Thursday, August 24, 2006

Reporters' Notebooks

Jeff Metcalfe, Arizona Republic: Last Friday, Sam Keller was named Arizona State's starting quarterback. Now he is a member of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, despite a late pitch from Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, who made numerous calls Wednesday to the Kellers.

Ben Wear, Austin American-Statesman: Texas' new Godzillatron could be in violation of a state law that prohibits light-emitting diode signs along the state's highways (registration).

George Schroeder, Oklahoman: The father of former Oklahoma quarterback Rhett Bomar said his son is close to making a decision about his future (registration).

Brett McMurphy, Tampa Tribune: South Florida is the latest team to purchase RecruitingRadar, a software-based recruiting program. The service costs $28,800 annually.

Michael Pointer, Indianapolis Star: For the second consecutive year, Indiana has put a billboard promoting the Hoosiers' upcoming season in the backyard of rival Purdue. Anybody have a photo? Please send it to dawizofodds (at) aol.com.

Lynn Henning, Detroit News: Now it can be told. When George Perles was fired as Michigan State coach in 1994, university president Peter McPherson made a pitch to land Nebraska's Tom Osborne.

Michael Rothstein, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette: The eligibility of Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski won't be affected for his involvement in promotional spots for a TV show.

Heather A. Dinich, Baltimore Sun: Maryland has reached an agreement for naming rights to Byrd Stadium. The price is $20 million for 25 years (registration).

Mike Knobler, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: June Jones and Jerry Glanville, two former Atlanta Falcon coaches, are returning with their new team, Hawaii. The Rainbows will practice next week in Atlanta before busing to Birmingham to play Alabama (registration).

Garry Smits, Jacksonville Times-Union: The Gator Bowl must find a new sponsor after Toyota decided to end its 12-year relationship with the bowl (registration).

Keith Whitmire, Dallas Morning News: The Fort Worth Bowl has changed its name to the Armed Forces Bowl and taken on a new title sponsor in Bell Helicopter (registration).

Dan Wolken, Colorado Springs Gazette: Air Force offensive line coach Pete Hurt was reinstated, a week after striking an offensive lineman during a practice.

Ron Kantowski, Las Vegas Sun: Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson urged fans to help pressure cable providers to carry the conference's new TV channel.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Regarding Lynn Hennings book excerpt...

It was amazing he was able to cram so many factual errors into a single paragraph:

It was a couple of days before Thanksgiving, 1994. Nebraska's regular season was about to end with a 13-0 record and a victory later that week against old rival, Oklahoma. There would be a trip to Miami for a second straight Orange Bowl date against Florida State (it would become Osborne's seventh consecutive bowl defeat).

1) Nebraska's regular-season record in 1994 was 12-0, not 13-0.

2) Nebraska did not play Florida State during the 1994 season.

3) Nebraska won the Orange Bowl following the 1994 regular season, defeating Miami in the Orange Bowl.

As a Penn State fan I wish Henning's scenario had come true, then the voters wouldn't have been able to (again) rob the Nittany Lions of a National Championship.

Anonymous said...

I hope Hawaii's bus doesn't stop in Birmingham. While they might enjoy the barbecue, the game is Tuscaloosa, 55 miles away.