Oklahoma announces Baker Mayfield’s punishment for Feb. arrest

By John TaylorJun 15, 2017, 1:18 PM EDT

Not surprisingly, an off-field incident this offseason will have no on-field impact for Oklahoma this coming season.

In late February, Baker Mayfield was arrested in Arkansas and charged with public intoxication, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and fleeing the scene, the latter offense being caught on tape. Nearly four months later, the football program announced the internal sanctions for one of the Heisman Trophy favorites entering the 2017 season — participation in a university alcohol education program as well as 35 hours of community service, some of which will include working with law enforcement.

Mayfield will be compelled to complete the requirements before the start of the fall semester. If he does, it would have no impact on his availability for the start of the 2017 season, which includes a Week 2 road trip to Columbus to face Ohio State in what’s expected to be a battle of Top 10 teams.

“As I stated earlier, I could not be more disappointed in my actions and the embarrassment they caused for my university and team,” the quarterback, who had previously issued a public apology, said in a new statement. “I am anxious to fulfill the responsibilities that have been set and am continuing to dedicate myself to the high standard that everyone rightfully expects from someone in my position.”

“Baker has expressed regret for his actions and backed up his apology by being a model leader in our program,” first-year head coach Lincoln Riley said in his statement. “He has learned from his mistake and will continue to grow from it.

“The coaching staff and team has every confidence in him going forward.”

With Mayfield under center, the Sooners have claimed back-to-back Big 12 titles. He was a finalist for the 2016 Heisman and earned a trip to New York City after finishing fourth in the voting the year before.

USF the landing spot for Michigan transfer Eddie McDoom

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By John TaylorAug 21, 2018, 9:55 AM EDT

Lingering effects of devastating 2016 knee injury forces Michigan’s Grant Newsome to retire

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By John TaylorAug 21, 2018, 8:08 AM EDT

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As the player himself stated, not all stories have a happy ending.

Michigan offensive lineman Grant Newsome sustained a serious knee injury in early October of 2016 and spent 38 days in the hospital, including more than a week in intensive care, as doctors fought to save his leg. Newsome missed the entire 2017 season as he recovered from the devastating injury, and then was sidelined for spring practice this year as he still awaited medical clearance to resume playing football.

Optimistic of a return in early May, Newsome instead announced Monday that he will be forced to retire from the sport. Newsome’s injuries included a dislocated knee, fractured tibia, three torn knee ligaments as well as significant and extensive nerve damage in the area, and the latter issue is what in very large part foiled Newsome’s comeback attempts.

“Despite the near-miraculous healing in the knee, the totality of the injury was too much,” Newsome wrote in his Twitter missive, “as some recent secondary injuries coupled with the fragile nature of a vascular graph have made the risk of playing football again one that is too great for me to accept. …

“One day I will be able to play catch with my kids, to chase after them as they learn to ride a bicycle, to stand on my own two feet and applaud them at their graduation.”

Not all stories have a happy ending… pic.twitter.com/x6iTBadEPd

— Grant Newsome (@grant_newsome) August 20, 2018

Newsome plans to remain with the Wolverines as a student coach, working with U-M’s tight ends. He will also enroll in graduate school and work toward earning his Master’s degree.

Prior to the injury, Newsome, a four-star 2015 signee, started the first five games of the 2016 season at left tackle after starting one game as a freshman in 2015.

Former four-star Florida State lineman moves on from football

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By John TaylorAug 21, 2018, 5:55 AM EDT

Florida State AD Stan Wilcox takes over Oliver’s Luck’s old NCAA job

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By John TaylorAug 20, 2018, 9:23 PM EDT

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As had been rumored, Florida State is in search of a new athletics boss.

The NCAA announced Monday that Stan Wilcox has accepted the position of executive vice president of regulatory affairs. Wilcox has been the athletic director at Florida State since August of 2013, and FSU will now be forced to launch a national search for a replacement.

Wilcox will replace Oliver Luck, the former West Virginia athletic director who left the NCAA in June of this year to take on the job of XFL commissioner.

“Stan is a highly-respected, visionary leader in intercollegiate athletics, and I’m excited to have him join our senior leadership team at the national office,” NCAA president Mark Emmert said in a statement. “Stan’s nearly three decades of experience working in athletics administration at Notre Dame, Duke and Florida State, among others, have clearly demonstrated his commitment to providing student-athletes with the opportunity to excel in both academics and athletics while being successful in life.”

“I want to thank Stan for everything he has done at FSU. We’re excited for him, and we all wish him the best in his new position,” said FSU president John Thrasher in his statement. “Our success on the playing fields under his leadership has been exceptional, with national championships in football, soccer, and softball over that time. We finished ninth in the 2017-18 Learfield Director’s Cup last year, and our student-athletes reached a cumulative 3.0 GPA this past year.”

Below is Wilcox’s full statement on his departure from Tallahassee:

I am honored and humbled to join Mark Emmert’s leadership team at the NCAA.

I am so grateful for the opportunities and experiences that have led me to this point. The Big East Conference, Notre Dame University, Duke University and most recently Florida State University have provided a depth and breadth of experiences on which I will rely heavily moving forward.

I am excited to return to the NCAA, where my intercollegiate athletics career began.

Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude to former Florida State University Presidents Eric Barron and Garnett Stokes, and current President John Thrasher. The success we have enjoyed in Tallahassee would not have been possible without their trust, guidance and support, and without the fine efforts of our student-athletes, coaches and athletics support staff.

My wife Ramona and I are excited to start this new chapter in my career and in our lives together.