The Tennessean du lieu suivant : Nashville, Tennessee • C1

MINOR LEAGUES Former Vandy pitcher named player of the year 3C SPORTS FOR LIVE SPORTS SCORES OR STATS, SEND TEXT MESSAGES WITH TEAM NAME (i.e., Braves), PLAYER (i.e., Chipper Jones) to 44636 Also get live game scores stats online at tennessean.comsports '4 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2008 TITANS FOOTBALL Young will have to earn job back UT unit has Fulmer's attention UT special teams problems draw concern from coach By BRYAN MULLEN Staff Writer KNOXVILLE Watching Tennessee practice special teams last season was like watching the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. There was screaming and yelling, ranting and put some things back in perspective, and first and foremost he has to get healthy." In his first public appearance since being carted off LP Field on Sunday afternoon, Young watched practice for about 45 minutes. He was not using crutches, and didn't appear to have a brace under his long, baggy shorts. A handful of defensive players talked to him during practice, some shaking his hand. Please see WANS, 4C tist Sports Park and watched his teammates prepare for Sunday's game at Cincinnati.

Young won't be playing because of a left knee injury he suffered in the season opener. Coach Jeff Fisher said when Young is healthy he's going to have to show he's made progress on all fronts before resuming his duties as the starter. And that could be a while. "He has some work to do. Obviously he has some work to do," Fisher said.

"He has to ROBERT SMITH GANNETT TENNESSEE Titans quarterback Vince Young visited practice on Wednesday after being injured in last Sunday's season-opener. raving, signals being flashed to seemingly no one in particular. And with that, there was some outright confusion Now, there appears to be more of a calm yet calculated approach. It's no secret how important special teams are to UT Coach Phillip Fulmer. When addressing the media after a loss, it's one of the first units he scrutinizes.

After a win, it's often the first unit he praises. And during practices, he is often more fired up during special teams work than at any other time. "That's the first thing I watch (on film) after practice or after Collins has lived Young's struggles a game," Fulmer said. Special teams were a struggle for UT early last season. The Volunteers gave up two punt returns for touchdowns in their first three games, and it wasn't until freshman Dennis Rogan took over as the punt and kickoff returner that special teams play began to blossom.

There has been some carryover into this season. The most obvious special teams play from Please see UT, 5C Vandy relies on secondary against Rice Owls' strong passing game will test Commodores unit By MAURICE PATTON Staff Writer Football isn't played on paper. So even though it ranks 10th in the 12-team Southeastern Conference in pass defense, Van- When you look at their backgrounds, the similarities shared by Titans quarterbacks Vince Young and Kerry Collins are striking. Young was the top-rated college prospect in the country by Rivals.com coming out of high school. Collins played in where he learned about pressure after his father placed him in the school district of a Opinion JoeBiddle state power when Collins was 14.

Even though Collins led his high school team to a 14-0 record and the state 4-A championship as a senior, the scars were permanent. Collins became an All-American at Perm State, as did Young at Texas. Perm State was 11-0 in Collins' senior year and won the Rose Bowl. Young's Longhorns won the BCS Championship against Southern Cal before he left for the NFL as a junior. Collins was the fifth player picked in the 1995 NFL Draft; Young was the third pick in 2006.

By his own admission Collins became a partying fool. He first drank alcohol at 13 and his drinking became an addiction Two years after he was drafted, Collins led the league with 21 interceptions and was last in passing efficiency. He lost his starting job the next season and was eventually released. He went from a Pro Bowl player to out on the street. His world came crashing down around him.

Asked Wednesday if he ever considered quitting or Please see BIDDLE, 4C Search TITANS for videos of Titans players discussing news from on and off the field this week. ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTOS look at their backgrounds, Kerry Collins has a lot in common with Vince Young, as far as off-the-field struggles are concerned. With Young's MCL injury, Collins will start against the Bengals on Sunday. Fisher says star 'has work to do' By JIM WYATT Staff Writer It might be a while before Vince Young is able to escape the deafening buzz that surrounds him, but on Wednesday the injured Titans quarterback returned to his safe haven A stiff-legged Young limped onto the practice field at Bap Stand up for teammate Vince Young's teammates offer their support for struggling star. On Page 4C Hendersonville two weeks ago on Thursday.

"Yes, it was a school night. But let's face it. Anybody who thinks high school kids grab a book and bury their heads in it until bedtime is not living in the real world. "We had a pep rally and they filmed parts of it and put it on TV. You shake a camera at the kids and they get excited about it.

It was just a really nice, all-day event." Stephen Mann, group manager for WUXP-30, said Thursday games are based on competitive rivalries and the effort to cover as many communities Please see TV, 2C Sports Editor: Larry Taft, 259-8352 STRUGGLES OF KERRY COLLINS' CAREER Vols will get ball to Warren Tight end Warren may see more action for the offense Saturday against UAB. On Page 5C THE Vandy linebacker honored Vandy linebacker Patrick Benoist wins weekly national defensive award. On Page 5C the desire to give fans a dose of football beyond the weekend. WUXP-30 is airing 11 games this fall on Thursday nights. "Any exposure you can give these kids is a huge plus," said former Nashville Kats Coach Pat Sperduto, who does color commentary for the Thursday games and also on Fridays for CSS, which is in its eighth year of televising games.

Stratford's Kemonte Jackson threw for 259 yards and three touchdowns last Thursday against Hillsboro. After the game there was just one thing he wanted to do despite losing 42-18. "I was like, 'Where's the tape? Where's the I To reach sports: Phone: 259-8010 Fax: 1 When you PANTHERS (1995-98) Went from No. 5 draft pick to leading team to '96 NFC title game to waivers after fifth game of '98. SAINTS (1998) Charged with DUI after playing Panthers in Charlotte.

Ordered into rehab (alcohol) by NFL. derbilt is encouraged by the play of its highly touted secondary through the first two games of the season With nickelback Darlron Spead sidelined by a leg injury, the Commodores face a tough aerial challenge Saturday, when Rice brings its spread offense to Vanderbilt Stadium "They've got a tremendous amount of confidence right now in what they do," Coach Bobby Johnson said of the unbeaten Owls, who threw for 318 yards and scored 29 fourth-quarter points Saturday in a 42-35 comeback win at Conference USA rival Memphis. GIANTS (1999-2003) Quarterback threw four interceptions in Super Bowl XXXV, where the Giants lost to the Ravens. RAIDERS (2004-05) Started 15 games in 2005 and threw for more than 300 yards in three games, but no postseason. Haynesworth sits out Albert Haynesworth misses practice and his status is uncertain.

On Page 4C In the season opener, Rice threw for 258 yards and six touchdowns in a 56-27 conference win over Southern Methodist. The Owls averaged 288 passing yards behind quarterback Chase Clement. Meanwhile, Please see VANDY, 5C High schools like Thursday night lights Simms practices Chris Simms says he'll be ready to play Sunday if called upon by Titans. On Page 4C wanted to see myself on TV," Jackson said. "My mom called, my grandma called even people that I hadn't talked to in a long time called.

My dad was most surprised. He didn't know that I could play football like I could until he saw me." Making a decision High schools do not receive any money for playing a Thursday TV game. However, they revel in the limelight of being the only game in the area. "Near as I could tell, there were not any negatives," said Beech Principal Frank Card-well, whose school played New TV package brings exposure By JEFF LOCKRIDGE Staff Writer The live high school football experience used to be spending a Friday night dressed in your school colors, eating popcorn and cheering in the bleachers next to the band. Now plopping down on the couch Thursday evening in your pajamas will do.

The addition of televised Thursday games to Tennessee's high school schedule this year reflects a continued media push for amateur athletics and SHELLEY MAYS TENNESSEAN FILE Stratford wide receiver D'Angelo Bohannon tries to escape a Hillsboro defender during their game on Thursday, Sept. 4. www.tennessean.com E-mail: tnsportstennessean.com Deputy Sports Editor: Mike Jones, 259-8013.