Sean Mannion will dress against Utah, could play

By Ben KerchevalOct 18, 2012, 11:42 PM EDT

The last significant update on the injury status of Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion is that he had a meniscus tear in his left knee, though the injury was not expected to be season-ending.

Turns out that was, um, accurate.

Mike Riley announced Thursday that Mannion will dress for this Saturday’s game against Utah, just under two weeks after suffering the injury; whether he’ll play or not is a different story.

“I don’t let anybody dress down that can’t play in the games,” Riley said.

If Mannion can’t go, junior Cody Vaz will get his second start of the season. Vaz played remarkably in a win last weekend over BYU.

Still, Mannion feels he’s ready if called upon.

I feel great,” Mannion said. “I feel like I could have gone a little earlier (than Wednesday) but it felt wiser to leave it in the doctors’ hands. But right now I feel awesome, I feel 100 percent. I was obviously really excited for my team (vs. BYU), but it’s hard to watch and not get to be there and be a part of it. It’s different to watch a game on TV, so I’m very glad I’ll be able to suit up and participate.”

(Hat tip: Oregonian)

Wisconsin loses kicker Rafael Gaglianone to season-ending surgery

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Some details emerge in arrest of Alabama’s Tim Williams as LB cops to ‘mistake’

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By John TaylorSep 29, 2016, 1:11 PM EDT

And now we know a little bit more of the rest of the story.

Thursday morning, reports surfaced that Alabama linebacker Tim Williams had been arrested for carrying a pistol without a permit. Other than the fact that Williams was arrested by university police officers, no details were available. Until now.

From al.com:

Williams was arrested in the Tuscaloosa Publix parking lot around 2:00 a.m., sources told AL.com.

Police officers were doing a normal patrol when they smelled marijuana coming from Williams’ vehicle, according to sources. A passenger, who was not an Alabama football player, said the marijuana was his, but the officer then found the pistol under Williams’ seat while searching the car, according to sources.

The school has yet to publicly comment on the situation, although the player took to Twitter to acknowledge “a mistake.”

Thank god a mistake worth learning from. 🙏🏽🤘🏾

— Timmy Soldado (@JaYbOi225) September 29, 2016

Coming off a 2015 season in which he was second on the Tide with 10.5 sacks, Phil Steele named the senior as a preseason first-team All-American.

Jela Duncan, Duke’s leading rusher, ruled out of Virginia game

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Penn State AD: James Franklin ‘is not on any hot seat’

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By John TaylorSep 29, 2016, 11:01 AM EDT

Depending on your point of view, James Franklin‘s boss has either given the Penn State head coach a needed vote of confidence… or the dreaded vote of confidence.

With an underwhelming 14-12 record heading into his third year, Franklin’s Nittany Lions have continued to underwhelm with a 2-2 record through the first third of the 2016 season. Following a 39-point loss to Michigan, Franklin’s record against the Big Three in the B1G East — UM, Michigan State, Ohio State — dropped to 0-7. Not only have the Nittany Lions lost all seven, they’ve lost those seven by an average of 22 points per game. Five of those losses were by at least 12 points, with four of those coming by 24 or more.

The fact that the Nittany Lions aren’t even remotely ready to compete in their own division let alone nationally has led to renewed chatter that, by season’s end, Franklin could either be sitting on the hot seat or standing in the unemployment line. Wednesday, PSU athletic director Sandy Barbour used a Chamber of Commerce appearance to very stridently and publicly defend her head coach.

From Cory Giger of the Altoona Mirror:

James is not on any hot seat,” Barbour said Wednesday.

…

“He’s not on the hot seat, and he’s not going to be on the hot seat in December,” Barbour said.

“James is going to be our football coach,” the AD added. “I believe in where this football program is going under James Franklin, and I think he’s going to be our football coach, period.”

…

“I think I’ve been really, really clear on I think he’s doing a spectacular job as a teacher, as a coach, as a leader of these young men,” she said. “That’s really, really important to Penn State. He and his staff are absolutely nailing that.

Barring a complete and total collapse between now and the end of November, Franklin will get a fourth season. Heading into that fourth year, however, he will very likely be on the hot seat on which Barbour currently swears he doesn’t currently sit.