My Sports News Digest

Garrett Gilbert gets another year of eligibility Posted by Ben Kercheval on March 31, 2012, 8:42 PM EDT Finally, some good news for one of the good guys in college football. Former Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert has been approved for a NCAA injury waiver, Longhorns coach Mack Brown announced on Friday. The result of the decision means Gilbert, who is expected to finish his undergraduate program at UT this May, will be eligible for two more years at his new school, SMU. Gilbert announced his decision to transfer to June Jones‘ program back in November. Gilbert was pulled as the [...]

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^ COLUMBUS, Ohio – Spring football practice began Wednesday as Ohio State’s basketball team prepared for its second trip to the Final Four in the last six years. Perfect symmetry there. The basketball team is usually playing in the shadow of goal posts on the Ohio State campus, where fans love to pack the football stadium and watch the band spell “Ohio” in script at halftime. The Buckeyes’ football team is the overriding talk of the town, even when it involves the program’s recent scandals. In the last few months, the city has been consumed by the hiring of Urban [...]

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IOWA CITY, Iowa – The son of Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz beat out 100 other applicants for a position on his father’s staff and was given a salary $ 15,000 higher than a second assistant coach hired at the same time, according to documents released Friday. Brian Ferentz was given a starting annual salary of $ 202,400 when he was hired away from the New England Patriots in February, placing the 28-year-old’s compensation in the top half for offensive line coaches in the Big Ten, according to hiring documents released in response to an open records request. The other assistant [...]

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HELENA, Mont. – The University of Montana fired football coach Robin Pflugrad and athletic director Jim O’Day on Thursday, adding more uncertainty to a program already dealing with sexual assault allegations against two players. “The University of Montana has determined not to renew the contracts of Athletics Director Jim O’Day and head football coach Robin Pflugrad,” university President Royce Engstrom said in a statement. O’Day and Engstrom addressed staff and coaches in separate meetings Thursday morning, but neither gave a reason for the firings, said Greg Sundberg, the Montana Grizzly Scholarship Association executive director, who attended the meetings. “I think [...]

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Ryan Tannehill could be a top 10 pick in next month’s NFL draft, less than two years after lining up as a receiver for Texas A&M. Tannehill returned to his old high school position of quarterback halfway through the 2010 season and caught the attention of NFL scouts despite starting just 19 games behind center for the Aggies. On Thursday, he worked out for representatives of 22 NFL teams, including Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, Miami coach Joe Philbin and Cleveland offensive coordinator Brad Childress. It was their first offseason look at Tannehill after he missed the [...]

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida tight end A.C. Leonard, suspended indefinitely following his arrest on a domestic battery charge last month, has been reinstated. Leonard practiced with the Gators on Wednesday, but coach Will Muschamp says the sophomore “still has a lot of things to work through before his status for the fall is addressed.” Leonard was suspended from team activities for six weeks, although he was seen attending practice two weeks ago. He was arrested Feb. 15 following an altercation with his live-in girlfriend. According to Gainesville Police, the two got into a verbal altercation and Leonard eventually pulled her [...]

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EAST LANSING, Mich. – Andrew Maxwell dropped back, rolled out to his right and tossed a short, crisp pass to Dion Sims. Spring practice has begun at Michigan State, and Maxwell has the crucial task of replacing Kirk Cousins at quarterback. Tuesday was Maxwell’s first chance to take over as the leader of the offense, and it was an unusual feeling. “It was different. It was weird,” he said. “It’s a challenge I’ve been waiting for.” Cousins led the Spartans to 11-win seasons as a junior and senior, and his departure leaves both a leadership void and a hole to [...]

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MADISON, Wis. – Former Maryland quarterback Danny O’Brien has committed to playing for Wisconsin. Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema announced the addition on Wednesday, which fills a gap for the Badgers following the departure of Russell Wilson. Like O’Brien, Wilson took advantage of an NCAA rule that allows players who have graduated not to have to sit out a year. Wilson played one year for the Badgers after leaving North Carolina State. O’Brien graduated after three years at Maryland and has two years of eligibility remaining. O’Brien played 17 games at Maryland over the past two seasons and was named ACC [...]

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