By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Friday, November 4, 2011

Florida women

Coach: Amanda Butler (78-54, fifth season at Florida, 118-76 overall).

Last season: 20-15, 7-9 (eighth in SEC)

Notable: For only the third time since 1990-91 — and the first since 2003-04 — the Gators return all five starters from the previous season. Of the five seniors, only Azania Stewart, was recruited by and will have played four years under Butler. But Florida is hoping that veteran lineup can help heal the wounds of last season when the Gators lost multiple games down the stretch, many by single digits. The Gators' will retain Butler's aggressive style of play, predicated on relentless defense. A new strength and conditioning coach is helping make the Gators stronger and better conditioned, which is critical for Butler's style of play. Most of all Butler is hoping the senior leadership translates into finishing games down the stretch much better.

"We definitely have got to get better in a lot of different regards and the No. 1 part of that I think is the expectation of winning every night," Butler said. "When you're an inexperienced team, you don't know how to do that quite yet. Any changes that need to be made, they'll be made, but more than anything I think our seniors just really want this to be a special year, a historic year, and they know that that means no close losses. We need to fulfill that."

Roster

No. Player Ht. Pos. Yr.

3 Lanita Bartley 5-6 G Sr.

4 Carlie Needles 5-6 G Fr.

10 Jaterra Bonds 5-7 G So.

12 Deana Allen 5-9 G Sr.

13 Azania Stewart 6-4 C Sr.

14 Ndidi Madu 6-1 F Sr.

15 Viktorija Dimaite 6-4 C Fr.

20 Andrea Vilaro Aragones 5-10 G Fr.

22 Kayla Lewis 5-11 G So.

23 Brittany Shine 5-10 G So.

31 Lily Svete 6-2 F So.

32 Jennifer George 6-0 F Jr.

33 Jordan Jones 5-9 G Sr.

Schedule

Nov. 11 Michigan 4:30

Nov. 14 Stetson 7

Nov. 17 Florida State 5:30

Nov. 22 Hampton 7

Nov. 25 LaSalle (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 4

Nov. 26 Charlotte (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 2

Nov. 29 Belmont 7

Dec. 2 Rutgers (Daytona Beach) 8

Dec. 7 at San Francisco 8:30

Dec. 9 Pacific (Stockton, Calif.) 10

Dec. 20 Charleston Southern 7

Dec. 21 vs. Maine or Duquesne 7

Dec. 28 Samford 7

Jan. 1 Kentucky 1

Jan. 5 at Mississippi State 8

Jan. 8 South Carolina 2

Jan. 12 at Georgia 7

Jan. 15 LSU 1

Jan. 19 Alabama 7

Jan. 22 at Kentucky 2

Jan. 29 at Arkansas 3

Feb. 2 at LSU 7

Feb. 5 Mississippi 2

Feb. 9 Auburn 7

Feb. 12 at South Carolina 5

Feb. 19 Georgia 3:30

Feb. 23 Mississippi State 7

Feb. 26 at Tennessee 3:30

March 1-4 SEC Tournament (Nashville)

Antonya English, Times staff writer

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Friday, November 4, 2011

At a glance

Coach: Billy Donovan (360-147, 16th season at Florida; 395-167 overall).

Last season: 29-8, 13-3 (1st in SEC). The Gators advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament.

GAINESVILLE — The Florida men's basketball team was one game away from reaching the NCAA Final Four last season, a haunting memory that is part of what drives this team, players said. They've been close, now they want more. Florida is without three seniors from last year's squad, but if Rutgers transfer Mike Rosario and McDonald's All-American freshman Bradley Beal can mesh with the Gators' returning starters, it could be a big season for Billy Donovan's team. A big question mark is how improved is C Patric Young and who will help him at that position? The Gators are ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press preseason poll, their highest rankings since 2007.

Shoot 'em up

The Gators have an abundance of guards this season, which Donovan hopes will allow them to extend the floor and become a more full-court defensive team — with the kind of up-tempo style he's had much success with at times. Whether he can find a balance and keep all of those shot-happy players content remains to be seen. So far in practice, Donovan said he's seen an unselfishness that he's pleased with. Even senior G Erving Walker, who is known for his penchant for shooting, is passing more. "I'm trying to do whatever it takes to help this team win," Walker said. "If that means shoot the ball, I'll shoot. If it means passing more, that's fine too."

Next great thing

There is great anticipation with the arrival of Beal, a Gatorade National Player of the Year who was rated the No. 2 shooting guard in the nation by Rivals.com and ESPN. Beal has come in and quickly made an impression on Donovan and his teammates — he was part of the starting lineup in the Gators' exhibition game. Donovan said his maturity and ability to pick things up quickly are what set him apart from your typical freshmen — not to mention talent. But Beal said he's just trying to fit in where the Gators need him most. "Coach D told me that all of that McDonald's All-American stuff, all that doesn't matter anymore," Beal said. "So I'm really just focusing on what he wants me to do. I'm trying to find my way, figure out what this team needs most from me, and contribute the best way I can."

Bring it on

The Gators don't shy away from competition in this year's non-conference schedule which includes Syracuse, Ohio State, Florida State, UAB and Texas A&M. Donovan said the tougher schedules of the past several years are by design to make the Gators stronger in conference play. "Looking at it on paper right now, at least preseason, we probably have the toughest if not one of the toughest schedules out there," Donovan said. "It's good for our team to find out where we're at. … We have a lot of high quality games, including our league. There's a lot for our team to get prepared and ready for, and there's a lot that we will be faced with early in the season. "I do think that our schedule last year, being as competitive as it was, probably helped our team going into the league. I'm hopeful that the same thing will happen this year."

Free, at last

Rosario sat out all of last season after transferring, and he admits it was the most difficult thing he's had to do. Throughout the season, Rosario sat on the Gators' bench and was arguably the best cheerleader in the O'Dome night after night. Now that he's free to play, the New Jersey native is making sure he's soaking in every moment of his Gator experience. "It made me humble," Rosario said. "I really learned a lot this past year, and I'm ready to go out and just give my experiences that I have, let it feed to the other players and bring that intensity that I had as a cheerleader last year to the court."

Bench change

The Gators lost all three assistant coaches at the end of last season, meaning Donovan's bench is all new this year. Assistant coaches John Pelphrey and Matt McCall have both worked for Donovan before, so he regains some familiarity among the staff. And former St. John's coach Norm Roberts brings nearly two decades of experience to the staff.

Major milestone

The winningest coach in Florida history, Donovan begins his 16th season needing just five victories to reach the 400 win mark in his career. Donovan has led the Gators for two national championships, three Final Fours, four SEC Championship and 11 NCAA Tournament appearances. He won his first SEC Coach of the Year Award last season.

ROSTER

No. Player Ht. Pos. Yr.

1 Kenny Boynton 6-2 G Jr.

3 Mike Rosario 6-3 G R-Jr.

4 Patric Young 6-9 G So.

5 Scottie Wilbekin 6-2 G So.

11 Erving Walker 5-8 G Sr.

15 Will Yeguete 6-7 F So.

23 Bradley Beal 6-3 G Fr.

24 Casey Prather 6-6 F So.

33 Erik Murphy 6-10 F/C Jr.

34 Cody Larson 6-9 F/C R-Fr.

35 Walter Pitchford 6-10 F Fr.

SCHEDULE

Nov. 11 Jackson State 7

Nov. 15 at Ohio State 8

Nov. 17 North Florida 8

Nov. 21 Wright State (St. Pete Times Forum) 7

Nov. 25 Jacksonville 7

Nov. 28 Stetson (Orlando) 7

Dec. 2 at Syracuse 6:30

Dec. 7 Arizona 7

Dec. 9 Rider (Jacksonville) 7

Dec. 17 Texas A&M (Sunrise) 2:30

Dec. 19 Mississippi Valley State 7

Dec. 22 Florida State 7

Dec. 29 at Rutgers 7

Dec. 31 Yale 2

Jan. 3 UAB 7

Jan. 7 at Tennessee 11 a.m.

Jan. 10 Georgia 7

Jan. 14 at South Carolina 7

Jan. 21 LSU 6

Jan. 26 at Mississippi 7

Jan. 28 Mississippi State 1:30

Feb. 2 South Carolina 9

Feb. 4 Vanderbilt 1

Feb. 7 at Kentucky 7

Feb. 11 Tennessee 4

Feb. 14 at Alabama 7

Feb. 18 at Arkansas 6

Feb. 21 Auburn 7

Feb. 25 at Georgia 4

Feb. 28 at Vanderbilt 9

March 4 Kentucky Noon

March 8-11 SEC Tournament

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Friday, November 4, 2011

At a glance

Coach: Stan Heath (51-77, fifth season at USF; 163-154, 11th overall)

Last season: 10-23, 3-15 (15th in Big East)

TAMPA — Stan Heath has exactly three post players for the upcoming season, but providing they stay healthy and can avoid foul trouble, he's confident the Bulls can be even better up front with just seniors Augustus Gilchrist and Ron Anderson and junior Toarlyn Fitzpatrick.

Anderson is the team's only true center, and Gilchrist and Fitzpatrick have outside range that makes them more likely to step out than crash the rim. Heath had signed two post players, but 6-foot-11 junior Andre Jackson didn't finish his final class in time to qualify, and 7-3 freshman Jordan Omogbehin is redshirting and recovering from knee surgery.

That leaves Gilchrist — who has a fourth and final season to emerge as a leader and consistent scorer — and Anderson and Fitzpatrick, whose minutes will be higher because of the lack of depth.

The newcomer to watch is 6-8 sophomore F Victor Rudd, a high-flying transfer from Arizona State who could surpass Gilchrist as the team's top scorer. Heath has been raving about him since last season, when he sat out the year after transferring. He has range, can dunk and has added 30 pounds to his frame since arriving on campus, which should allow him to sub in as a power forward if Heath needs help there.

And your point is?

When senior Anthony Crater was dismissed for a violation of team rules in May, the Bulls lost a player who took a huge majority of the minutes at point guard. Toward that end, the single biggest variable in whether USF can improve on a 3-13 Big East record will be how well Heath can find dependable playmakers from a group of three potential point guards.

The likely starter is sophomore Blake Nash, a junior college transfer who has the best offensive game of the three but will have to make the transition to elite college basketball. Another sophomore, LaVonte Dority, has improved a well-rounded game but barely played as a freshman behind Crater.

The wild card is freshman Anthony Collins, who impressed Heath with his defensive tenacity and ability to drive and distribute, something the Bulls have lacked. Collins is a waterbug on defense, arms wide and harassing opposing guards, and a deep group of shooting guards could allow the Bulls to get away with a point that isn't as much a threat from outside.

One more up for grabs

If Rudd, Gilchrist and Anderson are likely starters and the point guard spot is up in the air, Heath's best depth is at shooting guard, where he'll choose among streak-shooter Shaun Noriega, whose defense is a concern; Hugh Robertson, perhaps his best defender and a solid rebounder; and athletic Jawanza Poland, who showed promising flashes last year but will miss the first month of the season with a back injury.

Finding a complete player among the group — if Noriega can shore up his defense, or Robertson or Poland can develop into a reliable double-digit scorer — would help Heath find the scoring balance he needs to keep defense from collapsing on Gilchrist.

Home away from home

A year from now, USF will proudly unveil a new home arena, having spent $35 million on a massive renovation to the 30-year-old Sun Dome. This season, it means the Bulls are homeless, playing their Big East games at the St. Pete Times Forum. USF opens the season, fittingly, with three home games in five days at three venues, with a cameo at the Lakeland Center (against D-II Florida Southern) and the first of three games at the University of Tampa's Bob Martinez Center. The Bulls haven't been a strong road team, so their ability to find a familiarity in the off-campus home venues is crucial to the team's success this season.

ROSTER

No. Player Ht. Pos. Yr.

1 Ron Anderson Jr. 6-8 F Sr.

2 Victor Rudd 6-7 F So.

3 LaVonte Dority 6-1 G So.

5 Jawanza Poland 6-4 G Jr.

11 Anthony Collins 6-1 G Fr.

15 Blake Nash 6-0 G So.

22 Shaun Noriega 6-4 G Jr.

24 Augustus Gilchrist 6-10 F Sr.

25 Alberto Damour* 6-5 F Sr.

32 Toarlyn Fitzpatrick 6-8 F Jr.

34 Hugh Robertson 6-6 G Sr.

* walk-on

SCHEDULE

(home games at St. Pete Times Forum unless noted otherwise)

Saturday Vermont* 7

Nov. 14 Marist 7

Nov. 16 Florida Southern** 7

Nov. 19 Old Dominion# 2

Nov. 20 Kentucky/Penn State# TBA

Nov. 23 Georgia Southern 7

Nov. 26 Florida Atlantic* 7

Nov. 30 at VCU 7:30

Dec. 3 at Kansas 5:15

Dec. 11 Florida A&M* 2

Dec. 14 at Auburn 9

Dec. 19 Cleveland State 7

Dec. 22 at Southern Miss 8

Dec. 28 Connecticut 9

Jan. 1 Rutgers noon

Jan. 5 at Villanova 8

Jan. 10 at Notre Dame 7

Jan. 13 Seton Hall 7

Jan. 18 St. John's 7

Jan. 22 at DePaul 2

Jan. 24 at Marquette 8

Jan. 29 Providence 2

Feb. 4 at Georgetown 11 a.m.

Feb. 8 Pittsburgh 7

Feb. 11 at Providence 4

Feb. 15 Villanova 7

Feb. 19 at Pittsburgh 7

Feb. 22 at Syracuse 7

Feb. 26 Cincinnati noon

Feb. 29 at Louisville 7

March 3 West Virginia noon

Big East Tournament, New York

* Martinez Center, Univ. of Tampa

** Lakeland Center, Lakeland

# Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Tournament, Uncasville, Conn.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Friday, November 4, 2011

St. Petersburg Times staff writer Greg Auman previews the men's season:

5 players to watch

1. Harrison Barnes, UNC: Best of a great class of sophomores who — this sounds strange — defied convention by returning to college basketball. Thank you, NBA lockout, for another season of Barnes, who bloomed late in his freshman year, getting 40 points in an ACC Tournament win against Clemson. The 6-ftoo-8, 215-pound forward was ACC Rookie of the Year and will chase national player-of-year honors.

2. Jared Sullinger, Ohio State: Another sophomore who stuck around, Sullinger averaged a double-double last season, getting 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds while piling up 45,000 followers on Twitter. At 6-9, 280, he's what they call a big.

3. Terrence Jones, Kentucky: Another freshman phenom at Kentucky, Jones averaged 15.7 points and 8.8 rebounds last year and will only have a stronger supporting cast this season. Expect more big games on the glass like his 15-rebound game against UConn in the Final Four.

4. Perry Jones III, Baylor: Power forward will miss the first five games of the season, but look out for the 6-11, 235-pound sophomore, who averaged 13.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.

5. Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin: Nice to have a senior on here, and who better to lead a team than an experienced point guard, especially one who had a nation-leading 3.83-to-1 ratio of assists to turnovers last season. He also scored 18.1 points per game and got more than 20 in Big Ten play.

5 teams to watch

1. NORTH CAROLINA: Roy Williams has a nearly consensus No. 1 entering the season, with four elite players back from last year's team, led by would-be lottery pick Harrison Barnes. The Tar Heels took off after Tyler Zeller stepped in at point guard, and Tampa's John Henson looks poised for a breakout season as a junior. With solid freshmen bolstering a returning nucleus, Williams has a shot at his third national title in eight years.

2. KENTUCKY: John Calipari has again reeled in the nation's top recruiting class, with top freshmen such as Michael Gilchrist joining a returning cast led by Terrence Jones. The challenge for Calipari is the same he had two years ago with John Wall's class — how much chemistry can be forged in a single season before the talent takes the one-and-done route to the NBA?

3. CONNECTICUT: The defending champion loses clutch shooter Kemba Walker, but it'll be a better start-to-finish team after finishing ninth in the Big East last season. Jeremy Lamb takes over as an elite scorer, Shabazz Napier steps in at point, and freshman Andre Drummond will join senior Alex Oriakhi in the post, giving Jim Calhoun another potential national title.

4. DUKE: Mike Krzyzewski has seen the ACC change its look around him — four more new coaches this year, after three last season — but Krzyzewski remains the best challenger to UNC for ACC supremacy. That's true again despite losing Kyrie Irving as the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft — watch out for freshman Austin Rivers, Doc's son and an Orlando standout rated as the nation's top shooting guard prospect.

5. OHIO STATE: College basketball has a strong group of contenders thanks to sophomores such as big man Jared Sullinger, who opted to come back with a talented group of playmakers that includes PG Aaron Craft and F William Buford. So much of the focus is in the ACC and Big East, but Ohio State is back as the Big Ten's best contender for March.

Brandon Wright, Times Correspondent
Friday, November 4, 2011

TAMPA

The crowd went nuts, the players jumped in each other's arms and even the coach had to wipe away a tear.

"I'm sorry," coach Ryan Wheatley said. "This is a pretty big moment."

Indeed it was.

The last time Robinson won a playoff volleyball match, National Lampoon's Animal House ruled at the box office, the Bee Gees dominated the pop music charts and a gallon of gas cost 63 cents.

All that ended Tuesday night, however, when Robinson defeated Southeast in five games 26-28, 25-11, 25-21, 22-25 and 15-9 in the 5A region quarterfinal.

"We are aware," outside hitter Kathryn Hogan said about the Knights' dubious past. "But we want to start our own tradition. We want to set the bar high."

Robinson reached the playoffs in 2001 and 2002 as the district runner up, but failed to get past the region quarterfinals. This year's team will host Lakewood at 7 p.m. Tuesday with a trip to the region finals on the line.

"There's a new attitude with this team," Wheatley said. "They're pushing each other to be their best every time they step on the court."

The Knights' turnaround after years of futility has been astounding. After a pair of seasons where Robinson won just two matches, Wheatley took over three seasons ago and despite an 8-11 record that first year, instantly began reshaping a program that had lost its identity.

"I wanted to see Robinson in the newspaper again," Wheatley said. "I want people to know who Robinson is."

Wheatley was also cognizant of putting a tough schedule in front of his young team that features just three seniors. The feisty coach took on some of the area's best in the Academy of the Holy Names Invitational and the Tampa Catholic Classic, but Wheatley said taking five-time defending state champs Plant to four games was an eye opener for his club.

"I thought by us hanging tough with (Plant), it was the biggest point in the season," he said. "And the margin in each game we lost was less than five."

In addition, Wheatley said the increase of club players has boosted the talent pool significantly.

"When I started here, we had no club players," he said. "Now 85 percent of our girls play club. That's a huge difference."

Against Southeast, Robinson started slowly. The Knights dropped the first game before winning the next two. But they lost game four and trailed 8-6 in No. 5 before going on a 9-1 run to end it.

Hogan, who will play for Southern Methodist next season, conceded to being nervous, but added, "we knew we had beaten that team 25-11 in the (second game) so we just put it all together."

Even though it had been quite some time since the Knights won a playoff game, 1978 was a big year for that program. That season the Knights won a state championship. That might be a lot to expect from this year's club, but considering how far they've come, it's not out of the question.

"I tell them to play from your heart, for your school, your parents and yourselves. Leave everything on the court," Wheatley said. "People are going to know that Robinson is for real."

Brandon Wright can be reached at hillsnews@sptimes.com.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Friday, November 4, 2011

St. Petersburg Times staff writer Antonya English previews the season.

5 players to watch

1. SKYLAR DIGGINS, Notre Dame: The 5-foot-9, left-handed pure shooter is quickly becoming the new face of women's basketball, taking over where UConn's Maya Moore left off. She led the Fighting Irish to the NCAA championship game for the first time since 2001. She averaged 15 points and 4.8 assists last season.

2. BRITTNEY GRINER, Baylor: The 6-foot-8 junior center has been a phenom since she arrived on the Baylor campus as a freshman, but she has yet to lead her team to the Final Four. Griner recently became only the eighth player in history to be a unanimous AP Preseason All-America selection, and expectations for her — and preseason No. 1 Baylor — continue to rise.

3. NNEMKADI OGWUMIKE, Stanford. The senior led Stanford to the Final Four for the fourth straight season. She averaged 17.5 points and shot 59 percent from the field.

4. SHENISE JOHNSON, Miami. The senior was a first-team All-ACC selection and helped lead the Hurricanes to a share of the ACC title last season — with a league-high three 30-point games. She concluded the regular season as the only player in the ACC to rank in the Top 10 in scoring (second 19.6 ppg), rebounding (eighth, 7.8) and assists (ninth, 3.7). She is the first Miami player to earn Preseason All-America honors.

5. SHEKINNA STRICKLEN, Tennessee: Although she doesn't necessarily command the national media attention previous UT stars have, Stricklen has quietly gone about her business as one of the most versatile players in the nation. Last season's SEC Player of the Year, she started games at the point, on the wing and in the post, averaging 12.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists.

5 teams to watch

1. Baylor: The pressure is on for Kim Mulkey and the Baylor Bears. The preseason No. 1 team, they again have arguably the nation's best player in Griner. Final Four expectations have surrounded this team since her arrival, but this season the pressure is on her surrounding cast — Big 12 Freshman of the Year Odyssey Sims, Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Destiny Williams and junior guard Jordan Madden — to step up around Griner.

2. Connecticut: Maya Moore may be gone, but Geno Auriemma is not. And make no mistake, UConn is not dead. They open the season ranked No. 4 in the nation, after being preseason No. 1 the past three years.

3. Notre Dame: After its stellar showing in last year's title game, Notre Dame begins the season ranked No.2 — its highest preseason ranking. The Irish return four starters from last season including Diggins, G Natalie Novosel and senior F Devereaux Peters. But its schedule is daunting — Notre Dame could face up to 12 of the Top 24 teams in the preseason polls (two depend on tournament outcomes). Muffet McGraw begins her 25th season as the Irish coach.

4. Tennessee: The Vols begin the season ranked No. 3, but the nation is watching to see how they respond following the news that legendary coach Pat Summitt has been diagnosed with dementia. The team insists it will rally around Summitt, who begins her 38th season at UT. She is fighting the disease by working brain teasers and puzzles, among other things, and is adamant she'll be the same relentless coach and fierce competitor she's always been.

5. Texas A&M: The Aggies stunned the women's college basketball world last season by winning their first NCAA Championship — in their first trip to the Final Four. The challenge for coach Gary Blair is that he returns just three starters from that spectacular 33-5 team. But Blair may have an ace in the hole: He signed the No. 3 ranked recruiting class in the nation, which includes Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year. 6-foot-4 center Kelsey Bone.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Friday, November 4, 2011

TAMPA — The Bucs may not have played last week, but few teams gained more than Tampa Bay short of picking up a win.

Besides the fact the Saints (5-3) lost to the Rams — setting up a showdown for first place in the NFC South with Tampa Bay Sunday in New Orleans — the previously banged-up Bucs (4-3) will be close to full-strength. Four starters, including defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (ankle), linebacker Mason Foster (ankle), center Jeff Faine (biceps) and running back LeGarrette Blount (knee) are expected to be back, with coach Raheem Morris saying the team is "as healthy as it's been."

"The bye week," tackle Donald Penn said, "came at a good time."

Considering the Saints boast the league's second-rated offense, getting McCoy and Foster back is huge up the middle. Since McCoy was hurt in a loss to San Francisco, the Bucs have racked up just two sacks. They rotated Roy Miller, Brian Price and Frank Okam around in McCoy's place, though Okam will not play Sunday due to a foot injury.

"(Replacing McCoy) is pretty big shoes to fill," Miller said. "He's just a dominant penetrator and pass rusher and not too many guys are like him in the league. When a guy like that goes down, it's just hard to replicate."

Morris calls McCoy "our engine," pointing out that with him and Price in there, "they create some disruption for us that we don't have with other players. With McCoy, we get a chance to change the line of scrimmage and change where the ball's handed off and some of the position points from the quarterback. We get a little bit more of a pass rush."

Foster tried to play in the loss to the Bears in London two weeks ago, but left in the first quarter after realizing his aggravated ankle injury held him back. The absence of the rookie starting middle linebacker, who took over play-calling duties earlier this season, likely played a role in Bears running back Matt Forte racking up 145 yards on 25 carries. Foster said he's feeling a lot better and is "ready to go."

"You miss his fire, miss his playmaking ability," linebacker Geno Hayes said of Foster. "You miss the young guy showing he can do everything that you ask him. It's great to have him back."

Faine, who suffered a biceps strain three weeks ago in win over New Orleans, will solidify a line that will likely play without guard Jeremy Zuttah. And the backfield, which was nearly bare in London after Earnest Graham went out with a season-ending knee injury, will get a big boost from Blount.

Blount, having missed the past two weeks with a left knee sprain, will likely get to play most downs, and he also allows the Bucs to use a two-back set. That was difficult to do against the Bears with Kregg Lumpkin the only healthy back left.

Penn said that made Tampa Bay one-dimensional, and it's no coincidence quarterback Josh Freeman threw four interceptions. The Bucs are 3-0 when Blount gets at least 13 carries.

"Having more than one running back will mean a lot," Penn said. "Last week, everybody was talking about, 'Why weren't we running the ball?' You guys don't understand, we had one back. It's tough. Everybody in London — some of the people don't really know too much about football — but they knew we were passing. Having LeGarrette back is going to be really, really big for us."

Being healthy doesn't guarantee a victory by any stretch, but the Bucs feel good they'll have almost all their weapons.

"This is the long stretch, this is what makes or breaks you," Penn said. "This shows the good teams from the bad ones, this long stretch right here. We've got our work cut out for us."

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Friday, November 4, 2011

In the two weeks and multiple hours leading up to tonight's LSU-Alabama game, LSU coach Les Miles and Alabama coach Nick Saban have steadfastly held one thing in common. They have tried to maintain a level of normalcy in the midst of the most highly-anticipated game of the season.

It is no easy task.

The nationally televised, primetime matchup between the No. 1 Tigers and No. 2 Crimson Tide is being called everything from the "Game of the Century" to "Battle Royale" to the de-facto national championship. But what Miles and Saban want it called is simply the next game on the schedule.

So when the players run onto the field, Miles and Saban want them to recognize the magnitude of what's at stake, then put that all aside and play like they would any other Saturday night.

"I think that everybody out there probably thinks that there is some special formula or some special magic that, when you play a game like this, that you go do different things to get ready for the game," Saban said. "But the most important thing is that you prepare for the game, and that your players are focused on playing their best football, knowing that they are going to play against good football players and a good football team."

Two of the best football teams in the nation which in many ways are near mirror images of each other — particularly their defenses.

"I wish I could break down a big difference, but every time I think one side has an advantage, I look at the other side, and they have a guy just like it," CBS lead college football analyst Gary Danielson said.

Alabama leads the nation in rushing defense, LSU is No. 3. Alabama is second nationally in pass defense, LSU is 10th. The Tide leads the nation in total defense and scoring defense, while LSU is No. 4 and No. 3 respectively.

"I like the defenses in this game," Miles said. "I feel that both are quality, well coached and well prepared. They both have guys that can tackle. I think there have been some teams that have lined up with quality defenses as well, but I think these defenses may match the best that I have seen."

Since 2000, the average winning margin in this rivalry is 11.7 points per game, and six of those 11 games have been decided by nine points or fewer. Alabama has won two of the past three meetings, with LSU winning last season, a loss the Tide players haven't forgotten. But instead of looking for revenge, they have been in search of knowledge.

"We use that game from last year to look and see what all we messed up, and if we can fix those things it can be a totally different game," Alabama defensive back Robert Lester said. "Watching that game and going into this can definitely determine the outcome big time for this game."

With two stingy defenses, both running games will be under enormous pressure to produce. LSU's Spencer Ware, Alabama's Trent Richardson. Richardson leads the SEC in rushing and realizes nothing less than his best game will suffice.

"Their defense is pretty good," Richardson said. "It reminds me a lot of our defense. They don't back down for anyone. They are going to come for me. It doesn't matter who we are playing, they are still going to come for me just because of the hype that people put on me. I'm sure they are going to try to stop the running game early. That's why we have a good quarterback."

With the preparations over, both coaches now want the same thing tonight: focus, execute and enjoy.

"It's fun to play in games like this," Saban said. "It's probably what great competitors look forward to. But I also think it's important to be able to stay focused on what you need to do to play well. You can't drain yourself emotionally with all the things that are happening surrounding the game. You've got to be ready to play the game when it comes."

Added Miles: "How wonderful it is in college football that you have two quality teams, that represent two great institutions, that will take their best effort to the field to decide something that is difficult, clean and pure as a contest. … The school wins, the team wins and the state wins. It is a beautiful time."

Antonya English can be reached at english@sptimes.com.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Friday, November 4, 2011

In the two weeks and multiple hours leading up to tonight's LSU-Alabama game, LSU coach Les Miles and Alabama coach Nick Saban have steadfastly held one thing in common. They have tried to maintain a level of normalcy in the midst of the most highly anticipated game of the season.

It is no easy task.

The nationally televised, prime-time matchup between the No. 1 Tigers and No. 2 Crimson Tide is being called everything from the "Game of the Century" to "Battle Royale" to the de facto national championship game. But Miles and Saban want it simply to be called the next game on the schedule.

So when the players run onto the field, Miles and Saban want them to recognize the magnitude of what's at stake, then put that all aside and play like they would any other Saturday night.

"I think that everybody out there probably thinks that there is some special formula or some special magic that, when you play a game like this, that you go do different things to get ready for the game," Saban said. "But the most important thing is that you prepare for the game, and that your players are focused on playing their best football, knowing that they are going to play against good football players and a good football team."

In many ways, these teams are near mirror images of each other, particularly their defenses.

"I wish I could break down a big difference, but every time I think one side has an advantage, I look at the other side, and they have a guy just like it," said Gary Danielson, the lead college football analyst at CBS, which is broadcasting tonight's game.

Alabama leads Division I-A in rushing defense, LSU is No. 3. Alabama is second in pass defense, LSU 10th. The Tide is tops in total defense and scoring defense, LSU is fourth and third, respectively.

"I like the defenses in this game," Miles said. "I feel that both are quality, well coached and well prepared. They both have guys that can tackle. I think there have been some teams that have lined up with quality defenses as well, but I think these defenses may match the best that I have seen."

Since 2000, the average winning margin in this rivalry is 11.7 points, and six of those 11 games have been decided by nine points or fewer. Alabama has won two of the past three meetings, with LSU winning last season, a loss the Tide players haven't forgotten. But instead of looking for revenge, they have been in search of knowledge.

"We use that game from last year to look and see what all we messed up, and if we can fix those things, it can be a totally different game," Alabama defensive back Robert Lester said. "Watching that game and going into this can definitely determine the outcome big time for this game."

With two stingy defenses, both running games will be under enormous pressure to produce. For LSU, that's Spencer Ware; for Alabama, Trent Richardson.

Richardson leads the SEC in rushing (123.6 a game) and realizes nothing less than his best game will suffice. "Their defense is pretty good," he said. "It reminds me a lot of our defense. They don't back down for anyone. They are going to come for me. It doesn't matter who we are playing, they are still going to come for me just because of the hype that people put on me. I'm sure they are going to try to stop the running game early. That's why we have a good quarterback (A.J. McCarron)."

With the preparations over, both coaches now want the same thing tonight: focus, execute and enjoy.

"It's fun to play in games like this," Saban said. "It's probably what great competitors look forward to. But I also think it's important to be able to stay focused on what you need to do to play well. You can't drain yourself emotionally with all the things that are happening surrounding the game. You've got to be ready to play the game when it comes."

Added Miles: "How wonderful it is in college football that you have two quality teams, that represent two great institutions, that will take their best effort to the field to decide something that is difficult, clean and pure as a contest. … The school wins, the team wins and the state wins. It is a beautiful time."

Antonya English can be reached at english@sptimes.com.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Friday, November 4, 2011

TAMPA — The Bucs have faced some scrutiny since Thursday's revelation that QB Josh Freeman sustained a minor sprain of his right thumb but was not previously included on the team's injury report.

Paying particularly close attention were the Saints, Sunday's opponent. After hearing of the news, the team reported the omission to NFL officials, coach Sean Payton told New Orleans reporters on Friday.

But Morris insists the Bucs are not among the many teams that often engage in shenanigans with the injury report. He added that Freeman was not included because he was unaffected by the injury, having not missed any playing time or practice time.

"Usually we just put the hurt guys on there and leave the healthy guys off," Morris said. "I don't put guys on the list who tape up every day because I'd have all 53 players (on it) because they get their ankles taped every single day."

Freeman, who has had his thumb heavily taped at times this week, practiced Friday and will start at New Orleans. He has shown no effects from the injury, sustained against the Bears before last week's bye. He threw the ball with good velocity and accuracy during the week's practices. The wrap he's wearing, according to coaches, does not restrict his throwing motion.

The injury wasn't confirmed until Freeman was spotted wearing what appeared to be a splint on his right thumb during an appearance on NFL Network on Wednesday.

"Listen, I think when your quarterback's on NFL Network with a splint on his thumb, normally he's on the injury report," Payton said, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "At least take the splint off before you go on NFL Network, right?"

Regarding S Tanard Jackson, the Bucs this week admitted an oversight that resulted in his being omitted from the injury report.

Because Jackson left the Bucs' previous game with an injury (a hamstring strain), NFL policy requires the team to list him on the injury report — even after a bye week.

Jackson practiced Friday after being given a day off Thursday and will start at free safety.

Morris suggested he's done with the story.

"Listen, I don't care," he said. "It's for Vegas. You can do whatever you want to do there."

OKAM, ZUTTAH OUT: Regarding more seriously injured players, DT Frank Okam (calf) and G Jeremy Zuttah (knee) will miss the game. Okam's loss is lessened by the return this week of Gerald McCoy (ankle).

Zuttah will be replaced at left guard by Ted Larsen, who began the season as the starter. Jeff Faine (biceps) returns at center after missing the Chicago game.

"We're back to the original starting group," Morris said. "We're as healthy as we've been. It's nice to see these guys running around playing fast."

MADU'S DEBUT: RB Mossis Madu makes his debut on the active roster Sunday. It's unclear whether he'll see any time outside of special teams duty, but the recent injuries at running back have taught the rookie free agent to remain at the ready.

"I've learned that, unlike in college, where they say, 'Oh, you're a freshman. We'll give you some leniency,' you have to be ready here," he said. "Here, you're a pro and you're getting a paycheck. You have to come in and make plays and produce."

FINALLY BACK: Long snapper Andrew Economos was placed on the active roster Friday, completing his road back from the physically-unable-to-perform list. Economos had been sidelined with a torn Achilles' tendon sustained in the offseason.

The Bucs cut S David Sims, signed this week, to make room on the roster.

Stephen F. Holder can be reached at sholder@sptimes.com.

Bucs at Saints

1 p.m., Sunday, Superdome, NewOrleans

TV/radio: Ch. 13, 620-AM, 103.5 FM

Line/over-under: Saints by8, O/U 50

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Friday, November 4, 2011

You have tattoos all over your body. I assume you have the most tattoos on the team, right?

Oh, yeah. Hands down.

Even though you have so many, it seems like most are actually pretty creative. Do you put a lot of thought into them?

I do. I put a bunch of thought into them. You have to when you're talking about something that's going to be on your body for the rest of your life. Most of them have some kind of meaning. Usually, it's something that I always want to remember. Some of them are just random; maybe something I'm really interested in.

What's the most meaningful one you have?

The most meaningful ones are the names of my mom and my grandma. Those are two people who mean so much to me. I would always want to remember them.

So what part of you is not tattooed?

My face. That's it. I promised my mom that I wouldn't put anything on my face. And, I'd say, maybe my thighs. That's it, though. Pretty much everything else is tatted.

I think we all agree you're not the biggest guy in the world. How often do people doubt you when they hear you play football?

We were just talking about this the other day. I think the worst thing is when someone asks you if you play football, you say yes, and then they say, "No, you don't." I hate that! Why did you ask me if you weren't going to believe me? But being small, a lot of people don't believe me. They see us on TV every week, and they think, "Wow! Those guys are enormous!" They think everybody's big. They even think that the guys that play my position (cornerback) are the size of safeties or linebackers. In actuality, TV gives you, what, I think 10 pounds and 2 inches?

Give me an example of what happens out in public sometimes.

I was at Lee Roy Selmon's (restaurant) eating once, and a couple people recognized me. I could see them talking across the way. Then one of them came over and asked (who I was). They said, "Really? You were so small, I wasn't sure." To me, it's funny. I kind of like it. I don't stick out. And they always ask me this: "You must be fast." Well, you have to have something when you're this small. I'm definitely not strong.

Now my weekly questions. What's playing the most on your iPod right now?

I just bought this (rapper) Wale album a couple days ago. It's real smooth. It's not all that rah-rah hip-hop. It's one of those albums you can play all the way through. And he has a message. He's a poet.

What website do you visit the most?

Around here, we stay on WorldStarHipHop.com and Mediatakeout.com. The videos on World Star Hip Hop are funny, and on Media Takeout (a celebrity gossip site), it's 50-50 lies and truth.

Lastly, which reality show do you watch the most?

I haven't been watching much TV lately, but I've watched a lot of Bad Girls Club and Khloe and Lamar. That Khloe and Lamar show is entertaining, man.

Would you participate in a reality show?

Yeah, I would. I've always wanted to go on The Real World. I'm serious. I really want to do that one day.

I'm wondering: Who were your sports heroes as a kid?

I didn't have certain heroes, but I was always a sports fanatic. I loved all sports. I'm a big basketball fan. I was a basketball player before I played football. Kobe (Bryant) is my favorite player. I always liked (former 49ers safety) Merton Hanks. He was a guy I always watched. And, of course, Barry Sanders. He went to my high school (in Wichita, Kan.).

That's a big trailblazer in front of you to have Barry Sanders come from your high school, right?

Yeah, he was small in stature but explosive. I feel like I'm small in stature but fast. It's kind of the same thing. I'm just glad that I can say I went to the same school. He's a Hall of Famer and one of the greatest running backs to play the game.

So I have to ask: Did your school win a state title with Barry Sanders?

No. It's a funny story, actually. He wasn't even a starter. But then someone got hurt. They put Barry out there, and he took off. And it's funny: It's kind of what happened to me in junior college. I was just a role player. Then one of our corners went down, and I haven't looked back since.

Times staff, wires
Friday, November 4, 2011

Duke at Miami, 3, Sun Sports: Last-place Duke (3-5, 1-3 ACC) is on a three-game losing streak and coming to Miami (4-4, 2-3) for a matchup that immediately precedes the annual showdown with Florida State, the Hurricanes' biggest rival, but coach Al Golden said his team is focused on the task at hand. The Hurricanes are 6-0 against Duke since joining the ACC, but Miami had to scramble for no fewer than four of those wins, either needing second-half rallies or some big plays late to prevail.

Morgan St. at Bethune-Cookman, 4: Bethune-Cookman (5-3, 3-2 MEAC) has only given up 12 points in its past two games. Morgan State (5-3, 4-1) is coming off a shutout and has only given up a field goal in its past two games. B-CU has relied on DE Ryan Davis (51 tackles, 33 solo, nine sacks) and the linebacker corps of Reggie Sandilands (43 tackles), Ryan Lewis (29 tackles) and Jarkevis Fields (59 tackles) to trigger a three-game winning streak.

Arkansas State at Florida Atlantic, 4: Senior Alfred Morris is within 190 yards of Charles Pierre's record for all-time rushing yards (3,069) at FAU (0-7, 0-4 Sun Belt). The all-time series includes the NCAA's first overtime game after a 0-0 score (FAU won 3-0). Arkansas State (6-2, 4-0) is bowl-eligible for the first time since 2008.

Florida international at W. Kentucky, 4: The Panthers (5-3, 2-2 Sun Belt) have beaten the Hilltoppers (4-4, 4-1) three years in a row, but WKU has won four consecutive games, the first four-game winning streak by a WKU squad since 2005.

N.C. A&T at Florida A&M, 6: Mike Mayhew has rushed for 873 yards for North Carolina A&T (4-4, 3-2 MEAC). FAMU is 5-3 overall, 3-2 in the league.

Times staff, wires

Times staff and wires
Friday, November 4, 2011

Muschamp says line play will determine winner

Will Muschamp's Gators lost to LSU and Alabama by a combined score of 79-21, which gives the first-year Florida coach some perspective on tonight's No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown. Muschamp believes the game will live up to the hype, and he gave his assessment of what makes both teams so good.

"They are very similar teams," he said. "They're big, physical teams. They're both very physical on both lines of scrimmage. They run the ball like you need to in this league. They're just both very physical on both lines of scrimmage. That's why they are where they are and the rest of us right now … are trying to catch up. They're very physical on both lines of scrimmage, they both play really good defense, but they play well as an entire team from the standpoint of ball possession offensively and then defensively taking advantage of opportunities when they happen. They're very similar makeup as far as when you look at their rosters."

Asked what would be the one thing he's most interested in seeing from the two teams, Muschamp said he'd focus on who controls the line of scrimmage.

"This one's going to be won up front, and that's the matchup I'd be interested in watching," he said. "Both of them have very good defensive fronts. Both of them are very physical on the offensive lines. Talented backs. I think, again, you come down to some turnovers, obviously, in the game, in every game. Who's able to consistently run the ball and play well up front."

Tennessee coach Derek Dooley also has faced both teams.

"They are obviously two great teams, programs that have a tradition of winning, excellent coaching staffs," Dooley said. "The only thing that matters is who's going to play the best for three hours. And that's really what it's going to come down to. I could sit here and analyze it, but it's just going to come down to who plays better for 3½ hours.

Antonya English, Times staff writer

We're No. 1, we're No. 1!

Here's a look at the past 10 regular-season meetings involving No. 1 vs. No. 2:

Nov. 18, 2006: No. 1 Ohio State 42, No. 2 Michigan 39

Sept. 9, 2006: No. 1 Ohio State 24, No. 2 Texas 7

Nov. 30, 1996: No. 2 Florida State 24, No. 1 Florida 21

Nov. 13, 1993: No. 2 Notre Dame 31, No. 1 Florida State 24

Nov. 16, 1991: No. 2 Miami 17, No. 1 Florida State 16

Sept. 16, 1989: No. 1 Notre Dame 24, No. 2 Michigan 19

Nov. 26, 1988: No. 1 Notre Dame 27, No. 2 USC 10

Nov. 21, 1987: No. 2 Oklahoma 17, No. 1 Nebraska 7

Sept. 27, 1986: No. 2 Miami 28, No. 1 Oklahoma 16

Oct. 19, 1985: No. 1 Iowa 12, No. 2 Michigan 10

How about a rematch?

Even before tonight's LSU-Alabama showdown, some are speculating about a potential rematch in the BCS title game. It's possible, but unlikely.

If the loser wins its remaining three games in impressive fashion — LSU has outscored its opponents this season by more than a 3-1 ratio; Alabama 5-1 — it still would be unlikely to push ahead of unbeaten teams in other major conferences in the BCS standings.

"It's tough," said Wes Colley, whose Colley Matrix is one of the six computer ranking systems used in the BCS formula. "I think particularly with Oklahoma State, there are enough good teams in the Big 12 this year that I think if you come through that unscathed, it's just hard to say (the Cowboys) don't deserve a shot. And probably that's even true of Stanford."

Notable

• The SEC never has had an intraconference regular-season matchup of No. 1 vs. No. 2.

• The SEC has been part of the past seven 1-vs.-2 bowl matchups, and it has won five consecutive national titles.

• This is only the second time LSU and Alabama have met when both were in the top five. The other meeting was in 2005, when No. 5 LSU won at No. 4 Alabama 16-13 in overtime.

Rivals.com, Washington Post and Philadelphia Daily News contributed to this report.

Alabama coach Nick Saban's birthday was Monday, and as a gift his players signed a jersey with the No. 60, his age, and his last name on the back. But when the players presented the jersey to their coach, it didn't register with Saban that they were pointing out his age. He was upset because he thought they'd pegged him as an offensive lineman. • "I was thinking: 'I'm a skill player. There's no way I can sport this 60, man. I've got to have a lower-than-50 number of some sort,' " Saban said. "That's how I feel, and that's how I think."

Washington Post

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Friday, November 4, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — With the free agency period starting last week, the Rays have been working on figuring out what potential pieces could be added.

Whether it's through a signing or trade, improving the offense is likely a focus, as well as adding a bullpen arm or two. But in looking at some of the positions the Rays have to address (designated hitter and first base), two potential fits could be their own free agents, DH Johnny Damon and 1B Casey Kotchman.

Damon, who turns 38 today, was expected to man leftfield last season after signing a one-year $5.25 million deal. But he ended up performing well at DH (hitting .261 with 16 homers and 75 RBI), replacing retired Manny Ramirez while providing excellent leadership. He doesn't give you the prototypical DH power numbers, but the Rays aren't likely in a position they can afford a traditional DH, and manager Joe Maddon pointed out Damon fit the bill.

"He filled the role," Maddon said. "Not only that, what he can do on the bases, the things he can do in the speed game that we like to play … he can go play defense if you need him too, also, which is really valuable. There's a whole bunch of different ways that Johnny was kind of an ideal DH for us this year."

Damon, who lives in the Orlando area, loved his experience with the Rays and has said he wants to come back. Whether he'd consider a "hometown" discount to stick with the Rays, and continue his pursuit of 3,000 hits, remains to be seen. But Damon has proven to be one of the most durable players — 16 consecutive seasons of 140 games or more — and his clubhouse presence would be invaluable.

With Kotchman, it's another situation where the Rays geography could potentially help. The Seminole High product was one of the year's biggest bargains, signing a one-year, $750,000 deal on a minor league invite to spring training before hitting a career-high .306 and being a Gold Glove finalist.

With that kind of year, Kotchman could command more money than the Rays want to spend. But with few internal options, including Dan Johnson declining an outright assignment to Triple-A and becoming a free agent, Kotchman may be worth an extended look. "He was unbelievable," Maddon said.

HOT STOVE: Maddon was listed in early reports as a "popular" candidate to replace former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, St. Louis Post-Dispatch writer Joe Strauss reported last week Maddon, who is under contract with the Rays for next season, is "apparently not in play." Tweeted Strauss, "It ain't happening." … The Rays "seem dead-set" on not trading RHP James Shields this offseason, according to CBSSports.com's Danny Knobler, who tweeted Tampa Bay might listen on RHP Jeremy Hellickson before Shields but are "very unlikely they trade either." … New Red Sox GM Ben Cherrington called the Rays to ask for permission to interview bench coach Dave Martinez for their vacant managerial spot, according to the Boston Herald.

RAYS RUMBLINGS: Shields will be autographing copies of his book, September Nights, he wrote with MLB.com's Bill Chastain on Nov. 14 from 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. (Beef O'Brady's on 2819 S MacDill Ave., Tampa). … 3B Evan Longoria (jersey), 2B Ben Zobrist (ball) and CF B.J. Upton (ball) were among the several MLB players to donate autographed memorabilia for "Going to Bat for Vermont Farmers," an auction this week to help the farming victims of Hurricane Irene. … In an interview on a podcast with SI.com's "Hot Clicks," Longoria talked about how he wasn't hitting on U.S. soccer player Alex Morgan over Twitter ("for me, Twitter is not a dating service"), that he hasn't replaced the AK-47 that was stolen from his spring training home ("It was brand new, so it was a little bit disappointing to see that go") and his Halloween costume (Los Luchadores) was inspired by a St. Petersburg artist. Rays free agent C Kelly Shoppach was inducted into the Baylor University Athletics Hall of Fame Saturday.

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com.

By Pat Damico, Times Correspondent
Friday, November 4, 2011

What's hot: Cooler water triggers shallow-water feeding activity. The more comfortable air temperature means good fishing can occur any time of day. Consult tide charts when planning flats trips. Snook, trout and reds all love moving water to bring food to them. The bothersome floating and suspended grass of summer is dissipating, so it's easier and productive to use artificial baits and flies now.

Technique: When approaching a favorite shallow-water spot, shut down the motor and drift parallel to the grassy edge using the wind or tide to move the boat. Start deeper and work the outside edge first. An electric motor used sparingly and at slow speeds helps. Cast both toward the drop off and ahead of the boat to find fish that are staging on their way to the shallows. Keep baits close to the bottom. A 1/8-ounce jig head with a scented body imitating a shrimp or baitfish is ideal. When a concentration of fish is found, stop the boat with a quiet anchoring system and probe the productive water. Make the next drift closer and shallower. Look for clear areas in the grass representing potholes, deeper water where large fish like to hide in ambush. Drop the fly or jig into every pothole.

Fly fisherman Pat Damico charters lower Tampa Bay and can be reached at captpat.com or (727) 504-8649.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Friday, November 4, 2011

Show of the day

ESPN's College GameDay will be in Tuscaloosa, Ala., today for Alabama-LSU even though the game is on CBS instead of ABC/ESPN. Then again, it would be silly for ESPN to be anywhere else. The ESPN crew showed up Thursday, a day earlier than normal. Host Chris Fowler told the Tuscaloosa News that ESPN is giving the game the "Super Bowl treatment'' and added, "We could do a four-hour special."



tom jones' two cents

St. Petersburg Times staff writer Tom Jones gives his take on the latest from the world of sports

The four tops

A quick look at four current sports media newsmakers

Jeremy Schaap

Fresh off his solid stint filling in for the injured John Saunders on Sports Reporters, Schaap, the best sports reporter on TV, travels to Bahrain in the Middle East to report on athletes being detained and tortured because of their political views. The piece airs on E:60 at 7 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN.

Gary Danielson

After ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit, the veteran at CBS is our pick for the best college football analyst on TV and will get to show his stuff in tonight's LSU-Alabama game. "I think (fans) like to watch excellent competition with extreme consequence,'' he said. "This game means everything.''

Urban Meyer

The former Gators coach has made a smooth transition to the broadcast booth for ESPN, but he still seems more suited for the studio than covering games. Then again, he'll probably do games next season. From the sidelines. As a coach. If not, ESPN should bump Lee Corso or Desmond Howard from College GameDay to make room for Meyer.

ESPN

After recent controversies, the network put out a new expanded policy that addresses staffers writing books. One of the new rules is no one at ESPN is permitted to write an "as-told-to'' book with a sports personality. Which leads us to ask: You mean that policy wasn't already in place?

Game of the day

The big game of the day, of course, is No. 1 LSU visiting No. 2 Alabama. CBS is televising the game in prime time and has a chance to set a record for most viewers to watch a college football regular-season game on the network.

CBS's most-viewed regular-season game was Notre Dame against Miami in 1989, which averaged 22.5 million viewers, according to the Sports Business Daily. That game was followed by the 2009 SEC Championship between Florida and Alabama (17.9 millon), the 2008 SEC Championship between Florida and Alabama (15 million) and a 1989 game between Notre Dame and USC (14.7 million).

Team of the day

Which NFL team has the best local television ratings? The Saints, who are averaging a 50.1 rating. That means 50 percent of all New Orleans households with televisions are tuned in.

The ratings game

Fox is having its best NFL season ever. Through eight weeks, the network is averaging 19.8 million viewers per week, an all-time high.

NBC, CBS and ESPN's numbers are down slightly from 2010, but that's because last year's numbers were so high. Overall, the numbers for NBC, CBS and ESPN are extremely good. For example, the Monday Night Football games on ESPN are the most-watched cable programs each week and CBS's numbers are the second-highest they have been since the network reacquired NFL rights in 1998.

Three things that popped into my head

1 With all the conference realignment going on, there should be a new conference of big-time schools with lousy football teams: Boston College, Indiana and Minnesota are the first three teams to invite.

2 You're Peyton Manning. You've won a Super Bowl. You're a first-ballot Hall of Famer. You have more money than you could ever spend. Why would you risk your future by ever playing football again?

3 Just asking: Does anyone miss the NBA?

Broadcasters of the day

ESPN announced its college basketball broadcasting pairings for the upcoming season. The top teams remain intact: Brent Musburger, top left, with Bob Knight, bottom left. Dan Shulman with Dick Vitale, in his 33rd season with the network. Sean McDonough with Jay Bilas and Bill Raftery.

There are a couple of new faces to ESPN's college hoops. Monday Night Football's Mike Tirico will do a weekly Big Ten game with analyst Dan Dakich. And with no NBA for now, the NBA team of announcer Mike Breen and analyst Jeff Van Gundy will pick up some college games in November.

Check it out

Looking for a sneak preview of Sunday's Bucs-Saints game? Check out ESPN's NFL Matchup on Sunday at 3:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. on ESPN or 8:30 a.m. on ESPN2. On Sunday, analyst Ron Jaworski will use game film from the Bucs and Saints to predict how the Bucs defense plans to contain Saints QB Drew Brees. If you're football junkie who loves X's and O's, NFL Matchup is your cup of tea.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Friday, November 4, 2011

TAMPA — The record will show the Bucs have lost games to the Lions, 49ers and Bears this season. But the truth is they've beaten themselves.

Tampa Bay is committing 8.4 penalties per game, second most in the NFL. According to coach Raheem Morris, of the 71 penalties called against the Bucs (59 accepted), 47 were avoidable.

"We're talking about alignment issues; whether it's wideouts, tackles, illegal formations — whatever the case may be," Morris said. "That's all mental preparation. Then you're talking about mental lapses; whether it comes from fatigue or not, being in the right place at the right time when you're talking about offside, be it on offense or defense. Those are the things you've got to be in control of.

"(Former defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin) used to call them foolish penalties. If you can eliminate some of the foolish penalties, you don't worry so much about the judgment calls, the pass interference and things of that nature. Those things happen. That's football."

During their one gathering during the bye week, Morris forced his team to watch video of all 47 self-inflicted flags. Whether the Bucs have the youngest team in the NFL or not, penalties are the result of a lack of discipline, and Morris knows he has to get a handle on it quickly.

"So when you break it down, there's about 47 of those foolish penalties you'd like to get rid of," Morris said. "The celebration (penalty) after a touchdown, whether it's a fight or taunting or talking to an official, even me talking to an official, those are things you can definitely control and eliminate."

THE REAL MCCOY: DT Gerald McCoy returns to the lineup today against the Saints after missing two games with an ankle sprain sustained early in the Bucs' 48-3 loss at San Francisco.

If you think McCoy's absence hasn't taken its toll, think again. With McCoy in the lineup, the Bucs produced 10 sacks over their first four games, including four-sack efforts in consecutive games against Atlanta and Indianapolis. Those teams also combined for only 92 rushing yards and no touchdowns.

In what amounts to nearly three games without McCoy, the Bucs have produced only two sacks while giving up 120 rushing yards to the 49ers' Frank Gore and 145 to the Bears' Matt Forte.

Tampa Bay now has the second-fewest sacks in the league with 12, three more than Kansas City. What's more, the Bucs are on pace for 27 sacks this season, one more than last season's dismal output that tied for 30th in the league.

McCoy said he knows he has to get pressure on the quarterback.

"As the season goes on, you want to turn it up," McCoy said. "You don't want to go down. You want to come out hot and get hotter and keep that until they say the season is over. Guys who are the leaders of the team, they have to turn it up, and that dial has to be turned up the longer the season goes."

HIGH PRAISE: DE Adrian Clayborn, the first-round pick from Iowa, is getting noticed around the league.

He leads the Bucs with three sacks, and his relentless pursuit and ability to set the edge on running plays has impressed coaches.

"He's physical. He's got a variety of pass rush moves, and he loves playing," New Orleans coach Sean Payton said. "The one thing I would say about Adrian Clayborn is he's 100 mph for every play. And that is a fantastic trait for any player."

Rick Stroud can be reached at stroud@sptimes.com.

Times wires
Friday, November 4, 2011

PITTSBURGH — Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley will not play Sunday night in the AFC North showdown against Baltimore with a hamstring injury sustained in last week's win over New England.

Pittsburgh's other former Pro Bowl outside linebacker, though, is expected to play for the first time in a month. James Harrison has missed four games with a broken orbital bone but is probable and will play barring a setback in an examination today.

The linebacker spot has been a concern lately for Pittsburgh, which also might be without veteran James Farrior (calf).

Woodley, named AFC defensive player of the month for October, did not practice Friday. Also out for Pittsburgh is receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who had a knee injury and has not been with the team since learning of the death of his mother on Tuesday.

WARRANT FOR T.O.: A California judge issued an arrest warrant for Terrelle Owens for failure to show up at a child support hearing, TMZ.com and CBSsports.com reported. Monique Reynolds is asking for back payments from the former receiver, whose NFL tryout last month — at which no teams showed up — apparently conflicted with the court date.

FINES: The league docked four players $15,000 each for hits deemed unnecessary last weekend: Steelers safety Ryan Clark, Giants safety Antrell Rolle, 49ers defensive end Justin Smith and Rams linebacker Bryan Kehl. Texans tackle Duane Brown was fined $7,500 for throwing a punch at Jaguars linebacker Clint Session.

BENGALS: The home game Nov. 13 against Pittsburgh is sold out, breaking a streak of seven straight games blacked out on local television. Last month the team set a record-low attendance at 12-year-old Paul Brown Stadium, drawing 41,142 for a win over Buffalo on Oct. 2.

BROWNS: Running back Peyton Hillis aggravated his injured left hamstring in practice and the Madden NFL 12 cover boy will almost surely miss his third consecutive game — and fourth of the season — Sunday.

CARDINALS: Second-year pro John Skelton is likely to start at quarterback Sunday against the Rams with Kevin Kolb (turf toe) doubtful.

CHARGERS: Backup running back Curtis Brinkley practiced for the first time since a concussion Monday night against the Chiefs.

GIANTS: Defensive end and former USF star Jason Pierre-Paul missed practice because of what were called concussion-related symptoms stemming from Thursday's helmet-to-helmet collision with a teammate. He is questionable for Sunday. … Running back Ahmad Bradshaw does not need surgery to repair a broken bone in his right foot, coach Tom Coughlin said.

PACKERS: Cornerback Sam Shields expects to play Sunday after recovering from a concussion.

RAIDERS: Running back Darren McFadden (sprained right foot) won't play Sunday, giving Michael Bush his first start this season. McFadden was hurt Oct. 23 against Kansas City and has not practiced since.

VIKINGS: The team is disputing a reading of its lease that suggests it might have to play in the Metrodome for one more season after this one. Team vice president Lester Bagley says the club is on "firm legal footing" in its understanding that the lease expires after this season.

Times wires
Friday, November 4, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO — Michael Allen has about as much experience playing at TPC Harding Park as anyone on the Champions Tour. He has needed every bit in the season-ending Charles Schwab Championship.

Allen made an 8-footer to save par on the final hole Friday after hitting his approach between the grandstands surrounding the green, preserving his 2-under 69 for a share of the second-round lead with Fred Couples and David Frost.

"Got a little lucky," said Allen, second in the event last year. "I was trying to punch a 6-iron out to the right, which took off and went back into the stands. I made a great drop, hit a nice shot (then) knocked that one in."

The 18th hole is one of the signature holes at the coastside course and is playing tough this week. Only two players broke par on the 440-yard, par-4 hole in the second round, while 11 settled for bogey, making Allen's par save critical.

Couples, tied for the first-round lead with Jay Haas, rallied for 70 after a double bogey on the opening hole to stand at 4-under 138. Frost had 69.

Mark Calcavecchia, Jay Don Blake, Bernhard Langer and Kenny Perry were a stroke back. Charles Schwab Cup points leader Tom Lehman shot 72 to fall four strokes behind the leaders.

PGA: Fredrik Jacobson had six birdies for 6-under 66 to tie the tournament record at 11-under 133 after two rounds at the HSBC Champions, the semi-official end of the PGA Tour and the start of a big finish on the European Tour, in Shanghai.

Jacobson led by one over Adam Scott and Louis Oosthuizen going into the weekend.

U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy has the best chance of catching Luke Donald for the European money title but sputtered to 69, leaving him six shots out.

LPGA: Japan's Akane Iijima made five birdies on the back nine to shoot 6-under 66 and grab a share of the Mizuno Classic first-round lead with South Korea's Ah Reum-hwang and Taiwan's Teresa Lu in Shima, Japan. Tampa resident Kristy McPherson shot par 72.

By Don Jensen, Times Correspondent
Friday, November 4, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — The first Saturday in November has been circled for a while. Now the time has come to earn a place in the winner's circle.

The 28th Breeders' Cup, one of thoroughbred racing's top showcases with $26 million in purses, heads a super-charged day from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Nine Breeders' Cup races, highlighted by a showdown between filly Havre de Grace and Uncle Mo in the $5 million Classic, will be simulcast at Tampa Bay's parimutuel facilities — Derby Lane in St. Petersburg, Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar and Tampa Greyhound Track. And tonight, Derby Lane hosts stakes racing with Sand Cloud of D'Arcy kennel the only undefeated greyhound entering third-round qualifying in the fifth annual $20,000 Fall Juvenile.

At the Breeders' Cup, seven races are Grade I events. The first race is the Marathon (Race 3, 1:20 p.m.), with the Classic (Race 11, 7 p.m.) the finale. The Turf Sprint (Race 6, 3:21) has area connections with Tampa Bay Downs trainer Tom Proctor saddling Broken Dreams, a 5-year-old mare who broke her maiden at Oldsmar in 2010. The Breeders' Cup began Friday with six races.

"This is always one of our biggest weekends," Derby Lane spokeswoman Vera Rasnake said. "What's exciting with the Breeders' Cup, it could determine horse of the year. And with (our Fall Juvenile) it's exciting with Sand Cloud being undefeated. She is the daughter of Dreamy Blossom, who is a former All-American. People have been watching those dogs out of (Dreamy Blossom)."

Fall Juvenile qualifying takes place in Races 6 (8:55 p.m.) and 10 (10:11). Sand Cloud, the points leader with 32 under trainer Catherine D'Arcy, drew box 8 in Race 10. She has won both qualifiers in box-to-wire fashion and is one of eight dogs with at least 20 points. Others are Jw Rapid Strike and Se's Chewie, both from Capabal kennel, at 24; Hambleton Racing sprinters Makers Bark and Storm Rush, and Flying Marvelous (McAllister) at 22; and Flying Carne (McAllister) and Herecomethepain (Floyd & Porter) at 20. Pre-stakes favorite Craigie I Am Jak (Campbell) ranks 15th with 12. Qualifying concludes Wednesday with the top eight advancing to the Nov. 12 finale. First place pays $9,000.

"The first two rounds weren't quite what I figured they would have been," track racing secretary Jerry Miller said. "But I'm certainly not disappointed at this point."

NOTES: Cal Holland became the first Derby Lane kennel to win six races on a performance this meet on the Wednesday matinee. … Tampa Bay Downs trainer Jane Cibelli carried a six-win lead into Friday as she attempts to become the first woman in the 65-year history of Monmouth Park to win a conditioning crown. The Oceanport, N.J., season concludes Sunday. … The Downs opens for training Thursday in preparation for the 2011-12 season that begins Dec. 3.