That Holtz sure loves his whine

Finally somebody believed Lou Holtz.

For years the mite-sized martyr has been singing his sad refrain: "I don't know how we are going to beat this academy school or that mid-major. We're just not that good."

Holtz must have said that 30 times in 1988 alone.

And last week, there the South Carolina coach was saying it all over again. New school, same song.

"I don't feel as good as I should. It (practice) has been all discombobulated," Holtz told reporters the week of the Georgia game. Of course, he followed that with: "This (Georgia) is a great football team. It's a total team. I would not be surprised to see them have a real run at the thing. They're that caliber."

And Georgia, get this, actually fell for it. The Bulldogs, all puffed up and pompous because of their unwarranted preseason ranking, went into South Carolina and never looked up from the press clippings. They lost 21-10 to a team that only a week before ended a 21-game losing streak.

So now South Carolina is 2-0, atop the SEC East. Even Florida coach Steve Spurrier is taking notice.

"We have some other contenders in the (SEC) East," he said. "South Carolina looks like they mean business."

Well, now that may be overstating it a bit. Especially if you talk to Holtz.

"We just lost 21 in a row, now we've won two in a row and they (the fans) wonder what bowl we're going to?" Holtz said. "Probably the toilet bowl in Flushing, N.Y."

But with a win over Eastern Michigan this week, the Gamecocks would be 3-0 and halfway to some sort of bowl bid. Such a turnaround is not unprecedented. Hawaii did it last year. But Hawaii did not have to play in the SEC. Still there is a chance, if you listen to anyone other than Holtz.

"We're the type of team that is going to have to fight for our lives each and every week," Holtz said.

Same old Holtz - winning and whining.

UT's QBs

Texas coach Mack Brown has tried to put an end to the quarterback controversy between Chris Simms and Major Applewhite by saying he has "two starters."

And for anyone who questions him, Brown has responded: "Those who are wanting a definite answer don't have to look at both of those kids in the face every day."

By the numbers

Florida and Tennessee meet today in what's sure to be another high- flying, big-scoring, pass-happy affair.

But if this year is like any of the preceding 10, the team with the best ground game will win. That's right, the team with the most passing yards has lost six of the last 10 games. The team with the most rushing yards is 10-0. That includes the years Peyton Manning led the Vols. Never mind that he passed for 1,171 yards and nine touchdowns in three Tennessee-Florida games. Or that he set a record by passing for 492 yards against the Gators.

The only record that mattered was his 0-fer vs Florida.

Hit the ground running

The top junior college transfer running back has not been Oregon's Maurice Morris as many expected, but Auburn's Rudi Johnson.

Using a package that Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville called "junior- high plays," Johnson has helped Aubrun average 219 yards per game and 4.6 yards per carry.

Last season, Auburn averaged 68 yards per game and 1.9 yards a carry. Johnson has rushed for 339 yards in two games and has already surpassed last season's leading rusher, Heath Evans. Evans had 330 yards in 11 games.

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