• Father dearest. The L.A. Times, in one of a pair of stories on native son Taylor Martinez and his father, has confirmed the longstanding rumor that the on-camera tongue-lashing Martinez endured from coach Bo Pelini during Nebraska's Nov. 22 loss at Texas A&M was sparked by a locker room phone call between Martinez and his dad after the younger Martinez left the game with a foot injury in the first quarter. Cell phones on "company time" are a violation of team rules, and Martinez didn't help his standing by skipping a "voluntary" treatment session the next day. His future in Lincoln after tonight's Holiday Bowl is still anyone's guess. [L.A. Times, Lincoln Journal-Star]
How does the NCAA feel about a prospect signing with a school that does business with his father? They're pretty much fine with it, especially considering Nebraska's cut of the deal has amounted to less than $500 over three years, according to a university spokesman. [L.A. Times]
• And this will be your office. On the same day outgoing Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen was closing out his tenure with a 51-20 rout over East Carolina in Washington, D.C., prospective successor Mike Leach was on campus in College Park, where he's expected to interview with the UMD search committee today. Leach and Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn remain the odds-on favorites to assume Friedgen's chair as Head Terp. [Washington Post]
• We hardly knew ye. Whoever takes the Maryland job, he'll be working without All-ACC wide receiver Torrey Smith, who took to his Twitter account following Wednesday's win to publicly declare for the NFL Draft. Smith goes out on a quiet note in the bowl game, but won't have to answer for a lack of production after racking up 1,055 yards and 12 touchdowns on 67 catches for the year [@TorreySmithWR]
Per ESPN's Joe Schad, Smith may be followed into the pros by Southern Miss receiver DeAndre Brown, a former five-star signee who's never fully recovered from the gruesome broken leg he suffered in the 2008 New Orleans Bowl. With his prototypical size, Brown was always considered a likely "three-and-done" player, and apparently will be, despite the injuries, steadily declining production and frequent visits to coach Larry Fedora's doghouse since a spectacular freshman season. [ESPN]
• Another night at the awesome office. Speaking of wide receivers in the draft, Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon didn't do anything to hurt his prospects Thursday night, when he became the most open receiver ever on a non-trick play against Arizona:
Blackmon added another touchdown to a nine-catch, 117-yard night, his 12th straight game with both 100 yards and at least one touchdown, an NCAA record. Overall, the Cowboys' top-ranked offense was held to a season-low 312 total yards and still put up 36 points en route to their 11th win, the best mark in school history. [Associated Press]
• We got off on the wrong foot, and stayed there. One explanation for West Virginia's sluggish turn on offense this season: Quarterback Geno Smith played the entire year on a fractured foot, which seems to have never completely healed following surgery to repair the foot after last season. He'll undergo another surgery in January, and may be forced to sit out the first spring practice under new offensive coordinator/coach-in-waiting Dana Holgorsen. [Charleston Gazette]
Quickly… Jim Harbaugh does the cha cha with his future at Stanford. … Mike Stoops blows Arizona's end-of-half clock management. … Former quarterback Kodi Burns reaps the rewards of perseverance. … Ohio State gets the New Orleans treatment as it arrives for the Sugar Bowl. … Joe Paterno fights an old grudge on behalf of his offensive coordinator. … Employers of Syracuse fans: Read this. … And even at the national championship, Oregon players can't escape the classroom.
- - -
Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.
Amanda Marcum Leila Arcieri Kate Mara Izabella Scorupco Carla Campbell
No comments:
Post a Comment