NCAA - Football Wiretap

Do The Trojans Have NCAA's Best Defense Ever?

Feb 14, 2014 10:14 PM

USC has allowed just 7.8 points per game in 2008, which is best in the nation and the lowest since Auburn in 1988 heading into the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl vs. Penn State. Through Dec. 24, Football Bowl Subdivision teams averaged 27.2 points per game. The difference between those figures, 19.4 points, is the largest since the NCAA began keeping records in 1937.

Michael Lev/Orange County Register

Tags: NCAA

Discuss
Mack Brown Denies Recruiting Improprieties

Jul 1, 2014 7:12 PM

In the wake of losing a top recruit to Oklahoma, Texas coach Mack Brown on Monday denied any knowledge of recruiting improprieties, according to a blog on the Web site of The Dallas Morning News. Jamarkus McFarland, a defensive tackle from Lufkin, Tex., chose Oklahoma over the Longhorns on Christmas Day. Both universities pursued him, as did Louisiana State and Southern California. McFarland?s heated recruitment involved parties and other inducements. But Brown said Texas had committed no wrongdoing. ?We encourage the N.C.A.A. to check out every player we?re recruiting every year,? Brown said. ?We call them and ask them to. We welcome them there.?

New York Times

Tags: NCAA

Discuss
Vernon's Brother Vontae Will Declare For 2009 Draft

Aug 16, 2014 10:59 PM

Vontae Davis, a cornerback for Illinois, will forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the 2009 NFL draft. Davis could be the first cornerback selected in April's draft. Davis' older brother Vernon plays tight end for the San Francisco 49ers. "It has been a goal of mine for a long time to have the opportunity to play in the NFL," Davis said in a statement. "I thank coach [Ron] Zook and all my teammates at Illinois who have helped me get to this place. Because I was able to get on the field early at Illinois and because coach Zook believed in me so much, I think I am ready for the new challenge that professional football brings."

ESPN

Tags: Draft Declaration, NCAA

Discuss
Tebow Wants Draft Value Projected

Oct 25, 2014 12:30 AM

Tim Tebow will request a projection from the NFL advisory committee on where he could expect to be selected in April's draft. Tebow, who hopes to win a second national title with the Gators when they take on Oklahoma on Jan. 8 in the FedEx BCS National Championship Game, told reporters Wednesday he's not leaning one way or the other. "I have no clue. I haven't been thinking about it so far," said Tebow.

ESPN

Tags: Draft Misc, NCAA

Discuss
Raiders OL Coach Leaves To Join Kiffin At Tennessee

Sep 5, 2014 12:14 PM

Interim Raiders coach Tom Cable lashed out at assistant James Cregg on Monday for leaving with two games left in the season and joining former coach Lane Kiffin?s staff at Tennessee, as reported by the Associated Press. Cregg told Cable of his decision to depart the Raiders on Sunday night, telling him he was taking a job with the Volunteers.

AP

Tags: Las Vegas Raiders, Misc Rumor, NCAA

Discuss
Report: Bucs' Kiffin To Join Son At Tennessee

Oct 5, 2014 5:44 PM

According to a published report in the St. Petersburg Times on Sunday, Monte Kiffin will leave his position as the Buccaneers? defensive coordinator to join his recently hired son Lane Kiffin on the Volunteers? staff.

St. Petersburg Times

Tags: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Misc Rumor, NCAA

Discuss
Oklahoma's Bradford Wins Heisman

Dec 16, 2014 8:29 PM

Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford became the second sophomore to win the Heisman trophy on Saturday night. Florida's Tim Tebow, who finished third in this year's voting, became the first sophomore to win the award in 2007. Bradford, who leads the nation in touchdown passes with 48, received 1,726 points. Texas quarterback Colt McCoy was second with 1,604 and Tebow was third with 1,575 points. "I was definitely surprised and I think it's everything I imagined," said Bradford. "I think it will take a couple weeks to set in."

ESPN

Tags: NCAA, Personal Award

Discuss
Orakpo Wins Lombardi Award

Aug 7, 2014 5:40 AM

Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo won the Rotary Lombardi Award on Wednesday night, the first Longhorn to take home the trophy in 24 years.

SI.com

Tags: NCAA, Personal Award

Discuss
Bradford, McCoy And Tebow The Three Heisman Finalists

Oct 30, 2014 1:20 PM

The 2008 Hesiman Trophy finalists were announced on ESPN on Wednesday. Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy, and Tim Tebow were the three finalists invited for Saturday's presentation.

ESPN

Tags: NCAA, Personal Award

Discuss
Who Statistically Deserves The Heisman Trophy?

May 30, 2014 2:32 AM

The 2008 NCAA football regular season is now over, and it is time to look at who is deserving of the Heisman Trophy. Last season it was sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow, and even though he had a late surge and is now one win away from his second BCS National Championship Game, he would not get my vote. Similar to the Field Impact Counter, I have a modified version I use for college football. For quarterbacks it takes into account accuracy, completions, yards, and touchdowns while it also penalizes players for interceptions and taking sacks. It also gives value to quarterbacks who efficiently run the ball, something of obvious great importance in the college game. Running backs who are workhorses are rewarded significantly, but also factored in are those who maintain high yard per carry averages. Wide receivers are heavily rewarded for touchdowns and yards, but a significant amount of weight is also given to receptions. This statistic does not take into account the competition that is being faced and therefore players with very good seasons in conferences like the WAC and MAC must be judged differently but is incredibly useful when contemplating Heisman Trophy candidates. - Because no running back or wide receiver had a truly transcendent season, the Heisman, for me, defaults to a quarterback. Colt McCoy had the best season out of any quarterback, finishing ahead of Big 12 rival Sam Bradford by 40 season FIC points despite playing in one fewer game. Texas, meanwhile, could also just as easily be playing in the BCS National Championship game instead of Bradford's Sooners and Tim Tebow's Gators. Bradford had the best passer rating in the entire country and an unreal 48 touchdowns, but McCoy did a whole lot more on the ground and had a much higher completion percentage. Tebow had a much better season in 2007 than McCoy in 2008, and it could become a 2003 Jason White kind of award, but he is deserving, nonetheless. - Colin Kaepernick, Chase Clement, and Julian Edelman all had very fine seasons worthy of distinction but not at this level. McCoy, Bradford, and Tebow are all very deserving of a Downtown Athletic Club invitation. - Shun White of Navy headed this list at the beginning of the season, but MiQuale Lewis finishes the season on top. Jahvid Best of Cal had the best per game FIC, with 8.0 yards per carry and 13 touchdowns, plus another 246 yards receiving. - Georgia ended up failing to meet their lofty preseason expectations, but Knowshon Moreno was unquestionably impressive. - Chris Wells ended up 59th in season FIC among running backs despite being limited to nine games. - Joe McKnight of USC finished 71st among running backs. - Michael Crabtree is certainly the best receiver in this group even though he was eighth statistically. - The Big 12 offensive juggernauts produced five of the top-12 wide receivers. - Julio Jones of Alabama finished the season 57th.

Christopher Reina/RealGM

Tags: NCAA

Discuss
Colt McCoy Staying At Texas For Senior Season
Texas Longhorns' quarterback Colt McCoy will stay for his senior season.

Austin Statesman

Florida And Oklahoma To Meet In BCS Championship
Oklahoma and Florida will meet in the BCS title game on Jan. 8 after finishing the regular season ranked 1-2 in the final version of the BCS standings.

FoxSports

Sarkisian Named UW Head Coach
USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian on Saturday was named the new head football coach at the University of Washington.

Associated Press

Florida, Oklahoma Win To Virtually Assure BCS Title Match-Up
The Gators and Sooners each won conference titles on Saturday to virtually assure themselves a showdown for the BCS championship on January 8.

AP

Source: Sarkisian To Take Over Huskies
According to a Rivals.com report on Thursday, USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian will be the next head football coach at the U. of Washington.

Rivals.com

Tuberville Steps Down At Auburn
Tommy Tuberville stepped down as Auburn head football coach on Wednesday, ending a 10-year run that included a perfect season.

AP

Top 103 Draft Prospects For 2009, V2.0
This list was complied with input from a couple of current NFL collegiate scouts and Jeff Risdon's own evaluations.

Jeff Risdon/RealGM

USC To Pay Penalty For Wearing Home Jerseys Against Bruins
USC plans to wear their home cardinal jerseys on Saturday vs. UCLA and will be penalized a lost timeout each half.

USCFootball.com

Reports: Weis Will Return To Coach Irish Next Season
Several South Bend media outlets are reporting that Charlie Weis will return in 2009 to coach Notre Dame.

AP

Sources: Swinney To Be Named Clemson Coach
Clemson reportedly removed the interim tag from coach Dabo Swinney in a meeting on Sunday and could announce it as soon as Monday afternoon in a news conference.

ESPN

BCS Favors Sooners Over Longhorns
The Sooners have moved ahead of the Longhorns in the BCS standings that were updated on Sunday.

AP