Rutgers Hires Maine Assistant

Robb Smith, who turned the University of Maine’s defense into one of the best at the Championship Subdivision level as the unit’s coordinator the past three years, is expected to join the Rutgers staff in time for the start of spring football practice on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person requested anonymity because Smith’s hiring has to be formally approved. Smith, who patterned Maine’s defense after the one used by Rutgers, has not yet been assigned a position group to coach. But he will be added to the staff as a full-time assistant. “I have no comment at this time,” Smith said when reached on his cell phone. “I’m not going to comment.” – Star-Ledger

FSU Begins Appeals Process

Florida State won’t be chasing the impossible if it goes before the NCAA Infractions Appeal Committee seeking reinstatement of any wins that would be affected by the NCAA’s ruling on an academic-misconduct case. Oklahoma had its victories from the 2005 football season reinstated in a February 2008 appeal. That case involved two players who were paid for work they did not perform at a car dealership in Norman, Okla., and dealt with the university failing to monitor that employment and failing to detect that players were working for the dealership. The appeals committee partially overturned the original ruling that also included loss of scholarships. On Friday, the NCAA mandated that FSU vacate wins from games in which ineligible student-athletes participated, beginning at the point they cheated in an online music course that involved most of the 61 student-athletes. – Tallahassee Democrat

Mike Groh Lands at ‘Bama as GA

Mike Groh wasn’t out of football for long. The former U.Va. offensive coordinator has accepted a position at the University of Alabama, where his boss is Nick Saban. Virginia coach Al Groh, a former colleague of Saban, announced in early December that three of his assistants, including Mike, the older of his two sons, would not return in 2009. The younger Groh later tried unsuccessfully to land the head job at Towson, which competes in the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision. Alabama has yet to announce Groh’s hiring, but I’m told he’s technically a graduate assistant at the Southeastern Conference school, though his responsibilities figure to be greater than those of a typical G.A. Groh will receive his salary from U.Va. this year, so he can afford to work for low wages in Tuscaloosa. – Richmond Times-Dispatch

Bellotti on 2009: “50-50″

The decision, Mike Bellotti says, will “probably” come in the next two weeks. Whether he remains as football coach at Oregon, or moves over into the athletic director’s chair. In arriving at the decision, I ask the UO coach, is he leaning one way or the other? “I probably was after the season, but right now, it’s 50-50,” Bellotti says. “When you spend a couple of weeks after the season doing the things you do as coach, there is a lot of excitement. We have a chance to be a real good football team next season.” – Portland Tribune

Mullen Set to Begin 3rd Annual “Road Dawgs Tour”

Seventeen cities in five states will get a visit from new Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen starting April 27. Mullen is expected to be on every stop of the third annual Road Dawgs Tour, which will also feature other representatives from Mississippi State athletics, the alumni association and the admissions and scholarships office. – Clarion-Ledger

Fulmer Eager to Coach Again

Phillip Fulmer may not be Tennessee’s coach anymore, but he’s eager to get back on the sidelines somewhere. The former UT head man spoke in front of dozens of coaches at the Champions Coaching Clinic in Pigeon Forge Sunday. He discussed his keys to success and also advised the coaches on how to maintain a strong family life despite the hectic coaching calendar. After the speech, he talked with WVLT and reiterated his desire to coach again. “I think with our success that we’ve had [at UT] that there will be some opportunities,” Fulmer said. “It just needs to be the right kind of place and right environment that can compete for championships. That’s not every place in the country, but there’s a good number out there.” – WVLT