SEC East notebook

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Posted 5:46AM on Thursday, November 11, 2004

FLORIDA: Eraste Autin will be honored during Florida's Senior Day ceremony even though he never played for the Gators. A 240-pound fullback, Autin collapsed and died six days after becoming ill following a summer workout before his freshman season in July 2001. The Gators have worn a black patch emblazoned with ``A-Ross'' on their jerseys in every game since, and will continue to do so through this season. Autin would have been a senior this year, and the school has decided to honor his family along with several others before Florida's homecoming game against South Carolina on Saturday night. ``It's been tough, but we remember him,'' offensive lineman Lance Butler said. ``I think about him all the time.'' TENNESSEE: The 15th-ranked Volunteers are idle this weekend and hope the week off will give some injured players time to recover for the final two regular season games. Tennessee (7-2, 5-1) lost a second quarterback to injury in a 17-13 loss to Notre Dame over the weekend. Freshman Erik Ainge separated his right shoulder a week after Brent Schaeffer broke his collarbone. Junior Rick Clausen, the younger brother of former UT quarterback Casey Clausen, will be the starter through the end of season and likely the SEC championship if the Vols make it there by beating Vanderbilt and Kentucky. Other players hurt include punt returner Derrick Tinsley, who broke a bone in his leg and will miss the rest of his senior season. Center Jason Respert didn't play last week because of a sprained ankle, and his replacement, Chuck Prugh, sprained his ankle against Notre Dame but kept playing. Offensive tackle Arron Sears has started at three different spots on the line this season while harboring his own ankle injury. Guard Cody Douglas has been playing with a sprained foot. SOUTH CAROLINA: For the past few seasons, Gamecock fans begin speculating about this time of year whether 67-year-old coach Lou Holtz will retire. Holtz, who is in his sixth season with South Carolina (6-3, 4-3), hasn't said one way or the other. But previously he has said the decision is made after the season when he has a chance to step away. That hasn't slowed speculation that former Florida coach Steve Spurrier could be a possible successor. And Holtz added to the talk this week with his endorsement of Spurrier, saying it would be ``great'' for South Carolina. ``I can understand why he would want to come here,'' Holtz said. ``I can also understand why they would want him. But I also understand the job's not open.'' Holtz also said there are good head coaching candidates on his current staff, which includes defensive coordinator Rick Minter, secondary coach Ron Cooper and running backs coach Dave Roberts all of whom are former Division I coaches. And don't forget about Holtz' son Skip, the quarterbacks coach, who was widely viewed as the successor until Skip's demotion prior to this season. VANDERBILT: Commodores coach Bobby Johnson can't remember the last time Vanderbilt won on the road in the SEC. That's probably because Johnson, in his third year, wasn't yet the coach when the Commodores beat Kentucky 24-20 in Lexington in 2000. ``We have a very good goal for our guys to shoot for,'' Johnson said. ``We're trying for an SEC road win and we haven't had one of those in a long, long time. I don't know when the last one was, to tell you the truth.'' The last time was 15 conference road games ago, coach. But the Commodores (2-7, 1-5) are optimistic against fellow SEC East doormat Kentucky (1-8, 0-6). Vandy has won seven of the last 13 meetings against Kentucky, including Johnson's first SEC win in last year's 28-17 victory in Nashville. The only other conference wins since 1995 were at Mississippi and South Carolina in 1999. ``It's a very viable goal for us, and one that should inspire us,'' Johnson said. KENTUCKY: Coach Rich Brooks said although the score might not indicate it, the Wildcats' offensive line played reasonably well in a 62-17 loss to Georgia last Saturday. Kentucky's 344 yards of offense may not seem like much, but it was the Wildcats' second-highest output of the season. Kentucky (1-8, 0-6) also didn't give up any sacks, after surrendering 12 against Auburn and Mississippi State. ``We didn't give up a sack against some very good pass rushers,'' Brooks said. ``We had one of our better offensive productions against a very talented and skilled defensive football team.'' One difference from previous games is that senior Jason Rollins moved from left guard to center to replace Matt McCutchan, a walk-on who is dealing with a nagging Achilles tendon injury. Rollins probably will start at center this week against Vanderbilt, Brooks said. Sophomore guard Trai Williams, who replaced Rollins, made his first career start against Georgia and is listed atop the depth chart again this week. True freshman Aaron Miller moved into the starting lineup at left tackle early in the season. ``You just think about the positive things you did in the last game and see if you can build on that, see if you can be more consistent at it,'' Miller said.