SMU fires Bennett
Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - Southern Methodist University announced that head football coach Phil Bennett will not return for the 2008 season.
SMU Director of Athletics Steve Orsini did say that Bennett will serve as head coach for the remainder of 2007, however.
"I appreciate Phil's efforts here at SMU, but I felt it was time for a change," said Orsini. "He has represented the university with class and has graduated his student-athletes at some of the highest rates in the nation. I have never doubted his effort and desire to win and we wish him the best.
"But as I said on the day I was hired at SMU, we can be successful on a national level. There is a commitment to winning on the Hilltop and I truly believe that we are ready to take that next step. With the support of this tremendous university and our great facilities and location in the heart of Dallas, there is no reason we can not become a top-25 football program. We will win at SMU."
Orsini plans to begin a national search for a new head coach immediately.
Bennett, who led SMU to bowl-eligibility in 2006, is in his sixth season as head coach with his career record of just 18-48.
The Mustangs are a woeful 1-7 this year.
Ohio State, BC remain atop poll
October 28th, 2007
New York, NY (Sports Network) - Ohio State and Boston College retained the top two spots in the latest Associated Press college football poll after big road victories this weekend.
Ohio State (9-0) went into Happy Valley and made life miserable for Penn State with a 37-17 thrashing, while Boston College (8-0) played a great final few minutes and escaped Virginia Tech with a 14-10 triumph.
The Buckeyes received 59 first-place votes -- two more than last week -- and a total of 1,615 points from a nationwide media panel to remain the top-ranked team for a third consecutive week.
BC, meanwhile, ended a three-week losing streak for the No. 2 team with its stunning comeback and lost a first-place vote in the process. The Eagles were rewarded with a No. 1 tally from one pollster and earned 1,501 points.
LSU (7-1), which was idle this weekend, garnered three first-place votes to keep the third slot, while four and five switched places. Oregon's 24-17 win over Southern California impressed voters enough to move the Ducks one spot ahead of idle Oklahoma.
Arizona State (8-0) remained unbeaten with a 31-20 win over California. The Sun Devils, who will visit Oregon next week, picked up a pair of first-place votes to move up one spot to sixth.
West Virginia, despite a 31-3 pounding of then-No. 25 Rutgers on the road, dropped a spot to seventh and was followed by Kansas, Missouri and Georgia to complete this week's top 10.
Kansas (8-0) remained unbeaten with a solid road win over Texas A&M and jumped four spots from 12th, while Georgia's 42-30 win over Florida at the Cocktail Party vaulted the Bulldogs 10 spots from 20th.
Virginia Tech dropped three spots to 11th after the loss to BC, while Hawaii (8-0) also remained undefeated with a 50-13 romp over New Mexico State and moved up four spots from 16th to 12th.
Southern California, Texas, Michigan, Connecticut, Alabama, Florida, Auburn and South Florida make up the remainder of the second 10.
Connecticut wasn't ranked last week, but a 22-15 victory over South Florida moved the Huskies into the poll at No. 16. The Bulls fell nine spots with their second straight loss. They were ranked No. 2 just two weeks ago.
Boise State moved back into the rankings at No. 21, tied with Wake Forest. South Carolina, Tennessee and Clemson round out this week's poll.
A 34-21 triumph over Fresno State gave Boise State its sixth straight win since its lone loss of the season at Washington on September 8. The Broncos were ranked for the first two weeks of the campaign.
Wake Forest has also won six straight games since an 0-2 start to earn its first ranking of the season.
Tennessee's 27-24 overtime win against visiting South Carolina enabled the Vols to again reach the poll. The Vols have been in and out of the rankings a number of times this season and a 41-17 loss at Alabama two weeks ago had knocked them out.
Clemson was ranked as high as 13th earlier this season, but consecutive losses to Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech knocked the Tigers out. They've won two in a row since.
California, which lost its third in a row with the setback at Arizona State, was one of five teams to fall out of the rankings. The others were Penn State, Rutgers, Kentucky and Virginia. The Wildcats and Cavaliers were the only teams among the five to lose to unranked squads, as Kentucky lost at home to Mississippi State and Virginia fell at NC State for its first loss since the opening week of the season.
In addition to the Arizona State/Oregon matchup, only one other game features a pair of ranked teams as LSU visits Alabama for a big SEC West showdown.
Fulmer rules injured pair out for season
October 28, 2007
Associated Press
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee cornerback Marsalous Johnson and offensive tackle Eric Young will likely miss the rest of the season because of knee injuries, coach Phillip Fulmer said Sunday.
Johnson did not play in the 24th-ranked Vols' 27-24 overtime win over No. 23 South Carolina on Saturday after suffering what team officials believed to be a torn meniscus in his knee during the week leading up to the game.
Fulmer told The Knoxville News Sentinel that the injury was not reported so the Gamecocks would not have a personnel advantage.
"(Doctors) won't know for sure until they get in there, but it's probably season ending," he said.
Johnson would be the second starting Vols cornerback lost to knee injury this season. Antonio Gaines suffered a torn ligament in week two against Mississippi State.
As for Young, Fulmer said he had surgery Sunday morning after being forced from Saturday's game.
"He had surgery ... and it went well," the coach said. "He'll be out for the remainder of the season."
Fulmer said team officials are also monitoring injuries to two running backs. Montario Hardesty has a sprained ankle and Lennon Creer has soreness in his knee.
No change at the top of AP poll
October 28, 2007
NEW YORK (AP) -For a change, there was little change at the top of the Top 25.
Ohio State was No. 1 with Boston College second and LSU third, which is how they they lined up last week. It's just the second time this season the top three was unchanged, the other being Week 1, when the preseason top three held their spots in the first regular season poll.
The only changes in the top seven this week were minor with No. 4 Oregon and No. 5 Oklahoma switching places and No. 6 Arizona State and No. 7 West Virginia flip-flopping.
Ohio State received 59 of 65 first-place votes. BC got one first-place vote, LSU had three and Arizona State received two.
Stability at last? Not quite.
The remainder of the media poll received a major shake-up, with five teams falling out and Connecticut moving into the ranking for the first time in school history.
The Big East-leading Huskies, who became a full-fledged member of Division I-A in 2002, were No. 16 after beating South Florida 22-15 on Saturday. Division I-A is now called the Bowl Subdivision.
For the past month, the top of the poll has been scrambled weekly.
LSU and Southern California flip-flopped at Nos. 1 and 2 on Sept. 30 with the Tigers taking the top ranking for the first time this season. Also, three new teams moved into the top five.
On Oct. 6, No. 2 USC lost, starting a run of three straight weeks in which the second-ranked team fell.
The next week, Nos. 1 and 2 lost on the same day for the first time in 11 years and the entire top 10 was shuffled.
Last week, only two teams in the top 10 held their spots and Boston College became the fifth team this season to hold the No. 2 spot.
This week, the entire top seven either won or was off.
So the scrambling started at No. 8, where unbeaten Kansas landed after moving up four spots. No. 9 Missouri also moved up four and Georgia jumped 10 places to No. 10 after beating Florida 42-30.
The Bulldogs roller-coaster ride through the rankings exemplifies what an odd season it's been for the Top 25. Georgia has gone from 13 to 23 to 12 to 20 to 10, with a few other stops in between.
No. 11 Virginia Tech fell three spots after losing in the final seconds 14-10 to Boston College on Thursday night.
No. 12 and unbeaten Hawaii moved up four spots and No. 13 Southern California dropped four spots after losing 24-17 to Oregon.
No. 14 Texas was up three from last week. Michigan was up to No. 15 as the Wolverines continue their climb back from the Appalachian State upset in Week 1.
No. 16 UConn was followed by three Southeastern Conference teams - Alabama, Florida and Auburn. The Crimson Tide and coach Nick Saban are preparing to face LSU, Saban's former employer.
South Florida, which was No. 2 two weeks ago, is down to No. 20 after losing its second consecutive road game.
The final five includes four teams that were unranked last week.
Boise Staten and Wake Forest were tied at No. 21. The Broncos have won six straight and are back in the poll for the first time since falling out in Week 2.
Wake Forest, the defending Atlantic Coast Conference champions, is ranked for the first time this season and riding a six-game winning streak.
No. 23 South Carolina dropped eight spots after losing 27-24 in overtime to Tennessee on Saturday night. The Gamecocks have lost two straight.
The Volunteers moved in to the rankings for the third time this season at No. 24 and Clemson also returns at No. 25.
Dropping out were California, which was No. 2 three weeks ago but has lost three in a row, Kentucky, Virginia and Penn State.
College football today - October 27
ASSOCIATED PRESS
STARS
-Willie Tuitama, Arizona, passed for a school-record 510 yards, and five touchdowns and the Wildcats beat Washington 48-41.
-Jamaal Charles, Texas, ran for a career-high 290 yards, 216 and three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, to lead the Longhorns
-Knowshon Moreno, Georgia, ran for a career-high 188 yards and three touchdowns in the Bulldogs' 42-30 victory over Florida.
-Zak Thornton, Raldolph-Macon, ran 41 times for 262 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Yellow Jackets to a 34-16 victory against Guilford.
-Justin Williams, Davidson, had 25 carries for 225 yards and four touchdowns in a 44-32 victory over Butler.
-Joe Flacco, Delware, completed 30 of 41 passes for a career-best 434 yards and four touchdown passes to lead the Blue Hens to a 59-52 upset of Navy.
-Ricky Santos, New Hampshire, passed for 419 yards and five touchdowns and ran for another score in the Wildcats' 49-36 win over Rhode Island.
-Jefferson Adcock, Samford, completed 29 of 40 attempts for 472 yards and five touchdown passes in a 59-52 win over Tennessee Tech.
MIGHTY DUCKS
Oregon's Jonathan Stewart ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns and the fifth-ranked Ducks knocked off No. 9 USC 24-17. Stewart, a junior, became the first Oregon player to run for 1,000 yards or more in a season since Terrence Whitehead in 2004.
BULLDOZED
Knowshon Moreno ran for a career-high 188 yards and three scores, Matthew Stafford threw three touchdown passes and No. 20 Georgia beat ninth-ranked Florida 42-30. The Bulldogs (6-2, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) sacked Tim Tebow six times and contained the Gators' high-scoring offense most of the game. Florida had won 15 of the last 17 meetings and eight of nine. Georgia finished with its most points in the series since a 44-0 win in 1982.
CHARLES IN CHARGE
Jamaal Charles ran for fourth-quarter touchdowns of 25, 86 and 40 yards to carry No. 17 Texas to a 28-25 win over Nebraska. Charles finished with a career-high 290 yards, 216 coming in the fourth quarter. His rushing total was the fourth highest in Texas history and the 'Horns finished with 364 yards rushing.
UPSET SPECIALS
Wesley Carroll threw for two touchdowns and Mississippi State forced a six turnovers in a 31-14 victory over No. 14 Kentucky. Mississippi State (5-4, 2-3) won on the road for the third team this year. The Bulldogs hadn't won three road games since their Independence Bowl season of 2000, the last time they appeared in postseason play. ... Daniel Evans threw for a career-high 347 yards and three touchdowns, two to Donald Bowens, to lead North Carolina State past No. 21 Virginia 29-24 on Saturday.
BEASTS OF THE EAST
Andre Dixon ran for a career-high 167 yards and Connecticut used a late goal-line stand to upset No. 11 South Florida 22-15 Saturday, the Huskies first win over a ranked opponent. The victory keeps UConn (7-1, 3-0) in sole possession of first place in the Big East.
SUPER SUBS
Michigan beat Minnesota 34-10, to win their seventh straight. Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown - Mike Hart's backups - each ran for more than 100 yards and combined for three scores. Minor had 21 carries for a career-high 157 yards and TD while Brown finished with 132 yards and two TDs on 13 carries. Hart has missed 2 1/2 games since appearing to injure his right ankle.
RECORD-BREAKERS
Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree set the NCAA freshman record for receptions in a season with a 19-yard touchdown catch in the Red Raiders' 31-26 loss to Colorado. It was Crabtree's 99th catch of the season to pass former Tech running back Taurean Henderson's record of 98 catches in 2002. The TD catch gave him the Big 12 season record with 18, surpassing the mark set by Oklahoma State's Rashaun Woods in 2002. ... Redshirt sophomore David Sinisi broke a Northeast Conference record with six touchdowns and tied the school mark with five rushing scores to lead Monmouth to a 51-36 victory at Central Connecticut State. ... Jordy Nelson had eight catches for 105 yards and broke the Kansas State record for receptions in a season in the Wildcats 51-13 win over Baylor. His 8-yard catch from backup Carson Coffman was his 76th this year, breaking Darnell McDonald's mark of 75 in 1988.
STRONG IN DEFEAT
Jake Locker became the second quarterback in Washington history to run for at least 100 yards (157) and pass for at least 300 (336) in a 48-41 loss to Arizona. ... Tulane's Matt Forde had a school-record 44 carries for 278 yards and two touchdowns, in the Green Wave's 28-27 loss to Memphis.
SLUMPING
Nebraska lost 28-25 No. 17 Texas, the Cornhuskers to fourth straight loss. Nebraska has lost four in a row for the first time since 1961. ... No. 19 Michigan beat Minnesota 34-10. The Golden Gophers (1-8, 0-5) have lost eight of their first nine games for the first time in 15 years.
If Tashard out, Evans is Tech's choice
Gailey: '95 percent sure' Choice won't play
Sophomore running back Jamaal Evans will make his first start for Georgia Tech Thursday night against No. 11 Virginia Tech if senior Tashard Choice does not.
Choice had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Oct. 23 after injuring himself in Tech's win over Army Oct. 20. The extent of his injury has not be released, and Choice did not practice Sunday with the Jackets.
"He's making tremendous progress, but we're 95 percent sure he won't play," Gailey said of Choice, who leads the ACC with 884 rushing yards. "Jamaal would start."
Senior backup running back Rashaun Grant is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season with an ankle injury suffered against Army.
Although freshman Jonathan Dwyer is Tech's second leading rusher with 281 yards and seven touchdowns on 48 attempts, Evans is in line to start because of seniority. Both will play, and sophomore walk-on Tyler Evans might as well.
The 5-foot-8, 196-pound Evans has rushed 21 times for 89 yards and two touchdowns after rushing 41 times for 215 yards and two touchdowns last season as a true freshman from Irving, Texas.
"People say we have different styles, but nothing changed," Evans said. "That would be a great opportunity for me and Jon if Tashard doesn't play. If he does, that will be a great advantage for us, but me and Jon can show that we got more running backs."
Dwyer appears to have more breakaway speed, and may not be as polished at allowing his blocks to develop, which is a strong suit for Choice.
"Good runners are good runners. What he does well he's very good at right now, but he can get better," Gailey said. "I'm not sure it's patience, but vision and knowing where everything is, where the crease is going to be. He needs more experience in this type of running game."
Dwyer, one of Tech's top recruits when he came from Kell High, has learned from Choice.
"He's very patient. You don't have to have great speed if you have patience and great vision," he said. "I'm trying each and every week to improve myself. I'm still learning. I'm a young guy, and I'm still learning what I can and can't do, and trying to help the team win."
Gailey said senior right guard Nate McManus, who missed the past two games with a shoulder injury, "practiced [Sunday] some, not full speed."
If he does not play against the Hokies, sophomore Dan Voss is likely to make his third straight start at left guard, as senior Matt Rhodes has moved from left to right guard.
The Jackets (5-3, 2-3) trail Virginia (7-2, 4-1), Virginia Tech (6-2, 3-1), and Miami (5-3, 2-2) in the ACC's Coastal division.
Virginia Tech is ranked No. 3 in the ACC in total defense, and No. 3 against the run. The Hokies are allowing just 89.8 rushing yards per game, trailing only Boston College (55.1) and Georgia Tech (87).
Gailey said there would be some change to the way the Jackets deploy their running attack with Evans and Dwyer.
"Not drastically," he said. "A little bit, but basically the same stuff."
In order for Choice to play, he would have to continue to demonstrate that he has strengthened his right leg since surgery, that he has good range of motion, and swelling must continue to subside.
www.ajc.com
Nebraska quarterback out for season
October 29, 2007
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -Nebraska quarterback Sam Keller will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury, the latest setback in a tumultuous season for coach Bill Callahan and the Cornhuskers.
Callahan didn't specify the type of injury to Keller, who had a season end prematurely due to injury when he played for Arizona State. Keller was hurt with 2:37 left in last Saturday's 28-25 loss at Texas when he was hit by defensive end Eddie Jones.
Callahan said during a conference call Monday that Joe Ganz will start this week against No. 8 Kansas.
``We couldn't be more pleased with everything he's done for us,'' Callahan said of Keller, a senior. ``He's had ups and downs. I'm appreciative of his efforts. He's a good kid, a classy individual. He was a real leader for us during some troubled times.''
The Huskers (4-5, 1-4 Big 12) have lost four straight for the first time since 1961 and are 17-point underdogs for Saturday's game in Lawrence, Kan.
Callahan also announced that linebacker Lance Brandenburgh sustained a season-ending shoulder injury against the Longhorns. Brandenburgh was hurt trying to make a tackle in the fourth quarter.
Keller transferred from Arizona State last year, was named Nebraska's scout team player of the year and then won the starting job over Ganz in preseason practice. He completed 63.1 percent of his passes for 2,422 yards and 14 touchdowns, with 10 interceptions.
Ganz, a junior, has appeared in three games this season. He completed 2 of 3 passes against Texas, including a 4-yard touchdown to Maurice Purify, and also played in wins over Nevada and Iowa State.
Ganz's running ability gives the Huskers flexibility in their offense. He appeared in five games as Zac Taylor's backup last season.
``We've given our backup quite a few (practice) reps during the season, and he's well-prepared,'' Callahan said. ``Our team and staff have the utmost confidence in him. We lose a good player, but we have a good player stepping in.''
Either freshman Patrick Witt or junior Beau Davis will back up Ganz. Callahan said a decision on the backup would be made later in the week.
Keller had a college career of great highs and tremendous lows.
He emerged in 2004 at Arizona State, making his first career start against Purdue in the Sun Bowl. He threw for 370 yards and three touchdowns and was named the game's most valuable player.
Keller started the Sun Devils' first seven games in 2005, throwing for 2,165 yards and 20 touchdowns. He threw for four touchdowns in each of the first four games, including 400-yard outings against LSU and Northwestern.
But a thumb injury against Oregon ended his season, and he lost his job to Rudy Carpenter before the 2006 season in a strange twist. Dirk Koetter, since fired at ASU, named Keller the starter in preseason camp but changed his mind the next day and announced he would go with Carpenter.
With one season of eligibility remaining, Keller opted to transfer to Nebraska, where he toiled on the scout team during the year he was required to sit out.
``I have respect and admiration for him as a person and competitor,'' Callahan said. ``This hurts us, but it also creates an opportunity for Joe Ganz to step up.''
2 LSU players likely to miss Alabama game
October 29, 2007
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -Backup quarterback Ryan Perrilloux and linebacker Derrick Odom are not expected to play for No. 3 LSU against No. 17 Alabama on Saturday because of their part in a nightclub brawl.
Coach Les Miles said Monday they will not practice this week.
``We will prepare to play without these guys,'' Miles said.
No one was arrested in the fight near the LSU campus early Friday when Perrilloux and Odom got into a shoving match with a group of bouncers, the police report said.
Brent McClellan, owner of the Varsity nightclub, said Perriloux and Odom refused to leave at the 2 a.m. closing time, and the scuffle began when bouncers forced them into a parking lot, according to the report.
Perrilloux and Odom gave a different account. Odom told police the two players ``began fighting off the bouncers'' to protect themselves and their girlfriends.
SEC sacks leader indefinitely suspended
October 29, 2007
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -Mississippi coach Ed Orgeron said Monday he has suspended defensive end Greg Hardy for a violation of team rules.
Orgeron said the suspension is indefinite and offered few details, though he did say later that the Southeastern Conference's sack leader was not in legal trouble.
``I think I have a very, very disciplined team,'' Orgeron said. ``I think the guys know if they violate team rules there are consequences.''
Hardy leads the SEC with eight sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss. He was left home and did not play in Saturday's 17-3 loss at Auburn. The Rebels play Northwestern State of the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) on Saturday in Oxford.
Hardy, perhaps the team's best athlete and a young star in the SEC, had started just four of eight games before the Auburn game with no explanation from Orgeron.
Hardy is at least the third Ole Miss player to lose starts for apparent disciplinary reasons. Offensive lineman Corey Actis and John Jerry were both demoted earlier this season.
When asked if a ``trend'' of discipline problems was developing, Orgeron said he would not even repeat the word.
``As I look across the country I see guys getting arrested, I see guys being put in jail,'' Orgeron said. ``I haven't seen any of that with my players. I think we run a very strict, disciplined program here. I feel I have a very well-behaved team.''
UK safety McClinton to miss rest of regular season
October 30, 2007
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -Kentucky safety Marcus McClinton will miss the final three games of the regular season with a fractured scapula.
McClinton, a starter and one of the top playmakers in the Wildcats secondary, suffered the injury in a 31-14 loss to Mississippi State Saturday. Coach Rich Brooks said Tuesday that McClinton should be available to play in a bowl game.
``He made a tackle and got his shoulder knocked back and just fractured his scapula,'' Brooks said. ``It's a very unusual injury. The good news is it's not displaced or anything. It's a crack and not a break.''
Miami QB Wright questionable for Saturday
October 30, 2007
Associated Press
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) -- Miami quarterback Kyle Wright was on the practice field Tuesday, although his status for the Hurricanes' game this weekend against North Carolina State remains unclear.
Wright has a sprained left ankle and a sprained tendon behind his left knee. He was hurt in Miami's last game at Florida State on Oct. 20, and said he wouldn't have played if the Hurricanes had a game this past weekend.
"I tried to do as much as I could in individual drills and warm-ups," Wright said. "That's really where I'm at right now."
If Wright cannot play, Miami will have Kirby Freeman start against N.C. State.
Freeman was 4-for-11 for 59 yards and the winning touchdown at Florida State, taking over when Wright got hurt late in the first half.
Hawaii S Monteilh to miss remainder of season
October 30th, 2007
Honolulu, HI (Sports Network) - Hawaii free safety Keao Monteilh will reportedly be sidelined for the remainder of the season with a fractured left scapula.
Monteilh, a fourth-year junior, suffered the injury in the third quarter of the Warriors' 50-13 trouncing of New Mexico State on Saturday. It was initially believed to be a stinger, according to the Honolulu Adviser, but a CAT scan on Monday revealed the fracture.
Monteilh recorded 19 tackles and two interceptions in eight games this season. He may be available to play if 12th-ranked Hawaii is invited to a Bowl Championship Series game.
Desmond Thomas, also a fourth-year junior, will likely become the team's starting left safety in Monteilh's absence.
Groves shifting from defensive end to linebacker to make way for Coleman
October 31, 2007
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -Auburn appears to have found a way to keep Quentin Groves and Antonio Coleman on the field together.
The 19th-ranked Tigers are moving Groves from defensive end to linebacker at least part-time entering the final three regular-season games of his college career, making way for the fast-rising Coleman.
``I've taken on a new role,'' Groves said Tuesday. ``I'm a linebacker now. Different meeting room. Different set of film study.''
Well, not entirely. Groves and Coleman will still team up at end on pass rushing downs for the Tigers (6-3), who face Tennessee Tech on Saturday. It should be a nice tuneup for Groves in his new role before they face their two biggest rivals.
``Before the bullets really start flying against Alabama and Georgia,'' said Groves, who expects NFL teams to project him as a linebacker. ``I'm thanking them for easing me in now rather than just jumping into the fire.''
With Coleman's emergence, the move allows the Tigers to keep two of their better defensive players on the field more frequently while run-stopper Sen'Derrick Marks remains at the other end spot. The sophomore Coleman leads the team and ranks fifth in the Southeastern Conference with 12 1/2 tackles for losses and six sacks - most of those coming since he has been the starter the past four games. Groves was sidelined for two games with a toe injury and has remained limited.
``We're looking for ways to get them all on the field,'' coach Tommy Tuberville said. ``Starting next week, you want to have your best players on the field when you're playing conference games. Going into those last two games, we're going to need everybody out there at the same time.''
Groves will help fill in for linebacker Craig Stevens, who will miss Saturday's game with a sprained ankle, Tuberville said. Coleman's play is another big factor in the move.
He had two sacks against Mississippi last weekend and also changed direction fast enough to make a tackle behind the line on a reverse. Coleman also pressured Brent Schaeffer into a bad pass late that was intercepted in the end zone to help Auburn pull away for a 17-3 win.
``I just feel I'm playing good ball and I think they want to keep me out there because I'm playing so good,'' Coleman said.
It certainly would have been hard to lift him from the starting lineup after that performance.
``Antonio probably played the best game he played all year,'' Tuberville said. ``That play he made on the reverse was unbelievable, and of course he forced the interception with pressure.
``He was just all over the place making plays and fighting to get off blocks and holding and all that kind of stuff.''
Coleman played in every game last season but didn't have a sack and managed only one tackle for loss. His emergence this season has caught some by surprise, but not his teammates.
``A lot of people weren't talking about him in the beginning of the season,'' Marks said. ``Everybody was talking about Quentin, and now he came in and he's leading the team in sacks.
``Now, a lot of people are keying on him. They'll do the things they were doing to Quentin, and that opens up a lot for other guys on the defensive line.''
Groves, meanwhile, remains stuck at three sacks this season, leaving him tied for the school record of 26. At this point, he just wants to get that record-setting sack out of the way.
``I pray to God every night I get the sack out of the way,'' Groves said. ``It's the hardest thing ever to get. It's something I work for, wish I had, but I don't.''
LSU backup linebacker charged with misdemeanor, kicked off team
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Backup LSU linebacker Derrick Odom was charged with a misdemeanor Wednesday, accused of smashing a car window after a brawl at a nightclub last week. Soon afterward, coach Les Miles kicked Odom off the team.
Odom faces one count of simple criminal damage to property, according to Baton Rouge police. He was involved in a fight at The Varsity nightclub near LSU's campus early Friday, left the club and was caught on video when he returned an hour later and smashed an SUV window, police said.
A call to Odom's lawyer, Anthony Bertucci, wasn't immediately returned.
Miles said Odom was dismissed as was walk-on linebacker Jeremy Benton.
Odom and backup quarterback Ryan Perrilloux, who also was in the fight, were barred from practice this week. Perrilloux, meanwhile, will remain on the team but will not play Saturday, when No. 3 LSU faces No. 18 Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Miles said.
He said that decision was made because Perrilloux has missed the ''lion's share'' of practice this week.
Perrilloux wasn't charged in the brawl.
In September, Odom was arrested for the second time in less than a month, accused of damaging an LSU student's vehicle. Miles suspended Odom for three weeks in August, after the linebacker was arrested for damaging another LSU student's vehicle and threatening the student. On Aug. 27, Odom apologized to the victims of the August incident and agreed to pay restitution.
Injured MTSU QB Dasher likely to sit
MURFREESBORO — Middle Tennessee State freshman starting quarterback Dwight Dasher will likely not play against Louisiana-Monroe Saturday due to a knee injury, or at least that’s Blue Raiders Coach Rick Stockstill’s early assessment.
Dasher had an MRI on Sunday, and MTSU will seek a second opinion today on his injury. It was originally diagnosed as a left knee sprain following MTSU’s 48-28 win at North Texas last Saturday.
Stockstill did not provide any specific updates of Dasher’s injury during today’s Sun Belt coaches teleconference. He did say the freshman quarterback would likely be out against ULM Saturday.
“I can’t say for sure right now, and we’re going back for a second opinion,” Stockstill said. “But from what I’ve been told, I’m not overly optimistic that he’ll be able to play (Saturday).”
If Dasher is unavailable to play, former starter Joe Craddock would get his first start since suffering a back injury against LSU in Week Three.
www.tennessean.com