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15 May 2008
15 May 2008 Morning News
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As far as breakthrough ideas go, it ranks somewhere between electricity and the kicking tee. In February, Ron Zook pondered the best response to the NCAA's so-called "Saban Rule," which prevents head coaches from evaluating recruits on the road in the spring. So when an official at Zook's old high school in Loudonville, Ohio, called and asked him to return to conduct a clinic, the Illinois coach wondered if this could be his ticket to campuses. After Illinois' compliance office approved the trip, Zook scheduled more clinics. He spoke before 40-50 high school coaches at Mt. Carmel last month, and he will be in Cincinnati on Saturday for his sixth and final clinic. "It's one-stop shopping," Zook said Wednesday during a break in Big Ten meetings in Chicago. "You're getting a chance to talk to coaches so they feel more comfortable about picking up the phone and calling you. "I don't know if it's being crafty or not, but in college football, recruiting is the lifeblood, so we have to do everything we can to get to know the young men and the coaches." – Chicago Tribune
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Florida football coach Urban Meyer didn't wait long to dismiss Jamar Hornsby from the team last week after he was arrested last week on felony charges of credit-card fraud. Hornsby turned himself in to police Friday morning. He was off the team that night. The junior safety is one of 16 Gators football players who have been involved in off-the-field incidents since Meyer became coach in 2005. They've given Meyer plenty of chances to refine how he disciplines players. – Palm Beach Post
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USC and the Coliseum Commission have worked through their differences, and Wednesday signed off on their first long-term lease, one that will keep the Trojans playing football at the historic stadium for decades to come. It was six months ago that USC, frustrated with the lack of progress on much-needed improvements to the 84-year-old Coliseum, threatened to relocate its games to the Rose Bowl. That triggered some harsh words and bruised feelings on both sides, all of which seems to have evaporated with this deal. – Los Angeles Times
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The ongoing saga of Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez and West Virginia University's lawsuit against him took a public turn Tuesday. Rodriguez's deposition was released. Rodriguez's primary contention, that he was coerced into signing the agreement with a $4-million buyout clause in August 2007, became more specific as he stated that West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin and three members of the WVU Board of Governors pressured him into signing the document. Rodriguez said he felt the individuals, notably board member Steve Farmer, were well-connected because Farmer told him months earlier that Mike Garrison would be WVU's new president, well before it was public knowledge. They wanted him to sign the document to get Garrison's tenure off to a good start. – Detroit Free Press
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Florida coach Urban Meyer said he is afraid recent NCAA bans on text messaging and head coaches not allowed to go out and evaluate players during the spring will hurt a coach's ability to know the character of players he is signing. "The NCAA is pulling us off the recruiting process," Meyer said. "I'm not allowed to go out and I'm not allowed to text message, but I'm trying to find out (about players) the best I can." – Palm Beach Post
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Some Georgia fans look at the Sept. 20 trip to Arizona State and see a potential landmine between their Bulldogs and the 2008 national championship. What they should see, say two SEC coaches who should know, is a golden opportunity for Georgia to prepare for one of the toughest schedules in school history. ... Georgia athletics director Damon Evans, who scheduled the Arizona State game back in 2004 (after consulting with coach Mark Richt), thinks Fulmer and Saban are right. At least he sure hopes so. "I was mindful that we play in a tough conference, but I also wanted us to play outside our region if the opportunity presented itself," said Evans. "It gives us a chance to grow the presence of our program in another part of the country. I know it's going to be tough but I just feel that if we can win, it will pay off down the road for us." – Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Brigham Young running back Manase (ma-NAH-say) Tonga is academically ineligible and will miss the 2008 football season. Tonga has been suspended from school but can apply for the winter semester. It's possible he could return to the Cougars for the 2009 season. – AP
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The Southeastern Conference is going to have a new coaching look to it this fall. It's not at the top, although Arkansas will look new with Bobby Petrino running the show and Ole Miss will be led by a new face in Oxford, but not a new one for the SEC, with Houston Nutt in charge. But the real change is going to be in the coordinators - there are 11 new ones in the 24 offensive and defensive coordinator positions around the conference. That's a 46-percent turnover in coordinators in one season. and that is about as big a turnover as ever seen. Only four schools have the same offensive and defensive coordinators as last season-Kentucky, Florida, Georgia and Vanderbilt. – Randolph Leader
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(Ron Zook): I have been fortunate to coach at all three levels -- high school, college and the NFL. It is different in the NFL. It was a great experience for me. But coaching in high school and college is more gratifying and rewarding because you are trying to help young men reach their goals. – Chicago Sun-Times
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Former LSU quarterback Ryan Perrilloux departed a two-day visit to Jacksonville State University on Tuesday afternoon with an offer of a scholarship from the Gamecocks. Perrilloux met with members of the Jacksonville State football team on Monday night and took a campus visit on Tuesday, according to sources familiar with his activities. Part of his tour on Tuesday included a visit with JSU President William A. Meehan, the sources said. – Birmingham News
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UCLA quarterback Osaar Rasshan will undergo surgery on his left knee but is expected to be ready for training camp in August. Rasshan, who will be a junior, was bothered by what was called tendinitis throughout spring practice. He will be the third Bruins quarterback to undergo surgery in less than a month. – Los Angeles Times
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Urban Meyer on Florida Gators QB Tim Tebow: 'Every once in a while I ask him, `Are you going to throw some footballs this summer to give us a chance to win?' '' Meyer said before a speaking at a Gator Club of Miami event Wednesday at Jungle Island. 'Tim is a completely devout Christian, and his life completely revolves around it. He plays football because it gives him a platform to help people. In today's day and age of being cynical and `Do you really believe it?' everything about him is real.'' – Miami Herald
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Frank Solich is in the process of reinstating a scholarship in his name to the Nebraska athletic department. The concept of Solich’s $350,000 post-graduate scholarship was the brainchild of three close friends, Bob Sawdon of Austin, Texas; Tom Rodeno of Castle Pines, Colo; and Mick Ziegler of Dallas. The scholarship was established shortly after Solich took over as Nebraska’s head coach in 1998. In 2004, in the months after his firing, he moved the scholarship out of the athletic department to the NU College of Law. Perhaps Solich didn’t appreciate that the plaque in South Stadium recognizing his scholarship recipients was taken down. – Journal Star
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Michigan is recruiting Breck wide receiver Bryce McNeal as hard as Notre Dame went after Cretin-Derham Hall wide receiver Michael Floyd. There are rumors that McNeal will commit to Michigan soon, but those close to him say they believe he might wait to see what kind of a season the Gophers have this fall. – Star Tribune
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Alabama coach Nick Saban said linebacker Rolando McClain was involved in a motorcycle accident but sustained only minor injuries. The sophomore was released from a hospital in his hometown of Decatur after the accident Thursday. Saban said Friday that McClain sustained only some cuts and abrasions and will be monitored by Alabama's medical staff. – AP
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Is Michigan State in a position to turn away a 4-star quarterback? That's one of those difficult-questions-they'd-like-to-have the Spartan coaching staff may soon face if former verbal commit Keith Nichol wants back in at MSU after recently leaving the Oklahoma Sooners, where he was buried in the depth chart after his freshman campaign. – Scout.com