College Notebook- Jones moves to corner for OSU

"If the offense is in a two-tight end set and their top receiver is isolated, we would probably put Jammer on that guy regardless of what side the receiver is on," Reese said. "Jammer's shown he's a bump-and-run corner."

– Chip Brown

UNT close to sellout

North Texas athletic director Craig Helwig announced that the Sellout 2000 committee has sold more than 12,000 tickets for Thursday's season opener against Baylor. That amount doesn't include season tickets, students, Baylor fans or walk-ups. Fouts Field's capacity is 30,500.

"We're about 3,700 tickets short as of [Monday]," Helwig said. "We think [the sellout] can be accomplished."

– Richard Durrett

Sooner TE prospects

NORMAN, Okla. – Oklahoma true freshman tight end Lance Donley of Weatherford has performed well through fall practices, but he'll probably be red-shirted unless injuries crop up. That's because the Sooners are well-stocked at the position, with sophomore Trent Smith and seniors Chris Hammons and Matt Anderson. All three returnees have started games.

– Charlie Smith

Switch works at OSU

STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State junior college transfer Paul Jones, who sat out last year with an ankle injury, was moved from wide receiver to cornerback this fall and has moved up to the second unit. Jones had an interception and fumble recovery in Saturday's scrimmage.

"He made some plays," said Cowboys coach Bob Simmons. "He's been doing that in practice. He'll help solidify our secondary."

– Charlie Smith

SMU briefly ...

UNIVERSITY PARK – Backup running back Jeff Woods tried to practice Monday but aggravated his pulled hamstring. ... The first-team offense and defense practiced against the scout team Monday. In goal-line passing drills, receiver Bryan McDearman ran crisp pass routes. Running backs Kris Briggs and Jason Pipkins were impressive in the rushing drills, as well. ... Defensive ends coach Oscar Giles said end Johnson Patman will probably be used on the weak and strong sides of the line. Patman is listed behind Kevin Aldridge on the weak side.

– Rana L. Cash

Aggies TE moving

COLLEGE STATION – Injuries will force Texas A&M junior Lonnie Madison to practice at defensive end this week, coach R.C. Slocum said Monday.

Madison, who moved from defense to tight end in the spring, may have to return to defensive end full-time, Slocum said.

The loss of Terry Nichols, who died in an off-season automobile accident, and Rocky Bernard, who suffered a season-ending knee injury during two-a-days, trimmed the ranks of experienced defensive ends to senior Ronald Flemons, junior Evan Perroni and sophomore Ty Warren.

– Larry Bowen

A&M briefly ...

COLLEGE STATION – Redshirt freshman Richard Whitaker remains atop the Texas A&M depth chart at tailback, but Aggie coaches have not decided whether to start Whitaker or sophomore Joe Weber in the season opener against Notre Dame on Saturday. ... Although Texas A&M has never played a football game at Notre Dame, Saturday's season opener will be Aggie coach R.C. Slocum's second game at Notre Dame Stadium. Slocum was defensive coordinator for the USC team that beat the Irish, 14-7, in 1981. The USC quarterback in that game was John Mazur, who later transferred to A&M.

– Larry Bowen

Dress rehearsal

TCU doesn't play its first game until Sept. 9, but the Horned Frogs are treating this week as though they're playing Saturday. Coach Dennis Franchione gave the team Monday off, which is usually the case throughout the season (TCU practices Sunday, when many teams are off).

The Horned Frogs will conduct intense practices Tuesday and Wednesday, then a lighter one Thursday, preparing for a "mock" opponent, and they'll even go to a Fort Worth hotel on Friday evening for meetings (they won't stay the night there, however). Finally, the team will treat Saturday as a game day, and will even simulate playing a full game, complete with mock injuries (for the trainers) and overtime.

– Dan Noxon

Kicking game set

Baylor's kicking game duties became the last positions to be set during the weekend, as the Bears continued to prepare for their opener at North Texas on Thursday. Junior transfer Adam Stiles will handle kickoffs and field-goal attempts, but sophomore Daniel Andino will kick extra points after edging Stiles in what coach Kevin Steele called a close battle the past four weeks. Stiles also will serve as the team's punter, having beaten out junior Ryan Chapdelaine for that job.

– Dan Noxon

K-State back out

Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said the apparent ankle injury to running back/punt returner David Allen will keep him out indefinitely.

"It's going to be more than a ballgame," said Snyder, who normally does not release injury information.

That would put Allen out for Saturday's home opener against Louisiana Tech. The Wildcats are off next week. Their next game would be Sept. 16 against Ball State.

Snyder also confirmed shoulder and chest injuries to safety Jarrod Cooper that might force him to miss this week's game.

– Keith Whitmire

Snyder disputes call

David Allen's punt return for a touchdown should not have been called back by a penalty, Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said Monday after reviewing tape of the play.

The punt return would have set a new NCAA career record of eight punt returns for touchdowns by Allen.

"Dyshod Carter did not commit a penalty on that play and he need not carry the burden for that," said Snyder. "It's frustrating and disappointing, but there will be other opportunities."

– Keith Whitmire

Nebraska punter out

Dan Hadenfeldt, the punter for top-ranked Nebraska, will have to sit out Saturday's opener against San Jose State because he competed in the Hula Bowl before he was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA.

Hadenfeldt, whose 44.98-yard average last season was fifth-best in Division I, played in just two games in 1996 because of a back injury and was granted a medical hardship.

Cornhuskers coach Frank Solich said kicker Josh Brown will probably handle punting duties in Hadenfeldt's place.

– Keith Whitmire

Jayhawks battle heat

SMU won't have a weather advantage when it opens Gerald J. Ford Stadium against Kansas on Saturday. Lawrence, Kan., was the location of Sunday's national high of 109 degrees.

Kansas quarteback Dylen Smith and receiver Harrison Hill have both suffered heat-related illnesses.

"We've had some real heat problems," said Jayhawks coach Terry Allen. "You can acclimate to the heat, but you can't condition."

– Keith Whitmire