Wisconsin finalizes 2011 slate with South Dakota

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Wisconsin is still looking for two home games in 2010, but the Badgers completed their 2011 slate today with the addition of South Dakota. 
The season opens with home games against UNLV (Sept. 3) and Oregon State (Sept. 10), followed by a neutral-site meeting with Northern Illinois on Sept. 17 at Soldier Field in Chicago. Wisconsin then wraps up…
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Minnesota announces USC series, future dates

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

One of the biggest knocks on former Minnesota head coach Glen Mason was his approach to nonconference scheduling.

The Golden Gophers repeatedly breezed through one-ply Septembers before tripping up in Big Ten play.

Those days are over.

Continuing a trend of more aggressive scheduling, Minnesota announced a home-and-home series against national powerhouse USC. The Gophers will host USC at TCF Bank Stadium on Sept. 18, 2010, before opening the 2011 season at the L.A. Coliseum (Sept. 3). Minnesota canceled a home-and-home series against Washington State to make room for the Trojans. 

"Playing against arguably one of the best football teams of this decade really indicates the type of challenge coach [Tim] Brewster and our football program wants to take on," Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi said in a statement. "I think this series should really excite our fans, our players and our potential recruits."  

Minnesota will face Air Force and Cal next fall and begin a series against Colorado in 2012. 

"As I've said from the beginning, I want to upgrade our nonconference schedule to help with our national recruiting base," Brewster said in a statement. "I've said that I would like to play a marquee BCS opponent on national television one time a year. I'm excited about the series with USC and would like to commend associate athletic director Marc Ryan on his ability to schedule those games." 

The school also announced several other changes to future schedules. 

• Minnesota will host South Dakota in 2010 and North Dakota State in 2011.
• Minnesota moved its 2010 game against UNLV to 2012. The Gophers will open the 2012 season in Las Vegas against the Rebels.
• The Gophers' 2012 contest at Air Force has been canceled.
• San Jose State will visit Minnesota in 2013 and 2014. Western Illinois will visit in 2013.
• Minnesota will host South Dakota State and Ohio in 2015. 

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Big Ten recruiting nuggets

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

As national signing day approaches, I'll try to post Big Ten-related information from Tom Luginbill, the national recruiting director for ESPN's Scouts Inc. 

Here's the latest from Luginbill on both 2009 and 2010 recruits. 

Corner Mike Wallace headed to Penn State

Name: Mike Wallace, CB
Wheaton, Md.
Good Counsel H.S.
Scouts Grade: 73
Position Rank: 84

After making an official visit to Penn State over the weekend, defensive back Mike Wallace committed to the Nittany Lions Wednesday night, NittanyNetwork.com's Bill Kurelic reports.

Wallace had scholarship offers from Penn State, New Mexico, Stanford, Army, Maine, New Hampshire and Towson University. However, after landing a scholarship offer from Penn State over the weekend it did not take Wallace long to accept.

"The recruiting process is pretty hard," Wallace said. "But I just felt comfortable at Penn State. God just told me it's the right decision."

Wallace' cousin Terry Killens played linebacker for Penn State in the 1990's.

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Offensive tackle Nolan MacMillan names finalists

Name: Nolan MacMilan, OT
Princeton, N.J.
The Hun School Of Princeton (N.J.)
Scouts Grade: 77

Nolan MacMillan will decide between Boston College, Georgia Tech, Iowa and Virginia, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

He said, "I wouldn't say I have a frontrunner, but things are starting to work themselves out in my mind."

The 6-foot-6 prospect is slated to make his final official visit this weekend to Boston College.

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Sooners right behind Fighting Illini for Hawthorne

Name: Terry Hawthorne, WR
East St. Louis, Ill.
East Saint Louis Sr. H.S.
Scouts Grade: 82
ESPNU150 Rank: 88
Position Rank: 10

Under Armour All-American wide receiver Terry Hawthorne spoke with ESPN affiliate Web site OUInsider.com about the latest regarding his recruitment.

He said, "(Oklahoma is) second right now behind Illinois." Hawthorne added that he's still committed to the Fighting Illini but when asked if he's an Illinois lock, the East St. Louis product responded, "I am not sure. I want to wait and see when I visit there and see how it is."

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Northwestern gains Nevada linebacker

Name: Damien Proby, OLB
Las Vegas, Nev.
Cheyenne H.S.
Scouts Grade: 73
Position Rank: 127

Damien Proby of Cheyenne (Las Vegas, Nev.) is headed to the Wildcats.

The 210-pound linebacker was also offered by Oregon State, San Diego State, UNLV, Washington State, Wyoming and Utah State.

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Junior Blake Lueders already holding nine offers

Name: Blake Lueders, DE
Zionsville, Ind.
Zionsville Community H.S.

Class of 2010 ESPNU 150 Watch List defensive lineman Blake Lueders has been offered by nine programs, according to his father Dan Lueders.

Boston College, Indiana, Iowa, Northwestern, North Carolina, Purdue, Stanford, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest are already after the Zionsville, Ind., prospect.

Lueders registered 128 total tackles and three sacks as a junior, earning Class 4A All-State recognition.

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College Football’s Top Twenty Biggest Disappointments

This year has seen some real surprises. But these twenty (in no particular order) are college football’s biggest disappointments. This is all about not meeting expectations- if a team had low expectations, then they didn’t make the list.

Clemson

We expected them to win the ACC, and instead, they just couldn’t win. It’s a sad state of affairs in South Carolina.

Arizona State

What happened? Sure Rudy Carpenter was dinged up, but the Sun Devils were expected to contend for the Pac-10, and instead, are now contending for a bowl-less season at a dismal 4-6, with a loss to UNLV starting the six-game free fall.

Auburn

The D is overrated, and Tuberville throwing his OC under the bus before one complete season was the low point for the Tiggers. You just knew it was going to be a bad season when TT said the 3-2 game against Mississippi State was a great defensive battle. Heads up Tommy, Ole Miss beat them 45-0.

Florida State

As usual, the Noles failed to live up to Garnet and Gold expectations. And as usual, Bowden will probably not retire because of Joe Pa’s solid season pushing him ahead in the race to the greatest number of wins by a college coach. Dadgummit, Bobby, you ain’t gonna catch him now.

Iowa

Sure they upset the Nits, but that’s it. The rest of the season, the Hawkeyes spent more time with legal counsel than in the training room. 8-4 is nothing to sneeze at, but losses to Northwestern and Illinois are. And before you start jumping on Northwestern’s bandwagon, remind yourself that FIVE of the Wildcats’ nine wins were over Syracuse, Southern Illinois, Duke, Ohio (Bobcats) and Michigan.

Wisconsin

Well, the perennial Capitol One Bowl delegate finally missed the boat after a truly dismal season. Anytime you have to stage a rally in the 4th quarter to beat Cal Poly in OT, your season stinks. Sure 7-5 isn’t bad, but the Badgers’ wins are over Akron, Marshall, Fresno State, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Cal-Poly. ‘Nuff said.

Georgia

They’ve had a good season but….getting blown out twice is not impressive. Great, or even very good teams, don’t get blown out (Texas Tech being the exception to the rule). They may lose every now and then, but get blown out? NO. Barely beating Kentucky and Auburn means Georgia Tech will probably upset the Dawgs. 

Notre Dame

They’ve improved this year? When you go from No. 115 in rushing offense to No. 92, and the coach says he’s going to “pound it” this year, that’s not real improvement. Then again, pretty much everything about Notre Dame hasn’t improved – except for the schedule’s “softness”  – and next year’s is as soft and cushy as the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.

Tennessee

Ok, we knew there was going to be a bit of a fall off, but this bad? The good news is that the Vols are getting a bright, offensive genius as their next coach. Kiff will bring back FUN to Vols football- he’s a younger version of Norm Chow.

ESPN

Dr. Lou has made serious gaffes and Herbstreit “scooped’ everyone by saying Les Miles was going to Michigan.  Then there’s this dilly  (courtesy of the Chicago Tribune) of Lee Corso on the radio talking about Charlie Weis:

“The entire Catholic Church doesn’t have enough money to pay him off at .5 million for another seven years or whatever it is. So forget about it. The guy is going to be the football coach and they’re just going to have to live with what they’ve got.”   Umm Lee, did you temporarily lose your mind? The Catholic Church is so big they even have their own country (sort of) called Vatican City. If I’m not mistaken, ND prints their own money. Good grief.

The NCAA

Three years and counting, still no word on Bush-gate. By the time they get around to charging USC with something, California will have dropped off into the ocean after the Big One.

Fresno State

Wow, from a pre-season BCS-buster favorite to a team that that lost to Hawai’i (in OT), Louisiana Tech and Nevada, the Bulldogs went from snarling to gumming in three months.

LSU

It’s not the vaunted D we are disappointed in, it’s the fundamentals. Like tackling. And discipline. They show sparks of greatness, but that usually is followed up with long bouts of mediocrity. The bright spot? Frosh QB Jordan Jefferson, a rangy, athletic Randall Cunningham-like clone who has fast wheels and great moves. If he just could lose the whining face antics…

USC

Sure their loss to the Beavs was a loss to a ranked team, but for the first time in a long time, the Trojans can’t control their own destiny. Losing the “Little Games” has been a curse for the last two years, and next up for the Trojans? The Fighting Irish. Lose that one, and the Stanford upset will be forever forgotten.

Kansas

They lost a few good players (two good OT’s and CB Talib) from last year’s Cinderella team, but the schedule got a whole lot harder this year and the Jayhawks were exposed, big time.

South Florida

What happened to the Bulls? Beating Florida International 17-9 early in the season was a huge red flag.  Tanking three in a row to Louisville, Cincy and Rutgers, was the final nail in their 2-4 conference-record coffin. Except for West Virginia next week, of course.

Missouri

Were you like I, ready to pencil in Mizzou as the team to beat in the Big 12? Sure Oklahoma and Texas always are the cream of the crop, but  honestly, didn’t you expect a little more from Mizzou? They have no prayer of beating the Big 12 South champ, and lots of fans will be rooting for them for selfish reasons, but they will be disappointed. Again. And out of a BCS Bowl. Again.

Michigan

It’s the manner in which they lost all of those games that is so disturbing. Michigan never tanks games. Their new nickname should be the Shermans, no offense to Unioto High in Chillicothe, Ohio, who are called the Shermans.

The Pac-10

It was an ugly year, and even though there are three teams ranked, one of them will drop this weekend. Losing to the Mountain West Conference over one weekend was bad enough, but having really only one team represent the conference the last seven years is pretty sad. Oregon State can break that streak, but the Pac needs to step it up.

The ACC

The ACC has permeated college football with a noxious odor that won’t go away. Honestly, does their champ really deserve a BCS Bowl bid over a team like Texas Tech? If we had a playoff system, we’re pretty sure none of these teams would make it past the first round.

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Inside the Polls: Why Is Penn State Higher Than Utah?

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College Football Line Moves for Week 12, 11/15/08

Well it’s my favorite day of the week during my favorite time of the year and while we don’t have too many of these left this year, we are going to cherish the ones that we have left.

It’s been another great season of college football and here we are with just a few weeks left and we have at least 10 teams claiming to have a shot at the National Title. While many have stumbled along the way, they have been fortunate that others have followed in their footsteps and stumbled as well—we’ll have to see how this all shakes out in the end.

I know that it’s been tough sledding for a lot as far as picking the games, but we usually have at least a few that seem to get it done every week in the free picking contest. You can still get in for one of the last ones of the year and be all set for the future as well by signing up for free, but I am also on planning on having a Bowl game picking contest with multiple prize winners, some of which will be the new T-shirts which are going to be released in the next few weeks. These are truly exciting times.

The chat room has been a major success and is getting better every game. I think everything that happens here this year is just laying the foundation for everything that’s going to happen in the years to come.

All of the changes you have seen have all come from suggestions I received either in the forums or by email, by all means keep them coming along with all of the questions and comments. It’s pretty amazing that we’ve grown from 134 weekly viewers to 10,000 a day since just September, Jordan and I are truly humbled and thankful for everyone who makes this place the success it is and it’s really all of you.

I any event we have a lot of football to play today and we’ve been watching the lines like a hawk. There has been a lot of movement and we’re ready to once again pounce on the skewed public perception.

We would like to personally thank all of the media who pumped up Wyoming for beating Tennessee and for making the spread very easily beatable by UNLV in their Thursday tilt with Wyoming as we read through all of that hype  and saw the numbers 120, as in the 120th ranked scoring defense in the country for the Cowboys. The opportunities won’t end there. Let’s take a look at what other recent events have done to the lines.

 

Duke is +10 1/2 at Clemson after opening at +10 1/2. The win at BC just can’t convince the public who were burned by the Tigers earlier this season.

 

Illinois is +10 against Ohio State after opening at +7 1/2. The Illini have been on again off again as the Buckeyes look to get revenge for last years loss.

 

Purdue is +18 1/2 at Iowa after opening at +14. The Hawkeyes got a lot of ink this week after last weeks thrilling win over Penn State.

 

Georgia is -10 after opening at -7 1/2 at Auburn. Auburn hasn’t seemed to get it together this year and with this one and the Iron Bowl still on the schedule the heat is on.

Go here to see the rest of the Week 12 College Football line and point spread moves

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The NCAA 10: Top Coaches Who Could Play

The old saying goes, “those who can’t do, teach.” 

 

Is that true when it comes to college football coaches?

 

I was surprised to learn that of the 119 Division I (or FBS, if you’d rather) head coaches there are only six who never played college football.

 

They are: David Cutcliffe (Duke), Paul Johnson (Georgia Tech), Mark Mangino (Kansas), Mike Leach (Texas Tech), Charlie Weis (Notre Dame) and George O’Leary (Central Florida).  Although, if you give him enough time I think O’Leary might be able to come up with a little playing experience for the old resume, if needed.

 

It makes sense that there would be a fair number who either never played, or at best road the pine.  However, what I found was that there were also plenty who could play and who had some stellar college (and a few NFL) careers.  How they rank (as collegiate players) is as follows:

 

10. Mike Gundy, QB, Oklahoma State (Head Coach: Oklahoma State)

 

Gundy was a 4-year starter for the Cowboys and in 1988 (back when he was just 21, and not quite a “man”) he helped lead OSU to a 10-2 mark and a Holiday Bowl thumping of Wyoming, 62-14.  In that Junior campaign he was second in the nation in QB efficiency at 158.2, behind only Washington State’s Timm Rosenbach and ahead of Heisman finalists: USC’s Rodney Peete and UCLA’s Troy Aikman.  He was 153-236 for 2,163 yards, 19 TDs and 12 Ints. 

 

Granted, he was given the gift of handing off to the likes of Thurman Thomas and Barry Sanders (who won the Heisman in 1988) but he graduated as the all-time leader in passing at both Oklahoma State and in Big 8 history.

 

9. Frank Solich, FB, Nebraska (Head Coach: Ohio)

 

Known as “fearless Frankie” while with the Cornhuskers, Solich was an All Big 8 selection in 1965 and the first Nebraska player to rush for over 200 yards in a single game.  He was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated that year, and was later inducted into the Husker Hall of Fame.

 

8. Stan Brock, OT, Colorado (Head Coach: Army)

 

Brock was a Sporting News All-American in 1979 for the Buffaloes, on his way to becoming a first round draft pick (#12 overall) of the New Orleans Saints.  He would parlay that into a long and successful 16-year NFL career.

 

7. Sylvester Croom, C, Alabama (Head Coach: Mississippi State)

 

As captain, he helped Bear Bryant and the Crimson Tide to three SEC titles (as well as a National Title in 1973) and was an All-American center in 1974.

 

6. Rick Neuheisel, QB, UCLA (Head Coach: UCLA)

 

In 1983, his senior year with the Bruins, Neuheisel was fifth in the nation in QB efficiency at 142.5 (just ahead of UNLV’s Randall Cunningham and behind the nation’s leader, BYU’s Steve Young).  He was 163-236 for 1,947 yards, 9 TDs and 10 Ints, while leading UCLA to a 7-4-1 mark and garnering Rose Bowl MVP honors, beating #4 Illinois 45-9.

 

5. Turner Gill, QB, Nebraska (Head Coach: Buffalo)

 

Gill led the Cornhuskers to an amazing 28-2 record as a starting QB.  He finished #4 in the Heisman balloting in 1983 to his Nebraska teammate, RB Mike Rozier, on their way to a #1 ranking and a heartbreaking 31-30 loss to Miami for the National Championship.  It was Gill’s pass, on a two-point conversion to win the game, that was deflected with just seconds remaining.

 

SIDE NOTE: What Gill has already accomplished  with the Buffalo football program has been nothing short of miraculous.  He didn’t land the coveted Nebraska gig last year, but he should be on plenty of short lists this time around. K-State, UW, are you listening?

 

4. Jim Harbaugh, QB, Michigan (Head Coach: Stanford)

 

As a Junior in 1985, Harbaugh led Michigan to a 10-1-1 mark and led the nation in QB efficiency at 163.7.  He was 139-212 for 1,913 yards, 18 TDs and 6 Ints.  He then followed that up with a senior campaign in 1986 that would see him finish third in the Heisman voting (behind winner QB Vinny Testaverde of Miami and just ahead of Oklahoma LB Brian Bosworth).  He would also end up second in the nation in QB rating at 157.0 while leading the Wolverines to an 11-2 mark and the Rose Bowl.

 

3. Pat Fitzgerald, LB, Northwestern (Head Coach: Northwestern)

 

One of the most decorated defensive players in college football history, Fitzgerald was a consensus All-American in 1995 and 1996, as well as a two-time Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year for the Wildcats, on his way to winning both the Bronco Nagurski and Chuck Bednarik trophies – twice. He was recently inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame

 

2. Chuck Long, QB, Iowa (Head Coach: San Diego State)

 

As a 4-year starter, Long put up huge numbers as a Hawkeye QB, finishing second in the nation in QB rating his sophomore year (160.4), seventh his junior year (147.1) and topping it off with finishing third his senior year (153.0).  And after finishing seventh for the Heisman in his junior campaign, his senior season of 1985 would see him finish second in the closest Heisman voting ever (1509-1464 to Auburn RB Bo Jackson).

 

That season he threw for 231-351 for 2,978 yards, 26 TDs and 15 Ints. He was a consensus All-American and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

 

And perhaps as no surprise to anyone, the only head coach currently toting around a certain stiff-armed piece of hardware (actually he gave it to the University to display), the #1 Coach Who Could Play…

 

STEVE SPURRIER, QB, FLORIDA (Head Coach: South Carolina)

 

Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986, the winner of the 1966 Heisman Trophy (over Purdue QB Bob Griese), led the Gators to a 9-2 mark and an Orange Bowl win, 27-12, over Georgia Tech.  He was third in the nation in completions per game (the standard prior to QB rating) and finished 179-291 for 2,012 yards, 16 TDs and 8 Ints.

 

Honorable Mentions:

 

Jeff Tedford, QB, Fresno State (Head Coach: California)

 

Tedford finished eighth in nation in QB rating (136.4) in 1982, while leading the Bulldogs to 11-1 mark.

 

Howard Schnellenberger, TE, Kentucky (Head Coach: FAU)

 

Schnellenberger was a consensus All-American selection in 1955 for the Wildcats.

 

Shane Montgomery, QB, NC State (Head Coach: Miami (OH))

 

Montgomery was MVP of both the 1988 Peach Bowl and 1989 Copper Bowl.

 

Mark Richt, QB, Miami (Head Coach: Georgia)

 

Sandwiched between Jim Kelly and Bernie Kosar, he only got in as a starter when Kelly went down in 1982.

 

 

Miscellaneous Items of Note:

 

Not-so-surprising, there are five former Alabama players (Bobby Bowden-Florida State, Neil Callaway-UAB, Mike Riley-Oregon State, Sylvester Croom-Mississippi State and Dabo Swinney-Clemson)…somewhat surprising, there are three former UC-Davis players (Mike Bellotti-Oregon, Dan Hawkins-Colorado, Chris Petersen-Boise State)…kind of interesting, the Sun Belt Conference is loaded with former talent, from Schellenberger to: FIU’s Mario Cristobal (All Big East OT at Miami); Middle Tennessee’s Rick Stockstill (Florida State QB); North Texas’ Todd Dodge (Texas QB); Troy’s Larry Blakeney (Auburn QB); Louisiana-Monroe’s Charlie Weatherbie (Oklahoma State QB); and Louisiana-Lafayette’s Rickey Bustle (Clemson WR)…who knew?…and if you’re thinking of some top assistants or coordinators who had talent and could be landing top spots soon, scratch off Ryan Leaf (yikes) and look no further than USC’s Steve Sarkisian.  The former BYU QB led the nation in efficiency in 1996 at 173.6 (ahead of Heisman winner Danny Wuerrfel and Peyton Manning)…or perhaps former Kansas great and NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Nolan Cromwell, who is now with Texas A&M…or Georgia’s Mike Bobo…or Pitt’s Matt Cavanaugh…

 

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Isaac Luber’s Unofficial BCS Rankings: Week Nine

I grade teams on a scale to 1,000.  400 comes from performance of teams, 200 comes from record, 100 comes from strength of schedule, 100 comes from quality wins, 100 comes from conference strength, and 100 points are ones that every team gets, and points that good teams in weak conferences have so they can be in the Top 25 if they are good.

The numbers in parentheses and italics are last week’s rankings.  The numbers that have decimals and are in parentheses are their percentages based on my scale, and LW is last week’s results.

Here are my BCS rankings for Week Nine:

1) Penn State (2), (.998) LW-W 13-6 at Ohio State

2) Texas (1), (.997) LW-W 28-24 vs. Oklahoma State

3) Alabama (3), (.996) LW-W 29-9 at Tennessee

4) Texas Tech (10), (.995) LW-W 63-21 at Kansas

5) Florida (4), (.994) LW-W 63-5 vs. Kentucky

6) Georgia (7), (.991) LW-W 52-38 at LSU

7) Oklahoma (5), (.987) LW-W 58-35 at Kansas State

USC (9), (.981) LW-W 17-10 at Arizona

9) Oklahoma State (6), (.979) LW-L 28-24 at Texas

10) Michigan State (20), (.977) LW-W 35-21 at Michigan

11) Utah (11), (.973) LW-Idle.

12) Ohio State (8), (.971) LW-L 13-6 vs. Penn State

13) Boise State (13), (.965) LW-W 33-16 at San Jose State

14) Minnesota (16), (.960) LW-17-6 at Purdue

15) Missouri (17), (.953) LW-W 58-0 vs. Colorado

16) TCU (21), (.947) LW-W 54-7 vs. Wyoming

17) LSU, (12), (.945) LW-L 52-38 vs. Georgia

18) Tulsa (15), (.941) LW-W 49-19 vs. UCF

19) Ball State (14), (.936) LW-W 38-16 vs. Eastern Michigan

20) North Carolina (NR), (.930) LW-W 45-24 vs. Boston College

21) Florida State (NR), (.928) LW-W 30-20 vs. Virginia Tech

22) Maryland (NR), (.925) LW-W 27-24 vs. North Carolina State

23) California (NR), (.921) LW-W 41-20 vs. UCLA

24) Kansas (19), (.917) LW-L 63-21 vs. Texas Tech

25) BYU (22), (.915) LW-W 42-35 vs. UNLV

On the edge: Connecticut, Boston College, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Notre Dame, Northwestern, Fresno State

Stay tuned for Week 10’s unofficial BCS rankings!

*All rankings are subject to change based on performance, strength of schedule, and record…and some other things will be taken into account as well.

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