John Chavis doesn’t refute Georgia rumors

How serious is LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis about the Georgia defensive coordinator’s job? Well, he’s not really saying. At least, not with the Tigers set to take on Penn State in two days in the Capital One Bowl. Chavis was asked two different times Wednesday at a Capital One Bowl press conference about his interest in the Georgia job and/or whether or not he expected to be at LSU next year. Both times, he essentially gave a lengthy no comment and certainly did nothing to distance himself from the Georgia job. “I’ll be happy to talk about our players and about this bowl game,” Chavis said. “Beyond that, I really want to leave it like it is.” Several people close to the situation contend that Chavis has emerged as Mark Richt’s top choice and that it’s his job if he wants it. The Bulldogs are prepared to pay $600,000 or more per year and would give Chavis a three-year contract. He earned $450,000 this season at LSU. – ESPN

Texas Tech Fires Mike Leach

Texas Tech fired coach Mike Leach on Wednesday, two days after he was suspended by the school as it investigated his treatment of a player with a concussion. “I’m very sad to say there’s only one person to blame for this and it’s Mike Leach,” Texas Tech chancellor Kent Hance told The Associated Press. Jerry Turner, vice chairman of the university system’s board of regents, said “other things” came to light during an investigation of Leach’s treatment of receiver Adam James. Turner declined to elaborate about the other issues. Later, in a telephone interview with ESPN’s Rece Davis, Hance said: “I like him and I wanted him to be my coach, but insubordination and this type of activity just cannot be permitted.” Leach was in San Antonio with his team, which is preparing for the Alamo Bowl against Michigan State on Saturday, when he learned of his firing. Later Wednesday, he issued a statement to the media. Saying he was proud of turning the program around and upping the school’s graduation rate, Leach then blasted groups related to the university. “Over the past several months there have been individuals in the Texas Tech administration, Board of Regents and booster groups who have dealt in lies and continue to do so,” the statement read. “These lies have led to my firing [Wednesday]. I steadfastly refuse to deal in any lies and am disappointed that I have not been afforded the opportunity for the truth to be known. “Texas Tech’s decision to deal in lies and fabricate a story which led to my firing includes, but is not limited by, the animosity remaining from last year’s contract negotiations. I will not tolerate such retaliatory action. Additionally, we will pursue all available legal remedies.” In the statement, Leach did not explain how he felt the school was lying. He said his reputation had been damaged but that “there will be time to answer questions about this issue in the future, but the serious legal nature of this situation prevents me from going into further detail at this time.” – ESPN

Craig James hounded Mike Leach to play son more

Texas Tech continues to investigate a complaint from Adam James and his family, but Mike Leach backers wonder why he was suspended before the investigation was complete. “They never even told him why he was suspended,” a source said. “There’s nothing more to investigate. The source said Craig James has been “hounding these coaches at Texas Tech - not just Mike - all year” for more playing time for Adam James. “They suspended him because a family is upset about the kid’s playing time,” the source said. “That’s what it is. [Leach] didn’t do anything wrong with this kid. “James wanted Mike, No. 1, to promise that his son would be a starter next year, which you can’t do.” Craig James did not return a telephone call seeking comment. – Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Jay Hopson headed to Memphis as DC

Michigan linebacker coach Jay Hopson is leaving to become defensive coordinator at Memphis… Hopson, who spent the last 2 years coaching linebackers for the Wolverines, previously served 3 seasons as defensive coordinator at Southern Mississippi, Memphis’ Conference USA rival. Michigan’s linebackers, like the defense as a whole, were an overall disappointment this year. Middle linebacker Obi Ezeh lost his starting job after eight games, and weak-side linebacker Jonas Mouton was benched late in the season. Strong-side linebacker Stevie Brown led the Wolverines in tackles in his first year playing the position after moving from safety. – AnnArbor.com

Arizona State has Plethora of OC Candidates

Candidates for Arizona State’s offensive coordinator job continue to surface, including Boise State assistant head coach Brent Pease and former Akron head coach J.D. Brookhart. Others who have or will be interviewed include Eric Price, former UTEP offensive coordinator; Noel Mazzone, former offensive coordinator at Mississippi, Auburn and North Carolina State; and Steve Axman, Idaho offensive coordinator and former Northern Arizona head coach. That list could grow. Fourth-year ASU coach Dennis Erickson is not commenting on specific candidates but said Tuesday that there “are some awfully good guys” in the mix. “I’m learning a lot of them. We will get the best out there to fit our staff and give us some new ideas.” – Arizona Republic

Turner Gill Busy Hiring Assistants at Kansas

Former Mississippi State assistant J.B. Grimes is expected to join new Kansas University football coach Turner Gill’s staff, according to Rivals.com. Grimes, who is expected to be named the Jayhawks’ offensive line coach, has served as the offensive line coach at Arkansas, Virginia Tech, Texas A&M, East Carolina and, most recently, Mississippi State, where he served for four seasons. In addition to Grimes, Gill’s staff is expected to include offensive coordinator Chuck Long, defensive coordinator Carl Torbush, special teams coordinator/tight ends coach Aaron Stamn, running backs coach Reggie Mitchell and wide receivers coach Darrell Wyatt. – Lawrence Journal-World

Joe Kines mum on his future with Aggies

A&M has experienced a seven-season run of defensive misery under the guidance of Carl Torbush, Gary Darnell and Kines for the past two. Kines’ defense ranks 107th nationally (out of 120 teams), and allowed a whopping 49 points per game over the Aggies’ six losses. Coach Mike Sherman has pledged to get the A&M defense on track, and spoke generally when asked if he expected his coaching staff to return intact. “At the end of every season, after our last ball game, I sit down with them and we go through an evaluation process,” Sherman said. Should Kines retire and Sherman promotes from within, cornerbacks coach Chuck McMillian is expected to be a strong candidate for the coordinator’s position. For now, however, Kines simply will focus on stopping Georgia’s trap — or anything else making the Bulldogs’ offense tick. – Express-News

Charlie Strong Hires Mike Sanford as Louisville OC

University of Louisville football coach Charlie Strong gave some insight into his offensive style with his first staff hire on Tuesday. Strong tapped Mike Sanford, a spread-offense mastermind, as the Cardinals’ offensive coordinator and assistant head coach. The pair worked under Lou Holtz together at Notre Dame in 1997-98, when Sanford served as the quarterbacks coach. – Louisville Courier-Journal

Pete Carroll Upset with USC AD Mike Garrett?

Pete Carroll now on the spot, the perception nationally the Trojans’ football program is out of control, if not in need of an NCAA spanking, and AD Mike Garrett is nowhere to be found to assist the guy who saved his career. Garrett owes every day on the job, every penny earned to Carroll after stumbling across him almost a decade ago and hiring him to take the job Mike Riley, Dennis Erickson and Mike Bellotti turned down. And now, as wacky as it is to even suggest, Carroll needs Garrett to buy him some time to regroup. It has been a terrible year for Carroll, starting with the embarrassing way he reacted to Mark Sanchez’s decision to turn pro knowing more than anyone he’d be left without a solid quarterback — and leading all the way up to this week and the Joe McKnight affair and three players declared academically ineligible. “I don’t think he did anything wrong,” Carroll says, but if that’s the case, then why isn’t McKnight here practicing with his teammates? “It’s out of my hands,” Carroll says, a hint of dissatisfaction and even disagreement in his voice. – LA Times

FSU Hires East Carolina DC Greg Hudson

East Carolina defensive coordinator Greg Hudson has agreed to join Jimbo Fisher’s staff at Florida State, sources confirmed to NoleInsider.com on Tuesday night. Hudson will take over as the Seminoles linebackers coach and will be Assistant Head Coach for Defense. The deal was not done until Tuesday evening, when everything was finalized. Hudson is regarded as one of the bright young coaches in college football and gives Fisher three outstanding hires, including defensive coordinator Mark Stoops and offensive assistant  Dameyune Craig, thus far since it was announced he will be taking over the Florida State program following the Jan. 1 Gator Bowl against West Virginia. – NoleInsider.com

Next Page »