THE SCOOP
Now that Joshua Dobbs is the starting quarterback, Tennessee coach Butch Jones decided he’s mature enough to discuss what’s going on with the media.
Dobbs showed flashes of potential against Alabama and then again in a loss at Missouri, but he committed three turnovers. “Every time I step on the field, I’ve just got to make sure I’m being smart and protecting the football,” he said.
Tennessee’s coaches and players have raved about Dobbs from the moment he arrived on campus this summer. He impressed the upperclassmen when he walked into a meeting room recently to offer a pep talk to Tennessee’s senior-laden offensive line. “I feel like it comes natural,” he said. “It’s part of the quarterback position. I’ve always done it.”
RESURGENCE
Auburn’s SEC turnaround doesn’t surprise two Tennessee assistant coaches who worked on the Tigers’ staff last season.
Tennessee linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen: “If you go back and look at their recruiting classes, they finished up in the top five or six every season. The personnel was there.”
Secondary coach Willie Martinez: “They obviously have talent. They’ve always had talent. That’s never changed.”
COUNTERFEITS
Alabama has warned fans about the possibility of counterfeit tickets for the LSU game. Fans with any doubt about a ticket’s validity can visit the school’s athletic ticket office at Coleman Coliseum to verify their tickets during regular business hours, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Friday. On Saturday those tickets can be verified beginning at 3 p.m. by university officials at Gate 3 or Gate 32.
EXPANSION
Vanderbilt opened its new indoor building this week that houses a 120-yard field for the football team along with a six-lane track for the track and cross country teams. It’s part of a $31 million project renovating the recreation center, with the key feature the field that Commodores football coaches have wanted for years. Vanderbilt now has something Florida doesn’t. South Carolina has plans for a $14.5 million facility that will open by 2015 near the football stadium. Georgia’s indoor facility is big enough for some drills, but not a full team practice.
SUSPENSION
Freshman running back Alvin Kamara, a running back from Norcross High, hasn’t practiced with Alabama this week because of “behavioral reasons,” Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said. Kamara, one of four running backs signed in the 2013 class, was last seen during Thursday’s practice, the final workout before the players were allowed to leave for fall break and the bye weekend. He had his knee scoped during preseason practice and missed two weeks, which set him back. He has yet to play this season and is expected to redshirt along with Tyren Jones, of Walton High. Both have been running with the scout team.
BY THE NUMBERS
3 Victories needed by Missouri coach Gary Pinkel to tie Don Faurot as the career leader for the Tigers (101).
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