By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, October 8, 2011

5 Questions LW Ryan Shannon

Have you been to the new Yankee Stadium? I love it. I love the old Yankee Stadium but the improvements to the new one, it's so open and has better food choices.

Like what? They have a sushi restaurant and a high-level steak house. It's good food.

Did you play ball? I played Little League (in Darien, Conn.) until I switched to lacrosse when I was 12.

What positions did you play? I played catcher and pitched a little bit and centerfield.

Which did you like best? Catcher because it's tougher to fall asleep.

And speaking of baseball …

C Steven Stamkos plays in a summer hardball league in Markham, Ontario, (near his hometeown of Unionville) on a team that honors Matt Benincasa, a friend who two years ago died in a car crash.

It's not quite baseball. Pitchers are from the team that is hitting so the pitches tend to be meatballs. No surprise the Toronto Star reported Stamkos last summer was batting .605.

"We just have fun, and it's a little bit of a competitive atmosphere," Stamkos said. "It's a bunch of guys I grew up with and went to high school with. Once a week we're able to get together and catch upon things, and if it's a weekend, we go for a beer."

Stamkos plays outfield for a reason: "I don't want to be taking a ball to the face."

Quote to note

"Sometimes he's great and sometimes he has to be reminded about what to do out there."

— coach Guy Boucher about rising star, RW Teddy Purcell.

It's a scream

During a recent practice, coach Guy Boucher had the Lightning do two laps around the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon while screaming. Yep, flat out, screaming. If anyone didn't scream, the team had to do another lap. Boucher said it was simply something different to keep the players on their toes. But RW Steve Downie, one of the loudest screamers, said it was conditioning disguised as fun. "Did you ever try to scream and skate?" he said. "You can't breathe."

Number of the day

9 Lightning players who have played in college: Marty St. Louis (Vermont), Teddy Purcell (Maine), Ryan Shannon (Boston College), Matt Gilroy (Boston University), Brett Clark (Maine), Ryan Malone (St. Cloud State), Adam Hall (Michigan State), Dwayne Roloson (UMass-Lowell), Dominic Moore (Harvard).

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, October 8, 2011

Steve Yzerman isn't quite ready to declare the NHL's crackdown on head shots a success.

"It's still relatively early," the Lightning general manager said.

But there is no doubt the league is taking the issue seriously, with nine players suspended in the preseason by disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan for a total, including preseason, of 60 games.

Shanahan has admitted he did not expect to reach that mark so quickly. But sometimes a hammer is needed to get results.

Remember 2005-06 and the league's crackdown on obstruction infractions such as hooking, holding and interference? That preseason was awash in penalties for obstruction. Now, those penalties are not called nearly as much, and the game has never been faster or more inviting to smaller, quicker players.

Yzerman sees the same scenario with head shots. "Players are going to have to figure it out, and they will," he said. "They adjusted well to the obstruction rules."

As with obstruction penalties, not all head shots will be eliminated.

"There are clean body checks where, unfortunately, there's going to be contact with the head," Yzerman said. "It's unavoidable. We cannot eliminate every single one and suspend every single player."

Yzerman was on the committee that drafted Rule 48, which makes illegal any check in which the head is targeted and the principal point of contact.

An exception is when the player being hit puts himself in a vulnerable position. That is what saved Tampa Bay's Ryan Malone from a suspension for his hit on Montreal's Chris Campoli, whom Shanahan ruled ducked his head into Malone's shoulder.

It is a fine line, and for those who want to ensure the game stays physical (and count Yzerman in that group), it is one Shanahan must not step over, though it is clear he believes a physical game and a safer game are not mutually exclusive.

"When we get into the regular season we'll see how this plays out," Yzerman said. "We knew this was going to be hard for the players. For me to have an opinion, I want to see how this goes."

By Bryan Burns and Bob Putnam, Times Staff Writers
Saturday, October 8, 2011

Offenses were on display this week. Seven teams scored more than 30 points this week. Admiral Farragut and Indian Rocks Christian combined for 66 points. Largo nearly reached that total by itself, scoring 63 in a victory over Dixie Hollins. But nothing comes close to the offensive numbers put up in the Tarpon Springs-Lakewood game. Both teams combined for 44 points and 579 yards in the first half. Lakewood Ranch ran 83 plays for 537 yards of offense in the game. Here is the recap from Week 6:

Super seven

1. Countryside (6-0): Showed some balance on offense with 173 yards rushing and 249 passing in a 37-6 district win over Northeast.

2. Lakewood (5-0): Nice 27-7 win against Gibbs, but was it really necessary to keep throwing up three scores in the fourth quarter against a depleted opponent?

3. Largo (4-2): Running game starting to rev up with 200-plus yards on the ground for the second straight week, this time in 63-10 win over Dixie Hollins.

4. CC Catholic (5-1): Huge 24-17 win against rival Tampa Catholic puts Marauders in driver's seat for playoff berth.

5. Pinellas Park (4-1): By rallying from 15-point deficit to beat St. Petersburg 21-18, Patriots put themselves in position for a playoff berth.

6. Tarpon Springs (4-2): Defense's inability to stop the running game may end up costing the Spongers a playoff spot.

7. East Lake (3-3): Ended two-game losing streak with 29-6 win over North Port in district opener.

Audibles

"I think the second year I was at CCC they beat us 76-7, and I told him we were a big part of his passing records. … Maybe it was karma tonight, we were supposed to win."

John Davis, CCC coach, recalling that 1995 defeat to Tampa Catholic and its All-America QB, Kenny Kelly, who was on the sideline as a Crusaders assistant Friday

Offensive player of the week

QB Billy Pavlock, Palm Harbor University

The Hurricanes, desperate for a win to open its district slate, turned to Pavlock, and the senior quarterback delivered a clutch performance in a 27-7 victory. Pavlock threw for 91 yards and a touchdown on 4-of-9 passing and had two more touchdowns on the ground to go with 138 yards rushing. But Pavlock's ultimate value to the Hurricanes came was his ability to make plays in tight situations. On third and 40 on his own 10-yard line, Pavlock raced 51 yards on a draw play for a first down. Backed up near his goal line on another third and long, Pavlock took off for 72 yards on, again, a draw. Pavlock kept drives going for PHU, and he kept the Hurricanes' playoff hopes intact.

Defensive player of the week DB Dontae McGee, Admiral Farragut

The Blue Jackets looked to be in big trouble in the district race after falling to Canterbury and losing playmaker Rayshawn Jenkins to injury. But, today, Admiral Farragut is right back in the thick of the 2A-5 race, and McGee is a major reason why. In the first quarter of the Blue Jackets' 34-32 victory over Indian Rocks Christian, McGee intercepted the first pass from Golden Eagles' quarterback Casey Woods and outran everybody for a 64-yard return for a touchdown.

Notable performances

RB Derek Barnes, Calvary Christian: Ran for season-high 247 yards on 26 carries in a victory over Cambridge. He had scoring runs of 50 and 40 yards.

RB Kristian Craig, Keswick Christian: Senior back gained 150 yards on 16 carries with two touchdowns in a 27-0 win over Northside Christian.

WR Sean Culkin, Indian Rocks Christian: Broke 100-yard mark for second straight week, hauling in six passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns — a 31-yarder and a 42-yarder — in 34-32 loss to Admiral Farragut.

WR Dondre Daley, Tarpon Springs: Returned from two game absence because of eligibility issues and caught six passes for 80 yards, and scored on a 63-yard run and 81-yard kickoff return in 41-33 loss to Lakewood Ranch.

RB Keith Harrington, Northeast: Carried just five times but gained 165 yards with a 75-yard touchdown in a 37-6 loss to Countryside.

QB Tracy Johnson, Lakewood: Rebounded from rough start to throw for 323 yards and three touchdowns in 27-7 win over Gibbs. Lofted two long scoring passes to Rodney Adams.

ATH David Jones, St. Petersburg: Senior had touchdown runs on two of team's first three drives and gained 91 yards on nine attempts. Had a fourth-quarter interception on defense in 21-18 loss to Pinellas Park.

RB Todd Macon, Admiral Farragut: Senior posted 173 total yards and three touchdowns in a key district win against Indian Rocks Christian.

RB Brent O'Neal, Canterbury: Gained 250 yards rushing on 29 carries in a 26-20 district victory over Carrollwood Day School. O'Neal had a 61-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and the 20-yard winning score in the fourth quarter.

RB Diomi Roberts, Countryside: Rushed for 119 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries against Northeast. The senior has a season total of 10 touchdowns.

DB Gary Simon, Gibbs: Two-way player recorded two interceptions near the end zone to prevent Lakewood scores, returned a kickoff 73 yards and averaged nearly 40 yards per punt.

RB Blair Vaughn, CCC: Churned out 77 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, the most crucial one becoming a 17-yard run for the go-ahead score in win over Tampa Catholic. His 25-yard run in the third quarter, in which he carried several would-be tacklers and blockers for roughly 20 yards, is bound to go viral on YouTube.

QB Robert Yarbrough, Clearwater: Engineered first win of the season for the Tornadoes after completing 10-of-15 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 45 yards in a 24-17 win over Seminole.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, October 8, 2011

Eagles (1-3) at Bills (3-1)

1 p.m.

Eagles by 3, 50

When Eagles QB Vince Young described his new club as a "Dream Team," he wasn't talking about this sort of nightmare. The Eagles can't shake the funk they're in, and the next few weeks arguably will present one of the biggest tests coach Andy Reid, above, has faced. He has had much success and flirted with many Super Bowls, but can he regroup this team, especially his sorry offensive line? He has plenty of time to do it, but how long before it all implodes?

Eagles 26, Bills 21

Saints (3-1) at Panthers (1-3)

1 p.m.

Saints by 6½, 51½

One of these weeks, Panthers QB Cam Newton is going to score a very, very big upset. He'll dissect the defense of a contender and leave it wondering what happened. He'll dazzle with his quickness and impress with his decision-making. It's only a matter of time. Here's the question: Will this be the week? The Saints' Drew Brees, above, will have something to say about that but not by much. In its three losses, Carolina has given up 92 points. That's a lot for a young QB to overcome.

Saints 31, Panthers 24

Raiders (2-2) at Texans (3-1)

1 p.m.

Texans by 51/2, 48½

This looks like one of the week's tougher calls. Injured star WR Andre Johnson is out for the Texans. That shouldn't entirely change the complexion of the game, but it will make it tougher for QB Matt Schaub, above. The timing of the hamstring injury is somewhat fortuitous because RB Arian Foster is back, providing the Texans with a much-needed answer to Oakland's Darren McFadden. The Raiders are a threat and will continue to be, but their defense has a little more to prove.

Texans 28, Raiders 24

Chiefs (0-4) at Colts (1-3)

1 p.m.

Colts by 2½, 38½

The Colts are playing on a short week and have injury problems that go beyond that of star QB Peyton Manning. Curtis Painter made a couple of plays last week vs. the Bucs, but he completed just 43 percent of his passing attempts. That's not getting it done. This game is something of a tossup but not because it will be a barn burner. Still, if the Chiefs can play soundly and QB Matt Cassel, above, continues to move in the right direction, there's no reason the Chiefs can't close this out.

Chiefs 23, Colts 17

Bengals (2-2) at Jaguars (1-3)

1 p.m.

Jaguars by 2, 37

Pop quiz: Who has the NFL's top-ranked defense? The Bengals, of course. Okay, that's not obvious, and that's because their defense is not star-laden. DT Geno Atkins, above, one of the best linemen you've never heard of, has 21/2 sacks in his past three games. LB Rey Maualuga has been roughing up ball carriers with a team-leading 32 tackles, and S Reggie Nelson, a Jaguars castoff and ex-Gator, has a team-high 22 solo stops. It could be a tough day for Jags QB Blaine Gabbert.

Bengals 23, Jaguars 18

Cardinals (1-3) at Vikings (0-4)

1 p.m.

Vikings by 3, 45

The Vikings need a win. Coach Leslie Frazier, above, needs a win. QB Donovan McNabb needs a win if he intends to keep his starting job. All that desperation could be enough to allow this team to break through and get a win. Adrian Peterson leads the NFC in rushing, giving the Vikings the ability to mount long, time-consuming drives such as those in the first half of their loss to the Bucs. If they do that, they will keep Cardinals game-changing WR Larry Fitzgerald off the field.

Vikings 20, Cardinals 17

Seahawks (1-3) at Giants (3-1)

1 p.m.

Giants by 10, 43

All the telltale numbers look good for the Giants. They've got a plus-4 turnover margin, a product of Eli Manning's eight touchdowns vs. two interceptions. They're pressuring quarterbacks, with USF product Jason Pierre-Paul, above, leading them with 41/2 sacks. Then there's this: 254, Seattle's offensive yards average per game, not nearly enough. Look for the Giants to attack QB Tarvaris Jackson and keep RB Marshawn Lynch in check to stay atop the NFC East.

Giants 27, Seahawks 14

Titans (3-1) at Steelers (2-2)

1 p.m., Ch. 10

Steelers by 3, 39½

The Steelers' offense long has been about chewing up yards with the running game and taking advantage of opportunities in the deep passing game with targets such as WR Mike Wallace, above. But their offense cannot get on track. Pittsburgh is averaging 16 points a game and produced just 10 in last week's loss to Houston. The defense, not surprisingly, has been the saving grace. But now star LB James Harrison is injured, a major blow. Will someone step up?

Steelers 23, Titans 20

Chargers (3-1) at Broncos (1-3)

4:15 p.m.

Chargers by 31/2, 46

You have to believe that at some point during game preparations, Chargers QB Philip Rivers, above, gleefully watched Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers throw for 408 yards and four TDs against the Broncos last week. This game has perhaps the week's most obvious game plan: Keep the pressure on Denver's defense with deep shots and a healthy dose of RB Ryan Mathews. Opposing quarterbacks have a cumulative rating of 110.7 against Denver, highest in the NFL.

Chargers 34, Broncos 24

Jets (2-2) at Patriots (3-1)

4:15 p.m., Ch. 10

Patriots by 71/2, 49

The Patriots' defense has been something of a punch line lately, but no one expected greatness from it. The same cannot be said about the Jets' defense. Despite being vaunted, it has been more talk than production. The Raiders scored 34 points against it, led by Darren McFadden's 171 rushing yards, in Week 3. Now the Patriots and QB Tom Brady, above, are on deck. Does coach Rex Ryan have a remedy? Not unless he plans to arrange for Brady to be kidnapped and held for ransom.

Patriots 30, Jets 17

Packers (4-0) at Falcons (2-2)

8:20 p.m., Ch. 8

Packers by 6, 53½

Sit back with your favorite beverage and watch the Aaron Rod­gers Show. Packers fan or not, it is enjoyable to watch the NFC's — maybe the NFL's — hottest quarterback, above. The difference between this game and the teams' playoff game in January, in which the Packers rolled, is the Packers' defense isn't the same. The Falcons are great at home, and QB Matt Ryan has added WR Julio Jones to his arsenal. But the Packers still have too much firepower.

Packers 33, Falcons 28

Bears (2-2) at Lions (4-0)

8:30 p.m. Monday, ESPN

Lions by 5½, 47½

This is a really interesting intradivision game that could be a preview of how the NFC North will play out. The view from here is the Lions are a bit overhyped. The Bucs and Cowboys got outcoached by them and played right into their hands. And Detroit barely has a running game. But the emotion of the home crowed, coupled with Chicago's rightful obsession with stopping WR Calvin Johnson, above, will enable some Lions to make enough plays.

Lions 21, Bears 20

By Eduardo A. Encina, Laura Keeley and Joey Knight, Times Staff Writers
Saturday, October 8, 2011

Audibles

"It's a real big win. It's not over because we still have Armwood, Sickles and King, but it's a real big win that shows Hillsborough is here. We're here. Armwood only beat (Jefferson) 20-0, and beat them 49-20."

Evan Jennings, Hillsborough senior receiver, on the Big Red's resurrection as a frontrunner for a playoff spot in Class 6A-8

"When they went into single coverage. I was like, 'All right, we're going to take that.' "

Antwon Amstrong, Plant City senior, who helped exploit Durant's man-to-man coverage with three catches for 81 yards in a 43-12 romp

"We're all about the playoffs, and it can't get here quick enough."

Sean Callahan, Armwood coach, on his team, which has an average margin of victory of 41 points in the five games it has played in Florida

What we learned

1. Armwood can win a state title with Alvin Bailey at quarterback. There, we said it. And coach Sean Callahan basically echoed that, saying Bailey "might be the best player in the state of Florida." While the Hawks would love to have 6-foot-5 junior Darryl Richardson healthy, Bailey, who toyed with Sickles in a 35-0 rout Thursday when Richardson exited, has proved capable of leading the Hawks. He can zig, zag, zone read and seems fearless. He also throws a nice ball. Armwood is more balanced with Bailey at wideout but it is arguably more self-assured when he's behind center.

2. There has been a changing of the guard in Class 7A-8. Rest in peace to Newsome's 14-game district winning steak that dated to the 2007 season. With Brandon's emphatic 34-0 shutout of the Wolves, perhaps we were too quick to call this a three-team race two weeks ago. Or maybe we were right, and Newsome is the odd team out of the mix that includes Plant City, Durant and Brandon. All we know for sure is that Plant City spanked Durant, and Durant beat Brandon by 12 points. So if Newsome wants to salvage its season, it's going to need to pull out an upset over one of those two teams.

3. If Tampa Catholic is sitting out the playoffs for the first time since 2004, the Crusaders have no one to blame but themselves. Two crucial fumbles and two key unsportsmanlike conduct penalties by the defense basically giftwrapped the 24-17 victory for Clearwater Central Catholic. What's worse, Tampa Catholic will have to beat Berkeley Prep to keep its playoff streak alive. Much, much easier said than done.

By the numbers

5 Number of undefeated teams in Hillsborough County going into Week 7 (Alonso, Plant, Plant City, Armwood and Berkeley Prep)

36.7 Margin of victory in Hillsborough's three Class 6A-8 district games

20 Consecutive scoreless quarters posted by Armwood's defense

21-2 The combined record of the four teams Jefferson has lost to this season — Robinson, Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward, Armwood and Hillsborough

2004 The last time Blake won the Heritage Classic over rival Middleton. The Yellow Jackets' 41-19 win over the Tigers ended a six-game losing skid against Middleton, gave Blake a big district win and gave Yellow Jackets coach Harry Hubbard his first win over his old program.

Looking ahead

Sickles (4-1, 1-1) at Hillsborough (5-1, 3-1). It's tough to use a team's performance against Armwood as a measuring stick, so we'll give the Gryphons a pass on their performance this week and look forward to this game between the teams tied for second place in 6A-8. The winner will be in the driver's seat for a playoff spot.

Alonso (5-0, 1-0) at Plant City (5-0, 2-0). This week's only matchup of unbeaten teams could be slightly less exciting if Alonso quarterback Brandon Hawkins can't recover from the right shoulder injury that knocked him out of this week's game. Regardless, it will be another opportunity for Plant City to prove itself against a quality opponent.

Jefferson (1-4, 0-2) at King (3-3, 2-1). Both of these teams now find themselves as district dark horses in the Class 6A-8 race. The Dragons and Lions need some help to get to the postseason, but most of all they both need a quality district win.

Game balls

DB/WR Antwon Amstrong, Plant City: The senior had three interceptions, all at or inside his 10-yard line, and caught three passes for 81 yards and a touchdown.

RB Cyrus Dooley, Brandon: The sophomore played a pivotal role in the 34-0 upset of district foe Newsome, rushing for 147 yards and scores of 30, 28 and 31 yards.

WR Evan Jennings, Hillsborough: The 6-foot-3 senior was the best receiver on the field in a 48-20 district win over Jefferson, making seven catches for 145 yards and three touchdowns.

King defense: The beleaguered Lions defense took out its frustrations on lowly Leto, recovering six fumbles, including four in Leto territory, gift-wrapping short fields for the offense in a 73-8 win over the Falcons.

RB William Lucas, Jesuit: He turned four carries into 60 yards and three touchdowns in a 78-0 — no that's not a typo — win against Lennard.

QB Aaron Midthus, Tampa Bay Tech: The senior rebounded from a loss to Plant with a five-touchdown day in a 40-7 district win over Wiregrass Ranch. Midthus ran for three scores and threw for two.

DB Eddie Pastrana, Gaither: The free safety had five — yes, five — interceptions in the a big 37-7 district win over Steinbrenner on homecoming.

Plant City's offensive line: Props to the group perhaps most responsible for QB Bennie Coney's career night (377 passing yards, five touchdowns). Take a bow Reyes Aguilera, Colton Box, Arquil Drone, Lance Doenges, Seth Crowell, Montel McBride and Zach Shinn.

Times wires
Saturday, October 8, 2011

OAKLAND, Calif. — Al Davis was a rebel with a cause.

"Just win, baby," he exhorted his beloved Oakland Raiders.

Mr. Davis, 82, who bucked league authority time and again and won three Super Bowl titles during his half-century in pro football, died Saturday (Oct. 8, 2011) at his Oakland home, the team said. No cause was given.

The Hall of Famer — known for slogans such as "Pride and Poise" and "Commitment to Excellence" — was one of the most important figures in pro football history because of his role in the development of the AFL, its merger with the NFL and the success he built with the Raiders.

"Al Davis' passion for football and his influence on the game were extraordinary," commissioner Roger Goodell said. "He defined the Raiders and contributed to pro football at every level. … He is a true legend of the game whose impact and legacy will forever be part of the NFL."

And Mr. Davis was a litigious gadfly. That was most evident during the 1980s, when he went to court for — and won — the right to move his team from Oakland to Los Angeles. Even after he moved the Raiders back to the San Francisco Bay area in 1995, he sued for $1.2 billion to establish that he still owned the rights to the Los Angeles market.

Before that, he was a pivotal figure in hastening the merger between the AFL — for which he served as commissioner starting in 1966 — and the NFL. Mr. Davis, hired by the Raiders in 1963, was not initially in favor of such a move, but his aggressive pursuit of NFL players for his fledgling league and team helped bring about the 1970 merger.

But Mr. Davis was hardly an NFL company man. Not in the way he dressed: usually satin running suits and the occasional black suit, black shirt and silver tie. Not in the way he wore his hair: slicked back. Not in the way he talked: Brooklynese with Southern inflection. Not in the way he did business: on his terms.

Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992, Mr. Davis was a trailblazer. He hired the first black head coach of the modern era, Art Shell, in 1988. He hired the first Latino coach, Tom Flores, and the first female CEO, Amy Trask.

"It's hard to replace a great leader and a legend like Al Davis," Raiders Hall of Fame cornerback Willie Brown said.

Though other owners and league executives branded Mr. Davis a renegade, friends and former players found him the epitome of loyalty. When his wife had a heart attack, he moved into her hospital room and stayed for more than a month.

Mr. Davis made few public appearances recently, and he missed one game this season. He was believed to have missed only three while with the franchise.

He is survived by his wife, Carol, and son, Mark. He had said in interviews they will inherit the team.

A few years ago, Mr. Davis acknowledged his fate: "I can control most things, but I don't seem to be able to control death."

Times wires
Saturday, October 8, 2011

DALLAS — Landry Jones threw three touchdowns and No. 3 Oklahoma scored a school-record three defensive touchdowns in a 55-17 thrashing of No. 11 Texas on Saturday.

It was the Red River Rivalry's most lopsided game since Oklahoma won by a series record 52 in 2003.

"It was an excellent day," Sooners coach Bob Stoops said. "To … win like that is really pretty special."

The Sooners were No. 1 until two weeks ago, slipping to second after struggling to beat Missouri at home. They fell to No. 3 after routing Ball State. Saturday's performance, however, could earn them more first-place votes.

Oklahoma scored on its first four possessions and led by 24 at halftime and 45 midway through the fourth. The defensive touchdowns came on Demontre Hurst's 55-yard interception return, David King's 19-yard fumble return and Jamell Fleming's 56-yard interception return.

"There is nothing more fun than a defensive touchdown when you're on that side of it," said Stoops, whose team also tied a school record with eight sacks.

Texas' only offensive touchdown — the other was Fozzy Whitaker's 100-yard kickoff return — came with 2:31 left in the game.

The Sooners swarmed running plays and got heavy pressure on passes. Sophomore Case McCoy and freshman David Ash, splitting snaps for the Longhorns, couldn't keep drives going.

How silly did it become? Late in the third, Texas' first and 10 at the Oklahoma 15 turned into fourth and 49 at its 47 thanks, in part, to sacks of 15 and 20 yards.

"You learn so much from a loss like this," Ash said. "You learn what it takes to play at the level Oklahoma plays. It's great to get exposed to that. We're a young team. The great thing is we have so much potential to become a really great team."

Jones completed 31 of 50 passes for 367 yards.

"I was disappointed that we didn't live up to our side of the match," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "This is one of the greatest games in college football. Our players were so excited. A lot of our new coaches were so excited, and we didn't live up to our side of it."

Times wires
Saturday, October 8, 2011

CLEMSON, S.C. — Tajh Boyd's play again gave No. 8 Clemson reason to celebrate. A hard hit to Boyd's hip left the Tigers wondering how many more of those celebrations they'll be having.

Boyd passed for a score and ran for another as the 6-0 Tigers continued their best start in 11 years with a 36-14 victory over Boston College on Saturday.

But Boyd left the field in the third quarter with his injury, the severity of which remains unknown, along with Boyd's status for next week at Maryland.

"It's a complete waste of time to speculate," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said.

X-rays showed no broken bones. The sophomore quarterback will have an MRI exam to double check.

Swinney said Boyd was walking around the locker room much better than when he initially left the field.

"We're praying for positive news there," Swinney said.

Boyd has been a revelation as a first-year starter, throwing 15 touchdowns, including a 3-yarder to Jaron Brown on Saturday, to just two interceptions.

"It doesn't look like it's going to be too serious," Clemson tailback Andre Ellington.

NO. 13 GA. TECH 21, MARYLAND 16: Tevin Washington did just enough for the visiting Yellow Jackets to overcome their least impressive showing of the year, running for 120 yards and two touchdowns. Georgia Tech led 21-3 before holding off a fourth-quarter comeback led by backup quarterback C.J. Brown, a sophomore who took over for Danny O'Brien in the second quarter.

UNC 14, LOUISVILLE 7: Tailback Giovani Bernard and receiver Dwight Jones scored touchdowns, and the host Tar Heels overcame a slow start. The Cardinals played without offensive coordinator Mike Sanford, who did not travel but the school said was still with the program.

N.C. STATE 38, CENT. MICH. 24: Mike Glennon passed for 244 yards and four touchdowns, and the host Wolfpack won its first game against a Division I foe.

Times staff
Saturday, October 8, 2011

SPRINT CUP SCOUTING REPORT

Kansas

Last week Jimmie Johnson finished second at Dover, one of his best tracks, to draw closer to the leaders in the Chase for the Championship. This week could be Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon's turn. The four-time Cup champion has eight top-five finishes in 11 starts at Kansas including the past five runs on the 1.5-mile oval. Gordon finished fourth in June and qualified 10th on Friday. That June race was won by Brad Keselowski, whose string of top-12 Cup finishes ended at nine when he finished 20th at Dover — but he won Saturday's Nationwide series race. Kansas has been a rare weak spot for Kyle Busch. He led 64 laps and finished seventh there in 2006; outside of that he has zero top-10 finishes and 12 total laps led in seven starts.

Times staff

Times wires
Saturday, October 8, 2011

MILWAUKEE — Let the hostilities resume.

That was the theme Saturday as the Brewers and Cardinals took time from preparing for the National League Championship Series Game 1 at Miller Park to take verbal shots at each other.

When it was suggested to St. Louis rightfielder Lance Berkman that there is a perception the Cardinals and Brewers don't like each other, he bluntly replied, "And that's correct."

Brewers right-hander Zack Greinke, who will start Game 1 tonight, did nothing to quell the bitterness when asked if the clubs genuinely dislike each other.

"Maybe now," he said. "I think no one really likes (Chris) Carpenter. … His attitude out there sometimes is like a phony attitude."

That drew an expected response from St. Louis manager Tony La Russa.

"Very disappointed that Greinke would say that," La Russa said. "I don't know him a lot, but I always thought he was a high-character, classy guy. That's a bad comment to make unless you know Chris Carpenter.

"Our attitude is we look at ourselves and we grade ourselves. And even if we don't like what's happening on the other side, it's not our business unless somebody crosses the line."

It's no secret that the Cardinals do not like Brewers centerfielder Nyjer Morgan.

The last time the teams met, Sept. 7 in St. Louis, Carpenter struck out Morgan in the ninth, then cursed at him and turned his back. Morgan tossed a wad of chewing tobacco toward Carpenter, prompting Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols to come across the infield to confront him. The benches and bullpens cleared, but it stopped there.

Times wires
Saturday, October 8, 2011

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Kyle Busch stood outside his hauler in the infield at Kansas Speedway, wearing shades on an overcast day. Busch looked comfortable, breezily answering questions, though he acknowledges the stress that weighs on him.

This is supposed to be the year he finally wins a Sprint Cup title.

He's married now and has mellowed slightly, showing more maturity on and off the track. He has won four more times to push his Cup career total to 30 victories, and he started the Chase for the Championship tied for the points lead.

But Busch has had a mediocre start to the Chase coming into today's race at Kansas, where his season has gone bust before. He is eighth in the tightly bunched standings, 15 points off co-leaders Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards, after three Chase races.

"There's 43 guys out here every week that if they don't win, they didn't meet the potential they wanted to," Busch said Friday.

"There's been times we won races and we didn't feel like we reached everything we needed to reach. It's high pressure, it's high stakes. There's a lot on the line, and this is a performance business. … We're trying every week."

It just hasn't been quite good enough.

Busch, 26, started the Chase by finishing 26th at Chicago and 11th at New Hampshire. A sixth-place run last weekend at Dover restored some confidence.

But Kansas Speedway has rarely been kind to him.

Busch came to the 1.5-mile tri-oval 10 points out of the Chase lead in 2007, his final year with Hendrick Motorsports, and got tangled up with Dale Earnhardt Jr.

In 2010 with his current team, Joe Gibbs Racing, Busch was third in points when he spun David Reutimann of Zephyrhills early in the race. Busch called it unintentional, but it didn't sit well with Reutimann, who got payback with 122 laps left. With Busch running seventh, Reutimann hit his car and forced him into the wall. Busch finished 21st and fell to seventh in the standings.

In June, a simmering feud between Busch and Richard Childress Racing really ignited. Busch bumped Childress driver Joey Coulter on a cool-down lap after the trucks race. Childress, 65, showed his displeasure by assaulting Busch, earning a $150,000 fine from NASCAR.

It was more reason for Busch to dislike coming to Kansas.

"When it's one of your least favorite racetracks, it's not beneficial to come here twice," he said. "We'll work hard and take what we can get out of this weekend."

A lot of drivers are putting a lot of emphasis on Kansas. The driver who left the track leading the Chase has gone on to hoist the championship trophy at Homestead three of the past four years.

"It feels like we've been running Chase races for a year. The time has really slowed down," Edwards said. "We are only three races in, and it feels like a lot has happened."

Times wires
Saturday, October 8, 2011

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Geno Smith always seems to pull West Virginia out of a rut.

Smith threw for 450 yards and four touchdowns to navigate No. 16 West Virginia through another slow start in a 43-16 victory over Connecticut.

West Virginia struggled to a 10-9 halftime lead in its Big East opener before scoring 23 points within 7:35 in the third quarter.

The Mountaineers struggled out of the gate for the fifth time in six games; 10 first-half points were their fewest this season.

"We may have been pressing (in the first half) because we all want to make plays," Smith said. "…But when we just go out, have fun and just play the game and do what we're coached to do, the offense is dynamic and we can strike on anyone at any time."

West Virginia responded — with a nudge from the defense.

Quarterback Johnny McEntee was driving UConn midway through the third when he was hit on the run by cornerback Pat Miller. The ball popped loose, redshirt freshman linebacker Jewone Snow grabbed it and went 83 yards before being caught at the Huskies 12.

Two plays later, Smith found Tavon Austin on a post in the end zone for a 17-9 lead. UConn had two first downs the rest of the game.

RUTGERS 34, PITT 10: Freshman Gary Nova threw two third-quarter touchdowns in his first start and the defense intercepted four passes with Logan Ryan returning his second of the game 45 yards for a touchdown as the host Scarlet Knights rolled. Nova, who decommitted to Pittsburgh after Dave Wannstedt was fired, hit Mark Harrison on a 6-yard TD after Rutgers' third pickoff.

By Tyler Jett, Times Correspondent
Saturday, October 8, 2011

BATON ROUGE, La. — Florida's defense saw only 14 passes Saturday afternoon. That was still more than it could handle.

Though LSU dominated with its methodical running attack, the Tigers were able to break open Saturday's 41-11 win with deep passes and other explosive plays. On six of LSU's seven scoring drives, Florida gave up a play of 20 yards or longer.

LSU opened the scoring on its second play from scrimmage. After faking a handoff, quarterback Jarrett Lee connected with Rueben Randle for a 46-yard touchdown pass. Sophomore cornerback Cody Riggs was beaten on the play.

Lee and fellow Tigers quarterback Jordan Jefferson combined to go 10-of-14 for 215 yards, the second-most passing yards allowed by the Gators this season. Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray threw for 288 yards Sept. 17, but he did so on 48 attempts. That's an average of about 9 fewer yards per pass play than LSU had.

"We tried to load up the box in the run game, and we gave up some big plays," Florida coach Will Muschamp said.

After giving up touchdowns on its first two series, the Florida defense appeared to force a three and out. But on fourth and 15, punter Brad Wing ran unscathed down the left sideline for a 44-yard gain.

Two members of Florida's punt-return unit were supposed to be watching Wing, but they ran back to set up a wall too soon, Muschamp said.

"We had two guys assigned to do their job; they didn't do it," he said.

The Gators appeared to gain some momentum at the end of the third quarter, when quarterback Jacoby Brissett hooked up with Andre Debose for a 65-yard touchdown to cut the Tigers' lead to 27-11. But on LSU's next drive, Jefferson hit Randle on a fly route for a 57-yard gain to take the ball to the Florida 3-yard line.

Freshman cornerback Marcus Roberson was covering Randle on the play. No Gators defensive back was made available after the game.

"Everyone has to just do their own job and not worry about trying to be a hero," defensive tackle Jaye Howard said. "We just have to do our own job and things like that won't happen."

Linebacker Lerentee McCray said the defense simply missed assignments, giving LSU easy, back-breaking plays.

Asked if, in the sixth game of the season, he was shocked Florida was still having such defensive breakdowns, McCray said, "I'm not really surprised."

Times wires
Saturday, October 8, 2011

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Brad Keselowski has a ready answer when fans ask him why he runs NASCAR's Nationwide series instead of concentrating solely on Sprint Cup.

It isn't for the money, he says, and it isn't for a chance to test for Cup competition.

It's so his Nationwide crew, led by Todd Gordon, won't fall victim to the economic crunch that shadows even NASCAR's money-making machine.

"Todd, without this program, would be laid off on unemployment," Keselowski said after winning Saturday's Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway. "It makes me very proud to be a part of this program."

Keselowski led all but 27 laps of 200 on his way to victory.

"I think that car was spectacular," said second-place finisher Carl Edwards, who briefly led late before Keselowski pulled ahead for the last time. "I thought we were going to have a chance to race there pretty hard at the end, but once he got by me, I couldn't do anything."

Elloitt Sadler was third and cut Ricky Stenhouse's points lead to 20 with four races to go.

Tampa's Aric Almirola led 11 laps and finished 12th. IndyCar's Danica Patrick, who will race full-time in NASCAR's second-tier series next year, was 15th.

FORMULA ONE: Sebastian Vettel, needing one point to clinch his second straight world title, earned the pole for the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka. He extended Red Bull's perfect streak of poles to all 15 races this season, edging McLaren's Jenson Button by 0.009 seconds. The race took place overnight.

Times wires
Saturday, October 8, 2011

BLACKSBURG, Va. — With less than three minutes to play and his team trailing for the first time all game, Logan Thomas knew he had to come through.

Nice to have a little encouragement from a mentor at just that moment. Standing next to Thomas was Tyrod Taylor, the player Thomas was understudy to for the past two seasons.

"It came down to that last possession and he said, 'This is where legends are made. This is where you make your legacy. Go ahead and do it,' " Thomas said of Taylor, one of the most accomplished and popular Hokies of recent years, now a member of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens.

"And whatever happened after that happened."

What happened was that Thomas ran 19 yards for a touchdown on fourth and 1 with 56 seconds to play Saturday, capping a frenetic fourth quarter as No. 21 Virginia Tech beat Miami 38-35.

The Hokies, who drove 77 yards in eight plays to get the winning score, rescued their chances of contending in the ACC Coastal Division.

"Actually, I wasn't nervous at all," Thomas said. "The offense had been doing its thing all game, so I wasn't really nervous. I knew we pretty much had their number in that aspect."

Thomas was looking only to gain the yard he needed on the big run, then call timeout.

"I stepped through the hole and there was nothing there," he said.

Led by Lamar Miller and Jacory Harris, Miami scored touchdowns on four consecutive possessions in the second half, at times with a little help from blunders by the Hokies.

Two minutes before Thomas' winning run, Miller scored on a 30-yard burst, capping a comeback from a 21-7 deficit early in the third quarter and giving them their first lead.

"They didn't do anything to stop us," Harris said after completing 13 of 21 passes for 267 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. "Really, we just couldn't stop them."

Times wires
Saturday, October 8, 2011

SAN MARTIN, Calif. — Briny Baird picked out his line and pulled off the shot, a driver that settled 15 feet from the cup and led to eagle on the 17th hole Saturday that staked him to a two-shot lead in the Frys.com Open.

Despite a bogey from the hazard on the final hole at CordeValle, Baird had 7-under 64 to give himself a small cushion over Ernie Els and Paul Casey, two players who have a bit more experience winning.

That's not saying much: Baird has never won at all.

He has gone 347 tournaments over 12 years without hoisting a trophy on the PGA Tour. This is only the third time he has been atop the leaderboard going into the final round, the last occasion at Disney seven years ago. At 13-under 200 overall, he's the outright 54-hole leader for the first time in his career.

So how does Baird treat today at CordeValle?

"Whatever I thought about the other times, throw that out the window," Baird said. "At Disney, I just played so-so. Unless you have an eight-shot lead, so-so is not going to cut it. If I can feel (today) like I did (Saturday) … of course, if I knew how to do that, I'd be something."

Tiger Woods played steadily again for 3-under 68. It was the first time since his season-opening start at Torrey Pines that Woods posted consecutive rounds under 70. Even so, he was nine shots behind in a tie for 38th.

"It's getting better," said Woods, playing for the first time in seven weeks. "I'm improving day by day, which is good. Obviously, (today) I need to improve a lot and make putts and post a really low one."

CHAMPIONS: Brad Faxon moved into position for his first tour title, shooting 7-under 65 in windy conditions to take a one-stroke lead in the Insperity Championship at The Woodlands, Texas. Faxon, an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour, had a bogey-free round to reach 10-under 134.

LPGA: Soo-Jin Yang tied the course record as she took the lead of the Hana Bank Championship in Incheon, South Korea, one stroke ahead of world No. 1 Yani Tseng. Yang shot 65, tying the course mark set by Tseng a day earlier, for a total of 10-under 134. Seminole's Brittany Lincicome shot 68 to move into a tie for seventh at 5-under. Tampa resident Kristy McPherson shot 73 and is at 3-over.

Times wires
Saturday, October 8, 2011

BOSTON — One consequence of having 14 forwards on the roster is, as Lightning coach Guy Boucher said, "sometimes we'll have good players come out of the lineup."

That happened Saturday against the Bruins, when Blair Jones, who played well in Friday's victory over Carolina, was scratched in favor of Tom Pyatt.

"He did nothing wrong," Boucher said of Jones. "I have to have a rotation here. We don't want to have good players not playing for a long time. Pyatt deserves a game, (Mattias) Ritola eventually, too."

Tampa Bay's roster swelled to 14 forwards when it kept junior-eligible Brett Connolly. With 12 forwards dressing for games, two need to be scratched.

The result: a juggling act for Boucher, especially as the team contemplates whether to send Connolly back to juniors. The right wing can play up to nine games before the clock starts on his three-year, $2.7 million contract.

The upside?

"It's how we're going to get better," Boucher said. "With so much competition, they're going to want to keep their spots."

The downside?

"We're going to have guys who don't deserve to be taken out."

SHIELDED: Jones said he will consider keeping the face shield he wore Friday after a stick blade to his left eyelid in the first period opened a seven-stitch cut.

"My mother is all over me," he said.

Jones always has played without a shield when called up from the minors, where it is required.

But "maybe someone is trying to tell me something," he said, pointing to between his eyes, where an inadvertent stick blade from teammate Mattias Ohlund opened a cut in camp.

LESSONS LEARNED: Connolly, 19, said he learned in his first NHL regular-season game how important positioning is in the defensive zone.

"Stuff happens so fast," Connolly said. "I thought I fit in. It will get better as the games go on."

Boucher is willing to be patient.

"He gets a little bit more leeway than the other guys when he makes mistakes," he said. "We can't expect him to know what the other guys learned last year. To expect a junior kid to come in and learn all that in a couple of weeks would be unrealistic."

TICKET PUSH: The team has sold 11,000 full season tickets, CEO Tod Leiweke said, more than double last season's 5,000. Including partial plans, the total is about 12,000.

"A good boost," Leiweke said.

Still, he said, "We'd actually like that number to be a little higher. Our objective is to sell out every game. We clearly need a couple thousand more."

SWING BATTER: Apparently, it wasn't a fluke Vinny Lecavalier scored against the Hurricanes with a baseball swing at an airborne puck. The captain said he played some baseball — pitcher and shortstop — until he was 14.

In other words, when the puck was in the air, instinct took over.

"It was floating like on a tee," Lecavalier said.

ODDS AND ENDS: The Lightning, including playoffs, fell to 5-26-3 with six ties in Boston. … D Bruno Gervais also was scratched.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, October 8, 2011

BATON ROUGE, La. — The news was delivered to Florida players Wednesday night, so they had three days to come to terms with freshman QB Jeff Driskel's injured ankle not healing well enough for him to play Saturday and freshman Jacoby Brissett having the job of leading the Gators against No. 1 LSU.

"He practiced this week," coach Will Muschamp said of Driskel. "We came to the conclusion Wednesday night that we just didn't feel like he was healthy enough to go and play in that environment. Tried to rep him throughout the week, and it just didn't (work). It wasn't fair to him. It wasn't fair to us."

As UF's backup, Driskel had played in four games. Brissett had never played in a collegiate game until Saturday. He finished 8-of-14 for 94 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions.

Injured starting QB John Brantley (ankle) traveled with the team to Baton Rouge but watched the game from the coaches box. Brantley, who was on crutches with his right leg in a boot, more than likely will not play against Auburn this week, Muschamp said.

CASUALTY OF CELEBRATION: LSU P Brad Wing found out the hard way that the new NCAA rules against taunting can be costly.

Wing faked a punt in the second quarter, then ran 52 yards for an apparent touchdown, but on his way into the end zone, he made a slight gesture with his hands that officials deemed unsportsmanlike conduct. The touchdown was negated and the ball moved back to the spot of the foul. LSU eventually settled for a 38-yard field goal and a 17-0 lead with 13:23 remaining in the quarter.

LSU fans didn't appreciate the call, but SEC supervisor of football officials Steve Shaw said it was correct.

Muschamp said it was a botched play by the Gators.

TAKE THAT: Remember that famous "jump pass" touchdown then-UF freshman Tim Tebow threw against LSU in 2006 to help the Gators to a 23-10 victory? Apparently LSU coach Les Miles hasn't forgotten it, either. Miles pulled it out of his playbook Saturday.

QB Jordan Jefferson leaped into the air and delivered the ball 2 yards to WR Mitch Joseph for a 34-11 lead with 12:20 remaining in the game.

"I thought it was wonderful," Miles said. "Any time we score, I enjoy those things. … Coach (Greg) Studrawa, our offensive coordinator, has some experience with that play. It was his idea, and I really enjoyed it."

INJURY UPDATE: Senior RB Jeff Demps (ankle) had two carries but couldn't play anymore, Muschamp said. Josh Evans and Ronald Powell left the game as well.

"I don't know exactly the depth of the injuries, but they were pulled in the second half," Muschamp said.

Antonya English can be reached at english@sptimes.com. Follow her coverage at gators.tampabay.com.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Sept. 17

UF 33, Tenn. 23

(3-0, 1-0)

Sept. 10

UF 39,

UAB 0

(2-0, 0-0)

Sept. 3

UF 41,

FAU 3

(1-0, 0-0)

Saturday

LSU 41, UF 11

(4-2, 2-2)

Oct. 1

'Bama 38, UF 10

(4-1, 2-1)

Sept. 24

UF 48, UK 10

(4-0, 2-0)

Nov. 5

vs.

Vanderbilt

TBA

Oct. 29

vs.

Georgia

3:30 p.m., Ch. 10

Saturday

at

Auburn

7, ESPN

Nov. 26

vs.

Florida State

TBA

Nov. 19

vs.

Furman

TBA

Nov. 12

at

South Carolina

TBA

By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Saturday, October 8, 2011

BATON ROUGE, La. — Heads down and eyes averted. This is the way a bullied football team leaves a field, and the Gators already have the move perfected.

A week ago, it was Alabama. This time, it was LSU. Two highly ranked teams, and two relentless beatings. There was little to say afterward, and so UF players mumbled about watching video to better understand losses of 38-10 and 41-11 in consecutive weeks.

Here's a better idea:

Go back and watch tape of the 1990 Gators. A team humiliated 45-3 by Tennessee but still determined enough to finish atop the SEC standings. Or check out the '92 Gators. A team that lost back-to-back league games but still played in the SEC Championship.

Before they address blocking or tackling or covering or throwing, these players need to learn more about expectations in Gainesville.

Because this doesn't happen to Florida. At least not in recent generations.

The last time the Gators were outscored by at least 58 points in back-to-back games was in 1971 when they were crushed by Auburn (40-7) and Georgia (49-7).

"We should be better than this," defensive end Lerentee McCray said. "We are better than this. We're definitely better than the way we've played."

It is true that Florida was down to its No. 3 quarterback on Saturday. And it is true the Gators were on the road against the nation's No. 1 team.

Those factors clearly played a part in the loss, but they do not explain the way a supposedly proud program looked unprepared and overwhelmed for much of the day.

"We're at Florida," coach Will Muschamp said, "and we expect to go into these games and play well."

If there is any consolation for the Gators this morning, it is that they are not alone in a neighborhood of misery.

It's as if the state has suddenly seceded from the NCAA. Check out the Associated Press poll later today, and chances are you'll not see UF, FSU, Miami or USF. A state with a gold mine of high school football talent, and as much presence in the national picture as Rhode Island.

At this point, it's hard to know who deserves your pity.

Is it the team that went from a No. 5 ranking to a losing record in 22 days? (Spoiler alert: That's FSU.) The team that panics every time a Ponzi schemer gets visitation rights at his federal penitentiary? (That's you, Miami.) The team stuck in a league everyone is fleeing? (Hello USF.) Or the team with cleat marks on its back? (Back to Florida.)

I'm sure the state has had worse times on college football fields, but it's hard to imagine a time when so many things went wrong so quickly.

Even Gov. Rick Scott mistakenly assumed attending a college football game was a fine idea Saturday afternoon, and he showed up for some entertainment just before kickoff. Or maybe he was just intrigued by someone dropping even faster in the polls.

Because, at this point, the Gators are not in a position to intimidate anyone. They can't run between the tackles. Passes of more than 2 yards are an adventure. For the better part of 60 minutes, their entire offense was predicated on outrunning the defense to the corner.

Maybe it was necessary to go conservative to accommodate true freshman Jacoby Brissett at quarterback, but the early plan did not give him a chance to succeed.

Meanwhile, for some reason, Muschamp thought it was a good idea to mislead the world about his intentions at quarterback on Saturday. He had been vague about John Brantley's injury. He barely mentioned that Jeff Driskel was hurt, even though the backup quarterback had already been ruled out on Wednesday.

If Muschamp is so intent on keeping secrets in the future, he might want to consider hiding the actual score of games.

The crazy thing is Florida remains alive in the SEC Eastern Division. The Gators can still make it to the league's championship game in Atlanta if they win their final four conference games, starting next week at Auburn.

It's not out of the question, but it's a tall order for a team that is struggling on both sides of the ball and does not appear to have answers in sight.

"It's not over," flanker Trey Burton said. "Our dream was to get to Atlanta."

In the meantime, the Gators need a dose of hope. A splash of confidence. Maybe a dollop of positive vibes.

So consider this your good deed for the week: Look around, and hug a Gator.

Or, for that matter, a Seminole. Or a Bull or a 'Cane.

Heaven knows, there's enough misery to go around in our part of the college football world.