The Anniston Star from Anniston, Alabama • Page 19

Che Amttsfon Star Sunday. April 2. 2000 Page 3C -Football Notebook Steeldogs' debut gets Auburn moving toward positive response two more Associated Press By Joe Medley 66 I've been a season ticket holder to all the other pro teams here, and I hope this one sticks. Birmingham football fan Miike Foushee Star Sports Writer AUBURN So many running backs, so few hand-offs and passes to go around in a one-back offense. Just what is Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville to do? 2 Use'em, he says.

After Saturday's three-hour practice, which included 2 non-tackling scrimmaging, Tuberville said he will con-2 sider running more plays out of a two-back set in 2000. jj This from a coach who swears by a one-back offense. As Tuberville surveys the depth chart, he sees lots of reasons to use the two-back formation. 4 "We're going to need a lot of running backs," he said. A "We'll play two backs, and we play guys at wide receiv- er." 99 "I like this," Peggy Spina of Birmingham said after the Steeldogs i scored the league's first touchdown.

"It's like football in miniature." ck offense ii i (5 It's a far cry from 1999, when Tuberville and his staff struggled to find one good running back. First, it was Rusty Williams. Then Clifton Robinson, a converted receiver. Walk-on Don Timmons and Michael Owens got looks. Then BIRMINGHAM Birmingham's new arenafoot-ball2 team didn't win the game, but seemed to win over at least some of the thousands of fans packed in the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex to see the team's debut, -Indoor- "I'm ready to see something other than college football," said Mike Foushee Friday night before the Birmingham Steeldogs game.

He said he holds season tickets to Steeldogs' games. "I've been a season ticket holder to all the other pro teams here, and I hope this one sticks," he said! Foushee was among more than 14,800 people who witnessed the inaugural game in the new indoor league. The Steeldogs, however, failedto rise to the occasion, losing 59-18 to the Tennessee Valley Vipers. The Steeldogs took a 6-2 lead in the first seven minutes, to the crowd's delight. But more than half the fans had left by the time the game ended.

Some fans booed after the Steeldogs threw a fourth-quarter, end-zone Hail Mary' pass, leaving 0.2 of a second on the clock. Former Alabama football star and Steeldogs head coach Bobby Humphrey was greeted with cheers and applause, as was offensive coordinator Lionel James, a former Auburn football star. The Steeldogs have gone out of their way to attract families, even establishing a family seating area which bans drinking and profanity. In Fayetteville, Robby Hampton and Gary Brasheare each threw a touchdown pass in guiding the first-team offense against the starting defense in an Arkansas scrimmage Saturday. And Jared McBride, operating with a mix of first- and second-unit offensive players against the sec- ond-team defense, directed a 50-yard, four-play scoring driver.

McBride hit three of his four passes for 57 yards and a touchdown a 27-yard toss to Sparky Hamilton. Hampton and Brashears each were put on the field as the signal caller in red-zone drills, with the offense starting from the defense's 20-yard line. Hampton hit Adam Daily for a score from 7 yards out, while Brashears threw a 3-yard scorv ing pass tb Michael Snowden. Overall, Hampton still ranked first on the depth chart completed seven of 10 passes for 82 yards. Brashears hit four of his five passes for 40 yards.

"I was proud of our quarterbacks," Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. They didn't throw an interception. Robby made some good throws, and Gary made some plays to get our offense out of some problems." Nutt said he also was impressed with the work of the team's running backs. In Lexington, Dusty Bonner completed 25 of 37 passes for 352 yards and a touchdown during Kentucky's first spring scrimmage on Saturday. Jimmy Robinson caught eight passes for 153 yards and Quentin McCord had three receptions for 57 yards, including a 1 7-yard touchdown catch from Bonner.

Kentucky's defense recorded 10 sacks and recovered three fumbles. Defensive end Dennis Johnson tak lied three sacks and defensive end Chris Demaree and linebacker Michael Clayborne added two sacks each. Cornerback Erick Kelly returned one of the fumbles 35 yards for a touphdown. The defense is quicker and stronger than last season and that showed," said Kentucky coach Hal Mumme. The safeties and linebackers flew around and made a lot of plays.

Overall, the defense had a pretty good day." Martez Johnson had. a three-yard touchdown run and reserve quarterback Mark Perry, who will be a senior in the fall, threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to Derek Abney. Bonner, who will fee a junior this fall, guided the Wildcats on seven possessions and took the early edge in the battle for the starting quarter-' back spot. Redshirted freshman quarterback Jared Lorenzen went 10-for-24 for 126 yards. "Dusty has the experience on Jared and it showed," Mumme said.

"Dusty makes quicker reads "Jared made some good throws but he also had some things out of his control, such as dropped balls." 'Associated Press DISTRIBUTOR NEEDED Coke, Pepsi, Frito-Lay Products $2,000 Per Week Potential National Company seeks honest, dependable person to service commercial accounts. Part timewill expand to full time. No Selling, No Overhead. You must have $15,000 to invest now, 100 secured. Company, finances future expansion! If you are not, sincere about starting a new business, Please Don't Call.

1-800-854-2382 Ask for I Anniston District Mgr. came Heath Evans, who produced instantly and started the final three games. Evans, a 240-pound china-shop wrecker, is locked in 5 a theoretical battle with junior college signee Rudi Johnson for tailback. Evans doesn't see it that way. "Rudi and I think we're the only ones around here who don't look at it as a race," he said.

"We're looking more forward to getting to know each other and getting in that two-back set and making things happen. "I think that's where we're going to have a lot of our yardage next season. You can say it's a race, but we're both going to play." Evans in the same backfield with the 230-pound Johnson, another Muscle Fitness cover type, brings up interesting options. Both can catch passes. Both can block.

From the staggered formation, with Evans lining up to one side and Johnson directly behind the quarter- back, Auburn can spread the field. The Tigers can pass out of running formations and run counter plays against an over-playing defense. --IS' "With a two-back set, you've got to watch us both," a Evans said. "You've got two runners and two blockers. A "Rudi, you've seen him.

Physically, we're built a lot alike. It'll enable both of us to catch the ball, and I think both of us have the speed that once we get out in that 'open field, you're going to have to catch us, too. "The passing game, it's going to be great. The game? Shoot, the sky's the limit." It would also mean that Evans would give up most of -I his time at tailback and play mostly fullback. At 1999 season's end, he was the primary ball carrier in a set.

"Yeah, I want that one-back spot and first string, but 1 just want to win games," he said. "I think Rudi and I are going to enable us to do that next year." Another up side with the two-back set is that Auburn -an go two-deep on it. Anniston's Gasinious Moore, Timmons, plus freshmen signees Ronnie Brown and Derrick Graves figure to challenge for time at tailback. Associated Press Junior college transfer Rudi Johnson carries the ball during a recent Auburn football practice. Owens, a converted tailback, and freshman signee Brandon Johnson give Auburn depth at fullback.

But it looks like chants of "Heath" and "Rudi, Rudi" will dominate afternoons in Jordaji-Hare Stadium in the fall. Quarterback Ben Leard likes the possibilities. "When you've got a tailback that weighs 230 and a fullback that weighs 240, 250, and they both can run like a deer, it makes me feel good," he said. "The quarterbacks, today we were talking; man, we really love this running game. It makes it a lot easier for us!" Injury notes: Moore pulled a hamstring during Saturday's practice and lists as day-to-day.

Other injuries include receivers Tim Carter (knee), Jeris Mclntyre (hamstring) and Joe Whitt (shoulder). Clay County product Stanford Simmons (finger), the No. 1 free safety, is expected to resume contact status Monday. Only Whitt's injury is considered season-threatening. Center Cole Cubelic (foot) and guard Kendall Simmons (ankles) are sitting out spring practice but are expected back at full-strength in August.

Joe Medley covers Auburn University sports for The Star. He can be reached at 235-9244 or jmedleyannistonstar.com Cflreas farthest select 'ion of lingerie and novelties JlCayazines; 7fs, Oils Hoions yiffni iffl ii i iff i i lift in fi '''ifljF' j.rft''dtgift1 xjf Open S15 71 Snow cSree, Oxford Hale Irwin Tide will search for answers in final two weeks of spring Analysis By Grant Martin In front of the quarterbacks, Lannis a 1 appears to be separating himself from iff- 11 Milo Lewis return as the team's top interception leaders, while Tony Dixon and Marcus Spencer bring experience, to the safety Kecalf Bailey and Roberto McBride provide some depth and will both be in contention for a starting spot. Alabama returns to practice today after taking last week off for spring The A-Day game is April 15 at 1:30 p.m. The festivities, however, will begin the day before at 8 a.m. with the annual A-Club golf tournament at Harry Pritchett Golf Course.

At noon, the Walk-of-Fame ceremonies will be held to honor the 1999 SEC champion football team captains at the base of Denny Chimes, where Samuel, Alexander, Cornelius Griffin, Miguel Merritt arid Ryan Pflugner will imprint their shoe and hand prints in cement. Other functions on April 15 will include the team meeting the public at Coleman Coliseum for fan day at 10:30 a.m., then Tide Pride will hold its brunch in the coliseum from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Grant Martin covers the University of Alabama for The Star, He can be reached at 235-9248 or at grnartinannistonstar.com Star Sports Writer TUSCALOOSA Only two weeks remain in spring practice before Alabama's annual A-Day game, yet the questions now are the same as they were when workouts began. The offensive line is still trying to find the right combination of players to fill the void left by Outland Trophy winner Chris Samuels. A full stable of talented running backs is still trying to create a back-field presence equal to that of All- American Shaun Alexander.

And the two-year-old battle for supremacy at quarterback continues "to rage on, with junior-to-be Andrew Zow still holding the significant wedge he has enjoyed over Tyler Watts since winning the starting job a redshirt freshman. Zow held a significant advantage in the Tide's first scrimmage in passing yardage, but Watts led the 'offense in its only touchdown drive against the first-team defense. He one interception, but it came -after receiver Sam Collins was hit just as he was making a catch. 1 ferilfi emssi fellow sophomore Bart Raulston in the race for the right tackle spot, while Dante Ellington has been learning his hew role at left tackle in-place of Samuels. On defense, things are a little clearer at least with the personnel currently going through practice.

With lineman Kenny Smith and linebacker Marvin Constant not expected to return until the start of fall practice, the Tide is still getting quality play on the line from guys like Kindal Moorehead and Kenny King. Junior-college transfer Aries Monroe could push Constant into a backup role at middle linebacker. That leaves the Tide with three very capable starters at linebacker, with Oxford's Darius Gilbert and Saleem Rasheed holding down the outside spots and either Constant or Monroe in the middle. In the secondary, the Crimson Tide has a wealth of experience returning, but still needs to develop depth this spring. Reggie Myles and So much fun we're only allowed to hold it once a year.

Yes, The. Classic is back at Greystone Golf, and Country Club. And this year wi? plan on cramming even more Kin into six davs: celebrity Pro-Ams, clinics for kids, plus, of. course, the race to be crowned Classic Champion 2000. Hale Irwin.

Chi Chi Rodriguez, Tom Watson, Larrv Nelson, Hubert Green and all the stars of the SENIOR PGA TOL'R will be joining in the run. Make sure vou do, After you'll have a whole yeat to recover. for tickets call 307-PUTT ticHotmaator.com FSU' Warrick draws praise loses ground in upcoming draft v. A I By Mark Schlabach MEMORIAL CLASSIC the top pick in the draft. The Browns are thought to be favoring Nittany Lions defensive end Courtney Brown, who dazzled scouts with a workout earlier this month.

Cleveland also is considering linebacker LaVar Arlington. "I think (Brown and An-ington) are rare and Warrick is exceptional," Palmer said. "Clearly, those three players are worthy of the No. 1 pick." Warrick once seemed like a perfect fit for the Browns, especially after the team signed free-agent defensive ends Orpheus Roye of the Steelers and Keith McKenzie of the Packers. Browns quarterback Tim Couch, the No.

1 pick in last year's draft, has lobbied Palmer and other Cleveland officials to select Warrick. "It was a horse race, and Warrick came out of the gates veryj very quickly," Palmer said. "It was very easy to evaluate him. All you had to do was turn on the TV and watch him make plays. But once we got a chance to evaluate the defensive players, they jumped ahead." Cox News Service ATLANTA Washington Redskins coach Norv Turner calls Peter "Warrick, "the best player in college football the past "three years." Cleveland Browns coach Chris Palmer says the Florida State receiver is "exceptional." I But when the first three choices are made in next month's NFL Draft, Warrick might not be among them.

'jOnce regarded as the top player available, Warrick could go as low as fourth to the Cincinnati Bengals. Warrick and Alabama offensive tackle Chris Samuels are considered the best offensive players in this year's Sdraft. The class is especially deep, at wide receiver, run--ning back and the offensive line, but the NFL might take -just one quarterback Marshall's Chad Pennington in the first round. SL, Palmer said this past week that the Browns are lean-rfng toward drafting one of two Penn State players with brunoeventteiVn.com benefitting Alabama Charities cBruno's: Tom Watson.