NCAA Football

Jared Wangler, a 3-star outside linebacker, is committed to Penn State, and that doesn't appear to be changing any time soon—even after a recent offer from LSU.

There's nothing to worry about here.

According to Jared Shanker of ESPN.com, Wangler remains committed despite a huge offer from the SEC power:

An offer from an SEC school often makes recruits take a step back and re-evaluate a top group or a commitment. 

That's not the case with Jared Wangler (Warren, Mich./De La Salle). LSU offered the 6-foot-2, 218-pound outside linebacker Wednesday, but he remains committed to Penn State. 

"It's really humbling," Wangler said, "but nothing's changed." 

This is great news for Bill O'Brien and his staff, and it should also be validating for both Penn State and Wangler.

For the Nittany Lions, Wangler appearing unfazed by the LSU offer is a sign of his commitment to the program.

And during this time of sanctions and limited scholarships following the Jerry Sandusky scandal, dedication is a must.

O'Brien's commitment to the program is unmatched and he's the right coach to rebuild the image of and restore Penn State football. He'll need players with the same kind of dedication and integrity.

For Wangler, the LSU offer should be confirmation of his skill set. Shanker also reported that Les Miles went as far as using his one allotted phone call to Wangler to extend the scholarship offer. 

Not just any recruit can play in the SEC, especially at LSU, so the Tigers' offer to Wangler should be a sign of just how talented he really is.

Again, that's good news for O'Brien and Penn State, because Wangler's commitment looks to be as solid as they come. 

 

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Don't look now, but first-year Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops is turning some heads.

After 50,831 fans packed Commonwealth Stadium in April to take in the spring game, the Wildcats find themselves in the top 25 of the current ESPN.com class of 2014 recruiting rankings. That's a good place to be, but it's still the ninth-best class in the SEC.

Still, for a program that's coming off of a 3-9 campaign, a winless SEC season and is largely overlooked in the landscape of the SEC, it's certainly something for Stoops and the rest of Big Blue Nation to hang its hat on.

The centerpiece of Kentucky's 2013 class is 4-star quarterback and ESPN 150 member Drew Barker. The 6'4", 205-pound pro-style prospect chose the Wildcats over SEC East foes South Carolina and Tennessee. 

Anytime Kentucky can beat out two traditional SEC powerhouses for a big-time player, it's huge. It was also testament to Stoops' ability to make an impression. According to Cincinnati.com, Barker received 115 letters in one day.

Cheesy? Sure. But that tactic is becoming commonplace these days, and it's only cheesy if it doesn't work.

Another key piece of Kentucky's 2013 recruiting class is 4-star wide receiver Thaddeus Snodgrass, a 6'0, 180-pounder from Springfield, Ohio who chose the Wildcats over West Virginia, South Carolina and Louisville, according to the Louisville (Ky.) Courier-Journal.

While securing the commitment of another 4-star commitment is news in and of itself, it's the state Snodgrass hails from that's the important issue here.

Ohio.

Five of Kentucky's seven commitments in Stoops' class of 2013 hail from the talent-rich Buckeye State, which is not an accident.

In Stoops' introductory press conference in Lexington, he made it a point to specify that Ohio was one of his primary recruiting focuses.

"Kentucky, obviously we're going to recruit Kentucky hard and take care of our home," he said. "We're going to recruit Ohio very hard. I have strong ties in Ohio. There's very good football players in Ohio. We'll work through the Carolinas, Florida, and Georgia a little bit."

The early success in the 2014 recruiting class comes on the heels of a solid close by Stoops and Co. as the new staff was getting settled in their new gigs.

Junior college defensive end Za'Darius Smith signed Kentucky in the class of 2013 after developing a relationship with Stoops while Stoops was at Florida State, while Stoops also was instrumental in the signing of defensive end Jason Hatcher and safety Marcus McWilson.

Is Kentucky going to contend for the SEC East title in 2013? No. That's way too premature. But Stoops quickly turned momentum around in Lexington. No longer is Kentucky just a basketball school. There's hope for football, and if this recruiting momentum keeps up, hope will turn into success on the gridiron sooner rather than later.

 

Follow @BarrettSallee

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If the Florida Gators want to have a season as successful as their 2012 campaign, they will have to improve in a variety of areas.

Jeff Driskel's performance at quarterback, a lack of depth at wide receiver, a brutal SEC schedule and key losses on defense are all being looked at as possible trouble spots. The Gators will have to overcome these obstacles in order to remain competitive.

However, there is another obvious problem that has been getting worse and needs to finally be addressed.

I am, of course, talking about Florida's tendency to be penalized. A lot.

You can certainly pin some of the blame on Will Muschamp and his staff for the Gators' offensive woes throughout the season and poor performance in the Sugar Bowl. However, they have repeatedly been forced to deal with an avalanche of costly penalties on both sides of the ball.

That needs to stop.

Since the 2009 season, the Gators' average of penalty yards per game has risen every calendar year. Last season's average of 68.8 yards marked a 9.3-yard jump from that of 2011.

Such behavior has turned Florida into the most penalized team in the SEC in recent years. 

This makes their 2012 BCS run seem all the more remarkable. Their defensive unit had to repeatedly follow up stalled offensive drives with momentum-shifting series in order to turn tight games in their favor. Without this effectiveness, they could have easily lost three or more games during the regular season.

That brings us to this season. With so many departures from the defensive side of the ball, the Gators will have to score more points in 2013 to continually remain competitive. This cannot happen if holding violations and false starts repeatedly put Driskel and the offense in a bind.

Likewise, Florida cannot afford to give away extra points to opponents on the heels of silly personal fouls and other defensive violations.

Therefore, limiting the damage done through penalties will be crucial to the Gators' success.

Last year, we saw the Gators at their best when the flow of the game was relatively quick. They would get in a rhythm, and one big play would follow another.

This did not happen against Louisville and Georgia, and it proved costly on both occasions.

Driskel is certainly under enough pressure already. He doesn't need to deal with 3rd-and-longs that resulted from undisciplined penalties. Furthermore, his receivers should not have to feel like they need to make a huge downfield play just to move the chains.

Finally, Muschamp and Brent Pease need to believe that the entire playbook is always available for use. They cannot afford to protect Driskel with safe passes and hand-offs on third down.

The Gators simply will not win with that formula.

Yes, they need to play better football and make more plays. However, they also need to stop inflicting wounds upon themselves.

When they prove that they can do this, more and more people will begin to recognize them as a legitimate national contender.

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The state of Virginia is poised to knock the recruiting world off its axis.

With three of the nation’s top 10 players in the 2014 class calling Virginia home—Da’Shawn Hand, Andrew Brown and Quin Blanding—geography could soon flex its recruiting muscles. 

Whether or not in-state schools can capitalize on this perk won’t be known until next February, but the possibility of a shakeup (even a temporary one) is alive and well.

“Virginia has always produced outstanding football talent, but it is rare for a state other than Florida, Texas or California, to have three elite of the elite-type of prospects,” said JC Shurburtt, National Recruiting Director for 247Sports. “But these three, given their lofty comparative positions with other prospects nationally, will be remembered for years.”

This comes at a time where the names and faces are familiar. Not with the players, who become household names by the end of the recruiting cycle shortly before we hit the reset button and start from scratch. But instead the teams, coaches and powerhouse programs that reserve this yearly real estate at the very top of the recruiting rankings.

Under Nick Saban, Alabama has become a fixture at the top. The likes of Florida and LSU know plenty about this real estate as well, while Ole Miss and Auburn were able to stake their claim to this spot earlier this year. Other SEC schools such as Georgia and South Carolina occasionally stop by.

Sprinkle in Notre Dame, add in Big Ten powers Ohio State and Michigan, and throw in the occasional USC and Florida State commit, and a familiar equation comes into focus. Despite the unexpected that comes with recruiting, the end game remains predictable. At least it has in recent years.

2014—and perhaps beyond— could be different. If Virginia and Virginia Tech are able to close on these three prep stars, it will be different.

 

Da’Shawn Hand

The Woodbrige, Va. defensive end is the No. 1 player according to 247Sports. He’s already been compared to Jadeveon Clowney and sports a 4.6 forty at 250 pounds.

“Hand's first step and quick hands (no pun intended) are elite and some of the best I've seen in person, said Shurburtt. “Combine that with his natural strength and tireless work ethic and it adds up to the No. 1 overall prospect at this time thanks in large part to the rarity factor.”

Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster has established a wonderful relationship with Hand, something that has been discussed often. 84 percent of the experts on 247Sports’ Crystal Predictions feel Hand will eventually sign with the Hokies, while the other 16 percent predict Michigan.

 

Andrew Brown

The No. 4 player nationally on 247Sports and the highest-ranked defensive tackle, the 6'4", 282-pound Chesapeake native is one of the fastest risers in the recruiting world.

“Brown's quickness and athleticism are too much to handle for most great offensive tackles,” Shurburtt noted. “That type of size/athleticism combo plus the versatility factor makes him a big-time rarity.”

As for 247Sports’ Crystal Ball, 89 percent feel he’ll stay close to home and commit to Virginia. Yes, that Virginia. North Carolina checks in second, getting 11 percent.

 

Quin Blanding

The nation’s top safety prospect according to 247Sports and also the No. 9 player overall, Blanding is the only top-10 player verbally committed. 

“Blanding is a 6'2", 200-pound defensive back that has the hips, speed and athleticism to play cornerback in college, though he can and likely will be an elite free safety in the NFL,” Shurburtt said. “He's not just a coverage guy, either, as he's not afraid to come up and strike an opposing ball-carrier in the run game.” 

Blanding has verbally committed to Virginia. Yes, that Virginia. If the commitment holds, it would be an enormous land for head coach Mike London, who is under pressure in 2013 to a) win and b) close strong on the recruiting trail.

 

A Big Splash Could Lead to Much More

It’s unfamiliar territory seeing the Virginia logo (and only the Virginia logo) at the top of the recruiting rankings. 

Granted, it’s incredibly early in the 2014 recruiting cycle, and a verbal means little until the letter of intent is signed. Still, non-traditional powers rarely climb this high, at any time, even with distinct geographical advantages in play. If Virginia and Virginia Tech are able to keep three of the top 10 players from leaving the state, it’ll be an exceptional win in the world of ultra-competitive recruiting. 

Landing one (or two) of the nation’s top players could go beyond simply landing a potential difference-maker. It could provide buzz and an infusion of energy both schools crave. It could give future recruits, both in- and out-of-state, something to think and talk about.

Success on the recruiting trail could be contagious, and the perks beyond simply keeping in-state talent close to home could be enormous.

The schools weren’t able to do it last year with quarterback Christian Hackenberg, linebacker Jonathan Allen or running back Derrick Green, all of whom were Virginia products considered premier players in the country at their positions. Hackenberg chose Penn State and Allen signed with Alabama, while Green chose to attend Michigan.

2014 could be different.

Alabama will still be in the picture, of course. So will Ohio State and Michigan. And LSU. And other familiar recruiting assassins will make their yearly cameos when it comes to landing the elite. But if both Virginia and Virginia Tech are featured prominently amongst the familiar powers, don't be surprised.

Geography is on their side, and momentum might not be far behind.

 

*Adam Kramer is the Lead Football Writer for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand.

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After getting the long-awaited verbal commitment from Akron LB Dante Booker on Thursday—per Jeremy Birmingham of Eleven Warriors—Ohio State's 2014 recruiting class stands at nine.

The Buckeyes do have a good group of prospects already in tow with the hopes of adding several more top prospects like QB Kyle Allen, LB Raekwon McMillan and OT Jamarco Jones.

So far, Ohio State has done a solid job of attacking some of its biggest needs, particularly on the offensive line with the commitments of two in-state linemen in Kyle Trout and Marcelys Jones.

Jones already has the size of a college guard at 325 lbs., and Trout possesses the prototypical frame for a tackle. Ideally, the Buckeyes would love to continue to add to this group because they graduate multiple starting linemen and don't have much depth behind them.

Another one of OSU's early verbals came from its rival's backyard, as Detroit product Damon Webb verballed to the Buckeyes.

Webb is the latest in a long line of talented corners to commit to the Buckeyes in recent years and brings plenty of skill with him.

The Buckeyes' fourth commitment was a bit of a surprise in Booker's high school teammate, RB Parris Campbell. The speedy back didn't pop onto the radar all that much until he exploded for 156 yards and three touchdowns in last season's Division III State Championship Game win over Bellevue.

Campbell brings to the table what 2013 signees Dontre Wilson and James Clark also have: game-breaking speed, and a lot of it to burn. He's the type of player Urban Meyer will want to have the ball in his hands at least a few times every game once he fills his body out.

Like with Booker, the Buckeyes didn't look too far to supplement their linebacking corps with in-state products Kyle Berger and Sam Hubbard.

Both are outstanding athletes with a nose for the football and for making big hits.

As for the rest of the class, getting verbals from out-of-state prospects WR Lonnie Johnson and DL Dylan Thompson were just as crucial with both boasting good offer lists despite only 3-star rankings on Scout.com.

This class is certainly far from complete, with the Buckeyes hoping to land more big-name prospects as they did late in the last recruiting class by getting commits from Wilson, Clark and S Vonn Bell all within the last week.

Even though this class will be the last to be limited by scholarship sanctions, the Buckeyes should be able to have another great recruiting class in 2014.

And so far, they're off to a pretty good start.

 

Follow me on Twitter @bielik_tim for the latest college football news and updates.

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Being a freshman at a university is wonderful enough, but there's nothing like being a freshman college football player. There are so many opportunities and new experiences to have as you make the transition from high school to college.

But getting a good start is critical to success in the college ranks and beyond. Even the best players can make mistakes that can derail their football careers before they even get started.

These 10 commandments are designed to help players maximize their ability to avoid pitfalls as well as maximize their potential. 

What are they? Read on.

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When you fall off your horse—the saying goes—you are supposed to get back on. That is exactly what the Texas Longhorns have done over the course of the past two seasons.

When the Longhorns dropped five of their last six contests to finish 2010 with a 5-7 record, it marked a historic stumble for a program that had made its second national championship appearance in five seasons.

Mack Brown was adamant about restoring what was once an elite program, and the results are beginning to show themselves after two years of marginal improvement—although the 2013 season figures to be the payout campaign filled with high expectations and media attention.

But behind all of that hype and rhetoric is the foundation of a team that arguably is ready for a special year.

The 2011 recruiting class—a group that includes quarterback David Ash and running backs Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron—has had a number of players emerge to become a core, and it just might have enough working pieces to make something happen.

The ‘Horns locked up 22 commitments in their 2011 haul, and 14 of them figure to contribute in some fashion this season. If Texas is able to bring home some hardware this season, these juniors and redshirt sophomores will have huge roles in doing so.

Offensively, the 2011 class has fingerprints all over.

David Ash is going into his junior season with a wealth of experience. His physical abilities have helped him tremendously in the past, and now he will have to conquer the mental tasks of running an up-tempo offense.

Running backs Brown and Bergeron are both three-year contributors like Ash and are two-thirds of a trio of backs that can challenge any backfield in the country from a talent standpoint. Is this the year that the production catches up with the talent?

Jaxon Shipley is a fixture at wide receiver, one of two reliable options (Mike Davis). Shipley saw his numbers increase in virtually every category from his freshman to his sophomore season, and similar improvements will be the standard for the junior receiver.

The Longhorns have not had success at tight end, but M.J. McFarland definitely gives them a reason to be hopeful. After redshirting his freshman year in 2011, McFarland caught eight passes for 125 yards and a touchdown in 12 games in 2012. Blessed with great athleticism, McFarland could flourish in a spread offense.

Josh Cochran has made the most noise up front, having seen significant time at left and right tackle since arriving as a freshman. Two years later, Cochran has become a reliable contributor outside, and his efforts cannot be understated during a 2011 season that really called for help on the offensive line.

Defensively, the 2011 class delivered, although there is still much to expect from the group.

Desmond Jackson has become a solid fixture in the defensive tackle rotation—with 25 games under his belt—and is one candidate for a huge 2013 season.

Cedric Reed is the favorite to come out of summer with the starting defensive end spot opposite Jackson Jeffcoat. Reed’s development has been a steady climb, but after a standout sophomore season, Reed is firmly in the spotlight on the defensive line.

Linebackers Steve Edmond and Kendall Thompson saw big minutes last season, and their inexperience got the better of them more often than not. Nevertheless, the two of them are significant pieces to the puzzle on defense.

Quandre Diggs is the obvious name drop, and his production speaks volumes over the course of his two seasons. Entering his junior season, Diggs is expected to slide into the nickelback position, taking over where Kenny Vaccaro left off.

The last three all play in the secondary as up-and-comers who flashed some brilliance last season and are expected to serve big roles in the defensive backfield.

Sheroid Evans has emerged as a legitimate option at cornerback, allowing Diggs’ move to the nickel and some safety. Mykkele Thompson and Josh Turner have come along nicely as well and have made enough plays in the past to warrant a place in the rotation. While players like Adrian Phillips and Carrington Byndom have the seniority, Thompson and Turner have not been without their standout plays.

Ultimately, Texas’ 2011 recruiting class has produced solid pieces at virtually every position. The Longhorns were one of the youngest teams a season ago, but with all of these third-year players gaining valuable experience early on, the foundation is a huge reason why they are one of the favorites to win the Big 12.

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The SEC is the best of the best in the college universe, on the field and off.

There is no better conference on the field, as proven by seven consecutive BCS championships.

There is no better conference off the field, as proven by the tremendous tailgating scene, even at SEC cellar-dwellers.

This list runs down every SEC program, ranking each school based on the tailgating experience from worst to first.

Let's just be clear: There is no bad place to tailgate in the SEC. Every school has it's own traditions, and each one offers a unique take on the game-day tailgating experience. Some are just better than others.

Maybe we finally found somewhere Alabama is not ranked number one.

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Lindy’s Sports is one of the most well known sports magazines in the country because they do an in depth preview of college football, the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball and hockey.

The sports magazine, which is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, just recently released its college football preview magazine and one of the features they have is ranking the top units in the country.

For the top backfield, Lindy’s Sports gave that award to the Georgia Bulldogs.

But is it a surprise? It shouldn’t be, because the Bulldogs do have the best backfield in the country and they could potentially also be the best backfield in school history.

As all Bulldog fans know, the backfield consists of quarterback Aaron Murray, running back Keith Marshall and running back Todd Gurley. All three played extremely well last year and all three were a big reason the Bulldogs won the SEC East title.

Murray has a chance to be the most prolific quarterback in SEC history. He is on track to break the record for career pass completions, yards and touchdowns. He is the only quarterback in SEC history to throw for 3,000 yards in his first three seasons and there is no reason he won’t make it four years in a row.

The one thing he is looking to do is lead his team to a conference and national championship. Murray was only five yards away from achieving that goal last season and with him as well as the rest of the players in the backfield and on offensive line, the Bulldogs do have a very good shot of taking that next step.

Marshall was no slouch either when it came to production. The running back from North Carolina rushed for 759 yards and eight touchdowns. Not bad for a player who started only one game.

Marshall is an explosive runner that can score from anywhere on the field. He should only get better this season with a more experienced quarterback and offensive line.

The same thing can be said about Gurley who could very well be the best running back in the SEC. Gurley rushed for 1,385 yards and 17 touchdowns which led all SEC running backs.

Not only did Gurley do his damage against lesser opponents such as Buffalo and Georgia Southern last season, the sophomore running back rushed for 118 yards against Florida and 125 yards against eventual national champions Alabama.

The Bulldogs will have some competition this season when it comes to the best backfield in the county. In fact, there’s a chance the Bulldogs may not have the best backfield in the SEC.

Texas A&M is no slouch because the Aggies feature Heisman winner Johnny Manziel and running backs Ben Malena and Trey Williams.

And we can’t forget about the Crimson Tide, because A.J. McCarron is back under center along with running back T.J. Yeldon and plethora of new running backs that can make an immediate impact.

If anyone wants to make an argument about the Aggies or the Crimson Tide having the best backfield in the country, they will have enough firepower to back it up.

But when it comes to quarterback play as well as running back production, the Bulldogs are on top.

And if Murray, Marshall and Gurley can put up the same numbers in 2013, more awards will be headed their direction in December and January. 

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With offers on the table from schools nationwide, what makes the University of Notre Dame an attractive option to the heralded football prospects who have earned "elite" status from the many recruiting services?

After all, Notre Dame is simply, well, different from the majority of institutions of higher learning in the United States.

Some schools may offer an easy academic path, while others may offer such amenities as secluded, athlete-only living accommodations. Regardless of what tempting rewards a prospect may be offered to choose a particular school, there is a unique amalgam of reasons why a prospect may be inclined to choose Notre Dame.

 

History and Tradition of the Program

Concisely, Notre Dame is synonymous with success.

The Irish rank fourth all-time on the NCAA's list for number of victories, with 865, behind only Texas, Yale and Michigan; they're tied with Ohio State for the most Heisman Trophy winners with seven; and they're tied for second in claimed national championships with 11.

The numbers speak for themselves. There's no debate there.

Head coach Brian Kelly has the luxury of taking prospects past the trophy cases in the Guglielmino Athletics Complex, where the Irish's Heisman Trophies and national championship trophies are stored.

Once their eyes have been set upon the gleaming display, the image becomes everlasting.

There's more than just that display, though.

Taking a stroll around Notre Dame Stadium, prospects will take in statues of Knute Rockne, Edward "Moose" Krause, Dan Devine and Lou Holtz, each of whom guided the Irish to national championships during their tenures.

Those iconic figures are a direct testament to the gleaming and proud history of college football's most renowned program.

 

Facilities

In the arms race of constructing state-of-the-art facilities, Notre Dame is on the cutting edge.

University administration began groundbreaking of the aforementioned Guglielmino Athletics Complex—commonly referred to as "The Gug"—on March 5, 2004.

The facility houses team meeting rooms, coaches' offices, a team lounge, a computer lab, locker rooms and an enormous weight room, among a vast array of amenities. The Gug is a central location for players, as it is located across the street from the Cartier practice fields and Notre Dame Stadium.

The Gug also offers training tables—often a controversial topic at Notre Dame—to players on a daily basis.

Essentially, the facility is a haven for the Irish, as it offers them a place to train, eat, relax and study. What more could a prospect ask for? 

 

The Power of a Notre Dame Degree

Unlike many of college football's premier programs, Notre Dame also offers one of the world's most well-respected undergraduate degrees.

Student-athletes—including football players—are treated no differently academically than the rest of the student body. There are no special athlete-only classes, and the freshmen players are lumped into the first year of studies program with their peers. 

While taking on such a rigorous course load is a tall task, the reward of a Notre Dame degree is a gift that keeps on giving. 

According to Businessweek, the 30-year net return for Notre Dame graduates is $1,442,000. 

While the aspiration of many young men playing football at Notre Dame is to continue their careers in the NFL, the thought of life after football with a degree from such a prestigious institution can't be overlooked. 

 

Current State of the Program

Following former head coach Lou Holtz's departure in 1996, the Irish entered a prolonged period of mediocrity. 

Bob Davie, Tyrone Willingham and Charlie Weis guided the program to a combined record of 91-67 from 1997 to 2009. Questions began to arise about the perceived "relevancy" of the program, and whether it would ever return to its once-dominant ways. 

Enter current head coach Brian Kelly, and those worries seem like a thing of the distant past. 

Kelly, entering his fourth season on the job, has guided the Irish to a record of 28-11 during his tenure, including the school's first national championship appearance in 24 years last season. Kelly's ability to return Notre Dame to the status of a bona fide top-10 team has also spurred recruiting, which may lead to sustained success. 

While the Irish are unlikely to be a national championship contender on an annual basis, Kelly will have them in the BCS—soon to be College Football Playoff—conversation year in and year out. 

 

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The Penn State Nittany Lions began last season under a cloud of controversy that had some, like Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy, calling for the entire program to be shut down. Despite the negativity, the Nittany Lions persevered and found success under new head coach Bill O'Brien.

An 0-2 start had some questioning if Penn State would even win a game last year. Not only did O'Brien's squad win a game, they won a total of eight, surpassing expectations and creating a positive culture while dealing with difficult circumstances.

O'Brien came to Penn State facing a situation unlike that of any other college football coach. 

After the Sandusky scandal became public news, things spiraled for the Nittany Lions. Legendary head coach Joe Paterno was forced out and then passed away less than two months later.

The naming of O'Brien as Paterno's successor was a move that was very unpopular among some famous alumni, including linebacker LaVar Arrington. Some felt that he was the wrong man to take over since he had no prior connection to the university.

With a divide over the new coach and the once-proud school mired in turmoil, things were already off to a difficult start in 2012.

Then, it got even worse in July when the NCAA handed down sanctions that prohibited Penn State from competing in a bowl game for four years. The school also faced scholarship restrictions.

On top of everything, players were allowed to transfer before the start of the season. Key starters such as running back Silas Redd and wide receiver Justin Brown decided to bolt for new schools.

Just as the Penn State program seemed destined for failure last year, O'Brien and his team had other plans. A new commitment to honor and a will to succeed resulted in a magical 8-4 2012 season.  

Even more important is the fact that the sanctions have not kept top recruits away from the Nittany Lions.

O'Brien proved in 2013 that he's a masterful recruiter, bringing in a solid crop of freshmen who don't mind the fact that a bowl game won't be in the cards for the next three years.

Quarterback Christian Hackenberg is the star of the class, and has the potential to set Penn State up for success for years to come.

247sports.com ranked the Nittany Lions 30th in 2013 recruiting and currently has them ranked 13th for 2014.

Even after a successful first year, both on and off the field, O'Brien hasn't won everyone over. David Jones of Pennlive.com recently wrote about those who are still against O'Brien's hiring because of their admiration for Paterno.

Despite all of the challenges, O'Brien has done a wonderful job and has Penn State steered in the right direction going forward.

While it could have been easy for the program to collapse in the face of adversity, that didn't happen. The Nittany Lions are led by a leader who's proven he's the right man to rebuild the image, pride and prestige of Penn State Football.

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As we get into the double digits in our Nebraska Football All-Time Husker Greats fantasy draft, both teams are starting to take shape. Here’s a summary of how the teams look.

RED TEAM

WHITE TEAM

QB: Frazier, Tommie (1)

QB: Gill, Turner (2)

IB

IB: Rozier, Mike (4)

FB

FB

OG: Brown, Bob (9)

OG: Shields, Will (8)

OG

OG

OT: Wiegert, Zach (17)

OT

OT

OT

C: Rimington, Dave (5)

C

TE: Miller, Junior (13)

TE

WR: Rodgers, Johnny (3)

WR: Fryar, Irving (10)

WR

WR

DE: Wistrom, Grant (7)

DE

DE

DE

DT: Glover, Rich (11)

DT: Suh, Ndamukong (6)

DT

DT

OLB

OLB: Thomas, Broderick (12)

OLB

OLB: Alberts, Trev (14)

MLB

MLB

S: Brown, Mike (15)

S

S

S

CB

CB: Brown, Ralph (16)

CB

CB: Groce, DeJuan (18)

PK

PK

P

P

With the cores of each team beginning to take shape, let’s take a look at how the rosters continue to get filled out.

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It has been primarily known for uniforms that have left traditionalists scratching your heads, and the games haven't been very competitive, but Notre Dame's Shamrock Series, which launched in 2009, has been a major success for the university.

The Shamrock Series has provided Notre Dame a means to showcase its program in various major cities around the country where it would not normally play. The Irish have played in San Antonio, New York City, Washington, D.C. and Chicago over the past four seasons, winning each contest. They'll meet Arizona State in Dallas this fall and Syracuse in 2014 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The formula of six home games, five away games and one off-site home game has been in place since 2011, as athletic director Jack Swarbrick, hired in 2008, chose to move away from the 7-4-1 model which his predecessor, Kevin White, implemented for the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

The 2015 schedule currently has the Irish slated for six home games (Boston College, Georgia Tech, Massachusetts, Navy, Texas, USC) and five away games (Clemson, Purdue, Pittsburgh, Stanford, Virginia). The one remaining game would presumably be targeted for the Shamrock Series.

With the Irish now making regular appearances on the East Coast as a result of their ACC affiliation, what markets are left to tap into?

Although the Irish landed a pair of receivers from Texas in the 2013 class in Torii Hunter Jr. and Corey Robinson, Notre Dame hasn't had much recruiting success in the Lone Star State. It'll play in Dallas this year, but going even farther south could prove beneficial.

Houston offers a great venue in Reliant Stadium and fertile recruiting territory. Playing a Big 12 opponent such as TCU, Baylor or Texas Tech would make for an interesting matchup, or even an AAC team such as Houston or SMU, with whom Notre Dame has a history from past Cotton Bowls.

Notre Dame was once scheduled to play Baylor in New Orleans in 2012, but that game was later cancelled. Breaking into the Deep South has been a challenge for Brian Kelly's staff, and playing in New Orleans, a city with a great football tradition and a strong Catholic heritage, has to be attractive for Swarbrick and the powers that be. Big 12 opponents again make sense here, as do certain SEC schools (Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Missouri) that would also benefit from exposure and a presence in the Crescent City.

Swarbrick has been silent on future venues and opponents for the Shamrock Series, likely due to the maneuvering that must be done in order to fit in five ACC games each season. The games should continue, as both the school and NBC, who gets a rare primetime game, have reaped the benefits from a truly unique endeavor.

Chicago should be kept in the fold (once every five years) in order to take advantage of its close proximity to South Bend and alumni base larger than any other city in the country. Other new markets that should be explored include Cincinnati, Kansas City, Nashville, Phoenix and St. Louis.

Notre Dame would be crazy not to continue the Shamrock Series, as it's an opportunity that no other program in the country is capable of doing over a long period of time. It's a tremendous recruiting tool, as evident by the snazzy uniforms, of which Kelly has all but admitted were designed in order to appeal to both current and future players.

An announcement regarding a 2015 Shamrock Series game likely won't come until dates are finalized for the Irish''s ACC games (only the game at Pittsburgh) currently has a date). A year without an off-site home game is not preferred, but is still a possibility. It now becomes a matter of fitting dates, venues and opponents into the increasingly difficult puzzle that is future scheduling.

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BYU was once known for its pass-happy offense that found the end zone a lot. I mean, a lot. 

That's anything but the case nowadays.

While the offense has sputtered in recent years, the defense has become one of the best in the country. Bronco Mendenhall's squad has finished high in defensive rankings in the last few seasons, and was third last year. It allowed only 266 yards per game, and although the performance of last year's D was impressive, it'll be hard to match, much less improve on. 

Huge pieces will have to be replaced during the offseason, and although Mendenhall has the pieces to do that, the talent level in the linebacker position may face a big decline.

So many people have underestimated the effect that Brandon Ogletree and Uona Kaveinga left at inside linebacker last year. Ogletree led the team in tackles in both his junior and senior seasons, and topped the double-digit tackle mark in three games. Only one inside linebacker at the NFL combine ran a faster 40-yard dash than Ogletree, and although he wasn't invited to the combine, Ogletree signed a free-agent contract with the Miami Dolphins.

As for Uona Kaveinga, he may be as big of a loss as 'Tree. He may not have led the Cougar defense in tackles or been a big-play machine, but his presence was definitely felt. A USC transfer, Kaveinga started every game in his two seasons at BYU and forced two fumbles while recovering two. Despite being the "other guy" in last year's dominant linebacker corps, Kaveinga still managed to record 4.5 tackles for  loss and signed a FA contract with the Denver Broncos.

BYU returns Kyle Van Noy and Spencer Hadley to anchor the outside linebacker positions, and although I'm enthusiastic about the potential of the inside LBs, there is plenty of room for doubt. Uani 'Unga, an Oregon State transfer, has shown streaks of great play during his junior year, and will return as a starter as a senior.

Tyler Beck, another senior, has not received very much playing time (he saw the field in only four games last year) and registered one tackle. Although he has to be a great player, considering that he won the starting role over Manoa Pikula, a sophomore that played a lot his freshman season, I'm scared that the in-game inexperience that Beck has could be a big problem.

The linebacker position isn't the only defensive spot that could be worrisome; the secondary is shaken up a bit, also. The starters at cornerback, Mike Hague and Jordan Johnson, should be strong, but their backups are still up in the air.

Trent Trammell, a JC transfer who was expected to garner much playing time, ended his season at the start of spring camp with a knee injury. In the post-spring depth chart that BYU released, the second-stringers were listed as Adam Hogan and Jacob Hannemann, two freshmen. It's a big enough problem to trust two freshman to fill in for a starter should the need occur, but it's even more problematic when one may not even put on pads this fall.

Hannemann plays baseball for BYU, and is expected to be taken in the first few rounds of the MLB draft. He faces a huge decision to either play pro baseball or pursue a career  in football, and the decision he makes will not only affect him, but also the football program.

The safety position, led by Justin Sorensen and Craig Bills, has a dominant starting duo, but the depth is (once again) to be questioned. There isn't a player in the backup roles that has plenty of game experience and this could be a huge problem. Unless the lack of depth in the secondary positions is addressed, it could lead to big problems.

In all, I think that the defense will be strong. There are plenty of playmakers all over the field for the Cougars and there is no lack of depth. But, although the potential is there, I don't think that the D will be as strong as last year's. 

What do you think? Share your opinion below.

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It's already been four and a half months since the 2012 college football season came to a close as we near the end of May, and nobody is more eager to push through summer and begin the 2013 season than first-year Wisconsin football head coach Gary Andersen.

There is plenty to settle before the Badgers kick off the season against Massachusetts at Camp Randall Stadium on Aug. 31. Several positions have yet to be appointed, new schemes are being implemented and the majority of the 2013 class—including a few junior college recruits—hasn't arrived.

Since Andersen was hired in December, the move has been greeted with generally positive reviews because of how he built Utah State from the ground up, his straightforward approach and essentially because his name isn't Bret Bielema.

But the rave reviews will really kick in if Andersen can win ball games, and that will come easier if he can overcome three distinct challenges.

Begin Slideshow

For the first time really since 2009, the Texas Longhorns know who their starters will be in the spring. Because of that fact, we can predict with relative certainty which players will lead the team in the major statistical categories.

In each of the last three seasons, a freshman has had to step up and lead the Longhorns in key areas of production—whether it was running backs Malcolm Brown and Johnathan Gray the last two seasons, or Quandre Diggs back in 2011.

Barring injury, this season will be different. Mack Brown and his staff know where they can expect high levels of production from their 19 returning starters, the most in the country.

These are the players that will be producing at the highest level next season in all major offensive and defensive statistical categories, along with the players that could surprise us with big seasons.

Begin Slideshow

Alabama's defensive coordinator Kirby Smart and Clemson's offensive coordinator Chad Morris were considered top candidates for several head coaching jobs this offseason. However, neither left their current position for a head gig.

A trend is breaking.

Position coaches are supposed to look to become coordinators. Coordinators are supposed to jump at their first chance to be head coaches. 

Urban Meyer spoke about this shortly after capping off an undefeated season at Ohio State.

But Smart and Morris didn't leave—even though those opportunities were at some of the nation’s better programs.

With the ever-changing landscape of college football, Smart and Morris could be starting a new trend. 

Instead of jumping at the first solid head coaching gig, coordinators may start to decide to stay. There are several—increasingly persuasive—reasons for them to do so.

 

Show Me the Money

Smart and Morris aren't just two of the top assistants in the country, they are also the two highest-paid assistants. 

Smart recently signed a three-year $3.85 million contract.

Morris is currently making $1.3 million as the top-paid assistant in college football, after Monte Kiffin stepped down at USC.

Those salaries are higher than all but four non-BCS programs paid their head coaches in 2012. According to USA Today's college football head coaches salaries database, only Central Florida, Boise State, Colorado State and SMU could offer Morris and Smart a pay raise.

This is another sign of the growing separation between the haves and the have-nots in college football. With conferences like the Big Ten getting $34 million per school from the Big Ten Network, the gap will continue to grow.

That will allow more schools like Clemson, Alabama and LSU—which pays defensive coordinator John Chavis over a million dollars a year as well—to pay top assistants more than smaller programs can pay head coaches.

According to Athlon Sports, coordinators' salaries have increased at a higher rate than head coaches' salaries. It's not hard to believe when you consider Morris' salary jumped from $450,000 to $1.3 million after one season.

Part of the credit for that can go to Ohio State and Meyer. Meyer reportedly offered Morris $1.5 million to coach in Columbus.

 

Head Coaches Becoming CEO's

Most of the credit belongs to Clemson's head coach Dabo Swinney. Swinney isn't one of the top-paid head coaches in the country. In 2012, he was 39th on the list. Yet, his assistants made $4.2 million last season—partially because Swinney redirected his bonus to his assistants.

Swinney understands the importance of great assistants. Meyer and Brady Hoke have encouraged spending in the Big Ten, and the rest of the conference has stepped up.

With all the responsibilities head coaches have, it is increasingly important for them to have coordinators to run the offense and defense. That allows the head coach to oversee everything without having to run everything.

 

Less Risk

Coaches who become top assistants and coordinators have proven themselves to be good at what they do. You don't see great coordinators suddenly become bad. 

However, many great coordinators don't translate into great head coaches. It's a different job with different responsibilities. 

Now that coordinators are beginning to get paid like head coaches, there is less of a reason to take that risk. Assistants can make an incredible living without taking on all the pressure of being a head coach.

Besides, major schools have started to hire head coaches that have never been head coaches in the past.

In 2010, Jimbo Fisher was named head coach after Bobby Bowden retired. It was his first time as a head coach. A year later, Florida named Will Muschamp head coach despite never holding a head coaching job.

There is no longer the pressure to go to a small school and get experience. Programs will hire coaches that are the right fit—even if they haven't been the head man before.

That is why Smart and Morris will still be assistants in 2013. They can make head coach-like money without head coach-like pressure, yet keep themselves in the running for big-time jobs.

I do not think these two are anomalies. I think they are starting a trend. 

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The Miami Hurricanes will have a deep and talented pass-catching group in 2013, one that might be the best since the 'Canes 2001 national championship team.

While there certainly isn't an Andre Johnson-like talent on the roster, the potential of this corps, between the wide receivers and tight ends, is exceptional.

The lone senior expected to start on this year's squad is Allen Hurns, while juniors Phillip Dorsett and Rashawn Scott will both lead the battle for another top-string position.

Behind the three upperclassmen, sophomores Herb Waters and Malcolm Lewis will both provide a big challenge on the depth chart for the entire season. Waters, in fact, was listed as a starter on the post-spring practice release.

Additionally, redshirt freshmen Jontavious Carter and D'Mauri Jones capitalized on an opportunity to make an impact this spring, while Dorsett was running for the Miami track team.

Jorge Milian of the Palm Beach Post considered Carter an honorable mention "winner" following his 113-yard performance during the 'Canes' spring game. Jones earned praise as a "blessing in disguise" from offensive coordinator James Coley, according to Manny Navarro of The Miami Herald.

When the tight end corps of Clive Walford, Asante Cleveland and JUCO transfer Beau Sandland get thrown into the group, Miami has plenty of weapons roaming the middle of the field, too.

This should be the first season in quite some time in which the experience and depth at receiver and tight end really equates to production.

The following table is a look back at the top two receivers based on yardage from each season since 2001:

Year Player REC YARDS TD 2001

Andre Johnson

Jeremy Shockey

37

40

682

519

10

7

2002

Andre Johnson

Kellen Winslow

52

57

1092

726

9

8

2003

Ryan Moore

Kellen Winslow

44

60

637

605

3

1

2004

Roscoe Parrish

Sinorice Moss

43

20

693

351

8

3

2005

Sinorice Moss

Ryan Moore

37

28

614

464

6

4

2006

Lance Leggett

Sam Shields

38

37

584

501

4

4

2007

Darnell Jenkins

Sam Shields

31

27

619

346

2

3

2008

Aldarius Johnson

Thearon Collier

31

26

332

324

3

2

2009

Leonard Hankerson

Travis Benjamin

45

29

801

501

6

4

2010

Leonard Hankerson

Travis Benjamin

72

43

1156

743

13

3

2011

Tommy Streeter

Travis Benjamin

46

41

811

609

8

3

2012

Phillip Dorsett

Rashawn Scott

58

35

842

512

4

3

Since 2002, the top two receivers for the 'Canes have combined for 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns only three times. One of those instances, of course, was Leonard Hankerson's school-record-breaking year where he nearly accomplished the 1,200/10 feat on his own.

Each time the level has been surpassed (2009, 2010, 2011), the two leaders included both a possession receiver and a speedster, which is exactly what this year's Miami team has.

Dorsett and Scott were well on their way to becoming the next tandem to hit the mark, but Dorsett was plagued with the "dropsies," while Scott was suspended for the final three games of the season.

The underlying factors in this case, however, are that senior quarterback Stephen Morris is a fantastic distributor, and that the offensive line will be great for the 'Canes in 2013.

When Morris has good protection, he will have time to make the right decision. If Morris has ample time in the pocket, the receivers will find numerous open spaces and therefore get targets.

Dorsett, Waters and Lewis are each big-play weapons, while Hurns and Scott are possession receivers who can make plays after the catch.

Last season also marked the first time in school history that eight Miami receivers each had 200-plus yards. Six of those players return this season, and Malcolm Lewis isn't one of them.

With a great quarterback, strong offensive line and a bevy of pass-catching weapons, the 2013 Hurricanes offense could be the best at the school since a national championship-winning team.

It's that whole defense thing that may hurt the 'Canes.

But that's a different story...for another day.

 

Note: Statistics courtesy of sportsreference.com.

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In 1980, South Carolina running back George Rogers ran his way to the Heisman Trophy and a place in college football history.  

With Rogers stampeding all over the field, the Gamecocks put together a good season with a final record of 8-4.  

At the start of the year, South Carolina returned a lot of talent, although no one carried as much hype and pressure as Rogers.

Rogers became a standout player during his junior year when he ran for 1,681 yards, which vaulted him onto the national scene. The senior running back entered the 1980 season with high expectations as a Heisman hopeful.

South Carolina not only thought it had a potential Heisman winner but also a national championship-caliber team. Unfortunately, the Gamecocks did not contend for a title, although Rogers did make history.  

Rogers was the focal point of the South Carolina offense, as he led the nation in rushing attempts with a staggering 297 rushes.   

More impressive than the volume of his carries were the amount of yards he racked up as well as his yards per carry. Rogers amassed 1,781 yards on the ground, which gave him 6.0 yards per attempt, good for second in the nation.   

Rogers did not just do his damage with racking up yardage; he also scored 14 touchdowns on the ground that season, which ranked him second in college football. 

He hit the ground running in 1980 when South Carolina entered a matchup with the highly ranked University of Southern California. While the Gamecocks lost that game, Rogers ran for 141 yards.  

Rogers and the Gamecocks then traveled to Ann Arbor to take on the Michigan Wolverines at the Big House in a hostile environment. South Carolina stole a victory, as Rogers ran for 142 yards and continued to grab some of the national spotlight.

The Gamecocks cruised to a few more victories, setting up a big-time battle with the Georgia Bulldogs on national television. It was the perfect opportunity for Rogers to set himself apart from the other Heisman contenders.  

Rogers ran for 168 yards but had a crucial fumble in the fourth quarter. He was outperformed by fellow Heisman candidate Herschel Walker, who ran for 219 yards and had a key 76-yard touchdown run.  

The fumble became a major red flag for Rogers' Heisman campaign and had the chance to overshadow his performance in 1980, according to Sports Illustrated's Mike DelNagro in the December 1980 issue:

What might damage Rogers more was his fourth-quarter fumble on the Georgia 16. But remember, two years ago Oklahoma's Billy Sims made a similar fumble that cost the Sooners a possible national title and gave Nebraska a tie for the Big Eight championship. And he still won the Heisman. Rogers should do so, too.

Despite the fumble, Rogers went on to close out the 1980 season with three more games of 100 or more rushing yards, which brought his 100-plus-yard rushing streak to 21 games. Rogers then extended the streak in the bowl game, making it 22 games.  

With 100 or more yards rushing in every game and his nation-leading statistics, Rogers was invited to the 1980 Heisman Trophy Presentation.  

He told Jody Barr of WISTV 30 years after his Heisman campaign:

They got me out of Duluth Georgia.  Flew me up. At the end of the day, it was just me. But I was in the room, walking around just thinking what I'm going to do, what I'm going to say if I won the Heisman. And surely the next morning, they woke me up and they told me, "you won the Heisman Trophy."

Rogers took home the Heisman Trophy in dramatic fashion, since it was the first and only Heisman Trophy awarded to a Gamecock in school history.  

Rogers started the year as a top running back but as a long shot to win the Heisman, since South Carolina was not in the national spotlight. Then, he put together a memorable senior season, captured the Heisman Trophy and claimed a place in college football history.  

Looking back on the Heisman, Rogers told Barr of WISTV, "I'd give the Heisman Trophy back to get a National Championship, to be honest with you, because that's how much my team means to me."  

He was the ultimate team player who understood how important the concept of "team" was in college football.

In 1980, Rogers became a South Carolina football legend by winning the school's only Heisman Trophy to this day. Rogers had his No. 38 jersey retired before the season's end and went on to be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.

While Rogers' attitude, team mindset and exceptional rushing skills lifted him to win the Heisman in 1980, his character to this day shows how much South Carolina means to him.

Rogers will always be a South Carolina Gamecocks' legend after he marched his way to the 1980 Heisman Trophy.  

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The controversial interference ruling that took the 2002-03 BCS title game into a second overtime period not only changed which team’s name went on the championship trophy, it also had a long-term effect on the program that was arguably duped out of the crystal football.

The call came during the first OT period of the 2003 Fiesta Bowl between heavily favored 12-0 Miami (Fla.) and 13-0 Ohio State, a contest which also served as the BCS national championship game that season.

The Hurricanes had scored a TD on their first OT possession—making the score 24-17—and with a 4th-and-3 situation from Miami's five-yard line, it was do-or-die for the Buckeyes.

Ohio State QB Craig Krenzel attempted a short pass into the end zone to receiver Chris Gamble which bounced around and was ruled incomplete by the side judge.

Several seconds after the call, a flag flew in from the corner of the end zone. Miami’s premature celebrations were cut short as the officiating crew quickly huddled up, leading to a pass interference call on Hurricane defender Glenn Sharpe. Sharpe had covered Gamble on the incompletion.

After the replays rolled, it was fairly clear that the call was questionable at best.

Nevertheless, the Buckeyes got a fresh set of downs from their own one-yard line. Krenzel eventually reached the end zone via a short run on third down, tying up the game and sending it into a second OT.

Ohio State scored on its next possession, taking the score to 31-24 and setting up what became Miami’s final drive of the game.

This series climaxed with a 1st-and-goal situation from OSU's two-yard line.

From here the Buckeye’s D managed an epic goal-line stand, managing to repel Miami’s attack four times to capture the win and the BCS title.

Though it’s hard to deny the Buckeyes the full credit and respect due for their defensive prowess in the second OT, it would be remiss not to point out that the extra period would not have been necessary without the dubious interference call at the end of the first OT.

Yes, the entire game, and therefore the championship itself, hinged on the interference call.

If you don’t remember the call specifically, are unsure where you stand or haven’t ever seen the play, check out the video clips included below and make your own assessment.

I’ve included two separate snippets of the same controversial play because the first has commentary and analysis with a decidedly Buckeye slant, while the second argues Miami’s point of view.

However interesting “The Call” is to argue and contemplate in terms of the impact on the specific game and immediate championship implications, looking back now that a decade has passed, it’s even more intriguing to discuss its long-term influence.

Consider this: Ohio State won the title and has gone to a 103-24 record since that night, including six Big Ten titles. Miami, on the other hand, walked away empty-handed and has gone 77-48, including only one Big East crown (in 2003).

So, the big question looms, was the dubious interference ruling at the end of the second OT in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl the call that ended a dynasty?

Well, first let’s put the whole “dynasty” tag into perspective.

Before the 2002-03 season, Miami enjoyed two dynastic runs separated by five seasons of relative mediocrity we’ll refer to simply as “83 percent of the Butch Davis era.”

First, from 1983 (Howard Schnellenberger’s final year) through 1994 (which includes all of Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson’s tenures), the Hurricanes went 126-19, including four national championships.

The second fruitful period came from 2000 (Butch Davis’ final season) through 2003 (Larry Coker’s third year at the helm), when Miami went 46-4 and captured the 2001 national championship.

So, the first run was definitely a dynasty and the second was looking good until the disputed call at the end of the first OT of the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.

Since we’ve determined that yes, there was a dynasty and OK, it did fizzle after the questionable call, next it’s prudent to investigate what caused it to end.

For the sake of simplicity, we’ll split the analysis into three major underlying causes: recruiting, coaching and conference alignment.

 

Recruiting

The key to how Howard Schnellenberger took what had been a “rough” program in south Florida and turn it into a glittering “diamond” was his ability to convince local talent—which had flocked to other programs in the past—to stay home and play at Miami.

And this local success led to bigger and better recruiting wins further afield as the Hurricanes built their football dynasty.

Though earlier team recruiting rankings are difficult to uncover, back in 2002 SI.com published a list of top 10 recruiting programs from the years 1992 through 2001.

These go a long way in explaining the tail end of the first dynasty at Miami and then the short drought before the second winning streak got underway. According to this chart, the Hurricanes scored top-10 recruiting classes from 1992 through 1994 and then basically fell off the map until the classes of 2000 and 2001.

This is no small coincidence, to be sure.

Picking back up with the team rankings from Rivals.com which begin from 2002 onwards, we see that in the years after “The Call,” Miami managed to recruit in the top 10 until 2006.

It’s the somewhat harmless No. 14 ranking in 2006 where the wheels start to come off the cart, leading to a slow decline that ended with a modern-day low No. 36 ranking in 2011.

Think about it this way: Since going 12-1 in 2002—or since “The Call”—the Hurricanes have only hit double-digit wins again once, and that came immediately afterwards in 2003 when they went 11-3.

Since then, in nine seasons, Miami has never gone over the nine-win mark. As far as recruiting goes, it’s hard to say whether the downward spiral in recruiting caused the win totals to drop or vice versa.

Either way, it’s impossible not to link the end of the recruiting dominance with the end of the dynasty, which ended with the dubious call that night in Tempe, Ariz.

 

Coaching

When you’ve got the facilities, recruits and cold hard cash, sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that you need the right guy to manage the entire project to get it successfully to the finish line ahead of your competitors.

Though this is true in all businesses, in the business of sport it is even more true.

To put a finer point on it, you can have all the recruits, money, etc. but without the right coach you aren’t going to win championships.

In the case of the decline of Miami football after the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, it would be careless not to mention coaching as a factor.

Though Larry Coker went 35-2 over his first three seasons at Miami (2001-03), it’s difficult to understand how he managed to drop to 18-6 from 2004 to 2005 and then 7-6 in 2006.

Of course, this needs to be seen through the perspective of the move into the ACC, which we’ll discuss in our final point. But with the recruiting numbers staying fairly steady through ’06, the regression still seems curious.

After Coker left at the end of the 2007 season, Randy Shannon was brought in. Despite rising to a 9-4 record in 2009, he left Miami with a 28-22 prior to the 2010 bowl game.

At the helm presently is Al Golden, whose 13-11 mark over two seasons needs to be seen in light of the Shapiro scandal, which he was unaware of when he initially took the job over in 2011.

Regardless of how you slice it, and even if Golden turns out to be the right guy, the next Jimmy Johnson, Dennis Erickson, Howard Schnellenberger or early-era Larry Coker has yet to take over the sidelines at Miami.

And this is something that has been sorely missed since that questionable call at the end of the first OT of the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.

 

Conference Alignment

After successfully ramping up its second dynastic period, Miami was approached by the ACC, which was looking to expand its conference to 12 members and split its football offering into two divisions.

While this was obviously a financially driven move, the other side of the equation was that the basketball-dominant ACC was looking to strengthen its football resume beyond being the league that was Florida State’s launch pad to national greatness.

So, the Hurricanes get duped by the bad call at the end of the second OT of the 2003 Fiesta Bowl—or BCS national title game—and at the apex of their reign over the Big East and college football they decide to cash in all their chips and join the ACC.

The timing was perfect. Remember it was July of 2003, only seven months after the arguably blown call, when, as per a New York Times article, Miami president Donna Shalala told James Barker (then the President of both Clemson and the ACC), “Ready or not, here we come.”

But, ironically, other than capturing a final Big East title in 2003 and being blasted by the NCAA over the Shapiro inquest recently, isn’t it interesting that Hurricane football hasn’t been heard from since?

And when I say they haven’t been heard from since, look at the numbers.

Since Miami joined the ACC in 2004—a move that, again, came just months after “The Call”—it has posted a 66-46 record, hasn’t captured a championship of any kind (divisional or otherwise), is 2-4 in bowl play and has only posted win totals over seven once in seven tries.

So, what looked like a late flag zipping through the air from the corner of end zone one January evening in 2003 may have spelled far more than a supreme lucky break for the Buckeyes and/or the ultimate screwing over for the Hurricanes.

Yes, the questionable call in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl may have done far more than possibly taint Ohio State’s 2002-03 BCS title; it may have signaled the end of the dynastic period of Miami Hurricanes football.

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