Archive for June, 2013
Cal’s Stadium Renovation Debt Shows Schools Need to Keep Football in Perspective
The University of California at Berkeley has a pristine academic reputation. Smart students go there. Unfortunately, the institution's leaders made a dumb decision that it—and possibly its students—will be paying for dearly.Memorial Stadium needed an upgrade. Not just to please boosters who had a desire to keep up with the Joneses. The stadium needed to be retrofitted, California's way of saying they needed to fix the stadium so it can withstand the Big One. Cal not ...
Wesley Green Commits to South Carolina: Gamecocks Raiding Georgia DB Talent
Wesley Green, 4-star cornerback from Martin Luther King High School in Lithonia, Ga., has committed to South Carolina. With the addition of Green, the Gamecocks now boast six 2014 commitments, two from the state of Georgia. Kipp Adams of ESPN.com (subscription required) reports on the commitment:ESPN 300 cornerback Wesley Green (Lithonia, Ga./Martin Luther King) spoke to defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward and secondary coach Grady Brown 15 minutes ago to tell them he plans to play for them next year, and ...
Florida Football: 4 Gators Who Need to Be Clutch in 2013
In 2012, the Florida Gators didn't have individuals who made clutch plays with regularity.Instead, they received key contributions from a variety of different players in a number of close victories.Whether it was Jeff Driskel's touchdown runs against Vanderbilt or Loucheiz Purifoy's blocked punt against Louisiana-Lafayette, the Gators rode the wave of big plays to avoid disaster against their opponents.Those same big moments are bound to arise this season, and Florida will need players to step ...
What New Ohio State Commit 4-star Jalyn Holmes Brings to Buckeyes
Jalyn Holmes, 4-star weak-side defensive end, committed to Ohio State days after an unofficial visit to Columbus.Holmes, the No. 4 player at his position according to the 247Sports composite rankings, represents Urban Meyer's 11th 2014 commitment. He hails from Lake Taylor High School in Norfolk, Va., and he's the No. 4 player from the state.Considering the talent coming out of Virginia this year, that says a lot about him.Holmes took to Twitter to emphatically announce his ...
College World Series Bracket 2013: Breaking Down Each Semifinal Matchup
As the 2013 College World Series continues to wind down, the excitement surrounding Friday’s semifinal matchups has the baseball world in a frenzy over what should be two great games.With four of the most exciting teams in the nation still playing, Friday’s action should be enough to satisfy even the biggest baseball fans. For the full 2013 College World Series bracket, go to NCAA.com. 2013 College World Series Bracket Mississippi State vs. (3) Oregon ...
10 College Football Recruits to Watch at 2013 Nike Event ‘The Opening
Once every year, the nation's top high school football players—many of whom live in the Southeast, on the opposite corner of the country—make the trek to Oregon for Nike's showcase "The Opening."In total, 162 players have been invited, where they will be split into six teams. From there, they will participate in lineman drills, seven-on-seven games and SPARQ physical testing.It takes a lot to jump out at scouts in such a large event, but year ...
O’Brien’s $1M Raise Won’t Stop Penn State Coach from Going to NFL, But it Helps
One year and a surprising 8-4 record later, Penn State head coach Bill O'Brien is getting a $1 million pay raise. O'Brien has turned the frown in Happy Valley upside down and will be rewarded with a pay package of over $3.2 million, according to an ESPN report.
His contract when he arrived in January 2012 called for a base salary of $950,000. That's going up to $1.9 million starting July 1, according to contract terms released ...
Michigan State Has Chance at Greatness If Adreian Payne Embraces Role as Star
The unproven is what intrigues us in college basketball these days. The top storylines in the fall will be every single movement Andrew Wiggins makes and how John Calipari is going to handle all of his freshmen. The one team that we think we know in the preseason top five is Michigan State. But if the Spartans and their seniors—Adreian Payne and Keith Appling—are what they've been in the past, then they're just going to continue ...
Players Who Won’t Receive a Lot of Friend Requests
The SEC isn't just college football's most talented conference, its also the sport's most passionate. Midwestern fan-bases like Michigan or Ohio State can compete in a vacuum, but as a whole, there is no conference more manic than the Southeastern.But passion is a two-way street, manifesting itself in both love for one's favorite team and disdain for all its opponents. SEC fans live and die by their school's success, and whenever that success is denied, ...
Not 1 Player from Texas or Oklahoma on Phil Steele’s All-America 1st Team?
Certain Big 12 fans may want to look at Phil Steele's 2013 All-American team roster with eyes wide shut. Texas and Oklahoma failed to have any of their players named to his first team. They were not completely shut out, but the two big boys of the Big 12 probably feel a little slighted. Or embarrassed.Sooner center Gabe Ikard and cornerback Aaron Colvin were named to the second team and running back Damien Williams was named ...