Rimington Trophy Spring Watch List: Swanson, Ikard, & Stork lead the way, C-USA snubbed

05/22/2013

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By Justin Burnette
On May 20, the Rimington Trophy committee released the 2013 Spring Watch List. The Rimington Trophy is awarded annually to the "Most Outstanding Center in NCAA Division I-A College Football (current FBS/FCS)". 

With 44 players listed, there is a good chance that your favorite center is on it, but Conference USA still failed to have a player named on the watch, despite being a 14 team conference. The SEC had the most named with nine while next up were the Mountain West with six and PAC-12 with five. The smallest FBS conference, the Sun Belt, had three players make the list. 

Arkansas' Travis Swanson, Oklahoma's Gabe Ikard, and Florida State's Bryan Stork are some of the early favorites for the Rimington.

Swanson is one of 17 players listed returning from the 2012 Spring Watch List and started all 38 games of his collegiate career for the Razorbacks while being selected for the All-SEC Second Team by the Associated Press last season. He is also No. 11 on the 2013 Freaks List and is reported to have done the three-cone drill at 7.39 seconds, faster than 2013 NFL Draft No. 1 pick Eric Fisher. 

The Sooners lineman Ikard has started 37 games and was named All-Big 12 First Team by the AP and Coaches in 2012; he played mostly at left guard in 2010 and 2011. Ikard has gained 30 pounds while at OU since converting from a tight end. 
 
Stork has 27 career starts for the Seminoles and had a team-leading average grade of 85.6 percent last regular season while being named All-ACC Second Team by the Coaches for 2012. He is a solid run-blocker and has seen snaps at guard as well. 

2013 Rimington Trophy Spring Watch List

ACC
Russell Bodine North Carolina 6'4" 310 Junior
Jay Finch Georgia Tech 6'3" 285 Senior
Macky MacPherson Syracuse 6'2" 280 Senior
Shane McDermott Miami 6'4" 296 Junior
Bryan Stork Florida State 6'4" 312 RS Senior

American Athletic (Formerly Big East, official July 1, 2013) 
Betim Bujari Rutgers 6'4" 290 Junior
Taylor Lasecki SMU 6'3" 288 Sophomore
Bryce Redman Houston 6'1" 285 Junior
Austin Reiter USF 6'3" 273 RS Junior

Big Ten
Travis Jackson Michigan State 6'3" 280 Junior
Corey Linsley Ohio State 6'3" 297 Junior
Cole Pensick Nebraska 6'2" 275 Senior
Brandon Vitabile Northwestern 6'3" 300 RS Junior

Big 12
Dominic Espinosa Texas 6'4" 300 Junior
B.J. Finney Kansas State 6'4" 303 Junior
Gabe Ikard Oklahoma 6'3" 298 RS Senior

Independents 
Mike Marboe Idaho 6'2" 301 Junior
Ryan Powis Army 6'0" 248 Junior
Valerian Ume-Ezeoke New Mexico State 6'2" 285 Junior

MAC
David Kekuewa Bowling Green 6'2" 308 Junior
Zac Kerin Toledo 6'5" 300 Senior

Mountain West
Ben Clarke Hawaii 6'3" 275 Sophomore
Dillon Farrell New Mexico 6'5" 292 Senior
Matt Galas Nevada 6'1" 280 Junior
Tyler Larsen Utah State 6'4" 312 Senior
Weston Richburg Colorado State 6'4" 297 RS Senior
Robert Waterman UNLV 6'2" 290 Junior

Pac-12
Jake Brendel UCLA 6'5" 276 RS Sophomore
Hroniss Grasu Oregon 6'3" 297 Junior
Gus Handler Colorado 6'3" 290 Senior
Kody Koebensky Arizona State 6'3" 290 Senior
Isaac Seumalo Oregon State 6'3" 302 RS Senior

SEC
David Andrews Georgia 6'2" 295 Junior
Evan Boehm Missouri 6'3"; 315 Sophomore
Dillon Day Mississippi State 6'4" 295 RS Junior
Reese Dismukes Auburn 6'3"; 290 Junior
Jonotthan Harrison Florida 6'4" 299 RS Junior
Ryan Kelly Alabama 6'5" 290 RS Sophomore
James Stone Tennessee 6'3" 300 Senior
Travis Swanson Arkansas 6'5" 305 Senior
Evan Swindall Mississippi 6'4" 295 Senior

Sun Belt
Sean Conway Western Kentucky 6'3" 305 Senior
Bryce Giddens Arkansas State 6'0" 225 Sophomore
Andre Huval Louisiana-Lafayette 6'1" 290 Senior

Source: RimingtonTrophy.com

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2012 College Football Award and Trophy Watch Lists

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2012 SEC Attendance Statistics

05/21/2013

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By Justin Burnette
Picture
Last season was a historic year for the Southeastern Conference by topping an accumulated attendance of over seven million fans, first time ever for a conference. Expect the SEC attendance to rise further over the next couple years with additions by Texas A&M, Mississippi State, and LSU. 

By 2015, Texas A&M will have added on nearly 20,000 seats to its capacity. After the expansion, Kyle Field will be the largest capacity stadium in the SEC at 102,500 and will have the highest capacity in the state of Texas. Also if no other schools have further additions, Texas A&M will rank third overall nationally in capacity. In 2014, Mississippi State is also expanding the capacity of Davis Wade Stadium up to 61,337 and LSU is increasing capacity of Tiger Stadium to over 100,000. 

Despite a disappointing season, attendance for Missouri increased in 2012 when compared to the 2011 season. The Tigers went just 5-7 last year and failed to reach a bowl for the first time since 2004. The 2012 season was the first year in the SEC for Mizzou so that surely played a factor in their boost. 

2012 Southeastern Conference Attendance Stats

Average Attendance Per Home Game

1. Alabama 101,722
2. LSU 92,626
3. Georgia 92,703
4. Tennessee 89,965
5. Florida 87,597
6. Texas A&M 87,014
7. Auburn 82,646
8. South Carolina 80,001
9. Missouri 67,476
10. Arkansas 66,176* 
11. Ole Miss 57,066
12. Mississippi State 55,628
13. Kentucky 49,691
14. Vanderbilt 37,860
Accumulated home attendance: 7,371,125
Average attendance per home game: 75,216
Capacity Percent

1. Texas A&M 105.36
2. Mississippi State 100.99
3. LSU 100.09
4. Georgia 99.95
5. Alabama 99.90
6. South Carolina 99.69
7. Florida 98.93
8. Arkansas 98.72
9. Missouri 95.03
10. Auburn 94.51
11. Ole Miss 94.20
12. Vanderbilt 93.37
13. Tennessee 87.81
14. Kentucky 73.50
*Two home games played at Little Rock in lower capacity stadium.

Other Articles:

2012 NCAA Attendance Stats

2011 SEC Attendance Stats

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2012 NCAA Football Attendance Statistics

05/21/2013

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By Justin Burnette
With football being the most popular sport in America and the legions of passionate college fans, attendance and capacity of stadiums in college football keep rising. The 2012 accumulated attendance of 48,958,547 fans at all 644 NCAA schools is the third-highest total in history including home games, neutral-site games, and postseason.

The SEC had the highest average attendance per home game in 2012 and the Big Ten was the second highest. It makes sense with both conferences having the top five college football stadiums in capacity. The SEC is the first conference with over seven million fans in accumulated attendance for a season. Expect attendance in the Southeastern Conference to rise further over the next couple years with stadium expansions by Texas A&M, Mississippi State, and LSU. 

As for individual schools, Michigan still reigns supreme in college football attendance by packing the Big House over capacity at an average of 112,252 per home game for 2012. The last time home attendance was below 100,000 for the Wolverines was October 25, 1975 vs. the Indiana Hoosiers and there have been 244 consecutive 100,000-plus crowds since then. In 2012, Michigan State at Michigan drew 113,833 fans, the highest attendance for college football last season.   

Notre Dame plans to add buildings and over 3,000 premium seats in and around their stadium. Notre Dame Stadium first opened in 1930 and was last expanded in 1997. The increase in seating would move the Irish up a couple spots in capacity and average attendance rankings. The project still has a lengthy process to go through and may take up to six years before completion.  

Eastern Michigan had the most dismal attendance average at only 3,923 with a season high of just 6,001. EMU only filled Rynearson Stadium, a capacity of 30,200, at 12.99 percent capacity for 2012. 

Only home attendance statistics were figured for the rankings below; neutral sites were not included. If a school claims multiple home stadiums, then attendance stats from those venues were also included. For example, Arkansas played at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock as a designated home site so it counted, but neutral site games such as Florida vs. Georgia at Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville did not count. Northern Illinois also designates Soldier Field as a home stadium. Note that attendance averages including neutral sites for conferences are listed under the conference comparison stats, but were not figured into any of the other stats or rankings. All statistics were compiled from information provided by the schools and NCAA.  

FBS Home Attendance Averages 2012 

Statistics includes teams in transition to the FBS in 2012 and 2013. Conferences are listed according to the 2013 alignment. The top five conferences in average attendance according to the 2012 alignment are listed under the conference comparison.

Top 126 

School, Average, Game High, Opponent

1. Michigan 112,252 - 113,833 (Michigan State)

2. Ohio State 105,330 - 106,102 (Nebraska)

3. Alabama 101,722 - 101,821 (6 schools tied)

4. Texas 100,884 - 101,851 (West Virginia)

5. Penn State 96,730 - 107,818 (Ohio State)

6. Georgia 92,703 - 92,746 (6 schools tied)

7. LSU 92,626 - 93,374 (Alabama)

8. Tennessee 89,965 - 102,455 (Florida & Alabama)

9. USC 87,845 - 93,607 (ND, Oregon, & Hawaii)

10. Florida 87,597 - 90,883 (South Carolina)

11. Texas A&M 87,014 - 87,429 (LSU)

12. Nebraska 85,517 - 86,160 (Michigan)

13. Oklahoma 85,243 - 86,031 (Notre Dame)

14. Auburn 82,646 - 86,721 (LSU)

15. Clemson 81,427 - 84,523 (South Carolina)

16. Notre Dame 80,795 - 80,795 (6 schools tied)

17. Wisconsin 80,006 - 80,587 (Minnesota)

18. South Carolina 80,001 - 85,199 (Georgia)

19. Florida State 75,601 - 83,429 (Florida)

20. Michigan State 75,382 - 79,219 (Notre Dame)

21. Iowa 70,474 - 70,585 (six schools tied)

22. UCLA 68,481 - 83,277 (USC)

23. Missouri 67,476 - 71,004 (UGA, ASU, & Bama)

24. Arkansas 66,176 - 74,615 (Alabama)

25. Virginia Tech 65,632 - 65,632 (6 schools tied)

26. BYU 61,161 - 63,489 (Oregon State)

27. Washington 58,617 - 66,202 (USC)

28. Oregon 57,490 - 58,792 (Washington & Stanford)

29. Texas Tech 57,209 - 60,879 (Texas)

30. Ole Miss 57,066 - 61,797 (Texas)

31. Arizona State 56,835 - 71,004 (Oregon)

32. Oklahoma State 56,557 - 57,779 (West Virginia)

33. West Virginia 55,916 - 60,101 (Kansas State)

34. California 55,876 - 63,186 (Nevada)

35. Mississippi State 55,628 - 57,831 (Tennessee)

36. Iowa State 55,274 - 56,800 (Kansas State)

37. North Carolina State 54,106 - 55,145 (Citadel)

38. North Carolina 50,286 - 62,000 (NC State)

39. Kansas State 50,278 - 50,912 (Texas)

40. Louisville 49,991 - 55,386 (Kentucky)

41. Kentucky 49,691 - 54,553 (Georgia)

42. Rutgers 49,188 - 52,798 (Louisville)

43. Arizona 47,931 - 51,901 (Arizona State)

44. Miami (FL) 47,719 - 62,781 (Notre Dame)

45. East Carolina 47,013 - 49,023 (Appalachian St)

46. Virginia 46,650 - 56,087 (Penn State)

47. Minnesota 46,637 - 50,805 (Syracuse)

48. TCU 46,047 - 47,894 (Texas Tech)

49. Illinois 45,564 - 47,981 (Indiana)

50. Colorado 45,373 - 46,893 (UCLA)

51. Utah 45,347 - 46,307 (USC)

52. Indiana 44,802 - 48,880 (Ohio State)

53. South Florida 44,130 - 69,383 (Florida State)

54. Georgia Tech 43,955 - 64,778 (Florida State)

55. Purdue 43,588 - 50,105 (Michigan)

56. Oregon State 43,424 - 47,249 (Oregon)

57. Stanford 43,343 - 50,360 (USC)

58. Pittsburgh 41,494 - 48,032 (Virginia Tech)

59. Kansas 41,329 - 46,601 (South Dakota State)

60. Baylor 41,194 - 44,856 (Sam Houston)

61. Syracuse 37,953 - 40,394 (Pittsburgh)

62. Vanderbilt 37,860 - 40,350 (Florida)

63. Boston College 37,020 - 44,500 (Notre Dame)

64. Maryland 36,023 - 40,391 (Wake Forest)

65. Northwestern 35,697 - 47,330 (Nebraska)

66. Boise State 35,404 - 36,864 (BYU)

67. Connecticut 34,672 - 37,279 (Temple)

68. UCF 34,608 - 40,478 (FIU)

69. Navy 32,363 - 35,671 (VMI)

70. Army 32,305 - 39,492 (Boston College)

71. Air Force 32,015 - 38,927 (Navy)

72. Fresno State 30,915 - 36,240 (Air Force)

73. San Diego State 30,879 - 50,596 (Hawaii)

74. Washington St 30,252 - 33,598 (Eastern Wash)

75. Hawaii 30,031 - 31,632 (New Mexico)

76. UTEP 29,374 - 40,137 (Oklahoma)

77. UTSA 29,226 - 39,032 (Texas State)

78. Cincinnati 29,138 - 46,026 (Virginia Tech)

79. Wake Forest 28,912 - 31,162 (Clemson)

80. Duke 28,170 - 33,941 (North Carolina)

81. Houston 27,247 - 32,207 (Texas State)

82. Temple 26,580 - 35,145 (Rutgers)

83. Arkansas State 26,398 - 31,243 (Middle Tenn)

84. Louisiana Tech 25,841 - 40,453 (Texas A&M)

85. Southern Miss 25,751 - 34,140 (East Carolina)

86. ULM 24,981 - 31,175 (Baylor)

87. Marshall 24,896 - 33,436 (Ohio)

88. Memphis 24,371 - 39,076 (Tenn.-Martin)

89. Nevada 23,432 - 30,017 (Boise State)

90. Louisiana 22,865 - 29,758 (Tulane)

91. New Mexico 22,307 - 28,450 (Southern)

92. Ohio 21,844 - 25,893 (New Mexico State)

93. SMU 21,292 - 32,016 (Texas A&M)

94. Troy 20,952 - 29,013 (Mississippi State)

95. N. Illinois 20,877* - 52,117 (Iowa at Soldier Field)

96. Toledo 20,552 - 28,115 (Bowling Green)

97. Rice 20,325 - 32,718 (Houston)

98. Utah State 20,054 - 25,513 (Utah)

99. Old Dominion 20,037 - 20,068 (7 schools tied)

100. Tulsa 20,020 - 24,236 (Fresno State)

101. Wyoming 19,555 - 22,627 (Air Force)

102. Colorado State 19,250 - 25,814 (Fresno State)

103. Texas State 18,945 - 33,006 (Texas Tech)

104. North Texas 18,927 - 22,259 (Texas Southern)

105. Tulane 18,085 - 28,913 (Ole Miss)

106. Kent State 17,880 - 21,657 (Ball State)

107. Middle Tennessee 17,738 - 21,067 (ULM)

108. Western Kentucky 17,415 - 23,252 (S. Miss)

109. South Alabama 16,794 - 23,789 (Troy)

110. Central Michigan 16,036 - 35,127 (Mich St)

111. Bowling Green 15,632 - 17,071 (Miami-OH) 

112. Miami (OH) 15,333 - 19,326 (Ohio)

113. UAB 15,271 - 28,612 (Troy)

114. UNLV 15,208 - 20,565 (Nevada)

115. Western Michigan 14,579 - 22,536 (E. Illinois)

116. New Mexico St 14,247 - 25,211 (New Mexico)

117. FIU 13,634 - 15,685 (Akron)

118. Florida Atlantic 13,459 - 15,405 (FIU)

119. Buffalo 13,242 - 17,021 (Pittsburgh)

120. Ball State 12,930 - 16,397 (South Florida)

121. Idaho 12,582 - 14,755 (New Mexico State)

122. Georgia St 12,309 - 18,921 (South Carolina St)

123. Massachusetts 10,901 - 16,304 (Indiana) 

124. San Jose State 10,789 - 15,494 (BYU)

125. Akron 9,275 - 10,102 (Bowling Green)

126. Eastern Michigan 3,923 - 6,011 (Kent State)

*Northern Illinois attendance averaged 15,670 without Soldier Field included.

By Conference

School, Average

ACC
Clemson 81,427
Florida State 75,601
Virginia Tech 65,632
North Carolina State 54,106
North Carolina 50,286
Miami FL 47,719
Virginia 46,650
Georgia Tech 43,955
Pittsburgh 41,494
Syracuse 37,953
Boston College 37,020
Maryland 36,022 
Wake Forest 29,912 
Duke 28,170 
Accumulated home attendance: 4,366,728
Average attendance per home game: 48,519

Big East
Louisville 49,991 
Rutgers 49,188 
South Florida 44,130 
Connecticut 34,672 
UCF 34,608
Houston 27,247
Temple 26,580
Memphis 24,371
SMU 21,292   
Accumulated home attendance: 1,971,004
Average attendance per home game: 34,579

Big Ten 
Michigan 112,252
Ohio State 105,330
Penn State 96,730
Nebraska 85,517
Wisconsin 80,006 
Michigan State 75,382
Iowa 70,474
Minnesota 46,637
Illinois 45,564
Indiana 44,802
Purdue 43,588
Northwestern 35,697
Accumulated home attendance: 5,842,112 
Average attendance per home game: 70,387

Big 12
Texas 100,884
Oklahoma 85,243
Texas Tech 57,209
Oklahoma State 56,557
West Virginia 55,916
Iowa State 55,274
Kansas State 50,278
TCU  46,047
Kansas 41,329
Baylor  41,194
Accumulated home attendance: 3,757,598
Average attendance per home game: 58,712 

Conference USA
East Carolina 47,013
UTEP 29,374
UTSA  29,226
Louisiana Tech 25,841
Southern Mississippi 25,751
Marshall 24,896
Rice 20,325
Tulsa 20,020
North Texas 18,927
Tulane 18,085
Middle Tennessee 17,738
UAB 15,271
FIU 13,634
Florida Atlantic 13,459
Accumulated home attendance: 1,885,007 
Average attendance per home game: 22,988

MAC
Ohio 21,844
Northern Illinois 20,877
Toledo 20,552
Kent State 17,880
Central Michigan 16,036
Bowling Green 15,632
Miami (OH) 15,333
Western Michigan 14,579
Buffalo 13,242
Ball State 12,930
Massachusetts 10,901
Akron 9,275
Eastern Michigan 3,923
Accumulated home attendance: 1,122,254
Average attendance per home game: 14,963

Mountain West
Boise State 35,404
Air Force 32,015
Fresno State 30,915
San Diego State 30,879
Hawaii 30,031
Nevada 23,432
New Mexico 22,307
Utah State 20,054
Wyoming 19,555
Colorado State 19,250
UNLV 15,208
San Jose State 10,789
Accumulated home attendance: 1,815,983
Average attendance per home game: 24,213 

Pac-12
USC 87,845
UCLA  68,481
Washington 58,617
Oregon 57,490
Arizona State 56,835 
California 55,876 
Arizona 47,931
Colorado  45,373
Utah 45,347
Oregon State 43,424
Stanford 43,343
Washington State 30,252
Accumulated home attendance: 4,179,703
Average attendance per home game: 53,586

SEC
Alabama 101,722
LSU 92,626
Georgia 92,703
Tennessee 89,965
Florida 87,597
Texas A&M 87,014
Auburn 82,646
South Carolina 80,001
Arkansas 68,046
Missouri 67,476
Ole Miss 57,066
Mississippi State 55,628
Kentucky 49,691
Vanderbilt 37,860
Accumulated home attendance: 7,371,125
Average attendance per home game: 75,216

Sun Belt
Arkansas State 26,398
ULM 24,981
Louisiana 22,865
Troy 20,952
Texas State 18,945
Western Kentucky 17,415
South Alabama 16,794
Georgia State 12,309
Accumulated home attendance: 963,942
Average attendance per home game: 20,082

Independents 
Notre Dame 80,795 
BYU 61,161
Navy 32,363
Army 32,305
Old Dominion  20,037
New Mexico State 14,247
Idaho 12,582
Accumulated home attendance: 1,547,668
Average attendance per home game: 35,992

Conference Comparison

Average attendance per home game
SEC 75,216
Big Ten 70,387
Big 12 58,712
PAC-12 53,586
ACC 48,519
Independents 35,992
Big East 34,579
Mountain West 24,213 
Conference USA 22,988
Sun Belt 20,082
MAC 14,963
*according to 2013 alignment

Average attendance including neutral sites
SEC 75,538  
Big Ten 70,040 
Big 12 59,004 
Pac-12 53,679 
ACC 49,910 (not including Pitt and Syracuse)
*according to 2012 alignment
Top 5 Capacity
1. Michigan 109,901
2. Penn State 106,572
3. Tennessee 102,459
4. Ohio State 102,329
5. Alabama 101,821
Top 5 Capacity Percent
1. Oregon 106.46
2. Nebraska 105.49
3. Texas A&M 105.36
4. Oklahoma 103.81
5. Ohio State 102.93
Next up: TCU 102.33 & Michigan 102.14

Other Articles:

2012 SEC Attendance Statistics

2011 SEC Attendance Statistics

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Coaching Carousel: Arkansas lands Bielema & Malzahn back to Auburn

12/05/2012

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Bret Bielema
Former Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema shocked many by accepting a new coaching job at Arkansas. Bielema accrued a 68-24 record while at Wisconsin, but was 0-2 in the Rose Bowl. Experts were also surprised, because of comments he made in February about the SEC.

Bielema said, "We at the Big Ten don't want to be like the SEC — in any way, shape or form."

Something changed his mind.  

As expected by many, former Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn returned to be the War Eagle's head coach after a one year stint as HC at Arkansas State. He was the Auburn OC from 2009 through 2011 when the team averaged 33.3, 41.2, and 25.7 points per game respectively while winning the 2010 BCS National Championship. The Tigers averaged just 18.7 points per game this season. Malzahn won the Sun Belt Championship with the Red Wolves while finishing with a 9-3 record and 36.4 points per game.

Former Florida International coach Mario Cristobal went from a hot commodity to out the door after a disappointing season. FIU was picked by the Sun Belt coaches and many media members as the preseason conference favorite, but only finished with a 3-9 record.

Just in, former Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones has accepted an offer from Colorado. The carousel keeps going round and round. ***Update Dec 5 Wednesday 6:50 PM ET Butch Jones denies deal is done with Colorado according to SI.com.***

***Update Dec 6 Thursday 4:55 PM ET*** Head coach Sonny Dykes leaves Louisiana Tech for California. Also, Cincinnati coach Butch Jones declines offer from Colorado. 

2012 Coaching Carousel

Coaches Out

Arkansas, John L. Smith Reassigned
Arkansas State, Gus Malzahn New School
Auburn, Gene Chizik Fired
Boston College, Frank Spaziani Fired
California, Jeff Tedford Fired
Colorado, Jon Embree Fired
FIU, Mario Cristobal Fired
Georgia State, Bill Curry Retired
Idaho, Robb Akey Fired
Kentucky, Joker Phillips Fired
Louisiana Tech, Sonny Dykes New School
North Carolina State, Tom O'Brien Fired
Northern Illinois, Dave Doeren New School
Purdue, Danny Hope Fired
South Florida, Skip Holtz Fired
Southern Mississippi, Ellis Johnson Fired
Temple, Steve Addazio New School
Tennessee, Derek Dooley Fired
UTEP, Mike Price Retired
Western Michigan, Bill Cubit Fired
Wisconsin, Bret Bielema New School

Coaches In

Arkansas, Bret Bielema
Auburn, Gus Malzahn
Boston College, Steve Addazio
California, Sonny Dykes
Idaho, Paul Petrino
Kentucky, Mark Stoops
North Carolina State, Dave Doeren
Northern Illinois, Rod Carey
Purdue, Darrell Hazell 
*Denies report

Bielema Strange Hire for Arkansas

Gus Malzahn to Coach Auburn

Cristobal at Sun Belt Media Day

Malzahn at Sun Belt Media Day
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Jeff Long do not abandon Arkansas, fire John L. Smith

10/01/2012

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Arkansas AD Jeff Long
I do not like to keep harping on one topic, but Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long’s recent statement made at the Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Club definitely calls for one more harp on this. 

"I also want to be clear I remain steadfastly behind this group of young men and this coaching staff," Long said. "Supporting this team is the best course of action for the short term and long term... I will fulfill my commitment to the players and coaches for this season, and I will not abandon them."

Apparently, what Long does not understand is that he has abandoned them and Arkansas by refusing to do his job, which is to fire John L. Smith as soon as possible. As I suggested before the Rutgers game, they need to go with an interim coach that will draw less negative attention and begin the search for a real head coach that people and players can respect.  

Smith is hurting the program in the short term and long term. Seriously, how many recruits do you think want to come to Arkansas after watching him on television? He has made a mockery of Arkansas with his statements and the performance of the team.  

After the 58-10 thumping by Texas A&M, the Razorbacks are now 94th overall in points per game and allow 40.6 points per game, 116th overall. Standing at 1-4, the Hogs would have to win five of the remaining seven games to even make it to a bowl. To be in this position after winning 21 games the last two seasons is astonishing. There is no doubt that Arkansas football is in shambles.

Fans and the community have a right to demand a better result on the field and for the team. It is rather obvious, more than ever, that Smith needs to go. Does it mean that they will win more games this season? No, but I am thinking about the long term which is recruiting and the face of the program... so should Jeff Long.

John L. Smith Wants the Media to Smile

John L. Smith Says the University of Arkansas is a State of "Alabama" Program

Another Embarrassing John L. Smith Interview

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AP Top 25 & Coaches Poll Projections Week Three: Arkansas, Wisconsin, & Nebraska Lose in Upsets

09/09/2012

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Projected Top 5
1. Alabama
2. USC
3. LSU
4. Oregon
5. Oklahoma
*Projected to be same as last week's top five in the AP and Coaches poll.

Other Projections: Arkansas and Wisconsin will still be ranked in the top 25. Michigan State will be ranked in the top 10 in both polls since the loss by the Razorbacks will open the spot. 

On the Bubble for the Top 25: Arkansas, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Boise State, Oklahoma State, Arizona,Tennessee, BYU, and UCLA. 

There were no major changes in the top five of the rankings, but there were some interesting losses in the rest. Four top 25 teams lost: Arkansas, Wisconsin, Oklahoma State, and Nebraska. They will all drop significantly, but Nebraska and Oklahoma State are the most likely to drop out of the rankings because they were the lowest ranked coming into the week. Arkansas and Wisconsin will still be in the top 25, but the Razorbacks will drop the most spots and could drop out. Michigan State will also move into the top 10 with the loss by the Hogs.

I would have projected UCLA to break the top 25, but they did not receive any votes in either poll last week. Expect the Bruins to get votes this week after their win over Nebraska. Arizona also has a shot at the top 25 after the romping of Oklahoma State; the Wildcats received votes in the Coaches poll last week, but not in the AP.

Nebraska and Boise State are in competition for the last slot in the AP Poll, but the Broncos had a bye week so the inaction may keep them out; Boise State was already ranked 25 in the Coaches poll for week two. Louisiana Monroe will see some love with votes in both rankings, but I doubt they will get enough points to be in the top 25. It will be interesting to see which or if a new team breaks the top 25 this week since there are a lot of teams on the bubble.

Follow College Football Universe late Saturday nights and early Sunday mornings for projections before the official polls are released.

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Hog Molly Report: Best Offensive Linemen in College Football for 2012

06/21/2012

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The hog mollies on the offensive line never seem to get enough attention in college football so here is a rundown of the best O-linemen in the nation for the 2012 season. The top 20 offensive linemen are ranked along with a summary of the top five and notes on the rest. The ranking is based on the best college football linemen not NFL prospects, but information on draft status is included. Bench, squat, and 40-yard dash numbers are provided for the top five. Four of the top five linemen have weight room numbers listed from high school and some of the other players have more recent weight room numbers posted. 

1. C Barrett Jones, Alabama Crimson Tide 

Size: 6'5 302 pounds
Bench Max: 335 pounds 
Squat Max: 490 pounds 
40 Yard Dash: 4.9 seconds 
Stats: Only nine missed assignments in 587 snaps (98.5 percent) and 100 percent on assignments in four games last season according to Rolltide.com
Draft Rating: Second/ Late First Round
Barrett Jones comes into the 2012 college football season as a highly decorated veteran on the best offensive line in the nation. He is not the top athlete on the list, but more than makes up for it with his versatility and reliability. Jones won the Outland Trophy in 2011 and is a first team lineman on nearly every preseason team list for 2012. He is now listed as center, but has played four positions on the line while at Alabama. His solid play helped Alabama rush for 2,788 yards as a team which ranked 16th in rush yards per game while contributing to Trent Richardson's Heisman finalist season. He is a late first to second round NFL Draft prospect. 

2. OT DJ Fluker, Alabama Crimson Tide

Size: 6'6 335 pounds
Bench Max: 375 lbs 
Squat Max: 525 lbs 
40 Yard Dash: 4.9 secs 
Stats: 22 career starts at right tackle
Draft Rating: Early/Mid First Round

DJ Fluker is a behemoth on the offensive line and is the top rated lineman on Mel Kiper's Big Board at six overall. He has played mostly right tackle for the Crimson Tide, but there is a chance that he could be a guard at the next level. His posted weight is actually less than it was in high school and he is currently listed as 335 pounds. Fluker may not be as accomplished as his teammate Barrett Jones, but there are high expectations for him due to his physicality alone. With a little refinement, he should easily maintain his NFL Draft stock. 

3. OT Taylor Lewan, Michigan Wolverines

Size: 6'8 302 lbs 
Bench Max: 335 lbs  
Squat Max: 450 lbs 
40 Yard Dash: 4.72 secs 
Stats: Started 22 games in two seasons 
Draft Rating: Mid/Early First Round

After a misfit freshman season that involved antics and penalties, Taylor Lewan came back strong and matured some as a sophomore. He is an athletic lineman that has good power for his build and incredible length with his 6'8 height to fight off defenders. The Wolverine lineman has definite first round potential for the NFL Draft coming into his junior season. Lewan started all 13 games last season at left tackle and his athleticism should translate well in the pros. 

4. OT Ricky Wagner, Wisconsin Badgers

Size: 6'6 322 lbs
Bench Max: N/A
Squat Max: N/A
40 Yard Dash: 5.32
Stats: Started all 14 games in 2011 and played in 38 games for career 
Draft Rating: Late First/ Early Second Round

Ricky Wagner is a durable lineman that rose from walk-on to NFL prospect thus far in his college career. He was a consensus honorable mention on the All-Big Ten team for the past two seasons and is a first team preseason All-American on various lists for 2012. He performs well as a blindside pass blocker at left tackle and is consistently good all around in his play. Wisconsin has traditionally done a great job of prepping players for the NFL and Wagner should be the next. 

5. OG Omoregie Uzzi, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Size: 6'3 300 lbs
Bench Max: 340 lbs 
Squat Max: 500 lbs 
40 Yard Dash: 5.3 secs
Stats: 22 career starts and 36 games played
Draft Rating: Second/Third Round

Experienced right guard Omoregie Uzzi is a powerful run blocker for the Ramblin Wreck. He earned First Team All-ACC in 2011 and is a Second Team Phil Steele's 2012 Preseason All-American. His effort on the line helped his team rank second nationally in rushing yards last season with 316.5 yards per game and they ranked in the top four rushing yards in each of his three seasons. He is the most questionable of the top five due to a late season injury, but if he fully recovers, expect another strong season. 

Rest of the Top 20 Offensive Linemen

There are a lot of good players on this list that could have placed in the top five and that may have higher NFL Draft potential.  Luke Joeckel is a first round prospect, Gabe Ikard has had an outstanding college career, and Travis Frederick's weight room numbers are freakish. Here are the rest of the top 20 offensive linemen in college football for 2012 with their height, weight, and a note on each:

6. C Gabe Ikard, Oklahoma: 6'4 295 lbs, 88 knockdowns on 860 snaps in 2011 according to SoonerSports.com.
7. OT Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M: 6'6 310 lbs, First round NFL Draft potential at 16 on Mel Kiper's Big Board.
8. OG Travis Frederick Wisconsin: 6'4 328 lbs, school record 770-lb squat & benchs around 500 lbs. 
9. OG Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina: 6'3 310 lbs, 2012 Phil Steele's All-American First Team.
10. OT Alex Hurst, LSU: 6'6 340 lbs, 71.5 knockdowns in 767 plays in 2011 according to LSUSports.net.
11. OG Chance Warmack, Alabama: 6'3 320 lbs, started 26 straight games.
12. OT Chris Faulk, LSU: 6'6 325 lbs, 500-lb squat & 73.5 knockdowns in 724 snaps in 2011 according to LSUSports.net. 
13. OT Jake Matthews, Texas A&M: 6'5 305 lbs, started all 13 games in 2011 & son of Bruce Matthews.
14. OG Alvin Bailey, Arkansas: 6'5 319 lbs, 2011 All SEC Second Team (Coaches), 440-lb bench press & 555-lb squat.
15. C Dalton Freeman, Clemson: 6'5 285 lbs, 36 career starts & 2012 Rimington Award Watch List. 
16. OG Larry Warford, Kentucky: 6'3 336 lbs, 1 QB sack & graded 87.5 percent in 2011 according to NFLDraftScout.com.
17. OG Blaize Foltz, TCU: 6'4 310 lbs, 2011 All MWC First Team, posted 580-lb bench press & 800-lb squat.
18. C Khaled Holmes, USC: 6'4 305 lbs, 2011 All Pac-12 Second Team.
19. OG Mason Walters, Texas: 6'6 315 lbs, started 25 games in a row at right guard.
20. OG Marcus Martin, USC: 6'3 325 lbs, 2011 Freshman All-American First Team by various publications.

Honorable Mention: OG Lane Taylor Oklahoma State (6'3 328 lbs), OT Oday Aboushi Virginia (6'6 310 lbs), OG Braden Hansen BYU (6'6 313 lbs), C Braxston Cave* Notre Dame (6'3 304 lbs), OT Morgan Moses Virginia (6'6 336 lbs), OG Chris McDonald Michigan State (6'5 299 lbs), OG Carson York Oregon (6'5 284 lbs), and OT Cameron Fleming Stanford (6'6 308 lbs). *Cave benchs 520 lbs.

Select articles on College Football Universe are syndicated with GameDayr.com. Sign up on Gamedayr.com to share anything about gameday or college sports.
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Hogs BCS Bound with a Healthy Knile Davis

06/05/2012

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Talented running back Knile Davis returns for the Arkansas Razorbacks in 2012 after missing the 2011 season due to an ankle injury August of last year. Davis looks to come back strong as shown by posting superb numbers in the weight room and the 40-yard dash this Spring. He also had a stellar year in 2010 when he was healthy.  

Davis has both blazing speed and incredible strength demonstrated by the 4.33 40-yard dash he clocked being the fastest on the team and a 415 bench press along with a 570-pound squat while weighing a solid 226 pounds. His squat was higher than any of what was recorded for the offensive linemen and only one O-lineman posted a better bench press.

The star tailback is a definite preseason Heisman Trophy contender and will be by season end if his ankle holds up. Davis already demonstrated his physical prowess and appears to be mentally ready as well. 

He recently tweeted: 
Davis had an excellent 2010 season with 1,322 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground with a 6.5 yard per carry average. He finished six of the last seven games with 100 yards or more against quality opposition like South Carolina, LSU, and Ohio State. 

The 2010 numbers could easily be duplicated or better in 2012. His running ability might be the last ingredient to make just the right recipe for a BCS National Championship contender especially since the Hogs only finished 81st in rushing last season without him. There are weapons in the passing game as well that can take pressure off him with quarterback Tyler Wilson and wide receiver Cobi Hamilton in the lineup.  

Despite testing out some impressive numbers this Spring and his previous experience on the field, we all know none of that matters until the season begins. Hog fans will be cringing the first time there is a big hit on Davis when his true test comes on the playing field this September. Hopefully for the Razorbacks and college football, the stud running back will have an iron man season in 2012, because it would be an exciting show for all fans to watch.   

*Select articles on College Football Universe are syndicated with GameDayr.com. Sign up on Gamedayr.com to share anything about gameday or college sports.

Knile Davis Highlights
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SEC Quarterback Spring Stats & Notes

05/04/2012

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Here are Spring game quarterback statistics and notes for all SEC teams. Stats may be off some due to limited stat recording of Spring games. 

Top 5 Passing Yards
1.Tyler Wilson Arkansas 467
2. Maxwell Smith Kentucky 353
3. Tyler Russell Mississippi State 312
4. AJ McCarron Alabama 304 
5. Zach Mettenberger LSU 272 

West- 
Alabama
AJ McCarron 29/42, 304 yds, 2 TDs, 3 Ints
Phillip Sims, 9/12, 135 yds, 1 TD
Philip Ely, 10/18, 83 yds, 1 TD
*ESPN: "At the end of the day it's for the fans and we just want to kind of make it fun for them and make some crazy plays at the same time that we probably wouldn't do in a real game," McCarron said. "Coach always says, 'Just have fun,' and I had a lot of fun today."

Arkansas 
Tyler Wilson 31/41, 467 yds, 2 TDs
Brandon Mitchell 8/13, 72 yds (White), 30 yds, 1 TD (Red)
*AP:The performance also left no doubt that the near future at Arkansas is in good hands with both Wilson and running back Knile Davis.

Auburn
Kiehl Frazier 7/9, 92 yds 
Clint Moseley 5/6, 62 yds
Zeke Pike 5/11, 48 yds
Tate O'Connor 0/1
*ESPN: Frazier finished 7-of-9 for 92 yards and showed off his ability to scramble around and make plays. Still, Chizik said the quarterback competition would extend into the summer. Clint Moseley was plagued by a sore throwing shoulder for much of the spring. 

LSU
Zach Mettenberger 14/25, 272 yds, 2 TDs, 2 Ints
*ESPN: "We're definitely going to be aggressive this coming season," Mettenberger said. "But we're going to do whatever we can to win ball games."

Mississippi State
Tyler Russell 24/43, 312 yds, 2 TDs
Dak Prescott 295 yds, 1 TD
*ESPN: It's obvious the Bulldogs have tweaked their offense to take advantage of Russell's ability to throw the ball from the pocket, and they threw it quite a bit this spring. 

Ole Miss
Bo Wallace 16/26, 240 yds, 2 TDs, 1 Int
Barry Brunetti 4/10, 62 yds, 14 rush, 136 rush yds
*Bleacher Report: The quarterback position has been up for grabs this spring, but Bo Wallace grabbed control of the race Saturday afternoon.

Texas A&M
Jameill Showers 20/31, 203 yds, 2 TDs
Johnny Manziel 13/27, 154 yds, 1 TD, 1 Int
*ESPN: Both quarterbacks had their moments, but there were also times when the offense stalled once it crossed the 50. Overall, sophomore Jameill Showers probably had the better spring, but offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said he wasn't ready to make a decision and that redshirt freshman Johnny Manziel remained in the hunt.

East-
Florida 
Jacoby Brissett 9/16, 233 yds, 2 TDs
Jeff Driskel 12/14, 147 yds, 1 TD(Run)
*AP: Florida's quarterback competition will continue in the fall - and without a front-runner - after Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel failed to separate themselves during four weeks of practice and Saturday's spring game.

Georgia 
Aaron Murray 7/17, 112,  1 TD
Christian Lemay 7/10, 154 yds, 1 TD
Hutson Mason 9/12, 133 yds, 1 TD
*GeorgiaDogs.com:"It was a great day for Georgia," Coach Mark Richt said. "I feel like everyone enjoyed the game. I thought there were a lot of offensive plays that were made today. When you look at it, the defense was scoring points, too. I thought both sides of the ball played well. It was exciting."

Kentucky 
Maxwell Smith 29/45, 353 yds, 2 TDs, 2 Ints
*UKAthletics.com: There were plenty of positive signs for the first team, both offensively and defensively. Sophomore quarterback Maxwell Smith had a big day through the air, throwing for 353 yards on 29-of-45 passing. With senior quarterback Morgan Newton sidelined due to a shoulder injury, Smith shined. 

Missouri
Corbin Berkstresser 13/20, 187 yds, 1 TD, 1 Int
*Bleacher Report: With Franklin out, all eyes were on redshirt freshman quarterback Corbin Berkstresser, and he had a solid afternoon.

South Carolina 
Connor Shaw 6/7, 128 yds, 2 TDs
Dylan Thompson 15/20, 168 yds
Tanner McEvoy 8/12, 132 yds, 2 TDs
*Bleacher Report:Collectively, they were 39-54 for 511 yards and six TDs. There were two INTs, but overall, the signal-callers looked good. Connor Shaw's day really stood out.

Tennessee 
Tyler Bray 14/26, 157 yds, 1 TD
*ESPN:Junior quarterback Tyler Bray also played much better than he did a year ago in a woeful spring game showing. He was 14-of-26 for 157 yards and threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight endMychal Rivera. Bray's added maturity this spring is what earned him the most points with his coaches. 

Vanderbilt
Jordan Rodgers 14/29, 126 yds, 2 TDs
Austyn Carta-Samuels 6/12, 47 yds
Patton Robinette 3/9, 24 yds
*VUCommodores.com: "Last year, we did (the Wildcat) with Zac Stacy, who did some nice things, but he also made (poor) decisions throwing," Franklin said. "With a guy (Josh Grady) that has played quarterback, I think that's going to help. He can run the ball and he's a legitimate threat to throw the ball. I think that's going to help us."
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Will It Be the Year of the Hog or Another Slap in the Face?

04/26/2012

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The Arkansas Razorbacks have had a wild offseason including a head coach involved in a scandal leading to termination and multiple players arrested on various charges. Then there is new head coach John L. Smith. He wasted no time making proclamations with the first being a pledge for a national title run. 

"Nothing is going to slow down. In fact, we're going to speed up. Our expectations are that we're going to battle and fight for a national title."

However, since his proclamation there were three more player arrests including wide receivers Marquel Wade, Maudrecus Humphrey, and tight end Andrew Peterson. Wade being the most prominent of the three and was expected to be a hot target at wide out for quarterback Tyler Wilson. These arrests add on to three others that occurred in April and March before Smith took the position. 

With a mixed head coaching background and a bad stint at Michigan State, Smith was presumably hired as an interim to keep continuity in the program for this season since he was recently an Arkansas assistant coach. However, it is obvious that one thing will change in Arkansas and that is the brashness combined with a quirky exuberance that Smith exhibits publicly compared to the constrained commentary style by former coach Bobby Petrino. 

Smith has been known for various tirades and stunts including slapping himself at a post game press conference. Hopefully for Razorback Nation, Smith at age 63 can fully utilize his chance for redemption with the opportunity to coach a title contender and bring them to the next level that many thought Petrino was on his way to doing. 

John L. Smith comes into a situation with seemingly full support by players and people within the program. Twitter approval was acknowledged shortly after his hire with tweets from Knile Davis and former Razorback Ryan Mallet, current New England Patriots back up quarterback. 

With top returning talent and John L. Smith now as coach, could this finally be the Year of the Hog not the Elephant or Tiger? Arkansas is trying for it and the fans still have hope. But a disappointing season and too many losses would just be another slap in the face. Either way, Smith should make it an interesting season.    

John L. Smith's meltdown against Ohio State in 2005
John L. Smith Slap

(Post Updated June 4, 2012)
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