Friday, September 7, 2001

In the huddle
by Brandon Ortiz

From simply taking a look at the Frogs’ statistics, it would appear sophomore tailback Ricky Madison is the featured tailback. Madison, after all, has more than twice as many carries as anyone else on the team and more than five times as many yards as any tailback.

But head coach Gary Patterson said the Frogs are still operating under a three-man running back by committee, although Madison will get the majority of the carries.

The Frogs’ size at tailback makes a rotation necessary, Patterson said.

“None of them have the 225, 230-pound body,” Patterson said. “If you keep doing some things with 190-pound backs, you’ll start missing one of them (to injury). We have to keep rotating them.”

Injury notes

• Junior LaMarcus McDonald will get his second start at middle linebacker Saturday. McDonald is second on the team with 14 tackles and two sacks.
• McDonald replaces sophomore Josh Goolsby, who injured his right knee.
• Patterson said sophomore transfer Devon Davis and true freshman Martin Patterson will get more playing time in the Frogs’ linebacker rotation.
• Redshirt freshman receiver Reggie Harrell will not start Saturday but may get limited playing time, Patterson said. Harrell, expected to be the starter at the beginning of the season, has been sidelined with a knee injury.
• Junior defensive tackle John Turntine will also start Saturday.
• Patterson said Turntine, who was taken off the field in Nebraska on a stretcher, has recovered from the concussion and should be up to speed after a good week in practice.
• Patterson did not know how much junior cornerback Bo Springfield will play. Springfield did not play last week after injuring his ankle against Nebraska.
• Senior free safety Jason Higham, who suffered a hip pointer against Nebraska and sat out against North Texas, is also expected to play.
• Senior tight end Matt Schobel will miss his second consecutive start because of his still ailing left hamstring. Schobel re-aggravated it on a 67-yard touchdown catch Aug. 25 against Nebraska.

— Brandon Ortiz