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This thread will be used for informative stories/info about College
Football. Please add any information that might be of interest to all
us die-hard football fans.

SEC TREND: Southeastern Conference football fans can celebrate seeing
one of their former stars winning the Super Bowl MVP award for the third
straight year.

Georgia's Hinds Ward won it as a Pittsburgh receiver in the Steelers' win
two years ago.

Last year, Tennessee's Peyton Manning won it after Quarterbacking the
Colts to a championship. This year it was Eli Manning who played for Ole
Miss.

COLUMBIA S.C: Steve Spurrier has another reason to stick around South
Carolina. The University's Board of Trustees approved a tax-deferred
retirement package Friday for Spurrier's contract that would pay the
football coach one million dollars if he remained with the Gamecocks
the next four years.

The money would accrue in installments of $250,000 the next four years
and would be given to Spurrier if he's still at school by December 31, 2011.
He would forfeit the package if he left the school before then. He currently
makes about $1.8 million a year.

[snakeyjakey]

QB Davis chooses Hokies

Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008 - 12:07 AM




Virginia Tech yesterday received its 28th commitment from a high school senior for the class of 2008, from Marcus Davis, a 6-5, 215-pound quarterback from Ocean Lakes High in Virginia Beach.
He chose Tech over Penn State and North Carolina, said Ocean Lakes coach Jim Prince. Tennessee and West Virginia also offered him scholarships. Tech received its 27th commitment Sunday from Davis' teammate, wide receiver Randall Dunn.
Davis is the 21st senior from Virginia to commit to Tech for this class. Recruits cannot sign national letters of intent until tomorrow.
Prince said Davis liked that Tech recruited him as a quarterback while other schools recruited him as a multipurpose player before eventually telling him he would play quarterback. Davis is the second quarterback to commit to the Hokies for this class, joining Hermitage's Joseph "Ju-Ju" Clayton, though Clayton might enroll next January.
Tech's quarterback situation gets interesting after next season, because rising sophomore Tyrod Taylor will be the only quarterback currently on the roster with eligibility remaining.
"[Davis is] not going to get a chance to play quarterback," Prince said. "He's going to play quarterback. Every ounce of my being believes what coach [Frank] Beamer and [offensive coordinator Bryan] Stinespring told me. It won't be a stop by the quarterback room and head off to wide receiver. Now, he'll have to be good enough to play. If he's not good enough to play, then the decision will be made."
The Hokies next season also likely will have four players who originally signed last year. Two of them are from Virginia, including linebacker Alonzo Tweedy (Hermitage).
The NCAA allows teams to sign 25 players a year. Tech figures to reach that number because some of the recruits may have to attend prep school to improve their grades, and the Hokies likely will have two players enroll next January.
Also, the four players who signed last year can count toward the 2007 or 2008 scholarship numbers.

. . .

NOTE: Virginia Tech placed three players on the all-ACC academic football team announced yesterday: junior quarterback Sean Glennon, senior kicker Jud Dunlevy and senior fullback Carlton Weatherford. To be eligible, a player must have earned a 3.0 grade-point average for the previous semester and have maintained a 3.0 overall GPA.

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ATLANTA GA: The Georgia House voted 151-9 Friday in favor of a
resolution urging the NCAA to create a playoff system for college
football. House Resolution #1037.

I'm all for a playoff system but seems to me like these jerkoffs would
have more important things to do. The state of Georgia has many problems
and this ain't one of them.

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SOUTHERN CAL: Matt Barkley (QB) who is considered the #1 prospect
in the class of 2009 commits to USC. Barkley follows Matt Leinard and
Colt Brennan as highly touted QBs from Mater Dei in Santa Ana, Cal.

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ARKANSAS: The Razorbacks will ask the NCAA to allow RYAN MALLETT
(quarterback transfer from Michigan) to play this season without sitting
out a year. He played in eleven games for Michigan last season but
transfered when Rick Rodriguez was hired as coach.

Arkansas had a decent recruiting class for 2008 but getting Mallett
was a huge plus. Razorbacks need a QB badly.

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ALABAMA: Bama's recruiting class finished ranked #1 by both Rivals.com
and Scout.com. The class included 7 defensive lineman, 5 dbs, 3 lbs, 4 rbs,
3 ol, 5 wrs and 2 qbs. Some key recruits:

Julio Jones, WR, Foley, AL: The top wide receiver in the country according
to Rivals and Scout, and consensus best player in Alabama.

Burton Scott, ATH, Vigor, AL: Five star recruit and one of best players in
Alabama.

Tyler Love, OL, Mountain Brook, AL: The 30th best player in country
according to Rivals and eight best offensive lineman.

Alonzo Lawrence, DB, Lucedale, MS: Rated the second best cornerback
in the country by Rivals.

Star Jackson, QB, Lake Worth, FL: Highly recruited quarterback rated
a four star by both Rivals and Scout. Key recruit for Tide.

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SEC SCHOOLS: Big deal recruiting. Lots of work by some assistant
coaches and one head coach. SOB Saban can recruit...can he coach
them?

Tennessee and South Carolina were dissapointments no matter how
you cut it. Worst Tennessee class in 15 years after a fight back UT
season. South Carolina was a big dissapointment ...especially after
bad season by Spurrier. Some in Columbia say Mr. S heart is not in
it.

SEC RECRUITING RESULTS: #1 Alabama...#3 Florida...#6 Georiga...#11
LSU...#20 Auburn...#22 South Carolina...#24 Mississippi...#36 Tennessee
...#37 Arkansas...#45 Mississippi State...#57 Kentucky...#89 Vandy.

Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and Vanderbelt did not sign a quarterback.
Alabama and Georgia signed the two best receivers in the nation.
Kentucky signed a QB who will be a player in two years...Matt Roark
from N. Cobb H.S.. Saw him play against Marietta, Ga last year and
the kid will be a player.
Ole Miss signed 12 two star players.
Auburn signed three quarterbacks.
Alabama signed 19 four star players....Michigan was second with 17 and
no quarterback.

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BATTLE OF NATIONAL CHAMPIONS: LSU will open it's 2008 football season
against three time National Champion APPALACHIAN STATE. App State is
the Division 1's Football Championship Subdivision Champions. They defeated Delaware 49-21 in title game this year.

Appalachian State will play Florida (2010), Virginia Tech (2011) and
Georgia (2013).

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2008 TOP RECRUITERS: Rivals rated the top assistant coaches for the
recruiting job they did for their schools this year. These coaches put in
hours on hours of work trying to get top recruits to sign with their schools.
Listed below are the top 10:

1. Lance Thompson, Alabama
2. Steve Addazio, Florida
3. Micheal Barrow, Miami
4. Jim Bollman, Ohio State
5. Jim Bridge, North Carolina St.
6. Corwin Brown, Notre Dame
7. Brian Cabral, Colorado
8. Tim Cross, Minnesota
9. Ryan Day, Boston College
10. Joe Deforest, Oklahoma State

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NOTRE DAME: Charlie Weis, who built his coaching reputation as a play
caller while helping the New England Patriots win three Super Bowls, won't
be calling plays for the Irish next season.

Offensive Coordinator Mike Haywood will call plays so Weis, coming off a
dismal 3-9 season, can concentrate on his duties as a head coach.

Weis decided to move away from play-calling after meeting with his old
boss, Bill Belichick, before the Patriots played Giants in the regular season
final.

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SMU: New coach June Jones (ex-Hawaii) added most of his staff Tuesday,
bringing four assistants from Hawaii and hiring a high school liaison with
links to the championship days of two Texas' storied programs.

The Hawaii transplants are Dan Morrison (asst head coach/offense), Dennis
McKnight (off line), Jeff Reiebold (receivers) and Wes Suan (running backs).

Jones also hired Tam Hollingshead as director of high school relations. He
was the last coach to win a state championship at famed Texas high school
power Odessa Permian, in 1991, three years after he was an assistant on
the team chronicled in the book and movie "Friday Night Lights."

Jones retained former Alabama assistant coach Randy Ross as football
operations and Steve Stigall as director of on-campus recruiting.

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NCAA FOOTBALL RULES: Horse-collar tackles, already banned by the NFL,
may be outlawed in college football, too.

That rule change is among those proposed by the NCAA Football Rules
Committee. Other suggestions include making chop-block enforcement
less complicated and ignoring incidental face mask contact.

The proposals put forth by the committee during meetings this week now
go to the NCAA membership for comment. They must be reviewed and
approved by an oversight panel before they can go into effect.

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TENNESSEE: Coach Phil Fulmer has dismissed defensive back Antonio Wardlow and reserve linebacker Dorian Davis for violations of team
rules.


Wardlow, a sophomore from North Carolina, save the Vols win over Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl with an interception on the 1-yard line
with less than a minute left.

It was not immediately known why Wardlow was dismissed. He was one
of three Vols arrested after a fight outside a Knoxville nightclub in 2006.


I

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TEXAS A&M: Former Alabama defensive coordinator Joe Kines has joined
Texas A&M as it's new defensive coordinator.

Kines has been working as a fundraiser to Alabama selling corporate seats
and working with the Red Elephant club. He also has been on the speaking
trail.

Kines will join new Aggies coach Mike Sherman, who replaced Dennis
Franchione this off season.

In 2005, under Kines' tutelage, Bama's defense ranked second in the
country, allowing 255 yards a game.

Kines has coached at Clemson, Florida, Arkansas, Georgia and Tampa
Bay.

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TENNESSEE: Starting punter Britton Colquitt has been suspended for
the first five games of the season after he was arrested on charges
DUI and leaving the scene of an accident early Sunday (17th). The 22
year old hit a parked car and then fled the scene, according to the Knox
County Judicial Commissioner's Office. "I am very disappointed," coach
Phillip Fulmer said. "Along with the five game suspension, I am taking
his scholarship away and he will be required to undergo alcohol counsel-
ing as well as other internal punishments."

Fulmer seems to be getting tough on problem players after years of just
baby slapping them.

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SEC SPRING PRACTICE: Listed below are the spring practice schedules
for each of the SEC teams.

TEAM..................START DATE..........END DATE.........SPRING GAME
Alabama................Feb 24.................Apr 1.................Apr 1
Arkansas...............Mar 27.................Apr 15................Apr 15
Auburn..................Feb 28.................Mar 18...............Mar 18
Florida..................Mar 21..................Apr 22...............Apr 22
Georgia.................Mar 4...................Apr 8..................Apr 8
Kentucky...............Mar 29.................Apr 22.................Apr 22
LSU......................Mar 4...................Apr 1...................Apr 1
Ole Miss................Mar 6...................Apr 8....................Apr 8
Miss State.............Mar 6...................Apr 8....................Apr 8
S. Carolina.............Mar 14..................Apr 8....................Apr 8
Tennessee.............Mar 1...................Apr 8.....................Apr 8
Vanderbilt..............Mar 14..................Apr 1....................Apr 1

I don't know about other parts of the country but spring football is a
big deal in the SEC. Remember last year when Alabama drew 92,000 to
the spring game. The SEC draws more to their spring games than other
conference teams do during the regular season.

[ToolTrip]

Good posts Clover

I enjoy reading them (actual sports stuff)

[Cloverleaf]

Thanks Tooltrip....college football is my favorite sport and I like to
keep up with what's going on during off season. Feel free to add
any information that might be of interest to others who love football.

[Cloverleaf]

SOUTH ALABAMA: Joey Jones has been hired as South Alabama's first
football coach. Jones met with Athletic Director Joe Gottfried for the
third time and accepted the offer on Thursday.

South Alabama trustees in December voted to start a football program
at the campus with an enrollment totaling more than 13,000. The school
will field it's first team in 2009. Full division 1-A membership will be in
2013 as a member of the Sun Belt Conference where South Alabama is
already a member in other sports.

Jones was a star receiver under Bear Bryant at Alabama and played for
Atlanta Falcons in the NFL. His reported salary will be $275,000.

Games will be played at 40,000 seat Ladd Memorial Stadium there in
Mobile.

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TRANSFERS/REDSHIRT QB'S: Here is a look at four quarterbacks who were
either transfers or redshirted who have a chance to be starters this season.
Last season they ran the scout team against the varsity in practice.

1. Mitch Mustain, USC. Transferred from Arkansas after starting 8 games
as a freshman. After excelling on the scout team last season, he's about
to battle Mark Sanchez to determine who replaces John David Booty as
the starting quarterback. He was a highly recruited high school All-
American before signing with Arkansas.

2. Robert Marve, Miami. Almost fully recovered from last July's serious car
accident, he's the favorite to win the starting job since Kyle Wright grad-
uated and backup Kirby Freeman transferred to Baylor. Marve was an
Alabama committment until Shula was fired then recommitted to Miami.

3. Jason Forcier, Stanford. Transferred from Michigan to play for coach
Jim Harbaugh. He can make all the throws and will battle incumbent QB
Tavita Pritchard for the starting job.

4. Curtis Pulley, Kentucky. After playing little in 2005 amd 2006, he red-
shirted last season and played on the scout team. He is a terrific athlete
who will challenge to start for departing Andre Woodson.

I'm sure their are many others out there who will make a difference with
their teams this season. These a just four who could go from not dressing
out to starters for their teams.

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TENNESSEE: Respected sports editor John Adams of the Knoxville Sentinel
newspaper has called for Phillip Fulmer, head football coach at the Univ of
Tennessee to be fired. Lack of control and lack of leadership of the program
is the reason.

In the last six weeks, 8 UT football players have either been arrested or
disciplined for breaking team rules. "Fulmers program is out of control,"
writes Adams. "The University of Tennessee has surpassed Miami as the
poster team for bad behavior in college football."

This situation is worth watching.....many big money donors want Fulmer
out. His fan support has eroded the past few years.

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ALABAMA: Two weeks after he announced his decision to play football
at Alabama on national television, star receiver Julio Jones found himself
in a new position, that of a key prosecution witness in a capitol murder
trial.

Jones testified Tuesday that he witnessed the gunshot murder of a long
time acquaintance who was identified as a drug dealer. The slaying took
place in Baldwin County not far from Foley High School, where Jones
was the #1 rated receiver in the country.

Jones, 19, said he and his best friend, 18 year old Lugene Gibbs, watched
from across the street as Labarron McDonald, 27, fatally shot Gibbs' uncle
Marlin Phipps, 33.

Jones was recruited by almost all major football programs and became
Alabama's prize recruit, helping Bama to become the top rated recruiting
class for 2008.

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ALABAMA: Defensive lineman Jeremy Elder admitted robbing two students
at gunpoint Saturday night. Elder, a 19 year old who was redshirted last
season, was arrested Sunday night and charged with two counts of felony
first degree robbery. He is being held in lieu of $60,000 bond.

He has been identified by the students he robbed of $26. He also was
caught on camera in front of Bryant Hall, the athletic dorm where the
event took place. Elder who is from Georgia has been suspended from
all football related activities.

This kid's career at Alabama is over. Coach Saban won't put up with
this crap.

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AUBURN: Head football coach Tommy Tuberville will be inducted Friday
night into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. He'll join the likes of Barry
Switzer, Jimmy Johnson, Bear Bryant, Larry Lacewell and Ken Hatfield,
Arkansas natives who made their names and their fortunes coaching
football.

Tuberville was a quarterback at Harmony High School, a walk-on at
Southern Arkansas and a high school coach. He coached under Lacewell
at Arkansas State, got out of the business and opened a catfish restau-
ant with his sister and worked literally for free at Miami before rising to
become defensive coordinator and finally head coach at Ole Miss for four
years. He's heading toward his 10th season at Auburn.

[pvcpipe]

26 bucks.....geez.

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AUBURN: For a second time, Auburn has pushed the start date to spring
practice up two days. The Tigers will begin drills Sunday, four days earlier
than the original scheduled date of February 28.

Auburn will practice in helments and sweats during the first two days of
drills, Sunday and Tuesday, and will begin in full pads Feb 28.

Among their 15 practices the Tigers will take a nine day hiatus between
March 14 and March 23 for spring break.

The annual spring game is slated for March 29 at 1 pm at Jordan-Hare
Stadium.

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TERRELLE PRYOR: The nations top quarterback prospect continues to wait
things out as his basketball season rolls on. Pryor has announced he would
not finish the football recruiting process until his basketball season is com-
pleted.

Pryor is a "Vince Young" type prospect from Jeannette, PA, who passed
for 1790 yards and 23 touchdowns and rushed for 1901 yards and 36TDs.
He scored a touchdown one of four times he touched the ball last season.

Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon, Duke, Florida, LSU are the
schools he is considering. Penn State has made a hard move to get
him lately.

[Cloverleaf]

ALABAMA: Safety Rashad Johnson was arrested and charged with disorderly
conduct at 2:55 a.m. Saturday. He was booked and held in lieu of $500
bond.

Johnson was the second Alabama football player arrested last week. The
6-foot, 187-pound safety led Alabama last season with 94 tackles and
6 interceptions. He was named first-team All-SEC and at the end of the
season, his teammates voted him one of the teams three captains.

As a Bama fan, Saban has to get a handle on this NOW. Former coach
Mike Shula was weak with punishment and examples need to be made
to put an end to this BS.

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BEAR BRYANT: A look at Paul W. Bryant, the greatest football coach
to ever grace the gridiron (my opinion).

Career Record: 323-85-17
National Championships: 1961, 64, 65, 73, 78, 79
SEC Titles: 14
National Coach of Year: 1961, 1971, 1973
SEC Coach of Year: 10
Alabama Record: 232-46-9
Alabama Bowl Games: 24 consecutive trips
Alabama Homecoming Games: 25-0
At Bryant-Denny Stadium: 72-2
At Legion Field (B'ham): 68-15-5
Record 1971-1981: 116-15

He was a tough SOB who got everything out of his players. Outstanding
football coach.

[Cloverleaf]

ALABAMA: After two arrests in one week and eight total since his hiring
as Alabama's coach, Nick Saban is finding himself dealing with more dis-
cipline issues than he would like.

At a Tuesday news conference, Saban lashed out at his players. At times
he raise his voice, which boomed over a microphone in the football media
room. He said he will correct the disciplinary