Friday, October 24, 2014
Mariota breaks Ducks passing mark in blowout
Mariota throws 5 TDs as Oregon trumps Cal
Grant Hedrick leads Boise State past BYU, 55-30
Kiel hurt as Cincinnati rolls past South Florida
Maryland approves policy to connect coach bonuses to player academics
Maryland's Board of Regents voted Friday to tie performance bonuses of coaches at the school to its teams Academic Progress Rate, or APR.
APR is the annual NCAA measurement of academics. While the NCAA uses both single-year and multi-year APR scores -- and can penalize teams for failing to meet certain thresholds -- only the one-year scores are expected to count towards bonuses, per the Baltimore Sun.
Under the new policy, if Maryland teams don't have sufficient APR scores, the coaches can be denied their bonuses.
"I think this is another step for Maryland to be in the vanguard on issues of intercollegiate athletics," Board of Regents member and former U.S. Rep. Tom McMillen told the Sun. "They were a leader on guaranteed scholarships and now they are a leader in academic accountability."
While the policy is set to take effect immediately, it won't apply to coaches like football coach Randy Edsall or men's basketball coach Mark Turgeon. It's only for new coaches. The policy is for all of the state schools in the Maryland system, though Maryland women's basketball coach Brenda Frese said before the vote that she thought the policy was asking a lot.
In August, Maryland announced it would provide lifetime scholarships for athletes. The Big Ten followed suit earlier in October and said the conference had approved multi-year scholarships for all of its member schools.
Will this Maryland move mean other conference teams will follow suit?
- - - - - - -
Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
From Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo Sports - Maryland approves policy to connect coach bonuses to player academics
Williams: 'Feel strongly' UNC did things right
Oklahoma State's Juwan Offray dismissed from team after Whataburger incident
Oklahoma State has dismissed freshman CB Juwan Offray after he an a teammate were found asleep in a Whataburger drive-thru Sunday morning.
The news of Offray's dismissal was first reported by OColly.com. The site cited a source that said the Whataburger incident was not the first time Offray had been in trouble with the team. OStateIllustrated.com confirmed the report of Offray's dismissal.
Offray and WR Jhajuan Seales were arrested after they were approached by police at about 4 a.m. Both players, according to a police report, “seemed very lethargic and confused” and “their eyes were red and watery with a glassy appearance." Police said they smelled an odor of alcohol when the doors to the vehicle were opened.
Both players received complaints for public intoxication and Offray received a complaint for hampering as police said he initially lied about his identity.
Offray was a three-star cornerback in the class of 2014 according to Rivals. He was the No. 31 recruit in the state of Louisiana. He had three tackles in seven games this season for the Cowboys, who play West Virginia on Saturday.
For more Oklahoma State news visit OStateIllustrated.com.
- - - - - - -
Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
From Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo Sports - Oklahoma State's Juwan Offray dismissed from team after Whataburger incident
WVU's post-Baylor riots cost more than $45K
Donovan on Muschamp: He's working his tail off
Donovan on Muschamp: He's working his tail off
Report: Todd Gurley accuser fired from job
UConn CB Jones (shoulder) out for season
Judge blocks sports gambling in New Jersey
Vandy QB Robinette cleared to face Missouri
Judge blocks sports gambling in New Jersey
Minnesota's specialists practice 'schedule' on Thursday was awesome
Minnseosta's specialists have a great sense of humor. And yes, a Twitter account too.
Its long snappers, kickers and punters created the @MinnSpecialists account earlier in October. Thursday, they showed a picture of the day's practice "schedule."
Today's specialist practice schedule: http://ift.tt/1oD12Sp
— Gopher Specialists (@MinnSpecialists) October 23, 2014
It's great. We also appreciate the devotion to curls. Curls in the weight room serve many purposes. Not only are curls for the girls, but big biceps can help dispel any weak kicker stereotypes. You don't mess with a kicker with guns.
The account is two weeks old and it's already fantastic. Last week, K Ryan Santoso kicked a 52-yard field goal that ended up being the winning points in a 39-38 win over Purdue. It probably helped with his recognition for fan autographs.
When you're trying to hug bae, but she's not feeling it... http://ift.tt/1twJUxq
— Gopher Specialists (@MinnSpecialists) October 19, 2014
A couple of Gopher Specialists holding an autograph session at Mall of America. Line hasn't picked up yet... http://ift.tt/1twJVl7
— Gopher Specialists (@MinnSpecialists) October 17, 2014
- - - - - - -
Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
From Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo Sports - Minnesota's specialists practice 'schedule' on Thursday was awesome
Top 20 Sexiest Instagram Photos of the Day: Friday, October 24
SMU AD denies having contact with Mack Brown
Mindset And Preparation Behind Cal Turnaround
You Need Candy in Your Ice Maker Immediately
Dallas Airport Gay Bashing Takedown Is Pure Justice Porn [VIDEO]
UConn, Hoyas to renew rivalry next season
Terrapin Beer Company’s Imperial Pumpkin Pie Porter Is What’s On Tap
Spread Options: Dr. Saturday's Week 9 picks against the spread
Well, no getting above .500 last week. But we got to it. A 5-5 week runs our record to 31-48-1. The goal now is to make a comeback and get to .500 for the rest of the year. Let's do this.
Oregon (-17) at Cal, 10 p.m. ET (FRIDAY): While this game is listed at Cal, it's actually being played at Levi's Stadium, the home of the San Francisco 49ers. Cal is 120th in the country in scoring defense. While the Cal offense puts up points (10th in the country), it's not going to be enough to keep up with Oregon. The Ducks will cruise. (It's also worth noting this game has the highest over/under of the weekend at 79)
Minnesota (-5.5) at Illinois, Noon ET: If the Gophers are legitimate contenders for the Big Ten West, this is a game that they can't lose. Minnesota's offense is incredibly one-dimensional. However, Illinois can't defend that dimension. The Illini give up 5.26 yards per carry while Minnesota is 27th in the country with over 222 rushing yards a game. The Gophers control the ball and the game.
UCLA at Colorado (+14), 2 p.m. ET: Colorado is due to play someone tough at home and UCLA has performed horribly against the spread this season. The Bruins are 1-6 against the number, the only win coming in a 62-27 demolition of Arizona State, a win that looks really weird right now. And last week, the Bruins almost lost to Cal, a team that beat Colorado in three overtimes. Colorado's losing streak goes to four on Saturday, but not before giving UCLA a bit of a scare.
West Virginia (PK) at Oklahoma State, 3:30 p.m. ET: I'm flip-flopping from the Dr. Saturday podcast. The more I look at this game, the more West Virginia looks enticing. Oklahoma State's offense is in a funk and West Virginia's isn't. The Mountaineers are sixth in the country in yards per game while Oklahoma State is 77th. And the Cowboys aren't going to be able to cover West Virginia WR Kevin White, either. Consider this game Dana Holgorsen's revenge and White tops 100 yards receiving once again.
Michigan at Michigan State (-17), 3:30 p.m. ET: If this game was in Ann Arbor, Mich., then the rivalry game unknowns apply and Michigan has a chance. With it in East Lansing, Mich., Devin Gardner and company has no shot. Michigan's offense won't be able to get anything going against State's defense, and Connor Cook throws for three touchdowns in an easy win. Michigan's misery continues.
Florida Atlantic at Marshall (-28), 3:30 p.m. ET: With the news that Marshall has hired a PR firm to help it campaign for the College Football Playoff, the Thundering Herd can do a lot of campaigning on the football field. And that's by winning big whenever possible. Marshall not only needs to go undefeated to even have the slightest hope of a playoff berth, but it needs to demolish opponents. Marshall is 10th in the country in rushing yards and FAU can't stop the run. Bad recipe.
Vanderbilt at Missouri (OVER 42.5), 4 p.m. ET: Missouri's offense has been absolutely brutal the last two weeks. Much of the blame has been pinned on the play of QB Maty Mauk. And while it's easy to say Mauk has regressed from his substitute stints in 2013, it's worth heavily noting that Missouri's top three WRs didn't return in 2014. Vanderbilt is a good opportunity for Mauk to gain some confidence and Missouri to re-establish the quick tempo it's been unable to sustain against Georgia and Florida. The Tigers could go over the number themselves.
Ole Miss (-3.5) at LSU, 7:15 p.m. ET: While "bad Bo Wallace" hasn't showed up in conference play for Ole Miss, even if he does in Death Valley, the Rebels' defense should be able to counter. While LSU is third in the country in yards per completion, neither Brandon Harris or Anthony Jennings have really seized the starting job. Jennings is scheduled to make his third straight start on Saturday, but he's not going to find much success against Ole Miss' defense. Will we see Harris at all?
USC at Utah (PK), 10 p.m. ET: A game with national importance at home for Utah? it's going to be rocking. The Utes can take control of the Pac-12 South with a win Saturday night and will do just that. Devontae Booker won't repeat his 226-yard performance from against Oregon State, but Utah's rushing offense will be the difference.
Arizona State (-3) at Washington, 10:45 p.m. ET: This is our Pac-12 after dark pick too. This game could continue the trend of nutty late games on the west coast. It's also a game of iffy quarterbacks, and we like Arizona State more because of it. ASU QB Taylor Kelly could play for the first time since suffering a foot injury at Colorado. If he doesn't, his replacement, Mike Bercovici, has played very well. Washington QB Cyler Miles may not be cleared to play after suffering a concussion. If he doesn't play, it's a very uphill task for the Huskies.
- - - - - - -
Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
From Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo Sports - Spread Options: Dr. Saturday's Week 9 picks against the spread
SMU AD Rick Hart says school has not contacted Mack Brown about coaching job
A day after a report surfaced connecting former Texas head coach Mack Brown to the opening at SMU, Rick Hart, the Mustangs’ athletic director, took to Twitter to put an end to the speculation.
(1/3) While it is not our policy to comment during a search process, the attention a recent report has attracted dictates it be addressed.
— Rick Hart (@AD_RickHart) October 24, 2014
(2/2) While we have a great deal of respect for Mack Brown, no one associated with our search has contacted him or his representatives.
— Rick Hart (@AD_RickHart) October 24, 2014
(3/3) To that end, there has been no offer or discussion of compensation with any potential candidates.
— Rick Hart (@AD_RickHart) October 24, 2014
The Dallas Morning News reported Thursday that SMU had already engaged in “preliminary discussions” with the 63-year-old Brown that included a salary of “$4 million annually over eight years.”
Brown, who now works as an analyst at ESPN, coached at Texas from 1998 through the end of the 2013 season and compiled a 158-48 overall record and won the 2005 BCS National Championship.
SMU is looking to replace June Jones, who resigned in September after the Mustangs started 0-2. Since then, defensive coordinator Tom Mason has been leading the program which is now 0-6 on the season heading into Saturday’s home game against Memphis.
Joe Jamail, Brown’s agent, told Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman that Brown will decide in December if he wants to return to coaching. Jamail said that SMU was one of schools that reached out to Brown.
“He was approached, I was approached, but he’s not interested in coaching anywhere right now,” Jamail said.
With Brown’s obvious ties to the state of Texas, his candidacy at SMU makes sense. It’s clear that the school’s search to replace Jones is still in its infancy, so it remains to be seen if Brown’s name will continue to be linked to the opening.
For more SMU news, visit PonyPride.com.
- - - - - - -
Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
From Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo Sports - SMU AD Rick Hart says school has not contacted Mack Brown about coaching job
50 Shades of Grey Sex Scenes Might Totally Disappoint You
New Harry Potter Story Coming This Halloween
What to watch, Week 9: Is Utah the scariest team in the Pac-12 South?
In every season there’s a weekend that looks like a dud and ends up being fantastic.
This could be that weekend.
While there aren’t a lot of games between ranked opponents, there are several possibilities for home upsets by unranked foes.
Here’s what to watch in Week 9:
Game of the week:
No. 20 USC at No. 19 Utah, 10 p.m. ET
If you’re looking for a typical high-scoring Pac-12 game, this probably won’t be it. USC’s running game, which has four consecutive 200-yard games, will face a stout Utah defense, which is second best in the conference against the run. The Utes have only allowed three rushing touchdowns all season and just 2.8 yards per carry. So a lot of the Trojans’ offensive pressure will be on quarterback Cody Kessler, who broke a school record with seven passing touchdowns last week, but will face a much tougher test this week. The Utes also lead the country with 33 sacks and have seven interceptions in the past four games. On the flip side, Utah’s offense has become a bit one-dimensional with the stellar play of running back Devontae Booker, but it will need either Kendall Thompson or Travis Wilson to play well at quarterback.
Game to watch:
No. 1 Mississippi State at Kentucky, 3:30 p.m. ET
Kentucky kind of spoiled this game by tanking against LSU last week, but there’s still a little intrigue because it’s a nationally-televised game and because Mississippi State is playing as the No. 1 team for the first time ever. The Bulldogs have done a stellar job of playing well against teams ranked in the top-10, but how will they fare against a team with significantly less fanfare? No one expects Mississippi to lose this game, but that’s exactly why it’s worth tuning in just in case.
Also check out…
No. 3 Ole Miss at No. 24 LSU, 7:15 p.m. ET
Playing the Ole Miss defense is not a good prospect for a team that has some uncertainty at quarterback. The Rebels are allowing just 10.6 points per game, which leads the FBS, and have almost as many defensive touchdowns (4) as they’ve allowed (6). Last week, it allowed Tennessee zero rushing yards. There’s no doubt LSU is playing better, but beating Florida and Kentucky aren’t even close to trying to beat the No. 3 team in the country. Because this game is at LSU at night there’s a little bit of upset alert, but Ole Miss should handle the Tigers fairly easily.
Don't waste your time with:
Michigan at No. 8 Michigan State, 3:30 p.m. ET
Remember when Michigan used to dominate this series? Yeah, hasn’t been like that in awhile as Michigan State has won five of the past six meetings. The Spartans have been dominant this season, especially in Big Ten play, while Michigan has struggled in every facet of the game all year. Michigan State has come out fast against a lot of teams this year, dominated in the first half and it should be more of the same in this one. Michigan doesn’t have the horses to keep up with the Spartans.
Keep an eye on:
Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
White is quickly becoming a household name after piling up 100-yard games and abusing defenses. He has more than 100 yards receiving in every game this season, which is a school record. Oklahoma State’s pass defense is one of the worst in the country and White should be able to abuse it, further making his case for a spot in New York for the Heisman ceremony.
Upset alert:
No. 4 Alabama (-17) at Tennessee, 7:30 p.m. ET
For the second consecutive week, there aren’t many options for upset alerts and this one probably won’t be an upset either. However, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Tennessee cover this line, especially at home. The crowd is going to be motivated because of the return of former coach Lane Kiffin and that should spur on the Vols even if they are at a pretty severe competitive disadvantage.
- - - - - - -
Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday
And don’t forget to keep up with all of Graham’s thoughts, witty comments and college football discussions on Facebook
From Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo Sports - What to watch, Week 9: Is Utah the scariest team in the Pac-12 South?
Nick Saban sends letter to high school after death of coach (Photo)
Alabama head coach Nick Saban offered his condolences to a high school in Tuscumbia, Ala., whose football coach tragically died last week.
In a letter dated Oct. 22 and addressed to Deshler High School athletic director Patrick Smith, Saban expressed his sadness for the death of Jake Linville, the 42-year-old coach who was in his first year as Deshler’s head coach.
“I have no doubt that Coach Linville was a great leader and not only well respected on the field and in the classroom, but in the community as well,” Saban wrote.
★ Nick Saban is a class act.Deshler's football coach dies and Saban sends the school this letter.@TheAlabamaLogo... http://ift.tt/1tjM0BT
— Roll Tide #15™ (@jerrysandersRTR) October 24, 2014
According to Al.com, Linville died last Sunday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his childhood home near Colinwood, Tenn. Friends of Linville, who had been a coach at Deshler since 2010, say the shooting was accidental and not suicide.
That is certainly a classy gesture from Saban as he and his coaching staff prepare for Saturday’s road contest at Tennessee.
For more Alabama news, visit TideSports.com.
- - - - - - -
Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
From Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo Sports - Nick Saban sends letter to high school after death of coach (Photo)
UNC an 'egregious' case; what will NCAA do?
Ex-Wolverine York gets 7-day jail sentence
You’re Drinking Coffee All Wrong, Because Science
Report: FSU selects judge for Winston hearing
Report: Syracuse football program part of NCAA investigation
While the Syracuse basketball program appears to be the main focus of an ongoing NCAA investigation, the Orange football program is reportedly also a part of the probe.
According to ESPN’s Brett McMurphy, the football team is “facing allegations involving extra benefits,” but only from a “two-or-three-year stretch around 2004 or 2005.” By comparison, the allegations surrounding the basketball program are said to go back “about 10 years and are as current as the 2013 season.”
If the allegations against the football program do stem from 2004 and 2005, that time frame would mark the end of Paul Pasqualoni’s tenure as head coach (1991-2004), and the beginning of Greg Robinson’s stint with the program (2005-2008). Additionally, McMurphy is reporting that “none of the allegations” occurred since 2009, when Doug Marrone took over. Scott Shafer replaced Marrone, now the head coach of the Buffalo Bills, in 2013.
Syracuse.com reported Thursday that the football team could be “potentially exposed to penalties.” When reached by Syracuse.com, Marrone said he was not invited to the upcoming hearing in front of the NCAA Committee on Infractions in Indianapolis (reported to take place on Oct. 30-31).
“There’s nothing that I know about that we did that wasn’t either punished or put forth,” Marrone said. “One thing I did, if we made a mistake, an incidental contact or something, I just always reported it. It’s not worth it. This way I can sleep at night.”
It was first reported in March 2013 that the Syracuse basketball program was under NCAA investigation for academic issues and alleged extra benefits. Since then, the athletic department restructured its academic services department.
The infractions hearing will reportedly mark the end of the investigation and could result in NCAA punishment.
For more Syracuse news, visit CuseConfidential.com.
- - - - - - -
Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
From Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo Sports - Report: Syracuse football program part of NCAA investigation