Poll sees rare shake-up from last week’s action

Notre Dame, Virginia Tech and Georgia fell victim to a rare occurrence last Saturday: For only the 22nd time in the history of the Associated Press football poll, three of the top five teams lost in the same week.

The AP poll started in 1936, and hasn’t often seen such a shake-up.

All unbeaten going into last weekend, No. 3 Virginia Tech lost to Pittsburgh 28-21, No. 4 Notre Dame fell to Boston College 14-7 and No. 5 Georgia lost to Florida 20-13.

The last time three of the top five lost in the same week was Oct. 27, 2001. That’s when No. 2 Oklahoma lost to No. 3 Nebraska 20-10, No. 4 UCLA lost to No. 20 Stanford 38-28, and No. 5 Virginia Tech lost to Syracuse 22-14.

Hurricanes’ Dorsey nearly a Volunteer

Miami Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey almost went to Tennessee. He liked the coaches, the players, the campus and the fact that Tennessee had just won the national title.

It seemed like a good fit for Dorsey. But then the Volunteers lost interest in him and with good reason. Tennessee had just received a commitment from Chris Simms, widely considered to be the nation’s best high school quarterback.

But Simms spurned Tennessee for Texas on signing day, leaving the Volunteers scrambling for a quarterback. They called Dorsey, but he turned them down, too.

“I had already committed here,” Dorsey said. “I didn’t want to back out on that.”

Dorsey will get a close-up look at the Volunteers and Neyland Stadium when the No. 2 Hurricanes play there Saturday.

A&M’s new AD should decide Slocum’s fate

College Station, Texas Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum’s future will depend on the school’s new athletic director.

“While our football season to date has been disappointing, Texas A&M has a fine head coach, not only with an enviable long-term winning record, but also an admirable record in helping student athletes succeed and in running a program with integrity. Coach Slocum has my full support,” university president Dr. Robert M. Gates said in a statement.

Athletic director Wally Groff is stepping down in December and a search committee is looking for his replacement.

After starting the season ranked among the top teams in the nation, the Aggies enter Saturday’s game against No. 1 Oklahoma at Kyle Field with a 5-4 record after a season of turmoil.

Slocum stripped offensive coordinator Dino Babers of his play-calling duties to help the Aggies’ sagging offense. The Wrecking Crew defense has faltered in recent weeks, including last week’s shocking loss to Oklahoma State.

Oregon RB Smith returns to practice

Eugene, Ore. Oregon tailback Onterrio Smith hopes his left knee has healed enough for him to play in Saturday’s game at Washington State.

Smith missed last week’s game against Stanford but has returned to practice for the 15th-ranked Ducks (7-2, 3-2 Pac-10), who will play their most important game of the season against the fifth-ranked and conference-leading Cougars (8-1, 5-0), the conference leader.

Smith, who leads the Pac-10 with an average of 126.88 yards a game and 12 rushing touchdowns, injured the knee sometime during the first half of Oregon’s 44-33 loss to Southern California two weeks ago.

Marshall’s Leftwich should play again

Huntington, W.Va. Despite a sore left shin, Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich is expected to play again this year.

“I don’t think he’s out for the season,” Marshall coach Bob Pruett said Monday.

Leftwich was injured Saturday during a 34-20 loss at Akron. X-rays were negative and he was examined Sunday by a Columbus, Ohio, surgeon who repaired a stress fracture in the same area of Leftwich’s leg last winter.

Pruett declined to speculate whether Leftwich, the nation’s passing leader, will be able to play in Marshall’s next game Nov. 12, a rare Tuesday contest at home against Miami of Ohio.

“We’ll see how we progress,” Pruett said. “We won’t know any more until he has had some time to rest and rehab.”

Mentioned as a Heisman Trophy candidate, Leftwich leads the nation in passing at 374 yards per game. He has thrown for 2,995 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Losses to Virginia Tech and Akron might have hurt his chances.

Coach’s outburst pays off for Wildcats

Lexington, Ky. Kentucky coach Guy Morriss insisted his outburst paid off, even if he broke his hand.

The usually mild-mannered Morriss hurt himself Saturday punching a locker during a halftime tirade at Mississippi State.

Trailing 17-16 at the time, Kentucky erupted in the third quarter and went on to win 45-24.

“It was worth it. We played much better in the second half,” Morriss said.

If that’s what it takes to get his team to beat No. 17 LSU (6-2, 3-1) Saturday, Morriss said he’ll be glad to sacrifice his other hand.

“There’s nothing like winning. If it takes hitting a locker, or several of them, I’m going to do it,” Morriss said.

The Wildcats (6-3, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) already have matched their victory total from 1999 Tim Couch’s final season.