Thursday news

Here's what's in papers around the OVC today. First, stories about the teams in action tonight:

The Birmingham (Ala.) News takes a brief looks at Samford's contest tonight against Miles College. The paper says Samford's passing attack may be challenged by an experienced Miles Secondary.

The (Cookeville, Tenn.) Herald-Citizen says Doug Malone, Tennessee Tech's acting head coach, is adjusting to the idea that he'll be on the sidelines and not in the booth at tonight's opener with UT-Chattanooga.

Now, for the rest of the league:

The (Clarksville, Tenn.) Leaf Chronicle says Austin Peay State's offensive line is a force to be reckoned with this fall.

The (Charleston, Ill.) Journal Gazette/Times-Courier has a trio of Eastern Illinois stories today. First, an update on coach Bob Spoo, whose surgery Tuesday in St. Louis appears to have gone well. Another story says EIU and Illinois players used to get together for pickup 7-on-7 sames a few years ago, but stopped after things got a little testy between the teams. Eastern apparently is going in with the right mindset: “I don’t want people to use it as an excuse Saturday when we beat them that they’re going through a coaching change,” linebacker Donnell Thomas told the paper. “I want them to bring their best because we’re bringing our best come Sept. 2.” In a cloumn today, sports editor Brian Nielsen says the game against Illinois is drawing much more media attention the Panthers' way this week. That's ironic, he notes, because as big a game as this is, the dates against Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State mean much more.

He's right about that attention, too. Here's two EIU stories I've found: The Peoria (Ill.) Journal Star looks at local product Jon Rueter, now a senior right guard for the Panthers. The Springfield (Ill.) Journal-Register carries the same story.

The Richmond (Ky.) Register today looks at EKU's special teams units, a group that acquitted itself well last year despite a lack of experience. Now, all the specialists are back and ready to their part in the hunt for an OVC title for the Colonels.

The Anniston (Ala.) Star (sorry, subscribers only) today looks at the big question mark in Jax State's offense: backup quarterback Shea Allen. The redshirt freshman plans to give the best answer he can in the Gamecocks' opener Saturday at Furman. Coach Jack Crowe plans to play him in the third series of the game, if all is going well.

The Gadsden (Ala.) Times, meanwhile, looks at JSU's #1 quarterback, Matt Hardin, who plans to answer questions about his size (he's listed at 5' 8 ") with touchdown passes.

The Murray (Ky.) Ledger & Times notes that sophomore Ryne Salyer will start at quarterback in Saturday's opener at Missouri. Coach Matt Griffin made the call on Monday. Salyer played in every game of the Racers' 2-9 season in 2005, starting in five games.

The (Nashville) Tennessean says Javarris Williams has his regained his starting running back slot. Williams became the #2 back behind Maurice Young when he showed up to camp out of shape. Apparently the coaches kicked his butt in camp, and now he's ready to go Saturday against Alabama A&M.

The Huntsville (Ala.) Times, meanwhile, looks at all the transfers TSU will have when it lines up accross from A&M. Sportswriter Reggie Benson calls them "Division I transfers." While that's technically correct, I'm sure he means "I-A transfers." TSU is a Division I team, Reggie, as is A&M.

And the Jackson (Tenn.) Sun finally checks in on the UT-Martin Skyhawks, just as the season is set to begin. The paper says new head coach Jason Simpson is happy to be worrying about football after some off-thefield shenanigans during the offseason. In another story, the paper says freshman Markei Guy has a lot to adjust to at UTM: the speed of the college game, a new position (he's a cornerback, after playing running back in high school). He won't however, have to adjust the stadium or life in a dorm. Guy played for Westview High, which uses UTM's stadium for home games, and he's still living with his folks.