both
sides,” Fulmer said. “It’s just unusual.
“In the Southeastern Conferenceit’shardtogoanywhereinthis
league and win a road game. Both
ofushavebeenabletodoit,butwe
hopetochangethat(today).”
Aselloutcrowdisexpectedand
Fulmer anticipates they’ll be loud
as long as UT lives up to its end of
thebargain.
“It’s our job to give them plenty to cheer about,” Fulmer said.
“When we’ve done that (the support)hasbeengreat.”
gia has significant implications
in the SEC Eastern Division and
league championship race,” Hamiltonwrote.“Inaddition,anumber
of our sports teams have a significant number of key recruits on
campusthisweekend.
“I hope you will wear orange,
arriveearly,haveasignificantpresence at Vol Walk and cheer loudly
as we give our student-athletes
the best home field advantage in
theSEC.”
HamiltonSendsLetter:UTathleticdirectorMikeHamiltonsentout
a letter and e-mail to UT faithful
thisweekaskingforthesamekind
ofcrowdFulmerisexpecting.
“Saturday’s game versus Geor-
No Double Vision: Georgia’s
Thomas Brown and Knowshon
Moreno are the best tailback duo
in the SEC besides Arkansas’ Felix
JonesandDarrenMcFadden.
Twostrongbacksareobviously
Game Day Captains: Fulmer announced the UT captains for today’s game will be Xavier Mitchell, Erik Ainge, Ryan Karl, Britton
Colquitt, Chris Brown and Jerod
Mayo.
toughertocontrolthanone.
“I think they’re both fine players,” UT defensive coordinator
JohnChavissaid.“Whicheverone’s
got the ball in his hands, that’s the
bestplayer.
“Theydoagreatjobrunningthe
football.Theydoagreatjobscheming you up front, getting a hat on
a hat, blocking the right people.
When you do those things, then
you’regoingtomakeyardage.”
Another Reunion: Offensive line
coach Greg Adkins will coach
against the Bulldogs for the fourth
timesinceleavingAthensafterthe
2000season.
The only current member of
Georgia’sstaffwhoAdkinsworked
with is defensive line coach, and
former UT assistant, Rodney Garner.
“They’re all meaningful,” Adkins said. “Anytime you tee it up
on Saturday is a special day. Yeah,
I know several people down there
still and that sort of thing. But
they’re all the same. We prepare
forthemallthesame.”
LegendsComeHome:UTlegends
fortheGeorgiagamewillbeAaron
HaydenandChuckSmith.
The former Vols will be at the
Volunteer Village in the Humanities Plaza from 1:30-2:15 to sign autographs.
Smokey will be at the Pet Safe
tentfrom12:30-1.
StrawberryWine:Countrymusic
starand1989UTgradDeanaCarter was on hand for UT’s afternoon
walkthrough.
Carter,whosesong“Strawberry
Wine”wenttothetopofthecountry charts, will perform with the
Pride of the Southland Marching
Bandathalftimetoday.
Drew Edwards contributed to this
report.
Spurrier wants more than contender for South Carolina
Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Steve Spurrier wanted
hisSouthCarolinaplayerstothinklikeSEC
contenders.Now,theGamecocksareplaying like SEC contenders.
“You got to believe,” defensive end Eric Norwood said. “Once you buy into it,
there’s no letting up.”
No. 11 South Carolina and Norwood
didn’t let up Thursday night, ending Kentucky’s undefeated start and taking over
first place in the SEC East with a 38-23
victory.
Norwood tied an NCAA record with
two return touchdowns while he and the
rest of the defense held the eighth-ranked
WildcatsandquarterbackAndreWoodson
tohalfoftheirSEC-leadingscoringaverage
coming in.
Norwood said it wasn’t far fetched to
imaginetheGamecocks(5-1,3-1SEC)playing for their first league title.
“We don’t harp on it every game,” Norwood said. “But I know it’s in the back of
everybody’s head.”
Itwasplacedtherebyacraftyballcoach
whoknowswhatittakestowinchampionships.
Right after the Gamecocks went 3-5
in the SEC last fall — Spurrier’s first sub.500 SEC season — the coach increased
the team’s goals. He wanted them to know
theybelongedonthefieldwithschoolslike
Florida, Georgia and Tennessee, which
haveprettymuchownedthedivisionsince
South Carolina became a league member
in 1992.
Now that the Gamecocks are playing
like SEC contenders, Spurrier has a dif-
ferent tone, saying it’s way too early to
plan for the Georgia Dome and a spot in
December’s title game.
“The only reason I set that goal of winning the SEC is just in case we got in position,”Spurriersaid.“Justincasewehappen
toluckupandbeatGeorgia,andincasethe
ball bounced our way a little bit.”
The Gamecocks did defeat Georgia 1612 on Sept. 8 for the first time in Spurrier’s
threeseasons.Theyfellattop-rankedLSU
28-16,thenbouncedbackwithwinsintheir
past two league games.
Vols have
chance
to revive
hopes
Well, once again, opportunity has come a knockin’
for a Tennessee football
team seemingly left for dead
in the sweltering Florida
Swamp.
But a
Florida loss
and the
prospect
of another
group of
Tigers
chompin’
down on
some Gator tail, has RICK
the Vols re- RUSSO
energized
for their
stretch run through the
SEC. That run begins this
afternoon against a pack of
hungry Dawgs, who are as
eager to hunker down as Ole
Smokey.
As is usually the case,
both teams find themselves
in position to earn the title
“Top Dog” in the SEC East.
There’s no telling what a
win today might do for these
programs, who still face a
difficult road ahead.
The road is what concerns Tennessee fans. Georgia has won it’s last three
games at Neyland Stadium
all, of course, under coach
Mark Richt who has been off
the “Richter” scale when it
comes to road wins. Richt is
23-3 in opponents stadiums,
including 9-2 against ranked
teams.
His secret, well, he says
the Dawgs use that usagainst-the-world mentality.
Well, Vol fans, while it may
not be the world, Neyland
Stadium’s solar system is
large enough to cause problems for any Division I-A
program, at least it should.
As Coach Fulmer told
us this week, the crowd at
home is always a factor in an
SEC game. Just how much of
a factor could very well help
determine the outcome of
this all-important SEC home
opener for the Big Orange.
The Top Vol says from
here on out his team will
treat each Saturday as
Championship Saturday. If
taken to heart, that mentality, more than anything,
should prevent another
Dawg Day afternoon at Neyland Stadium.
Rick Russo is sports director
of WVLT.
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47
54
80
53
75
50
79
78
28
Right tackle Right guard
Center
Left guard
Wide receiver Tight end
Left tackle
Snapper
50 Josh McNeil 75 Anthony Parker 54 Eric Young
81 Josh Briscoe 28 Chris Brown 78 Ramon Foster 79 Chris Scott
53 Morgan Cox
85 Casey Woods 45 Kevin Cooper 71 Steven Jones 65 Jacques McClendon 73 Michael Frogg 51 Vladimir Richard 72 Ramone Johnson 57 Nick Guess
541
Linebacker
12 Brandon Miller
51 Akeem Dent
12
Defensive end
Defensive tackle
41 Roderick Battle 95 Jeff Owens
58 Demarcus Dobbs 90 Corvey Irvin
Middle linebacker
33 Dannell Ellerbe
44 Marcus Washington
23
GEORGIA ROSTER
No.
1
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NAME
Massaquoi, Mohamed
Allen, Asher
Evans, Bryan
Bailey, Sean
Byrd, CJ
Lumpkin, Kregg
Stafford, Matthew
Spellman, Vernon
Jones, Reshad
Baldwin, Donavon
Brown, Ramarcus
Miller, Brandon
Butler, Drew
Cox, Joe
Barnes, Blake
Durham, Kris
Coates, Antavious
Bryant, A.J.
Gray, Logan
Brown, Thomas
King, Caleb
Miller, Prince
Moreno, Knowshon
Cuff, Vance
Wilson, Tony
Henderson, Mikey
Wilson, Ben
Flowers, Thomas
Johnson, Kelin
Banks, Quintin
Mimbs, Brian
Daniels, Kalvin
Ellerbe, Dannell
Curran, Rennie
Southerland, Brannan
Pittman, Mitchell
Howard, Marcus
Johnson, Jason
Battle, Roderick
Houston, Justin
White, Charles
Washington, Marcus
Taylor, Tripp
Williams, Andrew
Munzenmaier, Fred
Chapas, Shaun
Gamble, Darryl
Dent, Akeem
Dewberry, Darius
Gaunder, Chris
Strickland, Tanner
Lomax, Jeremy
Atkins, Geno
Boyd, Benjamin
Dobbs, Demarcus
Fowler, Bo
Boling, Clint
Fields, Justin
Davis, Chris
Tripp, Kiante
Henson, Jeff
White, Micky
Adams, Chester
Jacobs, Wes
Gully, Andrew
Haverkamp, Scott
Lyles, Justin
Vance, Vince
Little, Chris
Perez, Kevin
Velasco, Fernando
Harden, Ben
Sturdivant, Trinton
Davis, Josh
Anderson, Justin
Hill, Walter
Ward, NaDerris
Moore, Michael
Gartrell, T.J.
Nickels, Casey
Watson, Coleman
Goodman, Demiko
Chandler, Tripp
White, Aron
Harris, Kenneth
Figgins, Bruce
Irvin, Corvey
Weston, Kade
Ball, Neland
Bailey, Andy
White, David
Owens, Jeff
Coutu, Brandon
Wood, Brandon
Crawford, Ricardo
Wynn, Jarius
Strong safety
30 Kelin Johnson
31 Quintin Banks
POS.
FLK
SC
WC
SE
FS
TB
QB
SE
FS
SC
WC
MLB
P
QB
QB
SE
SS
FLK
QB
TB
TB
WC
TB
DB
SE
SE
PK
SC
SS
SS
P
TB
WLB
LB
FB
SLB
DE
TB
DE
SLB
LB
MLB
DT
FS
FB
FB
WLB
SLB
SLB
MLB
LG
DE
DT
MLB
DE
SN
OL
SLB
LG
RT
SN
RG
RT
DE
DE
RG
DT
OL
OL
C
C
OL
OL
RG
RT
WR
TE
FLK
SE
TE
TE
FLK
TE
WR
FLK
TE
DT
DT
DE
PK
DL
DT
PK
DT
DT
DE
HT.
6-2
5-10
5-11
6-1
6-2
6-1
6-3
6-1
6-2
6-2
5-11
6-4
6-2
6-1
6-3
6-5
6-4
6-2
6-2
5-8
5-11
5-8
5-11
6-2
5-11
5-10
6-0
5-10
6-1
6-2
5-11
5-10
6-1
5-11
6-0
6-2
6-2
5-9
6-4
6-3
6-1
6-0
6-1
6-0
6-2
6-2
6-2
6-2
6-3
6-0
6-5
6-4
6-1
6-1
6-2
6-2
6-5
6-1
6-4
6-6
6-3
6-3
6-4
6-2
6-4
6-4
6-2
6-8
6-6
6-3
6-4
6-3
6-5
6-6
6-5
6-4
6-5
6-2
6-1
6-4
6-6
6-2
6-6
6-4
6-3
6-4
6-4
6-5
6-6
6-2
6-2
6-3
6-0
6-1
6-1
6-5
WT
198
190
188
174
193
222
237
184
203
204
170
257
205
208
225
200
214
205
180
200
212
190
207
194
205
156
204
186
200
210
205
182
232
220
240
217
250
213
261
240
217
250
265
197
233
236
237
218
236
216
328
247
290
210
266
215
290
244
292
272
258
331
335
245
250
310
280
320
360
270
318
310
293
293
328
214
255
188
181
240
256
190
263
228
215
254
286
316
232
227
270
298
188
280
297
273
Defensive tackle
91 Kade Weston
56 Geno Atkins
YR.
Jr.
So.
So.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
So.
So.
Fr.
So.
Jr.
Sr.
Fr.
So.
Jr.
So.
So.
Sr.
Fr.
Sr.
Fr.
So.
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Fr.
Jr.
Fr.
Jr.
Fr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
So.
Fr.
Fr.
Jr.
So.
Sr.
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
So.
Sr.
Fr.
Jr.
So.
Jr.
Fr.
Jr.
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
Jr.
Fr.
Sr.
So.
So.
Jr.
Sr.
So.
Fr.
Fr.
Sr.
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
So.
Sr.
Fr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
Fr.
Jr.
Fr.
Jr.
So.
Fr.
Sr.
Fr.
Jr.
Sr.
Fr.
Fr.
Jr.
Free safety
5 C.J. Byrd
9 Reshad Jones
Flanker
27 Mikey Henderson
26 Tony Wilson
Split end
4 Sean Bailey
1 Mohamed Massaquoi
27
20
Cornerback
2 Asher Allen
29 Thomas Flowers
Kickoff returner
20 Thomas Brown
2 Asher Allen
Linebacker
5 Rico McCoy
34 Dorian Davis
Left tackle
98 Demonté Bolden
95 Walter Fisher
7
5
13
Free safety
33 Jonathan Hefney
23 Ricardo Kemp
3:30/WVLT
6/ESPN2
3:30 p.m.
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
2007 TENNESSEE STATISTICAL LEADERS
RUSHING
GP
4
3
4
4
Arian Foster
LaMarcus Coker
Totals...
Opponent
PASSING
GP
4
3
4
4
Erik Ainge
Jonathan Crompton
Total
Opponents
Att.
59
24
124
146
Gain
298
124
577
822
Att
163
6
169
124
Loss
1
7
48
69
Cmp
108
3
111
72
RECEIVING
GP
4
4
4
4
Lucas Taylor
Austin Rogers
Total
Opponents
TACKLES
Jerod Mayo
Rico McCoy
Net
297
117
529
753
TD
3
1
5
7
Long
42
27
42
44
Int
2
1
3
4
Yds
1130
13
1143
1003
Td
10
0
10
6
No.
24
20
111
72
Yds
382
251
1143
1003
TD
2
1
10
6
G
4
4
Solo
19
10
Ast
6
12
Avg/G
74.2
39.0
132.2
188.2
Long
43
6
43
69
Long
43
32
43
69
Total
25
22
Avg/G
282.5
4.3
285.8
250.8
Avg/G
95.5
62.8
285.8
250.8
Sacks
0
0
2007 GEORGIA STATISTICAL LEADERS
RUSHING
Knowshon Moreno
Thomas Brown
Total
Opponents
PASSING
Matthew Stafford
Total
Opponents
RECEIVING
Sean Bailey
Knowshon Moreno
Total
Opponents
TACKLES
Dannell Ellerbe
Asher Allen
GP
5
5
5
5
Att.
78
70
197
169
GP
5
5
5
Gain
455
407
1020
730
Loss
23
14
129
135
Att
144
153
156
Net
432
393
891
595
Cmp
83
86
94
GP
5
5
5
5
Avg
5.5
5.6
4,5
3.5
Int
3
3
2
No.
16
11
86
94
Yds
237
148
1037
921
G
5
5
Middle linebacker
7 Jerod Mayo
35 Ellix Wilson
TD
3
6
21
6
Yds
989
1037
921
Long
50
50
50
30
TD
7
8
2
Avg
14.8
13.5
12.1
9.8
Solo
18
21
TD
1
0
8
2
Ast
17
6
Avg/G
86.4
78.6
178.2
119.0
Lng Avg/G
47 197.8
47 207.4
45 184.2
Long Avg/G
47 47.4
35 29.6
47 207.4
45 184.2
Total
35
27
39
Punter
32 Brian Mimbs
13 Drew Butler
Strong safety
14 Eric Berry
19 Jarod Parrish
Sacks
1
1
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
11
12
13
14
15
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
26
27
28
30
31
33
34
34
35
36
37
38
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
63
65
66
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
93
94
95
95
96
96
97
98
99
RETURNERS
Linebacker
39 Ryan Karl
48 Adam Myers-White
33
Punt returner
33 Jonathan Hefney
21 Austin Rogers
31
22
Cornerback
31 Marsalous Johnson
24 DeAngelo Willingham
TENNESSEE ROSTER
SEPTEMBER
1
at California
L, 45-31
8
Southern Miss w, 39-19
15
at Florida
L, 59-20
22
Arkansas State W, 48-27
OCTOBER
Today Georgia
3:30/WVLT
13
at Mississippi State
2:30
20
at Alabama
3:30/WVLT
27
South Carolina
TBA
NOVEMBER
3
La.-Lafayette
4/PPV
10
Arkansas
TBA
17
Vanderbilt
TBA
24
at Kentucky
TBA
W, 35-14
L, 16-12
W, 45-15
W, 26-23
W, 45-17
32
Right end
89 Antonio Reynolds
91 Robert Ayers
14
TENNESSEE SCHEDULE
SEPTEMBER
1
Oklahoma St.
8
South Carolina
15
W. Carolina
22 at Alabama, OT
29 Mississippi
OCTOBER
6
atTennessee
13
at Vanderbilt
27 Florida
NOVEMBER
3
Troy
10
Auburn
17
Kentucky
24 at Georgia Tech
589
Right tackle
55 Dan Williams
99 J.T. Mapu
33
Left cornerback
13 Brent Vinson
24 DeAngelo Willingham
GEORGIA SCHEDULE
555
598
Left end
93 Xavier Mitchell
94 Wes Brown
2
Tight end
86 Tripp Chandler
89 Bruce Figgins
PUNT
TEAM
Left guard
Center
Right tackle
Right guard
Snapper
Left tackle
75 Fernando Velasco 63 Chris Davis 77 Trinton Sturdivant 65 Jeff Henson
67 Chester Adams 60 Clint Boling
78 Josh Davis 72 Vince Vance
60 Clint Boling
70 Scott Havercamp 74 Kevin Perez
59 Bo Fowler
593
Linebacker
Punt returner
52 Darius Dewberry 27 Mikey Henderson
33 Dannell Ellerbe
29 Thomas Flowers
52
33
Quarterback
7 Matthew Stafford
14 Joe Cox
27
RETURNERS
Defensive end
38 Marcus Howard
55 Jeremy Lomax
5
30
Cornerback
23 Prince Miller
3 Bryan Evans
538
591
595
Holder
32 Brian Mimbs
15 Rowdy Francis
4
WHEN
GEORGIA
HAS THE
BALL
Fullback
36 Brannan
Southerland
49 Shaun Chapas
67
Punter
47 Britton Colquitt
95 Chad Cunningham
Tailback
20 Thomas Brown
24 Knowshon Moreno
Placekicker
96 Brandon Coutu
93 Andy Bailey
60
Tight end
80 Jeff Cottam
88 Luke Stocker
KICK TEAM
96
75
Quarterback
10 Erik Ainge
8 Jonathan Crompton
PUNT
TEAM
63
WHEN THE
VOLS HAVE
THE BALL
Tailback
27 Arian Foster
22 LaMarcus Coker
2 Montario Hardesty
Saturday, October 6, 2007 GV3
77
12
Wide receiver
12 Lucas Taylor
21 Austin Rogers
85 Casey Woods
GOVOLSXTRA
32
Placekicker
26 Daniel Lincoln
47 Britton Colquitt
Kickoffs
47 Britton Colquitt
95 Chad Cunningham
Holder
85 Casey Woods
47 Britton Colquitt
47
85
81
knoxnews.com
86
KICK
TEAM
|
65
NEWS SENTINEL
NAME
Kenny O’Neal
Montario Hardesty
Lennon Creer
Gerald Jones
Rico McCoy
Ja’Kouri Williams
Jerod Mayo
Jonathan Crompton
Daryl Vereen
Erik Ainge
Todd Campbell
Tyler Maples
Lucas Taylor
Brent Vinson
Eric Berry
Sinclair Cannon
Nick Stephens
B.J. Coleman
Jarod Parrish
Nevin McKenzie
Austin Rogers
LaMarcus Coker
Ricardo Kemp
DeAngelo Willingham
Art Evans
C.J. Fleming
Daniel Lincoln
Arian Foster
Chris Brown
David Holbert
Marsalous Johnson
Jonathan Hefney
Dorian Davis
Roy Olasimbo
Ellix Wilson
Anthony Anderson
Antonio Gaines
David Campbell
Antonio Wardlow
Ryan Karl
Chris Donald
Dennis Rogan
LaMarcus Thompson
Savion Frazier
Josh Hawkins
Kevin Cooper
Andre Mathis
Britton Colquitt
Adam Myers-White
Josh McNeil
Vladimir Richard
Victor Thomas
Morgan Cox
Eric Young
Dan Williams
Nick Reveiz
Nick Guess
Donald Langley
Adam Gillem
Jacques McClendon
Cody Sullins
Darius Myers
Steven Jones
Ramone Johnson
Michael Frogg
Jarrod Shaw
Anthony Parker
Darris Sawtelle
Cody Pope
Ramon Foster
Chris Scott
Jeff Cottam
Josh Briscoe
Ahmad Paige
Denarius Moore
Chris Walker
Casey Woods
Brad Cottam
Quintin Hancock
Luke Stocker
Antonio Reynolds
Ben Martin
Robert Ayers
Xavier Mitchell
Wes Brown
Chad Cunningham
Walter Fisher
Michael Crain
William Brimfield
Chase Nelson
Demonte’ Bolden
J.T. Mapu
HT.
6-0
6-0
6-1
6-0
6-1
5-10
6-2
6-4
6-0
6-6
6-0
6-2
6-0
6-2
5-11
6-2
6-4
6-4
6-3
6-2
6-2
5-11
5-11
6-0
6-1
5-10
6-0
6-1
6-3
6-1
5-9
5-9
6-2
5-10
5-10
6-0
5-9
6-2
6-0
6-0
6-2
5-10
6-1
6-2
6-0
6-1
6-2
6-3
6-2
6-4
6-4
6-4
6-4
6-4
6-3
5-10
6-3
6-2
6-1
6-3
6-1
6-6
6-4
6-5
6-4
6-4
6-3
6-6
6-6
6-6
6-5
6-8
6-3
6-3
6-1
6-3
6-5
6-8
6-3
6-6
6-3
6-5
6-3
6-2
6-4
6-3
6-3
6-1
6-6
6-4
6-6
6-4
WT.
195
205
202
185
215
190
230
230
196
220
185
190
185
190
195
215
215
205
200
210
185
195
190
195
185
173
204
225
250
250
180
185
215
195
225
175
180
200
185
218
225
182
203
210
195
240
255
205
215
280
297
265
225
305
310
225
230
290
260
330
285
315
305
310
290
345
305
295
285
325
305
260
183
175
185
220
215
270
200
235
270
230
260
255
256
210
265
230
300
256
290
290
Kick returner
22 LaMarcus Coker
3 Lennon Creer
YR.
Jr.
So.
Fr.
Fr.
So.
Jr.
Jr.
So.
Fr.
Sr.
Fr.
Fr.
Jr.
Fr.
Fr.
Jr.
Fr.
Fr.
Sr.
Jr.
So.
So.
So.
Jr.
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
So.
Sr.
So..
Sr.
Jr.
Fr.
Sr.
So.
So.
Sr.
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
So.
Jr.
Jr.
So.
So.
Fr.
So.
Sr.
So.
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
Sr.
So.
So.
Fr.
Sr.
Fr.
Sr.
Fr.
Jr.
Fr.
Fr.
Jr.
So.
So.
Jr.
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
Sr.
Sr.
So.
Fr.
Sr.
Fr.
Jr.
Sr.
So.
Fr.
Jr.
Sr.
Fr.
So.
Jr.
Sr.
POS.
WR
TB
TB
WR
LB
DB
LB
QB
TB
QB
WR
WR
WR
WR
DB
DB
QB
QB
DB
DB
WR
TB
DB
DB
DB
DB
PK
TB
TE
TE
DB
DB
LB
TB
LB
DB
DB
P
DB
LB
DE
TB
LB
LB
TB
TE
DE
P
LB
C
OG
DT
DS
OT
DT
LB
DS
DT
DE
OG
OL
OG
OT
OT
C
OT
OG
OG
OL
OT
OG
TE
WR
WR
WR
DE
WR
TE
WR
TE
DE
DE
DE
DE
DE
P
DT
DE
DT
DT
DT
DT
GV4 Saturday, October 6, 2007
GOVOLSXTRA
knoxnews.com | NEWS SENTINEL
Former Vols also questioning state of program
Tennessee fans aren’t used to the
kind of beating that Florida put on their
Vols back in September. The Big Orange
Nation is frustrated after a 2-2 start. For
the past few weeks they’ve been asking
questions as to why their program has
won just 16 of its past 28 games.
In speaking with a number of former
UT players over the past several weeks,
it’s become apparent to me that the men
who used to wear the orange are also
asking questions.
Normally, when a player tells me
“things are easier now than they used
to be,” I shrug it off as “I used to walk to
school uphill both ways” kind of stuff.
Folks always think they had it tougher
than anybody else.
But when I had a couple of ex-Vols tell
me of specific areas of concern within
the current program, I began to track
down more former players to see if they
agreed.
Indeed, certain things were brought
up again and again by player after player: practice intensity, competitive spirit
in the weight room, and player development.
For the record, I’ve
spoken with nine different former offensive
and defensive players.
I’ve dined with former
starters and former
back-ups. I’ve phoned
players from the early
JOHN
1990s, mid 1990s, late
PENNINGTON 1990s and early 2000s.
The players I spoke
with have all maintained some connection to UT since
their playing days. Whether they’ve
taken in Vol practices or spent time in
the Vol weight room, they have all seen,
they say, changes in the program firsthand.
These men also, let me be very clear,
love Tennessee football. To a man they
told me that Phillip Fulmer is a good
football coach.
But they also believe that small
changes over the course of time have
created a larger overall shift in the
program’s success, not unlike a lobster
slowly being brought to boil. At least
that’s the belief that these men shared
with me.
And that’s what I want to share with
you … the opinions of former Vols who
can still observe practice and drop into
the weight room. Are they correct? All
I can go on is the large, diverse number
of ex-Vols who agreed with these observations.
(None of the players quoted in this
column are or have been regulars on my
Sports Source television show, by the
way.)
Issue No. 1: Player Development
One of the common thoughts stated
to me was “why aren’t our players getting better?” For example, why can’t a
speedster like Kenny O’Neal find his
way to the field in the first month of the
season? Why have some players not
progressed from last year to this year?
Or even from one week to the next?
“Fundamentals are not getting corrected,” said a player from the Peyton
Manning Era. “It was clear in the Cal
game what the problems were. And
you’re supposed to correct those things
in practice. But in Game Three against
Florida, you saw the exact same problems.”
Indeed, tackling, wrapping up and
shooting through gaps, all appeared just
as worrisome versus the Gators (and at
times Arkansas State) as they did versus
the Golden Bears.
According to another former Vol,
continued concerns exist in the secondary as well.
“These guys aren’t squaring up
against their man. They’re opening up
AMY SMOTHERMAN-BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL
Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer leaves the field after the Vols’ 59-20 loss to Florida Sept. 15 in Gainesville. The lopsided loss, part of UT’s 2-2 start, has prompted
questions and concerns about the state of the program. Some are being expressed by former players.
as they run down the field. That gives a
receiver more options. Is that going to
get fixed?”
Another ex-Vol added, “if they’re not
actually practicing to get better, then all
the talk of correcting mistakes is moot.”
“As a fan and as an alumnus, I know
that we used to have a talent gap on
everybody. Now that the talent level is
equal to a lot of other teams, it’s time to
start developing the talent we do get.”
Issue No. 2: Strength,
Conditioning and Speed
Florida tight end Derek Baldry had
this to say following the Gators’ 52-20
win over UT: “In the locker room, that’s
all everybody was talking about. It just
seemed like we were going at a different
speed than they were, especially at the
end.”
That comment (and sentiment) was
voiced by more than half of the ex-Vols
that spoke with me.
“Tennessee’s workouts are just not
as competitive and intense as they used
to be,” said a player from UT’s national
championship team. “We used to enter
the weight room and it was like gameday in there.”
Another player chimed in with stories of one-on-one competitions during
workouts, yells of encouragement, even
trash talk. Three of the players who say
they’ve seen recent workouts tell me
that that kind of attitude no longer exists.
“It’s like walking on eggshells when
you go in the weight room.”
“Now they do their workouts, but
there’s not the intensity. I’ve seen guys
drop by the weight room with their
bookbags between classes. That didn’t
happen when I played. You didn’t go in
there to talk and break the focus of guys
who were working out. If you’re not
working out, you’re not in there. And if
you walked in there with nothing to do,
they’d find something for you to do.”
Tennessee has lost some very respected strength coaches that have
moved on since the 1990s. They lost
John Stuckey to health issues. Tommy
Moffitt is now the strength and conditioning coach at LSU. Chris Carlisle is
now the head strength coach as Southern Cal.
In case you haven’t noticed, LSU and
USC are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the
nation right now.
“Everything used to be about competition. From practice to gameday to
the weightroom. We’d work out before
practice, then we’d practice, then we’d
run sleds, then some of us would go
back to the weight room to lift some extra weights on our own. Just to always
be better than the other guy.”
Tennessee continues to set weightlifting records, but from what the exVols told me, players now spend less
time “maxing out” (lifting a single rep
to build power) and spend more time
building endurance (lifting a lighter
weight several times to equal a heavier,
more powerful lift).
For example, by most formulas, seven
lifts of 285 pounds equals a single lift of
350 pounds. But on third and goal from
the one, does it? The former players I
spoke with have their doubts.
Issue No. 3: Practice Intensity
Where has the attitude gone in Tennessee’s practice sessions? That was a
common question stated by men who
still have the ability to view practice.
“The intensity level is nowhere near
where it was,” said a former player who’s
seen Tennessee practice (and who was
backed up by several others). “You don’t
want to see a fight everyday, but that’s
where the attitude comes from.”
According to the players, there have
also been major changes in the way the
scout team is run.
“I started out on scout team and I
watched the transition,” said a former
player who played in the late 1990s and
the 2000s. “We used to really get after it
on scout team, then they started telling
us to ‘stand here, don’t move, you might
get someone hurt.’ ”
“We don’t want to get someone hurt?”
another ex-player piped up.
If this is true, scholarship limitations
might have finally forced the UT staff
to pull back a bit in practice, in order
to conserve bodies. Twenty years ago,
teams had twenty more players to bang
around. Now they do not.
That’s no excuse for scripting the
scout teams’ duties as much as is now
the case, at least not according to a player from the late 1990s.
“Raynoch Thompson and Shaun Ellis used to totally shake it up on defense
when they were going against Peyton,
and Peyton used to get mad, but it made
his offensive line better. It made him
better.”
“How good does it make the starter
when the scout team doesn’t push him?”
“We used to love practice. Practice
was like a game. You think Al Wilson
and Peyton Manning didn’t view practice as competition? It was all about
winning those little battles in practice.
And when you’re used to doing it in
practice, it carries over in games.”
Looking for Answers
Fans and former players alike have a
lot of questions. Still, most continue to
believe that the current coaching staff
can get things back to a championship
level.
“Coach Fulmer is a good coach,” said
a player from the 2000s. “But in the real
world people are held accountable for
their work. So it’s fair for people to ask
questions.”
“Check out the names in that new
Neyland Stadium club section of all
the folks who are giving a whole lot of
money. They deserve to have the right
questions asked.”
Are the issues stated above simply the
complaints of old-timers who believe
things were tougher in their day (when
Tennessee sat near the top of national
polls so often)?
Has practice really become less
game-like? Have scholarship limitations forced coaches to take an easier
approach? Has the attitude in workouts
changed? Are the Vols as strong as they
used to be?
Have those issues made a real difference in the program’s level of success?
Starting with today’s game against
Georgia and during the entire month
of October, fans will start to get more
answers.
With a win this afternoon (coupled
with a Florida loss at LSU), Tennessee
can be right back in control of their own
SEC destiny as early as tomorrow morning.
That’s a reason for optimism … in a
time of many questions.
John Pennington hosts the Halls Salvage
Sports Source on Sunday at 11 a.m. on WATE.
NEWS SENTINEL
|
knoxnews.com
GOVOLSXTRA
Saturday, October 6, 2007 GV5
GV6 Saturday, October 6, 2007
GOVOLSXTRA
TODAY’S MATCHUPS
Vanderbilt (3-1, 1-1 SEC) at Auburn (3-2, 1-1)
Time: 12:30 p.m. (TV: WVLT)
Skinny: The question is: Can Auburn come down
from it’s high of beating Florida in “The Swamp” and
not take Vandy lightly? Considering the Tigers have
already lost to South Florida and Mississippi State this
season, that would be dangerous. Auburn has won 12
consecutive meetings against the Commodores and
the all-time series is tied 19-19-1.
KeyPlayers: Auburn QB Brandon Cox has rallied from
a brutal start and completed 17 of 26 passes for 227
yards against the Gators. TB Brad Lester is back in
the rotation after serving a lengthy suspension for
academic shortcomings. For Vandy, former Central
High School star Cassen Jackson-Garrison leads the
team with 245 yards rushing and three TDs. WR Earl
Bennett has 37 catches for 468 yards and four TDs.
Bennett needs just 11 more catches to become the
SEC’s all-time leader.
Line: Auburn by 8
Louisiana Tech (1-3) at Ole Miss (1-4)
Time: 2 p.m.
Skinny: The Rebels could finally catch a break after
losing four in a row to Missouri (38-25), Vanderbilt
(31-17), Florida (30-24) and Georgia (45-17). Louisiana
Tech is on its own three-game skid with losses to
Hawaii (45-44), Cal (42-12) and Fresno State (17-6).
Mississippi is 7-1 all-time against Tech, the last victory
coming in 1992.
KeyPlayers: Ole Miss, ranked 109th in the country at
defending the rush, will have to stop Tech’s Patrick
Jackson (80 carries, 361 yards and three TDs). Rebels’
QB Seth Adams went 24 of 35 passing for 228
yards and a TD in the loss to Georgia last week. RB
BenJarvus Green-Ellis is fifth in the SEC with 103.2
yards per game.
Line:Ole Miss by 13
Line: Mississippi State by 18
Houston (2-2) at Alabama (3-2)
Time: 3
Skinny: Alabama tries to end its two-game losing
skid after falling to Georgia and Florida State. The
Crimson Tide has never lost to Houston in nine
previous meetings, the last a 37-10 victory in 1999.
The Cougars lost to Oregon in its season opener and
East Carolina last week. They’ve beaten Tulane and
Colorado State.
KeyPlayers: If Houston is to have a chance against
Alabama, it needs another huge game from WR
Donnie Avery. He had nine catches for 189 yards and
two touchdowns en route to 350 all-purpose yards
against East Carolina. Alabama has its own premier
WR in D.J. Hall (23 catches, 420 yards and three TDs).
Line: Alabama by 11
Chattanooga (1-3) at Arkansas (2-2, 0-2)
Time: 7
Skinny: Carson-Newman beat Chattanooga 29-17 a
couple of weeks ago. The Citadel piled up 468 yards
and beat the Mocs 41-16 last week. What do you
think the Razorbacks might be able to do today in
Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium? This is the first
meeting between the two teams.
KeyPlayers: It might be a good week for Arkansas
coach Houston Nutt to play the RB tandem of Darren
McFadden and Felix Jones about a quarter and then
give them some rest. But wait. McFadden’s trying to
win a Heisman, so he might run for 250 and four TDs.
The Mocs rely on the QB-WR combination of Antonio
Miller to Blue Cooper.
Line: None
Florida (4-1, 2-1 SEC) at LSU (5-0, 2-0)
Time: 7:30 p.m. (TV: WVLT)
Skinny: This game may have lost some of its luster
UAB (1-3) at Mississippi State (3-2)
after Florida’s loss to Auburn last week, but it’s huge
Time: 2:30
in the hearts of Vol fans hoping for back-to-back
Skinny: South Carolina snapped MSU’s three-game
winning streak last week, but it wasn’t easy. Midway Gator losses. No. 9-ranked Florida leads the all-time
series 28-22-3 and beat LSU 23-10 a year ago. The
through the third quarter, the Bulldogs actually
top-ranked Tigers feature the NCAA’s No. 1 defense
led 21-17. UAB has played a tough schedule, losing
(174.6 YPG, 6.4 PPG) against Florida’s No. 16 offense
to Michigan State, Florida State and Tulsa with its
(476.6
YPG, 42.8 PPG). The last time LSU went into
lone victory a 22-0 decision against Alcorn State.
a game ranked No. 1 in the country, Tennessee beat
The teams have split two previous meetings, MSU
them 14-13 in 1959.
winning 16-10 last season in overtime and UAB
KeyPlayers: Not even super sophomores Tim Tebow
winning 27-13 in 2004.
and Percy Harvin could save Florida against Auburn.
KeyPlayers: The Bulldogs are hurting at quarterback.
Tebow has the third highest passer rating in the
Michael Henig broke his hand in a victory against
Auburn and his replacement Josh Riddell tore his ACL nation (185.4). Harvin is averaging 125.8 all-purpose
yards a game. LSU QB Matt Flynn passed for a careerlast week against South Carolina. Freshman Wesley
high
258 yards in last week’s victory against Tulane.
Carroll will take over this week. UAB QB Sam Hunt has
passed for 680 yards and five TDs with Joseph Webb WR Early Doucet should return to the lineup after
missing three games with an injury.
acting as his favorite target. UAB safety Will Dunbar
Line: LSU by 8½
leads the nation with 13.7 tackles per game.
Mark Burgess
Charge dropped against Joiner
Prosecutor claims
‘without a victim,
I have no crime’
Associated Press
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — State prosecutors dropped a felony burglarychargeagainstFloridasafety Tony Joiner on Friday, clearing
the way for the senior to play at
top-ranked LSU tonight.
Joiner was arrested around
early Tuesday for allegedly trying to take his girlfriend’s car out
of a towing company’s impound
lot.
SpencerMann,chiefinvestigatorfortheStateAttorney’sOffice,
said the charge was dropped because the towing company “believes it’s a big misunderstanding.”
“Thevictimisadamantthathe
sustained no loss or damage and
does not wish to pursue criminal
charges,” Mann said. “Based on
that information, we cannot sustain a criminal charge. Without a
victim, I have no crime.”
Joiner practiced with the
ninth-rankedGatorsonWednesday and Thursday, and coach
Urban Meyer said if the felony
charge was dropped or reduced
to a misdemeanor, he would be
eligible to play.
“Tony being out late on Monday is not consistent with the expectations of a leader and a team
captain of our football program,”
Meyer said in a statement. “Tony
is no longer a captain of the Gator
football team and he will pay a
heavy price for his behavior internally for the next four weeks.
He will travel with the team for
our game vs. LSU.”
According to the Gainesville
PoliceDepartment,Joinerpushed
open an electric gate, got into the
carandstartedtodriveoff.When
Joiner stopped to close the gate,
he was confronted by a witness
who called police.
“We believe GPD conducted
a proper investigation and made
appropriate decisions based on
thefactstheyhadatthetimethey
responded,” Mann said.
Shortly after Joiner’s arrest,
towingcompanyownerStanForron said the player had arranged
to pay the bill and pick up the
car. But Forron said no one was
around to take Joiner’s money,
so he must have thought it was
OK to take the car and settle up
later.
knoxnews.com | NEWS SENTINEL
Byrum’s kick had
message for Gators
BY RON HIGGINS
The Commercial Appeal
Funny how things work out.
There was Wes Byrum, AuburnfreshmankickerfromFort
Lauderdale, Fla., doing the Gator chomp to the Florida fans
aftertwicekickingagame-winning43-yardfieldgoalintheTigers’20-17victorylastweekend
in Gainesville.
Byrum didn’t even get a recruiting sniff from the Gators
because Florida decided not
to sign any kickers for this season.
AllByrumhasdonesofarfor
the Tigers is make 8-of-10 field
goals, including three longer
than 40 yards.
None, though, was bigger
thanthekickinGainesvillethat
he had to make twice. Officials
allowed Florida coach Urban
Meyer to call timeout despite
the fact Byrum’s first gamewinning kick appeared to be
already in the air.
Byrum said making the first
kick loosened him up to nail it
again.
“I just hit the first one, so
when it was time to hit the secondone,Ijustkindofwentback
there and did the same thing,”
Byrum said.
Byrum admitted warming
up on the sidelines before the
final kick was taxing. He had
to do it directly in front of the
Florida student body.
“I was called more names
than I’ve ever been called in
my life,” Byrum said. “Guys
were screaming all types of
things. The girls were saying
whatever they could think of to
anybody that walked by. It was
awesome.”
And then there was Auburn
tight end Tommy Trott.
While most Auburn players
followed the unwritten rule of
not talking to a kicker who may
have to attempt a game-winning field goal, Trott did not.
“Beforeeverykickthat’skind
of big, Tommy Trott comes up
to me, as we’re on the field, and
says, ‘Don’t mess this up,’ and
turns around and goes back to
the line,” Byrum said. “(On Saturday),helookedatmeandsaid,
‘AllrightWes,I’msorry,butI’ve
got to do this: Don’t mess this
up.’ And then he turned around
and walked back to the line.”
Message From McFadden: A
groupofArkansasfanswearing
black shirts to show they don’t
support coach Houston Nutt
drew the ire of running back
Darren McFadden following a
66-7 victory over North Texas
last Saturday. After the game,
following the team’s traditional
singing of the fight song with
the student section, McFadden
grabbed a mike and delivered a
message to the black shirts. He
basically said that if those fans
don’t support Nutt, then they
don’t support the players.
McFadden said he found out
about the black shirts just before the game and felt it was
his place as a team leader to say
something.
“A lot of our players feel
the same way (that McFadden
does) about Houston Nutt,”
McFadden said. “He’s a great
coach.”
SEC STANDINGS
EASTERNDIVISION
Conference
School
W-L
S. Carolina
3-1
Florida
2-1
Georgia
2-1
Kentucky
1-1
Vanderbilt
1-1
Tennessee
0-1
WESTERNDIVISION
Conference
School
W-L
LSU
2-0
Alabama
2-1
Auburn
1-1
Miss. State
1-2
Arkansas
0-2
Ole Miss
0-3
Overall
W-L
5-1
4-1
4-1
5-1
3-1
2-2
Overall
W-L
5-0
3-2
3-2
3-2
2-2
1-4
Thursday’sgame
South Carolina 38, Kentucky 23
Today’sgames
GeorgiaatTennessee,3:30,WVLT
Vanderbilt at Auburn, 12:30,
WVLT
Louisiana Tech at Ole Miss, 2
UAB at Mississippi State, 2:30
Houston at Alabama, 3
Chattanooga at Arkansas, 7
Florida at LSU, 8, WVLT
NextSaturday’sgames
TennesseeatMississippiSt.,2:30
Alabama at Ole Miss, 12:30,
WVLT
LSU at Kentucky, 3:30, WVLT
South Carolina at North Carolina,
3:30, WATE
Georgia at Vanderbilt, 6, ESPN2
Auburn at Arkansas, 7:45, ESPN
NEWS SENTINEL
|
knoxnews.com
GOVOLSXTRA
Saturday, October 6, 2007 GV7
Vols want recruiting replay in South Florida
Fans scoffed when Tennessee set its
sights on South Florida in 2004.
Surely, the Vols couldn’t land three
highly regarded prospects out from under Miami, Florida State and Florida.
After all, two of the prospects had
already committed to be Gators. The
other seemed close to announcing the
same decision.
UT’s coaches, led
by receivers coach
Trooper Taylor,
weren’t so pessimistic. They eventually
landed defensive back
Demetrice Morley,
linebacker Gerald
Williams and defensive lineman Vladimir
DAVE
Richard, capping off
one of the highest-ratHOOKER
ed classes in the nation
Recruiting
in 2005.
“Yeah, but those guys
have hardly had an impact at UT!” you
might say.
True. First, calm down and take a
deep breath. Now, let’s review.
Yes, Morley was dismissed in January for academic shortcomings after
becoming a starter and is enrolled at
Pellissippi State.
And we all know that Williams is still
struggling to get academically eligible,
and might have grey hair before he enrolls at UT.
As for the best of the bunch so far,
that’s Richard — a reserve offensive
lineman with a bright future and athleticism to spare, but nary a single start.
But don’t judge UT’s recruiting on
what those players have produced. Pull-
SCOUTING REPORT
A look at the high school football players visiting Tennessee this
weekend.
Name
Size
Pos. Home
School
Marcus Forston 6-2, 285 DT Miami Northwestern
Aldarius Johnson 6-2, 200 WR Miami Northwestern
Sean Spence
6-0, 185 LB Miami Northwestern
The three have committed to Miami but are obviously still
looking around. UT’s coaches hope the South Florida trio is
wowed more by the Big Orange than the Orange Bowl. The
game day environment in Knoxville will need to live up to its
billing to pull this package deal away from the University of
Miami.
Jeff Demps
5-8, 165 Ath. Groveland, Fla. South Lake
Got speed? Demps does. He ran a 10.26 in the 100-meter
dash at the Junior Olympics in Knoxville last summer. The Vols
certainly took notice. UT has shot out of the starting gate for
Demps’ services. As long as they don’t fade down the stretch,
the Vols have a great shot. (That completes the track analogy.)
NotYetMyGuy: Lawrence Guy, a defensive end from Western High in Las
Vegas, will not visit this weekend as he
previously planned.
Western coach Brian Murray said
Guy won’t make the trip because of a
scheduling conflict.
Murray said Guy will re-schedule for
the first available weekend he is able to
visit.
the three, who are determined to all de- load, the NCAA has mandated that
ing the three was still an incredible reThe 6-foot-6, 275-pound Guy said
prospects must register with the NCAA
cruiting coup for a program that has had cide on the same school.
last month that he would visit UT this
Clearinghouse before they take their
Trips to Florida, LSU and Southern
little success in South Florida.
weekend and then make a decision soon
Cal are in the works. But with any pros- first official visit.
Florida and Miami wanted the trio
“Instead of sending their grades in the after.
pect from Southern Florida, Miami is
every bit as much as UT.
At the time, Guy said UT was his
last month, they have to get them in,”
the school to watch.
The Vols are trying to pull a similar
leader ahead of Arizona State, Nebraska
So what do the three know about UT? UT recruiting coordinator Matt Luke
coup this week with defensive tackle
and Oklahoma.
said. “It forces kids to register for the
“I know it’s a good program,” said
Marcus Forston, receiver Aldarius John“I could see myself committing (to
Johnson, who claimed there is no leader Clearinghouse. That gives information
son and linebacker Sean Spence, who
UT) because my eyes are focused on
to those guys quicker.”
are all from Miami Northwestern (Fla.) to land the three. “They’ve got big time
that school only,” Guy said last month.
“They can go to the guidance counreceivers in the NFL. They’ve got good
High School.
Murray said the only other school he
selor and do that online. They just have
players.”
UT will pin its hopes on the game
knows Guy plans to visit is Oklahoma
to go do it.”
Question is, will they have three
day atmosphere today against Georgia
next week.
The responsibility of making sure
more?
at Neyland Stadium to lure this newest
UT will be at home four straight
that job is completed falls on college
trio from South Florida north. That fesweeks starting Oct. 27.
coaches, who know they can’t host a
PassingtheBuck: The NCAA has
tive atmosphere is a big reason the 2005
Murray said he expects Guy to make
prospect without clearing the newly inheard the annual glut of criticism that
bunch signed with the Vols.
his college choice after he visits UT.
stituted hurdles.
coaches, fans and prospects have levJohnson is confident the three will
With so much of the information
eled against its outsourced and overhave a good trip to Knoxville.
Josh Ward contributed to this report.
already in house, prospects won’t have
worked academic clearinghouse.
“It will be a good visit,” he said. “Big
much to complete and turn in once their
Finally, they’ve done something
stadium. Big facilities. We’ll have a good
Dave Hooker covers recruiting, He may be
high school days are over.
about it.
time up there.”
“When they do send their final semes- reached at hookerd@knews.com.
In order to lessen the summer workThis will be the first official visit for
Barrett Jones 6-5, 280 OT Cordova Evangelical Christian
Jones isn’t an official visitor this weekend, but he’s a very
significant one. The offensive lineman from Evangelical Christian
School is the News Sentinel’s third best prospect in Tennessee.
Alabama and UT are thought to have the best shot.
SCOREBOARD
On Television
Today’s Games
Noon — Deleware at New Hampshire. CSS.
Noon — Wisconsin at Illinois. ESPN.
Noon — Miami at North Carolina. ESPN2.
Noon — Kansas at Kansas State. FSN.
12:30 — Vanderbilt at Auburn. WVLT.
2 — Wofford at The Citadel. SportSouth.
3:30 — Hampton at Princeton. CSS.
3:30 — Oklahoma vs. Texas. WATE.
3:30 — Georgia at Tennessee. WVLT.
3:30 — North Carolina State at Florida State.
ESPN2.
4 — Arizona St. at Washington State. FSN.
6 — Virginia Tech at Clemson. ESPN.
7 — Virginia at MTSU. CSS.
7 — Stanford at Southern Cal. VERSUS.
8 — Ohio St. at Purdue. WATE.
8 — Florida at LSU. WVLT.
8 — Cincinnati at Rutgers. ESPN2.
9:15 — Nebraska at Missouri. ESPN.
Sunday’s Game
8 — New Mexico St. at Boise State. ESPN.
Scores
Late Thursday
SOUTH
Delaware St. 24, Bethune-Cookman 10
Jacksonville St. 27, Tenn.-Martin 24
South Carolina 38, Kentucky 23
Summary
No. 11 SOUTH CAROLINA 38,
No. 8 KENTUCKY 23
Kentucky
3 7 3 10 – 23
South Carolina
10 7 7 14 – 38
First Quarter
SC–Norwood 2 fumble return (Succop kick),
10:53.
Ky–FG Seiber 27, 5:02.
SC–FG Succop 29, :57.
Second Quarter
Ky–Tamme 18 pass from Woodson (Seiber
kick), 12:13.
SC–Mi.Davis 3 run (Succop kick), :51.
Third Quarter
SC–Norwood 53 fumble return (Succop
kick), 13:03.
Ky–FG Seiber 41, 10:49.
Fourth Quarter
Ky–FG Seiber 23, 14:56.
SC–DiMarco 7 pass from Smelley (Succop
kick), 11:01.
Ky–S.Johnson 6 pass from Woodson (Seiber
kick), 6:59.
SC–C.Boyd 27 pass from Smelley (Succop
kick), 3:28.
A–76,220.
Ky
SC
First downs
26
18
Rushes-yards
38-157
36-86
Passing
227
256
Comp-Att-Int
23-40-1 17-30-0
Return Yards
7
38
Punts-Avg.
3-46.3
6-42.0
Fumbles-Lost
5-3
1-1
Penalties-Yards
5-49
6-44
Time of Possession
30:03
29:57
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Kentucky, Little 25-135, Dixon
7-49, Locke 2-22, Woodson 4-(minus 49).
South Carolina, Mi.Davis 17-62, C.Boyd 14-57,
Smelley 5-(minus 33).
PASSING – Kentucky, Woodson 23-40-1-227.
South Carolina, Smelley 17-30-0-256.
RECEIVING – Kentucky, Burton 7-76,
S.Johnson 4-38, Lyons 3-31, Dixon 3-24, Little
3-23, Tamme 2-35, Conner 1-0. South Carolina, McKinley 5-68, C.Boyd 3-47, J.Cook 2-36,
F.Brown 2-26, Mi.Davis 2-(minus 2), Saunders
1-50, Lecorn 1-24, DiMarco 1-7.
SCHEDULE
Today’s games
EAST
Bowling Green (3-1) at Boston College (50), Noon
Delaware (5-0) at New Hampshire (2-2),
Noon
West Virginia (4-1) at Syracuse (1-4), Noon
Richmond (3-1) at Towson (2-3), Noon
Holy Cross (2-2) at Brown (1-2), 12:30 p.m.
James Madison (3-1) at Northeastern (1-3),
12:30 p.m.
Dartmouth (1-2) at Yale (3-0), 12:30 p.m.
ODDS: THE GLANTZ-CULVER LINE
Today’sgames
FAVORITE
OPEN
N. Illinois
4½
West Virginia
24½
at Rutgers
3
at Illinois
2½
at Indiana
9½
at Michigan St.
16
Miami
7½
Wake Forest
9
at Ball St.
11½
at Auburn
9½
at Boston College 19½
Ohio
5½
at Army
4½
at Michigan
33½
at Wyoming
+1½
at Texas A&M
4½
at Mississippi St.
16½
at Kent St.
9½
at Kansas St.
3½
at Mississippi
12½
Colorado
10
at Clemson
5½
Oklahoma-x
10
at Missouri
7
at Penn St.
8
at Florida St.
19½
Georgia
+1
at Nevada
2
at Alabama
13
at San Jose St.
7½
at Colorado St.
12
at Oregon St.
5½
at Southern Cal
39½
at W. Michigan
9½
Georgia Tech
3
at Texas Tech
27
UCF
2½
at LSU
9
Ohio St.
5½
at UCLA
22
at Air Force
6½
Tulsa
3½
Arizona St.
10
at Hawaii
39
South Florida
17
Arkansas St.
2½
at La.-Lafayette
7
Troy
20
Virginia
11
Sunday
at Boise State
24½
Ohio (2-3) at Buffalo (1-4), 1 p.m.
Bucknell (2-3) at Colgate (2-2), 1 p.m.
Harvard (1-2) at Cornell (2-1), 1 p.m.
Lehigh (3-1) at Fordham (3-2), 1 p.m.
Iona (4-1) at La Salle (0-4), 1 p.m.
Duquesne (2-2) at Marist (0-5), 1 p.m.
Georgetown, D.C. (0-5) at Penn (0-3), 1 p.m.
Wagner (3-1) at Robert Morris (3-2), 1 p.m.
TDY
3½
27
4
2½
13½
16½
7
7½
12½
7½
20
4
6½
29½
3
6½
18½
9
3½
13
9
5½
12
9
9
17½
1
3
10½
6½
13½
3
41
8½
3½
24½
3½
7
7
22
5½
3
9
39
17
2½
8
18
10
UNDERDOG
at Temple
at Syracuse
Cincinnati
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Northwestern
at North Carolina
at Duke
Cent. Michigan
Vanderbilt
Bowling Green
at Buffalo
Tulane
E. Michigan
TCU
Oklahoma St.
UAB
Miami (Ohio)
Kansas
La. Tech
at Baylor
Virginia Tech
Texas
Nebraska
Iowa
N.C. State
at Tennessee
Fresno St.
Houston
Idaho
San Diego St.
Arizona
Stanford
Akron
at Maryland
Iowa St.
at East Carolina
Florida
at Purdue
Notre Dame
UNLV
at UTEP
at Washington St.
Utah St.
at Fla. Atlantic
at La.-Monroe
North Texas
at Fla. Int’l
at Middle Tenn.
24½
New Mexico St.
Monmouth, N.J. (0-4) at Sacred Heart (23), 1 p.m.
Cent. Connecticut St. (2-2) at St. Francis, Pa.
(0-3), 1 p.m.
N. Illinois (1-4) at Temple (0-5), 1 p.m.
Maine (1-3) at Hofstra (4-0), 1:30 p.m.
Iowa (2-3) at Penn St. (3-2), 3:30 p.m.
Hampton (3-1) at Princeton (2-1), 3:30 p.m.
Stony Brook (3-2) at Albany, N.Y. (1-3), 4 p.m.
Columbia (1-2) at Lafayette (3-1), 6 p.m.
William & Mary (3-2) at Villanova (3-1), 6 p.m.
Tulane (1-3) at Army (2-3), 7 p.m.
Cincinnati (5-0) at Rutgers (3-1), 8 p.m.
SOUTH
Georgia Tech (3-2) at Maryland (3-2), Noon
Miami (4-1) at North Carolina (1-4), Noon
Vanderbilt (3-1) at Auburn (3-2), 12:30 p.m.
Morehead St. (3-1) at Davidson (3-1), 1 p.m.
Wake Forest (2-2) at Duke (1-4), 1 p.m.
Cheyney (1-4) at Howard (1-3), 1 p.m.
Savannah St. (1-3) at Charleston Southern
(2-3), 1:30 p.m.
Coastal Carolina (1-3) at Furman (1-3), 2 p.m.
S. Dakota St. (2-3) at Georgia Southern (31), 2 p.m.
Louisiana Tech (1-3) at Mississippi (1-4),
2 p.m.
S. Carolina St. (2-2) at Norfolk St. (3-1), 2 p.m.
North Greenville (1-4) at Presbyterian (23), 2 p.m.
Wofford (4-1) at The Citadel (3-1), 2 p.m.
Gardner-Webb (2-2) at Appalachian St. (41), 2:30 p.m.
UAB (1-3) at Mississippi St. (3-2), 2:30 p.m.
Austin Peay (3-2) at Tennessee Tech (4-1),
2:30 p.m.
Prairie View (2-2) at Alcorn St. (0-4), 3 p.m.
MVSU (1-3) at Grambling St. (3-1), 3 p.m.
Northwestern St. (2-2) at Nicholls St. (3-1),
3 p.m.
Houston (2-2) at Alabama (3-2), 3:07 p.m.
South Florida (4-0) at Florida Atlantic (3-2),
3:30 p.m.
N.C. State (1-4) at Florida St. (3-1), 3:30 p.m.
Georgia (4-1) at Tennessee (2-2), 3:30 p.m.
Alabama St. (4-1) at Jackson St. (2-2), 4 p.m.
N. Carolina A&T (0-5) at Morgan St. (2-3),
4 p.m.
Virginia Tech (4-1) at Clemson (4-1), 6 p.m.
Elon (2-2) at W. Carolina (1-4), 6 p.m.
Alabama A&M (4-1) at Southern U. (5-0),
6:30 p.m.
Troy (3-2) at Fla. International (0-5), 7 p.m.
North Texas (0-4) at Louisiana-Lafayette
(0-5), 7 p.m.
Arkansas St. (2-2) at Louisiana-Monroe (04), 7 p.m.
Virginia (4-1) at Middle Tennessee (1-4),
7 p.m.
Stephen F.Austin (0-4) at SE Louisiana (13), 7 p.m.
UCF (3-1) at East Carolina (2-3), 7:30 p.m.
Florida (4-1) at LSU (5-0), 8 p.m.
MIDWEST
Cent. Michigan (2-3) at Ball St. (3-2), Noon
Wisconsin (5-0) at Illinois (4-1), Noon
Minnesota (1-4) at Indiana (4-1), Noon
W. Illinois (3-2) at Indiana St. (0-5), Noon
Kansas (4-0) at Kansas St. (3-1), Noon
E. Michigan (2-3) at Michigan (3-2), Noon
Northwestern (2-3) at Michigan St. (4-1),
Noon
Jacksonville (1-3) at Dayton (4-1), 1 p.m.
Butler (4-1) at Drake (4-1), 2 p.m.
UC Davis (2-3) at N. Dakota St. (4-0), 2 p.m.
San Diego (4-0) at Valparaiso (3-2), 2 p.m.
E. Kentucky (3-2) at E. Illinois (3-2), 2:30 p.m.
Miami (Ohio) (2-3) at Kent St. (3-2), 3 p.m.
Illinois St. (2-3) at Missouri St. (3-2), 3 p.m.
Youngstown St. (4-1) at S. Illinois (5-0), 3:30
p.m.
Florida A&M (2-2) vs. Winston-Salem (2-3) at
Indianapolis, 4 p.m.
Liberty (2-2) at Toledo (1-4), 7 p.m.
Akron (2-3) at W. Michigan (2-3), 7 p.m.
Ohio St. (5-0) at Purdue (5-0), 8 p.m.
Nebraska (4-1) at Missouri (4-0), 9:15 p.m.
SOUTHWEST
Oklahoma (4-1) vs. Texas (4-1) at Dallas,
3:30 p.m.
Chattanooga (1-3) vs. Arkansas (2-2) at Little
Rock, Ark., 7 p.m.
Colorado (3-2) at Baylor (3-2), 7 p.m.
Cent. Arkansas (1-3) at Sam Houston St. (22), 7 p.m.
McNeese St. (4-0) at Texas St. (1-3), 7 p.m.
Iowa St. (1-4) at Texas Tech (4-1), 7 p.m.
Oklahoma St. (3-2) at Texas A&M (4-1), 7:30
p.m.
Tulsa (3-1) at UTEP (3-2), 9:05 p.m.
FAR WEST
TCU (3-2) at Wyoming (3-1), 2 p.m.
E. Washington (3-1) at Montana (4-0), 3:05
p.m.
Sacramento St. (1-3) at Weber St. (0-4),
3:05 p.m.
S. Utah (0-4) at Montana St. (3-1), 3:35 p.m.
Arizona (2-3) at Oregon St. (2-3), 4 p.m.
Idaho (1-4) at San Jose St. (2-3), 4 p.m.
Arizona St. (5-0) at Washington St. (2-3),
4 p.m.
N. Colorado (0-5) at Idaho St. (1-3), 4:05 p.m.
Fresno St. (2-2) at Nevada (2-2), 4:05 p.m.
N. Arizona (2-3) at Portland St. (2-3), 4:30 p.m.
San Diego St. (1-3) at Colorado St. (0-4),
5:30 p.m.
Stanford (1-3) at Southern Cal (4-0), 7 p.m.
Notre Dame (0-5) at UCLA (4-1), 8 p.m.
UNLV (2-3) at Air Force (3-2), 9 p.m.
Utah St. (0-5) at Hawaii (5-0), 12:05 a.m.
Sunday’s game
Far West
New Mexico St. (3-2) at Boise St. (3-1), 8 p.m.
The AP Top 25
The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press
college football poll, with first-place votes in
parentheses, records through Sept. 29, total
points based on 25 points for a first-place
vote through one point for a 25th-place vote,
and previous ranking:
Rec. Pts Pvs
1. LSU (33)
5-0 1,593
2
2. Southern Cal (32)
4-0 1,591
1
3. California
5-0 1,475
6
4. Ohio St.
5-0 1,420
8
5. Wisconsin
5-0 1,271
9
6. South Florida
4-0 1,203 18
7. Boston College
5-0 1,172 12
8. Kentucky
5-0 1,143 14
9. Florida
4-1 1,031
4
10. Oklahoma
4-1 992
3
11. South Carolina
4-1 900 16
12. Georgia
4-1 885 15
13. West Virginia
4-1 861
5
14. Oregon
4-1 837 11
15. Virginia Tech
4-1 639 17
16. Hawaii
5-0 586 19
17. Missouri
4-0 561 20
18. Arizona St.
5-0 497 23
19. Texas
4-1 449
7
20. Cincinnati
5-0 377 24
21. Rutgers
3-1 299 10
22. Clemson
4-1 265 13
23. Purdue
5-0 218
–
24. Kansas St.
3-1 214
–
25. Nebraska
4-1 198 25
Others receiving votes: Florida St. 101, Miami
83, Illinois 59, Auburn 52, UCLA 49, Texas
A&M 29, Michigan St. 16, Michigan 15, Connecticut 9, Alabama 6, Arkansas 5, Colorado
5, UCF 5, Penn St. 4, Boise St. 3, Kansas 3, Virginia 3, Washington 1.
USA Today Top 25 Poll
The Top 25 teams in the USA Today college
football coaches poll, with first-place votes
in parentheses, records through Sept. 29,
total points based on 25 points for a firstplace vote through one point for a 25th-place
vote, and previous ranking:
Rec. Pts Pvs
1. Southern Cal (45)
4-0 1,483
1
2. LSU (14)
5-0 1,454
2
3. California
5-0 1,363
6
4. Ohio State (1)
5-0 1,313
8
5. Wisconsin
5-0 1,251
9
6. Boston College
5-0 1,138 11
7. Florida
4-1 1,000
3
8. Kentucky
5-0 971 15
9. South Florida
4-0 960 18
10. Oklahoma
4-1 925
4
11. Georgia
4-1 758 16
12. West Virginia
4-1 756
5
13. Oregon
4-1 697 12
14. Virginia Tech
4-1 661 14
15. Hawaii
5-0 585 17
16. Texas
4-1 573
7
17. Missouri
4-0 532 20
18. South Carolina
4-1 529 21
19. Arizona State
5-0 466 t25
20. Purdue
5-0 423 t25
21. Rutgers
3-1 347 10
22. Clemson
4-1 278 13
23. Nebraska
4-1 261 22
24. Cincinnati
5-0 249 NR
25. UCLA
4-1
79 NR
Others receiving votes: Miami (Fla.) 68, Michigan State 63, Kansas 48, Florida State 46,
Auburn 42, Kansas State 33, Boise State 25,
Connecticut 23, Illinois 21, Tennessee 17, Virginia 15, Penn State 12, Michigan 10, Texas
A&M 10, Alabama 5, Colorado 3, Georgia
Tech 3, Central Florida 1, Indiana 1, Wake
Forest 1, Wyoming 1.
Russell revels in Tusculum’s spread offense
BY SCOTT COOLBAUGH
sports@knews.com
Tusculum College quarterback
Corey Russell is used to being
tossed right into the action and figuring things out on his own. Injuries helped thrust the Cumberland
Gap High School graduate into the
starter’s role early in his career and
he was forced to make due.
“He got thrown in the heat of battle way too early in his career,” Tusculum coach Frankie DeBusk said.
“He had to start for us as a redshirt
freshman and that’s really not fair
at the quarterback position. He took
his lumps.
ButifyouaskRussell,hewouldn’t
ter grades in, they can do it quicker and
turn it over faster,” Luke said, “so guys
can get a final yes or a final no quicker.”
Whether or not the new rule helps
the NCAA Clearinghouse determine
the academic fates of countless high
school athletes remains to be seen.
But, at least, they’ve got one less excuse at their disposal.
have it any other way.
“Iwantedtogosomewherewhere
I could play early and make an impactearly—getonthefieldandplay
and this was the perfect place to do
it,” the junior said.
It’s homecoming today in Greeneville. The Pioneers (2-3, 1-0 South
Atlantic Conference) play LenoirRhyne (2-3, 0-0) with kickoff at 2
p.m.
When Tusculum brought in a
new no-huddle spread offense this
season,itdidn’tseemtofazeRussell.
Lastweekhethrewfourtouchdowns
and set a Tusculum single-game record by throwing for 438 yards in
a 31-28 win over Wingate. He was
selected South Atlantic Conference
Offensive Player of the Week. The
performance also helped Russell
to be named Football Gazette Division II National Offensive Player of
the Week.
“I love it,” Russell said of Tusculum’s offense. “It’s a chance to go
just go out there and play. It’s just
like backyard football — you get
out there, you’re running around,
you’re catching balls and throwing
balls. It’s fun.
Russellhasthrownfor1,193yards
andleadstheSACwithanaverageof
267.2 total yards per game.
“NowIseehimbecomingamore
mature quarterback with every sin-
gle game that we play-and every
singlesnapthathetakeshebecomes
more aware of the whole system instead of just playing quarterback,”
DeBusk said.
Like Tusculum, Lenoir-Rhyne
dropped its first three games before
reboundingtowintwoinarow.The
Bears come in with a solid ground
game, averaging nearly 200 yards
per game.
“We feel like we can go through
theconferenceandtakecareofeach
team that we need to each week,”
Russell said. “But we’re just going
to have to come to play week in and
weekout.Thisisatoughconference,
you can’t overlook anybody.”
Mars Hill can’t
forget C-N
wideout Miller
BY ADAM GREENE
sports@knews.com
JEFFERSON CITY — With a little over one minute left
andtrailing7-3,Carson-NewmanCollegemadeadesperatemove.Facingfourthdownontheirown10-yard
line, quarterback Alex Rouse took the snap from center and fired the ball out to wide receiver Otis Miller.
Miller snatched the ball out of the air and powered
through the Mars
Hillcornerbackfor SAC STANDINGS
thewinningtouchConf. All
down in last year’s
Catawba
1-0 5-0
game.
“AllgameIknew Carson-Newman
1-0 5-0
they were playing Tusculum
1-0 2-3
10 or 15 yards off
1-0 2-3
me,” Miller said Lenoir-Rhyne
0-1 4-1
Thursday. “The Mars Hill
coaches called the Newberry
0-1 4-1
passandthenIhad
Wingate
0-1 4-1
to make the play
0-1 1-4
for our team to get Brevard
the win.”
Today’sgames
Millernolonger Brevard at Wingate, 1:30 p.m.
will be able to surprise anyone. The Carson-Newman at Mars Hill, 2
junior wideout Lenoir-Rhyne at Tusculum, 2
from Miami, Fla. Newberry at Catawba, 7
leads the Eagles
with 250 yards receiving, averaging more than 20 yards a catch.
“Otis has matured a lot as a football player and a
person,” C-N coach Ken Sparks said. “He’s one of the
leaders on our team. He’s consistent and always gives
greateffort.Whenhecatchestheball,hebecomeseven
more of a threat. He’s not through developing and he’s
going to be a lot better before he gets out of here.”
No. 7-ranked Carson Newman (5-0, 1-0 South Atlantic Conference) faces the Lions (4-1, 0-1) at Mears
StadiuminMarsHilltodayat1p.m.Miller,whoplayed
thepartoftheLiontamerlastseason,knowsheshould
receive some special defensive attention.
“I’ll probably have a few more eyes on me this
game,” he said. “If they do that, then the other wide
receivers are going to make the plays. We can’t be
double-teamed. We have a lot of talented receivers
and distribution is very important in our eyes. Our offenseisreallyclickingrightnow,soweexpecttoscore
some points.”
Points could be at a premium after last season’s
defensive slugfest. Before Miller’s fourth-down score,
C-N managed only an Aubrey Ingham field goal. The
Lions’ touchdown came from a 92-yard fumble return
by Nathaniel Smith.
“It was a battle to the very end,” Sparks said. “They
missed a lot of plays and so did we. I’m sure they left
here feeling like they should have won the game.
They’ve played us great the last two years and have a
lot of returning starters on defense.”
Ironically, Sparks feels that the Eagles might be the
underdog.ScrappyMarsHillcouldverywellbeatrap
game.
“They probably have us right where they want us,”
Sparks said. “We’re coming off a big win and they’re
coming off a game where they struggled. They’ve
playeduswelloverthelasttwoyearsandfeellikethey
canbeatus.Theyhavethepsychologicaladvantageon
us, no question.”
TheEagleshavealsomadeahabitofgettingbehind
early in games by double digits, before hitting the gas.
Twice, Carson-Newman trailed 14-3 in the first quarter of games. Last Saturday, Newberry took a 13-7 lead
before the Eagles took control.
“Eventuallythatwillcatchupwithyou,”Sparkssaid.
“I don’t like that formula, but we’ve been fortunate
and the kids have great heart. They believe they’re going to win and that’s pretty powerful. Mars Hill takes
away some of the things that we like to do. We have to
execute better.”
GV8 Saturday, October 6, 2007
GOVOLSXTRA
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