By John McMullen
The Phanatic Magazine
"Win if you can, lose if you must -- but always cheat."
-Legendary pro wrestling manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The NFL slapped Bill Belichick for being a bad boy on Thursday.
By now, you have all heard that the Patriots mentor was fined the maximum of $500,000 by the league for the use of equipment to videotape an opposing team's offensive or defensive signals.
In addition, commissioner Roger Goodell also notified the Patriots that they would forfeit their own first-round draft choice in 2008 if they reach the playoffs, or their own second-round and third-round picks if they do not qualify for the playoffs. The club was also fined $250,000.
This all stems from the Pats 38-14 thrashing of former Belichick lemming Eric Mangini and the New York Jets on Sunday when an employee of the Patriots was caught filming the Jets' sideline and had the video equipment confiscated.
"This episode represents a calculated and deliberate attempt to avoid longstanding rules designed to encourage fair play and promote honest competition on the playing field," commissioner Goodell wrote in a letter to the Patriots.
Wow an NFL coach in a deliberate attempt to avoid the rules. What's next? Players using performance enhancing drugs for an edge?
The fact that Belichick was caught against the Jets was not surprising, since rumors are swirling that Mangini, who got his start as a low level assistant on the Pats, used to be the guy doing the filming for Belichick.
Think about that and Mangini sure looks like nothing more than a loser and a crybaby. Sure the whole episode validates reports of Belichick's legendary arrogance, but it also underlines the fact that the Man-Genius is not in Belichick's class.
Mangini could have used Belichick's methods against him, sending in fake signs and setting up New England for the teams' second matchup in mid-December.
But, after getting spanked, Mangini stomped his feet like a spoiled child, exposed the evil Belichick and forced the epitome of haughtiness to swallow his pride and apologize.
"I accept full responsibility for the actions that led to tonight's ruling,"Belichick said in a statement. "Once again, I apologize to the Kraft family and every person directly or indirectly associated with the New England Patriots for the embarrassment, distraction and penalty my mistake caused. I also apologize to Patriots fans and would like to thank them for their support during the past few days and throughout my career.
"As the commissioner acknowledged, our use of sideline video had no impact on the outcome of last week's game. We have never used sideline video to obtain a competitive advantage while the game was in progress.
"Part of my job as head coach is to ensure that our football operations are conducted in compliance of the league rules and all accepted interpretations of them. My interpretation of a rule in the constitution and bylaws was incorrect."
It's not the first time the 36-year-old Mangini, a baby by NFL coaching standards, has acted like an immature lout this year. He embarrassed his starting quarterback, Chad Pennington, on the sidelines after a poor preseason performance against the Minnesota Vikings, and virtually shoved his opinionated left guard, Pete Kendall, out the door when he failed to fall in line.
And at the end of it all, Mangini accomplished only one thing. On December 16, the Patriots will rout the Jets...Guaranteed.
If Nascar has given American pop culture anything, it's this -- If you ain't cheatin...you ain't trying.
In Mangini's world, If you ain't winning...You are cryin'.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Thursday, September 13, 2007
A look at Eagles-Redskins
By Tim McManus
The Phanatic Magazine
A big game...already.
Let one slip in this league, especially against a bad team, and the weight shifts violently. Redskins-Eagles is no longer just a formality.
Here are a few things to keep an eye on when the teams hook up Monday night.
Mahe Mahe
Everyone's breathing a bit easier since Reno Mahe was signed...except for maybe Mahe himself. Reports prior to last week's debacle was that the uninspiring but reliable return specialist was badly out of shape, making him more or less a last resort.
Well, Jeremy Bloom turned out to be a bust; Greg Lewis blows his tryout then suffers a hip pointer; JR Reed made a game-deciding gaffe; Lito Sheppard injured his knee...Yep, last resort time.
He'll catch the ball, but expect even less speed than in year's past.
Big man's wheel
Shawn Andrews put forth a poor performance against Green Bay. He was whistled twice for holding calls early and -- along with the rest of the front unit -- offered little protection for Donovan McNabb on the day.
The optimistic view is that he's working to get back to form after being sidelined with an improving ankle injury. The pessimistic slant would suggest this could very well be a season-long ailment, signaling a down year for the big man.
McNabb's comfort level
With the offensive line's poor performance, McNabb was without a secure pocket for most of the game, and lacked the escapability that he has made a career out of.
Without either athleticism or protection to depend on, No. 5's struggle will likely continue.
Eagles D against the run
The last time these two teams met, the Redskins amassed 210 rushing yards, headlined by Ladell Betts' 171 yards on 33 carries. The interior line has been beefed up since and performed well against the Packers, but need to keep it up.
The Phanatic Magazine
A big game...already.
Let one slip in this league, especially against a bad team, and the weight shifts violently. Redskins-Eagles is no longer just a formality.
Here are a few things to keep an eye on when the teams hook up Monday night.
Mahe Mahe
Everyone's breathing a bit easier since Reno Mahe was signed...except for maybe Mahe himself. Reports prior to last week's debacle was that the uninspiring but reliable return specialist was badly out of shape, making him more or less a last resort.
Well, Jeremy Bloom turned out to be a bust; Greg Lewis blows his tryout then suffers a hip pointer; JR Reed made a game-deciding gaffe; Lito Sheppard injured his knee...Yep, last resort time.
He'll catch the ball, but expect even less speed than in year's past.
Big man's wheel
Shawn Andrews put forth a poor performance against Green Bay. He was whistled twice for holding calls early and -- along with the rest of the front unit -- offered little protection for Donovan McNabb on the day.
The optimistic view is that he's working to get back to form after being sidelined with an improving ankle injury. The pessimistic slant would suggest this could very well be a season-long ailment, signaling a down year for the big man.
McNabb's comfort level
With the offensive line's poor performance, McNabb was without a secure pocket for most of the game, and lacked the escapability that he has made a career out of.
Without either athleticism or protection to depend on, No. 5's struggle will likely continue.
Eagles D against the run
The last time these two teams met, the Redskins amassed 210 rushing yards, headlined by Ladell Betts' 171 yards on 33 carries. The interior line has been beefed up since and performed well against the Packers, but need to keep it up.
Belichick, Pats slammed by NFL
-Courtesy of the National Football League
New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick has been fined the maximum amount under the NFL Constitution and By-Laws of $500,000 for violating league policy last Sunday on the use of equipment to videotape an opposing team’s offensive or defensive signals, the NFL announced today.
In addition, Commissioner Roger Goodell also notified the Patriots that they would forfeit their own first-round draft choice in 2008 if they reach the playoffs, or their own second-round and third-round picks if they do not qualify for the playoffs, and that the club would be fined $250,000.
“This episode represents a calculated and deliberate attempt to avoid longstanding rules designed to encourage fair play and promote honest competition on the playing field,” Commissioner Goodell wrote in a letter to the Patriots.
NFL policy states that “no video recording devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches’ booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game” and that all video shooting locations for club coaching purposes “must be enclosed on all sides with a roof overhead.”
In a memo to NFL head coaches and general managers on September 6, 2006, NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Ray Anderson said, “Videotaping of any type, including but not limited to taping of an opponent’s offensive or defensive signals, is prohibited on the sidelines, in the coaches’ booth, in the locker room, or at any other locations accessible to club staff members during the game.”
In his review of the facts, Commissioner Goodell determined that the Patriots’ use last Sunday of the video camera, which was seized before the end of the first quarter, had no impact on the outcome of the Patriots-New York Jets game.
Commissioner Goodell also believes that Patriots ownership was unaware of Coach Belichick’s action, but determined that penalties should be imposed on the club because “Coach Belichick not only serves as the head coach but also has substantial control over all aspects of New England’s football operations. His actions and decisions are properly attributed to the club.”
Commissioner Goodell informed the Patriots that the NFL would closely review and monitor the Patriots’ coaching video program, effective immediately.
“I specifically considered whether to impose a suspension on Coach Belichick,” Commissioner Goodell wrote. “I have determined not to do so, largely because I believe that the discipline I am imposing of a maximum fine and forfeiture of a first-round draft choice, or multiple draft choices, is in fact more significant and long-lasting, and therefore more effective, than a suspension.”
New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick has been fined the maximum amount under the NFL Constitution and By-Laws of $500,000 for violating league policy last Sunday on the use of equipment to videotape an opposing team’s offensive or defensive signals, the NFL announced today.
In addition, Commissioner Roger Goodell also notified the Patriots that they would forfeit their own first-round draft choice in 2008 if they reach the playoffs, or their own second-round and third-round picks if they do not qualify for the playoffs, and that the club would be fined $250,000.
“This episode represents a calculated and deliberate attempt to avoid longstanding rules designed to encourage fair play and promote honest competition on the playing field,” Commissioner Goodell wrote in a letter to the Patriots.
NFL policy states that “no video recording devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches’ booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game” and that all video shooting locations for club coaching purposes “must be enclosed on all sides with a roof overhead.”
In a memo to NFL head coaches and general managers on September 6, 2006, NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Ray Anderson said, “Videotaping of any type, including but not limited to taping of an opponent’s offensive or defensive signals, is prohibited on the sidelines, in the coaches’ booth, in the locker room, or at any other locations accessible to club staff members during the game.”
In his review of the facts, Commissioner Goodell determined that the Patriots’ use last Sunday of the video camera, which was seized before the end of the first quarter, had no impact on the outcome of the Patriots-New York Jets game.
Commissioner Goodell also believes that Patriots ownership was unaware of Coach Belichick’s action, but determined that penalties should be imposed on the club because “Coach Belichick not only serves as the head coach but also has substantial control over all aspects of New England’s football operations. His actions and decisions are properly attributed to the club.”
Commissioner Goodell informed the Patriots that the NFL would closely review and monitor the Patriots’ coaching video program, effective immediately.
“I specifically considered whether to impose a suspension on Coach Belichick,” Commissioner Goodell wrote. “I have determined not to do so, largely because I believe that the discipline I am imposing of a maximum fine and forfeiture of a first-round draft choice, or multiple draft choices, is in fact more significant and long-lasting, and therefore more effective, than a suspension.”
Flyers release four players
The Philadelphia Flyers released defensemen Adam Bourque-LeBlanc, Tysen Dowzak and Max Ouimet-Desjardins and forward Patrick LeBeau on Thursday. Each player was invited to training camp on a try-out basis.
The Flyers open their 2007 Training Camp on Friday, September 14 at The Virtua Center Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey.
The Flyers open their 2007 Training Camp on Friday, September 14 at The Virtua Center Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey.
Fantasy Football Rush: Week 2
With Week 1 in the books, The Phanatic Magazine's Michael Rushton tells you who should start and who should sit in Week 2.
Check out the Fantasy Football Rush now.
Check out the Fantasy Football Rush now.
Eagles Thursday injury report
Cornerback Lito Sheppard is out with a sprained MCL.
Wide receiver/kick returner Greg Lewis did not practice (hip).
Tight end Matt Schoebel (groin) was limited.
Quarterback A.J. Feeley (hand), cornerback Joselio Hanson (concussion), defensive end Jevon Kearse (shoulder) and tight end L.J. Smith (groin) all practiced.
Wide receiver/kick returner Greg Lewis did not practice (hip).
Tight end Matt Schoebel (groin) was limited.
Quarterback A.J. Feeley (hand), cornerback Joselio Hanson (concussion), defensive end Jevon Kearse (shoulder) and tight end L.J. Smith (groin) all practiced.
Formers Rutgers player heads North of the Border
-Courtesy of Rutgers University
Former Rutgers standout Ramel Meekins (Westwood, N.J.) signed a practice squad contract with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. Meekins, who was one of the final cuts from the Indianapolis Colts training camp, will join former RU and Eagles quarterback Mike McMahon (Montreal) in the CFL.
Meekins finished his college career with 142 tackles, 29 tackles for a loss, 17 sacks and four fumble recoveries. He was named team Defensive MVP as a senior in 2006 and was twice named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week. Meekins played three of four preseason games with the defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts this summer.
Former Rutgers standout Ramel Meekins (Westwood, N.J.) signed a practice squad contract with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. Meekins, who was one of the final cuts from the Indianapolis Colts training camp, will join former RU and Eagles quarterback Mike McMahon (Montreal) in the CFL.
Meekins finished his college career with 142 tackles, 29 tackles for a loss, 17 sacks and four fumble recoveries. He was named team Defensive MVP as a senior in 2006 and was twice named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week. Meekins played three of four preseason games with the defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts this summer.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Flyers individual game tickets to go on sale
-Courtesy of the Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that individual game tickets for the Flyers' 41 home regular season games for the 2007-08 season will go on sale Saturday, September 15, at 10:00 a.m. Tickets for the Flyers' regular season home games can be purchased online at www.philadelphiaflyers.com
Ticket prices for the 2007-08 regular season home games at the Wachovia Center are $89 (Lower Level), $58 (Mezzanine Level, Section 201 through 221A, 223 and 224, Rows 1 through 7 and Mezzanine Level, Section 201 through 202, 212 through 214 and 224, Rows 8 through 11), $47.50 (Mezzanine Level, Section 203 through 211, 215, 219 through 221A and 223, Rows 8 through 11), $42 (Mezzanine Level, Section 201 through 205A, 209 through 217A, 221 and 221A and 223 through 224, Rows 12 through 15) and $24.25 (Mezzanine Level, Section 206 through 208 and 218 through 220, Rows 12 through 15).
For the first time, the Flyers are offering All-You-Can-Eat Seating. For the ticket price of $66, fans can enjoy all the hot dogs, popcorn, chips and salsa, and soda that they can eat and drink at no additional cost. Seats are located in the Mezzanine Level, Section 216 through 218, Rows 8 through 11.
The Flyers will continue to offer tickets in the two Lehigh Valley Dairy Farms Family Sections (Mezzanine Level, Sections 222 and 222A) this season. Tickets for all October and November games in the Family Section, priced at $20 for adults and $10 for children, will also be available for sale on Saturday, September 15, at 10 a.m.
The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that individual game tickets for the Flyers' 41 home regular season games for the 2007-08 season will go on sale Saturday, September 15, at 10:00 a.m. Tickets for the Flyers' regular season home games can be purchased online at www.philadelphiaflyers.com
Ticket prices for the 2007-08 regular season home games at the Wachovia Center are $89 (Lower Level), $58 (Mezzanine Level, Section 201 through 221A, 223 and 224, Rows 1 through 7 and Mezzanine Level, Section 201 through 202, 212 through 214 and 224, Rows 8 through 11), $47.50 (Mezzanine Level, Section 203 through 211, 215, 219 through 221A and 223, Rows 8 through 11), $42 (Mezzanine Level, Section 201 through 205A, 209 through 217A, 221 and 221A and 223 through 224, Rows 12 through 15) and $24.25 (Mezzanine Level, Section 206 through 208 and 218 through 220, Rows 12 through 15).
For the first time, the Flyers are offering All-You-Can-Eat Seating. For the ticket price of $66, fans can enjoy all the hot dogs, popcorn, chips and salsa, and soda that they can eat and drink at no additional cost. Seats are located in the Mezzanine Level, Section 216 through 218, Rows 8 through 11.
The Flyers will continue to offer tickets in the two Lehigh Valley Dairy Farms Family Sections (Mezzanine Level, Sections 222 and 222A) this season. Tickets for all October and November games in the Family Section, priced at $20 for adults and $10 for children, will also be available for sale on Saturday, September 15, at 10 a.m.
Sixers sign former Penn State star
The Philadelphia 76ers signed free-agent center Calvin Booth Wednesday.
The 6-foot-11 Booth has averaged 3.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.03 blocks in 327 career NBA games over eight seasons. He has shot 45.3% (458-1,110) from the floor and 75.3% (232-308) from the foul line, while also averaging 3.85 blocks per 48 minutes played. In 2000-01, he led the NBA with 5.71 blocks per 48 minutes played. More >>
The 6-foot-11 Booth has averaged 3.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.03 blocks in 327 career NBA games over eight seasons. He has shot 45.3% (458-1,110) from the floor and 75.3% (232-308) from the foul line, while also averaging 3.85 blocks per 48 minutes played. In 2000-01, he led the NBA with 5.71 blocks per 48 minutes played. More >>
From villain to savior
By John McMullen
The Phanatic Magazine
By nature, all NFL coaches are arrogant.
There are degrees, of course. From Mike Tice’s folksy “let me teach you what I know approach ” to Brian Billick’s “How dare you question me -- I invented the game gimmick.”
That said, all NFL mentors subscribe to one theory rather religiously -- If you listen to the fans, you will end up be sitting next to them.
In this town, the head coach is a lot closer to the Billick side of the coaching spectrum.
Andy Reid is as stubborn and arrogant as they come. Only Billick’s professorial nature makes him a more unlikable character than an Eagles coach, who also thinks he reinvented the wheel that is the game of football. More >>
The Phanatic Magazine
By nature, all NFL coaches are arrogant.
There are degrees, of course. From Mike Tice’s folksy “let me teach you what I know approach ” to Brian Billick’s “How dare you question me -- I invented the game gimmick.”
That said, all NFL mentors subscribe to one theory rather religiously -- If you listen to the fans, you will end up be sitting next to them.
In this town, the head coach is a lot closer to the Billick side of the coaching spectrum.
Andy Reid is as stubborn and arrogant as they come. Only Billick’s professorial nature makes him a more unlikable character than an Eagles coach, who also thinks he reinvented the wheel that is the game of football. More >>
Sixers trying to extend Iguodala
The Camden Courier Post is reporting that Sixers president Billy King plans to have dinner with the agent of Andre Iguodala sometime next week in an effort to extend the young star's contract.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Around the NFC
By Greg Wiley
The Phanatic Magazine
Here's a brief rundown of what's hot with other teams in the conference.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys (1-0)
Rundown: The offense was clicking against a weak Giants defense in a 45-35 win Sunday night. Head coach Wade Phillips should start thinking about making Marion Barber III the starter at running back. The offense looked a lot better when he was out there rather than Julius Jones. On the defensive side of the ball, the secondary was abused for 314 passing yards and four touchdowns. Obviously, things need to change there for Dallas to have the successful
season that was anticipated.
Injuries: DT Jason Ferguson (torn right biceps) will be placed on IR; LB Kevin
Burnett (ankle) questionable; CB Terence Newman (foot) questionable; LB Greg
Ellis (Achilles) questionable; WR Terry Glenn (knee) out.
Next: Sunday at Miami, 4:05 p.m. (et).
New York Giants (0-1)
Rundown: The injuries are starting to pile up for the G-men. Starting QB Eli Manning, starting RB Brandon Jacobs and starting DE Osi Umenyiora will likely miss Sunday's game against Green Bay. Without Jacobs the team can still win, but the bottom line is that no Eli, no win against a tough Packers defense. If New York wants any chance of winning, the defense is going to have to pick it up. Giving up 478 total yards to the Cowboys is horrible.
Injuries: DT William Joseph (back), CB Kevin Dockery (ankle) and DE Osi Umenyiora (knee) are questionable; LB Gerris Wilkinson (knee) and QB Eli Manning (shoulder) are doubtful; RB Brandon Jacobs (knee) and WR/KR David Tyree (wrist) are out.
Next: Sunday vs. Green Bay 1:00 p.m. (et).
Washington Redskins (1-0)
Rundown: Although it was important for the team to get off to a good start, a season-opening 16-13 OT win against Miami doesn't provide much of a barometer of where this Redskins team really is. RB Clinton Portis continues to be the offensive threat and appears to be joined in that category with WR Antwaan Randle El. Portis had 98 yards rushing and Randle-El tallied 162
receiving yards. QB Jason Campbell is shaky at best. He completed just 12-of-21 passes for 222 yards with two picks. Tackle Jon Jansen dislocated his ankle, marking a big loss on the offensive line for the Redskins.
Injuries: DE Phillip Daniels (foot) and T Todd Wade (shoulder) are probable; DB Vernon Fox (groin) and TE Cody Boyd (shoulder) are questionable; T Jon Jansen (ankle) is expected to be placed on IR.
Next: Monday at Philadelphia 8:30 p.m. (et).
NFC North
Green Bay Packers (1-0)
Rundown: The Eagles are well aware of this team's strengths and weaknesses. After a 16-13 win over Philly, the Packers have to consider themselves lucky. The offense was horrendous. QB Brett Favre was throwing the ball all over the place, locking in on WR Donald Driver too much. RB Brandon Jackson has to provide more rushing the ball for this team to win. The defense, on the other hand, is very strong. With one of the best linebacker groups in the league, this team will have a chance to win plenty of games.
Injuries: CB Al Harris (elbow) is probable; WR Greg Jennings (hamstring), DEMichael Montgomery (knee), S Aaron Rouse, T Tony Moll (neck) and RB VernandMorency (leg) are questionable.
Next: Sunday at NY Giants, 1:00 p.m. (et)
Minnesota Vikings (1-0)
Rundown: Ladies and gentlemen, introducing Adrian Peterson. The rookie RB had a strong debut, running for 103 yards and breaking off a 60-yard TD reception in Sunday's 24-3 win. Keep in mind that this is against the Atlanta Falcons, a franchise whose last worry right now is winning games. QB Tarvaris Jackson has yet to prove anything and probably won't get the chance to anytime soon. Expect head coach Brad Childress to continue to keep everything close to the vest until the QB proves his worth. The Vikings have a strong defense and it will be put to the test on Sunday at Detroit, a well-balanced offensive team.
Injuries: RB Chester Taylor (oblique), S Mike Doss(calf) and WR Robert Ferguson (ankle) is questionable.
Next: Sunday at Detroit, 4:05 p.m. (et)
Detroit Lions (1-0)
Rundown: Well, one week down and Jon Kitna's preseason prediction is looking pretty good. The QB said to expect at least 10 wins and if rookie WR Calvin Johnson is as good as advertised, that just might happen. Johnson had four catches for 70 yards with a TD in a 36-21 win over lowly Oakland on Sunday. Kitna was also strong, competing 27-of-36 passes for 289 yard with 3 TDs. The downside is the defense. Allowing almost 400 yards to a Raiders offense led by Josh McCown and letting the Black and Silver to convert seven third downs while holding the ball for over 33 minutes is tough to deal with. It looks like the offense is going to have to play a little more ball control.
Injuries: RB T.J. Duckett (ankle) and QB Dan Orlovsky (toe) are questionable.
Next: Sunday vs. Minnesota, 4:05 p.m. (et)
Chicago Bears (0-1)
Rundown: With four turnovers on Sunday, you wonder how long it will be before the offense and defense become split on this team. QB Rex Grossman continues to be an enigma and if RB Cedric Benson wants to keep the job that was handed to him this offseason, he has to have better hands himself. He lost a fumble against the hard-hitting Chargers defense in Sunday's 14-3 loss in San Diego. The one thing that was certain when Thomas Jones was with the club, hew wasn't going to turn the ball over. And that's the way this team is going to win, keep the ball and let the defense put them in position to score.
Injuries: TE Greg Olsen (knee) is questionable; FB Obafemi Ayanbadejo (suspended) is out until Week 5.
Next: Sunday vs. Kansas City, 4:15 p.m. (et)
NFC South
Carolina Panthers (1-0)
Rundown: Optimism is in the air in Carolina, as the Panthers looked very impressive in pulling away late from the St. Louis Rams for a 27-13 win on Sunday. Jake Delhomme threw three TD passes, two to WR Drew Carter. Steve Smith was Delhomme's main target with 118 yards and a TD on seven catches. DeShaun Foster was also able to run for 94 yards, setting the all-time
franchise mark in that category along the way. With games against Houston, Atlanta and Tampa in the next three weeks, the Panthers have the chance to be undefeated come a Week 5 showdown against the Saints.
Injuries: S Nate Salley (knee) and DE Stanley McClover (thigh) are questionable.
Next: Sunday vs. Houston, 1 p.m. (et)
Atlanta Falcons (0-1)
Rundown: What is there to say about the Falcons? Nothing really. This team is as bad you think. There are plenty of questions after a 24-3 loss at Minnesota in Week 1 and there are no answers in sight.
Injuries: S Chris Crocker (knee) is questionable; DT Rod Coleman (knee) is out.
Next: Sunday at Jacksonville, 1 p.m. (et)
New Orleans Saints (0-1)
Rundown: The high-powered offense that was the Saints last season looked lost in their season-opening 41-10 setback to the Colts. Drew Brees was pressured all night and had a number of passes knocked down and Reggie Bush was held in check. Those two players are the ones who have to get on track if team is going to equal last season's output. The offensive line also needs to step up and create passing lanes for Brees, who is not as tall as other QBs and needs the passing lane to be completely effective.
Injuries: TE Mark Campbell is questionable.
Next: Sunday at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m. (et)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1)
Rundown: I've never a seen a Cadillac in the shop as much as Bucs RB Cadillac Williams. The third-year back is hurt again, this time he is doubtful for Weeks 2's game against New Orleans with a rub injury. Unless this team finds a running game, it is in serious trouble. The offense is just not good enough to produce without a productive back. The defense has always been the strong point of this squad, but being on the field for more than 30 minutes a game takes its toll.
Injuries: WR David Boston (foot) and DB Brian Kelly (groin) are questionable; RB Carnell Williams (ribs) is doubtful.
Next: Sunday versus New Orleans, 1 p.m. (et)
NFC West
San Francisco 49ers (1-0)
Rundown: Survived a horrid offensive performance on Monday night to escape with a 20-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals. The offensive line has to do a better job protecting QB Alex Smith, who was pressured all night. Smith, though, has to recognize that he has the mobility to make teams pay by using his legs and running. The broken hand RB Frank Gore suffered in the preseason is clearly bothering him, as he dropped a couple of catchable passes. The revamped defense impressed and it will have to perform all season as it doesn't look like the offense is going blow too many teams out.
Injuries: CB Donald Strickland (chest) and S Doshon Goldson are questionable.
Next: Sunday at St. Louis, 1 p.m. (et)
Seattle Seahawks (1-0)
Rundown: Seattle overcame a lackluster first half to down the Buccaneers 20-6 on Sunday. In an effort to bolster its offense, which likely lost wide out D.J. Hackett for the season with an ankle injury, the team acquired backup QB Charlie Frye from the Browns on Tuesday. The move allows the athletic Seneca Wallace to move to a wide out position from his backup QB spot. Wallace is not a game-changing player, but has the potential to become a serious offensive
threat. It will be interesting to see how, if at all, Wallace is used against an aggressive Cardinals defense this week.
Injuries: LB LeRoy Hill (foot) and WR Ben Obomanu (hamstring) are questionable; WR D.J. Hackett (ankle) is out indefinitely.
Next: Sunday at Arizona, 4:05 p.m. (et)
Arizona Cardinals (0-1)
Rundown: The Cardinals defense was impressive in Monday night's 20-17 setbackto the 49ers. The brought constant pressure and if not for a big run by Smith in the fourth quarter it might be the Cardinals who are 1-0, not San Francisco. QB Matt Leinart made some bad decisions and needs to improve upon that if Arizona is to contend this weekend against Seattle. On a positive
note, the rushing game appears to be back on track, as Edgerrin James ran for 92 yards on 26 carries.
Injuries: DT Alan Branch (hand), DT Ross Kolodziej (knee) and C Nick Leckey (knee) are questionable; C Al Johnson (knee) is doubtful.
Next: Sunday vs. Seattle, 4:05 p.m. (et)
St. Louis Rams (0-1)
Rundown: The Greatest Show on Turf appears to be a shadow of itself. Even though the Rams still have the offensive threats they did in the Mike Martz era, the offense is becoming harder to come by. With only 238 yards of offense in a 27-13 opener loss at home against a suspect Panthers team, the Rams have to take a good hard look at themselves. Highly regarded RB Steven Jackson had a horrible day, fumbling twice and rushing for only 58 yards on 18 carries. He has the opportunity to find himself against a 49ers team on Sunday, but the loss of OL Orlando Pace is going to hurt his performance.
Injuries: WR Drew Bennett (thigh) is probable; LB Pisa Tinoisamoa (ankle) and DE Victor Adeyanju (knee) are questionable; G Richie Incognito (ankle) is doubtful; T Orlando Pace (shoulder) will be placed on injured reserve.
Next: Sunday vs. San Francisco, 1 p.m. (et)
The Phanatic Magazine
Here's a brief rundown of what's hot with other teams in the conference.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys (1-0)
Rundown: The offense was clicking against a weak Giants defense in a 45-35 win Sunday night. Head coach Wade Phillips should start thinking about making Marion Barber III the starter at running back. The offense looked a lot better when he was out there rather than Julius Jones. On the defensive side of the ball, the secondary was abused for 314 passing yards and four touchdowns. Obviously, things need to change there for Dallas to have the successful
season that was anticipated.
Injuries: DT Jason Ferguson (torn right biceps) will be placed on IR; LB Kevin
Burnett (ankle) questionable; CB Terence Newman (foot) questionable; LB Greg
Ellis (Achilles) questionable; WR Terry Glenn (knee) out.
Next: Sunday at Miami, 4:05 p.m. (et).
New York Giants (0-1)
Rundown: The injuries are starting to pile up for the G-men. Starting QB Eli Manning, starting RB Brandon Jacobs and starting DE Osi Umenyiora will likely miss Sunday's game against Green Bay. Without Jacobs the team can still win, but the bottom line is that no Eli, no win against a tough Packers defense. If New York wants any chance of winning, the defense is going to have to pick it up. Giving up 478 total yards to the Cowboys is horrible.
Injuries: DT William Joseph (back), CB Kevin Dockery (ankle) and DE Osi Umenyiora (knee) are questionable; LB Gerris Wilkinson (knee) and QB Eli Manning (shoulder) are doubtful; RB Brandon Jacobs (knee) and WR/KR David Tyree (wrist) are out.
Next: Sunday vs. Green Bay 1:00 p.m. (et).
Washington Redskins (1-0)
Rundown: Although it was important for the team to get off to a good start, a season-opening 16-13 OT win against Miami doesn't provide much of a barometer of where this Redskins team really is. RB Clinton Portis continues to be the offensive threat and appears to be joined in that category with WR Antwaan Randle El. Portis had 98 yards rushing and Randle-El tallied 162
receiving yards. QB Jason Campbell is shaky at best. He completed just 12-of-21 passes for 222 yards with two picks. Tackle Jon Jansen dislocated his ankle, marking a big loss on the offensive line for the Redskins.
Injuries: DE Phillip Daniels (foot) and T Todd Wade (shoulder) are probable; DB Vernon Fox (groin) and TE Cody Boyd (shoulder) are questionable; T Jon Jansen (ankle) is expected to be placed on IR.
Next: Monday at Philadelphia 8:30 p.m. (et).
NFC North
Green Bay Packers (1-0)
Rundown: The Eagles are well aware of this team's strengths and weaknesses. After a 16-13 win over Philly, the Packers have to consider themselves lucky. The offense was horrendous. QB Brett Favre was throwing the ball all over the place, locking in on WR Donald Driver too much. RB Brandon Jackson has to provide more rushing the ball for this team to win. The defense, on the other hand, is very strong. With one of the best linebacker groups in the league, this team will have a chance to win plenty of games.
Injuries: CB Al Harris (elbow) is probable; WR Greg Jennings (hamstring), DEMichael Montgomery (knee), S Aaron Rouse, T Tony Moll (neck) and RB VernandMorency (leg) are questionable.
Next: Sunday at NY Giants, 1:00 p.m. (et)
Minnesota Vikings (1-0)
Rundown: Ladies and gentlemen, introducing Adrian Peterson. The rookie RB had a strong debut, running for 103 yards and breaking off a 60-yard TD reception in Sunday's 24-3 win. Keep in mind that this is against the Atlanta Falcons, a franchise whose last worry right now is winning games. QB Tarvaris Jackson has yet to prove anything and probably won't get the chance to anytime soon. Expect head coach Brad Childress to continue to keep everything close to the vest until the QB proves his worth. The Vikings have a strong defense and it will be put to the test on Sunday at Detroit, a well-balanced offensive team.
Injuries: RB Chester Taylor (oblique), S Mike Doss(calf) and WR Robert Ferguson (ankle) is questionable.
Next: Sunday at Detroit, 4:05 p.m. (et)
Detroit Lions (1-0)
Rundown: Well, one week down and Jon Kitna's preseason prediction is looking pretty good. The QB said to expect at least 10 wins and if rookie WR Calvin Johnson is as good as advertised, that just might happen. Johnson had four catches for 70 yards with a TD in a 36-21 win over lowly Oakland on Sunday. Kitna was also strong, competing 27-of-36 passes for 289 yard with 3 TDs. The downside is the defense. Allowing almost 400 yards to a Raiders offense led by Josh McCown and letting the Black and Silver to convert seven third downs while holding the ball for over 33 minutes is tough to deal with. It looks like the offense is going to have to play a little more ball control.
Injuries: RB T.J. Duckett (ankle) and QB Dan Orlovsky (toe) are questionable.
Next: Sunday vs. Minnesota, 4:05 p.m. (et)
Chicago Bears (0-1)
Rundown: With four turnovers on Sunday, you wonder how long it will be before the offense and defense become split on this team. QB Rex Grossman continues to be an enigma and if RB Cedric Benson wants to keep the job that was handed to him this offseason, he has to have better hands himself. He lost a fumble against the hard-hitting Chargers defense in Sunday's 14-3 loss in San Diego. The one thing that was certain when Thomas Jones was with the club, hew wasn't going to turn the ball over. And that's the way this team is going to win, keep the ball and let the defense put them in position to score.
Injuries: TE Greg Olsen (knee) is questionable; FB Obafemi Ayanbadejo (suspended) is out until Week 5.
Next: Sunday vs. Kansas City, 4:15 p.m. (et)
NFC South
Carolina Panthers (1-0)
Rundown: Optimism is in the air in Carolina, as the Panthers looked very impressive in pulling away late from the St. Louis Rams for a 27-13 win on Sunday. Jake Delhomme threw three TD passes, two to WR Drew Carter. Steve Smith was Delhomme's main target with 118 yards and a TD on seven catches. DeShaun Foster was also able to run for 94 yards, setting the all-time
franchise mark in that category along the way. With games against Houston, Atlanta and Tampa in the next three weeks, the Panthers have the chance to be undefeated come a Week 5 showdown against the Saints.
Injuries: S Nate Salley (knee) and DE Stanley McClover (thigh) are questionable.
Next: Sunday vs. Houston, 1 p.m. (et)
Atlanta Falcons (0-1)
Rundown: What is there to say about the Falcons? Nothing really. This team is as bad you think. There are plenty of questions after a 24-3 loss at Minnesota in Week 1 and there are no answers in sight.
Injuries: S Chris Crocker (knee) is questionable; DT Rod Coleman (knee) is out.
Next: Sunday at Jacksonville, 1 p.m. (et)
New Orleans Saints (0-1)
Rundown: The high-powered offense that was the Saints last season looked lost in their season-opening 41-10 setback to the Colts. Drew Brees was pressured all night and had a number of passes knocked down and Reggie Bush was held in check. Those two players are the ones who have to get on track if team is going to equal last season's output. The offensive line also needs to step up and create passing lanes for Brees, who is not as tall as other QBs and needs the passing lane to be completely effective.
Injuries: TE Mark Campbell is questionable.
Next: Sunday at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m. (et)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1)
Rundown: I've never a seen a Cadillac in the shop as much as Bucs RB Cadillac Williams. The third-year back is hurt again, this time he is doubtful for Weeks 2's game against New Orleans with a rub injury. Unless this team finds a running game, it is in serious trouble. The offense is just not good enough to produce without a productive back. The defense has always been the strong point of this squad, but being on the field for more than 30 minutes a game takes its toll.
Injuries: WR David Boston (foot) and DB Brian Kelly (groin) are questionable; RB Carnell Williams (ribs) is doubtful.
Next: Sunday versus New Orleans, 1 p.m. (et)
NFC West
San Francisco 49ers (1-0)
Rundown: Survived a horrid offensive performance on Monday night to escape with a 20-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals. The offensive line has to do a better job protecting QB Alex Smith, who was pressured all night. Smith, though, has to recognize that he has the mobility to make teams pay by using his legs and running. The broken hand RB Frank Gore suffered in the preseason is clearly bothering him, as he dropped a couple of catchable passes. The revamped defense impressed and it will have to perform all season as it doesn't look like the offense is going blow too many teams out.
Injuries: CB Donald Strickland (chest) and S Doshon Goldson are questionable.
Next: Sunday at St. Louis, 1 p.m. (et)
Seattle Seahawks (1-0)
Rundown: Seattle overcame a lackluster first half to down the Buccaneers 20-6 on Sunday. In an effort to bolster its offense, which likely lost wide out D.J. Hackett for the season with an ankle injury, the team acquired backup QB Charlie Frye from the Browns on Tuesday. The move allows the athletic Seneca Wallace to move to a wide out position from his backup QB spot. Wallace is not a game-changing player, but has the potential to become a serious offensive
threat. It will be interesting to see how, if at all, Wallace is used against an aggressive Cardinals defense this week.
Injuries: LB LeRoy Hill (foot) and WR Ben Obomanu (hamstring) are questionable; WR D.J. Hackett (ankle) is out indefinitely.
Next: Sunday at Arizona, 4:05 p.m. (et)
Arizona Cardinals (0-1)
Rundown: The Cardinals defense was impressive in Monday night's 20-17 setbackto the 49ers. The brought constant pressure and if not for a big run by Smith in the fourth quarter it might be the Cardinals who are 1-0, not San Francisco. QB Matt Leinart made some bad decisions and needs to improve upon that if Arizona is to contend this weekend against Seattle. On a positive
note, the rushing game appears to be back on track, as Edgerrin James ran for 92 yards on 26 carries.
Injuries: DT Alan Branch (hand), DT Ross Kolodziej (knee) and C Nick Leckey (knee) are questionable; C Al Johnson (knee) is doubtful.
Next: Sunday vs. Seattle, 4:05 p.m. (et)
St. Louis Rams (0-1)
Rundown: The Greatest Show on Turf appears to be a shadow of itself. Even though the Rams still have the offensive threats they did in the Mike Martz era, the offense is becoming harder to come by. With only 238 yards of offense in a 27-13 opener loss at home against a suspect Panthers team, the Rams have to take a good hard look at themselves. Highly regarded RB Steven Jackson had a horrible day, fumbling twice and rushing for only 58 yards on 18 carries. He has the opportunity to find himself against a 49ers team on Sunday, but the loss of OL Orlando Pace is going to hurt his performance.
Injuries: WR Drew Bennett (thigh) is probable; LB Pisa Tinoisamoa (ankle) and DE Victor Adeyanju (knee) are questionable; G Richie Incognito (ankle) is doubtful; T Orlando Pace (shoulder) will be placed on injured reserve.
Next: Sunday vs. San Francisco, 1 p.m. (et)
Joe Pa talks
With Buffalo falling between Notre Dame and Michigan, are you at all concerned about the focus of your team?
Sure I am. But when you look at the Buffalo team, you know, you guys see it's Buffalo. You don't see some things that we see. They're doing a really good job up there. They lost to Rutgers, but they manhandled Temple. I think Temple…they've got a really good coaching group, and I think they're working their way into being a good football team.
I was shocked that Buffalo handled Temple the way they did. So, you’ve got to be realistic. But we talk all the time about how we've got to get better. We've got to be more consistent.
We didn't play really that well over a long period of time against Notre Dame. We had a lot of mistakes. We didn't line up properly a lot of times on defense. Notre Dame limited their offense because I think of their freshman quarterback and because of the fans, the crowd.
I think we can put it all in perspective, and I think that's what the job will be this week.
Your special teams have produced a lot of big plays in the first two games. Could you evaluate their performance overall? From a coaching standpoint, have you done anything differently in terms of preparation this year with the special teams?
No, the same people are coaching. Ron Vanderlinden has the punt returns and Larry Johnson is coaching the punters. Mike McQueary has the field goal kickers. Bill Kenney has the kickoff returns. Brian Norwood has the kickoff coverage. That's the way we've always had it.
I think we were challenged because of the new rule with the kickoff, where you move the ball back to the 30, that we better make sure we don't get a little careless there because we're going to give up a lot of field position.
And then, also the fact that we might have to do a little better job with the return game. We have some people who can run and we wanted to do that, so we may have spent a little bit more time on the kicking game. But the same people are doing it. The same people are putting the schemes together. I've been pleased.
Again, you guys look at all the positives; I have to look at the negatives. We had too many penalties on some kicking plays that bother me. Some judgment, blocking in the back, roughing the kicker…those kinds of things.
In a game that went the way it went against Notre Dame it didn't bother us that much, but it's going to come down the road if we don't eliminate that. It will hurt us.
You were talking about you said you have to look at the negatives on some things. I was wondering, with your running game, 68 yards in the first half, 332 in the second half, I was wondering what the films have shown you?
It's a young offensive line. I think that's what it shows us. It shows us the minute there's something that goes on that is a little different, something that makes them a little bit hesitant to come off the football, they get a little bit unaggressive.
At halftime when we have an opportunity to say, “Look, this is the way it's going to go, and so forth.” I think they show their physical ability.
It's not a big league offensive line yet, but there's a lot of good athletes on it. When they're comfortable, they can do a good job. But, the first two games were two different defensive schemes, and I think we struggled a little bit in the first half to get comfortable.
When we were able to go in there at halftime and say, “This is what the problem is. Here is this, and we're going to settle down with three or four running plays. You guys just got to take off.” I think then we were able to do a little better job.
But I think that's going to be a problem for us for awhile, until we get a little bit more ‑‑ there's only one senior on our offensive line, John Shaw. The rest of them all haven't played a lot. (Gerald) Cadogan has played more than anybody. But it's kind of just the other guy's doing a good job. Until we get it settled down, we have a chance to be effective.
You had said one of the areas of emphasis before the season was improving the Red Zone rate of success. You've done that. What things have made that possible?
I think we've eliminated a lot of things that hurt us in the Red Zone a year ago. People jumping off‑sides on the one yard line…although we almost hurt ourselves again this past week with people doing things that pushed us back.
But I think the wideouts have been a little bit more aware where they are. I think (Anthony) Morelli is doing a much better job down there, picking out the right guy. We're more comfortable with a couple of things down there because of the fact that we have the wideouts and we have Morelli, who is now becoming a fine quarterback. I think that combination has helped.
Not much in the way of new plays or anything like that. I don't think that's it. We haven't changed a lot of plays.
How has Andrew Quarless handled himself in practice the past two weeks? Does he have a chance to see the field on Saturday?
Both Willie Harriott and Andrew took the procedure, we asked them to go over on the scout teams, make a contribution to the football team that way, have done a really good job. Both of them will have a chance to play this week.
I'm not sure how much either one of them will play. But if they don't play it will not be because of the fact there's any disciplinary background to it. I think I've told the squad right after the game, if they're ready to play, we're going to play 'em.
But, they've got to make their place now. I think for me to come in here and say, Hey, Quarless is all set, and with the way Mickey Shuler has played, (Jordan) Lyons has played, I think it would be unfair to them.
But Andrew, both he and Willie did a great job and went at it, tried to make us a better football team. Now I think they can compete to play.
How would you assess the way the defensive line has progressed through the first two games?
I think pretty good. There again, lineups, little things, we're not there yet. I'd love to tell you, “yeah, hey, we were great.” We weren't very good. We weren't great. Notre Dame has got some problems. They didn't challenge us, really. So I think they're doing okay, but we've got a ways to go.
I noticed John Shaw was taken out of the game at some point on Saturday. Was he just not playing well? Was he injured? Either way, what's his status for this weekend coming up?
No, John's had a knee, he's really not a hundred percent. And sometimes he can't do some things as well as you'd like him to do it because he favors the knee. He knows what he's doing. He'll play this week. I'd love to be able to keep him out for a while, but I don't know who to put behind him right now. (Lou) Eliades, who would have been our third guard, got a concussion and wasn't allowed to play last week. They let him do some things yesterday. Whether they let him do any contact today or not, I don't know.
So, John's played on a bad knee. He's a tough kid, and you wouldn't know it, but every once in a while when you try to see him do some things you realize he's favoring that knee a little bit.
But he was taken out of the game because a couple of things have gone in there that he did not handle well. I think part of it was because of his knee.
You've had the opportunity to coach against Turner Gill as both a player and as a coach. What do you remember of him as a player and what do you know about him as a coach?
Well, I can only tell you as a player. He was one heck of a player. He played on a couple of the great Nebraska teams. He's a real class guy, the couple times I've been around him.
As a coach, again, this is the first time I've really looked at his team. I think he's done a great job with this club. Rutgers is a good football team. It was an up and down ‑‑ I don't know exactly how you would describe it, but it was not a game you could really concentrate on any kind of consistency or flow, that kind of thing. Rutgers pretty much could do some things on offense that kept Buffalo trying to catch up in some ways.
But against Temple, they were precise. The quarterback at Buffalo is really good. They have a very cleaver two tight‑end offense as well as a spread offense. I think he's doing a really good job.
That's not an easy job up there. They've not had a lot of tradition in their football program. He's kind of turning that around.
I think you'd have to give him good marks on his coaching. I've only ever watched two games he coached, so it's hard for me to tell you, but I think he's doing a good job.
You talked earlier about focus the team. Is it easier now for coaches to preach against issues like losing focus and overconfidence after what happened to Michigan?
I imagine you're referring to the Appalachian State -Michigan game. Yes, I think it's easier. It depends on who's on your team. If you’ve got a bunch of silly kids that think they're so good nobody can beat 'em…and I'm not saying that's what happened with Michigan, because I think Appalachian is a lot better football team than people realize. They're very clever, well‑coached.
Obviously they’re well‑coached because they had won two Division I‑AA championships in a row. In fact, they remind me very much of Jim Tressel at Ohio State, because Jim had won a couple of them at Youngstown. Jerry (Moore) has done that, and done it well.
I think it helps. But I don't want anybody to think that Appalachian was a mystery. That's a good football team. They're a good team. I think that all of us have to understand that there's an awful lot of good football players who don't go to Division I‑A schools or don't go to the name schools who are certainly kids of quality, kids who can play, kids who are smart, the whole bit.
When they get an opportunity to play in the spotlight as opposed to where they're playing before 20,000 or 25,000, when they go in there and play before the kind of crowds we're talking about, I think they're energized. I think all of us would be the same way. “Hey, here's my shot. Here's my shot in the limelight.”
I think unless you're stupid or so silly you think you're that good and you don't have to get ready, you don't have to be prepared and you don't have to play hard against clubs, kids who have those kinds of aspirations, then you're going to get licked.
I think that's been true for a lot of peers. We got licked by Toledo a couple years ago. Some of you may forget that. I don't. Toledo kicked our ears in right here in Beaver Stadium. I don't mean beat us, they kicked our ears in. They manhandled us.
I think you've always got to be ready for a bunch of kids that are on a mission.
Jeremy Boone earlier talked about how the coaches have stressed field position with him. He's done a pretty good job right off the bat punting the football. Could you talk about his progress.
Well, you guys see him kick. I think he's done a good job kicking. He had the one kick that was ‑‑ whether it was partially blocked or whether he was harassed, I don't know. Boone, for a kid that's never played in a game, is a walk‑on, has done an excellent job.
After the atmosphere you had for the game last weekend, is there any chance we would see a Notre Dame-Penn State rivalry down the road pick up again every year?
You're talking to the wrong guy about that. I really have very little to do with scheduling. Tim Curley has enough problems without having a coach who won't be here 10 years from now when you're scheduling, telling him who you have to schedule.
It's a hard job. When we went to 12 games it kind of changed the whole environment of who you play, who you don't play. We've gone to the situation where we have to have seven home games because football has to support a lot of things.
I don't know. I think that would be up to ‑‑ a question you could ask Tim Curley, but it wouldn't happen for a long time. Maybe 10 years from now we might be able to get Notre Dame back on, I don't know.
The football world right now is really in flux, particularly, you know, there's ‑‑ does the Big Ten go to 12 teams, does it go to round‑robin? Does it do this? Does it do that? There are a lot of things being discussed that will have some bearing on who we're going to play.
Then, we're under a tremendous amount of pressure. I say "we," but it doesn't bother me as much as it has to bother Tim and Fran (Ganter) in the sense that people said, “Play your old rivalries,” so we got Syracuse. We haven't played Syracuse in a long time.
When we scheduled Syracuse, they just came off a 10‑2 year. They had a Penn State kid coaching up there, Paul Pasqualoni. That looked like a good arrangement. Some people say, “Why don't you play Nebraska?” So now we’ve got Nebraska on our schedule in the future.
I mean, that's the way it goes. We're working with Virginia on a schedule because we have some connections with Virginia. Pitt would like to play us, and we would like to play Pitt. But we can't play Pitt home-and-home because we wouldn't end up with seven home games. There's a lot of things that go into it.
Whether Notre Dame factors into that and we end up playing Notre Dame, really, I don't know. If they come to me and say, Hey, we want to play Notre Dame in 2014, what do you think? “Yeah, I might like to watch that game (laughter). Who's going to be the head coach?”
Dan Connor has had a very strong start. Could you talk about his evolution as a player, where you think he may fit in the pantheon in Penn State linebackers?
Pantheon, is that the word you used? Back to my Greek days (laughter).
No, I'd never compare kids one against the other. I don't think that's fair. I've been asked many times, “Who is the best back you ever coached? Who is this? Who is that?” I always remember how upset I was when my coach at Brown was asked, “Who was the best player you ever coached at Brown?” He mentioned a guy, and he didn't mention me. I was always mad at Rip (Engle) for three years until he hired me (laughter). I don't like to compare.
Dan Connor is a fine linebacker. I think he's one of the better linebackers in the country. He certainly has been one of the quality linebackers we've had at Penn State. He plays every play tough. He plays the pass well. Plays the run well. He can rush a passer. He can do all the things you'd want in a good linebacker. So I think he's a real big‑league linebacker.
Where he is in the pantheon? I don't think he would know what you mean by pantheon, okay? (laughter)
Can you give an update on the status of the defensive tackles (Abe) Koroma and (Tom) McEowen?
They're telling me three, four more weeks with Abe. McEowen is okay. He's practicing, but he's a little bit tentative. He's wearing a brace, a knee brace. He fell behind the kids that are playing. But he's going to be a good football player, as is Abe.
But Abe can't practice yet. McEowen is practicing. He'll be making a run at it pretty quick.
A couple of defensive players this morning talked about how much the coaches stress to them to strive for perfection on every play. How much do you talk about that on both sides of the ball? What does "perfection" mean for you?
Oh, boy. You know, I wish I could ‑‑ we're trying to get better. Perfection, you're never going to be perfect. You're just not going to be. The other guy does something, the other guy... You know, you guys, your competition is a piece of paper and a pencil, okay? Maybe you're going to write a perfect story.
You can go back and look it over and say, I think I can eliminate two words here. You can't do that when you're a football player. You're out there and it goes like boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.
I don't think anybody ever plays a perfect game. And all we're trying to tell them is, “Get better, get better, pay attention to details, understand what wins and loses game, don't make a mistake that's going to lose the game.
“When you get a chance to make the big play that's going to win the game, go get it, go do it, don't be afraid to take the chance.” There's a lot of things that go into the way you coach. But I don't think you ever coach a team, we're going to be perfect today.
In fact, most of the time I say, “Now, look, be aggressive, go after it. If you make a mistake, don't worry about it, forget it, go on to the next play. If you sit around and moan about the fact you dropped the pass, made a mistake, missed the tackle, blocked the wrong guy, you start thinking about it, you're going to make another mistake 'cause you can't correct it.”
So it's a little different world. We're trying to get better, alright? We're on these kids all the time to get better, make them more aware what it's going to take in a tough football game. We haven't been in a tough football game yet. We just haven't. We haven't been down there where we've got to do some things under a tremendous amount of pressure. We won't know how good we are until we do it.
Before the season started, Lloyd Carr talked about how much he admired you for the way you handled the adversity you went through here a couple years ago. Do you have any advice for him in light of the adversity he's experiencing now?
I was going to call Lloyd. If we weren't going to play him a week from now I probably would have called him and said, “You've been a real credit to Michigan. The people that really understand who you are, what you've done, they'll be there if you need it.”
I think most of us saw that interview that was on one of those Saturday night re-hashing of the games where he said, “You know, I'm a tough guy.” And I talked to the staff the next day and I said, “A couple years ago we were like this.” As a matter of fact, a couple of guys that wanted me to retire were the first guys in the locker room after the game Saturday with big smiles on their faces.
He's a tough guy. He'll be fine. He's got some good football players. They've had some things that haven't gone his way. I think when it's all said and done, Lloyd Carr, he doesn't need me.
You talked about the empowerment of your staff. Do you still call the timeouts? Is that something those guys work together now?
What happened upstairs is they thought we didn't have a timeout. Simple as that. I knew we had another timeout. When I tried to call a timeout, two guys upstairs said, “We don't have one.” I said, “Yeah, we do.” So sometimes there's a miscommunication. But I called the timeout.
You mentioned Pitt. If Pitt would agree to a 6‑4 over 10 years, would you be in favor of that?
I think that's Tim Curley's call. I think if we could play Pitt under terms that would be good ‑‑ you know, the last time we went to Pitt you had to buy three tickets (to get a Penn State ticket). They charge much more money from our fans. A whole different attitude.
You don't realize, when I first came here, we didn't play Pitt (in State College) but more than three times in 15 years. I have no problem playing Pitt. But I think if they could get a home-and-home with Pitt, still get seven home games, still do all the things that are going to have to be done, I think it would probably be good.
I recruited western Pennsylvania for 15 years as an assistant coach. I still have girlfriends out there that want tickets. They need canes to get there, but... (laughter). They wondered if I could get them up in an elevator, upstairs. Other than that, why... I don't know, that's another ‑‑ I think that's just a question you want to get ‑‑ you just want to cause trouble with (laughter).
I wanted to ask you about Kevin Kelly. What are your impressions of his performance so far this season? You mentioned the new 30‑yard kickoff rule. Have you noticed any ways his approach to the game has changed?
I think he's done a great job, he really has. To be frank with you, I was worried about our kickoff game. We pretty much challenged him all pre‑season. He had to be a more accurate field goal kicker and had to be able to get that football down in the end zone. And not in a line drive. I think he's done that very well.
I think our kicking game has been good. You know, it's two games. We have 10 more games. I'm a little bit reluctant to get into “this good or that good, or not that good.” I think up to now Kelly has done a good job, as has the other kid, (Jeremy) Boone.
You mentioned before about the kickoffs being back five yards. There have been mixed reviews on that, largely from the smaller schools who are a little concerned when they play the bigger schools, there's such a size difference there. Do you have a feeling either way? Are you happy with where the kickoff is now compared to where it was?
Having enough people on special teams? I really hadn't thought about it. I think each school is different. I thought when we played Florida International, I was just as worried about their return game as anybody. They had a guy that was ranked very highly in the country a year ago running back kickoffs.
We spent an awful lot of time (on kickoffs). That may have been a great thing for us. We were so concerned about him that we emphasized the kickoff on it. I think you can't just generalize. I can't tell you, Yeah, small schools don't have this or that. I thought Florida International had a really good return game on it.
I think every week it's a different proposition.
Coach, you mentioned Jeremy Boone playing well as a walk‑on. Brendan Perretta was a walk‑on, Ethan Kilmer was a walk‑on. What kind of things does the coaching staff look for when a walk‑on is trying out for the team? How tough is it for one of those guys to make the team?
The other kid (Josh) Hull, from down the valley (Penns Valley), was a walk‑on. Good football player. We have others. (Patrick) Weber was a walk‑on. Other kids have come here as walk‑ons, have come through.
Well, sometimes when you're recruiting them, you just don't have a scholarship. You try to be frank with them and say, “Look, we'd like to have you. We think you're a good enough player to eventually play at a school such as Penn State. If you're willing to give it a shot, we'd love to have you.
We promise that if you turn out to be good enough, it won't make any difference whether you have a scholarship or you don't have a scholarship. We'll play you if you're the best. When we can, when there's some aid available, we'll try to put you in a preferential position as opposed to bringing somebody else in.” That's basically what we do.
Now, every once in a while, somebody, one of the coaches, maybe a kid who played for me, a son or an alumnus will call up and say, “Hey, how about my kid as a walk‑on? I say, “He really ought to go someplace else. He's not going to be able to compete here.”
I don't think you're being fair to kids to just bring them in if they really want to play. We've had a couple of kids that were close. One is a good player for us. One went to West Point. One went to Lehigh. They would have loved to come here and be part of it, but they wanted to play. I just really, and the staff, couldn't honestly feel that they were able to play here.
But, you know, we told them that. If they wanted to come, fine. We've had kids do that, even though we told them we didn't think they would eventually play. Sometimes we've been wrong. We just try to be fair.
So we treat them just like we do recruits that we give scholarships to. We try to examine them, get a background on them, find out what their potential is, look at our roster, “where does this kid fit in?” We treat them the same way.
They have that fancy term now "preferred walk‑on." I'm not sure what a "preferred walk‑on" is. One of these days I'm going to put together a glossary. Grayshirt, redshirt, whiteshirt, blackshirt, preferred walk‑on, not preferred walk‑on..
You use the fullback a lot less than you used to. Is that position kind of becoming phased out throughout the college game?
Well, that may be too strong an evaluation of it when you say "phased out." I think there's always going to be a place for that big back in front who can catch the football, can get you to four, five yards, and is a good, solid blocker, right?
We're fortunate. I think (Matt) Hahn fits that category. He's not the biggest guy in that position. He probably plays at about 230, 235. We've had guys that were 245, 250 up there do some things. But he catches the ball well. He can make the cut. If you give him a little room, he'll get you eight, nine yards.
I don't know whether the fullback will ever be out of it. We're in a trend. Football, we're all copycats. There's no bigger copycats than football coaches. Now everybody is spread out, shotgun, the quarterback is doing all the work, all that kind of stuff.
So, fullback isn't the guy he used to be. There's no more Bronko Nagurskis or the kid that played down at Syracuse, last time we played down at Syracuse. The big guy that was such a good pro.
When you get those kind of kids, you use them. If you had one, you don't have a great tailback, you use them. They can do some things.
The fullback is not as big a player now. The H‑back came into it where you took a guy who was a big guy and you put him in the wing, put him in motion, became a tight end, became a wingback, became a fullback when he got around the guard and went in the flat. And there's a lot of kids like that. They run :4.8. They're not speedsters.
The team that's probably done the best job with a kid like that is Southern Cal. Southern Cal has had some guys that can really run. I'm talking :4.5, :4.6, kids that are 235 pounds, that were probably high school tailbacks. They had so many tailbacks they don't use them there.
But, boy, they stick 'em in the slot, put them in motion, put them in the backfield, give them a couple steps, throw the ball to them in the flat, do a couple things like that, even do it on wheel routes. He can beat a linebacker down the sideline.
I think there's always going to be a place for those kind of people with talent. But as far as just a straight old‑fashioned fullback, I don't see a lot of them.
Sure I am. But when you look at the Buffalo team, you know, you guys see it's Buffalo. You don't see some things that we see. They're doing a really good job up there. They lost to Rutgers, but they manhandled Temple. I think Temple…they've got a really good coaching group, and I think they're working their way into being a good football team.
I was shocked that Buffalo handled Temple the way they did. So, you’ve got to be realistic. But we talk all the time about how we've got to get better. We've got to be more consistent.
We didn't play really that well over a long period of time against Notre Dame. We had a lot of mistakes. We didn't line up properly a lot of times on defense. Notre Dame limited their offense because I think of their freshman quarterback and because of the fans, the crowd.
I think we can put it all in perspective, and I think that's what the job will be this week.
Your special teams have produced a lot of big plays in the first two games. Could you evaluate their performance overall? From a coaching standpoint, have you done anything differently in terms of preparation this year with the special teams?
No, the same people are coaching. Ron Vanderlinden has the punt returns and Larry Johnson is coaching the punters. Mike McQueary has the field goal kickers. Bill Kenney has the kickoff returns. Brian Norwood has the kickoff coverage. That's the way we've always had it.
I think we were challenged because of the new rule with the kickoff, where you move the ball back to the 30, that we better make sure we don't get a little careless there because we're going to give up a lot of field position.
And then, also the fact that we might have to do a little better job with the return game. We have some people who can run and we wanted to do that, so we may have spent a little bit more time on the kicking game. But the same people are doing it. The same people are putting the schemes together. I've been pleased.
Again, you guys look at all the positives; I have to look at the negatives. We had too many penalties on some kicking plays that bother me. Some judgment, blocking in the back, roughing the kicker…those kinds of things.
In a game that went the way it went against Notre Dame it didn't bother us that much, but it's going to come down the road if we don't eliminate that. It will hurt us.
You were talking about you said you have to look at the negatives on some things. I was wondering, with your running game, 68 yards in the first half, 332 in the second half, I was wondering what the films have shown you?
It's a young offensive line. I think that's what it shows us. It shows us the minute there's something that goes on that is a little different, something that makes them a little bit hesitant to come off the football, they get a little bit unaggressive.
At halftime when we have an opportunity to say, “Look, this is the way it's going to go, and so forth.” I think they show their physical ability.
It's not a big league offensive line yet, but there's a lot of good athletes on it. When they're comfortable, they can do a good job. But, the first two games were two different defensive schemes, and I think we struggled a little bit in the first half to get comfortable.
When we were able to go in there at halftime and say, “This is what the problem is. Here is this, and we're going to settle down with three or four running plays. You guys just got to take off.” I think then we were able to do a little better job.
But I think that's going to be a problem for us for awhile, until we get a little bit more ‑‑ there's only one senior on our offensive line, John Shaw. The rest of them all haven't played a lot. (Gerald) Cadogan has played more than anybody. But it's kind of just the other guy's doing a good job. Until we get it settled down, we have a chance to be effective.
You had said one of the areas of emphasis before the season was improving the Red Zone rate of success. You've done that. What things have made that possible?
I think we've eliminated a lot of things that hurt us in the Red Zone a year ago. People jumping off‑sides on the one yard line…although we almost hurt ourselves again this past week with people doing things that pushed us back.
But I think the wideouts have been a little bit more aware where they are. I think (Anthony) Morelli is doing a much better job down there, picking out the right guy. We're more comfortable with a couple of things down there because of the fact that we have the wideouts and we have Morelli, who is now becoming a fine quarterback. I think that combination has helped.
Not much in the way of new plays or anything like that. I don't think that's it. We haven't changed a lot of plays.
How has Andrew Quarless handled himself in practice the past two weeks? Does he have a chance to see the field on Saturday?
Both Willie Harriott and Andrew took the procedure, we asked them to go over on the scout teams, make a contribution to the football team that way, have done a really good job. Both of them will have a chance to play this week.
I'm not sure how much either one of them will play. But if they don't play it will not be because of the fact there's any disciplinary background to it. I think I've told the squad right after the game, if they're ready to play, we're going to play 'em.
But, they've got to make their place now. I think for me to come in here and say, Hey, Quarless is all set, and with the way Mickey Shuler has played, (Jordan) Lyons has played, I think it would be unfair to them.
But Andrew, both he and Willie did a great job and went at it, tried to make us a better football team. Now I think they can compete to play.
How would you assess the way the defensive line has progressed through the first two games?
I think pretty good. There again, lineups, little things, we're not there yet. I'd love to tell you, “yeah, hey, we were great.” We weren't very good. We weren't great. Notre Dame has got some problems. They didn't challenge us, really. So I think they're doing okay, but we've got a ways to go.
I noticed John Shaw was taken out of the game at some point on Saturday. Was he just not playing well? Was he injured? Either way, what's his status for this weekend coming up?
No, John's had a knee, he's really not a hundred percent. And sometimes he can't do some things as well as you'd like him to do it because he favors the knee. He knows what he's doing. He'll play this week. I'd love to be able to keep him out for a while, but I don't know who to put behind him right now. (Lou) Eliades, who would have been our third guard, got a concussion and wasn't allowed to play last week. They let him do some things yesterday. Whether they let him do any contact today or not, I don't know.
So, John's played on a bad knee. He's a tough kid, and you wouldn't know it, but every once in a while when you try to see him do some things you realize he's favoring that knee a little bit.
But he was taken out of the game because a couple of things have gone in there that he did not handle well. I think part of it was because of his knee.
You've had the opportunity to coach against Turner Gill as both a player and as a coach. What do you remember of him as a player and what do you know about him as a coach?
Well, I can only tell you as a player. He was one heck of a player. He played on a couple of the great Nebraska teams. He's a real class guy, the couple times I've been around him.
As a coach, again, this is the first time I've really looked at his team. I think he's done a great job with this club. Rutgers is a good football team. It was an up and down ‑‑ I don't know exactly how you would describe it, but it was not a game you could really concentrate on any kind of consistency or flow, that kind of thing. Rutgers pretty much could do some things on offense that kept Buffalo trying to catch up in some ways.
But against Temple, they were precise. The quarterback at Buffalo is really good. They have a very cleaver two tight‑end offense as well as a spread offense. I think he's doing a really good job.
That's not an easy job up there. They've not had a lot of tradition in their football program. He's kind of turning that around.
I think you'd have to give him good marks on his coaching. I've only ever watched two games he coached, so it's hard for me to tell you, but I think he's doing a good job.
You talked earlier about focus the team. Is it easier now for coaches to preach against issues like losing focus and overconfidence after what happened to Michigan?
I imagine you're referring to the Appalachian State -Michigan game. Yes, I think it's easier. It depends on who's on your team. If you’ve got a bunch of silly kids that think they're so good nobody can beat 'em…and I'm not saying that's what happened with Michigan, because I think Appalachian is a lot better football team than people realize. They're very clever, well‑coached.
Obviously they’re well‑coached because they had won two Division I‑AA championships in a row. In fact, they remind me very much of Jim Tressel at Ohio State, because Jim had won a couple of them at Youngstown. Jerry (Moore) has done that, and done it well.
I think it helps. But I don't want anybody to think that Appalachian was a mystery. That's a good football team. They're a good team. I think that all of us have to understand that there's an awful lot of good football players who don't go to Division I‑A schools or don't go to the name schools who are certainly kids of quality, kids who can play, kids who are smart, the whole bit.
When they get an opportunity to play in the spotlight as opposed to where they're playing before 20,000 or 25,000, when they go in there and play before the kind of crowds we're talking about, I think they're energized. I think all of us would be the same way. “Hey, here's my shot. Here's my shot in the limelight.”
I think unless you're stupid or so silly you think you're that good and you don't have to get ready, you don't have to be prepared and you don't have to play hard against clubs, kids who have those kinds of aspirations, then you're going to get licked.
I think that's been true for a lot of peers. We got licked by Toledo a couple years ago. Some of you may forget that. I don't. Toledo kicked our ears in right here in Beaver Stadium. I don't mean beat us, they kicked our ears in. They manhandled us.
I think you've always got to be ready for a bunch of kids that are on a mission.
Jeremy Boone earlier talked about how the coaches have stressed field position with him. He's done a pretty good job right off the bat punting the football. Could you talk about his progress.
Well, you guys see him kick. I think he's done a good job kicking. He had the one kick that was ‑‑ whether it was partially blocked or whether he was harassed, I don't know. Boone, for a kid that's never played in a game, is a walk‑on, has done an excellent job.
After the atmosphere you had for the game last weekend, is there any chance we would see a Notre Dame-Penn State rivalry down the road pick up again every year?
You're talking to the wrong guy about that. I really have very little to do with scheduling. Tim Curley has enough problems without having a coach who won't be here 10 years from now when you're scheduling, telling him who you have to schedule.
It's a hard job. When we went to 12 games it kind of changed the whole environment of who you play, who you don't play. We've gone to the situation where we have to have seven home games because football has to support a lot of things.
I don't know. I think that would be up to ‑‑ a question you could ask Tim Curley, but it wouldn't happen for a long time. Maybe 10 years from now we might be able to get Notre Dame back on, I don't know.
The football world right now is really in flux, particularly, you know, there's ‑‑ does the Big Ten go to 12 teams, does it go to round‑robin? Does it do this? Does it do that? There are a lot of things being discussed that will have some bearing on who we're going to play.
Then, we're under a tremendous amount of pressure. I say "we," but it doesn't bother me as much as it has to bother Tim and Fran (Ganter) in the sense that people said, “Play your old rivalries,” so we got Syracuse. We haven't played Syracuse in a long time.
When we scheduled Syracuse, they just came off a 10‑2 year. They had a Penn State kid coaching up there, Paul Pasqualoni. That looked like a good arrangement. Some people say, “Why don't you play Nebraska?” So now we’ve got Nebraska on our schedule in the future.
I mean, that's the way it goes. We're working with Virginia on a schedule because we have some connections with Virginia. Pitt would like to play us, and we would like to play Pitt. But we can't play Pitt home-and-home because we wouldn't end up with seven home games. There's a lot of things that go into it.
Whether Notre Dame factors into that and we end up playing Notre Dame, really, I don't know. If they come to me and say, Hey, we want to play Notre Dame in 2014, what do you think? “Yeah, I might like to watch that game (laughter). Who's going to be the head coach?”
Dan Connor has had a very strong start. Could you talk about his evolution as a player, where you think he may fit in the pantheon in Penn State linebackers?
Pantheon, is that the word you used? Back to my Greek days (laughter).
No, I'd never compare kids one against the other. I don't think that's fair. I've been asked many times, “Who is the best back you ever coached? Who is this? Who is that?” I always remember how upset I was when my coach at Brown was asked, “Who was the best player you ever coached at Brown?” He mentioned a guy, and he didn't mention me. I was always mad at Rip (Engle) for three years until he hired me (laughter). I don't like to compare.
Dan Connor is a fine linebacker. I think he's one of the better linebackers in the country. He certainly has been one of the quality linebackers we've had at Penn State. He plays every play tough. He plays the pass well. Plays the run well. He can rush a passer. He can do all the things you'd want in a good linebacker. So I think he's a real big‑league linebacker.
Where he is in the pantheon? I don't think he would know what you mean by pantheon, okay? (laughter)
Can you give an update on the status of the defensive tackles (Abe) Koroma and (Tom) McEowen?
They're telling me three, four more weeks with Abe. McEowen is okay. He's practicing, but he's a little bit tentative. He's wearing a brace, a knee brace. He fell behind the kids that are playing. But he's going to be a good football player, as is Abe.
But Abe can't practice yet. McEowen is practicing. He'll be making a run at it pretty quick.
A couple of defensive players this morning talked about how much the coaches stress to them to strive for perfection on every play. How much do you talk about that on both sides of the ball? What does "perfection" mean for you?
Oh, boy. You know, I wish I could ‑‑ we're trying to get better. Perfection, you're never going to be perfect. You're just not going to be. The other guy does something, the other guy... You know, you guys, your competition is a piece of paper and a pencil, okay? Maybe you're going to write a perfect story.
You can go back and look it over and say, I think I can eliminate two words here. You can't do that when you're a football player. You're out there and it goes like boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.
I don't think anybody ever plays a perfect game. And all we're trying to tell them is, “Get better, get better, pay attention to details, understand what wins and loses game, don't make a mistake that's going to lose the game.
“When you get a chance to make the big play that's going to win the game, go get it, go do it, don't be afraid to take the chance.” There's a lot of things that go into the way you coach. But I don't think you ever coach a team, we're going to be perfect today.
In fact, most of the time I say, “Now, look, be aggressive, go after it. If you make a mistake, don't worry about it, forget it, go on to the next play. If you sit around and moan about the fact you dropped the pass, made a mistake, missed the tackle, blocked the wrong guy, you start thinking about it, you're going to make another mistake 'cause you can't correct it.”
So it's a little different world. We're trying to get better, alright? We're on these kids all the time to get better, make them more aware what it's going to take in a tough football game. We haven't been in a tough football game yet. We just haven't. We haven't been down there where we've got to do some things under a tremendous amount of pressure. We won't know how good we are until we do it.
Before the season started, Lloyd Carr talked about how much he admired you for the way you handled the adversity you went through here a couple years ago. Do you have any advice for him in light of the adversity he's experiencing now?
I was going to call Lloyd. If we weren't going to play him a week from now I probably would have called him and said, “You've been a real credit to Michigan. The people that really understand who you are, what you've done, they'll be there if you need it.”
I think most of us saw that interview that was on one of those Saturday night re-hashing of the games where he said, “You know, I'm a tough guy.” And I talked to the staff the next day and I said, “A couple years ago we were like this.” As a matter of fact, a couple of guys that wanted me to retire were the first guys in the locker room after the game Saturday with big smiles on their faces.
He's a tough guy. He'll be fine. He's got some good football players. They've had some things that haven't gone his way. I think when it's all said and done, Lloyd Carr, he doesn't need me.
You talked about the empowerment of your staff. Do you still call the timeouts? Is that something those guys work together now?
What happened upstairs is they thought we didn't have a timeout. Simple as that. I knew we had another timeout. When I tried to call a timeout, two guys upstairs said, “We don't have one.” I said, “Yeah, we do.” So sometimes there's a miscommunication. But I called the timeout.
You mentioned Pitt. If Pitt would agree to a 6‑4 over 10 years, would you be in favor of that?
I think that's Tim Curley's call. I think if we could play Pitt under terms that would be good ‑‑ you know, the last time we went to Pitt you had to buy three tickets (to get a Penn State ticket). They charge much more money from our fans. A whole different attitude.
You don't realize, when I first came here, we didn't play Pitt (in State College) but more than three times in 15 years. I have no problem playing Pitt. But I think if they could get a home-and-home with Pitt, still get seven home games, still do all the things that are going to have to be done, I think it would probably be good.
I recruited western Pennsylvania for 15 years as an assistant coach. I still have girlfriends out there that want tickets. They need canes to get there, but... (laughter). They wondered if I could get them up in an elevator, upstairs. Other than that, why... I don't know, that's another ‑‑ I think that's just a question you want to get ‑‑ you just want to cause trouble with (laughter).
I wanted to ask you about Kevin Kelly. What are your impressions of his performance so far this season? You mentioned the new 30‑yard kickoff rule. Have you noticed any ways his approach to the game has changed?
I think he's done a great job, he really has. To be frank with you, I was worried about our kickoff game. We pretty much challenged him all pre‑season. He had to be a more accurate field goal kicker and had to be able to get that football down in the end zone. And not in a line drive. I think he's done that very well.
I think our kicking game has been good. You know, it's two games. We have 10 more games. I'm a little bit reluctant to get into “this good or that good, or not that good.” I think up to now Kelly has done a good job, as has the other kid, (Jeremy) Boone.
You mentioned before about the kickoffs being back five yards. There have been mixed reviews on that, largely from the smaller schools who are a little concerned when they play the bigger schools, there's such a size difference there. Do you have a feeling either way? Are you happy with where the kickoff is now compared to where it was?
Having enough people on special teams? I really hadn't thought about it. I think each school is different. I thought when we played Florida International, I was just as worried about their return game as anybody. They had a guy that was ranked very highly in the country a year ago running back kickoffs.
We spent an awful lot of time (on kickoffs). That may have been a great thing for us. We were so concerned about him that we emphasized the kickoff on it. I think you can't just generalize. I can't tell you, Yeah, small schools don't have this or that. I thought Florida International had a really good return game on it.
I think every week it's a different proposition.
Coach, you mentioned Jeremy Boone playing well as a walk‑on. Brendan Perretta was a walk‑on, Ethan Kilmer was a walk‑on. What kind of things does the coaching staff look for when a walk‑on is trying out for the team? How tough is it for one of those guys to make the team?
The other kid (Josh) Hull, from down the valley (Penns Valley), was a walk‑on. Good football player. We have others. (Patrick) Weber was a walk‑on. Other kids have come here as walk‑ons, have come through.
Well, sometimes when you're recruiting them, you just don't have a scholarship. You try to be frank with them and say, “Look, we'd like to have you. We think you're a good enough player to eventually play at a school such as Penn State. If you're willing to give it a shot, we'd love to have you.
We promise that if you turn out to be good enough, it won't make any difference whether you have a scholarship or you don't have a scholarship. We'll play you if you're the best. When we can, when there's some aid available, we'll try to put you in a preferential position as opposed to bringing somebody else in.” That's basically what we do.
Now, every once in a while, somebody, one of the coaches, maybe a kid who played for me, a son or an alumnus will call up and say, “Hey, how about my kid as a walk‑on? I say, “He really ought to go someplace else. He's not going to be able to compete here.”
I don't think you're being fair to kids to just bring them in if they really want to play. We've had a couple of kids that were close. One is a good player for us. One went to West Point. One went to Lehigh. They would have loved to come here and be part of it, but they wanted to play. I just really, and the staff, couldn't honestly feel that they were able to play here.
But, you know, we told them that. If they wanted to come, fine. We've had kids do that, even though we told them we didn't think they would eventually play. Sometimes we've been wrong. We just try to be fair.
So we treat them just like we do recruits that we give scholarships to. We try to examine them, get a background on them, find out what their potential is, look at our roster, “where does this kid fit in?” We treat them the same way.
They have that fancy term now "preferred walk‑on." I'm not sure what a "preferred walk‑on" is. One of these days I'm going to put together a glossary. Grayshirt, redshirt, whiteshirt, blackshirt, preferred walk‑on, not preferred walk‑on..
You use the fullback a lot less than you used to. Is that position kind of becoming phased out throughout the college game?
Well, that may be too strong an evaluation of it when you say "phased out." I think there's always going to be a place for that big back in front who can catch the football, can get you to four, five yards, and is a good, solid blocker, right?
We're fortunate. I think (Matt) Hahn fits that category. He's not the biggest guy in that position. He probably plays at about 230, 235. We've had guys that were 245, 250 up there do some things. But he catches the ball well. He can make the cut. If you give him a little room, he'll get you eight, nine yards.
I don't know whether the fullback will ever be out of it. We're in a trend. Football, we're all copycats. There's no bigger copycats than football coaches. Now everybody is spread out, shotgun, the quarterback is doing all the work, all that kind of stuff.
So, fullback isn't the guy he used to be. There's no more Bronko Nagurskis or the kid that played down at Syracuse, last time we played down at Syracuse. The big guy that was such a good pro.
When you get those kind of kids, you use them. If you had one, you don't have a great tailback, you use them. They can do some things.
The fullback is not as big a player now. The H‑back came into it where you took a guy who was a big guy and you put him in the wing, put him in motion, became a tight end, became a wingback, became a fullback when he got around the guard and went in the flat. And there's a lot of kids like that. They run :4.8. They're not speedsters.
The team that's probably done the best job with a kid like that is Southern Cal. Southern Cal has had some guys that can really run. I'm talking :4.5, :4.6, kids that are 235 pounds, that were probably high school tailbacks. They had so many tailbacks they don't use them there.
But, boy, they stick 'em in the slot, put them in motion, put them in the backfield, give them a couple steps, throw the ball to them in the flat, do a couple things like that, even do it on wheel routes. He can beat a linebacker down the sideline.
I think there's always going to be a place for those kind of people with talent. But as far as just a straight old‑fashioned fullback, I don't see a lot of them.
Eagles bring back Mahe
The Philadelphia Eagles re-signed running back/kickreturner Reno Mahe to a one-year deal and released safety/kick returner J.R. Reed.
Mahe was originally signed as a rookie free agent by the Eagles in 2003 and played in 40 regular season games for Philadelphia over the last four seasons, rushing 47 times for 196 yards and catching 32 passes for 219 yards.
In 2005, he led the NFL with a 12.8 punt return average (21 returns for 269 yards). Last year, Mahe returned 18 punts for 169 yards and a 9.4-yard average.
The 27-year-old Mahe played collegiately at BYU, where he starred as a wide receiver.
Mahe was originally signed as a rookie free agent by the Eagles in 2003 and played in 40 regular season games for Philadelphia over the last four seasons, rushing 47 times for 196 yards and catching 32 passes for 219 yards.
In 2005, he led the NFL with a 12.8 punt return average (21 returns for 269 yards). Last year, Mahe returned 18 punts for 169 yards and a 9.4-yard average.
The 27-year-old Mahe played collegiately at BYU, where he starred as a wide receiver.
Sixers sign rookies Byars, Hill
-Courtesy of the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia, Pa. - Sept. 11, 2007 - Philadelphia 76ers President Billy King announced today that the team has signed rookies Derrick Byars and Herbert Hill. Per team policy, terms of the contract are not disclosed.
A 6-7 swingman from Vanderbilt, Byars was chosen by Portland with the 42nd overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. The Sixers acquired his rights on draft night in exchange for the rights to Petteri Koponen (30th overall pick) and cash considerations.
As a senior, Byars averaged 17.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.41 steals while helping Vanderbilt advance to the Sweet 16 of the 2007 NCAA Tournament. He was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year by the coaches and received Honorable Mention All-America honors by The Associated Press. Over his final two seasons, Byars knocked down 142 three-pointers on 40.0% shooting.
Following his senior season at Providence, Hill was selected with the 55th overall pick by Utah in the 2007 NBA Draft. The Sixers acquired the 6-10 post player in exchange for the draft rights to Kyrylo Fesenko (38th overall pick) and future draft considerations.
Hill enjoyed a breakout season with the Friars in 2006-07 and was named All-Big East First Team and Big East Most Improved Player. After averaging 9.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.93 blocks as a junior, he averaged 18.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.94 blocks his senior season. Hill shot 61.4% from the floor during his collegiate career and 78.6% in 10 combined games for the Sixers this past July in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and the Rocky Mountain Revue.
Philadelphia, Pa. - Sept. 11, 2007 - Philadelphia 76ers President Billy King announced today that the team has signed rookies Derrick Byars and Herbert Hill. Per team policy, terms of the contract are not disclosed.
A 6-7 swingman from Vanderbilt, Byars was chosen by Portland with the 42nd overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. The Sixers acquired his rights on draft night in exchange for the rights to Petteri Koponen (30th overall pick) and cash considerations.
As a senior, Byars averaged 17.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.41 steals while helping Vanderbilt advance to the Sweet 16 of the 2007 NCAA Tournament. He was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year by the coaches and received Honorable Mention All-America honors by The Associated Press. Over his final two seasons, Byars knocked down 142 three-pointers on 40.0% shooting.
Following his senior season at Providence, Hill was selected with the 55th overall pick by Utah in the 2007 NBA Draft. The Sixers acquired the 6-10 post player in exchange for the draft rights to Kyrylo Fesenko (38th overall pick) and future draft considerations.
Hill enjoyed a breakout season with the Friars in 2006-07 and was named All-Big East First Team and Big East Most Improved Player. After averaging 9.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.93 blocks as a junior, he averaged 18.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.94 blocks his senior season. Hill shot 61.4% from the floor during his collegiate career and 78.6% in 10 combined games for the Sixers this past July in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and the Rocky Mountain Revue.
This Week in College Football History
-Couresty of The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame.
FEATURED MOMENT:
Sept. 18, 1999: RB Ron Dayne of Wisconsin becomes the Big Ten Conference's career rushing leader with 5,615 yards, but the No. 8 Badgers fall at Cincinnati in a 17-12 upset. Bearcats' RB Deontey Kenner cruises five yards for the winning touchdown.
OTHER NOTABLE DATES:
Sept. 19, 1964: 1991 College Football Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff (Florida State) squares off against younger brother and Miami QB Bob Biletnikoff in the in-state rivalry. Fred catches nine passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns in the 14-0 Seminole victory, while the stingy FSU defense holds Bob and fellow QB Rick Swan to only 79 passing yards on the night.
Sept. 20, 1984: Washington State trails Utah 40-14 with nine minutes left in the game before rallying for 28 unanswered points to win 42- 40.
Sept. 21, 1997: Army defeats Duke for the first time since 1984 with a 35-17 triumph over the Blue Devils. It is also the Black Knights' first victory over an ACC team since 1989. Army QB Ronnie McAda rushes for 88 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns while hitting 7-of-8 passes for 225 yards, 32.1 yards per completion, and a 80-yard TD strike to WR Ron Thomas.
Sept. 22, 1973: Maryland ends North Carolina's ACC-longest winning streak at 15 games with a 23-3 victory in Chapel Hill, N.C. Terps' QB Al Neville throws a pair of touchdown passes, Maryland's defense limits the Tar Heels to 210 total yards, and UM sets sail on its first winning season since 1962.
Sept. 23, 2000: UAB, playing its second season in Conference USA, upsets LSU 13-10 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge behind head coach Watson Brown. It is the Blazers' first triumph over a Southeastern Conference opponent and occurs on LSU's Homecoming. Rhett Gallego decides the outcome with a 32-yard field goal on the game's final play.
Sept. 24, 1994: NFF Hall of Fame head coach LaValle Edwards of Brigham Young wins his 200th game as the Cougars edge New Mexico 49-47 in Provo. At the time, Edwards is the 13th coach in NCAA Division I-A (now the FBS) to hit the 200-victory plateau.
FEATURED MOMENT:
Sept. 18, 1999: RB Ron Dayne of Wisconsin becomes the Big Ten Conference's career rushing leader with 5,615 yards, but the No. 8 Badgers fall at Cincinnati in a 17-12 upset. Bearcats' RB Deontey Kenner cruises five yards for the winning touchdown.
OTHER NOTABLE DATES:
Sept. 19, 1964: 1991 College Football Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff (Florida State) squares off against younger brother and Miami QB Bob Biletnikoff in the in-state rivalry. Fred catches nine passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns in the 14-0 Seminole victory, while the stingy FSU defense holds Bob and fellow QB Rick Swan to only 79 passing yards on the night.
Sept. 20, 1984: Washington State trails Utah 40-14 with nine minutes left in the game before rallying for 28 unanswered points to win 42- 40.
Sept. 21, 1997: Army defeats Duke for the first time since 1984 with a 35-17 triumph over the Blue Devils. It is also the Black Knights' first victory over an ACC team since 1989. Army QB Ronnie McAda rushes for 88 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns while hitting 7-of-8 passes for 225 yards, 32.1 yards per completion, and a 80-yard TD strike to WR Ron Thomas.
Sept. 22, 1973: Maryland ends North Carolina's ACC-longest winning streak at 15 games with a 23-3 victory in Chapel Hill, N.C. Terps' QB Al Neville throws a pair of touchdown passes, Maryland's defense limits the Tar Heels to 210 total yards, and UM sets sail on its first winning season since 1962.
Sept. 23, 2000: UAB, playing its second season in Conference USA, upsets LSU 13-10 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge behind head coach Watson Brown. It is the Blazers' first triumph over a Southeastern Conference opponent and occurs on LSU's Homecoming. Rhett Gallego decides the outcome with a 32-yard field goal on the game's final play.
Sept. 24, 1994: NFF Hall of Fame head coach LaValle Edwards of Brigham Young wins his 200th game as the Cougars edge New Mexico 49-47 in Provo. At the time, Edwards is the 13th coach in NCAA Division I-A (now the FBS) to hit the 200-victory plateau.
I learned it by watching you
By John Gottlieb
The Phanatic Magazine
Maybe I was a little off-base last week when I called Rodney Harrison a cheater; maybe he is part of a broader picture. (Of course I was labeled a bitter Jets fan, but people ignore evidence right in front of them and pass it off as jealousy.)
The teams are now coming out of the woodwork and out-and-out accusing the Patriots of recording opposing coaches sending in signals during the game. The Lions, Bills and Packers are now joining the fray to get a pound of flesh from Bill Belichick and the Patriots.
"The rule is that no video recording devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches' booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game," said in a statement from league spokesman Greg Aiello. "Clubs have specifically been reminded in the past that the videotaping of an opponent's offensive or defensive signals on the sidelines is prohibited.” More >>
The teams are now coming out of the woodwork and out-and-out accusing the Patriots of recording opposing coaches sending in signals during the game. The Lions, Bills and Packers are now joining the fray to get a pound of flesh from Bill Belichick and the Patriots.
"The rule is that no video recording devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches' booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game," said in a statement from league spokesman Greg Aiello. "Clubs have specifically been reminded in the past that the videotaping of an opponent's offensive or defensive signals on the sidelines is prohibited.” More >>
Monday, September 10, 2007
Rutgers should avoid letdown in homecoming week
By Greg Wiley
The Phanatic Magazine
Homecoming won't provide much of a test for Scarlet Knights.
The Phanatic Magazine
Homecoming won't provide much of a test for Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers has been impressive in its first two games of the season, scoring a combined 79 points. That number could double come Saturday when the 13th-ranked Scarlet Knights host Norfolk State, a FCS (formerly I-AA) program, in its annual homecoming contest.
Norfolk State is not going to provide much of a test for Rutgers, but if Appalachian State's upset of Michigan proved anything, the Scarlet Knights have to be ready to play. Give a team like Norfolk State an inch and it'll make the most of the opportunity.
So, the moral of the story is score early, score often, and don't let up. Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano said during his weekly press conference that he hasn't even spoken to any of the reserves regarding seeing any playing time. As a matter a fact, the only thing that matters right now to Schiano is seeing his team play better on both sides of the ball.
"Twenty penalties in two games. We've dropped passes. Defensively we've made mistakes. We can play better," said Schiano.
"Our football team right now is concerned with how good we can be," he said. "It's so early in the year that we haven't played to the level that we've expected of ourselves. So that's the challenge. The challenge is to find out how good we can be.
"Our football team right now is concerned with how good we can be," he said. "It's so early in the year that we haven't played to the level that we've expected of ourselves. So that's the challenge. The challenge is to find out how good we can be.
"When we play our best we can beat anybody in the country. We haven't played our best."
Junior running back Ray Rice needs to continue to his outstanding start to the season. He leads the nation in total rushing yards with 359 and has six total TDs this season. As he goes so will Rutgers and if he wants to rack up some useful numbers come Heisman Trophy time, this is the game to do it.
Mike Teel has been solid at QB this season. He has completed 71.4 percent of his passes this season for 594 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.
Tiquan Underwood and Kenny Britt led the wide receivers. Underwood has 352 yards and two TDs on 16 catches, while Britt has tallied 158 yards and score on just seven catches.
Tiquan Underwood and Kenny Britt led the wide receivers. Underwood has 352 yards and two TDs on 16 catches, while Britt has tallied 158 yards and score on just seven catches.
Schiano didn't give much incite into Norfolk State. He said that defensively the team likes to blitz and that its blitz coverage is solid. He also said that offensively the team is much like his own, but with a lot less shifting.
The Spartans have played just one game this season, defeating Virginia State, 33-7. Last week they had a bye and therefore have had two weeks to prepare for the biggest game on their schedule.
Daryl Jones is the team's leading rusher, going for 125 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries in the opener. He also had 21 receiving yards. Dario Walker leads the Spartans with six receptions for 70 yards. Casey Hansen is under center for Norfolk State. He completed 22-of-42 passes for 245 yards with one interception in his first game.
Rutgers will have a bye week before taking the field again on September 29 at home against Maryland.
College Football weekly news and notes
NFF News
Fan voting began last Thursday as the NFF & College Hall of Fame announced its continued support for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award, which is on display for the second year in a row at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind. The unique award honors college football coaches from all divisions of play for their combined coaching excellence, sportsmanship, integrity, dedication to academics, and community leadership based on a collective vote from fans, Hall of Fame voters and the media.
Backed by Liberty Mutual - the sixth largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. - the 2007 version of the award has been expanded from the inaugural 2006 award, which was presented to one winner only (Greg Schiano of Rutgers), to include a coach from all four NCAA divisions. Each winner will receive $50,000 from Liberty Mutual to support his civic and charitable activities, $20,000 in scholarship to his school's alumni association, and will be recognized in the permanent Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year display at the National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind.
Three major exhibits recently have opened at the NFF College Hall of Fame, and they have been well attended in the early going.
The 2007 Enshrinement Class exhibit features biographies of the players, jerseys, awards, and other memorabilia. This year's class features such renowned names such as Bobby Bowden, Emmitt Smith, and Charlie Ward.
The Race for the Pantheon 2007 exhibit spotlights current college football players. Each year individual awards are presented to outstanding players on both sides of the ball. College football preseason yields eleven individuals as the front- runners to win the postseason Pantheon awards, including the prestigious Heisman, Outland and Lombardi awards.
The 1967 Indiana Hoosiers "Have a Cinderella Season" exhibit features memorabilia from that spectacular season. Coming off a 1-8-1 season in 1966, third-year coach John Pont and his team were not among the favorites in the Big Ten Conference. The Hoosiers finished the 1967 regular season with a 19-14 victory over Purdue to close 9-1 with a share of the Big Ten title. The 1967 season was the first and only time Indiana went to the Rose Bowl.
Executive director of the Heisman Trophy Rob Whalen and Southland Conference commissioner Tom Burnett visited the newly remodeled National Football Foundation offices in Irving, Texas, last week.
As part of an on-going series throughout the fall, The NFF tracks the graduates of its Play It Smart program as they make their mark on the college gridiron. This week: Ray Rice (New Rochelle HS, New Rochelle, NY) became Rutgers all-time leading rusher, running 37 times for 175 yards and 3 touchdowns in a win over Navy... Cal receiver Desean Jackson(Long Beach Poly HS, Long Beach, CA) totaled 134 all-purpose yards, including a 73-yard run in the Golden Bear's victory at Colorado State... Rushing for 76 years on 14 attempts, South Carolina running back Cory Boyd(Orange HS, Orange, NJ) scored the only touchdown in the Gamecocks upset of the no. 11 Georgia... True freshman Vonzell McDowell (Rainier Beach HS, Seattle, WA) came up big in Washington's upset of Boise State with an interception at the 2-yard line with less than 3 minutes to play. Click for the full Play It Smart Alumni Report
Washington State honored Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Michael A. Monsoor posthumously for his extraordinary sacrifice and service to his country in a ceremony prior to the Cougars' game against San Diego State last Saturday.
The award was presented to the Monsoor family by WSU President Elson S. Floyd as part of Puget Sound Armed Forces Appreciation Day activities. The 15-person U. S. Navy Parachute Team, the Leap Frogs, also performed in support of the armed services. Petty Officer Monsoor died on Sept. 29, 2006, in Iraq after throwing himself on a grenade to save the lives several SEALS near the explosion. Army lauded two more American combats heroes with a special "Wheels for Warriors" presentation at last Saturday's Army-Rhode Island football contest.
Sgt. Luke Shirley, an infantryman originally from LaBelle, Fla., received a specially equipped conversion van from Operation Support Our Troops (OSOT) and the Wheels for Warriors program, a Rhode Island-based charitable organization that provides modified vans to severely wounded service members. The van was presented in honor of Lt. Robert A. Seidel III, a 2004 West Point graduate killed in action on May 18, 2006. A native of Emmitsburg, Md., he was a rifle platoon leader with the 10th Mountain Division's 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment when his vehicle was struck by an enemy IED in northwestern Baghdad.
Kentucky admitted all active military personnel free on Military Appreciation Night last Saturday against Kent State.
The Associated Press is allowing its voters to cast ballots for non-FBS teams starting with the Sept. 10 national survey. The last non-current-FBS member to be ranked in the then-AP Top 20 was Colgate with a 9-0 mark at No. 20 in the Nov. 7, 1977, national ratings.
South Florida was named the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week, following the Bulls' overtime win at Auburn... SMU honored its 1982 Southwest Conference and Cotton Bowl Champion team with on-campus visitors including RB Eric Dickerson and QB Lance McInhenny at last Saturday's game vs. North Texas... Connecticut started a "Husky Walk" routine on its trip to the stadium to allow fans to see the student- athletes prior to kick-off... Buffalo and Missouri will play for the first time on Sept. 20, 2008, in Columbia, Mo... Illinois has sold out the student sections for the remainder of the '07 season... Iowa State has engraved commemorative coins for $15 with the face of new head coach Gene Chizik... Since the announcement that Arkansas Baptist would have a junior college football program this season, enrollment at the school has quadrupled... Birmingham-Southern has increased its total available positions for student-athletes from 200 to 400 since adding football... The Emerald Bowl began public sales last Wednesday and is set for Dec. 28, 2007. Tickets are available online at www.tickets.com... Distinguished NFF member and longtime Georgia athletics legend Loran Smith has just released "How 'Bout Them Dawgs?" as part of the Georgia Football Vault Book Collection... Noted columnist Pat Dooley's new book "Game of My Life: Memorable Stories of Florida Gator Football" includes interviews with 31 UF football standouts about their favorite contests. The tome is available at Amazon.com and Florida area bookstores... 1971 NFF Gold Medal Award recipient and former Eureka College football player, the late U.S. President Ronald Reagan is no. 2 and Starbuck's founder Howard Schultz, who earned a football scholarship to Northern Michigan University, is no. 18 among USA TODAY's 25 most influential people of the last 25 years... Arkansas' 2007 helmets feature three special logo stickers. The Razorbacks have a "VT" logo in support of Virginia Tech in the wake of its on-campus tragedy. Arkansas also has a "JFB" sticker for John Frank Broyles, retiring UA athletics director ending his 34-year tenure in Dec. 2007. Players also have a "DN" sticker as a tribute to Danny Nutt, the former Arkansas assistant coach who was forced to resign last summer due to ongoing health issues. The Arkansas Athletics Department has also launched a "Recycle with the Razorbacks" campaign at football games... Kentucky has sold a record 51,000 season tickets, about 14,000 more than 2006 sales... Division III Heidelberg (Ohio) snapped a 36- game losing streak with its 37-26 win over Oberlin (Ohio) last weekend.
The Connecticut football training facility, designed by HOK Sport Venue Event, has achieved LEED Silver Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. This is the first LEED Silver Certified collegiate sports facility in the country... Florida has moved its Ring of Honor to the top of the north end zone to accommodate more names... Tennessee unveiled a renovated natural grass playing surface, non-smoking areas away from the stadium bowl, new message boards, and several physical amenities at Neyland Stadium last week in the home opener against Southern Miss... Wake Forest's Groves Stadium will be renamed BB&T Field in 2008. A naming ceremony was held in Winston-Salem, N.C., last Saturday... Florida State president T.K. Wetherell opened his President's Box to 50 students, 50 faculty and 50 staff and up to 150 guests of those who were invited to the box by a random drawing before the FSU-UAB game.
The Big 12 Conference selected Dan Beebe, former senior associate commissioner and COO, as its third commissioner last Wednesday... West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez had his contract extended through 2013... Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan has received a contract extension through the 2011 campaign... Chuck Shelton returned to Delaware State as assistant AD/football operations of the DSU program.
Boeing has become the official sponsor for the Apple Cup, which will be awarded to the Washington-Washington State winner in the schools' 100th series game on Nov. 24... XOS Technologies has signed on with Tennessee to become the first football squad to use the new XOS PlayAction Simulator powered by EA SPORTS... Southern Miss has become the third school nationally to feature a high definition message board, manufactured by Capturion Corp. and the Busby Co. of Laurel, Miss... Zinch.com has signed an agreement to assist in clearances for applications for students and student-athletes at MIT, Stanford and Yale... Franklin & Marshall has signed a broadband webcasting agreement for selected games with B2 Networks... The Big East Conference has partnered with JumpTV Inc. to design and power the conference's new multiplatform broadband environment.
NFF College Hall of Fame head coach Ara Parseghian will be honored with a statue at Notre Dame Stadium inside Gate D. Dedication will be on Sept. 22 when the Fighting Irish host Michigan State... A statue of former Heisman Trophy winner Jason White of Oklahoma was unveiled prior to the Sooners game against Miami. The statue joins those of OU's other Heisman winners Steve Owens, Billy Vessels and Billy Sims... The 42nd annual Dallas All Sports Award Banquet includes dozens of dignitaries and top award winners: Lamar Hunt Award - Dick Vermeil (presenter Clark Hunt); Emmitt Smith End Zone Award - Darren Woodson (presenter Emmitt Smith); Pat Summerall Award - James Brown (presenter Pat Summerall); Tom Landry Coach of the Year Award - Tony Dungy (presenter Tom Landry, Jr. ); DASA Courage Award - Ron Springs and Everson Walls (presenter Norm Hitzges); Field Scovell Award - Bobby Bragan (presenter Talmage Boston)... QB Bruce Plummer and TE Bruce Hardy are two of the inductees into the Arizona State Hall of Fame... The Ole Miss M-Club Hall of Fame has added former greats Curtis Weather and Everett Lindsay to its ranks... All-America football student-athletes Alex Van Dyke and Marty Zendejas will be inducted into the University of Nevada Athletics Hall of Fame... Former Duke football standout and assistant coach Bob Cox is one of five inductees into the Duke Sports Hall of Fame... Arkansas State honored grid notables Tom Reese and Jim Wiseman at its annual Hall of Fame banquet last Friday... Former Aggies coach Jackie Sherrill and former player Richmond Webb were inducted into the Texas A&M athletics hall of fame... Iowa State will induct former football standouts Troy Davis, Ike Harris, Luther Blue, Merv Krakau and coach George Veenker into its athletics hall of fame... Butch Reynolds was Ohio State's honorary captain for last week's encounter with Akron.
The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) is accepting applications for the annual Volney Meece Scholarship for any son or daughter of a FWAA member. Please visit www.FWAA.com for details.
Sixers trade Hunter, Jones to Denver for Reggie Evans
-Courtesy of the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia, Pa. - Sept. 10, 2007 - Philadelphia 76ers President Billy King announced today that the Sixers have acquired forward Reggie Evans and the rights to forward Ricky Sanchez from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for forward Bobby Jones and forward/center Steven Hunter.
"We are excited to add Reggie Evans our roster. He is an accomplished rebounder that we feel will make an immediate impact and will exemplify our commitment to hard work, rebounding and defense," said King. " More>>
Philadelphia, Pa. - Sept. 10, 2007 - Philadelphia 76ers President Billy King announced today that the Sixers have acquired forward Reggie Evans and the rights to forward Ricky Sanchez from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for forward Bobby Jones and forward/center Steven Hunter.
"We are excited to add Reggie Evans our roster. He is an accomplished rebounder that we feel will make an immediate impact and will exemplify our commitment to hard work, rebounding and defense," said King. " More>>
Trexler to write PSU book; Poorman to write foreword
The Phanatic Magazine's Jared Trexler has agreed to author "Sports By the Numbers: Penn State Football", the second book in a proposed 12-book series based on a statisical analysis of the country's top collegiate programs and professional franchises.
Due for an August 2008 release, "Sports By the Numbers: Penn State Football" will delve into the history of college football's prized program with the use of statistics and stories, joining to create a historical timeline of great players, games and coaches.
Mike Poorman, the current senior lecturer and director of alumni relations for Penn State's College of Communications, will write the book's foreword.
A former sports writer and editor, and long-time senior vice president for The Barash Group in State College, Poorman co-founded and has edited the Penn State Football Annual for the past 18 years. He joined the College as manager of alumni relations in 2004. His sports writing experience includes—associate sports editor, Centre Daily Times, State College; sportswriter, Lebanon (Pa.) Daily News; postgraduate internship, U.S. Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, Colo.; part-time correspondent, Associated Press and United Press International; and sports editor, The Daily Collegian, when the paper was named the nation's No. 1 student newspaper. (courtesy of psu.edu).
"Mike is an excellent writer, stays well connected to the university and its sports programs, and has been around Joe (Paterno) and the program since his days at the Daily Collegian in the early 1980s," said Trexler. "He was the first person that came to mind, and I'm honored he has agreed to take this book to a level only his writing can."
Trexler was a member of Poorman's sports writing class as part of the university's Center for Sports Journalism in 2004.
The publishing company Savas Beatie, a well-known general history publisher that has already published such sports novels as "Playing with the Enemy," and the first book of the "Sports By the Numbers" series detailing Oklahoma football, will publish the book chronicling the Nittany Lions.
"Sports By the Numbers" is a concept developed by co-authors and Oklahoma graduate students David Horne, Daniel Brush and Marc Maxwell, the partnership group responsible with the concept and for overseeing the production of each book.
The Phanatic Magazine's managing editor John McMullen was the first member of the staff approached about joining the team, and he will be writing the Philadelphia Eagles book for an August 2008 release. More information on McMullen's book will be posted when available.
Due for an August 2008 release, "Sports By the Numbers: Penn State Football" will delve into the history of college football's prized program with the use of statistics and stories, joining to create a historical timeline of great players, games and coaches.
Mike Poorman, the current senior lecturer and director of alumni relations for Penn State's College of Communications, will write the book's foreword.
A former sports writer and editor, and long-time senior vice president for The Barash Group in State College, Poorman co-founded and has edited the Penn State Football Annual for the past 18 years. He joined the College as manager of alumni relations in 2004. His sports writing experience includes—associate sports editor, Centre Daily Times, State College; sportswriter, Lebanon (Pa.) Daily News; postgraduate internship, U.S. Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, Colo.; part-time correspondent, Associated Press and United Press International; and sports editor, The Daily Collegian, when the paper was named the nation's No. 1 student newspaper. (courtesy of psu.edu).
"Mike is an excellent writer, stays well connected to the university and its sports programs, and has been around Joe (Paterno) and the program since his days at the Daily Collegian in the early 1980s," said Trexler. "He was the first person that came to mind, and I'm honored he has agreed to take this book to a level only his writing can."
Trexler was a member of Poorman's sports writing class as part of the university's Center for Sports Journalism in 2004.
The publishing company Savas Beatie, a well-known general history publisher that has already published such sports novels as "Playing with the Enemy," and the first book of the "Sports By the Numbers" series detailing Oklahoma football, will publish the book chronicling the Nittany Lions.
"Sports By the Numbers" is a concept developed by co-authors and Oklahoma graduate students David Horne, Daniel Brush and Marc Maxwell, the partnership group responsible with the concept and for overseeing the production of each book.
The Phanatic Magazine's managing editor John McMullen was the first member of the staff approached about joining the team, and he will be writing the Philadelphia Eagles book for an August 2008 release. More information on McMullen's book will be posted when available.
Lehigh's Kankam named Patriot League Rookie of the Week
-Courtesy of Lehigh University
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Freshman running back Kwesi Kankam was named the Patriot League Rookie of the Week on Monday after making his Mountain Hawk debut over the weekend versus Villanova. The Ohio native rushed for 34 yards and one touchdown while adding 16 yards on two receptions. Kankam was one of seven Mountain Hawks on the day to catch at least two passes.
Kankam led all Mountain Hawk running backs in rushing on Saturday and scored his first collegiate touchdown in the fourth quarter on a one-yard plunge. Kankam came to Lehigh from Southview High School in Ohio where he garnered All-State, All-District and All-League accolades.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Freshman running back Kwesi Kankam was named the Patriot League Rookie of the Week on Monday after making his Mountain Hawk debut over the weekend versus Villanova. The Ohio native rushed for 34 yards and one touchdown while adding 16 yards on two receptions. Kankam was one of seven Mountain Hawks on the day to catch at least two passes.
Kankam led all Mountain Hawk running backs in rushing on Saturday and scored his first collegiate touchdown in the fourth quarter on a one-yard plunge. Kankam came to Lehigh from Southview High School in Ohio where he garnered All-State, All-District and All-League accolades.
The Eagle in the Room
By Jared Trexler
The Phanatic Magazine
As my colleague Tim McManus ventured into his new season of "This Week in Pro Football," on the show's new home at Sports Radio 950 this past Saturday, windows shut throughout the Delaware Valley.
The proverbial window also shut thousands of miles away in Green Bay.
McManus was posed a question by his radio sidekick Pat Callahan, a simple enough inquisition into the state of the Eagles' core. "When will the Eagles' window of opportunity finally close?" More >>
The Phanatic Magazine
As my colleague Tim McManus ventured into his new season of "This Week in Pro Football," on the show's new home at Sports Radio 950 this past Saturday, windows shut throughout the Delaware Valley.
The proverbial window also shut thousands of miles away in Green Bay.
McManus was posed a question by his radio sidekick Pat Callahan, a simple enough inquisition into the state of the Eagles' core. "When will the Eagles' window of opportunity finally close?" More >>
Connor is Big Ten, Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week
-Courtesy of Penn State University
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; September 10, 2007 – For the second consecutive week, a member
of “Linebacker U” has been honored for his efforts in leading the Penn State defense to an outstanding performance.
Senior All-American Dan Connor (Wallingford) recorded a game-high 12 tackles (8 solo) to lead the Nittany Lions to a 31-10 throttling of Notre Dame and has been selected the Walter Camp Football Foundation's National Defensive Player of the Week and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.
The former Strath Haven High School standout tallied 2.5 tackles for loss (minus-13), including a sack, and a pass break-up, as the Penn State defense put the clamps on the Irish offense to the delight of the frenetic White House crowd of 110,078, second-largest in Beaver Stadium history.
With his 12 stops, Connor moved into fourth all-time on the Penn State career tackles list with 291, passing All-American Dennis Onkotz (1967-69) with 287. Brian Gelzheiser is third at 315. The 12 tackles were the 13th career double-digit tackle game for Connor, who was a 2006 first team All-American by The Sporting News and a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, presented to the nation’s top defensive player.
The Big Ten honor is the third of Connor’s career. He also was recognized after the Akron and Purdue games in 2006. Last week, junior linebacker Sean Lee (Pittsburgh) was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the 59-0 win over Florida International.
Over the past two seasons, Penn State linebackers Connor, Lee and now-graduated All-America Paul Posluszny have been selected the conference’s Defensive Player of the Week five times out of a possible 14 weeks.
In addition to the Camp and conference honors, Connor was one of six players nationally who earned a “helmet sticker” from ESPN’s college football studio team for his efforts during the college football weekend.
The Penn State defense held Notre Dame zero rushing yards on 26 carries, recording six sacks for minus-50 yards. The Lions limited ND to 144 yards of total offense, nine first downs and 2 of 16 on third down conversions. After their first drive of the game, the Irish had 97 yards of offense the remainder of the contest. The Irish's zero rushing yards marked the 13th time the Lions have allowed zero or fewer yards under Joe Paterno. For the second straight game seven different Nittany Lions recorded a sack.
In its first two games, the Penn State defense has given up a total of three points and 258 total yards (144 Notre Dame / 114 FIU). The Lions have allowed minus-3 rushing yards on 57 carries, recording 13 sacks for minus-100 yards and have held their first two opponents to 3 of 31 on third down conversions, including 2 of 16 by Notre Dame, and just 16 first downs (nine by ND).
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; September 10, 2007 – For the second consecutive week, a member
of “Linebacker U” has been honored for his efforts in leading the Penn State defense to an outstanding performance.
Senior All-American Dan Connor (Wallingford) recorded a game-high 12 tackles (8 solo) to lead the Nittany Lions to a 31-10 throttling of Notre Dame and has been selected the Walter Camp Football Foundation's National Defensive Player of the Week and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.
The former Strath Haven High School standout tallied 2.5 tackles for loss (minus-13), including a sack, and a pass break-up, as the Penn State defense put the clamps on the Irish offense to the delight of the frenetic White House crowd of 110,078, second-largest in Beaver Stadium history.
With his 12 stops, Connor moved into fourth all-time on the Penn State career tackles list with 291, passing All-American Dennis Onkotz (1967-69) with 287. Brian Gelzheiser is third at 315. The 12 tackles were the 13th career double-digit tackle game for Connor, who was a 2006 first team All-American by The Sporting News and a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, presented to the nation’s top defensive player.
The Big Ten honor is the third of Connor’s career. He also was recognized after the Akron and Purdue games in 2006. Last week, junior linebacker Sean Lee (Pittsburgh) was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the 59-0 win over Florida International.
Over the past two seasons, Penn State linebackers Connor, Lee and now-graduated All-America Paul Posluszny have been selected the conference’s Defensive Player of the Week five times out of a possible 14 weeks.
In addition to the Camp and conference honors, Connor was one of six players nationally who earned a “helmet sticker” from ESPN’s college football studio team for his efforts during the college football weekend.
The Penn State defense held Notre Dame zero rushing yards on 26 carries, recording six sacks for minus-50 yards. The Lions limited ND to 144 yards of total offense, nine first downs and 2 of 16 on third down conversions. After their first drive of the game, the Irish had 97 yards of offense the remainder of the contest. The Irish's zero rushing yards marked the 13th time the Lions have allowed zero or fewer yards under Joe Paterno. For the second straight game seven different Nittany Lions recorded a sack.
In its first two games, the Penn State defense has given up a total of three points and 258 total yards (144 Notre Dame / 114 FIU). The Lions have allowed minus-3 rushing yards on 57 carries, recording 13 sacks for minus-100 yards and have held their first two opponents to 3 of 31 on third down conversions, including 2 of 16 by Notre Dame, and just 16 first downs (nine by ND).
Nets sign former Villanova player
By John McMullen
The Phanatic Magazine
The New Jersey Nets signed free agent forward Malik Allen Monday. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.
Allen, a 6-foot-10 product out of Villanova, appeared in 60 games for the Chicago Bulls last season, averaging four points and two rebounds per game.
The six-year NBA veteran holds career averages of six points and 3.3 rebounds in 287 games, including 103 starts, with Miami, Charlotte and Chicago.
"We are pleased to add Malik to our roster," said Nets general manager Rod Thorn. "He is a proven NBA veteran who can potentially add depth to our frontcourt."
The Phanatic Magazine
The New Jersey Nets signed free agent forward Malik Allen Monday. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.
Allen, a 6-foot-10 product out of Villanova, appeared in 60 games for the Chicago Bulls last season, averaging four points and two rebounds per game.
The six-year NBA veteran holds career averages of six points and 3.3 rebounds in 287 games, including 103 starts, with Miami, Charlotte and Chicago.
"We are pleased to add Malik to our roster," said Nets general manager Rod Thorn. "He is a proven NBA veteran who can potentially add depth to our frontcourt."
Eagles' Sheppard out with knee injury
By John McMullen
The Phanatic Magazine
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard was diagnosed with a sprained MCL Monday and will likely miss the team's next game against Washington.
Sheppard left the Eagles' season opening 16-13 loss against the Green Bay Packers in the second quarter and did not return.
The six-year pro out of Florida was replaced in the lineup by reserve Joselio Hanson, who also eventually left the game with a concussion and is listed as day-to-day.
A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Sheppard started 13 games for the Eagles last season and amassed 31 tackles and six interceptions.
Also listed as day-to-day are strong safety Sean Considine with a knee sprain; reserve corner Williams James with a bruised quad; and receiver/returner Greg Lewis with a hip-pointer.
The Phanatic Magazine
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard was diagnosed with a sprained MCL Monday and will likely miss the team's next game against Washington.
Sheppard left the Eagles' season opening 16-13 loss against the Green Bay Packers in the second quarter and did not return.
The six-year pro out of Florida was replaced in the lineup by reserve Joselio Hanson, who also eventually left the game with a concussion and is listed as day-to-day.
A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Sheppard started 13 games for the Eagles last season and amassed 31 tackles and six interceptions.
Also listed as day-to-day are strong safety Sean Considine with a knee sprain; reserve corner Williams James with a bruised quad; and receiver/returner Greg Lewis with a hip-pointer.
Season-opening loss? Must be Groundhog Day
By Jeff Glauser
The Phanatic Magazine
For most football fans, the first full day of the NFL season is one of the most exciting days of the year. After the interminable offseason leaves us lacking, filling our Sundays with – gasp! – productivity as a replacement to the gridiron, the opportunity for another year of playoff hopes and Super Bowl dreams for our respective teams can once again take center stage.
Contemporary tradition – at least on the inaugural day - for the Philadelphia fan dictates otherwise.
Yes, for us, it was more of the same yesterday. Tell me you haven’t seen this script play out before: More >>
The Phanatic Magazine
For most football fans, the first full day of the NFL season is one of the most exciting days of the year. After the interminable offseason leaves us lacking, filling our Sundays with – gasp! – productivity as a replacement to the gridiron, the opportunity for another year of playoff hopes and Super Bowl dreams for our respective teams can once again take center stage.
Contemporary tradition – at least on the inaugural day - for the Philadelphia fan dictates otherwise.
Yes, for us, it was more of the same yesterday. Tell me you haven’t seen this script play out before: More >>
Back injury delays Klitschko comeback
By John McMullen
The Phanatic Magazine
Former WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko has reportedly postponed his scheduled comeback fight against Jameel McCline.
According to Fightnews.com, Klitschko (35-2, 34 KOs) suffered a serious back injury during a training session in Austria that required immediate surgery.
The fight was scheduled for September 22 in Munich.
This marks the fifth consecutive time that the 36-year-old former champ has pulled out of a potential fight due to injury. Klitschko's last fight was a successful title defense against Britain's Danny Williams in December of 2004.
A mandatory title defense against Hasim Rahman was postponed twice for a thigh injury, a third time for a back injury and finally for a knee injury.
Klitschko then announced his retirement in November of 2005.
The Phanatic Magazine
Former WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko has reportedly postponed his scheduled comeback fight against Jameel McCline.
According to Fightnews.com, Klitschko (35-2, 34 KOs) suffered a serious back injury during a training session in Austria that required immediate surgery.
The fight was scheduled for September 22 in Munich.
This marks the fifth consecutive time that the 36-year-old former champ has pulled out of a potential fight due to injury. Klitschko's last fight was a successful title defense against Britain's Danny Williams in December of 2004.
A mandatory title defense against Hasim Rahman was postponed twice for a thigh injury, a third time for a back injury and finally for a knee injury.
Klitschko then announced his retirement in November of 2005.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
2007 Heisman Watch
Compiled by Greg Wiley
The Phanatic Magazine
1. Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas (1-0)
Week 2 - Idle
Season - 24 carries 151 yards 1 TD; 2 receptions. 30 yards
Notes - Came into the season as the front-runner. Not enough has happened for him to be dethroned just yet. We'll get a better gauge of him in Week 3 when the Razorbacks head to Alabama. However, he's going to fall if he doesn't have a big game.
Next - Sept. 15 at Alabama
2. Steve Slaton, RB, WVU (2-0)
Week 2 - won at Marshall, 48-23 - 24 carries 146 yards 2 TD; 2 receptions 10 yards
Season - 40 carries 255 yards 5 TD; 4 receptions 71 yards 1 TD
Notes - He helped take over the game on Saturday in the second half, proving he's one of the best in the game. A short week might hurt him as WVU heads to Maryland for a Thursday night matchup.
Next - Sept. 13 at Maryland
3. Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers (2-0)
Week 2 - won vs. Navy, 41-24 Stats - 37 carries 175 yards 2 TD; 3 receptions 40 yards 1 TD Season - 62 carries 359 yards 5 TD; 5 receptions. 61 yards 1 TD
Notes - Rutgers hasn't faced much this season, but Rice is proving he's one of the best in college football. He needs to continue to build up his stats before heading to Louisville and facing West Virginia later this season.
Next - Sept. 15 vs. Norfolk State
4. Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville (2-0)
Week 2 - 25-of-39 401 yards 5 TD, 0 INT
Season - 30-of-41 776 yards 9 TD 0 INT
Notes - Continues to put up great numbers. A shoot-out on Thursday really helped him in the stat line.
Next - Sept. 15 at Kentucky
5. Colt Brennan, QB, Hawaii (1-0)
Week 2 - win at Louisiana Tech, 45-44 (OT) Stats - 43-of-61 548 yards 4 TD, 1 INT; 1 TD rushing
Season - 77-of-101 1,064 yards 10 TD 1 INT; 1 rushing TD
Notes - He's the darkhorse for the award. The nation finally got a chance to see him on Saturday at La. Tech at a normal hour. Hawaii is not a good team, but he signal-handedly kept his team in the game. Hard to say he's the favorite until we see him against a good team. We already know the guys ahead of him can produce against the big programs -- can he?
Next - Sept. 15 at UNLV
6. Patrick White, QB, WVU (2-0)
Week 2 - won at Marshall, 48-23 Stats - 13-of-18 149 yards 2 TD, 0 INT; 18 carries 125 yards 1 TD
Season - 23-of-36 341 yards 4 TD, 0 INT; 27 carries 222 yards 3 TD
Notes - Has been solid. His running ability give him the edge over other QBs. With a short week and traveling to Maryland, the Mountaineers might have to rely more on him than the workhorse Slaton.
Next - Sept. 13 at Maryland
7. John David Booty, QB, USC (1-0)
Week 2 - Idle
Season - 21-of-32 206 yards 3 TD, 1 INT
Notes - He's the QB on the best team in the land, that's got to be worth something.
Next - Sept. 15 at Nebraska
Waiting in the wings: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma; Tashard Choice, RB, Ga.Tech; Tim Tebow, QB, Florida; P.J. Hill, RB, Wisconsin
Dropping out of contention: Mike Hart, RB, Michigan; Chad Henne, QB, Michigan;Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan; Ian Johnson, RB, Boise State.
The Phanatic Magazine
1. Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas (1-0)
Week 2 - Idle
Season - 24 carries 151 yards 1 TD; 2 receptions. 30 yards
Notes - Came into the season as the front-runner. Not enough has happened for him to be dethroned just yet. We'll get a better gauge of him in Week 3 when the Razorbacks head to Alabama. However, he's going to fall if he doesn't have a big game.
Next - Sept. 15 at Alabama
2. Steve Slaton, RB, WVU (2-0)
Week 2 - won at Marshall, 48-23 - 24 carries 146 yards 2 TD; 2 receptions 10 yards
Season - 40 carries 255 yards 5 TD; 4 receptions 71 yards 1 TD
Notes - He helped take over the game on Saturday in the second half, proving he's one of the best in the game. A short week might hurt him as WVU heads to Maryland for a Thursday night matchup.
Next - Sept. 13 at Maryland
3. Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers (2-0)
Week 2 - won vs. Navy, 41-24 Stats - 37 carries 175 yards 2 TD; 3 receptions 40 yards 1 TD Season - 62 carries 359 yards 5 TD; 5 receptions. 61 yards 1 TD
Notes - Rutgers hasn't faced much this season, but Rice is proving he's one of the best in college football. He needs to continue to build up his stats before heading to Louisville and facing West Virginia later this season.
Next - Sept. 15 vs. Norfolk State
4. Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville (2-0)
Week 2 - 25-of-39 401 yards 5 TD, 0 INT
Season - 30-of-41 776 yards 9 TD 0 INT
Notes - Continues to put up great numbers. A shoot-out on Thursday really helped him in the stat line.
Next - Sept. 15 at Kentucky
5. Colt Brennan, QB, Hawaii (1-0)
Week 2 - win at Louisiana Tech, 45-44 (OT) Stats - 43-of-61 548 yards 4 TD, 1 INT; 1 TD rushing
Season - 77-of-101 1,064 yards 10 TD 1 INT; 1 rushing TD
Notes - He's the darkhorse for the award. The nation finally got a chance to see him on Saturday at La. Tech at a normal hour. Hawaii is not a good team, but he signal-handedly kept his team in the game. Hard to say he's the favorite until we see him against a good team. We already know the guys ahead of him can produce against the big programs -- can he?
Next - Sept. 15 at UNLV
6. Patrick White, QB, WVU (2-0)
Week 2 - won at Marshall, 48-23 Stats - 13-of-18 149 yards 2 TD, 0 INT; 18 carries 125 yards 1 TD
Season - 23-of-36 341 yards 4 TD, 0 INT; 27 carries 222 yards 3 TD
Notes - Has been solid. His running ability give him the edge over other QBs. With a short week and traveling to Maryland, the Mountaineers might have to rely more on him than the workhorse Slaton.
Next - Sept. 13 at Maryland
7. John David Booty, QB, USC (1-0)
Week 2 - Idle
Season - 21-of-32 206 yards 3 TD, 1 INT
Notes - He's the QB on the best team in the land, that's got to be worth something.
Next - Sept. 15 at Nebraska
Waiting in the wings: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma; Tashard Choice, RB, Ga.Tech; Tim Tebow, QB, Florida; P.J. Hill, RB, Wisconsin
Dropping out of contention: Mike Hart, RB, Michigan; Chad Henne, QB, Michigan;Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan; Ian Johnson, RB, Boise State.
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