TheState.com: College Football - Wire

Bowden and Florida State in a downward cycle

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:25 EDT

In a way, Bobby Bowden acknowledged, cobbling together a lineup without seven suspended starters isn't much different from trying to navigate through a spate of injuries.

"You take the next-best player and move him up," the Florida State coach said Friday.

The difference is that a coach usually doesn't get all seven injured players back at once. And that's the challenge facing Bowden and his staff as they make final preparations for preseason drills.

"The big thing is how you handle the guys who get back for the fourth game," Bowden said as the Florida Sports Writers Association's annual gathering wrapped up.

"It'd be a shame if we get to the fourth game and we're going pretty good and those suspended guys aren't ready."

Gamecocks' Spurrier says he's not going anywhere

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:35 EDT

Steve Spurrier laughed off questions about speculation that he's grown frustrated with trying to build South Carolina into a championship contender and could walk away from the Gamecocks before his contract runs out.

The coach says he knew things wouldn't change overnight and is confident the program's best days are ahead.

Spurrier will remain the chief play-caller for South Carolina and he plans to spend more time working with the quarterbacks than he has in his first three years with the program.

The Gamecocks are coming off a disappointing season. They started 6-1 but lost their final five games.

Former ASU coach Snyder has cancer

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:15 EDT

Former Arizona State football coach Bruce Snyder says he has cancer.

Snyder issued a statement through the university's sports information office confirming that he has cancer, though he wasn't specific about the kind or severity.

In the statement, the 68-year-old former coach said he appreciates the public support, but he also asked for privacy.

Snyder, the 1996 NCAA coach of the year, went 58-47 in nine seasons for the Sun Devils. He was dismissed after the 2000 season despite getting to the Aloha Bowl.

Snyder previously coached at California and Utah State.

Notre Dame hires Indianapolis lawyer as new AD

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:30 EDT

Jack Swarbrick, a lawyer who helped draw numerous sporting events to Indianapolis, including the 2012 Super Bowl, is the new athletic director at Notre Dame.

Swarbrick was selected by school officials as the new athletic director on Wednesday. He succeeds Kevin White, who left the school May 31 to become the athletic director at Duke.

Although Swarbrick has no experience as an athletic director, he is known to leaders in college athletics.

He was a finalist in 2002 for the NCAA president's position that went to Myles Brand, he was a finalist for the athletic director's position at Arizona State in 2005 and a finalist last year for commissioner of the Big 12. He also was instrumental in getting the NCAA to move its headquarters to Indianapolis in 2000.

Swarbrick is a 1976 graduate of Notre Dame.

'Bama LB Knight has football career cut short

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:05 EDT

Alabama head coach Nick Saban announced Wednesday that senior linebacker Ezekiel Knight has been medically disqualified from participating in the 2008 season.

"Zeke Knight has been medically disqualified based on a medical condition that we cannot disclose due to student privacy laws," said Saban. "He has had extensive medical evaluations by numerous physicians, all of which concluded that it was in his best interest to no longer play football."

Knight played in all 13 games for the Tide last season with 11 starts at outside linebacker. He finished sixth on the team with 64 tackles, adding two interceptions and three sacks.

"Zeke is a fine young man and we appreciate all that he has done for this program," said Saban. "Zeke did a great job for us as a starter last year and, more importantly, is on track to graduate in August. I would like nothing more than to have him with us for one more season on the football field, but unfortunately that won't be the case after consulting with the doctors and medical staff on numerous occasions. I wish him and his family nothing but the best. Zeke Knight will always be a part of the Crimson Tide family."

Oregon football player drowns in swimming accident

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:09 EDT

Oregon Ducks redshirt freshman defensive back Todd Lamar Doxey died Sunday after a swimming accident on the McKenzie River just outside of Eugene.

"This is a heartbreaking situation for Todd's family, friends, teammates and classmates," University of Oregon president Dave Frohnmayer said. "We extend our deepest sympathies to everyone touched by this terrible accident."

Doxey, who was 19, was with several teammates, many of who were floating down the river on inner-tubes. Doxey, however, jumped off the Marcola Road Bridge, according to Lane County Sheriff's reports. With most of his teammates already downriver, Doxey started experiencing difficulty swimming around 3:15 p.m.

He was picked up by another boat coming down the river and taken to the McKenzie-Williamette Hospital at 3:55 p.m. before being transferred to Sacred Heart Medical Center at 6:25 p.m., where he was pronounced dead shortly after 8 p.m.

"Anytime a young man or woman dies, it is a tragedy," Oregon head football coach Mike Bellotti said. "It's hard to understand why. My heart goes out to his family, to our players, some whom were there and some who will find out about it, and it's just one of those things we don't have answers for."

Kansas gives Mangino raise, new deal

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:09 EDT

University of Kansas head football coach Mark Mangino signed a new agreement to his contract that raises his salary to $2.3 million per year and extends the contract through the 2012 season, the school announced on Tuesday.

Mangino, entering his seventh year at Kansas, was the consensus national coach of the year last season after guiding the Jayhawks to a 12-1 record, including a 24-21 victory over Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl, Kansas' first BCS bowl victory.

"This is an appropriate reward for someone who has done a terrific job with the Kansas football program," said KU Athletics Director Lew Perkins. "Chancellor Hemenway and I think it's important that we not only reward Mark for the job he's done, but also give him the support and stability he needs to keep this football program a successful and nationally respected program. We think the Orange Bowl championship is just the beginning."

In the past five seasons, he has led the team to four six-plus win seasons, three bowl games and entering the 2008 season, the team has won 15 of its last 17 games.

"I want to thank Chancellor Hemenway and Lew for their strong and continued support," Mangino said. "We all share the same vision for excellence in our football program I appreciate their support of our mission to keep KU football a nationally ranked and respected program, both on the field and in the classroom."

Rodriguez, Michigan to settle with WVU for $4M

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:58 EDT

Former West Virginia University football coach Rich Rodriguez and the University of Michigan have agreed to pay a $4 million buyout and settle a lawsuit that WVU filed after he broke his contract in December.

Rodriguez will pay $1.5 million in three annual payments beginning January 2010. The Wolverines athletic department, his new employer, will pay $2.5 million by the end of July and cover Rodriguez's legal fees, the University of Michigan said in a statement Wednesday.

"To help Rich focus on the challenges ahead, we have worked with him to resolve the dispute between him and West Virginia University over the terms of his buyout," Michigan athletic director Bill Martin said. "Although he continues to disagree with the validity of the terms, Rich and the rest of us at Michigan felt that it would be best to get this distracting issue behind us."

The WVU Board of Governors held a special meeting Wednesday and approved the agreement, settling a case attorneys Tom Flaherty and Jeff Wakefield were set to try this fall.

"It's a case that should have settled a long time ago and could have settled a long time ago. It's in the best interest of everyone to resolve it," Flaherty said.

Seminoles' Bellamy out with blood clot

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:41 EDT

Florida State offensive lineman Evan Bellamy confirmed that he was recently hospitalized for a blood clot in his lower left leg.

Doctors have told the redshirt sophomore that he will likely be sidelined for six months due to his medication.

"I want to thank all the Seminole fans who have sent me e-mails and cards," Bellamy said in a statement. "I appreciate it very much. I want everyone to know I will do everything I can to get back out on the football field as soon as possible."

Vols give new deals to Fulmer and Pearl

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:26 EDT

The University of Tennessee has announced new contracts for football coach Phillip Fulmer and men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl.

Fulmer's new deal is worth $2.4 million for the 2008 season and escalates to $3.3 million in 2014 for an average of $2.99 million over the length of the agreement. It also includes a $1 million longevity bonus in December 2012 to reward him for his 20 years as the school's head coach.

"I am very proud to have Phillip as our coach for many years to come," men's athletic director Mike Hamilton said. "We're fortunate to have such a talented and proven coach leading our program. He and his staff have done a terrific job building on our rich tradition and positioning Tennessee football for the future."

Fulmer, a 1972 graduate of Tennessee, has a career record of 147-45 since taking over the program from Johnny Majors. The Vols were 10-4 last season, winning the SEC East Division, and capped the campaign with a victory over Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl.

Pearl's new deal will average $2.3 million per year through the 2013-14 season.

Alabama LB Johns charged with sale of cocaine

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:47 EDT

University of Alabama linebacker Jimmy Johns has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of selling cocaine.

According to the Birmingham News, Johns was arrested by the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force on Tuesday morning and was taken to Tuscaloosa County Jail.

Tuscaloosa police told the newspaper that the senior from Brookhaven, Mississippi was charged with seven "drug-related" charges, including selling. Police allege that cocaine and marijuana were involved, and when police searched Johns' residence, they also found ecstasy.

"The University of Alabama has a zero tolerance policy related to trafficking, sale, distribution or use of illegal drugs on or off campus," the school said in a release obtained by NBC13 in Birmingham. "For the safety and well-being of our student body, anyone charged with these offenses is subject to immediate suspension. Jimmy Johns has been referred to UA's Judicial Affairs and has been suspended from the University.

"We expect members of The University of Alabama family to follow both the letter and the spirit of the law, in addition to the rules and regulations of the University. We expect everyone who represents The University of Alabama to do so in a manner that reflects our commitment to excellence in all things."