Seantrel Henderson

Seantrel Henderson, a 6-foot-8, 340-pound left tackle widely considered to be the nation’s top high school recruit, signed with Southern California as expected. Henderson had delayed signing a letter of intent, saying he and his family wanted to wait until U.S.C. appeared last month before an N.C.A.A. infractions committee investigating the Trojans’ athletic department, football program and men’s basketball program. It is not believed that penalties will be known until next month.

Henderson was one of the most coveted recruits in the nation, capping off a season in which he won the Anthony Munoz Award as the nation’s top lineman and played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. The star out of Cretin-Derham High in Paul, Minn., narrowed his final list of schools to Florida, Miami, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Ohio State and USC.

Wonder if the delay had anything to do with his ACT scores? Regardless the Trojans land another prize Recruit, a great way to start off the Lane Kiffin era!!

Tim Tebow Throws on Pro Day

Former Florida Quarterback Tim Tebow completed his first public workout with his revamped throwing motion Wednesday in Gainesville, Fla.. Tebow was hoping to impress N.F.L. general managers, coaches and scouts. He threw dozens of passes to three former teammates during a 30-minute workout.

The reviews came in mixed. Some NFL scouts were raving about his improvement. Bob Redman, reporting for the Florida page of Scout.com said that “One NFC Scout said, ‘I was blown away by the confidence he displayed in the new release and how effective he was delivering the ball. I was most impressed with his footwork and how quick he got rid of the ball; very impressive.’ “ On the other hand, Michael Wright of the Florida Times Union said “Looks like Tebow worked out one kink and developed another. There’s still a small loop & now a bit of a pause in motion. Mechanical looking.”

Tim Tebow’s long, looping throwing motion has been a source of criticism, and its because of it that some analysts have said he should move to H-back or even tight end. On Pro Day at Florida Field in Gainesville, FL, he showed off a tweaked new motion to scouts as he tried to show his critics wrong.

About 75 NFL scouts, coaches and executives showed up to see Tim Tebow’s Pro Day appearance. It was his first open workout since he appeared in the Senior Bowl.

The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, Tim Tebow was the star attraction at Florida’s Pro Day. His new compact passing motion drew good reviews.

To make the adjustments he did, Tebow worked with longtime NFL assistant Zeke Bratwurst, former NFL coach Sam Wyche and former college/NFL assistant Marc Trestman, who at once time was offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers.

Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren, known for influencing such QBs as Brett Favre, said:

“Clearly, he’s a special young man. You can tell he’s trying to make adjustments to his motion. That seems to be what people are fired up about, and he’s working very hard to do that, and it showed today. I thought he had a pretty good workout.

“Those of us that know the position a little bit and watch the position and have coached the position, you saw it. You saw he’s worked hard on changing some of his technique, and I root for him. He’s a wonderful young man. I pull for guys like that, and he’s going to make some team very happy.”

It’s true, however, that it would be easy to fall back on his old style during a game, as pass rushers close in on him. However, even those who were detractors of Tim Tebow, have always said that he has some of the necessary intangibles that many QBs are missing.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Raheem Morris, who was in attendance during Tim Tebow’s Pro Day performance, said the following:

“He didn’t miss many throws. He came out, did what he had to do. He’s a talented guy, he’s a popular guy, he’s a sharp guy, he’s a smart guy, he’s had success all his career and I’m sure nothing will be different when he goes to the next level.”

It seems that Tebow’s pro day neither helped or hurt his slotting in the upcoming NFL Draft. Coaches who saw him were impressed with how much work he put into changing his throwing motion and footwork. At the same time, it is not enough. Tebow’s throws are still too low, his throws are not accurate enough and he still throws with his old college motion on the run. Tebow has made a lot of progress and seems like the type of player who will improve in the NFL because he has a good work ethic and is willing to listen to his coaches. The best situation for Tebow would be to get drafted by a team with an established quarterback so that Tebow can learn from the veteran quarterback and have a couple of years to improve his mechanics.

Tim Tebow NFL Pro Day with Highlights

College Football Defensive Tackles Shine at the NFL Combine

There has been very little evidence to support any separation between two of the top defensive tackle prospects in this year’s NFL draft, Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy.

But a show of endurance and strength, or lack thereof, at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis could be a red flag for one player.

Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy completed only 23 bench-press repetitions of 225 pounds Sunday, and that was worrisome for NFL.com draft analyst Mike Mayock, who ranks McCoy as the best DT prospect in the draft, ahead of Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh.

“When you start comparing numbers, which is what this combine is all about, in the weight room yesterday Suh did 32 and McCoy did 23,” Mayock said Monday on the NFL Network. “I was stunned that McCoy only did 23 reps. That tells me he hasn’t been in the weight room the way he should have been over the last three years.”

McCoy was tied for 35th among 50 defensive linemen who took part in the bench press. Suh ranked sixth. The top defensive lineman, Jeff Owens of Georgia, had 44 reps.

Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was so impressive at the NFL scouting combine that he should have placed some distance between himself and Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy as far as who is the highest-rated prospect in the draft.

Unless St. Louis reaches to fill a need position by taking Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, the Rams are expected to select Suh.

“I just like being No. 1 and striving for No. 1,” Suh said. “If I’m to be No. 1, I’d be happy. If I’m not, then get ready for that next team who wants me and make the most of it.”

Suh (6-4, 307) bench-pressed 225 pounds 32 times and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.98 seconds.

Suh’s 35½-inch vertical jump, showed the kind of explosive power he has, and, was one of the best in combine history for a player at his position. He excelled at almost every drill.

Ideally, Suh will play tackle in a 4-3.

“I think I’d be able to adjust to anything,” he said. “I think whatever the team needs me to do I’ll be able to do.”

Suh was so dominant last season that he had 12 sacks, 24 tackles for loss and 26 hurries.

Unlike a lot of other highly rated prospects, Suh and McCoy never considered not working out at the combine for representatives from all 32 teams.

So who is the best?

“Two great players that’ll be great in this league,” Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said. “A couple of different styles, but both their styles are going to work.”

McCoy finished with six sacks and 15½ tackles for loss as a junior last season.

“I have a strong work ethic,” McCoy said. “I try to outwork the opponent that I’m going against.”

We here at Live From Then Press Box.Com vote for Ndamukong Suh!!

3 Future Stars that also Shined in Mondays Workouts;

1. Geno Atkins: DT, Georgia
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 293 pounds
Arm length: 32 in.
40-yard dash time: 4.75 (unofficial)
Bench reps: 34

2. Brandon Graham: DE/OLB, Michigan
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 268 pounds
Arm length: 32.25 in.
40-yard dash time: 4.72
Bench reps: 31

3. Sean Weatherspoon: OLB, Missouri
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 239 pounds
Arm Length: 31.25 in.
40-yard dash time: 4.68
Bench reps: 34

2010 NFL Combine - Sunday Results

Who impressed at the NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday with the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers working out? Who had a disappointing showing? Doesn’t Anybody Want to Throw?

2010 NFL Combine – Sunday Results, QB’s, WR’s and RB Results

The annual NFL Scouting Combine is under way in Indianapolis, IN as we reported yesterday. On Sunday the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers worked out. Live From The Press Box.Com highlights the impressive and disappointing performers as reported to us by a Scout attending the event. The NFL Network provided the following stats regarding the players.

WHO IMPRESSED

Stanford running back Toby Gerhart (6-0, 231)
Gerhart opened up eyes when he ran the 40-yard dash in with an unofficial times of 4.53 and 4.58, the official time is probably around 4.6. The power back Gerhart had a lot of questions on if he had enough speed to be an NFL running back. Gerhart’s 40 time was better than optimistic projections. Unsurprisingly, Gerhart was fourth in running backs on the bench press with 22 reps. He was in the top 10 in the board jump and vertical jump of the running backs. Some felt that Gerhart had the most important sprint of any player in the 40-yard dash, and the Stanford standout made the most of it.

Tennessee running back Montario Hardesty (6-0, 225)
The Volunteers back had a fabulous showing at the scouting combine. Hardesty led all running backs in the vertical jump and board jump. That was after Hardesty had the fifth fastest 40-yard dash time for a running back at 4.49 seconds. Hardesty was sixth in the bench press with 21 reps. It was an excellent all-around combine that could cause a lot of NFL teams to re-evaluate Hardesty, who was projected to be a mid-rounder. Hardesty was a backup for most of his career. Tennessee running backs have had a lot success in the NFL, and last year Arian Foster went undrafted but still had a significant impact as a rookie in 2009. Don’t be surprised if Hardesty starts to rise.

Ole Miss running back Dexter McCluster (5-9, 172)
Since the Senior Bowl McCluster has added seven pounds, and it looks like all of it is muscle. Despite his small size, McCluster finished seventh among running backs in the 225-pound bench press with 20 reps. Like Gerhart, McCluster also was in the top 10 performers at the board jump and the vertical jump. Those reps were better than some bigger power backs like Georgia Tech’s Jonathan Dwyer (5-11, 229) and Mississippi State Anthony Dixon (6-1, 233) who both had 15 reps. The Largo, FL product has fabulous speed, but that couldn’t be seen on his first 40-yard dash when he stumbled early on and ran an official time of 4.58.

Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn (6-1, 219)
Benn was in need of a good combine. His junior season he was hampered by some injuries and poor quarterback play. In limited opportunities in college Benn showed a nice combination of size and speed. At the combine Benn showed his skill set. He tied for the lead on the bench press among wide receivers with 20. Benn followed that up with a quality 40-yard dash time. The unofficial time was 4.48 seconds, so the official time was in the 4.5 range. On the pass catching drills Benn did a good job of running routes and catching passes. The combine performance shows teams that Benn put in the work to be ready, and excel in a pressure packed environment.

Clemson wide receiver Jacoby Ford (5-9, 186)
Ford had one of the fastest 40-yard dash times with a blistering time of 4.28, and Ford had 13 reps on the bench press. In the receiving drills Ford looked solid. For Clemson Ford showed some game breaking speed at times, and he was a track champion in college. However, at the Senior Bowl Ford did not burn defensive backs regularly with that speed and there are legitimate concerns about if that speed will translate to the football field in the NFL. Still a great 40 time helped propel former Buccaneer Dexter Jackson into the second round, and teams that place a high value on track speed, like the Oakland Raiders, will be intrigued by Ford after his great sprint in Indianapolis.

Notre Dame wide receiver Golden Tate (5-10, 199)
The Fighting Irish standout had an excellent combine that should help his draft status. Tate is a speed receiver and does not have good height or bulk. Thus, it was important for Tate to showcase excellent speed to help his draft status. Tate did just that in the 40-yard dash when he had an official time of 4.42. It was the fourth best time for the wide receivers. Tate also was seventh for wide receivers in the bench press with 17 reps. It wasn’t all perfect for Tate as he dropped three passes in the gauntlet drill. Still, the combine performance from Tate should help him, and could solidify him as a late first-round pick.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Kansas wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe (6-2, 207)
The Jayhawks standout who had some character concerns had a rough combine showing. His 40-yard dash time of 4.61 was slower than expected. Briscoe also had a poor showing on the bench press with only nine reps. In the pass receiving drills Briscoe had a bad dropped pass. The lackluster combine performance from Briscoe won’t ease the concerns about his work ethic and character. With the importance of the combine Briscoe gave teams a red flag about his preparation skills.

In other news we have to ask ourselves, does anybody want to throw at this years NFL Combine?

“Quarterbacks worked out at the scouting combine Sunday. But most of the big-name ones did not throw here, preferring to wait for their colleges’ pro days, when they can throw to familiar receivers.

That’s understandable for quarterbacks like Sam Bradford, Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy, who are recovering from injuries. But the decision by others hasn’t pleased many coaches and general managers, who wanted to see quarterbacks, the healthy ones, throw on neutral ground. (Central Michigan’s Dan LeFevour irked them in particular, because he is healthy and, unlike Tim Tebow, is not revamping his throwing motion.)

In fact, the quarterbacks also retreated from the workouts Saturday, with 16 of 19 opting not to bench-press. Does the bench press really matter to quarterbacks? No. But for a player like Tebow, who many believe could wind up playing another position in the N.F.L., the bench press would have provided an intriguing barometer.

Team executives and scouts also use the combine to judge players’ competitiveness, and they think agents who advise their clients to sit out do the players no favors. Quarterbacks have been the exception to the recent trend that has seen more top-flight players work out at the combine since the NFL Network began broadcasting it in 2004.

Two of the quarterbacks who did bench-press were impressive. Penn State’s Daryll Clark did 21 repetitions, good news for him because he might end up playing another position. Troy quarterback Levi Brown benched 225 pounds 20 times. To compare: Bruce Campbell, the chiseled Maryland offensive tackle who turned in the most impressive workout of the combine, benched 225 pounds 34 times.”

For many NFL prospects, life begins at 40 (yards).

Covering that distance in a scorching time, as Clemson’s Jacoby Ford did Sunday at the NFL scouting combine — can turn the heads of potential employers, just as a slow 40 time can send a player’s draft stock into a tailspin.

According to an NFL scout who, along with dozens of others, was keeping his own stopwatch on Ford, the 5-foot-8, 182-pound receiver clocked in at hand times ranging between 4.18 and 4.23 seconds. The official (electronic) combine record is 4.24, set in 2008 by Chris Johnson, now of the Tennessee Titans.

Ford’s electronic time posted on NFL.com was 4.28. Regardless, he was blistering fast, and that’s the type of performance that could significantly elevate him in some teams’ eyes.

Among the other players who performed especially well in drills and physical tests were Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson, who some felt upstaged Cincinnati’s Tony Pike (the elite quarterbacks are waiting for their campus pro days to throw), and receivers Golden Tate of Notre Dame; Taylor Price of Ohio University; Mike Williams of Syracuse; Damian Williams of USC; and Carlton Mitchell of South Florida.

Clemson’s C.J. Spiller appears to have a strong grip on the top spot among running backs, and Fresno State’s Ryan Matthews is widely regarded the second-best at that position.

Tim Tebow used a different approach to the 40-yard dash. He walked up to the starting line about 10 minutes before his run, felt the turf with his hand, took a step in each direction to figure out where he wanted to begin, then moved back to the center of the field to continue preparing.

It was an interesting routine, one that no other quarterback went through Sunday at the NFL Scouting Combine. And it worked.

Tebow ran in 4.72 seconds, the fourth-best time among the 16 quarterbacks who participated in the 40.

The University of Florida standout not only demonstrated his outstanding speed, but he also showed he can be a cheerleader. He consistently stood off the line about 5 yards to the left and yelled encouragement to his fellow competitors.

Here were the top eight finishers among quarterbacks in the 40:

BYU’s Max Hall — 4.87 seconds

The drills Monday and Tuesday, the final two days of the combine, are mostly devoted to evaluating defensive players.

Combine Top Performers to Date

The 2010 NFL Scouting Combine Saturday Breakdown

The 2010 NFL Scouting Combine Saturday Breakdown

Each February, hundreds of the very best college football players are invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Ind., where executives, coaches, scouts and doctors from all 32 NFL teams conduct an intense, four-day job interview in advance of the NFL Draft. Here is a brief breakdown of the measurable drills:

40-yard dash
The 40-yard dash is the marquee event at the combine. It’s kind of like the 100-meters at the Olympics: It’s all about speed, explosion and watching skilled athletes run great times. These athletes are timed at 10, 20 and 40-yard intervals. What the scouts are looking for is an explosion from a static start.

Bench press
The bench press is a test of strength — 225 pounds, as many reps as the athlete can get. What the NFL scouts are also looking for is endurance. Anybody can do a max one time, but what the bench press tells the pro scouts is how often the athlete frequented his college weight room for the last 3-5 years.

Vertical jump
The vertical jump is all about lower-body explosion and power. The athlete stands flat-footed and they measure his reach. It is important to accurately measure the reach, because the differential between the reach and the flag the athlete touches is his vertical jump measurement.

Broad jump
The broad jump is like being in gym class back in junior high school. Basically, it is testing an athlete’s lower-body explosion and lower-body strength. The athlete starts out with a stance balanced and then he explodes out as far as he can. It tests explosion and balance, because he has to land without moving.

3 cone drill
The 3 cone drill tests an athlete’s ability to change directions at a high speed. Three cones in an L-shape. He starts from the starting line, goes 5 yards to the first cone and back. Then, he turns, runs around the second cone, runs a weave around the third cone, which is the high point of the L, changes directions, comes back around that second cone and finishes.

Shuttle run
The short shuttle is the first of the cone drills. It is known as the 5-10-5. What it tests is the athlete’s lateral quickness and explosion in short areas. The athlete starts in the three-point stance, explodse out 5 yards to his right, touches the line, goes back 10 yards to his left, left hand touches the line, pivot, and he turns 5 more yards and finishes.

The 2010 NFL Scouting Combine presented day one results on Saturday. In the first real action of the Combine, it was Bruce Campbell that stood out from the group, as the offensive linemen and tight ends took center stage in front of the throng of NFL Scouts.

The Combine will be running for the next several days, providing a set of very exciting circumstances and results for die-hard College and NFL fans looking forward to the 2010 NFL Draft, or simply looking to scratch the off-season College Football itch.

Maryland OT Bruce Campbell has been the early star of the Combine. He was impressive at Friday’s weigh-in, then stunned scouts on Saturday. Campbell ran the 40 in 4.85 seconds, and in position drills he looked like the elite athlete he is built to be.

The first day of the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine wasn’t just about the big guys on the line though, as the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers were allowed to complete the bench press event of the scouting combine. This allowed some of the biggest offensive players in the draft to show just how much they could bench press in front of the scouts. The bench press workout tests the strength of players, having them post as many reps as they can with 225 pounds. In the bench press, it was Fresno State’s Lonyae Miller and Auburn’s Ben Tate that led the way with 26 reps each.

To sum it up, we have a quote form a scout that is attending the Combine;

With three days to go, some of the biggest names are still left to perform, but we have a lot of results from the first day of the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine below for you to review;

Running Back Bench Press Reps

Name / Reps

Miller, Lonyae 26
Tate, Ben 26
Conner, John 24
Gerhart, Toby 22
Toston, Keith 22
Hardesty, Montario 21
McCluster, Dexter 20
Mathews, Ryan 19
Tonga, Manase 19

Wide Receiver Bench Press Reps

Name / Reps

Benn, Arrelious 20
Jones, Donald 20
Long, Brandon 20
McGaha, Chris 19
Williams, Damian 19
White, Blair 18
Tate, Golden 17
Easley, Marcus 16
Mitchell, Carlton 16
Parker, Preston 16
Price, Taylor 16
Shipley, Jordan 16

Offensive Lineman 40-Yard Dash

Name / Time

Campbell, Bruce 4.85
Williams, Trent 4.88
Newhouse, Marshall 5.00
Veldheer, Jared 5.09
Smith, Shelley 5.11
Capers, Selvish 5.14
Jerry, John 5.15
Brooks, Dorian 5.16
Tennant, Matt 5.16
Degeare, Chris 5.16

Offensive Lineman Vertical Jump

Name / Height

Smith, Shelley 34.0
Williams, Trent 34.0
Davis, Anthony 33.0
Veldheer, Jared 33.0
Campbell, Bruce 32.0
Degeare, Chris 32.0
Brown, Charles 31.0
Capers, Selvish 30.0
Olsen, Eric 29.0
Washington, Tony 29.0
Young, Sam 29.0
Welch, Thomas 29.0
Saffold, Rodger 29.0

Tight End 40-Yard Dash

Name / Time

Dickerson, Dorin 4.40
Graham, Jimmy 4.56
Dickson, Ed 4.67
Harbor, Clay 4.69
Moeaki, Tony 4.69
Quarless, Andrew 4.69

Tight End Vertical Jump

Name / Height

Dickerson, Dorin 43.0
Harbor, Clay 40.0
Graham, Jimmy 38.0
Gresham, Jermaine 35.0
McCoy, Anthony 35.0
Dickson, Ed 34.0
Moeaki, Tony 34.0
Pitta, Dennis 34.0
Graham, Garrett 34.0

There’s a lot to look forward to on Day 5(Sunday). On the field, the quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs will begin drills. It always proves to be the most interesting on-field day at the combine. The defensive linemen, who measured Saturday, will hit the bench.

Bruce Campbell at the 2010 NFL Combine

Ndamukong Suh Destroying Texas

2010 NFL Combine: Ndamukong Suh will be the most watched

The annual NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Ind., gets rolling today with several key players involved. Player interviews, etc., begin Wednesday. Workouts begin Saturday.

Of course, former Grant High School defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh out of Nebraska will be the headline act at this years Combine.

Suh is considered by many to be headed to the St. Louis Rams with the Number-one pick while some experts believe that Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy could be the first player selected.

How both perform at the Combine could tip the scales one way or the other.

Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma):

Some have McCoy above Suh in their mock drafts and big boards, and while we don’t feel that strong about the kid, there’s no doubt that McCoy is an impact player. What we don’t see with McCoy that we see with Suh is a greater variety of pass rush moves, McCoy seems to get caught up in blockers more often than Suh does, though that could be a question of scheme. However, McCoy is exceptional in peeling off blockers and pushing through to the ball-carrier, this may be his greatest asset. While he’s relentless to the ball, he might not be quick enough in recovering to take out the quicker-release quarterbacks in the NFL. He’ll be a dominant three-tech tackle in the right system; specifically in a front four with a larger nose tackle to soak up blockers.

Our expert leans towards Suh, saying “his resume speaks for itself.”

What Makes Suh so good?

“He has amazing quickness off the snap, tremendous upper-body strength (he often turned blockers into padded dummies), agility that has to be seen to be believed, and the kind of intensity and work ethic that could make him a true star in the NFL. Example: He’s probably the first overall draft pick no matter what he does, but Suh will go to the Combine, and will participate in every single drill.”

“I want to go out and do everything,” Suh recently told Todd Archer of the Dallas Morning News. “I don’t want to leave any questions. I’m the type of person that feels like I don’t have anything to hide, so why go up there and start trying to hide things now?”

Suh’s awards are numerous and it is obvious why he has become one of the hottest players at this years Combine;

Suh is the first defensive player to win the honor since its inception in 1998. Suh is Nebraska’s second winner of the AP National Player of the Year Award, joining quarterback Eric Crouch who captured the award and the Heisman Trophy in 2001. Suh received 26 of a possible 59 first-place votes from the panel, edging Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, who received 20 votes.

Suh captured the Outland Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award. Both awards were presented in Orlando, Fla., at the ESPN Awards Show. The Bednarik award is given to the Nation’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player and is presented by the Maxwell Football Club. He is the first Husker to win the award in its 15-year history.

The Outland Trophy is presented annually to the Nation’s Most Outstanding Interior Lineman, and Suh adds to Nebraska’s long history with the award. Suh’s trophy gives Nebraska a nation-leading nine Outland Trophies, four more than Oklahoma. Suh is the first Husker to win the award since offensive lineman Aaron Taylor captured the honor in 1997.

Suh becomes the fifth Nebraska player to win the Lombardi Award, joining Rich Glover (1972), Dave Rimington (1982), Dean Steinkuhler (1983) and Grant Wistrom (1997). Nebraska’s five Lombardi awards are the second-most by one school in the 40-year history of the award, trailing only Ohio State’s six Lombardi Award winners. The Lombardi Award goes to the college football lineman — offensive or defensive — who in addition to displaying outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the character and discipline of Vince Lombardi.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the best defensive player in college football. Suh became the 17th winner of the award as voted upon by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and sponsored by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. He’s the first Nebraska player to win the award.

Taunting could cost a TD

The NCAA wants to get tough on taunting and make it more difficult for football players with concussions to try to tough it out.

Both of the proposals were announced Thursday by the Football Rules Committee and must now be approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel.

If passed, players who draw flags for taunting gestures on their way to a touchdown would have the penalty assessed from the spot of the foul, taking away the score (This would be the big change). Penalties that occur in the end zone would continue to be assessed on the extra-point attempt, 2-point conversion try or ensuing kickoff.

The change would take effect in 2011 and on the NCAA’s web site, a release said the proposal received near-unanimous support.

Oregon coach Mike Bellotti, the Committee Chair said;

“Our committee firmly believes in the team concept of college football. Taunting and prolonged individual acts have no place in our game, and our officials have generally handled these rules well. This is just another step in maintaining our game’s image and reflecting the ideals of the NCAA overall”

The taunting rules seem to have become a topic of debate among college football players, coaches and fans every season. Last season’s big controversy stemmed from Georgia receiver A.J. Green receiving a 15-year personal foul penalty after he caught a go-ahead touchdown pass late in a game against LSU. The yardage from the penalty was assessed on the ensuing kickoff and helped LSU get into position to drive for the winning score.

The Southeastern Conference later said there was no video evidence to support the flag on Green.

Concussion prevention and treatment has also been a hot topic in recent years.

With that in mind, committee members also supported more stringent standards to keep players healthy.

If approved, injured players, including those with concussion symptoms,would have to be cleared by a designated Physician before being allowed to return for competition.

The action comes a month after the playing rules panel instructed the rules committee to review policies about stopping play for injuries and consider new rules to help prevent head injuries.

In previous seasons, there have been rules changes created to reduce “dangerous contact” during games.

Flags for taunting on touchdowns could wind up costing a team more than just field position.

Other topics discussed at the meeting include:

- Television monitors will be allowed in the Press Box Coaches’ Booths beginning in 2011. The home team has responsibility for insuring that Coaches’ booths for both teams have identical television capability.

- Requiring players who wear eye black to use solid black with no words, logos, numbers or other symbols. That will be effective next season.

- Ending the requirement that players’ pants always cover the knees.

- Eliminating the intentional “wedge” on kickoffs and punts, a rule the NFL adopted last season.

- Recommending conferences that do not have a pregame warm-up policy use a 10-yard, no-player zone between the 45-yard lines beginning 60 minutes before kickoff.

Its not College Football, but is an example of a TD that would be taken away if the proposed rule is passed!

Reggie Bush Taunting Brian Urlacher With Touchdown Run

Ndamukong Suh

Ndamukong Suh, DT – Nebraska Cornhuskers, is an extremely talented defensive tackle prospect in the upcoming NFL Draft. Suh dominated opponents this season and throughout his great career at Nebraska. Suh is a disruptive force in the middle, and equally effective as a run stuffer and a pass rusher. Despite being such a dominant player, it really took until the Big XII Championship Game versus Texas to have his coming out party. Suh has widely been considered the best defensive tackle prospect in years, and has an excellent chance of being this years #1 overall pick.

Let me preface this by saying that we are still in the process of scouting Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh, and that from what we have seen, we really like him as a player. He may be the best NFL draft prospect since Jake Long of Michigan went to Miami, in other words the closest “Can’t Miss if you Pick Player” since the 98 draft when the Dolphins selected Long.

Suh, who measures out at 6’5 295 (or so) was a great player for Nebraska, and might be the best defensive player scouted in the past three years. He has great upper-body strength, disengages from blocks extraordinarily well, has good athleticism, deflects passes (had four against Virginia Tech), splits double teams, chases down screens… He’s very impressive. Rarely do you see defensive tackles throw BCS offensive guards around like rag dolls, but Suh does it multiple times a game. He nearly won the Big 12 Championship game on his own, completely dominating the line of scrimmage, he just does so many things well.

Nobody is perfect, though, and there are some concerns. Suh is, to borrow an overused saying, a bit of a tweener. While he has an exceptionally strong upper body, there are some concerns about his ability to anchor as the “nose” of a 4-3 defense (or 1-technique, if you prefer) on a consistent basis. His lower body strength could improve, but frankly he would likely need at least 20 lbs. in bulk to have the anchor. He also struggles with leverage a bit when facing effective offensive lineman (Which he will see consistently at the next level), and combined with his being comparatively “light” that could create a problem.

So, what to do? You move him to the “under” tackle spot (or 3-technique, gap shooter, what have you). That’s probably where he is best used anyways, and we could see him having great success there. One small problem, one great one. The small problem is that he isn’t a freak athlete. He’s very athletic, but his first step is not extraordinary. His plays against the run and pass are more likely to be the result of his strength and hands, which take a little longer. He may make twice as many tackles as, say, Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy, but most of Suh’s will be at the line of scrimmage, not 3 yards in the backfield. Personally, we prefer that style anyway because it is more sound against the run, but it probably means less completely broken pass plays (as in Tommie Harris of the Chicago Bears ruining an offensive game plan).

While Suh is an extremely versatile player, we cannot help but feel like Suh would thrive as a 3-4 end (Nebraska used him there a fair amount every game). His size, strength, hands, and athleticism would make him a dominant player – far, far, far better than say Tyson Jackson, now of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Breakdown

Strengths

Large Frame

Very Active – Motor is constantly running

Grades out well in chase (pursuit) tackling

Good lower body strength (Could be improved)

Great instincts, which allow him to be explosive off the snap

Great leadership and a solid work ethic

Considerable Upside

Uses his hands extremely well and shows tremendous strength when fighting off blockers

He is able to stand up linemen, locate the football, and position himself to make the tackle

Displays good technique when using the swim and rip moves

Reads Screens Extremely Well

Versatile; can play 1-, 3-, and 5-techniques.

Consistently disengages from linemen to make tackles

Effective at collapsing the Pocket

He is an amazing play-maker, seems to always be around the football

Weaknesses

Has shown a tendency to miss tackles

He has had multiple knee injuries and surgeries which will bring up huge concerns at the upcoming NFL Combine

Occasionally gets too high in stance which leads to being washed

Needs work on his Leverage Technique, Occasionally is too high in stance

Durability concerns due to Multiple Knee Surgeries

After one of the most dominating seasons by a defensive tackle in the history of college football, there is little doubt that Suh is the best player in this draft class on either side of the ball. Even casual fans became aware of the supremacy of the Heisman Trophy finalist after he nearly led the Cornhuskers to victory over Texas in the Big 12 Championship game and shutdown the Arizona offense in the Holiday Bowl. If St. Louis does not take him with the first pick, they may regret it for the next decade.

Suh Tosses McCoy

Ndamukong Suh on College Game Day

Ndamukong Suh Big 12 Championship Highlights

The Top 10 College Football Draft Prospects; 2010 NFL Draft (Updated)

We here at Live FromThe Press Box.Com decided to take a look at The Top Ten College Football Draft Prospects for the 2010 NFL Draft(Which obviously takes place in 2011).

We then presented those results in an article published on January 20, 2011. Now after the Super Bowl has been played, things are a bit clearer in terms of Draft Order and many teams have settled on their draft board preferences, so we contacted our Own NFL Draft Expert once again and asked him to update the board for us based on how he thinks the up-coming NFL draft will play out.

2010 NFL Draft 1st Round Order – Updated After Superbowl.

Tiebreakers: Easiest Strength of Schedule picks first. If still tied, then worst division record picks first. If still tied, then worst conference record picks first. If still tied, (*)coin flip decides order.

Round 1

1. St. Louis (1-15)
2. Detroit (2-14)
3. Tampa Bay (3-13)
4. Washington (4-12)
5. Kansas City (4-12)
6. Seattle (5-11)
7. Cleveland (5-11)
8. Oakland (5-11)
9. Buffalo (6-10)
10/11. Chicago (7-9)* (Traded to DEN)
10/11. Jacksonville (7-9)*
12. Miami (7-9)
13. San Francisco (8-8)
14. Denver (8-8)(Traded to SEA)
15. New York Giants (8-8)
16/17. Carolina (8-8)* (Traded to SF)
16/17. Tennessee (8-8)*
18. Pittsburgh (9-7)
19/20. Atlanta (9-7)*
19/20. Houston (9-7)*
21. Cincinnati (10-6)
22. New England (10-6)
23. Green Bay (11-5)
24. Philadelphia (11-5)
25. Baltimore (9-7)
26. Arizona (10-6)
27. Dallas (11-5)
28. San Diego (13-3)
29. New York Jets (9-7)
30. Minnesota (12-4)
31. Indianapolis (14-2)
32. New Orleans (13-3)

Our Expert, a retired NFL player with current involvement in Scouting in the NFL made his initial selections based on what he saw back in January. After some time has now elapsed from when we ran this story first, and the picture is becoming a bit more clear (or not so clear in many cases), here is the updated draft order from our Expert. This time with what he believes are the top alternate choices on the board for each of the Top Ten teams in the Draft order along with his thoughts.

He mentions that Team Pro days, Individual workouts, and the NFL Combine, combined with the indecisiveness of several teams (and their past draft history), many players are still in play here. Not to mention that the very nature of the NFL draft is fluid, and one late trade move by any NFL team can and most likely will blow up the entire selection process, to quote him directly, “It is the nature of the Beast”.

So here we go;


Experts Pick(s) for the 2010 NFL Draft

1. St. Louis Rams – Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

Although they are still wrestling with Jimmy Clasuen, and to a lesser extent Sam Bradford as a possible choice, at the end of the day he believes “Suh is clearly the best player in the draft, and the Lions will shore up that defense with his selection.

Rumors are also swirling that The Rams are looking to deal for Michael Vick at Quarterback”.

Why has the bloom dropped off of Clausens Rose? He has heard from a couple sources that there are some teams and scouts that dislike Jimmy Clausen’s personality. “He might come off as a diva or arrogant, but comments similar were also made about about Philip Rivers, one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL. ”

2. Detroit Lions – Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma


“Jim Schwartz and the Lions offensive line coach have raved about Jeff Backus’ play this season, and it seems that we can diminish the odds that Oklahoma State tackle Russell Okung will be the pick here. Gerald McCoy is one of the top players in this class. He has elite athletic ability and is a consistent play maker in the mold of a Kevin Williams. The Lions need play makers desperately on the defensive line so it seems almost certain this pick will either be Suh (If Available) or McCoy.”

3. Tampa Bay Bucs – Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

“This is the last thing the Bucs want to happen. Defensive tackle is their No. 1 need and it would kill them to see Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy already off the board. I am also not buying that Tampa will move up for Suh because they have too many needs and those second-round picks are pure gold.

Eric Berry is an elite talent and the No. 2 player on my board. His ability to make plays against the run is amazing and he will be reminiscent of John Lynch for many Tampa fans. In coverage he will give this team more versatility at safety because they can use he and Tanard Jackson in an interchangeable role, which seems to be a trend around the league.

Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan could also be in play here and barring Donald Penn’s contract situation, we can’t completely rule out Russell Okung, but I’m willing to bet Tampa’s board will be stacked Suh-McCoy-Berry up to this point.”

4. Washington Redskins – Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma


This selection has our expert confused a bit;”What this comes down to is Bradford’s shoulder. If he’s healthy…. and the Redskins have Dr. James Andrews working for them, so they’ll know better than anyone, Bradford will be the pick. If Andrews is pessimistic, Washington will take Russell Okung or Jimmy Clausen if he’s available”.

5. Kansas City Chiefs – Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State

Our expert says that Okung is the “real deal”. “He could take the Chiefs’ offense to the next level if he is still available”. Other Options; “Eric Berry, S – Berry is the other major option here, but it would go against everything GM Scott Pioli believes in if he were to take a safety without having his Offensive and Defensive lines finished”.

“It will be interesting to see whether it ends up being Okung, Anthony Davis or Bruce Campbell, as the battle for the No. 1 tackle spot is one of the best story-lines of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Okung was the most consistent lineman in the nation this year and he will test out on a very high level athletically. I see no reason as to why Anthony Davis can take this from him (more inconsistent – doesn’t have elite lateral movement or athleticism), but watch out for Campbell because an amazing Combine could really vault his draft stock.

Other Choices; Eric Berry and Bruce Campbell if Available; While Campbell could definitely be the pick, there are two things that are swaying me toward Berry.

First, Berry is the far superior prospect. Campbell’s no slouch, but Berry is being hailed as the next Ed Reed. And second, Campbell has an extensive history of minor injuries that may deter some teams from taking him in the top 5-8. Recall what happened to Eugene Monroe last year.

And it’s not like Seattle couldn’t use Berry; the team was miserable against the pass this year, allowing seven of their final 10 opponents to compile at least 249 passing yards each game, with the three exceptions being two rookies and Vince Young.

If Berry and the top two quarterbacks are off the board, I believe the Seahawks will draft Campbell. ”

6. Seattle Seahawks: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

“Carroll will be looking for his own “guy” to play quarterback and a franchise left tackle to protect him. Jimmy Clausen is unquestionably the top quarterback prospect in this draft. He threw for 28 touchdowns and only four picks on an 8.8 YPA and a 68.0 completion percentage this year. He’s superior to Sam Bradford because he has a bigger arm and has spent three years in a West Coast offense. Bradford, on the other hand, is coming out of a shotgun spread offense and just had shoulder surgery. His arm strength is also very questionable.

If the Rams are genuinely interested in Clausen, don’t be shocked if Daniel Snyder tells Bruce Allen to make a trade up to secure the chance to draft him. With teams in the top 10 needing quarterbacks (St. Louis, Washington, Seattle, Cleveland, Buffalo), Mr. Clausen might be quite the commodity come late April. ”

7. Cleveland Browns – Joe Haden, CB, Florida

“Cleveland is clearly looking for a franchise Quarterback, while thier fan base keeps screaming for DEFENSE! Well, there is good news and bad news… The good news is that with Sam Bradford off the board, most Browns fans will be happy with this selection, assuming they take Eric Berry or Joe Haden. The bad news is that Cleveland is delaying its return to playoff contention for another year. To win in the NFL CONSISTENTLY, you need a franchise quarterback. The Browns are the only team in the AFC North without one, so it’s no coincidence that they contend for the postseason only once every five seasons.

Haden projects as a shutdown corner, the scouting report compares him to Leon Hall – but cornerbacks don’t lead teams to the Super Bowl. Franchise quarterbacks do. Just look at the last seven NFL champions if you don’t believe me.

Haden will provide a huge boost for Cleveland’s defense, but the Browns won’t be a consistent winner until they find a franchise signal-caller.”

Also on the board for the Browns; Inside linebacker is a big need for Cleveland, and Rolando McClain is the consensus No. 1 prospect at that position in this class.”

8. Oakland Raiders – Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland

“There are only four possibilities here: Taylor Mays, Carlos Dunlap, Bruce Campbell and Everson Griffen. That’s it. If you think otherwise, you really don’t realize how horrible of a drafter Al Davis is.”

9. Buffalo Bills – Bryan Bulaga, T, Iowa


“Left tackle is a huge need for the Bills, and they really have to be kicking themselves for passing on Michael Oher last year.

After watching and talking with a couple sources in Mobile at the Senior Bowl, I’ve learned that tackle Anthony Davis out of Rutgers has some serious work ethic concerns. I’m not sure Buffalo wants to gamble on his upside when they can draft a player with just as much potential in Bryan Bulaga who battled a thyroid injury all season. He shut down Derrick Morgan in the Orange Bowl and it wouldn’t shock me if Bulaga went in the top 10 picks.”

10.* Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech


“Jacksonville’s top need is selling tickets and drawing fan interest. The team’s No. 2 need is finding someone who can get to the quarterback. The Jaguars tried the 4-3 and the 3-4 in 2009, but nothing worked. Amazingly, the team finished with just 14 sacks, and no one had more than three.

Derrick Morgan is without a doubt the best player on the board at this point, and what we learned in the 2009 NFL Draft was Gene Smith is a huge fan of the Best Player Available theory. He will wreak havoc off the edge for Jacksonville as Smith continues to build his team on the line of scrimmage. The Jaguars need a pass rusher, and I think Morgan can be that guy.”

* Coin Flip

As you can see “Fluid” was an appropriate choice of words, let the debate begin on the 2010/2011 NFL Draft.

This Video is a bit dated, but interesting nonetheless;



Our Experts Number One Draft Choice; Ndamukong Suh

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2011 BCS College Football Championship

Who will win the 2011 BCS College Football Championship? The Top Ten candidates are, Alabama, Oregon, Ohio State, Boise State, Georgia Tech, Miami, Florida, TCU, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.

Here are the early odds out of Vegas:

1. Alabama 3/1
2. Ohio State 13/2
3. Oregon 12/1
4. USC 12/1
5. Boise State 15/1
6. Nebraska 15/1
7. Texas 15/1
8. Oklahoma 15/1
9. Virginia Tech 18/1
10. TCU 18/1
11. Florida 18/1
12. Miami (FL) 20/1
13. Iowa 20/1
14. Penn State 20/1
15. LSU 25/1
16. Oregon State 30/1
17. Auburn 30/1
18. Arkansas 30/1
19. Georgia 30/1
20. Pittsburgh 40/1
21. Wisconsin 40/1
22. Washington 50/1
23. Michigan 50/1
24. Georgia Tech 50/1
25. Clemson 50/1

No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide

“Schedule rating: 5 out of 5. When Penn State comes to Tuscaloosa in September, a classic rivalry will be revived, and the SEC rotation will bring Florida to Bryant-Denny as well. Adding to a 24-game regular-season winning streak won’t be easy.”

No. 2 Oregon Ducks

“Schedule rating: 2. The Ducks get a trip to Tennessee on September 11 against a new Vols quarterback, and the PAC-10 schedule sets up well. USC and Oregon State are critical road games.”

No. 3 Ohio State Buckeye’s

“Schedule rating: 3. A home win over Miami would go a long way in strengthening the Buckeyes’ schedule in the computer polls. So will games against Big Ten heavies Wisconsin, Iowa and Penn State.”

No. 4 Boise State Bronco’s

“Schedule rating: 1. Give the Broncos credit: They’re trying to upgrade the schedule, traveling cross-country to play Virginia Tech at FedEx Field in Washington D.C. Win that one, and a home game against Oregon State, and an unbeaten season could translate to a spot in the national championship game.”

No. 5 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

“Schedule rating: 4. Georgia Tech hasn’t separated itself from the rest of the ACC enough to expect upper-tier league games to be gimmes, and non-conference road games against Kansas and Georgia will be tough.”

No. 6 Miami Hurricanes

“Schedule rating: 5. A prove-it year for coach Randy Shannon includes non-conference games at Ohio State and Pitt and meetings with the rest of the top half of the ACC .”

No. 7 Florida Gators

“Schedule rating: 2. The Gators have to travel to Tuscaloosa, but until rival Florida State truly rebounds, the non-conference schedule will be annually awful.”

No. 8 T.C.U. Horned Frogs

“Schedule rating: 1. The Horned Frogs are still two games shy of completing their schedule, and there aren’t many takers. If TCU can nail down a game with Oregon State — it’s in the works — it will improve an awful Non-conference schedule that includes SMU and Baylor.”

No. 9 Nebraska Cornhuskers

“Schedule rating: 1. It all sets up for a Big Red revival: Texas visits Lincoln, and Oklahoma is off the schedule. The Huskers’ toughest non-conference test is a trip to Washington.”

No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers

“Schedule rating: 2. Bret Bielema’s best team yet gets UNLV, San Jose State, Arizona State and Austin Peay in non-conference play and a Big Ten schedule with no game against Penn State.”

2010 BCS National Championship Game Highlights

Click Here to Read the Entire Article

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Rivals Top 10 College Football Recruiting Classes

We here at Live From The Press Box.Com believe that Rivals.Com has the best list of the Top 25 Recruiting classes landed after the High School Athletes signed a Letter of Intent on National Signing Day this past Wednesday (And some who did not sign yet).

The debate about who has the best College Football Class will go on until the end of the next season, but for now, here is how we see it for the Top Ten Classes as named by Rivals;

1. USC

Lane Kiffin and his staff did a remarkable job keeping together the recruiting class that already was assembled by former coach Pete Carroll.

WR Kyle Prater, RB Dillon Baxter and Robert Woods lead this standout class. The Trojans also closed the day stronger than any other team, with the addition of five-star prospects Seantrel Henderson, Markeith Ambles, and four-star recruits Nickell Robey and Hayes Pullard.

Lane Kiiffin and Ed O did it again.

Kyle Prater USC Commit 2010 US Army All-American Bowl

2. Florida

The Florida Gator class is loaded from top to bottom, and made us hesitate about having them listed as number TWO by Rivals. There are a total of 10 Rivals100 prospects and 18 Rivals250 prospects. The defensive class is one of the best we have ever seen.

It begins with the nation’s top prospect in defensive end Ronald Powell, the nation’s best defensive tackle in Sharrif Floyd and additional five-star defensive standouts Dominique Easley, Darrin Kitchens and Matt Elam.

Here are the stars on offense; Offensive tackles Chaz Green and Ian Silberman, tight end Gerald Christian, running back Mack Brown and wide receivers Chris Dunkley, Adrian Coxson, Quinton Dunbar, and Solomon Patton.

DE Ronald Powell

3. Texas

The Longhorns really got their work done on the Friday before National Signing Day. Texas landed commitments from five-star recruits Jackson Jeffcoat and Jordan Hicks, also signing five four-star wide-outs including Mike Davis and Darius White, who are two of the top pass-catchers in the country.

On Defense, the line made a huge impact with the signing of defensive ends Jeffcoat, and Reggie Wilson. The Longhorns also signed three defensive tackles that will help clog up the middle, Taylor Bible and Ashton Dorsey. Tevin Jackson is an elite linebacker that also deserves to be mentioned here.

Jordan Hicks (LB, Lakota West)

4. Auburn (YES AUBURN)

Auburn is the biggest surprises this recruiting season. Head Coach Gene Chizik landed five-star quarterback Cameron Newton, five-star running back Michael Dyer, and five-star OL Shon Coleman.The Tigers also got four-star prospects, wide receiver Trovon Reed, offensive guard Eric Mack, defensive tackle Jeffrey Whitaker, defensive end Craig Sanders and linebacker Jake Holland.

Michael Dyer

5. Alabama

This is the third straight substantial recruiting class signed by Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban. The Crimson Tide landed one of the nation’s top quarterbacks in Phillip Sims, RB Corey Grant, punishing RB Jalston Fowler, and DeAndrew White leads a solid group of incoming receivers.

The best part of this Alabama class looks to be the secondary. The Tide signed five-star cornerback DeMarcus Milliner, four-star standouts in cornerbacks Dequan Menzie and John Fulton, and safety Jarrick Williams.

Linebacker C.J. Mosley and defensive ends Adrian Hubbard and Alfy Hill round out the sterling defensive class. The Tide also signed offensive lineman Arie Kouandjio

Phillip Sims from Smith High School in Virginia

6. LSU

Les Miles and his LSU recruiting machine proved to be one of the best in College Football once again. the LSU Tiger Class is led by five-star Spencer Ware, who they grabbed from Cincy.

Other top recruits include defensive ends Justin Maclin and Jordan Allen, safety Eric Reid, cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, athletes Tharold Simon and Ronnie Vinson, offensive tackle Evan Washington, tight end Travis Dickson, wide receiver James Wright, running back Jakhari Gore and QB Zach Lee. The Miles Machine finished strong on Signing Day with a big time receiver, Kadron Boone, athlete Jarrett Fobbs, defensive lineman J.C. Copeland and five-star DL J.R. Ferguson.

Spencer Ware

7. Oklahoma

Bob Stoops assembled a nice class, led by two great running backs in Brennan Clay and Roy Finch. They gave the quarterback position depth by signing a four-star Blake Bell. Tyrus Thompson and Daryl Williams standout on the offensive line while defensive tackle Eric Humphrey is one of the steals in the country on the defensive line.

Stoops had a signing day surprise, four-star Corey Nelson de-committed from Texas A&M to join his high school teammate Joe Powell as an Oklahoma Sooner.

With at least one high ranking prospect at every position, Oklahoma filled almost every need they had and landed the kind of talent that should keep the program in the hunt in College Football.


Justin McCay

8. UCLA

Keeping up with big brother (USC) is hard to do, but Rick Neuheisel and his staff did the kid of recruiting job that could make them competitive in the PAC Ten for years to come.

The Bruins put together one of the nation’s best running back classes with Malcolm Jones, Anthony Barr, and Jordon James. The Bruins also added depth along the defensive line. UCLA finished strong with DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa, Dietrich Riley, Josh Shirley, Jordan Zumwalt and Anthony Jefferson.

Owamagbe Odighizuwa

9. Tennessee

Tennessee coach Derek Dooley and his staff did a fantastic job considering their short recruiting window, somehow they managed to keep all the previous staff’s early enrolles.

The Vols then went out and filled needs along the offensive line and at linebacker. Tennessee managed to land big-name recruits like wide receiver Justin Hunter, running back Rajion Neal, quarterback Tyler Bray, offensive tackle Jawuan James, and defensive ends Corey Miller and Jacques Smith.

And on National Signing Day, the Vols landed five-star wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers away from Georgia in a bold move. Getting in-state lineman James Stone was very important for Tennessee in future recruiting as well.

Da’Rick Rogers

10. Florida State

New Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher really did well with his first recruiting class; Defensive help is on it’s way to Florida State.

Leading Fishers first recruiting class off in style is five-star cornerback Lamarcus Joyner, the nation’s top middle linebacker in Jeff Luc, and defensive line standout Darious Cummings. The Seminoles also manged to land a big one on Signing Day in five-star linebacker Christian Jones.

On offense, the Nole’s made a good effort as well, led by Christian Green, a great receiver. They also added Kenny Shaw and the speedster De’Joshua Johnson to round out the new era at Florida Sate, replacing a legend such as Bobby Bowden may easier than many realized in Tallahassee.

2010 Under Armour All-America Game: Exclusive Lamarcus Joyner Highlights

Well here’s the list and the highlights, lets start the debate!!!!!!!!

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Ranking the Top College Football Recruiting Classes

Ranking the Top College Football Recruiting Classes;

This much is certain at Florida; Urban Meyer’s future with the Gators didn’t hurt their recruiting one bit this year.

USC , which finished strong to bring home top honors with Rivals.com, and Tennessee withstood late coaching changes to land highly regarded classes. And Auburn showed it’s not about to concede the state of Alabama to Nick Saban and the Tide.

Here are the best recruiting classes as rated by five of the major recruiting analysts;

Rivals.Com

1. USC
2. Florida
3. Texas
4. Auburn
5. Alabama
6. LSU
7. Oklahoma
8. UCLA
9. Tennessee
10. Florida St.

Scout.Com

1. Florida
2. Oklahoma
3. Texas
4. Alabama
5. USC
6. Auburn
7. LSU
8. UCLA
9. Penn State
10. Florida St.

ESPNU

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. Alabama
4. Auburn
5. Oklahoma
6. Florida State
7. USC
8. LSU
9. Tennessee
10. UCLA

Super Prep

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. Oklahoma
4. USC
5. Alabama
6. Auburn
7. LSU
8. UCLA
9. Penn St.
10. Florida St.

Max-preps

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. USC
4. Alabama
5. Auburn
6. Oklahoma
7. LSU
8. UCLA
9. Tennessee
10. Penn St.

The debate on who got the best class can now rage on!

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College Football Recruiting

With National Signing Day less than a week away, there are several committed and uncommitted four and five-star high school prospects that have not made their final decision as of yet.

Here is a rundown of those that are still up in the air;

OL Seantrel Henderson – The nation’s top offensive lineman has narrowed his choices to Ohio State, USC, Notre Dame, Florida and Miami.

DB Keenan Allen – To stick with Alabama or join his brother, Zach Maynard, at Clemson – or possibly Cal? This kid is still on the fence and has a visit to the California Golden Bears this coming weekend.

DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa – Owa is supposed to make his decision by the weekend, but likely won’t announce until Signing Day.

WR Da’Rick Rogers – Will he follow his quarterback and friend Nash Nance to Tennessee, or will he stick with his current commitment to Georgia?

RB Marcus Lattimore – It’s down to South Carolina and Auburn

DE Jackson Jeffcoat – Confidence is very high at Texas despite a final official visit to Oklahoma.

ATH Latwan Anderson – It is likely down to West Virginia, USC or Ohio State.

LB Jordan Hicks – Hicks is expected to announce Friday between Texas, Florida and Ohio State.

And many More with additional details from Rivals.Com

Click Here to Read the Rivals.Com Article

Top 10 2009- 2010 High School Football Recruits pt. 1



2010 Under Armour High School All Star Game Highlights

]]> http://www.livefromthepressbox.com/2010/01/29/where-will-top-uncommitted-college-football-recruits-sign/feed/ 1 http://www.livefromthepressbox.com/2010/01/26/college-football-payday-non-b-c-s-conferences-split-24-million/ http://www.livefromthepressbox.com/2010/01/26/college-football-payday-non-b-c-s-conferences-split-24-million/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:56:30 +0000 WebMaster/Admin http://www.livefromthepressbox.com/?p=1613 Continue reading →]]>

College Football Payday

College Football Payday; Non-B.C.S. Conferences Split $24 Million

The five conferences that do not receive automatic bids to the Bowl Championship Series will receive a record $24 million from this season’s B.C.S. bowl games, according to figures obtained by The Associated Press.

That figure is well below what the Six Conferences that automatically qualify for the B.C.S. games received.

The Big Ten and the Southeastern Conferences got $22 million each. The Atlantic Coast Conference, Big East Conference, Big 12 Conference, and the Pacific-10 Conference got $17.7 million each

Could this cause more Congressional hearings about the distribution of money in the B.C.S. System and add fuel to the fire for a playoff in College Football?

]]> http://www.livefromthepressbox.com/2010/01/26/college-football-payday-non-b-c-s-conferences-split-24-million/feed/ 1 http://www.livefromthepressbox.com/2010/01/21/the-nfl-is-the-big-winner-in-college-football/ http://www.livefromthepressbox.com/2010/01/21/the-nfl-is-the-big-winner-in-college-football/#comments Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:44:31 +0000 WebMaster/Admin http://www.livefromthepressbox.com/?p=1501 Continue reading →]]>

The NFL is the Big Winner In College Football

The Cincinnati Enquirer recently reported that the University of Cincinnati Bearcats need $11 million in additional funding each year for its sports teams to remain competitive in the Big East Conference. Perhaps Cincinnati and other college football teams short on cash, should consider asking NFL teams to help defer some of this cost.

The real question here is; Are College Football Programs self-supporting?

The answer quite simply put is a resounding…………..NO!

Most of us get hung up on the terminology here. ‘Revenue-producing’ and ‘profit-generating’ are not equivalent terms. Many sports produce revenues, but few produce profits. Revenues are simply the money a team brings in to the school, while profits are the team revenues minus the team’s expenses.

In fact, 52% (187 of 359) of NCAA Division I and II football programs operate with budget deficits, spending more than they bring in and contributing nothing to other sport budgets. Even among Division I-A football programs, 28% are running deficits averaging $1.08 million per year.

Considering the fact that significant administrative and program support expenses are not assigned to mens or womens sports and therefore not included in these operating budget figures, the sport deficit picture is undoubtedly under-reported.(1)

In addition, it’s important to note that institutions heavily subsidize athletics programs. In 2003, Division I-A public schools received an average of $2,239,000 in institutional support, while private schools received an average of $7,968,000. In addition to substantial support from the academic budget, some institutions receive student activity fees. In Division I-A public institutions, the average contribution to athletics programs from student activity fees at public schools was $2 million and at private schools that number was $703,000. (2)

The Fact is, the Bearcats and their NCAA counterparts provide an unending stream of ready to play talent to the National Football League. And they do so at virtually no cost to the NFL. Unlike the Major League Baseball Farm system that is in place.

While Major League Baseball teams fork over anywhere from $6-$10 million per team ($180-300 million) to fund their minor league operations, NFL teams don’t pay anything for their “farm team” development programs. Florida, Ohio State, USC, Alabama, nor any of the schools have seen a singly penny for the athletes about to be drafted, and, most likely play after the upcoming 2010 NFL Draft.

A more recent study by the NCAA found;

The NCAA released a study compiling revenue data from 327 of the 330 NCAA Division I teams. This report was unique in that it was the first time that a distinction was made between money generated by the programs and allocated to the programs by the schools themselves.

While athletics expenses had a median growth rate of 23 percent for the top tier of Division I programs between 2004 and 2006, revenues saw a median growth rate of 16 percent. And while the figures varied somewhat, spending on sports also outpaced income from those activities in the lower two categories in Division I, which either are not eligible for bowl games or have no football programs.

As a result, just 17 of the more than 300 athletics programs in all of Division I—about 5 percent—earned a net profit between 2004 and 2006, with ticket sales and private donations accounting for more than half of all revenue.

The article cites increasing competition in non-revenue sports as one of the reasons for the rise in athletic spending:

For example, the median amount of revenue generated by Division I-A men’s track and field teams in 2006 was $33,300, while median expenses were $584,500—17 times higher, according to the NCAA data. For women’s track and field, the median for generated revenue in 2006 was $24,600, compared with median expenses of $761,000—more than 30 times higher.

In addition to the skyrocketing salaries for coaches, [vice provost for academic operations and the faculty athletics representative at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville Todd] Diacon said, the latest trend is to build state-of-the-art facilities for sports that have no chance of recouping the costs of those structures. At the Knoxville campus, that has included construction of a new womens softball stadium, a new soccer stadium, and an indoor swimming pool.

“Even if we win the NCAA championship in swimming,” Mr. Diacon said, “that’s not going to pay for the pool.” Over the next two years, the athletics department is planning new facilities for golf, volleyball, and indoor track, he said.

A good argument would be that having competitive athletic teams helps increase the profile of the school, which in turn raises the quality of student that school is fielding. (3)

Sounds like on heck of a deal to me, the NFL is certainly the number one revenue producing sport for a reason.

The finances of the NFL remain unparalleled in professional sports. Revenues for the league’s 32 teams rose 7%, to $7.6 billion primarily due to the league’s television deals with CBS ( CBS – news – people ), NBC, Fox and ESPN, which combined paid each team $94 million last season. The NFL Sunday Ticket on DirectTV ( DTV – news – people ) netted each team an additional $22 million in 2008 (the broadcasting deals are also the primary collateral for the NFL’s $1.3 billion credit facility, used to finance a cheap source of working capital for owners). Ticket and concession revenue increased 6% last season, kicking in an average of $59 million per team.

With player costs (including bonuses and benefits) increasing only 4%, to an average of $135 million per team, the 2008 season represented the NFL’s third most profitable year ever: Operating income (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) went up 31%, to an average of $32 million.(4)

ESPN 2009 College Football Highlights HD
Sources:

1. Fulks, Daniel L. (2005) 2002-03 NCAA Revenues and Divisions I and II Intercollegiate Athletics Programs Report. Indianapolis, IN: NCAA. Note: Data extrapolated to avoid averaging averages; taking Fulks computation of % reporting deficits applied to total number of FB and BB programs in that division.

2. National Coalition for Women and Girls in Education. (2007) “Title IX Athletics Policies: Issues and Data for Education Decision Makers”. See questions 40 and 41. Free download. Excellent resource and data-based facts about football and basketball revenues and expenses.

The Cincinnati Enquirer

3. CHRONICLE.COM (via SPORTS LAW BLOG)

4. Forbes.com


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2010 NFL Draft

We here at Live From The Press Box.Com decided to take a look at; The Top Ten College Football Draft Prospects; 2010 NFL Draft.

The first step we took was to take a sampling of the top 25 NFL Draft sites (according to Google) and came up with an average of where they had each player eligible for for the 2010 NFL draft placed, we then averaged this list and came up with a top ten list based on this average. We realize this is rather subjective, as the results change based on how you search Google, but it’s the best we could think of at the time.

2010 NFL Mock Draft Order is based on the following and is subject to change

Order is based on worst record (unless denoted by a * – which determines playoff elimination sequence). A ^ denotes a coin flip.

Tie-breaker is strength of schedule

Current Projected NFL Draft Order

Round 1

1. St. Louis (1-15)
2. Detroit (2-14)
3. Tampa Bay (3-13)
4. Washington (4-12)
5. Kansas City (4-12)
6. Seattle (5-11)
7. Cleveland (5-11)
8. Oakland (5-11)
9. Buffalo (6-10)
10. Jacksonville^ (7-9)
11. Denver – from Chicago^ (7-9)
12. Miami (7-9)
13. San Francisco (8-8)
14. Seattle – from Denver (8-8)
15. New York Giants (8-8)
16. Tennessee^ (8-8)
17. San Francisco – from Carolina^ (8-8)
18. Pittsburgh (9-7)
19. Atlanta^ (9-7)
20. Houston^ (9-7)
21. Cincinnati* (10-6)
22. New England* (10-6)
23. Green Bay* (11-5)
24. Philadelphia* (11-5)
25. Baltimore* (9-7)
26. Arizona* (10-6)
27. Dallas* (11-5)
28. San Diego* (13-3)
29. New York Jets* (9-7)
30. Minnesota* (12-4)
31. New Orleans* (13-3)
32. Indianapolis* (14-2)


2010 NFL Mock Draft (Average of Top 25 Boards as rated by Google)

1. St. Louis Rams: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
2. Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
4. Washington Redskins: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
5. Kansas City Chiefs: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
6. Seattle Seahawks: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
7. Cleveland Browns: Joe Haden, CB, Florida
8. Oakland Raiders: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland
9. Buffalo Bills: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida


Next we contacted our own draft expert, a retired NFL player, with current involvement in scouting and asked him to create his own Top Ten. After much hesitation on his part due to the amount of time before the draft, and without the advantage of seeing performances at the NFL Combine, which has yet to happen;
Our expert finally relented and gave us a list, stressing this was fluid.

Experts Pick for the 2010 NFL Draft

1. St. Louis Rams – Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
2. Detroit Lions – Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
3. Tampa Bay Bucs – Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
4. Washington Redskins – Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
5. Kansas City Chiefs – Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama
6. Seattle Seahawks – Joe Haden, CB, Florida
7. Cleveland Browns – Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
8. Oakland Raiders – Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland
9. Buffalo Bills – Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
10. Denver Broncos (From Chicago) – Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State

Not exactly scientific, but at this point the NFL draft is all guess work anyway, enjoy the debate!

This Video is a bit dated, but interesting nonetheless;



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Leach's Texas Tech Lawsuit

Leach’s Texas Tech lawsuit alleges disruptive behavior by the James family!

Mike Leach’s lawsuit against Texas Tech filed last week details allegations about the conduct of player Adam James and his father Craig James, an announcer for ESPN.

According to the filing, Adam James caused $1,100 worth of damage after slamming the outer door to Leach’s office, causing it to split and come off its hinges. The incident occurred after James was told by Leach and receivers coach Lincoln Riley he was being demoted to third string.

Craig James allegedly called coaches on several occasions to complain about how is son was being treated.

The first call was to assistant coach Tommy McVay “to tell him, in effect, that you coaches are crazy and you’re screwing my kid.”

Later that same day in September, he left a message for Riley “stating, in effect, ‘You don’t know what you’re doing. Adam James is the best player at the wide receiver position. … If you’ve got the [blank] to call me back, and I don’t think you do, call me back.’ ”

Leach also claimed he was told by Texas Tech president Guy Bailey that he thought school chancellor Kent Hance was going to try to “railroad” Leach, because of a business relationship between James and Hance.

Hance disputed that account, saying in a statement: “Mike Leach’s latest petition contains a number of false statements. I want to make something clear. I do not have and never have had a business relationship with Craig James.”

Craig James did not want to comment on the lawsuit.

“That’s a matter that Texas Tech and the coach are dealing with right now and it would be inappropriate for me to say anything about it,” said James.

Prior to this, the disputes between Leach and Texas Tech had already resulted in litigation. Earlier in the week of his firing, following his suspension in the wake of allegations that he mistreated a player, Leach moved for a temporary restraining order and injunction.

There was supposed to be a hearing on the temporary restraining order, but TTU fired Leach before the hearing.

Leach’s attorney Ted Liggett, said that Texas Tech general counsel Pat Campbell approached him outside the courtroom and told him that win, lose or draw in the hearing, Leach was out, effective immediately.

Liggett told the judge there was no need for the hearing on Leach’s request that he be reinstated to coach the Alamo Bowl. Liggett said he planned to file a lawsuit on Leach’s behalf against the school “soon.”

“We can guarantee that the fight has just begun,” he said.

According to Coach Leach’s bio, he graduated in the top third of his class at Pepperdine Law, in 1986. As for how Leach made the transition from law to football, see Bitter Lawyer.

(“At the time I graduated, I was broke and I had a wife, a child and about $40,000 in [law school] loans. So, I thought I would just give coaching a try….”).

Sounds as if the Red Raiders from Texas Tech have quite a fight on their hands. How many college football coaches have law degrees? You got to love this, Law and Football!!

Bottom line, this is making Mike Leach and Texas Tech look petty!


This video was taken by Adam James, a player on the Texas Tech Red Raider football team on Saturday, December 19th, after being confined by Coach Mike Leach in an electrical closet off the Press Room.

The clip was leaked by a PR firm hired by the James family to a Dallas television station, and was apparently meant to counter another clip that had been making the rounds the same day, of Leach’s attorney giving a Lubbock television station a tour of the two relatively spacious, air-conditioned locations where he claims James was sequestered during a pair of Alamo Bowl practices the sophomore receiver had been barred from participating in because of a mild concussion. The closet was described by the Dallas station as “an electrical closet off the Press Room at Jones AT&T Stadium.” According to Leach’s attorney, James had only been confined to the press room itself, with a pair of trainers and an exercise bike. So how did James get in the closet?

According to Leach’s wrongful termination lawsuit against the university, James took upon himself to stage his own version of “The Blair Leach Project” — or, as the lawsuit puts it in a section excerpted this morning by ESPN, he “voluntarily placed himself into the electrical closet and apparently took pictures with his phone camera.” Among the many “lies” that Leach claims led to his ouster, the persistence of the “electrical closet” that figured prominently in initial reports of his suspension would be the biggest if his version of events turned out to be true.

Sources;

ESPN.com
USA Today.com
Pepperdine Law School
Bitter Lawyer

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And for Mike Hamilton’s next act, he’ll make the University of Tennessee Football Program completely disappear.

Let’s play Devil’s Advocate here at Live From The Press Box.Com;

Do you remember the episode of The Flintstones, where Fred was being berated by Wilma, and shrunk in his chair, moment by moment, until he was nothing but a small shell of a man with a squeaky little voice?

Welcome to Tennessee football, 2009-2010 and their troubles;

A little Background;

On Nov. 12, three football players were charged with armed robbery two blocks from campus. Charges against Janzen Jackson, a star safety, were dropped, but the two others, who were dismissed from the team, were in court last week and made deals on lesser charges.

On Tuesday, wide receiver Nu’Keese Richardson pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and was placed on probation for three years. Two days later, defensive back Michael Edwards pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and received probation.

On Jan. 1, Tyler Smith, a star basketball forward, was arrested with three other players near campus after a traffic stop. The four were charged with breaking misdemeanor gun, drug and alcohol laws.

Smith was dismissed from the team Jan. 8. Cameron Tatum, a sophomore guard, and Melvin Goins, a junior guard, were suspended for two games and will be reinstated Sunday. Brian Williams, a junior center, remains on indefinite suspension.

The players’ troubles come on the heels of an N.C.A.A. investigation of the Tennessee football program. The inquiry followed the disclosure that female students had gone to South Carolina to help recruit high school players, a possible violation of N.C.A.A. rules.

It’s hard to tell if a coaching search so bumbled, so utterly void of clear, concise goals, as what just happened at the University of Tennessee, has ever happened before in College Football.

And now there’s this; For the second time in two years, Hamilton,Tennessee’s embattled athletic director, has hired a coach with a losing record for one of the top 10 programs in all of college football.

The hiring of Derek Dooley from Louisiana Tech fits right in with the rest of last weeks Flintstones bumbling.

In the three days before the Dooley hire alone, Hamilton was turned down by a defensive coordinator, the coaches at Air Force and Duke, coaches at two other non-BCS schools (Utah, TCU), and an NFL color analyst (Jon Gruden).

Everyone in that group, for various reasons, was a long shot, with the exception of Cutcliffe. Gruden turned them down last year; Patterson has a better team, and Kyle Whittingham, is reportedly waiting to snag the Florida job should it become open

With each public humility, with each press release from schools stating that Coach (insert name here) has decided to stay at (insert school here), the once proud Tennessee program took another public relations shot on the chin.

And don’t blame Lane Kiffin; he’s just another coach who followed his dream and left a wake of destruction. That happens all the time in College Football.

The blame here falls squarely on Hamilton for two reasons:

1. He had an $800,000 buyout in Kiffin’s contract. If you’re going to invest $2 million a year in a coach — and millions more in his high-priced coaching staff — you better have some security. If Kiffin had a $4 million buyout, maybe USC would’ve thought twice about extending an offer.

2. Hamilton had prior notice this could happen. When Carroll left for the NFL, Hamilton asked Kiffin if he would be interested in the USC job, and Kiffin said yes. So Hamilton had three days to come up with a short list of names he knew would be interested and would more than likely accept the job.

So what does Hamilton do when it appears Cutcliffe will return to Knoxville and soothe the wounds of the Vol Nation?

He forces Cutcliffe to hire a few of the assistant coaches Kiffin left behind, or no deal. And what does Cutcliffe (who earlier this decade was told by the Ole Miss administration to change his coordinators or walk, he refused and was fired), do with that ultimatum?

Issues a press release from Duke University declining the job, duh.

As odd as this sounds, Hamilton was willing to further damage Tennessee’s reputation for a few stragglers Kiffin left behind. A few guys that, more than likely, didn’t give a hoot about Tennessee a year ago before Kiffin hired them.

Meanwhile, a coach who spent a majority of his coaching career in Knoxville as an assistant, who likely would’ve crawled back to save the school, who is one of the true, loyal men in the business, chose Duke over Tennessee.

So what did Hamilton do? He hired the coach who would keep the assistants who likely won’t be around this time next year, either by Dooley’s hand, or their own desire to get out of town.

How hard can this be? It’s not like he’s selling a new car in this economy. He’s got a sleek, hip established Football program that needed a new coach to get it back on track.

Here’s an idea, Mr. Hamilton: Randy Edsall at Connecticut, or perhaps Butch Davis at North Carolina. How about Jim Grobe, Mark Dantonio or Bret Bielema as the head coach?.

You want a hot assistant coach, Kirby Smart or Gus Malzahn would have been a good choice. You want to steal a coach from another SEC school? Houston Nutt or Bobby Petrino would been worthwhile to pursue (well perhaps not Nutt).

Hamilton had a better chance getting every last one of those coaches than he did with Calhoun or Patterson. Then he settled for Dooley, and now the Tennessee program is a mess, beaten down like poor Fred Flinstone?

What a Joke!!

Sources:

NBCSports.com
NY Times
Various Internet Websites

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Tennessee Vols turn to La. Tech coach Derek Dooley to End Drama

Tennessee Vols turns to La. Tech coach Derek Dooley; End Drama Finally!

It was only a 35-minute introductory news conference, but it was also 35 minutes of a fresh start. A year of the endless brashness of Lane Kiffin has been replaced with a more mature tone from Derek Dooley, who was introduced as Tennessee’s new head Football Coach Friday night.

Derek Dooley has the Southern accent, the coaching pedigree and is doing his best to reassure Tennessee fans their new coach appreciates where he’s working.

“How can you ask for anything more than the University of Tennessee?” Dooley said Friday.

The son of longtime Georgia coach Vince Dooley was introduced as the Vols’ second new head coach in 14 months, replacing Lane Kiffin days after he bolted for the USC Trojans. One of his first and most important challenges; To reassure fans and players that he wants to be at Tennessee!

“The times of worrying about what happened is over,” Dooley said.

Dooley talked about how he learned early that Tennessee represented the essence of college football, and remembers watching the weekly television shows of former coaches Johnny Majors and Phil Fulmer.

“Everything we’re going to do is going to be done with a foundation of integrity with every aspect of the program,” Dooley said. “We’re going to represent this institution with class on and off the field.”

Tennessee’s football tradition attaches a feeling of reverence to the seven game maxims credited to Gen. Robert Neyland, the legendary Vols coach. Before each game, a Tennessee player reads the maxims, but when that happened under Kiffin, he would simply leave the room, certainly causing Neyland to roll over in his grave.

Dooley, 41, was the head coach and athletic director at Louisiana Tech, but that background is not as important as some of his other credentials;

He is the son of the Hall of Fame coach Vince Dooley, who won 201 games at Georgia and captured the national championship in 1980.

More recently, Derek Dooley served under Nick Saban for seven seasons, five at Louisiana State (2000-4) and two with the Miami Dolphins (2005-6). When Saban left the N.F.L. for Alabama, Dooley went to Louisiana Tech.

“Working with Nick, it was a very demanding environment, but it allows you to blossom as a coach if you were willing to do it,” said Dooley, who was 17-20 in three seasons.

But Dooley could not get too far from the media mess that began when Kiffin abruptly resigned Tuesday to become the coach at USC. In his season at Tennessee, when his team went 7-6, Kiffin made himself a name due to the verbal challenges to other coaches in the Southeastern Conference.

“I do think that you can have a great relationship with a coach, you can have a lot of respect for each other as coaches, you can be friends, and then on game day be ridiculously competitive,” Dooley said. “I have a lot of respect for coaches in this league, and I’m always going to conduct myself in that manner.”

Tennessee still has to deal with the fallout from Kiffin. Five assistant coaches with multi-year deals were left behind, and the university is obligated to pay them about $2 million if they are not retained.

Dooley was offered the job late Friday afternoon, resigned as coach and athletic director of Louisiana Tech, and flew into Knoxville for the late news conference. He brings along a son with a name popular in Tennessee, Peyton.

“I am finally happy to be in a state where Peyton will be well received,” Dooley said of his 8-year-old son, whose name conjures memories of Vols’ star and four-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning.

Much like Lane Kiffin, Dooley comes with a short head coaching resume.

He went 17-20 in three seasons at Louisiana Tech and was the only coach in major college football to also serve as the athletic director. He also holds a law degree which goes a long way towards lending credibility to his commitment to football, as he left behind a lucrative law career.

Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton said Dooley agreed that coaching the Vols is a destination job. He praised him for a five-year tutelage under Saban and for helping the current Alabama coach land two No. 1 recruiting classes at LSU.

“I’ve talked to a number of folks over the past 24 hours,” Hamilton said. “He’s been described as very intelligent, intense, disciplined, hard-nosed, a tenacious recruiter, a family guy and extremely well-organized.”

Live From the Press Box.Com can’t help but be impressed with this hire, Tennessee needed a hail mary….and it looks like they scored.

Tennessee Press Conferences
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David Cutcliffe Rejects Tennessee, Who wants the Vol Job?

Unless the wind happens to shift directions and blows in another conflicting report, of course.

That is how we ended our story this morning, and apparently the wind shifted BIG TIME!


News is coming out from multiple sources this morning that Duke head coach David Cutcliffe has removed himself from the list of candidates to fix the mess at Tennessee. If Cutcliffe Rejects Tennessee, Who wants the Vol Job?

David Cutcliffe was an assistant coach at Tennessee from 1983-1998. He had a good run coaching Ole Miss (partially thanks to Eli Manning) and has coached at Duke for the last two years. He’s accomplished more than Lane Kiffin – four wins in five bowl appearances – and the Vols approached him this week about their head coaching vacancy. He was thought to be a lock (and an underwhelming one, at that). Cutcliffe passed.

Others that have rejected Tennessee: Troy Calhoun of Air Force and Will Muschamp of Texas. Does anyone want this job? This is prime recruiting season. Time is running out.

We here at Live From The Press Box.Com are not entirely sure why Connecticut’s Randy Edsall has not been seriously considered. He clearly has an eye for talent. He’s turned Connecticut into solid Big East team. If the Vols’ want to shake things up in the SEC, then make a run at Michigan’s Rich Rodriguez, or god forbid, Texas Tech’s Mike Leach.

Cutcliffe, in staying at Duke, has provided all of us a fantastic example of integrity in an industry sorely lacking it. Cutcliffe has proven that two things matter a great deal to him, the people he knows, and the things he says! Wow, and he is a College Football Coach!!

The coaching Carnival at Tennessee continues.

ESPN Report On Cutcliffe

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