Fulmer, Kiffin Have Still Not Met

Former Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer said he has not met with his replacement, Lane Kiffin. “We’ve missed each other,” Fulmer said of Kiffin during an interview aired on WNML’s Sports Talk. “We will at some point. He’s been very busy. I’ve been very busy.” Fulmer said he’s aware of the comparisons between the two regimes, which usually is complimentary of Kiffin and critical of Fulmer. “That’s only normal,” Fulmer said. “That’s natural that people are going to compare. I’m proud of what we accomplished.” Fulmer worked for ESPN and CBS since his tenure at UT ended but isn’t sure if he’ll have an opportunity to continue in that line of work. “They’re kind of having the same issues that everyone in the world is having with the economy things that are going on,” Fulmer said. “Whether they’re hiring new talent or whatever, I don’t know.” – Knoxville News-Sentinel

NCAA rules failed FSU’s Surrency

In its own mission statement, the NCAA tells us it is “committed to the best interests, educations and athletic participation of student-athletes.” If this is truly the case then why won’t the NCAA let Corey Surrency play? After all Surrency has endured to get to where he is, why did the NCAA just a few days ago deny the Florida State wide receiver a chance to play his senior season? “I’m disturbed by the NCAA,” Kim Wiggins says. “Corey came from the streets and got his life back together and now the NCAA is throwing him right back to the wolves.” – Orlando Sentinel

Internet leaks prompt Colorado to close practices

In a move being contemplated almost since drills opened on March 31, the University of Colorado announced Thursday it was closing the remainder of its spring football practices to the public and the media. An exception is Saturday’s first full spring scrimmage, scheduled for 10 a.m. and likely to be conducted at Folsom Field (weather permitting). The spring’s second full scrimmage (April 17, 4 p.m.) also might remain open, contingent on several factors to be determined Saturday. In a news release distributed Thursday, the school said the “combination of far too much information surfacing on the Internet, despite repeated requests of those in attendance not to communicate via cell phone technologies, and distractions they have caused led to the decision.” Coach Dan Hawkins and his staff were known to be unhappy over full practice reports being posted on the Internet, as well as video footage of practices taken on cell phones being posted last year. Hawkins said if that occurred after Saturday’s scrimmage, the session on the 17th would be closed. – INDenver Times

Gruden turns down offer from Oregon

Chip Kelly’s first major task at Oregon was finding someone to fill his old spot as the team’s offensive coordinator. Again rumors began swirling - the two biggest surrounding former Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin (recently hired as quarterbacks coach at New Mexico) or Ryan Day (a QB in Kelly’s University of New Hampshire offense from 1997-2001 and a tight ends coach in 2002, now wide receivers coach at Boston College). “I love Ryan, I talk to him all the time about things,” said Kelly in an interview late Friday night. “but not about this. I have only offered the job to one man so far, and that was Jon Gruden.” Gruden and Kelly have a blossoming relationship. … Days after Kelly was named head coach of the Ducks, he contacted Gruden again. Instead of being a “guest coach,” Kelly offered Gruden the job of offensive coordinator. Unfortunately for Kelly and Oregon, it appears Gruden decided to stand by what he told the Sentinel. He wants to learn the spread for future use in the National Football League. A telephone message left with Gruden’s agent Bob LaMonte on Thursday afternoon hadn’t been returned as of 8:35 p.m. Kelly said his offer was appreciated, but not accepted. – Nashua Telegraph