College Sports Capsules: Texas in search of blood and guts running game

As a Mormon, there is much more to his life than just knocking down ball carriers as a linebacker. There is self-discovery, sacrifice and an inner discipline.

"Faith is a high priority up here," Te'o said of Notre Dame, a Catholic institution. "Coach Kelly said no matter what your religion, it's a very special place and you can grow spiritually here."

A highly regarded prep recruit from Punahou High School — a guy named Barack Obama attended the same school — Te'o came to Notre Dame despite the lure of places closer to home like, say, Southern California. And after an adjustment period, he made an impact last season when he started 10 games and had 63 tackles, the third-best total by a Notre Dame freshman.

"I've always said it was a hard decision for me to leave home," Te'o said. "Leave all my friends and my family and come all the way here. Usually guys from Hawaii will go somewhere near home, but for me I stepped out of my comfort zone and blazed my own trail.

"I learned that I'm more independent than I thought I was. I can depend on myself. I can clearly just be my own man. It took some time, but I had to find myself here, just be comfortable and make this my home."

After that first season when the Irish finished 6-6 in what would be coach Charlie Weis' final campaign, Te'o had another difficult decision — continue with football or go on a Mormon mission. In December, he announced he would come back to school and play for new coach Brian Kelly.

"Right now it's just all football, helping my team win," he said.

And that comfort level, both on the field and in South Bend, made staying easier. He attends a nearby Church of Latter Day Saints.

"It's been great, been my home away from home," he said. "It reminds me of home because no matter where you go, the church is the same everywhere."

Te'o will be in a middle linebacker spot in the Irish's 3-4 defense this fall and he'll be in charge of barking out defensive signals to his teammates. At 6-foot-2, 250 pounds, Te'o's physical attributes jump out, but so does his ability to take control and demand respect.

"You say, 'OK, he can do the job,'" defensive coordinator Bob Diaco said. "The guy might be heck of a player, but we're relying on him to do some of the communication. So if you get a guy out there who is a little mousey, nobody can really hear what he's supposed to do. One of the biggest things he's giving us right now is he's a demonstrative communicator."

So Te'o has shown he can do what the Irish need, both physically and mentally, and not be worn out by either responsibility. The two must mesh in the 3-4 defense.

"He's got energy and passion," Diaco said. "His wind is up. If you're looking at the full group in terms of their cardiovascular, he's one of the top guys. So he's in condition where he's not taxed."

Te'o is very aware of the history of Notre Dame and its great teams and players. Kelly has reminded his players that they carry a responsibility for both past and future.

"He just told us that tradition is important and nice, but it's nothing if we don't honor the guys who came before us," Te'o said. "I feel in order to be a great football player, you have to play for something beyond yourself. Coach Kelly has helped us realize that. We can play for something bigger than ourselves, which is Notre Dame."

-- Rick Gano

That's enough to stress anyone out.

Instead, the Crimson Tide linebacker from Lewisburg, Tenn., seems to be settling nicely into Rolando McClain's spot in the middle as the primary playcaller on a defense that has undergone quite a transformation.

"It's kind of a tough thing trying to replace Rolando, because he was such a great player and he knew the defense so perfectly," he said. "It's been a tough journey, but I feel so comfortable in it now, I feel like I've played mike since I've been here. I'm so comfortable making all the checks and making all the calls and audibles."

Hightower is handling it well enough that he has consistently drawn the praise of Tide coach Nick Saban.

He is one of the team's most experienced defenders even though he's only played one full year. Hightower sustained torn ACL and MCL ligaments in his left knee four games into last season on a cut block against Arkansas, when he was starting at weakside linebacker and part of one of the nation's top linebacking duos.

Hightower was granted a medical redshirt and is a third-year sophomore. Now he's moved over to his former neighbor's position on the field.

An immediate starter as a freshman, he's a seasoned veteran compared to most of the players on a defense that is replacing nine starters, including linebackers McClain, Cory Reamer and Eryk Anders.

The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Hightower has McClain's size and ability to both take on blockers and chase down ballcarriers.

"It's tough to get away from him running the ball and tough to block him," Tide tailback Mark Ingram said. "He's real athletic. So he gives problems for everybody on the other side of the ball."

But McClain, who was the eighth overall draft pick by the NFL's Oakland Raiders after skipping his senior season, also was the professor among the linebackers who studied film relentlessly, mentored the younger players and was the clear leader on the field.

Now, it's Hightower's turn.

"Dont'a's really done well considering the circumstances," Saban said. "He is in a new role as signal caller. It's a greater responsibility. There's a little more responsibility for leadership. He's really done a good job of that.

"It's always difficult when you come back from an injury, getting back into the kind of shape that you're used to being in. He's really done a good job of sustaining and continually improving that. He's got his weight down to where he's got his speed and explosiveness back."

Hightower won't say how much weight he's lost since the offseason but said he cut out fried foods and ate more fruits and veggies. Cauliflower, he says, is his favorite. Seriously.

He said midway through preseason camp, "I was moving a lot faster than I was moving before I got hurt."

Does he feel like the same player he was before the injury?

"I feel like I've surpassed that," Hightower said. "I feel like I'm a totally different player. I feel like I play a lot faster, I recognize things a lot quicker. Having that year off kind of helped me get in the film room and learn the defense and learn the ins and outs and why exactly do we do this instead of doing this."

Tide tailback Mark Ingram said Hightower "definitely" has returned from his injury a better player.

"He's a lot smarter," Ingram said. "He's studying a lot of film. He knows that defense well. He learned a lot from Ro and I think he's trying to step into that role. He's doing a great job with the defense, leading and telling everybody what to do. He's playing faster, he's playing smarter and he knows a lot of what's going on, as far as the entire defense and what the offense is trying to do when they give you certain looks.

"He's a lot smarter and he's playing a lot faster."

-- John Zenor

With opener looming, Florida's Meyer has concerns

Whatever the case, Florida coach Urban Meyer has concerns about his team. The fourth-ranked Gators are a little more than a week away from their season opener, and Meyer sounds like he just watched a replay of last year's Southeastern Conference championship game.

"I'm hitting the panic button a little bit," Meyer said this week. "We've got to get better faster than what we are right now."

Meyer's worries stem from injuries to his offensive and defensive lines, resulting in inconsistency from both units, and several highly touted freshmen failing to meet expectations. He says it's typical for coaches to be a little cautious this time of year, especially after putting players through grueling, two-a-day practices in 90-degree heat and then hoping they won't wilt.

He also may have gotten a little spoiled watching Tim Tebow, Brandon Spikes and others sail through practices this time last year. Back then, Meyer had an entire two-deep roster returning from a national title team, and his biggest problem was finding ways to avoid complacency.

Now, the Gators are trying to solidify starters, identify playmakers and unify an inexperienced team that has nearly 70 freshmen and sophomores.

Injuries have made it difficult.

Left tackles Matt Patchan and Xavier Nixon have missed significant chunks of fall practice. Patchan broke a bone in his right wrist and spent two weeks in a cast. Nixon sprained an ankle, then tweaked his left knee and had arthroscopic surgery Tuesday.

Without them, right tackle Marcus Gilbert has moved to the left side, center Mike Pouncey has moved to right tackle and backup Sam Robey has taken over at center.

Things are shuffled on the other side of the line, too, with defensive tackles Lawrence Marsh (hamstring) and Brandon Antwine (concussion) having missed time.

Pouncey expects the offensive line to be shuffled for the first two games, against Miami (Ohio) and South Florida, but hopes everything will be back to normal when the Florida opens Southeastern Conference play at Tennessee on Sept. 18.

"If all our guys that are supposed to be playing aren't going, then we're in panic mode," Pouncey said. "We want all our guys to get back healthy and then come back, especially by Week 3."

Meyer has other concerns, too.

Team chemistry, one of the things coaches hoped to hone during training camp, isn't quite where Meyer wants it.

"I like our chemistry, where we're at. But I can't say I love it right now," Meyer said. "I was hoping we'd be a little more advanced. ... I don't feel the urgency. I feel it among the coaches, because they know what's coming. Twenty-five young players that dominated like they did in high school have no idea what's about to hit them."

Florida recruiting class was ranked among the best in the country. Defensive end Ronald Powell, defensive tackles Dominique Easley and Sharrif Floyd, safety Matt Elam, running back Mack Brown and receivers Quinton Dunbar and Chris Dunkley were considered the some of the best players at their position. But they haven't totally impressed Meyer.

"I was actually a little disappointed in some of them because I thought they'd go take a spot," Meyer said. "A few of the guys are doing decent. ... Some of those big-name guys, I thought we'd have some guys cracking the lineup right now. But they're not yet."

Regardless, there's plenty Meyer likes about his team. He has raved about quarterback John Brantley, cornerback Janoris Jenkins and receiver Carl Moore.

Guard Carl Johnson has sensed Meyer's uneasiness and believes he knows why Meyer has concerns about his team.

"We relied heavily on the Tebows, (Riley) Cooper, Aaron Hernandez, Brandon Spikes and Joe Haden. We don't have these players this year, obviously. We have a great quarterback, Brantley, but we don't have that faction of Tebow, Hernandez and Cooper. We have to find other playmakers. That's what he means about the panic button. We need more playmakers to have another great season."

-- Mark Long

Bosher much more than a kicker for No. 13 Miami

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — There will almost certainly be a moment this season when Miami kicker Matt Bosher sprints toward an opposing returner, ready to deliver a jarring, high-speed tackle.

Murray overcomes jitters in Georgia scrimmage

There were Southeastern Conference officials on the Sanford Stadium field. There were game captains, pregame warmups and even a coin toss.

Richt wanted to see how his players handled the added rush that came with the simulated game.

Perhaps the most important test was for freshman quarterback Aaron Murray, who is preparing for his first start in No. 23 Georgia's opener against Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 4.

Murray said it felt like more than just another practice.

"Definitely, I got a little jitters," Murray said. "There were a couple of overthrows where I was a little pumped up. ... I think after the first play the jitters calmed down a little and I was good to go."

Murray prepared for his first start by completing 9 of 17 passes for 127 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.

"We try to simulate the best we could," Richt said. "For that reason I thought he felt it a little bit. It will be nothing like when we have 95,000 fans. He's still learning. He's still a freshman."

Richt said Murray's performance "wasn't real bad but there were a couple times he could have made a better decision.

"Hopefully the point will be driven home a little better."

Murray said one of his bad decisions came on a botched screen play.

"I should have thrown it out of bounds and instead I tried to scramble with it and got sacked," Murray said.

Freshman Hutson Mason, who likely will open the season as Murray's backup, was 5 of 10 for 69 yards.

Senior fullback Shaun Chapas, one of 10 returning starters on offense, said Murray is assuming the leadership that comes with his position.

"He's the leader of our offense and when he was in there he had command of the huddle and got us going," Chapas said.

Murray threw his touchdown pass to star wide receiver A.J. Green, who had four catches for 40 yards.

"I felt pretty good today," Murray said. "I felt as an offense we did good. I feel a lot more comfortable with the offense. I feel I'm making my reads better. I feel I know where I'm going with the ball."

Georgia is expected to lean on its running game, especially early in the season. Washaun Ealey and Caleb King return at tailback after combining for more than 1,300 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns in 2009.

King had five carries for 36 yards and a touchdown in the scrimmage. Ealey had four carries for 31 yards.

Richt had his assistants in the positions they will take during games on the field and in the press box.

Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, who moved from the press box to the field for games last season, was on the field. New defensive coordinator Todd Grantham also was on the field.

Richt plans to have a special teams scrimmage on Thursday and another practice at Sanford Stadium without full tackling on Friday.

NOTES: Sophomore offensive lineman Jonathan Owens is giving up football due to a chronic knee condition. Owens, from Susan Moore High School in Blountsville, Ala., has been diagnosed with chronic patella instability in his right knee and will have surgery on Tuesday to realign the patella. He played in one game in 2009. Owens has been granted a medical disqualification. ... Richt said freshman walk-on quarterback Greg Bingham suffered a concussion during the scrimmage while running the scout team Louisiana-Lafayette offense. "We think he'll be fine," Richt said. ... Safety Bacarri Rambo returned an interception 66 yards for a touchdown. Safety Jakar Hamilton returned an interception 42 yards. Defensive end Kiante Tripp and linebacker Darryl Gamble each had two sacks.

-- Charles Odum

Clarett received permission Wednesday to leave Ohio to try out for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. He served 3½ years in prison for having a hidden gun and holding up two people outside a bar, then spent 4½ months in a community-based, lockdown dormitory.

Looking fit and relaxed in a gray suit, purple dress shirt and dark purple tie, the 26-year-old Clarett did not speak before Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge David Fais.

As he was awaiting an elevator in the hall after the seven-minute hearing, Clarett nodded yes when asked three questions: Did he welcome the opportunity to try out for the team? Was he physically ready to play pro football? Was he relieved that the judge granted his request?

Then he left to meet with a probation officer.

In asking for Clarett to be granted 30 days in Nebraska for the tryout, attorney Martin Midian said, "We would like the court to not consider this as any special treatment, but as a job interview — as would be the case for anyone appearing before this court who might ask for such an opportunity."

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel sent a letter to Fais asking the judge to grant the request.

"Please allow this letter to serve as validation that Maurice Clarett does indeed have a legitimate opportunity for employment with the Omaha, Nebraska, team in the United Football League," the letter read. "Please consider allowing him to travel out of state to seek this opportunity."

Nighthawks GM Rick Mueller issued a statement Tuesday saying he wanted to help Clarett take "positive steps toward being the good citizen and solid family man that he aspires to be."

Mueller said the Nighthawks would try out Clarett as soon as possible.

Clarett, a prep star in Warren, Ohio, was an instant sensation at Ohio State. He rushed for 1,237 yards while leading the Buckeyes to a 13-0 record going into the national championship showdown against top-ranked Miami in the Fiesta Bowl. Clarett scored the winning touchdown in double overtime, lifting Ohio State to its first national title in 34 years.

The fall was just as swift as the rise.

Within months, Clarett had been declared ineligible by the NCAA for accepting money from a booster. Clarett accused Ohio State of padding grades and allowing football players to take easy classes, then sued the NFL to be permitted to enter the draft ahead of the three-year waiting period. He eventually lost in court, then was arrested on Jan. 1, 2006.

Former NFL running back Ahman Green, now with the Nighthawks, said he had spoken with Clarett in recent days.

"He sounded very positive," Green said. "Hopefully we'll get him in by the end of the week, if not early next week, and I'll kind of be his mentor."

Omaha player personnel director Ted Sundquist was general manager of the Denver Broncos when they drafted Clarett in the third round in 2005. Limited by a groin injury, he was cut during the preseason.

"He's truly on the path to trying to right his life and do what's right," Sundquist said Wednesday. "He has a little daughter and I know he's very close to her mother.

"One of the things that really jumped out at me was the support he's gotten from Jim Tressel, the fact he is back in school. everything in my conversation with him, as I compare and contrast it to the last time I spoke with him, said this guy deserves a second chance."

Another one of his attorneys, Nick Mango, said this was a fresh start for his client.

"He's ready to move on," Mango said. "He's been extremely anxious. He just wants to get out there and get going."

-- Rusty Miller

Gamecocks tight end Weslye Saunders has spoken with NCAA investigators about his attendance at a party in South Beach this past May. He is also among several players told by Spurrier to end their stays at a local hotel and find other living arrangements.

Spurrier said Wednesday he had no information about what the NCAA might do. But historically, Spurrier said players who are found to have received extra benefits sit out a game or two before they can play again.

"If that happens, we'll accept it and move on," Spurrier said. "But it may not happen. We don't know."

Saunders was suspended by Spurrier on Monday for violating team rules and has not returned to practice. Spurrier said the suspension was not connected to the NCAA probe or Saunders' stay at the hotel.

The NCAA has spoken with players at Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee about improper contact with agents.

South Carolina opens the season a week from Thursday against Southern Mississippi at Williams-Brice Stadium after a summer camp filled with off-the-field distractions.

Saunders has been at the center of most of those, yet had seemingly pushed through it to have a solid camp and even drew Spurrier's praise for his commitment and physical fitness. Saunders, a 6-foot-6, 270-pound senior, led all Gamecock receivers in last Saturday's scrimmage with four catches for 63 yards.

Saunders is not the only player to miss practice time. Defensive backs Akeem Auguste and C.C. Whitlock missed Tuesday's practice and defensive lineman Ladi Ajiboye was late because of what assistant coach Ellis Johnson said were issues about their hotel stays.

"I can't comment much on it," Johnson said. "They're cooperating with the process that we're going through right now."

All three were back working out on Saturday, although defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward — also in charge of the secondary — remained unsure if Auguste, the starting free safety, Whitlock, a reserve cornerback, would be available for Southern Miss.

"That's in the hands of the administration and the NCAA and we'll play with what we've got," Ward said.

Saunders' likelihood of playing grows less with each practice missed. He was the Gamecocks' third-leading receiver last season with 32 catches and is considered a likely early round pick in next spring's NFL draft.

If he can't go, the Gamecocks would be left with little used backups Justice Cunningham and Mike Triglia. Fullback Patrick DiMarco had also practiced at tight end, but he's been limited because of a cracked bone in his left forearm.

-- Pete Iacobelli

Michigan expects DB Woolfolk to be out year

McNeese names Bower starting QB

Alabama non-qualifier enrolls at ECU

La Secla named QB for San Jose State

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Senior Jordan La Secla will open the season as the starting quarterback for San Jose State.

Coach Mike MacIntyre announced Wednesday that La Secla will start the season opener at No. 1 Alabama on Sept. 4. La Secla started eight games for the Spartans last season.

La Secla was battling with junior college transfer Matt Faulkner and redshirt freshman Dasmen Stewart for the starting job.

La Secla played 12 games last season. He completed 59.9 percent of his passes for 1,926 yards and 10 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.

Vandy running back Norman has knee surgery

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Warren Norman, a Vanderbilt running back who was the 2009 Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year, has had arthroscopic knee surgery.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — A northwest Arkansas radio station has hired former Razorbacks running back Michael Smith to replace a reporter who was fired after she wore a Florida Gators hat to a Razorbacks' football news conference.

KAKS general manager Dan Storrs confirmed Wednesday that his station had hired Smith, who rushed for 2,018 yards for Arkansas between 2006-09.

Storrs says Smith did some work for the station at the Razorbacks' spring game this year, and would now be reporting from practice.

Reporter Renee Gork was fired amid a brouhaha that began when she wore a Florida hat to an Aug. 14 news conference with Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino.

Storrs has maintained the hat was not the main reason for her dismissal.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee and Vanderbilt men's and women's basketball teams will meet in ESPN's first GameDay doubleheader broadcast to feature teams from the same school.

The Vols will face the Commodores' men's team at noon on Jan. 15 at Thompson Boling-Arena in Knoxville, and the Lady Volunteers will play the Vanderbilt women there at 8 p.m.

Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl says Tennessee's two basketball programs are as good of a pair as any in the country. He also welcomes the chance to showcase the Tennessee-Vanderbilt rivalry.

Nick Dawson, ESPN's director of programming and acquisitions says Tennessee was a natural fit for the broadcast because of the fans' passion.

MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) — The NCAA has placed the men's basketball program at Morehead State University on probation for two years for recruiting violations related to booster activity.

The eastern Kentucky college announced Wednesday the penalties do not include the most serious sanctions of a postseason ban or a forfeiture of victories.

Morehead State president Wayne Andrews said in the statement that coach Donnie Tyndall, the 2007-2008 Ohio Valley Conference coach of the year, accepted full responsibility for the violations. This will be his fifth season with the Eagles.

Morehead State finished last season 24-11 and 15-3 in the OVC. In 2009, Tyndall led the Eagles to their first OVC tournament title and NCAA tournament bid in 25 years.

Grayer leaves ISU to return to Michigan

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut woman's basketball coach Geno Auriemma is a grandfather for the first time.

The 56-year-old Auriemma told reporters at the Pilot Pen tennis tournament that his 26-year-old daughter Jenna gave birth to Christian James Stigliano just before midnight on Tuesday.

It is the first grandchild for Auriemma and his wife, Kathy.

Auriemma's son-in-law, Todd Stigliano, was a soccer player at Providence, and Auriemma joked that the child likely will grow up in that sport, "head butting people, taking dives."

Auriemma was at the tournament on a break from recruiting for UConn and coaching the U.S. women's national team, which begins training camp next month.

The tournament is donating 5 percent of tickets sold through Geno's Cancer Team, back to Auriemma's charity.

Baseball