Associated Press
The national college football notebook …Steve Spurrier coaching Tennessee? The ol’ ball coach has spent much of his career tormenting the Vols, but if Phillip Fulmer does get pushed out in Knoxville, you can bet Spurrier, who grew up in Tennessee, will be rumored as a replacement.
There’s little Tennessee can do to salvage this season. With a 29-2 loss to Alabama, the Vols (3-5, 1-3 SEC) have failed to beat their three top rivals and still have several tough SEC opponents left to face.
Their chances of becoming bowl eligible are diminishing, and coach Phillip Fulmer’s job security is more in danger than ever with the lack of a big-time win this season.
“We’re in a battle from top to bottom,” Fulmer said. “Right now, I’m more concerned about our football team and winning four games, getting ourselves bowl eligible and finishing up the season as good as we possibly can.”
COCKTAIL PARTY
Florida has all the motivation it needs against rival Georgia, and coach Urban Meyer doesn’t want to give the Bulldogs any help.
No trash talk. No bulletin-board material. Not even a glimpse of how upset the Gators still are with what went down in Jacksonville last year.
Remember the “Gator Stomp?”
Florida sure does. But coach Urban Meyer’s players aren’t allowed to talk about it. Meyer issued a gag order concerning last year’s contentious celebration, the one in which the Bulldogs responded to coach Mark Richt’s pre-game challenge by running on the field following the team’s first touchdown.
It sparked Georgia’s 42-30 victory ó the program’s third win in the last 18 games in the series ó and plenty of hard feelings in Gainesville.
“I think it’s old news and I’m sure that old guy warned our players that it has no bearing on this year’s game,” Meyer said Sunday. “It’s two teams battling for the SEC East.”
Yes, the matchup between No. 5 Florida (6-1, 4-1) and eighth-ranked Georgia (7-1, 4-1) likely will decide the winner of the Southeastern Conference’s Eastern Division. It also could have national title implications.
BCS?
From 1-11 to the BCS? That’s probably a stretch, but surely fans of 20th-ranked Minnesota are dreaming about that these days.
Fiery coach Tim Brewster has the Golden Gophers 7-1 and tied for second in the Big Ten with Ohio State, which handed Minnesota its only loss.
QUICK HITSNotre Dame coach Charlie Weis is going to face some criticism for running a fake punt up 24-0 late in the third quarter against Washington and Tyrone Willingham. He shouldn’t. It might not have been the nicest thing to do, but why not give your upcoming opponents something to think about in a low-pressure situation?
– Here’s what stands in the way of Penn State’s unbeaten regular season after the Nittany Lions won at Ohio State ó at Iowa, then home against Indiana, Michigan State.
HEISMAN-WORTHY
Rutgers quarterback Mike Teel completed 14 of 21 passes for 361 yards and six touchdowns in a surprising 54-34 victory against Pittsburgh.