College Football - Football Betting

2005-10-30T16:54:00.000-08:00

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Oct. 22---College Football---
Rutgers 26 ... Connecticut 24---College Football---
Rutgers ripped off 23 points in the second half helped by three Ryan Hart touchdown passes and the running of Ray Rice. UConn got a 51-yard touchdown run from Cornell Brockington and a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jason Williams, but the Scarlet Knights were able to control the game with the ground attack that outgained UConn 238 yards to 97. The Huskies had the ball with a chance to go on a game-winning drive, but Ron Girault picked off Dennis Brown to seal the win.
Player of the game: Rutgers RB Ray Rice ran 27 times for 217 yards. ---College Football---
Stat Leaders: Rutgers - Passing: Mike Teel, 10-22, 176 yds, 2 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Ray Rice, 27-217. Receiving: Clark Harris, 4-95---College Football---
Connecticut - Passing: Dennis Brown, 18-35, 196 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Cornell Brockington, 3-56, 1 TD. Receiving: Jason Williams, 5-51, 1 TD
What to take away from this game: So maybe Ryan Hart isn't so bad after all. With Mike Teel doing a whole lot of nothing, Hart was fantastic leading the Scarlet Knights to the win over UConn, but he got a lot of help from the running game. Ray Rice was magnificent averaging eight yards per carry, and he'll be the focal point of the offense until someone can stop him. Somewhat quietly, Rutgers is one win away from going to a bowl game, and with three home games in the final four, is still in the mix for the Big East title. ---College Football---
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Oct. 15---College Football---
Rutgers 31 ... Syracuse 9---College Football---
Rutgers got out to a 31-0 lead on two touchdown passes from Mike Teel and a blocked punt for a field goal and a fumble recovery for a score from Corey Barnes. Syracuse was awful on third downs unable to keep the chains moving going one of 14 and only managed 238 yards of total offense. ---College Football---
Player of the game: Rutgers DB Corey Barnes made three tackles, returned a fumble for a touchdown, and scored on a blocked field goal attempt.---College Football---
Stat Leaders: Syracuse - Passing: Perry Patterson, 13-24, 167 yds---College Football---
Rushing: Damien Rhodes, 19-72. Receiving: Tim Lane, 4-66---College Football---
Rutgers - Passing: Mike Teel, 13-27, 203 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Ray Rice, 17-81. Receiving: Brian Leonard, 4-66---College Football---
What to take away from this game: When Rutgers doesn't make mistakes; it wins. The Scarlet Knights weren't threatened by the horrible Syracuse offense, but they did a good job of forcing bad plays. Defense and special teams played a huge role in the win, but the third down defense was one of the big keys. Mike Teel still doesn't look too comfortable at quarterback and the running game is still needed to help him out, but Ray Rice was able to save the day when Brian Leonard wasn't able to get going. ---College Football---
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Oct. 8---College Football---
West Virginia 27 ... Rutgers 14---College Football---
West Virginia started off the scoring on a blocked punt for a touchdown by Thandi Smith, and then quickly got up 21-0 on an 11-yard scoring run from Steve Slaton and a 21-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Myles. Rutgers made a bit of a comeback with two one-yard scoring runs from Brian Leonard, but four turnovers proved too costly. Pat McAfee provided all the scoring in the second half for the Mountaineers with field goals from 45 and 35 yards. ---College Football---
Player of the game: West Virginia RB Steve Slaton ran 25 times for 139 yards and a touchdown. He also led the team with three catches for 35 yards. ---College Football---
Stat Leaders: West Virginia - Passing: Adam Bednarik, 9-10, 78 yds, 1 TD---College Football---
Rushing: Steve Slaton, 25-139, 1 TD. Receiving: Steve Slaton, 3-35---College Football---
Rutgers - Passing: Mike Teel, 9-15, 105 yds, 2 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Brian Leonard, 23-76, 2 TD. Receiving: Clark Harris, 4-53---College Football---
What to take away from this game: Rutgers should've been a lot better at home against West Virginia coming off the win over Pitt. The four turnovers proved to be way too many to overcome, and that doesn't even count the blocked punt for a score. The pass defense didn't give up anything big, but had a rough time against the short to midrange passes. Number two quarterback Mike Teel showed a little bit of promise, but the offense needs Ryan Hart to be effective to beat the better teams. With two straight road games coming up, the team needs to play much tighter.
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Sept. 30---College Football---
Rutgers 37 ... Pitt 29---College Football---
Rutgers jumped out to a 27-0 lead helped by two Ryan Hart touchdown passes for Brian Leonard and a 71-yard punt return for a touchdown Willie Foster, and then had to hold on as Pitt came back on four second half touchdown passes from Tyler Palko. The Panthers couldn't get any closer with the final two drives stalling after a three-yard touchdown pass to Derek Kinder and a two point conversion with 7:26 to play. Hart finished the day as Rutgers' all-time leading passer putting the game away on a 25-yard touchdown pass to Tres Moses.---College Football---
Player of the game: Rutgers RB Brian Leonard ran 18 times for 68 yards and caught four passes for 62 yards and two touchdowns. ---College Football---
Stat Leaders: Pitt - Passing: Tyler Palko, 35-58, 371 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Raymond Kirkley, 8-15. Receiving: Derek Kinder, 10-78, 1 TD---College Football---
Rutgers - Passing: Ryan Hart, 12-25, 207 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Raymell Rice, 15-114. Receiving: Shawn Tucker, 4-74---College Football---
What to take away from this game: Rutgers has to be happy to come away with the win against Pitt, but it has to do a better job of finishing. Up 27-0 at the half, the team needed to step on Pitt's throat and put it away, but didn't and almost had a repeat of the Illinois gaffe. However, 3-1 is nothing to be upset about and the team is playing with fire, and apparently, a ton of confidence. The running game is playing extremely well helping to take the pressure off QB Ryan Hart; that's a major positive. Now, the team needs to cut back on the penalties. 13 are far, far too many. ---College Football---
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Sept. 17---College Football---
Rutgers 17 ... Buffalo 3---College Football---
Brian Leonard ran for 121 yards leading the way to two Ryan Hart touchdown passes with the first going to Sam Johnson in the first quarter with the final score coming to Shawn Tucker from 13 yards out. Buffalo's only points came on a 33 yard Michael Baker field goal in the third quarter. Jeremy Ito also hit a 33-yard field goal for the Scarlet Knights in the third quarter.
Player of the game: Rutgers RB Brian Leonard ran 24 times for 121 yards and caught three pass for 25 yards. ---College Football---
Stat Leaders: Rutgers - Passing: Ryan Hart, 13-27, 143 yds, 2 TD---College Football---
Rushing: Brian Leonard, 24-121. Receiving: Shawn Tucker, 3-48, 1 TD---College Football---
Buffalo - Passing: Stewart Sampsel, 15-26, 140 yds---College Football---
Rushing: Steven King, 13-60. Receiving: Brett Hamlin, 6-56---College Football---
What to take away from this game: A win is a win, but the offense was hardly impressive against the struggling Buffalo defense. The defense was more than fine keeping the inept Bull attack to only 2.8 yards per carry, but for Ryan Hart and the attack to only gain 288 yards has to be a huge concern before diving into Big East play. Brian Leonard once again showed why he's one of the nation's best all-around backs carrying the attack when nothing else was working. ---College Football---
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Sept. 10---College Football---
Rutgers 38 ... Villanova 6---College Football---
Rutgers opened the game with a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Willie Parker and coasted the rest of the way after Villanova answered with a 32-yard touchdown pass to John Dieser. Brian Leonard ran for two, two-yard touchdowns and Clark Harris caught a 15-yard touchdown pass. ---College Football---
Player of the game: Rutgers WR Tres Moses caught seven passes for 114 yards. ---College Football---
Stat Leaders: Rutgers - Passing: Ryan Hart, 16-22, 234 yds, 1 TD---College Football---
Rushing: Ray Rice, 13-64, 1 TD. Receiving: Tres Moses, 7-114---College Football---
Villanova - Passing: Frank Jankowski, 17-32, 209 yds---College Football---
Rushing: Martin Gibson, 7-24. Receiving: J.J. Outlaw, 9-91---College Football---
What to take away from this game: After the collapse against Illinois, getting an easy win over Villanova is a nice way to move on. Now the defense has to learn how to tighten up late after giving up 359 passing yards to the Wildcats and getting outgained 444 yards to 372. Even so, the D only allowed six points, and it shouldn't have much more of a problem next week against Buffalo. If the offense can keep improving and stay balanced, this really might be a sleeper team in the Big East.
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Sept. 3---College Football---
Illinois 33 ... Rutgers 30 OT---College Football---
Down by 20 midway through the third quarter, Illinois roared back with two field goals and two Tim Brasic touchdown passes to tie it, and then had a chance to win in regulation, but missed a 52-yard field goal. In overtime, Rutgers scored first on a 40-yard Jeremy Ito field goal for the lead, but Illinois got a two-yard Pierre Thomas touchdown run to give head coach Ron Zook his first win as the new head coach. Rutgers appeared in command after an 83-yard Brian Leonard touchdown run coming after leaping over an Illinois defender, but the defense couldn't change the momentum and couldn't get a fourth quarter stop.---College Football---
Player of the game: Illinois QB Tim Brasic completed 23 of 33 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions. He also ran 18 times for 123 yards. ---College Football---
Stat Leaders: Rutgers - Passing: Ryan Hart, 27-44, 343 yds, 2 TD---College Football---
Rushing: Brian Leonard, 11-119, 1 TD. Receiving: Tres Moses, 5-82---College Football---
Illinois - Passing: Tim Brasic, 23-33, 217 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Tim Brasic, 18-123. Receiving: E.B. Halsey, 7-61, 1 TD---College Football---
What to take away from this game: It's important to not go into the tank. Last year, Rutgers came out flat after an opening week win against Michigan State and lost to New Hampshire. Now head coach Greg Schiano has to make sure his team doesn't crash and burn against Villanova after the heartbreaking loss to Illinois. How did the offense go so flat in the fourth quarter? What happened to the defense that played so well early on? QB Ryan Hart is going to put up some big numbers this season, but it'll be hard to keep spirits up if there are any more losses after cranking out over 500 yards of offense. ---College Football---
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2005 Schedule ---College Football---
Sept. 3 – at Illinois (4-7, 2-6 in Big Ten) – Offense: Ed Zaunbrecher brings his passing attack from Gainesville to Champaign and is looking for the right pieces to fit. The running backs will be the centerpiece early on with Pierre Thomas and E.B. Halsey as good as any twosome in the Big Ten. The receiving corps has potential with Kendrick Jones a burgeoning star. A quarterback has to emerge as a star to run the offense like Chris Leak did for Florida. Inexperienced junior Tim Brasic has the inside line on the job, but he'll need time to get his feet wet. The line is average at best.
Defense: The defense struggled in every phase trying to overcome injuries and youth. The D is still extremely young, but it's athletic with good speed almost everywhere. The secondary will have to be a rock early with good safeties in Justin Harrison and Morris Virgil and rising corners Alan Ball and Charles Bailey. The undersized linebacking corps will be an issue early, where the ends have to generate more of a pass rush.---College Football---
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Sept. 10 - Villanova---College Football---
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Sept. 17 – at Buffalo (3-8, 3-5 in MAC) – Offense: The passing attack was one of the worst in the nation, but there's hope for improvement with a decent receiving corps and rising star tight end Chad Upshaw. The key will be for the quarterback situation to work itself out needing one of four prospects to give the attack some desperately needed consistency. The running game has the potential to be good with a veteran line paving the way for three good backs.---College Football---
Defense: Could this be the best defense in the MAC? There are so many veterans that it can't help but be better. The defensive line is big, experienced and very deep at each spot. The 4-2-5 has four good linebackers to rotate while the secondary has as much athleticism as the program has ever seen. Pass rushing won't be a problem from the good ends, while lightning fast CB Gemara Williams will be among the best covermen in the MAC.---College Football---
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Sept. 30 - Pittsburgh (9-2, 6-1 in Big East) – Offense: There will be a slight shift in the offense from Walt Harris West Coast offense to more of a balanced, running style under offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh. Even so, there are more than enough weapons to have an explosive air attack with QB Tyler Palko, WRs Greg Lee and Joe DelSardo, and a fantastic tight end pair of Erik Gill and Steve Buches to keep the nation's 24th best passing offense going. The ground game won't be 105th in the nation again with a loaded backfield soon to be led by freshman sensation Rashad Jennings. The line is experienced, but it needs to be more consistent.---College Football---
Defense: Inconsistent throughout last year and average against the pass, there's hope for improvement with the return of seven starters and a truckload of depth. The strength is the back seven led by a linebacking corps that has several talented options to work with. The secondary has good corners in Josh Lay and Darrelle Revis, but they have to be better at not giving up the deep ball. The front four will be a concern if a reliable pass rusher doesn't develop.---College Football---
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Oct. 8 - West Virginia (7-4, 5-2 in Big East) – Offense: Expect a major step back from Big East's number two offense of last year with almost all the skill positions going through a major overhaul hurt by a woeful lack of experience at quarterback and receiver. The running game will be up to the normally high Mountaineer standards with three good backs (Jason Colson, Pernell Williams and Erick Phillips) operating behind a good, veteran line. The winner of the three-man quarterback derby will have to be razor-sharp until the receiving corps comes around.---College Football---
Defense: The defense had a strong year, but it has to replace some major players including all-everything corner Adam "Pac Man" Jones. Even so, the secondary is the strength of the defense with three solid All-Big East candidates in FS Jahmile Addae, S Mike Lorello and CB Anthony Mims. The front three will be a rock with 295-pound veterans ready to hold the line. The question mark is at linebacker where tough backups have to become reliable starters. There's solid depth everywhere.---College Football---
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Oct. 15 – at Syracuse (5-6, 4-3 in Big East) – Offense: The offense struggled way too much failing to get anything going in the passing game and finishing 100th in the nation in passing. Quarterbacks Perry Patterson and Joe Fields have to be more consistent, but they also need help with a young receiving corps that could struggle early on. The attack is being changed up a bit to throw it more in a West Coast attack, so the opportunities will be there. The offensive line is decent, but non-descript.---College Football---
Defense: The hiring of Greg Robinson as head coach should do nothing but help a defense that slipped into the abyss finishing 101st in the nation. There was little production against the run, nothing happening against the pass, and few clutch stops. There should be an improvement with a ton of returning experience led by a good-looking front seven. The corner is in the secondary where the corners have to make more plays after getting repeatedly torched last season.---College Football---
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Oct. 22 – at Connecticut (6-5, 3-4 in Big East) – Offense: All the focus is on the quarterback situation where Matt Bonislawski and D.J. Hernandez will try to replace heart-and-soul leader Dan Orlovsky, but the winner of the derby will be more than capable of putting up big numbers. The backfield is the best in the Big East with Terry Caulley returning from a knee injury to join defending Big East rushing champion Cornell Brockington. The receiving corps is more than solid despite some key losses. And then there's the offensive line. The interior could be a nightmare early, there aren't any true tackles and there's no depth whatsoever.---College Football---
Defense: Is this the Big East's best defense? It'll be close with a deep and experienced front four and secondary. While the numbers are there as far as good retuning players, the star quality is gone with the departure of LBs Alfred Fincher and Maurice Lloyd along with CB Justin Perkins. Even so, don't expect much of a drop-off from the D that finished 27th in the nation last year unless there's a major fallout from losing five players to suspension due to the shooting of a vehicle window with a pellet gun.---College Football---
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Oct. 29 - Navy (predicted finish: 5-6) – Offense: It's Navy, so you know what you're going to get: run, run, run. The nation's number three rushing attack last year loses almost all of the key parts with only two starters returning. Lamar Owens has to rock and roll right away as the likely new starting quarterback, but he'll have competition this fall. The bigger problem is at fullback where Kyle Eckel needs to be replaced; it'll take a few backs to do it. There won't be much more of a passing game, but Jason Tomlinson is a good enough receiver to get more throws his way. The line will need time to jell.---College Football---
Defense: Only four starters return, but there shouldn't be too much of a drop-off after only allowing 351.5 yards and 19.93 points per game. The secondary will be the strength with Jeremy McGown moving from safety to corner and Hunter Reddick growing into a star on the other side. The loss of Lane Jackson and Bobby McClarin at inside linebacker hurts, and the graduation of free safety Josh Smith really hurts, but the replacements appear to be capable. Despite only one returning starter on the line, expect more of a pass rush.---College Football---
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Nov. 5 - South Florida (3-8, 1-6 in Big East) – Offense: The potential is there for a big improvement after struggling to be consistent. Andre Hall is Big East's best running back working behind a rebuilding, but decent line. The receiving corps is deep and experienced led by tall, speedy Johnny Peyton. The problem is at quarterback where Pat Julmiste couldn't hit water last year if he was standing in the ocean, and Auburn transfer Courtney Denson is a former defensive back. If a steady passer emerges, this should be the Big East's surprise offense.---College Football---
Defense: The normally good Bull defense struggled last year with no pass defense and little success against the run with a line that was too small. Things should be better with a strong linebacking corps and the return of DT Tim Jones and SS Johnnie Jones after missing all of last year. The key will be the improvement in the corners after struggling to stop anyone, but they could use more of a steady pass rush.---College Football---
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Nov. 11 – at Louisville (10-1, 6-1 in Big East) – Offense: Talk about reloading. Louisville loses all-star quarterback Stefan LeFors, NFL-caliber, 20-touchdown running back Eric Shelton, and 73-catch receiver J.R. Russell, but should be just as strong as the offense that was the nation's best last year. There's plenty of talent returning and several great options among the reserves to keep the party rolling. QB Brian Brohm will instantly become one of the nation's top quarterbacks now that he's the full-time starter. The Cards are loaded with talented running backs and receivers and blessed with one of the nation's deepest and most athletic lines. However, the party could crash if Brohm gets hurt with no experience behind him.---College Football---
Defense: The Louisville defense was overlooked last year due to the brilliance of the offense. The Cardinal D ranked number one in Conference USA in almost every category and finished second in pass defense. It won't be quite as strong this year replacing three starters in the secondary, some stars on the line and leader and top tackler Robert McCune. Even so, it's a very fast, very athletic defense that should rank near the top of most Big East categories.---College Football---
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Nov. 26 - Cincinnati (3-8, 1-6 in Big East) – Offense: Last year's experienced offense averaged 406 yards and 29 points per game, and now just about everyone needs to be replaced. The backfield will be solid with redshirt freshman QB Dustin Grutza looking ready to be a more-than-capable fill-in for Gino Guidugli. There are enough running backs to come up with a steady rotation, but they're going to have a hard time early on behind a developing line. The receiving corps has potential if a number one target emerges.---College Football---
Defense: Outside of the 70-7 loss to Louisville, the defense was solid last season allowing 341 yards and 27 points per game. Eight starters need to be replaced with some major holes on the front seven. Fortunately, the Bearcats have a solid defensive coaching staff. The linebacking corps has no experience whatsoever and a pass rush has to develop. The secondary will be good if John Bowie grows into a steady corner.---College Football-
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2005-10-26T21:15:00.000-07:00

Perspective Piece---college football---
Georgia vs. Tennessee, Oct. 8
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By Matthew Zemek---college football---

D.J. Shockley, welcome to the 2005 college football season. We hope you enjoyed your preseason run through September. Now your journey to SEC success begins in earnest, in your first Really Big Game of your make-or-break senior season.---college football---

Boise State handed you ten trillion turnovers in the first six minutes of play, making the road smooth. Then you worked out more kinks in an uneven win, but very much a win, against a South Carolina team that has since been dismantled by Brodie Croyle and Brandon Cox. Then came games against Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State, not exactly world beaters.---college football---

Mister Shockley, you know it, and so do the American people: your season begins this Saturday in Neyland Stadium. Time for you to break Tennessee’s nose with a hobnailed boot and enable Larry Munson to hail you as a worthy successor to David Greene.---college football---

You’re aware that the stakes are already high whenever you play the Vols, especially in Knoxville. Your coach, Mark Richt, has done a good job beating Tennessee over the years, but after last year’s very big fish got away against a Big Orange team that entered Athens with a freshman quarterback, your predecessor—Greene—lost his hold on an SEC title he thinks he should have won. You have a chance to make things right this year. ---college football---

But as big as any Tennessee game naturally is for the Dawgs, D.J., you also need to realize two other things that make this Saturday’s showdown sing with significance.

First, the fact that Tennessee lost to Florida—coupled with the Gators’ subsequent loss to Alabama—means that with a win, you can knock the Vols out of the SEC East race and put Florida in must-win territory on Oct. 15 when the Gators travel to Baton Rouge to face LSU. Basically, D.J., a win Saturday and you’re in substantial control of your SEC East fate. You’d get Reverend Coach Richt back to Atlanta, enabling Georgia to take a trip to the Georgia Dome for the third time in four seasons. That’s a pretty big source of both potential and pressure this Saturday afternoon.---college football---

But then there’s another aspect of your game this weekend that makes it all the more important for you to bring your A-game. Rick Clausen—another quarterback used to toiling in the shadows (just as you did behind Greene for a number of years)—has suddenly proven that he can lift his team to big wins. He had a legitimate coming-out party against LSU, the school that didn’t believe in him.
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Yo, D.J.: America—and especially the SEC—wants to know: when will your coming out party be?
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It wasn’t against Boise State—Jared Zabransky made it too easy for you and your team. It wasn’t against South Carolina—you almost blew that one, but your defense was there to bail you out. Then you had two cupcakes that didn’t put your immense skills to the test. Saturday is it, man. The big stage, all to you. Shockley versus the Children of the Checkerboard. National TV. Spotlight glare. A six-figure crowd by the muddy river. A rejuvenated opponent whose comeback against LSU has the Big Orange Boys confident and ready to kick your butt.---college football---
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They want you. You want the SEC championship.
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Will you bring your hobnailed boot of excellence, or will you not measure up?

No press---college football---ure, D.J. No pressure.---college football---
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2005-10-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

Aberdeen Central graduate helps forge successful football program
St. Cloud State needs to win big games for shot at playoffs

By Eric Burgess

American News Sports Writer

By the time he started high school, Cory Johnsen knew he wanted to play college football.

Now in his final year with nationally-ranked St. Cloud State, the fifth-year senior from Aberdeen can't believe his college career is almost over. Johnsen (6-foot-1, 300 pounds) is a third-year starter on the defensive line for the Huskies. - College Football -

"It's definitely gone by fast," Johnsen said. "It may not have seemed like it during all the practices and weight lifting sessions, but now that I'm in my fifth year and I look back, it has gone by really fast. At times when I talk to people from Aberdeen, they bring up the same point, saying that it seemed like it was just yesterday when I was a senior at Aberdeen Central. Now here I am in my last year of college. It's been enjoyable."

Growing up as a youngster, Johnsen's second favorite sport was basketball. He played hoops all the way through junior high, but by the time he became a sophomore in high school Johnsen decided he needed to try out a new sport to prepare himself for the college football ranks. So he took to the mat for the Golden Eagles, hoping that wrestling in the heavyweight division for three years would help him acquire quicker feet and learn how to use his hips and weight to get better leverage on his opponent. - College Football -

It was a good decision. Not only did he place sixth in the state wrestling tournament his senior year, wrestling helped Johnsen become a force as a college noseguard.

"Cory has played tremendously for us and has had a great senior season," said St. Cloud coach Randy Hedberg. "He has gotten a lot of push for us up the middle. He has done a nice job for us during his career and has developed into a solid college football player. He has a great work ethic and has worked hard in our off-season program to become stronger, more flexible and athletic."

Johnsen is focused this week on a showdown between No. 18 St. Cloud (6-1, 2-1 North Central Conference) and No. 3 South Dakota (7-0, 3-0 NCC) on homecoming day at Husky Stadium. St. Cloud bounced back from a loss to top-ranked North Dakota on with a 34-7 win against Augustana on Saturday. - College Football -

"You have to be in the top six in the region to move on to the playoffs," Johnsen said. "Obviously making it back to the playoffs has been a goal of ours all season. But one thing about our team, you won't ever hear us talking about what we have coming up down the road. We just don't think like that. The next game is always the most important one. Nobody else matters. You can't have that mentality in our conference. - College Football -

"In 2002 we had a good team. Two of our wins were against North Dakota and North Dakota State. But we also had two losses, including one against Mankato, which was the worst team in the conference, and we didn't make the playoffs. That just goes to show that you can't overlook anybody in our conference."

No matter what happens in the next four weeks, Johnsen will never regret his decision to attend St. Cloud. The Huskies have just three games remaining this season after USD: at Omaha, Oct. 22; vs. Missouri-Western, Oct. 29; and vs. Minnesota-Duluth, Nov. 5. One more loss would likely keep them out of the playoffs. - College Football -

"When I first looked into coming here (St. Cloud), I thought to myself, 'You guys were only 1-9 last year?' Coach Hedberg has done a tremendous job with this football program. When I first started out we weren't that good. But Coach Hedberg brought in some great players, and winning has only helped in his recruiting efforts. On top of that, our new stadium has given us another great recruiting tool. Instead of overlooking St. Cloud, like so many athletes did before my time, players are starting to want to come here and be a part of a winning football program. I couldn't be more proud that I played a part in that." - College Football -

Another good season

Former Northern State baseball/football player Deacon Burns enjoyed another good season in the Minnesota Twins' minor league system.

Burns, a second-year player in the Twins' organization, helped guide the Beloit (Wis.) Snappers to the Class A Midwest League playoffs. The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers ended the Snappers' season on Sept. 9 with a 4-2 win in the third and final game of their first-round series.

Burns, a former conference MVP for NSU, got off to a strong start in 2005, making the All-Star team as an outfielder. The Brownwood, Texas, native cooled off during the

second half of the season, but still finished as one of Beloit's offensive leaders.

Burns batted .271. He led the team in doubles (36), triples (13) and walks (50), finished second in RBIs (78) and third in home runs (12) and stolen bases (13). - College Football -

- Sports writer Eric Burgess

2005-10-01T16:33:00.000-07:00

Ball State loses to number 21 Boston College

BOSTON (AP) - All week long, Boston College's Matthew Ryan had seen replays and heard about the hit he took while scrambling last week at Clemson. - College Football -

The Eagles' quarterback had no such problem running in the open field on Saturday.

Ryan ran for a pair of first-half scores and threw a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, leading No. 21 Boston College to a 38-0 win over suspension-riddled Ball State. - College Football -

"It just opened up, up the middle and I took advantage of it," Ryan said of the scores.

Ryan was running to his right last week, when Clemson linebacker David Dunham leveled him, sending Ryan's helmet flying in the process. It was a highlight-reel hit.

"The speed of the game's a little different (this week)," he said. "As a quarterback, you've got to feel the speed of the game. People had definitely mentioned they had seen the hit. I let them know the focus was on Ball State and not the hit." - College Football -

BC (4-1), coming off its first Atlantic Coast Conference win last week, scored on its first two possessions to take control.

Ryan, starting for the second straight week for Quinton Porter - sidelined with a right ankle injury that occurred two weeks ago in a loss against Florida State - completed 21 of 29 passes for 206 yards with no interceptions. - College Football -

"When you scramble 12 yards and nobody touches you, that means there's lot of acreage in there to run with," BC coach Tom O'Brien said. "He did a good job of recognizing those situations and got us two touchdowns rushing." - College Football -

The Cardinals (0-4) had 15 players sidelined after being suspended earlier in the week for violating an NCAA extra-benefits rule involving the use of textbooks.

"There aren't any secrets. We got beat by a good team," Ball State coach Brady Hoke said. "We got outplayed and everything. They are a good football team, real good football team."

L.V. Whitworth ran for a 14-yard touchdown for the Eagles 22 seconds into the game after the Cardinals tried an onside kick on the opening kickoff and BC's Larry Anam recovered it at midfield. - College Football -

"I felt the line was doing a great job. The holes were huge," Whitworth said. "I knew it was going to be one of those days."

After blocking a punt on the Cardinals' next possession, BC recovered the ball at the Ball State 29. Ryan capped a seven-play drive with a 10-yard TD run, making it 14-0 midway through the first quarter. - College Football -

After BC got off to the early lead, much of the attention turned to the Yankees-Red Sox game about 5 miles away at Fenway Park. Most of the TV sets at concession stands and in the press box were tuned to the baseball game, and the scoreboard operator flashed numerous updates.

Ryan's second scoring run, a 10-yarder midway through the second quarter, made it 21-0. Ryan Ohliger kicked a 27-yard field goal in the third quarter. Ryan threw a 3-yard scoring pass to Brandon Robinson with 9:16 left in the game, making it 31-0, and Survival Ross had an 18-yard scoring run in the final minute. - College Football -

The Cardinals' best scoring chance came early in the second quarter when they drove to BC's 15 before Brian Jackson missed a 32-yard field goal attempt.

"We were preaching all week that we wanted to get a shutout," Eagles linebacker Ray Henderson said. - College Football -

Ball State was held to 46 yards rushing in 32 attempts, and finished with 159 total yards. BC had 471 total yards, 223 on the ground.

The Eagles' last shutout also came against a Mid-American Conference opponent, 43-0 over Central Michigan at home on Sept. 28, 2002. - College Football -

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

2005-09-19T08:08:00.000-07:00

College Football: AP Poll

UNDATED Southern Cal remains number-one in the latest Associated Press college football poll. The Trojans picked up 57 of 65 first-place votes after crushing Arkansas 70-to-17 in Los Angeles.Second-ranked Texas grabbed the eight remaining first-place votes, one day after the Longhorns hammered Rice 51-to-10.L-S-U remains number-three, followed by Virginia Tech and Florida. - College Football -
The Gators climbed one spot with last night's win over Tennessee.Florida State is sixth, ahead of Georgia, Ohio State, Louisville and Tennessee. Number-eleven Purdue is followed by Miami, California, Michigan and Georgia Tech.Notre Dame dropped six spots to 16th with yesterday's loss to Michigan State. - College Football -
The Spartans have cracked the poll at 17, ahead of Arizona State, Texas Tech and Alabama.Iowa, Iowa State, Virginia, Oregon and U-C-L-A round out the poll.

Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

2005-09-07T08:33:00.000-07:00

College Football Notebook: Miami, Florida St. square off tonight
By The Associated Press

Florida State quarterback Drew Weatherford and Kyle Wright, his counterpart from Miami, are about to take center stage in one of college football's greatest rivalries.

Both will be making his first career start tonight when the ninth-ranked Hurricanes open the season against the 14th-ranked Seminoles in Tallahassee. Fla. - College Football -

What a way to make a first impression.

Wright took hold of the No. 1 spot in the spring and secured the starting job in the preseason. Ten of the last 11 Miami quarterbacks have won their first start. Ryan Clement's loss to Florida State in 1995 is the only blemish. - College Football -

Weatherford, meanwhile, didn't know until last week he'd be Florida State's starter.

The job came open when Wyatt Sexton was sidelined for the season with Lyme disease, and Weatherford outplayed Xavier Lee to earn the start.

Mississippi State

Mississippi State scrapped its smoke-filled sprint to the sideline before its season opener for a solemn, single-file walk to pay respects to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Before facing Murray State in Starksville, Miss., Saturday, players had their helmets cradled in their right arm, exposing stoic faces hardened by a week of tragedy. - College Football -

The Bulldogs paid their respects with a sobering pre-game processional to show their thoughts were with those along the Gulf Coast, in New Orleans and in countless shelters.

"This [past] week has never been all football -- it's all been in the backs of our minds," Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom said. "You can't get away from it. I don't think the players did, and I know I didn't." - College Football -

Kentucky

Kentucky senior receiver Glenn Holt was taken off the field on a stretcher in the fourth quarter of yesterday's game against Louisville after landing hard on his left shoulder. He was being defended by cornerback William Gay when he leaped to make a catch along the Louisville sideline. He landed on his left shoulder.

Holt lay motionless for about five minutes. A medical crew put Holt on a stretcher and he was wheeled off the field. Kentucky football sports information director Tony Neely said Holt was able to move his arms and legs. - College Football -

South Carolina

Former South Carolina coach Lou Holtz made headlines from Atlanta to Columbia two weeks ago when he predicted the Gamecocks would beat Georgia Saturday. Yesterday, current South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier wondered whether Holtz still felt the same way.

"I think that was before he saw us play and before he saw Georgia play," Spurrier said with a laugh. "Y'all go ask him now who he thinks is gonna win it, OK? Ask him who he's picking, and ask him how much he'd be betting on it if he could bet." - College Football -

South Carolina had to hang on to beat Central Florida -- winless last season -- 24-15 in its season opener Thursday in Columbia, S.C. No. 13 Georgia throttled No. 18 Boise State, 48-13.

2005-08-31T06:50:00.000-07:00

Here today, gone today for college football coaches

Bud Withers
Seattle Times

College football season is only a few days away, marked by familiar signs of autumn: The thud of linemen against blocking sleds, the trill of practice whistles, the sound of coaches hedging on their selection of starting quarterbacks.

And oh yes, the ka-ching of the cash register.

Never has the game — particularly nearby — been as marbled by financial factors as in 2005.

• Washington, coming off a 1-10 season, has raised seat-priority assessments about 31 percent across the board. The Huskies have taken the public tack that the investment will help ensure the dreaded 2004 effort doesn't happen again.

• In the spring, Arizona not only lopped 19 full-time athletic-department jobs from a roll of 185, it turned the lawn around its basketball arena into a temporary used-car lot. The Wildcats received $150,000 up front from several car dealers in a five-year agreement that requires them to buy about $50,000 worth offootball tickets each fall.

• When Oregon State christens a dramatically revamped Reser Stadium on Saturday against Portland State, it will signify its commitment tofootball — and its reliance on season-ticket holders who are paying several hundred dollars more for the right to buy a pair of seats than they did a year ago.

• Washington State, exploring its own remodel to Martin Stadium with marketing surveys and hiring of an architect, has tacked a $5 fee onto each ticket for all home games this season to front that campaign.

It was in discussions with athletic director Jim Sterk about the proposed renovation that WSU coach Bill Doba cast a knowing glance at his boss.

"It does help if we win a little bit, doesn't it?" Doba remarked.

Only a little.

Never have the stakes been as high in college football. Never has winning meant so much. Never has the pressure been quite as gnawing on coaches as it is entering this season.

Already buffeted by the twin forces of Internet message boards and sports-talk radio — two outlets that weren't a factor 15 years ago — coaches are increasingly held accountable for the improved facilities around them.

An inexorable shrinkage has taken place in their grace period for success. Not so long ago, a coach could figure to have five years to show he was the right choice, four at the mostfootball-crazed schools.

At many places, that window now closes after three years, a trend underscored when Notre Dame — which had always held itself to be above such bottom-line madness — cashiered Tyrone Willingham after only three seasons.

It was when the Irish hired Willingham — now coaching on the rebound at Washington — that they also romanced Mike Bellotti, the Oregon coach.

"The one thing they could tell me they could hang their hat on was, they had never fired a coach," says Bellotti. "They had always let him finish out his contract. It's very interesting that the next coach they hired, they didn't allow that to happen."

Willingham's wasn't the only surprise firing. Mississippi, a school whose recent football tradition might be generously described as modest, touted David Cutcliffe as the first coach in school history to win at least seven games in each of his first five seasons. Then, when he went 4-7 last year, one season after a Cotton Bowl victory, he was canned.

The school president said "mediocrity" would not cut it at Ole Miss.

"I was head football coach at Baylor for 21 years," says Grant Teaff, executive director of the American Football Coaches Association. "I've been out 12, and they've had four head coaches. There aren't going to be any more 21-year terms like I had, and Bobby [Bowden] and Lavell [Edwards] and [Joe] Paterno."

The flip side to this amped-up world is that coaches are making money unheard of not very long ago. Think about this: When Washington hired Rick Neuheisel in 1999, his contract — about a million dollars with incentives, roughly $800,000 guaranteed annually — drew concern and derision from some faculty members at Washington. It was among the top fivecollege coaching salaries.

Just six years later, Willingham will make a guaranteed $1.4 million this year. That's a 75 percent increase on what Neuheisel was guaranteed.

Yet Willingham's salary is believed only third-highest in the Pac-10. His contract appears closer to the market than Neuheisel's was in 1999.

Moreover, argues Washington athletic director Todd Turner, Willingham's hire has dramatically altered the face of football at UW.

"He's done an incredible job of instantly changing the culture of what we've been having to deal with over the last few years," Turner says. "He's restored confidence in the players; he's returned them to being focused and more disciplined and more committed. You can see it in the way they act."

In 1996, the year running back Corey Dillon led Washington to a 9-3 season, a reserved season ticket cost $160. This year, for a team the media picked to finish 10th in the Pac-10, the tab is $345 — after the 31-percent hike in seat rights.

"There's a climate there, no doubt about it," says Oregon State coach Mike Riley. "People do all this stuff [to improve facilities], and then if it doesn't work, the coach gets fired."

The so-called "arms race" has come after a long period in which facilities lay fallow. Riley, first hired by OSU in 1997, remembers walking into thefootball offices where his dad Bud was a successful assistant coach in the '60s and '70s.

"Nothing had changed," he says. "This place had a time warp on it."

Now, with both Washington and Washington State looking to make stadium improvements, the possibility exists that within less than a decade, all four Northwest schools will have done major renovations to theirfootball venues.

The hell-bent trend is a concern to people like Arizona president Peter Likins, chairing an NCAA presidents task force on the future of Division I athletics. Likins also heads up a task force subcommittee on fiscal responsibility.

"There's a general sense of unease among presidents and chancellors," Likins said. "While we're not in crisis, we're engaged in an unsustainable rate of growth in expenditures and revenues. It's not possible for universities to put unallocated money into athletics. That's what people have been doing in recent years."

"It scares me to death," says Jim Livengood, Likins' athletic director. "We've got to figure out a way to get our arms around expenses."

He cites spiraling costs for fuel-related services, like airline charters and buses.

"Those are things we have no control over," Livengood says. "As powerful as we think we are in intercollegiate athletics, we're not going to drop the price of oil."

Across the NCAA landscape, there are subtle signs of a system creaking under the weight of football investment and responsibility. Earlier this year, the NCAA waved through a 12th regular-season game starting in 2006, a measure that's all about increased revenue.

When the Bowl Championship Series expands to five games next season, the title game in Tempe, Ariz. — following the Fiesta Bowl a week earlier — is to take place tentatively on Jan. 8, 2007, stretching thecollege football season longer than it has ever been.

Coaches say routinely that the high-rolling finances can't create any more pressure than they feel already. And in fact, they acknowledge the scrutiny is only reflective of the amenities that help them win.

"Expectations are up; that's a beautiful thing," says Riley. "Ten years ago, there were no expectations. It was dead, dead, dead. Now people expect to go to a bowl game, they expect to compete for a Pac-10 championship. They expect to beat Oregon."

And increasingly, when they don't, they expect to fire the coach. In the white-hot climate around college football these days, one thing hasn't changed: One side wins and one has to lose.

2005-08-25T10:16:00.000-07:00

It's baseball, not football, for Jackson's Snider

Last spring at a baseball awards banquet, Travis Snider was debating whether his athletic future was in baseball or football.

Snider, then a junior, was a sought-after recruit in both sports despite missing the entire football season with a broken leg. - College Football -

He would play both sports, he figured, go through the recruiting process, then make his decision during his senior year.

When Jackson High School began football practice last week, however, it became evident that Snider had made his decision earlier than expected.

On Wednesday, Snider showed up at Jackson's season-opening practice and told his teammates what the coaching staff already knew: He was going to give upfootball for his senior season in order to concentrate on baseball. - College Football -

"It was tough to have to tell those guys I wasn't going play," said Snider, who has appeared on some preseason all-state lists. "I was sure all of last year that I was going to playfootball . Going out there on Friday nights in front of a packed house, there's no feeling like that in baseball. But baseball is my love, it's always been what I wanted to do.

"It was the toughest decision I've ever had to make. It helped that I had the support of my teammates and coaches. They were all understanding." - College Football -

Snider, who started at linebacker and defensive end as a freshman and sophomore, would have likely been the starting running back this year.

"Obviously, we'll miss his level of play and his leadership," said Jackson football coach Joel Vincent. "At the same time, I understand that if he wants to play baseball in college or the pros, this is probably the right decision for him." - College Football -

Last spring, Snider hit .524 with six home runs, 12 doubles and 26 runs batted in during the regular season and helped the Timberwolves to the state semifinals.

Snider is planning visits to Arizona, Arizona State, Cal State Fullerton, Texas A&M and Washington this fall. But he is likely to be selected in baseball's amateur draft, meaning he'll have another tough decision on his hands come June. - College Football -

"I'm going to miss it, the Friday night lights, the guys," he said. "It was tough to give up being part of that program."

John Boyle
Seattle Times

2005-08-16T06:27:00.000-07:00

Kapp, Casillas among 20 enshrined into College Hall

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Former Auburn defensive tackle Tracy Rocker isn't satisfied with being enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player.
As defensive line coach at Arkansas, he wants to see some of his players follow him into the hall.
"My goal now is to not only to bring a championship back to the University of Arkansas, but also to become a coach one day in the Hall of Fame," Rocker said during the enshrinement dinner Saturday night. - College Football -
Former California quarterback and coach Joe Kapp only made it as a player, but he was the coach for a play that is on display at the hall.
Every day fans visit the hall and watch the five-lateral kickoff return the Kapp-coached Cal team used in 1982 to beat Stanford 25-20. Kevin Moen finished "The Play" by running over a Stanford band trombonist.
"The play didn't fall out of the sky," Kapp said. "Was it an accident, good luck or coaching? It wasn't an accident." - College Football -
Oklahoma middle guard Tony Casillas, Penn State running back Lydell Mitchell, Southern Mississippi punter Ray Guy and 15 others were enshrined along with Rocker and Kapp.
Kapp said it was the lessons he learned as a player at Cal in the late 1950s that helped the Golden Bears beat Stanford 24 years later.
"I learned: 'Be ready when opportunity comes. Never give up,'" he said. "My credo in the 1969 Super Bowl year for the Minnesota Vikings was '40 for 60.' Forty players for 60 minutes. That was the attitude of our Rose Bowl team." - College Football -
At the dinner Saturday night, players said the thing they miss most about college football is the rivalries and the camaraderie. Player after player talked about the importance of the big game.
"I remember being there and beating Alabama as a team," former Tennessee linebacker Frank Emanuel said.
Former Michigan tight end Jim Mandich and Ohio State defensive back Jack Tatum talked about the rivalry between their alma maters.
"I think it's the greatest rivalry of them all," Mandich said. "It's the game where the Big Ten championships are won, trips to the Rose Bowl and national championships are won. That's why it's the greatest rivalry of all. - College Football -
Wayne Harris, who played offensive guard and linebacker at Arkansas from 1956-58, said his best memories of college football are the relationships he made.
"I think of the closeness with my teammates," he said.
Casillas said he was overwhelmed when he learned that nearly 5 million men have played college football but fewer than 1,000 have been honored by the hall.
"That kind of puts everything in perspective," said Casillas, who won the Lombardi Award as the nation's top lineman in helping the Sooners to a national championship in 1985. "The hall really brings the adrenaline out in you." - College Football -
Mitchell rushed for a then-NCAA record 26 touchdowns in 1971.
"Some of us had to wait longer than others," said Mitchell, who played for the Nittany Lions 1969-71. "But whenever you get in it's just a fantastic feeling. Penn Staters who came before me said: 'Just wait for the experience. I can't describe it to you.' And it's been wonderful."
Guy, despite being the first punter enshrined, doesn't believe the position is overlooked.
"I think it's just a matter of time before they start putting more in here," he said. "It's a part of the game that's very important. It's very critical to the game. The recognition is coming."
Also enshrined were Army halfback Bob Anderson, Marshall wide receiver Mike Barber, Wisconsin-Stevens Point quarterback Kirk Baumgartner, Lincoln halfback Leo Lewis, Mississippi Valley State quarterback Willie Totten, Houston quarterback Andre Ware and USC tight end Charles Young. - College Football -
The coaches enshrined were BYU coach LaVell Edwards, George Welsh, who coached at Navy and Virginia, Wisconsin-LaCross coach Roger Harring, and Frosty Westering, who coached Parsons, Albert Lea and Pacific Lutheran.

Associated Press

2005-08-10T09:45:00.000-07:00

All Packed Up: Carlin grad Cameron Bayne to join Wolf Pack as invited walk-on

Carlin High graduate Cameron Bayne has a few more things going for him than college football's most famous walk-on, Notre Dame's Rudy Ruettiger.For starters, Bayne's size - 6-2, 175 pounds - gives him a good chance to compete at the Division-I level. - College Football -
There's also the fact he's athletic and fast.And much like Rudy, Bayne's ready to do whatever it takes to get a chance to play college football.Wednesday, Bayne reports to fall camp as an invited walk-on for the University of Nevada. Despite starring on the gridiron for the Railroaders the past few seasons, Bayne knows he's in for a challenge."Going from 1A high school football to Division-I college football, man that's tough," he said. But it's a daunting task he believes he can handle. "I think I can hang with them," Bayne said. - College Football -

His high school coach agrees. "I think he'll surprise them," said Carlin coach Myron Branning. "I think he'll do an amazing job for them."As a senior, Bayne was named Northern 1A Offensive Player of the Year. He also made the all-division team as both a tight end and defensive back.While he would love to try his hand (or hands as the case may be) as a college receiver, it appears Bayne is destined for the defensive side of the ball with the Wolf Pack. "It doesn't matter where I play, I just want to be on the field," he said.That may take some time though as Bayne is slated to redshirt this fall. "That's the plan for any freshman we bring in," said Wolf Pack assistant coach Cameron Norcross. But, "If they come in and beat someone out, they'll play," he added. - College Football -
The redshirt year is designed to help incoming freshman "get acclimated to college life," said Norcross. "It's tough to play football and got to school," he added. "Most of the walk-ons who stick with it are those who are rewarded with a scholarship because they work their tails off."While he won't have an athletic scholarship to off-set the cost of college, Bayne will use the Millenium Scholarship to help pay for his schooling. - College Football -
Norcross said Bayne, like all the players in Nevada's secondary, will start out at defensive back. But Norcross sees the Carlin grads future at safety.The Wolf Pack first showed interest in Bayne when they were recruiting his older brother, Devlin, now a redshirt freshman at the University of Oregon. Norcross attended a Carlin basketball game when the Railroaders took on Independence during Cameron's junior year. "He was the best player on the floor," Norcross said of Cameron. - College Football -
The coach also called Bayne "a good overall athlete" and said being from a 1A school where he played sports year round will help the former Railroader make the transition to the 12 months of work the Pack expects from its players. It also gives him some versatility that others might not posses. "Being from a small school, he's done a lot and played a lot of positions."The Wolf Pack originally looked at Bayne as a scholarship athlete, but backed off as time went on. Still, Norcross said Bayne is in elite company as an invited walk-on. "We do a lot of research and recruiting with our walk-ons," said Norcross. - College Football -
"We only have 20 spots total for walk-ons on the team, whereas we get 25 scholarships per year."Bayne said he's spent the summer working out, tryout to get his legs prepared for the rigors of fall two-a-days. That pattern is one he'll need to continue."He's got to get in the weight room," said Norcross. - College Football -
In addition to strength, Norcross said Bayne needs to improve his speed. "He's got good quickness, we just need to get him flat-out faster."And those are things Bayne's already trying do. "I've been working hard all summer," he said.Norcross said he sees Bayne spending his first couple of years in Reno "as a special teams guy. I think he can make a name for himself there."And after that? "I think he could be a heck of a safety for us," said Norcross.

MIKE CHRISTENSEN - Sports Editor

2005-07-27T06:35:00.000-07:00

NCAA reins in hefty college media guides

Previously, a college football media guide could be as long as the imagination of a sports information director or as fat as the school's budget. - College Football -
But the NCAA figured the ever-expanding books were becoming an out-of-control recruiting tool. So as a cost-cutting measure this year it limited the pages to 208.
For SIDs, the question is no longer what to put in but what to keep out.
Last year's Missouri football guide was 614 pages and weighed 2.2 pounds, numbers in publishing now reserved only for
J.K. Rowling. As a benchmark, the NCAA Division I Manual, the rules book and constitution for major college athletics that had been criticized for its own swelling, is 482 pages.
Missouri cut pages with two essentials - opponents and history - as well as some records and biographies. - College Football -
"I understand why people look at our book and think, 'Come on. That's out of hand,' " says Chad Moller, Missouri's director of media relations, noting the cost-cutting measure will save $20,000 in a $40 million athletics budget. "But it doesn't impact anyone's budget but ours."
Sports information directors are wrestling with the challenges and expressing displeasure.
"I found it very comical when a spokesperson for the NCAA said, 'It's all about leveling the playing field for recruiting,' " says John Lewandowski, assistant athletics director at Michigan State. "You want to level the playing field, limit stadium capacity to 50,000. You can't do that, just like you can't legislate tradition." - College Football -
Books now are being released to the media and sold to fans in anticipation of the Sept. 1 opening of I-A football.
"I do think that overall, schools will still look for ways to make their guides stand out and/or present information in other unique ways," Georgia associate athletics director Claude Felton says. "So because of that I'm still not convinced there will be true cost savings in the long run."
Missouri still will send guides to recruits and sell leftovers to fans. "I'm sure some fans will be, well, not offended," Moller says, "but disappointed." - College Football -
USA TODAY's Reid Cherner, Jennifer Kushlis, Allison Rupp, Thomas O'Toole and Craig Bennett take a look at the ins and outs of media guides: Guides are do-it-all promotional, recruiting tools
What exactly is a media guide?
In its truest form, the media guide is a booklet containing statistical and biographical information for a specific college's sports team. It's a tool used by print and electronic reporters to prepare stories. - College Football -
It's not a new phenomenon. The Rev. Edmund P. Joyce Sports Research Collection at the University Libraries of Notre Dame has college football media guides dating to 1933.
But over the last 10 or 15 years, the guides have been changing. According to Charles Bloom, associate commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, "It has grown to the point where it's not just a media guide. It's used to promote to (a school's) various publics, whether they be donors, prospective donors, corporations or community leaders. It's used for PR and recruiting."
Features generally include maps and information about the town in which a school is located.
The book can also be a moneymaker. The SEC even sells its separate conference guide for $15. They'll sell around 500 or so of those, Bloom says.
Regardless of its intentions, "A great book," Bloom says, "is a book that has all the pertinent information, and it should be easy to find." - College Football -

USA TODAY

2005-07-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

Colts great 'blocked out the sun' and rushers, too

His crushing blocks launched Lenny Moore's runs and saved John Unitas' skin.Jim Parker, the Hall of Famer who anchored the Baltimore Colts' offensive line during the club's glory years, died yesterday of congestive heart failure and kidney disease at the Lorien Nursing Home in Columbia. He was 71.A mainstay on the Colts' National Football League championship teams of 1958 and 1959, Parker was a superb blocker. - College Football -
He carved out paths for runners and guarded Unitas, his stoop-shouldered quarterback, with the ferocity of an embassy Marine."As Johnny's protector, Jim was second to none," said Moore, the Hall of Famer who ran amok in Parker's wake. "If Jim got through the line, I'd be right on his hip because I knew he'd clear out the area."A first-round draft pick in 1957 from Ohio State, Parker played 11 years with the Colts. - College Football -
He made All-Pro eight straight times - four at guard and four at tackle."Anyplace he played on that line, Jim kicked tail," John Mackey, the Colts' Hall of Fame tight end, recalled several years ago. "John [Unitas] never worried about his blind side; Parker was good enough to annihilate the best defensive end."At 6 feet 3 and 273 pounds, Parker was, at the time, the biggest player ever drafted by Baltimore. "He blocked out the sun," said Ernie Accorsi, former Colts general manager.A two-time All-American, Parker led Ohio State to a Rose Bowl victory in 1954. His senior year, he won the Outland Award as the nation's premier college lineman, a trophy he cherished to the end in his home in Columbia. - College Football -
"When I'm gone, I'd like to be known as the best offensive lineman that ever lived," Parker told The Sun in a 2000 interview. "I set that goal as a college freshman, but I didn't get bodacious about it until later."You don't broadcast goals 'til it's all over."Born James Thomas Parker in 1934, he grew up in Macon, Ga., picking peaches and cotton on the family farm. At 13, he took up football. Parker weighed all of 105 pounds at the time."I got the living hell beat out of me the first day of practice," he recalled later. "So my daddy bought a case of oatmeal and a case of grits and had me eat it three times a day. - College Football -
"Four years later, Parker had gained nearly 100 pounds and a college football scholarship. At Ohio State, where few blacks lived on campus, he stayed at the home of the late Woody Hayes, the Buckeyes' head coach, who would introduce Parker at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973."Physically, Jim was in a class by himself," Hayes said at that ceremony. "Attitude-wise, he was even greater. You only had to tell him once."Colts fans embraced Parker, who wore No. 77, from the outset."He was a legitimate starter from the first day of training camp," said Buzz Nutter, the team's center. - College Football -
"About twice a game, Parker would absolutely 'pancake' a linebacker, running over him like a big elephant. The guy would disappear like he'd been driven right into the ground."Parker plugged a vital hole in the Colts' front line, said Raymond Berry, the club's star receiver who played alongside him and was inducted with him in the Hall of Fame in 1973."Before Jim came, we couldn't handle [pass rushers] like Chicago's Doug Atkins, a tremendous athlete who'd charge from Unitas' blind side," said Berry. "Once Jim came, we never heard from Doug anymore. In fact, we never heard from anyone on that side anymore."Atkins, the Bears' Hall of Fame defensive end, called Parker "the best tackle I ever faced. You had to hit Jim full speed, and sometimes that still didn't budge him."Atkins took credit for instructing Parker in the more subtle nuances of the game. - College Football -

Mike Klingaman
Sun Staff

2005-07-12T07:37:00.000-07:00

NCAA Football: New BCS poll shuns preseason rankings; debut set for Sept. 25

NEW YORK - The Bowl Championship Series has a new poll, one that begins a month into the college football season and will include former coaches and players, plus media members.
Called the Harris Interactive College Football Poll, it will rank the top 25 teams on a weekly basis, starting Sept. 25. Plans call for 114 voters. - College Football -
The BCS has said it would like to see the elimination of preseason polls, which some believe give highly touted teams an unfair headstart in the rankings.
"This allows for some games to be played in the current season rather than allow teams to be ranked purely on preseason expectations," BCS coordinator and Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg said yesterday during a conference call. - College Football -
The season's first BCS standings will be released Oct. 17.
The new poll replaces The Associated Press poll, which the BCS had used in its formula for ranking teams since 1998. Last season, however, the AP told the BCS it could no longer use its media poll.
In addition to the new poll, the BCS will continue to use the USA Today coaches' poll and a compilation of six computer rankings - each counting for one-third of a team's grade. The coaches will continue with a preseason ballot. - College Football -
Recently, ESPN pulled out of participating in the coaches poll.
The coaches agreed to have their final ballots made public for the first time this season. The new Harris poll will take the same approach, releasing only the final ballots.
"We thought it was important for there to be consistency with the two human polls," Weiberg said. "To make the ballots public on a weekly basis during the season, we feel the focus would be on who voted for whom and detract from the games being playing."
Weiberg said voters in the new poll will be allowed to make their votes public at any point in the season if they choose. - College Football -
The AP preseason poll will be released Aug. 20, with the first regular-season poll Sept. 6. The AP national champion will be crowned after the Rose Bowl on Jan. 4. Ballots of AP poll voters are made public all season.
Last season, Southern California and Oklahoma held the top two spots in both the AP and coaches' polls in the preseason and kept those positions throughout undefeated regular seasons.
Auburn, which began the season ranked in the teens in the polls, went unbeaten but never could pass the Trojans and Sooners. The Tigers did manage to tie Oklahoma in the AP poll for one week late in the season. - College Football -

The Associated Press

2005-07-06T10:38:00.000-07:00

Orange lands big, tall QB

Strong-armed Andrew Robinson of Baltimore picks SU over Wisconsin

Quarterback Andrew Robinson of Calvert Hall College High School in Baltimore has made a verbal commitment to sign with the Syracuse University football team in 2006.
Robinson is 6-foot-3 and 217 pounds. He picked the Orange over an offer from Wisconsin and made his choice after participating in a one-day clinic at SU last Friday.
The two primary recruiters for Robinson were assistant Chris White of Syracuse an assistant Brian White of Wisconsin. They are brothers. - College Football -
"It's kind of funny," Robinson said of the competitive siblings. "They weren't going to say anything bad about one another. They'd joke around about it, but nothing serious."
Calvert Hall coach Jay Robinson (no relation) said Maryland was on the verge of offering a scholarship to Robinson but was waiting on a decision from quarterback Jeremy Ricker of Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg, Pa. Robinson said Duke and Boston College were also primed to make scholarship offers.
Andrew Robinson said Syracuse coaches tell him he is the only quarterback they plan to sign in 2006. He said he committed to the Orange because he likes the direction of the program and compatibility of the offense to his abilities. - College Football -
"From the get-go, the first time I visited (in March), I loved the energy of the staff," Robinson said. "I'm excited because I'm the kind of quarterback they said they need - big, tall, accurate, strong arm, makes good decisions.
"They said they're only going to sign one and it's me. They said they definitely needed to sign a quarterback that fits their style, that's a good leader. They said that's pretty much the main need for this class. They didn't sign one last year. That's a good thing for me. I'll be the oldest quarterback by the time I'll be a redshirt sophomore."
Robinson was banned by his parents from playing football until his freshman year of high school. He played defensive end initially until coaches saw him throwing on the sidelines. He was converted to quarterback and started all six games on the freshman team. He was elevated to starting quarterback on varsity early into his sophomore season.
Jay Robinson said a signature moment for Robinson was his first play after making the decision to switch quarterbacks. - College Football -
"There was a turnover and we were on the 20-yard line," Jay Robinson said. "Not knowing Andrew was going into the game, I said 'let's throw this fade.' And then when we made the change of quarterbacks, I said, 'never mind.' Andrew grabbed my arm and said, 'no, no throw the fade.' He did. He called it. It was a touchdown.
"He's not bashful. He wants to compete and do well."
Andrew Robinson completed 99-of-201 passes last season as a junior for 1,200 yards with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. Robinson said he can throw a football 66 or 67 yards.
Jay Robinson called Robinson "a fierce competitor" who is not afraid to run the ball or take on tacklers. Robinson praised Robinson's leadership skills. He said Robinson took over a senior-dominated team as a sophomore and earned its respect immediately. He said Robinson now spends his workout time in the weight room with freshmen in order to show younger players the ropes.
"Everybody looks up to him," Jay Robinson said. "He's a tough hombre. He never shies away from the pocket. He'll take a hit and bounce right back up."
Calvert Hall competes in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association, which is a group of private schools divided into three divisions. Calvert Hall plays in Class A or the largest group.
Robinson was named first-team All-Conference, second-team All-Baltimore County and honorable mention All-State last season. - College Football -

Jay Robinson said Andrew Robinson is as good as any quarterback he's coached and that includes his 19 years at Towson State where he coached Dan Crowley, a former standout in the Canadian Football League.
"Andrew is the best quarterback in the state," said Jay Robinson. "I've had all the guys at (the University of) Maryland tell me that. They were trying to hold Andrew off. I don't think it mattered if they'd offered or if Virginia offered. As soon as he went to Syracuse and met Coach (Greg) Robinson and the quarterback coach, that was it. He really liked the place.
Andrew Robinson said he's made unofficial visits this spring to Maryland, Syracuse, Virginia, Connecticut, Duke, North Carolina State, North Carolina, Louisville, Boston College, Penn State, Georgia Tech and Wisconsin. While all those schools offered strong opportunities, Robinson said he kept coming back to his feelings for Syracuse.
"I think the timing is perfect," Robinson said "I couldn't find a better quarterback situation in the country than this. My style of play kind of fits what they're trying to do. If it had been the old system, I wouldn't fit into it.

Donnie Webb

2005-06-29T05:43:00.000-07:00

Thompson almost left college football
LITTLE ROCK - Until the right man picked up the phone at just the right time, John Thompson was out of college football.Fired after two years as head coach at East Carolina, Thompson was whiling away December in Greenville, N.C., taking his two sons to school and enjoying walks with wife Charleen. They had put their all into East Carolina and the heave-ho hurt.Thompson said "not interested" to one coach in the Southeastern Conference and another in the Atlantic Coast Conference. He considered a lifestyle change, maybe the insurance business, a coffee shop, or a Krispy Kreme franchise. He even flew home to Arkansas to talk about coaching at Heber Springs.Drawing a paycheck but feeling empty, there was a day in mid-December when he realized he had to do something. The next day, Steve Spurrier called to follow up on a conversation from three weeks earlier. "I've always looked up to him as the best," Thompson said. "Wouldn't that be cool to work for him."The courtship was somewhat flirtatious. Spurrier asked if Thompson was interested and got a yes.They talked about golf and individual struggles. Spurrier avoided the hard sell; Thompson told his potential boss about the things that would be important - no second-guessing and someplace to put down roots after stops in Fayetteville, Gainesville and Greenville just this decade.On the followup call, Spurrier said, "I'm thinking about offering you this job in the morning and I said, 'Well, I'll be thinking about taking it if you offer it,'" Thompson said.The next morning, Spurrier called with a semi-formal, "You ready to go?" Thompson begged off until the afternoon. During a walk, he and Charleen decided to say yes, but when Spurrier called, he asked for another 45 minutes. OK, Spurrier said, but the hiring could make a needed splash and would help with recruiting.Obviously on the move, Spurrier then told him the media was available. "Why don't I just put you on the speaker phone and why don't we have our press conference right now?"That done, Spurrier wanted to know who else was available. Dave Wommack, fired as Arkansas defensive coordinator, and Tyrone Nix, Thompson said."He said, 'Let's go get 'em," Thompson said. He told Spurrier that both men would need multi-year contracts and Nix might need a title after being defensive coordinator at Southern Mississippi. If Wommack had an ego, there could have been a problem, but he and Thompson go way back. Within days, it was done, with Nix sharing the coordinator's title with Thompson. On the job only a few months, it has been fun, Thompson said. Spurrier can crack up a staff meeting with a remark about sending South Carolina malcontents on to Clemson or North Carolina. At Florida, Spurrier had a way with those things, like his quote about Tennessee's numerous appearances in the Citrus Bowl: "You can't tell Citrus without U-T.""If I tried to say those things, I'd be run out of the profession," Thompson said.It's the same on the golf course where there are no gimmes and Spurrier is apt to mention how he missed that identical putt only days earlier.During the spring, the coaches kept score - awarding points for specific accomplishments, including stops and turnovers on defense. Spurrier announced that the offense had won, the newspaper headline agreed, and Thompson's guys did the post-practice running. That night, Spurrier called Thompson to tell him he had revisited the scoring system and the defense did, indeed, win.Spurrier is neither a baby sitter nor a micro manager, Thompson said, adding that he wished he had worked for the man before becoming a head coach. "I was too much in it," he said.Concerned about doing too much too fast on defense, he cracked up when Spurrier sidled up prior to spring practice and asked, "Can you do some of those exotic blitzes?'On the first play of spring, all 11 on defense were standing and moving and offensive line coach John Hunt was pulling his hair out.-----Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media Group's Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com.

By Harry King

College Football Throwback Jersey

2005-06-22T12:15:00.000-07:00

College Football Throwback Jersey