So what would you do?

Desperately short on linebackers, will the University of Memphis play junior Greg Jackson Saturday against East Carolina, thereby foregoing an opportunity for a redshirt season?

Jackson, the team’s best linebacker, was injured in the Tigers’ second game of the season against 1-AA Jacksonville State at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The slow-healing knee injury kept Jackson sidelined until Wednesday of this week.

Tiger coach Tommy West admitted Jackson practiced as if he’d been out since the second week of the season, but he practiced. And if he practiced, I wouldn’t be surprised if Jackson makes an appearance Saturday.

West had indicated a desire to redshirt Jackson, but if the Tigers intend to return to the postseason, six wins may not be enough. The 4-4 Tigers may need to beat either East Carolina Saturday, or Southern Miss next weekend in Hattiesburg, before closing against UAB and SMU.

I am one of those who doesn’t get really keyed up for basketball until the football season is over. With that said, I’m really stoked about the Tigers taking the floor on Monday night. I’m pushing 50 and knowing that our Tigers are the #1 team in the country in quite a few polls just makes me all warm inside.

Look for the Tigers passing game to really pick up Saturday night. East Carolina has one of the worst pass defenses in the country. Martin Hankins completed at least 2 passes to 9 different guys last Saturday afternoon. If the Tigers can move it around like that this weekend we’ll eat some tacos big time.

Another season of college football and another non-BCS school is closing in on an undefeated season. It just makes me mad that these teams never get their due by the national media. I think if you’re unbeaten then you warrant consideration for the national championship game. It is possible that the top 10 in the BCS could have two loss teams in the running. There will be something seriously flawed if a team with two losses plays for the title with an unbeaten Hawaii getting passed over.

I’m stating the obvious here but to clarify for some of my buddies out there. The Tigers are a pass to set up the run offense.
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The news out of Chattanooga is good for three area girls soccer teams.

In Class AAA, Collierville is going to its third consecutive title match. The 2005 state champions and 2006 state runnerups got a early second-half goal by Jamie Neal and held on for a 1-0 semifinal win over Oak Ridge. The Lady Dragons (20-0-5) are ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 6 in the in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas high school poll.

Coach Bill Gillespie’s squad will take on Murfreesboro Siegel or Knoxville Bearden in Saturday’s championship match.

In Division 2 semifinal action, Harding Academy and St. George’s won semifinal matches to set up an all-Memphis championship in Chattanooga on Friday for the state D2-A title. Harding Academy’s Alex Black scored in the 36th minute to give the Lady Lions a 1-0 halftime lead, and Chelsea Brandon and Black scored in the second half as Harding (15-4-1) beat the University School of Nashville, 3-0 in one Div. 2-A semifinal game.

St. George’s defeated Lausanne 3-1 in the other semifinal. Adeline Brown had a hat trick for the Gryphons, scoring in the 3rd, 66th and 75th minutes.

In Division 2-AA action ECS dropped a 1-0 decision to Chattanooga Baylor in a semifinal match.

THE BIG STORY

Darren McFadden and Felix Jones are arguably the nation’s top running back tandem, so it’s only fitting that they dressed up for Halloween as two cartoon characters known for being pals.

McFadden arrived Wednesday afternoon at the University of Arkansas student union looking like Fred Flintstone in a black wig, blue tie and leopard-print outfit. As usual, Jones played McFadden’s sidekick. In this case, he dressed up as Barney Rubble and walked around campus in a yellow wig and brown ensemble looking like Fred Flintstone’s prehistoric friend.

“I like (the) Mario Brothers myself, but The Flintstones worked,” Jones told the Northwest Arkansas Times, smiling as he posed for pictures with McFadden. Fans voted online to determine what the two running backs should go as for Halloween.

More than 4,000 votes were submitted, and some of the other options included McFadden and Jones dressing up as the Blues Brothers or Sonny and Cher.

“I think they were trying to get me to be Cher,” McFadden said. “They said I had legs like her.” McFadden, Arkansas’ all-time leading rusher and a Heisman Trophy candidate, posed for pictures with students and strutted around like a more muscular Fred Flintstone with tattoos and even yelled “Yabba Dabba Doo!”

The Halloween costumes McFadden and Jones wore Wednesday will be auctioned off on Hogwired.com, Arkansas’ official athletic Web site. The proceeds will go to Boys & Girls Clubs in McFadden’s hometown of Little Rock and Jones’ hometown of Tulsa.

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