QB Competition at Notre Dame?
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While Jimmy Clausen “absolutely” remains the starter at quarterback, Charlie Weis hopes and expects sophomore Dayne Crist to push Clausen in what Weis termed a “pedal-to-the-metal” spring for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback position.
“I don’t think Dayne wants to sit there and wait until Jimmy graduates to say, OK, time for me to play,” Weis said. “Dayne is coming into spring to try and make it tough on Jimmy. That’s what he should be doing. He understands if he intends to beat (Clausen) out, he will have to play better than him. That would be a nice problem to have to deal with.”
Full Story: Chicago Tribune
LSU’s Best Recruiting Class Ever?
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Points in college football recruiting come like those in a fishing tournament: The big catch has equal value no matter when you reel it in. A few weeks ago, it appeared LSU Tigers coach Les Miles might be on the cusp of a historic class, one experts would recall years from now.
Miles himself fed the anticipation at a media gathering in January, saying the Tigers had their sights set on “one of the greatest classes ever. Certainly at LSU and possibly nationally.”
At the end of the day, LSU had to fight a couple of fast-finishers — Alabama, namely — to reach the weigh-in with one of the nation’s heftiest hauls, but the Tigers got there just the same. So happens, most of LSU’s big fish were in the boat by the time other elite programs wet their line.
Had more players in this class made National Signing Day decisions, LSU would have shot up the recruiting rankings a la Alabama and left Tigertown abuzz. Fans would be less inclined to lament the loss of Barbe defensive back Janzen Jackson or the saga that unfolded in Bastrop starring wide receivers Rueben Randle and DeAngelo Benton.
ESPNU and CBS College Sports ranked LSU’s class the best in the nation. Rivals.com and Scout.com, the other two major recruiting services, ranked it second and third, respectively.
That’s pretty good, right?
Full Story: The Advocate
Mike Leach Rejects Contract Extension Offer
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Negotiations on a contract extension between Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach’s agents and the university have reached a stalemate after almost a yearlong dialogue recently took a turn for the worse.
Tech has given Leach a Feb. 17 deadline to accept an offer of $12.7 million for five years – through 2013 – following athletic director Gerald Myers’ early December offer of $12.1 million.
But Leach’s agents at International Marketing Group aren’t pleased with four provisions in the most recent offer, according to 92 pages of e-mails and letters between the parties obtained Friday by The Dallas Morning News through an open records request.
The sticking points involve termination compensation, a buyout offer, a penalty for interviewing without permission and personal property rights.
Full Story: Dallas Morning News
Five Candidates for Clemson Job
Here are the five most likely candidates to replace Tommy Bowden at Clemson:
- Jim Grobe (Wake Forest) - If you cannot beat them, have them join you. Few coaches in the country can claim they do more with less.
- Bobby Johnson (Vanderbilt) - He’s a Clemson alum (1973) who has rebuilt the Commodores from the ashes. Would not be the splashy hire, but his academic track record fits president James Barker’s mold.
- Will Muschamp (Texas) - An intense, vocal figure — in other words, the anti-Bowden — who has generated top-notch, physical defenses at Auburn and now Texas. Figures to be the most sought-after assistant in the college ranks this offseason.
- Gary Patterson (Texas Christian) - Clemson AD Terry Don Phillips likes his southwestern guys, and Patterson has built a reputation as a consistent winner with a physical, hard-nosed style.
- Dabo Swinney (Clemson) - The current interim coach has more potential staying power than your average interim guy. Gained a ton of respect from administration as the football team liaison during last year’s rift with an academic review board.
Full Story: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
USC Tailback Bradford Unhappy
Photo from AP Photo by Richard Vogel
USC tailback Allen Bradford has waited patiently for his chance. He starred on special teams for two seasons. Broke off highlight-reel plays almost daily last spring and during fall training camp.
The powerful junior from San Bernardino, coaches said, would be part of the tailback rotation. But after getting no carries in the Trojans’ loss at Oregon State, Bradford could not contain his frustration.
“Even with as many tailbacks that we have, I shouldn’t be going through this,” Bradford said Monday after practice. “I just want to play. I came here to play.”
The 5-foot-11, 225-pound Bradford, who starred at running back and linebacker at Colton High, did not rail. He spoke quietly about his situation and acknowledged that fellow junior Stafon Johnson and sophomores C.J. Gable and Joe McKnight also were talented backs.
But that did not ease the sting of not carrying the ball once in a game when the Trojans managed only 86 rushing yards and McKnight struggled and fumbled.
Full Story: Los Angeles Times
Bowden on His Way Out at Clemson?
Photo from AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain
This must be getting old for Clemson fans. Every year, promise. Every year, that promise is shattered with an unsettling loss.
This was supposed to be the Tigers’ year. The season opened with a loss to Alabama - not so embarrassing, considering the Tide’s start.
But now, this. Clemson blew an 11-point lead at home to Maryland on Saturday, losing 20-17. Another hard-to-take loss like Georgia Tech last season or Virginia Tech in 2006 or Wake Forest in 2005 or Duke in 2004 or …
The Tigers are stuck with Tommy Bowden after giving him a six-year extension in December just because Arkansas made a phone call.
But remember, this is Clemson, not exactly a bastion of integrity, and a university with enough boosters used to paying off people, most illegally, so that a few million to break a contract should be no problem.
Full Story: Palm Beach Post
Georgia’s Moreno Could Miss Tennessee Game
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Georgia tailback Knowshon Moreno, considered one of the nation’s leading Heisman Trophy candidates, could miss the Bulldogs’ next game due to an injury.
Moreno, a sophomore, suffered a contusion — or substantial bruise — on one of his elbows during the second half of Saturday night’s 41-30 loss to Alabama. Georgia is off this week before resuming play against Tennessee in Athens on Oct. 11.
“He has a pretty good contusion on the elbow,” coach Mark Richt said this afternoon. “He’s already getting some good movement back. … He has a shot of playing in the next game but it’s not guaranteed though.”
Moreno was one of several Bulldogs that suffered significant injuries on Saturday.
Full Story: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gary Pinkel to Washington?
Bill Fleenor, an outspoken Washington booster, hopes Missouri fans appreciate what they have in coach Gary Pinkel. On second thought, he would rather they don’t.
With the Huskies winless after three games and support waning for fourth-year coach Tyrone Willingham, it’s a fall of discontent for the once-proud program. And should Willingham not return, supporters such as Fleenor have their sights on Pinkel.
“It would be an earthquake of excitement,” said Fleenor, a stockbroker in Walla Walla, Wash. “People would go nuts if he were our coach. He would be well-accepted.”
More so than Willingham. Since he signed a five-year deal to become Washington’s coach in December 2004, Willingham carries an 11-28 record into the home Pac-10 Conference opener against Stanford on Saturday. Pressure is building in Seattle for the Huskies to become bowl eligible for the first time during his tenure. Should University of Washington officials fire Willingham, those close to the program say Pinkel and MU offensive coordinator Dave Christensen, both with Washington ties and rising national profiles, could become attractive options.
Pinkel’s coaching career began in Washington under venerable coach Don James, whom Pinkel played for as a tight end at Kent State. In 1976, Pinkel worked as a tight ends coach before becoming a wide receivers coach at Bowling Green. In 1979, Pinkel returned to Washington and spent the next 12 seasons as a wide receivers coach (1979-83) and offensive coordinator (1984-90). During Pinkel’s time under James from 1979-90, the Huskies won 104 games, three conference championships and two Rose Bowls.
Source: Columbia Missourian
