As Whittingham will surely learn in the next few days, under the direction of the American Football Coaches Association, coaches should not vote for #1 in the final coaches poll. Under the agreement, the BCS Championship Game winner is awarded the #1 ranking and the coaches are to vote for #2 - #25 on their final ballot.

"Anytime a coach is 13-0, he certainly has strong feelings and should have," AFCA executive director Grant Teaff said Sunday. "But that's not what the system is and what we agreed to... This poll is not, since 1998, to select the national champion. The winner of the game is the winner of the (BCS) trophy. Which means the coaches do not vote for No. 1, they vote for No. 2 down."

Teaff said he would send a reminder about the policy to the 61 voters this week.

So... Whittingham can (technically) submit a vote for #1 and it will be counted; however, the Utes cannot be the #1 team in the USA Today Coaches Poll for 2008-2009.

If Whittingham chooses to go against the agreement, only his #2 - #25 votes will be factored in the final polling.

Since the AFCA made its decision in 1998 to name the BCS title game champion as #1, only once have coaches have ever broken ranks. In 2003, three coaches (including USC's Pete Carroll) voted for USC as the #1 team in the country, even though the Coaches Poll awarded the title to LSU as the BCS champion.

View the original post or comment on Whittingham may not vote Utes #1...

I admit it. I thought Ohio State had them, and there was a momentary sigh of relief from knowing that we were going to avoid what we all knew was going to happen if Texas won that game--that the lobbying effort for a split title--especially with an Oklahoma win against Florida--was going to make even K-Street in Washington, DC blush. Hell, maybe even Mack Daddy may place a call to former Texas congressman and house majority leader Tom Delay to get the skinny on the best lobbyists in the country...

So now it's coming, and we all know it. How hard is it going to be to wrest a dissenting vote away from the AP poll, who split from it's affiliation with the BCS after the Auburn debacle in 2004? Either way, we're bound to see some passionate arguments formed--and to the betterment of college football in general. I'm going to be a fence rider for a while. Time for you to chime in with your thoughts on that and the game in general...

View the original post or comment on Texas to Politic, Pander and Plead for a Split Title?...

According to the Houston Chronicle, 18 bowls have suffered lowered attendance this season. Seven bowls didn't even cross the 35,000 mark.

But the trend is not completely negative.

The Chron says attendance was up for this year's Cotton Bowl by 15,000, bolstered by a compelling matchup and loyal fanbases within easy driving distance of Dallas and additional seating that was installed. The crowd of 88,175 is second only to the Rose Bowl (93,923) this year.

Ticket sales for the Hawaii Bowl were up nearly 43% thanks to Notre Dame.

The International Bowl (UConn-Buffalo), Emerald Bowl (Cal-Miami), New Orleans Bowl (Troy-Southern Miss) and the Champs Sports Bowl (FSU-Wisconsin) all set new attendance records, thanks in large part to teams making appearances for the first time in years and favorable drive-time proximities.

Just as the bowl organizers have always said... it's all about the matchup.

View the original post or comment on Attendance down, but several bowls setting records...

According to the sources, DeFilippo first told Jagodzinski on Saturday that he would fired if he interviewed and then reinforced the school's position Sunday....

BC spokesman Chris Cameron told ESPN's Joe Schad the school would have no comment. But another BC source said Jagodzinski informed his coaching staff of the development this weekend after at least two discussions with DeFilippo.

I'm sorry, but threats like that just make you sound ex-girlfriend psycho crazy.

And the Boston Globe reports that it's gone one step further. According to the Globe report, Jags will likely not be back with the Eagles in 2009 -- regardless of whether he interviews or not -- because of the bad blood that has developed from BC's position.

Unless something truly strange happens - and that can’t be ruled out given what’s already transpired - it would certainly seem unlikely for Jagodzinski to be back at BC even if he didn’t go through with the interview, given the level the confrontation has reached.

So... let me get this straight. Your head coach is 20-8 in three seasons, with two divisional championships... and you're going to fire him... regardless?? OK... good luck with all that.

Eagle in Atlanta thinks this is going to blow up in BC's face. (Yeah, ya think?!) He also runs down the potential head coaching candidates to replace Jags.

Let me just say this about potential replacements for Jags... who in their right mind is going to leap to go to BC after the administration has tried to blackmail their own head coach? I mean... this is some crazy sh*t. This is borderline Auburn crazy! We're talking Jerry Jones crazy!

The only coaches who are going to seriously consider replacing Jagodzinksi are either died in the wool Boston College guys or those who are so desperate for a BCS head coaching job that they're willing to take the risk, despite BC AD Gene DeFilippo's crazy ex-girlfriend tendencies.

As a general rule, neither option is likely to work out in the long term, because the problem isn't the coach. If BC wants to go psycho on somebody, they should start with Gene DeFilippo. He's earned it.

UPDATE

Two notes tonight from Dr. Saturday:

1) DeFilippo is already referring to Jags in the past tense.

"Jeff is a very good man and an excellent football coach," DeFilippo said. "He did a wonderful job for us while he was here at BC. I wish Jeff would not take this interview and would remain as head coach at BC."

2) If BC fires Jags, they will likely attempt to negotiate some resolution to buy out the last three years of his contract, but it's likely that Jags will stick them for the full buyout.

HT: Fanblogs alum Josh Crocket

View the original post or comment on BC goes psycho ex-girlfriend on Jagodzinski...

Ya gotta give the kid credit for the "What did I do?!" moment at the end.

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View the original post or comment on Ray Maualuga gets busy with Erin Andrews...

If you would like to participate email kevin --at-- fanblogs --dot-- com with "Guest Blog" in the subject line, along with your school affiliation and blog homepage (if any). I'll email you the questions, which will be posted on TUESDAY.

Thanks!

View the original post or comment on Programming Note: Calling UF/OU Guest Bloggers...

Southern Cal proved that it is one of the elite teams in the country. Utah pants the former #1 team to show that they are an elite team... and the only 13-0 team at the end of the year. And... with the Fiesta Bowl just days away, it's conceivable that we may be adding Texas to the mix that will include the winner of the Florida-Oklahoma game.

Which begs the question: which team(s) will be the national champions this year?

View the original post or comment on Who will be the national champions this year?...

If you saw a goofy looking Utah fan with a handle bar moustache and a goaty on Bourbon street after the game it was most likely me.

New Orleans was great, from the hotel in Metairie to Bourbon street after the game. The win was almost as sweet as the Hand Grenade that started four laps of this historic location. Nothing should be that sweet, nor have that much lime flavor.

The Game
Paul Kruger, before the game, stated that he was disappointed he would miss the opportunity to play against Andre Smith. Dare I say one was afraid to face the challenge and risk an NFL career?

Utah caught Alabama in a favorable match up early and ran a hurry up offence that did not allow them to make adjustment or substitutions until we had a quick 14 point lead. This was enough to leverage into a victory. Utah gave up the run from the start, running a two minute offence Alabama could not answer. Stuff the line, cover our top two receivers and we should be done right? Enter Frank Brown.

Even I expected Utah to try to run, but Ludwig silenced all of his Utah critics by this excellent tactic. Alabama did out rush us with their 31 yards. This is where Utah made the biggest statement of the game. Dare I say Alabama was not ready for a MWC rush defence? Indeed TCU is a far better defence than Utah's, especially against the run. I expected Alabama to get near 150 yards rushing.

My bad...
While I admit fully to my own Utes/MWC homerism, I will state that I believe the first half of the first quarter are determined by pure emotion. One team was ready to go for the jugular, the other to sit back and enjoy a leisurely outing. I had stated Utah could win 2 out of 7. I will up that to 1 out of 2. I was also wrong about the score, though I stuck to my heart in my pick'em. I am close to my goal of 60% of the max possible points while staying true to my passions.

I am swapping my 32 and 12 point picks. I had Texas picked to beat Ohio State as my 32 point pick. I am now picking Ohio State as my 12 point pick. Florida over Oklahoma is now my 32 point pick. The reasons for this will be explained below.

Where do we go from here?
My ideal post season, including all years from 2004 to present, was defined here. This year Utah would have hosted Boise State in a play-in game for the opportunity to play Oklahoma in the Fiesta bowl. Florida and Texas would have played in what is now the BCS National Championship Game, with a plus one to determine the final outcome.

But the real question is Could Utah win the Associated Press National Championship this year, with the system as is?

The post game Utah chant, reminicient of one notoriously used by USC, of UN-DE-FEAT-ED is the greatest argument for this case. Unlike Auburn of 2004, Utah is the only remaining undefeated team. This is despite them facing 5 bowl eligible teams in the regular season and ending with a convincing bowl game against a team that was #1 for most of the season, before losing in the final minutes of the SEC championship game.

Oklahoma, Florida, Texas and USC are the only teams left that can reasonably be ahead of Utah.

Oklahoma soundly beat TCU, a team that demonstrated it is competitive with Utah. This team is the hardest for Utah to defend against so they must lose a second game to Florida.

Unlike Florida, Utah jumped on Alabama early and never looked back. No need for end of game heroics like Florida needed in the SEC championship game. While the three point difference in win margin using the common opponent of Alabama is mitigated by the fallacy of the victory chain, I certainly like Utah's odds against a vastly under rated Ole' Miss.

Texas' loss to Texas Tech is more suspect now that Ole' Miss exposed the Big 12 south's defences for what they are. A loss to Ohio State eliminates them and undermines Oklahoma's credibility.

USC was beginning to garner some momentum as a possible alternate for objecting pollsters after the rose bowl, but the Oregon State argument is convincing. Also, when was the last time USC beat an SEC team in a bowl game(never, with 2 losses in the 80's)? For that matter when was the last time the beat Utah in a Bowl game(1993, and I was actually a Michigan/FSU fan then before attending the U starting in 1998)?

If Florida beats Oklahoma in a close game and Ohio State upsets Texas the question will become whether the AP voters have the audacity to throw the BCS system a curve ball.

I know who my vote would be for.

Closing
Utah knocked Alabama in the chops and sent them home with a loose tusk (aka tusk-a-loosa) . What is a Ute? Dare I say they are the ones who hunted the Wooly Mammoth to extinction?

U
T
A
H
U-T-A-H
Fight Fight Fight!!!
UN-DE-FEAT-ED!!! (clap, clap, clap clap clap) (times 3)
WERE #1!!! (times 3)
(round of Utah man, with altered ending...) Screw the BCS!!! (ignore extra two syllables)

Dare I say, "WE... JUST BEAT... THE HECK OUT OF YOU!!!"

View the original post or comment on Geaux Utah!!!!...

The Broncos moved quickly on New Year's Day, locking up interviews with three NFL assistants as well as making a preliminary move to contact University of Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops.

...

For his part, Stoops, who visited Broncos training camp during the summer with his coaching staff, is a known quantity to Bowlen.

But his contract at the football powerhouse averages about $3 million a year, and he will earn $6 million this year because of a $3 million bonus for staying at the school 10 seasons that kicked in on New Year's Day.

The Rocky Mountain News reports that no direct talks with Stoops have taken place, but the Broncos have been in contact with his agent.

Stoops didn't jump to the NFL last year when the Redskins came calling, and many attribute that to discussions he had with friend & college-to-NFL jumper Steve Spurrier. It's thought that the transition into NFL uncertainty represents too great a leap for Stoops, who enjoys nearly unprecedented security in Norman... at $6 million plus per year, a number that most NFL teams wouldn't touch.

Some part of me thinks that there may be something to the Denver rumors, especially if the Sooners lose the National Championship and "Big Game" Bob has his legacy in danger. He's never been one to cut off the NFL discussions, so maybe Bolen can give him the security he needs in Denver.

If Stoops leaves OU? Who knows. The Sooners have to outstanding coordinators already on the payroll, but both lack head coaching experience. There's a certain former OU assistant just down the road in Lubbock who hasn't signed his extension. Hmmm. And, while we're at it, anyone think Utah's Kyle Whittingham and TCU's Gary Patterson might get looks?

View the original post or comment on Stoops to the Denver Broncos?...

Steele, who was given a salary & title boost this season, was relieved of his defensive play-calling duties for the Crimson Tide earlier this year. According to the pundits, this promotion/demotion was the beginning of the end for his tenure at Alabama, reflecting a severely damaged relationship between Steele and head coach Nick Saban.

Before joining the Crimson Tide, Steele was the linebackers coach at Florida State and former head coach at Baylor. His career includes stops with the Carolina Panthers, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oklahoma Sooners, and Tennessee Vols, among others.

Steele's new deal at Clemson will be "competitive with the $360,000" he made with the Crimson Tide, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.

View the original post or comment on Steele leaving Alabama to be Clemson DC...

Under the terms of the new deal, Marve can accept a transfer to any SEC school, except Florida, Tennessee of LSU. The Canes believe that Marve or his family entered into private discussions with the exempted schools and thus singled them out in the transfer release.

Marve is still prohibited from transferring to schools in the Atlantic Coast Conference and within the state of Florida. But those three SEC schools remain off-limits, Miami officials said, because of the belief that discussions about Marve transferring to one of those institutions has been going on for some time.

"The University of Miami has reason to believe that the Marve family or others on behalf of the Marve family contacted those institutions during the 2008 season regarding Robert's potential transfer prior to him having been given his release by UM," the university said in a statement released late Friday night. "We are not suggesting any wrongdoing on the part of any of the universities mentioned."

Marve will have two years of eligibility remaining after sitting out a year if he transfers to another FBS school.

Just a cursory glance of depth charts in the SEC makes Marve a hot commodity. Although his career at Miami has yet to live up to his pedigree as Mr. Florida Football out of high school, it's hard to argue Marve's skills. With a year off to learn a new system, it's not difficult to forecast success for Marve at a South Carolina... or Ole Miss... or Auburn... or Arkansas... or Alabama... or even Kentucky.

And while Marve has said that he wants to play in the South, I wouldn't write off the Big10 and Big12 schools just yet, either. And if you see any suspicious flights headed to Tampa from Dallas, someone had better figure out where June Jones is.

View the original post or comment on Miami QB gets OK to transfer to SEC team...

By posting a perfect 5-0 record in the bowls, the Pac10 has solidified the undisputed crown as "conference champion". Not only did the Pac 10 go undefeated in the bowls, but they beat four ranked teams... and four BCS conference opponents.

Arizona, who finished fifth in the Pac10, knocked off 17th-ranked BYU 31-21 in the Las Vegas Bowl, to finish the season 8-5.

Cal - your fourth place Pac 10 team - beat BCS opponent Miami 24-17 in the Emerald Bowl, taking the Bears to 9-4 on the season.

#15 Oregon, the Pac 10's co-runner up this season, finished 10-3 after marching out of the Holiday Bowl with an "upset" win #13 Oklahoma State... 42-31.

#24 Oregon State, the other co-runner up in the Pac 10, finished the year 9-4 after a 3-0 "upset" win over #18 Pitt in the Sun Bowl.

The Pac10 may not be ranked #1 in the Sagarin ratings. That would be the ACC.

It may not have the most teams ranked in the BCS top ten. That would be the Big XII.

The Pac 10 didn't lead the way with the most top-ten defenses. That would be the SEC.

But no one else can say they went undefeated in the bowl games.

No one else can say they won 100%. No one else can say they "batted 1.000".

No one else can say they proved it on the field.

View the original post or comment on No debate - Pac10 is best conference...

New Year's Eve - December 31st
Armed Forces: Air Force vs. Houston 12:00 p.m. ESPN
Sun: Oregon State vs. Pittsburgh 2:00 p.m. CBS
Music City: Boston College vs. Vanderbilt 3:30 p.m. ESPN
Insight: Kansas vs. Minnesota 6:00 p.m. NFL Network
Peach: Georgia Tech vs. LSU 7:30 p.m. ESPN

New Year's Day - January 1st
Outback: Iowa vs. South Carolina 11:00 a.m. ESPN
Capital One: Georgia vs. Michigan State 1:00 p.m. ABC
Gator: Clemson vs. Nebraska 1:00 p.m. CBS
Rose: Penn State vs. USC 4:30 p.m. ABC
Orange: Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech 8:00 p.m. FOX

Friday, January 2nd
Cotton: Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech 2:00 p.m. FOX
Liberty: East Carolina vs. Kentucky 5:00 p.m. ESPN
Sugar: Alabama vs. Utah 8:00 p.m. FOX

Saturday, January 3rd
International: Buffalo vs. Connecticut 12:00 p.m. ESPN2

View the original post or comment on Fanblogs Open Thread - Champagne Wishes Edition...

A D-II juggernaut, the Lions own three national championships and have been to the playoffs three times in the last four years.

Bowden, who takes over for Mark Hudspeth after his departure to Mississippi State, became enamoured with the UNA position weeks ago while covering the DII championship game between Northwest Missouri State and Minnesota Duluth. He even tacked this insight into his story on the game:

The game was played on the beautiful campus of the University of North Alabama - the only Division II school ever to win back-to-back-to-back national titles. While I was down in Auburn winning 20 consecutive games in '93-94, I wasn't even the winningest coach in the football-crazy state of Alabama. The great coach at UNA, Bobby Wallace, was up the road in Florence winning two straight national championships during those years – and oh yeah, he tacked on that third straight one in '95.

Bowden told the Times Daily that everything just clicked at UNA that afternoon.

"About the time I was thinking about where I would want to coach I happened to come here for the Division II game," he said. "I've always loved this area, and thought it would be a great place to raise a family. When I heard coach Hudspeth had resigned, I began to talk with (athletics director) Mark Linder. It soon became clear that this is where I wanted to coach."

Bowden has a 111-53-2 record in 15 seasons as a head coach, including a 47-17-1 record in six seasons at Auburn. Despite an NCAA probation, Bowden led the Tigers to a perfect 11-0 in 1993 and would eventually win 20 straight. He was selected as the D-IA national coach of the year in 1993.

Bowden continued:

"I wanted to go somewhere where winning is important and a place that has great tradition. I also wanted to be at a place where I can make a contribution, not just to the school and the football program but the whole community. I'm from Alabama and I've recruited this state for many years. UNA just fit everything I wanted."

Congrats to Terry. He's got his fans & detractors, particularly in the wake of his departure from Auburn under uncertain circumstances. But that's behind him now, for better or worse.

I've always felt that he got hosed by the Tigers. Everything that has happened since Bowden left (the Petrino jet-gate, the Tubs "resignation") has only confirmed Bowden's story in my mind. It will be nice to see him back on the sidelines.

View the original post or comment on Bowden hired at North Alabama...

Joe Paterno received a three-year extension at Penn State.

Todd Graham signed a ten year extension that will keep him at Tulsa through 2018.

Oregon State gave an extension to Mike Riley to keep him on the Beaver sidelines through 2015.

Mark Dantonio's new deal extends him through 2016 at Michigan State.

Utah coach Kyle Wittingham signed a five-year, six-million dollar contract extension.

Minnesota is preparing a contract extension for Tim Brewster, but not everyone is happy about it.

Mike Van Gundy is a man... with a seven-year, $15 million contract extension.

Buffalo's Turner Gill signed his contract extension with the Bulls and will be on the sidelines through 2013... or until he takes a BCS job.

Georgia Tech signed Coach of the Year Paul Johnson to a seven-year extension.

North Dakota coach Chris Mussman received a two-year extension for the Fighting Sioux.

Western Michigan has agreed to a five-year extension with Bill Cubit.

Duke has inked David Cutcliffe to a two-year extension, extending his contract through 2015.

Kevin Sumlin is getting a contract extension at the University of Houston.

More to come in the following days.....

View the original post or comment on Savor the Flavor - Coaching Contract Extensions...