NCAA Football FanHouse

Gresham Might Miss Oklahoma's Opener

Terrance Harris — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:39:00 EST

All-American tight end Jermaine Gresham reportedly won't be available for Oklahom'as Saturday night's season opener against No.20 BYU, according to mutliple media outlets in Oklahoma.

But the news could get worse if Gresham requires season-ending surgery, as KWTV speculated could be a possibility on its Web site.

The loss of Gresham could be a huge blow to the Sooners and Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Sam Bradford as they look to win their fourth straight Big 12 championship. But according to reports out of Norman, no determination on the extent of the injury sustained during Wednesday night's practice has been determined. OU head coach Bob Stoops or anyone from the school has made a comment on Gresham's injury or the possibility he will not play Saturday in the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium in Arlington, Texas.

His immediate loss does send the Sooners into a bit of a scramble, however, with the game just two days away. Backup tight end Brody Eldridge is slated to start at center against the Cougars.That leaves the likely stand-ins at tight end as 6-foot-4, 243-pound sophomore James Hanna or 6-3, 225 sophomore walk-on Trent Ratterree.

Gresham is expected to be a big part of the Sooners' offensive plans this season. He passed up an opportunity to go to the NFL as a high draft pick this past season to return to Oklahoma for his senior year. Gresham, who is 6-foot-6, 261 pounds, is the Sooners top returning receiver after catching 66 balls for 950 yards and 14 touchdowns last season.

Gresham Might Miss Oklahoma's Opener originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big Ten Might Lose Alamo Bowl Tie-In to Pac 10

Mark Hasty — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:50:00 EST

Filed under: Big 10, Pac 10, Rumors, Bowl Games

In the least secret secret negotiations ever, it appears that the Alamo Bowl is about to ditch the Big Ten for the Pac 10. The San Antonio-based bowl has already moved its game into January and is increasing its per-team payout to $3 million.

If the rumored plan is true the Pac 10's No. 2 team would head to San Antonio to play the Big 12's No. 3. Currently the Pac 10's runner-up plays in the Holiday Bowl.

As a college football fan, I can only applaud the move. It's been no secret that the Pac 10's bowl tie-ins have been, how shall we say, a little weak. Maybe it's because they don't play any games outside their home territory, apart from the Sun Bowl in that well-known media hotspot El Paso.

But isn't this a huge insult to the Big Ten?

On the one hand, yes, it is. The Big Ten has been a partner of the Alamo Bowl since its inception in 1993. When the conference's tie-in with the Sun Bowl ended in 2006, the Alamo Bowl became the Big Ten's only bowl game in Texas. You might have heard that a lot of good football players come out of Texas, so having a postseason presence in the state helped keep the Big Ten on the minds of recruits.

On the other hand, when you get down past the second-tier bowls, it's best to shake up your arrangements once in a while. In sixteen seasons, eight of the Big Ten's teams have made at least one appearance in the Alamo Bowl. Iowa has been there so many times there might as well be a University of Iowa at San Antonio. You can't expect fan bases to keep going back to the same city over and over again without losing some enthusiasm for the prospect.

The Big Ten wants to continue playing bowl games in Texas, however, so don't be shocked if they work something out with the Texas Bowl, who would love to step up their game's profile as well. That would preserve a Big Ten-Big 12 matchup within Big 12 territory as well, assuming the Big 12 retains the tie-in.

Many of the Big Ten's other bowl arrangements will be up for grabs shortly, so we probably aren't done seeing changes. I personally hope that something can be done to correct what seems to be a glaring gap in the bowl system. There's no game where a Big Ten team faces a Big East team, even though the conferences have considerable geographic overlap. Cast off your chains, Papajohns.com Bowl; you can do better than the SEC's ninth-best team.

Big Ten Might Lose Alamo Bowl Tie-In to Pac 10 originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lou Holtz Says He's Not Running for Congress

Mark Hasty — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:11:00 EST

Filed under: Notre Dame, Media Watch, Rumors, General CFB Insanity

Not so fast, my friend. Wait, that's not Lou Holtz's line. That's Lee Corso's line.

Anyway, not so fast, my friend. Just a day after rumors began flying that the former coach at (insert name of every Division I school here) was considering running for Congress in Florida's 24th congressional district, Holtz has now told a South Bend TV station that he's not going to run.

Holtz spoke to WNDU-TV during a golf outing in southwestern Michigan on Wednesday. The 72-year-old coach confirmed to others, though not directly to WNDU, that he met with Republican strategists. Holtz did tell the TV station he was happy with his job at ESPN and was going to "fulfill the commitment" he made to the World Wide Leader.

Hey, I'd be happy too if the only person I ever had to argue with was Mark May.

At any rate, though Holtz likes to portray himself as a simple man, he said one thing that proves, to me at least, that he is a man of great wisdom:

"I think when you look at the country, you really don't want to get into politics," Holtz said.

I've said it before and I'm saying it again: It's hard to argue with somebody when they're right.

Lou Holtz Says He's Not Running for Congress originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lou Holtz for Congress?

Mark Hasty — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Arkansas, Minnesota, NC State, Notre Dame, South Carolina, Media Watch, Rumors

Just when you and I both thought college football couldn't get any weirder, it's trying. The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that Lou Holtz, former coach of William and Mary, NC State, the New York Jets, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame, and South Carolina (whew), is pondering a run for Congress.

Holtz would seek the Republican nomination in Florida's 24th congressional district, which includes parts of the Orlando suburbs and the Space Coast.

If Holtz succeeds in winning the nomination, he would challenge first-term Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, a Democrat from New Smyrna Beach. Should Holtz win in 2010, he would join Nebraska's Tom Osborne, who represented Nebraska's 3rd district from 2000 to 2006, as the only college coaches to serve in Congress.

The real question: How big are those "if"s?

Put it this way: You should always take any rumor with a grain of salt. This one appears like you might want to take it with a 25-pound salt lick. Republican officials did confirm to the Sentinel that they met with Holtz and he is interested in running, but none of them wanted their names used.

File that under "things that make you go hmm ..."

There was one person willing to go on record as thinking this is a good idea, though:

"You put him in the ring and it's all but over," said John Dowless, an Orlando-based Republican consultant. "He's on TV, he's likable, the name ID is huge and people respect him enormously."

Clearly, Dowless hasn't been paying attention. This is a man who managed to get nearly every program he coached put on NCAA probation, after all.

It's a free country, of course, and Holtz is free to run for office if that's what he wants to do. The 24th district leans Republican so it's entirely possible he could wind up elected to Congress if he gets through the primaries. Somewhere, Rod Serling is smiling.

Lou Holtz for Congress? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Urban Meyer Says He'll Never Coach at Notre Dame

Mark Hasty — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:50:00 EST

Filed under: Florida, Notre Dame, Coaching, Rumors

From the "Totally Freaking Obvious" department: Florida Gators coach Urban Meyer, who has won two national championships in the past three seasons, told golfers at a Gainesville benefit tournament, "I'm not going to Notre Dame. Ever. I'm going to be the coach at Florida for a long time, as long as they want me."

In other news, gravity remains in effect and forks are still useful.

Meyer's announcement came on the heels of a column by professional pot-stirrer Paul Finebaum in which the columnist and radio host said that Meyer "is probably leaving Florida after the season to go to Notre Dame." Finebaum doesn't buy Meyer's denials and comes up with a conspiracy theory that's better than anything that could possibly be hiding in Area 51.

Meyer leaving for Notre Dame makes about as much sense as Tim Tebow quitting football to play bass for Mudvayne. But then, we've been down this road before, haven't we?

For instance, in 1998, Tommy Tuberville was the head coach at Ole Miss. When Terry Bowden resigned from Auburn during the season, Tubs was rumored to be his replacement. He denied it, saying "They'll have to carry me out of here in a pine box."

Sure enough, two days after, the Pine Box Moving Company of Loachapoka, Ala., came and carried him off to Auburn. He coached on the Plains for 10 seasons. His replacement, Gene Chizik, never denied being a candidate for the Auburn job, mostly because, with a 5-19 record at Iowa State, nobody suspected he'd be getting any job offers.

When Alabama finally realized that coaching prowess is not genetic and fired Mike Shula in 2006, Nick Saban was rumored to be at the top of their wish list. Saban was coaching the Miami Dolphins at the time and went so far as to state "I'm not going to be the Alabama coach." He must have meant Alabama-Birmingham, because guess where he's coaching now?

Now, just to prove that this sort of duplicity doesn't only happen in the SEC, let's not forget what it was like when Rich Rodriguez got hired away from West Virginia by Michigan. After Michigan had false starts with Les Miles and (supposedly) Kirk Ferentz, RichRod took the job only four months after he'd signed a contract extension and swore he was at WVU for the long haul. That didn't go over so well, and somewhere out there is 2,438 pounds of legal documents that prove it.

Even in light of all this, it's still hard to believe Meyer would even consider going to South Bend, no matter how many times he's admitted it's his dream job. However, his colleagues have established that, when a coach says he's not interested in a job and will never take it, you'd better not give it full credibility. They're about as believable as somebody whose online dating profile actually says they like long walks on the beach.

Then you find out they live in Nebraska.

Urban Meyer Says He'll Never Coach at Notre Dame originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Demetrius Byrd Hospitalized After Crash

Brian Grummell — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:48:00 EST

Filed under: LSU, Injuries, Rumors

Outgoing LSU receiver Demetrius Byrd is hospitalized and in intensive care after an auto accident. The Associated Press says his agent David Dunn expects him to be OK while LSU officials say the accident happened Sunday near his Miami home.

We're delighted to hear he should be alright but this is obviously tough news for him and his family just days before the NFL draft. Byrd had 37 receptions for 513 yards and four touchdowns last year, his second at LSU after transferring in from a junior college. He is perhaps most famous for his beautiful corner of the end zone game winning touchdown catch as time expired against Auburn in 2007 (video after the jump) that helped preserve LSU's national title hopes.

He was later included in an ESPN GameDay feature showcasing his favorite Michael Jackson dance moves.

Demetrius Byrd Hospitalized After Crash originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Duke Football Interested in Greg Paulus

Ryan Wilson — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:05:00 EST

Filed under: Duke Football, Rumors

First, the Green Bay Packers expressed interest in Greg Paulus, the former Duke University point guard and high school All-American quarterback. Then, University of Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez had a meet-and-greet with Paulus about the possibility of playing in Ann Arbor this fall.

And today, there's this: Duke also wants in on the Paulus action. But unlike the Wolverines -- who could envision him as a quarterback in their spread offense -- Blue Devils football coach David Cutcliffe has no such plans. Nope, he'd like to kick the tires on Paulus, college wide receiver.

Cutcliffe said he and Paulus "talked extensively" about the possibility of Paulus joining the football team, but the bottom line was there was "no way" he could come out and try to play quarterback for the Blue Devils after such a long hiatus from the position.

"He's a quarterback at heart, but there was no way he was going to be able to compete and play quarterback for us," Cutcliffe said. "I think that was the deciding factor. Prior to our last six practices, I was going to try to get him out, give him a chance to work at slot receiver. He's a fierce competitor, a great young man. He's been a tremendous basketball player. "

There are eligibility concerns (ESPN reports that "... Because [Paulus] was never a basketball redshirt at Duke, as an undergraduate transfer he would be eligible to play football at another school, assuming there are no extenuating circumstances concerning his eligibility."), and, of course, there are also issues of whether Paulus is good enough to play a major college sport after a four-year layoff.

Even his high school football coach sounds skeptical.

"I'm not sure the Michigan offense suits him," [Joe] Casamento said. "We ran a spread, but a spread to pass. He might take some pounding in that offense. I understand Greg is keeping his options open, but I still believe basketball is his passion. When he chose basketball, he told me that one day he'd like to be a basketball coach."

Casamento added, "He could always throw it accurately and he's a smart winner and a leader, but where now is the arm strength?" Fair question. No idea how this ends up, but if Paulus is the Wolverines starting quarterback in the fall, Rodriguez might as well start polishing up the ol' CV. There's no way one of the most storied college programs in the country can't find a somebody to beat out a backup point guard who last threw a pass in 2005.

As for Paulus' NFL aspirations, they may have to wait a year. Which means Aaron Rodgers gets one more chance to prove that trading Brett Favre last offseason was the right thing to do.

Duke Football Interested in Greg Paulus originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Misplaced Anger at the NCAA's Investigation of Reggie Bush

Brian Grummell — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 01:32:00 EST

Filed under: Alabama, Florida State, Oklahoma, USC, Pac 10, Rumors

The excellent Dr. Saturday unearthed a nice find last Tuesday, citing a newspaper columnist in Alabama frustrated with the NCAA's punishment of Alabama and Florida State while USC seems to skate by after the Reggie Bush affair.

Progress has certainly been slow for the NCAA in developing some kind of punishment for the Trojans. It certainly appears Bush received extensive compensation from several wannabe agents while he was still playing at Troy, conduct against NCAA amateur rules. Folks are frustrated and out for blood, but perhaps they shouldn't be.

Dr. Saturday is half-right that one difference between Alabama, Florida State and USC is that the southern football powers turned themselves in, saying, 'They opened the books, purged the rolls, pled guilty and hoped the Association would let them off with a slap on the wrist'. Certainly admitting guilt is a major component of the NCAA punishment process.

So far, USC and Bush have successfully stonewalled NCAA investigators seeking evidence and testimony as to the specifics of what happened while admitting no wrong.

But the other factor that separates USC here is that USC isn't really implicated. Anywhere. The smoking gun, if you can call it that, is a lingering allegation that USC runningbacks coach Todd McNair might have known something was amiss about Bush's housing situation. In the thousands of words that have been written about the story, that's about the heaviest book that can be thrown at USC.

Agents may have been on the sidelines at games in the locker room afterwards, but nowhere is USC accused of arranging for compensation between them, boosters, and players. USC certainly isn't alleged to have ties to Bush's Secret Santas who operated in San Diego County two hours from the USC campus. It isn't that USC isn't turning itself in, its that USC has no reason to turn itself in. Like the case Florida State will make to the NCAA in appealing their punishment for an academic scandal, USC can reasonably claim they unknowingly fielded an ineligible player.

Punishment will come, as Bush will likely retroactively be ruled ineligible and USC will get hit with similar sanctions as recent transgressors. We're talking a loss of scholarships, probation, and either the vacation or forfeiture of victories. Don't be surprised when USC appeals, however. After all, as an institution they've never been alleged to have done anything wrong -- unlike what happened at Oklahoma, Florida State, Alabama and others.

Misplaced Anger at the NCAA's Investigation of Reggie Bush originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 15 Mar 2009 01:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lane Kiffin Rips Shirts to Help Recruit

Will Brinson — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 10:35:00 EST

Filed under: Tennessee, SEC, Campus, Coaching, Media Watch, Recruiting, Rumors, General CFB Insanity

Lane Kiffin has done a bunch of kind of silly things since he became the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers. But none of them can really top his most recent behavior: his coaching staff started ripping their shirts in front of recruits, WWE style.

Seriously. Now, apparently Kiffin didn't actually rip his, but the whole point of the exercise was to get the players pumped. And it worked, according to some of the accounts, even if it started a little awkwardly after an assistant coach told the high schoolers how seriously they take special teams at Tennessee.

"That coach said they get real fired up on special teams and yelled for everybody to 'Get up, get on your feet, and get fired up about special teams.' Then this other coach ripped off his shirt Superman style. It was crazy."

Many in the crowd weren't sure how to react. "The coaches told us to stand up, but nobody really knew what to do. We started clapping, sort of like one of those 'Ah, this feels awkward' kind of things," Volger said.

At this point, apparently the coaches all left and started beating down the doors to the room after dimming the lights (I couldn't make this up if I tried) and when the doors finally opened, "three or four" coaches came running in with their shirts ripped, followed by "around 10" Tennessee players who proceeded to form an impromptu moshpit in the middle of the room.

They were soon joined by the recruits who, apparently, thought this was cool. And maybe it was; but if you're Lane Kiffin and you're going to accuse Urban Meyer of recruiting violations, the least you could do is probably make sure that stories about you having your coaching staff skin up aren't leaking to the media at large.

Lane Kiffin Rips Shirts to Help Recruit originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 10:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brown-Out: Top Recruit Spurns Miami

Ian Cohen — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:48:00 EST

Filed under: LSU, University of Miami, ACC, SEC, Recruiting, Rumors

We've been following this Bryce Brown saga for, well, probably less than the amount of time constituting a true "saga," but enough to possibly give credence that highly-recruited tailbacks are to the college game what highly-paid receivers are to the NFL (see also: David Oku).

While linking his name to nearly every hot commodity outside of his Wichita origins, up to and including Canada, the No. 1 offensive prospect according to Rivals had a verbal commitment to Miami, bolstered by the fact that his brother is currently a linebacker for the 'Canes and his pops apparently wants to see him at Miami too.

However, in the weeks immediately after Signing Day, Brown played a more reckless Terrelle Pryor role, delaying his decision until god knows when for god knows what reason. Rumor had it that Miami wasn't going to bother with Brown after this stunt, not with their already impressive stockade of rumors, not with their admirable intolerance for people who think they're "bigger than the U."

Now it looks like both parties have moved on, and Brown is reported to have shifted an official visit from Miami to LSU, who had such good luck with their last five-star waffler. So, the question is now whether Brown was out of options, or was he just interpreting Miami's decision to fly the straight and narrow as a lack of interest?

Brown-Out: Top Recruit Spurns Miami originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bo Pelini Forced Patrick Witt's Hand

Tom Fornelli — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:22:00 EST

Filed under: Nebraska, Big 12, Rumors, General CFB Insanity

On Sunday the Nebraska Cornhuskers found out that one of the quarterbacks who they were expecting to compete for a starting job this spring, Patrick Witt, was transferring from the school. The news came as a bit of a shock considering that Witt could have been considered the favorite to win the job this spring based on being the most game-tested field general the Huskers had.

Well, it appears that Witt and his father wanted a little more assurance that Patrick would be the man under center this fall. Word out of Lincoln is that Witt was asking Bo Pelini to promise him he'd be named starter after spring practice or he was going to seek a transfer.

Nebraska coach Bo Pelini declined to address the matter Monday. But the source said Pelini informed the Witts that it was highly unlikely (read: forget it, guys) that he would release Patrick from his scholarship if Patrick made such a request at the end of spring drills. Pelini apparently loathed the idea of Witt going through spring practice while considering a transfer. So, Pelini forced Witt's hand before spring drills began.

Okay, my first question here is what exactly has Witt done in his Nebraska career to make him think he could give Pelini an ultimatum like that? The kid threw eight passes during his first season in Lincoln for a total of 48 yards. Sure, he completed six of them for a lovely completion rate of 75%, but that's not enough to walk around and start making demands.

Maybe he's involved in some kind of insane love triangle with David Oku and his supposedly pregnant girlfriend and just has to get out of town. Either way, good for Pelini for putting the kid in his place.

(Via Dr. Saturday)

Bo Pelini Forced Patrick Witt's Hand originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Romeo Crennel to UVA- How Far-Fetched Is It?

Ian Cohen — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:22:00 EST

Filed under: Virginia, ACC, Coaching, Rumors

I think Virginia coach Al Groh gets enough done in 2009 to, at the very least, leave on his own terms. Say what you will, but the usual pattern dictates that Virginia surpass expectations a year after falling flat. Once that happens, the inevitable goes down and Craig Littlepage heads down I-20 to Richmond and meets whatever demands Mike London has.

Well, after Al Groh, who in Charlottesville wouldn't want another aged NFL retread with connections to Bill Parcells and dubious gameday strategy? So imagine when the rumor was floated that Romeo Crennel was being even mentioned as a longshot candidate for the not-open Virginia job mere months after a not-particularly ceremonious defenestration by the Browns. Talk about a no-brainer, like, literally- though Crennel does hail from Lynchburg (I guess? that's the reasoning), he's spent a grand total of one season in the ACC, and that was as a defensive line coach for Georgia Tech. In 1980. Not sure who was putting this one out there, but it's kind of crazy what can be thrown out there under the radar when Virginia fans are most heatedly discussing who their next basketball coach might be after yet another conference loss.

Romeo Crennel to UVA- How Far-Fetched Is It? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Has Miami Pulled Offer For Bryce Brown?

Ian Cohen — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:49:00 EST

Filed under: University of Miami, ACC, Recruiting, Rumors, General CFB Insanity

Blue turf and blue collar: that's the Randy Shannon philosophy so-to-speak in regards to postseason berths as well as talent management. Particularly after Larry Coker's leather-so-soft touch (remember the Willie Williams article?), Shannon was sought to instill a stabilizing force to a program that was spiralling into internal chaos, and they weren't winning anymore all that much either.

Well, we saw how the Robert Marve saga ended up. And now, Bryce Brown, #1 recruit according to Rivals and semi-legendary waffler, no longer has a standing offer to Miami. Beyond the fact that Miami already has two highly-regarded tailbacks in its 2009, here's the money quote: "No one player is bigger than the University of Miami." This comes from a source within the UM program, but still- it's credible considering Shannon's bent as of late.

What makes this more interesting are the family ties: Brown's brother is a sophomore linebacker at Miami, father's preference is that his son go to Miami, although he'll likely have a choice of Tennessee, Oregon, Clemson or that Canadian Football fever dream- seems like if anyone could be the Brandon Jennings of this college football stuff, it's this guy.

Has Miami Pulled Offer For Bryce Brown? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:49:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leach Declines Extension; May Get Fired

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:45:00 EST

Filed under: Texas Tech, Big 12, Coaching, Rumors

Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach is seeking a contract extension. The university is open to giving him one. However, the end result of their negotiations could be Leach getting fired.

Yes, you read that right. A coach with a 76-39 career record, coming off an 11-2 campaign that saw his team in the midst of national championship talk in November, could lose his job. Why? Because it appears schools are sick and tired of watching their successful coaches flying all over the country to interview for jobs they perceive as better than the one they have.

The deadline for Leach to sign his extension has passed. The university issued a terse statement on the matter Tuesday night.

"Coach Leach has declined our $12.7 million contract," (athletic director Gerald) Myers said. "We will enter the decision-making process and should have some announcements by next week. Our decisions will be based on the best interest of Texas Tech and all of its supporters."

Tim Griffin, who covers the Big 12 for ESPN.com, reports that Leach could actually get fired over failing to sign a contract extension.

There really appears to be no middle ground. Either Leach's contract gets done to his wishes or he's out of there -- despite the most successful run in recent Tech history.

Amazingly, Leach could be fired by the end of the week -- despite matching the school single-season record for victories with an 11-2 record last season. The Red Raiders earned a share of their first Big 12 South Division title last season. And that's after taking Tech to the rarefied air of a No. 2 national ranking late last season.

It was one thing for Boston College to fire Jeff Jagodzinski. He was a two-year head coach, and it could be fairly argued that there was an understanding between the university and the coach that he wouldn't be running after every job available. I still don't agree with it, but I can at least understand it a bit.

If Texas Tech fires Leach because he won't sign a contract extension, it might be the dumbest coaching move in the history of college football. It might make sense for schools to follow Boston College's lead and try to restrict how often their coaches seek other jobs, but is it really a smart thing to do?

After all, loyalty runs both ways, and I'm not sure it's very loyal to fire a coach who has won twice as many games as he's lost. It's not like Texas Tech was wildly successful before Leach got there.

Leach Declines Extension; May Get Fired originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bryce Brown, Nation's Top Running Back Recruit, Could Turn Pro in Canada

Chris Burke — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:52:00 EST

Filed under: Recruiting, Rumors, Prospects

So you want to know how over-the-top college football recruiting has become, how utterly insane it is these days? Allow me to present the case of Bryce Brown.

Arguably the top prep prospect in the entire country, Brown verbally committed to Miami a year ago, but told The U. that he would still visit his other college options. He did so, putting together a list that included Oregon, Kansas State, Tennessee, USC and Auburn.

Then on signing day, with all those teams holding their breath, Brown signed with ... no one. And here's the kicker: He may not wind up at any of those places, according to his "manager" Brian Butler -- instead opting for a professional contract in the Canadian Football League.

Butler said he planned to have someone explore the possibility of Brown playing in the C.F.L. next season. "If they were talking about any amount of real money, I'd guarantee it," Butler said of Brown potentially playing in the C.F.L. He mentioned a C.F.L. team paying Brown $5 million a year for three years.

He added: "We're not playing around. I can promise you that. I'm not scared at all to do anything, and Bryce isn't either. Hey, he'll hurt your feelings. He's not worried about your feelings. He's worried about what's right and what's wrong."

This is about the time where teams, if they weren't so obsessed with bringing in the best players no matter the risk, would say "Thanks, but no thanks" and walk away.

Seriously, does a school need this? A fresh out of high school kid with (basically) an agent, who threatens to take his client elsewhere if he's not completely satisfied? The bugger of the whole thing -- and the reason that coaches won't turn away -- is that Brown supremely talented. The video below is Brown dominating at the prestigious U.S. Army All-American Game:

So the college football world waits and watches to see where Brown will finally decide to go.

If it's a U.S. college, that team instantly gets a boost in the final recruiting rankings, and probably has a new starting running back.

If it's to the CFL then, well, good riddance.

Bryce Brown, Nation's Top Running Back Recruit, Could Turn Pro in Canada originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lane Kiffin Apologizes to Urban Meyer

Will Brinson — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:10:00 EST

Filed under: Florida, Tennessee, SEC, Coaching, Media Watch, Recruiting, Rumors, General CFB Insanity, National Signing Day 2009

Lane Kiffin waltzed out onto some pretty thin ice when he called Urban Meyer out for cheating in his recruitment of Tennessee commit Nu'Keese Richardson. That ice got a heck of a lot thinner when Florida got wind of the accusations and responded,charging that Kiffin slandered both Meyer and the university.

The best route for Kiffin was likely a quick and humble apology. That's exactly what he did apparently after a little pressure from the SEC.

"I've been made aware by the Southeastern Conference that my comments this morning at a breakfast with our donors violated a conference policy. In my enthusiasm for our recruiting class, I made some statements that were meant solely to excite those at the breakfast.

"I apologize to Commissioner Mike Slive and the SEC, including Florida AD Jeremy Foley and coach Urban Meyer. My comments were not intended to offend anyone at the University of Florida."

But, hey, at least Kiffin's getting off on the right foot, huh? As Matt Hinton noted, this situation could actually have been more embarrassing for Kiffin had he stood by his stance and demanded that the SEC and NCAA investigate a violation of a non-existent rule.

Alas, he didn't. Which means now he just has to settle for trying to stop Meyer from scoring 240 points when Tennessee and Florida play Sept. 19.

Earlier: Florida Says Kiffin Slandered Meyer
Earlier Still: Kiffin Calls Out "Cheat" Meyer

Lane Kiffin Apologizes to Urban Meyer originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Florida Says Kiffin Slandered Meyer

Will Brinson — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:10:00 EST

Filed under: Florida, Tennessee, SEC, Coaching, Media Watch, Recruiting, Rumors, General CFB Insanity, National Signing Day 2009

Lane Kiffin made some pretty bold statements at a recent recruiting celebration banquet, stating that Urban Meyer "cheats" -- without winning no less! It was an odd way to behave considering that Kiffin must have known he was being recorded.

Florida's athletic department, predictably, is not thrilled about the accusations. And they're going so far as to sling around the legally charged term "slander" in a statement from athletic director Jeremy Foley.

"There was no rule violation and we have confirmed this with the Southeastern Conference. It is obvious that Coach Kiffin doesn't know that there is not a rule precluding phone contact with a prospect during an official visit on another campus during a contact period. His allegations are inappropriate, out of line and, most importantly, totally false. It is completely unfair to Urban Meyer, our coaching staff, our football program and our institution. The appropriate action at this time in my opinion is for Coach Kiffin to make a public apology.

His comments not only slandered our coach, but he violated SEC rules by publicly criticizing another coach and institution."

Florida's NCAA compliance officer, Jamie McCloskey, echoed similar statements, pointing out that this is "not the way you handle [a conflict with another coach]." And you know what? He's right.

It's amusing to the media that Kiffin pulled this stunt, but the fact remains that what he's accusing Meyer -- a two-time national championship-winning coach -- of is pretty serious business. And, in fact, if he's erroneous in his statements, he could be accurately portrayed as disseminating slanderous information, which could, in theory, lead to a pretty spicy lawsuit.

Ergo, unless he's 100 percent committed to his statements, the smart thing is to probably apologize to Meyer before things escalate any further.

Florida Says Kiffin Slandered Meyer originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Condi Rice Has No Interest in Being Commissioner of the Pac-10

Chas Rich — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:17:00 EST

Filed under: Pac 10, Rumors, General CFB Insanity, Pac-10, Rumors

Previously, Pac-10 Commissioner Tom Hansen had announced that he was stepping down at the beginning of July. The Pac-10 with its usual speed and decisiveness have done little to suggest they have narrowed down their list of candidates. Instead the list appeared to be growing, and the candidates will not be narrowed until maybe the spring.

Since last week, there was a growing rumor that after signing with the William Morris Agency, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was a candidate for the position of Commissioner of the Pac-10. This would be a shift from returning to Stanford to teach, write and lecture as previously announced.

Rice had a spokesperson put an end to the rumors by confirming she was approached, but that she would not pursue the position.

"She was approached and she was flattered, but she declined this opportunity to pursue her teaching at Stanford and her pursuit of educational initiatives and the books that she has chosen to write,'' said Colby Cooper, a spokesman for Rice. "But she will remain a fan and a strong advocate of Pac-10 athletics.''

Given the money Rice stands to make from book deals, speaking engagements and television appearances, she is definitely taking the easier path and more money.

Besides why should she want to repeat what she has been dealing with in Washington? There's no trying to defend questionable and unpopular policies -- the BCS system or Iraq. Plus, no dealing with a lot of old, white men -- member presidents and athletic directors or Congress, President Bush and Vice President Cheney.

Condi Rice Has No Interest in Being Commissioner of the Pac-10 originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Those Jon Gruden Rumors Are Not Sitting Well With Notre Dame

Will Brinson — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:45:00 EST

Filed under: Notre Dame, Coaching, Media Watch, Rumors, General CFB Insanity

Notre Dame came out and announced -- a while ago, really -- that Charlie Weis was not going to be replaced as the head coach of the Fighting Irish. Presumably, they thought everyone would accept their ~~ignorance~~ wishes and just let Weis ride out the rest of his mammoth contract.

It seemed like that would be case too, after ND punished Hawaii down in Honolulu, regardless of the false front that such a win presented. But then Jon Gruden got fired and the rumor mill got to churning quickly about the possibility of "Chucky Goes to College". The Irish were not particularly thrilled about said gossip.

"It's ridiculous that this rumor has even gained the traction it has over the past few days. I hesitate to respond to it at all because by dignifying this 'report,' I set myself up to be forced to set the record straight on future rumors. But it's obvious that some people out there are trying to sabotage our recruiting efforts and it's unfortunate that their agenda has been published and reproduced in recent days," Brian Hardin, Notre Dame's Director of Football Media Relations, told BGI.

It is kind of ridiculous that the rumor got started (just as MDS said when he mentioned the rumor) but that doesn't necessarily mean it was borne out of hatred for the Irish. Sure, there are plenty of people who don't care for the school and probably even more who think that Weis is destined for failure in South Bend.

However, that doesn't mean that every time someone gets canned from another job, Weis' gig is immediately up for grabs. But then again, there's that whole "First Amendment" thing, so really, yeah, there's not a whole lot that the Irish can do here.

Those Jon Gruden Rumors Are Not Sitting Well With Notre Dame originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jon Gruden Replacing Charlie Weis at Notre Dame? Speculation Begins

Michael David Smith — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Notre Dame, Coaching, Rumors

We all knew it wouldn't take long after Jon Gruden was fired as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers until speculation began that he would replace Charlie Weis as the next head coach at Notre Dame.

Here's what Rich Cimini writes in the New York Daily News:

By the way, one of my Bucs peeps tells me that the word around the Bucs is that Gruden could be going to Notre Dame to replace Charlie Weis. Sounds a little farfetched, but as the theory goes: The school will buy out Weis as soon as he signs his recruiting class, in two or three weeks, and hire Gruden. Heard from someone close to the Notre Dame program that there's a weird vibe around the football offices. Hmmm.

So there you have it. If you believe the word from one of Rich Cimini's Bucs peeps, you believe that Gruden-to-Notre-Dame is going to happen.

I don't believe it. Yes, Gruden has made comments in the past that suggest he thinks Notre Dame is a great job, and yes, I think it's possible that if Gruden had been available in December Notre Dame would have fired Weis and hired Gruden.

At this point, however, Weis's job is safe. But if he gets off to a bad start in 2009, he's going to have visions of Gruden in his rear-view mirror.

Jon Gruden Replacing Charlie Weis at Notre Dame? Speculation Begins originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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