Big Ten Network : Football Top Stories

BIG TOP: Chris Martin reports from NFL Combine

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:59:00 +0000

BIG TOP: Chris Martin reports from NFL Combine

ESPN2 to carry Penn State's Blue-White Game

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:08:00 +0000

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – One of the nation's premier spring football events, Penn State's Blue-White Game presented by AAA, will be televised live by ESPN2 on Saturday, April 24. Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. ET in Beaver Stadium. As in previous years, there will be no admission or parking fee for the Blue-White game, which culminates spring practice for the Nittany Lions. The Blue-White Game also will air on the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com. The Blue-White Game presented by AAA will be the first spring football game ESPN has televised among Big Ten Conference institutions. Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Oklahoma are among the schools that have hosted ESPN for their spring football game over the past five years, with LSU and North Carolina also joining the list this spring. One of the highlights of the Penn State sports calendar, Blue-White Weekend presented by AAA is set for April 23-24 with numerous free, fan-friendly events adjacent to Beaver Stadium. The celebration of Penn State football will include the popular pre-game autograph session with the players, the announcement of the spring football award winners as well as the recipients of the PNC Bank "Player of the Game" from last season. During the weekend, the University will also announce the official dollar goal of For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students, the most ambitious fundraising effort in its history. The Blue-White Game presented by AAA is one of the nation's most popular spring football contests. The attendance record has fallen each of the past three years, with an estimated crowd of 76,500 flocking to the 2009 contest. An estimated 73,000 fans attended in 2008 and 71,000 in 2007. More than 40,000 fans have attended the game in 11 of the past 14 years, with rainy conditions during the other three contests. Other events held in conjunction with Blue-White Weekend presented by AAA will be announced at a later date. Coach Joe Paterno's squad will begin spring practice the last week of March. ESPN2 is available in nearly 99 million homes. Penn State has made numerous appearances on ESPN and ESPN2, including recent games with Northwestern (2009), Michigan, Wisconsin and Purdue (2007 and '08), Notre Dame, Texas A&M and Indiana (2007), in addition to ABC outer market appearances. ESPN's popular ""College GameDay presented by the Home Depot"" has originated from Penn State three times in the past five years. The Nittany Lions earned their second consecutive 11-2 record last season, capped by a win over LSU in the Capital One Bowl, Penn State's fourth bowl victory in the past five seasons. The Nittany Lions were No. 8 in the final USA Today Coaches poll and No. 9 in the Associated Press survey, earning their 23rd final Top 10 ranking under the Hall of Fame coach. Penn State is 51-13 (79.7) since the start of the 2005 season, tied for the nation's No. 7 winning percentage over that span. The Nittany Lions return 37 letterwinners for the 2010 season, including 13 starters (7 offense, 5 defense, 1 specialist), as well as 11 players that have starting experience. Penn State opens the season Sept. 4 vs. Youngstown State in Beaver Stadium and visits 2009 national champion Alabama on Sept. 11.

Bielema completes staff, hires Jackson

Sun, 7 Mar 2010 18:31:00 +0000

MADISON, Wis. -- Greg Jackson, a former 12-year veteran of the NFL, has been named nickel back and assistant linebackers coach for the Wisconsin football team, head coach Bret Bielema announced Sunday. Jackson has seven years of experience as an assistant coach at the collegiate level, including the last three at Tulane. "The experience Greg brings as a player and a coach and the leadership he has shown in both positions makes him a perfect fit for our staff," head coach Bret Bielema said. "He is a wonderful addition and I look forward to seeing him work with our defense and special teams." Jackson coached Tulane's safeties, nickel backs and kickoff team in 2009, the linebackers in 2008 and the safeties and nickel backs in 2007. Prior to going to Tulane he spent three seasons as the defensive backs coach at Louisiana-Monroe, where he coached all-Sun Belt Conference defensive back Chris Harris, who led the country with seven interceptions in 2004. Two of Jackson's top pupils at ULM -- Kevin Payne and Chaz Williams -- received invitations to the 2007 NFL Combine. Payne was a two-time all-Sun Belt Conference selection as a defensive back after earning the honor as a freshman at running back. Williams earned all-Sun Belt honors as a junior when he led the league in interceptions. Jackson joined the ULM staff after one season as secondary coach at Idaho, where he coached the Vandal defensive backs to a No. 31 national ranking in pass defense, up from No. 111 the season before he arrived. "I'm very excited to be a part of the Wisconsin Badger football program," Jackson said. "It's a great situation for me to join a winning football team that has been successful for a number of years. I'm eager to get started and help in any way I can." Jackson was a third-round draft choice of the New York Giants in 1989 and was a member of the Giants' 1991 Super Bowl championship team. In 1994, he went to the Philadelphia Eagles for two seasons, and played the New Orleans Saints (1996) and San Diego Chargers (1997-2001). Jackson's leadership abilities were recognized often and early during his playing career. He was one of five captains of the 1988 LSU team and after only three years in professional football, he was voted team captain of the Giants in 1992 and 1993. He was also voted the Giants' Player of the Year for activities outside football in 1993. He was captain of the 1996 Eagles and was special teams captain for San Diego in 1998 and 2000. Jackson enjoyed a great career at LSU from 1985-88, helping the Tigers to a combined 36-10-2. LSU won Southeastern Conference championships in 1986 and 1988, and played in bowl games every year. Jackson, a safety, was a first-team All-American in 1988, leading the nation with seven interceptions. His 219 interception return yards is the second-highest single-season total in SEC history and he tied an NCAA record by returning an interception 100 yards against Mississippi State. A native of Miami, Fla., Jackson earned a bachelor's degree in communications broadcasting from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2004. Jackson and his wife Dina, have two children, Greg Jr. and Jayden, while his oldest son, Jamal, is a football student-athlete at Appalachian State University.

New football award named in JoePa's honor

Fri, 5 Mar 2010 15:25:00 +0000

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; March 5, 2010 – The contributions of Penn State's Joe Paterno will be annually recognized by the Maxwell Football Club, which today announced the creation of the Joseph V. Paterno Award. The announcement was made by the Maxwell Club hours before of its 73rd Annual Awards Banquet in Atlantic City, N.J. The Maxwell Club presents 13 high school, college and professional football awards each year at its black-tie dinner. ""I'm deeply honored,"" Paterno stated. ""The Maxwell Club is one of the great organizations nationally for college football and all levels of the game. They have contributed tremendously to our game by recognizing many of the people who have made an impact in football. The Maxwell Club has been a real asset for many years in promoting the game of football in greater Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania."" The specific criteria for the Joseph V. Paterno Award is in the development stage. The recipient will be a college football coach, with the selection criteria including the impact the coach has had on his University, student-athletes in the program, community and state. The recipient will be chosen by a selection committee to be determined by the Maxwell Club. Paterno is a previous recipient of two of the Maxwell Club's awards. The Hall of Fame mentor won the George Munger Award, presented to the college football coach of the year, in 1990, 1994 and 2005. Paterno was presented the Reds Bagnell Award for contributions to the game of football in 1999. Paterno concluded his 60th season on the Penn State coaching staff by extending his Football Bowl Subdivision record to 394 career victories with a 19-17 win over LSU in the Capital One Bowl on New Year's Day. He owns an all-time mark of 394-129-3 and his 75.2 winning percentage is second-best among active coaches with at least 10 years as an FBS head coach. A 2007 Hall of Fame inductee, Paterno is preparing for his 45th season as head coach of the Nittany Lions. The all-time leader in bowl victories (24) and appearances (36), his 68.0 bowl winning percentage (24-11-1 mark) is first all-time among coaches with at least 15 post-season appearances, The Nittany Lions are 17-7 in New Year's bowls under Paterno. Paterno has led Penn State to national championships in 1982 and '86, five unbeaten and untied seasons (1968, '69, '73, '86, '94) and 15 seasons with at least 11 victories, including three in the past five years. He is college football's all-time leader in 10-win (21 years) and 11-win seasons. A 1950 graduate of Brown University, Paterno has led Penn State to 23 Top 10 finishes in the final polls, also a record for a major college coach. The Nittany Lions were ranked No. 8 in the final 2009 USA Today Coaches poll and No. 9 in the Associated Press poll. Paterno also has seen more than 350 of his players sign NFL contracts, and produced 77 first team All-Americans, 44 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Americans (34 first team), 15 National Football Foundation Hall of Fame Scholar Athletes and 18 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners during his legendary career. Penn State has had 12 Academic All-Americans over the past four seasons (10 first-team), leading the nation in each of the past two years (five in 2008, three in 2009). Under Paterno's leadership, Penn State led all teams ranked in the final 2009 AP poll with an 89 percent federal graduation rate and an 85 percent Graduation Success Rate, according to NCAA data released in November, 2009. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Paterno was inducted into the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2007, becoming one of three active coaches to gain induction at the time. He was selected the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) National Coach of the Year for an unprecedented fifth time in 2005. Paterno also has been selected the Big Ten-Dave McClain Coach of the Year three times, second only to Michigan's Bo Schembechler (four times). Paterno and his wife, Sue, have contributed more than $4 million to Penn State for multiple academic and athletic building projects and to endow scholarships and faculty positions. In 2009, the Paternos pledged $1 million to the Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College to assist with a 42,000-square foot expansion of the region's primary medical facility. Joe and Sue Paterno have been actively involved with the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games, held each June on the University Park campus. In 2008, the Paternos were inducted into the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Hall of Fame.

Buckeyes get mixed results at combine

Ken Gordon — Wed, 3 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

One Ohio State player left Indianapolis disappointed, and another left injured. The NFL combine has not treated the Buckeyes very well so far. Defensive back Kurt Coleman will work out today, as the combine concludes. Kicker Aaron Pettrey said he felt a "little bit of a letdown" after he connected on 10 of 15 field-goal tries in drills Friday. He said he missed from 35 yards, twice from 40 when he hit the uprights both times and also from 45 and 50. Pettrey said he felt better about his kickoffs, putting three of nine into the end zone and several others nearly that far. "I didn't have a terrible day, it was average," Pettrey said. "But I expected to do better." Three kickers were invited. Pettrey said Michigan State's Brett Swenson made 13 of 15 field-goal attempts, while top-rated Leigh Tiffin of Alabama made 9 of 15. OSU defensive linemen Thaddeus Gibson and Doug Worthington were next to work out, doing their bench presses Sunday. It was then that Worthington suffered a strained muscle. Although it is not believed to be serious, he decided not to participate in the rest of the drills for precautionary reasons, focusing on being healthy for OSU's pro day March12. Gibson fared better. He put up 32 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench - tied for sixth among defensive linemen. Yesterday, he posted a 4.71-second time in the 40-yard dash, about middle of the pack for defensive ends. Gibson had said he wanted to run in the 4.6 range. Decker trial date set The man who punched linebacker Tyler Moeller last July in a Florida bar/restaurant will go on trial June2, according to Pinellas (Fla.) County court records. Ralph Gray Decker is charged with felony battery. Moeller suffered a head injury and sat out the 2009 season. He hopes to return this fall. kgordon@dispatch.com Copyright 2010 The Columbus DispatchAll Rights Reserved

White, Swenson head to NFL combine

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:28:00 +0000

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State fifth-year senior wide receiver Blair White and senior placekicker Brett Swenson have accepted invitations to participate in the National Football League's 2010 Scouting Combine, scheduled for Feb. 24-March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. The NFL Scouting Combine (National Invitational Camp) is organized and operated by National Football Scouting, Inc. NFL Network and NFL.com will provide more than 30 hours of live coverage from Lucas Oil Stadium. More than 600 NFL personnel, including head coaches, general managers, scouts and medical staff representing all 32 teams, will attend the Scouting Combine and evaluate the nation's top 329 college players eligible for the upcoming 2010 NFL Draft through on-field drills, physical testing, psychological exams, as well as formal and informal interviews. White, who led the Spartans in receptions (70), receiving yards (990) and touchdown catches (9) last season, closed out his collegiate career with a game-high seven catches for 93 yards in the Jan. 23 East-West Shrine Game in Orlando, Fla. He caught a 13-yard pass from Northwestern's Mike Kafka on the game-winning drive as the East rallied for a 13-10 victory in the final 1:49. His 70 catches (second), nine TD receptions (fourth) and 990 receiving yards (seventh) rank among the Top 10 single-season totals in Michigan State history. Forty-six of his 70 catches (66 percent) resulted in either a first down or a score, including 15 gains of 20 or more yards. He led the team in receptions in nine of 13 games in 2009. A first-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches, White ranked among the conference leaders in TD receptions (tied first), receiving yards (third at 76.2 per game) and receptions (third at 5.4 per game). He also finished among the NCAA leaders in both receiving yards (No. 35) and receptions (tied for No. 40). ""Blair White had an outstanding senior season,"" Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio said. ""He was our go-to receiver all year long, and he had a number of huge touchdown receptions. Blair is a sure-handed receiver, who runs disciplined routes. He was a major contributor on offense the last two years because he played with such consistency. We could count on Blair to show up on game day. ""I don't know that I've ever coached a player who grew more than Blair did during his career. He became an All-Big Ten receiver because he had all of the intangibles to go along with his raw athletic ability. Blair also provided great leadership for our team both on and off the field. He did a tremendous job here in all aspects – on the field, off the field and in the classroom."" ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. projects White as a potential fifth- or sixth-round selection in the April NFL Draft. ""I really like Blair White a lot,"" Kiper said. ""I've already highlighted him in several pre-draft previews. At 6-2, he's got good size, finds ways to get open and made a lot of clutch catches over the last two years. ""With the way NFL teams spread the field now, Blair could become a solid contributor as a third, fourth or fifth receiver. A few years ago, those third, fourth and fifth receivers made their livings on special teams, but not anymore. Those guys are in the regular playing rotation. ""Since the NFL has become a pass-happy league, there's definitely a role for someone like Blair. If he runs in the 4.5 range at the Combine or in individual workouts, he'll put himself in a great position to be drafted."" The 6-foot-2, 200-pound White had six catches for 114 yards against Texas Tech in the 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl, including an 8-yard TD grab from wide receiver Keshawn Martin in the third quarter. His 114 receiving yards tied the fifth-best bowl-game total in MSU history. He also had a 49-yard reception during the same scoring drive. It marked White's fourth 100-yard receiving game of the season and the sixth of his career. He caught three passes for 95 yards in MSU's 15-13 loss to No. 7 Iowa, including a 27-yard gain on a hook-and-lateral play late in the fourth quarter and a 25-yard TD grab from Kirk Cousins with 1:37 left that gave the Spartans' a 13-9 lead. White, who set career highs for receptions (12) and receiving yards (186) and matched his career-best with two touchdown receptions in the Spartans' 24-14 Homecoming victory over Northwestern, was selected Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week. In addition to his selection as Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week, he was named National Wide Receiver of the Week (shared honor with Bowling Green's Freddie Barnes) by the College Football Performance Awards. His 12 catches (fourth) and 186 receiving yards (10th) rank among the top single-game totals in Spartan history. In addition, his 186 receiving yards were the highest single-game figure in the Big Ten and the 22nd-best single-game total in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in 2009. White scored on TD grabs of 22 and 47 yards from Cousins in the third quarter against the Wildcats. White caught six passes for 75 yards and two scores in MSU's 33-30 loss at Notre Dame. He scored on a 30-yard pass from Martin in the second quarter and a 17-yard strike from Cousins in the fourth quarter that gave the Spartans a 30-26 lead. The Saginaw, Mich., native recorded back-to-back 100-yard receiving games against Montana State (nine catches for 162 yards and two TDs) and Central Michigan (seven for 105). White scored on TD grabs of 15 and 24 yards from Cousins in the season opener against the Bobcats, and almost one-third of his receiving yards (51 of 162) came after the catch. A former walk-on, White finished his career ranked among MSU's all-time leaders in receptions (12th with 116), TD receptions (15th with 10) and receiving yards (16th with 1,674). He caught at least one pass in 24 consecutive games. White, who graduated in May 2009 with a 3.89 grade-point average in human biology, was named to the 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). He became MSU's first Academic All-American since center Chris Morris and quarterback Drew Stanton earned second-team honors in 2005 and the program's first first-team selection since safety Steve Wasylk in 1993. White began pursuing a second bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies in social science – human resources last fall. He already has been accepted into the University of Detroit Mercy's School of Dentistry. Swenson, who ranks as the school's all-time leader in scoring (377 career points), field goals (71 made) and extra points (164 made), accounted for seven points in the North's 31-13 victory over the South in the Jan. 30 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. He converted a 43-yard field goal to open the scoring in the all-star game and made all four extra-point attempts. The 5-foot-8, 185-pound Swenson was named recipient of the Governor's Award as the team's most valuable player. His selection marked the first time in the 79-year history of the award that a placekicker earned the team's top individual honor. Swenson finished the 2009 campaign ranked second among NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision active players in scoring and third in field goals. He also ranks among the Big Ten's all-time leaders in kick scoring (second), field goals (tied for third), total points (fourth) and extra points (sixth). His .780 career field-goal percentage ranks second in Spartan history. A first-team All-Big Ten selection and Lou Groza Award semifinalist, Swenson led the conference in kick scoring (7.8 points per game), field goals (tied with Iowa's Daniel Murray at 1.46 made per game) and field-goal percentage (.864). He led the team in scoring with 101 points, converting 19-of-22 field-goal attempts and 44-of-45 extra-point tries. Swenson became only the second kicker in MSU history to reach the 100-point milestone in back-to-back seasons, joining Dave Rayner (2003-04). He also tied Rayner's school record with 76 consecutive PATs. His 44 extra points (third) and 19 field goals (sixth) rank among the Top 10 single-season totals in Spartan history. Swenson made nine consecutive field goals during one six-game stretch (Sept. 26 Wisconsin-Oct. 31 Minnesota). He averaged 61.9 yards on 66 kickoffs, including seven that resulted in touchbacks. ""Brett Swenson had a remarkable career here at Michigan State, completely rewriting the record book,"" Dantonio said. ""You begin to appreciate what Brett accomplished here when you look at the great kickers who preceded him: Morten Andersen, Paul Edinger, John Langeloh and the list goes on and on. He was almost a unanimous selection as our team MVP and that speaks volumes. ""He made so many clutch kicks throughout his career that I trusted him explicitly when the game was on the line. Brett just didn't rush himself in those situations. He got himself prepared on the sideline, so he was extremely focused and confident when he came into kick. In my opinion, Brett was the finest placekicker in the country last season because of his accuracy and mental toughness."" According to Kiper, the top three kickers eligible for the upcoming NFL Draft are Swenson, Ohio State's Aaron Pettrey and Texas' Hunter Lawrence. ""Those top three kickers are really competing for one draft position since none of those guys really possess a big leg,"" Kiper said. ""Brett Swenson certainly has a chance to become that guy because he strikes the ball well, and he's proven his ability to convert kicks in less than ideal weather conditions. So those factors all help him. ""At this week's Combine and Michigan State's Pro Day, Brett needs to display tremendous accuracy from 45-to-48 yards. He doesn't have to be a long-range guy. The league had so many issues this past season with guys being unable to make that clutch kick that all three of these guys will get a good look. The best case scenario for Brett is to create some separation and nail down a spot in either the sixth or seventh round. There's still an outside shot that all three kickers go undrafted just because NFL teams are so reluctant to hand the placekicking job to a rookie. ""Do I see Brett being the No. 1 guy for an NFL team two or three years down the line? Absolutely."" Swenson, who connected on all four of his field-goal attempts at Purdue, including a 21-yard game-winner, was selected Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week. It marked the fourth time in his career that Swenson has earned conference weekly honors. In addition to his selection as Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week, he was named National Placekicker of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards and one of the Lou Groza Award's Top Three Stars of the Week. The Pompano Beach, Fla., native matched his career highs with 16 points and four field goals against the Boilermakers. Swenson hit a 28-yard field goal late in the second quarter and a pair of career-long 52-yarders in the third quarter. Keshawn Martin's 85-yard kickoff return to the Purdue 11-yard line set up his game-winning field goal with 1:51 left. It marked Swenson's third career game-winning kick (2006 vs. Northwestern and 2008 vs. Wisconsin). He accounted for 11 points in MSU's season-opening 44-3 victory over Montana State, hitting 2-of-2 field-goal attempts and all five PATs. The 2010 NFL Draft will be conducted April 22-24 (April 22 – first round; April 23 – second and third rounds; and April 24 – fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds) at Radio City Music Hall in New York City and televised by ESPN and NFL Network.

Michigan gives update on NCAA investigation

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:34:00 +0000

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan president Mary Sue Coleman, incoming athletics director David Brandon and football coach Rich Rodriguez met with the media Tuesday to provide an update on the NCAA investigation into the football program. The briefing was held at the Regents Room in the Fleming Administration Building at 1 p.m. EST. Click here to view all of MGoBlue.com's coverage.

Survival & revival; Zook never worried about getting fired, and now he wants Illini, fans to get fired up

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

It was the toughest season of Ron Zook's football career, one in which athletic director Ron Guenther stared down mounting unrest with a midseason announcement that Zook would return in 2010. After revamping the coaching staff, Zook is back at it, planning an Illinois football revival this fall with renewed vigor. Curious about where he and the program are at after another tumultuous season, I visited with him this week. After an autumn that left him haggard and frustrated, Zook looks refreshed and ready to go. Here are thoughts he shared on an agonizing 2009, bouncing back in 2010 -- and the state of Illinois football in general. - It was his hardest year: ''Ever. The expectations, No. 1. That was as much my fault as anybody's. Because I was talking it up. I was very optimistic about the season, about the year, about the players. But some things happened that were out of our control, and then some things happened that we didn't control. ''I remember going into the Missouri game thinking we'd had a great camp and would come out hitting on all cylinders. And then Rejus [Arrelious Benn] gets hurt. Jason Ford gets hurt. We lose our best defensive player [Martez Wilson], our bell cow, in that game. That's big. ''It was like somebody threw a blanket over us. We never came out of that until the Michigan game. There was so much attention, and the letdown, and the pressure on the guys.'' - He never fretted about getting fired: ''No. Because I can walk away from here knowing this program is in pretty good shape. I told coach Guenther -- this was a few days after the season -- if you're going to make a change, make it now. Don't let it get to where it was when we took over. If you're not going to make a change, then I have to make some changes. So he allowed me to do it, and we did it.'' - He's ready to handle the intense pressure to win this fall: ''You have to go do your job. You can't worry about what everybody else is saying. Obviously, we have to win. I understand that. But I don't feel any different now than I did the first year I was here. In fact, I feel better because I know exactly where we're at and what we've got.'' - He believes gloomy boosters, fans and media are a big obstacle to success: ''Sometimes I think as a university and as a group of fans, we shoot ourselves in the foot. The negative recruiting, it all stems from us, from our own people. Rather than getting behind the program, they want to start lambasting it. ''The negative recruiting was the worst I've ever seen it this year. But a lot of that is our own people. There's not enough people that believe this program can be where it can be. You're changing attitudes. You're changing beliefs. 'There they go again. They can't sustain it.' When you go back and look at what's happened the last 25 years, it's going to take a tough son of a [gun] to get through that. ''What you have to do is educate your players so they understand that's part of it. Particularly when you have a bunch of young guys who have trouble handling it. They read the papers. The e-mails I'm getting, they're probably getting the same things. Pretty soon it's like, 'Damn, does anybody care?' But you have to fight through that stuff. They're developing a little chip on their shoulder. They're sick of hearing it. Which is good. They should be sick of hearing it. It's our job to do something about it.'' - The new coordinators: Paul Petrino and Vic Koenning have broad powers to run the offense and defense, respectively, and Zook is fine with that. ''Absolutely. That's why I've got the fall [training camp] schedule done already. These guys are proven. They've been there, done that at this level. They have to be the demanding guys. They have to make sure things get done, and they will. If we're judging our talent correctly, it's up to us to get it done. It comes down to productivity.'' - How Illinois' schemes will change under the new coordinators: ''They'll change, but it will be more terminology than anything. Everybody's saying we're going to run a 3-4. The defense is still going to be an eight-man front. We'll do some different things, but we'll do a lot of the same things as well. On offense, it depends on who's quarterback. If Jacob Charest is the quarterback, we probably won't run the option as much. If Nathan Scheelhaase is the quarterback, you might see it more. You run the system that allows you to do what your players do best. We didn't run the option at Florida with Chris Leak and Rex Grossman. But when Juice was our quarterback, the option was the thing he did best.'' - How would Zook sum up Illinois' troubled 2009? ''There's something here missing. What is it? There are some things we have to fix. We have this big engine, but our injectors are clogged. The fuel's not going into the cylinders the way it should. We're not hitting on all cylinders. That's our job, to figure out why and get it fixed.'' Copyright 2010 Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.All Rights Reserved

Purdue LB Werner eligible to play in 2010

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:10:00 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue linebacker Jason Werner has been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA and will play for the Boilermakers in 2010. Since arriving at Purdue, Werner has been healthy for only three seasons: 2005, 2007 and 2009. He missed both the 2006 and 2008 seasons with a recurring back injury. "It feels great to finally get the word, and I'm extremely excited to be back," said Werner, a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree who earned his bachelor's degree in organizational leadership and supervision in August of 2009 and currently is working toward a graduate degree. "I have been working out this whole time without knowing whether I would get the chance to play again, and now that the decision has been made I can really get back at it. I'm looking forward to playing with my teammates again and for our coaches." Werner appeared in six games as a reserve and on special teams in 2005 and in all 13 games as a backup in 2007 before starting all 12 games at strongside linebacker in 2009. Last season, the team co-captain ranked third on the Boilermakers with 77 tackles (61 solo, 16 assists), including 14.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks, with two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one interception. His average of 1.21 tackles for loss per game ranked eighth in the Big Ten. Werner had a career-high 13 tackles vs. Toledo on Sept. 5. He had 3.0 tackles for loss at Oregon on Sept. 12 and vs. Ohio State on Oct. 17. "This is great news for Jason, our football family and all of Boilermaker Nation," head coach Danny Hope said. "He's a heck of a player who did a great job last season and can be even better this year. He can be one of the top players at his position in our league. Getting him back also helps us from a leadership standpoint because we don't have a very big senior class, and he's a great leader and teammate. All the way around, it's exciting to have Jason back." In 31 career games, the 6-foot-4, 221-pound Werner, from Greenwood, Ind., has totaled 105 tackles (82 solo, 23 assists), including 16.5 for loss and 5.5 sacks, with three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and one interception. He was named Indiana Mr. Football as a senior at Roncalli High School and came to Purdue as a safety before moving to linebacker during the 2006 spring season. Werner is the second Boilermaker to be granted a sixth year in as many years, following defensive back Torri Williams. Cavallo Moving On: Graduate assistant coach Nick Cavallo, who played for the Boilermakers from 2002 to 2006, has been hired as defensive line coach at Campbell University in North Carolina. Campbell reinstated its football program in 2008 following a 58-year absence. The Fighting Camels were 3-8 last season. Cavallo is married to former Purdue softball player Kristen Schell.

BIG TOP: Watch our Football Signing Day Special on Wednesday

Mon, 1 Feb 2010 16:37:00 +0000

The Big Ten Network's 90-minute " Football Signing Day Special " evaluate each school's recruiting class.

Another Griffin becomes a Buckeye

Ken Gordon — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

One day last week, Archie and Bonita Griffin opened a letter written to them by their son, Adam. "I've always been an Ohio State fan," it read. "I've always loved Ohio State, and my dream has always been to go to Ohio State." As a parent, Archie said, "If that's been his dream, you want him to do that." So Adam, a senior at DeSales, called Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel and asked if he could walk on. Tressel was taken by surprise. He liked the skills of the all-around athlete, a 5-foot-9, 185-pound running back, defensive back and kick returner who helped lead the Stallions to the Division III championship game last fall. Because of some prospects who chose to go elsewhere at the last minute, Tressel had a scholarship available in the 2010 class. "I visited with my staff, and it became a consensus that this was the kind of young man we wanted as a part of this team," Tressel said. "So it was my turn to catch him off-guard. I called him back and told him not only did we want him, but we'd like to offer him a scholarship." That's how the son of a Buckeyes legend became a Buckeye. He signed a letter of intent and became the 19th member of the class. OSU is holding a scholarship for offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson of St. Paul, Minn., who committed to Southern California but has not signed. "Obviously, I'm very, very excited," Adam said. "Getting a scholarship means a lot to me." Until last week, Adam was pondering offers from Air Force, Navy and Eastern Illinois. Rivals.com rated him a two-star prospect (out of five), and Scout.com gave him one star. He rushed for 772 yards and 16 touchdowns last season for DeSales. He also was named third-team All-Ohio as a defensive back and added two touchdowns on kick returns. Scouting reports hailed his speed and vision but questioned his size. Those around him say he has abilities that don't show up on film. "I'm a dad, but I like his skills," Archie said. "I like the way he plays the game. He knows the game very well." Archie is Ohio State's all-time leading rusher and the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner. He is now president and CEO of the OSU Alumni Association. Tressel said Archie's legacy was a factor in deciding to offer Adam, who said he prefers to play running back. "(The staff) reviewed in our minds guys like Stan White (Jr.) and Dionte Johnson and Shaun Lane," Tressel said, naming some recent second-generation Ohio State players. "Guys like that, it's not just what they're able to contribute on the field, but that ability to help others know just how special this place is. They add some intangibles." Adam is aware of the scrutiny and comparisons that await. He has lived with those all his life and also watched his half-brother, Andre, go through it when he walked on at Ohio State in the late 1990s. "It really doesn't affect me," Adam said. "I don't pay any attention to that. I'm not my dad." Tressel said, "He's a pretty special young man. He's handled it exceptionally well for 18 years." kgordon@dispatch.com Box Story: Buckeye grove When Adam Griffin accepted a scholarship from Ohio State, he became the sixth member of the family tree to become a Buckeye. * Archie -- lettered from 1972-75 * Ray (Archie's brother) -- 1974-77 * Duncan (another brother) -- 1975-78 * Kevin (nephew, son of brother James) -- 1995-98 * Andre (son) -- 2000 * Adam (son) Copyright 2010 The Columbus DispatchAll Rights Reserved

New offensive coordinator talks about simplifying; Jeff Horton will add his own touches to the old framework, and Adam Weber and MarQueis Gray will be expected to learn the whole package.

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Jeff Horton came to the University of Minnesota with years of experience, a history of success as a quarterbacks coach in the Big Ten and a simple way of looking at the job of offensive coordinator for the Gophers football team: "I always say if you go into a restaurant, the bigger the menu, the harder it is to decide," Horton said from his office Wednesday. "The shorter the menu, the easier it is to order up." Translation: When it comes to getting a college offense to function well, less can be more. Horton most recently was quarterbacks coach of the Detroit Lions. He also has experience as a college head coach and spent several seasons as quarterbacks coach at Wisconsin. Because he will be the Gophers' third offensive coordinator in three seasons, Horton has been asked by coach Tim Brewster to work within the framework Jedd Fisch set up last year. Much of the terminology will remain, and the team will remain a multiple-set, pro-style offense. But it won't take long to see Horton's fingerprint on the game plan. "The college game and the NFL game, they're different," Horton said. "The NFL's more about matchups. ... The college game is a little different. It's not all 1-on-1, which is what you see in the NFL all the time. What we want to do is get some things we can hang our hat on, know we can do well, then we can dress those things up. My goal coming out of spring practice will be to have an effective scheme, but one that is simple enough where the players can play fast." The Gophers finished last in the Big Ten in scoring, rushing and total offense last season. Many believed Fisch's offense was too complex. You won't hear Horton criticizing anybody. But you will hear him talking about simplifying things. "I want the players on the field to already know what I'm going to call in for a situation," he said. "Because we will have practiced it all week. Here are three, four plays we've been working on all week." Horton's offensive philosophy can best be described as a return to basics. "We have to establish ourselves as a physical team that can run," he said. "We have to. We have to be a team that can run the ball in October and November in bad-weather games, when we have to do it and [the opponent] knows we are going to do it. That has always been a credo of mine. Off that, I'm a big play-action guy. The better you run the ball, the better you can run the play-action pass. I was raised on that." The challenges are obvious. The work will start up front along the offensive line. At quarterback, Adam Weber and MarQueis Gray will be expected to learn the whole package; there won't be situational substitutions any longer. Both will compete in the spring and fall for the starting job. But it will start with the run. "From the first meeting this spring, we will set those guidelines," Horton said. "The defense may stuff us 20 times in a row this spring, but we'll keep hammering until we get it right. Repetition builds confidence." Copyright 2010 Star TribuneAll Rights Reserved

Pryor has minor knee surgery

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee this week, but he is expected to be fine for the start of spring practice, an athletic department spokeswoman said. Pryor suffered a partial tear of the posterior cruciate ligament Oct. 31 against New Mexico State. Although he was hampered by the injury, Pryor still led OSU to three vic-tories and a Big Ten title to close out the regular season, then had an outstanding game in the Rose Bowl with a career-high 266 passing yards in a 26-17 victory over Oregon. Last week, coach Jim Tressel said the knee was "nothing that has to be attended to surgically." It appears the surgery might not have been medically necessary but was something Pryor wanted done, maybe for peace of mind. On his Twitter page, Pryor said he had to be off his feet for two weeks and then he would be "off to work." Spring practice begins April 1. Quarterbacks generally have been off-limits to contact for most or all of the spring. Pryor, who will be a junior in the fall, is one of nine returning starters on offense for OSU, which is considered the early favorite in the Big Ten and a national-title contender. kgordon@dispatch.com Copyright 2010 The Columbus DispatchAll Rights Reserved

Pryor undergos arthroscopic knee surgery

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:28:00 +0000

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor has undergone arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. Team spokeswoman Shelly Poe confirms that Pryor had what she calls routine surgery. She says it will require only minimal rehabilitation and if the Buckeyes had a game next week, Pryor would be available to play. A heralded recruit out of Jeannette, Pa., Pryor has started for Ohio State the past two seasons. He capped his sophomore season with a terrific performance in the Rose Bowl last month, passing for a career-high 266 yards and two touchdowns against Oregon. He also rushed for 72 more and threw a 17-yard scoring pass to seal a 26-17 victory.

Gophers name co-offensive coordinator

Tue, 9 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The University of Minnesota has named running backs coach Thomas Hammock as the football team's co-offensive coordinator. Coach Tim Brewster announced the move Friday, a few weeks after hiring Jeff Horton as offensive coordinator to replace Jedd Fisch, who left for the NFL. Offensive line coach Tim Davis has also carried the title of running game coordinator. Brewster said he's rewarding Hammock for "tireless" efforts as a coach and a recruiter. Hammock's role in the offense has increased since his arrival three years ago. Horton, Hammock and Davis have work to do. The Gophers finished last in the Big Ten in total yards and points per game in 2009. Brewster also said wide receivers coach Richard Hightower has resigned. Lane Kiffin really is getting a jump on recruiting. ESPN reported that Southern California's new coach received a verbal commitment Thursday evening from 13-year-old wunderkind quarterback David Sills of Bear, Del. The commitment has happened in college basketball previously, but it is unprecedented for college football, where it's harder to project how a player as young as Sills will develop physically. "I'm as shocked as anybody," the boy's father, David Sills IV, said. "I was just talking with friends yesterday about what it'll be like four years from now when David goes through the recruiting process. I never expected this to happen so soon. "But David's always wanted to go to USC. I mean, is there a better place to play football in the country? How can you pass up the best offer you're ever going to get?" One of the most successful coaches in NAIA football the past decade is moving on to a Division I program. University of Sioux Falls coach Kalen DeBoer said he has accepted the offensive coordinator position at Southern Illinois after a five-year stint in which his teams compiled a 67-3 record and won three NAIA championships. Baseball / Lincecum ready for arbitration hearing Tim Lincecum is prepared to hear harsh criticism in an arbitration hearing with the San Francisco Giants -- perhaps even delving into his offseason pot bust. The two-time reigning NL Cy Young Award winner is asking for a record $13 million, while the Giants offered $8 million when the sides exchanged numbers last month. Lincecum is seeking the richest contract ever awarded in arbitration, surpassing the $10 million that Alfonso Soriano (2006) and Francisco Rodriguez (2008) got after losing cases and Ryan Howard received after winning in 2008. After a two-year absence, the University of Minnesota baseball team will hold its 17th annual Pro-Alumni & Legends Game at 5:05 p.m. today at the Metrodome. Hall of famer Paul Molitor will serve as the manager for the Pro-Alumni Team, which includes current major leaguers Robb Quinlan (Angels) and Jack Hannahan (Mariners).Miscellaneous / Gophers wrestlers streak past Illinois Minnesota's fifth-ranked wrestling team won six straight matches on its way to a 27-13 victory at No. 21 Illinois. Jayson Ness started the run by pinning the Illini's Daryl Thomas at 133 pounds, and Scott Glasser capped it with a 3-2 decision over Jordan Blanton at 174 for a commanding 24-6 lead. The win was the fifth straight for the Gophers (10-4 overall, 5-0 Big Ten), who visit Indiana today. Minnesota's new professional soccer team will be named NSC Minnesota Stars, it was announced during a live webcast from the National Sports Center campus in Blaine. General manager Kris Bjerkness said the team will hire a coach within a week to 10 days and start signing players soon after that. Copyright 2010 St. Paul Pioneer PressAll Rights Reserved

Gophers left with an empty feeling after top two prospects sign elsewhere

Marcus R. Fuller mfuller@pioneerpress.com — Sat, 6 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

It was hard to tell by reading Tim Brewster's face whether he knew about Seantrel Henderson's decision during Minnesota's signing day news conference Wednesday afternoon. You couldn't tell if the Gophers football coach was in a good mood because he thought he still had a shot at the nation's No. 1 recruit or if he was just trying to mask his disappointment knowing the 6-foot-8, 330-pound tackle from Cretin-Derham Hall would shun his hometown school an hour later to sign with Southern Cal. On the phone after Henderson announced his decision, Brewster sounded tense when asked if he could comment on losing the state's top player -- again. It also happened with wide receivers Bryce McNeal, who chose Clemson in 2009, and Michael Floyd, who opted for Notre Dame in 2008. "It's not proper to comment," he said. "That has nothing to do with anything." It was obvious Brewster was upset and trying to move on, as are fans who actually thought Henderson might be the first top-tier national recruit Brewster would lure to Minnesota's midlevel Big Ten football program, lending credence to his reputation as a super recruiter. And not only did Brewster strike out with Henderson, he also failed to land four-star Atlantic High School (Fla.) receiver James Louis, who ended up signing with Ohio State. After absorbing two major blows, the Gophers were left to pick up the pieces of another class that ranks several notches below those of Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan. Minnesota's 2010 recruiting class was ranked sixth in the Big Ten Conference for the second straight year and No. 50 nationally by Rivals.com . Scout.com ranked it 11th in the Big Ten and 68th nationally. But Brewster defended his group of 24 signees, saying, "they filled our needs." After the Gophers finished a disappointing 6-7 in 2009, it was apparent they most needed at running back and on the offensive line. Newly hired Jeff Horton, Brewster's third offensive coordinator in four seasons, won't have Henderson to help improve the pro-style offense his predecessor Jedd Fisch installed. But the Gophers signed another massive left tackle in Jimmy Gjere. They also landed tailbacks Donnell Kirkwood, Lamonte Edwards and Devon Wright, who are more physically equipped to be successful downfield runners than anyone in Minnesota's current backfield. It all starts with Gjere. The 6-7, 305-pound Irondale High senior played in the U.S. Army All-American game with Henderson, and he held his own against the nation's top talent. "Hopefully, I can come in and get a lot bigger and a lot faster over the summer," said the state's No. 2-ranked prospect. "Come fall, I want to be ready to go and earn my (starting) spot." CBS College Sports recruiting expert Tom Lemming said Gjere would be a "very good left tackle in college." He ranked Gjere the 11th-best tackle in the nation and No. 65 overall in the 2010 class. "He'll be about a 310- to 320-pounder, and he's got good feet," Lemming said. "He's a smart kid and technically sound. When you watch him on film, he looks very good." Lemming said Kirkwood, a 5-10, 200-pound senior from Atlantic High School in Florida, could play as a true freshman. Kirkwood (No. 18-ranked tailback/slotback in the nation), St. Louis Trinity High School receiver Marquise Hill (No. 13 best athlete) and Arrowhead High School (Wis.) quarterback Tom Parish (No. 19 best combo passer) were all top-20 players at their positions, according to Lemming's rankings. "I think he did a pretty good job with this class," Lemming said of Brewster. "But (it will be) three years from now (until) you can tell how good these classes turned out. Collectively, you could be right; you could be right or wrong about certain players." Kirkwood might not have to wait to try to prove his worth. The Gophers had a three-man backfield last season because they didn't have a featured runner. Duane Bennett and DeLeon Eskridge are returning juniors, but sophomore Kevin Whaley was released from his scholarship after being arrested for assault after the Insight Bowl. "I did some research, and I knew that they were struggling with their running backs," Kirkwood said. "Some of them had problems. That attracted me there. It affected my decision a lot, because I knew I could play." Randy Taylor, on Brewster's staff as director of football operations in 2007, is now the National Collegiate Scouting Association's recruiting director. He said many factors have kept Brewster from not getting the best national recruits -- such as Henderson -- and living up to the reputation he had as a top recruiter when he was hired. "The different offensive coordinators, the different defensive coordinators and not finishing strong, those hurt," Taylor said. "Those kinds of things add up. It's not Florida. It's not USC. It's a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten program that could be better." Copyright 2010 St. Paul Pioneer PressAll Rights Reserved

Brewster's new deal buoyed by bonuses

Marcus R. Fuller mfuller@pioneerpress.com — Sat, 6 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

University of Minnesota football coach Tim Brewster received more potential incentive money with the two-year contract extension through 2013 he signed Wednesday, and the school received a less costly opportunity to get rid of him. "It's a good contract for Minnesota, and it's a good contract for Brewster," Gophers athletics director Joel Maturi said. "When you do the contract, you hope (parting ways) is not the case. It's a situation where we feel good about the contract. We shared the vision of bringing championship football to Minnesota, and this is part of the process." Brewster, who signed a five-year deal when he was hired in 2007, can earn more by winning at least seven games or by making it to the Capital One or the Outback Bowl. But if the university wants to fire him, it has to pay him only $200,000 per year, half his base salary, for every year left on the contract. There are bonuses for Brewster during the regular season for winning seven games ($100,000), eight games ($150,000), nine games ($200,000), 10 games ($250,000), 11 games ($300,000) or 12 games ($350,000). Brewster could receive $100,000 if he takes the Gophers to the Capital One or the Outback Bowl. His supplemental retirement provisions were extended to award him $200,000 per year until 2013. He can receive the first five years of those provisions, or $1 million, if he remains the coach after the 2011 season. After the 2010 season, Brewster and the university will review the compensation of the contract and can negotiate mutually agreeable changes. "I wouldn't have agreed to it if I didn't think it was fair," Brewster said Friday as negotiations ended. "I think it shows that we are moving the program forward in a positive direction." On Wednesday, Brewster signed 25 players for 2010. His third full recruiting class as Minnesota's head coach was ranked as low as 11th in the Big Ten Conference and 68th nationally by Scout.com . Maturi, who hired Brewster for his recruiting ability, remained optimistic about the program's future. "We've made some mistakes, and we've made some good choices," Maturi said Wednesday about Brewster's recruiting classes. "I've never been around a program where 100 percent of the kids panned out. ... That's why it's such a challenge, but I think on paper I like what I see." Brewster has a 14-24 overall record, 6-18 in Big Ten play. JUST WIN, BABY! Gophers football coach Tim Brewster can earn additional compensation based on wins. Here's what he can earn: Wins Bonus 7 $100,000 8 $150,000 9 $200,000 10 $250,000 11 $300,000 12 $350,000 Copyright 2010 St. Paul Pioneer PressAll Rights Reserved

Ash joins Badgers coaching staff

Thu, 4 Feb 2010 16:30:00 +0000

MADISON, Wis. -- Chris Ash, a 13-year coaching veteran, is the newest addition to the Wisconsin football coaching staff, head coach Bret Bielema announced on Thursday. Ash, who spent last season as the defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Iowa State, will coach the secondary for the Badgers. ""I'm very excited to welcome Chris aboard,"" Bielema said. ""He brings great knowledge and tremendous experience. I've known Chris for a long time and his familiarity not only with our staff but with our schemes will help in what I think will be a seamless transition for him and the rest of our coaches."" Ash has spent eight of the last 10 seasons at Iowa State, beginning as a defensive graduate assistant in 2000. He was promoted to secondary coach in 2002 and added the title of recruiting coordinator in 2006. Following the 2006 season he moved on to become the secondary coach and recruiting coordinator at San Diego State. He stayed there for two seasons before returning to Iowa State in the same position. ""I'm very excited to have the opportunity to work at a wonderful university like Wisconsin and with a football program with such a great history of success,"" Ash said. ""I am really looking forward to working for Coach Bielema and alongside Coach Doeren and Coach Partridge, two coaches I have worked with in the past and have great respect for."" Ash began his career as a volunteer assistant at Drake in 1996. The next season he served as a defensive graduate assistant for the Bulldogs. During those two seasons he was on the same staff as current UW assistants Dave Doeren and Charlie Partridge. When Doeren left Drake following the 1997 season, Ash took over his role as defensive coordinator for two seasons. Ash has coached in six bowl games in his career, including the 2009 Insight Bowl when Iowa State defeated Minnesota. Last year's Cyclones' defense finished ninth in the country with 32 takeaways and tied for second in the nation in red zone efficiency. In 2005, Iowa State led the Big XII in interceptions (22) after finishing second in the conference the prior year (17). Ash graduated from Drake with a bachelor's degree in secondary education in 1996. He received his master's degree in education from Iowa State in 2005. A native of Ottumwa, Iowa, Ash and his wife, Jessica, have two children, Tanner (8) and Jacey (6).

Mistake stays with new Illini safety

Mark Tupper — Thu, 4 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

CHAMPAIGN - When new safety Trulon Henry is in the Illinois football complex, chances are he has a thought no other Illini football player has had. Ever. He takes a moment to consider the five years he spent in federal prison for armed robbery. Henry has arrived on campus for the spring semester with a personal story more complex and compelling than most could believe. And "believe" is a key word when it comes to the 25-year-old brother of former Illini wideout Arrelious Benn. For Henry to land as a scholarship football player at Illinois, a lot of people had to believe he is not a bad guy who wielded a handgun and robbed a grocery store during his senior year of high school in Washington, D.C. Instead, they have come to believe he is a good person who did a bad thing - a one-time offender who acted completely out of character when he saw a chance to bring financial aid to his poor family when he felt they might be losing everything, including their home. You don't have to tell Trulon Henry he used horrible judgment when he and his uncle, who was not much older than he was, robbed a grocery store in 2003. In fact, he's happy to tell his story himself. "Telling it is not that bad," he said. "If I was trying to hide something, it would be terrible. I don't mind explaining it. I think about it all the time, I really do. If I didn't, I would take this for granted. I wouldn't work so hard. So I definitely think about it all the time." Henry served most of his sentence in the federal corrections facility in Glenville, W. Va. Instead of pursuing his dream of playing football, alongside Washington, D.C.'s other top senior that year - Vernon Davis, brother of former Illini Vontae Davis - he found himself behind bars, watching his back, weighing his regret and counting the days until he could live again. He worked "detail" cleaning showers and became a solitary workout warrior, even though the facility did not have a weight room. "Pushups, sit-ups, dips - exercises using your natural body weight," he said. "I had recreation time to play basketball, but I chose to jog." When other schools were scared off by his criminal past, College of DuPage football coach Fred Fimbres was intrigued, especially when he met Henry in person and became convinced by Henry's friends in Washington, D.C., who went to bat for him. "He told me exactly what I had to do, and there was no room for anything else," Henry said. "But that's all I wanted - just a chance." Henry made good on his opportunity at the junior college, and Fimbres has become one of his biggest supporters. Henry was team captain both seasons there. He became a mentor for other players and excelled in the classroom, becoming the first football player at DuPage to earn his associate's degree in just three semesters. He was the conference defensive player of the year and a junior college All-American. He had four interceptions and returned two of them for touchdowns, one coming hours after staying up all night for the birth of his daughter, Tatum. After being released from prison, Henry had married his high school sweetheart, Morgan. By then, major colleges were showing interest. Kansas State was involved. Arizona came to his spring practice. Because of his brother, and because Illini coach Ron Zook has recruited Washington, D.C., and knew Henry's story, Illinois was at the top of Henry's list. His admission required serious inspection and careful approval. According to a university spokesman, associate dean Brian Farber and the Office of Student Conflict Resolution "wanted to look at the circumstances involved, what he has done to get his life back on track and make sure they would be bringing in a student who has an opportunity to succeed." Henry stated his case, and his admission was approved. "I wouldn't have even considered bringing him in if I wasn't completely sure about him. Because if anything happens, it will fall back on me," Zook said. "But you won't find anyone who knows him who isn't for him." Copyright 2010 The Pantagraph

Emanuel returns to Purdue as co-defensive coordinator

Thu, 4 Feb 2010 16:10:00 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue head football coach Danny Hope today announced the hiring of Gary Emanuel as co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. Emanuel, who replaces Terrell Williams on the staff, will focus on run-game defense. Emanuel previously was an assistant with the Boilermakers from 1997 to 2004. He coached the defensive tackles (1997-99) and defensive ends (2000-04) and also served as assistant head coach for his final two seasons. Emanuel and Hope worked together under head coach Joe Tiller from 1997 to 2001. ""We could have hired any of a number of defensive line coaches to replace Terrell,"" Hope said. ""But I told the team we were going to use the vacancy to bring in a difference-maker to our football program, and that's what we are getting with Coach Emanuel. He is the complete package as a coach – from teaching and mentoring to recruiting – and obviously is familiar with Purdue. It's great to have him back. He makes us better."" Defensive coordinator Donn Landholm will continue to oversee the staff's development of the defensive game plan and the play-calling in conjunction with Emanuel. ""As co-defensive coordinator, Coach Emanuel will work with Coach Landholm to integrate a run-game defense that optimizes our talent and improves the overall performance of the defense,"" Hope said. ""The focus of one of Coach Emanuel's duties will be to identify current and future personnel and schemes necessary for defending the run."" Emanuel returns to Purdue from Rutgers, where he was defensive line coach in 2008 and 2009. He left the Boilermakers to coach the defensive line with the San Francisco 49ers and, after two years in the National Football League, coached at San Jose State in 2007. ""I am happy to be coming back to Purdue,"" Emanuel said. ""The eight years I spent working with the Boilermaker program before were great. I'm excited to be working with Danny again, and I look forward to getting started with the players and coaches."" In his previous stint at Purdue, the Boilermakers ranked seventh or better in rushing defense in the Big Ten each year, including second in 2004 and third in 2000, 2001 and 2003. Their averages of 96.4 and 105.3 yards allowed per game in 2003 and 2004 ranked 10th and 14th nationally. Emanuel coached all-conference performers and National Football League players. End Akin Ayodele was named first team All-Big Ten in 2001 and has played eight seasons in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins. End Shaun Phillips earned first team All-Big Ten honors in 2003 and has played six seasons with the San Diego Chargers. End Anthony Spencer played under Emanuel for three seasons and went on to become first team All-Big Ten in 2006 and the Dallas Cowboys' first-round draft pick in 2007. Tackle David Nugent was a three-year NFL veteran with the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens. Emanuel was one of 26 coaches invited to participate in the NCAA's annual Expert Coaches Academy in 2007. He has had five internships/fellowships with NFL teams: Buffalo Bills (1992), Chicago Bears (1995), Cleveland Browns (1999), Arizona Cardinals (2000) and Oakland Raiders (2001). Before his initial Purdue stint, Emanuel was defensive line coach at Washington State from 1994 to 1996. In 1994, the Cougars ranked second in the NCAA in total defense (229 yards per game), third in scoring defense (12.1) and third in rushing defense (73.8). From 1991 to 1993, Emanuel served in the same capacity at Syracuse, helping the defense rank 11th and fifth in the NCAA in 1991 and 1992. He was an assistant coach at Dartmouth (defensive line) from 1988 to 1991, at Massachusetts (outside linebackers) from 1986 to 1988, at West Chester (defensive line) in 1985 and 1986 and at Plymouth State (offensive coordinator, offensive line) from 1981 to 1984. Emanuel served as Plymouth State's head basketball coach from 1983 to 1985. All told, Emanuel has coached 12 players who have gone on to play in the NFL and has been part of 12 teams that played in bowl games, including eight at Purdue. A native of New London, Conn., Emanuel (born Oct. 30, 1958) attended Westchester Community College in Valhalla, N.Y., from 1976 to 1978. He started at offensive guard both years, serving as team co-captain and earning first team junior college All-America honors as a sophomore. He played in the 1977 Junior College Coastal Conference All-Star game. Emanuel then moved on to Plymouth State to earn a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1982. He played football there for two years, but his career was slowed by a knee injury during his junior season. His wife's name is Angela.