The "OFFICIAL" thread for injuries, suspensions, etc., since spring...

[RJ Esq]

The purpose of this thread is to post your stories about injuries, suspensions, and transfers to make corrections and adjustments to Phil Steele and get the true picture of a team before the season starts.

Last year we had 200+ news stories before the season started and all were very valuable.

So keep this thread alive for one stop shopping.

 

[RJ Esq]

Aztecs lineman Fehoko leaving over demotion from starter to backup


By Mick McGrane
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

June 13, 2007


Whitley Fehoko, considered the gem of San Diego State football coach Chuck Long's first recruiting class, has been granted a release from his scholarship.

Fehoko, who had been competing for the starting job at left guard during spring drills but emerged as a backup at right guard, was the only member of last year's recruiting class not to redshirt. He started six games, having signed with SDSU after initially committing to Utah. A graduate of Farrington High in Honolulu, Fehoko had also drawn offers from LSU, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Boise State and UNLV.

In addition to becoming disillusioned with being assigned backup status, the 6-foot, 320-pound Fehoko said yesterday that his weight had become an issue with the coaching staff. Fehoko said he weighed 312 during spring drills, but was told by the coaching staff that he “would not see the field” this season unless he was able to get down to 305.

“They kept telling me, 'You have to lose weight, you have to lose weight,' ” said Fehoko, who said he was granted his release last week. “I don't know why my weight was suddenly a factor after I'd started (six) games last year at 320.

“The first two days of (spring) practice, I was a starter. Then (defensive tackle) Ornan (Nwansi) and I got into it one day at practice, and I thought maybe (the coaching staff) was upset with me because I was being too aggressive. After that day, it was like things just started getting crazy and boiled over. They were even talking about redshirting me this year. How is that going to look after you've already been a starter?”

One of the reasons Fehoko initially gave for choosing SDSU over Utah was that the Utes, after telling Fehoko he would have every chance to start, later told him he would be better served by redshirting.

Among the schools Fehoko said he is considering are Texas Tech, Tulane (where former Aztecs assistant Thom Kaumeyer was recently named defensive coordinator), Oregon State, Texas A&M and Washington.

“I loved it in San Diego,” Fehoko said. “It was the reason I decommitted to Utah. . . .

“I'm disappointed with the way things worked out, but I just felt that if you earn a full-time spot, then that's your spot unless you screw up.

During the spring, they started moving me all over the place, and I don't think you can be successful if you're not focusing on one position. I wanted to be a full-time starter, and I don't think I ever got a fair shot.”
Fehoko's departure marks the second defection of an offensive lineman from Long's first recruiting class. Jimmie Carmack, who earned all-state honors at Rolling Hills Peninsula High, left the program earlier this year

 

[RJ Esq]

From thewizardofodds.blogspot.com:

In Gainesville, What Price Victory?


If you're a defense attorney, consider Gainesville. It has quickly become the king of college football crime, reports Dave Curtis of the Orlando Sentinel. No fewer than seven Florida football players have dealt with legal issues since the Jan. 8 national title victory.

The latest arrest came on Monday night, when tailback and punt returner Brandon James and basketball player Brandon Powell were arrested on felony charges of purchasing and possessing eight grams of marijuana.

It's easy to see why our friends at Loser With Socks have been having so much fun with Photoshop this offseason. We displayed one of their efforts with this post.

A staggering police blotter breakdown of other incidents involving Gator players:

In April, guard Ronnie Wilson was charged with two felonies and a misdemeanor for an incident involving a gun in a parking lot near campus.

In May, safety Dorian Munroe incurred a felony theft charge when he removed a university police department boot from his car and put it in his trunk.

Cornerback Jacques Rickerson (possession of marijuana), linebacker Dustin Doe (public brawling) and safety John Curtis (probation violation) have faced misdemeanor charges. Rickerson's case was resolved without legal punishment and charges against Doe were dismissed.

In April, safety Jamar Hornsby had a complaint filed against him after he allegedly tossed a man onto the hood of a woman's car.

And coach Urban Meyer's players have had troubles before this offseason. In February 20o6, receiver Kenneth Tookes fired a gun into an occupied apartment in front of receiver Andre Caldwell, cornerback Reggie Lewis and cornerback Dee Webb.

Starting defensive tackle Marcus Thomas was dismissed from the team last season after three failed drug tests.

Receiver Louis Murphy and kicker Jonathan Phillips also found trouble. Murphy for possession of marijuana and Phillips for providing alcohol to a minor and producing fake identification.

 

[RJ Esq]

<TABLE width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=left colSpan=4>Virginia Tech player cleared to transfer to Vandy</TD></TR><TR><TD class=newstory align=left colSpan=4>By Brett Hait, bhait@nashvillecitypaper.com
June 08, 2007
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=newstory align=left colSpan=4>Former Virginia Tech football player Brandon Barden has been academically cleared and will transfer to Vanderbilt this fall, The City Paper has learned.

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound tight end, a former star at Lincoln County (Ga.) High, graduated last December and enrolled early at Virginia Tech, where he competed in the team’s spring practice.

On April 17, 32 Virginia Tech students were killed in a two-hour span by student Seung-Hi Cho, making it the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history.

Barden’s mother, Becky Barden, said in May that the shootings contributed to her son’s decision to leave Virginia Tech. Brandon Barden lived at Ambler Johnston Hall, where two students were shot dead. Soon after, he decided to transfer to another school.

However, Becky Barden said her son was already questioning his decision to attend Virginia Tech.

“Vanderbilt was my first choice to begin with, but Brandon decided on Tech,” Becky Barden said. “I think he realized he made a mistake and should have gone to Vanderbilt. He was very lucky that they still had a spot for him.”

Brandon Barden, who was recruited in high school by Vanderbilt offensive coordinator Ted Cain, was ranked last year as the nation’s 26th-best tight end prospect by Rivals.com and the No. 37 player overall in Georgia by SuperPrep.

As a senior, he played quarterback at Lincoln County and rushed for 600 yards and passed for more than 500 in leading his team to a second consecutive Class A state championship. He also played basketball and baseball.

It is not known if Brandon Barden will be eligible at Vanderbilt this fall. Under normal NCAA rules, players who transfer must sit out one season at their new school. However, Becky Barden said the NCAA is considering making an exception for traumatized Virginia Tech athletes who choose to leave the school. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[RJ Esq]

Horns' backup safety transfers from UT after arrest

Two days after being jailed for misdemeanors, Robert Joseph announces he wants to play for another school

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http://statesman.printthis.clickabi...orts/content/sports/stories/longhorns/06/12%#​

By Suzanne Halliburton
American-Statesman Staff
Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Sophomore safety Robert Joseph announced Monday that he will transfer to another school, two days after he was arrested and then suspended by Texas football coach Mack Brown.

Joseph made the announcement through the Longhorns sports information department. In a statement, he said: "I've really enjoyed my time at Texas, but I think it's in my best interest now to transfer and get a fresh start. I don't know where I'm going to go yet, but I hope to continue working towards my dream of playing in the NFL."

Joseph was arrested early Saturday and charged with two separate Class A misdemeanors for burglary of a vehicle. He posted $3,000 bond on each of the charges and was released from Travis County Jail on Saturday night.

While Joseph was in jail, Brown issued a statement to the media saying that he was suspending Joseph "indefinitely" until the completion of the "legal process."

Each of the misdemeanors carries a punishment of up to a year in state jail, a fine not to exceed $4,000 and up to two years of community service.

The arrest stemmed from an incident at the Omni Hotel in downtown Austin. An off duty police officer, working security for the hotel, received a complaint that someone was beating on cars parked in the Omni garage. According to the arrest affidavit, the officer discovered Joseph sitting in a Mercedes. While the officer was checking on the ownership of the car, Joseph ran away. Minutes later, the officer found him sitting in another car. Neither belonged to Joseph.

The affidavit said Joseph initially said the Mercedes belonged a friend. When he was found sitting in the second car, he told the officer he was hiding.

With three starters from the secondary lost to the NFL, Joseph had a chance to see significant playing time this fall. He played in seven games as a freshman — at safety and on special teams — before injuring his shoulder.

"We appreciate everything that Robert contributed to our football program," Brown said Monday. "We wish him the very best in football and in life."

 

[RJ Esq]

Perrilloux Enrolls in Classes But Is Still Suspended

BATON ROUGE — LSU quarterback Ryan Perrilloux enrolled in summer classes like many other LSU football players on Monday, but he remains suspended from the team.

LSU football coach Les Miles suspended Perrilloux indefinitely last month after Perrilloux was cited with a misdemeanor summons for attempting to enter a gambling casino here with an older brother's driver's license.

"He is going to summer school, but he is not participating in the off-season weight program," LSU sports information director Michael Bonnette said Monday night. "He's on his own. He is still under suspension."

Perrilloux, who will be a sophomore on the team next season should he return to good standing with Miles, completed 1-of-4 passes last season for 10 yards and rushed three times for 13 yards in five games.

Considered the No. 1 prep quarterback in the nation when he signed with LSU over Texas in 2005, Perrilloux was redshirted in 2005. At East St. John High School outside New Orleans, he threw for 9,025 yards in his four-year career.

Without Perrilloux, LSU would have only two quarterbacks on scholarship this season — expected senior starter Matt Flynn and incoming freshman Jarrett Lee of Brenham, Texas.

Perrilloux and his attorney Nathan Fisher are also awaiting word from the U.S. Attorney's office in New Orleans concerning Perrilloux's minor involvement in an alleged counterfeiting ring in the Reserve area, where Perrilloux is from.

 

[RJ Esq]

Two Dogs arrested with alcohol

Chandler charged with underage possession; Barnes cited for open container

<SW_PHOTOS>By Marc Weiszer | marc.weiszer@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 11:08 PM on Sunday, June 10, 2007

<MCC STORY>Georgia could be without starting tight end Tripp Chandler for the season-opening football game against Oklahoma State after the junior was arrested on alcohol-related charges Sunday morning along with third-string quarterback Blake Barnes.

Athens-Clarke County police arrested Chandler and Barnes after the two were spotted walking on a sidewalk near 2077 South Lumpkin Street at 3:15 a.m. Both were seen carrying open bottles of Budweiser beer, according to the incident report.

Barnes, 21, was charged with furnishing alcohol to minors and an open container violation. Chandler, 20, was charged with underage possession of alcohol and having an open container.

Athletic Association policy requires a suspension of 10 percent of the season, which equates to 1.2 games for football, for underage drinking.

The alcohol policy also states "a student-athlete who receives a legal citation from a law enforcement officer for an alcohol violation. ... will be subject" to the association's discipline guidelines.
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[RJ Esq]

From thewizardofodds.blogspot.com:

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Arrington Set to Return to the Wolverines


It appears Michigan receiver Adrian Arrington is back the good graces of coach Lloyd Carr and will be reinstated to the team.

Arrington, who caught 40 passes last season and was projected to be one of best receivers in the Big Ten, was suspended from the team and did not participate in spring drills. The troubled Arrington has had run-ins with Carr and last year was charged with domestic violence, a case that was dismissed.

But Arrington participated in Saturday's "Carr's Wash for Kids," a fundraiser for a new C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, and Carr said the receiver has rejoined the team for summer conditioning.

Arrington spent 60 consecutive days running the Michigan Stadium steps at 6 a.m. as part of the conditions for his return.

"I just have a whole different mind-set right now," he said. "I'm packing it in a lot earlier these days. I just hang out and play some PS3 instead of going out.''

Carr also said he had no plans to call Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh, the former Wolverine quarterback who earlier took a swipe at his former school by saying: "Michigan is a good school and I got a good education there, but the athletic department has ways to get borderline guys in and, when they're in, they steer them to courses in sports communications. They're adulated when they're playing, but when they get out, the people who adulated them won't hire them."

 

[RJ Esq]

Frazer's future at Notre Dame appears in doubt

By Eric Thomas, May 31, 2007
Last updated: Thursday, May 31, 2007 1:53 AM EDT
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Mechanicsburg alum Zach Frazer has been loyal to the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, but if a statement released by head coach Charlie Weis on Wednesday afternoon is any indication, then Frazer's Irish eyes may no longer be smiling.

Weis released a statement through the media relations department at Notre Dame stating that the quarterback competition is open into the fall, and only three quarterbacks are gunning for the top spot.

Frazer is not one of them.

"After concluding spring ball evaluations, Evan Sharpley, Demetrius Jones and Jimmy Clausen remain as the main contenders," Weis said. "Each of these three men brought something unique to the quarterback competition. Evan ran the operation the best, Jimmy threw the best ball, and Demetrius made the most plays. For these reasons, they will compete for playing time."

And so the dream of running out of the tunnel in front of "Touchdown Jesus" as the top dog on the South Bend campus could come to a screeching halt for Frazer.

ND's Frazer goes school shopping

By ERIC HANSEN
Tribune Staff Writer

Call it window shopping, serious window shopping.

But Notre Dame quarterback Zach Frazer is not former Notre Dame quarterback Zach Frazer.

Not yet anyway.

“Zach is talking to other schools,” Frazer’s father, David, said via cell phone Sunday. “He’s doing his homework, but no decision has been made.”

The 6-foot-5, 226-pound sophomore-to-be from Mechanicsburg, Pa., was in Florida this weekend, according to his father, and could not be reached for comment.

David Frazer acknowledged Miami (Fla.), Louisville, Rutgers, East Carolina, Connecticut and a handful of Mid-American Conference schools were in the running if, in fact, Zach Frazer does leave Notre Dame.

ND head coach Charlie Weis was unavailable for comment.

Zach Frazer has not asked for or been granted his release at this point. What the ND athletic department has granted the QB is permission to contact other schools and vice versa.

“Notre Dame has been working very well with us,” David Frazer said. “Charlie Weis has been very cooperative and, I believe, is looking out for the best interests of Zach. And Charlie has even said, he’s not doing anything to push Zach out the door. If Zach wants to stay he’d love to have him.”

But if Zach Frazer does stay, he’ll open the fall as the No. 4 quarterback on the depth chart, with very limited chances of rising anywhere near the top this season. Weis announced May 30 that spring football had yielded three candidates to compete in August for the right to succeed Brady Quinn as ND’s No. 1 quarterback — junior Evan Sharpley, sophomore Demetrius Jones and freshman Jimmy Clausen.

Summer school at Notre Dame starts June 18, and Zach Frazer must begin the summer session that day in order to guarantee his scholarship.

“I’m letting Zach make his own decision, because it’s his life,” David Frazer said. “The bottom line is he’ll go wherever he can play. Whether that’s at Notre Dame or somewhere else, that’s still wide open.”

 

[RJ Esq]

Callahan: Purify suspended indefinitely

BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
Friday, Jun 08, 2007 - 05:29:47 pm CDT
Nebraska standout wide receiver Maurice Purify was suspended indefinitely from the team Friday following his second arrest in just over a month.

Purify, a 21-year-old senior from Eureka, Calif., was cited for suspicion of DWI after being stopped by the Nebraska State Patrol at 12:25 a.m. Friday at North First Street and Cornhusker Highway, according to Deb Collins, spokeswoman for the State Patrol. Purify was pulled over for speeding and failure to signal a turn, Collins said.

No blood-alcohol level was released, she said.

Nebraska coach Bill Callahan released a prepared statement: “We are aware of Maurice’s situation and we take it very seriously. I met with Maurice (Friday) and explained to him that he is indefinitely suspended from the team. At this point, his future status with our team is uncertain.”

Reached late Friday morning, Purify was asked if he expects to remain a member of the team. “I hope so,” he said, declining further comment.

Purify was arrested May 5 and jailed on suspicion of two counts of assault, trespassing, failure to comply and resisting arrest. The charges stemmed from an alleged altercation at a downtown Lincoln tavern.

Purify’s attorney, Jon Braaten of Lincoln, said Friday that Purify had been authorized to apply for pretrial diversion for the May 5 incident and was in the process of deciding whether to sign up.

Braaten said he was unsure how Purify’s DWI arrest might affect matters.

“It’ll be something that needs to be put into consideration,” Braaten said.

John McQuinn, Lincoln’s chief city prosecutor, said he should know early next week whether Purify would be eligible for pretrial diversion, a program that diverts arrested parties from formal legal proceedings.

“All I know is what I’ve heard from news media, that he’s been arrested,” McQuinn said late Friday afternoon.

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Purify caught 34 passes last season for a team-leading 630 yards. He is considered the team’s go-to receiver and arguably its best offensive player.

After transferring from San Francisco City College last summer, Purify became Nebraska’s starter at the “X” receiver position around mid-season. He was part of a Husker wide receiver corps that returns intact for 2007.

Nebraska has two experienced “X” receivers behind Purify on the depth chart in juniors Nate Swift (67 career catches for 1,015 yards) and Todd Peterson (28-457). In addition, sophomores Menelik Holt and Chris Brooks drew praise from Callahan for their performance in the Spring Game.

 

[RJ Esq]

Verpaele Ineligible, Ponton To Transfer

By BRETT McMURPHY The Tampa Tribune
Published: Jun 2, 2007


TAMPA - University of South Florida running back Ricky Ponton, who was suspended for six games last season for a violation of team rules, will transfer to another school, while junior starting safety Danny Verpaele has been ruled ineligible for the 2007 season.

USF also announced that junior kicker Mike Benzer is no longer on the team, but will remain in school, and freshman linebacker LeBrandon Glover will transfer.

USF coach Jim Leavitt would not comment on the players, who could not be reached for comment.

Not having Verpaele this season is the biggest loss for the Bulls. Verpaele had 13 career starts and was listed as the Bulls' starting free safety during spring drills.

After being named a third-team freshman All-American by The Sporting News in 2004, Verpaele suffered a broken foot in 2005 and received a medical hardship. Last season, he started six games and made a huge play in USF's upset at No. 7 West Virginia, forcing a fumble at the goal line.
Verpaele will remain in school at USF, but will have only one year of eligibility in 2008.

Ponton, a former Hillsborough High School standout, was USF's leading active rusher with 679 yards the past two seasons, but the school announced he would not be eligible this season for unknown reasons. Ponton, who gained 373 yards his freshman season as a backup to Andre Hall, finished last year with 306 yards, despite missing the first six games.
Ponton was one of three players who was suspended USF's first six games for having a second positive drug test last year. All three players are now no longer at USF.

In Ponton's first game back from his suspension last season, he rushed for a career-high 101 yards on 17 carries at North Carolina.

After an impressive career at Longwood Lyman, Benzer was the only scholarship kicker USF signed in 2005 as the replacement for four-year starter Santiago Gramatica.

However, Benzer, who hit 11 of 15 field goals as a senior in high school, was replaced after two games of his freshman season by walk-on Kyle Bronson, who eventually transferred to Texas State.

In two seasons at USF, Benzer missed seven of nine field goals, but made 23 of 25 extra points.

 

[RJ Esq]

UT's Melton charged with DWI

Football player arrested early Friday downtown

By John Maher
American-Statesman staff
Saturday, June 02, 2007

University of Texas football coach Mack Brown gave little indication Friday of what discipline, if any, defensive end Henry Melton would face after his arrest early Friday morning for driving while intoxicated.

"We're disappointed any time one of our players is accused of wrongdoing," Brown, who was out of town Friday, said in a statement. "We have a great group of guys and we will thoroughly investigate this situation.

"Following the completion of the legal process, we will do what's best for the university, Henry and the team. One thing we have really prided ourselves on in our program is our family atmosphere, and this will be handled within our family."

Melton, a 6-foot-3-inch, 270-pound junior from Grapevine, was arrested by police and charged with driving while intoxicated early Friday. According to a police spokesman, Melton was traveling west on Sixth Street at 2:30 a.m. when police noticed that he was driving erratically.
An employee at the Travis County Jail confirmed that Melton had been charged with DWI and was released on a $1,500 personal recognizance bond Friday morning.

Melton, who came to Texas as a running back, now is playing defensive end, where Texas is trying to find replacements for last year's starters Tim Crowder and Brian Robison, both of whom were selected in April's NFL draft.

Melton's previous niche was as a short yardage back. In Texas' national championship season of 2005, Melton bulled for 432 yards on 87 carries. His 10 touchdowns were the fourth-most ever scored by a freshman at Texas, behind only Cedric Benson, Jamaal Charles and Vince Young, and ahead of Heisman Trophy Winners Ricky Williams and Earl Campbell.

Last year, Melton's numbers dropped to 193 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 43 carries. He was moved to defensive end prior to the Alamo Bowl.

 

[RJ Esq]

Huge hit at OT with this loss. Texas' OL has gone from a big strength to a question mark preseason.

Two UT linemen transfer

Webb, Watts say playing time a factor in leaving

<SCRIPT src="http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/cnishared/js/NewsworthyAudioC2L.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT><SCRIPT src="http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/cnishared/newsworthy/statesman/sports/stories/longhorns/05/24/statesman_sports_stories_longhorns_05_24_0524texfoot.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT>By Suzanne Halliburton
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Thursday, May 24, 2007

Two Texas reserve offensive linemen — J'Marcus Webb and Roy Watts — have left the Longhorns football team and plan to transfer.
The athletic department issued a statement Wednesday confirming the news.

Both had been on the team for a year. Both linemen said they left the team to seek a program where they could receive more playing time.
Before his departure, Webb seemed to be on track for more playing time at Texas, especially since the Longhorns were looking to replace three starters from the offensive line.

He was a Parade magazine All-American out of North Mesquite High School and was one of the more heralded recruits in his class. Webb played in 12 of 13 games as a freshman last fall as a reserve tackle and on special teams. Typically, freshman linemen rarely play, since most need an extra year to allow their bodies to physically mature.

"It was a very difficult decision but one I feel is in my best interest," Webb said in a statement. "If I want to have an opportunity to play more my best chance is to transfer. Everyone has been very supportive at Texas and I'll always be pulling for them."

Watts, from Houston Worthing High School, redshirted last fall. He spent the season working with the scout team as a right tackle.

Texas coach Mack Brown said: "We appreciate everything that J'Marcus and Roy did for our football program. They are nice young men who told us that they had a great experience but felt their best opportunity for more playing time was to transfer. We wish them both the best of luck in the future."

 

[RJ Esq]

New surfaces at tOSU and Bowling Green:

OSU, BGSU trade grass for artificial surfaces
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FieldTurf specialists install the new synthetic surface for Ohio Stadium, which has used natural grass since 1990.
( ASSOCIATED PRESS )

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD> Zoom | Photo Reprints</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>​

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By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

<CENTER></CENTER>
COLUMBUS - On the first afternoon in September, an eclectic mixture of engineers, accountants, and clerical workers will huddle around televisions in the Canadian province of Quebec, in Montreal, the largest French-speaking city in the western hemisphere.

<CENTER></CENTER>They will engage in an energized and lengthy sports discourse, but not about the Alouettes’ game the previous night against the Roughriders, or the likelihood that their revered Canadiens will sign that next rising hockey star from Scandinavia. They will be watching Youngstown State play Ohio State in American college football, with a passion and an attention to detail unmatched by most.


<CENTER></CENTER>These individuals have a deeply vested interest in that game, on that day, because the only thing Canadian associated with the Buckeyes' 2007 season-opener will not be the Labatt Blue sloshing around in coolers at the sprawling tailgate encampments on both sides of the Olentangy River, or the shiny new Chevy pickups parked outside the stadium that were built at the Oshawa, Ont., assembly plant.


<CENTER></CENTER>The interest of the Montreal contingent is the deck, the field, the pitch - the very battleground where the Buckeyes will engage the Huskies. For the first time, Ohio Stadium's playing surface will be FieldTurf, a high-tech melding of the wonders of modern science and the charm of good, old grass, made by a company based there in Montreal.


<CENTER></CENTER>"That will be a landmark day for us, a seminal event," said John Gilman, FieldTurf Tarkett's CEO. "Our playing surface is in use all over the world, but seeing it there, in a place with the kind of history and tradition that Ohio State has, it is just phenomenal to be involved in that. The people here are excited. We're over the moon about it."


<CENTER></CENTER>The Buckeyes have played on grass since 1990, when they ended a 20-year period of Ohio Stadium's floor being covered in earlier generations of artificial turf. Gilman said FieldTurf, which had its first high-profile college football installation at Nebraska's Memorial Stadium in 1999, is far removed from the hard and harsh Astroturf that ignited the trend toward manufactured sports surfaces.


<CENTER></CENTER>"It is like comparing a Yugo to a Cadillac," Gilman said.


<CENTER></CENTER>The FieldTurf product has long, synthetic fibers that are anchored and supported by a layer of sand and fine, ground rubber bits, providing a cushion and feel that more closely mirrors grass.


<CENTER></CENTER>"Rather than playing on an abrasive green nylon carpet glued to asphalt, they are playing on artificial grass, not artificial turf," said Gilman, a former player and coach in the Canadian Football League. "It is like a grass field, not a turf field.


<CENTER></CENTER>Cleats go right through it, giving you the same kind of feeling you get under foot from a good sod field."


<CENTER></CENTER>Gilman said Ohio State had the experience of playing on FieldTurf when it visited Big Ten opponents Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota and on the Buckeyes' practice field. He said Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith and coach Jim Tressel went through lengthy deliberations before deciding to tear out the grass after last month's spring game and go with FieldTurf.

<CENTER></CENTER>Tressel, who saw the sod in Ohio Stadium replaced twice last season as the grounds crew grappled with uncooperative weather and near impossible growing conditions, likes the fact that the state-of-the-art artificial surface will allow Ohio State to use the facility for events like next month's graduation ceremony and possibly high school playoff games.

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=200 align=right bgColor=white border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#acbac7><TD>Grass is gone</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#e5eaf1><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>University of Toledo
•Stadium: Glass Bowl
•Playing surface: NeXturf
•Installation: Prior to 2001 season
•Cost: $800,000
•Previous surface: Astroturf

Bowling Green State University
•Stadium: Perry Stadium
•Playing surface: FieldTurf
•Installation: Ongoing
•Cost: $966,000
•Previous surface: Grass

Ohio State University
•Stadium: Ohio Stadium
•Playing surface: FieldTurf
•Installation: Ongoing
•Cost: $800,000
•Previous surface: Grass

University of Michigan
•Stadium: Michigan Stadium
•Playing surface: FieldTurf
•Installation: Prior to 2003 season
•Cost: $620,000
•Previous surface: Grass

OTHER FIELDTURF SITES
Playing fields (others have it on practice fields):
•MAC: Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Miami, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Western Michigan
•Major college football: Air Force, Boston College,
Louisville, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota (HHH Dome), Nebraska, Rutgers, Syracuse (Carrier Dome), Utah, Wisconsin
•NFL: Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Indianapolis, Minnesota, New England, New York Giants, New York Jets, Seattle</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><CENTER></CENTER>"I am excited about the amount of use the greatest stadium in America will now be able to have," Tressel said. "We will now have the luxury of having consistent playability."

<CENTER></CENTER>Don Patko, Ohio State's director of athletic facilities, said the stadium grounds crew took heroic measures to maintain a quality field throughout the 2006 season, when the Buckeyes were ranked No. 1 from preseason until a loss to Florida in the national championship game. Their nationally televised Nov. 18 win over Michigan in Ohio Stadium prompted some to criticize the condition of the field, but Patko was very aware of the challenges that cool, wet weather presented.


<CENTER></CENTER>"I remind everybody that we were undefeated on our field last year, and the field for that Michigan game was the best you can have in Ohio, in November," Patko said. "That was tough on our turf managers, because they did everything you could do. Installing FieldTurf is going to be a change, but it's a forward-thinking move. It will allow us to utilize this wonderful facility more, and that has to be a plus."


<CENTER></CENTER>Ohio State donated the old sod from its stadium to the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, and it was used to cover three youth baseball fields. Bowling Green State University, which is also installing FieldTurf for the coming season, made small, precut pieces of the sod removed from Perry Stadium available free to the public and also plans to utilize the grass at sites around campus.


<CENTER></CENTER>Bowling Green athletic director Greg Christopher said the move to synthetic grass after 41 years of playing on a natural surface at Perry Stadium makes sense. He said college football players and coaches have become sold on the newer turfs, which many claim provide improved traction and minimal impact injuries. He also said the wearability of such a surface is a major plus.


<CENTER></CENTER>"FieldTurf is a product that our players and coaches have a great deal of confidence in," Christopher said. "The new surface also benefits BGSU on two fronts. It allows us greater flexibility with the stadium, meaning many of our teams can practice on the surface, and Perry Stadium can host more events, which helps the department generate new revenues. Secondly, we expect to see cost savings over time related to maintenance of the old surface."

<CENTER></CENTER>Ken Schoeni, the longtime facilities boss at BG who nurtured that Perry Stadium playing surface for decades before his retirement, said FieldTurf's ability to stand up in inclement weather makes it a more than viable option.


<CENTER></CENTER>"I've seen it rain hard on this stuff, and it didn't affect it one iota," Schoeni said. "Weather will still impact the game, but not the playing surface, and that is a big advance. FieldTurf seems to be out front on this kind of technology."


<CENTER></CENTER>Former Michigan quarterback Tom Brady, now a standout with the New England Patriots, was an instant fan of the surface after it was installed at Gillette Stadium late last November.


<CENTER></CENTER>"I think there are throws we made that we probably couldn't complete on grass, just because the footing is so good and you can really push off and drive the ball, and the receivers can cut really well," Brady said. "I think everybody really likes the surface."


<CENTER></CENTER>When it is completed, the Ohio Stadium field will have bright scarlet end zones and the trademark block "O" at midfield. It will be one of the more than 2,000 installations of the product that FieldTurf has done in 40 countries for baseball, soccer, lacrosse, and football. Super Bowl XL at Detroit's Ford Field was played on the same surface, but the biggest market today is high schools, where one field can now accommodate games involving junior high, freshman, junior varsity, and varsity football, boys and girls soccer, boys and girls lacrosse, and marching band competitions.


<CENTER></CENTER>"That is the heart of the business right now, but we still get very excited when we have an elite program like Ohio State decide to play on FieldTurf," Gilman said. "Working with a guy like coach Tressel is about the most fun thing for an old geezer like me. You don't want to have a great football program without a great playing surface, and quite frankly, I think the consistency of this field is going to make them even better."

 

[RJ Esq]

Corner ineligible for senior year

Loss leaves Dogs thin in backfield

Paul Oliver

Associated Press

By John Kaltefleiter
Thursday, May 17, 2007

<MCC STORY>Paul Oliver's final play at Georgia was helping linebacker Tony Taylor drop Virginia Tech tailback Branden Ore for a 1-yard loss with less than a minute left in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Oliver's collegiate career wasn't supposed to end in such blasé fashion. He chose what seemed like the smartest path after the Bulldogs' bowl win. He passed up the NFL's big bucks for another year, and wanted to complete his Georgia career with a bang.

The fifth-year senior cornerback leaves by making nothing more than a whimper.

Oliver was deemed academically ineligible Thursday, thus ending a career that never reached its full potential. Oliver is expected to enter the NFL's supplemental draft, but his chances of making a splash professionally are slim.
<!-- OAS_AD ('x01'); //-->
<!-- End AdSpace -->Normally, NFL teams are cautious about supplemental picks unless a player displays immediate impact abilities.

Oliver doesn't fit the bill, which is why he eschewed the NFL Draft in the first place.

Oliver's abrupt departure doesn't make a lick of sense.

I mean, how does a player stay eligible for four years only to see his college career vanish into thin air? Did he blow off class? Did he tune out his slew of academic advisors and tutors? Did he make unfulfilled promises to his coaches about rescuing his grades from an academic abyss?
Oliver is no dummy. Like he was on the field, Oliver seemed to be on the ball. He exuded confidence and character and had grand plans. Obviously, they didn't include leaving Georgia beneath a cloud of shame.

Oliver's exodus dents a Georgia defensive backfield now left with more youth than defensive coordinator Willie Martinez had planned. But Georgia's secondary situation isn't as dire as it might seem.
The Bulldogs have five remaining cornerbacks, four of which have enough experience to fill the void.

One question remains: If deposed starter Ramarcus Brown or rising sophomore Prince Miller prove unreliable early, will Georgia need to re-assign somebody other than safety-turned-corner Donavon Baldwin and slide him into the rotation? That picture should be clearer after South Carolina's visit on Sept. 8.

As for Oliver, he leaves behind a tarnished legacy. He should be remembered as the player who helped shackle All-American receiver Calvin Johnson and limit him to four catches for 27 yards in wins over Georgia Tech the past two seasons.

Rather, he'll be known as the former Bulldog who shut down his career by flunking out.

 

[RJ Esq]

Linebacker suspended for season



<SW_PHOTOS>By Marc Weiszer
Wednesday, May 9, 2007

<MCC STORY>Akeem Hebron's debut with the Georgia football team, if it comes, won't happen until the 2008 season.

That's because the redshirt freshman linebacker is suspended from the university effective immediately, removing him for the upcoming season under an informal resolution agreement he signed on Monday.

It's the penalty Hebron will have to serve for being a two-time offender of the university's more stringent revised alcohol policy. The 18-year old was arrested twice in a two-month period for underage possession of alcohol, violating the university's code of conduct.

The Athens Banner-Herald obtained a copy of the agreement with the Office of Judicial Programs on Tuesday under Georgia Open Records law.
<!-- Begin AdSpace --><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>adsonar_placementId=1277854;adsonar_pid=318758;adsonar_ps=-1;adsonar_zw=300;adsonar_zh=180;adsonar_jv='ads.adsonar.com';</SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="http://js.adsonar.com/js/adsonar.js"></SCRIPT><!-- OAS_AD ('x01'); //-->
<!-- End AdSpace -->"Akeem made some mistakes and he's paying the price," Georgia coach Mark Richt said through an athletic department spokesman. "Depending on how he handles things and what happens between now and then, we would consider him returning to the team. But those are decisions for a later time."

Hebron plans to spend the upcoming season at Georgia Military College in Milledgeville before a return to Georgia.

Richt and linebackers coach John Jancek phoned GMC coach Bert Williams on Tuesday to make arrangements.

"We're working that out and planning to get him down," Williams said.
Attempts to reach Hebron were unsuccessful.

Hebron and Matthew Stafford were the only Parade All-Americans in Georgia's 2006 signing class.

Stafford will begin his sophomore season entrenched as Georgia's starting quarterback.

Hebron, who was redshirted last season, will have only three years of eligibility remaining after serving his suspension since his five-year eligibility clock already has begun. The Gaithersburg, Md., native did not ask Georgia to release him from his scholarship to transfer.

"My coaches put a call to him and he hasn't returned a call. He's probably embarrassed," said Bob Milloy, Hebron's coach at Good Counsel High School. "I can tell you this. I coached Akeem for three years and I know his family, and he's a wonderful kid."

Hebron, who was arrested for the second time on April 26 for underage possession of alcohol, is eligible to return to the university in January 2008.

Hebron will meet with Brandon Frye, assistant dean of students, prior to his return in 2008. He will have to complete the Alcohol and Other Drug Advanced program at the university health center before his return.
He will be on university probation through Dec. 15, 2009, according to the resolution agreement. Any other alcohol-related code of conduct violations while on probation will result in another suspension for Hebron and may result in expulsion.

Hebron had been suspended for the first two games of the season for his first arrest for underage possession of alcohol on Feb. 25. In that incident, Hebron, along with a golf team member and former golf team member, were arrested in the parking lot of the Butts-Mehre building.

Hebron's second arrest occurred after an employee from the downtown bar Village Idiot flagged down an officer after a disorderly male was refused entry into the bar, according to an incident report.

The employee told police the male "made a gun with his hand and threatened him." Police asked the male for identification and Hebron showed him his Maryland driver's license. Police smelled alcohol on Hebron's breath, he admitted to drinking and was arrested, according to the incident report.

"I wasn't there. I don't know any of the circumstances, but I know that he's never to my knowledge done anything criminal," Milloy said. "Obviously drinking is illegal because he's not old enough. I'm just really disappointed, but he's a wonderful kid and he's part of our family and we'll stand by him."

 

[RJ Esq]

Charges reduced against UF's Wilson

Dave Curtis
Sentinel Staff Writer

June 14, 2007, 4:28 PM EDT

GAINESVILLE -- A State Attorney's Office investigation of an April incident involving Florida guard Ronnie Wilson has prompted the office to reduce the charges indicated in the original police report.

Wilson, at one time a projected starter, was facing two felony charges and a misdemeanor; he now will be charged with one count battery and one count of discharging a firearm in public. Both are misdemeanors and carry a maximum punishment of a year in county jail and a $1,000 fine. Wilson will be arraigned July 3.

State Attorney's Office spokesman Spencer Mann said Thursday afternoon that the changes came after his office took testimony from the victim and witnesses to the incident.

"Probable cause at the time of the incident is usually much less than what we have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt," Mann said. "It's not unusual for charges to be adjusted."

After his April 5 arrest, Wilson was accused of felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor battery. The gun charge became a felony charge because it occurred during the commission of another felony (the aggravated assault).

The April police report said Wilson spit on and slapped a man inside XS Nightclub on West University Avenue. When Wilson left, the victim followed him, taking down his license plate number and phoning police. Later, Wilson pulled into a parking lot, removed a semi-automatic weapon from his trunk and fired a shot into the air.

Wilson told police he spit on the defendant but denied hitting him. He also admitted to shooting the gun.

"He wanted the victim to know how it felt to be scared," the report read.

 

[RJ Esq]

SMU LB Carrington leaves team


[SIZE=+1]Sixth-year senior leaves Mustangs with a big hole to fill on defense
[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]11:25 PM CDT on Thursday, June 14, 2007

[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]By KATE HAIROPOULOS / The Dallas Morning News
khairopoulos@dallasnews.com [/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1][/SIZE]

Reggie Carrington, the all-Conference USA linebacker expected to lead SMU's defense this fall, has left the program, coach Phil Bennett said Thursday.

"He's dealing with some other issues and he's questioning if he wants to play," Bennett said. "I'm not sure with everything he's got going that football's viable right now."

Bennett said he hadn't "shut the door" on Carrington, but does not expect the sixth-year player, who was the Mustangs' top returning tackler, to play this season. Bennett said Carrington expects to graduate at the end of the summer.

Attempts to reach Carrington were not immediately successful.
Carrington, a 6-2, 240-pound senior, was second on the team with 80 tackles last season. He recorded 10 tackles for loss, four sacks, four pass breakups and a forced fumble while starting all 12 games. He earned second team all-conference honors from the media and third team from the coaches.

Bennett had said during spring practice that Carrington would be a key figure in 2007.

Bennett said he and Carrington discussed the situation Wednesday, and said the decision was not a surprise.

Carrington, of Tomball, Texas, learned this spring that he had been granted a sixth year of eligibility. He took a medical redshirt season because of a torn pectoral muscle in 2004 after wrist injuries forced him to redshirt as a true freshman in 2002.

VERNON BRYANT / DMN
Reggie Carrington (left) was SMU's top returning tackler before leaving the program.




"He's fought the fight," Bennett said. "He's been good for SMU football."
Carrington and fellow senior linebackers Wilton McCray and Tony Hawkins figured to be a strength for a unit with a new-look defensive line.
Bennett said senior Damon Hurst is the leading candidate to fill Carrington's spot at middle linebacker, with redshirt freshmen Ryan Moczygemba and Pete Fleps in the mix.

"Naturally, I hate that he's not going to be there," Bennett said, "but I think we're going to be OK."
<!-- vstory end --><!-- VELOCIT CONTENT ENDS HERE! -->

 

[RJ Esq]

From edsbs.com:

HOEPPNER OUT FOR 2007 SEASON

The worst fears of Indiana football fans are confirmed: coach Terry Hoeppner will miss the entire 2007 season due to ongoing treatments for brain cancer. The statement from Judy Hoeppner, Terry’s wife:
“For the past several months, Terry has received chemotherapy and radiation treatments. This battle requires us to focus our energy and attention on aiding his recovery in every way we can…These comments would be incomplete without Hep’s ultimate statement to all of you - DON’T QUIT!”

Bill Lynch, former Ball State head coach and offensive assistant under Hoeppner, will head the Hoosiers program for the 2007 season. We wish Hoeppner the best, but the news makes the skin crawl for all the wrong reasons. We’re unsure of the exact type of cancer Hoeppner has, but the numbers sound horrible: the general survival rate for a nervous system cancer in men age 60 (Hoeppner’s age) is approximately thirteen percent. (HT: DevilGrad)

Hoeppner: out for 2007.

 

[RJ Esq]

The Other Shoe Dropps For UConn's McClean

Posted Jun 17th 2007 12:17PM by John Radcliff
Filed under: Big East, NCAA FB Police Blotter

Senior wide receiver Brandon McClean has been dismissed from the University of Connecticut for unspecified reasons (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). As fellow Fanhouse Blogger, Matt Glaude, reported back in April, McClean was arrested twice in the span of three days. None of the charges by themselves were anything major, but apparently collectively the charges were enough to get McClean kicked out of school.

Because of Federal privacy laws, the school is not allowed to give specific reasons why McClean was dismissed. So there could be more to it than just the arrests back in April. But for a team that finished 110th in the country last season in passing offense, this is a huge blow. According to Scout.com, this leaves the Huskies with six returning receivers. None of which had more than 19 catches or 263 yards.

How's the running game looking coach?

 

[RJ Esq]

Vols Lose a Receiver, but Fans Gain Confidence in Receiving Corps

Posted Jun 19th 2007 4:45PM by Andy Katzer
Filed under: Tennessee, Tennessee Football, SEC

Perhaps the biggest question mark for the Tennessee offense heading into 2007 is the wide receiver position. The Vols have to replace Robert Meachem, Jayson Swain, and Bret Smith; who combined for the vast bulk of UT's passing offense in '06. In fact, those three guys had 22 touchdown catches, while the returning receivers only had 26 total catches.

That's why when wide receiver Slick Shelley announced late last week that he'd be leaving the team and transferring to Tulsa, hoping to get more playing time elsewhere, it was a positive sign for the Vols' WR corps. Shelley is a former Rivals' four-star player and played in the US Army All-American game after his senior year in high school. He's not been able to find his way on to the field for the Vols, being injured in '05 and behind the aforementioned trio last year.

But the depth chart has never been more open for the school they used to call "Wide Receiver U." Shelley would have had the best opportunity to make a name for himself that he's had since arriving in Knoxville (and when you're named "Slick," how hard can it be to get noticed?). So forgive Vol fans if they're pleased that Shelley's announcement came shortly after the arrival of Tennessee's bumper crop of receivers, including former Florida State player and JUCO transfer Kenny O'Neal and Hargrave Military star Bret Vinson. Maybe Erik Ainge will have some targets out there this season after all.

 

[RJ Esq]

Just remember that nobody's time on Earth is guaranteed:

Hoosiers’ Hoeppner Loses His Battle with Cancer

by Brian Sakowski @ 9:17 am. Filed under Coaching, College Football News
<!-- meta -->

Indiana Hoosiers’ officials have announced that Head Coach Terry Hoeppner has died at the age of 59 after a long battle with brain cancer. Hoeppner has been battling cancer on and off for the past few years. He’s been an inspiration to many around the country during the past 18 months as he battled cancer while trying to continue to coach.

“Terry’s fight was courageous and will serve as an inspiration to those who have known him,” Indiana athletic director Rick Greenspan said in a statement released by the university. “This is a truly sad day for our community, and all of our thoughts and prayers are with the Hoeppner family and to those whose lives he has touched.”
​

Hoeppner is survived by his wife, three children: Amy, Allison and Drew; and four grandchildren. God bless and may you Rest in Peace Mr. Hoeppner.

 

[RJ Esq]

Pena gets waiver to play for Houston

Posted: Thursday June 21, 2007 10:33PM; Updated: Thursday June 21, 2007 10:33PM


HOUSTON (AP) -- Former Oklahoma State quarterback Al Pena has received a waiver from the NCAA that will allow him to play football at Houston this fall.

Pena graduated from Oklahoma State in May but had a year of eligibility left. He had planned to take advantage of a rule that allows graduating seniors to transfer without having to sit out a year, but the NCAA rescinded the rule in January. Pena needed a waiver.

"We thought it was a good case. We welcome him and we are glad to have him in the program," Houston athletic director Dave Maggard told television station KRIV.

Pena was a backup last season, but did not play. In 2005, he completed 89 of 179 passes for 1,102 yards in seven games with eight touchdown passes.

 

[RJ Esq]

UM Football: Powe keeping options open
By Robbie Neiswanger
rneiswanger@clarionledger.com


OXFORD — Former Wayne County defensive tackle Jerrell Powe is inching closer to becoming academically eligible, according to family friend Joe Barnett.

But even if the 6-foot-3, 345-pound Powe finishes his work and is cleared by the NCAA to play college football, Barnett said he may not suit up at Ole Miss.

The embattled Powe, who signed a national letter of intent with the Rebels in 2005 and 2006 and was ruled academically ineligible each year, is now considering other Division I options because Barnett said he's uncertain of Ole Miss' commitment. He also has enlisted the aid of Alabama-based attorney Donald Jackson - who specializes in cases with athletes trying to earn certification through the NCAA Clearinghouse - in hopes it will help him reach his desired destination.

"Here's what we want most - him to go to Ole Miss," said Barnett, a Wayne County appraiser who has been Powe's advisor. "But it just doesn't work well without complete cooperation and assistance out of the one you want to take to prom."

Barnett said his uncertainty stems from recent communication with Ole Miss athletic director Pete Boone. Last week, he e-mailed Boone asking for documents pertaining to Powe's case with the NCAA last year in hopes they could be used to help his case with the organization this year. He also requested a letter stating the university would admit Powe and he had a scholarship offer waiting if he was cleared by the NCAA.

But Barnett said they haven't received that assurance and believes Ole Miss is "tap dancing" around the issue because it doesn't intend to admit him.

"For some time I've had some doubts about how interested Ole Miss was in Jerrell," he said.

So Barnett handed the battle to Jackson, who also helped former Mississippi State basketball player Mario Austin get his eligibility restored after questions arose in 2002 about two classes in his high school transcript.

"Our goal is to get him cleared, get him into Ole Miss, get him on the field, get him in classes," Jackson said. "If Ole Miss is not committed, I guess the next issue the family will have to address is to look at other institutions."

If Ole Miss does not indicate its commitment to Powe, Barnett is confident other programs will. He said the list includes LSU, Miami, Auburn and Alabama.

Boone declined comment on the situation Thursday. He can't comment on prospective student-athletes until they sign a national letter-of-intent.
But the new twist simply adds another strange chapter in Powe's quest to become eligible.

Powe, who failed to qualify out of high school in 2005, thought he met every requirement after a year at Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy and by taking Internet courses through Brigham Young's independent studies program. But the NCAA rejected his transcripts, stating he received too much help from his tutor and finished work too quickly.

Dissatisfied with the decision, Powe and his mother filed a temporary restraining order last fall that permitted him to enroll in classes at Ole Miss. But when the NCAA Student Records Review Group upheld the decision, Powe backed down, returned to Waynsboro and has been working to complete seven core credits.

Powe, who was diagnosed with a form of dyslexia and a mild to moderate case of attention deficit disorder, has taken online courses and also re-enrolled at Wayne County High to complete most of his requirements.
Now, Barnett said Powe is taking his last class - Spanish - at a private school in Jackson. Barnett said he will complete the course, send paperwork to the NCAA and wait for certification.

But with the first day of practice rapidly approaching, Barnett said Powe will not wait for Ole Miss' commitment much longer.

"I can promise you he'll be at some university come Labor Day," Barnett said. "I'd really like for it to be Ole Miss. But by God, they better step up between now and Monday or he won't be."

 

[RJ Esq]

SMU backup QB Slater leaves program



[SIZE=-1]12:00 AM CDT on Thursday, June 21, 2007

[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]By KATE HAIROPOULOS / The Dallas Morning News[/SIZE]


Backup quarterback Corey Slater has left the football program. Slater, a 6-2, 230-pound junior, played behind Justin Willis, last season's Conference USA freshman of the year.

"The reason I came to SMU was to pursue a dream," Slater said Wednesday, en route from Dallas to his hometown of Seattle. "It's unfortunate you have two really good quarterbacks."

Slater's departure leaves the Mustangs without much depth at quarterback. Redshirt freshman Zach Rhodes and true freshman Logan Turner are tabbed to back up Willis.

Slater, a junior college transfer from Dixie State (Utah), spent one season at SMU.

He played in six games in 2006, including the entire game at UTEP, when Willis was suspended. Slater also started against Marshall, but did not play in SMU's final five games.

Slater, who coach Phil Bennett praised during the spring, was 20-of-44 for 209 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions at SMU.
Slater said he is exploring his options with other schools.

 

[RJ Esq]

Dismissed, Southern Miss receiver Rodney Gray, for unspecified "rules violations and poor conduct." No reported arrest, so no details whatsoever, per the usual with Jeff Bower. Thus Gray fulfills the role of Tavarres Williams Memorial Promising Freshman Wideout Who Immediately Disappears. He fell back into the rotation after starting immediately over a couple seniors last year, but he ranked as a veteran among the receivers on the upcoming team - outside of uninspiring Chris Johnson, it's a cavalcade of total inexperience, likely to be filled by more interchangable, stopgap freshmen. Dammit, Rodney.

 

[RJ Esq]

Quigley returns to RB

KU soph won’t move to wideout after all

By Ryan Wood </SPAN>
Posted Thursday, June 21, 2007

Add another horse to the Kansas University football team’s intriguing backfield.

KU coach Mark Mangino said Wednesday that sophomore Angus Quigley will enter the preseason as a running back, not a wide receiver as originally planned.

“We have visited with Angus, and we have looked at our depth chart,” Mangino said. “Angus said he’d do whatever he needed to do for the team, but he felt much more comfortable going into two-a-days as a running back.”

The coaching staff obliged, meaning the backfield could be an interesting mix-and-match with a number of capable weapons, specifically Quigley, sophomore Jake Sharp and senior fullback Brandon McAnderson. Incoming freshmen Carmon Boyd-Anderson and Steven Foster will be shooting for early playing time, as well.

In addition, quarterbacks Kerry Meier and Todd Reesing continue to battle for the starting job, meaning the lineup behind center is an interesting puzzle — one with multiple solutions, perhaps.

Quigley, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound Texas native, was recruited as a running back and expected to back up Jon Cornish a year ago. His season was derailed, though, when he suffered a torn muscle in his thigh during preseason and had season-ending surgery. Sharp ended up being the backup for Cornish, who rushed for a school-record 1,457 yards in 2006.
In the spring, Quigley was moved to wide receiver to help shore up KU’s depth. In the spring game, he caught two passes for 17 yards and was listed on the post-spring depth chart as a second-team wideout.

That has changed. Sharp probably remains the front-runner to start at running back, with McAnderson locked in as the starting fullback. Quigley, though, will be striving to make the decision-making difficult before the Sept. 1 opener against Central Michigan.

“He can help us at wide receiver, and there’s concerns about depth at both positions,” Mangino said. “We feel at this time, this will be best for everyone.”

 

[RJ Esq]

UF backup QB is hurting


<!--/* Byline exists -->

By Pat Dooley
Sun sports writer

Florida quarterback Cameron Newton led the Orange Team during Saturday's Orange and Blue spring football game. The Blue Team led by Tim Tebow beat the Orange Team 27-21.
Tracy Wilcox/The Gainesville Sun

The offseason for freshman quarterback Cameron Newton won't be exactly what he expected.

Newton, who shared quarterback duties with Tim Tebow in the spring game, is wearing a brace after a small crack was discovered in his back.

Florida coach Urban Meyer said Newton will have to wear the brace for another three or four weeks.

“He'll be fine,” Meyer said.

Newton completed 20 of 30 passes for 275 yards and a touchdown in the Orange and Blue game at Florida Field on April 14.

It's the second injury at quarterback for the Gators. Junior college transfer Bryan Waggener broke his left foot early in spring practice.

Florida's other quarterback on scholarship is freshman John Brantley of Ocala.

 

[RJ Esq]

Maryland OL Doesn't Make The Grade

Posted Jun 20th 2007 10:30PM by Ian Cohen
Filed under: Maryland Football, ACC, NCAA FB Campus

When you think about all the dumb crap that you did in college in place of studying (if it weren't for that Steel Reserve pyramid, you totally could've copped that 4.0), it's tough to get all that incensed when athletes find themselves academically ineligible considering the very real and very demanding time constraints and stress that go with it aren't always self-imposed. And just imagine if you were 6'9" and weighed 350 lbs. You think any of those classroom chairs are something you'd be able to comfortably sit in? <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O></O>


Such was the fate befalling mountainous Maryland lineman Jared Gaither, who reportedly was declared academically ineligible for the 2007 season. I'm not going to speculate about his study habits, but he is an attendee of Hargrave Military Institute, often used as a pre-college qualifying school and he didn't exactly win over Ralph Friedgen with his work ethic during his two promising, but tumultuous years in College Park. Look, I know that Fridge's track record with the Terps speaks for itself, but man...I can't imagine what a guy with that physique calling me lazy would do. <O></O>


In all likelihood, a guy with Gaither's intriguing combination of size and potential might find himself a hot commodity in the NFL supplemental draft. However, sources have indicated that Gaither might give the books another crack, most likely because people still associate the supplemental draft with Dave Brown.<O></O>

 

[RJ Esq]

We'll Miss Your Name, Cobrani (Probably)




Varsity Blue is reporting the departure of redshirt freshman linebacker Cobrani Mixon for greener pastures, or at least green-ish ones: a transfer to Cincinnati or Kent State. Mixon's Facebook account confirms:



For those with bifocals, the highlighted text: "Cobrani is done with michigan this is his last night eva..." This is not the world's most incontrovertible evidence, but a Mixon departure had been rumored for a few months now and Varsity Blue seems sure of itself.

Though Mixon was a moderately shirtless recruit two years ago -- a mid four-star type who spent part of the year in the Scout 100 -- as soon as he arrived there were doubts he would ever see the field. It was clear by this spring he had been passed by Grand Rapid sleeper Obi Ezeh and JUCO Austin Panter; instead of getting the Anton Campbell treatment he's decided to find somewhere he can see the field. If he chooses Cincinnati he'll join fellow Colerain-to-Michigan-to-playing-time refugee Mister Simpson and we can mourned the missed opportunity to have not one but two Biakubutuka-level awesome names all at once.

Impact on the '07 team: little. Mixon was, by all reports, not ready to see the field this year. This does serve as partial explanation for Michigan's heavy pursuit of linebackers in this class; Michigan now has 18-ish scholarships available for '08.

 

[RJ Esq]

USC recruit stabbed in fight at apartments

No charges have been filed in incident; athlete ‘in good spirits’

By JEFF WILKINSON and SETH EMERSON - jwilkinson@thestate.com semerson@thestate.com

<!-- START /pubsys/production/story/story_assets.comp --><SCRIPT language=Javascript>function PopupPic(sPicURL, sHeight, sWidth) { window.open( "/static/popup.html?"+sPicURL, "", "resizable=1,HEIGHT=" +sHeight+ ",WIDTH=" +sWidth); }</SCRIPT><!-- photo or image available --><!-- Start: /pubsys/production/story/assets/image_embedded.comp -->

Quintin Richardson, 18, is a USC football recruit and Spring Valley High graduate.
<!-- End: /pubsys/production/story/assets/image_embedded.comp -->
<!-- no polls to display -->
<!-- END /pubsys/production/story/story_assets.comp -->A USC football recruit was stabbed at a Richland County apartment complex early Sunday morning.
Quintin Richardson, 18, was stabbed during the fight in the courtyard of Hunter’s Green Apartments at 1013 N. Kings St., according to a spokesman for the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
Lt. Chris Cowan said an argument between Richardson and 19-year-old Ross Grant escalated into a “physical altercation.”
Deputies learned of the incident when Richardson showed up for treatment at Providence Hospital Northeast at about 2:25 a.m. Cowan declined to detail Richardson’s injuries but said he had been stabbed in the upper body.
No charges have yet been filed as a result of the incident.
“We still have a lot of people to interview,” Cowan said Sunday. “We’re trying to determine what the altercation was over and who needs to be charged.”
Richardson was in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries at Palmetto Health Richland, said Cowan and family members.
Listed at 6 feet 4 inches tall and 270 pounds, Richardson is one of the top recruits in South Carolina’s nationally ranked incoming freshman class. He was set to compete for playing time on the Gamecocks’ offensive line.
The former Spring Valley star was ranked in the top 100 of rivals.com and scout.com, a pair of national recruiting Web sites, before slipping after missing most of his senior season with a knee injury.
Richardson was still selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American game, a national high school senior all-star game. He committed to South Carolina in April of his junior year at Spring Valley.
Last summer Richardson said: “There are a lot of South Carolina fans around here. They are going to want to see what all the hype is about. I’m going to come out and play the game. I’m not feeling any pressure. But I also want to show the fans and everyone that I can play some football.”
Richardson’s godfather, Willie Sutton, said the player was recuperating at the hospital. Sutton said Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier had called to check on him, along with numerous other coaches at USC and Spring Valley.
“He’s in good spirits,” Sutton said. “He’s got a pretty good doctor. It’s in the Lord’s hands right now. We’re going to take it one day at a time right now.”

 

[RJ Esq]

college football
U of L dismisses freshman RB/LB


<!-- STORY TEXT --><!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->Tyler Wimsatt, a redshirt freshman from Owensboro, was dismissed from the University of Louisville football team.

U of L spokesman Rocco Gasparro said Wimsatt, who didn't see any game action last season, was dismissed for a violation of team rules.

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</TD><TD width=10></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Wimsatt came out of Owensboro High School as a running back/linebacker and was named honorable mention All-State as a senior by The Courier-Journal. He accounted for 1,500 all-purpose yards as a senior and was Owensboro's MVP.

[FONT=arial, geneva]RB commits to IU[/FONT]

Cortez Smith became the first player to orally commit to Indiana University since coach Terry Hoeppner's death last week.

Smith, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound running back from Detroit, picked the Hoosiers over Purdue, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota and Ball State.

[FONT=arial, geneva]Penn St. disciplines 10[/FONT]

Penn State disciplined 10 players for their roles in an April 1 off-campus fight in which two people were hurt.

The university said four were temporarily expelled from July 1 through the end of the summer semester, two were put on permanent probation and ordered to take counseling, and the other four were put on probation for a year.

All players could be eligible next season if they complete the terms of the discipline.

Defense attorneys identified the four expelled as safety Anthony Scirrotto, defensive lineman Chris Baker, linebacker Jerome Hayes and cornerback Lydell Sargeant.

Scirrotto and Baker face an August trial on criminal charges including burglary, assault and harassment in connection with the fight.

 

[RJ Esq]

2007 Big East Football Prospectus Part 8: Syracuse

<SMALL class=metadata>0 Comments </SPAN>Published on 6.26.2007 by Brian Harrison http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=11343653&postID=278622900574594314http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=11343653&postID=278622900574594314 </SMALL>



Editor’s Note: This is part eight of an eight part series giving analysis of each of the eight teams in the Big East Football Conference, proceeding alphabetically, but ending with Syracuse. A new team was released each weekday for the last eight days. Feel free to use the comment section to supplement the facts and analysis presented, however my opinions will stand. Enjoy and I hope you are looking forward to the new Big East football season as much as I am. Part seven can be found here.

Syracuse
Preview – After finishing in the basement of the Big East for two years in a row, the 2007 Orange begin their campaign under Coach Greg Robinson with a new QB behind center in Andrew Robinson. Looking sharp in the spring game, he led several scoring drives and will be competent, possibly excellent, this coming season. Once again, Robinson must try to field a offensive line that may not be up to standards. Look for him to again try combinations, but they should be fairly competent as he has three, possibly four (academic issues) returning players, and seniors and juniors up to the task. The running backs are also an issue as Curtis “Boonah” Brinkley (571yds on 139att, 4.1avg, 2 TD) will be out for the 2007 season. RB’s Delone Carter (713yds on 156att, 4.6avg, 4 TD) and Paul Chiara (59yds on 17att, 3.5avg, 0 TD) will handle most of the carries this season. This will be the biggest question and the shakiest part of our team. The receivers will be tight on this team, with Taj Smith returning (with a fresh year of eligibility), along with Mike Williams and Rice Moss. Tight ends Tom Ferron and J.J. Nesheiwat will also be solid this year in receiving again. The defensive lost a lot of players in the linebacker area but will be solid again with players stepping up. The secondary will again be anchored by Joe 5 Fields and looked sharp and speedy in the spring game. Losing Heisman hopeful Brendan Carney hurt the special teams unit, but they have two competent punters competing to replace him.

Key Returning Players – WR Taj Smith, RB Curtis Brinkley, FS Joe 5 Fields

Key Losses – LB Kelvin Smith, LB Jerry Mackey, CB Tanard Jackson

My Thoughts – This team will again improve upon the season before. With a new quarterback not named Patterson there is again renewed hope that the Orange will return to some semblance of a winning season. The passing game should be vastly improved, and with the number one target back on the field, the white line is the only limit to how far they can go. The running back situation is not the best, but it is far from the worst as well. The offensive like should improve from last season, especially with a new coach in the area, and the quarterback should be sacked less now that he is significantly thinner than Perry.

How will we do? – I think this team has a legitimate shot at winning three out of the seven conference games the team will play, those being Connecticut, Cincinnati, and South Florida. We have a chance at winning seven games in total, the other four being Illinois, Miami (OH), Buffalo, and Washington. I’m not saying we are going bowling, but I do think this team will produce more in the last two seasons. And for Greg Robinson’s sake they sure better. Really all any of us are looking for is a competent offence, close games, and more wins than last year. If he does this, we will see Ol’ GRob make it to season four. For the first time in a couple of years, I have a feeling we will not be any part of last place in the Big East Conference. Either way, I am optimistic and looking forward to another great season of college football, and another big season in the Big East.

Editor’s Note: The following analysis of the team is pending an utter and total collapse before the start of the season, as well as during the season. If something does happen… Matt Glaude did it.

 

[RJ Esq]

Rockets' McDougle ruled ineligible
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McDougle

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By JOE VARDON
BLADE STAFF WRITER

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Neither the pleas of his family members nor an ultimate exoneration by federal prosecutors and investigators may be able to save Harvey "Scooter" McDougle Jr.'s football season at the University of Toledo.


<CENTER></CENTER>McDougle, 22, the Rockets running back who is suspended from the team because of his alleged connection to a point-shaving scandal, has been ruled academically ineligible for the 2007 season.


<CENTER></CENTER>Paul Helgren, UT's assistant athletic director for media relations, confirmed McDougle's ineligibility status to The Blade yesterday, but would not discuss any other details because of a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records.


<CENTER></CENTER>To be considered eligible for athletic competition at UT, students must maintain a certain grade-point average, pass a set number of credit hours each year, and stay on track to complete an undergraduate degree within five years.


<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=200 align=left bgColor=white border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#acbac7><TD>MORE</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#e5eaf1><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>

VIEW: UT letters from President Lloyd Jacobs to staff

AUDIO: UT interview President Lloyd Jacobs

AUDIO: University of Toledo news conference (April 2, 2007)

VIEW: Affidavit in support of criminal complaint </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><CENTER></CENTER>University officials confirmed that McDougle is still a student at UT and is on scholarship, but has been suspended from the football team since his March 29 arrest in connection with an alleged point-shaving scheme.


<CENTER></CENTER>Initial criminal charges against McDougle were dropped April 18, and his grandmother has written twice to UT President Dr. Lloyd Jacobs seeking her grandson's reinstatement on the football team.

<CENTER></CENTER>Even if Dr. Jacobs were to lift the suspension, it doesn't appear that McDougle will be in uniform for the Rockets because of his academic status.


<CENTER></CENTER>McDougle's father, Harvey McDougle Sr., who last week told The Blade his son would not be indicted on point-shaving charges or forced to testify against his teammates, said UT was wrong about his son's eligibility.


<CENTER></CENTER>"He's not academically ineligible, and that's all I can say," McDougle Sr. said. "I'm so sick of that university, I don't even know what to do with all of this."


<CENTER></CENTER>When pressed about McDougle's academic status by The Blade, Helgren said: "We are getting this from our compliance director [Brian Lutz]. He is ineligible. It's unequivocal."


<CENTER></CENTER>McDougle Sr. said his son is currently working in an internship program for UT credit and didn't know why he was considered academically ineligible for football.


<CENTER></CENTER>McDougle Sr. criticized UT coach Tom Amstutz for not calling him since his son was arrested, and accused the university of not supporting McDougle since the federal point-shaving investigation became public.


<CENTER></CENTER>"If it were up to me, he'd be gone from there," McDougle Sr. said. "But he's loyal and he loves the game, and he wants to stick it out in Toledo."


<CENTER></CENTER>If McDougle avoids any further legal trouble and is not found to have broken any NCAA violations through his relationship with a Detroit-area gambler, then this will be the second season he will have lost eligibility because of academics.


<CENTER></CENTER>According to the Rockets' 2006 media guide, McDougle sat out his freshman season in 2003 due to NCAA academic restrictions.


<CENTER></CENTER>Right now, McDougle, who's major is listed in the media guide as "individualized studies in the University College," is waiting for the smoke to clear from the alleged point-shaving scheme he was accused by federal agents of participating in with Ghazi "Gary" Manni.


<CENTER></CENTER>McDougle was charged in March in U.S. District Court in Detroit with betting on a UT football game and recruiting other university football and men's basketball players to engage in point-shaving.


<CENTER></CENTER>The complaint accused McDougle of recruiting UT football and basketball players who would keep the final scores of games within a certain point spread for Manni, who would bet on those games.


<CENTER></CENTER>The FBI said at least one player was offered $10,000 to sit out a game, and several players received "cash, a car, a phone, and other things of value" from Manni.


<CENTER></CENTER>Federal agents also accused McDougle of asking Manni to place a $2,000 bet for him on UT's game against Texas-El Paso in the 2005 GMAC Bowl. McDougle sat out that game because of injuries, and the Rockets defeated their opponent 45-13.


<CENTER></CENTER>According to attorneys for both sides, the charges against McDougle were dropped as a matter of procedure and could be refiled.


<CENTER></CENTER>McDougle Sr. said his son met with federal prosecutors last week, and after that meeting was told by his attorney that he would not face additional charges.


<CENTER></CENTER>McDougle's attorney, James Burdick, said his client wasn't guilty of any gambling charges, but denied telling anyone that the UT football player would not be indicted in this case.


<CENTER></CENTER>Even if McDougle Sr. is correct and his son avoids the courtroom, McDougle may still be found in violation of NCAA rules.


<CENTER></CENTER>According to the federal complaint, on Dec. 14, McDougle told the FBI that Manni had given him cash, a car, and other items, but denied changing his play to affect the outcome of a football game.

 

[RJ Esq]

Prognosis good for USC recruit

Richardson’s life, career not in danger as police continue their investigation

By SETH EMERSON - semerson@thestate.com

USC football recruit Quintin Richardson remained in the hospital Monday with non-life threatening knife wounds, while police continued to investigate whether charges will be brought in the incident.

Richardson, 18, was stabbed “several times” in the lower back and arm early Sunday, according to the incident report released by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

“We don’t know yet what happened,” said Lt. Chris Cowan, a spokesman for the sheriff’s department. “There are a lot of people out there, there’s a he-said, she-said. And we can’t make any charges based on he-said, she-said.”

Richardson’s injuries do not appear likely to jeopardize his football career. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound offensive tackle was due to be released from Palmetto Health Richland Hospital late Monday night or today.

“He’s doing just fine, he’s just going to rest now,” said Jimmy Noonan, Richardson’s coach at Spring Valley High. “The prognosis is good, and I guess in a couple weeks he’ll be back in the weight room.”

Richardson, considered one of the top members of USC’s highly rated recruiting class and its only offensive lineman, was expected to contend for playing time as a freshman.

Willie Sutton, Richardson’s godfather, said the player planned to enroll for freshman orientation on July 5. He had started working out with the Gamecocks, Sutton said.

Cowan said police were interviewing witnesses Monday afternoon. It was unclear whether they had interviewed Ross Grant, 19, who is listed in the incident report.

In a statement released Monday afternoon, Cowan said police are trying “to determine why a verbal altercation turned physical.” The fight happened in a residence at Hunter’s Green Apartments at 1013 North King’s Way. Sutton said Richardson lives elsewhere.

According to the incident report, Richardson was holding Grant down when Richardson, as he later told police, felt like someone was poking him in the back. At that point, two witnesses separated the two, and Grant left the area.

A third witness then placed a knife in a plastic bag, and the first two witnesses took Richardson to the hospital.
Grant could not be reached for comment.

 

[RJ Esq]

UT walk-on dimissed after coke arrest

Posted: Thursday June 28, 2007 1:11PM; Updated: Thursday June 28, 2007 4:09PM

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee dismissed walk-on Justin Jackson on Thursday after police arrested him on felony charges of possessing and selling crack cocaine.
Jackson, 21, was arrested by Knoxville Police on Wednesday night, police spokesman Darrell DeBusk said
Coach Phillip Fulmer announced Jackson's dismissal on Thursday.
"One of our walk-on players was arrested last night and is facing very serious accusations. By even being near this type of behavior, Justin has embarrassed himself and his team," Fulmer said in a statement.
"We expect all our players -- scholarship or walk-on -- to be good citizens. I regret it whenever any university student makes bad choices of this nature. The legal and university process will be followed, but Justin is no longer a member of our team."
DeBusk said an officer saw Jackson's car stopped shortly before 8:30 p.m. and was investigating him for a possible seat belt violation when he saw what appeared to be crack in the vehicle.
After a search of Jackson and the vehicle, a bag of marijuana and $632 in cash were found, DeBusk said. Jackson was charged with two counts of felony sale or possession of a controlled substance.
Also arrested was Guy Jenkins, 25, who was standing next to the car and was charged after police found 37 bags believed to contain crack cocaine, DeBusk said. Jenkins was charged with one count of selling or possessing drugs.
The case is still under investigation, DeBusk said. Jail officials didn't immediately return calls seeking information about whether Jackson is still in custody.
Jackson, a former West High wide receiver, transferred to Tennessee from Maryville College. He was a non-recruited walk-on for the 2006-07 season.
In 2005, eight Tennessee players were either arrested or cited for crimes ranging from assault to underage drinking. In 2006, seven Tennessee players were arrested on a similar range of charges, but one of them was acquitted at a trial on charges of threatening another driver by waving a toy gun.
Another player was dismissed from the team last year after he made an inappropriate comment to a woman and her daughter at a restaurant.

 

[RJ Esq]

'Bama QB Barnes Settles on Weber State

Posted Jun 28th 2007 2:09PM by Pete Holiday
Filed under: Alabama Football, SEC
A few weeks ago Alabama bench-string QB Jimmy Barnes decided he'd transfer. His father subsequently did a little whining about how horribly the great satan treats the players. Many of the other players seem, despite this allegation, seem to genuinely love Saban and the way he's running the program. Barnes decided to transfer down so he could avoid sitting out a year.

Today Barnes chose his poison: Weber State.

More interesting than that, however, is how Tide fans are responding. By and large, most fans and bloggers seem to be unmoved by Barnes' father's jabs and are wishing the kid well, which is the class thing to do. After all, John Barnes comes off as the kind of father that's trying to live out his failed dreams through his son, and Jimmy's relegation to bench warmer had to sting a little bit.

Regardless, Weber State just picked up a good quarterback who didn't really fit into a new coach's scheme. Best of luck to them next season.

 

[RJ Esq]

Virginia RB Payne suspended for academic reasons

Associated Press



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<!-- end story header --><!-- begin left column --><!-- begin page tools -->Updated: June 27, 2007, 7:26 PM ET

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<!-- end page tools --><!-- begin story body -->CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Virginia running back Keith Payne has been suspended from the team for failure to meet academic responsibilities.
"Keith is not holding up his end of the deal despite significant direction and effort from many people around the University," coach Al Groh said in a statement Wednesday. "We hope he will respond positively to this challenge, do what is expected of him and return to positive status."
Groh did not say how long Payne, a 243-pound redshirt freshman who was expected to compete for the starting job, would be suspended.
Payne ran for 29 yards on eight carries in Virginia's spring game. His departure, at least temporarily, leaves Cedric Peerman and Raynard Horne as the leading candidates to take over the starting tailback's job.

 

[RJ Esq]

BYU Loses Backup Quarterback

Posted Jun 29th 2007 8:50PM by Brian Grummell
Filed under: Mountain West, Brigham Young Football

Junior college transfer Cade Cooper has left BYU almost as swiftly has he arrived.

The Snow College product arrived in the spring expecting to challenge for a starting job with Arizona State transfer Max Hall. He left the spring with a severe foot injury and likely facing several younger challengers for the #2 job next fall. Enter the fallback route for itinerant quarterbacks: the transfer.

Cooper's injury - compared to the Lisfranc injury where ligaments tear in the foot - is fairly serious, requiring at least a year of recovery. Hall clearly beat him out in the spring, but the injury, recovery time and depth chart issues may have forced his hand and the transfer.

What does this mean to the average college football fan? Not much, but it would behoove you to scratch his name out of the Phil Steele College Football Preview's BYU page. He was listed as a PS#5 quarterback, headlining BYU's signing class. Sadly, expectations are all for naught after a cruel twist of fate did in not his elbow or back but a solitary foot.

 

[RJ Esq]

No more rumor: QB Craft exits to join dad


SDSU loses valuable backup to Mt. SAC

By Mick McGrane
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

June 30, 2007


Last season, sophomore quarterback Kevin Craft routinely shrugged off any suggestion that his father's firing would affect his play. Yesterday, Craft officially shrugged off San Diego State.

Craft, whose father, Tom Craft, was dismissed as head coach of the Aztecs after the 2005 season, told SDSU coach Chuck Long he is leaving the program to transfer to Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut. Tom Craft was hired as the offensive coordinator at Mt. SAC last month.

“As with any business, blood is always thicker than water,” Long said. “Obviously, if he wants to play for his father, that's a pretty tough thing to fight.”

Neither Kevin Craft nor Tom Craft has returned phone calls placed through the media relations departments at SDSU and Mt. SAC, respectively.
Forced into the lineup last year when starter Kevin O'Connell and backup Darren Mougey were sidelined by injuries, Craft started five games, completing 69-of-121 passes for 737 yards and four touchdowns with six interceptions. He was the starter in two of the team's three wins.
His departure affects SDSU on two fronts, the initial one being the continuing transition of Mougey to wide receiver. Mougey, who has served as O'Connell's backup the past two seasons, took nary a snap during spring drills while being used as a receiver, tight end and H-back.

Secondly, the only other quarterbacks on the roster – redshirt freshmen Kelsey Sokoloski and Josh O'Brien – have never played at the collegiate level.

Long said the team might pursue another quarterback, but he's encouraged with the progress made by the Aztecs' younger QBs.

“One guy is never going to be more important than the team,” Long said of Kevin Craft's exit. “Our young guys are beginning to prove themselves and they'll have every opportunity to move forward.”

Long said he doesn't anticipate the loss of Craft interrupting the team's plans to continue developing Mougey as a receiver.

“I don't think he has to give up anything,” Long said of Mougey. “I always tell our guys that the more you can do the better off we're going to be and you're going to be. Darren is welcoming the challenge (of playing both receiver and quarterback), and we believe he can.”

O'Connell, who has started 21 of SDSU's last 36 games, was named the starter coming out of spring drills in April, completing 27-of-44 passes for 291 yards with four touchdowns and an interception in the team's three scrimmages.

Craft finished the spring scrimmages 19-of-31 for 206 yards with an interception.

“I know with his dad having played and coached at San Diego State that it made Kevin's decision that much harder,” O'Connell said. “I think he deserves a lot of credit for dealing as well as he did with the situation he was in. Obviously, he was competing for the (starting) job, but he was also going through a lot of things with his dad losing his job and having to play for a new coach.

“I guess the biggest question involved now is how we make up for all the (snaps) Kevin took during the spring and the experience he got last year. Even though I was named the starter coming out of the spring, we were looking forward to having him here as a leader and being ready to step in and do the job.

“That old saying of someone being one snap away (from coming into the game for an injured player) has kind of been an understatement at San Diego State the last couple of years. The idea of having a backup who can come into a game and not miss a beat is a big deal for any team. But at the same time, you're going to start to see some of the quality of the youth we have in this program at the quarterback position.”

Long said he's eager to get an extended look at incoming freshman quarterback Ryan Lindley when the team opens fall camp Aug. 9. The former El Capitan High standout was rated the 35th-best high school quarterback in the nation by rivals.com before signing with the Aztecs.

“There are true freshmen who have played before,” Long said. “To me, it doesn't matter if they're freshmen. If they can pick up the system quickly enough and not get you beat, we'll get them on the field.”

 

[RJ Esq]

Football Defections

July 01 2007 10:52 PM -- Filed in: Football
The month of July tends to be the quietest month for college football coaches. They are able to get some time off, take a vacation and basically reinvigorate themselves for the upcoming season. Players, on the other hand, continually work through the summer to reach new levels and impress the staff. But, not everything is peaches and cream in college football.

With a roster of 85 players and 20 or so walk-ons, not everyone is going to be happy with their playing time. Or, on the flipside, the coaches aren't always thrilled with the players and some are politely asked to leave. To that end, the Ohio State football team has seen four players leave in the last month. Gone are:

• DT Juan Garnier
• CB Brandon Underwood
• DE Walter Dublin
• DE Ryan Williams

The reasons behind the moves are varied. Garnier, a recent subject of CBSsportsline's Dennis Dodd, was a talented walk-on looking for a scholarship. It never came. Underwood follows his brothers footsteps in leaving the program. The official reason for Dublin is homesickness but I have heard from more than a few people it's a little more involved than that. Ryan Williams simply never fully recovered from a devastating ACL injury. He will attempt a comeback closer to his hometown.

As you've probably noted, three of the four are defensive linemen which further depletes our already thin group. Underwood may have figured into some nickel situations for the upcoming season.

 

[RJ Esq]

MEYER SUSPENDS WILSON FOR SEASON

Urban Meyer finds suspensions very harsh, usually. That’s what we’re fond of typing, anyway, since there’s been nary a peep out of Herr Meyer since the Ronnie Wilson AK-47 firing incident in downtown Gainesville, or since Brandon James was implicated in a reverse sting operation involving the purchase of weed from a Gainesville police officer and participated in an <ABBR title="Fightin' 'n Da Club">FnDC</ABBR> incident earlier this year, bringing drama and bustin’ snitches like Terry Tate on a rampage through the cubicles.
</EMBED>
Meyer has finally addressed both, according to Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun. (HT: The Sporting Orange.) Wilson will receive a year’s suspension from the program, missing the 2007 season entirely, a firm but not final punishment made possible by the reduction of the charge in the case to a misdemeanor. (Viva la Liberal Gun Laws in Florida!) This suspension does not preclude the possibility of Wilson rejoining the team, the little extra wrinkle typical of most of Meyer’s disciplinary decisions: there’s almost always a chance for redemption or sliding, depending on your interpretation of things.

(He discharged an AK-47 in downtown Gainesville like he was at an Iraqi wedding. We lean toward “sliding.”)

James’ punishment seems closer to appropriate: the obligatory one game suspension against the mighty Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky is expected, but James may lose his scholarship for the semester, a nasty piece of discipline as any former student who’s considered donating plasma for money can attest. (Advantages: post aphoresis, you can get positively housed off one beer.)

Meyer refused to comment, but we’re guessing if he were to respond, he’d suggest the punishments were “harsh.” They are also a start in the right direction. [/Economist snappy ending sentence voice.]

 

[RJ Esq]

UF's Wilson, James suspended for 2007 season


<!--/* Byline exists -->

By PAT DOOLEY
Sun sports writer

Florida's Brandon James returns a 49-yard punt in the first quarter against Western Carolina University in Gainesville Saturday, November 18, 2006.
DOUG FINGER/The Gainesville Sun

Florida offensive lineman Ronnie Wilson has been suspended for the 2007 season and running back Brandon James is suspended for Florida's opener because of separate off-the-field incidents, The Sun has learned.

James is also facing the possible loss of his scholarship for the fall semester as part of the punishment dealt by UF football coach Urban Meyer, according to sources.

Meyer did not want to comment on any disciplinary actions involving his team.

Wilson is facing misdemeanor charges after allegedly taking a rifle from his trunk and firing it in the air to intimidate a man during a disagreement.

According to a Gainesville police report, Wilson spit on and slapped Francis Fuller during a scuffle at XS nightclub early on the morning of April 5. Fuller then waited for Wilson to leave the club. According to the report, Fuller drove behind Wilson and called 911 to report the incident in the club. After Wilson realized he was being followed, he turned into a parking lot, stopped his car, got out and pulled an AK-47 from the trunk. He then fired a shot into the air, according to the report.

He is facing one count of battery and one count of discharging a firearm in public. Wilson withdrew from school after the spring semester.

Wilson has an arraignment scheduled for July 3 and a pre-trial conference scheduled for Aug. 13.

James was arrested along with Florida basketball player Brandon Powell for buying less than 20 grams of marijuana during a reverse sting by law enforcement.

James played a key role on Florida's 2006 national championship team as the Gators' top punt (11 yards an attempt) and kickoff (18 yards an attempt) returner. Wilson competed for a starting job last preseason before an ankle injury cost him half of his season.

 

[RJ Esq]

Former Irish QB decides on UConn

ERIC HANSEN
Tribune Staff Writer

Zach Frazer found a more painful pitfall than airline food the second time through the recruiting process.

Hotel weight rooms.

"C'mon, you can't do anything in there," the former Notre Dame quarterback said Monday. "Not unless you're on vacation or something. And I'm not on vacation. Never took a day off. I'm still determined to get better every day -- stronger, faster, smarter. My dreams haven't changed."

Only his uniform. The sophomore-to-be from Mechanicsburg, Pa., has settled on the University of Connecticut as his new launching pad. Frazer had more than 25 offers once he began pondering about a month ago whether to leave Notre Dame. He picked the Huskies, a team that did recruit him hard the first time around, over Big East brethren Rutgers and Cincinnati.

"In the end, I went with my gut," he said. "Playing time, academics, facilities, relationships with coaches all factored in. I knew what I was looking for, so it was easy to get it down to three schools. I was a lot more mature about my decision this time."Not that he regrets the Notre Dame experience. But the 6-foot-5, 226-pound quarterback visited only ND during recruiting cycle No. 1, no other schools, and fell in love.

He never fell out of love with the school, but did reassess his football situation once Irish head coach Charlie Weis in late May narrowed the field of potential candidates to succeed Brady Quinn from four to three, excluding only Frazer.

"I kept telling myself there was something else out there for me," he said. "But there's going to be competition wherever you go."

And Frazer will have to beat out an incumbent in 2008, once he becomes eligible following the NCAA's mandatory one-year incubation period for transfers. He will have three years of eligibility to try to expunge the passing records set by Dan Orlovsky, a fifth-round draft choice of the Detroit Lions in 2005 and the face of a rising Division I-A program."Zach certainly has aspirations to play on the next level," Frazer's father, Dave, said. "And that made UConn a good fit. So did a lot of other things. (Coach) Randy Edsall is from Pennsylvania and he takes care of Pennsylvania kids. And the academics are real good, and that factored in greatly too. Anybody who's playing college football, they're stupid if they're not thinking about life after football."

Frazer, a business major with a sports management minor, already thinks he knows what that will look like.

"I want to be a coach," he said. "I want to teach. I want to make a difference in the world that way. And maybe this situation will help me handle quarterbacks someday. I just know right now quarterback isn't the position I play or what I do, it's who I am."

And Frazer says he's better off for having been around Weis, even if it was only a year and even if it was mostly as a bystander.

"The perspective he brings is just incredible," Frazer said. "I'm going to miss that. And I'm going to miss the people, some great friendships I think that will last forever, at least I hope I do. But in the end, Notre Dame wasn't me."The most amusing part about his transfer thus far is that people seem to be more interested in the situation Frazer is leaving behind rather than the one he's walking into.

"I tell everyone the same thing, I don't know who's going to start at Notre Dame this fall. It could be Demetrius Jones, Jimmy Clausen or Evan Sharpley," he said. "To be honest with you, I was shocked when I wasn't named a finalist. But I got over that and accepted that. I really don't know what direction they're going. I'm going to be watching and rooting hard for all of them. But when it happens and they finally do name one guy, I'm going to probably be as surprised as anybody else."

 

[pags11]

god knows UCONN needs a frickin' QB...

 

[RJ Esq]

Update re ND QB situation:

Where the Huskies Go | by Jay



Is this nothing more than yellow snow? We report, you decide.

Despite Zach's protestations to the contrary (see previous entry: "I don't know who's going to start"), David Frazer (Zach's dad) talked to Dennis Dodd about the Irish QB iditarod:

"From what we know Sharpley is going to be the guy," David Frazer told me from his office in Harrisburg, Pa. "Jones will be put in for a few trick plays. Clausen won't play this year."

Wow. That lends credence to an unsubstantiated blog that surfaced earlier this summer. It stated that Clausen had surgery on his throwing elbow. No one has confirmed the surgery or Clausen's playing status.

But that would make sense. If Clausen is still healing from surgery it would be wise to sit him out.

"The way Charlie described it, he doesn't think he has the passing game this year," David Frazer said. "He wants somebody to throw it five yards (downfield). They're going to run it more.​

The editorialzing above is Dodd, and he gets the key points wrong (as Dodd is wont to do). He mentions the story on Clausen's elbow from an "unsubstantiated blog" (the story was immediately substantiated by ESPN), and claims nobody has confirmed Clausen's status (in fact, ND's Brian Hardin confirmed Clausen would be ready for practice on August 6th).

Leaving Doddy aside, the quotes from D. Frazer are interesting. The Sharpley-starting scenario is probably the one least-considered by the Irish grapevine; if Clausen wasn't ready for Georgia Tech, the conventional wisdom was coaslescing around DJ (especially with the Charlie-talks-spread-option-with Rich-Rod stuff). But we shouldn't forget Evan. By Charlie's own account, he had the best grasp on the offense coming out of the spring game, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him in there under center against the Yellow Jackets.
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[RJ Esq]

John Clay Won't Suit Up For Badgers This Year

Posted Jul 9th 2007 5:35PM by Brian Cook
Filed under: Wisconsin Football, Big 10, NCAA FB Recruiting

What you mean need learn from books?

Early in last year's recruiting year, which goes February to February, John Clay was one of the most hyped players in the 2007 class. His puzzling lack of offers led to rumors of academic issues; those rumors were accurate:

John Clay, a former all-state tailback from Racine Park High School and a key member of the University of Wisconsin's 2007 freshman class, has failed to meet the NCAA's minimum academic eligibility standards and won't be allowed to play for UW this season.​

The Badgers have no pressing need for Clay's services with the return of freshman sensation PJ Hill, but they are now extremely thin. Past Hill they have only sophomore Lance Smith, who rushed for 345 yards last year spelling Hill, and incoming freshman Zach Brown. The Journal-Sentinel article linked above implies that Wisconsin will probably admit him and get him eligible a la Michael Bennett instead of sending him to prep school, where there's a chance he could get poached by another school.

 

[RJ Esq]

Spencer Ridenhour to Transfer

By Mike Section: Football
Posted on Mon Jul 09, 2007 at 07:43:44 PM EDT


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Nothing official out of the football program yet, but there is a blog out there reporting that Penn State safety Spencer Ridenhour is going to transfer out of the football program.

This is unfortunate if true, but not completely surprising.

Ridenhour was in the mix to get the starting strong safety spot last year but lost out to Anthony Scirrotto. This year he had a chance to earn the spot vacated by Donnie Johnson, but it appeared early on in the spring that the coaches awarded the job to Tony Davis to lose.
Ridenhour didn't help his situation by landing in Joe's doghouse right before the Outback Bowl last year for the dreaded "violation of team rules." Now he finds himself riding the bench behind guys with more eligibility than him.

Wall, meet chalk.

Ridenhour will be missed. He was a very talented player who reportedly hit like a very angry man in the backfield. Though he probably wouldn't have seen the field much this year, he still would have provided valuable depth and might have had a chance of seeing the field as a nickel back. I'm sure he'll land somewhere and be a solid player for another team. On the bright side this move will pave the way for young guys like Nick Sukay and Chaz Powell to see more reps in practice.

His won't be a huge loss for the defense in 2007, but you hate to see someone with his talent go. Ridenhour was part of the class of 2004 that included Dan Connor and Anthony Morelli. He joined the team when the program was at its lowest point. He was one of the ones who believed when nobody else did. Loyalty like that should be rewarded. It's too bad his career didn't work out the way he had hoped.

Good luck, Spencer. I feel like we hardly knew you.

UPDATE: It is official. FOS has the official word

 

[RJ Esq]

Busted: South Florida Recruit Clipped for Contempt

Posted Jul 10th 2007 1:00PM by Matt Glaude
Filed under: Big East, NCAA FB Recruiting, NCAA FB Police Blotter, Tampa Bay

It is widely known that the University of South Florida maintains one of the premier criminology and criminal justice programs in the State of Florida. It's just a shame that most individuals associated with the university generate their acumen in the field through first-hand experiences within the state's legal system.

Today's newest enrollee? How about uber recruit Mike Ford who managed to exude criminal laziness on two fronts: first, in not heading down to the Department of Motor Vehicles and getting a new driver's license and motor vehicle registration; and second, in not showing up for his court date:

USF freshman running back Mike Ford was arrested on a contempt of court charge early Friday morning in his hometown of Sarasota.

Ford, who was released Saturday morning after posting $2,000 bail, had an outstanding warrant for receiving three citations over the past 16 months and then failing to show for a June 12 court appearance. Ford received the initial citations on March 31, 2006 and Feb. 23, 2007 for driving without a license.

Additionally, on May 29, 2007 Ford was cited for driving with a suspended license and driving an unregistered motor vehicle.
​

While some may condemn Ford for tarnishing the reputation of Jim Leavitt's surging program, others may recognize Ford's desire to simply carry on the tradition his future teammates have already established. Just a few short months ago, South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe managed to get pinched for serving delicious beverages to impressionable, underage children.

 

[RJ Esq]

Early enrollee decides to go home, seek other school

By MATT WINKELJOHN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/10/07
The turnstiles are spinning at Georgia Tech, where Union Grove linebacker Steven Sylvester and Tallahassee running back Richard Watson on Monday became the third and fourth players to commit in a week.
The quality and quantity of recent recruiting has been such that one newcomer may have helped push out another Jacket, as freshman Steven Threet has left the program as the second Tech quarterback to transfer in recent months.
"That is the case," Tech coach Chan Gailey said of the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Threet's decision to leave despite solid grades since enrolling in January. "He gave reasons, but I don't like to speak for guys. He was in school, and I don't know if he has withdrawn, but he has gone back to [Adrian] Michigan."
Reggie Ball started the past four seasons at quarterback, but the position has become a crucible for competition.
Junior Taylor Bennett is entrenched as Ball's successor, but sophomore Jonathan Garner transferred to Marshall in the spring rather than remain in a logjam. Behind Bennett (in no order) were Calvin Booker (eligible after transferring from Auburn), Threet, underclassmen Kyle Manley and Byron Ingram, and highly-regarded freshman Josh Nesbitt, who arrived this summer.
Threet may have seen himself in Garner's shoes when, on July 2, Sean Renfrees of Scottsdale, Ariz. — one of the nation's top quarterback prospects — committed to Tech is a busy week that saw the Jackets double to eight their commitments, including Hilliard, Ohio, linebacker B.J. Machen.
Also, sophomore defensive lineman Anthony Egbuniwe is a new Jacket, Gailey said, transferring from Tulsa. He, like Threet, will by NCAA rules have to sit out next season. Threet will have four seasons of eligibility, Egbuniwe three.
Gailey also said, "nothing has changed," with sophomore cornerback Laurence Marius, who left school in the spring and returned home to Key West, Fla.
Jacksonville wide receiver A.J. Jenkins may be the next player to commit to Tech, but coaches are focusing on many players, including Thomasville defensive lineman Brandon Thompson, Chamblee High lineman Omoregie Uzzi, Buford linebacker T.J. Pridemore and Gainesville defensive lineman Keith Wells.