College Football Capsules: Texas, Maryland get reprieve on recruiting rule

AUSTIN — The NCAA has given Texas and Maryland a one-year reprieve from a new rule that limits off-campus football recruiting by a coach designated as the head coach-in-waiting.

That will allow Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp and Maryland offensive coordinator James Franklin to fully participate in the critical spring evaluation period in April and May.

The new rule says coaches "publicly designated" to be the next head coach are bound by the same recruiting rules as the current head coach. That would limit them to one off-campus visit with a prospect and it could not be during the spring evaluation period. Other assistants can have multiple off-campus visits.

Texas spokesman Nick Voinis said Tuesday the grace period gives the schools time to seek permanent relief.

Only Texas, which lost to Alabama in the BCS championship game, and Maryland are currently affected by the rule that was proposed in June 2009 and passed in January.

Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds has complained that the rule was unfair because Texas and Muschamp agreed to his coach-in-waiting contract in November 2008. Dodds has said Texas was "singled out" by the rule and put at a "direct disadvantage" in recruiting.

NCAA spokesman Erik Christianson said in an e-mail to The Associated Press that the NCAA determined the rule applied to both schools, but they were given the grace period to consider their options.

Those options could include revising the contracts, asking for a permanent exemption to the rule or seeking to have it changed, Christianson said.

If nothing changes after one year, both schools will be bound by the rule, Christianson said.

The rule change was supported by the NCAA’s football issues committee. The rationale was that recruiting by a "head coach in waiting" creates a competitive advantage for a program at a time when the NCAA has moved to curb off-campus recruiting by head coaches.

The change was not supported by the NCAA’s recruiting cabinet, which noted that designating an assistant as a future head coach is likely to happen several years before the coach is promoted.

Coach apologizes for remark over newspaper removal

COMMERCE — A Texas college football coach has apologized for applauding his players for removing campus newspapers from their racks because of a story about the program.

Texas A&M-Commerce coach Guy Morriss told campus police the actions by his players was "the best team-building exercise we have ever done." On Monday, the former Kentucky and Baylor coach apologized for a "lapse in judgment" and said the comment was made facetiously.

Police were investigating the disappearance of newspaper editions that included a front-page article about two football players being arrested on drug charges.

A&M-Commerce athletic director Carlton Cooper said the Division II program would pay for the reprint of the missing edition, and that coaches and players would distribute it.

Big 12

McCoy, Sooners carry first-round clout

NORMAN, Okla. — With all the first-round prospects coming out of Oklahoma for this year’s NFL draft, St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo could be getting to know the Norman campus quite well over the next month.

Carrying the No. 1 pick with them, Spagnuolo and general manager Billy Devaney visited the Sooners’ pro timing day Tuesday, getting another chance to see defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, offensive tackle Trent Williams, tight end Jermaine Gresham and others after last week’s NFL combine.

Quarterback Sam Bradford wasn’t among those to work out in front of representatives of 31 NFL teams but Spagnuolo says he’ll be back when the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner holds his own session on March 25.

"I’m going to camp out here for a while," Spagnuolo joked.

Spagnuolo said the Rams would love to find a way to split the pick and use it on more than one player. Instead, they’ll have a big decision to make in next month’s draft.

While some wonder if Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh will be the top pick, the Sooners are providing the Rams with plenty of options. McCoy, Bradford and Williams give Oklahoma the opportunity to have three top 10 picks for the first time in the program’s history and become only the sixth school to have three players taken that high in the past 50 years. Auburn was the last to pull off the feat, when Ronnie Brown, Cadillac Williams and Carlos Rogers were among the first nine players taken in 2005.

"The thing is we all came in together, three of us grew up together and it’s good to see everybody reach their dreams and to see all the hard work they did pay off," McCoy said.

McCoy spent most of the first hour and a half off on his own, stretching and getting warmed up while his former teammates went through the tests he’d already done at the combine. Then he went to work, veering around cones and pads and clubbing his way through tackling dummies set up on the turf at Oklahoma’s indoor practice facility.

"He makes plays, he forces double-teams, people have to worry about him because he’s a talented guy and can rush the passer," Spagnuolo said. "That would be typical of any defensive tackle that you thought was meriting being a first-round pick."

Spagnuolo said he was also glad to get the chance to spend some more time with McCoy, meet his father and pick coach Bob Stoops’ brain. All the information about his personality and character will be a part of his draft evaluation, too.

"When you’re really trying to mold a bunch of guys together, you want them to get along, you want them to be a family," Spagnuolo said. "I know coach Stoops preaches that here and it’s why he’s had success, and we do the same thing in the NFL."

Spagnuolo said he’d also had a chance to meet Bradford, who missed most of last season with an injured throwing shoulder, briefly at the combine but he was "looking forward to spending some more time with him.

"We’ve got a little ways to go," Spagnuolo said. "Got to see where he is health-wise."

McCoy, whose friendship with Bradford predates their time together at Oklahoma, said he’d have no problem with it if he were the No. 2 pick behind the quarterback.

"I’m not trying to battle with him. That’s why I call him King Sam, because that’s what he is," McCoy said. "That’s just how I always look at him, and I wish Sam the best. If Sam can go (No.) 1, I would be very happy for him. He has worked really hard. Sam went through a lot this year but he’s not letting it stop him, and he still has the ability and the chance to go with the first pick."

McCoy said he planned to return for Bradford’s workout and redo his bench press. He lifted the standard 225 pounds 23 times at the combine. That’s nine fewer than Nebraska’s Suh, the other top defensive tackle in the draft, and two fewer than McCoy says he was doing when he had only started his training.

"It was just nerves," McCoy said. "I’m going to give myself a little bit of time off, keep training, then come back and do it on the 25th."

Williams went through change-of-direction drills, hoping to improve his performance from the combine. Gresham, who missed all of last season after knee surgery, did a couple blocking drills before running routes and catching passes from former Sooners quarterback Joey Halzle.

Among others to workout were cornerbacks Dominique Franks and Brian Jackson, linebackers Keenan Clayton and Mike Balogun, offensive lineman Brian Simmons, receiver Adron Tennell and fullback Matt Clapp.

"Jermaine and Trent and G.K. (McCoy), they’re first-round guys, so they’re going to bring out all the scouts," Clayton said. "Some of these guys might not even have been looking at some of the other guys but something happens here or something happens there that caught their eye and somebody opened the door for you.

"That’s all you need is an opportunity if you want it."

-- Jeff Latzke

Oklahoma’s Balogun hopes he’s not forgotten

NORMAN, Okla. — Mike Balogun hopes his year away from Sooners football won’t mean he’s forgotten come time for the NFL draft.

Balogun was forced to sit out all last season after starting at middle linebacker for Oklahoma in the BCS championship game, but he didn’t give up on the game. He continued training and participated in Oklahoma’s pro timing day Tuesday in front of representatives from all but one NFL team.

While most of the attention was focused on first-round prospects Gerald McCoy, Trent Williams and Jermaine Gresham, Balogun hopes he left an impression that leads to a second chance.

"You give me a shot, I’ll prove it to you. I’ll prove I deserve a roster spot," Balogun said. "That’s all I need."

The 26-year-old was stripped of his final year of eligibility by the NCAA, which ruled he had played for a semipro team after his 21st birthday. Balogun contends that’s not the case, and still has a lawsuit pending against the NCAA.

He’s seeking monetary damages and also hopes to change the way the NCAA handles cases.

"The NCAA, I know it’s its own governing body and nobody can touch their rules. I think it needs to be changed, to be honest," Balogun said. "I wouldn’t say that they ruined my career but they definitely put a dent in it and I don’t think they should have that much control over somebody’s football career and life in general.

"I think something needs to be changed. There needs to be a higher authority than that."

A message seeking comment was left for an NCAA spokesman Tuesday night.

Balogun started out as a third-stringer for the Sooners after transferring from Lackawanna (Pa.) Community College in 2008. He moved up on the depth chart after starter Ryan Reynolds suffered a season-ending knee injury and then became the starter after backup Austin Box was hurt, first at midseason and then in the regular-season finale.

Balogun then moved into the starting lineup for the Big 12 championship and the BCS championship game, a 24-14 loss to Florida. The same day the Sooners returned from Miami, Balogun got a call from Oklahoma’s compliance department informing him his eligibility was in question again.

Balogun said he was informed officials at Florida State contacted the NCAA after seeing him play in the title game and that reopened an investigation into his time playing in the North American Football League.

"It’s nowhere close to professional. It was pickup football with equipment," Balogun said, describing the league. "It’s semi-organized every Saturday. I’ve been out there times where it was four against four. If you want to count my years of eligibility out for playing four-on-four football, then something needs to be changed."

Balogun said he believes people associated with the league may have exaggerated his reputation and told investigators he played longer than he actually did — including in an All-Star game in Minnesota.

"They had me playing great. I was the player of the century," Balogun said with a smile. "I mean, I’m that type of player but — come on, man — don’t give me all of that when I don’t need it. I didn’t earn it."

Balogun said he got sworn affidavits from the same people interviewed by the NCAA supporting his stance that he hadn’t played after age 21. Players are required to forfeit one year of college eligibility for each season they compete in semipro ball after age 21.

"The NCAA, my opinion is they did a lot of back-dooring, talking to a lot of people thinking that they had my best interests," Balogun said. "They back-doored people and people just started talking me up, not knowing what was going on."

Balogun said what followed was a roller coaster of emotion: first confidence that he’d be cleared again, then disappointment, anger and asking himself, "Why me?" While Balogun stayed involved with the Sooners on scout team duty, he believes the NCAA’s decision could have had a different result if not for the team’s support.

"You’re affecting somebody’s life and career like that. That’s important and they’ve got to realize that," he said.

For now, though, Balogun plans to keep his lawsuit on the back burner until after the draft next month. He measured at 6 feet tall and 240 pounds, ran 40 yards in 4.72 seconds and lifted a 225-pound weight 18 times during Tuesday’s workout at Oklahoma’s indoor practice facility.

"I’ve been hearing all positive things. I’ve been hearing I’m a draftable guy, a lot of teams like me," Balogun said. "They said I did pretty well today."

"It’s all going to work out for the best," he added. "I’m confident."

-- Jeff Latzke

Elsewhere

Swarbrick: Expansion could force ND into move

NEW YORK — Notre Dame wants to remain independent in football, but that might not matter if the Big Ten and Pac-10 decide to expand and create sweeping changes to major college sports.

"Our preference is clear," Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick said Tuesday. "I believe we’re at a point right now where changes could be relatively small or they could be seismic."

Swarbrick said it will be up to him and university president Rev. John Jenkins to "evaluate the landscape" if realignment happens.

"You can each come up with a scenario that would force our hand," he told a small group of reporters at a Manhattan restaurant.

The Big Ten announced in December it will explore options for expansion in the next 12 to 18 months. Last month, the Pac-10 also made it known that it would be considering adding schools.

Notre Dame has had a non-football Big East membership since 1995.

Notre Dame to the Big Ten has been a constant source of speculation for years. Its South Bend, Ind., campus is located in the heart of Big Ten country and the Irish already have established rivalries with Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue.

The Fighting Irish rejected an offer to become the league’s 12th member in 1999 and since then Notre Dame has gone about reaffirming and re-embracing it independent status in football.

Swarbrick has picked up where predecessor Kevin White left off, scheduling offsite and neutral site games around the country, a move that harkens back to Notre Dame’s barnstorming golden age.

Last season, the Irish played Washington State in San Antonio, Texas. Next season, they’ll play Army at Yankee Stadium and on Monday it was announced they would play Maryland at FedEx Field, the home of the Washington Redskins, in 2011.

New coach Brian Kelly said he likes the fact that Notre Dame plays games from coast to coast.

"It’s great when you look at the schedule and see games all over; at Yankee Stadium, at USC," he said.

Notre Dame’s long and lucrative relationship with NBC, which airs all Irish home games, has helped the storied program flourish on its own, despite not winning a national title since 1988. Notre Dame’s current deal with NBC ends after the 2010 season and was reportedly worth $9 million per year. Another five-year deal is set to begin in 2011.

Notre Dame is also guaranteed to receive money from the BCS every year, no matter how the Irish play.

Of the 120 major college football teams, only Notre Dame, Army and Navy are not in a one of 11 conferences.

The Big Ten has given no hints about what schools it might want to add or how many, but speculation has been rampant. Texas and Missouri from the Big 12 and Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Syracuse from the Big East are names that have been thrown around by media and fans.

But if Notre Dame ever had a change of heart, the Big Ten would no doubt welcome the Irish.

Since the Pac-10 announced it was interested in expanding — most likely adding two teams to reach the minimum 12 needed to hold a football championship game a la the SEC, Big 12 and ACC — the speculation ramped up again. Colorado from the Big 12 and Utah, BYU and San Diego State from the Mountain West are some of the teams that have been mentioned as possible Pac-10 targets.

"I’ve been around this business for 29 years," Swarbrick said, "and this is as unstable as I’ve ever seen it."

So what could lead Notre Dame to consider giving up its independence?

"What if realignment impacts the shape of the BCS?" Swarbrick said.

"The Big East has been a great conference for us," he said. "If there is a fundamental change to the Big East, what does that do?"

Unknowns aside — and there are plenty more — if Swarbrick had his way, he’d choose the status quo.

"We’re trying like hell to maintain our football independence," Swarbrick said. "I think it’s good for college football and it’s good for Notre Dame."

-- Ralph D. Russo

Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Dec 30

NEW YORK — The first Pinstripe Bowl will be played at Yankee Stadium on Dec. 30 and will be televised by ESPN.

The game will include the No. 3 team in the Big East and the No. 6 school in the Big 12, excluding Bowl Championship Series participants.

"I think no matter what the sport, every kid who grows up wants to play at Yankee Stadium," Yankees president Randy Levine said Tuesday.

If the bowl had been played last season, the Yankees said Rutgers and Texas A&M would have been the participants. If one of the conferences cannot fill its bowl slot, Notre Dame could be considered.

ESPN agreed to a six-year contract to televise the first bowl in the Northeast since the 1981 Garden State Bowl at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. This will be the first bowl game at Yankee Stadium since Nebraska defeated Miami 36-34 at the old ballpark on Dec. 15, 1962.

"It does give us instant credibility and instant recognition," Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said.

New Era Cap Co. Inc., known primarily as the supplier of major league caps, agreed to a four-year deal to be the title sponsor in its most notable venture outside baseball.

Big East commissioner John Marinatto didn’t think the bowl schedule was too crowded.

"Bowls, like everything else, are a function of the marketplace," he said.

Future games will be played no earlier than Christmas and no later than New Year’s Day. The first football game at the new $1.5 billion stadium will be Nov. 20, when Notre Dame plays Army.

--Ronald Blum