Southeastern Conference Eastern Division notebook

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Posted 7:17AM on Thursday, September 5, 2002

A look at the teams in the Southeastern Conference Eastern division teams as they prepare for Saturday's games: FLORIDA It's taken three seasons, 20 games and a couple of injuries, but finally, Florida defensive lineman Arpedge Rolle has cracked the starting lineup. And what a game to be a starter against top-ranked Miami on Saturday. ``All this hard work finally paid off,'' Rolle said. Like so many who enroll at No. 6 Florida (1-0), Rolle was a standout high school player who expected to have a big impact right away. He played a little his freshman season, 1999, before a knee injury sidelined him at the end of the year. In 2000, he reinjured the knee, and the loss of practice time shuffled him down the depth chart. He was barely a factor last season, playing in just six of 11 games and making only two tackles. Friends and family urged him to transfer, and not waste his eligibility on the bench. But Rolle wouldn't think of it. ``To me, it doesn't help running away from anything,'' Rolle said. ``I knew I'd get the opportunity to show I can play football.'' The opportunity came when a new coaching staff came in. Defensive line coach Red Anderson told all the players he couldn't judge their previous seasons, only their most recent practice. GEORGIA Coach Mark Richt isn't worried about starting quarterback David Greene, who struggled in the season-opening victory over Clemson. Greene, the Southeastern Conference freshman of the year in 2001, threw for only 67 yards against the Tigers his lowest total in 13 college starts. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman D.J. Shockley ran for one touchdown and passed for another in his college debut. ``I know what David Greene can do,'' Richt said. ``He's going to have better performances that he had on Saturday, and I'm sure there's going to be times when Shockley is not as sharp as he was.'' Greene will continue to get most of the playing time when No. 10 Georgia (1-0) plays its SEC opener at South Carolina on Sept. 14. The Bulldogs are off this weekend. Shockley, who played three series against Clemson, is expected to get more snaps against the Gamecocks. ``We realize they're both good ballplayers who are both capable of helping us win,'' Richt said. ``That's why we're playing them both.'' KENTUCKY It didn't take redshirt freshman kicker Taylor Begley long to make an impact in his first college game. The 6-foot, 200-pounder out of Kentucky prep powerhouse Boyle County High School made three field goals in the Wildcats' 22-17 upset of Louisville. Begley drilled his first attempt - a 41-yarder - with 3:38 to play in the first quarter to put Kentucky up 10-0. After Louisville scored 17 straight points to take its first lead of the game, Begley calmly booted a 32-yarder with 1:02 to play in the third quarter to put the Wildcats back on top, 19-17. He had a chance to extend the lead but pulled a 34-yard attempt wide right with 9:01 remaining. He bounced back to hit a 31-yarder five minutes later to complete the scoring. Begley's clutch performance earned the SEC special teams player of the week award, the first for a Kentucky player since November 1999. Kentucky (1-0) plays its home opener Saturday against Texas-El Paso. TENNESSEE Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer wanted to see his defense have more interceptions this season. The No. 4 Volunteers (1-0) got off to a good start by picking off three passes against Wyoming in the season opener. Tennessee returns home to face Middle Tennessee (0-1) on Saturday. ``I'd like to say we had a lot to do with it, but a couple of them were bad plays on their part,'' Fulmer said. ``Where the difference is right now is in the attitude of our defensive backs. They've taken that to heart.'' Last year Tennessee recorded 12 interceptions, four by safety Rashad Baker. Baker recorded the sixth interception of his career when he picked off Wyoming quarterback Casey Bramlet. ``The break Rashad made was really good. That was special. That we have coached and coached hard,'' Fulmer said. Strong safety Julian Battle also made a nice interception, the third of his career. Linebacker Keyon Whiteside got his first career interception, but it was mainly because he was in the right place at the right time. ``The pass that Keyon caught stuck in his pads. It was a nice interception and all. He was in the right spot,'' Fulmer said. VANDERBILT New coach Bobby Johnson is already shuffling his offensive line. Jordan Pettit broke both bones in his lower right leg in last week's 45-3 loss to Georgia Tech. He had surgery Sunday and will miss the rest of the season. Sophomore Brian Kovolisky has replaced Pettit at right guard, and his backup will be redshirt freshman Nigel Seaman. Freshman Steven Brent now will work as a backup center with Mac Pyle working at tackle. But at least Johnson will get some help back on defense. Linebacker Brandon Walthour (broken thumb) and tackle Brett Beard (sprained ankle) should play Saturday night against Furman, Johnson's former school. SOUTH CAROLINA The Gamecocks defense sure could use those four guys who are now in the NFL. No. 22 South Carolina gave up 419 yards in its season-opening victory over lowly New Mexico State. The Aggies were especially effective on the ground, rushing for 212 yards. ``Looking at it defensively, let me cover the positives,'' coach Lou Holtz said. A brief pause followed. ``Now that I've done that, let me cover some of the negative things.'' Maybe it was only natural that South Carolina's defense has slipped. Linebacker Kalimba Edwards, defensive back Willie Offord and cornerbacks Andre Goodman and Sheldon Brown all were picked in the second and third rounds of the NFL draft. Two years ago, South Carolina shut out the Aggies 31-0. On Saturday, the Gamecocks gave up more yards than they did in all but two games last season.