AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville fired offensive coordinator Tony Franklin yesterday just seven games into his tenure, pulling the plug after the Tigers' rocky transition to his spread offense.

The 20th-ranked Tigers have struggled offensively all season after entering as the favorites to win the Southeastern Conference Western Division. They have dropped league games to LSU and Vanderbilt after beating Mississippi State by a score of 3-2.

"It hurts. It hurts bad," Tuberville said after practice yesterday. "It's a difficult situation. It's a difficult thing to do in the middle of the season. My responsibility is to this football team and it always will be. Tony's a good person. When it all comes down to it, it's about production. I didn't think over the last few weeks we were making any progress."

Tuberville said he made the decision yesterday morning and told the players before practice.

He said he and his remaining offensive staff would discuss who would coach quarterbacks and call plays Saturday against Arkansas. Tuberville also said he remained committed to the spread offense.

He has had five offensive coordinators during his 10-year tenure at Auburn, but none brought quite as much attention as the hiring of Franklin. Franklin declined comment to reporters as he loaded his car in front of the football complex.

No players were made available after practice.

Franklin brought an offense to the Tigers (4-2) that was a big departure from the more smashmouth, conservative style Tuberville had long favored. It received an abundance of attention leading up to the season but never clicked, and Franklin frequently criticized his own performance.

Tuberville, who indicated he would take a larger role in the offense, said there was "no personal conflicts" or disagreement that precipitated his decision.

Auburn is ranked 104th in total offense out of 119 major college teams and quarterbacks Kodi Burns and Chris Todd have alternated most of the season. The starting spot is still unsettled.

ARIZONA STATE

QB CARPENTER 'VERY DOUBTFUL' AGAINST USC

Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson said senior quarterback Rudy Carpenter, hobbled by a left ankle injury, "is very doubtful" for the Sun Devils' game at No. 8 Southern California on Saturday.

Carpenter, hurt last week in a loss to California, didn't practice yesterday.

Erickson does not plan to make a decision until later in the week, but he indicated that backup Danny Sullivan would make his first career start.

"Our plan is that Sully's going to play," Erickson said. "That's where it's at right now."

TENNESSEE

PUNTER COLQUITT BACK AFTER 5-GAME SUSPENSION

Tennessee punter Britton Colquitt had plenty of time to think about Saturday's game against No. 18 Georgia as he completed his five-game suspension for a February DUI arrest.

"In the past couple of weeks, some of the guys were like, 'Are you back next week?' " said Colquitt, a senior.

The Vols (2-3, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) rank 115th out of 119 teams nationally in net punting at just over 29 net yards per punt.

Georgia (4-1, 1-1) is third in punt returns nationally — first in the SEC — with an average 21.69 return yards per punt. Prince Miller returned an Alabama punt 92 yards for a touchdown.

Sophomore Chad Cunningham filled in for Colquitt and averaged 39.5 yards per punt. Two of his punts were blocked by UCLA and Northern Illinois and another was returned for a touchdown by Florida's Brandon James.