TAMPA, Fla. -- Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli has no regrets about speaking out about the treatment he received from coach Neil Gordon when he was a player at Penn Hills High School. In fact, he said he has received positive feedback from other former Penn Hills players.

In a story in the Post-Gazette Dec. 15, Morelli said Gordon and a Penn Hills assistant spread rumors about Morelli's inability to read defenses and his level of intelligence. He also said Gordon tried to sabotage his recruitment.

"A lot of people are happy that I came out and said what I said," Morelli said. "Kids I played with back home and parents of those kids said that. It was a big relief. I just had to get it off my chest and let people know where I'm coming from. It's like a monkey's off my back. It's over now, and I just want to move on."

Morelli said he has not spoken with Gordon since the story appeared.

Ainge on target

One of the big reasons for Tennessee's resurgence this season has been the play of junior quarterback Erik Ainge, who has benefited from the tutoring of noted quarterbacks guru David Cutcliffe.

Cutcliffe was hired as a Tennessee assistant after being fired as head coach at Ole Miss. Cutcliffe has a history of mentoring some impressive quarterbacks, most notably Peyton and Eli Manning. Cutcliife was an assistant at Tennessee in the 1990s when Manning played for the Volunteers.

Ainge has thrown for 2,722 yards and 19 touchdowns this season and is on pace to set a single-season record for completion percentage. He has completed 66.9 percent of his passes, which is three percentage points better than Manning's school record, and his 155.4 quarterback rating is No. 11 in Division I-A.

His performance comes after a sophomore season in which he was benched and replaced for a time by Rick Clausen.

"Erik is doing now what I thought he would last year," Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said. "I think he put a lot of pressure on himself trying to distance himself from Rick and not split the time.

"So, he was trying to make plays instead of playing within the system. That was youth and immaturity and our responsibility."

Football and fun

Penn State and Tennessee players are having lots of opportunities to experience Tampa and the surrounding area when they're not preparing for the game.

Penn State receiver Derrick Williams said the time together away from school has been beneficial for the team.

"We have a better bond now," Williams said.