OSU’s Pryor, Miami’s Harris set to meet
September 9, 2010
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP)—Jacory Harris and Terrelle Pryor were introduced acouple years ago by a mutual friend on a phone call, the two quarterbacksquickly becoming confidants.
Their favorite discussion topic?
“Anything but football,” Harris said.
There’s no way that would be possible this week.
Potentially Heisman-contending quarterbacks—and more importantly,potentially championship-contending teams—will meet in Columbus, Ohio onSaturday, Harris leading No. 12 Miami (1-0) into a stadium filled with 105,000or so fans, most of whom who will be there to root on Pryor and No. 2 Ohio State(1-0).
It took a long time, but Harris and Pryor will finally have their pathscollide on the field.
“We talked earlier this week,” Pryor said. “We just said, `Stayinjury-free, have a good game and let’s make this game go down in history.’ Wedon’t have too many words for each other. We’re just trying to come out and geta win for our team.”
Comparisons of the two starting quarterbacks are inevitable this week,considering they’ve been getting made for years anyway.
The 6-foot-6, 235-pound Pryor is two inches taller and 40 pounds heavier,yet there’s plenty of statistical similarities. Both have played 27 games. Pryorhas combined to run and pass for 5,079 yards and 46 touchdowns, while Harris—more of a thrower, not so much of a runner—has 4,636 yards and 42 touchdowns.
They share this in common, too: Both are ardent followers of LeBron James,the longtime Buckeyes fan and new Miami Heat star.
“I told him I owe him a show,” said Pryor, who’s urging Ohio State fansnot to boo James—who scorned Cleveland to join Miami this summer—if he showsup on Saturday and calls the two-time NBA MVP his mentor. “Next time he comes,I told him I have to give him a show, because we lost the last time he came toPenn State, 13-6.”
Given that, maybe having James there would be good luck for Miami, eventhough he predicts an Ohio State win.
“Hopefully he’ll show up,” Harris said, undeterred by James’ prediction.“That’s on him. That’s LeBron James. I’m not going to be mad at him.”
Even if James is there, most eyes will be on the quarterbacks.
And that speaks volumes about how vital they will be on Saturday.
Both came to their schools amid much fanfare, and both have had troublealways meeting expectations. Harris threw 17 interceptions last season, thesecond-most in major college football. Pryor arrived at Ohio State drawingcomparisons to Vince Young, and even going 22-5 in games which he’s appeared—even with a scintillating show in the 2010 Rose Bowl—hasn’t always been enoughto satisfy the Buckeye faithful.
One of them may take a giant step forward Saturday. One of their teams iscertain to do so.
“I think they’ve traveled a similar road,” Ohio State coach Jim Tresselsaid. “They both got put in there at an early point in their freshman year. …And like any young kids, you can tell both of them are very passionate, both ofthem have tremendous big-play ability. They love what they’re doing.”
Harris and Pryor met through Miami defensive lineman Marcus Forston. Pryorand Forston got to know each other at the U.S. Army All-American Game beforegoing to college, and Forston—who was Harris’ teammate at Miami NorthwesternHigh as well—arranged their first conversation.
Forston likes Pryor. Not surprisingly, he likes Harris more.
“We go up against the best quarterback in the nation every day,” Forstonsaid. “Going against Jacory every day, we can be ready for any quarterback.”
By now, Harris and Pryor are used to hype, which is why they can easilyshrug off any notion that Saturday is simply a 1-on-1 battle between the two ofthem.
“I think they’re two competitive guys,” Miami coach Randy Shannon said.“But I know Jacory is a mature kid and understands, `It can’t be me. It’s gotto be our team.’ Jacory has studied a lot of film and he understands that whenhe’s just being Jacory, great things happen at the University of Miami.”
They say the same about Pryor at Ohio State.
When he throws a touchdown pass, the Buckeyes are 17-1. When he doesn’tthrow one, they’re 5-4. Pretty simple math there.
“Me and Jacory have to go into the ballgame thinking whomever turns thisball over is going to lose the game,” Pryor said. “That’s when you’re going toput your defense in a bad position, and that’s when the gamechangers start.”
They’ll likely say hello before the game, and then share an embraceafterward.
The 3 1/2 hours or so of football in between those acts, they might tell thetale of how 2010 will set up for both quarterbacks. And neither can hardly waitfor the big show to arrive.
“I think 105,000 people, I’m pretty sure it’s going to be crazy,” Harrissaid. “For a quarterback, well, for me, it’s fun. You go to big schools to bein an atmosphere like this. It’s going to be a fun, exciting thing.”
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Irish C Wenger suffers second concussion
September 9, 2010
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP)—Notre Dame fifth-year senior center Dan Wenger sustainedhis second concussion since mid-August and he is discussing with schoolofficials whether he should return to football.
Wenger, who did not play in last Saturday’s opener against Purdue, got hissecond concussion on Tuesday, coach Brian Kelly said after Wednesday’s practice.
Kelly said he had a long discussion with Wenger on Wednesday. He said theteam’s medical staff, Wenger and his parents are involved in the decision on hisfuture, one that could come in the next couple of days.
“We should be very cautious with anybody that’s had two concussions in avery short period of time,” Kelly said.
“Right now we have to be extremely conservative when we have a young manwho hasn’t had game contact and has suffered two concussions. … Player safetyhere is of the utmost concern.”
Wenger, from Coral Springs, Fla., has appeared in 29 games in his careerwith 19 starts.
Braxston Cave is the Irish’s starter at center and will be backed up by MikeGolic, Jr.
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Former Sugar Bowl executive Holmes dies
September 8, 2010
NEW ORLEANS (AP)—Mickey Holmes, executive director of the Sugar Bowlduring the period when coaches Bear Bryant, Vince Dooley and Joe Paterno wonnational championships there, has died. He was 72.
Holmes died Wednesday after a long illness, said Sugar Bowl spokesman JohnSudsbury.
A native of Maynard, Iowa, Holmes was executive director of the collegefootball event from 1979 to 1993, beginning and ending his Sugar Bowl tenurewith Alabama winning national championships there.
He was integral in continuing the Sugar Bowl’s partnership with theSoutheastern Conference.
“Mickey Holmes was one of the key people behind putting the Sugar Bowl intothe position to be what it is today,” said Allstate Sugar Bowl Chief ExecutiveOfficer Paul Hoolahan. “He took over the event in a time of increasedcompetition among bowls and lifted the stature of the game even higher than ithad already been.”
Holmes took over the management of the Sugar Bowl in May 1979. His firstSugar Bowl as its executive director came a few months later when Bryant won hisfinal national title on Jan. 1, 1980. Bryant’s undefeated Alabama team beatcoach Lou Holtz’s Arkansas squad 24-9.
The next year, Dooley and his Georgia team—powered by star running backHerschel Walker—won the national title, beating Notre Dame 17-10 to completean undefeated season.
Paterno earned his first national championship in 1983 at the Sugar Bowlwith a 27-23 win over Dooley and Georgia in a battle of the top two teams in thenation.
Holmes’ final Sugar Bowl as director came a decade later when No. 2 Alabamadefeated No. 1 Miami 34-13 for the national championship.
He had served in athletic conference administration for nearly 20 yearsbefore joining the Sugar Bowl. In 1964, he was an assistant commissioner withthe Big Eight Conference and was commissioner of the Missouri Valley Conferencein 1972.
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Texas to honor Wyoming’s Narcisse
September 8, 2010
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)—Texas will have a pregame tribute for Wyoming freshmanlinebacker Ruben Narcisse, who was killed this week in a traffic accident.
The No. 5 Longhorns hosts the Cowboys on Saturday in Austin.
Texas coach Mack Brown says the tribute will include a moment of silence andNarcisse’s photograph on Texas’ massive scoreboard video screen. The Texas bandwill also play a song for the Wyoming team.
Narcisse, who was from Miami, died Monday night in Colorado. Three otherWyoming players were injured in the accident.
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Georgia WR Green suspended 4 games
September 8, 2010
ATHENS, Ga. (AP)—Georgia receiver A.J. Green has been suspended for four gamesfor selling a jersey to someone the NCAA says qualifies as an agent.
Green sold his Independence Bowl game jersey for $1,000. The junior, who satout the season opener against Louisiana-Lafayette, must miss three more gamesbefore eligible to play.
The NCAA student-athlete reinstatement staff announced the ruling onWednesday.
Georgia says Green has repaid the $1,000 to a charity.
Green has issued an apology to Georgia coaches, his teammates and fans in astatement released by the school.
Coach Mark Richt says he is disappointed with the ruling. No. 22 Georgiaplays at No. 24 South Carolina on Saturday.
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Michigan S Emilien to transfer
September 8, 2010
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP)—Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez says safety VladimirEmilien is transferring.
He made the announcement Wednesday on a teleconference that was set up topreview the Notre Dame game.
Emilien played as a backup in the season-opening win against Connecticut. Heplayed in five games last year as a freshman. He was recruited by Rodriguezafter starring at Plantation High School in Florida.
Michigan’s secondary has taken a lot of hits lately.
Cornerback Donovan Warren skipped his senior season to enter the 2010 NFLdraft. J.T. Turner was granted permission to transfer last month and then TroyWoolfolk was injured. Freshman Demar Dorsey wasn’t admitted this year andrecruit Adrian Witty was denied admissions last year.
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Bush: Heisman matter out of my hands
September 8, 2010
METAIRIE, La. (AP)—Reggie Bush(notes) says whether he is stripped of his Heismantrophy is out of his hands and that his play on the field in college speaks foritself.
Bush says he “cannot confirm or deny” whether he’s met with anyone fromthe Heisman Trust and has had no comment on a Yahoo! report that says he couldbe stripped of the award by the end of the month.
Bush says he hasn’t even thought about whether he’d actually return thetrophy if asked and stresses that his focus is on the New Orleans Saints’ seasonopener against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night.
The NCAA found major violations in USC’s football program and levied serioussanctions against the school in June. The Trojans have dissociated themselvescompletely from Bush.
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Saban: Ingram likely out vs. Penn State
September 8, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP)—Alabama coach Nick Saban says tailback Mark Ingram isunlikely to play against Penn State.
He said Wednesday the top-ranked Crimson Tide’s Heisman Trophy winner is“probably not going to be ready to play this week.” Saban said that Ingram wasable to run Tuesday and hasn’t had swelling or problems with his left knee.
Saban says he might be recovered enough to play in Saturday night’s gamewith the 19th-ranked Nittany Lions but likely won’t be able to get enough timein practice to be ready.
Ingram sat out the opener after having an arthroscopic procedure to repairan injury sustained in practice early on opening week. Saban says the star backis “improving every day.”
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Alabama’s Ingram misses another practice
September 8, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP)—Alabama tailback Mark Ingram has missed another practiceahead of the Penn State game.
Ingram didn’t practice Tuesday with a left knee injury that kept the HeismanTrophy winner out of the top-ranked Crimson Tide’s opener against San JoseState.
Coach Nick Saban said Monday that Ingram’s status would depend on how heprogressed daily in his rehab. He said in order for him to put his star into thegame against the 19th-ranked Nittany Lions, he had to “see Mark Ingram beingMark Ingram.”
His replacement, Trent Richardson said Ingram did watch some of practicefrom the sideline. He isn’t giving up on the junior returning for Saturdaynight’s game.
“I don’t know when he’ll be back, but hopefully it’ll be for Saturday,” hesaid. “We’re better with him in there.”
Ingram had an arthroscopic procedure after hurting his knee in the firstpractice of the opening game week. Richardson made his first career start in hisabsence, rushing for 66 yards and two touchdowns—all in the first half. Healso had 46 yards receiving.
Richardson wound up on the cover of Sports Illustrated as one of the“Breakout Players” of the opening weekend.
“It really doesn’t mean anything, just the cover of a magazine,” he said.“I’m sure my mom is real happy, the people back home and in Tuscaloosa arehappy about it, but as long as we won. We still have this game coming up. I cango and get shut down and there isn’t going to be a Sports Illustrated, it’sstill just going to be a picture.”
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LSU-Oregon at Cowboys Stadium in 2011
September 7, 2010
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP)—Oregon and LSU will play at Cowboys Stadium inArlington in the opening weekend of the 2011 season.
The Sept. 3 prime-time matchup was announced Tuesday, three days afterfourth-ranked TCU beat then-No. 24 Oregon State 30-21 in the 2010 CowboysClassic at the $1.2 billion home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
Seventh-ranked Oregon and No. 19 LSU haven’t played each other since 1977.LSU has won two of the previous three meetings in the series.
LSU defeated North Carolina 30-24 in its season opener last Saturday at theGeorgia Dome in Atlanta. Oregon defeated New Mexico 72-0.
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