Michigan Football: Slow Thursday News and Notes

• Kevin Newsome has trouble with commitment: We all remember Kevin Newsome, the five-star QB that attended Michigan’s Spring Game last year and quickly committed saying that Michigan was a the perfect mix of athletics and academics. Well, things have changed since then: He loses his fifth star due to poor throwing mechanics during the summer elite QB camps. Then Kevin decides to leave his high school Western Branch and transfer to Hargrave Military. Next, he decides to de-commit from the Wolverines and re-open the recruiting process. Now comes word he is leaving Hargrave Military for Churchland so he can enroll early at the college of his choice. He says he final list is Virginia Tech, Penn State, Ohio State and Boston College. Can anyone tell me how you can transfer High Schools in December and think you will be enrolling at college in January? Quick Prediction: Whichever college Kevin picks, look for him to transfer within two years (like he is going to sit behind Pryor for two or three years?). That Tate Forcier pick up is looking pretty good right now.
• Ohio State QB Sneak Killer and redshirt sophomore qurterback Pat Devlin has left Penn State and plans on transferring to Division 1-AA school, so he can play right away.
• Latest rumor is that LSU is looking to hire former Syracuse coach Greg Robinson as it’s defensive coordinator.
• From reports it looks like Skip Holtz has an offer from Syracuse and trying to make a decision to take the job or stay at East Carolina.
• Brady Hoke is very interested in the Auburn job and has interviewed with them. It sounds like Auburn is going in another direction.
• 2009 Tight End and Basketball prospect Dion Simms has eliminated Michigan from his list of schools. This is not a big loss for the Wolverines, since Dion is not committed to playing football in college and prefers basketball.
• Michigan official visitors for this weekend include: Taylor Lewan, OT from Scottsdale, NC CB Josh Hunter (North Carolina Commit), FL S/LB Commit Mike Jones, and FL K Commit Brendan Gibbons.
• William Campbell is retaking his ACT this weekend, which could put his early entry into jeopardy.

Go to Source

Three Big Ten coaches named finalists for award

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

Penn State’s Joe Paterno, Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald and Ohio State’s Jim Tressel are among the 10 finalists for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award.

Voting for the award will take place Dec. 12-22, with the winner being announced Dec. 31 during halftime of the Music City Bowl. Fans can cast their votes here, and votes from College Football Hall of Fame members and national media also will be included in the selection process.

The 10 finalists are:

• Mack Brown, Texas
• Brady Hoke, Ball State
• Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
• Urban Meyer, Florida
• Joe Paterno, Penn State
• Chris Petersen, Boise State
• Nick Saban, Alabama
• Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
• Jim Tressel, Ohio State
• Kyle Whittingham, Utah

Paterno, named Big Ten Coach of the Year last month, guided Penn State to an 11-1 record, a share of the league title and a Rose Bowl appearance. Fitzgerald led an underrated Northwestern team to a 9-3 mark and an Alamo Bowl appearance. Tressel helped Ohio State to a share of the Big Ten title and a BCS bowl appearance for the fourth consecutive season.

My vote goes to Saban, though there are strong arguments for Brown and the three non-BCS coaches (Whittingham, Petersen and Hoke). Paterno and Fitzgerald certainly deserve to be on the list, but I’m a little surprised about Tressel. Though he did a good job transitioning Terrelle Pryor and helping Ohio State bounce back from the USC disaster, the Buckeyes were a preseason national title contender and finished 10-2. Most Ohio State fans were somewhat disappointed with this season.

Go to Source

Three Big Ten coaches named finalists for national award

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

Penn State’s Joe Paterno, Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald and Ohio State’s Jim Tressel are among the 10 finalists for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award. 

Voting for the award will take place Dec. 12-22, with the winner being announced Dec. 31 during halftime of the Music City Bowl. Fans can cast their votes here, and votes from College Football Hall of Fame members and national media also will be included in the selection process. 

The 10 finalists are:

• Mack Brown, Texas
• Brady Hoke, Ball State
• Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
• Urban Meyer, Florida,
• Joe Paterno, Penn State
• Chris Petersen, Boise State
• Nick Saban, Alabama
• Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
• Jim Tressel, Ohio State
• Kyle Whittingham, Utah

Paterno, named Big Ten Coach of the Year last month, guided Penn State to an 11-1 record, a share of the league title and a Rose Bowl appearance. Fitzgerald led an underrated Northwestern team to a 9-3 mark and an Alamo Bowl appearance. Tressel helped Ohio State to a share of the Big Ten title and a BCS bowl appearance for the fourth consecutive season. 

My vote goes to Saban, though there are strong arguments for Brown and the three non-BCS coaches (Whittingham, Petersen and Hoke). Paterno and Fitzgerald certainly deserve to be on the list, but I’m a little surprised about Tressel. Though he did a good job transitioning Terrelle Pryor and helping Ohio State bounce back from the USC disaster, the Buckeyes were a preseason national title contender and finished 10-2. Most Ohio State fans were somewhat disappointed with this season. 

Go to Source

Big Ten Coaching Outlook: Who’s on the Hot Seat?

Coaching changes are taking place all over the country, and are filling up a lot of air time of ESPN.

From the firing of Tommy Bowden at Clemson to the hiring of Lane Kiffin at Tennessee, excellence is being demanded. Unlike many conferences around the country, the coaching outlook actually looks pretty stable at this point in the year.

I am actually shocked by this, because I figured there would be a much larger coaching shake up in the Big Ten with the lack of success taking place for many teams. Let’s take a look…

Illinois

Ron Zook has been coaching the Fighting Illini since 2005, and has made a big splash in recruiting the Mid-West.

Zook has quickly become one of the most notable head coaches in the Big Ten despite his 18-30 record with the Illini. He won Champaign over with his 9-4 record and Rose Bowl bid in 2007, but one has to wonder if that was the exception not the rule.

With a 5-7 record in 2008, Zook is going to have to translate his recruiting classes to wins to keep his job for the long haul!

Indiana

You have to wonder how good the Hoosiers could have been with Hoeppner at the helm, but now they are stuck with Bill Lynch.

IU being embarrassed not once, but twice by a MAC school highlights how bad Lynch really is. He could not keep his job at Ball State (fired in ‘02), and is obviously not the quality the Hoosiers need.

Speaking of Ball State, Head Coach Brady Hoke would be a great candidate for the Hoosiers to look at. You know the old statement,“If you can’t beat ‘um, steal their coach!”

Anyways, Lynch’s days seem to be numbered in Bloomington.  

Iowa

After the 2004 season Kirk Ferentz looked to be one of the best coaches in the Big Ten, and was coming off of three seasons with records of 11-2, 10-3, and 10-2. The next three seasons were not so friendly to Hawkeyes, and I along with many thought this with Ferentz’s last season.

The 8-4 season they put together looks to have saved his job, and he owes Shonn Greene a big thank you.

Michigan

It’s hard to say anything positive about what is going on up in Ann Arbor or about Rich Rodriguez.

He came in and changed traditions, changed the style of ball, and ticked off the Wolverine faithful. The 3-9 record he produced didn’t make up for any of that, and I personally wonder how much time he has with the Maize and Blue. In fact rumors surfaced about him going to Clemson, with many of Michigan fans were already talking about Brian Kelly of Cincinnati replacing him.

Overall I think Rich Rodriguez can turn things around, but he needs time, and that means winning the fans over again!

Michigan State

Mark Dantonio has been the stable coach that the Spartans needed.

I don’t think he is ever going to blow anyone away with his offensive schemes or risky play calling, but seems to have cleaned things up a bit in East Lansing. He has things going in the right direction, and I don’t see him going anywhere anytime soon.

Things might be a little rough without Ringer next season, but Dantonio doesn’t need to worry about his job.  

Minnesota

If anyone doubted Tim Brewster after the 1-11 start at Minnesota, they do not now.

The Gophers did lose their final four games, but the 7-5 record they produced is miles ahead of last season. Brewster offers a much fresher style, and it has really paid off for him on the recruiting trail as well.

The Big Ten really needs more teams like Minnesota to step up, and you better believe I will be rooting Brewster on. 

Northwestern

Pat Fitzgerald didn’t take over the Northwestern team in the best of circumstances, but he has made the most of the opportunity. The Wildcats have seen improvement in each of his three seasons, with the best being the 9-3 record this year.

Fitzgerald seems to be safe, though I am not sure Northwestern will ever be able to make a run like they did in the late 1990’s again.

Ohio State

“In Tressel We Trust.” No matter how frustrated some of you may be with the offensive play calling, Tressel has won four straight Big Ten Titles. I think it is safe to say that Tressel is a Buckeye until he chooses retirement.

Penn State

I have to say that I thought the end of this season was a perfect time for Joe Paterno to step down because Penn State won the Big Ten Title, he was forced to be in the booth and let the assistants coach, and his contract runs up at the end of the season.

But who am I to tell the winningest coach of all time to step down? It looks like the only thing that will stop JoePa now is death!

Purdue

The Tiller era is done for the Boilermakers, and new coach Danny Hope takes over for the ’09 season.

Hope isn’t a huge name, but he did provide a smooth transition for Tiller’s exit. He isn’t young either, at 49, and will have to prove himself to the folks in West Lafayette. He previously coached Eastern Kentucky with an overall record of 35-22, and in 2007 lead them to a 9-3 year in the Ohio Valley Conference. He already has made huge changes on the Purdue staff, and hopefully will bring some fresh air into the program.

Like I said earlier, the Big Ten needs teams like this to step up.

Wisconsin

Bret Bielema started out strong with a 12-1 record in his first season with the Badgers, but now has many wondering if he can do it without Barry Alvarez’s recruits.

Wisconsin has been a sinking ship the last three seasons with Bielema, and going 3-5 in the Big Ten this season has raised many eyebrows. Things better get turned around quickly, or the Wisconsin faithful will happily look elsewhere.

I may be totally wrong, but I don’t think Bielema can take this team to the next level.

Go to Source

Big Ten assistants likely in mix for MAC jobs

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

The Mid-American Conference currently has four head-coaching vacancies, as Toledo, Bowling Green, Miami (Ohio) and Eastern Michigan all are looking for men to lead their football programs. 

With Buffalo’s Turner Gill and Ball State’s Brady Hoke already being mentioned for BCS-conference jobs, more coaching turnover seems likely.  

Given the Big Ten’s proximity to the MAC, it’s inevitable that several Big Ten assistants will be mentioned for top jobs. 

Here’s a look at several coaches who might get calls in the coming days and weeks. 

Michigan State offensive coordinator Don Treadwell

Treadwell played and coached at Miami (Ohio), and he figures to be one of the top candidates for the RedHawks’ coaching vacancy. Miami athletic director Brad Bates said many of the successful men who made up the “Cradle of Coaches” were Miami alums. Treadwell has extensive experience as an assistant, working in the Big East, Pac-10 and ACC. He’s also likely in the mix at Eastern Michigan. 

Ohio State co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Luke Fickell

An up-and-coming young coach, Fickell will be one to watch in the coming seasons. The Toledo Blade listed him a potential candidate for the Bowling Green vacancy, and he should be in the mix for all the MAC openings. The former Ohio State nose guard spent two years coaching in the MAC (Akron, 2000-01). Fickell might be holding out for a BCS-conference job. 

Iowa wide receivers coach Erik Campbell

Campbell has been mentioned as a candidate at Eastern Michigan, which would be a natural fit for a man who spent 13 seasons down the road as a Michigan assistant. He developed a 1,000-yard wide receiver in eight consecutive seasons at Michigan and did a nice job developing Iowa’s wideouts, particularly Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, as the season progressed. Campbell also recruits the Detroit area. 

Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi

He earned his Master’s degree from Miami (Ohio) and served as an assistant coach there from 1990-92 and again in 2003. Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio made it clear before the season that the Spartans’ defense belongs to Narduzzi, who saw improved results this fall as the team went 9-3. He should get a look at Miami (Ohio), Toledo and possibly Bowling Green or Eastern Michigan.

Michigan State tight ends/offensive tackles coach Mark Staten

Another Miami (Ohio) grad who could draw interest for the RedHawks’ coaching vacancy. Staten played at Miami from 1989-92 and was a graduate assistant there in 2001. He also serves as Michigan State’s recruiting coordinator, an area that has improved markedly in the last year. 

Michigan running backs coach Fred Jackson

The only assistant coach Rich Rodriguez retained at Michigan could be in the mix for the Eastern Michigan job. Jackson has served as a Michigan assistant since 1992 and knows the area extremely well. He coached five All-Big Ten running backs with the Wolverines.

Go to Source

Top Ten Coach of the Year Candidates in College Football

Another year of college football is winding down, and along with it comes one of the more exciting races that no one is talking about—that being coach of the year.  For the first time in a while, there’s really no clear-cut favorite this late in the season.

While most prognosticators would be tempted to flood their lists with SEC and Big 12 coaches, there are plenty of others who deserve recognition.

With that being said, here are ten coaches that when discussing coach of the year, each should be mentioned in that same breath—with only one featured from each of the two aforementioned power conferences:

Top Ten Coach of the Year Candidates in College Football

10. Butch Davis – North Carolina (3-3, 7-3)

It was an easy bet that Coach Davis, with his past pro and college experience, would be able to improve the quality of football at Chapel Hill.  What wasn’t expected was the way he’s turned things around so quickly—especially after losing talents such as T.J. Yates and Brandon Tate for the majority of the 2008 season.

9. Mark Dantonio – Michigan State (6-1, 9-2)

Before Dantonio arrived at the beginning of last year, Michigan State hadn’t seen a winning season since 2003.  After a 7-6 campaign in ’07, Dantonio has responded with nine wins, and with a week to go, the Spartans still have an outside shot at a Rose Bowl berth.  That’s something that even Sparty didn’t see coming.

8. Paul Johnson – Georgia Tech (4-3, 7-3)

They said his system wouldn’t work in the ACC.  They said it would take years for him to bring in enough recruits to build respectability.

Yet, while not having one of his biggest weapons in Josh Nesbitt during parts of the season, Coach Johnson has managed to keep the Yellow Jackets afloat with solid defense and other offensive weapons.

To top it off, a victory over Miami later this week could land Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship game, something no one expected.

7. Brian Kelly – Cincinnati (4-1, 8-2)

West Virginia isn’t sitting on top of the Big East.  Neither is South Florida, or Pittsburgh.  Nope, it’s the Bearcats, led by Coach Kelly.  In his first year, Kelly led Cincinnati to ten wins and a bowl victory.  This season, after returning only twelve starters, he’s on top of the Big East, hoping for another double-digit win season—and perhaps a conference title.

6. Brady Hoke – Ball State (6-0, 10-0)

Hoke is the darkhorse in this competition, coaching in the Mid-American conference, which gets little to no national exposure.  A program that managed only 15 victories from 2003-2006, Hoke has accumulated 17 wins since the beginning of last season.  Hoke’s two biggest tests are still to come with other Mid-American powers Central Michigan and Western Michigan on deck.

5. Tim Brewster – Minnesota (3-4, 7-4)

If not for three consecutive losses, Brewster could easily be at the top of this list.  Still, after a dismal 1-11 season last year, the second-year coach not only managed a solid 2008 recruiting class (28th according to scout.com), but also managed at least a half-dozen win turnaround along with a bowl berth to come. Dontcha know that’s one heckuva year, yah?

4. Kyle Whittingham – Utah (7-0, 11-0)

Some coaches get buried in mediocrity after replacing someone that had a great deal of success.  When Urban Meyer left Utah (for Florida) after giving the Utes its first perfect season since 1930 (plus the first BCS bowl berth by a mid-major), there were lofty expectations and high hopes for the program—certainly a tall order for Whittingham and his staff.

Still, he’s responded with three winning seasons, and in year four, Utah is undefeated and primed for a potential second BCS berth in five years.

3. Mike Leach – Texas Tech (6-0, 10-0)

Leach and the Red Raiders have always been known to have an explosive offense, but never enough to get over the hump in big games—until this season.  Beating Oklahoma at Norman may be enough to push him to the top of this list and push Texas Tech to a national title berth.

2. Joe Paterno – Penn State (6-1, 10-1)

From having to cut two d-linemen, lose another to injury, lose a star linebacker for the year, fend off questions of retirement, avoid questions regarding his health, among other things, Coach Paterno brought Penn State to within one point and one last second field goal from an undefeated record.

With Michigan State approaching, a win can earn the Nittany Lions its first Rose Bowl berth since 1994.  It’s been a special year for Paterno—but will it be his last?  That question alone could earn some extra votes.

1. Nick Saban – Alabama (7-0, 11-0)

Everyone knew Coach Saban would make the Tide roll again—but this quickly?  With the number one recruiting class in 2008 (according to scout.com), it looked like Saban and the boys were about a year or two away, especially with an ’08 schedule that featured road tests against LSU, Tennessee, Georgia, plus a neutral site game against Clemson during week one.

After a 7-6 2007 season, Saban has done a spectacular job with this year’s team, but the road to the national title is getting tougher, with Auburn and Florida still in the way.  Either way, don’t expect the Tide to go away anytime soon and if forced to choose a favorite for coach of the year, Saban would have to be the one.

Go to Source

The REAL Coaches’ Poll: Top 25 College Football Coaches Rankings (Week Nine)

By now, most of you know what the poll is about.  But for those of you who are new to the REAL Coaches’ Poll “experience,” this is how it works.

Much like the other college football polls, the coaches are ranked according to their performance for the current season.  No consideration is given to previous seasons.

A coach moves up the poll by beating other ranked coaches or ranked opponents, and the strength of the win is considered.  A coach moves down in the poll by losing, and more consideration is given to a loss to another ranked coach or a ranked opponent.

Every week the reader comments left from the previous poll are also considered.  So tell me if you agree or disagree.  I listen!

There you have it.  Enjoy the REAL Coaches’ Poll (Week Nine).

Go to Source