Herbstreit privy to inside info at UNC, Saban talks about rule he hates
Kirk Herbstreit says he’ll be shocked if Butch Davis loses job: "I've been privy to a lot of inside information that I'm really not at liberty to speak about from talking to some folks at UNC."
"When all this comes out, I think people will realize what the deal is. I think if they were to dismiss Butch it'd be a huge mistake."
"A lot of the facts aren't necessarily out there - when people hear the facts, I'll be shocked if Butch Davis loses his job."
Official NFL career stats: Over past 20 years, 15,018 NFL players, but only 631 (4%) played 3 or more years. Average career is 3.7 seasons. Have to put in 4 seasons to receive benefits.
Kent State’s huge pay day: Alabama has agreed to pay Kent State a total of $1.2 million to visit Bryant-Denny Stadium for the 2011 season-opener.
Nick Saban says it start with intangibles: “The first thing you have to play with is good intangibles. If you don’t have the effort, toughness, and discipline, then the rest of it is never going to come. I wanted the team to improve when we were winning, but nobody cared about it then because they were all satisfied because we were winning.”
“I think the 40 second clock has been a good addition to college football.”
Saban’s response on if there are any NFL rules he would like to see implemented at college level: “I don’t really know of any.”
“The one rule if you are a defensive coach, you absolutely hate…offensive players that can block down field on passes behind the line of scrimmage….that’s really a great advantage for the offense. There some plays that you really just can’t defend.”
Coaches looking forward to weekend games
Mack Brown looking forward to watching his quarterback on Saturday against Iowa State: “(After Nebraska performance) We think we’re going to see a quarterback (Garrett Gilbert), tomorrow, who is in complete control of his offense.”
(interesting comments on polls) “I’m not so sure coaches do a great job with the polls because they are so tired. With late games, I’m checking scores on the plane. I haven’t watched the games. At the end of the season, maybe the coaches do a better job with the polls.”
Quoting Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel: “We run well and we’re playing very well together as a team, and that’s important.”
“We are a lot better team than we were three weeks ago. That gives us a shot.”
(explanation for struggles against Oklahoma in the past) “I haven’t done a very good that. Bottom line, it’s my responsibility. We have overcome a lot of stuff here, but I just haven’t done a good enough job.”
Butch Davis eager for Miami (FL) match-up: "No game is just another game. Miami is a place I spent a significant amount of time. I've got an awful lot of respect for the program. I've got a lot of friends in South Florida."
Randy Shannon tired of losing to Butch Davis: "They have our number right now, and we have a chance to do something about it. It's more of a pride thing that you get tired of losing to a guy."
Illinois defensive coordinator Vic Koenning wants takeaways: “I’ve never had an issue (with turnovers). As a matter of fact, I’ve been blessed. I’ve had some groups that have been in the top in the country in that almost every year. We’re just not getting enough here for some reason, and I gotta find a way to make that happen.”
Jeff Horton told the Minnesota team… : "I don't know how this decision came about, but this is the decision that was made. And I need all of you guys for us to have any chance for success."
Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads concerned about fragile team: "This is such a critical game for us, win or lose. We got beat by 41 points (by Utah), we got beat by 52 (by Oklahoma). We can't go down to Austin and get beat by 63. It would continue to spiral because it would be harder to bring the kids back."
Doc Holliday concerned about special teams: "Anytime you've got depth issues, which we do, it shows up on some of your special teams. That's the issue we are dealing with right now."
Quoting Les Miles: “If I have to bear some criticism, so be it.”
“We need both quarterbacks. We’re going to call on both guys to step on the field to give us the best opportunity.”
Neuheisel stunned, Bellotti interested in return, Kiffin considering spread offense
Rick Neuheisel stunned following 60-13 loss at Oregon: “That was impressive. I’ll leave it at that. It was an overwhelming performance by them, especially offensively. They were dominant."
Tweet of the night: “If UCLA has a pistol offense, then Oregon’s is some kind of flesh melting ion bomb.”
Former Oregon coach Mike Bellotti interested in coaching again: “I don’t know; we’ll see. I like what I’m doing (ESPN). The travel is a little crazy, but I’m dealing with it. If the right job came up, I would listen. But right now I like doing what I’m doing.”
Lane Kiffin seriously concerned about OL depth: "Unless they start letting us enter 7-on-7 tournaments, we better find some linemen."
Kiffin says USC might move to spread offense next year due to personnel: "Look at what we have. We've got a bunch of really good receivers and backs and tight ends and we don't have a fullback on our roster that's on scholarship two months from now."
"That may be what we need to go to. We'll play with whatever we have."
Jim Harbaugh pumped up about offensive line play: "It's not just run blocking; it's the pass protection. Our linemen are blocking in 1-on-1 situations and getting it done. Sacks are always a good indication of how well the line is blocking (Stanford has given up three), but there are also fewer hits on Andrew and fewer throwaways than last year. It's the way they work and study game plans together."
Jeff Tedford talks about mindset heading into Arizona State game: "What we've talked about is we're halfway through the season, and we're 3-3. We take one game at a time and put our heart and soul into everything we do for each week and lay it on the line. You can't look at the big picture and start to worry about things like that. It's about focus and preparation for this week. That's all that matters."
PAC-12 divides into North / South divisions, commissioner explains championship game site
PAC-10 commissioner Larry Scott confirmed this afternoon the new PAC-12 will be divided into a North Division and South Division. The first PAC-12 conference championship game will be played in 2011 at the home stadium of the team with the best overall conference record.
Scott also confirmed the conference will operate an equal revenue sharing conference. The only stipulation is if the conference does not make over $170 million, then USC and UCLA would receive an additional $2 million from the conference. The revenue plan kicks in during the 2012-13 academic year.
A North Division will consist of Cal, Stanford, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, and Washington State.
A South Division will consist of Arizona, Arizona State, Utah, Colorado, USC, and UCLA.
Scott said, “All rivalries have been kept completely intact. We have agreed to a 9-game conference schedule with five division games and four cross-divisional games. Protecting all traditional rivalries was an important principle in the structure.”
The northern California teams will play the southern California teams every year.
Scott said that the schools will be able to publish their 2011 and 2012 schedules within the next 30 days.
The division of the conference is only for the sport of football.
Regarding the team with the best overall conference record getting to host the championship game, Scott said, "The idea of a collegiate atmosphere, rewarding the fans, and having it be something you earned were all priorities."
MacIntyre says Bama vs Boise State "would be a super game"
San Jose State head coach Mike MacIntyre in the only coach in the country to have played against Alabama and Boise State this year.
On Wednesday, MacInytre said Bama vs. Boise State “would be a super game.”
"Boise's very athletic. Those two receivers (Titus Young and Austin Pettis) will be playing on Sunday, there's no doubt in my mind about that."
"Their defensive backs are big and can run. You can't block their defensive line, and their quarterback (Kellen Moore) is as good as there is. And the whole team plays with a chip on its shoulder.'
In related news, Alabama radio personality Paul Finebaum has just written MacIntyre a thank you note for fueling today’s broadcast, which airs from 3-7 pm EST. Bama fans undoubtedly will have feisty reactions today.
Rich Rod open and honest in exclusive interview
Michigan is 5-2 on the season under third-year, highly scrutinized head coach Rich Rodriguez.
The Wolverines are IDLE this week, so Detroit News reporter Bob Wojnowski asked Rodriguez for an exclusive interview. Wait until you read this one.
Give credit to Rodriguez for his open and honest answers about his job security, defensive coaches, and pressure to win in the coaching profession.
Rodriguez says, “It's not like, 'OK, I'm gonna try harder because there's more pressure.' You kidding me? I'm gonna try as hard as I can whether we won the last 10 or lost the last 10. That's the way I think you should approach life. Go full speed.”
“Every year as a head coach in Division I is like dog years, it should count as seven. There's the toll on your family too.”
Rodriguez defended his program by saying, “A lot of people don't know what's going on in a program and make opinions based on what's written or what they hear or what's rumored. If they really, really knew everything, maybe they wouldn't be so quick to judge.”
Michigan travels to Penn State next weekend. The Wolverines round out their schedule with Illinois, at Purdue, Wisconsin, and at Ohio State.
Doc gives a shout out to Dan Mullen, other coaches applaud their assistants
At 1-5, Doc Holliday won’t flinch, says his plan is the same as Dan Mullen’s plan: "Anytime you lose a couple football games, everybody starts to analyze things and this and that. The plan to win is infallible ... The plan to win at Mississippi State is no different than the plan to win at Marshall. We're doing the same things and he just beat Georgia and Florida back-to-back. What we're doing is right; it's in place. We can't flinch. We got to continue the plan and work hard and good things will happen. I truly believe that."
Brian Kelly says Notre Dame assistant Chuck Martin (former Grand Valley State head coach) is ready to be a big-time head coach: “Chuck’s ready to be a head coach. He can coach anywhere in the country. Someday, if it opens up an opportunity for him (to be a Division I head coach), I’m sure that I’m going to be the first one on the phone recommending him.”
He didn’t come to Notre Dame to be a head coach (somewhere else). He came here to make sure that Notre Dame gets back to where it needs to be. I know that is his short- and long-term goal.”
Kyle Whittingham praises Utah offensive line coach by Blake Miller: "If we can give up one sack every six games, we'll take that. They've done an outstanding job this year. They really are the nucleus of the offense. The primary reason for our success on offense this year can be directly attributed to the offensive line."
West Virginia defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel explains his style: "I don't concern myself with all that, that's what people end up writing about. I just try to do a good job, and that's the best I can do. I don't worry about whether my name is in the paper or not. You are going to be a good coach [dependent on] whether you have good players; I learned that a long time ago."
Bill Stewart talks about defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel: "Jeff doesn't have an agent, Jeff doesn't promote himself. People think what has made us click has been offensive stars. And, I have said it since I have been head coach, and I will say it again, Jeff's defense has kept us in games. ... I hope he stays under the radar so people leave him alone and he stays here forever."
Mike Leach talks about Dana Holgorsen's style: "He sees things real clear. And he's calm. You don't want a guy who panics, and he wasn't a panicker. I always appreciated that."
North Texas AD explains decision, compliments Todd Dodge
North Texas AD Rick Villarreal explains decision behind Todd Dodge’s dismissal: “Coach Dodge has some great skills, but I can tell you that being the head coach of an intercollegiate football team is a different world. There is a skill set you need. He was great in some areas, and like all of us, wasn’t good in others. We tried to work through it, but at the end of the day, we are where we are.”
“We felt like the success that he had in the state and the coaches he had made contact with would benefit us in the recruiting process. To some degree, that happened. We never made the hire because everyone would be excited today and then we would suffer down the line. We believed, and there were a lot of people with me, that [Dodge] could make the transition.”
Going forward at North Texas, Villarreal explains: “We are going to go out and look for coaches with a proven track record at the collegiate level, whether it is it is a coach who is a head coach at a school that would see North Texas as a better position, or a coach who is out of the business this year or two years who has a proven track record, or a highly successful assistant coach.”
“It will be a very quick, but thorough process so that we can truly go down the road in recruiting and get out there,” Villarreal said.
AD say he would recommend Dodge and commends coach for his class: “I would be more than happy to recommend him. He has a lot to give to young people and is a good teacher. He aspires to be at this level.”
“Todd was very understanding. He was a little apologetic and said that he was sorry he didn’t win any more games. He has been a class act through this whole process.”
Construction video of the new North Texas football stadium that will open in 2011:
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