College Football Capsules: Leach set to be deposed Friday in Lubbock
Comments 0LUBBOCK — Mike Leach is expected to return to Lubbock later this week to answer questions under oath from attorneys for Texas Tech handling the former football coach's lawsuit against the school.
Leach, who currently lives with his family in Key West, Fla., is set for oral and video depositions beginning Friday at the offices of his Lubbock attorney, Ted Liggett.
Liggett declined to comment on the case Monday, but said Texas Tech chancellor Kent Hance will be deposed the day before Leach and that depositions will be taken from Adam and Craig James on Saturday.
Leach did respond to an e-mail and a text message.
The university fired Leach on Dec. 30, two days after suspending him amid allegations that he mistreated a player who had a concussion. Adam James, the son of ESPN analyst and former NFL player Craig James, said his coach twice ordered him to stand for hours while confined in a dark place during practice.
Leach has denied he mistreated receiver James and said he suspects an $800,000 bonus he was to have received Dec. 31 was the reason he was fired. His lawsuit includes allegations of libel and slander and breach of contract.
A judge ordered the two sides to mediation and placed a gag order those discussions. Court records indicate the two met at least once, but it's not clear whether more mediation sessions were planned.
The case has been ugly, including a rapid-fire stream of court filings filled with accusations.
On Monday, state district Judge William C. Sowder scheduled a March 26 hearing on a motion for a protective order from a Lubbock-area school district from which Leach's attorneys have subpoenaed documents. The attorneys want records from the Frenship school district relating to new Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville and his teenage sons.
"Students' records are confidential under federal law," said David Backus, a Lubbock attorney representing the district.
Sooners move on after injury-riddled season
NORMAN, Okla. — For Oklahoma, the 2009 season was marked by what Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford, NFL-bound tight end Jermaine Gresham and numerous teammates couldn't do or even say.
With injuries sidelining so many starters, the Sooners scuffled through an 8-5 season that ended on a high note with back-to-back wins in the Bedlam rivalry against Oklahoma State and against Stanford in the Sun Bowl. But it was hardly what the team had envisioned after playing in the BCS championship game the previous season.
"All of the changes we had on offense with injuries, it was hectic," coach Bob Stoops said Monday as Oklahoma opened spring practice.
"It was a struggle and it was a challenge for our offensive coaches to continue to find some continuity and rhythm in what we were trying to do. That's a lot of injuries on one side of the ball, and it changes things."
Along with Bradford and Gresham, Oklahoma lost starting offensive linemen Ben Habern, Jarvis Jones and Brody Eldridge to injuries and even pro prospect Trent Williams missed time due to a concussion. Receiver Ryan Broyles and running back DeMarco Murray got dinged up, too, and the Sooners' offense that set NCAA records a season earlier was slowed considerably.
But in the process, new players were forced into playing time and leadership roles they otherwise wouldn't have assumed until this spring — giving Oklahoma a jump on its preparations for next season.
"I'm optimistic about this group, finishing the way we did with the last couple of games against Oklahoma State and Stanford," Stoops said. "There were some major strides where I believe we will be better."
Stoops said Bradford, Gresham and others tried to lead from the sidelines but the real task fell on backup quarterback Landry Jones, Broyles and those who took on bigger roles with the team's captains hurt.
"The guys that are in the huddle are the ones that have to say something, step up when things are tough and so there's a number of those guys," Stoops said. "Those other guys did everything they are able to do but when you're not playing — when your face isn't the one sweating and all bloody, it's hard to have a lot to say."
Unlike a year ago, when Stoops called out his offensive line for being the team's "weak link," he wouldn't make the same statement entering this spring.
"They've been one of our best groups in how they've worked and met the challenge every day and their attitude, so I'm pleased with where they're at right now — or at least to this point, the work they've done," Stoops said.
Stoops expressed hope that Habern (left leg) and Jarvis Jones (heel) could return for part of spring practice, and said sophomore tackle Donald Stephenson is back on track after being suspended all of last season.
The Sooners have fewer issues on defense, with most starters returning from a unit that gave up the seventh-fewest points and eighth-fewest yards per game in the nation. The main question marks are at defensive tackle, where Gerald McCoy left for the NFL and Adrian Taylor is recovering from a broken ankle, and replacing both cornerbacks.
"I think it's natural," Stoops said. "I think every year, 'Oh, they lose this guy, so now what are they going to do?' Well, every year there's guys that are going to be a year older, a year they trained and grew more mature and more prepared, and we'll expect those guys to step up."
NOTES: Redshirt freshman Justin Chiasson, who has bulked up by about 20 pounds and now weighs around 275 pounds, has moved to defensive tackle from end. ... As he has with other tailbacks over the years, Stoops will keep Murray out of full contact drills in the spring. ... Former linebacker Ryan Reynolds is helping the team with office work and trying to break into coaching. ... Stoops said Landry Jones shouldn't shoulder the blame for Oklahoma's sagging offense, with injuries and inconsistent play around him. "I just think as the season went on he got more and more comfortable, which is natural the more snaps you get, the more experience you get and the more help you're getting," Stoops said. "It all resulted in pretty positive play."
-- Jeff Latzke
Weather cancels OSU's first spring practice
STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State's first football practice of the spring has been postponed due to rainy conditions in Stillwater.
The Cowboys had been scheduled to hold their first of 15 workouts Monday but instead decided to move it back until Tuesday.
OSU does not have an indoor practice facility. Plans to build one were put on hold after the funding for the $50 million structure was lost in the economic downturn.
Oklahoma State is also scheduled to practice Wednesday and Thursday.
Non-Big 12 News
Clemson starts spring looking for replacements
CLEMSON, S.C. — Everywere Kyle Parker turned on Monday, things were different.
No C.J. Spiller to hand off to, no Jacoby Ford to run under his long throws and no Michael Palmer to make the critical catch at tight end.
All three seniors helped Parker stand out as a freshman quarterback who led Clemson to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game in 2009. Now, those three are gone, leaving Parker to find new people to count on.
"It's definitely pretty weird," Parker says, "missing a lot of guys who led our team last year."
Parker says it will be up to him and a different group of performers to take control and fill the void left by the departures.
Spiller was the ACC's player of the year, finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting and was the only player in Division I last fall to score a touchdown in all 14 games.
Ford caught 56 passes, breaking open games with his unmatchable speed. Palmer was an all-ACC tight end who set school records with 43 catches and 507 yards.
Ford was on the sidelines, along with other former Tigers, watching the 2010 team go through the 2½-hour workout.
"That was a pretty good group standing out there watching," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said with a smile.
Swinney is ready for last year's backups like runners Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper, receivers Jaron Brown and Xavier Dye, and tight end Dwayne Allen take more responsibility.
"That's the great thing about college football, guys have to move on and new guys emerge," Swinney said. "And I think you'll see a lot of guys on this team, especially offensively, emerge to be really good players."
One player that Swinney hopes will continue to emerge is Parker. However, Parker is also one of the top power hitters for Clemson's baseball team and eligible for June's Major League Baseball draft. Should Parker get a big-league offer he can't refuse, highly regarded backup Tajh Boyd might play more of a role than he planned on.
"I don't know what he's doing," Boyd said of Parker's choice. "I just know I have to work hard every day at getting better."
On Monday, Parker and Boyd were 1-2 in the rotation, both displaying quick releases, strong arms and an accurate touch.
Parker, who threw for 20 touchdowns last season, hadn't done much with a football since the Tigers defeated Kentucky 21-13 in the Music City Bowl to finish 9-5. He was glad to toss it around.
"It was good, just going out there starting over and trying to get some things caught up and get ready to go in the fall," Parker said.
Last spring, Parker competed with Willy Korn for the starting job and knew he had to attend nearly every position meeting, practice and session if he wanted to play — and balance a full baseball load.
Parker was worn down by end, as proven by his production on the diamond, which did not match his freshman season when he made the all-ACC team.
This time, Parker won't have to be nearly as diligent, ceding first-team football work to Boyd when it's time for baseball.
Parker's not saying much about what he'll do in June. Swinney remains confident Parker will be back for his sophomore season at quarterback.
Boyd might want that, too. He said his first practice pass with the first-team offense went for an interception by all-ACC safety DeAndre McDaniel. Swinney, though, sees Boyd's game improving play by play.
The always optimistic coach thinks with a little hard work and attention to detail, the Tigers could be as productive as they were with Spiller, Ford and the rest.
"It's just real obvious we've come a long way in a year from where we were this time last year starting out spring ball," he said. "We've done a lot of good things."
-- Pete Iacobelli
Petersen makes competition key in spring drills
BOISE, Idaho — Boise State opened spring workouts Monday with all but three starters returning from a team that went undefeated a year ago, upset Texas Christian in the Fiesta Bowl and finished No. 4 in The Associated Press poll.
A lineup rich in veterans with big-game experience might be a relief to some coaches heading into off-season drills.
Not Chris Petersen. Touting a talented and hungry pool of underclassmen, the Broncos coach has put his first stringers on notice, warning that most of their jobs are up for grabs — starting now.
"There is no sense of entitlement here," said Petersen, now 49-4, including two Fiesta Bowl victories, in four seasons as the Broncos' head coach.
"There are a lot of good players here who are going to push some people. If one of our young guys can beat out an older guy, I think that's how we want it here," he said. "I hope the lineup looks much different than it did in the Fiesta Bowl."
That's not to suggest the Fiesta Bowl starters were a bunch of slackers.
The Broncos finished 14-0, won their second straight Western Athletic Conference title and defeated previously unbeaten TCU — a team thought by some worthy of national title consideration — 17-10 on one of college football's biggest postseason stages.
The offense led the nation in scoring, averaging 42.2 points per game, and finished 10th in total offense, piling up an average of 450 yards per game. The defense also shined, allowing just 17.1 points per game and 300 yards per game, good enough to rank among the nation's top 15 defenses in both categories.
But there are new expectations to meet and a schedule that is shaping up to be the toughest ever, featuring a Labor Day showdown on the road against Virginia Tech and a Sept. 25 matchup with Oregon State on the blue turf in Boise.
"If we think we're going to repeat because of the guys we have coming back, because of what we did last year, I promise you we won't," Petersen said. "I think everyone needs to be extremely paranoid and have an edge."
Barring injury, it's unlikely junior quarterback Kellen Moore has any serious job security issues. Moore emerged as one of the nation's most accurate and prolific passers last year, throwing for 3,356 yards, 39 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He also finished second in the nation with a passer rating of 161.6 and completed 64.3 percent of his passes.
Despite those impressive numbers, coaches have an offseason to-do list for Moore. The agenda requires Moore to focus on mechanics, stepping into the pocket with more authority and improving accuracy on deeper throws.
"There were some guys open in the Fiesta Bowl that could have changed the game," said Petersen. "That didn't get done."
Elsewhere, heated battles for starting spots should play out on the offensive line, at linebacker and in the defensive secondary. One spot on the offensive line is open due to the medical redshirt of guard Kevin Sapien, who started 12 games last season.
Petersen is also hoping some new faces emerge to challenge receivers Kirby Moore and Mitch Burroughs, who earned starting assignments late last season.
There should also be plenty of competition to carry the ball as D.J. Harper returns from a knee injury that cut his season short a year ago. Petersen said Harper will miss the spring drills, but should be ready to compete for carries this fall with Jeremy Avery, Doug Martin and Matt Kaiserman.
The Broncos have 15 practices, including two scrimmages, scheduled over the next six weeks. The workouts wrap up with the annual Spring Game at Bronco Stadium on April 17.
-- Todd Dvorak
Michigan AD reiterates Rodriguez's job is safe now
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Dave Brandon joked there's no place to hide in his new office — a second-story, window-filled space on the corner of a busy intersection near campus.
He likes it that way.
"I'm really excited to be here," Brandon said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Brandon had a lot on his calendar Monday, his first day as Michigan's athletic director, but acknowledged nothing on his list of things to do was more important than his plan for Rich Rodriguez and college football's winningest program.
"It's critical," Brandon said. "If you look at the annual revenues that drive this department, football is three-quarters of who we are. It's essential for that program be successful if our entire athletic department is going to be successful.
"I will continue to spend a lot of time with Rich and all of the people associated with the football program to understand it really well and to hopefully make an impact in terms of how we precede going further."
Michigan's once-proud team has been embarrassed on and off the field lately.
The NCAA notified Rodriguez and school officials two weeks ago that the football program is facing five potentially major rules violations in part because its report said Rodriguez "failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance within the football program" in regards to time spent on practice and football-related activities.
Brandon backed his coach then and on Monday reiterated his support for Rodriguez.
"He's our coach for this season," Brandon said. "There's nothing within the framework of the NCAA allegations that led me to believe that it should change his status as our coach."
Michigan was given 90 days to respond and is scheduled to appear at an NCAA hearing on infractions in August. Brandon said he is "very" involved in formulating the school's response, but declined to comment much about it.
"We're going to continue to be in a quiet period as all of this evolves," Brandon said.
Rodriguez lost a school-record nine games in his debut season two years ago, then finished 5-7 last year after a 4-0 start.
"Rich knows football, he's passionate and his track record for success — winning everywhere he's been — is there for the world to see," Brandon said. "He's feeling very good about the upcoming season."
Then, Brandon paused and simply said what many in Ann Arbor and around the country are saying.
"It's a big season ahead," Brandon said. "A big season."
It was a big day Monday for Brandon, walking into his new office at 7:45 a.m. after stepping down as the CEO of Domino's Pizza Inc. The first-time athletic director — with his autograph monogramed on his blue dress shirt — was clearly fired up about his new challenge a couple hours later as the sun poured into his office.
"There's no place to hide up here, especially at night when the lights are on and that's OK," Brandon said. "I can't wait to get started."
Brandon replaced Bill Martin, who announced last year he was stepping down. Martin will serve as a special adviser to university President Mary Sue Coleman until his retirement in September.
"Dave is going to be an outstanding athletic director because he knows the university inside and out and he has a great passion for Michigan," Martin said. "When I was driving to the hockey game the other night, I saw him up in the office."
-- Larry Lage
Two Michigan St. receivers get probation for fight
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State receivers B.J. Cunningham and Mark Dell have been sentenced to 18 months of probation and 150 hours of community service for their roles in a Nov. 22 campus fight.
The sentences Monday come after the players pleaded guilty in January to misdemeanor assault and battery. Both will be required to pay fines and meet other probation conditions.
James Newton, their attorney, says the players were sentenced under a provision for young offenders that will allow them to avoid a permanent criminal record if they fulfill probation conditions.
Eleven current or former Michigan State football players have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a fight with members of a campus fraternity. The nine other players await sentencing.
UGA quarterback charged with underage drinking
REMERTON, Ga. — A quarterback competing for the starting job at the University of Georgia has been released on bond after his arrest in south Georgia over the weekend on charges related to underage drinking.
A Remerton Police report says Zach Mettenberger was arrested at a bar called Flip Flops early Sunday and charged with underage consumption and possession of alcohol, possessing fake identification and disorderly conduct-obstruction.
Chief Mike Terrell said Monday the circumstances are still being investigated.
The 18-year-old Mettenberger is a redshirt freshman from Oconee County. The university is on spring break.
An athletic department spokesman did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment, and a phone listing for Mettenberger couldn't be found.
Notre Dame, Maryland at Redskins stadium next year
LANDOVER, Md. — Notre Dame and Maryland will meet next year at the Washington Redskins stadium.
The schools on Monday announced the game will take place Nov. 12, 2011. Notre Dame will serve as the home team because it already had an agreement with the Redskins for that date.
The two schools have met once before, when the Fighting Irish beat the Terrapins 22-0 in the 2002 Kickoff Classic at Giants Stadium.
The Redskins have been stepping up their effort to host more college football games at their 90,000-seat stadium. They will host Virginia Tech-Boise State in September, and Penn State-Indiana two months later.
The stadium will also be the site for the Army-Navy game in 2011 and Virginia Tech-Cincinnati in 2012.
Clemson approves raises for Swinney, staff
GREENVILLE, S.C. — The board of trustees at Clemson has recommended raises for football coach Dabo Swinney and his staff after the team reached its first Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.
Athletic director Terry Don Phillips would not say on Monday how much Swinney or any of his assistants would make.
Swinney's original head coaching contract guaranteed an increase if the Tigers won the ACC's Atlantic Division, which they did for the first time last season. The accomplishment means Swinney should have about $1 million added to his original salary of $800,000.
Swinney retained his entire staff, specifically defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and recruiting coordinator Jeff Scott, after inquiries from other schools.
Boise St suspends safety for breaking team rules
BOISE, Idaho — Boise State safety Jason Robinson has been suspended indefinitely for violating team rules.
The announcement by coach Chris Petersen came on the first day of spring drills Monday for the team that went undefeated last year and won the Fiesta Bowl.
Robinson, a senior from Los Angeles, is a three-year letterman who made 26 tackles in 2009. He played mostly on special teams.
The Boise State athletic department declined to release any other information about Robinson's suspension.
Tulane assistant coach Greg Jackson resigns
NEW ORLEANS — There's a vacancy on the staff of Tulane football coach Bob Toledo.
Toledo says assistant coach Greg Jackson has resigned to become an assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Jackson spent three seasons with the Green Wave coaching the safeties and kickoff team. Prior to that he served as the defensive back coach at Louisiana-Monroe and secondary coach at Idaho.
Toledo says Jackson has a lot of talent and energy and worked hard for the Green Wave program.
Ohio assistant named coach at Missouri S&T
ROLLA, Mo. — David Brown, who has been an assistant coach at Ohio University for four seasons, is the new head coach at Missouri S&T. The university announced the hiring on Monday. Brown replaces Kirby Cannon, who resigned last month after 11 seasons in Rolla to join the staff at Central Michigan.
At Ohio, Brown was defensive backs coach and worked with special teams. The Bobcats of the Mid-America Conference led the nation with 38 turnovers in 2009, and the defense ranked 29th overall.
Brown played at Cal Polytechnic State University and spent five seasons there as a coach, including two seasons as defensive coordinator in 2004 and 2005. The Miners were 4-7 last season.
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