Young Goes Back To School

Let’s hear it for Vince Young.

I’m impressed.

The Titans quarterback has joined defensive back Michael Griffin to return to Austin to get their degrees at the University of Texas.The former Longhorns have both enrolled for the spring semester as fulltime students.

See, it’s cool to back to school.University of Texas players are enrolled for the spring semester at the Austin campus, an official in the registrar's office confirmed Friday.

It seems that Young made a promise to his mother that he would earn his degree and he plans to honor her request.

Young is only two semesters short of his degree in education and early child development. He is taking 15 hours this semester and hopes that will get him close enough to finish with some online courses.

Griffin, the Titans top draft pick last year, is majoring in youth and community studies.

The Titans duo is working out at the University to get ready for the 2008 season.

Young is set for life financially and likely will never have to work.

Nonetheless, he’s sending a message to young and old to get that degree.

We have heard that Young sometimes pouted in games when he was struggling. Before he was drafted, some questioned his intelligence when rumors popped up that he had failed the Wonderlic Test.

The college degree should end any questions surrounding Young’s smarts.

Terry Bradshaw was once called a “dumb quarterback.” If I remember correctly, somebody said he couldn’t spell cat if you spotted him two letters.

Bradshaw has proven that not to be true.

Today, he’s the “lead dog” on FOX NFL Sunday.

TV Ratings & Bowl Games Show Passion for College Football in 2007

ABC, ESPN, CBS and FOX report strong viewership

DALLAS, Jan. 24, 2008 - The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) highlighted today that 2007 season, a year filled with thrilling upsets and record-setting performances, produced top-notch television ratings and concluded with another bowl season enjoyed by millions of fans across the country.

"The numbers show that the interest in college football continues to grow and that the sport is truly America's passion," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "We applaud the bowl games and the broadcasting industry for their efforts and creativity in promoting the great game of college football and making it accessible to millions of viewers and fans during the season.

It was a really impressive year, a year of unprecedented upsets and an exciting one to watch.

"The 2007-08 bowl season, with 64 teams participating in a slate of 32 bowl games, established new high water marks in viewership and fan attendance, building on a season that saw ESPN on ABC Sports, CBS Sports, Fox Sports, NBC Sports, CSTV, Versus, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, Fox Sports Net, the Big Ten Network, and the NFL Network all capitalize on college football's ever increasing popularity.

The commitment of every major network and many of the premier cable channels continues to take the sport of college football to new heights in terms of support and interest.With more than 1.7 million combined fans attending a bowl game and close to another combined 129 million households tuning in to watch the bowl games on television, bowl payouts ran an estimated $225 million in 2007-08 and have totaled $1.6 billion over the last nine seasons.

Over the next ten years, bowls are projected to pay $2.4 billion to the teams and conferences in the Football Bowl Subdivision who participate.

Regular Season Ratings: Highlighted by its relationship with the SEC, CBS posted an average national household rating/share for the season of 3.5/8, up 13% from a 3.1/7 last year.

The 2007 season marked CBS' best year since a 3.7/10 rating/share in 1999.

ESPN also posted impressive viewership with its third most-viewed season ever, averaging 2,013,687 households per game, and ESPN2 recorded its most-viewed season ever with 1,027,368 households per game.

ESPN on ABC averaged 4,364,148 households per game with two games landing in the top 10 audiences ever: the Nov. 24 Missouri-Kansas game with 10,960,755 viewers (ranking 7th all-time) and the Dec. 1 Oklahoma- Missouri game with 10,841,849 (ranking 9th all-time).

The Versus network saw a 50 percent increase in national household rankings and a 92 percent increase in total viewership.Bowl Attendance and Ticket SalesFinal attendance for all bowls in '07-08 was 1,733,499 for a game average of 54,172.

Of the 64 teams competing, 28 sold out their allotment of tickets, 11 bowls sported record attendance figures, eight postseason games drew 65,000-plus fans, and eight bowls were proclaimed sellouts within 24 hours of their matchup announcements.

The Allstate BCS National Championship Game produced the largest crowd (79,651) ever in Louisiana Superdome history with the venue playing host to three bowl tussles (for the first time in city history) from Dec. 21, 2007-Jan. 7, 2008. Allstate Sugar Bowl CEO Paul Hoolahan and his staff pulled off the staging of two of those games with aplomb and panache, winning universal praise from the fans and the media alike while the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation hosted the The R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, posting high water marks as most-viewed New Orleans Bowl dating back to 2001.

The Allstate BCS National Championship Game also became the top- selling event in StubHub's history, surpassing last year's Super Bowl and the Tostitos BCS National Championship game.

The Capital One Bowl in Orlando drew 69,748 fans, selling out within 13 hours. Organizers had to add 4,000 extra bleacher seats to accommodate the overflow crowds. En route to producing its quickest sellout ever, The Valero Alamo Bowl attracted its largest crowd in history with 66,166 fans in attendance.

The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl continued its record of 23 sellouts in the last 24 games while the FedEx Orange Bowl sold out for the eighth consecutive year. The Chick-fil-A Bowl sold out for the 11th straight year in less than 48 hours, and The Cotton Bowl was sold out in less than 24 hours. The Poinsettia Bowl had the largest crowd in game history with 39,129, an increase of 24% over last year's game while the Holiday Bowl had its third largest crowd in history, while recording its fifth straight sell out.

The '07 Houston Bowl recorded an event-record of 62,907 tickets sold at Reliant Stadium. It was the third- largest crown to watch a college contest in the city of Houston. The Armed Forces Bell Helicopter Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas, smashed its previous turnout highs with 40,905 in attendance. Alabama and Colorado had the most tickets sold (47,043) for the PetroSun Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., since Arkansas-Missouri attracted 49,625 in 2003.

Bowl Community Impact:An estimated $1.3 billion poured into the community coffers from travel and tourism in the 32 clashes, and coaches and student-athletes took time out from their practice schedules to participate in a wide range of unique community service events that included visits to pediatric wards, children's hospitals, veterans hospitals, Boys & Girls Clubs, the Ronald McDonald House, Make-A Wish participants, fan fests with disadvantaged kids, and food distribution centers for the less fortunate.

The Chick-fil-A Bowl distributed $1.04 million in charitable and scholarship contributions, which doubled last year's record total of $531,000. The game also generates an estimated $30-35 million in economic impact for metro Atlanta each year, eclipsing the NBA All-Star Game, NCAA Women's Final Four and the SEC Football Championship game.

At the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, current members of the armed forces were admitted free and veterans gained entry at a 50 percent discount, Fort Worth, Texas. 3,500 troops also enjoyed a free feast of burritos, rice, beans and hot sauce provided by the Fort Worth-based Rosa's Café & Tortilla Factory.2007-08 Notable Bowl Facts and Milestones:

· Joe Paterno won his NCAA record 23rd bowl game in his 500th game on the sidelines.
· Missouri' Tony Temple (281 yards) and Rutgers's Ray Rice (280 yards) produced two of the three highest rushing totals in bowl history.
· Boston College won their eighth straight bowl while Utah won their seventh straight.
· New Mexico won their first bowl game in 46 years, last win in 1961 Aviation Bowl.
· The Mountain West had the best winning percentage (4-1, .800), while the SEC seven bowl wins (7-2 overall) was an all-time high for any conference in NCAA history.
· Humanitarian Bowl celebrated his 10th anniversary, flourishing as one of the premier events in Boise, Idaho.
· The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl hosted the 2007 College Football Hall of Fame Class with its Third Annual National Hall of Fame Salute at the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
· Both the FedEx Orange Bowl and the AllState Sugar Bowl will celebrate their 75th games next season.
· The Brut Sun Bowl just celebrated its 40th straight year on CBS and will celebrate its 75th Anniversary this year.
· FedEx has served as title sponsor of the Orange Bowl for the 19th straight year, the longest consecutive bowl title sponsor.
· Alabama (55 bowl appearances), Tennessee (47), Texas (47), Southern California (46), and Nebraska (44) kept the all-time top five positions in bowl appearances.
· Scoring reached all-time highs of 28.4 points per game and 392 total offense yards up 45.1 yards per game from '06 to '07.
· Games averaged eight more plays this year than last and produced an average of 379.8 yards of total offense.
· Vendors in both New Orleans and Honolulu virtually ran out of Hawaii gear and accessories with Allstate Sugar Bowl logos.
· During the week surrounding the Allstate BCS National Championship game LSU recorded its largest weekly sale of licensed football merchandise in history.
Bowl Ratings Highlights:2007-08 produced another banner year for bowl game viewing.

Especially noteworthy, all of the pre-Christmas Bowl game ratings increased this year, and all the games continued to produce strong interest from the powerful demographic of 18-49 year- old males. For the bowl season, ESPN delivered an average of 2,866,410 households while ESPN2 delivered its most-viewed bowl season ever with 1,502,134 households and 1,950,490 viewers, posting an 11 percent increase with males 18-49 and a 17 percent increase with males 25-54.

The Allstate BCS National Championship Game came in second overall in the Neilsen ratings, posting at the No. 2 most watch program among 18-49 year olds and the No. 3 most watch program among males teens between 12-17 year olds. Other highlights include:ESPN on ABC Bowl Rating Highlights:

· The Rose Bowl and Capital One Bowl averaged 11.4 million households, up 2% from last year.
· The Capital One Bowl recorded 9.1 household rating, making it the highest-rated Capital One Bowl in a since the 1998 Florida-Penn State game, which drew 9.2 million households.
ESPN Bowl Rating Highlights:
· The Chick-fil-A Bowl between Auburn and Clemson captured 4.9 million households, the second most- viewed bowl game on ESPN since 1990 behind only the 2006 Alamo Bowl, which attracted 5.5 million households.
· The Pacific Life Holiday Bowl drew 4.2 million households, a 7% increase over 2006 and the 2nd most watched bowl game on ESPN in 2007.
· The Music City Bowl attracted 3.9 million households, becoming the highest-rated and most viewed dating back to 1998.
· The Motor City Bowl engaged 2.6 million households, the most-viewed since 2001.
· The Las Vegas Bowl captured 2.4 million households, the highest rated since 2002.
· The Champs Sports Bowl won 3.6 million households, its highest rated and most viewed ever.
· The San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl also doubled its ratings from a year ago with a 2.00 adjusted Nielsen number.
· The 2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl garnered its highest ever, drawing 3.6 million households.
ESPN2 Bowl Rating Highlights:
· The Papajohns.com Bowl drew 2.2 million households, the most-viewed bowl game on ESPN2 this season and the second highest-rated bowl game on ESPN2, behind only the 2002 GMAC Bowl, which attracted 2.3 million households.
· The R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl attracted 1.6 million households, becoming the highest-rated and most-viewed New Orleans Bowl dating back to 2001.
FOX Bowl Rating Highlights:
· Drawing 23.1 million viewers and with a total of 52 million Americans tuning in to see at least part of the game, The Allstate BCS National Championship Game delivered FOX the second highest-rated and most-watched night of television of the season-to-date, only behind an NFL Wildcard game on NBC.
· All four 2008 BCS on FOX pre- games/games won their nightly ratings among the powerful 18-49 demographic. It was the first time that the Bowl Championship Series has delivered a network four nightly "highs" in the key prime time demographic.
· The 14.4/22 rating for the Allstate BCS Championship Game topped the season-to-date household average of every show in prime time. The current top-ranked show (through Jan. 14, 2008) for the season-to-date is Dancing with the Stars (14.0/20). The game beat all season-to-date prime time shows among all adults 18-49 as well. The 8.2 number among adults 18-49 topped ABC's Desperate Housewives (7.3), which is currently prime time's No. 1 show.
2007-08 Chronological Bowl Results:(Attendance) & [Household Impressions]:
· San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl: Utah 35, Navy 32, ESPN:(39,129) & [1,932,246]
· R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Florida Atlantic 44, Memphis 27, ESPN2:(25,146) & [1,561,000]
· Papajohns.com Bowl: Cincinnati 31, Southern Miss 21, ESPN2:(35,258) & [2,167,420]
· New Mexico Bowl: New Mexico 23, Nevada 0, ESPN:(30,233) & [1,888,695]
· Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl: Brigham Young 17, UCLA 16, ESPN:(40,712) & [2,390,098]
· Sheraton Hawaii Bowl: East Carolina 41, Boise State 38, ESPN:(30,467) & [1,415,395]
· Motor City Bowl: Purdue 51, Central Michigan 48, ESPN:(60,624) & [2,584,994]
· Pacific Life Holiday Bowl: Texas 52, Arizona State 34, ESPN:(64,020) & [4,223,682]
· Champs Sports Bowl: Boston College 24, Michigan State 21, ESPN:(46,554) & [3,561,309]
· Texas Bowl: TCU 20, Houston 13, NFL Network:(62,097) & [326,650]
· Emerald Bowl: Oregon State 21, Maryland 14, ESPN:(32,517) & [3,463,061]
· Meineke Car Care Bowl: Wake Forest 24, Connecticut 10, ESPN:(53,126) & [3,607,429]
· AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Mississippi State 10, UCF 3, ESPN:(63,816) & [3,986,674]
· Valero Alamo Bowl: Penn State 24, Texas A&M 17, ESPN:(66,166) & [2,568,881]
· PetroSun Independence Bowl: Alabama 30, Colorado 24, ESPN:(47,043) & [1,828,965]
· Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl: California 42, Air Force 36, ESPN:(40,975) & [1,928,556]
· Roady's Humanitarian Bowl: Fresno State 40, Georgia Tech 28, ESPN2:(27,062) & [745,082]
· Brut Sun Bowl: Oregon 56, USF 21, CBS:(49,867) & [2,554,678]
· Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl: Kentucky 35, Florida State 28, ESPN:(68,681) & [3,883,875]
· Insight Bowl: Oklahoma State 49, Indiana 33, NFL Network:(48,892) & [458,918]
· Chick-Fil-A Bowl: Auburn 23, Clemson 20 (OT), ESPN:(74,413) & [4,919,331]
· Outback Bowl: Tennessee 21, Wisconsin 17, ESPN:(60,121) & [3,260,313]
· AT&T Cotton Bowl: Missouri 38, Arkansas 7, Fox:(73,114) & [3,974,484]
· Konica Minolta Gator Bowl: Texas Tech 31, Virginia 28, CBS:(60,243) & [2,960,799]
· Capital One Bowl: Michigan 41, Florida 35, ABC:(69,748) & [10,301,679]
· Rose Bowl presented by Citi: Southern California 49, Illinois 17, ABC:(93,923) & [12,531,880]
· Allstate Sugar Bowl: Georgia 41, Hawai'i 10, Fox:(74,383) & [7,850,519]
· Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: West Virginia 48, Oklahoma 28, Fox:(70,016) & [8,736,935]
· FedEx Orange Bowl: Kansas 24, Virginia Tech 21, Fox:(74,111) & [8,345,715]
· International Bowl: Rutgers 52, Ball State 30, ESPN:(31,455) & [1,528,141]
· GMAC Bowl: Tulsa 63, Bowling Green 7, ESPN:(36,932) & [1,096,521]
· Allstate BCS National Championship: LSU 38, Ohio State 24, Fox:(79,651) & [16,291,263]

ABOUT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION & COLLEGE HALL OF FAMEFounded in 1947 with leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice and with 121 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, a non-profit educational organization, runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. The NFF presents the MacArthur Trophy, the Draddy Trophy, presented by HealthSouth, and releases the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Standings. NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, Play It Smart, and scholarships of over $1 million for college and high school scholar-athletes.

For more information, please visit us on the web at www.footballfoundation.com

Four Former Vols In Big Game

Did you know that at least one Tennessee Vol has played in the Super Bowl since 1992 and 31 of the 42?

The list of Tennessee alumni headed to the Super Bowl grew by four Sunday with the additions of Gibril Wilson, Kelley Washington, Donte' Stallworth and Rashad Moore.

Stallworth, who teamed with Randy Moss as New England's No. 1 and 2 wide receivers, had two catches for 11 yards in the AFC Championship game. He ranked 24th in the AFC with 46 receptions for 697 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 15.2 yards per catch.

Wilson, who started at free safety, made 92 tackles (78 solo) with four interceptions and seven pass break-ups for the Giants. He made a team-high eight tackles and broke up one pass in the NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers.

Washington served as the fifth receiver for New England, playing mainly on special teams in 14 games. Against the Jets on Dec. 16, he recorded the Patriots' first blocked punt since 1999, slapping down Ben Graham's punt in the second quarter, and setting up the Patriots' possession at the Jets' 3-yard line.

Moore signed as a free agent on June 8, 2007 with New England, was released on Sept. 1 and re-signed on Dec. 19. He played in one regular season game and the AFC Championship game for the Patriots.

Tennessee Vols In The Super Bowl

TE Bill Anderson (1967 Super Bowl I, Green Bay Packers)
P Ron Widby (1971 & 1972 Super Bowls V, VI, Dallas Cowboys)
DB Richmond Flowers (1971 Super Bowl V, Dallas Cowboys)
LB Steve Kiner (1971 Super Bowl V, Dallas Cowboys)
DB Bob Petrella (1972 Super Bowl VI, Miami Dolphins)
P Neil Clabo (1977 Super Bowl XI, Minnesota Vikings)
P Craig Colquitt (1979 & 1980 Super Bowls XIII, XIV, Pittsburgh Steelers)
DB Eddie Brown (1980 Super Bowl XIV, Los Angeles Rams)
LB Jack Reynolds (1980 & 1982 & 1985 Super Bowls XIV, LA Rams, XVI, XIX San Francisco)
OT Mickey Marvin (1981 & 1984 Super Bowls XV, Oakland Raiders, XVIII, LA Raiders)
LB Craig Puki (1982 Super Bowl XVI, San Francisco 49ers)
DB Roland James (1986 Super Bowl XX, New England Patriots)
WR Stanley Morgan (1986 Super Bowl XX, New England Patriots)
DE Brian Ingram (1986 Super Bowl XX, New England Patriots)
WR Willie Gault (1986 Super Bowl XX, Chicago Bears)
OG Raleigh McKenzie (1988 & 1992 Super Bowls XXII, XXVI, Washington Redskins)
WR Tim McGee (1989 Super Bowl XXIII, Cincinnati Bengals)
LB Carl Zander (1989 Super Bowl XXIII, Cincinnati Bengals)
OG David Douglas (1989 Super Bowl XXIII, Cincinnati Bengals)
LB Keith DeLong (1990 Super Bowl XXIV, San Francisco 49ers)
WR Alvin Harper (1993 & 1994 Super Bowls XXVII, XXVIII, Dallas Cowboys)
DE Chris Mims (1995 Super Bowl XXIX, San Diego Chargers)
DB Bill Bates (1993 & 1994 & 1996 Super Bowls XXVII, XXVIII, XXX, Dallas Cowboys)
WR Cory Fleming (1996 Super Bowl XXX, Dallas Cowboys)
DT Reggie White (1997 & 1998 Super Bowls XXXI, XXXII, Green Bay Packers)
OT Bruce Wilkerson (1997 & 1998 Super Bowls XXXI, XXXII, Green Bay Packers)
RB Aaron Hayden (1998 Super Bowl XXXII, Green Bay Packers)
LB Chuck Smith (1999 Super Bowl XXXIII, Atlanta Falcons)
LB Ben Talley (1999 Super Bowl XXXIII, Atlanta Falcons)
WR Marcus Nash (1999 Super Bowl XXXIII, Denver, 2001 Super Bowl XXXV, Baltimore)
C Trey Teague (1999 Injured, Super Bowl XXXIII, Denver Broncos)
WR Joey Kent (2000 Super Bowl XXXIV, Tennessee Titans)
OT Jason Layman (2000 Super Bowl XXXIV, Tennessee Titans)
LB Leonard Little (2000 & 2002 Super Bowls XXXIV, XXXVI, St. Louis Rams)
RB Jamal Lewis (2001 Super Bowl XXXV, Baltimore Ravens)
DB Dave Thomas (2001 Super Bowl XXXV, New York Giants)
RB Charlie Garner (2003 Super Bowl XXXVII, Oakland Raiders)
OG Cosey Coleman (2003 Super Bowl XXXVII, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
RB Travis Stephens (2003 Injured, Super Bowl XXXVII, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
DT Shane Burton (2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII, Carolina Panthers)
DB Deon Grant (2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII, Carolina Panthers)
DT Darwin Walker (2005 Super Bowl XXXIX, Philadelphia Eagles)
WR Cedrick Wilson (2006 Super Bowl XL, Pittsburgh Steelers)
QB Peyton Manning (2007 Super Bowl XLI [MVP], Indianapolis Colts)
DB Gibril Wilson (2008 Super Bowl XLII, New York Giants)
DT Rashad Moore (2008 Super Bowl XLII, New England Patriots)
WR Donte' Stallworth (2008 Super Bowl XLII, New England Patriots)
WR Kelley Washington (2008 Super Bowl XLII, New England Patriots)

www.utsports.com

Former ETSU Player Named Falcons Coach

There’s no doubt that when Atlanta hired Mike Smith as the new Falcons coach that they got a likeable person.

Nonetheless, Arthur Blank please don’t tell us that this is the guy you wanted and how you checked out his reference for two weeks before deciding he is right for your Falcons.

It always makes me nervous when a person who has never been a head coach at any level of his career takes over the helm of a major college or professional team.

Ray Goff (Georgia) and Mike Shula (Alabama) are the first to come to mind.
Operating by trial and error at the top level can be a risky venture.

However, the deeper you look for positives in Smith the more you find.

He has a direct tie to Tennessee where he has spent much of his time playing and coaching.

Smith got his start as a linebacker for East Tennessee from 1977-1981. He was an aggressive player who was twice named defensive MVP and led his team in tackles as a senior with 186.

That’s good. However, it’s bad that he can’t go back and watch his old school play or coach one of the Buccaneers. East Tennessee State no longer has a football program.

He was a part time assistant coach at San Diego State from 1982-’85.

That’s bad, unless you and your family like the beach and one of the best zoos in America.

He was the defensive line coach at Morehead State in 1986.

That’s bad, unless you always wanted to coach in Phil Simms Stadium in the middle of nowhere. And family members would always be hassling you to give them a Morehead cap.

Smith moved on to Tennessee Tech where he stayed from 1987-1998. He spent time as the defensive coordinator, defensive line coach and special teams coach during that time.

That’s good. Cookeville is a nice town and the Cumberland County Playhouse is down the road in Crossville. There’s always some kind of big time play there.

In fact, the Broadway Family Musical Peter Pan by Carolyn Leigh, Adolph Green and Betty Comden, with music by Jule Styne and Mark Charlap opens on Feb. 1.

The Cumberland County Playhouse is now the only major non-profit professional performing arts resource in rural Tennessee, and one of the 10 largest professional theaters in rural America, according to the theatre’s website.

Sorry, couldn’t resist impressing the readers with some culture.

The Tennessee Tech folks are proud of Smith. The story of him taking over the Falcons is posted on the school’s football website.

Smith got his break in 1999. He was hired to coach linebackers by the Baltimore Ravens and was later named the defensive coordinator.

There, Smith got a Super Bowl championship ring (XXXV) in 2000 with a defense that set an NFL regular season record by allowing only 165 points.

Now, that’s real good.

He was named the defensive coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2003. His Jacksonville defense ranked fourth in overall defense (296.6) and third in offensive points allowed (16.1) from 2003-2006. The 2007 defensive unit finished with the AFCs fifth-best rushing defense, holding opponents to an average of 100.3 yards per game.

That’s pretty good.

The assessment of Smith’s career leaves the final opinion tally at two that’s good; two that’s bad; one that’s pretty good and one that’s real good.

So, looking at Smith being hired as the new Atlanta coach gives the Falcons a win.

That’s not bad, victories have been hard to come by in Atlanta.

Chow To UCLA

Fired Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow has found a job back on the west coast, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.

An official announcement should be made today that Chow, who was fired last Tuesday, is going to be the new offensive coordinator for UCLA, according to Mortensen.

The Titans (10-6) lost an AFC wild-card game to San Diego 17-6 and ranked 21st overall in total offense.

Tennessee was the first team to reach the playoffs in a 16-game season with only nine touchdown passes.

On Friday, the Titans brought Denver assistant Mike Heimerdinger back to replace Chow as the offensive coordinator. Heimerdinger was Tennessee's offensive coordinator from 2000-2004.

Chow will be back at home in the Pac 10.

He came to the Titans from Southern Cal in 2005. Chow wanted Tennessee to draft his Trojans quarterback Matt Leinart in 2006 when Vince Young was taken third.

Chow wasn’t able to display his talents for developing quarterbacks with the athletic Young.

He has had success in helping to develop Jim McMahon, Steve Young, Phillip Rivers and Carson Palmer in his more than 30 years of coaching.

ESPN.com and Associated Press information was used in this report

The Super Bowl XLII odds have the New England Patriots (18-0) favored by 13 to 14 points over the New York Giants (13-6) at Las Vegas sports books.

Las Vegas bookmakers said New England is considered by far the best team in the league.

The Patriots have been heavy favorites all season after getting off to a fast start by hammering opponents and destroying the spreads.

Nevertheless, the Patriots have only covered the spread once in its last eight games.

The over-and-under on Super Bowl XLII has been set at 55 by oddsmakers.

of course, the Patriots are trying to become the second team in NFL history to go undefeated. In week 17 New England defeated New York 38-35.

Bookmakers are predicting that total bets on the this year's Super Bowl could top the $100 million mark.

New England and New York In Super Showdown

OK, Super Bowl XLII is set. New England is going to try to remain perfect against New York.

My thoughts are that I'm so happy for the Giants Eli Manning and sad for the Packers Brett Favre. Nonetheless, Manning was super in his effort in a frigid Green Bay. The way these Giants play on the road they should give Giants Stadium to the Jets and travel all the time.

If I had to deal with the New York press I would want to play on the road all the time too.

The Giants have a tough defense and have now won 10 consecutive games outside of New Jersey.

New England and New York played a good game in Week 17 with the Pats winning.

New England's win Sunday was not impressive, but it counted.

Tom Brady was picked off three times, including one in the endzone for the first time in more than two years. Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Donte' Stallworth were average at the best.

However, Laurence Maroney ran for 122 yards and Jabar Gaffney count the game-winning pass.

The big question for Super Bowl XLII is simply which streak is the biggest accomplishment, 10 consecutive wins on the road for New York or 18-0 this season for the Patriots.

Either way, the winning team will provide a good storyline.

The New England players might show up at the Super Bowl media day with their camcorders Don't the Patriots record everything?

Who's Going To Super Bowl XLII

The Great Stumpola has enjoyed one of his best years of prognosticating. Unfortunately, the times when Stumpola stumbles the most is when his heart and desires get in the way. To pick football games correctly one must use only one part of the human body _ the brain. Stumpola has picked the Dallas Cowboys to win and the New England Patriots to lose too much this year. Do you not want to see somebody beat the Pats? Do you not want to see Brady sacked and Moss clotheslined as he comes across the middle? As a Cowboys fan Stumpola spends too much time hoping that Dallas will win instead of looking at it like it is. This week Stumpola is going to only use his brain on his predictions for the AFC and NFC championship games. So here goes.

NEW ENGLAND 23, SAN DIEGO 13: The weather is going to cause more mistakes for the Pats than usual. But a team from sunny California in frigid Foxboro with the wind whistling around and changing directions is going to make it tougher on Rivers or Volek than it will Brady.

GREEN BAY 24, NEW YORK 20: Brett Favre will find a way and Eli Manning will get lost along the way. Eli has arrived. But he has never arrived in Green Bay on the frozen tundra. NFL players who have played on that field in the miserable cold and wind describe it as inhuman.

Around The State ...

Gavin Hardin

The Jackson Sun, one of the top newspapers in the state for prep coverage, reported this week that Huntingdon head football coach Mike Mansfield and his defensive coordinator Jimmy Pritchard are retiring.

Mansfield has been the head coach of the Mustangs since 1991 and Pritchard took over the defense in 1991. Eric Swenson has been hired to replace Mansfield.

Swenson comes to Huntingdon from Hickman County in Middle Tennessee. His team was 11-2 in 2007 and lost to Goodpasture in the state semifinals.

He was offensive coordinator at Huntingdon from 1996-2004.

Mansfield leaves the Mustangs with a 151-62 record and a 2003 Class 2A state championship.

His teams made 14 state playoff appearances and were 8-4 in 2007.

Swenson's team was 11-2 this season at Hickman County, losing to Goodpasture in the state quarterfinals.

Humbolt tight end Elijah Epperson (6-4, 247) told Arkansas Bobby Petrino during a recruiting trip to watch him play basketball this week that he would be a Razorback next fall.

Epperson, who has been timed at 4.51 seconds in the 40-yard dash, was originally offered an Arkansas scholarship by former coach Houston Nutt.He selected Arkansas over Ole Miss.

Varsity Sports Media’s Tennessee Football magazine’s top-rated preseason player, Gavin Hardin (Jackson Central-Merry) is visiting Miami this weekend.

The 6-4, 235-pound linebacker originally made a soft commitment to Ole Miss.

Trenton Peabody superstar Kendal Harper (QB/DB) has committed to UT-Martin.

The Naval Academy has landed a pair of Middle Tennessee standouts.

Demetrous Garrett, a 5-foot-8 receiver from Hillsboro, and Riverdale offensive lineman David Sumrall have both committed to play for new Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo.

Garrett caught 34 passes for 482 yards and eight touchdowns in 2007.

Ryan and Halliday Commit

Standout Knoxville quarterbacks Dawson Halliday (Bearden) and Jake Ryan (Knoxville West) made college commitments this week.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reported Friday that Ryan committed to Ohio Valley Conference member Austin Peay.

Halliday has committed to play for Yale in the Ivy League.

Ryan (6-1, 182) is the son of former Tennessee and New York Jets quarterback Pat Ryan.

He was named to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-state team the past two seasons.

Ryan completed 60 percent of his passes for more than 2,400 yards and 21 touchdowns last season.

Halliday (6-2, 198) passed for more than 2,000 yards and 14 touchdowns as he lead the Bulldogs to a 12-2 record in 5A. He was named the TSWA All-state team in 2007.

The Sentinel also reported this week that Bearden defensive back Sean Cunningham committed to Tennessee State Wednesday.

Bulldogs linebacker Preston Rouse committed to Austin Peay.

National Signing Day is Feb. 6.

Slaughter New Coach At Soddy-Daisy

It took Soddy-Daisy longer than expected to find a new football coach.

But the wait might have been worth it for the Trojans.

Red Bank offensive coordinator E.K. Slaughter was announced as the new head football coach at Soddy-Daisy High on Thursday.

Slaughter comes from the Lions where he helped to engineer one of the top offensive teams in the state the past three seasons.

“I’m very excited to be going to be in a community that loves football,” he said.

Slaughter said this is the right thing for him to do at the right time. He said he understood that the Trojans and Lions are rivals, but he leaves behind a lot of players, friends and coaches at Red Bank.

“First, beyond the rivalry there are people at Red Bank that I care about,” Slaughter said. “I loved working with them and will always treasure those relationships. I have all the respect in the world for Red Bank.”

Slaughter, 31, is a Notre Dame and UT-Chattanooga. He first coached under Lamar Brown at Notre Dame and was an assistant at Soddy-Daisy under Glenn Ryans while doing his student teaching at Soddy-Daisy.

Slaughter coached one year under Ron Wheeler at Northwest Whitfield in Tunnel Hill, Ga. before coaching with Todd Windham at Hixson and the past three years with Tim Daniels at Red Bank.

He has worked both as an offensive and defensive coordinator. Nevertheless, expect his offense at Soddy-Daisy to be wide open.

“We will run some from the spread (formation) for sure,” he said. We want to develop quarterbacks and run a multiple offense.”Slaughter said he was going to work to round up the people who care about Soddy-Daisy and the football team.

He replaces the legendary Tom Weathers at Soddy-Daisy. Weathers stepped down following the 2007 season. He was offered an assistant coaching job at the new Heritage High School in Catoosa County. However, when his former Red Bank player Bill Price was named the head coach at the new Signal Mountain High Weathers decided to join his staff as an assistant.

Slaughter’s wife Arlene is seven months pregnant with the couple’s first child.

“It’s a boy and his name is Brayden,” the proud daddy said.

Foster Makes The Right Decision

Arian Foster did what he needed to do on Tuesday.

Despite a second-round grade from pro scouts, the hard-running Tennessee tailback decided to stay with the Vols for another year and not enter the NFL Draft.

If Foster remains healthy he will likely exit Knoxville after the 2008 season as the all-time leading Tennessee ball carrier in history.

Foster ran for a career-high 1,193 rushing yards in 2007 and will have a strong collection of offensive linemen returning to lead his path to history.

He is seventh on the Tennessee career rushing list with 2,394 yards.

His efforts place him ahead of Charlie Garner, Travis Stephens, Reggie Cobb and Curt Watson.

The 6-1, 225-pound San Diego native now trails Jay Graham (2,609), Cedric Houston (2,634), Jamal Lewis (2,677), Johnnie Jones (2,852), James Stewart (2,890) and Travis Henry (3,078).

Foster will likely learn a lot that will help him with his future NFL career from new Tennessee running backs assistant Stan Drayton.

Foster had to put his dreams of the NFL on hold for now. Nonetheless, the decision will likely pay off for him down the road.

Former Chattanooga Star Named At Richmond

It’s always good to see one of the good guys to get a good break.

The exit of Richmond head football coach Dave Clawson to Tennessee where he will serve as the offensive coordinator has elevated a good guy.

Former Tennessee Chattanooga baseball and football player Russ Huesman has been named the interim head coach of the Spiders.

Huesman was hard-hitting as a defensive back and as an outfielder with the Mocs, where he played for Bob Brotherton.

He was a four-year starter in the secondary and starred on the baseball diamond as well at Chattanooga.

I remember when Huesman came to Chattanooga from Cincinnati's Moeller High School, where he helped lead Gerry Faust's team to a 43-0-1 record and two state championships.

The personable Huesman is a 20-year coaching veteran, who is in his fourth season with the Spiders as defensive coordinator and secondary coach.

In the past three seasons, Huesman has produce a total of 13 defensive All-Conference players, including five in 2007.

His 2007 defensive unit started eight freshmen or sophomores, but ranked among the CAA leaders for much of the season in scoring defense, sacks and rushing defense. The Spiders held a high-scoring James Madison offense to just 16 points and 256 total yards in a 17-16 triumph.

Huesman spent six years at the University of Memphis where he led several positions, serving as the recruiting coordinator and offensive line coach, before leaving for Richmond. He also coached the outside linebackers, tight ends and running backs. As recruiting coordinator, Huesman brought in a Top-50 recruiting class, ranked No. 1 in Conference USA, in 2002.

Huesman, who spent 14 years at William & Mary, was the Tribe's defensive coordinator for the 1996-97 seasons. During his tenure with the Tribe, Huesman coached current NFL star Darren Sharper, who led a defense ranked second in the nation, allowing just 231.8 yards per game in 1996. In 1997, the Tribe defense was third overall in the Atlantic 10 and led the league in pass efficiency defense.

Huesman and his wife, Amy, have two daughters, Natalie and Emily and two sons, Jacob and Levi.

Clawson New Vols Offensive Coordinator

Well, our sources out of Knoxville and Richmond were correct. Phil Fulmer has hired a new offensive coordinator that should excite most Tennessee fans. Here's the story from UT-Sports.com

KNOXVILLE -- Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer has made the keystone announcement for his offensive football staff of 2008 and beyond, naming Richmond’s Dave Clawson to the positions of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Clawson, 40, arrives as one of Division I football’s rising stars after leading Richmond as head coach to its best season in school history. The Spiders’ 11-3 campaign ended last month only at the hands of three-time national titlist Appalachian State in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision semifinals.

But Clawson has succeeded everywhere he’s landed.

His two head coaching jobs (58-49 record) resurrected first Fordham, boosting a Rams program coming off 12 straight losing seasons into NCAA playoff participants, and then Richmond, which twice advanced to the postseason. Before that, Clawson called the offensive plays for another pair of Division I-AA powerhouses in Lehigh and Villanova. In fact, Clawson coached alongside recent Vols assistant coaching hire Stan Drayton for three years in the late 1990s during a successful Villanova football era.

“I am very excited about naming Dave Clawson as our new offensive coordinator,” Fulmer said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed the search and research process, and there certainly was a lot of interest in this position. I took the attitude that this was a great opportunity for me to evaluate the coaching talent out there and find the perfect fit for a new era of Tennessee offensive football.”

Clawson twice has been named national Division I-AA coach of the year, winning once at Fordham and once at Richmond, and three times earned his league coaching honors. In 2005, the Richmond Touchdown Club selected him College Coach of the Year over the likes of Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer and Virginia’s Al Groh.

“Dave Clawson brings a great work ethic, high energy and is a great teacher of quarterbacks,” Fulmer said. “His multiple offensive system using the talents of the players available to their fullest has been impressive. He has a great passion for recruiting, which is important for Tennessee, and his experience as a head coach will serve us well.”

Fulmer’s coaching search began when David Cutcliffe was named Duke’s head coach Dec. 15. Cutcliffe proceeded to hire UT assistants Kurt Roper and Matt Luke as members of his staff, and assistant Trooper Taylor later departed for the offensive coordinator’s position at Oklahoma State to necessitate Fulmer’s first staff coaching hires in two years.

Clawson has proven himself a program builder and offensive specialist.

His 19 combined victories during his final two years (2002-03) at Fordham were the most wins there in back-to-back seasons since 1918-19. Then he guided Richmond to the biggest two-year turnaround in Spider football’s 124-year history, improving from 3-8 his first season of 2004 to 9-4 and an NCAA playoff berth the following year.

“He is young, highly intelligent and competitive, well-organized and a great person and family man – all attributes I was looking for,” Fulmer said. “We welcome Dave, his wife Catherine, and their children, Courtney and Eric, to the Tennessee family.”

A native of Youngstown, N.Y., located on the shores of Lake Ontario just 30 minutes north of Buffalo, Clawson played defensive back in football and also basketball at Williams College in Massachusetts. He graduated in 1989, and then began a two-year assistant coaching stop at Albany. From there, he coached two years at Buffalo and three at Lehigh, including his first two years, 1994-95, as an offensive coordinator.

Clawson then was named offensive coordinator at Villanova, where Drayton and he helped establish 70 school records and led the Wildcats to the I-AA playoffs in 1996 and 1997. Under Clawson's tutelage, receiver Brian Finneran won the Walter Payton Award, given to I-AA's most outstanding player, and Brian Westbrook became the first student-athlete in NCAA history to gain more than 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in a season.

Fulmer Finds Offensive Coordinator

Vols fans should be excited about the latest news out of the University of Tennessee.

It looks like Phil Fulmer has hired a good replacement for former offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe.

Word out of Virginia is that Richmond head football coach Dave Clawson is joining the Vols.

Clawson interviewed for the position Monday before attending a conference in California.

He hasn't talked to his team but will Friday morning according to reports by Richmond television stations.

Richmond made the national semifinals in the Football Championship Series, formerly known as Division I-AA, this season.

Clawson's offense set school records for points and with 11 victories.

Cutcliffe left Tennessee following the season to become the head coach at Duke.

TSWA All-State Teams

The Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced its 2007 All-state Teams this week. Here's a look at the star-studded squads in each TSSAA classification.

Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-state Teams

Class 1A

Offense Name School
QB Derek Carr McKenzie
QB Shane Spann Jo Byrns
QB Cody Robinson South Pittsburg
RB Chad Jordan Bruceton
RB Ray Robinson Midway
RB Chas Scruggs Lookout Valley
RB Alex Verdell Gleason
OL Matt Brown Mt. Pleasant
OL Steven Roop Hampton
OL Justin Sims Gordonsville
OL Nathan Armstrong Cascade
OL Tony Roden South Pittsburg
OL Tyler Reeder McKenzie
TE Aaron Yates Jo Byrns
TE John L. Kneisel Watertown
WR Rashawn Weatherspoon South Pittsburg
WR Adrian Wannamaker Grace Christian
WR Rusty Chapman McKenzie
ATH Marco Dailey Mt. Pleasant
K MoMo Stewart Cascade


Defense Name School
DL Alex Matlock Bruceton
DL Dominique Garrett South Pittsburg
DL Jarvis Bogan Lake County
DL William Armes Coalfield
LB Robert Robinson South Pittsburg
LB Jacob Estep Unaka
LB David Jones South Pittsburg
LB John Campbell McKenzie
DB Lance Rorex Lookout Valley
DB Justin Smith Gordonsville
DB Hewitt Tomlin Trinity Christian
P Sammie Harris Middle Tennessee Christian
Coach: Vic Grider South Pittsburg


Class 2A

Offense Name School
QB Randall Cobb Alcoa
QB Lowry Christ Presbyterian
QB Adam Nelson Cumberland Gap
RB Scott Sowell Hickman County
RB Matt Weathers Huntingdon
RB Jeremy Worden Donelson Christian
RB John Taylor Tyner
OL Josh Aldridge Jackson Christian
OL Skyler Norris Hickman County
OL Seth Coulter Alcoa
OL Michael Dodig Gatlinburg-Pittman
OL Hunter Ashburn Peabody
OL Colt Taylor Marion County
OL Seth White Donelson Christian
OL William Emebunor Goodpasture
TE Tyler Robinson Alcoa
WR Tripp Weir Christ Presbyterian
WR Danny Smigielski University School of Jackson
WR Sam Thompson Alcoa
ATH Kendal Harper Peabody
ATH Troy Hodge Alcoa
K Cody Jones Jackson Christian

Defense Name School
DL Chanz Swartz Stewart County
DL Justin Burlison Westview
DL Jamile Davis Milan
DL Devin Stayton Peabody
DL Cody Leaming Hickman County
LB Dakota Crews Lewis County
LB Elijah Epperson Humboldt
LB Chase Horton Camden
LB Joseph Bennett Christian Academy of Knoxville
LB Ben Everett Loudon
LB Wilson Jackson Tyner
DB Harrison Moore Westview
DB D.J. Key Hickman County
DB Harley Deline Lewis County
DB Tamias Johnson Peabody
DB Tracy Mayes Goodpasture
P McCord Bowen Boyd-Buchanan
Coach: Gary Rankin Alcoa



Class 3A

Offense Name School
QB Deaunte Mason Pearl-Cohn
QB Jonathan Blair Fulton
RB Jeremy Holt David Lipscomb
RB Tremaine Hudson Howard
RB Tyler Mobriant Meigs County
RB Thomas Hall Covington
OL Rogers Gaines White House
OL Sean Helms Polk County
OL Kyle Long McMinn Central
OL Ryan Holbrook Rutledge
OL Brandon Cannon David Lipscomb
TE Jonathan Sharp Anderson County
TE Sam Eberle Notre Dame
WR Zach Rogers David Lipscomb
WR Erick Bernard Dyer County
WR Derrick Humphrey Fulton
WR Ryan Walden Knoxville Catholic
ATH Michael Newbern Jackson South Side
ATH Skylar McBee Rutledge
K Carlos Lopez Seymour

Defense Name School
DL Kendall Dangerfield Giles County
DL Larry Fouse Haywood
DL Terrence Cobb Fulton
DL Ben Stiles McMinn Central
DL John Armour BolivarLB
Don’ta Hightower Marshall County
LB Beau Liljenquist Dyersburg
LB Howard Griffin Pearl-Cohn
LB Evan Webb David Lipscomb
LB B.A. Davis Dyer County
LB Bubba Stokes Fulton
LB Ricky Holloway Fayette-Ware
DB Chad Neal White House
DB Vic Smith Fulton
DB Ken Tyson Fulton
DB Garrett Gregory Station Camp
DB Michael Robins Knoxville Catholic
P Mike Hammons Polk County
Coach: Glenn McCadams David Lipscomb

Class 4A



Offense Name School
QB Brent Burnette Maryville
QB Curt Phillips Sullivan South
QB Jake Ryan Knoxville West
QB Jake Ledbetter Red Bank
RB Jacquese Seward Hillsboro
RB Dominique Allen Henry County
RB Wesley Kitts Knoxville Halls
RB Julian Sharp Rhea County
OL Slade Adams Mt. Juliet
OL Brandon McLeroy Rhea County
OL Caleb Leonard Knoxville Halls
OL Blake Rasnake Sullivan South
OL Sam Littlejohn Clarksville
OL Tylor Chambers Red Bank
OL J.P. Washington Hillsboro
TE Aaron Douglas Maryville
TE Marcus Bowins Maplewood
TE Jamal Mosley Kingsbury
WR Tim Benford Red Bank
WR Jack Wagner Knoxville West
WR Tyler Clendenen Maryville
WR Demetrius Garrett Hillsboro
ATH Will Gilchrist Hardin County
ATH Marsalis Teague Henry County
ATH Cordarious Mann Jackson North Side
K Christian Prudhomme Johnson County

Defense Name School
DL Lamar Theus Henry County
DL Justin Smith Maryville
DL Eric Steinbrunner Clarksville
DL Forest Tucker Rossview
LB Tracy Sims Red Bank
LB Will Coley Knoxville West
LB Zac Lane Clarksville
LB Gavin Hardin Jackson Central-Merry
LB Jordan Allen Powell
LB Antonio Harper Melrose
DB Anthony Odum Mt. Juliet
DB Eric Penn Brainerd
DB Eric Gordon Hillsboro
DB Stephen Shiver Maryville
DB Chris Simpson Maplewood
DB DeAngelo Anderson Fairley
DB Dominique McDuffie Red Bank
P Michael Courtney Knoxville Central
Coach: George Quarles Maryville


Class 5A


Offense Name School
QB Jeff Link White Station
QB Sonny Gray Smyrna
QB Dawson Halliday Bearden
RB Andre Sterling Farragut
RB Brian Marshall Ooltewah
RB Torey Works Bearden
RB Travis Simpson Millington
OL David Spurlock Riverdale
OL Travis Lilienthal Riverdale
OL Alex Stuart Oak Ridge
OL Robbie Gonzales Coffee County
OL Will Jackson Farragut
OL Marquez Cantrell Hunters Lane
OL Alex Hurst Arlington
WR Rodriguez Wilks Smyrna
WR Zach Allen Farragut
WR Isaac Baugh Independence
WR Chris Gray La Vergne
WR Martin Haaga White Station
ATH Devon Johnson McMinn County
ATH Tyler Burstrom William Blount
ATH J.T. Majors Wilson Central
K Chase Mathison Wilson Central

Defense Name School
DL Mike McAdoo Antioch
DL LaDarrius Verge Riverdale
DL Scott Pettigrew Independence
DL T.J. Walker William Blount
DL Matt Williamson Bearden
LB Matt Moran Lincoln County
LB Tim Clay Hunters Lane
LB Ryan Consiglio Independence
LB Cole Lail William Blount
LB Micah Devan Farragut
LB Jonathan Yeary Jefferson County
LB Jordan Yarbrough White Station
DB C.J. Gunn Bearden
DB Don Cope William Blount
DB Casey Dykes Franklin
DB Justin Bather La Vergne
P Casey Whitehead William Blount
Coach: Philip Shadowens Smyrna


Division II

Offense Name School
QB Adam Currie Evangelical Christian School
QB Tyler Massey Baylor
RB H.R. Greer Southern Baptist Educational Center
RB Ben Bartholomew Montgomery Bell Academy
RB Chris Jordan Brentwood Academy
RB Brandt Campbell Webb School of Knoxville
OL Preston Bailey Montgomery Bell Academy
OL Barrett Jones Evangelical Christian School
OL Josh Bain McCallie
OL Andrew Daley Webb School of Knoxville
OL Tim Schmid Father Ryan
TE Thad McHaney Brentwood Academy
TE James Feher Baylor
WR Brett Murray Baylor
WR Marlon Brown Harding Academy
WR Andy Deatherage King's Academy
ATH Jay Fullam McCallie
ATH Tavares Jefferson Ensworth
K Andy Fletcher Montgomery Bell Academy

Defense Name School
DL Ben Popeck St. George Independent School
DL Jabaree Tuani-McKissack Brentwood Academy
DL Camp Arnett Webb School of Knoxville
LB Alfonza Knight Montgomery Bell Academy
LB Blair Arrington Davidson Academy
LB Hunter Cowan St. George Independent School
LB DeAndre Jones Memphis University School
LB Jonny Newman McCallie
LB Grant Jessen St. George Independent School
DB Derek Boyce Webb School of Knoxville
DB Justin Guidry Father Ryan
DB Nathan Wade Montgomery Bell Academy
DB Orleans Opoku-Darkwa Ensworth
P Todd Carlson St. George Independent School
Coach: Daniel McGugin Montgomery Bell Academy

I Believe, I Think, I'm Convinced, I'm Sure ...

I believe that Trooper Taylor made a mistake leaving Tennessee for Oklahoma State.

I'm sure that David Cutcliffe went in the wrong direction by skipping out of Knoxville. Duke? Coach K and Coach Cut? Come on.

I'm convinced that Jarod Mayo should go to the NFL now.

I'm sure Phil Fulmer has things under control in Knoxville. He will hire a good staff to help lead his Vols.

I believe the Maryville Rebels will run their winning streak to 75 games this year.

I think neighboring Alcoa will win its fifth consecutive state 2A title and the only loss will be to Maryville.

I think a public school from West Tennessee will win a football state championship this year. But you will have to purchase a 2008 Tennessee Football magazine to find out which one.

I believe Ken Sparks will lead Carson-Newman to the NCAA II National title in 2008.

I've heard the phone call between Roger Clemens and his former trainer and I don't know who to believe.

I've seen the pictures of Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson chilling in Mexico with Jason Witten and his wife. What's the big deal?

I've had the opportunity to watch the BCS at it's worst.

I'm convinced that Bill Belichick and the New Engalnd Patriots did cheat. Nonetheless, I think that other NFL teams do also.

I'm not sure that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is going to be anymore successful with Hendrick Motorsports than he was with DEI.

I'm convinced that NASCAR officials are making the sport more like WWE.

I'm sure Tiger Woods will rule again in golf in 2008.

And, I'm going to continue to say my prayers and make an effort to get closer to my playing weight this year.

Vols Foster On All-Mayday Team

The toughest of the tough teams are my favorites.

Whether it is Madden or Phil Simms, the specialty type all-star teams are fun.

Especially when the players have to be old-school tough.

Tennessee junior offensive tackle Ramon Foster is one of those type players.

The 6-6, 325 junior from Ripley High in Henning, Tennessee was the only member of the Vols to make the 24-man 2007 All-Mayday Team, which was announced by ESPN analyst Mark May during Capital One Bowl Week on the all sports network.

The All-Mayday Team is a team of college football's "Toughest of the Tough" and includes each position on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.

Foster started all 14 games and was an instrumental part in Tennessee leading the Football Bowl Sub-Division in fewest sacks allowed with four. He suffered a broken thumb in pregame before Vanderbilt contest, but still played entire game and did not miss any snaps the rest of the regular season. Foster plays both tackle and guard positions.

In his career, Foster has played 32 games with 16 starts, earning freshman All-SEC honors in 2005 by the league coaches. He started at left guard in collegiate debut against UAB. He won the Harvey Robinson Award for most improved player offensive player in spring practice twice (2005 and 2007).

Former Vol defensive tackle Justin Harrell made the team in 2006.
But what about Jarod Mayo and freshman safety Eric Berry?

Mayo made 80 solo and 60 assisted tackles in 2007. And Berry was fourth on the team in tackles with 85.

The complete All-Mayday team is listed below.

QB Tim Tebow, Florida
RB Mike Viti, Army; Thomas Brown, Georgia; Tashard Choice, Georgia Tech
WR Brandon Breazell, UCLA; Keenan Burton, Kentucky
OL Roy Schuening, Oregon State; Jimmy Cordle, Ohio State; Ramon Foster, Tennessee Rylan Reed, Texas Tech; Scott Burley, Maryland
DL Matt Robinson, Wake Forest; Auston English, Oklahoma; Jon Hargis, Arizona State; Glenn Dorsey, LSU
LB Erin Henderson, Maryland; Red Keith, Central Michigan; Joey Hudson, Miami (OH)
DB John Mackey, Akron; Rocky Schwartz, Houston; Fritz Jacques, Kent State; Emanuel Cook, South Carolina
Special Teams Kicker: John Sullivan, New Mexico; Kicker: Drew Combs, TCU

UTSports.com

There Are Blue Chippers In Tennessee Too

QB Curt Phillips Sullivan South

Checking the rosters for the U.S. Army All-star Game in San Antonio and the Under Armour All-Star Game in Orlando Saturday I didn't find any Tennessee players on the list.

I later found out that ECS standout Barrett Jones got to play in the US Army All-star Game in San Antonio.

What is wrong in Tennessee?

There should be Tennessee players in both games?

One recruiting service has only the Top 15 players ranked in Tennessee, while other states have Top 100s. Now, I'm not about to suggest that Tennessee has more prospects than Georgia, Florida, Texas or California.

But there are seniors in the Volunteer State good enough to play in these all-star games.

There has to be a better job done on promoting the players in Tennessee.

As managing editor of the Tennessee Football magazine I'm making a pledge to do what it takes to get at least a player in each game next season.

I would love to see quarterback Curt Phillips (Sullivan South) in either game. Or Rod Wilks (Smyrna) catching passes or linebacker Gavin Hardin (JCM) unloading on somebody.

I know with the long list of top-notch Class of 2008 offensive linemen in Tennessee that there are a couple good enough to play in these games.

I know that former Tennessee offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe got B.J. Coleman in the Under Armour game in Orlando last year.

Come on guys and gals let's get with the program and promote our Tennessee athletes to give them more opportunities.

We can make a difference.

Phenoms 32 All-State Has D-I Talent

ALCOA -- Tennessee's top high school players have the attention of Southeastern Conference schools and other top programs across the country.
The inaugural Varsity Sports Media's Tennessee Football magazine Phenoms 32 All-state team is a collection of the finest prep players in the Volunteer State.
Fourteen of the 32 players have committed to colleges that were invited to bowl games this season. Several others have committed to, or have offers from, BCS conference schools.
The Phenoms 32 is presented by the staff of Tennessee Football magazine and features an all-classification collection of talent.

Phenoms 32 Offense
Eleven players who have committed to colleges that are in bowl games this year highlight the offensive team.

Bruising fullback Ben Bartholomew (6-3, 225) of MBA, wide receiver Rodriguez Wilks (6-2, 205) of Smyrna, tight end Aaron Douglas (6-6, 248) of Maryville and offensive lineman Preston Bailey (6-5, 315) of MBA have all committed to the University of Tennessee.

Wide receiver Zach Rogers of David Lipscomb is the only junior on the Phenoms 32 offense. Rogers (6-2, 207) helped lead Lipscomb to the TSSAA 3A state championship. He has already committed to join his brother Austin Rogers with the Vols in 2009.

Brentwood Academy running back Chris Jordan (6-2, 208) and Evangelical Christian offensive lineman Barrett Jones (6-5, 250) have both committed to Alabama.

The offense is loaded with other players who have committed to D-I colleges.
Sullivan South quarterback Curt Phillips (6-3, 215) is headed for Wisconsin after being named the Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year by RiseMag.com.

Memphis Kingsbury tight end Jamal Mosely (6-4, 227) made a verbal commitment to Ole Miss in December. However, he has visits set for Tennessee, North Carolina, Oklahoma State and Kentucky.

The Phenoms 32 is proof that offensive linemen are the strength of the 2008 state recruiting class.

Joining Jones and Bailey are five more D-I commitments.

Riverdale’s David Spurlock (Florida State) and Travis Lilienthal (MTSU) join Red Bank’s Tylor Chambers (Marshall), Arlington’s Alex Hurst (LSU) and Oak Ridge standout Alex Stuart (MTSU) to round out the offensive line.

Pearl-Cohn playmaker Deaunte Mason (6-4, 215) is headed to Kentucky after throwing for more than 1,400 yards and rushing for more than 450. He scored 15 touchdowns and threw for eight.

Maryville quarterback Brent Burnette (6-3, 207) and Farragut running back Andre Sterling (5-10, 188) are the only members of the Phenoms 32 offense that have not made verbal commitments.

Burnette threw for more than 3,600 yards and 40 touchdowns, and completed more than 70 percent of his passes.

He was named Blue Cross Bowl 4A Offensive Most Valuable Player in the 2007 championship game and was the Tennessee Titans 4A Mr. Football Award winner. Burnette was named the Tennessee Player of the Year by the Orlando Sentinel. He was the only Tennessean named to the paper’s All-Southern Player of the Year team.

Sterling rushed for more than 5,000 yards in his career, including 2,717 yards on 345 carries and 30 touchdowns in 2007.

Phenoms 32 Defense
Four who have committed to SEC teams and another headed for Miami highlight the Phenoms 32 defense.

The linebacker corps is where the talent starts on the defensive side of the ball in Tennessee.
Gavin Hardin (6-5, 230), the Tennessee Football magazine preseason top-rated player by Jamie Newburg, committed to Ole Miss, but will visit Miami and Kentucky this month.
Marshall County’s Don’ta Hightower (6-2, 248) has committed to Alabama.

Whitehaven standout linebacker Tenarius Wright (6-2, 219) was the last player to commit to Arkansas, but he has a Feb. 1 visit scheduled to North Carolina.

Memphis Melrose linebacker Antonio Harper (6-4, 220) is going to play at Miami next season.
Kentucky, Colorado, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Arkansas have offered Fayette-Ware star Ricky Holloway (6-2, 223).

DeAndre Jones (6-1, 225) of MUS played safety for three years before moving to linebacker. Stanford, Michigan State, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss and Kentucky have offered Jones.
Antioch defensive end Michael McAdoo (6-7, 223) has been offered by Kentucky, North Carolina and has a visit scheduled to Vanderbilt.

Joining McAdoo in the defensive front is 5A Mr. Football Lineman award winner LaDarrius Verge (6-3, 230) of Riverdale and run-stopper Dontari Poe (6-4, 335) of Wooddale.
Alcoa’s Randall Cobb, an all-around athlete who could have been placed in many different positions on the Phenoms 32, has been selected as a member of the defensive unit.

Cobb guided Alcoa to its fourth consecutive 2A state title. He has committed to Kentucky, but Tennessee has offered.

Rounding out the speedy secondary are Eric Gordon (Hillsboro), Robert Hogg (Dobyns Bennett), Kendall Harper (Trenton Peabody) and Tim Benford (Red Bank).

One sports writer deemed Hogg (5-9, 165) "a tackle-seeking missile" this season. The hard-hitting Hogg made more than 90 tackles, blocked two punts, broke up seven passes, and had a pair of interceptions.

The defensive backs corps thrived on offense, too.

Benford (6-2, 196) was a standout on offense and defense. He caught 62 passes for more than 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns, and ran 14 times for 221 yards and three touchdowns. He had five touchdowns as a defensive back and return specialist before breaking his arm in the playoffs.

Harper (5-10, 180) had 3,128 all-purpose yards and 39 touchdowns. He added five interceptions and 45 tackles as a defensive back.

Gordon (5-9, 185) made 41 receptions for 816 yards and 10 touchdowns and had 77 tackles and three interceptions, including one he returned for a score.

Wilson Central kicker/punter Chase Matheson (6-1, 215) is the choice to handle both duties on the Phenoms 32 team.

Matheson booted 32 of his 34 kickoffs into the endzone for touchbacks. He also had 10 field goals, including one of 54 yards and averaged more than 43 yards per punt.

Offense
QB SR Brent Burnette 6-3, 207 Maryville
QB SR Curt Phillips 6-3, 212 Sullivan South
RB SR Chris Jordan 6-2, 208 Brentwood Ac.
RB SR Andre Sterling 5-10,188 Farragut
FB SR Ben Bartholomew 6-3, 225 MBA
WR SR Rodriguez Wilks 6-2, 205 Smyrna
WR JR Zach Rogers 6-2, 207 David Lipscomb
TE SR Jamal Mosely 6-4, 227 Kingsbury
TE SR Aaron Douglas 6-6, 248 Maryville
OL SR Barrett Jones 6-5, 250 ECS
OL SR Preston Bailey 6-5, 315 MBA
OL SR David Spurlock 6-5, 282 Riverdale
OL SR Tylor Chambers 6-3, 295 Red Bank
OL SR Alex Hurst 6-6, 312 Arlington
OL SR Travis Lilienthal 6-4, 250 Riverdale
OL SR Alex Stuart 6-3, 290 Oak Ridge

Ath SR Deaunte Mason 6-4, 215 Pearl-Cohn





Defense
DL SR Michael McAdoo 6-7, 223 Antioch
DL SR Dontari Poe 6-4, 335 Wooddale
DL SR LaDarrius Verge 6-3, 230 Riverdale
LB SR DeAndre Jones 6-1, 225 MUS
LB SR Antonio Harper 6-4, 220 Melrose
LB SR Gavin Hardin 6-5, 230 JCM
LB SR Don’ta Hightower 6-2, 248 Marshall Co
LB SR Ricky Holloway 6-2, 223 Fayette-Ware
LB SR Tenarius Wright 6-2, 219 Whitehaven
DB SR Eric Gordon 5-9, 185 Hillsboro
DB SR Robert Hogg 5-9, 165 Dobyns-Bennett
DB SR Randall Cobb 6-0, 190 Alcoa
DB SR Kendal Harper 5-10, 180 Trenton Peabody
DB SR Tim Benford 6-2, 195 Red Bank
PK/P SR Chase Matheson 6-1, 215 Wilson Central
WWW.TennFB.com

Happy New Year

Black-eyed Pea Pickin' Picks

I hope that you and yours have a very blessed life.

Why not start off the New Year with a taste of Pea-Pickin’ Picks? I’ll make this a special Black-eyed Pea Pickin’ Picks so you will have good luck for the next 365 days.

Six bowl football games in one day. Awesome…

Outback Bowl - Tampa, 11 a.m., ESPN Wisconsin (9-3) vs. Tennessee (9-4)

Phil Fulmer needs a win here. When the old coach needed a victory this season his men gave him one. No change here.

My Pick: Tennessee Vols


Cotton Bowl - Dallas - 11:30 a.m., FOXMissouri (11-2) vs. Arkansas (8-4)

Too many losses, too many changes, too many questions surrounding McFadden.

My Pick: Arkansas ... The Nutt has turned Johnny Reb and flew the coop. Has anybody checked to see if Bobby “Mayflower” Petrino was in his room last night? He might be negotiating again.


Gator Bowl - Jacksonville - Noon, CBSVirginia (9-3) vs. Texas Tech (8-4)

Three games starting before lunch. I love this day. Yes Virginia there is a Texas Tech.

My Pick: Texas Tech


Capital One - Orlando, 1 p.m. ABC Michigan (8-4) vs. Florida (9-3)

How can I watch all these games? Good thing this bowl is played in warm weather. I would hate to see the Wolverines catch cold with the Gators speeding by them so much.

My Pick: Florida


Rose Bowl - Pasadena, 4:30 p.m., ABC USC (10-2) vs. Illinois (9-3)

Illinois isn’t supposed to be here according to the odds makers. The guys holding all of your money are right on this one. Illinois can’t keep the Trojans close.

My Pick: Southern Cal


Sugar Bowl- New Orleans, 8:30 p.m., FOX Hawaii (11-0) vs. Georgia (10-2)

I’ve been practicing that Haka dance Hawaii does. I’ve also thought about going into Sumo wrestling, but the diaper/thong thing bothers me. Hunker down you Hairy Dog fans the balls are going to be flying all over the Sugar Bowl. But the Georgia defenders are going to cact enough of them to get a win.

My Pick: Georgia without Larry Munson in the house

Again, Happy New Year!