Archive for the ‘Need to Know’ Category
Picture the M.W.C. in 2013 and Beyond
By Paul Myerberg // May 8, 2012
Upon further review of today’s post on Colorado State, one line that I first viewed as a throwaway quote seemed worthy of future examination: “The Mountain West will have a power vacuum after this season,” I wrote, “and there’s no reason why the Rams, after one or two seasons of development, can’t be one of two or three teams capable of filling the void.” While this idea — that the Mountain West will be up for grabs beginning in 2013 — has no impact on Colorado State’s coming season, the idea that the Rams stand as one of a few teams in line to take control of this Boise State-free league come next fall is an important factor for the program to consider as it struggles through an inevitable first-year learning curve under former Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain.
Tags: B.Y.U., Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawaii, Jim McElwain, Mountain West, Nevada, T.C.U., Tim DeRuyter, Troy Calhoun, Utah
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The Backfield Depth in College Station
By Paul Myerberg // May 8, 2012
I can think of several valid reasons why Texas A&M’s running back situation has gone overlooked before, during and after Kevin Sumlin’s first spring with the program. One reason is Sumlin himself, who steps in for Mike Sherman at a crucial juncture in the program’s history; this juncture doubles as the second reason, with A&M mere months away from its SEC debut. Then there are more nuts-and-bolts reasons, such as Ryan Tannehill’s departure and the ensuing quarterback competition and the move from Sherman’s pro-style system to the Air Raid-themed offense favored by Sumlin and new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
Tags: Ben Malena, Brandon Williams, Christine Michael, Jameill Showers, Johnny Manziel, Kevin Sumlin, Kliff Kingsbury, SEC, Texas A&M, Tra Carson, Trey Williams
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Conference USA Expands; 3 From the F.C.S.
By Paul Myerberg // May 2, 2012
Alright, so we’re here. One day, when we all look back on the expansion era, we should view the day Conference USA added three teams that had combined to play in 45 games since 1941 as the tipping point – you know, the moment when things got really out of hand. Texas-San Antonio, which began playing football a season ago, has 10 games to its name. Charlotte is still 16 months away from playing the first game in program history. Old Dominion has played in 35 games from 2009-11, but none from 1941-2008; the Monarchs rechristened their program three seasons ago after that 47-year absence.
Tags: Charlotte, Conference Expansion, Conference USA, Florida International, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, North Texas, Old Dominion, Sun Belt, Texas-San Antonio
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Idaho, N.M.S.U. Hope Sun Belt Moves West
By Paul Myerberg // May 1, 2012
If Idaho and New Mexico State wish to remain part of the F.B.S. — and here’s guessing they do — each could choose to attempt to make a go of things as an Independent. There are two issues with dropping any conference affiliation: one, the Vandals and Aggies would need to find seven games to replace the conference games lost with the WAC’s disintegration; and two, the two schools would need to find a way to recoup the lost conference revenue. As an Independent, one way for the Vandals and Aggies to keep the money flowing into their respective athletic departments is to play seven or eight road games against B.C.S. conference competition every season. Is that a tenable solution for two programs that have failed to win with any consistency since joining the WAC in 2005 — and for the decades prior to joining the league?
Tags: Arkansas State, Conference Expansion, Conference USA, Florida Atlantic, Georgia State, Idaho, Karl Benson, Lamar, Liberty, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee State, Mountain West, New Mexico State, Sam Houston State, South Alabama, Stephen F. Austin, Sun Belt, Texas State, Troy, WAC, Western Kentucky
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No. 112: Tulane
By Paul Myerberg // Apr 30, 2012
Curtis Johnson was named the 39th head coach in Tulane’s history on Dec. 5, replacing interim coach Mark Huston, who replaced Bob Toledo on Oct. 18. National signing day was on Feb. 2. For Tulane, spring ball kicked off on Feb. 22. That’s not a long time for any new coach to gather information on his team, compile a recruiting class and prepare to implement new schemes on both sides of the ball. Add in the fact that Johnson was tied up with his duties as the New Orleans Saints’ wide receivers coach until Jan. 14, and you wonder just how well he knew this team prior to the start of spring drills. You also wonder how well this team knew Johnson and the new staff by the time spring ball commenced in late February. Better yet, you wonder how well everyone knew everyone else by the time Tulane capped spring ball on March 24.
Tags: Austen Jacks, Conference USA, Curtis Johnson, Darryl Farley, Eric Jones, Eric Price, Julius Warmsley, Justyn Shackelford, Lionel Washington, Michael Pierce, Orleans Darkwa, Ryan Grant, Ryan Griffin, Ryan Travis, Shakiel Smith, Trent Mackey, Tulane, Wilson Van Hooser, Xavier Rush, Zach Morgan
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Four More Jump Ship From the WAC
By Paul Myerberg // Apr 30, 2012
The WAC has seven teams: Idaho, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, San Jose State, Texas-San Antonio, Texas State and Utah State. Now, see if you can keep up. Despite being less than a year removed from its birth and four months away from its first game on the F.B.S. level, Texas-San Antonio will join Conference USA in 2013. San Jose State and Utah State are days away from being officially accepted as the newest members of the Mountain West. Louisiana Tech is also expected to land an invite into Conference USA. By mid-May, the WAC will be cut down from seven teams to three, though the four teams already scheduled to leave the conference won’t do so until the 2013 season.
Tags: Big East, Conference Expansion, Conference USA, Gary Andersen, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, Mike MacIntyre, Mountain West, New Mexico State, San Jose State, Texas State, Texas-San Antonio, Utah State, WAC
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Another Year, Another Hokie Defensive Back
By Paul Myerberg // Apr 28, 2012
The year is 1998. In the fourth round of the year’s draft, Tampa Bay selects Virginia Tech center Todd Washington. Five picks later, also in the fourth round, Oakland takes offensive guard Gennaro DiNapoli, also of Virginia Tech. A pair of Hokies come off the board in the seventh round, both running backs, over back-to-back picks: Ken Oxendine — remember him? — and Marcus Parker. That was it for the Hokies: four players, all on offense, two linemen, two running backs. If you have a hard time keeping that draft class fresh in mind, you can always remember it as the last class in which at least one N.F.L. team didn’t draft a defensive back out of Virginia Tech.
Tags: Alabama, Antone Exum, Frank Beamer, Jayron Hosley, Kyle Fuller, Miami (Fla.), N.F.L., N.F.L. Draft, Virginia Tech
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Planning Ahead With a Smaller Bowl Slate
By Paul Myerberg // Apr 27, 2012
The cart has been put seven months and six wins ahead of the horse. As announced on Wednesday, Army is set to participate in this year’s Military Bowl — that’s on Dec. 27 — if it can reach, you know, bowl eligibility. If the Cadets make it that far, they’d be pitted against a squad from the A.C.C., should that league feature enough bowl eligible teams. By the way, Army has participated in five bowl games in its history, and only one since 1997. At least the Armed Forces Bowl has a fall-back plan, I guess. Now, Army isn’t the only team that has locked itself in for a bowl bid before the games have even been played; as on in gridiron, Navy is already well ahead of the Cadets.
Tags: Armed Forces Bowl, Army, B.C.S., College football playoff, Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, Military Bowl, Navy, Poinse, Texas Bowl, Western Kentucky
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