Virginia Tech cornerback reverses decision to turn pro
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) -- Virginia Tech cornerback Victor "Macho" Harris has apparently changed his mind and decided to return to school for his senior season instead of entering the NFL draft.
Harris sent a text message Monday to Virginia Tech defensive backs coach Torrian Gray, informing him about his reversal, Gray told the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Coach, I'm coming back," Gray said the text message read in a story posted on the newspaper's Web site.
A telephone message left by The Associated Press at the home of Harris' father was not returned Monday.
"I think it's the best move for him," Gray said. "He can really help himself a lot."
Harris had said over the weekend he was forgoing his senior year. Gray had encouraged him to return to school. The NFL committee, which advises underclassmen on where they might be selected, projected Harris as a third-round pick.
The 6-foot, 203-pound junior was selected all-Atlantic Coast Conference last season. He had five interceptions, 36 tackles and 11 pass breakups to help the Hokies to the conference championship.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Chase Daniel, Chase Coffman, 3 others to return to Missouri for senior season
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Five Missouri football players who considered entering the 2008 NFL draft will return for their senior season instead.
The juniors, including quarterback Chase Daniel and tight end Chase Coffman, had submitted their names to the NFL College Advisory Committee before the Cotton Bowl.
These are all high-caliber football players," Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. "Having them here is obviously a huge positive for us going forward."
The others who submitted their names were free safety William Moore, defensive end Stryker Sulak and defensive tackle Ziggy Hood.
Their decision to return gives Missouri 16 returning starters, including 10 on defense, from a team that won the Big 12 North Division for the first time, won a school-record 12 games, beat Arkansas 38-7 in the Cotton Bowl, and finished the season with a No. 4 ranking, its highest ever.
After players submit their names to the committee, the panel projects in which round each would likely be chosen in the upcoming draft.
"It was a great process to go through for me, personally," Daniel said. "I think everyone is glad they got the feedback, and I know we're all excited about what's out here for us as a team next year."
Daniel, in his second season as starter, passed for 4,306 yards and 33 touchdowns on his way to being named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and finishing fourth in voting for the Heisman Trophy.
Coffman, who was third on the team with 52 catches for 531 yards, holds the Missouri career record for touchdown catches with 20. He was named to the All-Big 12 second team.
Moore played his best at the end of the season, when he intercepted five passes in Missouri's final six games after teammate Pig Brown suffered a season-ending injury. He finished the season tied for the most interceptions in the country with eight.
Sulak and Hood will anchor a line next season that lost All-Big 12 performer Lorenzo Williams. Sulak was named to the All-Big 12 second team after recording six sacks, while Hood was named honorable mention All Big 12.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
No BCS for BC: The Eagles have landed ... in the Champs Sports Bowl
ORLANDO, Fla. -- There was a time when Boston College was the No. 2 team in the country. Now it's come to this: the Champs Sports Bowl.
Boston College (10-3) lost three of its last five games, including two straight and the conference championship to Virginia Tech, to leave the Eagles out of the big bowls.
Still, there's something to play for Friday against Michigan State. A victory will give Boston College its first 11-win season since 1940 and extend the nation's longest bowl winning streak to eight.
"It's the last game for 17 fifth-year seniors, which is an extraordinarily high number of fifth-year guys, and it's the last time we will get to play together as a team," said quarterback Matt Ryan, the ACC Player of the Year. "So there is plenty of motivation. We have had some really good practices. Guys have been prepared and we are fired up and ready to go."
Michigan State (7-5) is just happy to be there, playing in its first bowl in four years. But it will be without four academically ineligible players: offensive lineman Abre Leggins, punt returner Terry Love, receiver-cornerback T.J. Williams and defensive end Jonal Saint-Dic. Also, coach Mark Dantonio suspended senior linebacker SirDarean Adams for violating unspecified team rules.
"I think everyone needs to push a little harder. We're going to do some things personnel-wise to try and counteract that," Dantonio said. "This is a game of inches, and we've always said that. It's a game of handling adversity. We just have to handle the situation and move forward."
The Spartans are one of nine teams in the country to average at least 200 yards a game rushing and receiving, and will need that balance against BC. The Eagles rank first in the nation in run defense, allowing just 68 yards a game, and fifth in interceptions with 21.
With Ryan at the controls, BC is sixth in the country in passing with 329 yards a game, and has four receivers with 50 or more catches for the first time in school history. He has thrown for 4,258 yards and 28 TDs, both school records.
"You really can't compare (Ryan) to anybody else we have seen this year. He is a playmaker," Michigan State safety Travis Key said. "He makes a lot of aggressive throws, I guess I could say. He makes a lot of throws a lot of other quarterbacks don't attempt. But he completes a lot of them."
Boston College could also have its first 1,000-yard rusher in four years if Andre Callender gets at least 64 yards.
But the Spartans have their own offensive punch. They average 34 points and 426 yards a game. Running backs Javon Ringer and Jehuu Caulcrick have combined for 2,159 yards and 27 TDs.
"Michigan State's running game has to be the best we have seen so far this year," BC linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar said. "We are looking forward to it. Something has to give. They rushed for over 2,000 yards and we are the No. 1 rush defense in the country, so something has to give. It should be fun."
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
Latest twist on Petrino's career path lands him at Arkansas
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- For 50 years, Frank Broyles has devoted himself to the Arkansas Razorbacks, first as their football coach and now as athletic director.
"I would be shocked if anybody really wants to leave Arkansas," Broyles said.
Now, along comes Bobby Petrino to test that theory.
Petrino left the Atlanta Falcons last week after only 13 games, then was immediately introduced as the Razorbacks' new coach. In Arkansas, the hiring was celebrated. Everywhere else, it was vilified.
Still, the fact is that after a two-week search to replace Houston Nutt, the Razorbacks landed a proven college coach, an offensive innovator who could help the Hogs finally move into the Southeastern Conference's top tier.
There's one nagging question, though: How long will Petrino stick around?
"I think the fans here have created a path for a coach to be successful," Broyles said. "The tremendous support that we have. There's a very, very positive path in place for the coach because of the fan support -- what they've allowed us to do."
The skepticism surrounding Petrino's future has little to do with Arkansas. Although the Razorbacks have been in turmoil lately, they play in a top conference and boast splendid facilities. They also have no rival for statewide support.
Petrino's history invites scrutiny. He was an assistant for nine different teams before going 41-9 as Louisville's head coach from 2003-2006. While with the Cardinals, his name repeatedly came up for other coaching vacancies. There was an infamous episode in 2003 when Auburn set up a secret interview while Tommy Tuberville was still the Tigers' coach.
After the 2004 season Petrino met with LSU. A year later he turned down the Oakland Raiders' job. He went from Louisville to Atlanta this past January, and when he left the Falcons last week, the criticism was relentless.
"I'm not going to say anything in my defense," Petrino said Tuesday. "To be honest with you, I haven't heard any of that. I haven't watched any of it. I've just been working on what we need to get done here. ... We're going to go forward. We're not going to talk any more about the Atlanta Falcons. We're talking about the University of Arkansas, the Razorbacks, what our future is here."
Although Petrino didn't want to discuss the controversy, his new employer stuck up for him.
"Look carefully at the sources of the criticism," Arkansas Chancellor John White said in an e-mail. "You will find they tend to come from people who are tightly connected to the NFL. ... Because the agenda and the sources of the criticisms are so obvious, I have not given them credence."
Even Broyles, who last changed schools in 1957, defended Petrino's career choices.
"I think when you're on the way up and you haven't got exactly what you want, you move," Broyles said. "I think you have that right and that privilege to do that. That's a good decision to make."
Now, of course, Arkansas wants Petrino to settle in. His five-year contract with the Razorbacks includes a $2.85 million buyout if he leaves to take a college or pro job during the first four years. It also includes an agreement that Petrino not leave to accept a job with another SEC West school.
Broyles is retiring at the end of the year. His successor, Jeff Long, handled the search for a new football coach.
This is a time of transition for No. 25 Arkansas, which plays No. 7 Missouri in the Cotton Bowl. Nutt faced fan unrest during his final season before leaving Nov. 26 and taking over at Mississippi.
The task for Petrino's task is to win games and unite the state, and his aggressive offensive style could provide a big boost to a program that has lacked an efficient passing game in recent years.
"I'm excited about the offense that he's going to be bringing," said Anthony Lucas, a receiver for the Razorbacks during the late 1990s. "I think it's a great hire."
Added Broyles: "He brings the reputation that Arkansas people think we deserve to have here. That was, I think, a critical issue -- getting someone that the fans could say, 'Well everybody else wants him and we got him."'
The Razorbacks might have the last laugh, and Petrino might eventually win back the respect of the football community. But for that to happen, this marriage better work out.
"I don't think he can go to the NFL right now," Lucas said with a laugh. "I think he's going to be here for a while."
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Bradford committed but looking
We were in attendance at last Friday's Santa Fe Springs (Calif.) St. Paul- Palmdale (Calif.) CIF title game which the Swordsmen won in convincing fashion 42-14. Prior to the game, we caught up with Palmdale coach Jeff Williams to find out the latest on offensive lineman Connor Bradford.
Bradford, 6-5, 270 pounds gave an early commitment to UCLA but like most of the Bruin pledges, he has decided to take some visits before making a final decision.
"Cal has really come on and is recruiting him very aggressively," Williams said. "I know he's going to look at them hard and will visit for sure.
"He's still committed to UCLA and will visit there next weekend (Dec. 14) but he's going to open up things as well and will take all of his visits now. I don't know if he has any other dates yet but he did say he wants to take all five before ending the process.
"With UCLA, he's interested in who they hire and what they do with the rest of the coaching staff. I know he likes coach Connelly but right now, he's going to try and stay open and see how things play out."
Against the Swordsmen, Bradford and the entire Palmdale offense really struggled to get much going. St. Paul was very physical up front on both sides of the ball and completely shut down Palmdales running game.
Bradford has a nice frame although he will need to get bigger and a lot stronger before he can compete at the Div I level. He's a decent athlete with solid lateral movement but will need to work hard on his overall athleticism as well.
Copyright 2007 Rivals.com. All Rights Reserved.
Jimbo Fisher could succeed Florida St coach Bobby Bowden
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher is in position to succeed Bobby Bowden whenever the longtime Florida State coach decides to retire.
Terms of a new contract for the 78-year-old Bowden are expected to be announced Monday, the school said.
According to Bowden's attorney, Russ Campbell of Birmingham, Ala., the agreement would allow him to coach as long as he wants.
However, an individual familiar with the negotiations, who requested anonymity, said Fisher would be given a substantial pay increase to compensate him for additional duties required of a head coach, such as fundraising.
Fisher's deal would be for three years, almost assuring Bowden's retirement by the end of the 2010 season when he would be 81. Bowden has frequently said he would like to reach 400 wins before retiring, but would have to average nine wins a season to meet that goal in three years.
The university would pay Fisher a seven-figure settlement if he is not chosen to succeed Bowden, the person said Wednesday. And Fisher would be required to repay the school if he opted out to take another job under the terms of the agreement that is still being finalized.
On Tuesday, university president T.K. Wetherell told boosters in Jacksonville, Fla., he was working on a deal to keep Fisher, whose name has been linked to some of the current head coaches openings.
Bowden's 373 career wins -- the most among major college coaches -- are two more than Penn State's Joe Paterno, who turns 81 on Dec. 21.
Bowden has 300 wins at Florida State, where he has won a pair of national championships and 12 Atlantic Coast Conference titles during his 32 years at the school.
Bowden, whose present five-year contract expires in early January, was paid $2,023,689.15 in 2006, state records show.
Fisher, who has never been a head coach, came to Florida State earlier this year from LSU to replace Bowden's son, Jeff.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Missouri kicker Jeff Wolfert hasn't missed last 2 years in Big 12
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- In the biggest game ever played by either school, Missouri led Kansas by six points before a sack in the end zone for a safety with 12 seconds to go.
The cushion had been supplied by Jeff Wolfert's extremely accurate right leg.
He connected on a pair of 43-yard field goals in the 36-28 victory last Saturday, which vaulted the Tigers to No. 1 for the first time since 1960 and allowed him to continue a perfect two-year run in Big 12 play.
"He's been an outstanding kicker for us, and he works very hard at it," quarterback Chase Daniel said. "He doesn't just sit around and do his own thing in practice. He's working every single day to get better."
It's an asset that's often overlooked in Missouri's overloaded offense.
The Tigers are among the highest-scoring schools in the country with a 42-point average, and are the only school to score 30 points in every game. Daniel, a Heisman Trophy candidate, has a bevy of wide receivers to choose from, topped by the tight end tandem of Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman, and running back Tony Temple is back after struggling with an ankle injury.
But when they fall short of the end zone, there's always Wolfert, who has made an astounding 87 consecutive extra points and field goals in conference games the past two seasons.
"It's in the back of my head, but I try not to think about it too much because I don't want to jinx it," Wolfert said. "I'm just thinking about the snap and the hold, and really just keeping my head down, because I know if I keep my head down good things are going to happen."
In two seasons overall, Wolfert is 35-for-41 on field goal attempts with a long of 48 yards this year and 54 yards in 2006. He had a run of 59 consecutive successful field goals and extra points in all games before missing a 49-yarder against Illinois in the season opener.
Wolfert's background as a high school soccer player aids in kicking. His background in competitive diving helps him block out the distractions. He was a scholarship diver at Missouri, competing at 10 meters, before making the football team as a walk-on in 2005.
"Just being an athlete and being in a whole bunch of competitions, you've got to be able to focus and eliminate the distractions," he said. "I feel like that's helped me with field goal kicking and being able to perform under pressure."
With a No. 1 ranking, Missouri's first Big 12 North title and a berth in the conference championship game against No. 9 Oklahoma on Saturday night in San Antonio at stake, there was plenty of pressure against Kansas.
Not for this guy.
"As we win, every game is important, so every kick is important," Wolfert said. "I'm just happy it's turned out the way it has."
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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