I am house (& dog) sitting for the next few weeks,
so updates will be sporadic (if at all).
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Saturday, November 11, 2006
The Woodshed - Ouch...
#11 ARKANSAS 31, #13 TENNESSEE 14
From: ESPN.com
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Darren McFadden ran for 181 yards and two touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass, leading No. 11 Arkansas to a convincing 31-14 victory over No. 13 Tennessee on Saturday night.
The Razorbacks (9-1, 6-0) can clinch a spot in the Southeastern Conference title game with a win next weekend at Mississippi State. They've won nine straight since a season-opening loss to Southern California -- their longest streak since 1988 -- and when this one was over, the crowd began chanting "BCS."
Suddenly, a spot in the national championship game for Arkansas doesn't sound far-fetched.
McFadden, the dynamic sophomore, is being touted by Razorbacks fans as a Heisman Trophy candidate. He played tailback, quarterback and even a little wide receiver against Tennessee, and the Volunteers (7-3, 3-3) were never able to stop him.
Arkansas took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when Casey Dick lofted a pass to the corner of the end zone and Marcus Monk ran under it for a 10-yard touchdown.
McFadden took over from there. The Razorbacks have used their star running back at quarterback lately -- out of the shotgun, he either hands off, keeps the ball himself or even passes. He ran for a 17-yard touchdown out of that formation early in the second quarter, then threw to Monk for a 12-yard score to make it 21-7.
It was the second touchdown pass of the season for McFadden in two attempts. He played some quarterback in high school.
McFadden added a 5-yard scoring run late in the second quarter -- again after taking the snap himself -- and the Razorbacks led 28-7 at halftime.
Redshirt freshman Jonathan Crompton started at quarterback for Tennessee instead of Erik Ainge, who has had ankle problems. Arkansas pressured Crompton throughout, and he finished 16-of-34 for 174 yards. Crompton threw touchdown passes to Robert Meachem and Bret Smith.
Casey Dick went 10-of-15 for 154 yards for Arkansas. Dick replaced freshman Mitch Mustain after one series last week at South Carolina and played well enough to win the starting quarterback job.
Monk had eight catches for 137 yards.
McFadden set a school record by surpassing 180 yards rushing for fifth time in his career. His only big mistake was a fumble around the Tennessee goal line in the third quarter.
Arkansas' most recent eight-game winning streak had been an 8-0 start in 1998. That one was snapped when the Razorbacks wasted an 18-point lead in a loss at Tennessee. The Vols won the national championship that season.
Arkansas had no trouble holding on this time.
Tennessee was knocked out of the SEC title picture last weekend. Hours after the loss to LSU, three Tennessee players were arrested after police were called to break up a disturbance at a club. Two of them -- fullback David Holbert and safety Antonio Wardlow -- were suspended for this week's game. The other -- tailback Arian Foster -- was suspended for the first half.
Foster had one carry against the Razorbacks.
The game drew a stadium-record 76,564.
From: ESPN.com
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Darren McFadden ran for 181 yards and two touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass, leading No. 11 Arkansas to a convincing 31-14 victory over No. 13 Tennessee on Saturday night.
The Razorbacks (9-1, 6-0) can clinch a spot in the Southeastern Conference title game with a win next weekend at Mississippi State. They've won nine straight since a season-opening loss to Southern California -- their longest streak since 1988 -- and when this one was over, the crowd began chanting "BCS."
Suddenly, a spot in the national championship game for Arkansas doesn't sound far-fetched.
McFadden, the dynamic sophomore, is being touted by Razorbacks fans as a Heisman Trophy candidate. He played tailback, quarterback and even a little wide receiver against Tennessee, and the Volunteers (7-3, 3-3) were never able to stop him.
Arkansas took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when Casey Dick lofted a pass to the corner of the end zone and Marcus Monk ran under it for a 10-yard touchdown.
McFadden took over from there. The Razorbacks have used their star running back at quarterback lately -- out of the shotgun, he either hands off, keeps the ball himself or even passes. He ran for a 17-yard touchdown out of that formation early in the second quarter, then threw to Monk for a 12-yard score to make it 21-7.
It was the second touchdown pass of the season for McFadden in two attempts. He played some quarterback in high school.
McFadden added a 5-yard scoring run late in the second quarter -- again after taking the snap himself -- and the Razorbacks led 28-7 at halftime.
Redshirt freshman Jonathan Crompton started at quarterback for Tennessee instead of Erik Ainge, who has had ankle problems. Arkansas pressured Crompton throughout, and he finished 16-of-34 for 174 yards. Crompton threw touchdown passes to Robert Meachem and Bret Smith.
Casey Dick went 10-of-15 for 154 yards for Arkansas. Dick replaced freshman Mitch Mustain after one series last week at South Carolina and played well enough to win the starting quarterback job.
Monk had eight catches for 137 yards.
McFadden set a school record by surpassing 180 yards rushing for fifth time in his career. His only big mistake was a fumble around the Tennessee goal line in the third quarter.
Arkansas' most recent eight-game winning streak had been an 8-0 start in 1998. That one was snapped when the Razorbacks wasted an 18-point lead in a loss at Tennessee. The Vols won the national championship that season.
Arkansas had no trouble holding on this time.
Tennessee was knocked out of the SEC title picture last weekend. Hours after the loss to LSU, three Tennessee players were arrested after police were called to break up a disturbance at a club. Two of them -- fullback David Holbert and safety Antonio Wardlow -- were suspended for this week's game. The other -- tailback Arian Foster -- was suspended for the first half.
Foster had one carry against the Razorbacks.
The game drew a stadium-record 76,564.
Final Salute
An Emotional Story, worth reading on this Veterans Day
They are the troops that nobody wants to see,
carrying a message that no military family ever wants to hear.
It begins with a knock at the door.
For the past year, the Rocky Mountain News has followed Maj. Steve Beck as he takes on the most difficult duty of his career: casualty notification. As Beck and his comrades at Buckley Air Force Base keep constant watch over the caskets of the men they never knew, the Marines also comfort the families of the fallen, and choke back tears of their own.
It's all part of a tradition that started in 1775:
Never leave a Marine behind.
After the knock on the door, the story has only begun.
::: Main Page :::
::: Story :::
::: Audio Slideshow :::
::: Photo Gallery :::
They are the troops that nobody wants to see,
carrying a message that no military family ever wants to hear.
It begins with a knock at the door.
For the past year, the Rocky Mountain News has followed Maj. Steve Beck as he takes on the most difficult duty of his career: casualty notification. As Beck and his comrades at Buckley Air Force Base keep constant watch over the caskets of the men they never knew, the Marines also comfort the families of the fallen, and choke back tears of their own.
It's all part of a tradition that started in 1775:
Never leave a Marine behind.
After the knock on the door, the story has only begun.
::: Main Page :::
::: Story :::
::: Audio Slideshow :::
::: Photo Gallery :::
1. If you owe someone money, always pay them back in a bar. Preferably during happy hour.
2. Always toast before doing a shot.
3. Whoever buys the shot gets the first chance to offer a toast.
4. Change your toast at least once a month.
5. Buying someone a drink is five times better than a handshake.
6. Buying a strange woman a drink is still cool. Buying all her drinks is dumb.
7. Never borrow more than one cigarette from the same person in one night.
8. When the bartender is slammed, resist the powerful urge to order a slightly-dirty, very-dry, in-and-out, super-chilled half-and-half martini with a lemon twist. Limit orders to beer, straight shots and two-part cocktails.
9. Get the bartender's attention with eye contact and a smile.
10. Do not make eye contact with the bartender if you do not want a drink.
11. Unacceptable things to say after doing a shot: Great, now I’m going to get drunk. I hate shots. It’s coming back up.
12. Never, ever tell a bartender he made your drink too strong.
13. If he makes it too weak, order a double next time. He'll get the message.
14. If you offer to buy a woman a drink and she refuses, she does not like you.
15. If you offer to buy a woman a drink and she accepts, she still might not like you.
16. If she buys you a drink, she likes you.
17. If someone offers to buy you a drink, do not upgrade your liquor preference.
18. Always have a corkscrew in your house.
19. If you don't have a corkscrew, push the cork down into the bottle with a pen.
20. Drink one girly drink in public and you will forever be known as the guy who drinks girly drinks.
21. Our parents were better drinkers than we are.
22. Never talk to someone in the restroom unless you're doing the same thing—urinating, waiting in line or washing your hands.
23. Girls hang out, apply make-up, and have long talks in the bathroom. Men do not.
24. After your sixth drink, do not look at yourself in the mirror. It will shake your confidence.
25. It is only permissible to shout 'woo-hoo!' if you are doing a shot with four or more people.
26. If there is a d.j., you can request a song only once per night. If he doesn't play it within half an hour, do not approach him again. If he does play it, do not approach him again.
27. Learn how to make a rose out of a bar napkin. You'll be surprised how well it works.
28. If you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to drink in a bar. Go to the liquor store.
29. If you owe someone twenty dollars or less, you may pay them back in beer.
30. Never complain about the quality or brand of a free drink.
31. If you have been roommates with someone more than six months, you may drink all their beer, even if it's hidden, as long as you leave them one.
32. You can have a shot of their hard liquor only if the cap has been cracked and the bottle goes for less than $25.
33. The only thing that tastes better than free liquor is stolen liquor.
34. If you bring Old Milwaukee to a party, you must drink at least two cans before you start drinking the imported beer in the fridge.
35. Learn to appreciate hangovers. If it was all good times every jackass would be doing it.
36. If you ever feel depressed, get out a bartender’s guide and browse through all the drinks you’ve never tried.
37. Try one new drink each week.
38. If you are the bar's sole customer, you are obliged to make small talk with the bartender until he stops acknowledging you. Then you're off the hook. The same goes for him.
39. Never tip with coins that have touched you. If your change is $1.50, you can tell the barmaid to keep the change, but once she has handed it to you, you cannot give it back. To a bartender or cocktail waitress, small change has no value.
40. If you have ever told a bartender, “Hey, it all spends the same,” then you are a cheap ass.
41. Anyone on stage or behind a bar is fifty percent better looking.
42. You can tell how hard a drinker someone is by how close they keep their drink to their mouth.
43. A bar is a college, not a nursery. If you spill a beer, clean it up. If you break a glass, wait for a staff member to clean it up, then blame it on someone else.
44. Being drunk is feeling sophisticated without being able to say it.
45. It's okay to drink alone.
46. After three drinks, you will forget a woman's name two seconds after she tells you. The rest of the night you will call her “baby” or “darling”.
47. Nothing screams 'nancy boy' louder than swirling an oversized brandy snifter.
48. Men don't drink from straws. Unless you're doing a Mind or Face Eraser.
49. If you do a shot, finish it. If you don't plan to finish it, don't accept it.
50. Never brood in a dance bar. Never dance in a dive bar.
51. Never play more than three songs by the same artist in a row.
52. Your songs will come on as you're leaving the bar.
53. Never yell out jukebox selections to someone you don't know.
54. Never lie in a bar. You may, however, grossly exaggerate and lean.
55. If you think you might be slurring a little, then you are slurring a lot. If you think you are slurring a lot, then you are not speaking English.
56. Screaming, “Someone buy me a drink!” has never worked.
57. For every drink, there is a five percent better chance you will get in a fight. There is also a three percent better chance you will lose the fight.
58. Fighting an extremely drunk person when you are sober is hilarious.
59. If you are broke and a friend is “sporting you”, you must laugh at all his jokes and play wingman when he makes his move.
60. If you are broke and a friend is “making sport of you”, you may steal any drink he leaves unattended.
61. Never rest your head on a table or bar top. It is the equivalent of voluntarily putting your head on a chopping block.
62. If you are trading rounds with a friend and he asks if you're ready for another, always say yes. Once you fall out of sync you will end up buying more drinks than him.
63. If you're going to hit on a member of the bar staff, make sure you tip well before and after, regardless of her response.
64. The people with the most money are rarely the best tippers.
65. Before you die, single-handedly make one decent martini.
66. Asking a bartender what beers are on tap when the handles are right in front of you is the equivalent of saying, “I'm an idiot.”
67. Never ask a bartender “what's good tonight?” They do not fly in the scotch fresh from the coast every morning.
68. If there is a line for drinks, get your goddamn drink and step the hell away from the bar.
69. If there is ever any confusion, the fuller beer is yours.
70. The patrons at your local bar are your extended family, your fathers and mothers, your brothers and sisters. Except you get to sleep with these sisters. And if you're really drunk, the mothers.
71. It's acceptable, traditional in fact, to disappear during a night of hard drinking. You will appear mysterious and your friends will understand. If they even notice.
72. Never argue your tab at the end of the night. Remember, you're hammered and they’re sober. It's akin to a precocious five-year-old arguing the super-string theory with a physicist. 99.9% of the time you're wrong and either way you're going to come off as a jackass.
73. If you bring booze to a party, you must drink it or leave it.
74. If you hesitate more than three seconds after the bartender looks at you, you do not deserve a drink.
75. Beer makes you mellow, champagne makes you silly, wine makes you dramatic, tequila makes you felonious.
76. The greatest thing a drunkard can do is buy a round of drinks for a packed bar.
77. Never preface a conversation with a bartender with “I know this is going to be a hassle, but . . .”
78. When you’re in a bar and drunk, your boss is just another guy begging for a fat lip. Unless he’s buying.
79. If you are 86’d, do not return for at least three months. To come back sooner makes it appear no other bar wants you.
80. Anyone with three or more drinks in his hands has the right of way.
81. If you’re going to drink on the job, drink vodka. It’s the no-tell liquor.
82. There’s nothing wrong with drinking before noon. Especially if you’re supposed to be at work.
83. The bar clock moves twice as fast from midnight to last call.
84. A flask engraved with a personal message is one of the best gifts you can ever give. And make sure there’s something in it.
85. On the intimacy scale, sharing a quiet drink is between a handshake and a kiss.
86. You will forget every one of these rules by your fifth drink.
--Frank Rich
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Sunday, November 05, 2006
0 for 3 this weekend
Not a good weekend for me...
UT 24 - LSU 28
Cowboys 19 - Redskins 22 (long week at work for me here in DC)
DC United 0 - New England Revolution 1
Only way to make something of the weekend is
for Peyton & the Colts to win
UT 24 - LSU 28
Cowboys 19 - Redskins 22 (long week at work for me here in DC)
DC United 0 - New England Revolution 1
Only way to make something of the weekend is
for Peyton & the Colts to win
Cowboys 19 - Redskins 22
From: ESPN.com
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) -- With six seconds on the clock, Bill Parcells thought the game would come down to one final field goal by Dallas Cowboys kicker Mike Vanderjagt.
Five seconds later, he watched Washington Redskins kicker Nick Novak hit a 47-yard field goal to defeat his Cowboys, 22-19 and end a wild final few seconds between these NFC East rivals. The game featured three field goal attempts -- two by the Redskins and one by the Cowboys -- in the final 31 seconds.
"It's a tough pill to swallow," Parcells said. "It's one of those games that could go either way."
Vanderjagt's chance to win it -- a 35-yarder with six seconds left -- was blocked by Troy Vincent. The ball bounced around until Sean Taylor picked it up and made a weaving, tackle-busting return into Dallas territory as time expired. Dallas' Kyle Kosier was called for a facemask penalty on the return, tacking on another 15 yards -- and meaning regulation would continue for one more play.
This allowed Joe Gibbs to watch his team go from blowing a chance for a last-minute victory to preventing a last-minute loss to pulling out a win with no time left on the clock.
"Gosh," the Hall of Fame coach said, "I don't know if I've experienced anything like that."
Novak came through by sneaking the ball inside the right upright. With his arms up, Novak ran about 50 yards back downfield, and several of his teammates piled on top of him, led by Vincent.
A five-time Pro Bowl defensive back in his 15th year in the league, Vincent was signed last month after the Buffalo Bills released him from their injured reserve list. He'd never blocked a kick in his career, he said, and wasn't even told until Saturday night that he'd be on field-goal duty.
"A win is a win," Vincent said, "and it's good to get back in the win column."
"It's a short walk from the outhouse to the penthouse," said Novak, who had missed from 49 yards with 31 seconds left. "This is what a kicker dreams about. There are ups and downs, and this was the up."
Parcells wouldn't assess specific blame, saying he'd have to review the game film first.
"Whatever it was," he said, "it was a bad mistake by somebody on our team. It was a tough one, a very unusual end to a game."
The Redskins (3-5) snapped a three-game losing streak and dropped Dallas (4-4) into a second-place tie in the NFC East with idle Philadelphia.
In many ways, the Cowboys could only blame themselves, with all kinds of miscues and, perhaps, errors in judgment: a safety on their first offensive possession; a failed 2-point conversion early in the second quarter ("I go by the chart," Parcells said); and plenty more errors that wasted another fine performance by quarterback Tony Romo in his second NFL start.
"When you've got that much going for you, and you screw it up like that, it's how you end up 4-4," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said.
There was, of course, the flubbed field goal by Vanderjagt, who came in 5-for-5 in the fourth quarter this season. And that key flag on Kosier, one of 11 times Dallas was penalized for 153 yards. Without that penalty, the game would have gone to overtime.
"It's a heartbreaker," Parcells said, "and I really don't have too much to say."
Another flag came on Terrell Owens for excessive celebration: He pretended to take a nap by using the football as a pillow after his 4-yard touchdown catch from Romo put the Cowboys ahead 19-12 in the third quarter.
Later in that quarter, a wide-open Owens dropped a long pass when he was behind the defense and seemed certain to give Dallas a two-touchdown lead.
"I owe this one to the team," Owens said. "I let the team down. Honestly, I think it was a lack of concentration."
So when beleaguered Redskins quarterback Mark Brunell connected with Chris Cooley on an 18-yard score on the third play of the fourth quarter, the game was tied at 19.
The Redskins came off their bye week knowing they needed a victory to make the rest of the season meaningful, and Gibbs vowed to revamp the playbook. There was only one significant personnel change, though: inserting Vincent as a starting safety in place of free-agent disappointment Adam Archuleta.
Still, Romo went 24-for-36 for 284 yards and two touchdowns. He repeatedly bought time by scrambling away from pressure and settled down after a rough start: Dallas gained 4 yards on its first two possessions, then totaled 235 with two TDs and two field goals on its next four drives.
But given these teams are coached by men who've won a total of five Super Bowls, there was an awful lot of sloppy or ineffective play.
The Redskins failed to score on their opening possession, despite starting seven plays inside the 5. Dallas' first possession ended with a safety, when Lemar Marshall dragged down Julius Jones in the end zone.
Washington's first possession of the second half began with a holding penalty, 3-yard run, loss of 9 on DeMarcus Ware's sack, and a gain of 8 on third-and-26. That was enough to draw boos.
By game's end, there was nothing but cheers.
As Novak walked off the field, his helmet aloft in his hand, he was smiling, the kick he'd missed moments earlier a distant memory.
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) -- With six seconds on the clock, Bill Parcells thought the game would come down to one final field goal by Dallas Cowboys kicker Mike Vanderjagt.
Five seconds later, he watched Washington Redskins kicker Nick Novak hit a 47-yard field goal to defeat his Cowboys, 22-19 and end a wild final few seconds between these NFC East rivals. The game featured three field goal attempts -- two by the Redskins and one by the Cowboys -- in the final 31 seconds.
"It's a tough pill to swallow," Parcells said. "It's one of those games that could go either way."
Vanderjagt's chance to win it -- a 35-yarder with six seconds left -- was blocked by Troy Vincent. The ball bounced around until Sean Taylor picked it up and made a weaving, tackle-busting return into Dallas territory as time expired. Dallas' Kyle Kosier was called for a facemask penalty on the return, tacking on another 15 yards -- and meaning regulation would continue for one more play.
This allowed Joe Gibbs to watch his team go from blowing a chance for a last-minute victory to preventing a last-minute loss to pulling out a win with no time left on the clock.
"Gosh," the Hall of Fame coach said, "I don't know if I've experienced anything like that."
Novak came through by sneaking the ball inside the right upright. With his arms up, Novak ran about 50 yards back downfield, and several of his teammates piled on top of him, led by Vincent.
A five-time Pro Bowl defensive back in his 15th year in the league, Vincent was signed last month after the Buffalo Bills released him from their injured reserve list. He'd never blocked a kick in his career, he said, and wasn't even told until Saturday night that he'd be on field-goal duty.
"A win is a win," Vincent said, "and it's good to get back in the win column."
"It's a short walk from the outhouse to the penthouse," said Novak, who had missed from 49 yards with 31 seconds left. "This is what a kicker dreams about. There are ups and downs, and this was the up."
Parcells wouldn't assess specific blame, saying he'd have to review the game film first.
"Whatever it was," he said, "it was a bad mistake by somebody on our team. It was a tough one, a very unusual end to a game."
The Redskins (3-5) snapped a three-game losing streak and dropped Dallas (4-4) into a second-place tie in the NFC East with idle Philadelphia.
In many ways, the Cowboys could only blame themselves, with all kinds of miscues and, perhaps, errors in judgment: a safety on their first offensive possession; a failed 2-point conversion early in the second quarter ("I go by the chart," Parcells said); and plenty more errors that wasted another fine performance by quarterback Tony Romo in his second NFL start.
"When you've got that much going for you, and you screw it up like that, it's how you end up 4-4," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said.
There was, of course, the flubbed field goal by Vanderjagt, who came in 5-for-5 in the fourth quarter this season. And that key flag on Kosier, one of 11 times Dallas was penalized for 153 yards. Without that penalty, the game would have gone to overtime.
"It's a heartbreaker," Parcells said, "and I really don't have too much to say."
Another flag came on Terrell Owens for excessive celebration: He pretended to take a nap by using the football as a pillow after his 4-yard touchdown catch from Romo put the Cowboys ahead 19-12 in the third quarter.
Later in that quarter, a wide-open Owens dropped a long pass when he was behind the defense and seemed certain to give Dallas a two-touchdown lead.
"I owe this one to the team," Owens said. "I let the team down. Honestly, I think it was a lack of concentration."
So when beleaguered Redskins quarterback Mark Brunell connected with Chris Cooley on an 18-yard score on the third play of the fourth quarter, the game was tied at 19.
The Redskins came off their bye week knowing they needed a victory to make the rest of the season meaningful, and Gibbs vowed to revamp the playbook. There was only one significant personnel change, though: inserting Vincent as a starting safety in place of free-agent disappointment Adam Archuleta.
Still, Romo went 24-for-36 for 284 yards and two touchdowns. He repeatedly bought time by scrambling away from pressure and settled down after a rough start: Dallas gained 4 yards on its first two possessions, then totaled 235 with two TDs and two field goals on its next four drives.
But given these teams are coached by men who've won a total of five Super Bowls, there was an awful lot of sloppy or ineffective play.
The Redskins failed to score on their opening possession, despite starting seven plays inside the 5. Dallas' first possession ended with a safety, when Lemar Marshall dragged down Julius Jones in the end zone.
Washington's first possession of the second half began with a holding penalty, 3-yard run, loss of 9 on DeMarcus Ware's sack, and a gain of 8 on third-and-26. That was enough to draw boos.
By game's end, there was nothing but cheers.
As Novak walked off the field, his helmet aloft in his hand, he was smiling, the kick he'd missed moments earlier a distant memory.
LSU 28 - UT 24
From: ESPN.com
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- LSU can forget last year's disappointment against No. 8 Tennessee. The No. 13 Tigers have their own comeback to celebrate.
JaMarcus Russell hit Early Doucet with a 4-yard touchdown pass with 9 seconds left to give LSU a 28-24 win over the Volunteers on Saturday, and end the Volunteers' chances of winning the Southeastern Conference title.
Russell's third touchdown pass of the game gave the Tigers (7-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) their first road win of the season and revenge for last year's Volunteers' victory at Tiger Stadium.
"Our guys will remember this one," LSU coach Les Miles said. "If you wanna define who we are, if you wanna write who we are, that's who were are right there."
Last year in Baton Rouge, La., in LSU's first home game after hurricane Katrina and Rita, the Vols overcame a 21-point deficit to win 30-27 in overtime.
On Saturday, No. 8 Tennessee (7-2, 3-2) almost got another comeback. The Vols went ahead 24-21 after redshirt freshman Jonathan Crompton, playing for injured starter Erik Ainge, completed a 54-yard touchdown pass to Robert Meachem with 7:29 remaining.
The Tigers got the ball back with plenty of time, and Russell methodically led them down the field, milking the clock all the way.
Russell appeared to score on a run from the Tennessee 7 when he flipped into the end zone, but officials ruled he was out of bounds at the 4. On the next play, Doucet caught Russell's pass in the end zone, a throw intended for Dwayne Bowe.
LSU's sideline erupted and spilled onto the field. Order was restored for the kickoff, but Tennessee only had 5 seconds to score. Not enough.
Russell finished 24-for-36 for 247 yards. He also ran for 71 yards.
The LSU players and coaches stayed afterward to celebrate with their fans. It was the Tigers' second win in Neyland Stadium, and they had to overcome four turnovers to earn it.
"I was still in the game. I knew I just had to go out and fight and sacrifice my body and myself and be willing to do whatever it takes to help my team," said Russell, who had three passes intercepted.
LSU's top-rated defense made it tough for Crompton and the Vols' offense.
The Vols were held to 248 total yards and had the ball for less than 19 minutes. LSU rolled up 478 yards.
"It will hurt tonight and we can allow it to maybe hurt tomorrow, and then come Monday we have to get ready to go to Arkansas and play and win that game," Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said. "This team still has a lot to look forward to."
The loss ended Tennessee's chances of chasing down Florida in the East division race. The Gators' victory over Vanderbilt combined with the Vols' loss gives Florida a spot in the league championship game.
Ainge started the game and played the first quarter but was limping and couldn't get much going. He sprained his right ankle last week against South Carolina.
Fulmer said he took Ainge out after got hurt again early in the game.
After LSU went ahead 21-17 at the end of the third quarter, the game turned wild with turnovers on three straight possessions in the fourth quarter.
The final giveaway, Bowe's fumble recovered by Ryan Karl set up the Vols at the LSU 46.
On the next play, Crompton saw Meachem streaking for the end zone and threw it between two defenders. Meachem caught it and stretched his arm across the goal line.
Coming into the game, Crompton had played in four games this season.
"I honestly thought we could win that game and it honestly hurt when we didn't," said Crompton, who was 11-for-24 for 183 yards.
Keiland Williams' 7-yard touchdown run put LSU ahead 21-17 at the end of the third quarter.
The Tigers had cut the lead to 17-14 with 9:38 left in the third quarter on Bowe's 5-yard touchdown catch, the school-record 22nd of his career.
Tennessee went ahead 17-7 two plays into the second half when Russell overthrew a receiver, and Tennessee's Demetrice Morley caught it and ran 31 yards for the score.
Russell was shaken up on LSU's first possession when Tennessee's Xavier Mitchell grabbed his right leg and tried to pull him down.
Backup Matt Flynn took over the Tigers' next series, but Russell returned for the next possession and led an 80-yard drive at the start of the second quarter. He completed a 23-yard touchdown pass to Buster Davis to go up 7-0.
"Their quarterback is a major-league player in every since of the word, physically, and he did a great job I thought mentally," Fulmer said.
Tennessee tied it with Crompton's 37-yard pass to Meachem, and Wilhoit added a 24-yard field goal to go up 10-7 at halftime.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- LSU can forget last year's disappointment against No. 8 Tennessee. The No. 13 Tigers have their own comeback to celebrate.
JaMarcus Russell hit Early Doucet with a 4-yard touchdown pass with 9 seconds left to give LSU a 28-24 win over the Volunteers on Saturday, and end the Volunteers' chances of winning the Southeastern Conference title.
Russell's third touchdown pass of the game gave the Tigers (7-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) their first road win of the season and revenge for last year's Volunteers' victory at Tiger Stadium.
"Our guys will remember this one," LSU coach Les Miles said. "If you wanna define who we are, if you wanna write who we are, that's who were are right there."
Last year in Baton Rouge, La., in LSU's first home game after hurricane Katrina and Rita, the Vols overcame a 21-point deficit to win 30-27 in overtime.
On Saturday, No. 8 Tennessee (7-2, 3-2) almost got another comeback. The Vols went ahead 24-21 after redshirt freshman Jonathan Crompton, playing for injured starter Erik Ainge, completed a 54-yard touchdown pass to Robert Meachem with 7:29 remaining.
The Tigers got the ball back with plenty of time, and Russell methodically led them down the field, milking the clock all the way.
Russell appeared to score on a run from the Tennessee 7 when he flipped into the end zone, but officials ruled he was out of bounds at the 4. On the next play, Doucet caught Russell's pass in the end zone, a throw intended for Dwayne Bowe.
LSU's sideline erupted and spilled onto the field. Order was restored for the kickoff, but Tennessee only had 5 seconds to score. Not enough.
Russell finished 24-for-36 for 247 yards. He also ran for 71 yards.
The LSU players and coaches stayed afterward to celebrate with their fans. It was the Tigers' second win in Neyland Stadium, and they had to overcome four turnovers to earn it.
"I was still in the game. I knew I just had to go out and fight and sacrifice my body and myself and be willing to do whatever it takes to help my team," said Russell, who had three passes intercepted.
LSU's top-rated defense made it tough for Crompton and the Vols' offense.
The Vols were held to 248 total yards and had the ball for less than 19 minutes. LSU rolled up 478 yards.
"It will hurt tonight and we can allow it to maybe hurt tomorrow, and then come Monday we have to get ready to go to Arkansas and play and win that game," Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said. "This team still has a lot to look forward to."
The loss ended Tennessee's chances of chasing down Florida in the East division race. The Gators' victory over Vanderbilt combined with the Vols' loss gives Florida a spot in the league championship game.
Ainge started the game and played the first quarter but was limping and couldn't get much going. He sprained his right ankle last week against South Carolina.
Fulmer said he took Ainge out after got hurt again early in the game.
After LSU went ahead 21-17 at the end of the third quarter, the game turned wild with turnovers on three straight possessions in the fourth quarter.
The final giveaway, Bowe's fumble recovered by Ryan Karl set up the Vols at the LSU 46.
On the next play, Crompton saw Meachem streaking for the end zone and threw it between two defenders. Meachem caught it and stretched his arm across the goal line.
Coming into the game, Crompton had played in four games this season.
"I honestly thought we could win that game and it honestly hurt when we didn't," said Crompton, who was 11-for-24 for 183 yards.
Keiland Williams' 7-yard touchdown run put LSU ahead 21-17 at the end of the third quarter.
The Tigers had cut the lead to 17-14 with 9:38 left in the third quarter on Bowe's 5-yard touchdown catch, the school-record 22nd of his career.
Tennessee went ahead 17-7 two plays into the second half when Russell overthrew a receiver, and Tennessee's Demetrice Morley caught it and ran 31 yards for the score.
Russell was shaken up on LSU's first possession when Tennessee's Xavier Mitchell grabbed his right leg and tried to pull him down.
Backup Matt Flynn took over the Tigers' next series, but Russell returned for the next possession and led an 80-yard drive at the start of the second quarter. He completed a 23-yard touchdown pass to Buster Davis to go up 7-0.
"Their quarterback is a major-league player in every since of the word, physically, and he did a great job I thought mentally," Fulmer said.
Tennessee tied it with Crompton's 37-yard pass to Meachem, and Wilhoit added a 24-yard field goal to go up 10-7 at halftime.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Friday, November 03, 2006
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)