NFTM: ACC, Big 12 and Big East
November 21st, 2008 by Jason Roberts
It’s rivalry week here at Fantasy College Blitz, and as we each vivaciously don the colors of our respective alma maters (all the while, trying to ruin those of our opposing co-writers with coffee, ink, or whatever is within reach of our laptops and newspapers), Notes From The Margin takes a moment to review what’s happening both on and off the field the BCS conference programs heading into a big weekend.
Just a quick gander reveals the emergence of a new offensive weapon at Boston College in Montel Harris, the alleged “shock” felt by Florida State’s Bert Reed in being suspended from last weekend’s game against B.C., a big catch on the recruiting trail at tailback for the Virginia Cavaliers heading into 2009, Austen Arnaud‘s attempt to surpass the great Seneca Wallace at Iowa State, a slew of injuries to the offensive side of the ball at the University of Kansas, a former Notre Dame Fighting Irish player under center at Cincinnati, and the next generation of ball carrier at the University of Connecticut.
ACC
Boston College Eagles
The website Boston.com discusses a relatively unknown – until now – freshman tailback named Montel Harris. Harris had a pair of break out games against UCF and Rhode Island earlier in the year, but saw his first real test on November 8th against Notre Dame, rushing 23 times for 120 yards. The youngster from Jacksonville, Florida again this weekend – versus a team he used to root for as a child, the Florida State Seminoles – was money carrying the ball, this time taking a career-high 25 carries for 121 yards and a touchdown in an impressive win on the road for BC in Tallahassee, 27-17. “It was on my mind all week,” Harris told the Boston Herald, “It was my homecoming and I wanted to prove to everyone that I could play. This was my dad’s favorite team and I grew up watching them. I wanted to play here, but they didn’t have any interest.” The Seminoles coaching staff is sure to have taken notice of their oversight given the success the freshman had against them Saturday evening, in a performance which was good enough, so it seems, to identify Harris at head coach Jeff Jagodzinski’s choice as a workhorse back for the remainder of the year. Not bad for a kid that Jadodzinksi himself told reporters, “I think he was a two-star recruit. But I’ll tell you what: He’s a four- or five-star player. He runs hard. He doesn’t run like a true freshman.”
Clemson Tigers
The State writes earlier this week that junior running back for Clemson, C.J. Spiller, has announced that should the Tigers retain current interim coach Dabo Swinney beyond the 2008 season, he would remain at the university for his senior year. Spiller told reporters Tuesday afternoon, “He’s the one who brought me in here, and I really hope he comes back.” Ultimately, says Clemson’s coach, the decision to stay or enter the 2009 NFL Draft comes down to Spiller and his family; states Swinney, “He’s his own man, and he’s not afraid to make a big decision. He came to Clemson and surprised a lot of people doing that.”
Duke Blue Devils
The News Observer informs readers that junior quarterback for the Duke Blue Devils, Thaddeus Lewis, is still day-to-day after injuring his ankle last weekend versus Clemson; as such, backup quarterback Zack Asack is currently preparing take Lewis’ place this upcoming weekend, but said in a press conference earlier this week that he hadn’t been told if he would start against Virginia Tech or not. Asack, the article notes, started six games as a freshman back in 2005, but lost the job when he was suspended during the 2006 season; over the span of 25 career games, however, he was thrown for 1148 yards and seven touchdowns, 10 interceptions, all while completing 121-of-241 pass attempts. The piece notes as well that senior tailback Clifford Harris suffered a broken arm versus Clemson and would not play verses the Hokies. He may, however, be available to play in the season finale versus North Carolina.
Florida State Seminoles
Freshman Bert Reed tells the Miami Herald Tuesday that he was “shocked” to learn he was being suspended for his alleged role in a campus brawl which took place last Wednesday. Reed maintains that his only involvement in the melee was merely as a peacekeeper, stating, “I really didn’t think my name would get mixed up in it too much like it did. I was trying to be the mediator in the whole thing.” That he wasn’t on the sidelines leads Reed to maintain that he was surprised by the final score in this past weekend’s FSU-Boston College game; as one of five wideouts that were suspended for the matchup with the Eagles, the freshman claims, “If we were there, we don’t know what we could have done or what could have happened, or if the game could have been different. It’s not completely on us, but I feel like we had a lot to do with [the loss].”
Miami Hurricanes
The Sun-Sentinel discusses the shift of Miami Hurricanes’ junior wide receiver Sam Shields from wideout to special teams returner in the wake of an illegal substitution error made against Florida State on October 4th. A Booker High School (Sarasota, Florida) alumni, Shields arrive at UM as the nation’s #17 best rated recruit at his position, but struggled as academic issues and suspensions took their toll on his overall time on the playing field. Players like Travis Benjamin and Aldarius Johnson, the article maintains, continued to develop while Shields sat the bench; things seem to come to a head in the Hurricanes’ game with Florida State, in which Shields was seen being berated by coaches on national television. Head coach Randy Shannon notes of the incident that he and the remainder of his staff haven’t given up on Shields, but believe a changed was necessary. Thus, the junior was shifted to special teams, where he has played a major role in the success of Miami when it comes to punting and kickoffs; notes Lou Groza Award finalist Matt Bosher, much of the credit for his own success is owed to Shields, who is more times than not the first player down the field to make contact with opposing returners. Shields admits that he wishes to return to the starting lineup on offense as soon as possible, but is currently satisfied with the role assigned him on special teams coverage; “Whenever it’s my opportunity to go in and get my reps in,” he notes, “I’m going into go in there and do what I’m supposed to do.”
North Carolina Tarheels
The Herald Sun informs readers Tuesday that head coach for the North Carolina Tarheels, Butch Davis, has elected to open up competition for the starting quarterback position between incumbent (yet injured) starter T.J. Yates and backup Cameron Sexton. Followers of this column will be aware that Sexton, at one-time a third-stringer at the position, has played in place of Yates since the sophomore went down with an ankle injury in September, and has won four of six starts since that point in time (including a come-from-behind win on the road versus the Miami Hurricanes). Still, the junior struggled against the Maryland Terrapins last weekend and could, some believe, be easily overtaken by the more athletic Yates.
North Carolina State Wolfpack
The News Observer points out this week that the North Carolina State Wolfpack are truly starting to look like a solid football program once again, this after suffering a string of injuries to key players at the start of the season and bothersome inconsistent play which over the first four games saw major loses to South Carolina and Clemson, but a big win over East Carolina. A major reason for this turnaround? The play of freshman quarterback Richard Wilson, who this past weekend orchestrated an excellent win over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, and now has gone 175 straight passes without an interception (the last pick thrown was September 13th versus the Tigers). Wilson also, as a result of a 21-17 win over Wake, was named the ACC’s Rookie of the Week and looks well on his way to being identified as an all-conference passer before the season is done.
Virginia Cavaliers
A little news on the recruiting front for the Virginia Cavaliers: The Roanoke Times reports Wednesday that Alex Omah, the first member of the recruiting class of 2009 to commit to UVA, carried 14 times for 200 yards and scored four touchdowns in a 47-14 win by Harrisonburg High over William Byrd in the first round of divisional playoffs for the two schools. The paper reports that due to a high-ankle sprain that forced Omah to miss playing time during four games this season, Omah has yet to match his 2071 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns from 2007, but is looking as if he is “close to peak form.” Definitely one to watch come next spring in training camps.
Virginia Tech Hokies
Readers of this column may be aware that back in September of this year, head coach of the Virginia Tech Hokies, Frank Beamer, told fans of the university’s football team that criticism of offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring was unwarranted and that if anyone felt they could develop a better playbook, they were free to submit it. Seems, according to Hampton Roads, that the sentiment of fans has now spread to members of the Hokies’ team itself as well, with linebacker Purnell Sturdivant noting that “the offense is too predictable” and that “every team we face this year knows what we’re going to do.” “I have a couple friends at Carolina,” Sturdivant continues, “a couple friends at N.C. State, things like that, they’re pretty much just calling out the plays that we’re going to run on offense. Our offense is pretty much predictable.” The senior did not go so far as calling for Stinespring’s resignation, but confirmed that he “and a lot of guys” could definitely see where fans had grown upset with an offense that ranks 109th out of 118 Division I-A teams at this point in the season.
Meanwhile, the Roanoke Times reports that the one person that Hokies fans and players don’t want to see depart, defensive coordinator Bud Foster, has confirmed he interviewed with Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips last Friday evening, and feels that there is “an interest on both parts” in regard to the possibility of his being named to the Tigers’ head coaching position. The article notes that Foster is the third candidate interview to date, with the Virginia Tech defensive coordinator joining former Raiders’ head coach, Lane Kiffen and Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables in the run to be named Clemson’s next head man. A final decision on who will be identified for the position is expected within the next three weeks.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Good news for fans of Wake Forest; the News & Observer reports that the Demon Deacons’ all-time scoring leader, kicker Sam Swank, may return to the field for the first time since sustaining an injury in the first week of October this weekend versus Boston College. Head coach Jim Grobe told reporters in a news conference held earlier this week that Swank was moved back into the regular practice rotation with redshirt freshman Shane Popham and will remain a game-time decision in this Saturday’s contest with the Eagles.
Big XII
Baylor Bears
The Waco Tribune notes that in a 41-21 win for the Baylor Bears over Texas A&M, Art Briles’ team put up more rushing yards than it ever had before in a Big XII game, collecting some 269 by the time all was said and done at Floyd Casey Stadium last Saturday.
Colorado Buffaloes
The news station website 9News.com reports on Tuesday that the University of Colorado announced early this week that linebacker Nate Vaiomounga, already sitting out this season due to issues stemming from academic ineligibility, has been kicked off the Buffaloes’ football team due to a violation of team rules. Under the team’s no tolerance policy, the sophomore outside linebacker was released after athletic director Mike Bohn signed off on a request made by head coach Dan Hawkins; no further information on the nature of the team violation has been released, but Bohn noted in a statement, “We remain vigilant in our efforts to maintain our high standards for the entire institution associated with the behavior of our student-athletes both on and off the playing field. Our position and responses will remain swift and firm.”
Meanwhile, the Rocky Mountain News covers the news that quarterback recruit Jordan Wynn, from Oceanside, California, who initially committed to the University of Colorado this past summer, has elected to sign instead with the University of Utah. That, according to the article, leaves only Clark Evans of Los Alamitos, California, as a pledged prospect for the class of 2009. Head coach Dan Hawkins has previously mentioned that he wants five total quarterbacks on scholarship, and, as such, Colorado can be expected to begin recruiting for the position once more in the near future.
The News also mentions within the same article that freshman tailback Ray Polk, redshirting this season, underwent shoulder surgery last week but should be available come the start of spring practice in 2009.
Iowa State Cyclones
In last weekend’s game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Missouri Tigers, sophomore quarterback Austin Arnaud set a school record for completions with 36 for the game, this according to The Gazette.
In other news: The news station KMEG describes the ingenious way in which the Iowa State Cyclones’ coaching staff was able to preserve the redshirts of freshman quarterbacks Jerome Tiller and Brett Bueker last Saturday night after starter Austin Arnaud went down with a knee stinger in the third quarter. The article claims that Bueker had already put on his helmet and was heading onto the field when he was stopped; instead, head coach Gene Chizik and staff kept the freshman back on the sidelines, sending in tailback Alexander Robinson to play under center, where the sophomore then took a direct snap and ran for no gain. Arnaud, having been inspected on the sideline in the meantime, was sent back out on to the field immediately after and played on from that point forward.
The same article also makes note of the fact that with just 29 more completions, Arnaud will be able to surpass the school record for completions currently held by former standout at quarterback, Seneca Wallace.
Kansas Jayhawks
Injuries took a huge toll on the Kansas Jayhawks this past Saturday against the Texas Longhorns, this according to a story in The University Daily Kansan. Junior tailback Jake Sharp left the field in the first quarter with an injury that Fox Sports described as bruised ribs, but which head coach Mark Mangino wouldn’t specify in his weekly news conference. Wide receiver Kerry Meier suffered from a similar case of bad luck, as the junior left the field after the first play of the game; he would return later in the contest, but finished the day with just four catches for 32 yards. The effects, more or less, were devastating for the Jayhawks’ offensive unit, with quarterback Todd Reesing telling reporters, “It obviously changed the game plan a little bit with Jake and Kerry not being in there. We never really got a run game established. When you have to throw the ball that much with no run game to fall back on, it gets kind of tough.” Sharp’s injury, in particular, left Kansas in disarray, with KU finishing the day with just 34 yards outside of the production put up by the junior prior to his leaving the game; backup Angus Quigley did his best to make up for Sharp’s absence, but ended up fumbling the ball twice, once in the second, another in the third quarter.
Oklahoma Sooners
A little bit of trivia this week for the fan or team owner of the Oklahoma Sooners’ tailbacks: the website RedRaiders.com writes that while Sam Bradford is definitely the catalyst for one of the best offenses in both the Big XII and the entire country, no small amount of credit also falls to the OU running game, which currently ranks second in the conference with nearly 195 yards rushing per game and has scored some 30 touchdowns on the ground so far this season. As the article points out, the excellence discovered moving the ball via the rush wasn’t always the case this year for the Sooners, particularly coming out of non-conference play at the beginning of the 2008 schedule; Oklahoma managed, for instance, only 25 yards on 36 carries versus the Texas Christian Horned Frogs, then was held to just 48 yards on 26 carries versus Big XII rival, the Texas Longhorns. Yet, since the Sooners’ only loss to this point in the season against Texas, OU has racked up 1000 yards on the ground and compiled 14 touchdowns in its last four games; versus Texas A&M two weeks ago, the Sooners put up a season-high 328 yards while passing for 325. Benefitting from an offensive line that averages 6’5″ and weighs more than 300 pounds, coach Bob Stoops tells the website he hopes to use the OU running game as the basis for attacking a Texas Tech defense that currently ranks second in the Big XII for rushing yards allowed per game with 107.4; should he be able to do so, Stoops believes the Red Raiders can be beaten and Oklahoma reclaim its position at the top of the Big XII South.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Tulsa World reports this week that sophomore running back for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, Kendall Hunter, ran for 102 yards on 11 carries Saturday against the Colorado Buffaloes, but did not play the fourth quarter due to a leg injury. Following the game, head coach Mike Gundy expressed that Hunter had a bruised thigh; on Sunday, during his weekly press conference, however, Gundy modified that statement, commenting, “I don’t know how serious his injury is. I first thought it was a quad contusion, but I later found out it wasn’t that. We will just have to wait and see how he comes out.” Fortunately, with OSU facing a bye week this week, Hunter will get time to mend; though the injury is not “believed to be significant,” after two solid months of playing back-to-back games, any rest is well-deserved, and should have the sophomore tailback extra crisp when the Cowboys return to the playing field against Oklahoma in the final game of their 2008 schedule.
Texas Longhorns
According to The Monitor, with the 255 yards and two touchdowns thrown against the Kansas Jayhawks this past weekend by quarterback for the Texas Longhorns, Colt McCoy, not only did the junior break a single-season record for touchdowns thrown with 31 – a record that he himself had previously set – but also brought his overall win/loss record to 30-7, a cumulative total which matches the mark set by McCoy’s predecessor at the University of Texas, Vince Young.
Texas A&M Aggies
Sophomore quarterback Jerrod Johnson of Texas A&M has plenty to be proud of in light of his first season as a starter under center for the Aggies, but despite setting milestones such as 60 percent pass-completion percentage and setting a school-record 20 touchdown passes so far this season, the young quarterback also has a long string of losses, turnovers and injuries to contend with heading into the final game of the 2008 schedule against in-state rival, the Texas Longhorns. The Star-Telegram writes that getting into the proper mindset for the matchup with UT may be even more difficult than normal, particularly given that Johnson is coming off his worst performance of the season last Saturday against Baylor, a contest in which he threw four interceptions and lost a fumble in a 41-21 loss to the Bears. Johnson, like all good leaders, took responsibility for his mistakes; despite the errors, he claims he hasn’t “taken a hit” despite the seven turnovers he’s accounted for in the last two weeks. “I have confidence in what the coaches are doing and confidence in my abilities and what I can do,” the sophomore explains, adding “I really can’t worry about if they’re going to keep me in or pull me.” Coach Mike Sherman claims that pulling Johnson has never been a serious consideration, noting, “If I thought he was lacking in confidence during the game as a result of turning the ball over, I would have made a change.” Johnson, after all, is far too valuable an asset to risk stifling his maturation, especially given that the quarterback currently ranks 26th in the nation for passing yardage, 31st in passing efficiency, 41st in total offense, and earlier this year set a Big XII record for most passes attempted without an interception with 213, a streak which ended against the Oklahoma Sooners.
Big East
Cincinnati Bearcats
The Tribune Chronicle informs readers on Tuesday that wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bearcats, Nick Truesdell, has been dismissed from the team for violation of team rules. No information has been released as to the nature of the infringement at this point in time; the freshman, notes the article, has played in six games this season, all of which saw him participate on the Bearcats’ special teams unit.
In other news, the website Cincinnati.com discusses that Cincinnati has used a total of five different quarterbacks. Interesting enough, that number includes Demetrius Jones, a transfer from Notre Dame, who entered last week’s game versus Louisville in the first quarter and rushed for five yards on second-and-16 from the UC 31-yard line. Head coach Brian Kelly jokingly told reporters that he sent Jones in order “to set a record,” but in reality, the Bearcats’ coaching staff is “working on a package with him” which should see the sophomore taking the field more often in the near future.
Connecticut Huskies
The Connecticut Post highlights that though Donald Brown is currently getting all the press at tailback for the Connecticut Huskies this season, there is a potentially up-and-coming star rising in freshman Jordan Todman, a 5’9″, 180 pound youngster from North Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Todman showed off his abilities this past Saturday against the Syracuse Orangmen, taking a 50-yard run for a touchdown and 45-yard kickoff return in the 39-14 win for UConn. Brown is the first to acknowledge that though he is faster than his underclassmen teammate, the freshman “has moves that aren’t in everyone’s arsenal”; the junior tells the Post, “He brings a whole new element. He’s quick and agile. He’s just like a little spark plug. When he gets the ball, he’s off to the races.” No surprise then that Todman has supplanted Andre Dixon as the backup to Brown as the #2 tailback slot, nor that he will likely take over permanently on special teams, where he took over for an injured Darius Butler two weeks ago versus West Virginia. The Post writes, “It’s a safe bet Todman’s role will continue to expand as the Huskies move forward”; given his recent production, we at FCB have to agree. A very nice 2009 sleeper there.
Pittsburgh Panthers
Interesting statistic provided by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this week: Over the span of its last two games, the Pittsburgh Panthers have converted all five of their attempts on fourth down, making them one of the best teams in the nation in converting on this type of play. So far this season, Pitt has gone 13-of-17 on fourth downs, a success rate of 76.5%, good enough for sixth-best amongst Division IA teams. The Panthers ability to move the ball in this situation, notes offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh, has “opened up a lot of opportunities on offense,” including calling third down plays differently knowing that head coach Dave Wannstedt is comfortable with fourth-down opportunities. Interestingly enough, that includes trying to convert first downs on less than expected plays, such as a fake punt and fake field goal or on fourth-and-10; it shows, notes the Gazette a great deal of confidence not only in LeSean McCoy‘s ability to move the ball, but also Pitt’s capacity to covert on passing downs as well. Pittsburgh, thus, is anything but “one-dimensional,” and has prove excellent in preventing opposing defenses from figuring out how to stop them.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
The Trentonian writes on the multiple talents of senior Andrew DePaola, who Rutgers’ head coach Greg Schiano refers to as his “secret weapon.” A 6’2″, 205 pound youngster from Parkton, Maryland, DePaola, who is a former walk-on, hasn’t been assigned a particular position on the team for which to play, but has already been a back up at quarterback and Rutgers’ regular holder on field goals and extra points. The senior also played at wide receiver during the summer and has on occasion been inserted in the Scarlet Knights’ offensive rotation where he’s been a solid go-to for quarterback Mike Teel. So, when last week Rutgers’ long snapper Jeremy Branch went down with an injured knee, there was no surprise in the fact that Schiano turned to DePaola – a player who prior to Saturday had never long snapped in a game. The senior took the call to replace Branch with no hesitation, telling reporters later, “I’ve always wanted to get out there in any sport and get into the game. So I guess that kind of [came] over with me when I came into college football. I wanted to play wherever I could, so if they need help at any position, I’m always willing to try and help.” DePaola played fine in the role; and with Branch likely needing season-ending surgery on his knee, it looks likely that the senior will take over long snapping on a more regular basis. Little wonder then why Schiano calls him “a cool customer, a very mature guy . . . . [that] we’re blessed to have . . .”
South Florida Bulls
The St. Petersburg Times reports Thursday morning that junior quarterback for the South Florida Matt Grothe remained in a protective boot Wednesday during practice due to an injured left ankle, leaving senior backup Grant Gregory forced to use as much of this week as possible in order to prepare for the possibility that he may have to start in place of Grothe Saturday against UConn. Head coach Jim Leavitt told local media, “I think [Grothe] will be fine,” but should he not, and because “Grant hasn’t played much . . . . we want to give him lots of reps.” The Times notes that Gregory has attempted only 15 passes this season and has an interception and a fumble to his name; asked, therefore, if the senior could handle the responsibility, Leavitt responded bluntly, “He’s going to have to.” Leavitt did expand, though, saying “I thought [Gregory] did a good job last game, moved the offense down.”
Syracuse Orangemen
Something many of our readers may not know about starting tailback for the Syracuse Orangemen, Curtis Brinkley: he is a lifelong follower of the Muslim faith. According to the South Bend Tribune, that’s made things a bit “tricky” throughout the football season, especially since those that practice are expected to fast during the week of Ramadan, this year which fell at the end of October. Brinkley, reported the Syracuse student newspaper, lost some 16 pounds during the fasting period, and that was off a frame that was only 5’9″ and 197 pounds to start with. “I just had to keep on going,” the senior told the Daily Orange. “I’m used to losing weight around this time when I’m fasting. It doesn’t have an effect on the way I play.” Apparently not, as Brinkley now rests at 966 yards, 166 of which came on November 1st in a career-day versus the Louisville Cardinals. That production made his fifth consecutive game with 100+ yards rushing in a single game, a mark which set a record at the same school for which legendary backs Ernie Davis and Jim Brown played.
West Virginia Mountaineers
The Register-Herald writes that backup quarterback for the West Virginia Mountaineers, Jarrett Brown, has recovered from injuries which have kept him on the sidelines over the last few weeks, and will be available this weekend as WVU prepares to take to the road to play the Louisville Cardinals Saturday. “I’m fine,” Brown told reporters Tuesday. “I was getting treatments three times a day. I’ve worked hard to get my body right. So I’m ready to go.” That being the case, head coach Bill Stewart has expressed that followers of the Mountaineers should expect to see Brown playing out of the backfield, but declined to say what position.
The same article also points out that starting quarterback Patrick White needs just 198 yards rushing to become the all-time NCAA leader for rushing production by a quarterback; he currently ranks second with 4,092 yards accumulated.
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