Wake-Up Call: Tide's Arenas racing toward record

The Wake-Up Call greets you each weekday with news, views and a few Tampa Bay area sports offerings to anticipate for the day and night. We encourage suggestions and contributions.

Good morning!

With just 37 more yards in Saturday afternoon's SEC Championship Game against the Florida Gators - perhaps as simple as making the first defender miss, then turning the corner, like he has done dozens of times - University of Alabama senior Javier Arenas will become the NCAA's all-time leader in punt-return yardage.

Quite a leap, indeed.

Arenas, the former Robinson High School standout, seemed headed to Florida International University in 2006 before Alabama came calling late in the recruiting process.

Now he's cornerback for a 12-0 team, a leader on one of the nation's best defenses, a guy known for his aggressive run support and tight coverage. Now he's being linked to the NFL draft's first round.

Arenas loves being recognized for his overall game - instead of being portrayed primarily as a "return man.''

"First and foremost, I think people used to know me and recognize me off my return game,'' said Arenas, who is 5-foot-9, 198 pounds. "I think they recognize me now as a cornerback.''

And that recognition begins with Alabama coach Nick Saban.

"Javier is one of the most productive players on our defense,'' Saban said. "He was a very good player for us last year, even as a defensive back, because of his experience playing the position. I think he's more confident and he has eliminated a lot of his mental errors.''

"He does a lot for their team and you have to be aware of him,'' Gators quarterback Tim Tebow said.

It's easy to be aware of Arenas' game-breaking ability on punt returns. He has seven career touchdowns on punt returns, an SEC record and one off the NCAA mark.

Against Auburn last week, he improved his career punt-return yardage total to 1,725, an SEC record that surpassed the long-standing record of 1,695 (Vanderbilt's Lee Nalley in 1947-49).

Now he's bearing down on the NCAA record, held by Texas Tech's Wes Welker (2000-03).

"He has great speed, he's tough, he has a low center of gravity and he's very aggressive,'' Florida coach Urban Meyer said. "He's one of the best returners in America.''

As aggressive and fearless as Arenas appears to be while fielding a punt, he sometimes struggles to explain why he's so effective.

"It's a unit thing and it's all 11 of us working together,'' he said. "But me, individually, I think it's just my natural ability, my instincts.''

Sometimes, Arenas must channel those instincts into a more sedate approach. Slowly, from his days at Robinson until now, he has learned that lesson. Without sacrificing his passion, Arenas has become a more efficient performer.

"It's very hard (to be patient), especially when you're someone like me,'' Arenas said. "I have people on the sideline telling me, 'Relax, calm down, be patient, it's going to come to you.' I need somebody in my corner to help me with things like that.

"I know you can do too much. I know that from experience, fumbling the ball, muffing the ball, all the worst you can expect. I always want to get back there and make a play. But I know you have to (pick your spots). That experience has helped me grow as a punt-return man.''

That growth spurt has been unmistakable.

Once, he was an unknown.

Now he's one of Alabama's giants.

Arenas on the short list

Javier Arenas' punt-return exploits at Alabama definitely puts him on the short list for most impressive accomplishments by a former Robinson High School athlete.

Here are a few that come to mind:

• Charlie Bradley: Set the University of South Florida men's basketball career scoring record with 2,319 points from 1981-85. It also stood as the Sun Belt Conference career scoring record for nearly 23 straight seasons (through USF's ascension from the Sun Belt to the Metro to Conference USA to the Big East). In his sophomore season, Bradley averaged 28.2 points per game, fifth nationally. He led the nation in scoring for 11 consecutive weeks.

• Harriet Brumfield: Women's basketball player for Vanderbilt University (1981-85) who three times was named first-team All-SEC. She scored a career 1,956 points, setting a school record for male and female basketball (it was since broken). She was also an all-academic selection.

• John Reaves: University of Florida quarterback (1969-71) who set the NCAA's career record for passing yardage - but not without some controversy. In UF's rout of the Miami Hurricanes, the Gator defenders were instructed to let a UM ball-carrier score, so Reaves could get the ball back. What followed was the "Gator Flop'' - 10 UF defenders falling to the turf. Reaves finished with 7,544 passing yards - 5 more than Jim Plunkett, the former Heisman Trophy winner from Stanford University. Partially because of the modern passing game, partially because quarterbacks can now play four varsity seasons (not three), Reaves' record did not last long.

• Larry Smith: Finished as Florida's all-time leading career rusher (2,186 yards from 1966-68), but that record has since been broken seven times. His final game - an Orange Bowl victory against Georgia Tech - was notable because of his 94-yard touchdown run, still the longest scoring run in that bowl's history. Smith was drafted eighth overall by the Los Angeles Rams - and that remains the highest selection by a player from Hillsborough County.

• Matt Vogler: TCU quarterback who set an NCAA single-game passing record with 690 yards in a 56-35 loss against Houston in 1990. The game featured a combined 1,253 passing yards (Houston's David Klinger had 563). Vogler, who was 44 of 79 with five touchdown passes, did not get to enjoy his distinction for long. Four weeks later, Klinger set a new record with 716 passing yards against Arizona State.

Huge win for Gibson's Rattlers

Former Winter Haven High School girls basketball coach LeDawn Gibson, now in her second season with the Florida A&M University women's program, registered her biggest victory to date on Tuesday night with a 72-71 upset of the University of Florida Gators in Gainesville.

FAMU sophomore Antonia Smith (Lake Gibson) had 21 points.

"I was really impressed with how ready Coach Gibson had her team ready to play us,'' Gators coach Amanda Butler said.

Gibson was 315-57 in 12 seasons at Winter Haven, her alma mater, before resigning on March 5, 2008. Her teams won two state titles, while reaching the state's final four eight times in a nine-season span.

But she took on a new challenge, finishing 14-17 in her first season with FAMU. Now the Rattlers have a marquee victory.

"It means a lot to a mid-major to step up and beat a big-time Division I school,'' Gibson said.

Johnson on Notre Dame's list?

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson is preparing his Yellow Jackets for Saturday night's ACC Championship Game meeting with the Clemson Tigers at Raymond James Stadium.

But Johnson's name also has popped onto the short list of potential candidates to replace Charlie Weis at Notre Dame.

Here's how Matt Hayes of The Sporting News Today handicaps Notre Dame's top choices:
1. Brian Kelly, Cincinnati.

2. Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech.

3. Jim Harbaugh, Stanford.

4. Gary Patterson, TCU.

5. Tom Coughlin, New York Giants
.

Hayes writes: "If the old guard at Notre Dame really does want a return to the option days of the past, here's their guy. Johnson beat BCS teams (including Notre Dame) as the Navy coach and led the nation in rushing. He now has Georgia Tech a game away from winning the ACC outright for the first time since 1990.''

Birthday wishes

Happy birthday to former University of Tennessee All-American linebacker Frank Emanuel, a Tampa resident who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Friday, Emanuel turns 67.

The Answer Man

Here's the answer to Tuesday's trivia question:

Before this season, the Robinson Knights last appeared in a state football playoff semifinal in 1977. The Knights lost at Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee 20-17. Bobby Walker was Robinson's starting quarterback that night. He replaced Doug Shields, who broke his leg in the regular-season finale against Plant.

Wednesday trivia

Here's our daily sports trivia question, featuring a Tampa Bay/Florida spin. Try your luck by commenting below.

Well before Javier Arenas, who was the other former Robinson High School player to become a starter on the University of Alabama defense? (Hint: He played for Bear Bryant).

Check for the answer in Thursday's Wake-Up Call.