Notes From the Margins: Quick notes
August 1st, 2008 by Jason Roberts
ACC
Clemson Tigers
From the Myrtle Beach Sun News for Tuesday, July 22, 2008: The Clemson Tigers seem a favorite to win the ACC title, thanks in no small part to an outstanding quarterback, a record-setting receiver, and a tandem of tailbacks in the team’s backfield that even at the national level could be regarded as second-to-none. Still, writes Pete Iacobelli of The Associated Press, the swing factor for the success of the Tigers in the upcoming season might not actually rest in any one of the aforementioned areas.
Instead, it could very well be Clemson’s offensive line that serves as a make-or-break dynamic in 2008. Gone now are tackle Berry Richardson and guard Chris McDuffie, both whom were all-ACC selections in 2007. Missing as well from the offensive line this season will be Christian Capote (tackle) and Brandon Pilgrim (guard), a pair who saw significant time last year as the Tigers went 9-4. Line coach Brad Scott claims that he has seen a level of cooperation and cohesiveness during spring practices which has been lacking in previous years. However, the absence of four key players who managed to play at their respective positions in all but nine total potential starts last season will pose a serious challenge and could limit the Tigers’ overall effectiveness on the offensive side of the ball.
North Carolina Tarheels
From Scout.com, dated July 23, 2008: A pleasant surprise for the University of North Carolina Tarheels football program – junior wide receiver Hakeem Nicks was named to the 2008 ACC preseason team. Nicks quietly had an outstanding season in 2007, grabbing 74 receptions for 958 yards and five touchdowns. Those statistics were enough to land the then-sophomore the school’s single-season record for receiving yards and leaves him only 64 catches shy of the career-record for a pass catcher at UNC. This article points out that over his first two seasons with the Tarheels, Nicks has grabbed a total of 113 catches, which is more than Desmond Clark had at this stage in his career while playing for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
Also named to the ACC preseason selection squad for 2008 is senior wideout and return specialist for UNC, Brandon Tate. Tate currently owns the ACC record for total return yards with 2,383 accumulated over the 2006 and 2007 seasons and is currently the NCAA’s active leader in kick returns heading into 2008. At the current pace, as the article points out, Tate could very easily break the NCAA career-record for return yardage set between 1993 and 1996 by Tulane University’s Jeff Liggon. Tate could be a crucial acquisition for fantasy owners playing in leagues where all-purpose yardage is considered in the awarding of points.
From the Charlotte Observer for Wednesday, July 23, 2008: After a somewhat nerve-racking off-season, Tarheels quarterback T.J. Yates looks well-rested and fully recovered from a surgery done in December in order to repair a cuff of cartilage in his shoulder joint which he most likely tore sometime during the course of his freshman season. Coaches had noticed in the last few games of last year that Yates seemed to be losing velocity on his throws. Yates and the UNC coaching staff both believe this resulted in him throwing a good deal more interceptions than he should have to close out 2007.
North Carolina State Wolfpack
From North Carolina’s The News & Observer for Sunday, July 20, 2008: Competing for the starting quarterback position at NC State this coming football season will be freshman recruit Mike Glennon, younger brother of Virginia Tech pass specialist, Sean Glennon. Though it has yet to be decided if Glennon will actually start immediately or take the 2008 season as a redshirt with the Wolfpack. He has a big arm and outstanding height (the younger Glennon stands three inches taller than Sean, who is 6’4″) for a prototypical drop-back type thrower. The North Carolina State freshman could become an integral part of the Wolfpack offense much sooner than many familiar with the program initially thought.
Big 12
Baylor Bears
From Red Raiders.com for Thursday, July 24, 2008: There is a clear sign that things may be turning around for head coach of the Baylor Bears, Art Briles, and the players that comprise his beleaguered team out in the Big XII conference. This article notes the Bears’ offensive line gave up its lowest sack total (21) since 1995 last season and returns four starters from that same unit in 2008. Of particular importance as well, Baylor returns eight of its top nine receivers this fall and hosts both veteran Blake Szymanski and former University of Miami Hurricanes’ blue chip Kirby Freeman at the quarterback position.
Big East
Cincinnati Bearcats
From the Community Press in Cincinnati, dated July 25, 2008: The wait for quarterback Ben Mauk of the Cincinnati Bearcats is getting almost unbearable. A mere week away from the start of fall camp, Mauk still doesn’t know yet if the NCAA will award him a sixth year of eligibility to play in the upcoming football season. The request to do so is the third such appeal made to the NCAA on behalf of the Cincinnati quarterback. The most recent one was denied because of a supposed lack of documentation from Mauk’s former school (Wake Forest) certifying Mauk’s claim that an injury prevented him from competing during his freshman year back in 2003. Sadly, the NCAA has yet to even set a date to hear the most up-to-date evidence Mauk and University of Cincinnati has compiled. On the bright side, it has cleared Mauk to actually work out with the Bearcats while his case waits to be heard.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
From the New Jersey Star-Ledger, dated Friday, July 18, 2008: A less well-known quarterback from out of the Big East Conference, Mike Teel of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, has been named to the 2008 Davey O’Brien Award watch list. This is the second straight honor for Teel, who was also recently nominated to the Johnny Unitas Award preseason roster. Despite battling thumb and hand injuries for the majority of the 2007 season, Teel (often overlooked due to the presence of Heisman candidate Ray Rice at tailback) threw for over 3,100 yards last year and passed for 20 touchdowns,. That was a single-season record for the university’s football program. He also had six total contests in which he threw for 300 yards or more in a game.
Big Ten
Illinois Fighting Illini
From the Chicago Sun-Times, dated July 25, 2008: In discussing with members of the press at this week’s Big Ten media conference the state of the Illinois Fighting Illini backfield now that Rashard Mendenhall has moved on to the NFL, head coach Ron Zook told Herb Gould of the Chicago Sun-Times that for the 2008 football season, “It will be running back by committee, at least in the beginning.” Still, Zook was clear in his belief that junior Daniel Dufrene would get first crack as a starter come this fall, but that it would be important for redshirt freshman Troy Pollard and true freshmen, Mikel LeShoure and Jason Ford, to get their own opportunities to contribute to the Illini ground game as well.
Wisconsin Badgers
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for Thursday, July 24, 2008: Head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers, Bret Bielema, confirmed earlier this week that backup quarterback Dustin Sherer did in fact have minor knee surgery over the summer and that senior Allan Evridge will arrive at fall camp as the man to beat for the starting job under center in 2008.
MAC
From the New Jersey periodical, Today’s Sunbeam, dated Wednesday, July 16, 2008: A potential sleeper at the kicker position for the 2008 football season can be found out in the MAC playing for the Temple Owls. Jake Brownell, according to sportswriter Bill Evans, had a strong spring performance. This after struggling in 2007, hitting 13 of 21 on field goal attempts on the year. Head coach Al Golden notes Brownell reached a breakthrough after hitting a last second field goal against the Northern Illinois Huskies last October. That gave Temple its first victory of season and a win that sparked a three-game winning streak, allowing Temple to finish 4-of-7 for the remainder of its 2007 schedule.
Sun Belt
From the Tennessean, dated July 23, 2008: An article on this paper’s website discusses the planned expansion for the Sun Belt Conference heading into the upcoming football season and beyond. Starting this fall, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers will enter the FBS and will become a full-fledged member of the Sun Belt starting in 2009. Unofficially joining the conference as well next year will be South Alabama, who will become members of the FBS in 2012, then finally become a certified member of the Sun Belt in 2013. Once the latter finally takes place, the Sun Belt will be able to boast of a ten-member conference, with each member playing a nine game schedule against foes originating from the same conference.
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