Shula confirmed reserve wide receiver Mike McCoy did fall victim to the jaws of “Smokey”, Tennessee’s blue tick hound mascot who bit McCoy and tore his uniform pants during pregame warm-ups. “I can confirm that,” Shula said. “I wasn’t an eyewitness. It drew blood in the pregame warmups.” Shula also confirmed that McCoy did play earlier in the season, and his participation Saturday did not erase a potential redshirt year. … The Tide emerged from Knoxville without any serious injuries. Shula said that receiver Keith Brown (knee), who did not play Saturday, is expected to recover in time for the FIU game. … When asked about potentially playing reserve quarterback Jimmy Barnes early against the Panthers, Shula indicated that his team’s goal is “to get off to a fast start” and to avoid having “the mindset to get a bunch of guys ready to play and not have the mindset to win”.

Reach David Wasson at david.wasson@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0229.