Colleges

This year, Summitt has Vols ready

While all eyes remain on the Florida football team as it prepares for its national championship celebration Saturday, other Gator sports are involved in big games this week.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published January 11, 2007

While all eyes remain on the Florida football team as it prepares for its national championship celebration Saturday, other Gator sports are involved in big games this week.

The Vols are coming to town.

Florida 6-10 hosts Tennessee (14-1) in women's basketball at 7 tonight in the O'Connell Center.

Tennessee will be looking to avenge its 95-93 overtime loss in February, while the Gators are hoping to end a three-game losing streak. Florida has lost four of its past five games.

"That game should be motivation for this year's team," Vols coach Pat Summitt said. "Without question they understand what can happen if you're not ready to play. Florida is not a team they will take lightly."

ROAD TO RECOVERY: The sadness was evident in his eyes all week, but former Middleton standout linebacker A.J. Jones said he's making great strides toward returning to playing football in the spring. Jones was expected to make an impact as a freshman this season, but he broke his right foot and had surgery two days before the opener. Jones recently began running and said his body feels good. His heart is another matter. "The hardest part is watching and knowing you should be out there, but knowing you can't really do anything," Jones said. "But I'm a team player, so however I can support the team, I will."

6 League schools ranked in the final Associated Press Top 25 football poll.

3 League schools ranked in the Top 10.

4 Current coaches in the SEC who have won national championships (Steve Spurrier, Phillip Fulmer, Nick Saban (BCS title only), Urban Meyer). It's the only league with that distinction. (The Big Ten is next with three).

3 Teams that have won the Bowl Championship Series title since it began in 1998: Tennessee defeated Florida State 23-16 in 1998; LSU defeated Oklahoma 21-14 in 2003 and Florida defeated Ohio State 41-14 Monday night.

6-3 Bowl record of league teams this season.

Antonya English can be reached at english@sptimes.com.  

[Last modified January 10, 2007, 23:11:40]