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GAME 8 Tennessee looms as historical late-season enemy Hr Ui tH "■ Tennessee TBA Saturday, Oct. 30 Williams-Brice Stadium TV: TBA By JAY POU THE GAMECOCK The eighth game of USC’s 2004 season could prove to be its biggest when the Gamecocks host the Tennessee Volunteers. OSC hasn’t beaten Tennessee since 1992, during the Gamecocks’ first season in the SEC. The last few years have seen Carolina make some good runs at the Vols, including a heartbreaking 23-20 overtime loss last year at Knoxville. Tennessee’s offense should be a solid unit; this year. The biggest question mark is at * the quarterback position, where sixth-year senior C.J. Leak and junior Rick Clausen have failed to hold off freshmen Brent Schaeffer and Erik Ainge. Ainge seems to have the edge going into the opener. Despite the presence of four qualified starters, Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer says there won’t be a quarterback controversy. “There’s not going to be a controversy,” Fulmer said, according to Athlon Sports magazine. “We’ll play the quarterback that gives our team the best chance to win.” Tennessee’s offensive strength will be its running game. Running back Cedric Houston enters his senior season 1,450 yards shy of UT’s all-time rushing record. Houston will be M supplemented with a * dose of senior Jabari Davis, a 230-pounder that UT uses mostly in short-yardage situations. Gerald Riggs, Corey Larkins and David Yancey are solid backs, as well. Opening the way for the Tennessee backs is a talented offensive line, anchored b y senior Michael Munoz at left tackle, where he hasn’t surrendered a sack since his freshman season. Junior right tackle Albert Toeaina is a physical beast, standing 6 feet-6-inches and weighing 350 pounds. Sophomore guard Rob Smith earned Fulmer’s praise as “the best offensive lineman of the spring.” UT is deep at wide receiver, but that won’t matter if they don’t have a quarterback to get them the ball. The preseason depth chart had senior Tony Brown starting on one side and junior Chris Hannon on the other, but that could change as young players like redshirt freshman Robert Meachem emerge. Junior James Banks is the top-returning receiver, but he finished last season on a bad note, earning a f i r s t - h a 1 f suspension of the Peach Bowl and spring drills I alter he violated team rules. Tennessee’s defense is also a force to be reckoned with. Its biggest challenge will be in the secondary, where it must replace three departed starters. Junior B^ cornerback Jason Allen looks B to be their best cover man. The linebacking corps will be the Vols’ strength. Senior Kevin Burnett and junior Kevin Simon The biggest question mark is at the quarterback position, where sixth-year senior C J. Leak and Rick Clausen have failed to hold off freshmen Brent Schaffer and Erik Ainge. return as starters. Simon led the Vols in tackles and sacks last season. The third linebacking position will be filled by junior Jason Mitchell or junior Omar Gaither. Mitchell has the speed to run with wide receivers, but Gaither is the group’s surest open field tackier. The Vols will have a special teams advantage over most of their opponents thanks to consensus All-America pqqter Dustin Colquitt. The senior was an integral part of Tennessee’s victory against USC last year, averaging 51.7 yards per punt and pinning the Gamecocks inside their own 5-yard line twice. The Vols will face tough tests at home in the first part of the season, playing host to "Florida Sept. 18 and Auburn Oct| 2. UT then travels to Sanford Stadium to take on archrival Georgia on Oct. 9. The Gamecocks will go for their second SEC win against Tennessee on Oct. 30 at Williams-Brice Stadium. WADE PAYNE/ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Tennessee quarterback-turned-defensive-back C.J. Leak hauls in a pass during practice Aug. 24 in Knoxville, Tenn. Leak is entering his sixth year of college play. After every USC football game, THE GAMECOCK will feature a separate section of sports coverage. Look for it on the back page: A full-color, comprehensive game round-up A ji>> i every Monday.