The Daily News-Journal from Murfreesboro, Tennessee • 15

Page CI Baseball C4 Scoreboard C5 Wednesday SEC Insider Wednesday Area acn Thursday Outdoors Friday NASCAR Insidzr Sunday Sports Specj Executive Sports editor. CregPogue poguedni.com She fcatty News Uourtul The Daily News Journal Saturday, Sept IS, 2004 SIDE TODAY'S D'JJ TGinD(S Hi Pisco DnCo poae Rocky Swamp? Florida has won six of the last nine times it has played Tennessee at Neyland Stadium: Columnist Kavi, Pirates, Sounds Going separate ways It's now official: The Pittsburgh Pirates have picked up their Triple-A baseballs and moved them to Indianapolis. That means for the fifth time since the Nashville Sounds moved up from the Double-A Southern League in 1985, there "Jv Sisv Tennessee vs. Florida Tonight, 7 at Neyland Stadium WGNS(1450-AM) si Conference. No.

13 Tennessee (1-0) hasn't beaten the Gators in Neyland Stadium since 1998, but the Vols have won the last two times at Florida. "A lot of us had the edge when we used to In Vols-Gators series, home team usually struggles By Elizabeth A. Davis AP Sports Writer KNOXVILLE Maybe Tennessee fans should try doing the Gator Chomp instead of singing "Rocky Top." That way, the Volunteers might feel as if they're at The Swamp-tonight when the 11 Gators (1-0) visit Home-field advantage hasn't meant much lately in the Tennessee-Florida series, which usually goes a long way in determining the East Division winner in the Southeastern 1976 1984 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 Gators 20, Vols 18 Gators 43, Vols 30 Vols 45, Gators 3 Vols 31, Gators 14 Gators 31, Vols 0 Gators 35, Vols 29 Vols 20, Gators 17 Gators 27, Vols 23 Gators 30, Vols 13 give him a warm welcome for his first game in Knoxville. They still remember when he soured on Tennessee during recruiting and criticized Vols coaches for their treatment of his older brother two years ago. (See Vols, page C5) 1 it If 4 look into the crowd and opposing fans talked bad to us," Vols receiver Chris Hannon said.

"It's extra adrenaline when you go pn the road. We've got to get that here." By that logic, Florida quarterback Chris Leak should have no problem getting up for this game. Tennessee fans probably will not 3 High School Football: Week Four MIDDLE TENNESSEE Bonds enters 700 CliilJ Hits milestone HR in 3rd inning By Greg Beackam AP Sports Writer SAN FRANCISCO Barry Bonds hit his 700th home run Friday night, top pling another milestone and edging closer to Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron in his quest 1 the greatest slugger in baseball history. Bonds rewarded his fans in the opener of the San Francis Bonds co Giants' nine-game homestand with an-opposite-field home to left center leading off the third inning. It came on an 0-1 pitch from Jake Peavy and gave the Giants a 4-0 lead over the San Diego Padres.

As Bonds rounded second base, the Giants launched streamers and a fireworks display from the scoreboard and light towers in center field. He pointed skyward as he crossed home plate, then took a curtain call to a joyous standing ovation. The Giants also unveiled two enormous banners on the light towers: One featuring Bonds with "700" below him, and another featuring action shots of Ruth and Aaron and their corresponding totals. Bonds' 42nd homer of the season is a mere stepping-stone in the 40-year-old's march toward Ruth's once-unthinkable 714 and Aaron's 755. (See Bonds, page C4) I Thert'l still plenty r- A Wilson Central gets first road victory By Steve Heath DNJ Prep Editor It was a historic night at Oakland's Freedom Field Friday.

Unfortunately for the Patriots, they were on the wrong end of history. Wilson Central (2-2, 1-1 in Region 4-5A), in only its fourth year of existence, won the first road game in school history with a 29-14 triumph over Oakland (1-3, 1-1). "We've won four in a row at home, but we'd never won a road game in the history of the school," said jubilant Wilson Central coach De Wayne Alexander, shortly after he took an impromptu water-cooler shower courtesy his players. We're trying to teach football team how to win on the road and do some of those things that's part of a growing process. 'To beat a football team that has played for a gold trophy before means lot.

I know (Oakland) is a young team and we are to, but it means a lot come over here and win." (See Oakland, page C5) jJ ft i i mm TITAtJS receivers ig-, nore the cornerback and look for a safety to block. That does not mean they necessarily look forward to it when they play the Titans. Tennessee vs. Indianapolis Sunday, noon at Die Coliseum CBSCh.5) At 6-foot-2, 223 pounds, Williams, the third-year strong will be a new working agreement. In fact, the most remarkable thing about the working agreement with the Pirates is it lasted seven years.

That's a John Callow year longer than either the White Sox (1993-97) or the Reds (1987-92). And for the record, the glory years (Mattingly, McGee, Balboni) when the Sounds were the toast of the Southern League spanned only five years. When Pittsburgh signed the deal in Indy, the Pirate brass were quoted in the local papers there as wanting to leave Nashville for several reasons: Pacific Coast League travel costs are high, and Nashville, because of its location, has some of the worst in the league. As an Eastern time zone team the Pirates have a greater natural affinity with the International League than the PCL. Victory Field is only eight years old and is regarded as one of the best facilities in minor league baseball.

(The Pirate people said "the best," but they were in Indy; those in the know invariably name AutoZone Park in Memphis.) Greer Stadium doesn't measure up to standards for Triple-A; Because of Greer Stadium, the organization was having difficulty signing top-quality six-year free agents. There's nothing I can disagree with very much there except the free-agent part and there's not much the Sounds the front office folks, not the people on the field can do about any of them Sounds fans should know Trent Jewett, who has spent five of the last seven seasons managing the folks on the field, said some very nice things about them in the Indianapolis papers. The Indianapolis people had a working agreement with Milwaukee. The word is since they have a wonderful, almost-new ball yard, they expected wonderful, competitive teams to put in. Milwaukee has a wonderful, almost-new ballyard, and they haven't been able to put wonderful, competitive teams in it, either.

Why Indy should have expected much else is beyond me. So the Pirates have moved their affiliation. They will get all those advantages they were looking for. The Indianapolis Indians aren't marrying who they think they are. I don't buy the free agent argument.

Six-year free agents drift to organizations where they are treated fairly and have the best chance of getting to the big leagues. With the possible exception of relief pitchers, that doesn't happen for six-year free agents in the Pirate organization. And the 2004 Indianapolis Indians actually had a slightly better record than the 2004 Sounds. Of course, there will be very little relationship between the 2004 Sounds and the 2005 Indians. We saw how much there was between the 2003 and 2004 editions.

Maybe the fans in Indy will get lucky and get to experience a bit of what we got to see in 2003. So what will we see in 2005? We will see baseball. The players will come either from the Brewers (see above) or the Expos (who've been in Edmonton, but the Edmonton franchise is transferring to Round Rock, Texas). Since the Astros are moving their affiliation from New Orleans to Round Rock, New Orleans and Nashville are up for grabs. We'll know whether it's Milwaukee or whatever Montreal will be next year by this time next week.

John Callow a staff writer for Tb hf News Journal. E-mail him at i Thursday's scores Rrverdale 34, Lebanon 0 Siegel 8t La Vergne 0 Smyrna 28, Blackmah14 Portland 55, Cannon County 0 Pleasant 55, Eagleville 0 Friday's scene Wilson Central 29, Oakland 14 Hart week's csntss Knox Central vs. Siegel at MTSU (Thu) Livingston Acad, at Cannon Co. Gallatin at Blackman pavenwood at La vergne Oakland at Lincoln Co. Riverdale at Dickson Co.

Smyrna at Brentwood t' safety, is among the larger players anywhere in the league at his position. By comparison, this week's opponent the Indianapolis Colts have a pair, each of whom are 5-foot-10 and roughly 210 pounds. A week ago the Miami Dolphins used Sammy Knight, a Pro Bowler in 2001 who goes 6-foot, 215 pounds. Blaine Bishop, a three-time Pro Bowler for Tennessee at that position, was a mere 5-foot-9, 203 pounds during his prime. In addition to that, Williams SCOREBOARD of our a to Mt.

DN photo by Zac Pagett Oakland running back Cord Cowan is upended by the Wilson Central defense during the Patriots' 29-14 loss Friday night. 8izG litoiis' Tanli liesps fees from uuinnmo ooifiiil As one of bigger safeties in NFL, Williams key in team's run defense can run fast and diagnose plays quickly. "He's, got good reactions," linebacker Keith Bulluck said. "He knows what to do. He's comfortable in our defense.

I remember once I started to understand where other people were supposed to go and where people were supposed to fit, it kind of helped me fit easier. Tank is at that point now, if not farther along. He's going to be all right." (See Wans, page C7) VI uEMi ceivers go to crack-back on Tank; they turn down," corner-back Samari Rolle said. "You see a lot of that because he's so big, and he hits you." According to Titans coach Jeff Fisher, one of the most elemental philosophies of the NFL run game is to try and force a cornerback to make the tackle on a running back. To that end, wide InsSdo Commentary C2 Sports Editor Monte Hale Jr.

precScts today's games College Football C3 A rundown of today's top games on television NASCAR BC8 Chase tor the Cup begins with New Hampshire qualifying By David Boclair DNJ Staff Writer NASHVILLE Tank Williams' name certainly fits. The Tennessee Titans' strong safety has become a force any time the opposition attempts to do anything on the ground. "You look on film and re i 6934301 i Roi i a F1 I sn eco" Ji Ft i A i Tit The United States sent out its Dream Team for the first match of the Ryder Cup, and it was all downhill from there, aaring down Tger Woods, Phil Micketeon and the rest of the Americans, Europe got off to the best start by either team since the U.S.-vs.-Europe format 1979. NR. raceMng yard leaders For the big 1.

D. Terrell CHI 126" 1 P8' 2. A. Gates SO 123 check out the 3. A.

Bryant CAL 112 Scoreboard 112 pagoCS Wood.