Theres this booth off in a corner at Bobs Steak and Chop House, one of the nations great power eateries. It is allegedly the place where Texas AD DeLoss Dodds and his Oklahoma counterpart Joe Castiglione helped “save” the Big 12 this summer.

Mack Brown has led Texas to two Big 12 titles, two BCS title games and one national championship in the past five seasons. (Getty Images) It was one of the few times lately that Texas and OU have met as equals.

Its no secret that the two schools wield a lot of power in a conference that barely survived its own self-destruction in June. It is more of a secret that the administrations of both schools have helped shape conference and college sports history. Dodds and former OU AD Donnie Duncan basically brought the Big 12 together 15 years ago. These days, Dodds and Castiglione are colleagues and friends.

If it were only that easy. In the only relationship that matters to most fans, Oklahoma finds itself looking up at Texas during the latest trend in their epic rivalry.

“The bus ride home is the worst part,” said Sooners linebacker Travis Lewis, recalling his teams latest loss last season to Texas in the annual Red River Shootout in the Cotton Bowl. “Youre just sitting there thinking about all the things you could have done, all the things that could have happened.

<p for three hours.”

Oklahoma has had its share of silent rides in recent years. In a rivalry decided by streaks recently, Texas has won four of the past five meetings. In that stretch it has played as well as two Big 12 titles.

Bob Stoops would counter with the fact his team was won three of the five conference titles in that span and been to the BCS title game once. But its just not the same in a super power rivalry in which the programs measure themselves against each other every day.

Texas has taken on the image of king, not only in the Big 12, but in the country. Conference realignment basically has boiled down to the whims of Texas and Notre Dame. When the beginning of the age of super conference. Without that radical upheaval, there was no reason for Notre Dame to join the Big Ten.

It was almost as if Texas knew the result before this process began. By Texas staying put, the conference ended up with a promise from Fox and ESPN for at least $20 million a year in revenue per team during the next rights fees negotiations.

There was a time in the previous decade when Texas couldnt get out of its own division. It looked like Mack Brown never would break through against Stoops. From 2000 through 2004, Oklahoma won five consecutive games, twice scoring 60-plus points. Then Brown got Vince Young and also got a whole lot more comfortable in his own skin. Young begat Colt McCoy who begat Garrett Gilbert, who takes over this year.

“When they changed [from] Vince we got happy, then they gave us Colt,” Lewis said Wednesday at the conclusion of Big 12 media days. “With a school like Texas youre expecting greatness. Youre expecting them to replace Colt with a great player.”

Its somewhat of a surprise, then, that there is an undercurrent of support nationally for Oklahoma this season. A couple of preseason magazines have the Sooners ranked in the top five. The Big 12 media picked OU to win the South Division.

Have they been watching whats going on lately?

“Its [Texas] always in the back of our head,” Oklahoma receiver Ryan Broyles said.

The general feeling in Norman is that things cant get worse than last season. In 2000, OU won the national championship without losing a single starter to injury. In 2009, Mother Nature got even.

Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford was knocked out of the 2009 opener and played only eight quarters. All-American Jermaine Gresham was lost before the season. Shifty tailback DeMarco Murray injured a hamstring and never seemed to reach full speed.

“I dont know about anybody else, after those first couple of games I was ready for the season to end,” Murray said. “We werent used to even losing. It was hard to regain yourself each week knowing that you dont have a chance at the national championship or the Big 12.” “But,” reminds Stoops, “were in a lot different situation now. Youve got to believe that could never happen again.”

Until further notice, though, it is hard to pick against Texas. Things just seem to be falling its way. It lost McCoy in the BCS title game but in the long run benefitted from getting valuable playing time for Gilbert. Texas won the 2008 Red River game 45-35 then watched the BCSs fuzzy math break a tie that allowed OU to play for the national championship.

Theyll never forget in Austin, but it helps that the Horns are 19-2 since that Oklahoma game. The Sooners are 15-6.

Success has fed off itself lately to the point that Texas has become the richest athletic department in the country.

“We have 101,000-seat stadium,” Brown said, “and we make a lot of money and were on TV a lot.”

Deal with it.

Brown is comfortable in his own skin running this football Cadillac that he might “pull a Bobby Johnson” and just quit one day. No warning, no ceremony.

No worries. Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp is two decades younger and patiently waiting in the wings. Officially, the 38-year-old is the “coach designate” making $900,000 a year. Unofficially, Texas keeps the pipeline carefully and wisely. < especially if Georgia or LSU come open. But why would he? Hes going to have everything he needs to win in Austin.

“It would be wrong of me to sit here with my personality and say, Im going to quit at such-and-such time,” Brown said. “If you do, its hard to coach when youre thinking about quitting.

“The day its not working Ill walk in … and well quit. It will not be: I will wait one more year. ”

If that sounds like a retirement speech, youve spent too much time sipping Shiner Bock on the Midway at the Texas State Fair. Brown has threatened to fire any staffer who mentions “the future.”

If the teams reach this seasons Oct. 2 meeting unbeaten, no one will be surprised. Until then, for Oklahoma, silence is anything but golden.

Posted on July 29th, 2010 by admin
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USCs 2004 BCS title will likely be vacated if the school loses its NCAA appeal, BCS executive director Bill Hancock said Tuesday.

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Speaking during the Big 12 media days here, Hancock made the most definitive statement yet regarding Reggie Bushs participation in USCs 55-19 victory over Oklahoma in the 2005 Orange Bowl.

It could cost USC a national championship.

“If USC loses the appeal, the [2004] championship will be vacated,” Hancock told reporters. “And the feeling is in our group, the commissioners group, is that there was not a game, no game happened.”

Hancock added, “They will vacate, they will not elevate anyone,” referring to the 12 school presidents who make up the BCS Oversight Committee.

“The presidents could decide to do something else, but I think its most likely that they will vacate it.”

Hancock said those presidents would reach a decision by consensus, not necessarily unanimously, if USC loses the appeal. It would mark the first time sin that a national championship had been removed.

The oversight committee is made up of one CEO from each of the 11 I-A conferences and Notre Dame.

On June 10, the NCAA vacated 14 victories from USCs 2004 and 2005 seasons as part of the penalties stemming from the Bush investigation. Bush essentially competed while ineligible for two seasons because he had taken money and benefits from marketers trying to win him as client when he turned pro.

Because the NCAA doesnt stage a championship in Division I-A football, it does not control postseason football. The BCS began in 1998 as a way to streamline college footballs national championship race. Human and computer formulas are used to determine the top two teams to play for the national title each year.

During the media days, Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville lobbied for his undefeated 2004 Auburn team to be elevated to national champion in the wake of the USC penalties. Auburn finished 13-0 and No. 2 that year.

“Somebody needs to be national champion from that year,” Tuberville told CBSSports.com.

The Associated Press has announced it will not revote the 2004 final poll. However, the Football Writers Association of America is expected to address the issue next week. USC was presented with the associations Grantland Rice Trophy signifying a national championship that year.

The BCS leaders have faced the question of whether to remove USCs championship for years. The NCAA took four years to flesh out all the details. Last week, incoming USC AD Pat Haden announced that the school will return its copy of Bushs Heisman Trophy to the Heisman Trust. The trust was to have met Tuesday to discuss its own decision on dealing with Bushs trophy. A Heisman winner has never had his name removed or been asked to return his trophy.

In NCAA language, a “vacation” differs from a forfeiture. Forfeits not only take away wins from offending school but award them to the losing team. Per NCAA rules regarding vacations, USCs wins and Bushs records will be removed from all NCAA record books and USC media guides. Also, Pete Carrolls wins during that period will not count toward his career total.

USC is not appealing to the NCAA to get any of the wins back. It is trying to reduce the two-year postseason ban to one year. Resolution of the case probably wont be announced until next year.

Posted on July 28th, 2010 by admin
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Nebraska coach Bo Pelini began the Big 12 media days by saying he would not take any questions about the Big Ten. Then, of course, he took questions on the Big Ten. Lots of them, because the prevailing emotion in Nebraska this year is something close to hate.

Pelini on the Oct. 16 meeting with Texas: Its not about being angry about something or revenge … its about competing … (AP) Hate that it had to come to this. Hate that Nebraska had to leave behind decades of tradition to start over in a richer, yet foreign, league.

A hate of Texas.

The dislike has been percolating for 15 years since economics, television and sponsors dictated that Nebraska and Texas become conference partners. The Big 12 they called it, and they might still call it that, but it will be without Nebraska.

The “partnership” disintegrated June 11 when the school rather flamboyantly and pointedly announced its divorce from Texas and the Big 12. Somewhere in there was language about joining the Big Ten but that was almost subtext to what was happening.

Basically, given an ultimatum to declare its loyalty to the Big 12, Nebraska shoved its middle finger in the air and instead accepted an invite from the Big Ten 6½ weeks ago. The Huskers begin play next season.

Monday, then, was a going away party. Go hell be at next weeks Big Ten media days instead. Texas is at the opposite end of the rotation, appearing last before the media on Wednesday morning.

“Its not about being angry about something or revenge or anything like that,” Pelini said of the very much hyped Oct. 16 meeting with Texas. “Its about competing and executing.”

And thats where you had to stifle a laugh. Its a lot who played for Earle with something to prove at every moment.

Nebraska: Osborne talking to Big Ten Pelini: Huskers focusing on Big 12 season Dodd: Five things about Big 12

Nebraska has spent a decade-and-a-half ceding administrative and athletic power to Texas in the Big 12. In that time, Nebraska lost Osborne the coach to retirement and went from national power to Big 12 North also-ran. In 1998, Texas hired Mack Brown and the program took off. It has played for two national championships, winning one, while reeling off 12 consecutive seasons of at least nine victories.

It was also noticed by many that Texas became the richest athletic department in the country (annual budget: $138 million) during Browns reign.

And Nebraskas downturn.

The Huskers now believe they are back. Pelini said as much after a shutout of Arizona in the Holiday Bowl. One thing, though. They havent won the Big 12 or beaten Texas since 1999. Thats why the schools final conference meeting in Lincoln has become a one-game brawl to settle it all for some in Huskerland.

Theres a good chance both will be ranked in the top 10 with the prospect looming for a rematch in the Big 12 championship game.

Nebraskas own marketing department summarized the rancor in a promotional video. The presentation starts out innocently enough celebrating the football programs wor it quickly shifts to a single-minded football jihad against the Longhorns. It ends with what looks like a logo drawn up especially for the game urging fans to “Wear Red, Be Loud, Beat Texas.”

The video has since been altered to remove a reference to Texas.

“It was actually a mistake,” Pelini said. “To be honest with you I wasnt real happy about it.”

Nebraska was used to having its way in the old Big Eight. It usually played Oklahoma for the Orange Bowl berth each year and that was that. Everything else was details.

But things changed when Texas came in the room back in the mid-1990s and declared that the new Big 12 would not allow partial qualifiers. Thats where it started for Nebraska. Osborne had built part of his empire on kids who just needed a chance. They didnt have either the minimum grade-point average or high enough SAT test score. They could achieve initial eligibility with one or other but they were labeled. Prop 48s they called them, a nickname derived from the NCAA legislation.

“I was on the [Big 12] task force,” said former Iowa State AD Gene Smith, now with Ohio State. “Ill never forget when [Texas] came in the room.

“Texas would not come into the league unless we eliminated the Prop 48 deal. Nebraska lived on it. Oh my God, it was like heat across the board. The animosity started back then.”

The final straw might have been Decembers one-point loss to Texas in the Big 12 championship game. In a weird, parallel universe you can almost imagine none of this happening had the Huskers finally gotten over on Texas.

If Nebraska holds on, it gets its first Big 12 title in a decade. Everyone feels good. Theres a BCS bowl. Things are looking up. Maybe Nebraska rides out the wave of conference upheaval without looking elsewhere.

Instead, the frustration continued. After Colt McCoy almost frittered the game away running around the backfield, a second was added back on the clock, allowing Hunter Lawrence to kick the game-winning field goal. That it was absolutely the right call by the officials solidified once again Nebraska had become Texas caddy.

The animosity has carried over. The reported that one Seward, Neb. farmer discovered a longhorn head at a nearby slaughterhouse. He rushed home, got his camera and Nebraska hat, rushed back, grabbed hold of the horns and had his picture taken with the 150-pound dismembered head. Hes thinking about making a T-shirt out of it for Texas game day.

Nebraska fans reputation as the worlds nicest is going to be tested on Oct. 16. In 1998, Texas came into Memorial Stadium and upset Nebraska with soon-to-be Heisman winner Ricky Williams. The crowd applauded, like it does for every opponent, as Texas left the field.

This time in December with its intention to explore expansion. Nebraskas name had been on the periphery while most thought that Missouri was a goner from the Big 12.

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel was in Lincoln for a Fellowship of Christian Athletes speech in the spring. During a tour of Nebraskas athletic facilities, Osborne became more inquisitive about Big Ten expansion.

“Right near the end of the tour he said, Do you know anything about expansion? Tressel recalled. “I said, Were not privy to any of that.

“I could tell just from his tone that he was probably privy … I just sensed when I was there that there was more of a heritage there about being part of the Big Eight. And that they didnt feel as if the Big 12 had the same kind of heritage.”

At the same time Nebraska fans are celebrating a move to a perceived higher academic and athletic plane beginning next season, they are seething that it ever came to that. Nebraska is part of a core of schools in the Big 12 that have been together in a conference for more than a century.

There werent any lines to read after Osborne and chancellor Harvey Perlman stood before the Nebraska board of regents on June 11 and basically accused Texas of running it out of the Big 12. Half the league, Texas included, was seriously considering a move to the Pac-10. That would have broken up the Big 12.

“Nebraska did not start this discussion …,” Perlman said. “The Big Ten offered stability the Big 12 could not offer.”

That was on a Friday. Colorado had left the day before for the Pac-10. It looked like the Big 12 had dissolved and the age of the super conference was upon us. By Tuesday, the league had stepped away from the brink and decided to continue on with 10 schools.

As the Big 12 gathered for one of the last times as a group on Monday, everybody was happy.

Or as happy as they could be at a going away party.

Posted on July 27th, 2010 by admin
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Wisconsin wants to be stereotyped.

It knows it is not big on sun, sizzle or style.

“Definitely not sexy,” Scott Tolzien said.

Before you start e-mailing pictures of The Dells, wheels of cheese or trophy musky, remember were talking about Wisconsin . Lets just say the program fits the profile of the state.

Ask Tolzien, the Badgers quarterback.

“When [you] hear Wisconsin football, I would say first of all toughness, discipline and winning the turnover battle.”

Throw in five nine-win seasons since 2004, six January bowls since 1998 and 15 1,000-yard rushers in the last 17 years and you get a better idea of that stereotype.

“We get guys out of our state that are giants,” said Badgers patron coaching saint Barry Alvarez, who doubles as AD.

Offensive linemen, defensive linemen, tailbacks. Doesnt matter. While the likes of Purdue rose and fell in the Big Ten with a spread offense, Wisconsin hasnt deviated from the philosophy established firmly by Alvarez in 1990 when he arrived from Notre Dame.

“To come in here and think that were going to have a truckload of skill players is just not right,” Alvarez said of his early years. “I looked at the type of players we could consistently get at Wisconsin.

“We said, Lets make sure we keep them at home. Lets build our program around linemen. Lets be physical. We may not be able to get all the skill players in the world but we can probably find hard-nosed running back Brent Moss, Terrell Fletcher, Ron Dayne, Anthony Davis and currently the reigning Big Ten offensive player of the year, redshirt junior John Clay.

Wisconsin may not be dominating the Big Ten. It one of those beating it up, in both revenue sports. Thats what helps land the Badgers on this list. Alvarez has transitioned nicely to AD where he also oversees a basketball program that has been to 12 consecutive NCAA tournaments. Bo Ryan has won at least a share of three Big Ten regular-season titles.

Thats what they keep talking about in Madison. Battles, fights, knockout blows. Moss was a highly recruited in-state guy of the Alvarez era with almost 1,700 yards in 1993. Alvarez says to this day if he had 1 yard to pick up, the ball would go to Moss. The kids college career ended tragically when he was busted for possessing crack cocaine as a senior. Moss kicked around the NFL for a few years and most recently was coach of the semi-pro Racine Threat before being let go. A year ago Alvarez received a letter from his first 1,000-yard back “apologizing to me for some of his actions.”

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Fletcher was the home-run hitter following with 1,476 yards in 94. Dayne the offense for four years beginning in 1996, establishing the all-time career rushing record.

“We were like a wishbone team,” Alvarez said. “Wed get the ball and hang onto it for a long time. You better do something defensively or you werent going to get the ball until the next quarter.”

The stereotype worked. From 1993-1999, Wisconsin went to the Rose Bowl three times. Now its going on a decade without a return trip to Pasadena.

“When I took this job, we had about three weeks before signing day,” Alvarez recalled. “We started from scratch, we hustled. We signed a group of guys who took us to the Rose Bowl.

“Everybody wants to go to the Rose Bowl. Everybody wants to play in a BCS game. For a while there it was, “Heck, were going back to the Rose Bowl again.”

Spoiled? No, not spoiled. Just anxious. Wisconsin beat Ohio State three times in the last decade but finished ahead of the Buckeyes only once. Bret Bielema was Alvarezs hand-picked successor in 2006. The Badgers immediately won 17 of their first 18 games under Bielema, the former defensive coordinator. A downturn to 7-6 in 2008 was followed by a 10-win season last year. A 20-14 win over Miami in the Champs Sports Bowl hinted at some of that old physicality. The Hurricanes got manhandled.

It didnt look that way in the second game of Alvarezs second season in 1991. At that point, he was 2-10 as Wisconsins coach, playing an Iowa State program that was at the beginning of a stretch of 10 consecutive losing seasons.

In one of the worst displays of football, ever, Wisconsin won 7-6.

“We didnt know how to win,” Alvarez said, “but you could see they would compete and they were never intimidated.”

Enter Tolzien, a senior from Chicagos northwest suburbs. If there were ever a guy who couldnt be intimidated … Tolzien wants a Rose Bowl too. It was a family tradition to gather round the TV on Jan. 1 to watch the San Gabriels frame the Granddaddy.

“Theyd [Big Ten] always get out there and kick butt,” Tolzien said.

Not lately. In fact, Ohio States win over Oregon in January was the Big Tens first in the Rose Bowl since 2000 when Wisconsin beat Stanford. Tolzien gets all that Wisconsin tradition. A year ago he headed into fall drills a distant third on the depth chart. The hardest hit of his career came in the opener against Northern Illinois.

“They sent a corner blitz, front side, but I was looking to my left,” Tolzien said. “The guy got me pretty good … I spent three years on the sidelines wishing I would get hit and wishing I was sore.”

Tolzien got up, beat NIU and nine other teams while completing a school-record 211 passes. Add in Clays 1,517 yards and the stereotype lives for the future.

“You see how frustrating it is on a defense, when youre just eating up the clock,” Tolzien said. “Its cool when the defense knows were running the ball and 80,000 in the stands know were running the ball and we still get 4 or 5 yards.”

Definitely not sexy, just perfect for Wisconsin.

Posted on July 27th, 2010 by admin
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So much for a lazy summer at Atlantic Coast Conference headquarters.

Realignment rumors. An NCAA investigation into agent involvement with players at one of its marquee institutions.

No wonder the ACC is ready for the offseason to end and the football games to begin.

“I guess this is our year to experience those problems and all that,” Wake Forest running back Josh Adams said Sunday during the leagues preseason media day.

There surely hasnt been any shortage of news around the ACC over the past few months. And not all of it was bad: the league recently announced a new broadcast package for football and mens basketball that will be worth $1.86 billion from ESPN over 12 years, doubling the conferences TV revenue.

But most of the attention lately has focused on the NCAA investigation at North Carolina into whether two players received improper benefits from agents. With similar probes popping up at several Southeastern Conference schools, the issue of athletes involvement with agents quickly turned into the hot-button topic du jour in college sports.

“It is kind of a distraction, but we kind of look at it as weve already taken our adversity for the season,” Tar Heels quarterback T.J. Yates said. “So once we get over this little speed bump, well be able to put it behind us and go forward through the dedicated nearly one-quarter of his hour-long question-and-answer session to the issue, voicing his support for the North Carolina Secretary of States investigation about potential misconduct involving agents and saying “we probably need to look at strengthening the law in this area.”

The state requires sports agents to register in North Carolina and prohibits them from offering gifts before a contract is signed, with violators possibly facing criminal or civil penalties.

“I suspect (the problem) has (worsened) some because of the dollars at the next level, in the NFL and the NBA,” Swofford said. “I think its also being paid more attention at this given point in time. While uncomfortable, I think thats good. Having been an AD for 17 years … the problems been there, and believe me, as an AD, you feel, or as a coach, you feel vulnerable … because its not an easy situation to control from an institutional standpoint.

“You have to educate, educate, educate the athletes that are on campus,” he added. “And I think our schools do that.”

A month earlier, all the talk in college circles centered around the possibility of another round of conference realignment, with concerns that uncertainty in the Big 12 and expansion by the Pac-10 and Big Ten would set off a chain reaction that would reshape the Football Championship Subdivision.

There were lingering questions about whether another conference would make a play for one or more ACC schools before the league ultimately stood pat.

“There were a lot of conferences that certainly were more active in terms of what was done or potentially being done than we were,” Swofford said. “But rest assured, we were quietly evaluating that landscape and our internal discussions to determine whats in our best interests moving forward, and what ramifications on the (ACC), if any, might come from expansion by other conferences.

“Without question, at the presidential level of this league, there continues to be a strong commitment to each other, a strong commitment to the ACC, the belief that 12 is the right number for us, but a willingness, if the world changes around us, to take a look at what those changes mean. … Were very comfortable with, not only 12, but the 12 that we have.”

The leagues powers-that-be spent the first of its two-day preseason media gathering to look ahead to not only the seasons beginning - but also its end. After five years in Florida, the ACC championship game moves closer to the center of the conferences footprint when it comes to Charlotte - roughly a 90-minute drive from league headquarters - on the first weekend in December.

“The road to Charlotte is going to be something thats very special,” said Michael Kelly, the leagues associate commissioner for football.

The start of preseason practice means something to everyone who will snap on a helmet. But it means even more to a pair of linebackers who were kept out of the 2009 season for serious health-related reasons: Boston Colleges Mark Herzlich, who stepped away to fight a rare form of cancer called Ewings Sarcoma, and North Carolina States Nate Irving, who suffered a collapsed lung and a broken left leg in a grisly auto accident.

“As of right now, I feel like Im back in full effect,” Irving said.

Posted on July 26th, 2010 by admin
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A few days after the Big 12 was preserved, commissioner Dan Beebe brought together the athletic directors of the 10 remaining schools.

There were lots of things to figure out. There also was some healing to do.

Egos had been bruised, relationships strained in the whirlwind of a week since Colorado went to the Pac-10, Nebraska to the Big Ten and this conferences fate swung on Texas decision to stay put.

Each AD had been under enormous pressure while deciding what was best for his school. Now each was sitting with nine other guys who had been under the same stress, a reminder that they were in this together.

“We all looked at each other,” Kansas AD Lew Perkins said, “and were glad we were there.”

Beebe cut right to it. Everyone had something to say, so they might as well say it.

One at a time, the ADs went around the table getting things off their chest.

“So many different things had been [reported],” Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione said. “We needed to clear the air, to separate fact from fiction.”

It didnt take long. Soon, there was a sense of gratitude for sticking by each other. Then came optimism as they discussed the leagues new direction. another good call by the man being hailed as “The Savior Of The Big 12.”

But, who is Dan Beebe?

And how the heck did he pull this off?

Beebe sat down with the Associated Press last week to help answer those questions; it was his first in-depth interview since things calmed down. Subsequent interviews with five Big 12 athletic directors and league co-founder/executive Donnie Duncan painted a clear picture of Beebe.

Hes a communicator, someone who can relate to anyone.

He tells everyone what he thinks, regardless of whether its what they want to hear, and he expects them to do the same. Its OK to disagree, as long as the opposing view is backed up with facts and sound reasoning.

“He can take a shot and he can give one,” Texas AD DeLoss Dodds said.

Beebe doesnt think he has all the answers. But he believes he can find them by talking to enough knowledgeable people.

The quickest way a staffer can get in trouble with him is by withholding an opinion. Second-quickest is not to go along with a decision once its made.

Trust is huge. Its a given at the start of every relationship; once lost, so is the relationship.

Beebe has been in college athletics all his adult life. But scroll through all 52 years to really get to know him.

He grew up in Walla Walla, Wash., with an alcoholic father struggling to keep a small printing business going. Starting around age 12, Beebes summer jobs were picking onions or harvesting wheat and peas.

He wasnt a star athlete, but he enjoyed playing and being part of teams. Looking back, he realizes sports taught him lessons he wasnt learning at home.

A defining moment came in ninth grade when the high school football coach told him, “Dont bother trying out. You wont make it.” He wound up playing o my last two in high school, two in junior college and two at Cal Poly [Pomona] in Southern California.”

He planned to become a teacher-coach, but was soured when he saw his Cal Poly coaches fixing grades for teammates. About the same time, the lawyer-filled family of a girl he was dating tilted him toward law school.

He wound up at University of California Hastings in San Francisco. He kept his competitive juices flowing by playing rugby. His teammates were early in their legal careers and werent very happy. So he started thinking about doing something different.

“Then I go through the placement office and see the NCAA is interviewing,” he said.

He landed in enforcement during a dirty era. As an investigator and later a director of enforcement, he was involved in SMUs precursor to the death penalty and Barry Switzers demise at Oklahoma. He also spent a year doing compliance at Wichita State.

He was only 32 when he became commissioner of the Division I-AA Ohio Valley Conference. He kept the job 13 years, although not completely by choice.

He was a candidate for Big 12 commissioner the first two times it was open and was a finalist for the SEC job. Held back by a lack of experience in a BCS conference, he joined the Big 12 as second-in-command in 2003. He moved up in 07.

His first 2½ years drew little attention, mostly by design. He believes the schools tell the conference office what to do, not the other way around, and the focus should remain on them.

“We can try to convince and cajole, but we are a service organization in that respect,” Beebe said. “That doesnt mean you dont have leadership.”

By keeping a low profile, Beebe went into the conference shuffling as an unknown. Keeping that low profile during all the action hurt him in the court of public opinion.

Critics portrayed him as a buffoon who was in over his head. It was written that if Beebe was running BP, “hed be standing on the tar-stained white sand beaches in the state of Florida, emphatically declaring what oil? ”

Meanwhile, Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott was seen jetting around wooing Big 12 schools.

“I cannot remember a single event in intercollegiate athletics where the focus came on one individual so unfairly,” said Duncan, the football coach at Iowa State and AD at Oklahoma before joining the league office. “This was not a two-week effort. It was not a plane-in-the-air, what-can-we-do-about-it? panic scenario. There was a LOT of groundwork that had been laid.”

About six months before the crisis, Beebe began visiting every president and athletic director to find out what they wanted.

About two months before, he set up an inner circle of advisers: television consultant Joel Lulla from New York, lawyer Kevin Sweeney from Kansas City, associate commissioner Tim Weiser and Duncan. Their first meeting was at an airport hotel.

“We played out every scenario, every aspect of what might happen,” Duncan said. “It wasnt just involving the Pac-10. It was the national picture. If A moves to B, and B moves to C, then what happens? Who would pay for it? How does TV benefit? How do they not benefit? Then from a legal standpoint, what are our parameters?”

Once he was ready, Beebe spurred other conferences into action.

He started with a warning shot before the leagues June meetings, telling a radio station he wanted to know “where were going and whos going to be on the plane when we take off.” He also sent an e-mail to school presidents with an attached five-page document marked “confidential,” and titled, “The Case For The Big 12.”

He left Kans “or else.”

Colorado bolted the following Wednesday, then Nebraska on Friday. His aggressive push was backfiring.

But Beebe knew dropping to 10 schools was a possibility and was ready for it. Getting there so quickly meant he couldnt handle a single more defection, much less the five the Pac-10 was seeking.

Yet heres another important point: Those months of prep work taught Beebe this wouldnt be decided strictly by money.

School leaders repeatedly said other things mattered, such as this part of the country having its own league and main and avoid alienating other folks. Dont underestimate that part, especially in Texas, where Baylors absence from the Pac-10 invitation list couldve been trouble for the re-election campaign of Gov. Rick Perry, a former Texas A&M yell leader.

All that said, money still was a huge factor.

The Big 12 has a $480 million deal with ABC-ESPN that runs through 2015-16, and a $78 million contract with Fox Sports Net through 2011-12. Beebe got both networks to keep everything intact, guaranteeing the remaining schools a bigger cut. It was a big concession by ABC because 10 schools meant no football championship game.

Nothing new was signed, but between Lullas projections and Beebes conversations, there was reason to believe the top schools eventually would get $20 million per year.

It was in the ballpark with other conferences. But it wasnt guaranteed.

Thats where those other factors came into play.

At least, thats what he was counting on.

“I have perseverance, and a pretty positive outlook,” Beebe said. “I can be down 21-0 with four minutes left and Im going to play til the final whistle. I was in that mode.”

When a trusted staffer suggested he start finding homes for the schools the Pac-10 didnt want, Beebe countered: “You work on that. My focus is on keeping the 10.”

Finally, they got the break they needed. Texas was staying.

Six weeks later, Beebe will be back in the spotlight this week with conference media days Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

He doesnt like being called “The Savior” because he knows how much others did, from his inner circle to the ADs, presidents and their inner circles.

Still, hes proud of how things played out.

“I think my characteristics were needed in this time,” he said. “Different peoples characteristics may be needed in other times.”

Posted on July 26th, 2010 by admin
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if youll have him:

•  He can be a sideline nut job who manages games like his hair is on fire.

•  Ask him a at once.

•  And the hat? Make that The Hat. Lets just say truckers all over the country are proud.

Les Miles has enjoyed success during his LSU tenure but he finds himself on the hot seat. (AP) No matter what you think of that profile, Michigan, theres one small problem: Les Miles coaches LSU right now. You know hes a Michigan man who played under Bo and weve been through this before.

The timing probably wasnt right for Miles to lea Miles was chasing a national championship. Now, h won more games in five years (51) than any coach in LSU history including Nick Saban.

Miles has beaten Alabama, Auburn and Florida all in the same season. Twice. The man has won almost 70 percent of his career games. But that championship was three years ago. Since then he is 17-9, which hardly qualifies dropping off the face of the earth.

Heres the dichotomy: LSU may not want him after this season, but Michigan cant have him. Not yet. Peruse this open letter to fans from LSU AD Joe Alleva sent in January. It basically put his coach on notice and seems a bit bold considering Miles accomplishments. Alleva termed last years 9-4 season a “nice: season. “On the other hand, being “nice” is not our annual goal,” Alleva wrote.

That was five days after Alabama beat Texas for the SECs fourth consecutive national championship. Alleva hardly let LSU fans exhale. This from the former AD at noted football power who played at noted power .

Check yourself, Joe, and quit pandering to the populace. Then check Les contract. It has a guaranteed rollover for 100 percent of the remaining salary. If Miles is axed at the end of this season, LSU would owe him between $14-$15 million. Alleva still has a ways to go to make that number manageable. That rollover, which wasnt renewed the past two seasons, would still have four years to run after this season.

Alleva didnt negotiate it (the former chancellor did) and Miles didnt seek it, but what is done is done. LSU is strapped. It basically cant afford to fire Miles meaning Michigan may be shut out of a candidate before it starts looking.

“The hot seat is a wonderful thing for the people in this room,” Miles said Friday at SEC media days. “Its a defining couple of words, right? Its the hot seat.”

It also puts Michigan LSU in a confining box. you believe Michigan is going to make a move with Rodriguez and you believe t as predict then things could get interesting.

Alleva seemingly is stuck with a coach he may not want and a contract he definitely doesnt want. Meanwhile, its looking like Michigan will have to go through the dancing-with-the-stars routine it went through a couple of years ago.

You should be understanding why coaches seek those multi-million dollar deals and rollover guarantees. It hasnt been that long since LSU fans exhaled for a different reason. Miles had to interrupt his game day preparations for the SEC title game in 2007 to emphatically state he was staying at LSU .

Some Tigers, Alleva apparently among them, believe that Miles has lost his mojo since then. Be careful what you wish for, Tigers. Were talking about a school that was led out of the wilderness by Saban. In 2003, The Sabanator wiped away four decades of frustration by delivering a national championship. Miles came from Oklahoma State and did the same thing in 2007.

What are the odds: Same school, two championships, two different coaches, five years apart?

Answer: Somewhere between rare and astronomical.

“Without tooting your own horn, when youre the winningest coach in your first five years at the school youre currently coaching, you enjoy that,” Miles told in June. “You get a certain understanding of the accomplishments that have been made. The whole [hot seat] notion is crazy. But thats today, thats America. We want it now.”

This must be an SEC thing, or maybe its a nationwide thing. Mark Richt is feeling pressure at Georgia despite similar success and a superior winning percentage to Miles. LSU, youre lucky, you just dont know how lucky. Miles can recruit with the best of them. His players love to play for him. There have been minimal NCAA dust ups.

In four of his five seasons, he has won at least nine games. He shepherded LSU through the Rita and Katrina disasters. He delivered that championship.

Hes quirky, but who isnt among major college coaches? He wears his hat like it is five sizes too small. His mind tends to wander when answering questions. There have been odd coaching decisions near the end of games, but they always seemed to go Miles way until lately.

There was the botched ending to the Ole Miss game last season that may or may not have been the coaching staffs fault.

“That did not go beyond my scrutiny,” Miles said. “I can promise you some of those situations Id never run into in coaching. Weve added that to our game week preparation. Maybe [well be] a little more ready to play in those situations.”

Worst of all, LSU, youre assuming things will get better with a new coach. You better get one who averages more than 10 wins a season. He better produce loads of All-Americans and ravenous defense. Before you do all that, ask Tennessee how it feels to change coaches.

Bo Schembechler may not have preferred Miles at Michigan but Bo passed before Miles won his title. Stanford coach Jim Harbaughs name also has popped up. But Harbaugh disparaged his alma maters (Michigan) academics a couple of years ago. He also had Stanford spend more than $50,000 to install a toilet in his bathroom.

thats what they call him. The Tigers coach with the used car salesman nickname isnt going to sit back and be roasted on the hot seat. Miles may be fired after or cheaply.

“Let me tell you about the hot seat,” Miles said. “The second game that we played, we were on the hot seat that day. Weve been on the hot seat since we got here.”

Posted on July 24th, 2010 by admin
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This Dion is definitely not Neon. The Next Big Thing at Pittsburgh keeps to himself.

Aside from lighting up highlight reels, the flashiest thing Pittsburghs freshman All-American tailback did was transfer twice in high school, finally ending up at Blair Academy in New Jersey.

“I wanted to get my name out there a little more,” Dion Lewis said, “and play against a little bit better competition.”

When Pittsburgh secondary coach Jeff Hafley came sniffing around on the recruiting trail he found a 5-foot-8 back who had been offered scholarships only by Tulane and Miami (Ohio).

“I put the tape on and watched, literally, about eight plays,” said Hafleys boss, Dave Wannstedt. “I said, Theres got to be a hole in this kid. Hes too good a football player.”

Hafley reminded Wanny to be wary of the kids height. Sure, Barry Sanders was the same 5-8 at Oklahoma State more than two decades ago. That ushered in a new era of short, squat, elusive tailbacks. But thats comparing a Hall of Famer to an unproven kid from Albany, N.Y.

“I think everybody is looking for that 5-10, 5-11, 6-foot running back,” Wannstedt said. “I think youve got to look for guys to make plays. Youve got to try to project with these kids. Thats what we did with Dion.”

Lewis turned into a metaphor for the entire program, which helped land Pittsburgh on the CBSSports.com list of the nations best combined football/basketball schools. A lot of times youve got to try to project at Pittsb the Steelers and high school since the Panthers won the Big East at 8-3 in 2004, the program has finished higher than third twice. Certainly not national champions. Its 34 years and counting since Tony Dorsett led Pittsburgh to that 1976 title.

Flourishing Five: No. 5 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh basketball Gary Parrish Once an afterthought, Pitt is now a Top 25 staple. You can thank the coaches, but the Panthers arent on the top combined programs list without their commitment to hoops. Read>> Pittsburgh football Season Record Bowl 2005 5-6 N/A 2006 6-6 N/A 2007 5-7 N/A 2008 9-4 Fini Defeate In 200 Dion Lewis was CBSSports.com Freshman of the Year in 2009 Top Draft picks Player Pick (Year) Team LeSean McCoy 53 (2009) Philadelphia Jeff Otah 19 (2008) Carolina Derrelle Revis 14 (2007) N.Y. Jets Recruiting MaxPreps.com: Horizons remain bright for Pitt Related links Pittsburgh Panthers official athletic site 2011-2015 future Pitt football schedules Were getting ahead ourselves with that one. Lewis is neither Sanders, nor Dorsett. Pittsburgh isnt close to winning a national championship. Put it this way: The program is back to being consistent and favored to win the Big East again after agonizingly blowing the conference title down the stretch last season. Thats when Lewis rushed for 1,799 yards as a spectacular freshman. Only Stanfords Toby Gerhart carried the ball more (26.3 attempts per game) than Lewis (25), the nations leading returning rusher. The kid was one of only five players nationally to average more than 20 carries and at least 5.45 yards per attempt in 2009. Only Lewis and Texas-El Pasos Donald Buckram return in 2010.

Yeah, sometimes you have to project at Pittsburgh.

Greg Romeus didnt play high school football until his senior year at Coral Glades High School in Coral Springs, Fla.

“I remember not being able to get in a stance when I got here,” the Pittsburgh defensive end said.

Re-districting had forced Romeus to transfer from Stoneman-Douglas High in neighboring Parkland, where he played mostly basketball. Last season, though, Romeus was the Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year, having to make a tough decision to turn down the NFL. Now there are whispers that, with another year of experience, he might be the No. 1 player taken overall in 2011.

Pittsburgh is on an upswing for sure which makes a difference in breaking down the five best football/basketball schools. Its close, real close. In fact, about 70 miles separate Pittsburgh from the school that could be in this spot if the Panthers werent. West Virginia has a basketball tradition as well. It has been to BCS bowls.

It still isnt Pittsburgh for the purposes of this argument. Its not only where the Panthers have been, its where theyre headed. In his second season, Lewis is a Heisman candidate and has at least two seasons left in college. Romeus helped Pittsburgh lead the nation in sacks (47). Sophomore Dan Mason could become the programs fourth consecutive all-Big East middle linebacker. There is a healthy receiver tradition led lately by junior Jonathan Baldwin.

If Lewis is comfortable, he shouldnt be. Wannstedt is aggressively recruiting Jameel Poteat, a top 20 tailback from Harrisburg, Pa. for 2011. Thats how Pittsburgh got to this place, coming off the programs best season in 1981. Wannstedt landed Lewis when he was looking to replace LeSean McCoy, who had left for the NFL. He wanted a January enrollee who had a chance to play.

Wanny got a workhorse. Last seasons 45-44 loss to Ci Pitts as for Lewis other-worldly performance. A school-record 47 carries produced a career-high 194 yards.

It was not enough, kind of summing up the not-quite part of Pittsburgh football. The programs last five losses have been by a touchdown or less. Last seasons three losses came by a total of 11 points.

Are the Panthers there yet? Wannstedt has finally settled in as coach in his sixth season. The quintessential Pittsburgh guy started out 15-19 before winning 20 of his last 27. Wanny never deviated from the plan. His pro-set offense is a changeup for defenses used to the spread. Theres always a star or two on defense.

Its all very traditional. It turns out kids still like to hit. Imagine that.

“Youve got to act that way, youve got to think that way, youve got to practice that way, youve got to talk that way,” Wannstedt said.

Things just might have changed for the better on Dec. 1, 2007. Pittsburgh knocked West Virginia out of the national championship game with a 13-9 upset in Morgantown. Since that day only Cincinnati (24-4) has a better record than the Panthers (20-7) among Big East teams.

Its all been done with a pro-set offense and a 4-3 defense.

“Were the dinosaurs of college football,” Wannstedt said.

This is how Pittsburgh stays away from the mundane: The defense harasses the quarterback a lot. Romeus had eight sacks and 11½ tackles for loss. The offense pounds in a different way. Last season it barely finished out of the top 20 in scoring (32 points per game).

“Guys want to draw up 1,000 plays and throw the ball 50 times ..,” Wannstedt said. “Who else can have a fullback named Henry Hynoski? That only works in Pittsburgh, a big Polish fullback, you know?”

But with the Big East title on the line, all Pittsburgh had to do last season was beat either West Virginia or Cincinnati in its final two games. The Mountaineers won 19-16 in Morgantown. Pittsburgh led 31-10 at home, held the ball for 39 minutes, picked off three passes and still lost to Cincinnati.

Thats enough to build a bridge of determination from December heartbreak to September hope.

“As much as I could, I tried to take it out of my head,” Romeus said o how we lost, how we were up the whole game.”

The motivation is there. So is the desire, the Wanny ethic, the no-Neon Dion, the rival grinding its teeth just a few miles down the road. The project that Wannstedt found when he walked in the door 5½ years ago is now a verb: The entire program projects to greatness.

Posted on July 24th, 2010 by admin
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If you cant win, at least win the room.

And Vanderbilt sure as hell cant win.

I can still walk in places and nobody knows me, Robbie Caldwell says. (AP) But Robbie Caldwell sure as hell won the room Thursday at the SEC media days.

Who is Robbie Caldwell? Exactly. On Thursday, Vanderbilts interim coach introduced his Leno-quality standup act to a roomful of cynical media.

At the end we applauded. And we wanted more.

Caldwell is that good a story. Last week he was lining the field when someone told Vandys then-offensive line coach to shower up, quick. There was a news conference. The equipment guy got him a pair of game pants and a Commodores polo. Next thing you know a 56-year-old bald man named Robbie was put in charge of one of most futile major college programs in the country.

Caldwell doesnt look at it that way. Its a chance. Make that a long shot. Vanderbilt admits players they know who can do the class work. It hopes those players can also play SEC football.

All that is secondary for the moment to the man guiding those more-students-than-athletes. While out to dinner Wednesday night, Caldwell held the door open for a patron. The man tipped him $1.50.

“I can still walk in places and nobody knows me,” he said.

In his hometown of Pageland, S.C., he used to hunt dove outside his back door. His football chops were established in several college stops as a top offensive line coach. Under Caldwell, Vandy lineman Chris Williams became the 14th pick in the draft two years ago.

But the reaction from Caldwells wife Nora Lynn and daughter Emsley was stark raving fear when told Bobby Johnson had retired.

“Theres a panic,” Caldwell said. “It was, What are we going to do? Are we out of a job?”

Thirty-plus years in the business does that to a coach and his family. The sudden lifestyle change has struck like lightning. Johnson was a respected coach but he was also 29-66. A couple of years ago, Johnson did the impossible, taking the Commodores to a bowl game for the first time in a quarter century. Then he went 2-10 in 2009. There were rumors that boosters wanted Johnson to change his offense, maybe fire some coaches. Knowing that the walls were closing in, Johnson might have waited until mid-July to retire in order to maneuver Caldwell, his right-hand man, into the job.

At that point Vanderbilt had little choice. There are few big names that are going to take the job in the best of times. Caldwell was the assistant head coach. At that point he had a belly, a Southern drawl and a dream going for him.

It is a nomads life. Caldwell is like a million of his counterparts. They all want to be head coaches, but at some point in your life you accept your fate. Caldwells was to be an offensive line coach. He was a good one at North Carolina, North Carolina State and Furman. When Johnson, a licensed pilot, wanted to hire him eight years ago, he got hold of a private plane and flew to Pageland.

To say there was a landing strip would be bragging. When Johnson was ready to fly home, he needed help from a few guys turning the plane around. That was 2002. Johnson had his man.

We had our comic who performed in front of an SEC media days record of more than 1,000 reporters. We found out Caldwells first paying job was working on the inseminating crew on a turkey farm.

“Id be glad to show you [how to do it] sometime,” he told the media. “We can get a Tom in here …”

Uh, no thanks.

“If I told some of these ladies knew what they put in that lipstick, oh my goodness,” he continued, “because I de-beaked, blood-tested, vaccinated. I done it all.”

Uh, double no thanks.

We found out when Caldwell left Hanahan (S.C.) High School for Furman in 1978, he took a pay cut. His dad told him he was an idiot.

“Ive continued to live up to his words,” Caldwell said.

We found out there is no cussing on the Vanderbilt practice field. Caldwell wants mamas to be able to come to practice without being embarrassed.

“Its just a sign of limited vocabulary sometimes,” the coach said. “I know yall cant tell it but I do have an education.”

The preseason has started off way too serious with all this agent stuff. Even without it, the SEC itself is a bit too stuffy sometimes. It needs a good ol boy who doesnt take himself too seriously. Caldwell probably figures, why not? The worst that can happen is he goes back to being an offensive line coach. If he somehow gets Vandy to a bowl game this season, he can write his own ticket. Or perhaps a bigger one. Johnson, at slightly more than $1 million, was the lowest paid head coach in the SEC.

Caldwell is still working under his offensive line coach contract until Vanderbilt figures out how to compensate him. The school is the only one at the I-A level that operates without an athletic department.

“I got asked on radio, What about all the coaches that have congratulated you? I said, Not a one. No offense to them, but they dont know me … They have no idea who I am,” Caldwell said.

They will if Vanderbilt is able to climb out of the SEC East basement. Either way, Caldwell wont have to work for tips anymore.

“I gave it back to him,” the coach said. “I wish I knew the name of the restaurant here. Golly, it was fantastic. By the way, I ate quail. I kept my heritage, there.”

Posted on July 23rd, 2010 by admin
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This Dion is definitely not Neon. The Next Big Thing at Pittsburgh keeps to himself.

Aside from lighting up highlight reels, the flashiest thing Pittsburghs freshman All-American tailback did was transfer twice in high school, finally ending up at Blair Academy in New Jersey.

“I wanted to get my name out there a little more,” Dion Lewis said, “and play against a little bit better competition.”

When Pittsburgh secondary coach Jeff Hafley came sniffing around on the recruiting trail he found a 5-foot-8 back who had been offered scholarships only by Tulane and Miami (Ohio).

“I put the tape on and watched, literally, about eight plays,” said Hafleys boss, Dave Wannstedt. “I said, Theres got to be a hole in this kid. Hes too good a football player.”

Hafley reminded Wanny to be wary of the kids height. Sure, Barry Sanders was the same 5-8 at Oklahoma State more than two decades ago. That ushered in a new era of short, squat, elusive tailbacks. But thats comparing a Hall of Famer to an unproven kid from Albany, N.Y.

“I think everybody is looking for that 5-10, 5-11, 6-foot running back,” Wannstedt said. “I think youve got to look for guys to make plays. Youve got to try to project with these kids. Thats what we did with Dion.”

Lewis turned into a metaphor for the entire program, which helped land Pittsburgh on the CBSSports.com list of the nations best combined football/basketball schools. A lot of times youve got to try to project at Pittsb the Steelers and high school since the Panthers won the Big East at 8-3 in 2004, the program has finished higher than third twice. Certainly not national champions. Its 34 years and counting since Tony Dorsett led Pittsburgh to that 1976 title.

Flourishing Five: No. 5 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh basketball Gary Parrish Once an afterthought, Pitt is now a Top 25 staple. You can thank the coaches, but the Panthers arent on the top combined programs list without their commitment to hoops. Read>> Pittsburgh football Season Record Bowl 2005 5-6 N/A 2006 6-6 N/A 2007 5-7 N/A 2008 9-4 Fini Defeate In 200 Dion Lewis was CBSSports.com Freshman of the Year in 2009 Top Draft picks Player Pick (Year) Team LeSean McCoy 53 (2009) Philadelphia Jeff Otah 19 (2008) Carolina Derrelle Revis 14 (2007) N.Y. Jets Recruiting MaxPreps.com: Horizons remain bright for Pitt Were getting ahead ourselves with that one. Lewis is neither Sanders, nor Dorsett. Pittsburgh isnt close to winning a national championship. Put it this way: The program is back to being consistent and favored to win the Big East again after agonizingly blowing the conference title down the stretch last season. Thats when Lewis rushed for 1,799 yards as a spectacular freshman. Only Stanfords Toby Gerhart carried the ball more (26.3 attempts per game) than Lewis (25), the nations leading returning rusher. The kid was one of only five players nationally to average more than 20 carries and at least 5.45 yards per attempt in 2009. Only Lewis and Texas-El Pasos Donald Buckram return in 2010.

Yeah, sometimes you have to project at Pittsburgh.

Greg Romeus didnt play high school football until his senior year at Coral Glades High School in Coral Springs, Fla.

“I remember not being able to get in a stance when I got here,” the Pittsburgh defensive end said.

Re-districting had forced Romeus to transfer from Stoneman-Douglas High in neighboring Parkland, where he played mostly basketball. Last season, though, Romeus was the Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year, having to make a tough decision to turn down the NFL. Now there are whispers that, with another year of experience, he might be the No. 1 player taken overall in 2011.

Pittsburgh is on an upswing for sure which makes a difference in breaking down the five best football/basketball schools. Its close, real close. In fact, about 70 miles separate Pittsburgh from the school that could be in this spot if the Panthers werent. West Virginia has a basketball tradition as well. It has been to BCS bowls.

It still isnt Pittsburgh for the purposes of this argument. Its not only where the Panthers have been, its where theyre headed. In his second season, Lewis is a Heisman candidate and has at least two seasons left in college. Romeus helped Pittsburgh lead the nation in sacks (47). Sophomore Dan Mason could become the programs fourth consecutive all-Big East middle linebacker. There is a healthy receiver tradition led lately by junior Jonathan Baldwin.

If Lewis is comfortable, he shouldnt be. Wannstedt is aggressively recruiting Jameel Poteat, a top 20 tailback from Harrisburg, Pa. for 2011. Thats how Pittsburgh got to this place, coming off the programs best season in 1981. Wannstedt landed Lewis when he was looking to replace LeSean McCoy, who had left for the NFL. He wanted a January enrollee who had a chance to play.

Wanny got a workhorse. Last seasons 45-44 loss to Ci Pitts as for Lewis other-worldly performance. A school-record 47 carries produced a career-high 194 yards.

It was not enough, kind of summing up the not-quite part of Pittsburgh football. The programs last five losses have been by a touchdown or less. Last seasons three losses came by a total of 11 points.

Are the Panthers there yet? Wannstedt has finally settled in as coach in his sixth season. The quintessential Pittsburgh guy started out 15-19 before winning 20 of his last 27. Wanny never deviated from the plan. His pro-set offense is a changeup for defenses used to the spread. Theres always a star or two on defense.

Its all very traditional. It turns out kids still like to hit. Imagine that.

“Youve got to act that way, youve got to think that way, youve got to practice that way, youve got to talk that way,” Wannstedt said.

Things just might have changed for the better on Dec. 1, 2007. Pittsburgh knocked West Virginia out of the national championship game with a 13-9 upset in Morgantown. Since that day only Cincinnati (24-4) has a better record than the Panthers (20-7) among Big East teams.

Its all been done with a pro-set offense and a 4-3 defense.

“Were the dinosaurs of college football,” Wannstedt said.

This is how Pittsburgh stays away from the mundane: The defense harasses the quarterback a lot. Romeus had eight sacks and 11½ tackles for loss. The offense pounds in a different way. Last season it barely finished out of the top 20 in scoring (32 points per game).

“Guys want to draw up 1,000 plays and throw the ball 50 times ..,” Wannstedt said. “Who else can have a fullback named Henry Hynoski? That only works in Pittsburgh, a big Polish fullback, you know?”

But with the Big East title on the line, all Pittsburgh had to do last season was beat either West Virginia or Cincinnati in its final two games. The Mountaineers won 19-16 in Morgantown. Pittsburgh led 31-10 at home, held the ball for 39 minutes, picked off three passes and still lost to Cincinnati.

Thats enough to build a bridge of determination from December heartbreak to September hope.

“As much as I could, I tried to take it out of my head,” Romeus said o how we lost, how we were up the whole game.”

The motivation is there. So is the desire, the Wanny ethic, the no-Neon Dion, the rival grinding its teeth just a few miles down the road. The project that Wannstedt found when he walked in the door 5½ years ago is now a verb: The entire program projects to greatness.

Posted on July 23rd, 2010 by admin
Filed under: College football news, NCAA college football | No Comments »