College Football Capsules: North Texas football coach McCarney hospitalized
DENTON (AP) — North Texas football coach Dan McCarney has been hospitalized with an unspecified medical problem.
Athletic director Rick Villarreal said Monday that McCarney was taken to the hospital Sunday after experiencing what he called "medical difficulties." McCarney remained under observation Monday afternoon.
Villarreal says he doesn't know exactly what caused McCarney to fall ill.
The 58-year-old McCarney has coached the Mean Green since November 2010. He was the coach at Iowa State from 1995 to 2006 and an assistant at Florida, South Florida, Wisconsin and Iowa.
McCarney was born in Iowa City and played offensive line for the Hawkeyes in the early 1970s. He spent more than a decade as an assistant at Iowa before taking over as Wisconsin's defensive coordinator under Barry Alvarez in 1990.
He landed his first head coaching job with the Cyclones, transforming them from a laughingstock to a competitive Big 12 program in his 12 seasons in Ames.
McCarney led Iowa State to five bowl games and was chosen the Big 12's Coach of the Year in 2004. He was forced out near the end of a disappointing season in 2006.
McCarney was hired as an assistant at South Florida and Florida, winning the 2008 national title with the Gators, before landing the job at North Texas.
Penn State
Judge: Sandusky gets local jury, can see grandkids
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A judge ruled Monday that former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky can have supervised contact with most of his grandchildren, saying there was no evidence that the children's parents wouldn't be able to keep them safe.
Judge John Cleland also rejected requests by prosecutors that jurors be brought in from outside the State College area to hear the case and that Sandusky remain indoors while on home confinement before trial.
Prosecutors made the bail modification request after hearing concerns by neighbors about the safety of children, particularly at an elementary school behind Sandusky's house.
"The commonwealth failed to present any evidence whatsoever that the defendant presents a clearly defined threat to any student at the adjoining elementary school simply by being on his deck," Cleland wrote. "No evidence was presented that at any time the defendant made any effort to contact any of the children by signaling or calling to them, or that he made any gestures directed toward them, or that he acted in any inappropriate way whatsoever."
Sandusky faces 52 criminal counts for what prosecutors say was the sexual abuse of 10 boys over a 15-year period. He has denied the allegations.
Sandusky's lawyer issued a statement saying Sandusky, his wife and their family were "relieved by and pleased with" the visitation ruling, which pertains to all but three of his 11 grandchildren, ages 2 to 14. Those three children are involved in a custody case, and Cleland deferred decisions about any visits from them to the judge handling that matter.
A spokesman for the attorney general's office said the judge's orders were being reviewed.
Cleland said jury selection will be a challenge, given the pretrial publicity and the special role that Penn State plays in the Centre County community.
"If, after a reasonable attempt it is apparent that a jury cannot be selected within a reasonable time, then I will reconsider this ruling," Cleland wrote.
Cleland encouraged state prosecutors to work with the judge who supervised a grand jury that investigated Sandusky to figure out how to release grand jury transcripts to Sandusky's lawyers "on a schedule which balances the appropriate interests of maintaining the secrecy of the grand jury while still assuring the trial can proceed without unnecessary disruption."
Cleland also ordered prosecutors to tell defense lawyers where and when the purported crimes occurred and how old the children were at the time. He addressed disputes between the sides over material that should be turned over to the defense by directing prosecutors to put their objections in writing by Feb. 20. Sandusky's lawyers will be allowed to reply by Feb. 27.
Sandusky lost a request to force prosecutors to disclose the names, addresses and birth dates of witnesses.
"While we are happy with the outcome of Friday's hearings, we realize, nevertheless, a number of difficult legal battles lie ahead of us," his lawyer, Joe Amendola, said in a statement. "We will continue to work very hard in preparing Jerry's defense with the ultimate goal of obtaining Jerry's acquittal."
Cleland has tentatively scheduled trial to start in mid-May.
The 68-year-old Sandusky was also granted the right to see adult visitors. Under the court's latest order, he will list up to 12 adults he would like to be able to see, subject to approval by the county officials overseeing his home confinement. His visits will be limited to a total of two hours, three times a week.
Also Monday, a Penn State administrator asked a judge to throw out charges that he lied to the grand jury investigating Sandusky and that he failed to properly report suspected child abuse.
Tim Curley filed motions in Dauphin County Court that argued the death of football coach Joe Paterno last month left prosecutors without a required second witness to support the perjury charge.
He said that allegations he didn't report suspected abuse in 2002 were filed under a revision of the law that was passed five years later and that the statute of limitations has expired. The attorney general's office said it, too, was under review.
The 57-year-old Curley is on leave as athletic director as he awaits trial. Former Penn State Vice President Gary Schultz, who faces the same charges as Curley, has not filed similar motions. Both have denied the allegations.
-- Mark Scolforo
Penn State puts child abuse scandal costs at $3.2M
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State says it has spent $3.2 million on lawyers, consultants and public relations firms in response to child sex abuse allegations against a former assistant football coach arrested in early November.
The university posted a breakdown of its related costs Monday as it unveiled a new website, part of an effort to provide more information to the public.
Through December, the university had spent $2.5 million on crisis communications and an investigation led by an independent firm. It also reports spending $470,000 on university legal services and $210,000 for the legal defenses of a former vice president, a former president and an athletics director on leave.
Former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky denies sexually abusing boys. The other school officials either haven't been charged or await trial on charges of perjury and failure to report abuse but deny the allegations.
Major College News & Notes
No BCS conference, no problem for Southern Miss
Southern Miss has watched as several of its Conference USA brethren have been invited to join leagues that have an automatic Bowl Championship Series bid. The latest was Memphis, which accepted a bid to join the Big East last week.
The call hasn't come for the Golden Eagles. And that's led to some angst.
"I've got e-mails from our fans that could fill a library," Southern Miss interim athletic director Jeff Hammond said. "I understand the concern and I'm glad there's all that passion. But I can't control what Memphis does. We've got to control what we can and for the most part I think we're doing that. Our goal is to go from good to great. That's the mantra I'm beating."
Hammond spent much of last week criss-crossing the deep south, travelling to places like Mobile, Ala., and Pensacola, Fla., to reassure fans about the future of the Golden Eagles' athletic program.
Normally, it wouldn't be a hard sell. The football program just finished one of the best seasons in school history, with 12 wins, a Conference USA championship and a victory in the Hawaii Bowl. The basketball program has its best shot at making the NCAA Tournament since 1991. Even the baseball program is nationally competitive, with a College World Series appearance in 2009.
But in the increasing arms race that is major college athletics, the program's failure to jump into one of the six BCS conferences has caused concern.
School administrators aren't panicking, saying they hope a planned merger between C-USA and the Mountain West Conference can provide future stability. The two leagues — totaling 16 programs — have already announced a partnership in football and are exploring an all-sports union for the 2013-14 academic year.
The eight remaining schools from Conference USA are Southern Miss, Marshall, East Carolina, Tulane, Tulsa, Rice, UTEP and UAB and the schools from the Mountain West Conference are Colorado State, Air Force, Wyoming, UNLV, Fresno State, New Mexico, Nevada and Hawaii.
Hawaii would be a football-only member.
A joint announcement from both conferences on Monday afternoon said future plans for the merger include expansion to between 18 and 24 total teams, a championship football game format that includes a semifinal round and a championship basketball tournament.
"I'm very optimistic," Southern Miss president Martha Saunders said. "The consolidation is appealing from a business perspective. We believe from our media advisors that we'll have a stronger media contract and that there's a certain allure spanning five time zones."
Southern Miss recently hired new football coach Ellis Johnson after Larry Fedora left to take the North Carolina job. Johnson wasn't worried about conference affiliation, saying his only focus is to continue the Golden Eagles' football success.
"Southern Miss football-wise has been its own entity and spoken for itself over the years," Johnson said. "It's been successful in every league its every played in, including Conference USA. I don't expect that success to change. We all know money, television and television market size drives the discussion of college sports. That's nothing we can control. We can control winning."
Hammond said he expects the C-USA-MWC merger to be successful and that "the smoke may finally clear." Southern Miss, which is located in Hattiesburg, Miss., has always been hampered by its small media market in its quest for a bigger conference affiliation.
Hammond said the conference realignment upheaval over the past few years has been "stressful" for everyone, but that things might finally be settling down. His immediate goals are raising the football program's season-ticket base from its current level at 10,600 to 12,000 and keeping the momentum of a successful season.
"I'd say let's be proud of what we have and we have to capitalize," Hammond said. "We can't do anything about our television market, but we can certainly control a lot of other things. Southern Miss has a lot going for it."
-- David Brandt
Gators hire O-line coach Davis to replace Verducci
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Offensive line coach Frank Verducci is out after one season at Florida, replaced by Tim Davis.
Verducci, a longtime NFL assistant, left to pursue other interests. Verducci has not spent more than two years at any coaching spot since 1998.
His brief stint in Gainesville was far from impressive. Florida's offensive line struggled to open holes in the running game and to protect quarterback John Brantley on a consistent basis. The result was a 7-6 record and the program's worst offense in more than two decades.
It's unclear when Verducci left the program, but coach Will Muschamp wasted little time replacing him.
Davis has 25 years of experience, including serving as offensive line coach at his alma mater, Utah, last season. Before that, he spent two years as Minnesota's offensive line coach and worked alongside current Florida tight ends coach Derek Lewis.
Davis also spent a year as director of player personnel under Nick Saban at Alabama (2008) and worked with Florida coach Will Muschamp with the NFL's Miami Dolphins (2005-06). He also has coaching stints at Southern Cal (2002-04), Wisconsin (1997-2001), Utah (1990-96), Idaho State (1989) and Walla Walla Community College (1988).
"Tim is a perfect fit for our program. He has a history of coaching in a pro-style offense and shares the same program philosophies," Muschamp said in a statement. "It will be a seamless transition for our players and staff. He worked with Brian White at Wisconsin, Derek Lewis at Minnesota, and Dan Quinn and I worked with him at the Miami Dolphins. He understands the values that we put on the line of scrimmage and he will help us get where we want to be at that position."
Florida returns all five starters on the offensive line and signed two of the top recruits in the country at the position. Offensive tackle D.J. Humphries and guard Jessamen Dunker already are enrolled in school and could compete for starting spots in spring practice.
"I'm excited to work with Coach Muschamp again and join the Florida football program," Davis said. "Like most assistant coaches, I've been on a number of coaching staffs and usually there is a transition period when you join a new staff. I don't look at this as joining a new staff, having worked with Coach Muschamp, Dan Quinn, Brian White and Derek Lewis in the past. I understand the shared philosophies of the staff."
After ranking 105th in total offense last season, the Gators will have two new offensive assistants. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis left to take the head coaching job at Kansas in December and was replaced by Boise State offensive coordinator Brent Pease.
-- Mark Long
Maryland grants QB O'Brien's release
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Maryland football has granted quarterback Danny O'Brien's request for a release from the program to play elsewhere.
Head football coach Randy Edsall announced Monday that O'Brien, lineman Max Garcia and linebacker Mario Rowson were all granted releases from the program.
Edsall says O'Brien, who played in nine games last season, told him he was not committed to the program and wants a fresh start. The redshirt sophomore completed 150 of 266 passes for 1,648 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
The coach says Garcia, a sophomore who started all 12 games at left tackle in 2011, was wants to transfer to a school closer to his home in Georgia. Edsall says Rowson, who played in 11 games as a redshirt freshman in 2011, wants to play defensive back.
Heart attack ruled in La. Tech player's death
RUSTON, La. (AP) — Louisiana Tech officials say the family of Tyrone Duplessis has released information showing the former Bulldogs running back died from a massive heart attack.
According to his father, George Duplessis Jr., Duplessis completed a workout on Feb. 1 before returning to his off-campus apartment in Ruston. He spent the evening at dinner with his fiancée. Early the next morning, George Duplessis says his son sprung up in bed, pounded himself in the chest and fell backward.
Emergency responders tried to revive the 21-year old and transported him to an area hospital before 5 a.m. He was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
The university said Monday that toxicology reports came back negative for drugs or alcohol.
Funeral services were held Saturday in New Orleans. A public memorial also was held at Tech.
Ex-BC coach Brock joins Rutgers staff
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Rutgers has hired Boston College offensive coordinator Dave Brock to run its offense. Brock will be wide receivers coach as well as offensive coordinator for the Scarlet Knights. Brock, a New Jersey native, spent the last three years at Boston College, serving as interim offensive coordinator for most of last season.
Robb Smith was promoted to defensive coordinator and Phil Galiano special teams coordinator. Also hired Monday by new coach Kyle Flood were tight ends coach Darnell Dinkins; running backs coach Ben Sirmans, quarterbacks coach Rob Spence and offensive line coach Damian Wroblewski.
Former Hofstra coach Dave Cohen was named linebackers coach. Jeremy Cole was promoted to head strength and conditioning coach.
