College Football Capsules: Switzer: Oklahoma-Nebraska rivalry will fade
SEMINOLE, Okla. (AP) — Now that the schools will be in different conferences, Barry Switzer doesn't see Oklahoma's rivalry with Nebraska standing the test of time.
Switzer coached opposite Nebraska's Tom Osborne in one of the sport's marquee rivalries in the 1970s and '80s. The two Big Eight powers played regularly on Thanksgiving weekend, with the game often deciding the conference champion and sometimes affecting the national title.
The Cornhuskers plan to move to the Big Ten next season, leaving the Sooners behind in the Big 12 and essentially bringing an end to the rivalry.
"One thing that's certain in life is change. There's always been a resistance to change but that's going to happen," Switzer said in an interview Thursday with The Associated Press following a speech at Seminole State College.
"As long as they have Nebraska making the sweep to the Big Ten with where we are, that's a game of the past. I don't see it happening again in our lifetime — my lifetime, certainly."
Switzer, 73, said he and all Sooners fans are sad to see the end of the "Battle of the Big Reds" but it had already been fading away since the teams were placed in opposite divisions when the Big 12 was formed in 1996. That meant the schools only played twice every four years, instead of every year, and it also brought an end to the Thanksgiving tradition.
Instead of playing each other, Oklahoma now plays Oklahoma State on the holiday weekend most years while Nebraska had faced Colorado.
"There'll be nothing that'll replace Nebraska," Switzer said. "There's nothing there that could. OSU could be the only other one, but they haven't been competitive enough."
If the Big 12 moves forward playing nine round-robin conference games, Oklahoma likely won't have room on its schedule for the Huskers for years to come due to upcoming series against Florida State, LSU, Tennessee, Ohio State and Notre Dame. There's talk of a nine-game league schedule in the Big Ten, too.
Switzer and Osborne each won three national championships and were inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame with remarkably similar winning percentages — Switzer at .837 and Osborne at .836. Switzer, who also regaled the audience with stories about recruiting and how he had to duck and cover during his trip to Iraq in December, pointed out that the only reason he ended up with a better record was that he went 12-5 against Osborne's Huskers.
Switzer said they rarely talk now, except when they're lining up reunions as they did each of the past two seasons when the Sooners and Huskers faced one another.
Unless they meet in the Big 12 championship in December — as they did in 2006 — those will be the last meetings between the teams as conference rivals.
Osborne has said Nebraska was seeking stability because it sensed uncertainty in the Big 12, which lost Colorado and nearly five other schools to the Pac-10 in June.
"I really don't know why it happened. I really don't," Switzer said. "I think the fans aren't going to enjoy going and riding to Happy Valley, Pennsylvania, and College Park. That's a pretty good distance. It's further than it is to Norman. It's just they're so remote from the Big Ten."
Because of proximity, Switzer said he thinks Oklahoma's other main rivalry with Texas will continue. Those schools meet in early October each year in the Red River Rivalry, played in Dallas during the State Fair of Texas.
"We'll always have Texas," Switzer said. "Texas is part of our fabric. That's part of our tradition, and it'll always be."
Will Fighting Irish be Kelly's heroes?
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Oh, yeah. Brian Kelly has given it some thought. Who wouldn't? He's glanced toward a stadium circled by tributes to former coaches at Notre Dame and wondered how it will feel when he charges onto the field for his first game with the Irish.
In about three weeks, his ears will ring from a roar he's likely not experienced in his other successful stops in college football. It'll be his team with those familiar golden helmets — even if most of the players are not his recruits — his program and his system that will take the field Sept. 4 when the Irish host Purdue.
"I found myself a couple of times peeking at that first run through the tunnel and how special it will be," Kelly said. "Special if we win the game. That's about it."
Expectations for the Irish could not be higher and Kelly has not ducked them. His plan is to win immediately.
After 21 losses over the last three seasons of the Charlie Weis regime, Notre Dame's players are ready for a change like the one Kelly has brought to South Bend. He took the job in December following a successful run at Cincinnati that included a 12-0 regular season a year ago.
"His track record and he's been a winner everywhere he's been," safety Harrison Smith said when asked how easy it has been for returning players to buy into Kelly's plan. "Interacting with him, everybody gets a good feeling."
Kelly is demanding during practices, which are generally two hours and 15 minutes in duration. He doesn't want football to be like a job for his players, so he makes practice time concentrated but manageable.
What he wants is nonstop motion from his players and total attention to details — with helmets on. His spread offense is being entrusted to quarterback Dayne Crist, whose only experience was as a backup for four games to Jimmy Clausen last season before suffering a torn knee ligament.
Crist, who made a speedy recovery in time to play spring football, has attempted only 20 passes in his career. He might throw that many in the first quarter of the opener.
Running back Armando Allen Jr., who has led the Irish in rushing the last two years, is back for his senior season. The spread will often feature three wide receivers and a tight end. With Clausen and star wideout Golden Tate gone to the NFL, Michael Floyd (92 career receptions) will step up as the go-to receiver along with one of the nation's top tight ends in Kyle Rudolph.
The offensive line has veterans Chris Stewart, a fifth-year senior now in law school, and Trevor Robinson at guard. Another fifth-year senior, Dan Wenger, is battling Braxston Cave for the starting role at center. And among the 10 offensive linemen Kelly says are capable of playing what he calls championship football, Taylor Dever and Zack Martin are leading candidates for starting tackle spots.
As strange as it might sound, if the Irish's spread offense clicks the way it's designed, Notre Dame's defense could be in for some long afternoons. Kelly wants his team to play fast on offense — get plays off without a huddle, score quickly and get off the field.
That means if the Irish are rolling offensively, the defense will have little time to rest. After surrendering nearly 400 yards per game last season, the defense has been switched to a 3-4 setup and will be counting on a strong season from inside linebacker Manti Te'o, who started 10 games as a freshman last season.
"We want to build this thing on a solid concrete foundation. With that said, I can't imagine they do not have a chip on their shoulder based on all the negativity that has surrounded the defense," defensive coordinator Bob Diaco said.
Also returning are outside linebackers Darius Fleming and Brian Smith. Ian Williams is back at nose guard and Ethan Johnson and Kapron Lewis-Moore are junior defensive ends with experience.
Kelly said the back end of the defense is a question mark, though Harrison Smith and defensive backs Darrin Walls, Robert Blanton and Gary Gray have experience.
Place-kicker Nick Tausch hit a school-record 14 straight field goals at one juncture last season before missing the final three games with a foot injury.
For Tausch to get a lot of PAT attempts, Crist must stay healthy.
Behind him are Nate Montana, Joe Montana's son who had a strong spring game, and some promising freshmen in Tommy Rees, Andrew Hendrix and Luke Massa. But no experience.
"If something happens to Dayne Crist, I can't go, 'Guys I'm sorry we didn't win this week, I didn't do a good job of getting the No. 2 ready,'" Kelly said as he pretended to cry. "You don't get that, you got to get them ready."
The Irish have what appears to be a favorable schedule. There are seven home games — three in the first month against the Boilermakers, Michigan and Stanford — and a designated eighth at Yankee Stadium against Army.
Some of the players have been around for consecutive seasons of 3-9, 7-6 and 6-6 under Weis. Asked how he changed their thinking, Kelly said it was being done out of the eye of the media and the public.
"Behind closed doors is where we are really developing relationships with our players. We can push them in those spots that maybe they didn't handle as well," he said. "Those are areas where it has nothing to do with Xs ad Os, this is about developing a toughness, about demanding and setting expectations and understanding those."
The expectations came into focus quickly this summer when eight football players were among those arrested for underage drinking. At a team meeting, the new coach let those involved know that this is not the type of publicity he expected to see. Translated: don't do it again. He didn't say how the situation was handled internally.
Now it's time to see if the Irish can implement Kelly's plan after he runs out of that tunnel and starts a new era.
"We took this job over with the idea that we're not going anywhere. I'm staying here for the rest of my life and going to coach Notre Dame," Kelly said. "This is all about getting this program nationally in the top echelon immediately and then continue to work on that every single day."
-- Rick Gano
JoePa says no leader in Penn St. quarterback derby
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Anticipating a zinger of a first question at preseason media day, Joe Paterno let loose with a line intended to dispel rumors about his health.
At age 83, entering his record 45th season as Penn State 's head coach, the Hall of Famer can still charm a room.
"I have one request," he said Thursday before anyone could fire off a query. "Please, don't ask if I'm going to die. Believe me, I got a few more days left."
He just couldn't dance around the other inevitable topic of the day.
No, the Nittany Lions still haven't settled on a starting quarterback.
"I know you think I'm avoiding the question on this one, but I really don't know who's going to be the quarterback," Paterno said.
One week into practice, and the race between sophomores Kevin Newsome and Matt McGloin to replace record-setting QB Daryll Clark is still apparently at a dead heat. And freshmen Robert Bolden and Paul Jones apparently aren't out of the mix, either, according to quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno, the head coach's son.
The competition could be thinned out some over the coming weeks as the Nittany Lions start working on more specifics with the spread HD offense.
"We're trying to put them in situations where they have to make some things happen, do some things in the clutch," the elder Paterno said. "Get some confidence, get the football team to have some confidence, so they can get in the huddle and say to the team, 'Hey, let's go.'"
Newsome, highly recruited out of high school, could be considered the front-runner by virtue of being second string to Clark last season, ahead of McGloin, a former walk-on.
Newsome wears the same No. 12 jersey worn by dual-threat QB star Michael Robinson in 2005, and he's considered more athletic than McGloin, who, in turn, is thought to have a little more of a pocket presence.
Both players say they aren't taking anything for granted. So far, first-string reps have been distributed evenly among the quarterbacks, McGloin said.
Newsome might have had the best response when asked what was needed to do win the job.
"I don't know," he said with a grin. "You can ask the greatest coach in college football that question."
"Paul, Robert, McGloin, all those guys, they are really good quarterbacks, and it's going to be real tough to beat them out," he later said.
It's been a painful start to camp so far for other players, the biggest injury coming to Curtis Drake, the Philadelphia native who broke his left leg in practice this week and is expected to be out at least six to eight weeks.
The sophomore played every game last year as a reserve, catching eight passes for 98 yards. A converted quarterback, the speedy Drake was expected to see an expanded role this season and gave Penn State a backfield option for wildcat-formation or trick plays.
Cornerback Stephon Morris, expected to secure a starting job, suffered a stinger in practice, though Paterno said the injury was minor. Paterno is also concerned about several concussions, or concussion-type injuries to Jordan Hill and Sean Stanley, two sophomores key for the defensive line rotation; and projected starting linebacker Bani Gbadyu.
Hill said he's sitting out for now after a mild concussion Tuesday; Stanley and Gbadyu said they're fine.
But Paterno said he's worried enough to find out if they're a pattern to the injuries, such as whether there might an issue with the helmet.
The good news on the injury front for Penn State is that starting safety Drew Astorino is fine after left shoulder surgery in the offseason, while Michael Mauti is back at 100 percent after missing 2009 with a right knee injury. Mauti is expected to join Gbadyu in helping to fill the holes left by the departures of last year's starting linebacking trio of Sean Lee, Navorro Bowman and Josh Hull to the NFL.
It's the quarterback position that apparently worries Paterno the most. He said the team might have a "decent one" by season's end, but "whether we'll have a great one this year, that's maybe a long shot."
-- Genaro C. Armas
Florida's Pouncey takes center stage, leading role
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Even at 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, Florida's Mike Pouncey never really stood out.
He always shared the spotlight with his twin brother, Maurkice. They played on the same teams, played the same positions, roomed together, hung out together, took classes together and even dated the same girl once.
They have been mostly inseparable — until now.
Mike Pouncey enters this season alone, far away from his brother who left school early for the NFL. Being on his own might not be the toughest challenge facing Pouncey this fall.
Pouncey is taking over his brother's position on the offensive line and Tim Tebow's leadership role. The Gators are counting on him to nail down both.
"I knew when I decided to come back to school that I was going to have to take on that role," Pouncey said. "I just accepted it and I'm taking it on with a full head of steam."
He's enjoying it, too.
"Who wouldn't? Leader of the team, everybody follows me and I'm going to lead this team to victory," he said.
Pouncey has played in 39 games over three seasons, seeing plenty of action as a freshman and then becoming the team's starting right guard the last two years. He moved to defensive line for a brief stint in 2007, and has eight tackles and an interception.
But his best position might be center, the spot his brother held the last two years. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Maurkice Pouncey with the 18th pick in April's NFL draft.
Mike Pouncey expects to go even higher in 2011.
"I didn't come back for no reason," he said. "I better get drafted higher than him."
He certainly has more on his plate than his brother did.
Between protection calls, trash talking and motivating teammates, Pouncey spends Florida practices yelling, screaming and jumping around. His antics remind teammates of that guy who helped the Gators win two national championships in the last four years.
"I think Mike Pouncey is our head-and-shoulders leader this year, the Tebow," guard Carl Johnson said. "He has that same will. He can't begin to think of losing. You feed off that."
Tebow set the tone for the Gators the last three years — on the field, on the sideline and in the locker room. Everyone else just followed his lead.
With Tebow gone and Florida's key offensive starters — quarterback John Brantley, running back Jeff Demps and receiver Deonte Thompson — having laid-back personalities, coaches turned to Pouncey to take on extra responsibility.
"I see a guy that's really wants to lead," offensive coordinator Steve Addazio said. "He's really into being a true leader. I love watching it, really enjoying that side of him. He's always had great personality. But it's kind of his own leadership personality coming out now. It's not a tag team. It's his deal now."
Addazio considers Pouncey the best offensive lineman in the country. He says Pouncey's size, strength, strong hands, quick feet and knowledge of the game separate himself from the rest of the pack.
"He's the best linemen in the toughest defensive conference in college football," Addazio said. "He has a chance to be just sensational. He's physical, he's tough, he's skilled, he's smart, he's multi-positional. I don't know what's left.
"To me, when you judge an offensive linemen, judge him in this conference. Certain places you can push people around. Here you can't. Here you've got to be good. You've got to block them. I've been there, I've coached in those conferences. Come in this conference and move these fronts. It's a whole different ball of wax."
Pouncey could say the same thing about playing without his brother.
They talk or text every day, sharing stories about football, family and life.
They leaned on each other just last month when allegations surfaced that Maurkice Pouncey accepted $100,000 from a representative of a sports agent. Both brothers deny the allegations.
They also expect to lean on each other this season, one that won't be quite like any other.
"It's just weird going out there without him," Mike Pouncey said.
-- Mark Long
Coaching diversity slowly rising at FBS schools
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Joker Phillips thought his longtime friend Charlie Strong would get the opportunity to be a head coach years ago. It didn't happen.
Each offseason would follow a similar pattern: Jobs would come open, the former Florida defensive coordinator's name would emerge as one of the top minority candidates and each time the offer would be made to someone else. Someone white.
"I thought he would be the guy," Phillips said of Strong.
The tide, however, finally appears to be slowly turning. Both Phillips and Strong are among a dozen black head coaches at FBS schools, triple the number of black head coaches two years ago. It's the most there have ever been, but still just 10 percent of the 120 FBS coaches.
"It's coming," said Tony Dungy, who led the Indianapolis Colts to the Super Bowl and remains a leading advocate of diversity. "Now is it fast enough? Is it everything we'd like to see? No. But these new guys will come in and do a great job, and they'll pave the way for others."
Dungy knows there's still plenty of work to do. Of the 12 black head coaches in the FBS, only five coach at Bowl Championship Series schools: Strong, Phillips, Randy Shannon in Miami, Turner Gill in Kansas and Mike London at Virginia.
And there are only 17 minority offensive or defensive coordinators among the six major conferences.
Is it racism? The 47-year-old Phillips says it is simply about finding the right opportunity. Strong, who recently turned 50, won't even broach the subject, though his tearful introductory press conference last December left little doubt how the long road to his first head job weighed on him.
The two will face off on Sept. 4 when Phillips leads Kentucky into Louisville, where Strong will try to rebuild a program that's slipped from burgeoning national power to Big East doormat.
It's a historic game in Kentucky, a state where nine out of every 10 residents are white according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Race relations in the Bluegrass have historically been spotty at best, particularly in college athletics.
However, all three of Kentucky's FBS schools are led by black coaches — Strong, Phillips and Willie Taggart at Western Kentucky. It's a significant milestone.
"From time to time Kentucky gets lumped in with other states, particularly in the South and gets a bad rap in terms of race relations," said Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear. "I think we're a very progressive state and it shows by the fact that we're in a leadership role when it comes to having black head coaches at three major universities."
That hasn't always been the case. Adolph Rupp built Kentucky basketball into a dynasty using rosters comprised entirely of white players. The Wildcats didn't integrate until 1969, three years after Texas Western — with five black starters — stunned Kentucky in the NCAA tournament finals. Former Western Kentucky basketball coach John Oldham received death threats in 1970 when he opted to go with an entirely black starting five.
Phillips, who grew up in southern Kentucky, still cringes at the typical response he'd receive during out-of-state recruiting trips when someone would ask him where he was from.
"I'd say 'Kentucky' and they'd say 'There's minorities in Kentucky?'" Phillips said with a small shake of his head.
He understands why the state is stereotyped even while stressing he's been welcomed with open arms wherever he's gone in the Bluegrass since being promoted to head coach in January.
Regardless, Phillips knows there are people out there rooting against the Wildcats. He's optimistic their bias has nothing to do with the color of his skin.
"The only way you'll be able to win them all over is to win games," he said. "Even then there'll be some that are wondering if we're doing the right thing not only for this football program but for this state in general."
However, to win you first must get the opportunity. Two years ago, Floyd Keith, executive director of the Black Coaches and Administrators, could count the number of black head coaches in the FBS on one hand and rattle off the names without a second thought. It's harder now — and he said that's a good problem to have.
"I think there's a realization that there are some very talented coaches who happen to be of color and can do the job that's being asked for a head coach at that level," he said. "You look at Charlie. He's been a great coach for a long time. He was overdue."
Keith hopes the path to the top for future black head coaches is considerably shorter. The development of various programs and academies sponsored by the BCA and the NCAA is designed to speed up the process. Young minority coaches now have avenues to learn how to handle all the responsibilities that come with the job when your name is at the top of the staff list.
The programs helped prepare the 33-year-old Taggart when he interviewed at Western Kentucky last fall. The former Hilltopper star said the message he received while at the NCAA Football Coaches Academy was simple: be prepared because you never know when your chance is going to come.
"You've got to be ready," said Taggart, the youngest FBS coach in the country. "Most guys don't get jobs because they're not ready. That was something that stuck with me. You've got to make it hard for them to tell you 'No.'"
In some ways it already is. Louisville running back Victor Anderson has been a volunteer coach at a local middle school for years. Whenever his playing career ends, he plans to get into coaching.
He doesn't have to look far for role models. Strong's staff includes five minority coaches. Phillips has four black coaches on his staff, including defensive coordinator Steve Brown. Anderson believes he'll be judged solely on his ability, not his race.
"If you have enough success, you're going to get opportunities," Anderson said. "I don't think people care about who you are or what your background is if you can do the job."
It's a sentiment that seems to finally be gaining traction nationally. While Phillips agrees that it's "ridiculous" that race in college coaching continues to be an issue a decade into the 21st century, he knows the only way to put the issue to rest for good is to win. A lot.
So does Keith, who points out that "money's green, so is winning." Yet he doesn't see the recent rise in minority hires as proof that the fight for equality is over. In some ways, it's just beginning.
"I don't think we can take our foot off the pedal at all," Keith said. "We've got a lot of years to catch up to."
-- Will Graves
Saban: Coaches, ADs had call with NFL on agents
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — A group of prominent college football coaches joined in a conference call with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, the NCAA and others to address problems with unscrupulous agents that have led to investigations at several schools this summer.
Alabama's Nick Saban, a former Miami Dolphins head coach, said Thursday that he helped organize the call with coaches he "had a tremendous amount of respect for," the NFL Players Association and a handful of athletic directors and agents.
Florida coach Urban Meyer, Ohio State's Jim Tressel, Mack Brown of Texas and Oklahoma's Bob Stoops also participated, the schools confirmed.
"We're all trying to put our heads together to figure out what we can do to level the playing field so that everybody that's in the agent community — which some of them are very professional — have the same opportunity to recruit players and that the bootleggers out there are guys that get punished and penalized," Saban said. "And that the players that deal with them are going to have some of the same consequences."
It's an issue that has dominated college football headlines in recent months, everywhere from Southern California — recently placed on probation — to schools around the South.
The NCAA has been investigating alleged improper agent contact involving players at Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
"Where you have prohibition, you have bootleggers," Saban said. "It's always been that way."
He said he has temporarily blocked access to Alabama's practices for NFL scouts — a possibility he hinted at earlier this summer because of the agent issue. Saban said access would be reopened sometime after Aug. 25.
He said the decision wasn't related to agents, but that he didn't think it was fair for his players to be evaluated during two-a-day practices in triple-digit temperatures.
Saban has been one of the most outspoken advocates of finding ways to ensure that rule-breaking agents whose actions lead to punishment of players face penalties as well, including suspension of their license for a year or two.
Saban also suggested Thursday that players who have improper dealings with agents could have the consequences carry into their NFL careers.
"Is it not conduct detrimental if a player does the wrong thing in college and gets suspended for his senior season just so he can play in the NFL?" Saban said. "It hurts the NFL, it hurts the player, it hurts the college, it hurts everybody."
"We feel very good about our education program, but we also want to see if there is some way within the rules that we can make it easier to manage agents as they relate to college football," Brown said in a statement.
The call left Meyer optimistic. He said late last week that he and others had "a great discussion" and "were trying to make some changes." He said then he couldn't go into details.
"The good thing is the other side of it wants to help," he said at the time. "And when I say that, I mean they really want to help. So there's going to be some positive things come out of this. I think real positive."
Gators defensive tackle Terron Sanders said the coaches have only addressed the agent issue once.
"Everybody who's here about business knows to stay away from them," Sanders said Thursday. "We feel like anybody who wants to go off the road, veer off the path that we're on, they don't really want to be here. We addressed it, we left it at that and that's how it's going to be."
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed that Goodell was on the call, but had no further comment. NFLPA President Kevin Mawae also participated.
"We've had some good discussion and I'm hopeful that we can resolve the concerns many of us have," Stoops said in a text message. "It's premature to say much more. The conversation has begun and we'll see where it goes from here."
Ohio State football spokeswoman Shelly Poe said Tressel "told the staff it was a good opening discussion on the subject with the commissioner and the head of the NFLPA."
NFLPA spokesman Carl Francis said the main purpose of the call was to discuss ways to protect and educate athletes who are being pursued by agents.
"If we find that an agent has violated any rules and regulations that are in place then we will definitely enforce discipline upon those agents," Francis said. "What that is, I don't know. Decertification, suspension, fine, any of the above. It's important to us to protect student-athletes becoming NFL players or who wish to become NFL players, and it's important to protect players that are currently in the NFL."
He noted that enforcement requires schools to have hard evidence pointing toward a specific agent.
"That call is one of many that will take place during the course of the year to try to better educate and inform student-athletes," Francis said.
Saban emphasized the responsibility on the players to sidestep agents who offer improper inducements or contact.
"You would think that the player would know that if a professional person who is an agent is willing to break the rules to represent him, why does he think that the guy won't break the rules if he isn't representing him?" Saban said. "That's the part that's hard for me to fathom. As soon as a guy broke a rule, I would leave and say, 'That guy's not representing me. I don't want anything to do with him. I'm not even going to call him back.'
"We need to control that, educate that and if the system fails, there has to be someone responsible for that as well."
-- John Zenor
NCAA probe still hovers over Tar Heels
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Butch Davis has talked with his North Carolina players about the importance of ignoring distractions. An NCAA investigation hovering over the program for the past month is making that easier said than done.
The Tar Heels are still waiting to find out whether two key players will be eligible for the opener against LSU and beyond. But the inquiry into agents and benefits has evolved to include concerns about a cross-country trip involving two Tar Heels as well as a longtime friendship between an assistant coach and an agent that has attracted the NCAA's interest.
"I know everybody just wants this whole deal just to be over with so we don't have to worry about it anymore, so we don't have to wonder anymore about all this stuff," quarterback T.J. Yates said Thursday at the team's preseason media day.
"It's kind of annoying when new stuff keeps coming out on the news and we don't even know about it," he said. "We go into the lunchroom and there's another thing up there on ESPN. It's like, 'Geez, come on, let's get it over with,' you know?
"We're all ready to move on."
The NCAA notified the school in late June that it was examining whether defensive tackle Marvin Austin and receiver Greg Little received improper benefits from agents. The NCAA visited the campus July 12 and 13 to interview players, then returned last week for another two-day visit.
Athletic director Dick Baddour said the NCAA has repeatedly told the school not to comment publicly, though he has said the school is cooperating fully and that he has no timetable for a decision.
"I believe we have been as responsive as we possibly can be," Baddour said. "We have not hidden from this."
The North Carolina Secretary of State's office has launched its own investigation about potential misconduct by agents. The state requires agents to register and prohibits them from offering gifts before a contract is signed. Violations can lead to criminal or civil penalties.
The office has sent a letter to the more than 100 agents registered with the state notifying them of the investigation and instructing them not to destroy records, office spokeswoman Liz Proctor said. The Associated Press has obtained a copy of the letter named in it are Austin, Little, safety Deunta Williams, cornerback Kendric Burney and linebackers Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant.
Those six players were all considered NFL prospects who returned to school for their senior seasons.
There have been similar NCAA investigations at Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina, with links to a South Beach party attended by players from several schools earlier this year. But the North Carolina probe seemingly has become more problematic.
A person familiar with the inquiry said the NCAA also talked with assistant coach John Blake during the second visit about his friendship with California-based agent Gary Wichard. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the investigation is confidential. Blake is the Tar Heels' associate head coach and defensive line coach.
Davis, preparing for his fourth season, was asked about whether he had concerns over Blake's connections to Wichard when he hired him in December 2006. Davis responded by saying he wouldn't talk about anything connected to the NCAA probe.
Wichard — who founded the Pro Tect Management agency in Westlake Village, Calif. — hasn't returned a call or e-mail from AP seeking comment, while the school hasn't made Blake available for comment. In a recent interview with Yahoo! Sports, Wichard denied wrongdoing, saying he has been close friends with Blake for years and that "there's nothing to investigate."
In addition, former Tar Heel Cam Thomas confirmed Wednesday that ex-teammate and current San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer — a Wichard client — paid for Austin and Thomas to travel to California and train at the Proactive Sports Performance facility in summer 2009. Thomas, now a rookie defensive tackle with the San Diego Chargers, wouldn't comment on the specifics of the trip during a brief post-practice interview.
Thomas and Balmer played two seasons together in Chapel Hill, while Austin was a freshman during Balmer's senior season in 2007 and the two developed a close friendship. Balmer was a first-round draft pick in 2008 and earned a five-year, $8 million deal.
It's unclear whether the trip would violate the NCAA rule prohibiting preferential treatment for athletes. Both Thomas and Austin played in all 13 games last year, raising the question of whether the Tar Heels would have to vacate their eight wins from 2009 for using ineligible players if the NCAA ruled it a violation.
Balmer has been unavailable for comment at the 49ers training camp. He was excused from practice Monday and Tuesday to deal with a "personal issue," but he has yet to return and coach Mike Singletary has said his absence is now unexcused.
The Proactive Sports facility lists Balmer, Thomas and Austin as past clients on its Web site. It also lists some notable Wichard clients in Indianapolis Colts All-Pro defensive end Dwight Freeney and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs, along with all five of Pro Tect's 2010 draftees — including Carolina Panthers quarterback Jimmy Clausen and Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller.
Pro Tect's offices are located about 2 miles from the Proactive Sports facility, though Wichard told Yahoo! Sports he didn't speak with Austin during the 2009 trip.
The North Carolina Secretary of State's office has sent a separate letter to Wichard and other agents requesting to speak with them specifically in the inquiry, though Proctor wouldn't confirm how many have gone out or to whom because it's an ongoing investigation.
The rest of the Tar Heels can only worry about what's happening in practice.
"You've just got to kind of keep the mentality that there's nothing we can do to change it," tight end Zack Pianalto said. "What's going on with the NCAA review is what's going on and that's out of our control. All we can do is be here and be focused on football."
-- Aaron Beard
Georgia Tech defense adjusting to new 3-4 scheme
ATLANTA (AP) — Senior inside linebacker Brad Jefferson is the leader of the Georgia Tech defense.
That may not seem like much of a distinction after the unit's shaky performance last season.
The Yellow Jackets won the 2009 ACC title and went 11-3 despite allowing more than 360 yards per game. The team's high-powered offense made 67 plays of at least 20 yards, but the defense gave up 66.
Former Virginia coach Al Groh was brought in as defensive coordinator to help fix things. Groh installed his 3-4 defense during the spring. Now it is up to the Georgia Tech players to make it work.
"You know what I've found through the years? If you're not very good, it's somebody else's fault," Yellow Jackets coach Paul Johnson said. "It's exciting any time you change, but show me. That's all we've got to do is show me."
Jefferson is confident that the defense will do just that.
"We can be a lot better," said Jefferson, who led the team with 95 tackles a year ago and was second on the team with eight of them for losses. "I'm sure of that. I think the 3-4 fits us, but we can't count on just that. It's on all of us to step up and play better. I know we can."
Jefferson acknowledges that the unit is still adjusting to the new scheme, but the transition has gone smoothly so far. The Yellow Jackets open the season on Sept. 4 against South Carolina State, then play at Kansas before beginning ACC action at North Carolina on Sept. 18.
"Coach Groh has brought so much energy to us," Jefferson said. "He's a great teacher and he really gets us flying around out there."
Defensive end Derrick Morgan and safety Morgan Burnett left a year early for the NFL, leaving a couple of holes. But the Georgia Tech defense has plenty of experience and a renewed commitment.
"I have high expectations for myself and the team," said Jefferson, a graduate of Johnson County High School in Wrightsville. "Every team in America loses key players. We're not dwelling in the past. It's a new season and a new team. We're just thinking about this year and how to be better."
The 244-pound Jefferson will call out the defensive signals for the Yellow Jackets, making him a key in the transition from the team's former four-man front.
"Brad is a football guy," Groh said. "A lot of the stuff that we have installed has come to him easily and he is a physically rugged player who brings a high energy level.
"Leadership is about attitude and actions, not speeches. His actions put him in a position to set standards and that is a prime function of leaders. He sets the standards for toughness and effort and energy that hopefully will raise the whole defense."
Not giving up so many long gains is the key to Georgia Tech's defensive improvement.
"The elimination of big plays is right there on the top of the list of things that we have to get accomplished," Groh said.
Johnson replaced former coordinator Dave Womack and made changes in his defensive staff.
But the real responsibility belongs with the players, Johnson said.
"Sometimes you have to look within," Johnson said. "Sometimes you've just got to rush the passer and you've got to cover people and you've got to tackle people.
"There is no magic scheme where they can hide somebody. If you're getting your tail blocked six yards down the field, then you're getting blocked six yards down the field. Nobody can help you there. You've got to man up and whip somebody's tail occasionally."
Wanted: South Carolina State runners
ORANGEBURG, S.C. (AP) — For South Carolina State to win its third straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title the Bulldogs' untested running backs are going to have to perform.
Gone are Will Ford, the Bulldogs all-time leading rusher, and his backfield mate, Travil Jamison, who accounted for 21 touchdowns the past two seasons. The pair took nearly two-thirds of the carries last year, leaving few opportunities for the Bulldogs other runners.
Left tackle Johnny Culbreath remembers how much fun it was block for Ford the past three years. All he had to do was get in his stance, fire out and, more times than not, Ford was already past the line and headed for a big gain.
"All you got to do is put your hands on your guy and in about two seconds, Will's going to come blowing by," Culbreath said. "That's all you've got to know about him."
Culbreath and the rest of the Bulldogs know they must adjust this season since Ford's successful run ended last fall as the MEAC's all-time leading career rusher with 4,660 yards. How quickly South Carolina State's backups fill Ford's shoes could determine if the Bulldogs have what it takes for a third straight conference title.
"We need to lean on the guys we have returning with (offensive) experience to hold the fort until we get those other get guys up to speed," South Carolina State coach Buddy Pough said.
For the Bulldogs, that will be senior quarterback Malcolm Long and a deep offensive line led by Culbreath since they have so little experience in the backfield.
Senior Chris Massey, who had just three carries last year, heads up the Bulldogs' depth chart. Citadel transfer Asheton Jordan is right behind. Also in the mix are sophomores Devin Wherry and Chris Merrill and redshirt freshman Rock King. Jordan may have the most upside since he rushed for 711 yards and was twice named the Southern Conference player of the week in 2008, his only season playing at the military college.
"Asheton Jordan has some experience. I think he's a pretty good player," Pough said. "Chris Massey's a highly skilled guy. He's not the fastest guy in the world, but he can do some things Will (Ford) couldn't do.
"So I think we got two good enough guys that we can at least go in and continue to be at the level we've been," Pough said.
Pough's got no shortage of players willing bear the load through any adjustment period. Long is a 6-foot-1, 260-pound senior accustomed to bowling over defenders. Culbreath was all-MEAC first team last year on an offensive line that expects to start four seniors and a fourth-year junior.
And linebacker David Erby, who led the team with 68½ tackles last fall, thinks a defense that held opponents to less than 100 yards rushing and fewer than 16 points a game in 2009 can buck up again the untested runners find their legs.
"That's what I'm always telling the defense," he said.
Pough's not sure how any of it will shake out yet. Along with breaking in a new backfield rotation, the coach is also searching for dependable players on the outside since South Carolina State's top three receivers from last year are also out of the picture. Don't be surprised if Pough keeps shuttling runners in and out until someone connects.
"The best thing about it is I think we've got enough of them is we can kind of work them through until the guy comes to the forefront," Pough said.
Pough said he'll count on Long, a senior, to keep the offense on course and get everyone on the same page as quickly as possible.
Culbreath knows it'll probably won't be like it was before with his friend Ford to block for. The lineman is confident, though, there won't be that big a dropoff as some expect.
"I think our guys who've been behind are ready. They're going to step up to the plate," Culbreath said with a grin.
-- Pete Iacobelli
Suspended USC running back makes most of practice
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Suspended Southern California freshman running back Dillon Baxter made the most of his time on the practice field for the second straight day.
Baxter went through a full practice session Thursday morning, his second since coach Lane Kiffin announced his suspension for the team's Sept. 2 season opener against Hawaii for violating team rules.
The 18-year-old Baxter spent Tuesday on the sidelines working through individual conditioning drills, but did not participate in the team's full practice as punishment.
He rejoined the team Wednesday and will be allowed to practice moving forward while facing the suspension, something Kiffin stressed was vital to his growth.
"This isn't the end of the world for his career," Kiffin said. "He's just got to continue to develop. He's come out here with a great attitude and he needs to learn from this and not let it affect him going forward. He's still got 12 games to look forward to."
Kiffin addressed his players regarding the situation and came away feeling good about their response to the code of conduct to which he expects them to adhere.
"The strong message sent to our team was very powerful (Wednesday) night in our team meeting," he said. "I think they got the point of how serious we are of doing things right."
The incident is the second during training camp to have attracted negative attention. Starting fullback Stanley Havili was suspended for a day following an altercation with teammate T.J. Bryant that resulted in Bryant suffering a broken cheekbone.
Kiffin let his players know their actions are magnified as a result of major NCAA sanctions imposed earlier this year on USC, including a two-year bowl ban, scholarship restrictions and four years of probation.
"We're in an extremely sensitive national environment with our program," Kiffin said. "That's why we talk to our guys all the time about making the right decisions because everything they do is going to be blown up and bigger than what other people do at other places."
Baxter is expected to play a large part in USC's game plan, given his ability to create mismatches at various spots on the line of scrimmage.
Baxter, who enrolled early at USC in January, has also surprised coaches with his ability to digest the team's offense at a rapid pace.
"Dillon has really picked things up really well," Kiffin said. "Even the high standards we hold, it's even surprising for us for a guy that young to be able to pick up mentally all the things we ask him to do."
Kiffin previously said he hasn't decided whether Baxter will travel with the team to Hawaii, but is anticipating his return for the Trojans' home opener against Virginia on Sept. 11.
Notes
NMSU coach Walker: No tweets allowed
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico State coach DeWayne Walker doesn't see his decision to ban his team from using Twitter this season as an issue about control.
For Walker, it's about protection.
"You've got 105 guys on your football team," he said Thursday at the team's media day. "It's not a matter of not trusting guys. Guys may say things and do things that can affect not only our football team but our university and not even mean it."
Walker showed he was serious about the ban a short time later, declaring on his Twitter account that he's finished until December.
"The in-season twitter ban applies to me as well. Thanks for following and we'll talk after the season," Walker tweeted. "Even though I am the HC, I must practice what I preach, thank you for your support!! Go Aggies!!"
Twitter is an online social networking service where users send and read messages or text-based posts of up to 140 characters.
Walker's decision comes after Boise State coach Chris Petersen banned Twitter for his players. Walker said he met with his coaches to discuss the issue, and all agreed it was the right course. It doesn't hurt that NMSU athletic director McKinley Boston offered his support, too.
"Anything that helps them keep focused on the task at hand and not allow them to mimic what the pros are doing," Boston said.
New Mexico State receiver Todd Lee said Walker's directive will have little effect on him because he doesn't have a Twitter account. But Lee added that the decision will "cut out some of that extra nonsense that we don't need coming into the season."
UA approves hike in donation requirement for tickets
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The University of Arkansas Board of Trustees has approved an increase in the donation fans must make to buy season tickets for football games in Fayetteville and Little Rock.
The board voted unanimously Thursday to back the proposal. It would increase donation requirements beginning with the 2011 season and is expected to raise $5 million for the Razorback Foundation.
Donations required for tickets at Razorback Stadium at Fayetteville will range from $50 per seat for some upper deck seats to $300 per seat for midfield seating. At War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, where two home games are played each season, required donations will range from $75 to $160.
Ticket prices won't go up, and the school says 15 percent of the seats in each stadium won't require donations.
'Bama misspells 'Mississippi' on football tickets
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama football has the national championship trophy and a newly expanded stadium that seats 101,000 people. Now, if it just had spellcheck.
Alabama tickets for the upcoming season include an embarrassing mistake: The university misspelled the word "Mississippi" on tickets for the Nov. 13 home game against Mississippi State, using just one 'p' instead of two.
Alabama sports publicist Doug Walker said Thursday there was what he calls an "unfortunate oversight" during the editing process. He says officials are reviewing what happened and trying to prevent the same thing from occurring again in the future.
Notre Dame TE released from hospital
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Notre Dame tight end Mike Ragone has been released from a hospital after spending the night to recover from heat illness suffered at practice.
Ragone was treated by a team doctor and trainer who lowered his body temperature at the team's facility in South Bend, Ind., following Wednesday's practice. He was taken to the hospital after that for observation.
Ragone missed practice Thursday and a team spokesman says it's not certain when he might be back on the field. The Irish have two practices Friday during what has been a hot first week of preseason drills.
Ragone, a senior from Camden, N.J., started seven games last season and made six catches for 60 yards with a long play of 30 yards.
Eastern Ill. kicks 3 players off football team
CHARLESTON, Ill. (AP) — Eastern Illinois football coach Bob Spoo has dismissed three players from the team for unspecified rules violations.
The school said in a news release Thursday that senior running back Chevon Walker, senior defensive end Colin Luczynski and junior offensive lineman Eric Rettke were kicked off the team. The school did not provide further details.
Luczynski was expected to compete for a starting spot with the team. Walker and Rettke were expected to play as back\ups. The Panthers open their season Sept. 4 at Iowa.
Elsewhere
Former Vol Myles pleads guilty to resisting arrest
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Prosecutors have dropped a charge of assaulting a police officer against Darren Myles Jr. after the former Tennessee defensive back reached a plea agreement that will have him on diversion until April 2012.
Myles, 19, pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of resisting arrest and public intoxication stemming from his April 18 arrest at a Knoxville restaurant and nightclub. He also pleaded guilty to evading arrest and resisting arrest after fleeing the scene of a July 9 bar brawl that involved many of his former teammates.
A charge of disorderly conduct from the April incident also was dismissed.
Myles' attorney, Don Bosch, said his client has been cooperative and apologetic.
"I regret my poor decisions that I made while I was at the University of Tennessee," Myles said in a statement released by Bosch. "I am sorry, and I realize that my choices affected and continue to affect my former teammates, coach (Derek Dooley), the university and the fans on many levels."
Myles' two-year sentence will be suspended unless he gets in further legal trouble.
His first arrest came after bouncers removed him from a restaurant and police spotted him riding on the hood of a vehicle in the parking lot. Police said in their report that Myles smelled of alcohol and was unsteady on his feet.
Myles was arrested again in July after University of Tennessee police spotted him hiding under a car and later in some bushes following a massive brawl at a bar near campus.
Volunteers coach Derek Dooley kicked the Atlanta native off the team after his July arrest. Bosch said Myles is hoping to enroll in a different school for the upcoming fall semester where he can continue to play football.
"He made some unfortunate mistakes that cost him the opportunity to play at the school of his first choice and to get his academic education. He is very sorry for that," Bosch said. "He has many close relationships here, and he'll continue those relationships. But this has cost him a tremendous amount."
-- Beth Rucker
