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by FOXSports.com
Florida State fights NCAA to keep 14 football wins
In the rebuttal it filed on Wednesday to the NCAA, Florida State argued once again why it shouldn't be forced to vacate victories in the aftermath of a widespread academic fraud scandal and the university described as "woefully inadequate" the NCAA Committee on Infractions' rationale that led to the disputed penalty. As it did in its original appeal, Florida State maintained that innocent coaches and athletes should not be punished for the actions of the 61 athletes and three former university employees who were implicated in the scandal, at the heart of which were improprieties in an online music course. If the Committee on Infractions' ruling stands, victories from FSU's 2006 and 2007 seasons would be vacated. At stake are two national championships in men's track and as many as 14 victories in football. If FSU is forced to vacate the football victories, then it would likely end Coach Bobby Bowden's pursuit of retiring as the most victorious coach in major-college football history. -- Orlando Sentinel
Oklahoma State could have highest preseason ranking in program history
For the first time since ascending to the top position in the Oklahoma State football program, Mike Gundy enters a season with an overall record of above .500 -- and with the pressure of a preseason national ranking. If the Associated Press poll is consistent with the rankings of various magazines, the Cowboys may have a Top 10 ranking when they host Georgia for the Sept. 5 opener at Boone Pickens Stadium. OSU's highest preseason ranking was No. 16 in 1985. The Cowboys haven't occupied a spot in the Associated Press' preseason poll since 2003, when they were 24th. "I was asked how I handle the pressure. It's the same every year," said Gundy, whose overall record is 27-23. "But now we have good chemistry and some good returning players, so the expectations are a little higher. "There would be a lot more pressure if I didn't have anybody who could make a play. I've experienced that before. It wasn't any fun." -- Tulsa World
Greg Robinson looks to fix disappointing Michigan defense
New Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Robinson wants to form his own opinion of the players, so he studies cut-ups of spring practice. "Watch this," says Robinson, who pushes a button on his remote, showing a big defensive lineman getting run over. "We can't have that. It's my job to decipher if the players were informed, uninformed, misinformed last year. We are trying to figure out who can and can't play for us. "We have a lot of work to do. But we'll get there." "There" could be contending for a Big Ten championship, something Michigan hasn't won since 2004. --Rivals.com
Auburn's Malzahn fine with less publicity than Franklin
Confidence exudes from first-year coordinator Gus Malzahn as he speaks about his offense. He's not egotistical by any stretch. There's no doubt in his mind, though, that his scheme will be effective. The lofty expectations placed on Auburn's spread offense last summer have vanished. Call it the "Fool me once ... " mantra of the media. After all, it was just a year ago that Tony Franklin strolled into Auburn with a unique spread offense some thought could revitalize a staggering program. So when Malzahn joined coach Gene Chizik's coaching staff in late December with an equally non-traditional attack, skepticism of the offense followed. Experts and preseason magazines alike openly question whether the Tigers have the personnel to improve on last year's disastrous offensive performance. Quietly, Malzahn disagrees. Though he'll remain in an evaluation process for at least the first few days of summer camp, he has full confidence in his offensive system. -- Anniston Star
New Tennessee strength coach emphasizes speed
As Tennessee's new director of strength and conditioning, Aaron Ausmus is all about speed and movement. Every day before Tennessee football players so much as pick up a weight, they've already been through a series of drills designed to help them get from one point to the next a little faster than their competition. While Ausmus, 34, preaches speed, he practices patience. And when it comes to the University of Tennessee, his patience was rewarded. Twice, in fact. -- Knoxville News-Sentinel
Auburn's QB's Neil, Burns leads seven-man race
Auburn QB's Neil and Kodi Burns have the best chance, but there are a lot of contenders -- as in seven -- count 'em -- seven quarterbacks roaming the practice fields in seven-on-seven drills and the players' own version of a mini-camp. ``It's weird having seven quarterbacks in the meeting room now, and seven quarterbacks on the field. It gets a little crowded, so there's going to have some kind of system to work that out,'' Caudle said.-- Birmingham News
Washington State donations, ticket sales go down
Athletic department donations and football ticket sales at Washington State reflect the impact of the economic downturn, and quite possibly the recent struggles of the Cougars' football program. Fiscal year 2009 came to an end Tuesday, and the WSU Athletic Foundation forecasts a $1.5 million drop in donations from last year's record total of $8.26 million. Final numbers have yet to be calculated. Donors dropped from 6,200 to 5,500 in one year. WSU already had the fewest athletic donors and donation dollars in the Pacific-10 Conference. -- The Olympian
Al Groh needs big Virginia season
With a 1-7 mark against Virginia Tech, and two losing records in the last three years, Virginia coach AL GROH is need of a huge season against a schedule that includes nine bowl teams from last season. -- Daily Press
Hawaii football profits $3.1M
When the final returns are in, the University of Hawai'i projects three of its 19 teams -- football, women's volleyball and men's basketball -- will have turned profits and one, women's basketball, might have lost a record amount. UH completed its 2008-09 fiscal year yesterday and based upon unaudited figures as of May 31, football is expected to turn a $3,169,500 million profit while women's basketball is forecast to lose $1.05 million, according to the school. Overall, UH is projecting a $2.58 million deficit that will add to the $5.4 million debt accumulated over the previous five years. -- Honolulu Advertiser
Planned sports training center unites 3 past Ohio State stars
The idea came to Bobby Carpenter as he worked out at the D1 Sports Training center in Nashville, Tenn., preparing for the 2006 NFL scouting combine and draft. "I just loved the concept," the former Ohio State University and current Dallas Cowboys linebacker said of the large, state-of-the-art gym co-owned by Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. D1 Sports is a chain created by former University of Tennessee fullback Will Bartholomew, and Carpenter, 25, wanted to bring one to central Ohio. He called his best friend and former Buckeyes teammate, A.J. Hawk, 25, who immediately wanted in. -- Columbus Dispatch
Who Knew?
Of the 11 BCS title winners nine teams (and the past six consecutive) have had at least eight wins the season prior to winning the championship. All have had at least seven. Teams still fitting the profile: 37 teams still in the running for the national title. -- Doc's Sports Service
Tebow Turtle up for auction
Part football legend, part sea turtle and a little bit of alligator, Tebow Turtle marks territory claimed by the Gators in last year's UF-Georgia game. The roughly 5-foot-tall, fiberglass statue stands outside the Veterans Memorial Arena, about two blocks from Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, where the Gators and Bulldogs fight out their heated rivalry every fall. It features Tim Tebow's signature "Phil 4:13" under its eyes, which he wore when the Gators rolled the Bulldogs 49-10 in 2008, and an alligator tail to represent UF's mascot. "We really just wanted to celebrate Tim," said Bonnie Upright, the coordinator for Turtle Trails, the organization which placed the statue. "This town loves him." -- Independent Alligator
College football broadcaster does well fishing
Ron Franklin just started reeling, no hook set, just slowly turning the handle and moving a bass toward the boat. It was late afternoon on Otter Creek Lake in East Texas. Owned by Franklin's fellow ESPN/ABC sports commentator Craig James, the lake is located in the middle of big-bass country just south of Athens. I've fished there many times over the years, but had never come anywhere close to the number of big bass Franklin and I were landing. From the first log we passed to the underwater jumble of sticks where Franklin had hooked this fish, we had landed a bunch of big old bass. This is spite of multiple days of 100-plus degree heat and a nasty east wind that caused our lures to flutter like knuckleballs before they hit the water. -- Austin American-Statesman
Prep DE Justin Taylor picks V-Tech
Justin Taylor, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound defensive end from Norwood, N.C., has become the 11th football prospect to commit to Virginia Tech for 2010. Taylor, from South Stanly High School, picked the Hokies over North Carolina State. Coach Luke Little said Taylor also had offers from Auburn, Arkansas, East Carolina, Duke, Virginia and South Carolina. Taylor never played organized football until he was persuaded to join the team one week before the 2008 season started. He backed up a senior who has accepted a college scholarship, "but halfway through the season, we told ourselves, 'This kid's better,' " Little said. "The sky is the limit for him." -- Roanoke Times
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Member Comments
More importantly, will Kiffin still be the coach when this kid is ready for college ball?
meanie-the-clown7/2/2009 12:18:20 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Wonder if that 13 year old can believe Kiffin will hold a scholly for him?
G8rlvr7/2/2009 1:35:18 AM(Report inappropriate content)
wow, a 13 yeard old committing? sounds like the kid wants some attention...
Browns_and_Buckeyes_fan7/1/2009 22:11:16 PM(Report inappropriate content)
sewhatmsayinsam<br />6/24/2009<br />11:54 AM (report inappropriate content)<br /><br />blue, since you homed in homie, what lower subdivision teams has your team played lately? Ouch. The PCC became the PAC 10 in 1959. Bama played Neb, ND, USC and just about everybody else during regular season games in the 70's. Those days are over. Now it's win your conference, all ooc game and maybe be in position for selection to play for NC. I dont like it, but that is how the money is made.<br /> =================<br />No one should make any blogs or snipes with outlooks like this.... pathetic and weak IMO!! <br /><br />Schedule strong OOC schedules and WIN - then talk smack!
LADawgman6/24/2009 17:36:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
BigDog74<br />6/23/2009<br />1:54 PM (report inappropriate content)<br /><br />I hate when you make me do this Bigadrian:<br /><br />Winning % in the last 7 years<br />===================<br />BigDOg74 - you play in the pac-10 every year?? No! <br /><br />So the only way to compare is interconference play and bowl games! I don't give two turds about Tenn this, Auburn that, whatever... everyone conference has tough teams.. its just East Coast ignorance that has SEC teams so high on the rankings!<br /><br />Cal whipped Tenn, UCLA beat Tenn, SC beat Auburn, SC whooped Okl, Wash WILL give LSU a run for their money... your SEC babble and stats DON'T MEAN ANYTHING DOG! <br /><br />I bet the SEC/Pac-10 matchups end-up somewhere 50/50 -honestly. They will be close. Be careful about bashing the Pac-10 - to anyone with a brain and all analysts, they are by far the most balanced conference from top-to-botton year-in and year-out... and THAT is why its tough. I'm not saying the SEC is bad... just that the Pac-10 isn't garbage. <br /><br />You SEC homers start getting some perspective and stop making dumb off-the-cuff comments.
LADawgman6/24/2009 17:32:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
bigadrian<br />6/24/2009<br />9:53 AM (report inappropriate content)<br /><br />dog <br />to put what you said into a better perspective to make it easier for you to understand.<br />florida does not fair well against your so called top twenty talent owning a lossing record to almost everyone that list they played with the exception of ohio st. and uga( those two teams don't fair well against anyone on this list* ohio st and michigan is bigger than the last seven years and mich has the decided edge in that series) in that time span <br />USC on the other hand has dominated 90% of these teams that they have played <br />my arguement is that many of the teams on that list play host of nobodies and mediocres to to achieve those stats. USC has played seven of those teams and has a winning record. We can also beat mich and aubrun in the same year something florida couldnt do. We beat va tech and oklahoma in the same year. We have owned the big ten something florida can't say in that time span. DOG the only reason florida even has a shot at the national title is that usc pac ten losses count double against them because of the perceved notion that pac ten football is weak . Also your list makes you the third best team in the sec think about this the best team in the sec hasn't even won a title in that span.<br />So you better thank stanford and oregon st for those titles that the sec is so proud of because it not like teams outside of the pac ten can do anything with usc<br /> ================<br />bidadrian is correct - LSU and FL basically got freebies... everyone knows USC brings-it and brings-it big time when it counts!<br /><br />OSU was a flat-out joke in 06' and 07'... they still aren't top 10 and everyone except Columbus homers know it!<br /><br />As long as FL, Alab and whoever keep scheduling Mary Kate School for the Blind and Chatanooga Tech State for the Inbred, we will continue to see bogus NC games!! Flat out - no question.<br /><br />SC obliterated OSU... Texas barely could beat OSU and Texas beat Okl in a similar situation - on a neutral site! ...hmmm, Somthing doesn't add up here!! It doesn't add-up because the BCS is crap, its bogus and everyone knows it!! <br /><br />Everyone start scheduling top interconference play - then we'll see who has the brass balls to talk ****.
LADawgman6/24/2009 17:24:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
blue, since you homed in homie, what lower subdivision teams has your team played lately? Ouch. The PCC became the PAC 10 in 1959. Bama played Neb, ND, USC and just about everybody else during regular season games in the 70's. Those days are over. Now it's win your conference, all ooc game and maybe be in position for selection to play for NC. I dont like it, but that is how the money is made.
sewhatmsayinsam6/24/2009 11:54:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
blue, since you are here. What lower subdivision teams has your team played lately? Ouch. The PCC became the PAC 10 in 1959. You are correct about the "golden age" as Bama played Nebraska, ND, USC, Missyouri, Washington, Baylor, SMU and other Div 1 teams in regular season during their run in the late 70's.
sewhatmsayinsam6/24/2009 11:34:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
sewhatmsayin:<br />It's the Pacific 10 not the Pacific Coast Conference. I think the PCC is NAIA if I'm not mistaking.<br /><br />But the golden age of football is over. Back in the 40s until the 90s. We saw more larger and top programs playing one another. It was typical to see a Michigan vs USC or a Texas vs Alabama. Now we have teams that fill themselves on lower subdivisions to inflate their records.
6/24/2009 11:06:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
big a, the biggest host of nobodies is is USC and the pacific coast conf. not perception, reality. looking forward to matching up with usc's offensive and defensive lines. looks good to me
sewhatmsayinsam6/24/2009 10:29:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Amen, Lawrence Journal-World!!!<br /><br />I, for one, am not one of the OU fans growing impatient and growing tired of Stoops. All those whining-ass fans need to stop crying, stop being spoiled and get supportive. Besides, anything is better than the 90s era. Ugg!! remember those days?
SoonerGirl26/24/2009 9:53:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
dog <br />to put what you said into a better perspective to make it easier for you to understand.<br />florida does not fair well against your so called top twenty talent owning a lossing record to almost everyone that list they played with the exception of ohio st. and uga( those two teams don't fair well against anyone on this list* ohio st and michigan is bigger than the last seven years and mich has the decided edge in that series) in that time span <br />USC on the other hand has dominated 90% of these teams that they have played <br />my arguement is that many of the teams on that list play host of nobodies and mediocres to to achieve those stats. USC has played seven of those teams and has a winning record. We can also beat mich and aubrun in the same year something florida couldnt do. We beat va tech and oklahoma in the same year. We have owned the big ten something florida can't say in that time span. DOG the only reason florida even has a shot at the national title is that usc pac ten losses count double against them because of the perceved notion that pac ten football is weak . Also your list makes you the third best team in the sec think about this the best team in the sec hasn't even won a title in that span.<br /> So you better thank stanford and oregon st for those titles that the sec is so proud of because it not like teams outside of the pac ten can do anything with usc
bigadrian6/24/2009 9:53:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
If USC consistently played top 20 competition it would increase their chances of losing and would increase issues like injuries<br /><br />Playing one or two a year...especially one in a home bowl game...isn't the same thing<br /><br />It is also not impossible for 3 double digit win teams in the PAC-10<br /><br />Three teams could finish 9-0, 8-1, & 7-2 in conference...with 3 OOC wins...they could each have double digit wins<br /><br />In fact if Oregon State had not lost to Utah & Penn State, you would had three this past year<br /><br />Are trying to say that the teams in the top 10 on that list don't play anybody?<br /><br />Well that would be true except the other conferences have other teams from their conference on the list which means they at least play eachother<br /><br />And there are three in the top 10 from the SEC<br /><br />Maybe if there were three from the PAC-10, USC may not be at #1
BigDog746/23/2009 19:43:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
dog <br />let analyze your numbers to put them in perspesctive<br />1) one cant be true for one team and not for another. To review you are attributing usc winning record to the notion that they don't play anyone( majority of the pac 10) correct? if that assertion is true it must hold through the top portion of that ranking at least to number 10. So one could infer that none of those teams play anybody and thus thats why they have all have guady records. Which is closer to the truth than you are willing to admit.<br />2) of the teams listed usc has a record over the last seven years of 10-1 over the top twenty programs over that same time span they have lost more games to pac ten oppenents to than those listed. Which means that a pac ten school has better chance of beating usc than any other school. <br />3) the pac ten play a round robin schedule making it stastically impossible for 3-4 teams to end the season with double diggit wins as what commonly happen in the sec and big 12 ( north texas, citidel , charleston southern , and tulane say thank you to the sec every year for pittance they give to get their arsses whipped) just buy virtue of the numbers.<br />4) the pac ten ooc sos of that time span is better than the sec and big 12.<br />which relates to the general asseration that all the big boy schools don't play generally tuff schedules with regularity.<br />5) uf at number ten on that list shouldn't be proud or the sec for that matter because none them are even in the top five and uf record against the teams on this list is even worse of a clip 21/19 too close to five hundred. So to prove my ealier assertion correct that none of those teams play anybody still stands since florida established their numbers on teams that are not on that list. since they only go 500 against the winningest teams, even at number ten.<br /><br />You can choose to refute this if you like but the numbers speak for themselves <br /><br /><br />6) Florida also has lossing record to lsu, auburn, miami, and the big ten schools in that same time span. <br /> I say it all the time sec good conference, USC best team.
bigadrian6/23/2009 18:05:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Where are all the PAC-10 teams????<br /><br />I don't see Cal, Oregon, or Oregon State...
BigDog746/23/2009 13:56:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
I hate when you make me do this Bigadrian:<br /><br />Winning % in the last 7 years<br /><br />1 Southern Cal<br />0.90110 <br />2 Boise State<br />0.87912 <br />3 Texas<br />0.85556 <br />4 Ohio State<br />0.84444 <br />5 Oklahoma<br />0.82105 <br />6 Georgia<br />0.80435 <br />7 Louisiana State<br />0.78261 <br />8 Texas Christian<br />0.77011 <br />9 West Virginia<br />0.75281 <br />10 Florida<br />0.74725 <br />11 Virginia Tech<br />0.74468 <br />12 Utah<br />0.74419 <br />13 Auburn<br />0.71910 <br />14 Boston College<br />0.71429 <br />15 Texas Tech<br />0.70000 <br />16 Miami-Florida<br />0.68182 <br />17 Wisconsin<br />0.68132 <br />18 Louisville<br />0.67816 <br />19t Iowa<br />0.67045 <br />19t Michigan<br /><br />If you extend this out to 25 you include FSU and Tenn...so USC has amassed this stellar record against whom????<br /><br />UF plays Georgia, FSU, & Tenn every year...three of the top 25...and Auburn & LSU most years<br /><br />Oh...but I forgot...they play the Citadel too<br /><br />Shame on them...
BigDog746/23/2009 13:54:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
usc would look record would stand in any conference. it not like the pac ten is all push over as all of you seem to think. they are. The Pac ten problem is they don't travel well, so their records away from home reflect that.. However playing a pac ten game anywhere out west presents it own unique set of challenges. Look at oregon and oregon st cals home winning percentage at home these teams rarely lose. Stanford and arizona are mixed bags and they have their years . The inconsistency of ucla is whats making the pac ten look bad. but that is because dorrel failed to recuit another runnnig back after jones drew of that calibur. and had suffered qb injury after qb injury. the same goes forr arizona st. Washington got the death neal and has yet to return but they have tradition as rich as any sec school that isn't bama. Wash st has had coaching issues and injury issues but historically their still better than miss state and vandy. The pac ten is not the big east and is easily the third best conference ahead of acc and big east and big ten. Our fouth best team is still as good or better than any team in those conferences this not say they don't lose games but they play up to the comp. Ucla playing with a fourth string juco transfer was good enough to beat tenn. the pac ten speaks for itself. usc during its height would have dominated the sec as well as proof of what type arse wuppin they did lay on sec schools at the time.
bigadrian6/23/2009 13:00:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
big a ho, you sure do like to toot usc's whistle. I looked up some of that awesome Pacific Coast Conference history. Looks like everybody is right. You migh as well call it the PAC 1. Without usc the conference history looks like the bible schools have done better.
sewhatmsayinsam6/23/2009 12:08:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
HA USC hasn't had qb issue since the days of carson palmer and john fox . It not like their playing freshman these dudes are usaully red shirt junoirs and usaully have pretty good feel for the game the moment they step on the field. The same goes for every position. pete carrol recuits for specificity as well as taking an atypical 3-4 star like a cushing or mays from across the country .
bigadrian6/23/2009 11:34:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
dog 74, g8<br /> florida has played their share panzies un wrinkle yourselves. What I was talkin about is cfb wide as rule to ensure the quality of mid major football.
bigadrian6/23/2009 11:28:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
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