College Capsules: Spurrier says he took Tebow omission too seriously

BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. — Steve Spurrier has more regrets over his all-Southeastern Conference ballot: That he took his omission of Florida’s Tim Tebow from the first team so seriously and that he involved one of his most trusted staffers.

The South Carolina coach said Thursday he made way too big a deal of not voting for the Heisman Trophy winning quarterback at the Southeastern Conference’s annual media gathering. Spurrier also made it clear he took responsibility for the incident and that his director of football operations, Jamie Speronis, was not to blame.

"We got into too much detail," Spurrier said after his annual summer golf outing. "We should not have gotten Jamie Speronis involved at all because he does a heck of a job as director of football operations. He’s an important, key guy."

Spurrier’s admission was perhaps the denouement to the biggest whodunit at SEC gathering in Hoover, Ala. The media had asked each league coach if they were the one who failed to place Tebow, who led the Gators to a national championship last fall, on the preseason first team.

Finally, Spurrier admitted the oversight, offering how sick he was when he realized he hadn’t put his fellow Gator Heisman Trophy winner as his No. 1 choice. Spurrier then detailed what happened, including why Speronis had gone with Mississippi quarterback Jevan Snead over Tebow.

Spurrier called Tebow to apologize and had the SEC redo his ballot to include the Florida star as his choice.

"Sometimes, you look back and say, ‘Why did we give them too much detail?"’ Spurrier said. "It was an oversight, first list we sent in, it was my fault, and then we corrected it. That’s all we needed to say."

Speronis has been Spurrier’s director of football operations at South Carolina, with the Washington Redskins and at Florida. The two have been together 18 seasons.

Spurrier’s SEC explanation put the affable right-hand-man in the spotlight. "I hope he didn’t get too much grief," Spurrier said.

South Carolina’s cross-country coach, Stan Rosenthal, said when he returned from Serbia a person at the airport saw his Gamecock shirt and mentioned how Spurrier "was in the news again" over Tebow.

South Carolina has lost its past three games to Florida since Tebow was there. The Gamecocks get one last chance against him at Williams-Brice Stadium on Nov. 14.

Spurrier said he wishes he hadn’t made his goof bigger than it was. "We made way too big a deal out of it," he said. "I wish I could handle it over, but can’t so just say that and move on. Don’t need to talk about that anymore."

Spurrier jazzed about Gamecock changes

BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. — Steve Spurrier has rarely had an offseason of change at South Carolina like this one: Several new assistants, fewer off-field problems and a rising star quarterback who has spent more time studying plays than working off a suspension.

"Right now, we all like each other," Spurrier said Thursday. "That’s what you got to have, everybody’s got to be on the same team."

Spurrier acknowledged it wasn’t always that way his first four seasons with the Gamecocks. Things started fast in 2005 with a record-setting five-consecutive Southeastern Conference wins, including landmark victories over Tennessee and Spurrier’s former school Florida. South Carolina, though, has struggled to finish off promising starts, particularly the last two seasons.

In 2007 and 2008, the Gamecocks were 11-6 in August, September and October, but 2-6 once November arrived.

Spurrier finally realized a season ago after South Carolina clunked to the end with three straight defeats that things had to change. There are five new assistants, including offensive line coach Eric Wolford who came from Illinois to replace John Hunt, long a Spurrier favorite who been with him at Florida, the Washington Redskins and the Gamecocks.

Spurrier also changed his strength and condition program, bringing in Craig Fitzgerald when Mark Smith left for a short stay at Tennessee with coach Lane Kiffin.

"As a group, we’ve just not got it done," Spurrier said. "Since I’m responsible for the group, we’re trying a new direction."

There’s no doubt in Spurrier’s mind the new assistants have sparked a freshened attitude among the players, who he says have shown the best offseason commitment since he took over. That’s also led to a significant drop in off-the-field issues for the Gamecocks this summer, Spurrier said.

"Well, when players do what they’re expected to do, you don’t have many off the field situations," the coach said.

One area where Spurrier expects that to show the strongest is with starting quarterback Stephen Garcia.

The sophomore was considered one of Spurrier’s best-ever QB prospects when he arrived on campus in January 2007. However, two arrests led to a suspension before Garcia’s first spring practice and he spent a fairly unproductive season as a scout-team redshirt.

Garcia figured to have a shot at the starting job last spring. Again, though, a run in with campus authorities cost him practice time and got him suspended through most of the summer.

Garcia was way behind when fall drills began and never found any consistency over eight games. He was the SEC’s freshman of the week when he came off the bench to lead South Carolina to a 24-17 victory at Kentucky. However, given the start in the Outback Bowl against Iowa, Garcia threw three interceptions and looked awful in a 31-10 battering.

So Spurrier brought in former Florida passer G.A. Mangus as quarterback coach, as much to mentor Garcia as to teach him the ball coach’s complex offense. So far, it’s working.

Mangus says Garcia has been a willing sponge, readily soaking up as much information as possible to bring to the field this fall.

The two talk each day, Mangus said, and Garcia understands the work he’d have to put in "if he wants to be great."

Spurrier hasn’t let his starting quarterback talk to reporters yet, but on Garcia’s Twitter page earlier this month, he said, "Offense is going to surprise."

Spurrier, 64, says the attitude around Gamecock football has him juiced about South Carolina finally breaking through to the SEC success they’ve seldom experienced before.

"We’re looking forward to a new era of Carolina football," he said.

-- Pete Iacobelli

Vols’ Berry takes praise, Heisman hype in stride

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — It would have been easy for an All-American like Tennessee’s Eric Berry to defy the leadership of a new coaching staff going into what is likely his last season with the Volunteers.

"He could have resisted," coach Lane Kiffin said. "But from day one he’s been the first one in meetings, the last one to leave, always asking questions, always coming up to my dad’s office trying to get better."

It’s that kind of leadership and motivation, along with the junior safety’s immense talent, that’s behind the Tennessee staff’s promotion of Berry for the Heisman Trophy.

Last week, Tennessee launched the berry4heisman.com Web site featuring Berry stats, videos and photos. The campaign includes billboards around Tennessee and even one in enemy territory in Florida, and a cell phone ring tone featuring the sound of Vol fans shouting "Eric Berry" was available for download from phonezoo.com.

He’s the first Vol to be promoted for the Heisman since quarterback Peyton Manning in 1997. Manning finished second to Michigan’s Charles Woodson, the only defensive back to have ever won the trophy. Tennessee’s other two Heisman candidates — tailback Johnny Majors in 1956 and quarterback Heath Shuler in 1993 — also finished second.

"I can’t imagine a guy more deserving of all the energy," Kiffin said. "Eric is such a great leader. It’s hard to remember I think for all of us that he just finished his sophomore year. You feel like he’s a five-year NFL vet or something because he’s so professional by the way he goes about his business on and off the field."

On the field, Berry in 2008 posted a Football Bowl Subdivision-best seven interceptions, returning them for a single-season Southeastern Conference record 265 yards, earning him All-American and SEC defensive player of the year honors from The Associated Press.

He holds the SEC career record with 487 interception return yards and needs just 15 yards to become the NCAA career leader.

Berry has earned the respect of opposing players, like Florida quarterback and 2007 Heisman winner Tim Tebow, who picked the Tennessee safety when asked to name the best SEC player outside the Gators squad.

"That’s a big compliment, just coming from him," Berry said, flashing a big grin. "I truly respect that guy, and I respect him for saying that. I never thought he would think of me like that, but that’s pretty cool."

Kiffin said he’s already counting on Berry skipping his senior season to enter the NFL draft but in the meantime is committed to making his star the best safety in America. That means the once-high school quarterback likely will stick to learning and administering coordinator Monte Kiffin’s defense this season.

Berry took a few snaps behind center last season as Tennessee searched for an offensive identity, though little came of the plays. Instead, he earned his All-American credentials because of a penchant for picking off quarterbacks and administering hits in the open field.

Berry;s friends and teammates have kept Berry grounded, preventing the accolades from going to his head.

After Tennessee Berry picked off a pass to the end zone by Georgia’s Matthew Stafford last season and returned it 54 yards, a highlight clip began circulating on the Internet. Berry’s roommate, linebacker Savion Frazier, didn’t have a problem picking the play apart.

"When I came to the sideline, Savion was like, ‘All right, man, that was a good pick, but you let the quarterback tackle you. When we get home, we’re getting in the front yard and we’re working on your jukes, and then we’re going to get you to the end zone,"’ Berry recalled.

-- Beth Rucker

Hawaii coach apologizes for slur

HONOLULU — Hawaii coach Greg McMackin apologized Thursday for making a derogatory remark usually directed toward gays while describing Notre Dame’s chant during a dinner banquet leading up to last year’s Hawaii Bowl.

McMackin used the slur during a media briefing at the Western Athletic Conference football preview in Salt Lake City.

After the remark, he uttered it two more times while trying to explain himself. After the briefing, McMackin returned to the reporters and apologized for using the "inappropriate" word.

"What I was trying to do was be funny and it wasn’t funny," he said, according to a recording of the conversation posted on the Idaho Statesman’s Web site. "It’s not funny. Even more, it isn’t funny to me. I was trying to make a joke and it was a bad choice of words. And I really, really feel bad about it. ... It was really stupid."

The school followed up with a formal statement by McMackin.

"I sincerely apologize for the inappropriate words that I used," he said in the statement. "My comments were out of character and I have no prejudices against anyone. I’m really upset with myself and I’m truly sorry for my remarks."

WAC commissioner Karl Benson said McMackin’s offensive comments brought negative publicity to the conference, "at an event where the purpose was to promote the WAC in a positive manner."

"While his comments clearly violate the WAC Code of Conduct, I will wait until the University of Hawaii determines its course of action before determining what sanctions the WAC may impose," Benson wrote in an e-mail.

The second-year Warriors coach said he has nothing but respect for the Fighting Irish, who routed the Warriors 49-21 for their first postseason victory in 15 years. McMackin called it the worst loss in his 40 years of coaching.

Hawaii athletic director Jim Donovan, who called Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick to apologize on behalf of the university, said he will meet with McMackin on Friday.

"I’ve conveyed my disappointment to him and he has expressed deep regret for showing such poor judgment," Donovan said. "Aside from today’s inexcusable statement, coach McMackin has been a steadfast ambassador for the university and the state of Hawaii."

School chancellor Virginia Hinshaw said she also expressed her disappointment to the coach.

"Hurtful language like this has no place in our community, and particularly not among leaders of our ... campus," said Hinshaw, adding "further steps that will be taken to reaffirm his and our commitment to fair and equal treatment of all."

Before joining the Warriors, McMackin spent three years with the San Francisco 49ers as associate head coach and linebackers coach under Dennis Erickson from 2003-05. He has also served as defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks and several college programs including Texas Tech, Miami, Navy, Utah and Idaho.

The news of the comments spread fast in the islands where McMackin is widely known as a warm and caring leader who often reaches out to the community.

"I’m repulsed," said Carolyn Golojuch, a UH alumnus and president of the Oahu chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian and Gays.

She said there’s a larger issue at hand with the "atmosphere of fear" in football.

"This goes on all the time. This is not an isolated incident. Football coaches, not just ours, continue to be abusive," Golojuch said. "Why do professional football players come out of the closet after they retire? Because of fear."

This is not the first time a Hawaii athletic figure issued an apology for using insensitive language.

Former athletic director Hugh Yoshida said in 2000 that the reason the university switched from its longtime Rainbow logo was in part due to its connection as a symbol for gays and lesbians.

"That logo really put a stigma on our program at times in regards to it’s part of the gay community, their flags and so forth," Yoshida said then, a day after the current Polynesian-style "H" logo was unveiled.

Yoshida quickly apologized for his comments.

-- Jaymes Song

Green cleared to play immediately for Hogs

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas running back Broderick Green will not have to sit out a season after transferring from Southern California.

The Arkansas athletic department confirmed Thursday that the NCAA has cleared Green to play. When Green said in November he was leaving USC, he said it was to be with his ailing grandmother in Little Rock.

"Our compliance staff worked closely with Broderick’s family to develop a thorough waiver request based on his personal circumstances," Razorbacks coach Bobby Petrino said. "The NCAA carefully considered his waiver and granted Broderick immediate eligibility. We are obviously pleased with their decision."

The 6-foot-2, 248-pound Green should add depth at running back for the Hogs, who relied heavily on starter Michael Smith last season. The 5-foot-7 Smith rushed for 1,072 yards, but he was the only Arkansas running back with over 36 carries and showed signs of being overworked.

Green was a high school star at Little Rock’s Pulaski Academy, then signed with USC in 2007. He redshirted that year and played six games last season. He rushed for 168 yards on 32 carries.

"I am excited about the opportunity to play for Arkansas this season," Green said. "I appreciate the support of coach Petrino, the rest of the coaching staff and the athletic department administration in helping make this outcome a reality."