UConn welcomes 24 newcomers on signing day

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(Below is UConn’s press release on the players added as part of its 2013 recruiting class.)

STORRS, Conn. (February 6, 2013) – UConn football coach Paul Pasqualoni has announced that 22 high school senior signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday to attend the University of Connecticut. The 22 seniors from 10 states with the following breakdown: Connecticut 5, Pennsylvania 5, New York 4, Florida 2, Virginia 2, Georgia 1, Maryland 1, Massachusetts 1 and South Carolina 1.

In addition, the Huskies had a pair of student-athletes enroll for the spring 2013 semester, including wide receivers Dhameer Bradley and Noel Thomas. Thomas is from Norwalk, Conn., for a total of six Connecticut players in this class.

(Writer’s note: below the jump are the complete bios of all 24 members of UConn’s 2013 recruiting class.)

Michael Boland: Projected to be a defensive lineman at Connecticut…as a senior, won both the offensive and defensive Hookey Reap award for the top lineman in Lackawanna (Pa.) County…was also all-region and all-state as an offensive lineman…blocked for two 1,000-yard rushers on team…had 67 tackles, 14 sacks and 14 tackles for loss in senior year…was all-region in junior year as an offensive lineman…team went 14-2 in senior season…advanced to championship game of Class A of PIAA tournament…was also team’s kicker and scored 32 points…born August 18, 1994.

Tim Boyle: Was named Connecticut High School Coaches’ Association Player of the Year…named first team All-State by the New Haven Register and All-Hartford Courant…named All-Southern Connecticut Conference as a senior…threw for nearly 2,500 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior as team won state Class LL championship for the third-straight season…also rushed for 295 yards on 60 carries for five TDs…was one of three finalists for the Walter Camp Football Foundation Connecticut Player of the Year Award along with fellow UConn signee Matt Walsh…as a junior, shared starting duties and threw for 850 yards and 15 TDs in six games…born October 3, 1994.

Chris Britton: Had more than 125 tackles in senior season…team went 11-3 in senior season and advanced to quarterfinals of Pennsylvania Class AAAA playoffs… named to the Pennsylvania roster for the Big 33 All-Star Game on June 15 in Hershey, Pa…missed most of junior year with an injury…also plays basketball…born December 16, 1994.

Dhameer Bradley: Enrolled at UConn for spring 2013 semester…attended Red Lion Christian Academy (Bear, Del.) for three years and then Eastern Christian Academy (Elkton, Md.) for senior year…had 13 receptions for 156 yards and one TD as team played a limited schedule…also played basketball at Red Lion…honor roll student…born March 3, 1995.

Foley Fatukasi: Had 78 tackles as a senior with ten sacks…named Second Team All-Queens/Long Island by the New York Daily News as a senior… will play in Empire Challenge All-Star Game in June…team reached PSAL Bowl Division finals in sophomore year and was 6-3 in junior year…was limited to just two games in junior year because of injury…first player from Beach Channel High School to go directly to a FBS school…born March 4, 1995.

Jordan Fuchs: Had 27 receptions for 374 yards as a senior…did not play football until the start of his junior year of high school…was named second team All-City by MSG Varsity…as a junior had 25 receptions for 492 yards and nine TDs…also an outstanding basketball player who plays at some high school as current Husky men’s basketball player Omar Calhoun…Former UConn women’s basketball All-American Sue Bird also attended same high school…born October 26, 1994.

Javon Hadley: Earned All-Dade County Honorable Mention…was invited to three different postseason all-star games…two-time Florida Prep Player of the Week as a senior…born September 19, 1994.

Sha’ki Holines: Was named to the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association “Super 26″ All-State Team…had 50 tackles as a senior with one interception and a fumble recovery…was named Springfield Republican Division II All-Scholastic first team as a junior and senior…had 80 tackles in 2013, with 29 for a loss…made 13 receptions for 262 yards…as a junior, had 122 tackles and was team’s defensive MVP with six sacks…as a tight end, made 27 receptions for 287 yards and three TD …team went 8-5 in junior year and played in Division II Super Bowl…as a senior, team advanced to semifinals of Division II…born November 18, 1994.

Tommy Hopkins: Named to the New York State Sportswriters Association Class B First Team…also played defense and made 61 tackles with 5.5 sacks…was named to the 2012 Journal-News Super 11 team…school advanced to Class B state semifinals in sophomore year and was a starter…born July 15, 1994.

Cory Jasudowich: Was named to the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council Class B All-New England team…was a four-year starter on both offense and defense…projected to be a college linebacker…team went 7-2 in senior year and played in the Tom Flaherty Bowl…his class had an overall record of 29-6 and won two bowls games…played for Team USA in International Bowl on February 5 in Austin, Texas…born September 20, 1994.

Junior Joseph: Projected to be a linebacker at UConn after playing both LB and tight end in high school….was named PIAA Class AAA First Team All-State as a senior by Pennsylvania Football News and the Pennsylvania Sports Writers… had 79 tackles as a senior with 17 tackles for a loss…also had five receptions for 63 yards as a senior…team was 13-2 in senior season and advanced to semifinals of PIAA Class AAAA semifinals…as a junior had 59 tackles with 9.0 for a loss and also two touchdown receptions…team was 12-2 and advanced to state semifinals…had 19 tackles as a sophomore…born September 7, 1994.

Brian Lemelle: Named Parade Magazine All-America Honorable Mention…Pennsylvania career record holder in receptions (269) and receiving yardage (4,529) while his career TDs (38) is second…was named the Pennsylvania Sports News Class AAA Offensive Player of the Year…had 91 receptions as a senior for 1,546 yards and 11 TDs…also returned punts and kickoffs and was team’s punter…team went 14-1 in senior season and advanced to PIAA Class AAA tournament…as a junior, had 93 receptions for 1,630 yards and 13 TDs…team was 13-3 and played in championship game of AAA bracket…had 70 receptions for 1,223 yards and 11 TDs as a sophomore and team was 13-3 and played in AAA championship game, losing by one point…named to the Pennsylvania roster for the Big 33 All-Star Game on June 15 in Hershey, Pa. …played for the winning North team in the Chesapeake Bowl…had three receptions for 98 yards in that contest…born March 31, 1994.

Thomas Lucas: Played in Maryland Crab Bowl game on Dec. 21…was named second team All-Montgomery County 4-A as a senior… had 57 tackles and two interceptions as a junior…team went 9-2 in junior season and earned a Maryland 4A North playoff berth…born November 21, 1994.

Josh Marriner: Was named First Team All-Tidewater by the Virginian Pilot…rushed for 2,168 yards as a senior on 253 carries with 24 rushing touchdowns and 26 total touchdowns…had two receptions – both for touchdowns…also made 27 tackles on defense with eight for a loss…had 298 yards of kickoff return yardage…team was 9-3 in senior year and advanced to second round of Virginia Division Six tournament…gained 417 yards in single game on 20 carries against Great Bridge in late October…the game was ten yards short of the South Hampton Roads single-game record..1,898 regular season yards in 2012 is fourth in South Hampton Roads’ all-time list…Southeastern District and Eastern Region Offensive Player of the Year…born April 25, 1995.

Tommy Myers: Four-year letterman, three-year starter and team captain…was starting tight end, defensive end/safety and punter/kicker…had 27 receptions for 529 yards and seven TDs as a senior… earned First Team All-Hartford Courant as a senior and second team all-state honors from the New Haven Register…had 15 receptions for team that earned a spot in the Class L playoffs as a junior… was honorable mention All-Hartford Courant in junior year…three-time all-conference pick…also plays basketball and track and field…two-time Class S state champion in the javelin and won New England title in 2011…also four-year starter in basketball and averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds a game as a junior earning second team all-state honors…honor roll student…father Norm played football at UConn from 1981-84 while his mother Peggy (Walsh) was a women’s basketball player from 1982-86 at UConn with 1,413 career points and 937 rebounds, which still ranks fifth in school history…born June 26, 1995.

Kyle Schafenacker: Starting left tackle on team that won Florida 7A state championship as a senior…was named Florida High School Athletic Association 7A First Team All-State…team had 604 yards of total offense in 41-25 win over Tallahassee Lincoln for title…team went 13-2 in senior season and ended with a ten-game winning streak…team won district title in 2010 and 2012 and also state title in 2010…born July 4, 1995.

Jalen Stevens: Had 126 tackles in senior year with six sacks…team advanced to state semifinals in senior year…earned all-county honors from the (Goose Creek/Hanahan) Gazette and was second team as a junior…team went 14-1 in junior year and won South Carolina Class AAA-Division II championship…born October 17, 1994.

Cole Ormsby: Had 85 tackles in his senior season and led the state with 17 sacks…in senior year, team advanced to Class L championship game…had nine tackles and two sacks in two different games…made two sacks in Class L semifinals victory…named All-Central Connecticut Conference and Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-Defense…named Hartford Courant Defensive Player-of-the-Year and all-state by the New Haven Register and the Walter Camp Football Foundation…also played offense at the end position…as a junior, made 64 tackles with 13 sacks…team advanced to semifinals of Class L playoffs…born October 20, 1995.

Cameron Stapleton: Was team captain as a senior…was team Defensive MVP in both junior and senior seasons…had 39 tackles as a senior with nine sacks and had 33 tackles with six sacks in junior year…as a sophomore in 2010, had 28 tackles with five sacks…will play in Empire Challenge All-Star Game in June…born August 11, 1994.

Kivon Taylor: Team captain as a senior and quarterback at Grady High School in Atlanta…selected to play in the 2012 Georgia All-Star Game…honored as a USA Academic All-America Team…named to the 2013 FBU International All-Star Game…led team to a 2012 GHSA AAAA Playoff appearance and a 9-4 record.

Noel Thomas: Was named to the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council Class C All-New England team…named by MSG Varsity as its Connecticut Player of the Year… was team captain and MVP at St. Luke’s School in New Canaan, Conn.….team was 8-1 in senior year and advanced to Fairfield Athletic Association championship game…also won NEPSAC Class C championship with a victory in the Dan Rorke Bowl… wide receiver, running back and quarterback in senior year….had 2,000 yards of offense with 25 touchdowns in senior year…for his career, had 4,888 yards of offense with 53 TDs…head coach at St. Luke’s is his father, Noel Thomas, Sr. …born September 18, 1994.

Quinn Thompson: Will play tight end at Connecticut…named First Team Class AAA All-State by Pennsylvania Football News…was a quarterback and defensive lineman as a senior with 226 passing yards for two TDs…rushed for 721 yards with seven TDs…had four games with 100 yards of rushing or more…made 21 tackles on defense with a sack…team had a 9-3 record as a senior and earned a spot in the Pennsylvania Class AAA playoffs…had nine catches for 250 yards and six TDs as a junior with 80 carries for 292 yards and five TDs..on defense had 80 tackles for seven sacks…attended same high school as ’11 and ’12 UConn captain Blidi Wreh-Wilson…also plays basketball…born August 9, 1994.

Matt Walsh: Named the New Haven Register All-State Most Valuable Player and All-Hartford Courant…named to the Walter Camp Football Foundation and Connecticut High School Coaches’ Association all-state teams…was one of three finalists for the Walter Camp Football Foundation Connecticut Player of the Year Award along with fellow UConn signee Tim Boyle…projected to play fullback at UConn…scored five rushing TDs in win over Xavier and had a total of ten for the season…had 182 tackles in senior year with three sacks…had 15 tackles, 10 solo, and forced two fumbles in state Class L championship game in 2012…team went 13-0 in junior and senior years and won state Class L title both seasons…as a junior had 100 tackles as a linebacker and two sacks…earned New Haven Register All-Area honors as a junior…born April 4, 1995.

Chasz Wright: Projected to play offensive tackle at Connecticut…had 55 tackles as a senior with seven sacks and two caused fumbles…team went 11-3 in senior season and advanced to semifinals of state playoffs in Class 6…as a junior made 29 tackles with a sack…team went 11-1 and advanced to state quarterfinals…also plays basketball…born March 18, 1995.

The Military Bowl is getting a venue change, and a slightly more appropriate one at that.

With the announcement Monday that Conference USA added a tie-in to the Military Bowl came the official news that the bowl would be moving from RFK Memorial Stadium in Washington D.C. to Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis where the Naval Academy plays its home football games.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post and ESPN’s Brett McMurphy reported the move earlier Monday morning. The game, previously known as the EagleBank Bowl until 2010, has been held at RFK stadium since it’s beginnings in 2008.

The game will select last in the ACC’s bowl lineup and give C-USA six bowl tie-ins in 2013. However, Navy is not precluded from playing in the bowl despite the fact it will now be held at the Academy’s home site.

The Midshipmen lost the inaugural EagleBank Bowl in 2008 to Wake Forest.

(Photo: NavySports.com) 

AP

Less than a month after granted his release from Arkansas, quarterback Brandon Mitchell has found a new home to finish his collegiate career.

Mitchell told ESPN’s Joe Schad he has decided to enroll at North Carolina State for his final year of eligibility.

“I like the culture, coaches, expectations within the program starting all the way at the top, and most importantly chemistry,” Mitchell told Schad. “I felt I built it with players in just three days. Bottom line is I want to win, and I want to win now. They have the best opportunity there for success and just had one missing piece.”

Because Mitchell is graduating from Arkansas this year, he will be eligible to play immediately. With the departure of Mike Glennon, Mitchell should have an opportunity to compete for the Wolfpack’s starting quarterback job, though Mitchell could play the role of an offensive athlete as well.

Either way, Mitchell will join former Florida QB Jacoby Brissett, who transferred to NC State earlier this year.

Reuters

Suspended for spring practice for violating team rules, Alabama wide receiver Danny Woodson will transfer to another in-state school.

Per al.com, Woodson will transfer to South Alabama. Jaguars coach Joey Jones confirmed the move during Sun Belt spring meetings.

“We’re very excited about having Danny Woodson at South Alabama,” Jones said. “I really admired his play in high school and we wanted him very badly out of high school. Of course we understood when he signed with Alabama. But we believe we have a potential All-America-type receiver coming here and we’re obviously very excited.”

Woodson, a former four-star receiver for the Tide, had one catch for nine yards in six games last year. He redshirted his freshman season in 2011 and must sit out a year to satisfy NCAA transfer rules.

AP

As John noted late last week, three of Wes Lunt‘s five possible transfer destinations – Southern Miss, Tennessee and Vanderbilt — were reportedly deemed off-limits at the discretion of Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy. That left Lunt with two schools — Louisville and Illinois — to consider out of his original five.

According to ESPN’s Joe Schad, Lunt has already taken an unofficial visit to Illinois. Schad writes that Lunt feels comfortable with offensive coordinator Bill Cubit‘s offense and has a good relationship with Illini coach Tim Beckman. But while a visit to Champaign was expected for Lunt, the reasons behind Gundy’s decision to block certain schools from the QB’s transfer wish list have been more vague. That’s where Schad provides some clarity.

Schad reports that reasons for the restrictions include:

• That Lunt allegedly cited a desire to transfer “closer to home” and that those blocked schools are not “closer to home.”
• The belief that at least some coaches at some interested schools improperly contacted Lunt.
• The possibility Oklahoma State could face some of the blocked conferences in a bowl game.

If true, it would shed some light on why Gundy did what he did. Of course, it still looks bad for Gundy given that he’s just months removed from being a reported candidate for both the Arkansas and Tennessee jobs. And, for clarification purposes, Lunt can transfer wherever he wants; getting a grant-in-aid during his first year at his new school is what’s at stake.

Generally speaking, the fact that a coach can go from job to job with no consequence (outside of a buyout) while placing restrictions on players is ridiculous. The NCAA is providing some help to give athletes immediate eligibility in more pressing cases, though it has no bearing on those restrictions.

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Larry Scott made a big splash as Pac-12 commissioner when he landed a multi-billion television deal for his conference that will make it among the richest in college athletics.

In that vein, Scott has upstaged his own league. Citing tax records, the Wall Street Journal reports Scott made over $3 million for the 2011-12 year. That amount would apparently make him the highest paid commissioner at the college level. Scott’s total salary of $3,022,462 breaks down into $1,575,000 in base salary, $1,376,000 from a bonus and additional compensation of $71,462.

For reference, that’s a couple hundred thousand more than Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany and about twice as much as SEC commish Mike Slive.

But who’s counting?

Can’t say it’s not deserved, though. Scott has done a tremendous job with the Pac-12′s exposure over the last few years.

AP

Miami’s response to its Notice of Allegations is due today  as the university heads toward a June hearing in front of the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions. The program hasn’t suppressed its feelings about the NCAA’s investigation, however. UM president Donna Shalala has called for no additional sanctions beyond the ones self-imposed by the school and a motion to dismiss the case was reportedly filed in March.

Most of that, of course, stems from the fact that the investigation reached FUBAR status earlier this year when the NCAA revealed it had to investigate itself due to improper conduct by its enforcement staff.

Now, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports an unnamed former Hurricanes assistant is pointing fingers as well, although this time at the SEC.

Here’s what Jackson noted in his Sunday column:

One former UM coach accused of wrongdoings complained privately that what the ex-UM coaches allegedly did paled in comparison to unreported violations committed in the SEC.

Without any names or examples, it’s hard to take that kind of cliché accusation seriously. Or, perhaps SEC programs followed Andy Staples‘ seven steps to successful cheating. Besides, it’s UM that’s under the microscope here, not the SEC. Attempting call someone else out isn’t going to change anything.

What could change the direction of this case, though, is if Miami provides enough evidence to support its case being tossed now that its response to the NOA has reportedly been filed.

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

– Anderson Independent Mail: Clemson’s Sammy Watkins enters ’13 as ACC, national receiver to beat.

– The Sun Belt Conference has unveiled a new logo, motto.

– The Birmingham News reminds us that the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2013 is not just about Nick Saban.

– For what it’s worth, Spartans middle linebacker Max Bullough garnered the most votes in an mlive.com poll that asked “Which Michigan State or Michigan football player would you pick first?”

– Chuck Landon of the Huntington Herald-Dispatch has an interesting view on Twitter seemingly taking over the sports universe.

– In what should serve as hopeful news for Vol Nation, head coach Butch Jones is going nonstop when it comes to beefing up recruiting at Tennessee.

– The Daily Oklahoman takes note of Oklahoma State’s looking to make recruiting inroads out West.

– Is Oklahoma looking to go tall at the wide receiver position on the recruiting trail?

– Arizona Republic: Former Arizona State quarterback Andrew Walter gave signals that he might be suited for politics.

AP

An incident that occurred last weekend has left the future of one member of the UT-San Antonio football program up in the air.

According to multiple media outlets, running back CheRod Simpson was arrested last Friday night and hit with multiple charges.  Those charges include resisting arrest, criminal trespass, public intoxication and disorderly conduct.

KABB-TV writes that the player was arrested “after allegedly getting aggressive with police while trespassing at the Aspen Heights Apartments near the UTSA campus.”

Simpson’s father, 53-year-old Rodney Simpson, was arrested in the incident as well, which involved a pool and a pair of off-duty San Antonio police officers working security at the apartment complex.

“We are aware of the matter regarding one of our football student-athletes and will address it accordingly, based on a full review of the incident,” UTSA head coach Larry Coker said in a statement.

In 2012, Simpson rushed for 78 yards on 22 carries.  He’s played in 22 games the past two seasons for the Roadrunners, which made the jump to the FBS level last season.  UTSA will move from the football-defunct WAC to Conference USA in 2013.

AP

In early November of last year, Ivan McCartney was the second West Virginia wide receiver in a span of four days to leave the football program.

A half a year later, the wayward receiving son has returned home.

Dana Holgorsen confirmed to the Charleston Daily Mail that McCartney is back with the team and will be given the opportunity to make amends for whatever led to his initial departure.  The head coach, though, doesn’t exactly sound optimistic that the return will stick.

“Second chances are few and far between,” the said coach told the Daily Mail. “This kid’s got an opportunity to right the ship. Maybe he makes the best of it. Maybe he doesn’t.”

Holgorsen added that McCartney, a high school teammate of Geno Smith, has been back home in Florida, and that individuals from his high school had reached out to him about a possible return.

A four-star member of WVU’s 2010 recruiting class and a U.S. Army All-American, McCartney was rated as the No. 5 receiver in the country and the No. 5 player at any position in the talent-rich state of Florida.  The 6-2, 183-pound receiver played in 33 games during his first stint in Morgantown, totaling 59 receptions for 701 yards and three touchdowns.

As they have every year since 2007, several former Michigan football players returned to Ann Arbor for a charity near and dear to their collective hearts.  And, as is ofttimes the case, the group surpassed the seven-figure mark yet again.

In a series of events dubbed “Champions for Children’s Hearts,” ex-Wolverines Brian Griese, Steve Hutchinson (pictured) and Charles Woodson helped raise more than $1 million that will be earmarked for Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor.  The events included a Mott Takeover radiothon on WTKA-AM, auction, $1,000-a-plate dinner Saturday night and a golf outing Sunday.

Both current and former members of the football program were involved in the charity, whose goal is to make Mott the top children’s hospital in the country.

“Our goal would be to make Mott No. 1,” Hutchinson said according to mlive.com. “It’s top 10 in the country for children’s hospitals — our goal would be to get it No. 1. Michigan’s trying to be No. 1 in everything. The hospital, we want it No. 1.

“I don’t think we could have ever imagined the amount of money we take in every year now. We’re over $1 million every year — for a one tournament and one night gala, it’s crazy.”

Or, as UM athletic director Dave Brandon, whose saw the lives of his twin sons and a grandchild saved by the hospital, put it, “Whatever Mott wants, Mott gets, as far as I’m concerned.”

Kudos to the entire Michigan football program and community for their tireless efforts for such a worthy cause.

(Photo credit: University of Michigan)

AP

A pair of standout Syracuse signal callers will not so unexpectedly be honored by their alma mater, the school announced Sunday.

In a press release, Syracuse confirmed that former quarterbacks Donovan McNabb and Don McPherson will have their respective jerseys raised to the Carrier Dome roof during retirement ceremonies this coming season.  The latter will be honored during the Oct. 5 game against Clemson, the former during a Nov. 2 game against Wake Forest.

McNabb and McPherson will become the sixth and seventh players honored in this manner by the Orange, joining the likes of Jim Brown, Larry Csonka, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little and John Mackey.

“It is our pleasure to honor Donovan McNabb and Don McPherson and recognize their importance to the history of Syracuse football. Both of these men were catalysts for some of the greatest success in college football during their respectful tenures at Syracuse. We want to recognize these extraordinary men during our inaugural season in the ACC as we look to establish new success,” said Syracuse athletic director Dr. Daryl Gross in a statement. “We celebrate two individuals who were significant in branding Syracuse football as a national power. The nation’s eyes were fixated on these two amazing student-athletes as they helped elevate and maintain SU football’s prominence.

“We truly hope all SU fans will join us during the season to salute the jersey retirement of these two tremendous individuals and their families  as we look to compete at the highest level in the ACC as New York’s College Team.”

McNabb led the Orange to three Big East titles and two BCS bowl berths during his time with the Orange.  He was also the first player in conference history to be named first-team All-Big East four times.

15 years after last playing for the Orange, McNabb still holds Syracuse career records for most touchdown passes thrown, total offense, touchdown responsibility, and highest passing efficiency.

“It is an honor,” McNabb said. “Obviously the number 44 had its impact on the program and now #5 will be honored, too. Hopefully we will have more in the future. When you play high school football your goal is to earn a scholarship and a starting position and win the national championship. You do not think about individual honors such as this. It is really unbelievable. Syracuse prepared me for life away from the game. I came in with a mindset that after football I wanted to be in broadcasting. Syracuse taught me responsibility, maturity and played such a big role in developing me into the man I want to be, to be looked at not only as a great athlete, but a great person.”

McPherson was a 1987 All-American who finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting; won the Maxwell Award, which honors the college football player of the year; the Davey O’Brien Award, which recognizes the best collegiate quarterback; and was the first recipient of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. He led the Orange that year to an undefeated regular season and a Sugar Bowl berth.

He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009.

“There are so many people who are responsible for this honor who should be standing next to me when this happens,” McPherson said. “In sports we wear jerseys because we are part of a team. The number on the jersey is meant to identify the player wearing it. To have my jersey singled out is more a moment of reflection than accomplishment. It makes me think about what I did to deserve this and that makes me think about all of the people who came before me, were at Syracuse with me and who have been there since I graduated. A significant part of my journey has been having somebody like Coach Mac in my life. When Daryl Gross called to tell me about this event, I started to write down the names of those who have impacted who I am and it quickly became too long to list everyone. I am blessed.

AP

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

– Mike Leach might be returning to the Big 12… as an opposing coach.

– 10 of the 12 teams in the Big Ten are investing a combined $1.72 million more this year in football assistant coaches pay than they did last year.

– The Des Moines Register has a 45-minute conversation with Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, replete with video and everything.

– From, again, the Des Moines Register: recruits who keep an open mind are simply playing by the rules.

– al.com takes a look at the surprising development at slot receiver for Auburn this spring.

– If you’re interested in hearing third-generation Michigan State player Riley Bullough singin’ and strummin’, click HERE.

– Michigan will, for now, open the season as 26-point favorites vs. Central Michigan.

– With skill commitments in tow, Vanderbilt will now switch its recruiting focus to the trenches.

AP

In 2012 as a high school senior, Derrick Nash led the state of Michigan in rushing.  In February, the running back signed a National Letter of Intent to play his college football at Central Michigan in what he called “the greatest moment in my life.”  Three months later, Nash received the worst news of his young life.

Leukemia, diagnosed following a trip to the emergency room for what was thought to be mono or the flu.

The prom, his graduation ceremony and even his first year of college football have been replaced by chemotherapy sessions at University Hospital in Ann Arbor.  The good news is Nash was told by doctors that “everything would be fine. I would be able to get better” and play football again after sitting out the 2013 season.

Nash, though, wasn’t sure that would be with the Chippewas, telling Hugh Bernreuter of mlive.com that he was “worried [CMU] coaches were going to give up on me.”  That was one fear in this whole process for which there was no need.

“One of the first things we told him was that he was going to play football again and that he was going to play for CMU,” Chips head coach Dan Enos (pictured) said. “Keeping him on scholarship was a no-brainer. It’s the right thing to do. That’s the philosophy from the president through the athletic director to the coaches. You do the right thing.”

Added Enos, “I can’t wait until he can run onto our field before a game wearing a CMU uniform. That’ll be a great moment for a lot of people.”

Nash will continue undergoing chemo treatments for the next five months or so, but could be released from the hospital as early as late this month.  The website writes that Nash “expects to receive a medical redshirt season and begin working toward the 2014 season” following his release.

Thoughts and prayers go out to Nash as he continues his battle to beat this insidious disease.  And here’s to hoping he realizes his dream by running out on to the field in September of 2014 with his teammates as the Chips take on Purdue.

AP

With “voluntary” summer workouts set to commence in short order, Tulsa has found itself suffering an unexpected bit of personnel attrition.

The school confirmed to Tulsa World late this past week that kicker Daniel Schwarz and wide receiver Adam Boyd will not be a part of the football program for the 2013 season and will apparently seek transfers.  As is ofttimes the case, no reasons for the departures were given.

The bigger of the two departures by far is that of Schwarz.  As a freshman last season, Schwarz was the Golden Hurricanes’ starting kicker, connecting on 12-of-18 field goal attempts and 52-of-59 extra points.  He finished second on the team in scoring with 88 points.

Taking over the kicking duties will apparently be Carl Salazar, a walk-on who has spent time at both Air Force and Oklahoma.

Boyd, a two-star member of Tulsa’s 2012 recruiting class, took a redshirt for his true freshman season.

AP

Thanks to family issues back home, Tulane will be without one its most experienced members of its receiving corp for the 2013 season.

According to the Baton Rouge Advocate, Wilson Van Hooser has asked for a release from his Tulane scholarship and will transfer out of the football program.  The reason for the transfer has nothing to do with problems with the coaching staff or off-field issues or anything of that sort.  Rather, the senior wide receiver wants to move back home to be closer to his mom, who the paper writes has undergone seven back surgeries and several other procedures looking into her brain over the past several months and is currently bedridden.

“I needed to make a big-boy decision, because I’m graduating, my older brother is getting married and Fudge (brother and Tulane teammate Walker Van Hooser) is moving into a position he’s really excited about,” Van Hooser told the Advocate. “I need to step up for my family, and I need to be the one to be back in Montgomery (Ala.) to help out as much as I can.”

While Van Hooser is leaving the Green Wave, he wants to play his final season of college football.  In a classy gesture, Van Hooser said that the Tulane coaching staff has reached out to their counterparts at Auburn and Troy in an attempt to help the player find a roster spot for the 2013 season.

That gesture wasn’t lost on Van Hooser.

“I was so impressed with the way the coaches handled it, and I hoped they would be okay with my decision,” the receiver said. “But I didn’t expect them to sympathize, and they did. These things aren’t easy.”

Van Hooser has played in 37 games the past three years, totaling 55 catches for 805 yards and nine touchdowns.  His best year came during his redshirt sophomore season in 2011 with 36 receptions for 487 yards and four touchdowns.  While he had just 11 catches in 2012, he averaged over 21 yards per reception and his five touchdown catches were tied for second on the team.