The Montgomery Advertiser from Montgomery, Alabama • 13

Blue Gray Junior Classic 2C Spring sports roundup 3C College basketball 3C Classified 4C Tuesday March 11,2008 Gordon: Stewart overboard on tires By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press DARLINGTON, S.C. A day after Tony Stewart assailed Goodyear for the tires it provided at Atlanta Motor Speedway, three other drivers echoed his complaints but without the same venom. "I think he went a little overboard," four-time series champion Jeff Gordon said. "He kind of made it personal" Gordon, Greg Biflle and Ryan Newman all tested tires for Goodyear at the newly paved Darlington Raceway on Monday, and all agreed the rubber at Atlanta wasn't favorable for driving conditions. But none was as angry as Stewart, who said Goodyear gave him "the most pathetic racing tire I've ever been on in my professional career." Goodyear officials participating in Monday's test refused comment, and the garage was closed to media.

Still, Dale Earnhardt Martin Truex Casey Mears and Brad Keselowski crashed the test and took a spin on the new surface in an SUV. But the tire company issued a statement defending its Atlanta product, while promising to retest the rubber be fore the series returns to the track in October. "We provided what we believed were the best possible products for the races this past weekend," the company said. "We believe that our engineering, research and tire development is second to none. We accept that drivers will have their own opinions about tires.

"Even though both Goodyear and NASCAR were satisfied with the tire's performance in Atlanta, if the drivers are not happy, then Goodyear's not happy." Stewart, who wrecked two races ago in Las Vegas when his right front tire blew, was unhappy all weekend in Atlanta. Gordon said he spoke with the two-time champion before Sunday's Cup race, and "could tell he was pretty wound up about it" After the first green flag run, when it became clear that grip was lacking on the tires, Gordon knew Stewart would be irate after the race. "We were all pretty out of control out there," Gordon said. "I don't disagree with him as far as the comfort level in the situation we were in. But Tires Page 3C --JPiA TA.v Brett Flashnidt AP Tigers team up with Cancer Society AUBURN The Auburn baseball team and the American Cancer Society have teamed up to raise awareness of and money for the fight against breast cancer, and fans can help.

With a minimum $10 donation to the American Cancer Society, Auburn will send you a copy of the team photo that was taken Jan. 29 in support of teammate Joseph Sanders and his mother, Barbara, in her fight against the disease. Tax-free donations should be made in the form of a check to the American Cancer Socie-ty-and sent to: Auburn Athletics ATTN: Latisha Durroh P.O. Box 351 Auburn, AL 36830 Along with the 8x10 team photograph, those who donate will also receive a certificate that reads, "On January 29, 2008, the Auburn baseball team shaved their heads and took this photograph to show their support of Joseph Sanders and his family as a member of his family battles breast cancer. Thank you for your support in the fight against breast cancer." Those who donate $50 or more will have the option of an 8x10 or 16x20 photo.

For more information, contact Durroh in the AU Athletics Department (334-844-2974) or Amanda Tread-well with the American Cancer Society (334-502-5115800-ACS-2345). Staff report Jeff Gordon responds to questions about tire issues at Atlanta Motor Speedway and the newly paved track surface at Darlington Raceway during tire testing in Darlington, S.C., on Monday. NFL PRO DAY 111 ywmeir Tngeirs audSftSoini -yKj JAY G. TATE fS Auburn Blog 1aygure.Dio9spoT.can1 9 By Jay G. Tate jgtate9annett.c0m AUBURN Carl Stewart spent most of his college career in anonymity.

Professional scouts now are wondering why. The running back was one of 11 former Tigers who performed before NFL scouts Monday at the program's Pro Day event. Though defensive end Quen-tin Groves and tackle Pat Sims generated the most overall interest, Stewart continued his strong run of pre-draft workouts and has intrigued many officials who didn't know his name a month ago. Not bad for a guy who earned 20 carries last year. "They ask me (about the lack of playing time) all the time.

I'm just happy I was able to do my part for the team," Stewart said. "I think (scouts) were trying to get something out of me behavior-wise. I was like I'm not a troublemaker. No suspensions or anything like that. It's just, you gotta get in where you fit in and that's what I did." Stewart first turned heads at the NFL Combine last month in Indianapolis, where he posted the best vertical jump (39 inches) in a field of more than 400 players.

He also tied for the best broad jump at 11 feet, 2 inches. His time in the 40-yard dash, 4.69 seconds, was well off times posted by top tailback prospects. That has some teams considering Stewart at fullback, where his unusual strength and agility could provide an evolutionary skill set Stewart isn't picky. I feel comfortable at both positions," he said. "They could put me at offensive guard.

As long as you put me on the team, I'm good." There is no difference of opinion on Sims, whose breakout season at tackle has several teams carefully considering their options. His workouts Monday and at the Combine were unremarkable. Still, numbers only tell part of the story. Sims moved into the starting lineup for the first time last fall and quickly became one of the Tigers' top players. He finished the season with 11 tackles for loss, earning all-conference honors in the process.

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who was at Auburn on Monday, said events like Pro Day help officials make better decisions about players they know mostly through video footage and statistics. "It's just part of the puzzle you like to confirm strengths on days like this and see if they're working on their weaknesses," said Tomlin, who didn't discuss any player directly. "This give you a window into these guys." The four-hour session was particularly hectic on Groves. Though he played end almost exclusively at Auburn, many NFL teams believe his skill set is better applied at linebacker. So he participated in two separate positional workouts.

The NFL Draft begins April 26. Shooting event plannecTMarch 20 The inaugural Chamber Classic Sportsman Shoot will take place on March 20 at the Lower Wetumpka Shotgun Sports Club, 4758 Lower Wetumpka Road. Space is limited to the first 100 shooters. The event begins at 11 a.m. with check-in and a BBQ luncheon, followed by the tournament at 1 p.m.

The cost is $125 per shooter, which includes dinner and an open bar following the snoot. Door prizes and awards will be given out. Participants must provide their own shells, and golf carts are available for rent at a cost of $75. For more information, contact Lynn Norton at (334) 240-9431 or Deadline to register is Thursday. Staff report fc If Todd Van Ernst Auburn University Running back Carl Stewart is tested in the standing broad jump during NFL Pro Day in Auburn on Monday.

Hornets get their first taste of the spread rr JOSH MOON 8 -j A I iu uie muun inoonfosiunogspoLCOiii' Biscuits top seed in64-team field The Montgomery Biscuits are heavy favorites in a March Madness-style minor-league logo tournament being run by CNBC. The Biscuits are a No. 1 seed in the 64-team tournament and are battling the 16th-seededCasper Ghosts of the Rookie-level Pioneer league in the first round. Voting, which started Monday, ends at 8 a.m. today.

"As you know," Biscuits broadcaster Jim Tocco said, "in March Madness, a 16 has never beaten a 1." Voting is best accessed at www.darren rovell.com. The Montgomery-Casper victor will face either the Akron Aeros or Lansing Lugnuts in the second round. Lansing and Montgomery share the same ownership group. A. Stacy Long "Running the ball is very important in this," Barlow said.

"That's one of the things I looked at when trying to decide if I wanted to bring this here. I feel like running the ball is very important in this league, and I didn't want to get away from that The running back where Noonan and those guys coached led the conference in all-purpose yards. In a lot of ways, this style allows for the running game to be more sue-' cessful. He'll certainly play a bigger role." In the spread offense, the running back is almost as important as the quarterback. He's expected to know a variety of running plays and passing routes and be able to pick up a variety of different blocks.

The increased importance is By Josh Moon jmoonOgannett.com As Alabama State's first football practice of the spring came to a close Monday evening, an odd situation unfolded. The receivers and running backs were working in separate groups with their respective coaches, going through drills designed to instill the fundamentals required to play each position. Suddenly, ASU's new offensive coordinator, Ben Noonan, blew his whistle and screamed for the two groups to switch stations and coaches. Welcome to the spread offense. "The running backs go through the receivers' drills because so much of the running back position in this offense is them being able to catch the ball and do the things a receiver does," ASU head coach Reggie Barlow said.

"The receivers go through the running backs' drills because a lot of the offense is short passes that are basically runs. So it's important that the two (groups) get the fundamentals of both. It's a little different." Both the receivers and running backs went through pass catching, ball security, blocking and running drills at the end of Monday's practice. And all of that came after the Hornets spent a good hour and a half on the field running a variety of team drills as the new offense is slowly installed. While the new scheme obviously is different from what ASU has run in the past, there were some surprises in the first day for those who thought it was a pass-always style.

definitely attractive to would-be starter Rahmod Traylor. But David Campbell Alabama State University Alabama State offensive line coach Eric Schnupp works with Nathan McCall, left, and Cody Harding during the first day of spring practice Monday. Hornets Page 3C 2008 F0HD FUS1011 SE BEN ATKINSON FORD BUY AMERICA'S BEST VALUE AT Auto, Power Moonroof, BOLD MOVES aai. nauiu, apoiier s1 7,837 Plus, Tax, Title, Clerical All Rebates to Dealer 5-.