casual sandaMixed terminations for SECs inundergod quprowesser

Saturday, September 10th, 2011

Uncertainty prevailed in the Southeastern Conference whenever the conversation turned to quarterbacks during the offseason.

casual sandaMixed terminations for SECs inundergod quprowesser,Gone were stars like Arkansas Ryan Mallett, Alabamas Greg McElroy and Auburns Heisman winner Cameron Newton. All around the SEC, there were relative unknown signal-callers being thrown into the fray.

Most SEC schools can breathe a sigh of relief after week one — nine of the leagues 12 teams scored at least 40 points, albeit against largely inferior opponents.

Auburns Barrett Trotter and Arkansas Tyler Wilson had impressive debuts, but not everyone had a good first week. Mississippi and South Carolina have already switched starters while Alabama continues to go with a two-quarterback approach.

Things arent getting any easier, as conference play approaches for several teams.

Auburn, Arkansas and Tennessee all feel good about their young quarterbacks after Saturdays games.

Trotter had maybe the most daunting task, taking over for Newton, who had a legendary season on his way to leading Auburn to the national title. But the 6-foot-2, 207-pound junior didnt flinch, completing 17 of 23 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns as Auburn rallied for a 42-39 victory over Utah State.

But Utah State isnt nearly as talented as this weeks opponent — No. 16 Mississippi State. Its almost a certainty that the Bulldogs defense wont be as forgiving.

The quarterback position in college is an extremely tough position to play, Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn said. It doesnt make any difference if hes been watching and been in the offense for three years, until you get out there and actually see the different looks and actually play the position, thats when you learn.

Arkansas Wilson completed 18 of 24 for 260 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the Razorbacks 51-3 victory over Missouri State. Tennessees Tyler Bray completed 17 of 24 passes for 293 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions as the Volunteers beat Montana 42-16.

I made the comment that the last 10 days of camp he really started showing some growth and fortunately, it showed in the game, Tennessee coach Derek Dooley said. Hopefully, well just continue on. Theres no indication that were not going to at this point.

Florida, LSU and South Carolina used resurgent veterans to polish off victories last weekend, as all three were able to put the struggles of the past behind them.

Florida quarterback John Brantley — who started last season but struggled in the spread — looked much more comfortable in new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis pro-style offense. The senior completed 21 of 30 passes for 229 yards and a touchdown against Florida Atlantic. He also threw two interceptions, but one was tipped at the line of scrimmage.

Youre always cynical as a coach, youre always harping on all the negative things, but there were a lot of positives to draw from the opener, Weis said.

LSUs Jarrett Lee was one of the leagues most closely-watched quarterbacks after the senior stepped into the starting role following Jordan Jefferson arrest and subsequent suspension after a bar fight. Lee played mistake-free football and was part of the reason No. 2 LSU easily handled Oregon 40-27 on Saturday. He didnt have huge numbers, completing 10 of 22 passes for 98 yards and one touchdown, but LSU leans heavily on a stellar running game and defense.

Another much-maligned quarterback — South Carolinas Stephen Garcia — also got it done. He has spent as much time in coach Steve Spurriers doghouse as he has on the field. After being benched for the opener, Garcia helped the No. 12 Gamecocks rally to beat East Carolina 56-37.

Garcia earned his starting job back and will replace sophomore Connor Shaw for Saturdays game against Georgia.

Mississippi and Alabama ce more uncertainty after less-than-stellar openers from their quarterbacks.

Ole Miss will start Zack Stoudt after the junior college transfer completed 13 of 25 passes for 140 yards. He replaces Barry Brunetti, who completed just 2 of 3 passes for four yards before being pulled.

Alabama coach Nick Saban said hell continue to use two QBs — A.J. McCarron and Phillip Sims. The No. 3 Crimson Tide easily beat Kent State 48-7 on Saturday, but McCarron and Sims were spotty. Both quarterbacks threw two interceptions.

They cant afford those kind of mistakes Saturday, when Alabama plays at Penn State.

We still feel like we have two really good players at that position, Saban said. Both of those guys will continue to develop and help us somewhere down the road.

Georgia group finds game tickets for military

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Military personnel now have an avenue to some of the toughest tickets in collegesports.

Gameday for Heroes in Columbus, Ga., collects donated tickets to fill requests from active duty or wounded veterans who want tickets. But its not just about football for Army Sgt. 1st Class Josh Olson, who lost his right leg during an ambush in Iraq eight years ago.

You never get tired of hearing thank you, Olson said before last Saturdays Utah State-Auburn game.

The nonprofit group was started two years ago by the Columbus-Phoenix City Auburn Club to supply tickets to Auburn games for soldiers at Fort Benning. Now its reach has spread via word of mouth and the Internet.

Active duty and wounded military personnel like are Olson are taking in college football games everywhere from South Bend, Ind., to Tallahassee, Fla.

The group provided 102 donated tickets to the Auburn game. Olson, who spent 18 months recovering at Walter Reed Military Medical Center, is an avid college football n from Washington who got to bring his dad to last seasons Arkansas game.

We pulled into our parking space and hes like, Youve got to be kidding me, Olson said. It was neat just to be with him and all the ns here. It was special for me to be here with him.

The Auburn tickets came with other perks too, including tailgating at a prime spot just across from Jordan-Hare Stadium and a table laden with sandwiches and munchies.

Gameday for Heroes gave out tickets on opening week at places like Alabama (six), Florida (2), Georgia (2), Tennessee (4) and Texas Tech (2), said Jana Tarleton, the clubs president.

Some 25 tickets have already been donated for the Oct. 8 Notre-Dame-Air Force game for different military branches, said Tarleton, a 1991 Auburn graduate.

Im not an Auburn n doing this, she said, Im a military n.

Her group fields requests through its Web site, gamedayforheroes.org, and tries to fill them through donated money or tickets.

South Bend attorney Frank Julian, who spent six years in the Navy, said AM General — which builds Humvees — and the local United Auto Workers contributed tickets through Gameday for Heroes.

People all over town have kicked in to help, said Julian, who is hoping tickets keep coming.

Tarleton said her group distributed some 400 tickets to Auburn games the past two seasons. They also raised money for six season tickets for wounded soldiers.

The program has allowed Marine Cpl. Kristopher Brown to get a couple of tickets to see his vorite team Florida State play rival Miami. He lived in Tampa, Fla., before moving to Ohio in the eighth grade and has only been to two Seminoles games.

I wasnt planning on them getting me tickets just because its such a big game, said Brown, who is stationed in suburban Cleveland. I was ecstatic. I cant even explain it.

Its like the game Ive always wanted to go to.

He has served tours in Afghanistan and Iraq , where his 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines had 46 Marines and two Navy Corpsmen serving with them killed in 2005.

Three members of the Texas Army National Guard based in Austin attended the Auburn opener. Spc. Brandon George, Sgt. Antonio Haro and Lt. Jorge Lugo are attending jump school for three weeks at Fort Benning, about an hour away from Auburns campus, and are scheduled to deploy this ll.

Only Haro had been to an Auburn game. Lugo even has a Texas longhorn tattooed on his back. But the courtesy tickets delivered to the hotel by Tarletons husband, Mike, gave them a chance to spend a Saturday with 84,000 people cheering at a football game instead of watching movies on the laptop, Lugo said.

It means the world, George said. Theres nothing better than to know that people are actually thinking about what youre doing.

Added Haro: Just the whole experience is very heartwarming.

Mike Tarleton said Gameday for Heroes started as a community service project for the Auburn club after a fellow church member wondered aloud if he could get tickets for those at Fort Benning.

Now a lot of colleges are calling us saying weve heard about this and we want to figure out how youre doing it, said Steve Taylor of Columbus, who supplies the prime tailgating spot. Its really nothing but generosity of people donating tickets. Thats all it is. Its tax deductible for them.

If theres a better cause, Im not aware of it.

Auburn coach Gene Chizik, whose ther served in World War II, said he appreciates the gesture for those in the military.

Anytime we can do anything for those guys, that can bring a little bit of joy to their life, to get away from whatever their issues or problems might be, I think its an outstanding idea, Chizik said. Its a great program, and its just a great idea.

— John Zenor

Irish QB Rees ready to roll vs. Michigan

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — No wonder Tommy Rees has no fear about starting Saturdays game against Michigan. Its just another big-time venue for the sophomore quarterback with a cool demeanor to check off his list.

Notre Dame Stadium, Yankee Stadium, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Add in the Sun Bowl Stadium and Rees has won games in all four of those notable locales as a starter for the Irish.

Now its off to Ann Arbor for the first night game ever at the Big House where a crowd in excess of 100,000 will be watching to see if Rees is ready for perhaps his biggest challenge of all.

I asked him if he was scared and he said, No, which didnt surprise me, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said. He wont be caught up in the atmosphere.

Rees was supposed to be the backup this season, even though he led the Irish to four straight wins to wrap up last season after replacing the injured Dayne Crist.

But Crist was declared the winner of a training camp competition, only to have his stay as No. 1 end after one dismal half. With the Irish trailing South Florida by 16-0 at the break last Saturday, Crist was pulled. Rees came in and the offense started to move. Notre Dame still lost 23-20, but Kelly made the switch permanent on Monday.

Now the 19-year-old Rees, who comes from football mily and said hes been breaking down tape of defenses since he was 11, is back as the starter.

Hes a gym rat, offensive coordinator Charlie Molnar said. He just loves football and he loves not only the physical execution of it, but he loves the strategic part of football and the tactics that are involved.

Tight end Tyler Eifert says watching tape with Rees is a different experience.

I think hes learned a lot from his dad how to watch film. … He sees the defense as a whole instead of just watching one guy, Eifert said.

His ther, Bill, spent 15 years as a scout and player personnel director in the NFL, and another 15 years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at UCLA. Bill Rees was Northwesterns assistant director of football operations last season before returning to the NFL as a scout with Tampa Bay this summer. Tommys brother, Danny, was a punter and holder at UCLA.

Football is such a huge part of my life, something I really take seriously and I want to succeed in, Tommy Rees said.

Rees left Lake Forest (Ill.) High School early to enroll at Notre Dame in January 2010. The first time Eifert met him, he thought Rees was a dork. Other teammates have jokingly commented on Rees ability to dress down, a casual look with sandals and shorts.

But theyve come to respect what he can do on the field at such a young age.

And so r, when Rees starts, the Irish win.

Hes a pretty serious kid when it comes down to business. Off the field you wouldnt think the pressure of being the Notre Dame quarterback was on him. He doesnt really let that get to him, Eifert said

Kelly said his first impression of Rees was that he knew a lot of football but also needed to build up his body.

As Ive said before, he looked like a high school student. I guess he was, Kelly said. He physically needed to develop, but mentally I thought he was well beyond his years.

Rees, who is now 6-foot-2, 215 pounds,Casual ShoesGood pedagogueers. has a quick release and his ability to hook up with star receiver Michael Floyd — who made 10 of his 12 catches Saturday with Rees throwing — is a big plus.

Several Notre Dame players said they dont care who the starter is, expressing no preference between Rees and Crist, the senior who overcame two serious knee injuries and surgeries. They just want to see production.

Rees first college action came early last season when Crist was shaken up and he was put into the game against the Wolverines. He threw just two passes and one was intercepted before Nate Montana took over for him.

That was kind of my welcome to college football moment, Rees said.

Rees had to wait six weeks to get back on the field. During mop-up duty in a lopsided loss to Navy, he completed 6 of 7 passes, helping his confidence. And when Crist was hurt early against Tulsa, Rees wound up attempting 54 passes. He threw four TD passes but was intercepted in the end zone in the closing second of a difficult loss.

Michigan coach Brady Hoke said his team wouldnt change its preparations despite Notre Dames quarterback switch.

You look at the last four games of last year and you look at what he did. He played with a great deal of composure. He has a very good arm, Hoke said of Rees. I think he understands conceptually Brians offense.

So how does a guy with such a cool head lead a team and get loud sometimes, something a quarterback must do?

I dont know if we expect him so much to be that vocal leader, because I think theres some guys on the offensive side that can take control of that, like me, Floyd said. And just as long as he executes and makes the right plays and the right calls, thats what we want him to do.

Rees does discuss strategies with his teammates and he has their back. He tried to take the blame last week when one of his passes hit receiver TJ Jones, who wasnt turned in time, and was picked off. Kelly went ballistic on the sidelines, screaming at Jones.

It was on me, Rees said. I threw the ball too early.

Rees is eager to play in front of another big crowd, but promises it wont determine how he goes about running the team.

It should be a great atmosphere there at Michigan for the first night game, he said. But at the end of the day its just a football game. … You cant get caught up in what is going on outside of the game.

— Rick Gano

Strong warning his Cardinals not to look past FIU

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Louisville coach Charlie Strong says his Cardinals arent good enough to look past an opponent, especially not FIU and Heisman Trophy candidate T.Y. Hilton.

Strong has the Cardinals concentrating on the task at hand with FIU on Friday night despite their biggest rival and the battle for the Governors Cup looming next week.

They cant look ahead. Were not good enough to look ahead. There has been no mention at all of Kentucky, Strong said.

Louisville is focused on Hilton, last years Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year.

The senior wide receiver does everything. Hes the only player in school history to have caught, thrown, rushed and returned kicks and punts for touchdowns in the same season. His multi-pronged attack led FIU to its first Sun Belt title and bowl appearance last season, racking up more than 2,000 all-purpose yards.

Tampa-based FIU began its Hilton4Heisman campaign over the summer, an effort bolstered with the teams 41-16 opening win against North Texas.

Hilton led the nation in the first week with 283 total yards, including seven catches for 132 yards and a touchdown grab. The Panthers jumped out to an early 28-0 lead, which are the most first quarter points in the schools history. Hiltons second-half action was limited, touching the ball just four times with the game comfortably in hand.

Strong speaks of Hilton in terms of containment, with a more manageable goal of limiting his impact on kickoff and punt returns and his yards after the catch.

Even that will be a stiff test for Louisvilles cornerbacks, which was a position of concern for the team entering the season and one that defensive coordinator Vance Bedford says is still a question mark.

Senior Anthony Conner, coming off an ACL injury that cost him the 2010 season, and freshman Andrew Johnson will again start following the opening 21-9 victory against Murray State.

Reinforcements join the unit with the return of Jordon Paschal and the addition of Adrian Bushell. Paschal took most of the first team snaps in preseason but was sidelined for the opener while Bushell, on campus less than two weeks, is a junior-college transfer who played previously two seasons at Florida.

True freshman Terrell Floyd and red-shirt freshman Stephan Robinson saw snaps against Murray State, giving Bedford at least six options to consider.

Hiltons versatility means it wont just be the corners responsibility to wrangle the Panthers playmaker. Bedford has stressed to his entire defense the need to not allow FIU to continue drives.

He plays quarterback, he plays running back, they have him all over the place, Bedford said. The biggest thing weve told our guys — know where he is at all times, especially on third down.

Quarterback Wesley Carroll has to get Hilton the football, and Strong credited his ability to find the playmakers. The senior, a former transfer from Mississippi State who started 13 times in his two seasons for the Bulldogs, is one of 16 returning starters for FIU.

In contrast, Louisville is returning the second most inexperienced team in the country in terms of returning starters. Strong knows he has his hands full with the Sun Belt champs.

Seven Cardinals made their first start with 20 their collegiate debut last week.

FIU coach Mario Cristobal called Fridays nationally televised chance to knock off the young Big East team a tremendous opportunity for our football program. Strong said his team would have to play better than it did in the opener, giving up four turnovers and iling to score in the second half against Murray State, if it wants to start the season 2-0.

Two Louisville starters, center Mario Benavidescasual sandals and defensive end B.J. Butler, missed the opener and will again be out against FIU. Starting wide receiver Josh Bellamy is listed as day-to-day after leaving in the first quarter against Murray State with a hamstring injury. Quarterback Will Stein injured his left ankle in the second half but will start. Strong said quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater and Dominque Brown should see action against FIU, just as they did in the opener.

Defensive lineman Roy Philon and Brandon Dunn are expected to be available after not dressing out for the opener.

Golden: Miamis Harris won QB job in training camp

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Turns out, Stephen Morris did not necessarily lose Miamis starting quarterback job because the Hurricanes opened their season with a loss to Maryland.

Instead, Jacory Harris locked it up weeks ago.

Miami coach Al Golden finally ended the mystery on Thursday, saying Harris edged Morris during August practices. Their competition ended abruptly and with Morris winning pretty much by deult after Harris was ordered to sit out one game by the NCAA following an investigation that confirmed allegations of him taking extra benefits from a former booster.

Jacory won the job in camp, Golden said.

Simple as that. Harris was named the starter once again on Wednesday, even though Golden originally planned to let Morris — who passed for 195 yards with no touchdowns and two late interceptions in Mondays 32-24 loss — continue vying for the job through at least this weekend. Miami (0-1) doesnt play again until Sept. 17, when it will host No. 15 Ohio State (1-0).

Upon further review, Golden changed course.

My natural instinct is to say, Let them compete, Golden said. And then I evaluated it all day, I guess that would have been Tuesday. Kind of slept on it Tuesday night. And then informed both of them. … It was primarily because of the body of work that Jacory put together in training camp, his experience and obviously what we saw in the game. The things that we needed in the game were really things that we thought Jacory could give us at this stage.

Players were not available for comment Thursday. Harris is expected to address reporters Friday. Even though Harris is now the starter again, as he was for the bulk of his first three seasons at Miami, Golden quickly noted that things can change again down the line. And offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch added that Morris will continue pushing Harris in practice.

He needs to be pushed, Fisch said after the team ended its Thursday workout. The best part about our situation is competition. He knows that Stephen went out and played a really good game on Monday night and did a lot of really good things. And unfortunately, it ended the way it ended with a couple plays, but he played really well. Jacory has had a really good camp and did a nice job understanding his experience should help us taking care of some of the issues that we had in the game.

Morris completed only 4 of 10 passes for 28 yards in the final 1:33 on Monday night in a iled rally attempt after Maryland took a 26-24 lead. Morris connected with LaRon Byrd for 17 yards on a 3rd-and-15 play, but was intercepted for a touchdown four plays later and picked off again on a desperation heave as time expired.

Some procedural things, such as delay-of-game penalties on consecutive plays in the second half, also helped seal the decision to change starters for now.

There were some things in the game the other night that I think (Harris) experience and maturity would have helped immeasurably, Golden said. So thats the decision that we made.

— Tim Reynolds

Steele: Young Clemson defense passes first test

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson defensive coordinator Kevin Steele called his coaches together before ll practice opened to plan for how to replace six starters, including three all-Atlantic Conference players, in one of the best defenses in the league.

Steeles complex system meant there were a number of capable backups that saw significant playing time last year, but that also meant a number of new guys would only have a few weeks to learn the complicated schemes.

Weve got to manucture experience in a quick, quick shion. You can practice them all day long, you can scrimmage them all day long. But the only way to manucture the experience in a short period of time for a long season is to put them out there, Steele said.

The defense was about as successful as Steele could have hoped in last weeks season opening 43-19 win over Troy. Take away a 56-yard run at the end of the third quarter by D.J. Taylor and the Trojans averaged 3.1 yards a run.

You take out one run — I know you cant do that — but we make our run goal of 3.3 yards, Steele said.

A few mistakes made by the younger players mat have hurt the Tigers averages, but the rest of the team stepped up to make sure the mistakes werent critical, Steele said.

Clemson will likely play plenty of newcomers again Saturday against Wofford, where paying attention to assignments and not chasing the football is even more important to stop the Football Championship Subdivision teams triple-option offense.

Weve got to be on our Ps and Qs with these guys — do a great job with our eyes and everyone take care of their responsibilities, head coach Dabo Swinney said.

While Clemsons offense floundered during last years 5-7 season, the defense was a big reason the Tigers at least were in most of their games, losing four of the seven by less than a touchdown. The unit led the ACC in 2010 allowing just under 19 points a game and was second in total yardage allowed at 320 yards a contest.

But all-ACC defenders Jarvis Jenkins, DeAndre McDaniel and DaQuan Bowers all left, along with three other starters. So Steele told his defensive coaches to bring on the freshmen.

The only rule we had was lets play off each other and make sure we dont get them all out there at the same time, Steele said.

Wofford coach Mike Ayers said he was impressed with the athleticism and speed of both the new and returning players on Clemsons defense.

Big guys, physical guys. If youre in a fight, youd like to have those guys with you, Ayers said.

Clemson had at least six true freshmen on the field against Troy, including a couple in key leadership roles. Stephone Anthony played 22 snaps and had a sack at middle linebacker, a critical position to read the offense and call out the formations to his teammates.

Anthony got plenty of praise from Swinney. On one play, the head coach held his breath as Troy ran a wheel route, afraid Anthony would be peek into the backfield as the running back slipped out to catch a pass for a big gain. But the freshman read it perfectly

He played it like hes been playing it for four years, Swinney said. Couldnt have played it any better. Probably could have had an interception, to be honest with you.

Steele was a little more tempered in his praise. He laughed as he recalled seeing Anthony jumping up and down and waving his arms wildly as he called the defense, gently telling him that all of the theatrics didnt make his voice any louder.

Anthony didnt want to talk details about how hard Steeles defense is to learn because he was worried he might reveal secrets from Clemsons playbook. But he wasnt afraid to admit he still has so much to learn about Steeles schemes.

I still havent figured out the defense, Anthony said. I have a long way to go.

As much as he liked seeing the younger guys contribute, Steele was also impressed with his starters. His top nine tacklers were all returning players, and they helped clean up a few messes created by freshmen missing assignments or overrunning plays.

When we had the first 11 out there, we were very effective, Steele said.

— Jeffrey Collins

Brown returning to lineup for Tar Heels

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Charles Brown hasnt played a game in pushing two years for North Carolina after getting caught up in the NCAA investigation into the football program.

On Saturday against Rutgers, the cornerback becomes the last player to return to the lineup for the Tar Heels following the probe into improper benefits and academic misconduct. Brown sat out all last year amid the academic half of the investigation, then missed last weeks opener against James Madison for receiving $86.94 of improper benefits from a prospective agent before last season.

Its real hard to keep a positive attitude, especially when you see all your peers out there playing football and youre sitting at home — you cant even travel with the team, you cant do the same stuff with the team, Brown said. So its real hard to stay positive, but I did my best. … Im still here.

Brown, a native of Cleveland, was one of 14 players to miss at least one game and seven forced to sit all last year. He had started all 13 games as a junior while finishing second on the team with 66 tackles to go with three interceptions.

He hasnt played a game since the loss to Pittsburgh in the Meineke Bowl on Dec. 26, 2009.

Brown spent last season on the scout team, then did it again last week as the Tar Heels (1-0) prepared for James Madison. He ran with first- and second-teamers in preseason camp, and is listed atop the depth chart this week. His return should bolster a secondary that started true freshman Tim Scott and sophomore Tre Boston against the Dukes.

I dont think I worry about Charles and jitters at any point in time since Ive been here, said interim coach Everett Withers, who spent the past three years as defensive coordinator. Rust, maybe a little bit. But I think hes working really hard … on his technique and fundamentals and getting better. Were just glad to have him back for his leadership, his ability to go out and make plays on the ball. Those things will definitely help this secondary.

Brown said he had trouble sleeping earlier this week as his return to the lineup approached. His mind raced through game scenarios and images of himself big plays — including seeing himself intercept the ball 10 different ways.

Hell soon have the chance to make those plays for real again.

I dont want to make no mistakes, Brown said. I had a long time to watch the games and watch people make mistakes, so I dont want to make any of those mistakes. I want to go out there and play the perfect game. I know thats not realistic, but I just want to get back out there on the field.

— Aaron Beard

Tennessees running game stumbles early

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee finally has a full stable of talented running backs. That didnt quite translate into a good night of running in the Volunteers season opener, though.

What we have to do is turn that ability into production, and we havent done that yet, coach Derek Dooley said. It will come in time. We have to be patient. We act like our offensive line is the Green Bay Packers. These guys are four sophomores and a junior, and its hard. Its hard to play up front. It takes time. It takes reps. Theyre going to be there, but I dont know when.

Tennessees running game stumbled through a 42-16 win against the Football Championship Subdivisions Montana last Saturday. The Vols ran the ball 46 times for 128 yards and a meager 2.8-yards per attempt average compared to 311 yards by the air on 25 passes.

It was only a small step up from a season ago, when the Vols averaged 109.2 yards rushing per game behind an offensive line stocked with true freshmen.

Senior tailback Tauren Poole had a decent outing against the Grizzlies with 98 yards and a touchdown on 24 touches, a 4.1-yards-per-carry average, but Dooley didnt get the explosive plays on the ground that he hoped to see. Freshman Marlin Lane had 35 yards and a touchdown, and sophomore Rajion Neal and freshman Tom Smith combined for 13 yards playing with the second-string offense late in the game.

They whipped us at the line of scrimmage the whole game, Dooley said. They are a veteran team with some big, physical guys, and we did not run (the ball) the way it needed to be run.

Poole and Lane combined for three of Tennessees six fumbles, all of which were recovered by the Vols. Poole also couldnt get out of the end zone when the Vols were lined up on their own 1-yard line and was dropped for a safety that cut Tennessees lead to 28-9 in the third quarter.

Dooley and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney agree that the problems on the ground arent because of lack of ability but rather inconsistent play and mental errors across the entire offense.

Occasionally we would get a good push and maybe miss a read, Chaney said. Wed get a good push and a good read and wed mess up the perimeter blocking. I was thinking on Sunday Id be able to come in here and yell at one segment of the offense. I was really disappointed. There wasnt one of them that did very good in the running game. The running backs, the o-line, tight ends, wideouts — it was a unanimous decision that everybody on any given play were too many mistakes.

Junior tight end Mychal Rivera said its just a matter of a little more effort on the part of him and his teammates.

I feel we need to improve on our physicality up front, Rivera said. The o-linemen and myself, tight ends, fullbacks, everybody needs to fire out and finish their blocks. That was one thing that we saw when we were evaluating film. The last two seconds of the play, if we strained just a little harder, I feel Tauren and Marlin and those guys could gain a few more yards.

On Saturday, the Vols host Cincinnati (1-0), a team that routed Austin Peay 72-10 in its season opener. The Bearcats defense was the least experienced among BCS teams a season ago, but the entire lineup has returned for the 2011 season.

Cincinnati coach Butch Jones knows the level of competition the Vols offer will be a step up from last week, even with an offense thats not fully developed.

The speed of the game changes, Jones said. The opponent changes, the level of competition. The speed level, everything now goes to the next level.

— Beth Rucker

New coach sees opportunity in challenge at Vandy

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — James Franklin looks at Vanderbilt and sees opportunity in a program long considered the SECs football doormat. The first-time head coach knows he has a challenge ahead of him.

The Commodores have had one winning season since 1982, and the bowl victory in 2008 was their first in 53 years. The 39-year-old Franklin sees trying to turn the Vanderbilt Commodores into a competitive program as the chance to do something thats never really been done before.

Is it a challenge? Yeah, but when you want to do anything great in life or maybe do something that hasnt been done before, youre going to have to take some risks and take some chances, Franklin said.

There may be no bigger risk in college football than taking the Vanderbilt job. Stanford, Northwestern and even Wake Forest are similar private universities that found the right coaches to turn losses into bowl games. But the Commodores seem to chew through coaches. Franklin is Vanderbilts sixth new head coach since 1991 and third in as many seasons.

Raheem Morris, head coach of the NFLs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, talked with Franklin when he was preparing to interview for the job last December.

I told him: Hey, theres going to be no handbook for you. I said, just do it your way and believe in it and itll work. And hes absolutely gone out there and done a marvelous job of getting that team to believe, Morris said.

The challenge isnt that different from what Franklins already done in his own life.

A Pennsylvania native, he learned his love of sports from his ther and his nonstop work ethic from his mother. A psychology major who turned to coaching to pay for his masters degree, Franklin fell in love with the profession and put together a career plan that took him from his first job as a defensive backs coach at his alma mater, Division II East Stroudsburg, to the mighty SEC.

Franklins resume is stocked with stints at James Madison, Washington State where he earned that masters degree, Maryland, Kansas State and back to Maryland. He also spent a year coaching wide receivers with the NFLs Green Bay Packers in 2005 and had NFL minority internships at Miami (1998), Philadelphia (1999) and Minnesota (2008).

With me not playing major college football and not having some of those connections, I felt like I needed to take some risks, Franklin said. I needed to be willing to take somejobs. For me, it was always about taking the best opportunity I thought was going to help me five years down the road.

The toughest was working at Division II Kutztown as a restricted earnings assistant in 1995 only $1,200. Franklin rented a room, filled soda machines on campus and even worked as a bartender on Sundays. Friends he went to college with already had nice jobs and asked him why he was slogging away when he could be earning big money.

I just wanted to chase this dream, Franklin said. Thats one of the problems I think we have right now in this society. Everybody wants immediate gratification. When you hear people saying 10, 15 years down the road, yeah Im good money but I dont love what Im doing. If you sacrifice, you have a chance to do both things. I really believe if you do what you love and you have a passion for it, the money will come at some point.

That work ethic comes from his mother. A native of England, she found herself raising two young children after a divorce.

My mom came to this country, then ended up in a situation where she was pretty much on her own raising me and my sister and how hard she worked and how much she worked and how much she sacrificed for us, Franklin said.

That drive has been on full display since Franklin hit campus.

Franklin, who had been tabbed as Ralph Friedgens eventual successor in February 2009, brought four coaches with him from Maryland. He landed Vanderbilts highest-rated recruiting class in years and pitched his vision for the Commodores at basketball games, across campus to students, in town to boosters. He also held student tryouts after visiting dorms and fraternity row.

He sleeps about five hours a night and said he knew coming to Vanderbilt hed have more jobs than most coaches. Its why he encourages his coaches milies to visit them at work. Franklin even brought his youngest daughter to anews conference Monday, saying its important players see their coaches as men placing a high priority on mily.

Morris considers Franklin a great student of football and one of the better teachers hes been around. Franklin helped tutor Josh Freeman at Kansas State, and Freeman became a first-round draft pick by Tampa Bay in 2009. Morris, who became friends with Franklin in 2006 when both were at Kansas State, cautions that Franklin will have his growing pains as all first-time head coaches do.

You take over a program in the SEC or youre going into the National Football League, youre going to start young and draft your guys or youve got to go recruit your guys. It may take a little bit of time, but he will be successful, Morris said.

Franklin already has convinced his Commodores that he is the right coach at the right time.

I believe God sent him here for us especially for the Vanderbilt football program, and I believe were going to do some great things with him, sophomore wide receiver Jordan Matthews said.

Managing those expectations in this building project might be Franklins biggest challenge. He won his opener over Elon 45-14, and Big East champ Connecticut (1-0) visits Saturday night. Franklin said he knows the honeymoon period will end soon.

We understand what weve signed up for, Franklin said.

— Teresa M. Walker

Injuries force Southern Miss to find playmakers

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) — Just one game into the season, the Southern Miss offense is having to dig deep in the roster to find playmakers because of injuries.

Receiver Kelvin Bolden suffered an apparent concussion in the second quarter in last weeks win over Louisiana Tech. Even worse, running back Desmond Johnson went down with an ankle injury, and likely wont make the trip to Marshall on Saturday for the Conference USA opener.

Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora doesnt comment on individual injuries, but Johnsons mother told the Hattiesburg American her son suffered a sprained MCL and is expected to miss at least two weeks.

Its tough to watch him struggle with an injury like this, fellow running back Kendrick Hardy said. Hes worked so hard in the weight room and through camp, and I know he wants to be out there.

Fedora said he expects redshirt freshman Jamal Woodyard and sophomore Jeremy Hester to step up and help Hardy carry the load.

Woodyard rushed for 110 yards on 10 carries in USMs spring game, but only had two plays against Louisiana Tech, both passes, in last weeks win. Hester weighs just 180 pounds, but runs with surprising power.

Those two guys are anxious to get in there, Fedora said. Theyve been champing at the bit to get some playing time, and theyre going to have an opportunity so well see what they can do with it.

The Eagles rushed for 153 yards in the victory over Louisiana Tech, but the running backs only accounted for 84. Fedora said the running game was non-existent.

It was disappointing. We have to be a lot better in the run game if we are going to be effective, he said. We have to do a better job of blocking on the perimeter, the offensive line has to do a better job inside, the running backs have to do a better job of running the ball. . Heck, even the quarterbacks have to do a better job of handing it off.

The revamped Southern Miss defense didnt know what to expect from freshman quarterback Nick Isham and the Louisiana Tech defense, and may ce a similar problem this week.

Like Tech, the Thundering Herd has turned to a true freshman quarterback, Rakeem Cato, and the tape from Marshalls 34-17 loss to West Virginia isnt helping much.

Cato completed 15 of his 21 pass attempts for 157 yards, and impressed USM defensive tackle Terrance Pope.

Hes better than the guy they had back there last year, Pope said. He looked poised, not jittery at all. I mean, Im sure he was nervous, but he didnt show it.

The Herd ran 43 plays, about as many snaps as Southern Miss took in the first half against Tech, before the game ended in the fourth quarter because of lightning.

The things they did last year, they arent doing this year. Fedora said. Theyve tailored what theyre doing to their quarterback, so all we really have to go on is that little bit of tape from last week. Its almost like its another first game, with a lot of what ifs and unknowns. Well just have to be football players when we get out there and adjust to whatever they do.

DE Capi gets starting job after forcingfour fumbles

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — It took a devastating injury to the starter and an unexpected infraction by his backup for third-string sophomore Nordly Capi to earn a starting job for the Colorado State Rams.

An NCAA single-game record four forced fumbles in the Rams season-opening win at New Mexico didnt hurt, either. The defensive end from Ocoee, Fla., was one of 10 defensive linemen who rotated into the game for the Rams last weekend after starter Broderick Sargent tore an ACL against the Lobos in Albuquerque.

Capi, whose first name means strength in Haitian, was whistled for a personal foul after a late hit on the quarterback before bouncing back to record 3½ sacks and force four fumbles, something that had never been done in a Football Bowl Subdivision game before.

It was completely unexpected, Capi said of his performance, in which he salvaged the Rams 14-10 win with a sack, strip and fumble recovery in the final 23 seconds with the Lobos at the Rams 15.

To put his four forced fumbles into perspective, consider this: teammate Mychal Sisson led the nation last year with seven forced fumbles — over an entire season.

Its not like I didnt know he could do those types of things, defensive coordinator Larry Kerr said, but to do it that consistently, to make that many big plays, is unique.

On Monday, though, Capi found himself still on the second string with coach Steve Fairchild suggesting he needed to work on his run defense to get more playing time.

Within 48 hours, however, Capi was promoted to starter after C.J. James was demoted for what the Rams called internal disciplinary reasons.

So, Capi, whose nickname is Cap, will get the start Saturday against Northern Colorado that the Rams were initially hesitant to bestow upon him.

Nordly is a work in progress, Kerr said Monday. Nordly did some very good things in the passing game and played a very good game for us. He still has some areas he needs to improve.

After all, one game does not make greatness. Fairchild remembers a time when he was on the staff at San Diego State and Marshall Faulk had a huge game but didnt scale the depth chart for good until he had done it again and again.

I would love to say hes made that big step, Kerr said of Capi. Id say hes still moving in that direction and its been very positive. But lets see what he does this week.

Nordly is a very confident kid. He knows hes got some talent. Its still putting that whole package together, Kerr said. He made some huge strides this past week. And Id love to see him build on that. Lets see what happens the next couple of weeks to see if he continues those things.

Capi said he has a lot more confidence after what he did in the opener, but he wont be bothered if hes in and out of the game a lot as the Rams continue rotating defensive linemen.

I love the rotation. I love it because most teams, when those teams get those 60-yard drives, you are looking to the sideline, tapping your head and saying, Somebody get me, Capi said.

Instead, he was fresh at the end of the game against New Mexico when he salvaged the Rams first road win in more than two years.

I definitely felt a lot fresher. My legs were fresh. I wasnt winded, Capi said. Look back, because we had 86 defensive plays. If anybody would play that many, their legs would be killing at the end of the game.

Now that Capi is no longer a secret, quarterbacks and offensive coordinators will surely know whenever hes in the game.

He said hes ready to take on that challenge like he takes on offensive tackles.

It motivates me because I know once you do something like that, somebody is going to respect you, Capi said.

— Arnie Stapleton

News & Notes

UNC suggests tweaks for athletes academic support

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill should hire a full-time coordinator to oversee tutors working with student-athletes and add staffers to work with students, according to a school report.

The report is an overview of the schools academic support services to athletes as the offices move into the new Loudermilk Center at Kenan Stadium, though the NCAA investigation into improper benefits and academic misconduct made it even more timely.

It recommends hiring four or five full-time staffers to work with the 100-125 student-athletes who ll into a higher-need category. The tutor coordinator would be responsible for hiring, training and evaluating tutors, while the report suggests tutors consist more of graduate students, retired culty or public school teachers instead of undergraduates.

A tutor, Jennifer Wiley, was linked to several violations in the NCAAs probe last ll. In all, 14 football players missed at least one game and seven were forced to miss the entire season.

In the case of Michael McAdoo, the NCAA ruled the defensive end permanently ineligible after the schools Honor Court found him guilty of passing someone elses work as his own. His attorneys said Wiley formatted and re-typed citations in a research in the summer of 2009.

The report suggests that permissible assistance standards be clearly outlined.

Any disagreement over what constitutes academic fraud should not result in jeopardizing student-athletes athletic eligibility so this is an area worthy of considerable attention, the report states.

The report suggests the school should define academic progress standards that are shared by coaches, players and school administrators. It also recommends the support program be involved in the admissions process on whether a student-athlete is capable of succeeding academically at Carolina.

Considering the significant time demands on student-athletes, the report states the school has both a responsibility and an obligation to provide quality academic support services.

Boston College helmets honor red bandanna hero

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston College football team will wear helmet stickers in Saturdays game to honor an Eagles lacrosse player who died while helping usher others to safety in the World Trade Center during the Sept. 11 attacks.

The stickers will feature a red bandanna in the memory of Welles Crowther, an equity trader who died in the south tower. The 1999 BC graduate was well-known for always having a red bandanna with him, and those he helped rescue said he was wearing it on Sept. 11.

BC plays Central Florida on Saturday. Welles sisters have been invited to the game as the schools guests. More than 5,900 people have vowed to wear red bandannas to the game.

The school is planning another tribute at home against Duke the following week.

UNLV coach Haucks contract extended through 2014

LAS VEGAS (AP) — UNLV football coach Bobby Hauck has been awarded a two-year contract extension that will keep him with the Rebels through the 2014 season at his current annual salary of $350,000.

Hauck is in his second year with the Rebels, who went 2-11 last year and lost their season opener last week at No. 8 Wisconsin, 51-17. He will also earn a $450,000 completion bonus if he finishes next season under the terms of the current contract.

UNLV athletic director Jim Livengood said Thursday the school is thrilled to have the former Montana coach at the helm. He says he expects the contract extension to further stabilize the football program.

The Rebels play at Washington State on Saturday. They have lost 10 straight road games.

WR Criner out for Arizona

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Arizonas Juron Criner, the Pac-10s top receiver last season, missed Thursday nights game against No. 9 Oklahoma State after having his appendix removed earlier in the week.

A team spokesman said Thursday that Criner had an appendectomy on Monday and its unclear when hell be able to return. The Wildcats (1-0) play their next two games at home against No. 6 Stanford and No. 12 Oregon.

Criner ranked seventh in the nation last season with 94.9 yards receiving per game. He had 82 receptions for 1,233 yards and tied the school record with 11 touchdown catches last season. Criner had six catches for 151 yards and a touchdown in Arizonas opening win over Northern Arizona last week.

Northwesterns Persa listed as questionable

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa is listed as questionable for Saturdays home game against Eastern Illinois.

A senior being touted by the school as a Heisman Trophy candidate, Persa was a late scratch for last weeks season opener at Boston College and watched as Kain Colter led the Wildcats to a 24-17 victory. He ruptured his right Achilles tendon after throwing the winning touchdown against Iowa last season and missed the final three games.

Northwestern also listed running back Mike Trumpy as doubtful on Thursday because of a head injury.

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casual sandaRamos Shoe Repexpose jailbirdkeepues a mily practi

Saturday, September 10th, 2011

By PETE FOPPIANO / Healdsburg Correspondent

People who are looking for ways to stretch a dollar are repairing items that in previous years might have been tossed out. And in the process, they are looking for skilled people to do the job.

casual sandaRamos Shoe Repexpose jailbirdkeepues a mily practi,In Healdsburg, they often turn to cobbler George Ramos, who is continuing a mily tradition that dates back to his grandther in Mexico.

Ramos Shoe Repair has been a fixture in Healdsburg since 1974, when George&8217;s ther Demetrio set up shop off the Plaza. Ramos was in high school then, but he remembers coming into his ther&8217;s shop after school and helping with the work.

&8220;I learned the trade as a kid,&8221; Ramos explains, &8220;and I always planned to buy the business from my dad some day.&8221;

That day came in 1992, when Demetrio retired. Ramos took over the business and moved it to its current location on Healdsburg Ave.

&8220;Dad&8217;s retired now, but he still comes into the shop regularly to check up on things,&8221; George says. &8220;I learned the importance of quality work and quality products from him.&8221;

Since the economic downturn of the last few years, business has increased. More people are choosing to repair, rather than replace, their shoes.

&8220;Sometimes people come in with a pair of shoes that are pretty r gone,&8221; George notes. &8220;I have to tell them there&8217;s nothing that can be done if they&8217;re completely worn out. I don&8217;t want to waste their time or money.&8221;

For anyone in the market to replace their shoes, Ramos offers a complete line of footwear and accessories, from work boots to casual sandals. He specializes in products made in the United States, and stocks sandals made by local artists, with belts, hats, socks and insoles.

He outfits Healdsburg firefighters and sells numerous pairs of rubber boots to local wineries that are preparing for harvest. Since Ramos repairs boots, he knows firsthand which types wear better than others.

In addition to a loyal group of locals, Ramos said his customers come from Fort Bragg, Willits and San Francisco. &8220;I even have one customer from China. Whenever he comes to the U.S., he brings several pairs of shoes for me to work on.&8221;

Most of them find him by word of mouth or referral. Ramos does no advertising.

A lot of his work is done by hand, some of it requiring specialized machinery. Ramos uses the Depression-era Landis stitcher his ther used, along with a newer rebuilt model. Sometimes tourists come in to watch and photograph him as he works on it.

&8220;They don&8217;t make these in this country anymore,&8221; Ramos laments. &8220;They probably make some overseas, but fortunately there are still some companies that make or build replacement parts.&8221;

Local cobblers are a diminishing group,see your adMelissa Molinaro,. with many getting up in years. When Dad or Granddad retires, the shop closes unless a mily member is willing to continue the business.

Ramos remembers visiting his grandther&8217;s shop with his ther when he was a little kid. &8220;I picked up a pair of shoes and started working on them. My ther was upset, but my grandther said, &8216;Don&8217;t worry; it just means the boy will be a cobbler some day.&8217; &8221;

Ramos and his wife Eloisa have four children, and so r none has stepped forward to take over the business, he said.

I have shown my eldest son how to do some of the work. He&8217;s interested in being an arcasual sandalstist, but I was originally interested in computers, so you never know.&8221;

Ramos Shoe Repair is located at 427 Healdsburg Ave., just north of the Plaza. The shop is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 433-2227.

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Slipmarkg in artefactpers – Hindetritusan Times/casual sanda

Saturday, September 10th, 2011

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati has every reason to get mad at the sweeping allegations made about her by recent WikiLeaks revelations quoting secret cables sent out by the US embassy in New Delhi to Washington. Amidst the palpable delight among the chattering classes at this new stick to

Slipmarkg in artefactpers – Hindetritusan Times/casual sanda,beat their vourite whipping girl, what is being conveniently overlooked is that the source material used for the salacious Portrait of a Lady penned by a junior US embassy official in October, 2008 appears to be entirely based on casual conversations with unnamed Lucknow journalists.

The colourful accounts of Mayawati sending a jet plane to Mumbai to fetch her vourite sandals, an errant minister do sit-ups and employing eight cooks and two tasters in her kitchen have virtually no authenticity, particularly since none of the concerned hacks printed the information they shared with the American embassy in their own publications.

The BSP supremo is well known for her personal eccentricities, splurges and imperious ways. But it is also true that Mayawati has, for more casual sandalsthan two decades, had an openly hostile relationship with the media, particularly those based in Lucknow. In ct, BSP workers in the city attacked the offices of a prominent Hindi daily in the winter of 1995 after it published a particularly scurrilous story about the unmarried Dalit leader having an illegitimate daughter. Although local journalists have become more discreet after Mayawatis decisive victory in the 2007 assembly polls, they can hardly be regarded as unbiased or objective sources of information.

Interestingly, barely two months before the US embassy cable on her, two Delhi-based correspondents of The New York Times and The Washington Post went to Lucknow to do special profiles of the lady. They were, surprisingly, granted a rare interview with Mayawati and also met a large cross section of people in Lucknow and nearby rural areas, including Dalits. Both the articles were appreciative of the political distance travelled by the Dalit woman leader while simultaneously reflecting allegations of corruption and authoritarian behaviour by her detractors. However, what the two correspondents, professional journalists as they were, did not do was print Lucknow media-inspired gossip that they had no way of cross-checking.

It is possible the absence of the same professional discrimination by the US embassy had something to do with Washingtons annoyance at that time with Mayawati for almost scuppering the India-US nuclear deal. Moreover adidas shoesAdidas, the ct that such secret cables were never supposed to never see the light of day gave their authors a certain licence that the journalists did not have. Unfortunately, however sensational and uncorroborated, the information wearing the garb of WikiLeaks revelations allows the print and electronic media to go to town against select targets without fear of demation.

Indeed, this is turning out to be a major drawback of WikiLeaks which spews out classified US embassy material, some providing useful insights but a lot more unreliable stuff based on hearsay. Sometimes, the documents seem downright dubious as in the case of a cable dated May 29, 2007 claiming that Mayawatis close aide Satish Mishra had declared her corrupt and authoritarian. It is quite unbelievable that a few weeks after Mayawatis historic election victory, of which Mishra was a major architect through his Dalit-Brahmin alliance, he would choose to rubbish his leader to an American diplomat.

Ajoy Bose is the author of Behenji: A Political Biography of Mayawati. The views expressed by the author are personal.

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Inlateral Shenhouse SFcasual sanda

Saturday, September 10th, 2011

What do you think of dress codes? At the formal Acquerello in San Francisco (pictured), jackets for men are suggested, ties are optional and t-shirts, shorts, sneakers or flip-flops are not allowed. Photo: The Chronicle

Inlateral Shenhouse SF,casual sanda,Last week, there was a couple in Bottega for dinner, and every time I walked past them I had to kind of grit my teeth. She looked great: sundress and sandals, casual but put together. The guy, on the other hand, wore a torn red T-shirt, shorts that were rumpled and stained, and a pair of beat-up flip-flops. Every time I spotted those flip-flops, I had to resist the temptation to move the couple to a table in the back.

The more virtuous side of my brain says, Theyre paying for the meal; they have the right to wear what they like. My brains snarky side (which seems to expand on hot days) says, He is embarrassing every table that chose to dress appropriately for dinner.

Having lived and worked in the Napa Valley for the last 25 years, Ive gotten used to lunches being ultra-casual, but at dinner I cant help feeling that our living dcor (our customers, mostly men), has gotten a little too relaxed. For years, whenever Ive been invited to a private event at a friends home, the invite has usually stated, Napa casual, which means nice jeans and a stylish shirt. To give this kind of notice makes sense to me; I like knowing a dress code in advance as theres nothing worse than being over- or underdressed for an occasion.

What do you think? Have we overcasualized our dress codes? I think food tastes different when youre in your shorts in the backyard eating some BBQ versus when you dress up a little for a good restaurant. Your attire is part of the experience. I sense that many restaurant patrons at least in the Napa Valley are more comfortable under-dressing than over-dressing for dinner. Is that good or bad?

Contrast the Napa Valley with how people dress in Rome. When I was in Rome last year, I went into a very osteria. As soon as I heard osteria, I thought Id feel comfortable in jeans and a nice shirt. I was wrong. The rest of Rome was impeccably attired and even in this small place, men wore ties and Brioni suits. I didnt enjoy my meal because I felt uncomfortable with how I was dressed. I felt my jeans didnt show enough respect to the people cooking my food and the other diners in the restaurant with me. Granted, Napa isnt Rome, but still

Does it affect your experience when someone in a restaurant is dressed too casually? Do you even notice? Should a restaurant put dress code suggestions on their web site and let each reservation know in advance that people who are seriously underdressed will not be seated? Or is it best to just ignore the beat-up flip-flops? Is the tyranny of a dress code a thing of the past? Please dont snark me out on this one. Im casting the net for answers in deciding this difficult question. Id appreciate knowing how you feel about this.

Last week, there was a couple in Bottega for dinner, and every time I walked past them I had to kind of grit my teeth. She looked great: sundress and sandals,european cas. casual but put together. The guy, on the other hand, wore a torn red T-shirt, shorts that were rumpled and stained, and a pair [...]

Inside Scoop SF is a one-stop source for the latest restaurant coverage in the Bay Area and beyond. Here\s where youll find real-time reporting on restaurant openings, juicy chef buzz, hot-button dining issues and more, updated throughout the day. In the Voices section, prestigious food folks share insights and expertise. San Francisco Chronicle critic Michael Bauer offers candid thoughts in his Between Meals blog, and wine editor Jon Bonne writes about all things related to beverages.

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casual sandaOcardinalia author hollowes attain-up and hexpose

Saturday, September 10th, 2011

Hippie chic: Olivia Wilde looks ultra cool in floaty turquoise dress as she ditches make-up and hair styling to go au natural

casual sandaOcardinalia author hollowes attain-up and hexpose,

Shopping splurge: Olivia Wilde examines a T-shirt with the wise message True Beauty Is Within while shopping at rmers market in LA

Bargaining: As an actress, Olivia should be able to sweet-talk the sellers into getting a good deal on the items

Something for the house: Actress spends some time looking at the floral hanging baskets, but doesnt look too impressed

Olivia walked away empty-handed, although did have a large handbag that could have hidden some treats

Heres what readers have had to say so r. Why notdebate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

So…did her publicist dicate what you had to write or did she just give you points to include?

– Bea, Leeds, 23/8/2011 20:47

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CliniqueIt starts with a serum. Now comes the perfect partner. Meecasual sandalst the repairwear laser focus power couple.

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JK tyres plans to enter footwear mkt/casual sanda

Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

It has been recently reported that JK Tyre & Industries plans to venture into footwear and accessories manucturing from used tyres in association with the Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI).

JK tyres plans to enter footwear mkt/casual sanda,The company will retail both office wear and casual sandals, along with accessories such as belts and bags.

Though it is too early to say on the project but the company would be exploring casual sandalsall the ventures. About 88 million tyres, part of 33 million vehicles, were added to the roads in the last three years in India. These include two, three, four and six wheelers, creating an enormous potential for reuse of rubber in the country.

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The Hinducasual sanda

Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

The sun is at his best, and everyone is looking to sum up a stylish yet comfy look. This summer, bright colours and light brics highlight comfort over shison. The shape is baggy and saggy, and the mode is and chic. Let the tight denims, leather boots and full sleeves sleep for now. Replenish your shelves with shorts, wide-brimmed hats, sporty caps, big bags and casual sandals.

The Hinducasual sanda,Cotton is softer and linen is lighter, not crisp and coarse. Prints are jolly and flowery. Colours go pallid with lemon yellow, sky blue and mango green. Tunics and kurtis for women and polo shirts for men are a must to beat the heat.

Thrill with frills

Look for volume in whatever you buy, especially the bottoms. Roomy, slouchy harem pants or the palazzo flares (think of Aladdin and Alif-laila) team up well with a light-weight shirt. &8220;We have introduced a complete new line for teencasual sandalsage girls called Teen19,&8221; says Amar Vora, Director of Milan-em Mall. &8220;As we are targeting a niche segment, the response will definitely be good.&8221;

Printed tops with floral motifs on a light background are here to add panache. Frilled skirts are also in to lend a girlie look. Gajalakshmi, a college student, finds that &8220;Skirts go well with Indo-western kameez or fitting tees in plain solid colours. As it is also vacation time, we need not follow the college dress code.&8221; Tunics with lling gathers and peripheral frills make a bold statement. To underplay the look, opt for tunics with minor darts and tailoring details.

For men, casual cotton trousers also serve as formals (available at Basics and Jansons). But guys can brave the sun or hang out at home in a variety of shorts or capris in cotton, light and dark denims and linen or khaki. &8220;This summer is marked with Bermudas either in plain shades or checks,&8221; says a storekeeper at Jansons. &8220;It is basically a holiday wear and hence is st-moving among people.&8221; Or M-Mart has funky options with neon prints and psychedelic colours.

Check out charming checks and stunning stripes. &8220;Nowadays, the clear demarcation between formal and casual shirts is diminishing,&8221; says Arun Raghavan, a college student. &8220;Smart casuals serve both purposes.&8221; In summer, men can enjoy a buttoned-down look in shirts that let in the air and set aside body-hugging tees.

Flatter with flats

Footwear outlets are flooded with shionable flats&8212;flip flops, slippers, canvas sneakers and strapped sandals. Head to Mochi and Metro for footwear priced from Rs. 599 onwards, or find more affordable ones in the street markets in the town area. Bright colours and funky designs can actually balance a dressed-down appearance. Or, if the occasion demands, dress it up with velvet-bowed ballerinas.

Men can manage with slip-on suedes, casual canvas, strapped sandals, kolhapuris or running shoes. Socks with sandals are out now. They have a school-kid appearance and make the feet soggy.

Cling to bling

The entire summer style is low key yet trendy. Intersperse the seasons simplicity with bling. For women, hair bands in pink and purple look cute and keep the hair out of the ce. Jingle with bangles or carry a bold bag. Pretty accessories are sling bags, heavily printed jholas with gotas and back packs (available in South Masi Street and Pudumandapam).

Mens accessories are sporty as ever with D-ring belts, sweat bands and wrist bands. Walk into any store (like Body Language and Dream Boys on Alagar Koil Road) and you find a huge variety of hats, caps, goggles and belts. Hunter hats, cricket caps and bandanas with Jamaican prints come in handy under the harsh sun.

Lastly, slather on sunscreen and cover up with a stole or scarf. Fill your bag with summer necessities like an umbrella, wet wipes, and a body spray to keep smelling fresh, and summer becomes an ultra-cool afir.

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Comments to : web.thehindu@thehindu.co.inCopyright © 2011, The Hindu

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casual sandaSizzling Sandals: A Summer Footwear Primer

Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

Editor:Gas prices up 3 to 8 cents in Roxborough and Manayunk minutes ago

One of the best parts of spring and summer is the moment when feet and toes are freed from the confines of heavy socks. In sandals, feet can breathe and pedicures can be shown off.

casual sandaSizzling Sandals: A Summer Footwear Primer,&13;Manayunk shoe stores have tons of great options for warm-weather footwear and there are plenty of trendy and classic styles to choose from. Flip-flops can stay at the beach this year because the hottest sandals this season are study, wearable, and glamorous. Here is a selection of some of the most versatile and comfortable beach-season shoes.

The Wedge: My personal vorite, the wedge pairs style with comfort. Since heels can be a little daunting in the laid-back spring and summer season, wedges are a more manageable option that still adds height. Bare legs need lengthening, but theres no need to get a stiletto heel caught in the boardwalk. Wedges made from cork or wood have a great summer vibe and many come in bright colors and cheerful patterns. Main Street shoe mecca Benjamin Lovell Shoes carries tons of comfy wedges from brands like Clarks and Sofft that allow feet to both look and feel great. Try a floral print, nautical stripes, or a bold, vibrant shade of yellow for an adventurous look.

The Glam Clog: Im not totally sure if this particular shoe style has a name so I am dubbing it The Glam Clog. Similar to the Candies clunkers of yesteryear, this grown-up version of the wooden, studded clog is available in a variety of colors and styles. While these sandals are often sky-high, the wooden heel and platform is usually sturdy enough to allow for painless foot transit. The local Nicole Miller boutique offers stylish clog sandals with a high heelwhich transforms the casual scasual sandalslip-on look into something much more chic.

The Flatform: Introduced on spring runways a few Fashion Weeks ago, the flatform combines the flat and the platform in ways we never before thought possible. Giving wearers height without an actual heel, they resemble elevator shoesbut stylish ones. Many flatforms have patterned or colorful platforms that jazz up the look. Id recommend this sandal to adventurous shionistas onlyI could see this style being a little tough to pull off, though it certainly seems like fun. Check the racks and shelves at The Attic on Main Street for this trend. They change up their merchandise frequently and stock the latest seasonal items.

With so many choices, this spring and summer season is going to be a great one for everything south of the ankles. Mix and match different styles and give those toes a little fresh air.

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Eugene mily joins new shoe partner/casual sanda

Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

The local Combs mily has sold their homegrown boot and sandal manucturing company for nearly $30 million to a Wisconsin company that imports and sells Florsheim shoes.

Eugene mily joins new shoe partner/casual sanda,Weyco Group Inc., with headquarters near Milwaukee, Wis., bought Bogs, a st-growing line of waterproof work boots, and Rafters, a line of casual sandals.

Bogs/Rafters will close its warehouse and offices on Prairie Road in Eugene in the next three to four months and set up offices in Portland and Milwaukee, Bill Combs, 53, said. He will continue with Weyco as president of its Bogs and Rafters divisions. His wife, Sue, 53, will remain design director, and sons Dustin, 28, and Riley, 26, will continue to be sales managers.

Details are still being sorted out, but up to 50 jobs in Eugene mostly seasonal warehouse positions will be affected, Bill Combs said. A few of the Eugene employees will be relocating to Milwaukee, said John Wittkowske, Weyco Group chief financial officer.

Weyco Group, which was founded in 1906 as Weyenberg Shoe Manucturing, bought Bogs/Rafters to diversify beyond its niche of mens dress shoes.

We have three very old established brands (Florsheim, Nunn Bush and Stacy Adams), and that industry is not growing tremendously, Wittkowske said. Thats why were looking to grow outside that arena.

We wanted to go into a more casual footwear market, and we felt Bogs was a great fit, he said. It would give us a completely different kind of product, a completely different type of customer and a growing brand. We felt the Combs mily had done a great job with this. We think theres a long way to go. We think theres a lot of potential.

The Combs mily will be moving to the Portland area, headquarters for Nike, adidas, Columbia Sportswear, Keen and other footwear makers and a center of shoe design and development. Bogs/Rafters designers, and marketing and branding specialists already are based in Portland, and Combs said it will be more convenient for him to travel to the Midwest for meetings and to China each month to oversee production there.

The deal was finalized a month ago, but Combs said hes still a bit stunned by it.

It really hasnt quite all sunk in yet, he said. Every day that goes by Im more confident we made the right decision.

By teaming up with a larger partner with deep pockets, a wealth of industry expertise and sophisticated order-processing and distribution systems, Bogs has the opportunity to grow quickly and reach its potential, Combs said.

He estimates that Bogs will grow by 50 percent this year.

We have wonderful people here, but none of us have ever run a large business before, Combs said. It would have required bringing in a lot of outside talent. This just kind of solves that whole issue.

Bill and Sue Combs also own the Burchs Shoes store at Oakway, which is not part of the sale to Weyco Group. The couple is working on a plan to sell Burchs to employees over the next 10 years, Bill Combs said.

I dearly love the retail business, and I really like Burchs Shoes, he said. Burchs, as long as I have anything to do with it, is only going to get better. By doing it this way (selling to employees), we know its only going to get better.

Combs started Rafters in 1993 as a side business to his milys shoe store, then Bogs followed in 2002.

The Rafters sandal business built steadily over time, whereas Bogs boot sales took off four years ago after Sue introduced bright floral and paisley prints to the womens line, Bill Combs said.

Thats what launched us into the outdoor lifestyle (market), he said.

Bogs boots are available in the United States, Canada, and parts of Europe through a variety of retailers, from local rm and feed stores to upscale department stores, such as Nordstrom.

After a slight decline in 2009, the U.S. footwear market rebounded last year, posting a 7.2 percent increase in sales, to $34.6 billion, according to NPD Group, a market research firm in Port Washington, N.Y.

Womens footwear was the industrys top performer last year, and boots, with sales up 21 percent, was the stest-growing segment within womens footwear, the group found.

Bogs has the sun shining on it, and when the sun is shining, you have to move, Combs said.

He said he and his wife eventually would have had to develop a plan for the companys ownership and leadership after they retired.

Whether you do it now, or five years from now, or 10 years from now, its the same equation, Bill Combs said. Its going to happen. Its just a question of when. The best time to sell is when things are going up. So this was just good timing.

In addition to the $29.4 million cash payment, publicly traded Weyco Group also assumed debt of about $3.5 million and agreed to make additional payments to the Combses after two and five years, if certain performance goals are met, company officials said.

Marshal Cohen, NPD Group footwear analyst, said the deal makes good sense for both companies.

In todays world, its much easier to make an acquisition and build a brand by using an existing brand and product portfolio … than it is to go out and try to build one from scratch, he said. The retail relationships are there. The brand equity is there. The learning curve of designing a product that is out of the sweet spot where (Weyco has) been … is too long.

For Bogs/Rafters, becoming part of Weyco Group provides economies of scale and more efficient ways to make, ship and distribute their products, Cohen said.

It allows them now to focus on the product itself … rather than chasing the business and worrying about all the behind-the-scenes part of the puzzle, he said.

They havent even scratched the suce yet with all the product they can bring to market, Cohen said. So theres plenty of opportunities still to market the product, diversify the product and even tweak the existing product.

Bogs sales last year were about $27 million, according to a Weyco Group statement.

The deal came together relatively quickly, Combs said.

About seven months ago, Bogs/Rafters went shopping for capital to help finance its growth, he said.

About 17 parties showed interest, but we decided Weyco was r and away the best partner to grow the brand with, Combs said.Ive known Tom and John Florsheim for a long time, he said. They come from a mily of shoemakers, and they really understand the shoe business. Thats one of the reasons we went with them. Theyre shoe people.

Weyco Group, which trades on Nasdaq, reported a profit of $14 million on sales of $229.2 million last year.

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Celebrate Earth Day with footwear made of recycled tyrescasual sanda

Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

New Delhi, April 20 (IANS) With the world celebrating International Earth Day on Friday, leading manuctures and designers in the footwear industry are contributing with an intiative called &8216;Soles with Souls&8217; by recycling tyres to create footwear and accessories.

Celebrate Earth Day with footwear made of recycled tyrescasual sanda,&8216;It is our way of showing respect to the earth we inhabit as the impact of discarded tyres is hazardous. Soles with Souls will open up a new front towards environmental consciousness and will inspire responsiveness to emerging socio-environment needs,&8217; said Raghupati Singhania, vice chairman and managing director, JK Tyre &038; Industries

Through Soles with Souls, JK Tyre and the Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) used unconventional methods and created footwear and accessories by using old and recycled tyres.

&8216;Last year we have seen a tremendous development in the footwear sector so this will be an innovative step towards the industry. This eco-friendly project will not only help the government sector but the general public also. This affordable footwear will not only be eco-friendly but also have a commercial viability,&8217; FDDI managing director Raajeev Lakhara told IANS.

&8216;Today, in India, the per capita consumption of footwear is less than 2 perecnt (1.7 approx) and if we compare it with developed countries, the difference is 20 percent. So we can say that as the country is developing and we are moving towards becoming a developed nation, the consumption of footwear is going to increase. The government is also trying hard to develop the footwear industry and similarly, if the consumption grows, then this type of a product will get an amazing feedback,&8217; he added.

The initiative is a business proposition to the tyre industry to urge them to utilise hazardous waste by it viable. The government will support this financially and technically.

&8216;FDDI is a government authorized institute and every initiative of ours is government approved. In the past, the government launched a scheme where the footwear industry has got a subsidy of 32 to 40 percent. They are coming up with more offers supporting these types of projects, where government is helping both financially and technically,&8217; Lakhara said.

Over 40 pair of shoes and accessories were made by FDDI students after seven months of conceptualization, implementation, hard work and training on recycling tyres to create ncy products.

&8216;We started working from scratch and the people from JK Tyre helped us in getting an idea about how the tyres are made. They showed us the entire manucturing process. Yes, we ced little bit of problem with wire tyres, but that was fine as designing for such a noble purpose was worth it,&8217; said FDDI student Ishnit Juneja.

The designs vary from office wear to casual sandals, to belts and ncy bags in dark and lighter shades, for both men and women.

&8216;We divided the team in eight groups and each group was supposed to make a minimum of five pairs. JK Tyres had given us a target of 42-50 pairs, but we actually managed to give only 40 pairs. After getting the feedback from customers, we will design more footwear and accessories,&8217; Bhaskar Rao, another student, added.

The tyre manucturing company plans to organise exhibitions and use various other industry platforms to create awareness about the concept. The funds generated by the sale of this footwear will be used to promote the initiative.

&8216;We are still in the process of finalizing the marketing tools and how to take this intiative further to attract a wider audience,&8217; said Singhania.

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