Predictions 101 — Military Bowl

Toledo vs. Air Force
Dec. 28, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
At Washington D.C.

A bunch of stuff had to shake out a certain way for the Falcons to land with the bowl that literally has its name on it. And now that they’re there it seems so wrong to go against the Commander-in-Chief champs.

But the Rockets have been soaring as of late, scoring at least 44 points in their last five games, four of which were wins. They even scored 60 points in the lone loss among that group.

If Toledo (8-4) stays in that sort of groove, it’s not likely Air Force (7-5) will be able to maintain enough drives to keep pace.

Oh, what the heck? Tim Jefferson, the winningest quarterback in Falcon history, who also happens to have 12 touchdown passes this season within an evolving triple-option system, will find a way to get it done.

Opening point spread: Toledo by 3

The pick: Air Force 38-35

Click HERE to get predictions for the remaining bowl games.

Take that, Ohio.

In a televised press conference (insert face palm here) late Sunday afternoon, New Jersey cornerback Jabrill Peppers announced, as has long been expected, he has verbally committed to play his collegiate football at the University of Michigan.  The 2014 prospect opted for the Wolverines over a group of finalists that included LSU, Notre Dame, Penn State, home-state Rutgers and Stanford.

Peppers, the 10th verbal in UM’s 2014 recruiting efforts, has been a lifelong UM fan, and the recruiting process was simply a matter of the teenager following his heart.

“Go Blue, baby!” Peppers said during the announcement. “I’m going to Michigan. …

“It was always my dream to play for Michigan. They were my favorite team since I was a young kid.”

(Writer’s note: it’s at this point in the program where we’re compelled to remind you that verbal commitments are non-binding and nothing is official until pen is put to paper on National Signing Day early next February.  Thanks in advance for your cooperation in this matter.)

Both Rivals.com and ESPN have the 6-1, 210-pound defensive back rated as the No. 2 player in the country at any position.  247Sports.com rates him as the No. 8 player in the Class of 2014, while Scout.com has penciled him in at No. 11 on their big board.

If Peppers’ verbal commitment turns into a signing, and if Peppers maintains his current ranking, he would be the highest-rated recruit UM has ever signed since Rivals‘ founding back in 2002.  The previous high?  Ryan Mallett as the No. 4 player in the Class of 2007.

Reuters

Apparently, the death of Everett Golson‘s playing career at Notre Dame has been greatly exaggerated.

Less than 24 hours after it was first reported that the quarterback is no longer enrolled at the school, Golson released a mea culpa in statement form in which he apologized for both “poor academic judgment” and “poor choices.”  While the specific nature of those poor judgments and choices were not revealed, the player stated that “I want to reassure my supporters that through this experience I will return a better student athlete as well as a better individual.”

Golson confirmed in the statement that he has “been suspended from the University for the 2013 Fall Term,” which means he will not be an Irish football player for the 2013 season.  Spring classes at Notre Dame begin Jan. 14; based on Golson’s statement, he will enroll anew at that point and return to the football program, although there has been no statement from head coach Brian Kelly to affirm that tack.

The fact that Golson’s statement was released through the university’s media arm, though, suggests that’s the path on which Kelly and the athletic department have signed off.

Below is the full text of Golson’s statement:

I have been informed by the University of Notre Dame that due to my poor academic judgment that I have been suspended from the University for the 2013 Fall Term.

I take full responsibility for my poor choices and will do all that is asked of me to regain the trust of my family, friends, teammates, coaches and the entire Notre Dame community.

I chose to attend Notre Dame because of its mission to develop me both on and off the football field.

My parents and the community I grew up in have instilled values in me that have and will continue to allow me to be successful in the future. There have been many lessons learned as I worked to become the starting quarterback at Notre Dame and each was a result of Coach Kelly’s belief in me as an athlete and a person.

At this point, I understand how my integrity could be in question but I want to reassure my supporters that through this experience I will return a better student athlete as well as a better individual.

Lastly, I want to thank the University of Notre Dame for the opportunity already granted and also the opportunity going forth to regain my eligibility in the winter of 2014.

Meandering our way through the offseason, a single one-liner at a time…

– Jon Solomon of al.com lists the five things you should be looking for as the SEC kicks off its annual spring meetings Tuesday.

– The Oklahoma athletic department is doing yeoman’s work in helping out their tornado-ravaged state.

– Former Tide assistant Jeff Stoutland, on working on Chip Kelly‘s Philadelphia Eagles staff: “[T]his stuff is no different than what I was teaching at Alabama.”

– Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher does an extensive Q&A with the Tallahassee Democrat.

– Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee claims that very new Auburn receiver has the opportunity to contribute in 2013.

– Darrell Hazell‘s boss says the first-year Purdue head coach has faced several challenges since his hiring, and met them all.

– The Deseret News writes that Utah State’s move to the Mountain West means the Aggies finally have a real place of its own.

– Lingering injuries end the playing career of Ball State tight end David Schneider.

– Former Florida wide receiver Reidel Anthony is training a future Gator who plays the same position.

– Offensive line and wide receiver have become West Virginia’s top priorities on the 2014 recruiting trail.

AP

Roughly a nanosecond after the stunning news dropped Saturday night that Everett Golson was no longer enrolled at Notre Dame, speculation commenced that former Irish quarterback Gunner Kiel could be on his way back to South Bend.

In fact, the esteemed John Infante went so far as to pen a post on how Kiel could, with little problem or effort, transfer back to Notre Dame from Cincinnati and play for the Irish this season.  Infante later backed off that stance a bit when reports surfaced that an academic issue led to Golson being out. “[H]e can’t get a scholarship anywhere next year,” Infante wrote on Twitter.

That, though, didn’t stop some in the media from running with the possibility Kiel would head back from whence he came, which prompted the player himself as well as his new head coach to at least attempt to throw water on whatever speculative embers remained.

In a text message to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Kiel stated flatly and succinctly, “I’m a Bearcat.”

First-year head coach Tommy Tuberville was also contacted by the paper, saying that the speculation is unfounded and he doesn’t see his new quarterback attempting to double back to South Bend.

“He’s really enjoying it here,” Tuberville told the Enquirer. “Gunner is enrolled with us, and we’re excited about having him. … I don’t know what’s happening at Notre Dame, but I know Gunner is happy with us.”

Kiel officially transferred to the Bearcats April 19, exactly one month after it was confirmed he was no longer a member of the Irish football program.  The former five-star recruit will be forced to sit out the 2013 season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules, and will have three years of eligibility remaining beginning in 2014.

In yet another sign of the high cost of big-time college football, two new Cal assistants will make double the amount pulled in by their predecessors — while also raising the financial bar for other coaches in the conference as well.

The school released documents Friday related to the contracts signed by Tony Franklin and Andy Buh, the offensive and defensive coordinators, respectively, hired by new Golden Bears head coach Sonny Dykes.  Franklin will make $653,000 in 2013, while Buh will “settle” for a little less at $608,000.

Last season, OC Jim Michalczik pulled in $294,600  while his defensive counterpart Clancy Pendergast earned $245,000.

Both of the coordinator’s deals are three-year contracts.

To put their pay in perspective, the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the Pac-12 in 2012 — outside of USC and Stanford, which are not compelled to reveal salary information — made $480,000 (Colorado’s Eric Bienemy).  Because of his departure from the program, it’s known that former USC defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin was paid a little over $1.5 million in 2012; the next-highest-paid DC in that conference was Washington’s Justin Wilcox ($750,000) followed by Oregon’s Nick Aliotti ($552,500).

If Franklin is fired without cause after his first season, he would be due $680,000.  That number drops to $420,000 the following year.  The Contra Costa Times writes that “Buh, if fired without cause, would receive 100 percent of his base and talent fee for the remainder of his contract, making it essentially a guaranteed contract.”

Franklin could buy his way out of his contract after the first year with a $50,000 payment, a figure that drops to $25,000 a year later.  Buh’s buyout is $75,000 after Year One, then drops by $25,000 the last two years of his contract.

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Um, wow.

Just two months after the player Notre Dame recruited to be its quarterback of the future left the football program, the Irish’s quarterback of the recent past, present and presumably foreseeable future has apparently responded in kind.

According to multiple media outlets, and subsequently confirmed by the school, starting QB Everett Golson is no longer enrolled at Notre Dame.  No reason was given for the non-enrollment, and there was no immediate word on what if any future Golson has with the Irish football program.

“Federal and school privacy laws preclude us from issuing any further comment at this time,” a statement from the school read.

The move, especially if permanent, is beyond shocking.

Golson, in his first season as the Irish’s No. 1 quarterback, started 11 of the 12 games in which he played in leading Notre Dame to its first unbeaten regular season in more than two decades.  The lone loss with Golson starting under center came against Alabama in the BCS title game.

Both entering and exiting spring, Golson remained the presumptive front-runner for the starting job in 2013.  So much was Golson’s stranglehold on the job, in fact, that it played a significant role in former five-star recruit Gunner Kiel‘s decision to leave the Irish for Cincinnati prior to the start of spring practice.

Where this leaves the Irish at the most important position on the field remains to be seen.

And, obviously, we’ll have more on this out-of-nowhere story as it develops.

UPDATED 11:57 p.m. ET: In a bit of a clarification as to what reportedly led to Golson no longer being enrolled at Notre Dame, Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune wrote on Twitter that “an academic violation [is] behind the QB no longer being enrolled at #NotreDame, per sources.”

While the rumors of what exact academic violation Golson may have committed has been bandied about the vast expanse of the Internet, we’ll wait until something a little more concrete surfaces before diving into that end of the speculative pool.

After a handful of weeks of talk and speculation, what was supposed to happen in Vegas will indeed stay in Vegas.

In a press release sent out Friday, UNLV confirmed that its Sept. 7 game against Arizona this year will go off as scheduled in Las Vegas.  The two schools, along with Russ Potts Productions and Sam Boyd Stadium managers Global Spectrum, had been in negotiations about moving the game to a “neutral site” — University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., which is less than a two-hour drive from the Wildcats’ Tucson campus.

UNLV athletic director Jim Livengood said in a statement that the university was approached a promoter, Russ Potts Production, about moving the game.  In the end, the numbers simply didn’t add up and the game will be played as scheduled in Las Vegas.

“[E]veryone was great in trying to make this thing work,” Livengood’s statement began. “We just couldn’t get the numbers to match up and in the end everyone agreed it would be best to keep the game here. We are excited to have seven home games this fall and that the Rebels will be opening up at Sam Boyd Stadium against a Pac-12 opponent.”

The rebels are scheduled to travel to the Wildcats to open the 2014 season Aug. 30.  It’s assumed that game will go off when and where it was originally planned as well.

AP

Meandering our way through the offseason, a single one-liner at a time…

– The Phillip Sims “situation” at Virginia could be winding to its conclusion, one way or another.

– The mother of Donte Newsome, the Marshall football player shot and killed outside of a Huntington nightclub in 2008, not entitled to compensation for her son’s unpaid student loans, the West Virginia Supreme Court ruled.

– Keep your NCAA dos-and-don’ts manual at the ready: it’s Big Cat Weekend once again at Auburn.

– Michigan State looking for somebody, anybody, to step up at the tight end position.

– Speaking of tight ends, that’s one of the biggest question marks on Colorado’s depth chart.

– Given the impression he’s making on the local high school circuit, maybe first-year Buffs head coach Mike MacIntyre can improve that position without going far from home.

– Improvements at the football stadium part of the planned facility upgrades at Western Michigan.

– In non-football news*, Michigan kicker Brendan Gibbons is on the verge of breaking the program’s all-time record for most consecutive field goals made.

(*it’s a joke; lighten up)

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Less than a week after leaving Texas Tech, Delvon Simmons already has one visit under his belt and another in the offing.

According to Bruce Feldman of CBSSports.com, the defensive lineman will take a trip to Miami this weekend and visit the Hurricanes.  Last weekend, Simmons visited USC, which was one of his finalists coming out of high school a couple of years ago.

Simmons is also reportedly interested in a pair of FBS programs from his home state of Pennsylvania — Penn State and Pittsburgh.  There’s been no official word yet on if/when a visit to one or both of those schools will take place.

A four-star member of North Carolina’s 2011 recruiting class and rated as the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania at any position, Simmons was released from his Tar Heels scholarship a little over a month after National Signing Day and ultimately landed at Texas Tech.  He started all 13 games for the Red Raiders in 2012 after playing in 10 games as a true freshman in 2011.

Simmons, who will be forced to sit out the 2013 season if he stays at the FBS level, will have two years to use two seasons of eligibility beginning in 2014.

Instead of focusing on preparing and rehabbing for what will be his final season of college football, Dyron Dye will be forced to prep for a meeting with the NCAA.  Again.

Citing a source close to the situation, the Miami Herald is reporting that the Miami defensive lineman will be interviewed by the NCAA regarding the investigation by the sport’s “governing body” into the Hurricanes football program.  This latest meeting, expected to take place at some point this coming week, will be Dye’s third with the NCAA in relation to the Nevin Shapiro scandal.

Because of this latest sit-down, Dye has retained counsel.  While the NCAA is seeking to have what they perceive to be a contradictory affidavit from Dye clarified, it also appears that the player may have others willing to submit their own corroboration for what Dye has previously sworn under oath.  From the paper’s report:

…the governing body of college sports believes an affidavit signed by Dye that supports ex-UM receivers coach Aubrey Hill contradicts statements made in at least one of Dye’s former interviews, a source close to the situation told The Miami Herald.

The Herald also learned that former UM quarterback Jacory Harris wrote an affidavit referencing Hill and supporting some of the statements made in Dye’s affidavit. An affidavit is a sworn statement made under oath.

The source said there are other former UM players who are also prepared to corroborate what Dye stated in his affidavit.

Dye was suspended for the four games of the 2011 season in connection to his involvement in the Shapiro scandal.  It was shown by the NCAA in August of that year that Dye received from Shapiro and “UM athletics personnel” $738 in impermissible benefits during a recruitment that led to the player signing on as part of the Hurricanes’ 2009 recruiting class.  Those benefits included five nights of impermissible lodging from institutional staff during their unofficial visits — an allegation directly tied to Hill — transportation, multiple meals and entertainment at a gentleman’s club.

With the suspension served and monetary restitution made, Dye returned to play in six games in what was his redshirt sophomore season after making the switch from the defensive line to tight end.  He then played 12 games at that position in 2012.

Dye moved back to the line following the 2012 season.  He suffered an Achilles injury during the first scrimmage this past spring and is out indefinitely, leaving his status for the 2013 season up in the air even prior to this latest attempt by the NCAA to save some type of face in what’s gone well beyond a FUBAR situation.

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The Middle Tennessee State football program has been hit with some personnel attrition a couple of months ahead of its official move from the Sun Belt to Conference USA, head coach Rick Stockstill confirmed Thursday.

According to Stockstill, quarterback Shaun White and offensive lineman Roberto Loya have been dismissed from the Blue Raiders team.  As is ofttimes the case, the publicly stated reason for the twin dismissals is violations of unspecified team rules.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be on this football team and represent Middle Tennessee,” Stockstill said in a statement. “Our program has high standards both on and off the playing field and Shaun and Roberto will not be with us after failing to live up to those expectations. We wish both players well in their future endeavors.”

Both White and Loya were listed as backups at their respective positions.  The former played in four games last season as a redshirt freshman while the latter played in all 12 games, mostly on special teams.

Even more damaging than those dismissals, though, is the loss of a player due to injury.

Part-time starting Justin Jones (pictured), Stockstill, said, will miss the 2013 season due to a toe injury suffered during spring practice.  The surgery and subsequent rehab will keep him away from football for up to eight months, sidelining the player for what would’ve been his senior season.

“Justin has to undergo surgery which will require him to be out for six to eight months,” MTSU coach Rick Stockstill said. “He has been a valuable member of this program the past four years, and we wish him a very speedy recovery.”

Jones started 11 of the 37 games he played during his MTSU career.  He was on track to earn a starting job until the spring injury derailed what was left of his collegiate career.

AP

But of course.

A member of the Nebraska football program, defensive end Avery Moss (pictured, No. 94), has a trial date set for late July for an incident that occurred late last year, the Omaha World-Herald is reporting.  Moss is facing a July 23 bench trial on charges of public indecency, disturbing the peace and failing to appear.

The soon-to-be sophomore has pleaded not guilty to the three charges, all of which are considered misdemeanors.  The failure-to-appear charge stemmed from a missed court date back in January

In mid-December, a female employee of a convenience store accused Moss of twice exposing himself to her in the span of four hours.  The alleged victim filed a complaint with the university police department, and subsequently picked Moss out of a photo lineup.

Cornhuskers head coach Bo Pelini is aware of the situation involving Moss, who could face up to six months in jail if convicted.

As a three-star member of NU’s 2012 recruiting class, Moss played in three games before using his redshirt as a true freshman due to a shoulder injury.  Moss was expected to continue competing for a starting job in summer camp, although it’s unclear what if any impact his legal situation will have on that front.

Meandering our way through the offseason, a single one-liner at a time…

– Washington Post: No ruling in ACC’s motion for dismissal of Maryland lawsuit.

– Tulsa World: College transfer rule that limited Wes Lunt must be changed.

– Athletic director Mark Hollis explains Michigan State’s process that resulted in the hiring of Mark Dantonio.

– Here’s a position-by-position recap of Auburn’s spring, courtesy of al.com.

– The Iowa City Press-Citizen takes a look at how Big Ten realignment will impact fans’ pocketbooks.

– Virginia Tech’s trip to the Russell Athletic Bowl cost over $1.6 million, but the athletic department still expects to come out in the black financially.

– Syracuse’s post-spring depth chart reveals some position changes.

– UT-San Antonio head coach Larry Coker lauded by the Texas legislature.

– USC All-American receiver Marqise Lee fails to advance beyond the semifinals in the long jump at the NCAA West Regionals.

– Snoop Lion/Dogg’s football-playing son receives another offer, this one from LSU.

– Clemson’s pruning of the Peach State on the recruiting trail is setting up a solid football future for the Tigers.

– Ohio State lands an in-state verbal commitment from four-star linebacker Dante Booker, who was also considering Michigan and Notre Dame.

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The Big Ten may be swearing off scheduling cupcakes, but at least one Pac-12 school will continue gorging itself on the delectable football treats for the foreseeable future.

Oregon announced Thursday that it has scheduled three games with opponents from the FCS level – South Dakota on Aug. 30, 2014: UC Davis on Sept. 3, 2016: and Southern Utah on Sept. 2, 2017.  Obviously, all three games will be played in Autzen Stadium.

The South Dakota game completes the Ducks’ 2014 non-conference slate.  It’s 2015 three-game slate is also complete.

Oregon had previously scheduled games against FCS programs Nicholls State (2013) and Eastern Washington (2015).

It’s not all creampuffs for the Ducks, though, as UO has games scheduled against Tennessee (2013), Michigan State (2014 and 2015), Virginia (2016), Texas A&M (2018 and 2019) and Ohio State (2020 and 2021).  The Ducks are on the hunt for a marquee game in 2017, possibly at a neutral site in a one-off-type deal.

AP

Houston may have lost its leading rusher from the 2012 season to transfer, but the Cougars are apparently bringing in a player on the other side of the ball with the potential to start.

Lee Hightower announced on his Tumblr account that he will be transferring to Houston and will play for the Cougars.  The move comes after the defensive back had visited the school last weekend.

“Really dope city and school and I’ll be here for the next 3 years,” Hightower wrote.

Hightower was indefinitely suspended in early February for violating unspecified team rules and subsequently released by Boise State head coach Chris Petersen.  It was Hightower’s second suspension in less than four months.

The initial suspension came after Hightower had started the first seven games of the 2012 season at strong safety.  He did not play again last season.

Hightower becomes the second Broncos transfer to land at an FBS program in Texas this week.  Defensive lineman Sam Ukwuachu, dismissed earlier this month, announced that he will be enrolling at Baylor.

(Tip O’ the Cap: Idaho Statesman)