Archive for the ‘Need to Know’ Category
10 Non-B.C.S. Quarterbacks on the Rise
By Paul Myerberg // Feb 3, 2012
We might not have known it at the time, or even considered the possibility, but we may have just witnessed the greatest era for non-B.C.S. conference quarterbacks in college football history. Think back to 2007, when Colt Brennan set a handful of N.C.A.A. records en route to a trip to Manhattan for the Heisman ceremony. Since 2008, Kellen Moore and Case Keenum have gone toe-to-toe in the record books, with Keenum winning the battle — most career touchdowns, completions and passing yards — but Moore winning the war, posting the most wins by a quarterback in F.B.S. history. And there have been others who slid under the radar, thanks to one reason or another: Dan LeFevour, Chase Clement, Paul Smith, David Johnson and Max Hall, among others. Has there ever been a better age for non-B.C.S. conference quarterbacks?
Tags: Alex Carder, Blaine Gautier, Brett Smith, Case Keenum, Cody Fajardo, David Piland, Derek Carr, Kellen Moore, Matt Schilz, Ryan Aplin, Terrance Owens, Tyler Tettleton
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Oklahoma’s Class Touches Down All Over
By Paul Myerberg // Feb 2, 2012
Bob Stoops and the Sooners started in Oklahoma, bused to Texas, stepped into Kansas, hopped over to Missouri, drove to Illinois, flew the private jet down to Florida and built up the frequent-flyer miles in California. Oklahoma’s recently-signed recruiting class, the next 25 recruits poised to help the Sooners make another run at a national title, featured players from 11 different states: Oklahoma has always recruited nationally, but never to this degree. “I love to recruit the whole country,” said Stoops as his signing day press conference. Stoops has also never been afraid to add players off the JUCO ranks, should need be, and this particular recruiting class was no exception.
Tags: Bob Stoops, Brannon Green, Damien Williams, Oklahoma, Recruiting, Trey Metoyer, Will Latu
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Miami Succeeds Despite the Negativity
By Paul Myerberg // Feb 2, 2012
Al Golden had a few advantages when it came to filling out his first full recruiting class. The first is that he could afford to take on more scholarships than are usually allotted in one recruiting cycle: thanks to graduation, early departures and everyday attrition, Miami was in position to take on more than 30 recruits. The second is that tried-and-true recruiting pitch mentioned yesterday, the keys-to-the-kingdom pitch typically utilized by a first-year or rookie coach. The drawbacks to Golden’s recruiting efforts, however, is that he knew his program was going to get dragged through the mud by conference and regional recruiting rivals. Hey, at least he knew it was coming.
Tags: Al Golden, Miami (Fla.), Randy Johnson, Recruiting, Tracy Howard
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Non-B.C.S. Teams Get Into the Recruiting Act
By Paul Myerberg // Feb 2, 2012
You won’t find the highest-ranked non-B.C.S. conference signing class anywhere on the list of this year’s top 50 classes, according to Rivals.com. But you will find a pair of programs, Utah and T.C.U., who have clearly benefited from their new conference affiliation. The Utes’ class came in just outside the top 25, thanks in large part to an eight-man offensive line haul that help should keep Jordan Wynn clean and Kyle Whittingham happy in 2012. The Horned Frogs continued to make hay in Texas, sweeping up a number of second-level recruits that may flown in under the radar, while adding a quartet of recruits from SEC country. How would Utah and T.C.U. have done on the recruiting trail had each remained part of the non-B.C.S. conference landscape? Not as well, one would think.
Tags: Arkansas State, Boise State, Dennis Franchione, Deontay Greenberry, Florida International, Fresno State, Gus Malzahn, Houston, Mario Cristobal, Nick Patti, Recruiting, Temple, Texas State, Tim DeRuyter, Toledo
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Missouri Makes Its Presence Felt in the SEC
By Paul Myerberg // Feb 1, 2012
Want to play in the SEC? Landing SEC-caliber players helps. You know those guys: five stars, built like a statue, hits like a truck, runs like a gazelle and ready for the N.F.L. from day one. The SEC dominates all of our college football acronyms, from the F.B.S. to the B.C.S. to N.S.D. – I’m sure there are others. And the conference’s newest addition, Missouri, is doing what it takes to keep pace. The SEC-bound Tigers signed wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, the consensus No. 1 recruit in the country regardless of position, sending a fairly clear message to its new conference brethren: If you’re looking for a pushover, look elsewhere.
Tags: Arkansas, Dorial Green-Beckham, Gary Pinkel, Missouri, Recruiting, SEC
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A Few New Coaches Hit the Trail Running
By Paul Myerberg // Feb 1, 2012
A rookie head coach can offer the keys to the kingdom. That’s the usual pitch for a new staff, one that plays on the idea that unlike his predecessor, in most cases, the new head coach will be one who builds the dynasty. So be the missing piece: play immediately, for starters, but also become known as the one recruit who turned the tide. It’s a pitch that’s worked for generations, heading all the way back to Bear Bryant’s initial turn at Texas A&M more than a half-century ago and continuing with coaches like Urban Meyer, whose 2006 class at Florida ranks among the best in college football history. And a few rookie coaches, as well as a few coaches completing their first full recruiting haul – those who had only a few months to fill out a class last winter – are again using this approach to land a top 10 class in 2012.
Tags: Al Golden, Alabama, Brady Hoke, Florida, Kevin Sumlin, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Nick Saban, Ohio State, Recruiting, Texas A&M, Urban Meyer, Will Muschamp
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Can Anyone Knock Oregon Off Its Perch?
By Paul Myerberg // Jan 31, 2012
Oregon knew – or had a very strong suspicion – that LaMichael James was going to forego his final season of eligibility; Darron Thomas’ decision to follow James out the door came as a bit of a surprise. It was certainly surprising on a national level, as Thomas, while certainly one of the top quarterbacks in the Pac-12, could probably have used another season of college seasoning before taking his game onto the next level. Oregon’s offense shouldn’t have much trouble replacing James, as strange as that might sound, since the Ducks can turn to the three-headed monster of Kenjon Barner, De’Anthony Thomas and Tra Carson to help pick up the slack.
Tags: Bryan Bennett, California, Chase Thomas, Chip Kelly, Clancy Pendergast, Darron Thomas, De'Anthony Thomas, Jeff Tedford, Justin Wilcox, Keith Price, Kenjon Barner, Mike Leach, Mike Riley, Oregon, Oregon State, Pac-12, Shayne Skov, Stanford, Tra Carson, Washington, Washington State
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Unexpectedly, Cristobal Isn’t Rutgers-Bound
By Paul Myerberg // Jan 30, 2012
How is it possible that two sides so clearly destined for each other couldn’t hold hands and cross the threshold? It wasn’t about the relationship: Rutgers knew Mario Cristobal and Cristobal knew Rutgers, thanks to his three-year stint as a Greg Schiano assistant. It wasn’t about ability: Cristobal can coach, as he proved over five years at Florida International, and replacing Schiano at Rutgers would clearly mark a step up the coaching ladder. It wasn’t about a better option on the horizon — for Rutgers, at least: If not Cristobal, the Scarlet Knights would turn their sights inward toward interim head coach Kyle Flood. No, it wasn’t about relationships, it wasn’t about ability and it wasn’t about a better option. So what prevented Rutgers and Cristobal from walking down the aisle?
Tags: Florida International, Greg Schiano, Kyle Flood, Mario Cristobal, Rutgers
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