The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 27

Pro football Titans' Bishop adjusting to array of team changes IOC SPORTS Horse racing 2C Running Scoreboard 11C SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 2001 4 2001 NFL draft Length: Seven rounds. Expect NFL to strike Black and Gold TV Saturday: 1 1 p.m. (ESPN), 6-9 p.m. (ESPN2) TV Sunday: 10 a.m.-noon (ESPN), noon-3 Winbom, Jimmy Williams, Matt Stewart and Elliott Carson could fare better in the April 21-22 draft than in "98, which was the best the school had done in p.m. (ESPN2) What's up with the For now, Tennessee has no picks in the first round.

The Titans traded their first-rounder (No. 29 overall) to the Rams for defensive end Kevin Carter. The Titans won't pick until the second round (60th Titans have seven picks overall. Upcoming draft previews in The Tennessean: Tomorrow: quarterbacksrunning backs. ft Draft guru Chavous sees interest in Vandy players By MIKE ORGAN Staff Writer Corey Chavous is no draft dodger.

The former Vanderbilt All-Southeastern Conference comerback has been enthralled with the NFL draft as far back as he can remember. Of course, he remembers more about the draft in 1998 than most other years. That was the year he was taken in the second round by the Arizona Cardinals. Chavous was one of three Commodores drafted that year. He, Jamie Duncan and Antony Jordan were joined by three teammates who signed free-agent pacts.

As a result of his continued interest, Chavous is regarded as an expert on the draft, being called on for appearances on national radio and television shows. Vanderbilt has another large crop of prospects this year. And Chavous says the Commodores with Jamie pretty high in this draft." Chavous' passion and comprehensive knowledge of the draft caught the attention of ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. when Kiper called to check on Chavous in 1998. After an hour-long phone conversation with Chavous, which included talk about many of the prospects in that class, Kiper was overwhelmed.

He suggested Chavous serve as a host for ESPN's radio coverage of the "99 draft, and Chavous appeared for a Please see DRAFT, 9C CHAVOUS VIRGINIA TECH QB MICHAEL VICK Tuesday: wide receiverstight ends. Wednesday: offensive and defensive linemen. Thursday: linebackersdefensive backs. 15 years. "I always like to see guys from my school getting a chance to move on to the next level," Chavous said.

"Some of Vanderbilt's players could surprise some people by going Friday: players from area colleges. Saturday: predicting the first round. NASHVILLE SUPERSPEEDWAY BUSCH SERIES PEPSI 300 It's one and done for female driver Biffle smooth on slick track for first win iS1 I 1 St -v tit GLADEVTLLE The Pepsi 300 did not have 300 wrecks. It only seemed that way. With the new and notorious Turn 2 providing the traction of an interstate bridge in a sleet storm, the caution flag should have been flying at half staff at Nashville Superspeedway yesterday.

And let the record show that Shawna Robinson's car was the first casualty on the first lap of the first Busch Series race at the new track. "The worst thing that can happen," she said, "is to be the first car out of the race. I hate it" This is like hitting your tee shot on No. 1 at Augusta National and being told to go back to the clubhouse. Or getting pulled after facing the leadoff hitter in the first inning.

The second Busch race of her career was over in less time than it takes to loop around a McDonald's drive- thru. "Who goes into a race thinking you'll get knocked out before you finish one lap?" she said. "It stinks." And before you start whispering any jokes that include the words "woman driver," be advised that this was not her fault. She may be the odd woman out in the Busch Series but she did nothing wrong. Starting 38th in the 43-car field, Robinson barely made it to the first turn of the first lap before getting caught in a squeeze between two other cars.

The contact sent her Please see CUMER.8C By LARRY WOODY Staff Writer GLADEVTLLE A tricky track didn't baffle Biffle. Rookie driver Greg Biffle made himself right at home at new Nashville Superspeedway yesterday, cruising to victory in the track's inaugural NASCAR race, the Pepsi 300. He won his first race in just his eighth Busch Series start the second-earliest triumph in the division's history. "I felt a little restless sleeping last night and actually really nervous because when you have a good car it's like my crew chief says The only thing you can do is make a mistake or mess it Biffle said. "That's what we didn't want to do today was make a mistake.

I'm thankful we didn't" Biffle, a 31-year-old native of Vancouver, pushed his Ford past leader Jason Keller with 38 laps to go, went on to win by .602 seconds and collect $59,620. Johnny Rumley, who in 1993 won in his seventh start, is the only other driver to have won a Busch Series race so early in his career. The L3-mile concrete superspeedway, meanwhile, lived up to its fledgling reputation as a slippery, temperamental track. A flurry of crashes, bringing out 11 caution flags for 58 laps, demolished several cars and sent driver Mike Harmon to the care center with a broken shoulder blade. "It was slick," said Randy LaJoie, who finished fourth in a Chevrolet.

"We had our hands full out there, like driving go-carts at times. But it was fun." Please see PEPSI, 8C Inside Not a bad day at the races Columnist Larry Woody says there were a few glitches at the Pepsi 300, but overall the race was a success. On 7C. Complete coverage of yesterday's Pepsi 300 on6-8C. Ready to head down the home stretch The first Busch race at the Nashville Superspeedway was a taxing one for Bobby Hamilton Jr.

and Bobby Hamilton Sr. After battling the field yesterday, Nashville's father-son NASCAR duo was ready for the ride home and the Easter holiday. On 7C. JOHN PARTIPILO STAFF Greg Biffle celebrates with his crew after winning the Pepsi 300 at Nashville Superspeedway. 'Trouble in Turn familiar cry when you go into that corner," said David Donohue, involved in the second accident of the day just 19 laps into the race.

"It's really slick." Said Clay Rogers, whose spinout and wreck in Turn 2 sent him to the infield after 100 of the race's 225 laps: "It's hard enough to go through there by yourself. If you get touched or something there is Please see TURN 2, 7C own: Turn 2. The second left on the track was the last turn for nearly a dozen drivers in yesterday's Busch Series Pepsi 300, and one car after another was hauled behind the wall after accidents on what is clearly the slickest part of the raceway. At times it was more demolition derby than stock car race. Only the pace car seemed safe.

"You just have to roll the dice Proves most hazardous part of untested track By JIM WYATT Staff Writer GLADEVILLE There are sand traps on golf courses, gutters in bowling alleys and hurdles for Steeplechase riders. And at least for now, Nashville Superspeedway has a hazard of its 'ITV-B ADRIANE JAECKLE STAFF Dan Pardus pulls off his helmet and waits for emergency crews after wrecking in Turn 2. On the web Amazing comeback Web-exclusrve news KS flhmMiddla i mum i i Assistant Managing EditorSports: I Bill Bradley, 259-8022 bbradleytennessean.com Deputy Sports Editor Michael H. Jones, 259-8013 Assistant Sports Editor: 4 Kevin Procter, 259-8014 Assistant Sports Editor Tennessee sports. Click Daal poses problem as Braves fall 2-1 Philadelphia's Omar Daal, baseball's losingest pitcher with a 4-1 9 record last season, gave up just one run in six innings as the Phillies beat Atlanta 2-1.

On 4C. Sabres extend series lead with 0T victory Buffalo Sabres teammates mob Jay McKee following his overtime goal that gave them a 4-3 playoff win against the Philadelphia Flyers. Buffalo leads the first-round series 2-0. On 5C. onj Annika Sorenstam erased an LPGA record 10-stroke deficit to win her fourth straight tour title in a playoff.

On2C. i. AP Extra. Bob McOellan, 259-8299 Write us: msportstennessean.com www.termessean.com SORENSTAM tzts9 dnfcmd to tmke men withQtV fJ cfl themselves! Tuu jJ 9 JfStTYlTi tsJTfl) (QJ 9 Mr TM 37027 far dsteiU SyiMrgy BaslaMS Park (braariy ogm Cmmi GsJUii thOdit 278 rsoUa SC 243 Ah www.tenne$seaacom i.