Ralph Friedgen’s family performs intervention

Gloria, Ralph Friedgen’s wife, and Kristina, the second of his three daughters, actually performed their own intervention for the man they love. They became concerned about him dying before his time. He was 62 years of age. His family had a history of diabetes. And, yes, he weighed an unmanageable 401 pounds a year ago. The Fridge is down 105 pounds since the end of last season, fighting the battle of the bulge as hard and as consistently as he’s ever fought it. – Washington Post

Minnesota Golden Gophers want football date with Notre Dame

Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi said if Notre Dame decides to drop Purdue, Michigan or Michigan State off its football schedule in the future, the Irish might have an opening to play the Gophers. Maturi said he has been talking to Notre Dame about a game and is confident it will happen in the future. He tried hard to get Notre Dame to be the opening opponent for the Gophers in new TCF Bank Stadium. – Star Tribune

Michigan Wolverines Prepare for NCAA Investigation

In response to published reports alleging the illegalities, the University of Michigan has launched an investigation into possible violations committed by the football program and coaches. “We are committed to following both the letter and the intent of the NCAA rules and we take any allegations of violations seriously,” Michigan athletic director Bill Martin said in a statement released Sunday. “We believe we have been compliant with NCAA rules, but, nonetheless, we have launched a full investigation of the allegations. “We have already reached out to both the Big Ten and the NCAA and we will have more to say on this as soon as we have completed our assessment.” – Detroit News

Al Groh on Hot Seat at Virginia

No one in authority has said that Virginia coach Al Groh is on the proverbial “hot seat,” but it’s hard to look at the facts and think otherwise. U.Va. has been picked to finish fifth in the six-team Coastal Division, and if the Cavaliers do not improve on that forecast, they’re unlikely to have a winning record. The Cavaliers, who went 5-7 last year, have not suffered back-to-back losing seasons in 27 years - since 1981-82. – Roanoke Times

AD: “Football at Notre Dame has to succeed”

When Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick chooses the adjective “important” to describe his football program’s 2009 season, and when he’s asked to elaborate on that choice, it kind of begets another question. Specifically: How isn’t it an important season for the Irish? “Football at Notre Dame has to succeed,” Swarbrick said. “All of us engaged feel an equal obligation to get us back there, to where people view us as one of the better teams in the country.” – Chicago Tribune

Michigan players allege NCAA violations

Two players called Michigan’s off-season requirements “ridiculous.” The players described the coaches’ expectations as an ongoing concern among many teammates. Parents of several players agreed. In the past two off-seasons, players said, the Wolverines were expected to spend two to three times more than the eight hours allowed for required workouts each week. Players are free to exceed the limit, but it must be truly voluntary. The players said the off-season work was clearly required. Several of them said players who failed to do all the strength and conditioning were forced to come back to finish or were punished with additional work. Players spent at least nine hours on football activities on Sundays after games last fall. NCAA rules mandate a daily 4-hour limit. The Wolverines also exceeded the weekly limit of 20 hours, the athletes said. Players said members of Rodriguez’s quality-control staff often watched seven-on-seven off-season scrimmages. The noncontact drills, in which an offense runs plays against a defense, are supposed to be voluntary and player-run. They are held at U-M’s football facilities. NCAA rules allow only training staff — not quality-control staffers — to attend as a safety precaution. – Detroit Free Press

Tim Brewster Slams Big Ten Scheduling

Gophers football coach Tim Brewster isn’t happy about the Big Ten schedule that has his team playing 12 straight games without a bye this season. Indiana has two byes, Wisconsin one. “It’s unfortunate; it’s poor scheduling, not from our part, but the way it plays out in the Big Ten,” Brewster said Tuesday. “Players shouldn’t have to play 12 straight weeks without a bye. Every season should have a weekend off. It’s unfair to kids. We’re in the kid business, and we’re asking them to play 12 straight weeks.” – Pioneer Press

Memphis Tigers on fifth defensive coordinator since 2006

Since 2006, they’ve taken defensive instructions from Joe Lee Dunn, Tommy West, Rick Kravitz, Tim Walton and Kenny Ingram. Five different coordinators in four seasons. While some programs operate years without changing defensive coordinators, the Tigers are in the midst of an unprecedented revolving door. Dunn was dismissed early in the 2006 season and replaced on an interim basis by head coach West. Kravitz spent one year at the UofM before being replaced by former Tiger defensive assistant Tim Walton. When Walton left after last season for the NFL’s Detroit Lions, West decided to stay in-house and promote Ingram, who joined the Tigers in 2006 as a defensive assistant. ”It’s hard on the players because each (coordinator) wants something different,” West said. ”Each guy kind of has his own agenda. ”That’s the reason I wanted to stay inside. I wanted to try and keep some consistency in it. Every time you change, it sets you back.” – Commercial-Appeal

Indiana to make $3 million by moving Penn State game

Indiana will trade a home football game with Penn State next season for a $3 million pay day, athletic director Fred Glass said Tuesday. The Hoosiers have agreed to move the game, scheduled Nov. 20, to FedEx field in Landover, Md. FedEx Field is the home of the Washington Redskins, who first approached IU about making the deal. “Obviously, it’s very positive for us financially,” Glass said. “When you rank second to the bottom in the conference in money spent per sport, you have to color outside the lines and be open to new ways to generate revenue.” Indiana generally makes less than $1 million per home game. Glass is working to add a sixth home date by either moving a planned non-conference game at Central Michigan back to Bloomington or by replacing the Chippewas with a Football Bowl Subdivision team that will agree to play at Memorial Stadium. – Herald-Times

Ron Zook patches things up with Urban Meyer?

Florida coach Urban Meyer and Illinois coach Ron Zook spoke on the phone Saturday afternoon and made peace, according to an Illinois spokesperson. Meyer apologized for criticizing the locker-room culture when he took over the program, saying freshmen were treated like “non-people.” While he didn’t mention Zook specifically, it sounded like a jab at his predecessor at Florida. – Chicago Tribune

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