Witten Named Starter At Bristol

Playing football for the Tennessee Vols and the Dallas Cowboys is big.

However, for a man who grew up in Elizabethton, Tenn., just 15 miles from the Bristol Motor Speedway, it doesn't get any better than being named the starter for the sold-out Food City 500.

No wonder Cowboys and former Tennessee Vols tight end Jason Witten is excited about being named Thursday as the Honorary Starter for the big race on Sunday, March 16.

Witten, who was nominated for the NFL Man of the Year in 2007, said he is looking forward to the opportunity.

“I'm really excited about it," Witten said. "It's great to be coming home and I really can't wait to get out to the Speedway.”

Witten said the races in Bristol have always been a big deal.

“Growing up there, there was no way you didn't know just how huge those races were,” he said. “For me to be able to go back there and be asked to wave the green flag for the Food City 500,that means a lot. It's truly a tremendous honor.”

Witten, 25, was a standout at Elizabethton High School and was the USA Today Player of the Year in Tennessee in 2000 before signing with the University of Tennessee. He entered the NFL draft after his junior year.

In 2003, Witten was drafted in the third round by the Dallas Cowboys and became an instant star. One of the premier tight ends in the NFL, Witten finished the 2007 season with 96 catches and 1,145 yards, setting a new Cowboys' single-season record for receptions in a season.

http://www.bristolmotorspeedway.com/

News and Notes From Around College Football

American Football Monthly selected its 2007 Schutt College Football Coaches of the Year: Ron Zook - Illinois (FBS), Mark Farley - Northern Iowa (FCS), David Dean - Valdosta State (Division II), Lance Leipold - Wisconsin- Whitewater (Division III), Dale Carlson - Ohio Dominican (NAIA), and Steven Campbell - Mississippi Gulf Coast CC (Junior College)...

Billy Jack Murphy, 87, famed head coach and director of athletics for over 30 years at Memphis (formerly Memphis State), and standout football student-athlete at Mississippi State, died last Thursday in Memphis, Tenn.

Learfield Sports and ISP Sports have made a joint acquisition of Action Sports Media.

Key NFF Dates
May 1: Announcement of 2008 Hall of Fame Class - New York, N.Y.July 18-19: College Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival - South Bend, Ind.July 23-27: NFF Play It Smart National Conference - Arlington, TexasDec. 9: NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the Waldorf=Astoria - New York, N.Y.Jan. 9, 2009: Presentation of the MacArthur Trophy to the BCS National Champion - Miami, Fla.

It's early, but here's the 2009 BCS Schedule
Jan. 1: Rose Bowl presented by Citi - Pasadena, Calif., ABC

Jan. 1: FedEx Orange Bowl - Miami, Fla., Fox

Jan. 2: Allstate Sugar Bowl - New Orleans, La., Fox

Jan. 5: Tostitos Fiesta Bowl - Glendale, Ariz., Fox

Jan. 8: FedEx BCS National Championship Game - Miami, Fla., Fox

Founded in 1947 with leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, 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. With 121 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, 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. The NFF presents the MacArthur Trophy, the Draddy Trophy, presented by HealthSouth, and releases the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Standings.

Tennessee Problems?

There's been a lot written on the number of arrests of present and past Tennessee football players. Some of the writers have gone above and beyond to slam Vols Coach Phil Fulmer? Is that fair? Is it all his fault? In addition, what can Fulmer do to make things better? There is a transition period going on in Knoxville with the new coaches and the players. Plus, Coach Fulmer is dealing with sickness in his family back home in Middle Tennessee. I think Fulmer is a good man. But it is the SEC and we all know that the opposition is looking for opportunities to take a shot at the Vols. Just as Tennessee fans would love the opportunity to jump on Alabama. I guess it is what makes Southern Fried Football so much fun.

Vols Start Spring Drills March 11

The Tennessee Vols have tentatively set a starting date of March 11 for the football team's 2008 spring practice to begin. The Vols are allowed 15 practice dates. The Orange and White Game is scheduled for April 19 at Neyland Stadium.

Spring Practice Dates

Week 1 -- March 11, 13

Spring Break -- March 14-23

Week 2 -- March 25, 27, 28, 29

Week 3 -- April 1, 3, 5

Week 4 -- April 8, 10, 12

Week 5 -- April 15, 17

Orange and White Game -- April 19 (Free Admission)

Majors To Receive Special Award

Johnny Majors didn't receive the respect he should have at Tennessee when he was replaced by Phil Fulmer following the 1992 season.

Majors had a 116-62-8 record in 15 seasons as the Vols head coach.

Nonetheless, after he missed the last four games of the 1992 season he was replaced by Fulmer.

Majors never wanted to leave Tennessee, where he was a triple-threat tailback and runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 1956 to Notre Dame's Paul Hornung. He was later elected into the College Football Hall of Fame.

The former Tennessee All-American will be honored on April 17, at the Eagle Eye Golf Club in Bath, Mich. as the recipient of the 2008 Duffy Daugherty Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to amateur football.

The event honors the memory of Daugherty, a the former Michigan State coach who had national champion teams in 1955, 1957, 1965 and 1966.

"I loved Duffy and his wife, Frances," Majors said. "We were the greatest of friends. And he had some great, great teams at Michigan State. When he quit coaching there, he kept coaching me. That's why this award ranks at the top in my football career."

Majors' teams won 185 games, including nine bowls, in 29 years at Iowa State (1968-72), Pittsburgh (1973-76) Tennessee (1977-92) and Pitt again (1993-96).

His 1976 Panthers featuring Tony Dorsett were 12-0 and captured the National Championship.

"It's another great group of honorees," said Pat Boog , president of the Duffy Daugherty Memorial Award Committee. "Their accomplishments speak for themselves. But this is a chance to remember their special contributions and a game they loved."

Majors joins a list of honorees that includes college coaches Bud Wilkinson, Bob Devaney, Eddie Robinson, Joe Paterno, Ara Parseghian, Bo Schembechler, Woody Hayes, Frank Kush, Biggie Munn, Hayden Fry, Tom Osborne and LaVell Edwards, broadcaster Keith Jackson, A.D. Don Canham and two-time Ohio State Heisman winner Archie Griffin.

Tickets for the event are expected to sellout, but are available by calling Michelle Fink at (517) 853-6457. Tables of eight are $400, with individual tickets $50.

Tennessee Players Active In Pro Bowl

The state of Tennessee was well represented at the Pro Bowl on Sunday in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Former Tennessee Vols Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts), Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys), Albert Haynesworth (Tennessee Titans) and Chad Clifton (Green Bay Packers) all played Sunday.

Manning started for the AFC and completed 11-of-16 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown pass to Cincinnati's T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the first quarter.

Witten had three receptions for 38 yards, with a long of 24.

Haynesworth made one tackle and Clifton saw most of his action at left guard in the second half for the NFC squad, which won 42-30.

The other two Titans in the game were productive. Rob Bironas (Tennessee Titans) kicked field goals of 33, 28, and 48 yards for the AFC. Kyle Vanden Bosch (Tennessee Titans) had two tackles including one sack of Tony Romo.

NFC Rookie of the Year Patrick Willis (San Francisco 49ers) is from Bruceton, TN. The former Ole Miss star linebacker made one tackle, but enjoyed his first trip to the Pro Bowl.

He said the players never let him forget in practice all week that he was a first-timer.

“Yeah, they let me know I'm a rookie every day,” he said. “They remind me I need to take every rep, no matter what. It's all fun and games. That's what you have to do when you go through it as a rookie.”

Former Chattanooga Mocs star Terrell Owens was one of the factors in the NFC coming back to win the game.

Owens led the NFC with eight catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns.

One of the catches was a 34-yard pass from fellow Cowboy Tony Romo that helped spark the NFC comeback.

However, before that play T.O. heard the boos after a two ugly drops.

“It's not how you start, it's how you finish,” Owens said.

NFC players won $40,000, which Owens said made the trip to the islands even better.

"Hopefully they'll continue to play it over here and we will continue to make some highlight plays," he said.

MTSU Gets Proven Winner

The Middle Tennessee State football program is getting a winner who is right at home in Floyd Stadium.Tennessee Football Magazine Player of the year Brent Burnette committed Monday to further his football career with the MTSU Blue Raiders.

Burnette, a 6-foot-3, 207-pounder with a rifle arm, won three Class 4A TSSAA state championships on the MTSU turf.He was recently named to the Varsity Sports Media’s All South Phenoms 32 team, where he joined Miami Northwestern’s Jacory Harris at quarterback.

His career is documented in history with the 2008 Maryville senior football class that will graduate in May with a perfect 60-0 mark and four consecutive 4A state championships.

Maryville coach George Quarles is a former high school quarterback with a talent for developing signal callers."Brent's not too much fun to warm up with," Quarles said."

He has great arm strength, size and footwork. But he needed to develop that changeup to go along with his fastball. And that's what he did. He can make all the throws."Burnette won the 2007 Tennessee Titans 4A Mr. Football Award for the Best Back.

He was named the Tennessee Player of the Year by The Orlando Sentinel and selected to the paper’s 2007 All-Southern Player of the Year team.

Burnette completed almost 70 percent of his passes for 3,521 yards and 38 touchdowns against only seven interceptions.

In fact, his 2007 passing production ranks as the third best in TSSAA history. He now holds seven Maryville passing records and is tied for two more.
His elite performance didn’t come as a complete surprise.

Burnette threw for more than 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns while sharing time at quarterback his junior season.

He was also a dual-starter as a sophomore and solidified his standing as an elite signal-caller in 2006 by completing his first 14 passes over two games.The bigger the game, the better Burnette responded.

In the 2006 4A state championship game at MTSU with Hillsboro, Burnette riddled the Hillsboro secondary with a variety of passes — deep, sideline, across the middle — in a 10-for-15, 215-yard, three touchdown performance.

This season, he was named the Most Valuable Player in the state championship game at MTSU after passing for 227 yards and two touchdowns in a victory over Maplewood.

He inked the scholarship papers on Wednesday at noon. His favorite target, tight end Aaron Douglas joined Burnette as he inks his papers to Tennessee.

Burnette visited MTSU two weeks ago and was scheduled to visit D-I Buffalo last weekend. However, the airport there was closed by a winter storm and he phoned the coaches to cancel the visit.

DeAndre Jones Is 'Dores Real Deal

Memphis linebacker DeAndre Jones could join a former teammate on the Vanderbilt linebacking corps next fall.

The 6-foot, 220-pound former Memphis University School star has the skills to work his way into the Commodores defensive line-up next fall with former MUS linebacker John Stokes.

Vanderbilt football coach Bobby Johnson is excited about the possible contributions Jones could bring to the ‘Dores."DeAndre Jones is a great player,” Johnson said. “He had an excellent year at Memphis University School. I think he's an outstanding player. He made a bunch of plays.”

Jones is one of three linebackers who signed with Vanderbilt on Wednesday.”Tristan Strong and Dexter Daniels will both be outstanding linebackers,” Johnson said. “Dexter was the state player of the year in Alabama in his classification. Any linebacker that we sign we believe can fit into that great tradition that we have here for linebackers.”

Jones was a member of the Varsity Sports Media Tennessee Football magazine’s all-classification preseason and postseason All-State Phenoms teams.He described himself to the magazine as an “aggressive type player.”

“I rush and attack the ball every play and go hard every down,” he said. “I try to play with a lot of heart and a lot of passion and I really love the game.”

MUS coach Bobby Alston played Jones as a strong safety his first two seasons before moving him to the linebacker post in 2007.

“He was a good player there, but really, he's way too aggressive to play in the secondary,” Alston said. “This season, he just blossomed at (weakside) linebacker and really became an outstanding player. He's a physical player, but also has an incredible knack for passing rushing, a knack you just can't coach.”

The performance of the National Honor Society member in the classroom brought in academic offers from Ivy League schools and Stanford actively recruited him.

“Dre is also a first-class young man in every way,” Alston said. “Vanderbilt is very fortunate to get two such really good players and good guys in `Dre and John (Stokes, sophomore LB) from here in the last couple years.”

Jones was a finalist for Division II-AA Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Lineman of the Year last fall. He also was selected to the (Nashville) Tennessean's "Dream Team" and was a finalist for region's top defensive player after anchoring 2007 defense with a conference-high 76 solo tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, eight QB sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.

He is the son Lisa Jones and Demetres Jones. His father is a distributor for Pfizer Inc. and his mother is an account manager for FedEx.Jones plans to major in mechanical engineering at Vanderbilt.

Top DE Takes Ohio State Over Vols

Georgia Football magazine managing editor Robert Naddra reports that one of the Peach State's finest has decided against attending Tennessee.

Phil Fulmer sent his entire Tennessee staff to visit Keith Wells at Gainesville High School last week. Notre Dame pulled out all the stops during Wells’ visit on Saturday.

But those two experiences could not sway Wells. The 6-5, 235-pound senior defensive lineman committed to Ohio State on Monday morning.

“I went to Notre Dame with an open mind. I felt more comfortable at Ohio State and saw myself being more successful academically and in football there,” Wells said Monday night.

Wells took his official visit to Ohio State in early December and had listed the Buckeyes along with Tennessee and Notre Dame as his three finalists for the past several weeks.

“(The Ohio State coaches) told me that if I go in and apply myself, the opportunity is there,” Wells said. “They said how much I play as a freshman is up to me. I just want to get stronger and get acclimated to the system. If I can put on a solid 10 pounds of muscle mass, I’ll be ready to play. All I have to do is get stronger.”

Wells is interested in earning an engineering degree and said he likely will study civil or mechanical engineering.

X-Pert Picks Don’t Need Asterisks

The Super Bowl is the biggest, most-watched game played in sports all year.

I have been blessed to cover six Super Bowls. It’s hard to explain the electricity of the event.

No matter how hard the networks try to cover anything and everything that is at and around the event.

The entertainment and sports stars who visit during Super Bowl week are too many to name.

Nobody parties or feeds like the National Football League.It’s a week of great food and fun mixed in with the hardest seven days of continuous work a writer will do all year.

Nonetheless, it is an amazing experience and the toil is worth the reward.Super Bowl XLII could go down as the most watched ever.

The pregame storylines are countless. This game has drama, suspense and intrigue to go along with the fact that the cities of Boston and New York love to hate each other.

One team is going for the greatest season in the history of the NFL. Then there’s another New York team trying to duplicate the biggest upset in Super Bowl history.

None of the baby boomers who witnessed the New York Jets upset of the Baltimore Colts will ever forget quarterback Joe Namath running off the field waving his index finger into the sky to signify his team was No. 1 following Super Bowl III.

Both cities are planning Super Tuesday victory parades.The Patriots are already offering a chance to reserve your copy of the book 19-0.

That reminds me of the true story of the RSS Titanic, billed as the ship that “God himself couldn’t sink.” Can the New York Giants sack Tom Brady and sink the Patriots?Let’s look at what the experts from Varsity Sports Media think.

Craig Baroncelli, President of Varsity Sports Media
So much anti-Patriot banter fuels game-changing performances by Junior Seau on defense and Wes Welker on offense. Archie, I mean Peyton, I mean Eli Manning looks strong early, but fades in the second half. Brandon Jacobs runs for 100 yards and a TD. Plaxico Burress is swarmed all night but fights the good fight. Tom Brady hooks up with three different receivers and Laurence Maroney contributes two scores. And the greatest season in pro sports history is sealed. Patriots 35, Giants 20

Robert Naddra, Managing Editor of VSM’s Georgia Football magazine
Too much Bill Belichick, too much Tom Brady, too much Plaxico Burress, too much Teddy Bruschii, too much Mike Vrabel, too much Junior Seau. The list goes on and on. There's a reason why the Patriots are undefeated and are on the verge of history. New England won the regular season finale between the two teams 38-35. The Giants will make it close again and Eli Manning will have a heroic game, but the Patriots have too many game-breakers for the Giants to withstand. Patriots 24, Giants 17

Stump Martin, Managing Editor VSM’s Tennessee Football magazine
If the New England Patriots weren’t already on a mission, the latest story that surfaced about the possibility that they taped the St. Louis Rams in a walk through the day before the 2002 Super Bowl should motivate them. This should make for an interesting Super Bowl. The Patriots were already playing for a purpose. Now pride and integrity are involved. The New York Giants are playing for pride also. This is the third time that these teams have played this season. For the first time in history, two teams will have closed out the exhibition season, regular season and the Super Bowl in the same year. A bookie, who has since died, once told me that when two teams have already played during the season a good bet is that the game will be much closer the second time around. Now, what is the rule for the third time in one season? Hey, the Patriots might have the Giants number and their signals. Sadly, the best home run hitter, base hitter and pitcher of all-time are now tainted with their past. Now, if the Patriots win Super Bowl XLII the greatest NFL team of all-time will also be tainted. Patriots 42, Giants 24

Deb Martin VSM Video Reporter
Have you seen Tom Brady? That's enough said. Patriots 34, Giants 28

For more expert picks http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?page=superbowlpicks

Donte' Stallworth Omits Tennessee

So, what’s up with former Tennessee great Donte’ Stallworth?

Listen closely when he’s introduced before games or when he announces where he is from. When an overwhelming-majority are giving the names of their college teams, Stallworth is going real old school.

Stallworth gives out the name of Grant High School in Sacremento, Calif. when he’s introduced. That was fine with former Oakland Raiders defensive lineman Otis Sistrunk, who didn’t go to college. Although it was often joked that Sistrunk went to the University of Mars.

Nonetheless, Stallworth was a beloved Vol.

He’s in Super Bowl XLII.

The Big Orange fans are proud.

But how will the fans handle it when he says Grant High instead of Tennessee?

Stallworth said this week that he was getting some flak from the good folks in Tennessee.

He explained that everybody knows he went to Tennessee and he wants to give love back to the people back home.

Stallworth did leave Tennessee early to defect to the NFL, where he was drafted in the first round (13th overall pick) by the New Orleans Saints in 2002.

This season he grabbed 46 regular-season passes for 697 yards, which is a fall off in production for him.

He is now the third wheel in the Patriots receiving corps behind Wes Welker (112 receptions for 1,175 yards) and Randy Moss (98 grabs for 1,493 yards).

It’s fine to love your high school. I read this week that he had bought uniforms for the team at Grant High.

That's a good thing. Tennessee has the money to buy uniforms.

But come on Donte’ give the folks in Tennessee some love too.

I'll bet even Kelley Washington claims he's from Tennessee.

Gridiron Bash To Highlight Spring Game Weekend

Knoxville has the University of Tennessee and Nashville has country music.Well, Nashville does have Vanderbilt too.

Nonetheless, on April 18 and 19 Tennessee is combining country music and football for the annual Orange and White spring game.

Country duo Montgomery Gentry and Taylor Swift are the headline acts for the Gridiron Bash at Neyland Stadium the day before Tennessee's Orange and White spring game.

Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton said the inaugural pre-game Gridiron Bash is going to be a boost the fan experience.

There is a giant pep rally planned and appearances by Tennessee players and coaches.

With Sevierville and Dollywood just across the hill from Knoxville it would be nice if Dolly herself would show up for the bash.

Where is Kenny Chesney anyway?