The Bearcats are going to have to get by Syracuse and Hawaii without star CB Mike Mickens. Hold off on any coaching rumors, because there's talk that Tennessee is going to hire Lane Kiffen as its next head coach.
In an absolute travesty, UConn's Donald Brown was not named a finalist for the Doak Walker award. In fact, I'd say both Brown and LeSean McCoy are far better than Javon Ringer. The Big Ten is simply overexposed due to its deal with ESPN, and Ringer's season is a product of getting a bazillion carries in the Woody Hayes, three yards and a cloud of dust tradition.
Louisville DC Ron English is a candidate for several opening mid-major coaching positions. The Cards are switching kickers again.
Could LeSean McCoy actually return next year? Keep in mind, the current buzz (and I've run several items here to this effect) is that a record number of juniors will declare for the 2009 draft. Another looming departure may be DC Phil Bennett to Bill Snyder's staff at Kansas State.
USF's home attendance was down 16.5% in 2008. George Selvie is rumored to be shrugging off a disappointing 2008 by entering next year's draft.
The article also pegs Syracuse DT Arthur Jones as a likely early entrant. The latest on the coaching search in Orangeland:
I did hear today that several feelers have been extended to a number of potential candidates including: Kevin Rogers, assistant coach of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings, Steve Addazio, assistant football coach at the University of Florida; Chip Kelly, offensive coordinator at the University of Oregon; and Mark Whipple, offensive assistant with the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles. Additionally, Gross may have spoken to University of Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Haywood on Friday night.
An intermediary for one candidate said tonight, "the less said right now, the better."
Almost everyone keeps telling me that Randy Edsall is serious when he says he's not interested in coming to Syracuse. Skip Holtz may not be interested either, though the unfolding events in South Bend could be playing a role. University of Illinois offensive coordinator Mike Locksley and Buffalo coach Turner Gill are on the radar. So is former Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin.
The Mountaineers are winning by getting back to basics on offense, and that means a heavy dosage of Pat White. They don't need any distractions before the Backyard Brawl, but a walk-on freshman RB for West Virginia has been arrested for sexual assault.