Notes from the Margin – Big Conference update
August 21st, 2008 by Jason Roberts
The second week of fall practices and the big news for many schools at the FBS level is the sudden need for many programs to identify solid backup players at key positions on both offense and defense, this as injuries seem suddenly on the rise as teams continue to prepare for the 2008 season.
Say, what gives here? Checking the August 2008 lunar calendar, it says that the full moon for the month lands . . . oh, of course – smack dab in the middle of the calendar, August 16th . . .
ACC
Florida State Seminoles
The Tallahassee Democrat of Sunday, August 10, 2008, provides readers with an evaluation of the Florida Seminoles wide receiver corps for 2008, as offered by none other than senior quarterback, Drew Weatherford.
Jacksonville’s The Times-Union for Friday, August 15, 2008, reports that Florida State Seminoles starting punter Graham Gano will likely play a major role not only on FSU’s punt and kick return units, but also act as the Seminoles’ starting field goal kicker this season as well.
Duke Blue Devils
Reports the Scout.com for Tuesday, August 12, 2008, Duke Blue Devils quarterback Thaddeus Lewis hit 9-of-12 passing attempts for 92 yards, while teammate Zack Asack hit six-of-14 for 67 yards and a touchdown during a situational scrimmage held on Tuesday afternoon.
Miami Hurricanes
The Oakland Press for August 10, 2008 provides readers with an interesting piece on Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cannon Smith, who, according to staff writer Tim Reynolds, is looking to be “just another Miami quarterback” in the light of being the son of Fred Smith, chairman of FedEx, and also having had to attend one year at Hargrave Military Academy (as opposed to the University of Mississippi) after he was charged with possession of ecstasy as a high school senior.
North Carolina State Wolfpack
The website for television station WRAL reports on Tuesday, August 12, 2008, that head coach for the NC State Wolfpack, Tom O’Brien, acknowledged Tuesday that both redshirt junior Toney Baker at tailback and JUCO Clem Johnson, in the mix to play safety this season, had undergone surgeries in the past couple of days.
Virginia Cavaliers
The Roanoke Times for Monday, August 11, 2008 tells readers that this past weekend’s “Meet the Team Day” at the University of Virginia was tempered with the prohibiting of quarterbacks from the Cavaliers’ mingling and/or speaking with members of the press in attendance.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
The Winston-Salem Journal for Wednesday, August 13, 2008, makes claim to the fact that tailback Jonathan Dwyer of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets is more and more appearing to look “comfortable” in head coach Paul Johnson’s new offense.
Virginia Tech Hokies
As reported in an earlier edition of this column, former quarterback for the Virginia Tech Hokies, Cory Holt, was moved to the wide receiver position during late spring / early summer, this in hopes of the fifth-year senior getting additional time on the field in 2008 in preparation for a run at the 2009 NFL Draft.
Big XII
Baylor Bears
Head coach for the Baylor Bears, Art Briles, is two weeks away from the start of the 2008 season, yet no closer to identifying, says the Houston Chronicle of Wednesday, August 13, 2008, a starter at the quarterback position. (Ed. Note: We still root for B-Sizzle, Blake Szymanski)
Kansas Jayhawks
In what is being called by the Kansas City Star as the continuation of the “great Kansas running-back exodus of 2008,” an article dated Friday, August 15, 2008 notes that sophomore tailback from the Kansas Jayhawks, Donte Bean, has announced his intentions of transferring from the school’s football program effective immediately.
Missouri Tigers
The Belleview News-Democrat for Wednesday, August 13, 2008, tells readers that though sophomore running back for the Missouri Tigers, Derrick Washington, has edge out junior Jimmy Johnson for the starting job of tailback for the 2008 season, coaches plan to utilize Johnson’s size frequently in the role of the Tigers “short-yardage back.”
From the pages of the Missouri periodical, the News-Tribune, comes a story highlighting freshman offensive lineman for the Missouri Tigers, Travis Ruth, and a recent injury which was operated upon Wednesday in hopes of repairing a fractured / broken bone in the upper portion of Ruth’s foot.
The Daily Camera reports on Wednesday, August 13, 2008, that Missouri Tigers tight end Chase Coffman will miss at least two weeks of practice due to having sustained a broken pinkie finger last week.
Oklahoma Sooners
To hear the coaching staff at the University of Oklahoma tell it, the best offensive player on the field heading into the upcoming season is not Sam Bradford at quarterback, nor is it tailback DeMarco Murray; instead, it is junior tight end for the Sooners, Brody Eldridge.
Something to take note of from the Tulsa World of Thursday, August 7, 2008 – Offensive coordinator for the Oklahoma Sooners, Kevin Wilson, told reporters recently that sophomore Mossis Madu, who is a native of Norman, Oklahoma, “has looked as good as” star tailback DeMarco Murray and additional featureback Chris Brown, both of whom return to the Sooners this season after suffering injuries to their knees.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Tulsa World for Friday, August 15, 2008 tells readers that wide receiver for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, William Cole, apparently sustained a serious injury to his knee on Wednesday; coaches are currently waiting for the results of an MRI done on Thursday to determine the level of damage done.
Texas A&M Aggies
The Houston Chronicle for Thursday, August 14, 2008 reports that Jorvorskie Lane, former tailback and now fullback for the Texas A&M Aggies, suffered a neck injury in practice on Wednesday morning; concerned that he had suffered a mild concussion, head coach Mike Sherman told reporters that Lane had succumb to a “stinger” and could be back on the practice field in another day or two.
Texas Longhorns
The Dallas Morning News for Friday, August 15, 2008 reveals that the Texas Longhorns are experimenting with using 255 pound fullback Cody Johnson as a tailback in specialty situations, even though three other running backs – Vondrell McGee, Fozzy Whittaker, and Chris Ogbannaya – already crowd the backfield going into the 2008 season.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
The race to become the starting tailback at Texas Tech in 2008 is admittedly a tight one, but reading the article published on RedRaiders.com on August 13, 2008, it becomes clear that perhaps a favorite is emerging in sophomore running back Aaron Crawford over Shannon Woods.
Big East
Connecticut Huskies
According to the website Courant.com, the University of Connecticut Huskies – the least penalized team in the Big East last season, and ranked 20th nationally in terms of average yards-per-game – are taking a proactive approach to continuing that trend in the upcoming football season.
Reports the Republican-American of Tuesday, August 12, 2008, those who watch closely the Connecticut Huskies football program will likely see two freshmen – Jordan Todman and Michael Smith – contributing on the playing field with the start of the upcoming season.
Syracuse Orangemen
Dave Rahme of The Post-Standard writes on Sunday, August 10, 2008 that one of the most interesting players to watch on the Syracuse offense this season very well may be Bruce Williams, a senior defensive back moved to wide receiver position by the Orangemen coaching staff in order to provide depth there.
In light of the previous entry, it should be said that sometimes with each gain comes significant loss. And such is the case, describes the website Syracuse.com for Sunday, August 10, 2008, as the Syracuse Orangemen lost sophomore wide receiver Dan Sheeran to a broken right fibula sustained during this past Saturday’s practice.
Big Ten
Indiana Hoosiers
The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette for Wednesday, August 13, 2008 shares the news that sophomore Mitchell Evans of the Indiana Hoosiers has been moved by the coaching staff for the third time in less than two years – this time, from backup quarterback to wide receiver.
Independents
Notre Dame
The Fort Wayne, Indiana Journal-Gazette offers readers of its Tuesday, August 12, 2008 edition valuable insight regarding head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Charlie Weis, and his approach to the Notre Dame ground game starting in 2008.
An interesting article is provided by The Journal-Gazette of Sunday, August 10, 2008, which highlights the last few months in the life of junior Notre Dame tight end, Will Yeatman, and his attempts to return to football after being arrested this past January on a drunk driving charge.
Pac-10
Arizona Wildcats
With the recent rash of injuries taking place amongst Pac-10 quarterbacks (USC’s Mark Sanchez, UCLA’s Drew Olsen, Washington’s Jake Locker), the Tucson Citizen for August 11, 2008 reports that the University of Arizona is making sure that backup to starter Willie Tuitama, freshman Matt Scott, is getting plenty of practice with the first-team offense as a means of preparing for the worst should Tuitama go down during the season.
By now, most fantasy owners are likely well aware of the fact that sophomore tailback for the Arizona Wildcats, Nic Grigsby, was ejected from a team scrimmage held this past Saturday night at Arizona Stadium, this after cornerback Devin Ross hit Grigsby low during one play.
Speaking of Keola Antolin, the Tucson Citizen for Monday, August 11, 2008 tells readers that head coach Mike Stoops has been so impressed with the 5’8″ youngster teammates have knick-named “Mighty Mouse” that he is making comparisons of Antolin to former college runningbacks Maurice Jones-Drew, Quentin Griffin, and Darren Sproles.
Arizona State Sun Devils
According to the East Valley Tribune of August 14, 2008, the tailback making the greatest impression in fall camp thus far for the Arizona State Sun Devils is a walk-on freshman by the name of James Morrison.
California Bears
In the race to replace former California Bears standout at wide receiver, DeSean Jackson, the Times-Herald of Vallejo, California for Tuesday, August 12, 2008 writes that freshman wide receiver, Marvin Jones, “looks to be ready to pick up where [Jackson] left off.”
Oregon Ducks
Oregon’s Statesman Journal for August 12, 2008 states that freshman quarterback for the Oregon Ducks, Chris Harper, was withheld from practice on Monday of this week, this after injuring a rotator cuff in his shoulder.
Oregon State Beavers
The Portland Tribune for Monday, August 11, 2008, highlights the fact that junior quarterback for the Oregon State Beavers, Sean Canfield, has thus far missed the majority of practices held since the start of fall camp, this as he continues to feel the aftereffects of a surgery done in January of this year to repair a torn labrum suffered in last season’s contest against the USC Trojans.
Stanford Cardinal
The Daily Camera for Wednesday, August 13, 2008 reveals that head coach for the Stanford Cardinal, Jim Harbaugh, following the team’s first scrimmage of fall camp on Tuesday, released what is described as “a temporary depth chart” with Tavita Pritchard ahead of Alex Loukas and Jason Forcier in the race for the starting quarterback position in the 2008 season.
This column generally tries to stay away from news related to the offering of scholarships to prep level players; however, in reading the San Francisco Chronicle of August 8, 2008, this author couldn’t help but find interesting this recent rumor coming out of Stanford.
University of Southern California Trojans
The Daily News of Los Angeles, California for Sunday, August 10, 2008, notes that freshman recruits for the USC Trojans, Curtis McNeal (tailback) and Nick Perry (defensive end), will likely miss a second full week of practice with the team because they have yet to be certified by the NCAA Clearinghouse.
Within the same article comes the news that freshman quarterback for the Trojans, Aaron Coup, looked good working with the first team offense during this past Sunday evening’s scrimmage.
Washington Huskies
The Seattle Times for Sunday August 10, 2008 released the news that head coach for the Washington Huskies, Ty Willingham, danced around questions from reporters on Saturday who sought answers regarding the status of sophomore quarterback, Jake Locker, who on Thursday afternoon injured his left hamstring during practice.
As Jake Locker continues to watch practices from the sidelines due to an injured foot, The Seattle Times for Tuesday, August 12, 2008 notes that backup quarterback for the Washington Huskies, Ronnie Fouch, is getting valuable time with the first string offensive unit, taking, states offensive coordinator, Tim Lappano, “90 percent of the reps” at this point.
Sophomore wideout for the Huskies, Curtis Shaw, according to The Seattle Times for August 12, 2008, has left the team due to “personal reasons,” and will likely not return in time to play a role on this year’s University of Washington football team.
Interesting news out of the University of Washington is reported by The Wenatchee World for Friday, August 8, 2008: former UW star running back J.R. Hasty announced last Thursday that he would resuming his collegiate football career in 2008 at FCS/Division II school, Central Washington University.
Washington State Cougars
Jeshua Anderson, a 400-meter hurdles champion at the collegiate level and projected standout at wide receiver for the Washington State Cougars in the 2008 season, is expected to miss up to six weeks with the team, this after the sophomore was forced to undergo surgery for a hernia.
It’s already been a crazy start to the freshman year for incoming football recruit at Washington State, Cory Mackay.
The Seattle Times for Friday, August 8, 2008 notes that senior tight end for the Washington State Cougars, Devin Frischknecht, is a star waiting to rise on the WSU offense in the 2008 football season.
SEC
Georgia Bulldogs
Ask Tripp Chandler, tight end for the Georgia Bulldogs, how he feels about the opportunity to play for UGA as a starter in 2008, and he’ll suggest, as he does to Dave Hale of the website Macon.com, that he “doesn’t just want to be great” this upcoming football season, but feels sincerely that “he’s obligated to be.”
The website Macon.com mentions in the same article as the one discussing UGA tight end Tripp Chandler that a potential sleeper for the Bulldogs at wide receiver in 2008 very well may be Kris Durham, a 6’5″ junior from Calhoun, Georgia.
Kentucky Wildcats
The Jacksonville Sun reports on Tuesday, August 12, 2008, that former Kentucky Wildcats quarterback, Curtis Pulley, has contacted Florida A&M about the possibility of transferring to the MEAC institution.
Mississippi State Bulldogs
The website Nola.com reports on Monday, August 11, 2008 that head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs, Sylvester Croom, has suspended starting free safety Derek Pegues for the team’s 2008 season opener, a game against Louisiana Tech on August 30th.Pegues, noted school officials, is believed to have violated the school’s class attendance policy, a regulation maintaining that should a student miss four or more absences in a semester, their ability to participate in collegiate sports at the university will be hindered by a minimum of a one game suspension.
South Carolina Gamecocks
The Daily Camera (August 13, 2008) reports that South Carolina’s redshirt freshman quarterback, Stephen Garcia, sprained his ankle in a recent practice, and will more than likely miss at least a week of practice in order for his right ankle to heal.
Come back later today for the mid-major notes…
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