No. 20 Cincinnati accepts invitation to Papajohns.com Bowl
November 28, 2007
CINCINNATI (AP) -No. 20 Cincinnati accepted an invitation Wednesday to play Southern Mississippi in the Papajohns.com Bowl in Birmingham, Ala., on Dec. 22.
Cincinnati has won the Fort Worth Bowl and the International Bowl in the last two years.
The bowl will complete a breakout season for the Bearcats, who went 9-3 and were in contention for the Big East title until they lost to West Virginia. Cincinnati finished 4-3 in the league with a 52-31 victory over Syracuse on Saturday.
Baylor picks Houston's Briles as new football coach
November 28, 2007
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -Houston coach Art Briles is the next to take on the task of pulling Baylor out of the Big 12 basement.
Briles' hiring was confirmed Wednesday by a person with direct knowledge of the situation who spoke on condition on anonymity because the formal announcement had not be made.
Baylor spokesman Nick Joos said the school had called a news conference scheduled for later in the day on the Waco campus to announce the school's new football coach.
Briles led Houston to four bowls in his five seasons. He was offered the job after meeting with Baylor athletic director Ian McCaw on Tuesday in Dallas.
Briles replaces Guy Morriss, who was fired Nov. 19 after five seasons. Morriss' firing came the day after the Bears completed their 12th straight losing season with their 12th consecutive Big 12 loss.
Houston (8-4) has already accepted an invitation to play in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 28 in Houston against an undetermined opponent. The Cougars won the Conference USA title last season.
Briles is 34-28 in five seasons at Houston with only one losing season. Before his arrival, the Cougars had only two winning seasons in the previous 12 years.
Before going to Houston, where he was a four-year letterman as a receiver and played in the 1976 Cotton Bowl, Briles spent three seasons as running backs coach at Texas Tech. His previous head coaching job had been at Stephenville High School, where in 12 seasons he was 136-29-2 and won four Texas state championships.
Morriss was 18-40 the past five seasons at Baylor.
The leading candidate initially was Mike Singletary. But the Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker and Baylor icon took his name out of consideration after a lengthy meeting with McCaw last week in California.
Key Stats for Conference Championships
MAC
Central Michigan-Miami Ohio
The Chippewas have the upper hand in most offensive categories, but the RedHawks have the statistical advantage defensively.
CMU amasses 78.9 more total yards per game on .7 more yards per play. One of the more prominent areas is in rushing yards per attempt where Central has the edge by 1.1. Miami Ohio though relies much more on the big play. Despite completing 11.2 percent less of their passes, the RedHawks get 1.7 more passing yards per reception.
On defense, it’s Miami with a superiority of 94.3 fewer yards allowed per game on .8 less yards per play. They also allow a completion percentage of 7.2 less.
Conference USA
Tulsa-Central Florida
It’s yet another contest where one team has a fairly significant edge on offense, while the other gets the numbers their way on defense. Offensively, Tulsa has a yards per game pre-eminence if 124.9 total yards per game. But it’s because of 181.4 yards per game passing difference as UCF rushes for 56.5 more yards per game. The Golden Hurricanes do average 1.2 more yards per play, a telling statistic say most top gamblers.
However, likewise UCF accrues .5 more yards per rush, but Tulsa 2.3 more yards per pass and 3.6 more yards per catch.
The Golden Knights allow 102.1 fewer yards on .9 less yards per play allowed. Perhaps the biggest numerical disparity is in turnover ratio. Tulsa is -7, but UCF +5, a net advantage of 12 for Central.
ACC
Virginia Tech-Boston College
Although BC has an edge of 105.5 more total yards per game, Tech rushes for 27.8 extra yards. The Eagles get 7.6 more first downs per game. In the ever important yards per play category, it’s Boston College getting .7 more. Tech though has a pretty significant numerical dominance of 1.1 more yards per catch.
On defense, the check marks favor V Tech by 48.7 total yards per game and .4 yards per play. BC though allows 20.6 fewer rushing yards on a few half-yard less per attempt. The Hokies have a huge turnover margin upper hand by 10.
SEC
Tennessee-LSU
Numerically, the Tigers are better on both sides of the ball. LSU gets 44.8 more yards per game, though the Vols accumulate 27.8 more passing yards. The biggest discrepancy is in passing yards per reception where LSU gets 2.0 more. With Tennessee completing 7.3 higher percent of the passes, the overall offensive upper hand for LSU is fairly nominal.
Defensively LSU permits 121.8 fewer yards on 1.2 less yards per play. Tennessee is less vulnerable to the big play, allowing 1.3 fewer passing yards per attempt. LSU has a turnover ratio better by 12.
Big 12
Oklahoma-Missouri
These two teams are fairly close on paper. In fact, while Mizzou gets 49.8 more yards per game, Oklahoma accumulates .3 more yards per play. Oklahoma has the edge in both rushing yards per attempt and passing yards per attempt by .2 and 1.4 respectively and they also get 2.4 more passing yards per reception.
Also the Sooners have slight edges in most defensive categories including yards per game of 56.2 and .4 fewer yards per play allowed. Yet the Tigers allow .1 less passing yards per attempt and .4 less passing yards per reception.
OffshoreInsiders.com
EARLY COLLEGE "LOOKING FOR AN ANGLE"
Rutgers at LOUISVILLE (Thursday)...Revenge-minded L’Ville needs win here to keep 10-year bowl streak alive. In LY’s 28-25 loss, Rutgers kicked game-winning 28-yd FG with :13 on clock. L’Ville star QB Brohm bombed-out in 2nd H, failing to generate any points in blowing 25-14 halftime lead.
Fresno State at NEW MEXICO STATE (Friday)...Prolific NMS QB Holbrook looking forward to rematch after going 39 of 51 for 367 yds. & no ints. despite 5 sacks in combative 23-18 loss at Fresno State LY. Bulldogs, however, might need victory to keep alive minor bowl hopes.
Arizona at ARIZONA STATE...U of A QB Tuitama eager for rematch after completing 6 of 10 for 1 TD before sidelining injury in 2nd Q of LY’s 28-14 loss in Tucson. Tuitama’s seldom-used backup QB Austin couldn’t pick up slack, completing only 11 of 30 for 99 yds. & 2 ints.
Army vs. Navy (at Baltimore)...Navy has won 9 of past 10 SU vs. Army, covering 8 of those 10 (last 5 wins by avg. 40-14 score). And Cadets got “backdoor” cover in 26-14 setback LY by scoring on 12-yd. TD pass with :02 to go.
Oregon State at OREGON...Home team has won 10 straight (8-2 vs. spread) in the “Civil War” rivalry. Special teams were the difference in LY’s thrilling 30-28 OSU victory, as Beavers nailed all 3 FG attempts, while Ducks missed all 3 of their tries, including potential game-winning 44-yd. attempt in final secs. U of O outgained State 427-343, but Ducks were also hurt by back-breaking 34 yd. int. return for TD, giving Beavers 17-7 2nd Q lead. Oregon’s backup QB Leaf (now injured) played for benched Dixon in ‘06, hitting 25 of 42 for 274 yds.
Ucla at SOUTHERN CAL...USC has been waiting all year for huge payback game vs. crosstown rival UCLA following mortifying 13-9 upset loss in Rose Bowl LY, knocking Trojans out of BCS title game. Southern Cal QB Booty threw for 274 yds., but struggled in red zone, manufacturing just 1 TD. Before ‘06 shocker, Trojans had won 7 straight in series, covering spread in 6 of those and has covered last 5 meetings at Coliseum.
Cal at STANFORD...After dropping 7 straight in the “Big Game,” Cal has reversed trend under 6th-year HC Teford, who has won all 5 meetings since taking over in Berkeley (4-1 vs. spread). Bears, however, just 2-11 vs. spread last 13 in Pac-10, including 6 straight Ls vs. spread.
Pitt at WEST VIRGINIA...Highly-ranked WV has won & covered 4 of past 5 in the “Backyard Brawl,” including 45-27 victory at Heinz Stadium LY. Mounties dynamic duo of QB White & RB Slaton (hails from Levittown, Pa.) were nearly unstoppable, combining for whopping 435 in ‘06.
North Texas at FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL...Downtrodden FIU believes it has its best chance to snap 23-game losing streak following 25-22, 7 OT loss at North Texas LY. Golden Panthers missed 35-yd. FG attempt, while Mean Green made 34-yarder in final extra period. Teams missed 8 of 13 FG tries in OT!
Washington at HAWAII...BCS bowl-seeking Warriors are 15-7 as chalk in Honolulu since ‘04.
Louisiana Tech at NEVADA...Bowl-seeking Nevada is 12-2 as home chalk since ‘04 (just 1-2 TY), while La. Tech is a bankroll-depleting 4-17 as road dog over same time frame (2-2 TY). Wolf Pack’s workhorse RB Lippincott motored for 122 yds.& 3 TDs in 18 carries in 42-0 whipping in Ruston LY (Nevada led 35-0 at H!).
goldsheet.com
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP NOTEBOOK
Historically-speaking, conference championship games are a rather new addition to the college football landscape. Prior to 1992, they didn’t exist at all. It was the SEC that broke rank and introduced what was a revolutionary concept 15 years ago, taking advantage of a loophole in NCAA bylaws that permitted conferences with 12 teams or more (of which the SEC was the first) to conduct league championship games. The rest of the college football world watched the profitable SEC “experiment” closely, and its success served as the impetus for many of the changes we’ve seen in the college landscape since. Indeed, the success of the SEC title game was undoubtedly one of the triggers in the creation of expanded “mega-conferences” (such as the Big XII and ACC) and definitely blazed a trail for other leagues to conduct their own championship contests.
Now, for the third straight year, five conference title games will be contested. And, for the most part (especially in the SEC, Big XII, and now the ACC), conference title games have been a box-office bonanza. With the absence of a true national playoff, they have become important sources of revenues for their leagues. The conservative Big Ten has also mulled expansion and the possibility of adding its own title game, while there are indications the Big East would seriously consider it if it could increase its football membership. Of the major conferences, only the Pac-10, which exists in a sort of parallel universe with the Rose Bowl (prompting the league to say it would bolt the current BCS arrangement if any sort of a playoff were instituted), appears uninterested in moving toward further expansion and a conference title game.
By this stage, we’ve had enough of a sampling of league championship games to detect an emerging trend or two. Although cumulative results haven’t been terribly illuminating (indeed, in the 43 conference title games since 1992, favorites lead by a narrow 23-20 count), it’s worth noting that double-digit underdogs have fared well, covering in 10 of 15 opportunities, reflecting a similar pattern in bowl games over the past several decades.
Mostly, however, there have been some interesting conference-specific pointspread and “totals”-related trends that merit some extra attention. The most noteworthy of those are highlighted in the following league-by-league title game histories. Included are results for the past four seasons.
SEC...Fifteen games since 1992, with favorites 12-3 straight up, but only 7-8 vs. the pointspread. The first two (1992 & ‘93) were held at Birmingham’s Legion Field; since ‘94, all have been played at Atlanta’s Georgia Dome. Note the one-sided title games recently in the SEC; the last 9 have been decided by double-digit margins. The favorites, however, have covered only 5 of those 9, and have been on the losing end of some of those lopsided results. Note “overs” in last 4 renewals as well. 2006-Florida (-2½) 38 - Arkansas 23 (“over” 44); 2005-Georgia (+ 1½) 34- LSU 14 (“over” 40 1/2); 2004-Auburn (-14½) 38 - Tennessee 28 (“over” 47½); 2003-LSU (-3) 34 - Georgia 13 (“over” 42).
BIG XII...Eleven games since 1996, with favorites winning and covering 8 of those. First game held at St. Louis’ Edward Jones Dome (1996), then next four at San Antonio’s Alamodome (1997-2000), which will host this year’s game. The 2001 renewal was at Texas Stadium, Irving; 2002 & 2005 at Houston’s Reliant Stadium; 2003, ‘04 & ‘06 at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City. Much like the SEC, recent Big XII title trends have featured many blowout wins. The last four have been decided by 14 or more, including ferocious beatings absorbed by Colorado in ‘04 (lost 42-3 vs. Oklahoma) & ‘05 (lost 70-3 vs. Texas). Historically, however, there have been some upsets in Big XII title games, most recently Kansas State’s 35-7 stunner over unbeaten Oklahoma in 2003. Shock wins by a couple of other double-digit dogs, Texas (over Nebraska) in 1996 and Texas A&M (over K-State) in 1998, knocked the losers out of the respective national title games in those years. 2006-Oklahoma (-3½) 21 - Nebraska 7 (“under” 45½); 2005-Texas (-26½) 70 - Colorado 3 (“over” 60½); 2004-Oklahoma (-22) 42 - Colorado 3 (“under” 54½); 2003-Kansas State (+14) 35 - Oklahoma 7 (“under” 54).
MAC...Ten games since 1997, with favorites 6-4 straight up and 5-5 vs. the pointspread. Prior to 2004 (when the game was moved indoors to Detroit’s Ford Field), MAC championships had been contested at campus sites. Marshall participated in the first five MAC championship battles, winning four of them. 2006-Central Michigan (-3½) 31 - Ohio 10 (“under” 45½) 2005-Akron (+13) 31 - Northern Illinois 30 (“over” 52); 2004-Toledo (+1½) 35 - Miami-Ohio 27 (“under” 64); 2003 - Miami-Ohio (-7) 49 - Bowling Green 27 (“over” 58½).
ACC and Conference USA...Both staged their initial title games in 2005. This will be the third straight ACC title game at Jacksonville’s Municipal (nee Alltel) Stadium; C-USA uses alternates home field between East and West winners. ACC: 2006-Wake Forest (+2) 9 - Georgia Tech 6 (“under” 40); 2005-Florida State (+14) 27 - Virginia Tech 22 (“over” 44 1/2); CUSA: 2006-Houston (-5) 34 - Southern Miss 20 (“over” 53½) 2005- Tulsa (-2) 44 - Central Florida 27 (“over” 56½).
WAC...Three title games at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium between 1996-98, with favorites winning all 3, and covering 2.
goldsheet.com
Wisconsin headed to Outback Bowl
November 28th, 2007
Madison, WI (Sports Network) - The University of Wisconsin has accepted an invitation to play in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida on January 1, 2008.
The Badgers (9-3), who will be playing in the 19th bowl game in school history, will face a yet-to-be-determined opponent from the Southeastern Conference.
It will be the Badgers' third trip to the Outback Bowl. Wisconsin knocked off Duke, 34-20, in the 1995 game (then known as the Hall of Fame Bowl). UW then dropped a pair of games with Georgia in 1998 and 2005, respectively.
"We're absolutely thrilled to be returning to Tampa for the Outback Bowl," UW director of athletics Barry Alvarez said. "It has been a tremendous destination for us the previous three times we have been there. Our players and fans have always enjoyed the Tampa area and everything the bowl brings to the table."
The Badgers will be participating in their 13th bowl game in the past 15 seasons, including their school-record sixth consecutive appearance this year.
"Our entire team is excited to be returning to Florida for our fourth straight January bowl game," head coach Bret Bielema said. "We've always heard terrific feedback from our fans who have followed us to Tampa in the past and I know we'll have a big sea of red down there again. We're looking forward to the warm weather, hospitality and a great game on New Year's Day."
Missouri now has title hopes, and Oklahoma will play spoiler
The teams in the Big 12 championship game look as different six weeks later as their interpretations of the regular-season meeting.
Oklahoma’s Sooners say they won on the evening of Oct. 13 by a 41-31 count.
“It’s a win, no matter what anybody says,” Oklahoma wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias said. “You can’t change it.”
Missouri’s Tigers say they lost that game in Norman.
“We definitely shot ourselves in the foot, didn’t give ourselves a chance to win that game with our turnovers,” Missouri tight end Martin Rucker said.
What the Tigers and Sooners can agree on is the rematch brings together teams that have changed since that night.
Missouri entered that October showdown ranked 11th in the Associated Press poll, while the Sooners were fifth with designs on a national championship.
Headed into Saturday’s game in San Antonio, the Tigers are the nation’s top-ranked team and stand on the edge of playing in the BCS national championship game on Jan. 7.
The Sooners were tripped up at Texas Tech two weeks ago and eliminated from the national title picture. Ninth-ranked Oklahoma has been reduced to the role of Mizzou spoiler but covets the opportunity to become the first team in Big 12 history to repeat as league champion.
“A lot of good teams have tried, but none have done it,” Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly said. “That’s a goal we’ve talked about the last few days.”
What else is different? Personnel.
Missouri running back Tony Temple didn’t play against the Sooners while nursing an ankle sprain. In the Tigers’ previous four games, the team hadn’t gained fewer than 195 yards rushing. Without a Temple-led attack, Missouri was held to 57.
Mizzou averages 170 rushing yards, and Oklahoma is tied for the Big 12 lead with Kansas in stopping the run, allowing 91.4 yards per game.
“With Tony Temple in there, they run it well,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. “More than anybody wants to talk about. That’s a big factor that we’re focusing on.”
Temple spent Oct. 13 at his Columbia apartment.
“I was at my house, by myself, on the couch,” Temple said. “It was hard. It was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.”
Just as it will be for a pair of Oklahoma standouts. Running back DeMarco Murray, who set up the Sooners’ go-ahead touchdown with a 34-yard kickoff return against the Tigers, is out because of a dislocated kneecap.
Defensive end Auston English, who leads the Big 12 in sacks with 9 1/2 and recorded 1 1/2 against Missouri, is probably not going to play. Two weeks ago he had a rod inserted in his broken right ankle.
“He’s a great player,” Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel said. “He sacked me twice, or something like that. We’re a whole bunch better on offense this time around.”
The Tigers will be even better if tight end Chase Coffman plays. He’s listed as questionable after rolling an already injured ankle during Missouri’s first extra-point attempt Saturday against Kansas.
Coffman originally hurt the ankle late in the first half against Oklahoma, “and it’s been nagging me ever since,” he said.
Would Coffman sit out? He gave it a zero-percent chance.
“You just have to try and play through it,” he said.
Oh, there is a subtraction for the Tigers. Safety Pig Brown was on his way to a terrific season. Against Oklahoma he forced a fumble and was credited with a tackle for loss among his eight stops.
But two weeks later he blew out his Achilles’. The Tigers have absorbed his absence, with William Moore especially coming up big in the secondary.
What hasn’t changed is Missouri’s confidence. The Tigers believed they could win in Oklahoma, and their resolve grew when that didn’t happen.
“That game made us the team we are today,” Missouri wide receiver Will Franklin said. “We saw we could be good. And we have done everything we’ve had to do to put ourselves in the position we are in now.”
Against Oklahoma, the Tigers fell behind but took a 24-23 lead early in the fourth quarter. Sooners running back Chris Brown answered with one of his three touchdowns for the go-ahead score, and Missouri’s next possession ended in disaster when linebacker Curtis Lofton scooped up a botched exchange between Daniel and Jeremy Maclin and returned it for a touchdown.
Four turnovers killed the Tigers that night, but Stoops is quick to remind you that Oklahoma also lost two fumbles. Add it up, and the Sooners beat Missouri for the 16th straight time in Norman.
“People want to focus on certain times of the game,” Stoops said. “I know that with about 20 seconds to go, it’s 41-24 and I’d be willing to be in that situation every time. It’s all about (the score) at the end of the game. You can’t erase it.”
KansasCity.com
LSU, UT see close encounters
OT has decided 2 of 5 games in this decade
KNOXVILLE — It's doesn't have the tradition of Auburn-Alabama. It's not Florida-Georgia. It's not even Auburn-Georgia.
But during this decade, whenever Tennessee and LSU have met, the implications have been more far-reaching and have had more impact on the postseason than almost any other Southeastern Conference matchup.
The two teams will continue the trend on Saturday when they meet in the SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta at 3 p.m.
"I think it's two really good football teams, two really good programs," UT quarterback Erik Ainge said. "When you play LSU, you're going to see their best, and they're going to see our best."
When the Tennessee and LSU football programs meet up, it isn't your classic SEC rivalry game. They've played only 12 times in the past 31 years. The winner doesn't get some weird traditional trophy. And there's no nickname for the duel. But when you break down their recent games, maybe it's time to reconsider all that.
LSU is 3-2 against UT since 2000.
The average score in those games is LSU 28, UT 26, and two games have gone into overtime.
Furthermore, in 2001 the Tigers knocked UT out of the national championship game by defeating the Vols 31-20 in the SEC Championship game.
Title dreams gone
"If we won the game, I think we were going to play Miami for the national championship, which would have been the second time in four years," UT Coach Phillip Fulmer said. "It was a tough loss for us. But there's no one on either team that's still there now. That doesn't hold a lot of water in my book right now. Last year's game probably does."
Ah, last year. Ainge was suffering from an ankle injury suffered the week before at South Carolina, but tried to play through the pain.
Ainge was eventually replaced by backup quarterback Jonathan Crompton, who played well and threw two touchdown passes.
UT held a 17-7 lead in the third quarter before the Tigers rallied. The Vols managed to grab a 24-21 lead in the fourth quarter, but former LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell — who would go on to be drafted No. 1 overall — threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Early Doucet in the final seconds for the 28-24 win in Neyland Stadium.
It still leaves Fulmer fuming.
"Nine seconds to go and we had a chance to win that cotton-picking thing with our backup quarterback playing," Fulmer said.
The win helped LSU finish the season with six consecutive wins and an appearance in a BCS bowl.
LSU defeated Notre Dame 41-14 in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
Bringing their best
"The only thing I can say is it's certainly two quality teams, two talented teams with guys who are competitive," LSU Coach Les Miles said. "We certainly enjoyed the competition in Knoxville. What a great place it was to play. What a competitive game that was. I can only tell you that we would expect nothing less."
The players and coaches said two teams don't necessarily need to play every year for there to be a rivalry. Considering the hardware that seems to be on the line every time these two teams face off, it actually makes the games that much more intense.
"They still have a lot to play for even though their national championship is kind of out the window," UT tight end Chris Brown said. "It's a pretty big deal to win the SEC Championship, and I'm sure they'll be on their high motors for us. We have a lot to play for. We've been trying to fight and get our program back to where it needs to be, and I think this would be a big statement."
tennessean.com.
BC's goal the same in rematch - play its best
The field will be neutral this time for the Boston College football team (although its fans still will be outnumbered), hopefully the weather will be better, and the Eagles once again will be underdogs.
It was business as usual for BC yesterday as it began preparation for its rematch against Virginia Tech in Saturday's Atlantic Coast Conference championship game in Jacksonville, Fla.
But will the result be the same? In the first meeting, BC claimed a 14-10 win in the rain on the strength of quarterback Matt Ryan's two TD passes in the final 2:11.
"Sometimes you have to be careful of what you wish for," said Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer on a conference call yesterday. "After the game, we said we wished we might get them again. Now we have to figure out a way to beat them."
BC coach Jeff Jagodzinski knows his team will have to play better than it did in Blacksburg, Va., where it was outplayed for 56 minutes before Ryan waved his magic arm and turned a loss into a win - the springboard to BC's first-ever ACC title game appearance.
It always has been about Ryan this season. Without him, the Eagles would be back among the ACC pack, wondering whether they would be headed to Charlotte, Nashville, or Orlando on their annual postseason trip. But with Ryan, even the task of beating a team as good as Virginia Tech - which climbed to No. 6 in the Bowl Championship Series standings and the Associated Press poll yesterday after beating Virginia Saturday to win the ACC Coastal Division crown - seems easier to achieve.
Ryan, whose 28 touchdown passes this season set a school record, did his thing late against the Hokies Oct. 25. He did it Nov. 17 in a 20-17 win at Clemson, which clinched the Atlantic Division crown for the Eagles. And he did it in Saturday's 28-14 win over Miami in which the Eagles broke away from a 14-14 fourth-quarter tie to beat the Hurricanes for the first time in 23 years.
Now BC and Ryan must do it again, and they must do it against a Tech team that has another offensive weapon in quarterback Tyrod Taylor. He missed the first game because of an injury, Sean Glennon getting the start, but Taylor was very much a force (two rushing TDs) in the Hokies' 33-21 win over the Cavaliers.
"Rotation at QB gives you some problems," said Jagodzinski. "We're going to have our hands full coming up with a plan trying to contain both of those guys.
"Familiarity is a good thing and a bad thing. I don't think there will be any surprises."
With that in mind, the coach said it would be a matter of correcting the breakdowns that led to Tech's early lead in Blacksburg. In the win against Miami, the Eagles had to deal with their own mistakes as much as anything the Hurricanes did, as they had two interceptions and two fumbles.
"I don't think we can turn the ball over," said Jagodzinski, who said the game again might come down to the last play. And if that is the case, the edge would seem to be in favor of Ryan and the Eagles.
Jagodzinski dismissed the suggestion the Eagles sometimes wait for Ryan to make a play to spark them.
"Good players do that, they take the game over," he said. "With the best players, that's what happens."
The Eagles are seeking a title that has eluded them at least twice with this senior class. "They have been close the last couple of years," said Jagodzinski. "We felt that we could get to this game and compete for the championship."
The Eagles have done that. Now they must defeat a team they have beaten once this season and one that has no intention of letting it happen again.
boston.com
Hawaii trip no luxury cruise for Huskies
Huskies to face potent Warriors passing attack
Saturday's game against No. 11 Hawaii was supposed to be a treat at the end of a long season for the Washington Huskies, some icing on the cake after playing the nation's most difficult schedule.
Instead, traveling over the Pacific Ocean suddenly seems like a weird obligation after a backbreaking 42-35 loss to Washington State in the Apple Cup last Saturday at Husky Stadium.
Still, Huskies coach Tyrone Willingham is throwing around the word "opportunity."
Before the season began, Willingham sold his players on the idea that playing the country's toughest schedule gave the UW a chance to win some marquee games. But the Huskies (4-8, 2-7 Pac-10) squandered most of those opportunities and sit all alone in last place in the conference.
The Washington defense is well on its way to becoming the worst in program history.
After giving up 509 yards to Washington State -- including 399 passing yards to quarterback Alex Brink -- the Huskies are surrendering 438.8 yards per game.
The Huskies are yielding more than 400 yards per game for just the fifth time in program history and are set to break the previous high of 419.1 yards per game, set in Willingham's first season in 2005.
Washington is giving up 31.3 points per game, just the fifth time the Huskies have allowed more than 30 points. That is also the second-highest total in program history (the 1973 team allowed 34.2 points per game).
Those kinds of numbers take the shine off even a tropical paradise. The fact that Hawaii puts up phenomenal offensive numbers on a weekly basis makes Huskies fans think dark rain forest rather than sandy beaches.
Especially since Hawaii (11-0, 8-0 WAC) is fighting for a berth in one of the five BCS bowl games.
"I think our guys felt like we left a little on the table Saturday and (this week) it's against a ranked team seeking something special and we have an opportunity to be involved in that," Willingham said Monday.
Willingham's defensive staff is on the hot seat, and calls for a staff overhaul have increased after the loss to Washington State.
Willingham defended his defensive coaches after the Apple Cup, saying they can put together a successful game plan against a prolific passing attack. In that regard, Hawaii presents another opportunity.
Led by senior quarterback Colt Brennan, the Warriors are the nation's highest-scoring team (47.2 points per game) and rank third in total yards (539.6 per game).
Willingham said the key to slowing Hawaii is to pressure Brennan.
"You don't have to worry about the run," he said. "You can think pass and go play. This one is just pretty much going to be pass."
The Huskies' worst games against the pass this season were against Arizona (510 yards) and Washington State (399), which are ranked eighth and 10th in rushing offense in the Pac-10, respectively.
"As a D-line, we have to get a fanatical pass rush," Washington senior defensive tackle Wilson Afoa said.
Afoa is one of four Huskies players with ties to Hawaii and one of three born there. The Honolulu native said the atmosphere at 50,000-seat Aloha Stadium could factor into the outcome. The game is sold out and tickets are going for as much as $800.
"You're basically going against the entire state of Hawaii when you're in that stadium. Their fans are crazy," Afoa said. "For us to go in there, we have to not fall for the hype and go play football."
"This will be a championship environment for them," Willingham said. "Hopefully this puts us in a mind-set that, with ranked opponents, this is the kind of environment we should be in, and that we should be playing these kinds of ball games."
ABOUT THE WARRIORS: Hawaii clinched its first outright Western Athletic Conference championship on Friday when it beat Boise State -- this from a team that went winless nine seasons ago. Hawaii bottomed out after the departure of coach Bob Wagner, who left in 1995 after a 4-8 season. Over the next three years, Hawaii went 5-31 under Fred vonAppen. After an 0-12 season in '98, the school hired June Jones and a turnaround occurred. In his first season, June led the team to a 9-4 mark, a tie for the WAC crown and a 23-17 win over Oregon State in the Oahu Bowl. Jones is 75-40 at Hawaii and will take the team to its sixth bowl game this season.
RESILIENT WARRIORS: The faces of Warriors football -- Jones and quarterback Colt Brennan -- went through trying times before this special season. In February 2001, Jones suffered life-threatening injuries when his car hit a concrete pillar on a highway near the Honolulu airport. He was in the hospital for three weeks and had two major surgeries. Brennan was accused of sexual assault as a freshman at Colorado in 2004. The misdemeanor charge was vacated, but damage was done as he was dismissed from the team. He went to a junior college then walked on at Hawaii.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING: The Huskies and Hawaii have played just twice, splitting the series. The first meeting was on Jan. 1, 1938, in the Pineapple Bowl, or a postseason exhibition. The Huskies won 53-13. Then called the Rainbows, Hawaii traveled to Seattle to open the 1973 season. Pete Taggares scored the only touchdown for the Huskies on a 1-yard run in the first quarter. Hawaii won 10-7 in a game that had five interceptions and 13 fumbles (six lost).
seattlepi.com
Victory Bell, Civil War, Territorial Cup and the Big Game on deck
Associated Press
It's rivalry week in the Pacific-10 Conference, which means anything can happen.
The Big Game? They've got The Play. The Victory Bell? We've seen what happens when Southern California plays UCLA. The Civil War? They've got that 0-0 Toilet Bowl.
And the Territorial Cup? Who would have thought the relatively unremarkable matchup between Arizona and Arizona State is played for what the NCAA calls the oldest intercollegiate rivalry trophy in the country?
Given all that, confusion reigns. Because of an unpredictable season, there is a multitude of scenarios for league standing and bowl prospects.
No. 8 USC against UCLA at Memorial Coliseum has the greatest implications.
If the Trojans (9-2, 6-2) win, they're headed back to the Rose Bowl. But incredibly, the Bruins (6-5, 5-3) would capture the Pac-10 title and a Rose Bowl berth if they win too - and get some help.
That's where the Territorial Cup figures in.
A loss by No. 13 Arizona State (9-2, 6-2) would keep the Bruins in Pasadena for the bowl season. But the Sun Devils have just as good of a chance at winning their third Pac-10 title and a slot in the Rose Bowl, if they beat Arizona and the Trojans lose to UCLA.
Got all that?
Then get ready for more. If USC heads to the Rose Bowl, Arizona State could still receive an at-large bid to a BCS bowl game, depending on whether Missouri or Oklahoma wins the Big 12 title game. The Sun Devils' likely destination: the Fiesta Bowl just down the road from campus.
The Pac-10 has agreements with six bowl games: The Rose Bowl, the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco, the Las Vegas Bowl and the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Civil War between Oregon (8-3, 5-3) and Oregon State (7-4, 5-3) will help decide the Pac-10 pecking order. Expect there to be more scoring than the Toilet Bowl in 1983, when the two played to a futile, scoreless draw.
Cal (6-5, 3-5) will be trying to help its bowl resume against Stanford (3-8, 2-6) in The Game, on the 25th anniversary of the Golden Bears' famous five-lateral kickoff return through the Stanford marching band.
Washington State already has won its big rivalry game, beating Washington 42-35 in the Apple Cup. Despite the victory, Cougars coach Bill Doba agreed to step down after compiling a 30-29 record in five seasons.
HONORS: Washington State quarterback Alex Brink, USC defensive end Lawrence Jackson and UCLA kicker Kai Forbath were the conference players of the week.
Brink completed 27 of 40 passes for 399 yards and five touchdowns in a 42-35 comeback victory over Washington in the Apple Cup. He threw scoring passes of 41, 19, 28, 40 and the game-winning 35-yard pass with 31 seconds left.
Brink finished his career with 10,913 yards, third on the Pac-10's passing list.
Jackson had eight tackles, including a school-record 5 1/2 tackles for loss and four sacks, in USC's 44-24 victory over Arizona State. He was also named the national defensive player of the week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Forbath made all three of his field goal attempts and his lone PAT attempt, accounting for 10 of UCLA's points in a 16-0 victory over Oregon. He has made 22 field goals this season, a new Pac-10 season record for freshmen.
PRICE IS RIGHT: Could the Washington State coaching vacancy mean the return of Mike Price?
That's what some Cougar boosters hope.
The school and coach Bill Doba mutually agreed for Doba to resign on Monday after Washington State finished 5-7 overall and 3-6 in the Pac-10. Athletic director Jim Sterk said there would be a nationwide search for a replacement, but there's no timetable for finding one.
The 61-year-old Price was 83-78 at Washington State from 1989-2002. He took the Cougars to their first Rose Bowl in 67 years, four other bowls, and was national coach of the year in 1997.
Price left to take the head job at Alabama, but never coached there after he was ousted following an embarrassing scandal stemming from his alleged actions in a topless bar in Pensacola, Fla.
Price landed at UTEP, where he has posted a record of 25-23 in four seasons. However, the Miners slumped to 5-7 in 2006 and 4-8 this season.
DESEAN'S DECISION: California receiver and punt returner DeSean Jackson, who could declare himself eligible for the NFL draft after this season, is still nursing a badly bruised leg.
He said he's unsure if he'll be able to play in the 110th Big Game.
Jackson, who has 60 catches for 681 yards and five touchdowns this season, bruised his quadriceps during a second-quarter punt return in Cal's loss at Washington. The junior missed the rest of the game, and a week of rehabilitation hasn't healed it completely.
``I'm feeling pretty good, but still not back to where I want to be,'' Jackson said. ``Closer to game time, I'll see how I feel.
``Every year I've played in the Big Game, it's been one of those great years. It would be good to keep that tradition going on. Right now, I just want to protect my knee.''
Tranghese hoping for better bowl structure for Big East in next BCS deal
Associated Press
Mike Tranghese remembers only too well what it was like negotiating the Big East's bowl tie-ins three years ago.
The conference had just lost Miami and Virginia Tech. Boston College was heading into a lame duck season before joining the Hurricanes and the Hokies in the ACC. Louisville, South Florida and Cincinnati, hardly established powers, were getting ready to enter the new-look league.
When Tranghese went to tout the reeling conference to bowl officials, it wasn't exactly an easy sell.
``When we negotiated these contracts, this league had not even played a football game,'' Tranghese said during a teleconference Monday. ``When we negotiated these contracts, we had no leverage, and to be quite candid and blunt, we were lucky to get what we got.''
Tranghese ended up brokering deals with the PapaJohns.com, Gator, Sun, Meineke Car Care, Texas and International bowls, most of which didn't exist when the original Big East began in the early 1990s.
Not that Tranghese cared. The bowls gave the conference much-needed exposure and allowed it to prove itself against decent competition. The Big East went 5-0 in bowl games last year and has won the last two Bowl Championship Series games the conference champion has played in.
Now, with No. 2 West Virginia on the verge of playing for a national title and several other schools emerging as serious contenders, Tranghese would like to up the ante on the Big East's bowl tie-ins when the next BCS contract comes up in a couple of years.
At the top of the list is getting dates against teams from the Big Ten and the SEC, two conferences that are not affiliated with any of the non-BCS bowls the Big East could play in.
``I think if we play those kind of teams everything else will take care of itself,'' Tranghese said. ``The game would have tremendous meaning because of the nature of the two conferences. I've talked to (Big Ten commissioner) Jim (Delany) and (SEC commissioner) Mike Slive about whether we can get it done. That's a big goal of mine.''
Tranghese would also like to partner with one more bowl game so a bowl-eligible team from the conference won't be left out of the mix.
Pittsburgh stayed home last season despite a 6-6 record. Louisville could also be stuck this season if it finishes 6-6 by beating Rutgers on Thursday night.
``We're looking at the creation of new bowls and talking with current partners as a way to perhaps upgrade some things,'' Tranghese said. ``We've had some very low-level, initial conversations with bowls who next time around might be interested in us.''
Not that the coaches are complaining about the current bowl structure. After leading the Bearcats to their first nine-win season in 54 years, coach Brian Kelly is simply happy to be playing during the holidays. Cincinnati will face Southern Mississippi in the Papajohns.com Bowl in Birmingham, Ala., on Dec. 22.
``At the end of the day, we're all playing for a national championship,'' he said. ``After that, a bowl game is just the icing on the cake.''
NO MORE FRIDAYS: In addition to tweaking the bowl system, Tranghese said he'd like to adjust the conference's TV agreement so teams no longer have to play Friday games.
The conference played six Friday games this season. Rutgers and Louisville played on Friday twice, with USF, West Virginia, Syracuse and Connecticut each making one appearance.
Playing on Fridays is not ideal, Tranghese said. But like the situation with bowl tie-ins, the conference didn't have many choices when it negotiated the last TV deal.
``People were telling us our league was lousy, and now I have to negotiate a TV contract,'' Tranghese said. ``We were left with little, little choice. ... If we hadn't played Friday games, we'd not have a TV contract and programs can't sustain that.''
STILL BRAWLING: While the 100th edition of ``The Backyard Brawl'' between Pittsburgh and West Virginia will have national implications, Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt said the game won't be much different than the 99 that came before it.
Long before the nation paid attention, the two schools located about 90 minutes apart judged their season based on how they did against the other.
Wannstedt was an offensive tackle for the Panthers from 1970-73. During his senior season, the Panthers won at Morgantown, beating coach Bobby Bowden and the Mountaineers 35-7. Wannstedt saw the game as a turning point in the program.
``We had had a few wins prior to that, but that was the first win I remember,'' said Wannstedt. ``The next week I think it gave our football team confidence. It was, 'Hey we beat a very good football team on the road and it can be a stepping stone.'''
The Panthers would go on to win the national championship in 1976.
West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez, a defensive back under coach Don Nehlen in the early 1980s, remembers thinking the Mountaineers had put the Panthers away during the 1982 game after teammate Darryl Talley blocked a punt.
Not exactly.
Pittsburgh quarterback Dan Marino led the Panthers to a comeback victory.
``We thought we got away with it,'' Rodriguez said. ``I'm sure it'll be the same intensity this weekend.''
The Panthers lead the all-time series 59-37-3, but the Mountaineers have won four of the last five and 11 of the last 15 in the series.
HONORS: Cincinnati quarterback Ben Mauk finished his breakout season for the Bearcats by putting together his finest performance of the season in a 52-31 win over Syracuse. He threw for 431 yards and four TDs and ran for another score, earning Big East offensive player of the week honors for the second time this season.
West Virginia linebacker Mortty Ivy was the defensive player of the week after recording a career-high 11 tackles and a forced fumble in a 66-21 win over Connecticut.
West Virginia kicker/punter Pat McAfee was the special teams player of the week for the third time this season after scoring 11 points and averaging 52.7 yards on three punts.
QUICK HITS: South Florida leads the nation in takeaways with 40. Cincinnati is second with 39. ... Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm became the conference's all-time leading passer in a loss at South Florida on Nov. 17. Brohm entered his final game against Rutgers with 9,719 yards in three seasons in the Big East, surpassing the record of 9,565 set by former Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey. ... Louisville kicker Art Carmody can become the all-time leading scorer in Football Bowl Subdivision history with two points against Rutgers. Carmody, the 2006 Lou Groza winner as the nation's top kicker, has 422 career points. Houston kicker Roman Anderson set the record of 423 between 1988-91.
Teams out of steam?: UT, LSU defenses coming off marathon regular-season enders
The Southeastern Conference Championship game might evolve into a battle of legs, and that has little to do with place-kickers and punters.
No. 14 Tennessee (9-3, 6-2 SEC), which won its first SEC Eastern Division title since 2004 with a 52-50, four-overtime win against Kentucky, faces fifth-ranked LSU, which fell from atop the college polls with a 50-48 three-overtime loss Friday against Arkansas.
After blowing leads of 24-7 and 31-14, the Vols’ defense was on the field 110 plays against the Wildcats. LSU’s defense surrendered 385 rushing yards and played 77 snaps against the Razorbacks.
“That will be a challenge, certainly,” said UT coach Phillip Fulmer, 2-2 in four SEC title games. “I think the fact we changed a few weeks ago to light work on Sunday and Monday off will help our team. And there will be a lot of adrenaline just in our preparations for this game.
“We have to get our work in on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to prepare. But our defense was on the field for 110 snaps. I think that’s an NCAA record of some sorts. We have to take that into account but at the same time get our work in to prepare for a really fine LSU football team.”
The Tigers (10-2, 6-2), who spent much of the season ranked No. 1 or 2 in the polls but slipped because of their three-overtime losses to Arkansas and Kentucky, must overcome mental, rather than physical, obstacles, according to coach Les Miles. LSU likely would have played for a national championship if it had defeated Arkansas and then won an SEC title this week.
“I don’t think the fatigue coming off this weekend is the issue,” said Miles, who lost the 2005 SEC title game to Georgia. “I think the ability to put this game behind us and recognize that the opportunity, it’s not about playing in the Sugar Bowl or even the game after (the SEC Championship), it is fundamentally about winning a conference championship. And what a great opportunity it is for this team to be able to go to Atlanta and play for, in our opinion, the finest football conference championship in the country. There certainly is some disappointment off some goals left behind last Friday, but I think everybody in this building will come to recognize that when we start the season out, first and foremost it’s for the West and then the conference championship, and that opportunity is still before this team.”
While LSU clinched that opportunity several weeks ago, Tennessee needed the fourth overtime of its 12th game to ensure it would represent the SEC East. A loss would have dropped the Vols to third in their division and sent Georgia to its fourth SEC title contest since 2002.
“We’ve been an underdog all year long it seems like,” Fulmer said. “I’m sure we’ll be an underdog to LSU. There are probably not many people on this teleconference who think we’re going to win Saturday except for me. LSU is a very talented football team. They would not have been ranked No. 1 for a lot of the season if not. ... I like our football team. I like the way they’ve gone about their business. What shortcomings they have, it hasn’t been an unwillingness to work or prepare or play hard.”
TIGER TALES: Miles said quarterback Matt Flynn, who injured his shoulder on the last play of regulation against Arkansas, likely won’t practice until Tuesday but is expected to play. If Flynn can’t play or re-aggravates the injury, LSU would hand over its offense to sophomore Ryan Perrilloux.
“I think Ryan’s improved throughout the year,” Miles said. “He has a much greater command of the offense. I would have no problem with him stepping in and playing. Granted, our starter is flynn, but I would have no problem at any time inserting Ryan.”
Other banged up Tigers Miles said should return are tailback Trindon Holliday, an NCAA champion sprinter, and safety Curtis Taylor. All-America defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey is battling a lower-back bruise but isn’t bothered by a knee injury, Miles said.
ORANGE PEELS: Fulmer said he’s worried that sophomore tailback Montario Hardesty might not be available this week. Hardesty tweaked a lingering ankle injury during the Kentucky game. If Hardesty can’t play, true freshman Lennon Creer would be the No. 2 back since LaMarcus Coker was kicked off the team earlier this month. Freshman cornerback Brent Vinson has a left shoulder injury that will require surgery after the season but Fulmer said he expects him to play. Vinson’s shoulder pops out of place with regularity, as it did in an overtime session against the Wildcats. Senior defensive end Xavier Mitchell suffered a shoulder/neck stinger for the second consecutive week and will have a light week in practice but should play.
thedailytimes.com
Houston names Thurmond interim football coach
November 28th, 2007
Houston, TX (Sports Network) - The University of Houston named Chris Thurmond as its interim football coach to replace Art Briles, the school announced Wednesday.
Thurmond, who has been the team's recruiting coordinator and assistant coach the last two seasons, will guide the Cougars through the Texas Bowl on December 28.
"Chris Thurmond has a lot of experience," said Dave Maggard, the university's director of athletics. "He's been around a long time. He is somebody that is respected on the staff, and by the players. Right now he is the person best to be the interim (head coach) and take us through the bowl."
Prior to joining the Cougars' staff, Thurmond spent three years at Texas A&M. He also spent two seasons coaching cornerbacks at Alabama and had separate stints at TCU, Tulsa, Oklahoma and East Carolina.
"The whole season is a tribute to Coach Briles and the staff," said Thurmond, "and nothing ever happens by any one individual or any one group. It was a team effort throughout the year, and it will continue to be a team effort. That's all we can do.
"Right now, I have been designated as the guy to keep the team together, and that's what we'll do."
The announcement came the same day Briles resigned to accept the head coaching job at Baylor. He was 34-28 in five seasons at Houston.
Osborne designates himself interim Nebraska football coach so he can recruit
November 29, 2007
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -Tom Osborne is back as Nebraska's football coach - but just temporarily.
Osborne, already the interim athletic director, on Wednesday declared himself interim head coach until he hires a successor to Bill Callahan.
The interim coach designation lets Osborne visit prospective recruits away from campus, athletic department communications chief Randy York said Thursday.
The 70-year-old Osborne passed the NCAA certification test on his first try Wednesday, York said. Osborne went on the road to recruit Thursday and Friday, and the school sent a letter notifying the Big 12 of Osborne's new title, York said.
Once a hire is made, Osborne could continue to recruit until the new coach assembles a full staff of nine assistants, York said.
As the Cornhuskers' head coach from 1973 to 1997, Osborne won 255 games and three national championships.
Osborne said in a radio interview with the Husker Sports Network on Wednesday that he hoped to have a new coach selected by next week. He already interviewed Buffalo coach Turner Gill and LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini and spoke informally with Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe, according to media reports.
Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly told local radio station WCKY on Wednesday that he had not been contacted by Nebraska.
Two assistants from Callahan's staff, defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove and cornerbacks coach Phil Elmassian, are no longer recruiting for Nebraska, York said.