10-11-2005, 08:57 PM
``I expect Erik Ainge to play against Alabama,'' UT offensive coordinator Randy Sanders said Monday at the Knoxville Quarterback Club weekly meeting. ``Whether it's the third or fourth series, I don't know. He's too good of a football player to be standing on the sideline.''
Sanders said UT debated several times inserting Ainge against Georgia.
``We went back to Rick (in the third quarter) because we thought he played well (in the first half) other than the interception in the end zone,'' Sanders said.
``We discussed it in the third quarter, but we felt he managed the protections well. We thought about it again in the fourth quarter but didn't because we didn't know if that would be fair to Ainge, who hadn't warmed up in two hours.''
Ainge admitted he's been frustrated but said he'll be ready when called upon. He also said rumors he might transfer are unfounded.
Sanders said UT debated several times inserting Ainge against Georgia.
``We went back to Rick (in the third quarter) because we thought he played well (in the first half) other than the interception in the end zone,'' Sanders said.
``We discussed it in the third quarter, but we felt he managed the protections well. We thought about it again in the fourth quarter but didn't because we didn't know if that would be fair to Ainge, who hadn't warmed up in two hours.''
Ainge admitted he's been frustrated but said he'll be ready when called upon. He also said rumors he might transfer are unfounded.