Ainge or no Ainge, Cal readies for Vols
Cal Coach Jeff Tedford said the uncertainty surrounding Tennessee's quarterback situation won't alter how the Bears prepare for Saturday's season opener at Memorial Stadium.
Tennessee starting quarterback Erik Ainge suffered a broken pinkie on his throwing hand this week, but Coach Phillip Fulmer said Erik Ainge will still start against the Bears. Backup Jonathan Crompton has been getting more practice with the first team in case Erik Ainge can't play or is ineffective.
"We have to prepare for the team," Tedford said. "I'm sure they'll run the same offense. (Crompton) has some experience."
Erik Ainge torched Cal for 291 yards and four touchdowns during Tennessee's 35-18 victory last season. Crompton, who was a top recruit coming out of high school, got into seven games last year, including one start.
Although Erik Ainge has been limited in practice, he has said he will be ready Saturday.
"The pinkie doesn't do that much when you're throwing the ball," said Tedford, a former Canadian Football League quarterback.
• Craig Steltz had three of Louisiana State's six interceptions thrown by Mississippi State quarterback Michael Henig, and the second-ranked Tigers manhandled the Bulldogs 45-0 Thursday in Starkville, Miss.
New LSU quarterback Matt Flynn finished 12 of 19 for 128 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers in his second career start.
It was LSU's eighth win in a row in the series with the Bulldogs. Since Mississippi State's last win in
1999, LSU has outscored the Bulldogs 340-81, including three shutouts by 42 or more points.
Mississippi State has lost 12 games in a row to top 10 opponents and 11 of its past 13 home games.
LSU's Steltz, Curtis Taylor, Jonathan Zenon and Danny McCray had interceptions in the first half, and Steltz added two more in the second half. The Tigers needed the help as a stout Bulldogs defense held them scoreless on every drive but one that wasn't set up by a turnover.
• Quarterback Brian Brohm threw for 375 yards and four touchdowns and ran for a score as 10th-ranked Louisville drilled Murray State 73-10.
Brian Brohm led host Louisville to touchdowns on each of the Cardinals' first eight drives. Louisville rolled up 655 yards of total offense, averaging a touchdown every four plays in the first half.
Harry Douglas caught five passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns, the first on Louisville's first play from scrimmage, the other on Louisville's first play from scrimmage in the second half.
• Ray Rice rushed for 184 yards and three touchdowns, Tiquan Underwood had 10 catches for a school-record 248 yards, and Mike Teel passed for 328 yards as No. 16 Rutgers routed Buffalo 38-3 in Piscataway, N.J.
• Ian Johnson ran for 129 yards and three touchdowns and Taylor Tharp was steady in his first start at quarterback, guiding No. 24 Boise State past Weber State 56-7 in Boise, Idaho.
Coming off an undefeated season, the Broncos ran their winning streak to 14 games - the longest in major-college football.
• Chase Holbrook threw four touchdown passes and defensive end Brandon McKinney returned an interception 68 yards for a score in New Mexico State's 35-14 victory over Southeastern Louisiana in Las Cruces, N.M.
• Frank Summers scored on an 11-yard run with 1:02 remaining and UNLV rallied to win its first road game in nearly three years, beating Utah State 23-16 in Logan, Utah.
• Yvenson Bernard ran for 165 yards and two touchdowns and Oregon State opened the season with a 24-7 victory over Utah in Corvallis, Ore.
• Omar Cuff scored seven touchdowns to tie a Division I-AA record and lead Delaware to a 49-31 victory over William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va.
• Former Oklahoma quarterback Rhett Bomar threw for one touchdown and ran for another as Sam Houston State defeated Angelo State 17-13 in Huntsville, Texas.
• Former USC running back Emmanuel Moody enrolled at Florida on Thursday.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound sophomore from Texas decided to transfer from USC after getting caught in a glut of highly touted tailbacks.
Gators Coach Urban Meyer recruited Moody two years ago.
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