College Football Notebooks: Terrifying weight room accident spurs concern

The horrifying weight room accident that crushed the neck and larynx of USC tailback Stafon Johnson earlier this week spurred concern among the Pac-10’s coaches.

Johnson was bench pressing when the bar slipped from his right hand and fell onto his throat on Monday morning. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was in surgery for some seven hours.

Oregon State coach Mike Riley called the incident both scary and sad.

"It makes everybody in the weight room revisit their procedures and we obviously will talk about ours just to make sure," Riley said. "It’s an accident, but whatever you can do to help prevent it, you’ve got to look at it."

One of Johnson’s doctors said he may not have survived if he did not have such a muscular physique. The senior’s USC career likely is over, but he’s expected to make a full recovery that could allow him to play pro football.

Johnson, a senior who scored No. 7 USC’s go-ahead touchdown against Ohio State two weeks ago, was the Trojans’ second-leading rusher with 157 yards and five touchdowns as the team’s short-yardage specialist this season behind starter Joe McKnight. He had 705 yards rushing and nine touchdowns last season for the Trojans.

Johnson had a spotter when the accident happened — an assistant strength and conditioning coach was standing over him.

"You know, I can’t tell you how many times that he’s been in the weight room working hard and knowing what to do. He could teach our program as well as anybody and all of that," USC coach Pete Carroll said. "So it’s just an unfortunate occurrence, so that’s it."

First-year Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian had worked with Johnson as USC’s offensive coordinator.

"It’s a reality check to our kids that you need to use proper technique and need to have spotters and all the things that go into weightlifting because it is a very serious situation right now," Sarkisian said.

Among the seventh-ranked Trojans — who visit No. 24 Cal this Saturday — there was relief that it wasn’t worse.

"It’s very serious stuff, and if anything, it’s something we can use," offensive lineman Jeff Byers said. "Play every play like it’s your last, because you never know. Stafon had no idea that might be his last game. Guys have every reason now to come out and refocus on why you love the game, because you never know when it can be taken from you."

QB SHUFFLE

Washington State has become the latest Pac-10 team to switch quarterbacks.

Coach Paul Wulff announced that true freshman Jeff Tuel would start for the Cougars against No. 16 Oregon on Saturday.

Tuel was expected to redshirt this season, but inconsistent play by Marshall Lobbestael prompted Wulff to use Tuel last weekend at Southern California.

Tuel came in during the second quarter and completed 14 of 22 passes for 130 yards and one interception. He also ran nine times for 34 yards in the 27-6 loss to the Trojans.

Last weekend, Arizona benched quarterback Matt Scott to start Nick Foles, who passed for 254 yards and three touchdowns in the Wildcats’ 37-32 victory over Oregon State.

The Beavers are facing questions at quarterback now that Lyle Moevao is back at practice after a slow recovery from rotator cuff surgery. Oregon State is 2-2 with Sean Canfield at QB.

At Arizona State, Danny Sullivan has completed less than 50 percent of his passes this season. Against Georgia last weekend, Sullivan completed 10 of 32 passes for 116 yards and an interception.

Sun Devils coach Dennis Erickson wasn’t ready to give up on Sullivan.

"He’s only played three football games so we’ll see what happens. I think he’s played pretty darn good and obviously his stats weren’t as good Saturday, but he did some awfully good things in that game too," Erickson said. "He made some throws at the end of the game that were pretty darn good.

"When you sit and evaluate everything that he does, everyday, like I do, it’s a little different than somebody from the outside watching a game."

Three other Pac-10 teams are starting freshmen quarterbacks this season: true freshman Matt Barkley at Southern California, and redshirt freshmen Kevin Prince at UCLA and Andrew Luck at Stanford.

WAIT, IS NOTRE DAME IN THE PAC-10?

There are four non-conference games left in the Pac-10 and all of them are against Notre Dame.

Washington, USC, Washington State and Stanford all play the Fighting Irish.

The Pac-10 is 19-7 against out-of-conference foes so far this season.

HONORS

Oregon tight end Ed Dickson, Arizona cornerback Devin Ross and Stanford kick returner Chris Owusu collected conference player of the week honors.

Dickson caught three touchdown passes in Oregon’s 42-3 upset win over California. Overall he had a career-high 11 receptions for 148 yards.

Ross had a game-high 12 tackles, seven solo, and an interception in Arizona’s 37-32 victory at Oregon State.

Owusu returned the opening kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown in Stanford’s 34-14 victory over Washington. Owusu has returned three kickoffs for touchdowns, tying the Pac-10 single season record.

Big Ten

Michigan, MSU put lid on news before showdown

Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez usually allows reporters to watch parts of practice on Wednesdays, including a pre-workout period in which the offense shows plays — including trick ones — it might use in the next game.

Not this week.

The 23rd-ranked Wolverines (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) play one of their rivals — Michigan State (1-3, 0-1) — and Rodriguez cut down the access.

"You never know who is going to be standing on the bridge trying to watch practice," he said. "I trust you all, but there might be someone that snuck in there from Lansing."

Rodriguez was joking — sort of.

Meanwhile, Michigan State closed its practices to the media for the third straight week. For the first time this season, it didn’t allow reporters to request specific players to interview after Tuesday’s practice. Instead, the school chose players to make available at its weekly news conference and did not allow interviews away from the podium.

"It’s Michigan week," coach Mark Dantonio said. "You want the focus to be there."

CHANGE IN ATMOSPHERE

After claiming half the Metrodome with their red-clad fans from across the border, the Wisconsin Badgers won’t be able to enjoy as much support when they play rival Minnesota on Saturday. That’s because the Gophers have moved into TCF Bank Stadium, a 50,000-seat jewel on campus that’s the hottest ticket in town.

"We know we have great fans, too, and now we have the platform to show it," Gophers QB Adam Weber said. "I think Wisconsin is going to be in for a little bit of a surprise with how great of an atmosphere it is, and how much different it is than the Metrodome."

The Gophers haven’t taken Paul Bunyan’s Axe since 2003 and were 6-7 against the Badgers at the Metrodome. The series is the most-played in college football history: Wisconsin and Minnesota have played 118 times, beginning in 1890, and have met every year since 1907.

TOUGH LOVE

Joe Paterno is trying to lift his team’s spirits after a disappointing loss to Iowa, but he’s not coddling them.

Penn State’s head coach was taken aback when asked Tuesday whether FB Joe Suhey was excited about returning to his home state of Illinois for Saturday’s game against the Illini.

"Really, you guys. We’ve got a football team that just got licked. If you think I’m going around saying, ‘Are you happy? Are you happy? Are you happy? What would you like to do?"’ Paterno said as snickers filled the media room.

"‘Would you like me to come over and brush your teeth for you tomorrow morning because you’re going to be going home?"’ Paterno continued in a mocking tone. "No, come on, knock it off, will you?"

Paterno did have some kind words for Suhey, who comes from what’s deemed as the "First Family" of Penn State football.

Suhey’s father, Matt, was a running back for Paterno in the late 1970s and went on to play for the Chicago Bears. His grandfather, Steve, starred at guard in the mid-1940s, playing under his father — and Joe Suhey’s great-grandfather, Bob Higgins, who was Penn State coach from 1930-48.

"He’s playing tough. He’s a good football player," Paterno said of Joe Suhey. "Well, I can’t compare him with his grandfather or his father. That’s not fair to the kid."

YOUNG HAWKS EMERGE

Iowa has had to insert youngsters in key spots on both sides of the ball, but their emergence has played a critical role in the Hawkeyes’ 4-0 start.

Freshman RBs Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher have combined to average 135.2 yards per game. Sophomore CB Shaun Prater has solidified his spot as a starter opposite Amari Spievey, and freshman LT Riley Reiff more than held his own while Bryan Bulaga missed three games with a thyroid condition.

Coach Kirk Ferentz was especially impressed with how his youngsters reacted to their first high-profile Big Ten game, a 21-10 win at then-No. 5 Penn State.

"I’m not real big on throwing bouquets out, but those guys have really done a great job," Ferentz said.

NO OFFENSE

Under new coordinator Mike Schultz, Illinois’ offense has fallen from one of the most productive in the Big Ten to one of the worst.

Head coach Ron Zook and QB Juice Williams say the switch from former coordinator Mike Locksley, who left for the head coaching spot at New Mexico, to Schultz, who came from high-scoring TCU, is the reason for the trouble.

"Obviously that’s the thing that’s different so that’s the thing everyone is going to point to," Zook said.

Illinois was third in scoring offense in the Big Ten last year at 28.7 points a game, tops in pass offense with 269.3 yards and fifth in rushing, averaging just shy of 170 yards every time they played.

This fall they’re third in rushing offense but last in scoring and passing.

In spite of a stable of receivers thought to be among the best in the conference, Williams isn’t throwing the ball downfield.

Williams says the Illini haven’t forgotten about the stretch pass. Defenses, he said, are just forcing them to throw short.

"We try to take advantage of the short things that we have and I think we’ve been doing a pretty good job at it so far," he said.

WILDCATS AND BOILERMAKERS

Purdue coach Danny Hope said the wildcat offense is causing problems for defenses not so much because of the formation but because of the additional personnel at a skill position.

"It’s nothing new to the game, but it’s a great edge in some ways and people are looking at it saying, ‘I’ve got another great player on my football team that I can put the ball in his hand without having to throw it to him,"’ Hope said. "It’s a way to spread the wealth."

QUICK-HITTERS

If Michigan State beats Michigan on Saturday at home, it will mark the first time it has won two straight in the rivalry since winning three in a row from 1965-67. ... The rest of Saturday’s schedule: Northwestern at Purdue, No. 9 Ohio State at Indiana and Arkansas State at No. 13 Iowa. ... Illinois preseason All-America WR Arrelious Benn hasn’t caught a touchdown pass since last Oct. 18 in a win over Indiana. ... Players of the week: Wisconsin QB Scott Tolzien, Iowa LB Pat Angerer, Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn.

-- Rusty Miller

Big East

Conference turning heads during nonconference season

The Big East coaches did the politically correct thing in the preseason after the conference failed to place a team in the Top 25.

Just wait, they said. We’ll prove it on the field.

A month into the season, the conference is doing just that.

The Big East is 21-7 against nonconference opponents so far, including a solid if not spectacular 5-6 mark against Bowl Championship Series opponents.

Cincinnati has climbed to 10th in the poll thanks in large part to a road win at Oregon State. South Florida turned in a stunning upset on the road at Florida State. Connecticut won at Baylor.

Even in defeat they’ve been respectable. West Virginia led early at Auburn before falling and North Carolina needed a fluke safety in the final minutes to hold off the Huskies.

"I think week in and week out, the Big East plays very good football and our record out of conference shows it," said Rutgers coach Greg Schiano. "If people have an issue with it, that’s your issue."

The most significant win may have come in Tallahassee last weekend, when South Florida and freshman quarterback B.J. Daniels beat the Seminoles 17-7 in the first meeting between the two schools.

South Florida coach Jim Leavitt, who grew up in the area and started the USF program from scratch, isn’t sure beating the Seminoles means the state’s "Big Three" — Florida State, Florida and Miami — is expanding to include the Bulls. But maybe it’s time to start thinking about it. South Florida gets a shot at the Hurricanes on Nov. 28.

"To even get in that discussion you need to beat one of them," Leavitt said. "Those guys have won national championships, we haven’t done that (but) I think maybe over coffee people might talk about South Florida more than they did before."

MY NAME, TOO

Before he played his first game at Cincinnati, tight end Ben Guidugli’s name already had a place of honor at the Bearcats’ football field.

The last name, anyway.

His older brother, Gino, set school records for passing attempts, completions and yards in 2002, and holds the career marks in those three categories. His 11,453 yards passing from 2001-04 are almost twice as many as anybody else had.

So, the university honored the northern Kentucky native by adding his name and No. 8 to the facing of the upper deck at Nippert Stadium, in the corner of one of the end zones. When it came time for the younger Guidugli to pick a college, he followed his brother.

"That helped my decision," Ben Guidugli said. "I was familiar with the place, had been around Nippert Stadium, knew some of the guys on the team my brother was friends with. Those things definitely helped. And the closeness to home — my parents could come to the games."

One drawback: It quickly grew tiresome being called Gino’s little brother.

"It still happens every once in a while," he said. "It doesn’t affect me like it used to. When I first got here, I was like, ‘Yeah, that stinks.’ He was a great player, so I’m not mad about it. But I’m trying to make a name for myself, so we’ll see. I’ve got this year and another year to go, so I’m trying to make the most of it."

Tight ends don’t get many chances to catch the ball in the Bearcats’ spread, no-huddle offense. Guidugli has six catches for 82 yards and a touchdown. Usually, quarterback Tony Pike looks for him when defenses begin to forget about him.

MAJOR HARRIS KUDOS

West Virginia plans to honor 1989 Heisman Trophy finalist Major Harris at Thursday night’s home game with Colorado and could end up feeding off the excitement of his introduction.

Harris was selected earlier this year for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

"It’s going to be great," West Virginia coach Bill Stewart said. "I know Morgantown’s excited. The old Gold-and-Blue nation should be excited. This is one of our great heroes of all time. It’s very deserving."

Behind Harris in 1988, the Mountaineers had their first 11-0 season and rose to a No. 3 ranking before losing to national champion Notre Dame 34-21 in the Fiesta Bowl. Harris hurt his shoulder early in that game and wasn’t much of a factor, but it didn’t diminish the impact he had on the program.

During his career, Harris built a reputation for impromptu running, just like Michael Vick would do years later at Virginia Tech and Pat White with the Mountaineers.

"Major Harris was way ahead of his time," Stewart said. "He just made things happen."

Stewart, who plans to attend the Hall of Fame induction dinner in New York in early December, was an assistant coach at Arizona State in the 1988 season and attended the Fiesta Bowl that season.

"It just broke my heart," Stewart said.

A STULL MOMENT

Bill Stull is thriving — finally — at Pittsburgh.

The senior quarterback, who was booed in the first half of the season-opener against Youngstown State, has bounced back to become one of the Big East’s best. He enters this week’s game at Louisville ranked 17th in the country in pass efficiency (159.21) and has thrown eight touchdowns against one interception.

"Nobody on our football team has been under more scrutiny on a day-to-day basis than Bill Stull," said coach Dave Wannstedt. "I think that he probably grew up a lot because he handled that type of adversity."

Wannstedt praised offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti for helping Stull regain his confidence, but added the senior has matured to the point where he doesn’t try to do too much to prove his doubters wrong.

"He tries to do what he can do to help us become a better football team," Wannstedt said.

FROMAN’S SPECIAL TREATMENT

Louisville quarterback Adam Froman’s unsuccessful bid to win the starting job during training camp hasn’t kept him from getting on the field.

Froman, a junior college transfer, worked on a couple of special teams units during Louisville’s 30-14 loss to Utah last weekend.

"He came to us and asked if he could get on the field in a couple of different ways," said Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe. "We put him on punt return units and then on kickoff return units and he did a great job for us."

Froman’s role could expand going forward. He practiced at wide receiver last week and Kragthorpe isn’t ruling out putting in a couple of Wildcat packages together to take advantage of Froman’s mobility.

Just don’t expect Froman to replace starting QB Justin Burke. Kragthorpe has been pleased with Burke’s play through three games and doesn’t want to rattle Burke’s confidence by giving Froman an extended cameo.

"I don’t want to have Justin looking over his shoulder thinking, ‘If I make a mistake, I’m out of the game,"’ Kragthorpe said. "That happens with a lot of quarterbacks and I don’t want that to happen to Justin."

AWARDS

Cincinnati wide receiver Mardy Gilyard’s breakout season continued against Fresno State. Gilyard had nine receptions for a career-high 177 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-20 win. Gilyard finished with 226 all-purpose yards to earn Big East offensive player of the week honors. Gilyard was selected as the Big East special teams player of the week earlier this month.

South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul was defensive player of the week for his role in the Bulls’ upset of Florida State. The junior had four tackles, three tackles-for-loss and a sack in the fourth quarter as the Bulls held the Seminoles to 288 yards of total offense, including 19 yards rushing.

Rutgers punter Teddy Delaganna won special teams player of the week for his play in a win over Maryland. Delaganna averaged 40.6 yards on five punts and forced three Maryland drives to start inside the 12.

-- Will Graves

ACC

After Wake Forest, NC State takes on U2 traffic

RALEIGH, N.C. — Tom O’Brien and North Carolina State are bracing for another potential headache — one that could be just as tricky as Wake Forest’s offense.

After playing the Demon Deacons Saturday afternoon in Winston-Salem, the Wolfpack will have to navigate U2 concert traffic on their bus ride home. The rock band is performing at N.C. State’s home field, Carter-Finley Stadium, in front of some 60,000 fans.

"They’re going to have to bus us in here somehow," O’Brien said.

The N.C. State coach isn’t overly concerned damage to the Wolfpack’s grass playing field. Back-to-back U2 shows in Chicago left the turf at Soldier Field shredded, and by the time the Bears played their next game there, the surface had been resodded.

"I probably shouldn’t be so quick to say no, but it’s been done in the past, and I know there haven’t been problems," O’Brien said. "We won’t know until it happens."

O’Brien was the grand marshal of this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in Raleigh, but he shrugged off a suggestion to sneak into the stadium and listen to noted Irishman Bono.

"I really don’t know too much about (U2) ... but (my son) asked me if I was still alive when the Steve Miller Band was playing," O’Brien quipped. "I told him, ‘No, I’m still brain dead. I haven’t been around since then."’

JAYBO IS BACK

Georgia Tech’s Jaybo Shaw is expected to return and could give quarterback Josh Nesbitt a break this weekend against Mississippi State.

Nesbitt had a career-high 32 carries for 97 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s win over North Carolina, but looked winded late in the game. Shaw, back from broken collarbone, could give coach Paul Johnson a chance to allow Nesbitt a breather.

"It might be a situation where we can give Josh a series (off)," Johnson said. "I think it’s always good if you can get over on the side and watch a series if things aren’t going great.

"Jaybo was playing really well when he got hurt so it will be interesting to see how he comes back. You certainly have a comfort level with him because he knows what is going on and he knows what is supposed to be happening."

FILLING BIG SHOES

Linebacker Jonathan Jones has an unenviable task at Wake Forest — replacing first-round draft pick Aaron Curry.

The fifth-year senior has started all four games in the spot that used to be filled by Curry, who was the fourth overall pick in the NFL draft. Jones has 19 tackles.

Still, Jones isn’t letting the pressure of who held the job before get to him. Instead, he’s kept in contact with Curry by text messages while gathering all the advice he can get.

"It’s not as bad as I guess people would think it would be," Jones said. "I think that partly has to do with I know what I’m up against and I know the situation. I’m not under the impression by any means that I’m replacing Aaron Curry. That’s an impossible task.

"I’m just striving to be the best I can be."

A SPITTING IMAGE

Under coordinator Bud Foster, Virginia Tech’s defense has finished in the top five — first twice and fourth twice — in defense in the past five seasons.

So Foster was understandably displeased when they fell to 77th overall in the nation two weeks ago.

After being challenged by the coach to live up to tradition, the Hokies rebounded last week by holding No. 17 Miami to 209 yards.

Linebacker Cody Grimm said Foster’s methods aren’t always pleasant, but effective.

"I don’t wear a visor, but you would hope to have a visor on usually because stuff will be flying in your face as he gets going," Grimm said of Foster’s rants. "He can coach hard.

"When he’s (angry), you don’t want to be in the front of the huddle. He always messes around about it as well, but he’ll start yelling and sometimes a little saliva might get on you. ... Whenever he gets on you like that, you have to learn from it and realize that he’s yelling at you for a reason — he wants you to play the best football that you can."

DILLON MATH

Clemson defensive coordinator Kevin Steele put his math skills to good use Tuesday. Then again, the Dillon, S.C., native says he’s got a lot to live up to.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke grew up in Steele’s South Carolina hometown. Steele and his best friend, LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis, attended Dillon High along with Bernanke’s younger brother, Seth.

"John and I tutored (Ben) in math a little bit," Steele said.

Truly? he was asked, before Steele flashed the universal look that meant he’d hooked you in.

Steele said the current Fed chairman was older "and wiser" than he and Chavis.

Steele’s making his hometown proud with the way his defense has played so far. It held Boston College to just 54 yards total two weeks ago and limited No. 11 TCU to two touchdowns in a 14-10 Clemson loss last Saturday.

Steele was discussing Clemson’s points-per-game average, calling it "Dillon math."

"Of course, Bernanke’s from Dillon, so maybe I shouldn’t have said that," Steele said.

-- Joedy McCreary

SEC

McElroy focusing on wins, not Heisman talk

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Greg McElroy for Heisman?

Barely a month into his career as a starter, No. 3 Alabama’s quarterback is putting up strong enough numbers that Heisman Trophy talk is starting up. At least at his own Sunday night cookouts with buddies.

"They were giving me a hard time about it, saying ‘Oh yeah, New York’ and all that stuff," McElroy said.

Playing for a national title contender helps any player’s chances of getting to New York for the presentation.

McElroy’s numbers have been impressive if not dazzling, too. His 175.2 rating is third nationally in passing efficiency. Since a rough opening half in his first career start against Virginia Tech, McElroy has thrown for 844 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions while completing 76 percent of his passes.

While he is flattered by the Heisman buzz, McElroy says that’s not his focus.

"It’s nice to get recognition for an award like that, but we’re here to win championships not individual awards," McElroy said. "I think the only way that your name can get mentioned for a thing like that is having your team play well around you. ... It’s not something I’m going to be thinking about or consciously worrying about."

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban isn’t set to launch a Heisman campaign for his junior quarterback either.

"I don’t think about things like that," Saban said. "If you play well and you win, those kinds of things seem to take care of themselves. I know in this day and age we’re all concerned about how we market things and ourselves. But we’re concerned about how well we do as a team, and I know Mac is as well."

JOB SHARING

Georgia’s starting tailback is ... well, the Bulldogs say it doesn’t really matter.

Coach Mark Richt expects Richard Samuel and Caleb King to share the load again when No. 18 Georgia (3-1, 2-0 SEC) hosts fourth-ranked LSU on Saturday.

Samuel has started every game this season, the first two while King was sidelined by a sore hamstring that cost him most of the preseason. But they have largely shared the load over the last two games: Samuel has run 27 times for 129 yards, while King has 22 carries for 114 yards.

"Richard and Caleb are going to be the guys," Richt said. "Right now, they’re 50-50 in my mind."

"I’m all right with that," Samuel said. "He’s a good back. There’s no reason he shouldn’t be on the field to help with the running game. I expected that."

Georgia’s running game ranks next-to-last in the SEC at 112.2 yards per game.

CAN YOU SPARE A LB?

No. 21 Mississippi is dangerously thin at linebacker.

Injuries have sidelined two of the team’s top three reserves, including D.T. Shackelford, a true freshman who was becoming one of the Rebels’ top playmakers before spraining his ankle against South Carolina.

Shackelford is questionable for this week’s game at Vanderbilt. Also out is Lamar Brumfield (foot/ankle), leaving just true freshman Joel Kight to spell starters Jonathan Cornell, Patrick Trahan and Allen Walker.

"D.T. is still hobbling along," coach Houston Nutt said. "We don’t know yet. We don’t think that he will be ready but we don’t know."

Shackelford returned an interception for a touchdown and two fumble recoveries against Southeastern Louisiana two weeks ago and has a knack for finding the ball.

"We have never had two freshmen linebackers like Joel Kight and D.T. Shackelford," Nutt said. "They are just outstanding guys who are relentless and big playmakers."

BATTERED AND BRUISED

Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson can’t remember ever seeing so many major and minor injuries hit a team a month into a season, a count that is up to at least nine for the Commodores.

Defensive end Steven Stone hurt his foot in the preseason and won’t be back Saturday against No. 21 Mississippi. Linebacker Brandon Bryant (leg) and receiver Justin Wheeler (knee) were lost for the season early. Linebacker Michael Garcia and safety Jay Fullam are out indefinitely.

Then Johnson lost two starters for the season, safety Ryan Hamilton and right tackle James Williams, in a loss at LSU. Receiver John Cole (broken hand) and safety Sean Richardson (torn tendon in thumb) had surgery last Sunday.

That has left coaches scrambling and players learning new positions.

It doesn’t help that Vanderbilt (2-2, 0-2) has no open date this season, playing 12 straight weeks.

"It would be nice to have it this week. We’d probably have a chance to get some guys back ... We’re not going to cry about it," Johnson said.

STICKING TO THE SCRIPT

Kentucky offensive head coach Joker Phillips, like a lot of coaches, puts together a script of 10-15 plays to use early in the game.

Considering the way the Wildcats sputtered early in a 41-7 loss to top-ranked Florida, expect there to be a rewrite before Kentucky faces Alabama Saturday.

The Wildcats ran 12 plays in the first quarter against Florida and finished with minus-1 yard. Compounding the problem was five penalties, most of them false start or procedure penalties caused by confusion at the line of scrimmage when quarterback Mike Hartline called an audible.

"When you’re changing plays at the line of scrimmage, you have to get that play in quick," coach Rich Brooks said. "You have to get lined up and you have to give your quarterback enough time to make those changes."

That didn’t happen against the Gators. But Brooks said he can live with a slow start against Alabama — minus the sloppy mistakes.

"We’re going to change fewer plays," Brooks said. "So if we get stoned on a few plays in the early part of the game, you’ll know we didn’t change it."

-- John Zenor