Erik Ainge Personal Bio:
Erik Ainge comes from a strong family history of success in athletics. His father, Doug Ainge, attended Brigham Young University on a basketball scholarship and is currently a basketball coach at Linfield College. His grandfather, Don Ainge, was drafted by the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball; he declined their offer. He also earned a football/basketball scholarship to the University of Oregon in 1954-55. His uncle, Danny Ainge, is a former professional basketball and baseball player who starred in the NBA for the Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns, and also played Major League Baseball for the Toronto Blue Jays. Danny is currently the director of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics.
Erik Ainge Bio in College:
As a freshman at UT in 2004, Erik Ainge threw 17 touchdown passes in 9 games, breaking Peyton Manning's freshman TD record of 15. His 1,452 passing yards ranked second behind Manning in UT freshman history. Erik Ainge split time for much of the year with Brent Schaeffer, who later transferred to Ole Miss. After an injury just before halftime against Notre Dame, Erik Ainge was replaced by former University of Tennessee quarterback Casey Clasuen's brother Rick.
In 2005, Erik Ainge sophomore season, he threw 5 touchdown passes and 7 interceptions. One of his most infamous moments was in a game against LSU where Erik Ainge was being sacked in the end zone and flung the ball up into the air just before he was ruled down for a safety. The ball was intercepted on the 2 yard line and run back for a touchdown. Erik Ainge's head also rammed the goalpost on the play, tweaking his neck. The injury was not serious but he was sidelined by coach Phillip Fulmer for the remainder of the game. As a result, Senior QB Rick Clausen took over as the starting QB until the final game of the season. Erik Ainge finished his sophomore season with a strong performance and a win at Kentucky.
As a junior in 2006, Erik Ainge was named the starter heading into spring practice, and for the first time in his career was able to take all of the first team reps throughout the preseason. Erik Ainge also had a new position coach and offensive coordinator when David Cutcliffe replaced Randy Sanders. Erik Ainge led his team to 7-1 record before being injured in the closing minutes of a game against South Carolina. Erik Ainge would then miss the majority of the next two losses for Tennessee before returning to lead his team to season-ending wins against Vanderbilt and Kentucky. During the season Erik Ainge would set career highs in most statistical categories and break the Tennessee single-season record for completion percentage. Erik Ainge now owns a 17-5 record as a starter. The 2007 Outback Bowl was the first bowl appearance for Erik Ainge . He had a solid outing in a 20-10 loss to Penn State. Erik Ainge missed the 2005 Cotton Bowl due to injury, and the Vols did not qualify for a bowl game following his sophomore season.
On March 8, 2007 it was reported that Erik Ainge would have to undergo surgery for a torn meniscus. Erik Ainge stated that the injury occurred during weight-lifting exercise. It remains unclear what effect this will have on his 2007 season. A similar injury to former Vols receiver Robert Meachem caused him to miss his entire freshman season. Rivals.com named Erik Ainge as one of the top-10 quarterbacks going into the 2007 season.
Erik Ainge Bio in High School:
Erik Ainge was a star athlete at Glencoe High School in Hillsboro, Oregon. As a freshman and sophomore, he played baseball and basketball in addition to football. Erik Ainge was the starting pitcher on his baseball team and was said to throw a 90 mph fastball. He also averaged 17 points, 8 rebounds, and three assists in basketball as a junior, and as a senior was a preseason honorable mention on the Street and Smith's All-American team. He was a two-year starter at quarterback on the football team, leading the Crimson Tide as deep as the Oregon state quarterfinals. As a junior Erik Ainge passed for 2,559 yards and 16 touchdowns. As a senior, he passed for 3,078 yards, 24 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. Perhaps Erik Ainge most impressive game as a senior came against Aloha High School, when he passed for 475 yards, 5 touchdowns and no interceptions to lead the Crimson Tide to 62 points through three quarters of action. Following Erik Ainge senior season Ainge was named all-state, prep star all-American, and the 2003 Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year. During Erik Ainge senior season Ainge also became one of the most highly recruited quarterbacks on the west coast receiving offers from schools like Oregon, Arizona State, UCLA, and Tennessee. Erik Ainge eventually signed with the University of Tennessee.
