The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page C6

CYANMAGYELBLK TennesseanBroadsheet Master TennesseanBroadsheet Master 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 5 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 5 TennesseanBroadsheet Master TennesseanBroadsheet Master 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 6C COLLEGE FOOTBALL 6C Monday, July 5, 2004 THE TENNESSEAN www.tennessean.com 3 SEC FOOTBALL Lists seem to be in vogue these days. ESPN recently gave us its top 25 sports movies. Recruiting services provide their top 100 football and basketball prospects. Allow me to jump into the fray. As SEC football coaches prepare to enter fall practice, take a look at a league which welcomes former Alabama center Sylvester Croom as head coach at Mississippi State.

Croom has downplayed being the first African-American coach, a long overdue milestone. This is his first year as a head coach, and for that reason we offer Croom a pass. impossible to rate a head coach who is still waiting to head coach his first game. So here is one opinion on how the rest of the SEC coaches stack up: 1. Nick Saban, LSU No-brainer.

Look at the 39-13 record since Saban arrived in Tigertown. Shared the national championship with Southern Cal last year. Has locked the gates around Louisiana and proven to be a strong recruiter who can also call the shots on the sidelines. Great defensive mind. 2.

Mark Richt, Georgia Still growing. Quick learner. Overcame some faulty decision making in his inaugural season to become a force in the league. Now 32-8 in three seasons. His Bulldogs have overtaken Tennessee and Florida in the East for now.

3. Houston Nutt, Arkansas Does more with less than anyone in the league. Difficult state to recruit in, due to lack of numbers. Must fight border wars with Oklahoma and drift into Texas to find enough players. He has a rabid fan base behind him and the Hogs are virtually unbeatable at home.

Coming off 9-4 season. 4. Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee His strength is recruiting nationally and that production has slipped in recent years. Vols have a first-round player picked in recent NFL draft. Goes into season without a proven quarterback, a result of having not been able to recruit one the last two years.

Nemesis used to be Steve Spurrier. Now that face belongs to Mark Richt. Fulmer has won of his games in 12 years at UT, but fans have had their fill of Chick-Fil-A sandwiches. 5. David Cutcliffe, Ole Miss Not an easy place to win when every living alumni is looking for the Johnny Vaught days to reappear.

Cut his coaching teeth under Johnny Majors and Fulmer and runs same offensive system he did as Vols offensive coordinator. Must replace All-American quarterback Eli Manning. Went to Cotton Bowl last year. Has six straight winning seasons since replacing Tommy Tuberville. Rebels have gone bowling five of six years and were 7-4 that season.

6. Tommy Tuberville, Auburn Won or shared three SEC Western Division titles in his first four years. His team was picked by a number of preseason polls to be No. 1 going into last season, but the Tigers fell fast and hard. Signed an extension after school officials were caught red-handed on a trip to offer job to his former offensive coordinator, Bobby Petrino, head coach.

7. Lou Holtz, South Carolina Little one-liners are not so funny now that his program has fallen on hard times. He is 27-32 after five seasons, so he unloaded some assistants and demoted his son Skip from offensive coordinator. Holtz is under the gun to produce this fall, which is a tall order. Past reputation puts him this high on the list.

8. Bobby Johnson, Vanderbilt You better be a good coach to keep your head above water at the only private school. Johnson is solid on the field, especially as a teacher in practice. Must recruit better players, and more of them, to run with the big dogs. Has most experienced team returning.

Big year for him after a 4-20 record the first two years. 9. Ron Zook, Florida No one in the league works harder. Will dazzle you on signing day, not so much on Saturdays. Will always be compared to predecessor, Steve Spurrier.

Gators need to win and win big this season for Zook to last much longer. Has gone 16-10 in first two years, which cut it with the Gators. 10. Mike Shula, Alabama Jury still out on the son after 4-9 start. Has the pedigree, but spent most of his coaching days in NFL.

Has provided much-needed stability. Program not at full strength, but his stock could rise if it gets to full strength. 11. Rich Brooks, Kentucky Odd hire by Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart. excite anyone.

Brooks had been out of the business when Barnhart called. Has losing record over his 19 years as head coach, including 4-8 in his debut season in Lexington. Joe Biddle is a sports columnist for The Tennessean He can be reached at 259-8255 or Title in Tigertown makes Saban No. 1 Joe Biddle Opinion ZOOK SHULA BROOKS TUBERVILLE HOLTZ JOHNSON FULMER CUTCLIFFE CROOM RICHT HOUSTON NUTT, ARKANSAS NICK SABAN LSU Sounds: variety is valued wherever he plays, going to bring something to that position. had other guys that have played all four infield positions but it is At 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, Truby look like the prototypical middle infielder.

However, his size has hardly been an issue in the 36 games in which played either second base or shortstop. just have to be very said Scott Sheldon, a recent acquisition by the Sounds who was the last major leaguer to play all nine positions in a game when he did so with the Texas Rangers during the 2000 season and has been primarily a shortstop throughout his career despite standing an inch taller than Truby. position playing, you try to prepare as best you can for that position, but prepare for others as well. A lot of times, people put you in a and say you play this position or that position. Because 6-3, people thought I play Playing for a manager who values flexibility, Truby always have a chance to prepare.

Friday night against visiting New Orleans, he started at third base but had to move across the diamond after Sheldon, who had started at first, was hit by a pitch and had to leave the game in the second inning. Going from third to first, though, nearly as hard as going from third to second, he said. two completely different said Truby, who started at first in series finale against New Orleans. hardest part is the angle of the ball coming off the bat is different that and the pivot on the double play. But the more I get thrown out there, the easier it gets, and the more I play it in a row, the easier it is.

tough to play three or four games at third, one at second, then three or four at third. second base, always thinking, he bunts, got to cover first base. If he does this, got to do got to remember what to do on each play. There are so many different ways involved in the game taking cutoffs. more involved in each pitch.

Shortstop is the same way. Everybody thinks first base is easy, but not. picking throws, involved in every play. got to be in a lot of places. not as easy as people think.

At third base, only worried about bunts. Everything else takes care of As long as Luis Figueroa, virtually a pure third baseman, continues to need at-bats to accommodate his .294 batting average, Truby will need to continue to check the lineup card to see where his .298 average, 13 home runs and 47 RBI all team highs fit in. it takes to get in the lineup. It matter where I he said. like to think I catch the ball and make routine plays.

Especially playing in the middle, I just concern myself with making the routine Maurice Patton covers the Nashville Sounds for The Tennessean He can be reached at 259-8018 or ean.com. FROM PAGE 1C On the move Chris Truby the only member of the Nashville Sounds who has found himself in unfamiliar territory on the diamond this season. Other Sounds that have lined up in multiple positions: Andy Abad: OF (41 games), 1B (8 games) Luke Allen: OF (62), 3B (8) Tomas de la Rosa: SS (9), 2B (3) Luis Figueroa: 3B (49), 2B (1) J.R. House: (40), 1B (7), OF (5) Mike Moriarty: SS (38), 2B (31) Carlos Rivera: 1B (49), OF (3) Scott Sheldon: 2B (3), SS (2), OF (2), 3B (1), 1B (1) Terry Shumpert: 2B (23), 3B (2), OF (2) Chris Truby: 3B (41), 2B (30), SS (6), 1B (6) MAJOR LEAGUES Associated Press NEW YORK Roger Clemens was picked for his first NL All-Star team yesterday and Mike Piazza was elected by fans to start the July 13 game in Houston, putting the Rocket in line to throw the opening pitch to his nemesis. Clemens, a nine-time All-Star in the American League, was among five starting pitchers voted to the National League team by major league players, managers and coaches.

With a 10-2 record in his first season with his hometown Astros, Clemens is likely to start for the NL. Piazza was elected to start for the 10th time, his 11th All-Star selection overall. both have a job to do. sure it will be totally Piazza said. think going to be that hard.

two guys who know what to In July 2000, Clemens, then with the Yankees, beaned Piazza. In Game 2 of the World Series that October, he threw the jagged barrel of a bat in the direction of Piazza, earning a $50,000 fine. not that big a deal. definitely not larger than the game, unless you all make it Clemens said. not too concerned about that.

professional about my work and so is There was just one change among starters in the final week of fan voting with Ichiro Suzuki overtaking the Hideki Matsui for the last AL outfield spot. Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr. and Sammy Sosa were elected to start in the NL outfield, the first time three players with 500 home runs will start. going to be fun playing with Bonds said. Griffey, who reached 500 on June 20, is going to the All-Star game for the first time since 2000, which was his 11th straight selec- tion.

the little guy in the he said. Carlos Beltran, traded from Kansas City to Houston last month, was voted an AL reserve, his first All-Star selection, but the deal means he play in the game unless added to the NL team as a replacement. Six members of the AL champion Yankees were picked, including three elected to start in the infield. Derek Jeter was voted to his first start at shortstop, Jason Giambi to his third at first base and Alex Rodriguez to his first at third base. They will be joined by outfielder Gary Sheffield and relievers Mariano Rivera and Tom Gordon.

all deserved to be said Yankees Manager Joe Torre. Alfonso Soriano, traded from the Yankees to Texas in February for Rodriguez, was elected to start at second and received the most votes in either league, 3.47 million. Three Cardinals were elected to start for the NL: Third baseman Scott Rolen was the top NL vote- getter at 3.19 million and was joined by first baseman Albert Pujols and shortstop Edgar Renteria. Piazza may catch for Clemens Six Yankees make AL roster; three Cardinals elected to start for NL MINOR LEAGUES Memphis 6, Nashville 3 Next: Today, at Memphis When: 7:05 p.m. Pacific Coast League AMERICAN CONFERENCE Central DivisionWLPct.GB Iowa Col.

Springs Albuquerque Omaha Eastern DivisionWLPct.GB Oklahoma Memphis Nashville New Orleans PACIFIC CONFERENCE Northern DivisionWLPct.GB Tacoma Edmonton Portland Salt Lake Southern DivisionWLPct.GB Sacramento Tucson Las Vegas Fresno PCL scoreboard results New Orleans 5, Oklahoma 3 Memphis 6, Nashville 3 Albuquerque at Iowa Edmonton at Portland Las Vegas at Tucson Omaha at Colorado Springs Sacramento at Fresno Tacoma at Salt Lake games Albuquerque at Iowa Edmonton at Portland Las Vegas at Tucson Nashville at Memphis Oklahoma at New Orleans Game at a glance Losing pitcher: Justin Reid (4-1) Big stick: Mike Moriarity goes 2-for-3 with a HR and two RBI. How they lost: Reid allows three runs in sixth. Three Memphis relievers blank Sounds over last three innings. pitchers: LHP Frank Brooks (3-3, 4.55); Randy Flores (16, 4.06) MEMPHIS6, NASHVILLE3 MemphisabrhbiNashvilleabrhbi Prieto cf4022Thompson4010 Hart 2b5000Figueroa 3b3010 Gall lf5000Abad lf4000 Witt 1b3211Truby 1b4110 Seabol 3b3120Allen rf4000 Porter rf4020House c4111 Mahoney c4211de la Rosa 4010 Bowers ss3101Moriarty 2b3122 Simontacci2000Reid p1000 Ortiz ph1011Sanchez ph1010 Totals34696Totals33383 Nashville 000 300000 38 2 Memphis 000103 02X de la Rosa. 9, Nashville 7.

(11), Truby (23), Prieto (10), Seabol (16). (5), Witt (16). 2 (19). Nashvilleiphrerbbso Reid Fussell2.222111 Memphisiphrerbbso Simontacchi 4-4653303 Paronto.110001 Creek1.110002 Reyes 81.110001 Moriarty, Figueroa. TRUBY To Be Held: Tuesday, July 13 At Minute Maid Park, Houston AMERICAN LEAGUE Starters Catcher Ivan Rodriguez, Detroit First base Jason Giambi, N.Y.

Yankees Second base Alfonso Soriano, Texas Third base Alex Rodriguez, N.Y. Yankees Shortstop Derek Jeter, N.Y. Yankees Outfield Vladimir Guerrero, Anaheim Outfield Manny Ramirez, Boston Outfield Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Reserves Catcher Victor Martinez, Cleveland First base Ken Harvey, Kansas City; David Ortiz, Boston Second base Ronnie Belliard, Cleveland Third base Hank Blalock, Texas Shortstop Carlos Guillen, Detroit; Miguel Tejada, Baltimore; Michael Young, Texas Outfield Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay; Matt Lawton, Cleveland; Gary Sheffield, N.Y. Yankees Pitchers Francisco Cordero, Texas; Tom Gordon, N.Y. Yankees; Tim Hudson, Oakland; Ted Lilly, Toronto; Esteban Loaiza, Chicago White Sox; Mark Mulder, Oakland; Joe Nathan, Minnesota; Mariano Rivera, N.Y.

Yankees; Francisco Rodriguez, Anaheim; Kenny Rogers, Texas; C.C. Sabathia, Cleveland; Curt Schilling, Boston. NATIONAL LEAGUE Starters Catcher Mike Piazza, N.Y. Mets First base Albert Pujols, St. Louis Second base Jeff Kent, Houston Third base Scott Rolen, St.

Louis Shortstop Edgar Renteria, St. Louis Outfield Barry Bonds, San Francisco Outfield Ken Griffey Cincinnati Outfield Sammy Sosa, Chicago Cubs Reserves Catcher Johnny Estrada, Atlanta First base Sean Casey, Cincinnati; Todd Helton, Colorado; Jim Thome, Philadelphia Second base Mark Loretta, San Diego Third base Mike Lowell, Florida Shortstop Jack Wilson, Pittsburgh; Barry Larkin, Cincinnati Outfield Lance Berkman, Houston; Moises Alou, Chicago Cubs; Miguel Cabrera, Florida Pitchers Armando Benitez, Florida; Roger Clemens, Houston; Eric Gagne, Los Angeles; Tom Glavine, N.Y. Mets; Danny Graves, Cincinnati; Livan Hernandez, Montreal; Randy Johnson, Arizona; Dan Kolb, Milwaukee; Carl Pavano, Florida; Jason Schmidt, San Francisco; Ben Sheets, Milwaukee; Carlos Zambrano, Chicago Cubs. AP Nine-time All-Star Roger Clemens could start for the National League in this All-Star game in Houston. Upcoming Sounds schedule July 5 at Memphis, 7:05 p.m.

July 6 at Memphis, 7 :05 p.m. July 7 at Memphis, 1:05 p.m. July 8 vs. Omaha, 7 p.m. July 9 vs.

Omaha, 7 p.m. July 10 vs. Omaha, 6 p.m. July 11 vs. Omaha, 6 p.m.

July 15 at Omaha, 7:05 p.m. Davidson 2004 All-Star selections list.