Dumars is the teams most obvious link to its more successful past, and he ack

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- After beginning their college careers on losing teams, Tennessees seniors would love nothing more than to finish up by playing for a Southeastern Conference championship.Those seniors still hope to reach that goal as they prepare for their final college home game Saturday against Missouri (3-7, 1-5 SEC).That would mean everything, defensive end Corey Vereen said.In order to get to Atlanta for a shot at the title, Tennessee (7-3, 3-3) must win its final two games and have No. 16 LSU defeat No. 21 Florida on Saturday. Tennessee plays at Vanderbilt next week in its regular-season finale.Tennessee isnt in control of its destiny, but the fact the Vols are even in contention for a division title in mid-November shows how far this program has come since these seniors enrolled.Theyve made a lasting impact on Tennessee football, Tennessee coach Butch Jones said. We always talk about is Tennessee football better because you were a part of it. How have you impacted the football program? All these individuals have impacted the football program in a very, very positive manner.This senior class includes the first collection of players Jones recruited to Tennessee as well as four players who preceded the coachs arrival in Knoxville. Linebacker Kenny Bynum, tight end Jason Croom, defensive end LaTroy Lewis and defensive lineman Charles Folger are the lone fifth-year seniors who were part of Derek Dooleys last Tennessee team.Dooley was fired amid a 5-7 season in 2012. Jones and the other freshmen came aboard in 2013 when Tennessee again finished 5-7 for its fourth straight losing season.Tennessee went 7-6 in 2014 and 9-4 last season while winning bowl games each year. This season, the Vols were ranked as high as ninth before a three-game skid in October caused them to tumble out of the Top 25.The headline performers in this class are quarterback Joshua Dobbs, cornerback Cam Sutton and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin.Dobbs has made 32 career starts while majoring in aerospace engineering. His accomplishments on and off the field have made him the face of Tennessees program.A lot of people said you cant go to college, cant play SEC football and major in engineering, (that) theres just not enough time in the day, Dobbs said. You cant do this and you cant do that. ... My message always has been, `Why cant I do that? Sutton, a starter since the opening game of his freshman season, is Tennessees career leader in passes defended and returned to action last week after missing six games with a fractured ankle. Reeves-Maybin led the Vols in tackles in 2015 and tied for the team lead in 2014 before season-ending shoulder surgery limited him to just four games this year.Tennessees fifth-year seniors encountered even more adversity as they dealt with consecutive losing seasons and a coaching change in their first two years on campus.They marvel at how much has happened since their arrival.We remember when we just moved into Gibbs (Hall), me and Jason were roommates together, Lewis said. We look over across the street and Gibbs is gone (it was demolished in 2014). Its a whole new building up. How things have changed over time, its really interesting to look back on.Those four fifth-year seniors have only made a combined seven starts this season, but theyve delivered quite an impact off the field. Lewis has started a local nonprofit organization aimed at mentoring and educating young people in the Knoxville area, while Folger volunteers at the Tennessee School for the Deaf in Knoxville.Tennessees seniors acknowledge Saturdays game will carry an emotional weight. Folger quipped that Im going to cry like a baby when he runs onto Neyland Stadiums field for the last time and is greeted by his family.But they dont want to get too nostalgic just yet. Theres too much at stake.We still have a lot of dreams and goals on the table, Dobbs said. We cant get caught up in too much of the emotion and be focused on this being our last (home) game. Weve still got to prepare and get ready to play a ballgame Saturday.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Steve Megargee at www.twitter.com/stevemegargee Joe Staley Jersey .com) - The women will also have a new champion at the Australian Open. Johnny Strzykalski Jersey . Howard Ganz, an MLB lawyer, said in a letter to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos that Rodriguezs claims do not come "remotely close" to what is needed to overturn an arbitration decision in federal court. http://www.custom49ersjersey.com/custom-trent-dilfer-jersey-large-1948d.html . Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., team took control of the game early. Troy Smith Jersey . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Ted Kwalick Jersey . John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built an 18-point lead. AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Maurice Cheeks is ready for a new challenge, undaunted by the fact that the Detroit Pistons have been a revolving door for coaches lately. Cheeks is the franchises fourth coach in six seasons, so is he concerned about a job where so many others have failed? "If we thought like that, nobody would be coaching," Cheeks said. Cheeks was introduced Thursday, nearly two months after Lawrence Frank was fired. The coaching search took a while because the Pistons need this decision to work out. Detroit went 54-94 in two seasons under Frank amid sagging attendance. The previous two seasons under John Kuester werent any better. The Pistons havent made the playoffs since being swept in the first round in 2009 -- in Michael Currys only season at the helm. Cheeks is Detroits ninth coach since the 1999-2000 season. "We wanted to make sure we took our time and went through as many possible scenarios as weve come across," team president Joe Dumars said. "We feel like we got the right guy for what were trying to do." This is the third head coaching stop for Cheeks. He went 284-286 with the Portland Trail Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers. Cheeks coaching tenure in Portland is perhaps best remembered for a heartwarming moment when he rushed to the rescue of a 13-year-old girl who forgot the words to the national anthem before a game. But hes never been past the first round of the playoffs. "Everything you go through is a learning experience," Cheeks said. "Im here to make my own way, put my own stamp on this team. It has nothing to do with Philadelphia or Portland." Detroit drafted Greg Monroe, Brandon Knight and Andre Drummond in the lottery the last three years, and the Pistons have the No. 8 pick this year. Theyve been able to build a nucleus of young players with potential, but Detroit has lacked a legitimate star who could lift the team into the post-season and help draw fans. This off-season is an important one for Dumars after the team cleared salary cap space by trading veterans Ben Gordon and Tayshaun Prince in the last year.dddddddddddd "This team has a lot of young talent," Cheeks said. "You go across the board, and youve got players that just have to be honed." Jonas Jerebko, a 26-year-old forward whose playing time dipped last season, was at Thursdays news conference. "Hes going to demand respect, and thats something we need," Jerebko said. "I feel like hes a great fit for our young team." Jerebko said he was shooting around with a couple other players earlier Thursday when Cheeks tried to set the tone for the future. "I had a couple flip-flops on or something -- you know, messing around," Jerebko said. "He told us: When youre in there, youve got to put in work. ... Thats what you want as a player -- you want somebody to tell you what to do. I wont be wearing my flip-flops out there." Cheeks spent the past four seasons as an Oklahoma City Thunder assistant. The Chicago native was a four-time All-Star over 15 seasons in the NBA, helping the Sixers win a championship in 1983. Next season will mark the 10-year anniversary of Detroits championship in 2004. Since then, the team has parted ways with the stars from that team, and the Pistons also have a fairly new owner. Tom Gores took over the franchise two years ago. Hall of Famer Phil Jackson helped with Detroits coaching search as a consultant, but Dumars said there was "a 100 per cent consensus" to hire Cheeks. Dumars is the teams most obvious link to its more successful past, and he acknowledges that no matter how many changes the team makes, fans will take a wait-and-see approach until the Pistons start winning again. "I think people are always skeptical until you prove yourself," Dumars said. "Im not here to try and prove to people in the press conference that everything is perfect. What I am saying, though, is were not going to stop working until we get it right. I think thats all you can do in this position." ' ' '