Former Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin has been hired by Kentucky as wide receivers coach.

Wildcats coach Joker Phillips announced the hiring Tuesday.

Martin led the Volunteers to their last national championship in 1998. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1999 and spent six season playing professionally in the NFL, NFL Europe and the CFL.

He spent last season with the University of New Mexico, where he was quarterbacks coach.

Posted on February 10th, 2010 by admin
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Seantrel Henderson, the top-rated prospect in the recruiting class of 2010, finally ended the suspense last week by announcing he would attend USC in the fall.
Or did he?

Henderson, a 6-8, 325 offensive tackle from St. Paul, MN. viewed as the type of talent who could start at left tackle and have an immediate impact on whatever college program he chooses, declared his intention of becoming a Trojan on Feb. 3. But, according to multiple media reports, he still hasnt put it in writing, and may not be quite as committed as USC would like.

In fact, there are indications that he and his father, Sean Henderson, are prepared to explore other options, pending further news regarding whether USC will face any NCAA santions in the wake of an investigation into allegations that former Trojans running back Reggie Bush accepted cash, the use of a car and free housing from a businessman who hoped to benefit from his relationship with Bush once he reached the NFL.

USC officials are scheduled to appear before an NCAA infractions committee on Feb. 19. Henderson reportedly has held off on signing a national letter of intent, and it appears hes prepared to wait until he knows more about any NCAA penalites USC may face. Thats given schools like Ohio State, Miami, Notre Dame, Florida and Minnesota a glimmer of hope that they might still be able to persuade Henderson to commit elsewhere.

In an interview Sunday with KSTP-TV in St. Paul, Henderson was asked whether NCAA sanctions leveled on USC could change his mind about going there.

Yeah, I think it would, he said. But at the same time, I would have to … talk to the coaches and see exactly whats going to happen and then base my decision upon whats going to be going on. Because thats the school I would like to go to, but then at the same time, I just cant walk into anything thats going to … make my future, you know, not as good as it could be.

USC officials may not know whether NCAA sanctions will be imposed for several weeks after the Feb. 19 appearance before the NCAA. Sean Henderson told KSTP-TV that hes advised he son to keep his options open because if things arent looking good come the 20th or 21st (of February) or whatever, then we might have to move in a different direction, but only for the sake of his future.

Posted on February 9th, 2010 by admin
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Florida State announced Sunday it will vacate 12 football victories and a 2007 mens track national championship in an academic cheating scandal, along with dozens more victories and placings across 10 mens and womens sports.

The NCAA stripped the school of wins in which 61 athletes implicated in the scandal contributed. The college sports governing body upheld the decision last month after Florida State appealed the sanctions as “excessive.

The mens basketball team lost all 22 wins from 2006-07, and womens basketball lost 16 victories that year, including two in the NCAA tournament.

Bobby Bowden, who retired after this season as the second all-time winningest coach in major college football behind Penn States Joe Paterno, has now won a few less. Bowden finished with 389 before subtracting the five wins from the 2006-07 season, including the Emerald Bowl, and seven regular-season victories in 2007-08.

Florida State was allowed to keep placings in sports like track, cross country, golf and swimming if they still had enough points to win after subtracting contributions from the implicated athletes.

The school said it would return all vacated trophies to the appropriate agencies this year.

Among the other victories vacated:

- Softball: 32 from 2006-07, including two from the ACC tournament.

- Baseball: 4 from 2006-07, including one NCAA tournament win.

- Womens basketball: 6 from 2007-08.

- Mens indoor track and field: dropped from 2nd to 4th place at NCAA championship.

Posted on February 8th, 2010 by admin
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LSUs Trindon Holliday scored a pair of third-quarter touchdowns to help his Texas all-star team beat The Nations squad 36-17 on Saturday.

Holliday, a 5-foot-5 running back, scored first on a 67-yard pass from Ryan Perrilloux, a Jackson State senior quarterback, with 10:46 left in the third quarter. Hollidays second trip to the end zone came about 5 minutes later on a 2-yard run.

Holliday, who is known more for his speed than his size, totaled 209 all-purpose yards, including 71 on four punt returns, to earn offensive player of the game honors.

“I knew that no one could catch me once I get a step off, Holliday said.

The NFL hopeful, who has so far foregone what looks to be a lucrative professional track career, said he wants “to give this football thing a go before dedicating himself full time to track.

After a scoreless first quarter, UTEP cornerback Cornelius Brown gave Texas a 10-0 lead with a 35-yard touchdown return off a fumble recovery with about 9:40 left in the first half.

“I wanted to give the fans something to cheer about before this game and I did, Brown said Brown, selected the games most valuable player. “It rolled right back to me and I saw green and took off.

Perrilloux, who shared his duties under center with quarterbacks from Troy and Duke, threw for 136 yards in the win.

The Nations starting quarterback, Tennessees Jonathan Crompton, completed 9 of 20 passes for 102 yards.

The fourth annual all-star game drew 26,041 fans.

Kenny Hansmire, the games CEO, said he expected a larger crowd - about 42,000 people showed up in 2009 - and would not look at moving the game to San Antonio or Dallas.

Posted on February 7th, 2010 by admin
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Minnesota coach Tim Brewsters contract extension includes a smaller buyout and more bonus opportunities.

The Associated Press obtained a copy of the contract on Friday. If the university decides to fire Brewster without just cause, it will only owe him half of his remaining $400,000 annual base salaries.

Brewsters original contract called for a termination fee of the full base amount left.

His new deal was agreed to last week. It runs through the 2013 season and has the same $1 million annual value including supplemental and deferred compensation as before.

Brewster will get a $100,000 bonus if the Gophers win seven regular-season games. The bonuses escalate with each extra victory all the way up to $350,000 for 12 victories.

Posted on February 6th, 2010 by admin
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Lane Kiffin really is getting a jump on recruiting.

No sooner had the Trojans new coach put the finishing touches on the Class of 2010 recruits, that he turned his attention to the Class of 2015.

Thats right, 2015.

Thursday evening Kiffin received a verbal commitment from 13-year old wunderkind quarterback David Sills of Bear, Del.

Too young?

Not according to his personal coach Steve Clarkson, who has mentored some of the games best quarterbacks including current USC starter Matt Barkley.

His skill set is off the chart, Clarkson said. Ive never seen anyone at his age do what hes been able to do.

The commitment, which was first reported by ESPNs Shelley Smith, has happened in college basketball previously, but is unprecedented for college football where its harder to project how a player as young as Sills will develop physically. Clarkson says that wont be a problem.

Hes already six feet as a 13-year old, Clarkson said. And hes breaking down NFL footage.

Clarkson said the scholarship offer emerged after he called Kiffin to discuss a quarterback recruit for next years class.

Clarkson said Kiffin asked him his opinion of the recruit and Clarkson said, You might call me crazy, but youve known me a long time, right? And when I said if there was going to be a LeBron James of football itd be Jimmy Clausen that turned out to be a pretty good prediction.

And when I said Matt Barkley had the potential to be as good as Jimmy, he ended up winning Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior and starting at USC as a freshman, right?

Well, Ive got a kid now who is better than all of them and hes in Delaware. You gotta take a look at him.

Clarkson then directed Kiffin to a video of Sills that is making the rounds on YouTube.

Kiffin watched it and called him back immediately.

He was like, This kid is incredible. How old is he again?

I was like, Thats the problem, hes 13.

A couple of hours later, the Sills family called Kiffin and they spoke for the first time. USC had always been Sills dream school, according to his father, David Sills IV.

Im as shocked as anybody, Sills father said. I was just talking with friends yesterday about what itll be like four years from now when David goes through the recruiting process. I never expected this to happen so soon.

But Davids 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 youre ever going to get?

The younger Sills, who is an seventh-grader at Red Lion Christian Academy in Bear, Del., has been training with Clarkson for three years. They meet about once every six weeks at various locations around the country. Sometimes in California, where Clarkson is based. Sometimes in Delaware. And sometimes somewhere in the middle, if Clarkson is conducting a clinic.

Steve and David hit it off immediately, David Sills IV said. If theres ever anything David is doing wrong, Steve can fix it in like 10 minutes.

Still, 2015 is a long time from now. A lot can change.

Well, were going to be out to California in a few weeks and well meet Lane then, Sills father said. Were excited to meet him. And were excited to verbally commit. Hopefully it all works out in the future.

Posted on February 5th, 2010 by admin
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Derek Dooley appeared to have a daunting task when he was hired at Tennessee 19 days before national signing day.

Turns out, selling the Volunteers program to recruits wasnt that difficult for him.

“Im still trying to find out if theres anything wrong with this place, Dooley joked on Wednesday. “Whats not to sell?

Seventeen prospects signed with Tennessee on Wednesday to join eight others who enrolled in January to form Dooleys 2010 recruiting class. The class included Rivals.com and Scout.com five-star wide receiver, DaRick Rogers, and offensive lineman James Stone, one of the top prospects from the state of Tennessee.

“The university has so much to sell, so it wasnt as hard as people think to go out there and convince some of these young men to come to Tennessee, Dooley said. “It was just a matter of getting out there in front of them.

The class was ranked as high as sixth in the nation by Rivals at the beginning of the year, but dropped to the low teens after former coach Lane Kiffin bolted for Southern California on Jan. 12.

On Wednesday night, the class was rated ninth in the nation by Rivals and 15th by Scout.

“Theyve really grabbed some big names and stole some big names, led by Darick Rogers, Rivals southeast recruiting analyst Barton Simmons said. “I think all in all, particularly considering where they sat when they were hired, you really cant say enough about this class.

Kiffins departure left the program “in a little bit of a fragile state, said Dooley, who immediately went to work assuring the midterm signees of their future with Tennessee. Their decision to remain with the Vols sent a message of stability to other recruits, he said.

Rogers, a standout from Calhoun, Ga., was committed to Georgia before Dooley came calling. Dooley signed his teammate, quarterback Nash Nance, in what was perceived as a package deal.

Nashvilles Stone had his eye on both Alabama and Tennessee but knew he didnt want to play for Kiffin.

“Tennessee didnt seem like a place where I would feel comfortable (under Kiffin), but now I feel like I will be comfortable with the leadership and Ill be able to really grow as a person, Stone told The Tennessean newspaper.

Dooley couldnt hang on to at least two other celebrated recruits, five-star wide receiver Markeith Ambles, who followed Kiffin to USC, or defensive end J.C. Copeland, who signed with LSU.

Simmons said Rogers commitment would keep the Vols from missing Ambles, though Tennessee still has a glaring need at defensive line.

Rogers is one of four wide receivers who will join the team, bolstering a position that had lost some of its luster in recent years at a school known as “Wide Receiver U in the 1980s.

And after a season with limited options at quarterback, the Vols now have a variety of choices with Nance joining midterm enrollees Tyler Bray and Matt Simms.

“I think every year youre always looking for game-changing, playmaking, offensive weapons for when it gets down there in the fourth quarter and it gets tight, Dooley said.

A few of Tennessees neediest positions, like offensive and defensive line and special teams, got some help too.

Dooley said he was aware of Tennessees needs but felt with two weeks available for him to recruit he had to focus on getting the best talent available.

He also cautioned fans not to get too wrapped up in the excitement of signing day because every coach will misjudge some talent in each signing class.

“Theres no way that I can sit here and project how good these guys are going to be two to three years from now. Today is when the work begins, he said. “This class will be evaluated three or four years from now.

Posted on February 4th, 2010 by admin
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Whatever health problems Florida coach Urban Meyer may have, his program is in pretty good shape.

Meyer signed the consensus No. 1 recruiting class in the country Wednesday, stockpiling the kind of talent that could keep the Gators in the national title hunt for several years.

Does it mean anything to be on top?

“It shouldnt, but it does, Meyer said. “I guess thats the competitive nature of it, but it has no bearing on where you finish. … The ego part of it, where … Hey, you guys just had the No. 1 class in America. Thats good for about 24 hours and then youve got to get to work and worry about something else.

The class is already being touted as the best in school history. It includes three of the top seven prospects, according to Rivals.com, and 11 of ESPNUs top 50 high school seniors.

Twenty-eight players signed national letters of intent with Florida, including 11 who enrolled last month. Securing the class was Meyers last bit of work before beginning his leave of absence. He plans to take vacation, but also has a series of heart and stress tests lined up later this month.

He expects to return for spring practice, which begins March 17, and coach this fall.

“I feel good, Meyer said. “Just taking care of yourself, thats the key. Im trying to do the best I can.

He did just fine recruiting.

At the top of Floridas class is defensive end Ronald Powell, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound Californian whos rated the No. 1 prospect in the country by Rivals.com.

Powell is the centerpiece of a group filled with standout defensive linemen. It includes tackles Dominique Easley, Leon Orr and Sharrif Floyd, and ends Neiron Ball and Lynden Trail.

“As far as the defensive front, I dont know if Ive ever seen one like this, Meyer said.

The defensive secondary is nearly as loaded. Safeties Jonathan Dowling, Matt Elam and Jordan Haden are rated three of the best in the country, and talented cornerback Joshua Shaw should get a chance to earn a starting job opposite Janoris Jenkins.

Florida lost six starters on offense and six on defense, and Meyer said this class could help fill the void left by the early departure of underclassmen Aaron Hernandez, Maurkice Pouncey, Joe Haden, Major Wright and Carlos Dunlap.

“I dont know if theres ever rebuilding, but this would be a rebuilding year for us, he said. “You got to replace those guys with real guys. You look at the record of those players I just talked about. Its a very productive group, so we put a big emphasis on going out and finding some difference makers.

The Gators signed 15 players from the Sunshine State, including nine from the talent-rich South Florida area. Meyer and his staff also showed they can go beyond Florida to pull in top talent.

Shaw is from Palmdale, Calif., Floyd is from Philadelphia, Easley is from New York and quarterback Tyler Murphy is from Wethersfield, Conn.

“The key to recruiting, just like the key to a great sale, is having a tremendous product, and we obviously have a tremendous product, Meyer said. “Academically and football program-wise, whats happened in the last five years here, its a product where a lot of guys want to be part of.

Those guys also has plenty of questions as Meyer battled rumors, speculation and uncertainty on the recruiting trail.

He tried to step away after the Gators beat Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl on New Years Day, but that lasted about a day and a half. He returned to work and made countless phone calls in hopes of keeping the class intact.

“Yes, there were fires to be put out, he said. “The good thing is when you go top to bottom in our class, youre dealing with intelligent guys and good families. … When youre dealing with very intelligent families and people that really understand, they hear some crazy rumor - and I heard some - you simply pick up the phone and say, Listen. … You can end the rumors like that because you have a relationship with a kid.

Posted on February 4th, 2010 by admin
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CBS responded to complaints over a conservative groups planned Super Bowl ad featuring football star Tim Tebow by saying that it had eased restrictions on advocacy ads and would consider responsibly produced ones for open spots in its Feb 7 broadcast.

CBS Corp. said Tuesday it had received numerous e-mails — both critical and supportive — since a coalition of womens groups began a protest campaign Monday against the ad, which the critics say will use Tebow and his mother to convey an anti-abortion message.

Funded by the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family, the 30-second ad is expected to recount the story of Pam Tebows pregnancy in 1987. After getting sick during a mission trip to the Philippines, she ignored a recommendation by doctors to abort her fifth child. She later gave birth to Tim, who won the 2007 Heisman Trophy and helped his Florida team win two BCS championships.

CBS said Tuesday that the decision to air the Tebow ad reflected a change in its policies toward advocacy ads that has evolved over the past several years.

We have for some time moderated our approach to advocacy submissions after it became apparent that our stance did not reflect public sentiment or industry norms, said spokesman Dana McClintock. In fact, most media outlets have accepted advocacy ads for some time.

He said CBS will continue to consider responsibly produced ads from all groups for the few remaining spots in Super Bowl XLIV.

Thirty-second commercials during the Super Bowl are selling for $2.5 million to $2.8 million.

Hasty Pudding honors Timberlake

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Justin Timberlake will soon have a new piece of hardware for his trophy case — a pudding pot.

The Grammy and Emmy award winner was named Harvards Hasty Pudding Man of the Year on Tuesday.

Timberlake will receive the award at a roast set for Feb. 5.

Hasty Pudding Theatricals, the nations oldest undergraduate drama troupe, said in a statement that the singer, songwriter, actor and producer was selected because hes one of pop cultures most influential entertainers.

His album, Justified, produced four No. 1 singles, making him the first artist in Nielsen Top 40 history with four No. 1 hits from one album.

Actress Anne Hathaway was named Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year earlier this month.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow embraces his mother, Pam, during a pre-game ceremony for graduating seniors on the Florida football team prior to an NCAA college football game against Florida State in Gainesville, Fla., on Nov. 28, 2009.

Posted on February 3rd, 2010 by admin
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In his first season walking on the football team at the University of Georgia, Reuben Faloughi was astonished how much bigger the players were compared to those he faced in high school.

One trip back home to Evans High School, however, and this viewpoint had been inverted. His old friends were the ones amazed, even though Faloughi said he had gained no more than 15 pounds on his 6-foot-4 frame to weigh around 235.

I thought he was somebodys dad, said Justin Black, Faloughis former basketball and football teammate who is now a senior at Evans. It was like a grown man had shown up in Reubens body.

Hundreds of players across the country this Wednesday will sign binding letters of intent that punch their ticket to major college football. Players like Faloughi and Aquinas graduate Drew Hill, though, show there is another path to play under the brightest lights, in front of the largest crowds and in the most consequential games: walking on.

Its definitely taking a chance … but I wanted to see if I could play with the best athletes, said Hill, a wide receiver who walked on at Kent State in Ohio. This is the pinnacle of college football. Its not in the BCS, but we play BCS teams.

Hill, who is 6-1, was a wide receiver at Aquinas, where coach Matt LeZotte said Hill was dependable and caught everything thrown his way.

Kent State represented his only opportunity to play Division-I football. Hills grandfather, Stan Rose, had attended the school, and the connection endured when Hill attended a football camp at the school the summer before his senior season. He remained in touch with the coaches and was invited to walk on.

Hill, who like Faloughi redshirted this past fall, enjoys many of the perks as a scholarship player. He even lives with the teams starting quarterback, a freshman from Arkansas named Spencer Keith.

He obviously understands the offense, so I try to pick his brain a little bit, Hill said. He has a great understanding of what were trying to do against an opponent.

Kent State, just northeast of Akron, plays at Penn State next year, and Hills goal is to make the travel roster for the game. He did not travel with the team this year, but cited former Aquinas player Lee Malchow, who was awarded a scholarship this past fall at Wake Forest after initially walking on, as proof these type of goals are attainable.

Faloughi, at Georgia, won scout team player of the year for defense this past fall. He found even more fulfillment the week before the team played Georgia Tech. Coaches told him he would mimic the moves and play of Yellow Jackets defensive end Derrick Morgan, expected to be a top NFL draft pick.

That award meant a lot, said Faloughi. What meant more was that week before the Georgia Tech game. When they told me that, I went out and balled all week.

Georgia will begin a shift to the 3-4 defense this spring under new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, and Faloughis former coach believes he could thrive in that system. It could turn out to be another turn in his favor, a reward for taking a flyer as a walk-on. Faloughi turned down a scholarship from Furman to walk on at Georgia.

I didnt think he was taking a chance, said Marty Jackson, who coached Faloughi at Evans. With his ambition, he was going to be successful. He would have been great at Furman, too. … But theres something to be said about playing major college football.

Faloughi was recruited to Georgia by Jon Fabris, who was one of three defensive assistant coaches let go by Georgia last month. His recruiting pitch, according to Jackson, was: Were not bringing Reuben here just to be a tackling dummy.

Faloughi said he is not worried about losing whatever traction he gained under Fabris. Coach Joe Tereshinski now oversees the walk-ons, Faloughi said, and he thinks his impression has rubbed off on more than just one coach.

I feel like all the coaches know who I am, Faloughi said. All my hard work isnt going to be for nothing. … I know that.

Posted on February 1st, 2010 by admin
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