It’s only an NFL exhibition game tonight in Charlotte, N.C., but it’s an intriguing matchup for those who’ll also be interested in Saturday’s Memphis-Ole Miss football game.

The Carolina Panthers play host to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a rather meaningless NFL tuneup, but the Mid-South football connections will offer some intrigue.

Pittsburgh is in its first season with former Tiger graduate assistant Mike Tomlin as head coach. Former Tiger linebacker Keith Butler is a defensive assistant and former Tiger offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner is in his first season as the Steelers’ receivers coach.

It was Fichtner who was credited with recruiting DeAngelo Williams to the U of M. Williams, who holds practically every Tiger rushing record and remains one of the top rushing backs in NCAA history, is in his second season with the Panthers.

Ole Miss has several players on the Panther roster, including cornerback Ken Lucas and receiver Taye Biddle, who has had a strong preseason and is expected to make the Carolina 53-man squad.

Unfortunately for Mid-South football fans, the game will not be available in this market. The NFL Network is showing Buffalo at Detroit and San Francisco at San Diego. ESPN and ESPN2 are, understandably, covering the opening night of college football.

Next time you visit the Pickwick Dam tailrace to fish for striped bass, be sure to take at least one ultra-light rod-and-reel with you.

The stripers have been unpredictable below Pickwick Dam this year - and when they’re not biting, you’re in for a really dull trip.

Unless you’re prepared to fish for skipjack.
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THE BIG STORY
Florida senior offensive lineman Phil Trautwein, a preseason first-team All-Southeastern Conference left tackle and team captain, suffered a stress fracture in his foot. He’ll miss the season opener Saturday against Western Kentucky and possibly more time.

Trautwein had been bothered with a minor ankle sprain that he rested a couple of weeks ago. He had played through the injury. Trautwein, a fourth-year senior, has a medical redshirt year available, and stress fractures take more than two months to heal. His foot is in a cast.
“We’ll know more here the next couple of days, the length of it,” Florida coach Urban Meyer said following Wednesday’s practice. “But that’s what they tell me. He’s in a cast.”

“It’s a big loss, a huge loss,” Meyer said, “but the good thing is it’s an area where there’s a little bit of depth, a little bit of competition.”

With Trautwein out, junior Jason Watkins will move back to left tackle, Carlton Medder will move out to right tackle from right guard and freshman Maurkice Pouncey will start at right guard. Pouncey is the first true-freshman offensive lineman to start a season opener at Florida since Reggie Green started at left tackle in 1992.

A look at the league: Read the rest of this entry »