• AT THE TRACKS
SPRINT CUP

• Blown save leaves Link short
JACKSONVILLE - Yet again.

• Twin Bridges golf course challenging, and a good value
THE COURSE

• Bulldogs plan to use 3 QBs
After a preseason of uncertainty, freshman Dustin Taliaferro will lead a trio of quarterbacks for Samford in its season opener against Division II West Georgia tonight at 7 p.m.

• Birmingham's new curfew adjusted for youths at high school games
A new game begins on Oct. 1.

• FANTASY CORNER
Put'em in:

• FANTASY CORNER
Put'em in:

• Right tackle Keith Gergel's aim is to keep Jacksonville State QBs standing
More than 50,000 sets of eyes tonight at Bobby Dodd Stadium will be glued to No.11 - both of them, actually (more on that later) - in the white jersey.

• Huntsville tops News volleyball poll
Huntsville High School is accustomed to a position atop The Birmingham News prep volleyball poll.

• Former Clemson coach Burton Burns in position to offer insights to Alabama
TUSCALOOSA - Clemson coach Tommy Bowden called it "The Burton Burns factor." And yes, he has addressed it.

• Sports Buzz
THE HOT CORNER

• Sports Digest
COLLEGE BASKETBALL

• STATE PREVIEWS
Troy at Middle Tennessee, 6:30 p.m. (CSS, AM-1070): For the first time in their five seasons in the Sun Belt Conference - and for the first time in 40 years - the Trojans are opening the season with a league game, the Battle for the Palladium. Troy has won three of the last four vs. the Raiders and four of seven since the series resumed in 1999. QB Jamie Hampton takes over for two-time conference offensive player of the year Omar Haugabook, with returning starters at wideout and tight end Travis Boyd, along with good depth at the skill positions. Hampton will have all five starters on the offensive line back, led by T Dion Small and C Danny Franks. While the offense rounds into shape, eight starters are back on defense, led by junior MLB Boris Lee. Lee had 82 total stops last year, 56 solo. Southern Arkansas at North Alabama, 7 p.m.: The fourth-ranked Lions have won six straight at Braly Municipal Stadium, going unbeaten at home last season. Both teams are members of the Gulf South Conference, but this game will not count as a league contest. QB A.J. Milwee, 21-3 as a starter, already holds the school record for TD passes with 46 and he's thrown only 17 interceptions in 667 attempts. UNA again is loaded at the skill positions with WR Joemal Campbell (56 catches, 643 yards), Rocky Coleman (26-345) returning and Middle Tennessee transfer Bobby Williams. Top tackler LB Michael Johnson(81 stops, 44 solo) is back and CB Bobby Raymond, another Middle Tennessee transfer, joins returnees Bobby Brooks, Chad Daniel and Anton Bowen in the secondary. This is the first of five Thursday night games on the UNA schedule this season with two at home. Compiled by News staff writer Mike Perrin. Check out Perrin's blog at blog.al.com/pressbox. Write him at mperrin@bhamnews.com. COMING FRIDAY

• Youthful-looking Blazers actually more experienced
UAB's projected two-deep depth chart for Saturday's season-opener against Tulsa includes plenty of guys getting their first taste of major college football.

• Samford's Rumiko Forrester uses faith, football to deal with tragedy
I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? ----

• Former Alabama player, assistant Dabo Swinney will face beloved Tide on Saturday
CLEMSON, S.C. - On Dabo Swinney's desk sits a framed game program of the 1969 Clemson-Alabama game. A friend gave it to Swinney a couple of years ago because of his ties to both schools, long before Swinney knew his loyalties would be tested this Saturday in Atlanta.

• Auburn's football depth chart delivers message
AUBURN - There are two quarterbacks listed as co-starters, lots of running backs, up to 10 sophomore starters and four true freshmen in prominent roles.

• 5 THINGS TO WATCH IN THE SEC
1. Alabama vs. Clemson. Who makes the crucial mistake, Clemson's new offensive linemen or Alabama's young linebackers? My gut tells me Alabama wins this game or the Iron Bowl. My mind tells me to go with Clemson, 27-23. 2. Tennessee at UCLA. The SEC should test itself on the road more often. Since 2000, the SEC is 0-4 in California, losing by an average of 21 points. UCLA, California and Southern Cal are 3-1 at SEC schools this decade, winning on average by 11 points. 3. Can Appy State do it again? LSU and Appalachian State, last year's Division I national champions, square off. They were supposed to open 2007. LSU pulled out to play Mississippi State on a Thursday. Appalachian State took a game at Michigan. The rest is history. 4. Auburn's total plays. My over/under is 80 plays for Tony Franklin's hurry-up offense. Auburn ran 90 against Clemson in Franklin's debut. There will be a lot of gassed players when Auburn plays this season. 5. ESPNU. Get a taste for the SEC's early Saturday games in 2009 by watching Vanderbilt-Miami (Ohio) on Thursday. Because nothing says kicking off the season like watching two seven-loss teams. Assuming it's on your cable carrier. Jon Solomon --

• Backfield again a power source
Talent in the backfield played a key role as the Midfield Patriots improved from 4-7 in 2006 to 6-5 in 2007.

• Barons have one last chance to salvage series against Suns
JACKSONVILLE - The Birmingham Barons left Regions Park last Friday with a four-game winning streak and a swagger perfect for the postseason.

• Best metro area team? Hoover, of course
A Power Poll doesn't necessarily reveal which high school has the best football team. While it weighs things such as record and strength of schedule, it also takes into account the competition at a team's level.

• Blazers face Golden Hurricane's impressive offensive numbers
The numbers put up by Tulsa's offense last season are staggering.

• Bucs secondary tough against pass and run
A defensive back is rarely judged by his ability to stop the run.

• Bulldogs eager to rebound from last year's 3-7 mark
After four years of running the spread offense, Susan Moore has settled comfortably into its offensive scheme.

• CLASS 2A, 1A, AISA TEAM PREVIEW CAPSULES

• CLASS 5A-4A TEAM PREVIEW CAPSULES

• Fairfield High coach finds a leader in senior QB Antonio Hagler
With a tough 5-6 season behind him and an even tougher one ahead, Fairfield coach Jim Vakakes has been on a search for team leadership.

• COLLEGE BEAT
AUBURN

• Drawing a line
If experience is king in high school football, Briarwood Christian's offensive line might rule the land.

• Erwin confident about defensive strengths
With this kind of player on the defensive line - strong, aggressive, quick feet, the kind of player opponents want to double team - there's no doubt it's the strongest part of Erwin's football team.

• Oak Mountain seniors look to lead Eagles football squad
Oak Mountain has learned the hard way how important senior leadership can be in football.

• Etheredge's problem is who to play where as Green Wave prepares for season opener
Leeds coach Keith Etheredge has a problem on his hands. He's got five talented players on his defense and he isn't sure where he wants to put them.

• Experienced secondary could spark Panthers
Pelham head coach Brett Burnett watched a young team endure growing pains last season en route to a 4-6 finish.

• Familiarity breeds trust
Seth Poe and Talor Petitt are very familiar with each other on the football field.

• FANTASY CORNER
Put'em in:

• FANTASY CORNER
Put'em in:

• Fearless foursome
Experience is a hallmark of McAdory's defense.

• Shades Mountain Christian School head coach to shift gears this year with young team
Shades Mountain Christian School head football coach Mike Bramblett is taking a different approach to the Eagles' 2008 season.

• Going to run, and like it
After assessing the performance of last year's defense, new Dora Bulldogs football coach Martin Glover quickly came up with the best defensive scheme available.

• Harvey leads solid backfield
Appalachian head football coach Ernie Willingham isn't quite ready to label his backfield one of the best in Class 1A this season.

• Heart and soul
It isn't difficult to determine which unit holds the key to a successful football season at Mountain Brook.

• Jaguars have few returning starters
Defensive tackle Darrius McMullin wasn't the focus on defense last season as offensive lines keyed on graduated senior William Green.

• Young, Stephens spell double trouble for Gophers' opponents
Neither Leonard Stephens nor Calvin Young started in his first game at Hueytown High School.

• Leadership shifts to Rebels' linebackers
Vestavia Hills senior linebacker Michael Prendergast knew he could count on leadership from safeties Michael D'Amico and Mason Wald during his first season as a starter in 2007.

• Signs indicate LSU's Miles may put team in hands of former Harvard JV quarterback Andrew Hatch
LSU's Les Miles has never shied away from a roll of the dice, whether it's going for it on fourth down or passing up three certain points on a field goal fake.

• METRO SUPER SENIORS
Position: Running back Height/Weight: 6-2/216

• Mustard, the food of champs
Clay-Chalkville opponents should take heed. The Mustard boys are on their way.

• Urban Meyer learns fleet Demps is tough cookie
Jeff DempsFlorida RB

• Note: Metro Super Seniors are not ranked
Position: Safety

• Chelsea High Hornets' continuity key to offense
Senior left tackle Alex Miller is tired of hearing that Chelsea's offensive linemen are too small and too slow to compete in Class 5A.

• Picking up the pieces
It's easy to peg where Bessemer Academy's team expects to be strong this fall.

• PREP FOOTBALL RECRUITING NOTEBOOK
No offers yet for Parker standout:

• Rebuilt Ćats expect to win
Wide-open, chunk-it-all-night spread offenses are a sign of the times in prep football.

• Gardendale posts win after losing key player
Gardendale rebounded from an ankle injury to outside hitter Rebekah Myers to beat Pinson Valley 26-24, 25-19, 20-25, 25-14 Tuesday night in high school volleyball.

• Patriot linebackers pave way for Homewood
Dalton McManus laughed when told that Homewood head football coach Dickey Wright considered the Patriots linebacking corps the best group of players on the team.

• St. Clair High has defensive end covered
It's a bit of an understatement to say St. Clair County High is set at defensive end.

• Wenonah High team's strength is Silent Group
On some teams, the strongest group is at a position - might be the running backs, could be the defensive backs, might be the offensive or defensive lines.

• Simon sez . . .
First-year Cordova head football coach Pete Bush understands he's fortunate.

• Sports Buzz
THE HOT CORNER

• Sports Digest
NFL

• Stepping up their game
Woe the travails of an offensive lineman.

• Briarwood student section fires up Lions
The Spain Park volleyball team gave undefeated Briarwood Christian all it could handle and more Tuesday evening.

• Tarrant has a lot of players ready to step up
Playing alongside two of the more explosive offensive talents in the state over the past four years, Tarrant players became accustomed to watching former stars Marquis Maze and Andre Berry turn the routine into spectacular.

• Team counting on a big comeback
Dustin Springer wouldn't let his fellow lineman get down.

• THE BIRMINGHAM NEWS 2008 STATE SUPER SENIORS
Position: Linebacker.School: North Jackson.

• There's a double dose of power on defense
Their coach calls one a man-child, the other undersized. He also calls both of them the heart of a defense that's the heart of its team.

• There's a double dose of power on defense
Their coach calls one a man-child, the other undersized. He also calls both of them the heart of a defense that's the heart of its team.

• Alabama's defensive ends has plan to make up for the loss of Gilberry
TUSCALOOSA - When Wallace Gilberry traded in a crimson jersey for the big blue of the New York Giants, he took his 10 sacks with him. His 27 tackles for loss, too.

• Tigers look for success in Class 3A after enjoying two winning years in 2A
After two winning seasons in 2A, including a run to the quarterfinals last year, the Tigers are moving up a classification.

• TRENDSPOTTING
The area's best teams over the last five years. 1. BESSEMER ACADEMY (AISA 3A) 61-3, .953 2. HOOVER (AHSAA 6A) 62-10, .861 3. MCADORY (AHSAA 5A) 47-11, .810 4. VESTAVIA HILLS (AHSAA 6A) 49-14, .777 5. SHELBY ACADEMY (AISA 2A) 48-14, .774 6. HOMEWOOD (AHSAA 6A) 51-15, .772 7. BRIARWOOD CHRISTIAN (AHSAA 5A) 50-15, .769 8. CALERA (AHSAA 4A) 46-14, .766 9. ONEONTA (AHSAA 4A) 49-16, .754 10. DORA (AHSAA 4A) 48-18, .727 11. RAGLAND (AHSAA 1A) 43-17 .716 12. CHELSEA (AHSAA 5A) 42-17, .712 13. CORDOVA (AHSAA 3A) 42-18, .700 14. FAIRFIELD (AHSAA 5A) 41-18, .695 15. PLEASANT GROVE (AHSAA 5A) 41-19, .683

• COMMUNITY SPORTS BRIEFS
Simmons second in Panther Smash:

• COMMUNITY SPORTS SCOREBOARD
ADULT SOFTBALL

• FLAG FOOTBALL
Birmingham Metro Flag Football 9-MAN DIVISION: Primetime beat New Breed 12-6. Tim Taylor led Primetime with two touchdowns while Dee Tarver recorded one interception. Taurean Rhetta scored for New Breed. Dragons beat Powerhouse 8-7. The Dragons were led by Marqus House with one touchdown pass while David Hopson scored for Powerhouse. Unknown beat The Trojans 8-6. Dabney Hunter led Unknown with one touchdown. Mandigos beat No Mercy 12-6. Chuck Smith threw two touchdown passes to Demeotrius Sanders to lead the Mandingos.

• GOLF
Med Center Mazda Tour This tournament event was recently held at Bent Brook. Results for top finishers follow:

• RECREATION CALENDAR
RUNNING/WALKING/ MULTI-SPORT BTC Mini Track Meet: Sept. 7 at 4 p.m. and Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. at Vestavia High School Track. 9th annual Liberty Park 5K and One Mile Run: Saturday at 8 a.m. at Vestavia Hills Elementary in Liberty Park. Information: Hoanna Rosen at William@bellsouth.net. Birmingham Start! Heart Walk: Saturday at 7:30 a.m. at Regions Park in Hoover. Information: Paige Lucas at 510-1503 or e-mail paige.lucas@heart.org. Alabama Butterbean Festival 5K and One Mile Run: Aug. 30 at 7 a.m. (both runs are USATF certified courses). Information: Shane Shellnut at 413-9024 or www.butterbeanfestival.com. Fat Danny's Trial by Trail Run: Sept. 6 at 7:30 a.m. at Oak Mountain State Park Upper picnic area. Information: Danny Haralson at 380-1779. Sobriety 5K Run: Sept. 13 at 8 a.m. in downtown Birmingham (Linn Park). USATF certified course. Information: Jerri Haslam at 923-6552. ERA Oxford Realty 8K and One Mile Run: Sept. 20 at 8 a.m. at Homewood Park on Oxmoor Road. USATF certified course. Information: Liz Montgomery at 531-7735. Are U ABle 5K Run/Walk and Roll: Sept. 27 at 8 a.m. at Oak Mountain State Park upper picnic area. Information: Jennifer Christy at 934-5903 or www.UAB.edu.pt. 4th annual Hueytown 5K/10K Run: Oct. 4 at Hueytown Elementary School. Information: Phil Robertson at philrobertson@charter.net. Komen's Race For The Cure 5K Run/Walk and One Mile Fun Run: Oct. 11 at Linn Park in downtown Birmingham. USATF certified course. Information: Komen Foundation at 930-8886 or www.komenncalabama.org. Great American Cross Country Festival 3K: Oct. 11 at 7 a.m. at Veterans Park on Valleydale Road. Information: Steve Bedsole at 426-4989 or www.trakshak.com. Runaway From Domestic Violence 8K: Oct. 18 at 8 a.m. at Health and Wellness Center on Hwy. 119. USATF certified course. Information: Mandy Cox at 408-6600. Trussville Chamber of Commerce Maple Leaf 5K Run: Oct. 18 at 8 a.m. at Trussville Chamber next to Hewitt Trussville Middle School. USATF certified course. Information: Trak Shak at 870-5644 or Dianne Poole at 296-0148. CrossPoint 5K & One Mile Fun Run: Oct. 25 at 8 a.m. at CrossPoint Baptist Church in Argo. USATF certified course. Information: Brian Harris at 655-0364. Gopher 8K Run/Walk & Dare Run: Nov. 15 at 8 a.m. in Homewood at Oxmoor Rd. and Broadway. USATF certified course. Information: Janie at 613-1617 or e-mail evajane6@charter.net. Red Eye Run 6.2 Mile Run: Saturdays at 7 a.m. at Western Supermarket in Mountain Brook Village. BASEBALL/SOFTBALL Southern Timber Baseball League Registration: For grades juniors (ages 15-16)/ seniors (ages 17-19)/ college. Information: Southern Timber League at 822-7011 or e-mail southerntimberleague@chartner.net. American Legion Baseball and Over The Mountain Baseball Registration: Information: Southern Timber League at 822-7011 or e-mail southerntimberleague@charter.net. Samford Fall Middle School Instructional Program: Through Sept. 10 on Sundays from 2-5 p.m. and Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m. for instruction in speed and agility. Information: Tony David at 726-4294 or www.samfordsports.com. Birmingham Amateur Softball Association registration: Through Aug. 25 for men's, women's and coed teams. Information: Darian Howell at 322-9958 (park) or 281-7950 (cell) or e-mail greenspringspark@bellsouth.net or www.greenspringspark.com. ASA Men's Softball Tournament: Saturday at Troy Parks and Recreation in the City of Troy. Entry fee is $125. Information: Pam Nix at 334-268-0236 or 334-670-6070. 2nd annual BRIDGES & Baseball Camp: Sept. 6 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. for ages 7-18 at Samford University. Cost is $100. Information: 939-9556 or e-mail chrissie@campbridges.org. BASKETBALL Birmingham Stars Basketball Club: Looking for boys ages 8-17 to join team. Information: Marvin Smoot at 240-9104 or 426-4665. Birmingham Basketball Academy: 1 on 1 skill development, team coaching and school holiday camps. Information: Paul Brown at 240-1135 or e-mail birminghambasketball@yahoo.com. Stars Basketball Club: Looking for players in grades 7-10 to join teams. Information: Marvin L. Smoot at 426-4665 or 240-9104. GOLF Birmingham Chapter of the American Singles Golf Association: Meets every second Thursday of each month at different restaurants and has two golf events per month. Information: 408-7930 or www.singlesgolf.com. Executive Women's Golf Association: Clinics for beginning, intermediate and advanced golfers. League play on Tuesday and Sunday afternoons. Weekend golf events and networking events. Information: Vicki Changet at 995-5715 or www.ewgabirmingham.com. GolfSouth Magazine Golf Tour: Saturday (Tour Championship) at Limestone Springs in Oneonta. Cost for event is $90 and cost to join tour is $115. Information: GolfSouth Magazine at 879-8622 or www.golfsouthmagazine.com. Cumberland Lake Golf Club: Will play host to the Fish and Loaves Ministry Benefit Tournament on Oct. 25 and Fall Invitational on Nov. 1-2. Information: Tyler Heath at Cumberland Lake Golf Course at 680-4653. Charity Golf Classic: Aug. 28 at noon at Bent Brook Golf Course in Bessemer. Four-person shotgun scramble. Information: Mike Miller at 426-2273 or Roy Holmes or June Holmes at 477-9839. Limestone Springs Junior Classic: Sept. 6-7 at Limestone Springs Golf Club in Oneonta for ages 12-19. Deadline is Saturday. Information: Arrowhead Junior Golf Tour at 850-650-6331 or www.arrowheadjgt.com. OTHER ACTIVITIES BumperNets Table Tennis Club: Meets weekly at Riverchase Galleria on Tuesday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cost $5 (ages 16-older), $4 (ages 15-younger). Information: BumperNets at 987-2222, 800-366-7664 or www.bumpernets.com. BumperNets billiards tournaments: Thursdays at BumperNets in Riverchase Galleria from 6:45 to 9 p.m. Eight and nine ball competitions. Cost is $5 per event. Open to all. Information: BumperNets 987-222 or 800-366-7664. ACE Special Needs Cheerleading: ACE Bows & Arrows are a special needs team consisting of intellectually challenged girls and boys who are physically functional. Learn new skills and meet new friends. Information: Bill Presson at 994-4070. Bark-O-Loungers Flyball Club: Beginner classes: Fridays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. and regular team practice from 8:30 to 10 p.m. Observers welcome. All classes are held at the B.O.T.C. indoor facility at 421 Red Lane Road in Roebuck. Cost for class is $80 for eight weeks. Information: Jean Meek at 854-8364 or e-mail cddom@charter.net or millermeek@yahoo.com or www.flyball.comBark-O-Loungers. Birmingham Obedience Training Club: Beginner classes are Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at the BOTC on Red Lane Road near the Huffman Ball Park. Information: BOTC at 252-3647 at www.birminghamobedience.org. World Record Event and National Bowling Week festivities: Aug. 30 beginning at 9 a.m. at Riverview Lanes. Information: Kitty Osborn at Riverview Lanes at 991-3900 or bowlbrunswick.com. Shades Valley YMCA Aquatics Programs: Swim Lessons: Sept. 8- Oct. 1 and Oct. 6-29, (costs are $52 for members or $85 for nonmembers); Lifeguard Training: Sept 10-14 and Oct. 1-5 (cost is $200); CPR Training and First-Aid: Sept. 3, 17 (cost is $35) and Swim Team Tryouts: Sept. 9 and 11 at 4:30 p.m. (costs are $45/month for members and $65/month for nonmembers). Information: kfranklin@YMCABHAM.org. Beginning Yoga: Tuesdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 6-7 p.m. at Trussville Community Center and Tuesdays from noon-1 p.m. at Devyani Dance Center in Irondale. Classes are for all ages and fitness levels. Information: Laura Thornton, RYT, at 854-5683 or e-mail gradylaurat@aol.com. Downtown YMCA Adult Coed Volleyball registration: Through Aug. 27 for play to begin Sept. 8. Cost is $200 per team. Information: Adam West at 801-7235 or e-mail awest@ymcabham.org.

• SWIMMING
Birmingham Park and Recreation Board City Championship Swim Meet.