Erik Ainge

Erik Ainge
refer to caption
Ainge during his tenure with the Tennessee Vols
No. 9, 10
Position: Quarterback
Personal information
Born: (1986-06-12) June 12, 1986
Portland, Oregon
Height: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight: 221 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school: Hillsboro (OR) Glencoe
College: Tennessee
NFL Draft: 2008 / Round: 5 / Pick: 162
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com

Erik Douglas Ainge (born June 12, 1986) is a former American football quarterback. He played college football at Tennessee. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He currently hosts a daily sports talk show in Knoxville, TN on Sports Radio WNML 990 AM and 99.1 FM from 9a-12n EST.

He is the nephew of former NBA player Danny Ainge, who currently serves as the general manager of the Boston Celtics.[1]

Early years

Ainge was born in Portland, Oregon.[2] He was raised just outside Portland in Hillsboro, Oregon, where he was a star athlete at Glencoe High School.[3] As a freshman and sophomore, he played baseball and basketball in addition to football. Ainge was the starting pitcher on his baseball team and was said to throw a 90 mph fastball. He also averaged 17 points, eight rebounds, and three assists in basketball as a junior, and as a senior was a preseason honorable mention on the Street & Smith's All-American team.[3]

Ainge was a two-year starter at quarterback on the football team, leading the Glencoe Crimson Tide as deep as the Oregon state quarterfinals. As a junior, he passed for 2,559 yards and 16 touchdowns. As a senior, he passed for 3,078 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions.[3] Perhaps his most impressive game as a senior came against Aloha High School, when he passed for 475 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions to lead the Crimson Tide to 62 points through three quarters of action.[4] Following his senior season, Ainge was named all-state, prep star all-American, and the 2003 Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year. During his senior season, Ainge also became one of the most highly recruited quarterbacks on the west coast receiving offers from schools like Oregon, Arizona State, UCLA, and Tennessee. He eventually signed with the University of Tennessee to play college football under head coach Phillip Fulmer.[3]

College career

2004 season

As a freshman at Tennessee in 2004, Ainge completed 109-of-198 passes for 1,452 yards, 17 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.[5][6] His 17 touchdowns broke Peyton Manning's freshman touchdown record of 15, and his 1,452 passing yards ranked second behind Casey Clausen's freshman record of 1,473. On September 5, he made his collegiate debut in the season opener against UNLV. In the 42–17 victory, he had 118 passing yards and two passing touchdowns.[7][8] In Tennessee's 30–28 win over rival Florida, Ainge led a fourth quarter touchdown drive that pulled the Vols' to within a point, and then engineered a short drive in the closing seconds to set up James Wilhoit's game-winning 50-yard field goal.[9][10] Ainge split time for much of the year with Brent Schaeffer, who later transferred to Ole Miss.[11] After an injury just before halftime against Notre Dame, Ainge was replaced by former Tennessee quarterback Casey Clausen's brother Rick.[12]

Ainge during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Neyland Stadium

2005 season

During his sophomore season in 2005, Ainge completed 66-of-145 passes for 737 yards, five touchdowns, and seven interceptions, in just eight games.[5][13] One of his most infamous moments came in the Vols' game against LSU. To avoid getting sacked in the end zone by safety LaRon Landry, Ainge flung the ball up into the air just before he was ruled down for a safety. Ainge's head also hit the goalpost on the play, tweaking his neck. As a result, Clausen again took over.[14] Ainge finished his sophomore season with a strong performance and a 27–8 win at Kentucky as the Vols finished with a 5–6 record.[15][16][17]

2006 season

As a junior in 2006, Ainge was named the starter heading into spring practice, and for the first time in his career was able to take all of the first team reps throughout the preseason. Ainge also had a new position coach when David Cutcliffe replaced Randy Sanders as Tennessee's offensive coordinator.[18][19] In the season opener against #9 California, he had 291 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, and one interception in the 35–18 victory.[20][21] In the Vols' 31–30 win over Air Force, he completed 15 consecutive passes, the second-most in school history (Tee Martin completed 24 consecutive passes in 1998). He finished the day with 333 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and one interception.[22][23][24] After the Air Force game, he had 183 passing yards and two interceptions in a narrow 21–20 loss to the Florida Gators.[25][26] On September 30, against Memphis, he had 324 passing yards and four passing touchdowns in the 41–7 victory.[27][28] He led his team to a 7-1 record before being injured in the closing minutes of the game against South Carolina.[29][30] His 84-yard pass to wide receiver Robert Meachem in Tennessee's win over Memphis is tied for the fifth-longest pass play in school history.[31] Ainge missed the majority of Tennessee's two losses following the South Carolina game before returning to lead his team to season-ending wins against Vanderbilt and Kentucky.[32][33] During the season, Ainge set career highs in most statistical categories and break the Tennessee single-season record for completion percentage. The 2007 Outback Bowl was the first bowl appearance for Ainge, as he had missed the 2005 Cotton Bowl Classic due to injury, and the Vols did not qualify for a bowl game following his sophomore season. In the game, the Vols fell to Penn State.[34][35] For the year, Ainge completed 233 of 348 passes for 2,989 yards, 19 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.[5][36]

2007 season

In March 2007, Ainge underwent surgery for a torn meniscus. He stated that the injury occurred during weightlifting exercises. However, he was able to recover in time for the 2007 season.[37][38]

As a senior in 2007, Ainge completed 325-of-519 passes for 3,522 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.[5][39] Despite 519 pass attempts, he was only sacked three times. He completed 62.6% of his passes and had a 135.48 QB rating. Ainge was able to achieve this success despite nagging injuries which hampered him all season, including a broken pinky finger on his throwing hand and a shoulder injury on his throwing arm.

In the season opener against the #12 California Golden Bears, he had 271 passing yards and three passing touchdowns in the 45–31 defeat.[40][41] On September 22, against Arkansas State, he had 334 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, and one interception in the 48–27 victory to pull Tennessee to a 2–2 record.[42][43] In the next game, a 35–14 victory over #12 rival Georgia, he was 17-of-22 for 165 passing yards.[44] Over the course of the season, Ainge helped lead the Vols to an 8–3 record going into the regular season finale.[45] The strongest statistical game for Ainge was a 52-50 triple-overtime win over Kentucky in which he threw for 397 yards and an SEC-record seven touchdowns.[46][47] The Vols finished with a 9–3 record and won the SEC East to earn an appearance in the SEC Championship Game. In the 21–14 loss to LSU, he had 249 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and two interceptions, including a pick-six in the fourth quarter.[48][49] Despite the loss, the Vols qualified for the Outback Bowl. In the Vols' win over Wisconsin in the 2008 Outback Bowl, Ainge threw for 365 yards and two touchdowns, and was named the game's MVP.[50]

During his four years at Tennessee, Ainge completed 733-of-1,210 passes for 8,700 yards, 72 touchdowns, and 35 interceptions.[5] His seven touchdown passes against Kentucky in 2007 remains an SEC single-game record.[51] His 325 completions in 2007 remains a school single-season record, and his total yardage in 2007 trails only Manning's 1997 tally of 3,789 yards for the school single-season record. His total career yardage is the third-most in school history only behind Manning (11,020) and Casey Clausen (9,577).[31][52]

Awards and honors

  • Rivals.com National Freshman of the Week, September 18, 2004 (vs. Florida)[53]
  • 2004 Freshman All-America The Sporting News (2nd)[53]
  • SEC Offensive Freshman of the Year The Sporting News[53]
  • Freshman All-SEC Coaches[53]
  • 2005 Academic All-SEC[53]
  • USA Today National Player of the Week, September 4, 2006 (vs. California)[54]
  • SEC Offensive Player of the Week, September 11, 2006 (vs. Air Force)[55]
  • SEC Offensive Player of the Week, October 2, 2006 (at Memphis)[56]
  • SEC Offensive Player of the Week, October 9, 2006 (at Georgia)[57]
  • Cingular All-America Player of the Week, October 9, 2006 (at Georgia)[58]
  • Walter Camp Div. I-A National Offensive Player of the Week, October 9, 2006 (at Georgia)[59]
  • 2008 Outback Bowl MVP
  • 2008 Senior Bowl Selection[60]

Professional career

Ainge was selected in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the New York Jets with the 162nd overall pick.[61] In May 2008, Ainge underwent surgery on the little finger on his throwing hand.[62] On July 16, he signed a four-year, $1.87 million contract with a $165,000 signing bonus.[63]

On November 21, 2008, Ainge was suspended four games by the NFL for violating the league's policy on steroids and related substances.[64] Ainge, already on injured reserve and out for the season with a foot injury, was not allowed to be with the team or visit the team facility during the suspension.[64] He was able to rejoin the team on December 15, 2008, following the New York Jets' game against the Buffalo Bills.[64]

Ainge was expected to compete with Kellen Clemens and Kevin O'Connell for the final quarterback roster spot on the team in 2010.[65] It was later announced that Ainge had entered "a drug treatment/rehab facility for 'recreational issues'," marking the second time he had violated the NFL's substance abuse policy.[65]

Ainge made an announcement to The Associated Press on June 23, 2011, stating that he would retire from the NFL due to injuries sustained to his throwing shoulder and right foot.[66] The Jets officially released Ainge on July 29, 2011.[67]

Radio

Ainge's radio show debuted on Tennessee Sports Radio (1180 AM) in October 2011. The show was initially named "Morning Wood," but was changed to the "Erik Ainge Show" due to concerns over sponsors.[68] Ainge suggested that the show may at times be controversial, stating, "I'm not interested in the political answers, and I'm not afraid to talk about things that might upset people."[68] Guests that have appeared on the show include Arian Foster, Phillip Fulmer, Rex Ryan, Bruce Pearl, Leonard Little, Butch Jones, and David Cutcliffe.[69]

On January 3, 2017, The Erik Ainge Show debuted on FM 99.1 Sports Radio WNML in Knoxville, TN. Ainge is joined every morning by Brian Rice at 9:00 AM EST.[70]

Personal life

In a first person account written for ESPN.com in March 2011, Ainge admitted that he struggled with drug and alcohol abuse from the time he was twelve years old, and by his senior year at Tennessee he had become addicted to pain killers.[71] Ainge continued to struggle with these issues in the NFL before seeking help.[71] He also suffers from rapid cycling bipolar disorder, for which he has been treated in addition to his drug and alcohol treatment.[71] On July 28, 2013, Ainge was arrested for driving under the influence in Knoxville.[72]

Ainge resides in Knoxville, Tennessee, with his wife, Amanda, and their son and daughter.[73]

References

  1. ↑ "Two-QB System Thriving in Knoxville". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  2. ↑ Eggers, Kerry. "Ainge gets his life back on track". Portland Tribune. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Erik Ainge". New York Jets. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
  4. ↑ "NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles - Erik Ainge". www.nfl.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Tennessee Career Football Statistics Archived 2013-09-27 at the Wayback Machine., UTSports.com. Retrieved: 23 September 2013.
  6. ↑ "Erik Ainge 2004 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  7. ↑ "Nevada-Las Vegas at Tennessee Box Score, September 5, 2004". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  8. ↑ Davis, Elizabeth. "Tennessee Trumps UNLV 42-17 for Season-Opening Win - University of Tennessee". Tennessee Volunteers Athletics. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  9. ↑ "Florida vs. Tennessee - Game Recap - September 18, 2004 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  10. ↑ "Florida at Tennessee Box Score, September 18, 2004". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  11. ↑ "2004 Tennessee Volunteers Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  12. ↑ "Irish Stun No. 9 Tennessee". University of Notre Dame. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  13. ↑ "Erik Ainge 2005 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  14. ↑ Russo, Ralph D. (2005-09-27). "Vols Show No Mercy to LSU". ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  15. ↑ "Kentucky Ends Season With Loss to Tennessee". Kentucky Wildcats Athletics. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  16. ↑ "Tennessee at Kentucky Box Score, November 26, 2005". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  17. ↑ "2005 Tennessee Volunteers Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  18. ↑ "FOOTBALL: Sanders steps down at UT". The Observer. 2005-11-01. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  19. ↑ "TENNESSEE VS. CALIFORNIA - GAME PREVIEW - University of Tennessee". University of Tennessee. Retrieved 2018-06-04. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ↑ "AINGE, MEACHEM LEAD NO. 23 VOLS OVER NO. 9 CALIFORNIA, 35-18". Tennessee Volunteers Athletics. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  21. ↑ "California at Tennessee Box Score, September 2, 2006". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  22. ↑ "NO. 11 VOLS HOLD OFF AIR FORCE, 31-30, AS AINGE PASSES FOR 333 YARDS, 3 TDS". Tennessee Volunteers Athletics. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  23. ↑ "Air Force at Tennessee Box Score, September 9, 2006". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  24. ↑ "2006 TENNESSEE FOOTBALL SEASON REVIEW - University of Tennessee". University of Tennessee. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  25. ↑ "VOLS DROP 21-20 DECISION TO FLORIDA". Tennessee Volunteers Athletics. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  26. ↑ "Florida at Tennessee Box Score, September 16, 2006". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  27. ↑ "No. 15 Tennessee Cruises Past Memphis". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  28. ↑ "Tennessee at Memphis Box Score, September 30, 2006". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  29. ↑ "Tennessee vs. South Carolina - Game Recap - October 28, 2006 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  30. ↑ "2006 Tennessee Volunteers Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  31. 1 2 Total Offense Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine., Individual Career Records, UTSports.com, 2012, pp. 329-332. Retrieved: 23 September 2013.
  32. ↑ "Tennessee at Vanderbilt Box Score, November 18, 2006". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  33. ↑ "Kentucky at Tennessee Box Score, November 25, 2006". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  34. ↑ "Outback Bowl - Tennessee vs Penn State Box Score, January 1, 2007". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  35. ↑ "Nittany Lions victorious in 2007 Outback Bowl". Penn State Nittany Lions Athletics. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  36. ↑ "Erik Ainge 2006 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  37. ↑ "KNEE INJURY SHELVES AINGE FOR SPRING; RECOVERY LIKELY BY SUMMER - University of Tennessee". University of Tennessee. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  38. ↑ "SURGERY SUCCESSFUL, AINGE EXPECTED BACK IN 3-6 WEEKS - University of Tennessee". University of Tennessee. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  39. ↑ "Erik Ainge 2007 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  40. ↑ "Tennessee at California Box Score, September 1, 2007". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  41. ↑ Dufresne, Chris (2007-09-02). "Cal 'Pacs' a punch in beating Tennessee". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  42. ↑ "Ainge Throws Four TD Passes As Vols Roll Past Arkansas State". The Chattanoogan. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  43. ↑ "Arkansas State at Tennessee Box Score, September 22, 2007". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  44. ↑ "Georgia at Tennessee Box Score, October 6, 2007". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  45. ↑ "2007 Tennessee Volunteers Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  46. ↑ "Tennessee at Kentucky Box Score, November 24, 2007". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  47. ↑ "Remembering 2007 Tennessee vs. Kentucky: 4 OTs, an SEC East crown and a team that wouldn't quit". Rocky Top Talk. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  48. ↑ "Tennessee vs LSU Box Score, December 1, 2007". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  49. ↑ "UT-LSU Post Game Notes". Tennessee Volunteers Athletics. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  50. ↑ "Outback Bowl - Wisconsin vs Tennessee Box Score, January 1, 2008". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  51. ↑ UT in NCAA/SEC Record Books Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine., Individual Football Records, 2012, p. 322. Retrieved: 23 September 2013.
  52. ↑ "Tennessee Volunteers Passing". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  53. 1 2 3 4 5 "10 Erik Ainge". University of Tennessee Athletics: Football. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
  54. ↑ "Tennessee's Ainge takes season's first Player of Week award". Usatoday.com. 2006-09-06. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
  55. ↑ "Ainge SEC player of week". Tennessee.scout.com. 2006-09-11. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
  56. ↑ "SEC Roundup - Week Five Standings & More". Cfn.scout.com. 2006-10-02. Archived from the original on 2011-09-29. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
  57. ↑ "SEC Football Players of the Week Announced". Secsports.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  58. ↑ "College Football Fans Select Tennessee Quarterback Erik Ainge as the Week Six Cingular All-America Player of the Week". Cingular Wireless. October 12, 2006. Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  59. ↑ "FBS Players of the Week" (PDF). www.waltercamp.org. 2004 - 2012. Walter Camp Football Foundation. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  60. ↑ "2008 Senior Bowl South Roster" (PDF). Houston Texans.
  61. ↑ "2008 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  62. ↑ Phillips, Steve (May 12, 2008). "Ainge has surgery to repair broken pinky". WBIR.com. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  63. ↑ "Contract Information for Erik Ainge". Rotoworld.com. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  64. 1 2 3 "Jets rookie Ainge suspended four games for violating steroids policy". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 22, 2008. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  65. 1 2 Mehta, Manish (August 4, 2010), New York Jets third-year quarterback Erik Ainge enters drug treatment/rehab facility: sources, New York Daily News, archived from the original on June 4, 2011, retrieved September 8, 2010
  66. ↑ Associated Press (June 23, 2011), "Jets' Ainge announces retirement; cites injuries", Sports Illustrated, archived from the original on November 4, 2012, retrieved June 23, 2011
  67. ↑ Cimini, Rich (July 29, 2011). "Coleman bolts, Aussie punter arrives". ESPN. Archived from the original on July 30, 2011. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  68. 1 2 Mike Griffith, "Erik Ainge Calls Audible On 'Morning Wood,'" Knoxville News Sentinel, 7 October 2011. Retrieved: 23 September 2013.
  69. ↑ "The Erik Ainge Show," Tennessee Sports Radio. Retrieved: 23 September 2013.
  70. ↑ "The Erik Ainge Show". WNML-AF. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  71. 1 2 3 Ainge Erik; Rich Cimini (March 31, 2011), Ainge: 'I had to get help before I died', ESPN, archived from the original on June 4, 2011, retrieved October 4, 2009
  72. ↑ http://pro32.ap.org/article/former-jets-tennessee-vols-qb-arrested-dui
  73. ↑ Births, Knoxville News Sentinel, 24 March 2013. Retrieved: 24 September 2013.
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