Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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"Oc Gamecock Sports Extra GAME 9 October 28 Williams-Brice Stadium 1 P.M. They’ve got the history, the coach and the attitude. Now, all the Tennessee foot ball team needs is the chance. Returning only five starters on offense, five on de fense and iwo kickers, the Volunteers will open the new season many question marks. With the departure of tailback Jamal Lewis, free safety Deon Grant, offensive guard Cosey Coleman, defensive end Shaun El lis and linebacker Raynoch Thompson to the NFL, most would think that Tennessee wouldn’t have anyone left. Head coach Pliillip Fulmer said this summer that he has be^n awaiting those questions and is still extremely confident in his team’s abilities. The last decade was a positive one for the Volunteer offense, as quarterbacks Pey ton Manning, Heath Shuler and Andy Kel ly posted three of the school’s top four ca reer passing totals. In addition, all were Most Valuable Players in their respective bowl games. Competing for the starting quarterback position will be Joey Mathews and A.J. Suggs. With a year as Tee Martin’s back Tennessee looking to rebuild this year by Shannon Rooke The Gamecock up under his belt, Mathews enjoyed a positive spring work out and is said to be ready tor this year. The Vols’ are deep at wide receiver. Returning starter and second-team All-SEC performer Cedrick Wilson will lead the group. Wilson recorded 57 receptions for Tennessee In 1999 and also tallied 827 yards and four touchdowns. He will be joined by sophomore Donte’ Stallworth. Stallworth amm,% mm Fulmer and the Vols look to improve after last year’s disap pointing finish in the SEC East. finished the 1999 season as the Vols’ third leading receiver with 23 catches for 407 yards and one touchdown. Wilson and Stall worth were the only Vol receivers to ot the ottensive line is rred Weary. Mail ing all 12 games last year, Weary moved to offensive line after playing defensive tack le in 1998. He will help to train two up coming freshmen, one sophomore and one junior as the season goes on. The defensive tackle position was hit hard by graduation. The Vbls lost Billy Ratliff and Darwin Walker, two of their starters from last year. Junior John Henderson is the only returning player, and will look to add to his eight 1999 starts. Henderson recorded 30 tackles and 13 assists last year. Andre Lott will take his place once again at comerback. Leading the Vols with 10 pass breakups in 1999, Lott had a career high eight tackles and three pass breakups against Arkansas. He recorded two fumble recoveries, one tackle for loss and one in terception. On the defensive line and at both safe ty positions, players have been lost and re placed with a younger squad, adding fuel to the fire that this will be a year of re building for Tennessee. have a 100-yard game last season. Standing alone as the only returning starter Gator Bait or Croc Hunters? After starting GAME 10 a large group ot underclassmen on November 11 defense a year ago, the mFlorida "D" at Florida finished 30th in the . nation. _ 1 P.M. by Scott Bryan it , , c _ „ Unfortunately for the - teams the Gators must play this fall, most of those guys are back. In fact, Florida returns nine of their top 11 starters and an even more impressive 19 of the top 22 play ers from the two-deep depth chart. Last year s defensive line was perhaps the weakest portion of the "D". This year, that statement appears to be the oppo site. Leading the way for the defense is junior Alex Brown, a first-team All-American defensive end as a sophomore. "We've got a lot of quality players that we think can come in and play at the end positions going into the year 2000," said Hoke, a former player at Ball State. "Alex Brown is back for his junior year coming off an awfully good sophomore year." Brown's numbers included 13 quarterback sacks, as well as 39 "Big Plays." Working at the other end spot is true soph omore Tron LaFavor. Working in the middle of the line will Florida see page 7 Bama Eileen s Restaurant Great Southern Cooking 20% Discount with your USC ID! Hours: M-F Lunch 1 1:00am -3:00pm Dinner 5:00pm 9:00pm M,T, Th. Fri. Sun Luch 11:30am - 3:00pm Welcome Back Gamecock Granby Village Shopping Center 1505 Charleston Highway West Columbia, SC 29169 Phone: (803) 794-3402 —' Traditional Italian Favorites Voted Columbia's Best Pizza in 2000 in Columbia Metropolitan Magazine toNc o t Voted Columia's Best Italian Restaurant, The State Newspaper | Thank you Columbia, for helping us celebrate our 60th_yeaHn business^