Coaches like to say that a team makes its most improvement from the opening week to the second game.

But in the case of Georgia punt returner Mikey Henderson, he improved from his first return in Saturday’s season opener against Western Kentucky to his second return.

The thing is, both were apparent touchdowns, but just one counted.

Henderson, making his debut as Georgia’s punt returner, zipped 66 yards for a TD on his first return. But he started celebrating his success a bit early. Just before crossing the goal line, he tried to hold the ball aloft in his left hand and dropped it before reaching the end zone.

The referees called it a touchdown, but Western Kentucky wisely asked for an instant replay review. The evidence on the replay was clear that Henderson had a lost possession, and when he regained it his foot was on the end line for a touchback.

Henderson could have crawled in a hole at that point. Georgia coach Mark Richt also could have buried him on the bench. But moments after Henderson’s play, Richt re-inserted him as a punt returner, and Henderson took another punt 67 yards to the house for a TD.

This time, Henderson almost popped the ball, he was squeezing it so hard as he dove into the end zone.

"I was holding the ball so tight nobody could have taken it away from me," Henderson said. "All I thought about (after his goof) was getting back out there and really getting one (another TD) this time,"

Henderson’s could have had a spot in the NCAA record book with several players who have returned two punts for touchdowns in a single game. Instead, after week one, he’ll settle for being the top punt returner in Division 1-A with a gaudy 66.5 yards per return average.

Cracked up: TV cameras can be an athlete’s friend or an enemy, depending on what comes out of his mouth on a close-up.

South Carolina tailback Cory Boyd was hyped after catching a 54-yard TD pass in the Gamecocks’ win at Mississippi State a week ago. As the ESPN cameras zoomed in on him celebrating on the sideline, Boyd paid tribute to his mother, Crystal Boyd, who died in May.

He should have stopped there. But Boyd, who was suspended for the 2005 season for an undisclosed violation of athletics department policy, looked into the camera and said: "I’m back. I’m back like cooked crack."

Boyd’s comment was an apparent reference to Harlem rapper Juelz Santana’s album, "Back Like Cooked Crack." South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier called Boyd’s remarks "pretty stupid."

Boyd apologized by saying, "I really let my team down. I’m sorry for the actions that happened. It will never happen again. It was a very immature thing of me to do."

Warm Welcome For Spurrier: Speaking of Spurrier, he received the expected warm welcome on Saturday when the Florida honored the ‘96 national championship team coached by Spurrier.

He got a standing ovation during a pre-game ceremony at the O’Connell Center, and he got another when the national champs were announced on the field prior to kickoff. The Florida Field crowd gave Spurrier a standing ovation that lasted more then 30 seconds.

Love That Replay Challenge: Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer is 1-for-1 in successfully using his instant replay challenge.

He challenged an official’s ruling with 3:51 left in the second quarter against Cal after an Erik Ainge-to-Robert Meachem pass completion on third-and-11 was spotted at the Cal 46, a yard short of the first down marker.

Fulmer thought he got a bad spot, and after the replay was reviewed, the instant replay official agreed. The ball was placed at the Cal 45 for a first down, and two plays later, Ainge gunned a 42-yard touchdown to Meachem for a 14-0 lead.

"Originally, I didn’t like the replay challenge because I never thought I’d use it," Fulmer said. "But I like it now. As soon as he (Meachem) fell out-of-bounds, I knew the spot was wrong. So, so far, so good on the replay challenge."

Writers from other cities contributed to this report.