TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The first weekend of the major college football season started with Steve Spurrier’s triumphant, though far from inspiring return, and ended with Bobby Bowden catching a break. In between Charlie Weis lifted spirits at Notre Dame and two of last season’s best teams showed they’re not what they used to be.…

By DAVE GOLDBERG / AP Football Writer Maybe the New Orleans Saints will beat the New York Giants on Sept. 19 and make moot the questions about why their “home opener” is at the home of their opponent. But right now, a lot NFL people wonder why the league moved the game to New Jersey…

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Signs posted throughout the New Orleans Saints’ hotel direct players to the place where they can get their ankles taped. Other signs guide them on a quarter-mile path to a foot bridge, over the Riverwalk and across a busy street to the building where team meetings are held. In the makeshift…

Last weekend Tori Ritz won the McMinnville Country Club’s Ladies Championship tournament, taking a one-stroke victory over Gina Maxwell.Ritz, a senior member of the Warren County High School golf team, shot a final round 77 on Sunday to win the championship, while Maxwell turned in a 79 on Sunday to finish as this year’s runner-up.

By Dale Stubblefield / Columnist What a game the Pioneers played Friday night. I said it on the radio after the game, and I’m saying it now, it was one of the best high school football games I’ve seen in 20 years.Fans who made the trip to Lincoln County did more than just watch a…

By The Associated Press Steve McNair hoped to fill six tractor-trailers with supplies for victims of Hurricane Katrina in his home state of Mississippi, as well as Louisiana and Alabama. Turns out, this time the Tennessee quarterback’s aim was a little short. From beat-up pickup trucks to luxury cars, residents filed through a parking lot…

By ROB NUNLEY / Sports Editor for the Southern Standard Senior running back Jevon Ramsey (9) fights his way up the middle for some second-half yardage during last Friday night’s game against Lincoln County. (Dale Stubblefield photo) There’s no time to dwell on “what-if’s” for the Pioneer football team.Yes, they came within inches of what…

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — The Arkansas Razorbacks took to the practice field Tuesday with one man on the mind — Vanderbilt quarterback Jay Cutler. “When Jay Cutler comes to that line of scrimmage we need every fan to play every play with us,” Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. “We truly need them to be the…

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard Now in its 17th year, the CEO Roundtable Invitational drew 16 boys teams and 12 girls teams from around the midstate on Tuesday at the McMinnville Country Club.The Warren County boys team carded a 328, finishing 22 shots behind first place Tullahoma’s score of 306.…

By ELIZABETH A. DAVIS / AP Sports Writer KNOXVILLE — Rick Clausen will take over at starting quarterback for No. 6 Tennessee, replacing Erik Ainge for the Volunteers’ next game in two weeks, coach Phillip Fulmer said Tuesday. Tennessee has this week off before back-to-back road games at Florida on Sept. 17 and LSU the…