NCAA Football News

When Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini enters a recruit’s home, he must do more than sell the young man and his parents on the merits of the University of Nebraska.

For when push comes to shove, most Husker recruits will have many opportunities to receive tuition-free educations, play in front of thousands of fans and enter the national spotlight.

After all, Nebraska is not the only school with an 80,000-plus seat stadium.  It is one of many programs hosted by conferences with glamorous television deals.  And one can bet that Pelini and his assistants are not the only coaches spouting claims regarding how well a recruit will fit into their system.

So why Nebraska?

Bo Pelini’s best answer to that question comes down to the accomplishments of his former players and the unmatched Nebraska football culture.

Particularly on the defensive side of the ball, it is hard to find Bo Pelini’s equal in churning out NFL talent.

After the latest troubles haunting the Blackshirts, it is difficult to heap any praise upon Pelini’s defenses.  Yet there is no denying the number of Husker defenders who have made it into the professional ranks.

Of course, there are the superstars like Ndamukong Suh, Prince Amukamara and Lavonte David, who have each made instant contributions in the NFL as expected.

But the list extends far beyond these three headliners.  Eric Hagg, Dejon Gomes, Jared Crick and Alfonzo Dennard have also enjoyed professional careers since departing Lincoln, Neb.  And their successes allow any recruit to imagine the possibilities when playing under coach Bo Pelini.

Although a few other programs may be able to match the NFL products produced by Nebraska in recent years, the culture surrounding the Huskers' program is truly one of a kind.

Other schools are certainly devoted to their teams.  And they may claim to live and die with every fall Saturday, but nothing compares to Nebraska football.

The most popular explanation for this is the quantity of other sports entertainment in the state, or complete lack thereof.

For in the Cornhusker State, there are no top-tier professional sports.  There is no Nebraska State University.  And for all intents and purposes, there might as well not be any other sport besides football (no offense to Doug McDermott).

Now, this is definitely a daunting notion with which a high-profile recruit must come to grips, and it is not for everyone.  But for the right young man with a thirst for instant celebrity-status, there is no better place than Nebraska.

Only in Nebraska do spring practice reports make front page headlines.  And only in Nebraska are October sermons sure to mention the previous day’s result.

And it is just this level of attention that Bo Pelini must sell to his prospective players.

Elsewhere, at programs like USC and Miami, recruits will become autumn celebrities, the heroes of fall Saturdays.  In Lincoln, the microscope upon these young men does not lift with the change of the seasons.

If the absurd attendance at the Red-White Game or the national record sellout streak are not indicative enough, a subscription to the Omaha World-Herald should adequately explain the most attractive feature of Nebraska’s program that Pelini can sell to his recruits.

When one commits to play at the University of Nebraska, he has embraced the state’s spotlight, even before setting foot on the field.  And if that incredible buzz of excitement and enthusiasm surrounding the football program does not entice a prospective player, then he obviously belongs somewhere else.

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We have entered the final weekend of the recruiting season for the Class of 2013, and the Oregon Ducks still have a lot left to do.

Currently the Ducks have the No. 22 ranked class according to ESPN, but that was before Oregon got commitments from 3-star ATH Juwaan Williams and 3-star QB Damion Hobbs.

Oregon’s class is headed by the No. 6 running back in the country, according to ESPN, in Thomas Tyner, but the Ducks still have much work to do to move up the class rankings and possibly have a Top 15 recruiting class.

Here is Mark Helfrich and his staff’s To-Do list until National Signing Day on Feb. 6.

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For Penn State football to keep up with the premier recruiting classes put together by Ohio State and others, it may sound weird to hear that walk-ons could be the glue that keeps the Nittany Lions competitive during this sanction period.  

Affectionately pinned as "run-ons" by head coach Bill O'Brien, these are guys who were overlooked by the vast majority of major programs, but have talent to work with.  

While others turned their heads, O'Brien welcomes all that qualify with open arms. 

Not only does a crop of walk-ons give you depth, but some can turn into legitimate contributors down the road if they're given the proper coaching and have the right mentality.  

While it seems like new additions are announced by the hour, we'll try to keep up by breaking down the 17 "run-ons" the Lions have picked up so far. 

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The Michigan Wolverines will need to adjust to life without Denard Robinson, so Derrick Green and other recruits will be expected to lead the team in the future.

After having a big 2011 season that featured a win over Ohio State and a BCS win, the team took a step back in 2012. They started out as preseason No. 8 but got tested immediately.

Alabama embarrassed them in the season opener, and three of the team's losses came to teams that ended the regular season in the top four of the AP poll. 

Michigan will be able to rely on Devin Gardner at quarterback next season, but they are in need of playmakers on both sides of the football to win the Big Ten next season.

The Wolverines will have one of the nation's top recruiting classes, according to Rivals.com. Coach Brady Hoke will need the recruits to live up to expectations in order to get to the BCS. 

Here are some of the highlights of this year's recruiting class:

 

Derrick Green, RB

This is arguably the best signing of all. He was Scout.com's No. 1 recruit at his position, and he will fill a hole that has been empty for years.

Michigan fans got spoiled with the likes of Chris Perry and Mike Hart. They have been lacking a premier back for the past few seasons, which was evident when Robinson lined up at tailback in the Outback Bowl against South Carolina.

Green has the ability to break tackles and use his physical style to gain the extra yards. His speed isn't anything special, but his power will be tough to stop.

With Robinson graduating, Michigan will need to change its style a bit. The addition of Green allows the Wolverines to line up and run straight at teams. They have gotten away from that in recent years, but Green's style will be fun to watch.

Michigan is now ready to play some Big Ten football, and this could turn into an explosive offense with Gardner and Green.

 

Taco Charlton, DE

On the other side of the football, the Wolverines could use some help up front. With the style of football in the conference, it's crucial to have a solid defensive line.

Taco Charlton (Scout.com #21 DE) will be a force to be reckoned with in passing situations. He has the ability to use his athleticism to get to the quarterback.

The defensive end from Pickerington, Ohio played at a top high school. He helped lead his Tigers to an appearance in the state championship game.

He needs to get stronger as he gets older, but he still can wreak havoc on the opposing quarterbacks. Teams with mobile quarterbacks, like Ohio State, will have to be cautious when trying to run the option to the outside.

 

Jourdan Lewis, CB

In high school, Jourdan Lewis (Scout.com #9 CB) played wide receiver and cornerback. His lack of size will most likely result in him playing corner at the next level.

The 5'9" recruit has great hands and can become a top cornerback as he gains experience. Michigan's defense has been the issue for the past few seasons. They have made strides recently, but the additions of Charlton and Lewis will give them some playmakers.

Lewis is a 4-star recruit and doesn't have any major weaknesses. He can play the run as well as the pass. 

His lack of size will make it easy for teams with big receivers to pick on him, but he has the talent to keep up with anyone.

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Oklahoma football fans, hang in there. The 2013 regular season is fewer than seven months away.

The Sooners' matchup with Louisiana-Monroe Aug. 31 will kick off a challenging and exciting schedule for the crimson and cream.

In addition to the annual clash with Texas, Oklahoma must face several key conference opponents on the road. 

There's also a key non-conference rematch to be played in South Bend, Ind., Sept. 28. The Sooners are already dreaming of payback.

Here are the five biggest games on the Sooners' 2013 schedule. Broadly, what makes these games important are the quality of the opponent, relevance in the conference standings and/or the anticipation of the matchup. Rivalry games also get boosts because of their intrigue and implications. 

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With national signing day quickly approaching, it looks like Les Miles and his LSU coaching staff are well on their way to reeling in another national top-10 recruiting class.

While the Tigers will likely miss on some of the top remaining uncommitted prospects, such as Robert Nkemdiche and Reuben Foster, they still have to feel good about this 2013 recruiting class going forward.

Of the Tigers' 27 current verbal commitments, two are listed as 5-star prospects, 16 as 4-star prospects, and the remaining nine are 3-star prospects, according to rivals.com's rankings.

So of those 27 commitments, how many will see the field in 2013?

Let's go ahead and break down five recruits who could make an immediate impact in 2013.

 

1. Tre'Davious White

White is probably the fastest and most athletic prospect in LSU's 2013 recruiting class. His blazing speed allowed him to play close up in press coverage, which is something that LSU has been known for over the years.

With Tharold Simon bolting early for the NFL Draft, there is a vacated cornerback spot that should be up for grabs heading into fall camp.

White is talented enough to grab that spot as a true freshman, and even if he dosen't win that spot, he will likely be used on special teams in the return game because of his exceptional speed and athleticism.

This kid has the chance to make a major impact during his freshman season.

 

2. Frank Herron

Herron is the Tigers' second highest rated player after White, according to rivals.com. But that isn't the only reason why he appears near the top of this list.

LSU lost both starting defensive ends this season when Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery elected to forgo their senior seasons and enter the NFL Draft. Their top backup at that spot, Lavar Edwards, was a senior and will likely be playing on Sundays as well in the future.

Because of that, both defensive end spots are there for the taking, with experience being a non-factor at this point.

That opens the door for Herron, a pass-rushing end with great size and athleticism.

 

3. Logan Stokes

The Tigers got next to nothing from the tight end position last season, which is why this LSU coaching staff has made it a point to bring in some talent at that position in this year's 2013 recruiting class. 

As it stands right now, the Tigers have two tight ends in this 2013 class.

Logan Stokes, a junior college transfer, has already signed his letter of intent and should be with the team when spring practice begins. He has good size at 6'4", 240 pounds, and already has experience playing after high school.

Stokes is the leader to receive early playing time right now, but don't rule out true freshman DeSean Smith, who is the No. 2-ranked tight end prospect in the nation, according to rivals.com.

Look for one, if not both of these highly-regarded prospects to be on the field for LSU next season.

 

4. Quantavius Leslie

Ever since Ruben Randle left early for the NFL Draft last year, LSU has been lacking size at the wide receiver position.

In comes Quantavius Leslie, a 6'4" big-play wide receiver who has the size, talent and skill to make an immediate impact in this LSU passing game.

Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry have established themselves as the top receivers on this LSU football team, but neither of them are true big-body, downfield threats. Landry is primarily a possession receiver, while Beckham is a speedy option who could operate in the slot if Leslie develops into a downfield threat.

Either way, look for Leslie to get his shot to crack this rotation heading into the 2013 season.

 

5. Kendell Beckwith

I debated who to put in this slot, deciding between Beckwith and OL prospect Ethan Pocic. In the end, I sided with Beckwith simply because of his versatility and ability to play multiple spots out on the football field.

For those who aren't familiar with Kendell Beckwith, you will be soon. This kid is one of the most athletically gifted prospects in the nation.

He has the size to play defensive end, but the speed and athleticism to play outside linebacker. Because of that, odds are that this LSU coaching staff will find a place for him out there on the field and it should come as soon as this year.

This kid is simply too talented to stay off the field.

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Ohio State is coming off a 12-0 season, and the successes on the field have carried over into offseason recruiting success.

It should come as no surprise that with one week left to recruit, Urban Meyer has put together a top-five recruiting class, according Rivals, Scout, ESPN and 247 Sports.

The class is headlined by 11 members who played in either the U.S. Army All-American Bowl or the Under Armour All-America Game.

The class isn't necessarily done at 23; there could be room for a couple more if they're the right type of players.

But there are five members in this class who aren't getting the attention they deserve. Whether it's because they are underrated or because their recruitment didn't cause drama, they deserve more ink.

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For Nebraska football fans, the announcement of Braylon Heard’s departure from the program was disappointing but not unfamiliar. Heard was the second four-star running back to leave the program in the last twelve months, preceded by Aaron Green’s departure and ultimate transfer to TCU in the spring of 2012.

Running back isn’t the only area where Nebraska has been shedding talent. In 2010, Nebraska had an impressive haul of offensive linemen and looked to have established depth and talent throughout the pipeline.

But over the last year, Nebraska saw both tackle Tyler Moore (transfer to Florida) and Ryan Klachko (transfer to Illinois) leave the program as well. And it wasn’t like the offensive line was a source of great depth for Nebraska in 2011.

At the end of the season, Nebraska was down to a rotation of three players—Brent Qvale, Jeremiah Sirles and Andrew Rodriguez—at tackle. And when starting center Justin Jackson was injured early in the Iowa game, Nebraska had to turn to an untested Mark Pelini because backup center Cole Pensick was too valuable at guard to move.

Now look, transfers happen. Major college programs like Nebraska should have competition for playing time, and that competition means those lower on the depth chart will be disappointed. And there is a good argument to be made for the proposition that if a kid isn’t willing to work and fight for playing time, it’s better for the team as a whole if that kid moves on rather than sulk in a puddle of his entitlement.

But the fact remains that a football team invests resources in its players. During the recruiting season, the time and energy devoted to a particular prospect is time and energy that did not go to another area of recruiting. After a player joins the program, the team invests time and energy in helping the player to develop physically and mentally to help the team win.

So set aside your knee-jerk advice to kids looking at transferring to “suck it up and work harder.” It’s more complicated than that.

Let’s take a look at Heard’s case as an example (and no, not just because it made the bold prediction of a certain intelligent and particularly handsome analyst look foolish). Remember, after last season Heard moved to defensive back in part because of the logjam at running back with Green, Rex Burkhead and Ameer Abdullah at the position. Heard only moved back to running back after Green’s transfer—which was likely motivated by a lack of playing time as well.

Now, when news of Heard’s departure broke, Jon Nyatawa of the Omaha World-Herald reported that Heard was asked to take some practice reps at wide receiver in the offseason. So it wouldn’t be unreasonable for Heard to question his role on the team.

But the unavoidable statistic is how carries were divided amongst the running backs. Here’s how the carries (taking quarterback Taylor Martinez out of the mix) broke down between Nebraska’s running backs.

2011

Player

Games Played

Carries

% of Carries

Rex Burkhead

13

283

75.6

Ameer Abdullah

13

42

11.2

Braylon Heard

7

25

6.7

Aaron Green

12

24

6.4

2012

Player

Games Played

Carries

% of carries

Ameer Abdullah

14

226

52.4

Rex Burkhead

8

98

22.7

Imani Cross

14

55

12.8

Braylon Heard

12

52

12.1

In the last two years, when Tim Beck has been Nebraska’s offensive coordinator, a clear pattern has emerged that one back will become the workhorse and relegate the others to a minimal role. We’ve seen the effect, with Burkhead in 2011 and Abdullah in 2012, of those workhorse backs wearing down and being injured and less effective as the season wore on.

But less obviously, we are also seeing the effects of minimal carries on the backs down the depth chart. It’s hard not to conclude that Heard and Green looked at where they were on the depth chart, looked at how running backs were being used, and concluded they were not going to get a legitimate opportunity to see the field.

In Heard’s case, given that his yards-per-carry average was higher than Abdullah’s (6.69 to 5.03) and that Heard had zero fumbles to Abdullah’s eight, it’s not unfair for him to wonder about the distribution of carries.

The departures of Moore and Klachko could have similar reasons, although it’s harder to back up with statistics. There’s no question that Klachko saw little of the field, while Moore started as a true freshman but was pulled and saw little playing time after that.

Again, I’m sympathetic to the argument that players down on the depth chart should just shut up, buckle down and work harder. But the bottom line is that, in the last few months, Nebraska has lost four highly-recruited players. And don’t think that opposing coaches won’t be pointing out the exodus of talent against Nebraska. You can just hear Urban Meyer asking a kid why he’d want to go to Lincoln when the coaches there can’t find a way to get young talent on the field, can’t you?

Next year, Nebraska will have Ameer Abdullah and Imani Cross returning at running back. Freshmen Terrell Newby and Adam Taylor, assuming they sign, will make Nebraska spoiled for choice at running back.

Sure, that’s a good problem to have. But it’s still a problem. And unless Pelini is wise about how he uses his redshirts and distributes his playing time, we may be having this same conversation about highly recruiting players leaving the program next year. And Meyer and the other BIG coaches will have that much more ammunition to use against Nebraska in recruiting.

If you’d like to contact Patrick to schedule an interview, provide feedback or get advice on which type of chocolate goes best with fresh fruit (spoiler alert: dark), send an e-mail to patrickrunge@gmail.com.

Or, you could always...Follow @patrickrunge.

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The University of Tennessee athletics department posted a $3.98 million deficit for the 2011-12 fiscal year. Tennessee also has more than $200 million in outstanding debt related to the construction of various athletic facilities.

The news is the latest in a string of bad luck Vols fans have endured the past few years. Since 2008, UT fans have had little to look forward to when it comes to all things Tennessee sports.

The bad luck started with the football program. Tennessee was the SEC East representative in the 2007 SEC Championship, losing to the eventual national champions, LSU. Since then, the Vols have seen subpar performances from the sport responsible for the highest amount of revenue.

UT football has an overall record of 28-34 in the past five seasons. In that span, the once-dominant Vols have zero wins in only two bowl game appearances.

But the most impressive stat to sum up Tennessee football's fall from grace is the amount of coaches in such a short time span. Since 2008, the Vols have seen four coaches take the helm: Phillip Fulmer, Lane Kiffin, Derek Dooley and, as of next season, Butch Jones.

While the SEC has thrived as the dominant conference in college football, the once-mighty Volunteers have become increasingly worse. In the past two seasons, the Vols experienced their poorest showing in SEC play.

UT went 1-7 in 2011, defeating Vanderbilt for their lone SEC victory. The season was ultimately finished with the Vols falling to Kentucky for the first time in 26 years. Tennessee would avenge their upset from the previous season by defeating Kentucky in 2012 en route to their lone SEC victory for that season.

But the bad luck doesn't stop with the football program. Bruce Pearl, a man who transformed UT basketball from a doormat to a team only a basket away from making the 2010 Final Four, was fired in 2011 for violating NCAA recruiting rules.

Pat Summitt, the winningest coach in the history of college basketball, retired after a swan song season in which she spent battling the early stages of dementia. Although she remains involved with the Lady Vols basketball program, news broke following her retirement claiming that the legendary coach was possibly forced out, rather than chose to leave on her own terms.

As a student who spent the majority of my academic career in Knoxville during this dark era of UT sports, it's almost become expected that bad things happen to Tennessee athletics. A once-great tradition in football has become a laughing stock and bottom feeder of the SEC. 

Tennessee has had a total of ten different head coaches in football, basketball, baseball, and women's basketball since 2008. The question many UT fans must ask is, "When?"

When will UT's string of bad luck end? The answer is unknown. However, with such a large deficit for the program to overcome, the latest news may just be the icing on the stale cake that Tennessee sports have become.

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Heading into the 2013 season, the Oklahoma State Cowboys are young and talented, appearing poised to make another run at a Big 12 title. However, a few players will need to improve for that to happen.

Ideally, every player would want to improve and would do so every offseason. We all know that is not going to happen for everyone, though.

Oklahoma State has five players who need to improve the most. They are playmakers whose improvement will boost the team enough to bring it back to the top of the national college football landscape.

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With just a few days to go until recruiting's national signing day, Oregon football fans are at a fever pitch to learn who the newest Oregon Ducks will be. But, recruiting is an art, not a science, and it's important to keep your perspective on the whole process.

If your dream five-star prospect lets you down (talkin' to you, Vernon Hargreaves III and Eddie Vanderdoes), how will you console yourself? Try this tweet from Oregon Assistant AD Andy McNamara:

Signing Day 1 week from today. Key reminder: Marcus Mariota was a 3-star recruit #GoDucks #YouNeverReallyKnow

— Andy McNamara (@McNamaraUO) January 31, 2013

It's true: Oregon's fabulous young quarterback Marcus Mariota was only a 3-star (you should click on this link to Mariota's Rivals.com profile, if for no other reason than to check out his hairdo) prospect coming out of St. Louis High School in Honolulu, Hawaii.

In his first season as the Oregon starting quarterback, all Mariota did was lead his team to a 12-1 record and a convincing BCS Fiesta Bowl win (35-17).

Feel better now? Here are some other recruiting factors for you to consider as you work yourself into a frenzy prior to Feb. 6.

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You could pick any of about 10 moments that defined Notre Dame’s 12-0 regular season in 2012. Perhaps none, however, had the impact of the Irish’s controversial goal-line stand to seal a win over Stanford in overtime.

At the time, the Cardinal looked like a one-dimensional team headed for an 8-5 season. Josh Nunes was struggling at quarterback, and Stanford had dropped two of three games since its upset of USC on Sept. 15.

Twelve weeks later, Stanford finished a 12-2 season with a win over Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. Its eight straight wins to close the season included: Oregon State, at No. 2 Oregon, UCLA (twice in six days) and the Big Ten champion Badgers.

When analyzing Notre Dame’s 2013 schedule (which I rank the 16th-toughest in the nation) and determining who its toughest foe will be, I came back to Stanford, which hosts the Irish in Palo Alto on Nov. 30.

There are many potential losses on the schedule, which includes trips to Michigan and Pittsburgh and home dates with Michigan State, Oklahoma and USC. However, no program on Notre Dame’s 12-game slate is built better to take down the Irish than David Shaw’s Cardinal.

There are some holes for the defending Pac-12 champions to fill. Leading rusher Stepfan Taylor departs, as do tight ends Zach Ertz and Levine Toilolo. Star linebacker Chase Thomas and top cornerback Terrence Brown are gone from the defense. A coaching turnover also affected Stanford, as offensive coordinator (sorry, Andrew Luck Director of Offense) Pep Hamilton bolted to rejoin Luck in Indianapolis.

Despite the losses, Stanford still has its identity that goes back to the Jim Harbaugh era: a disciplined, physical and smart football team. It also has a weapon that Notre Dame avoided last season in rising sophomore dual-threat quarterback Kevin Hogan, who was not elevated to the starting role until November. The Irish won’t be so fortunate this time around.

Hogan may not have Taylor and two of his top targets, but he’ll be working behind one of the best offensive lines in college football. Center Sam Schwartzstein is the only loss up front. The trio of Josh Garnett, Kyle Murphy and Andrus Peat are heralded by many as the best offensive line class in 2012, and they will figure into the mix as second-year players.

The battle up front between the Cardinal offensive line and the Irish defensive line—the same two units that were on the field when last year’s game was decided—will again be strength on strength. All-American candidates Louis Nix and Stephon Tuitt both return for Notre Dame.

After holding Notre Dame to just 13 points in regulation, albeit on a rainy October afternoon in northern Indiana, Stanford will bring back eight starters on defense for another season of “parties in the backfield.” The Irish’s 4.63 yards per play average against Stanford was their second lowest of the entire season (4.54 vs. Michigan State).

There is also the fact that Notre Dame’s last regular season loss came in Stanford Stadium in 2011, a 28-14 defeat, the last of three straight victories for the Cardinal after an 0-7 spell from 2002-2008. Stanford has won 19 of 20 home games over the past three years, falling only to Oregon in 2011.

There’s no doubt that Michigan will desperately want to knock off the Irish in their final visit to Michigan Stadium before the series temporarily ends. Oklahoma and USC are also certain to come to South Bend looking to pay back Notre Dame after home losses to the Irish in 2012.

However, Notre Dame’s biggest challenge of 2013 will be their last one. While there are some signs of the Cardinal eventually slowing down (their 2013 recruiting class currently ranks No. 60 in the nation according to 24/7 Sports), the short-term future remains bright on The Farm. The combination of physicality, revenge and home-field advantage make Stanford the Irish’s toughest opponent in 2013.

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November 28, 2009

The faces in the room were dejected, each one staring off in different directions of the dimly-lit, mid-sized apartment with cream-colored walls and light blue carpet. Various Notre Dame decorations were scattered throughout the apartment, but they weren't sufficient to bring smiles to the faces of those enervated, weary Irish fans. 

I, along with close friends and family, had just witnessed Notre Dame lose a closely contested game to Stanford, 45-38, that would wind up as Charlie Weis' final as the Irish's head coach. 

That heartbreaking loss dropped Notre Dame to 6-6 overall, though, despite being bowl eligible, the school would deny any bowl invitations due to the impending firing of Weis that would arrive two days following the loss to Stanford in Palo Alto, Calif. 

For a few long minutes following the conclusion of the 2009 season, the only sounds in the room were those of soda being poured, chips and pretzels being munched, ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit and Brent Musburger discussing Charlie Weis' future and the painfully audible sighs from those in attendance. 

Then, the television was shut off and rampant discussion commenced about the current state of Notre Dame football and whether the program would ever again be able to compete for national championships. 

 

December 11, 2009

Brian Kelly shook hands with Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick before he took a few steps to stand behind the lectern in front of a throng of media members, university administrators and, most importantly, his family. 

Dressed in a striped, lime green tie, white shirt and black blazer, Kelly placed his hands on the lectern, smiled and gazed at the crowd in silence for a few moments before delivering his first speech as the head football coach at Notre Dame. 

The former Cincinnati head coach, whose 34-6 record with the Bearcats earned him the gig at Notre Dame, was candid about the primary reason why he accepted Swarbrick's offer, and took a proverbial, yet direct swing at the Irish's critics. 

"We hear about academic standards," Kelly said. "That's what the mission is of this university. That is the mission of Notre Dame, excellence in academics and athletics, and I wanted that challenge. And I'm excited about that challenge, that you can do it in the classroom and be prominent in the athletic arena, as well." 

Kelly's attitude about the possibility of achieving the highest level of success at a school many thought would be forever bogged down by the academic standards he referenced was a breath of fresh air for fans who had become sick of that notion. 

"Yes, we've got challenges just like everybody else," Kelly said. "But we'll go to work on that right away by continuing to recruit what I call the 'RKGs,' the 'Right Kinda Guys.' Those that match the mission of this university.

"We'll continue to look towards player development as being the key and the cornerstone of our success," Kelly emphatically stated. 

Listening to those proclamations was difficult for Irish fans, as they had heard similar comments from former head coach Charlie Weis, who made many promises, but failed to deliver on them. 

Then, Kelly paused, smiled once again and gave the Irish faithful some food for thought. 

"We're going to build this program to where it needs to be," Kelly said. "There's going to be success down the road if they stay with it." 

 

September 1, 2012

Brian Kelly earned his reputation as one of the best coaches in the collegiate ranks through his glitzy, high-scoring offenses at Central Michigan and Cincinnati. 

Upon accepting the head coaching position at Notre Dame, the consensus opinion was that the university had just hired a carbon copy of Charlie Weis—a big-name coach with a high-octane offense who didn't consider defense a priority. 

Concisely, the naysayers were wrong. 

"When I came to Notre Dame, having lived in that world of trying to outscore opponents, I felt the best blueprint we could put together here for a national championship was through our defense," Kelly said. 

Concisely, Kelly was right. 

Kelly's assertion about defense was proven on a sun-bathed afternoon—morning for those of us on the East Coast—at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, where Notre Dame met Navy for the initial contest of the 2012 season for both teams. 

Mind you, Navy had shredded the Irish defense for 367 rushing yards in a 35-17 shellacking of Notre Dame in 2010 in which defensive coordinator Bob Diaco told media members that "we had no plan B" following the excruciating loss. 

This meeting would be vastly different, though. 

There was former 5-Star prospect and linebacker Ishaq Williams strip-sacking Navy quarterback Trey Miller, whose fumble was recovered by another former 5-star prospect, Stephon Tuitt. 

The mammoth, 303-pound defensive end returned Miller's fumble 77 yards for a touchdown, outrunning every Navy player on the field during the process. It was a graceful display of that vaunted "SEC speed" from a player whom the Irish coaching staff was able to nab right out of the heart of SEC country in Monroe, Ga. 

There was former 4-star prospect and defensive tackle Louis Nix busting through the Navy offensive line like a tank through plywood en route to a sack. Nix, like Tuitt, was also lured out of SEC country—Nix hails from Jacksonville, Fla.—to Notre Dame. 

Williams, Tuitt and Nix are three defenders who signed with Notre Dame in the post-Charlie Weis era at Notre Dame. They are three defenders who the critics said Notre Dame would never be able to sign because of the school's rigorous academic standards. 

In the case of Nix and Tuitt, the critics claimed that elite prospects from the South would be silly to jettison anywhere outside of SEC country. Well, two did. And their decisions have paid dividends for the Irish. 

 

November 24, 2012

The "oohs" and "ahhs" from the standing room only crowd of 93,607 pierced through the balmy Los Angeles evening as the Irish's defense—and Brian Kelly's desired vision from the moment he accepted the job at Notre Dame—stonewalled the USC offense at the goal line not once, not twice, not thrice, but four times with 2:33 remaining in regulation and the Irish holding a nine-point lead over the USC Trojans. 

The Trojans were the final obstacle facing the Irish and their date with destiny. 

And it was perfectly fitting that the Irish barreled through that final obstacle by way of their seemingly impenetrable defense. 

That now-storied goal-line stand will forever glow in Notre Dame lore, as it was the final propulsion to the Irish's 12-0 record and first berth in college football's national championship game in 24 years.

They earned that distinction through Brian Kelly's player development system, through unparalleled recruiting successes and through the construction of, perhaps, the best defense in Notre Dame football history.

The Irish may have been humbled by Alabama—the most dominant football dynasty of my lifetime—in the BCS National Championship Game, but make no mistake about it: Brian Kelly has truly awakened the echoes of the historic program.

 

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The sports world thrives on social media. Sports journalists use social media sites to gather quotes from players, coaches, and owners that may be less filtered than a PR approved statement.

Athletes may use social media as a way to interact with fans. By showing an entertaining side and positive image through social media, an athlete's fan base and popularity can soar to new heights.

First year Tennessee head coach Butch Jones has become very active on Twitter since joining the Vols in December. Jones, along with members of his staff, has embraced the social media craze in ways not seen by previous UT coaches.

While following the guidelines of the NCAA, Jones and his staff tweet about recruiting, Volunteer pride, and all things Tennessee athletics. Although he may not have originally been Vols' fans first choice, his interaction with the fan base and sheer optimism is definitely helping Jones' popularity grow.

Social media will definitely help Jones keep a positive image amongst UT fans if his team can prove to be successful on the field. More importantly, however, his activity through Twitter will play an even larger role in recruiting.

Despite an impressive win-loss record, Jones is hardly a "Big name" coach that will automatically reel in the "Big fish" prospects. However, Jones has many tools in his arsenal which will benefit him on the recruiting trail.

The Tennessee brand, despite a lack of success in recent years, is big enough to gain at least some interest amongst players. The SEC factor, a brand new football facility, and potential playing time at multiple positions also benefit the Vols greatly.

But the use of social media may become one of Butch Jones' most important factors in recruiting. If his name has yet to sell itself, social media may be the best way to develop notoriety.

High school prospects are very active on Twitter, sometimes even declaring for a school through the website. Seeing a coach who is also very active may paint a favorable image for Jones to undecided prospects. 

Also, with coaches only being allowed a certain amount of time to converse with players, Jones' pro-Tennessee tweets may give the Vols an advantage to pitch their program nationally.

As Butch Jones continues to put the final touches on his first recruiting class with Tennessee, there is little doubt that his activity through social media will play a major role in his success in Knoxville.

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2012 was an exciting time for Navy football, and there is great optimism heading into next season.

The 2013 Navy Midshipmen will feature Keenan Reynolds, an exciting young quarterback who has the potential to be one of the most dynamic players at the Naval Academy in some time.

Yet, as the coaches and players use the offseason as a time to prepare for the future, the fans can use this time to reflect back on the best moments of last season.

Let's look at five of the best highlights from Navy's 2012 season.

All stats via NavySports.com

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For the eighth straight year, the Maroon and Gold will be represented in the pinnacle of professional football achievement—the Super Bowl.

This year will also be the 13th year that multiple Sun Devils have been represented in the Super Bowl and the fourth time that three players have been on rosters.

San Francisco 49ers receiver Kyle Williams is on injured reserve after tearing ligaments in his knee in New Orleans last November but long snapper Brian Jennings is ready to start as is Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs.

Of all 41 Sun Devils to reach the summit only 18 have walked away with rings, will there be 19 or 20 on this list come Sunday night?

Here is the list of the best of those that are currently sporting the shine.

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After being committed to Oklahoma State since February of 2012, it would seem that stud wide receiver recruit Fred Ross is having second thoughts.

Ryan Aber of NewsOK.com recently reported that Oklahoma State Cowboys' defensive end recruit Tyus Bowser decided to de-commit from OSU so that he could go to a school that would let him play college basketball and football.

Along with that news, Aber goes on to say that Ross is now considering going to Mississippi State after taking a visit last week.

This topic is further confirmed in an interview with Ross' coach via Scout.com's GoPokes website.

In this interview, Ricklan Holmes says that Ross is "weighing his options" and that "he's not sure...what got him so interested in Mississippi State."

If this turns out to be more than smoke and Ross does decide that he'd rather go to Mississippi State, it would be a big blow to Oklahoma State, especially considering that they just lost Bowser earlier this week.

Ross is ranked as a 4-star recruit by Scout.com and is one of the Cowboys' highest-ranked players in their 2013 class.

The good news is that Oklahoma State has a plethora of wide receivers coming in next year, but you never want to lose two recruits this close to signing day. 

Look for Mike Gundy to jump back on the trail and lock Ross back up before he decides that he'd be better off at Mississippi State.

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