NCAA Football

Southern Conference could expand soon

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:22:28 -0400

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Southern Conference may be close to expansion as it tries to replace schools that are leaving for other conferences.

The Roanoke (Va.) Times reported Tuesday that VMI men's basketball Duggar Baucom told a Roanoke Valley Sports Club meeting of about 100 people Monday night that his school re-entering the Southern Conference is almost a done deal.

VMI was a SoCon member from 1924-2002 before departing for the Big South Conference.

SoCon officials recently visited the campuses of VMI and Atlantic Sun members East Tennessee State and Mercer, and signs point toward the three schools being accepted into the conference at its spring meeting May 28-31 in Hilton Head, S.C.

SoCon commissioner John Imarino has recommended the addition of the three schools to his conference's presidents. The SoCon is losing the College of Charleston to the Colonial Athletic Association later this year; Appalachian State and Georgia Southern, both FCS powers, to the Sun Belt Conference next year; and Davidson to the Atlantic 10 next year as well.

In the FCS Huddle: From safety to sideline

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:55:50 -0400

(Sports Network) - Chris Beranger could still be that football player.

The tough one who never fails to go full-throttle, never backs away from an opponent, a challenge, an injury. The one who wants to win no matter what it takes.

Even if it means risking further damage from a concussion.

You might say that player can be described in another way: uninformed.

Fortunately, that type of player is becoming a part of football's past.

Beranger isn't that way.

He could be preparing today for another season on the University of New Hampshire football team. But instead of being a three-year starter at free safety, he is a three-time victim of concussions. His career is over.

Ultimately, it was his decision to call it quits, and he resisted the initial urge to get right back on the playing field. To Beranger, making the tough decisions - better yet, the informed ones - regarding sports-related concussions, are so much easier for an athlete who surrounds himself with the right people.

Beranger recognizes his own limitations. Too many athletes don't.

"It's something that you really have to take care of," the 22-year-old said. "Like I give advice to anyone that's going through the same problem, take your time and don't stress out over things that you can't control. If I could control it, if this was any other injury - leg, arm - I've be back on that field already.

"But this is the rest of your life. I've looked into it and I don't want to be one of those guys that you see on the TV that has those problems with post- concussion syndrome. Because I do have those symptoms. And if I don't let it heal correctly, I'll be in the same spot."

Beranger knows the thrill of success in a UNH uniform. As a sophomore in 2011, he collected 142 tackles for the fourth-highest single-season total in program history.

He also knows the other side of the memorable game last Sept. 22 in Norfolk, Va., when Old Dominion edged New Hampshire, 64-61, behind quarterback Taylor Heinicke's record-setting performance - 730 passing yards and 791 total yards, both Division I single-game highs.

The 5-foot-11, 194-pound junior from Winthrop, Mass., was out of the game by the time Heinicke's final pass set up the game-winning field goal. On a third- quarter play, Beranger and UNH strong safety Manny Asam converged on a ball carrier, the runner slipped below his tacklers and the two defenders collided helmet-to-helmet.

It turned out to be the final play of Beranger's career.

"I thought I was going to be all right, I really did," said Beranger, who wanted to go back into the game. UNH's trainers, who evaluated Beranger on the sideline, realized there was no chance of it happening.

"I thought it was going to be a few weeks and then I would be back on the field. And then it just kept bothering me and bothering me."

Beranger suffered his first concussion as a redshirt freshman in 2011. He was back on the field less than two weeks later.

He suffered another one in preseason camp last August. He improved, but he found it hard to shake off all the effects as easily as the first concussion. He was vulnerable for more damage.

After getting hurt against Old Dominion, the severity of his symptoms worsened. Beranger didn't have his usual energy or bounce in his step. In fact, he struggled just to get out of bed in the morning. Dizziness became a part of the daily routine.

He was so slow in recovering that not only did the concussion end his season, but he had to take off the remainder of the academic semester while he rested and went through occupational therapy.

It was during this latest recovery that Beranger absorbed all the information around him, from the concussion-related lawsuits by more than 4,000 former NFL players against the league, to talks with his family, his coaches - his position coach, Terrance Klein, a 2010 UNH graduate, had played through a concussion in his career - his teammates - one of his former teammates, tight end Chris Jeannot, had his career end by concussion in the same season that Beranger suffered his first one - and his doctors.

He also listened to himself.

"He and his parents and our trainers and the doctors thought it would be in the best interest of him not to play anymore," UNH head coach Sean McDonnell said. "And I'm sure if it was 10 years ago, 15 years ago or when I was playing, this kid would be playing or would be doing things possibly to put himself in a bad situation. The education part of all this and the training room part of all this has been very important with these types of injuries for kids to realize what could happen - not just a year down the road but five, 10, 15 years down the road."

Football is the most common sport with concussion risk for males, with the NCAA reporting 2.5 concussions per 1,000 game-related exposures during the 2011 season. No two concussed players are exactly alike. What used to be described as a player getting his "bell rung" is a serious injury, and always has been.

Now it's being taken more seriously.

"Coming from an athlete playing for 10 years in a row, having my career cut short, this has been the hardest year of my life," Beranger said in his thick New England accent.

"I want to come back, but I know that if I take one more hit, it could be life-threatening effects."

Beranger says he feels about 95 percent recovered from the third concussion. When he plays basketball or works out, he might feel light-headed afterward, but it's nothing like he felt last fall, or could feel again if he continued his football career.

He will return to the Wildcats team as a student coach, working with the secondary under Klein and defensive coordinator John Lyons.

He is 20 credits shy of graduating with a sociology degree and is scheduled to finish up next spring while still on scholarship. Coming from a family in law enforcement, Beranger wants to be a policeman.

He's amazed simply how people's sense of awareness has risen since his first concussion. He laments the end to his career, but he considers it the right decision.

"It's just sad to see the effects that the game of football can have on you later on," Beranger said.

"It's the people around you that make it easy to make a right decision. Because if it was totally up to me, I would have been back on the field in the Old Dominion game."

Buffs hoping to stampede way back to respectability

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:56:20 -0400

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - It's been more than two decades since the football team at the University of Colorado hoisted its one and only national championship trophy, and the program has struggled to remain relevant ever since.

Under the watchful eye of Bill McCartney, the winningest coach in school history and a recent inductee (class of 2013) into the College Football Hall of Fame, the Buffaloes were kings of the college football world, or at least co-kings, back in 1990 when they shared the crown with Georgia Tech.

Despite a few years of fleeting success since, they've had a difficult time keeping pace with the competition in what most can agree are some of the toughest conferences in NCAA history (Big Eight, Big 12, Pac-12).

McCartney led CU to 10 consecutive winning seasons, three straight Big Eight titles (1989-91) and nine bowl games, but the team has enjoyed sporadic success under four different head coaches since his reign ended back in 1994. Rick Neuheisel followed McCartney to great fanfare, and although he won more than twice as many games as he lost during his four-year run, he couldn't get the team over the proverbial hump and was subsequently replaced by former Northwestern mentor Gary Barnett.

With the Big Eight's morph into the Big 12 a couple of years old at that point, Barnett, a former assistant under McCartney, led the Buffs to three Big 12 Championship Game appearances, winning the title in 2001, but any success he achieved on the field wasn't enough to keep him in charge as allegations of improper behavior resulted in a suspension, and his eventual exit in December of 2005.

Boise State head man Dan Hawkins was arguably the hottest coaching commodity at the time, so he was brought in to restore some semblance of stability, but it wasn't meant to be as Colorado lost significantly more games than it won during his tumultuous five-year tenure.

Jon Embree, a Colorado alum and well-respected former NFL and CU assistant, was entrusted with the task of ushering the Buffs into yet another new era, as the school, along with Utah, joined the former Pac-10, now Pac-12, in time for the 2011 campaign. To say that his two years at the helm were a disaster would be an understatement, as the team went just 4-21, including a program-worst 1-11 in 2012.

Enter Mike MacIntyre, the former head coach at San Jose State who amassed a record of 16-21 in his three years there. While naysayers will say that he appears to be yet another in what has become a frustrating line of ineffective leaders, a closer look shows a guy who took a beleaguered program to unprecedented heights in a relatively short amount of time. The Spartans went 1-12 in 2010, 5-7 in 2011, and an eye-popping 11-2 last season, which included a Military Bowl win over Bowling Green, earning the squad a final BCS ranking of No. 24.

Colorado hasn't posted a winning record since going 7-5 in Barnett's last year (2005), and the team has been to just one bowl game (2007 Independence Bowl) in the last seven seasons. MacIntyre hopes to change all that through a steady diet of relentless recruiting, disciplined play, and character-building, all of which he and CU's countless supporters hope leads to success beyond their wildest expectations.

Having inspired his players to perform at a high level in the past, MacIntyre knows the path to greatness isn't going to be easy.

"We will work tirelessly, we will work correctly, and we will work with passion," he said as his introductory press conference.

Despite the tough road ahead, he also realizes the honeymoon will be short- lived as Buffalo backers everywhere are frothing at the mouth for a winner.

"There is always a sense of urgency. You develop; the word I use instead of patience is perseverance. I think there is a big difference. Perseverance, you're working continuously every day."

While fostering an environment of open competition when it comes to the majority of position battles, MacIntyre had hoped to have senior quarterback Jordan Webb serve as a stabilizing force should the situation call for it, but the veteran signal-caller suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during a practice back in April and is expected to miss the entire 2013 season.

With his system firmly in place, and his first spring game in Boulder now in the books, MacIntyre knows it's important to keep the energy level up as he tries to make his team forget the dismal time it endured last fall.

"We're on the way, but not where we want to be," he said. "Every scrimmage and every practice from the first on, they've had more fun playing, congratulated each other, applauded each other, enjoyed coming out and doing the work. If you enjoy your work, you get better. If you don't enjoy it, you don't ... as you enjoy the process you get better."

Competing in the Pac-12 isn't only about winning the war between the lines, but also out on the recruiting trail, something the Buffs have failed miserably at in recent years. MacIntyre hopes to change all that as he focuses on quality over quantity when eyeing prospective student-athletes.

"It will be first do they want to be at Colorado, and second of all we will start talking football and show them what we can do, what I can do for them and go from there. And we want the right fit now, I can't say that enough, evaluating a person and talent is the key to being successful."

Delaware State player seriously injured in car crash

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:51:07 -0400

Middletown, DE (Sports Network) - A Delaware State University football player was hospitalized in serious condition Thursday after his car was hit twice in an early morning accident.

Officials said Jadira Green, of Fort Washington, Md., was stopped completely in his 1998 Buick Century on Delaware Route 1 northbound without its lights on when hit by a box truck at 4:09 a.m.

Green's vehicle was pushed into another lane and struck again on the passenger side by a tour bus.

Green, who police said was not wearing a seat belt, was transported by ambulance to Christiana Hospital Trauma Center.

A 6-foot-4, 300-pound offensive lineman at Delaware State, Green is scheduled to be a fifth-year senior in the 2013 season.

On Campus: Head of the class

Thu, 16 May 2013 11:49:07 -0400

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - They get all the attention and for good reason. A playmaker under center can be the difference in reaching a BCS bowl game. With that in mind, here is a list of the top signal callers in the FBS in 2013.

TEDDY BRIDGEWATER (Louisville): After being tabbed the Big East Rookie of the Year in 2011, the 6-3, 220-pound Bridgewater took his game to another level as a sophomore, passing for 3,718 yards and 27 touchdowns against just eight interceptions. Bridgewater completed a hefty 68.5 percent of his passes, as he went on to earn Big East Offensive Player of the Year, as well as garnering some All-American accolades. He capped off a stellar season by leading the Cardinals to a 33-23 victory over Florida in the Sugar Bowl, where he passed for 266 yards and two touchdowns. If Bridgewater continues to develop on the same learning curve, the Cardinals will post double-digit wins for the second straight season, while Heisman chatter could reach a fevered pitch.

JOHNNY MANZIEL (Texas A&M): "Johnny Football" has earned legendary status in College Station. The only freshman ever to win the Heisman Trophy, Manziel shattered the SEC record for total offense, amassing 3,706 yards passing, while adding another 1,410 rushing in 2012. He also accounted for an astounding 47 total touchdowns, en route to earning All-American status. His gritty performance in Tuscaloosa against a ravenous Alabama defense will go down as one of the best performances by a quarterback in some time. While his 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame may not be ideally suited for the NFL, Manziel is without a doubt larger than life in the college ranks. Matching last year's eye-popping numbers isn't likely, but it will certainly be fun to watch him try.

TAJH BOYD (Clemson): After bursting on the scene early in 2011 before fading down the stretch, the 6-1, 225-pound Boyd started and finished strong for the Tigers in 2012, as Clemson went 11-2 on the year. Boyd completed an impressive 67.2 percent of his passes, for 3,896 yards and 36 touchdowns. Like most of the top QBs on the list, Boyd is also a dual threat, as evidenced by his 514 yards rushing and 10 more TDs. Boyd is a dynamic playmaker that should continue to put up big numbers, as Clemson will once again be in the mix for an ACC crown and perhaps more. A Heisman worthy campaign certainly isn't out of the realm of possibility in Death Valley this year.

MARCUS MARIOTA (Oregon): The list of defections in Eugene is long. Not only have several All-American caliber players moved on to the NFL, but so has former head coach Chip Kelly. It remains to be seen if Mark Helfrich will maintain the status quo at Oregon, but he definitely has a real asset under center in Mariota. As a freshman last year, the 6-4, 215-pounder completed 68.5 percent of his throws, for 2,677 yards and 32 touchdowns against just six interceptions. He also managed to find time to rush for 752 yards and five more scores, leading the lethal Ducks' offense. A natural leader under center, whose talents seem to be in line with the trending NFL, Mariota may not stay in Eugene past this season if he continues to thrive.

BRAXTON MILLER (Ohio State): Urban Meyer's spread offense was tailor-made for a player like Miller and vise versa. The 6-2, 210-pounder isn't the most polished passer on this list, but he is serviceable in that regard, especially with his threat of tucking the ball in and running with it. Miller completed 58.3 percent of his passes in 2012, an increase from 2011, while throwing for 2,039 yards and 15 touchdowns. He rushed for 1,271 yards and 13 TDs, almost doubling his ground stats from 2011. He also happened to lead the Buckeyes to a perfect 12-0 campaign last year. Another season with Meyer working the strings and Miller could take the next step in his evolution.

AJ MCCARRON (Alabama): The only quarterback on this list with two national titles to his credit (Alabama also won the national title in 2009, but McCarron took a redshirt that season), he is the most seasoned signal-caller in the country. While a great deal of the credit for Alabama's success goes to Nick Saban and a dominant defense year-in and year-out, some has to go to the 6-4, 215-pound McCarron. He has done everything asked of him in Tuscaloosa, earning Third-Team All-American honors in 2012 as a junior, while leading the nation in passing efficiency (173.08). McCarron completed 67.2 percent his throws last year, for 2,933 yards and 30 touchdowns, against just three interceptions. He is one of only seven quarterbacks to win consecutive national titles and the first since Tommie Frazier (Nebraska - 1994, 1995) to win back-to-back consensus crowns. A third straight title is certainly attainable, especially with McCarron handling the Alabama offense.

DEREK CARR (Fresno State): Although there may be some lingering doubts regarding Fresno State's talented signal-caller due to older brother David Carr's struggles in the NFL, there should be very few negative criticisms of Derek Carr following a stellar junior season in 2012. The 6-3, 210-pound Carr was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, setting the MWC single-season record with 4,104 yards passing. Carr also threw 37 touchdown passes against just seven interceptions. The scary thing for opponents is that it was just the first season in the new offensive scheme for Carr.

BRETT HUNDLEY (UCLA): The 6-3, 227-pound Hundley redshirted in 2011, but the time spent soaking in the atmosphere and the playbook paid off huge in 2012, as he stared all 14 games a year ago for UCLA as a redshirt freshman, setting single-season school records for passing yards, completions and total offense. The Bruins' signal-caller completed 66.5 percent his passes in 2012, for 3,740 yards and 29 touchdowns, while adding an additional nine scores on the ground.

DAVID FALES (San Jose State): Perhaps the most productive quarterback with the least amount of hype in the country, Fales put together an All-American campaign in 2012. The 6-3, 220-pounder had a huge junior season last year, leading the nation in completion percentage (.725), throwing for 4,193 yards and 33 touchdowns. A one-year starter at San Jose State after transferring in from the juco ranks, Fales rewrote the school record books a year ago and finished up ranked third in the nation in passing efficiency, sixth in passing yards and eighth in touchdown passes.

JORDAN LYNCH (Northern Illinois): The nation's ultimate dual may have resided in DeKalb last season in the form of the dynamic Lynch. The 6-1, 210-pounder passed for 3,138 yards and 25 touchdowns, while rumbling for 1,815 yards and another 19 touchdowns. While the MAC isn't exactly a hot-bed of Heisman-worthy performances, Lynch could make some noise in that regard with another big season with the Huskies. To do so however, Lynch will have to get some distance from an ugly performance in last year's Orange Bowl. Florida State's defense was too much for Lynch to handle, as he managed to rush for just 44 yards, while completing an ugly 15-of-41 passing, for just 176 yards.

HONORABLE MENTION: Aaron Murray (Georgia), Taylor Martinez (Nebraska), Everett Golson (Notre Dame), Kevin Hogan (Stanford), Devin Gardner (Michigan).

With sanctions lifted, Buckeyes eye BCS

Thu, 16 May 2013 11:48:17 -0400

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Over the past few seasons, the Ohio State Buckeyes have endured plenty of turmoil and turnover.

However, against the odds, the program has more than just rebounded, emerging from the ashes of their 2010 improper benefits scandal to become one of the top contenders for the BCS national title in 2013.

The fallout from the incident forced the Buckeyes to forgo several scholarships and cost them bowl eligibility in 2012. It also left the team in a state of flux after the resignation of Jim Tressel, who won more than 80 percent of his games at the helm for Ohio State from 2001 to 2010.

Luckily, the school found its savior during the dark period in head coach Urban Meyer.

Following a lackluster 6-7 campaign in 2011 under interim head coach Luke Fickell, the Buckeyes shocked the college football landscape by bringing Meyer aboard last season. Meyer's track record was nearly impeccable prior to arriving in Columbus. After dominating lower levels of competition at Bowling Green and Utah from 2001-2004 (39-8), he went on to win five bowl games in six seasons at Florida while being crowned BCS national champions in 2006 and 2008. Still, even with his standing as one of college football's most brilliant minds, many wondered how long it would take Meyer to bring Ohio State back to national prominence.

It's safe to say Meyer silenced any doubters in his first season. Despite being ineligible to play for the Big Ten title or in a bowl game, the Buckeyes were outstanding in 2012, finishing a perfect 12-0, setting up strongly for a similar run in 2013.

The key to Meyer's success last season was his ability to quickly implement his offensive scheme, and the results were fantastic, as the unit amassed over 423 yards per game while scoring a lofty 37.2 points per game. There's no reason to think that the offense can't put up even better numbers in 2013, as nine of 11 starters return to the fold, including quarterback Braxton Miller.

Miller emerged as one of the nation's most dynamic playmakers during his sophomore season, showing prowess in the passing game (.583 completion percentage, 2,039 yards, 15 TDs, six INTs) while displaying elite ability to make plays with his legs as well (1,271 rushing yards, 13 TDs).

Miller's confidence under center has improved with each season on campus, and he has high hopes that even more growth is on the horizon.

"I know the plays better, how they'll develop and where the guys are going to be," Miller said of his evolution as a quarterback. "It allows me to move around the pocket more confidently."

The Heisman Trophy-hopeful signal-caller will have plenty of talent to help him out in 2013, headlined by senior tailback Carlos Hyde, who, despite missing two games a season ago, racked up 970 yards (5.2 ypc), while ranking second in the Big Ten with 16 rushing touchdowns. Hyde and Miller will both benefit from the return of offensive line staples Jack Mewhort and Andrew Norwell, both of whom earned All-Conference honors in 2012.

In addition to having the Big Ten's top rushing attack fully intact, Ohio State's top receiving threats Corey Brown (60 rec, 669 yards, three TDs) and Deven Smith (30 rec, 618 yards, six TDs) are also back to help Miller improve vertically.

Meyer knows he has a lot of talent to work with, and he isn't bashful about his expectations for the offense.

"I would be disappointed if we're not the best offense in the Big Ten," Meyer said following his team's spring game.

Things are less certain on the defensive side of the ball for the Buckeyes, as they were solid yet unspectacular a season ago in allowing opponents to put up 22.8 points per game. Things are even less certain going into this year, as only four starters return.

The good news is that Second Team All-Big Ten linebacker Ryan Shazier is back for his junior season looking to improve upon a team-leading 115 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles while also adding five sacks and an interception in 2012. Ohio State should be one of the top teams in the conference against the pass as well, as Christian Bryant (71 tackles, INT), Bradley Roby (63 tackles, two INTs, 19 PDs) and C.J. Barnett (56 tackles, two INTs) make up a very experienced secondary.

"I think we made great strides this spring," senior safety Barnett said. "There were a lot of questions coming into this season, especially on defense with guys like John Simon (14.5 TFL, nine sacks) graduating. It's important to see guys like Adolphus Washington step up and make some plays."

The way the offense is built, it would surprise no one if the Buckeyes run through the Big Ten once again in 2013. Now that Meyer has already shown his ability to dominate the regular season, the next big question is whether or not his team can end the SEC's reign of terror over the FBS landscape. It's been eight seasons since another conference has hoisted the national championship trophy, but Meyer has held that crystal football twice before, and he just may have what it takes to bring it back to Columbus at season's end.

Strong building something special with Cardinals

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:23:11 -0400

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - There weren't many people, perhaps not any, that gave Louisville much of a chance in the Sugar Bowl a year ago.

Though the Cardinals were ranked No. 22 in the country, sported a 10-2 record and had dominated their league schedule, it was just unthinkable that a team from the diluted Big East could hang with a squad from the mighty Southeastern Conference.

However that is exactly what happened. In fact not only did Louisville hang with then No. 4 Florida, the Cardinals dominated en route to a 33-23 victory. It may not have been on the same level as Boise State's upset of Oklahoma in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl, but it certainly made a statement.

That statement being that Louisville isn't just a team that can compete for Big East titles but possibly national crowns.

Many of the powerhouse teams are led by strong and recognizable coaches. Last year was certainly a coming out party for Charlie Strong whose no nonsense approach and dedication to the defensive side of the ball was key for Louisville.

In his first two seasons at the helm, Strong built a solid foundation by guiding Louisville to back-to-back 7-6 seasons and bowl appearances. However in 2012 the groundwork laid down in those first two seasons really began to pay off as Strong earned the Big East Co-Coach of the Year award.

One of the most important developments in 2012 was the rise of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Year. In just his sophomore season Bridgewater, who is one of the players on the squad from Strong's first recruiting class, was unbelievably productive. Bridgewater threw for 3,718 yards and 27 touchdowns, completing an impressive 68.5 percent of his pass attempts. Each of those numbers were the best since 2007 when Brian Brohm was under center for the Cardinals.

Bridgewater is a microcosm for the squad as a whole. Last season he was expected to play well but obviously exceeded expectations. Now he enters this season on a short list of Heisman candidates and a player many think could be taken in the first round of next year's NFL Draft.

It's not just at quarterback that Louisville returns on the offensive side of the ball. Strong has said that he believes his receiving corps this year to be the strength of the football team.

With a host of dynamic playmakers like Devante Parker (40 receptions, 744 yards, 10 TDs), Eli Rogers (46 receptions, 505 yards, 4 TDs) and Damian Copeland (50 receptions, 628 yards, 2 TDs), Strong's opinion is far from unfounded.

"That is every quarterback's dream, ball fetchers," Bridgewater said of the litany of weapons he will be throwing to on Saturdays. "Those guys bring excitement to the offense."

While the offense certainly has plenty returning, the other side of the field also shares in an embarrassment of returning riches. Of the 19 starters returning for Louisville, 10 come on the defensive side of the ball.

That type of experience back on the field is a monumental advantage for a team that already excelled in slowing teams down last season. Louisville was ranked No. 23 in the country in total defense (340.3 ypg) in 2012 and could be even better in 2013.

Last season's lead tackler Preston Brown (109 tackles) will be the anchor for the unit as Strong indicates his hopes for the senior linebacker to take on a more vocal leadership role.

"We expect a lot out of Preston Brown," Strong said. "Preston is a starter and has been a starter for three years and I just expect him to now become the leader of the defense."

That's saying quite a lot for a team that has a long list of players that could very well be considered the 'leader' of the defense.

Case in point is safety Calvin Pryor, who also got to the century mark in tackles last season (100).

Then there's cornerback Hakeem Smith, who is fresh off a Second-Team All-Big East selection, the third time he has received all-conference honors.

Finally there is leading pass rusher Lorenzo Mauldin. The 6-foot-4 defensive end is a bit undersized for the position at 242 pounds, but still managed a team-high 4.5 sacks. The lack of bulk for Mauldin isn't an issue for Strong, who has been impressed with Mauldin's work ethic.

"I don't know if there is a player on our team that goes harder than him. You can tell (him) to slow down (but) he doesn't know what slow means," Strong said.

Even with proven commodities all over the field there will still be detractors of Louisville.

During a sensational 2012 season, Louisville didn't play the same type of schedule that national title contenders like Alabama and Oregon did. The Cardinals were 73rd out of 124 teams at the FBS level in strength of schedule (-1.96) according to sports-reference.com and did not face a ranked program until the Sugar Bowl.

The schedule isn't exactly laced with a ton of major challenges again this season with the Cardinals' biggest non-conference contest on the road against intrastate rival Kentucky.

Strong isn't giving credence to any of the doubts against his team though. After a strong start to the 2013 calendar year, not just for the football program but Louisville athletics in general, Strong sees this year as one that will be painted red.

"There are a lot of people who believe 13 is an unlucky number. This year, 2013, has proven to be very lucky for the Cardinals," Strong said. "(We) have proven that '13 is just the right number for the Cardinals."

When asked by a reporter during his pre-spring game press conference if the Cardinals were going for 13 wins in '13, Strong let out a laugh. However he also said "If we stay humble and stay hungry there is no telling where this team can go."

Perhaps how far they will travel is uncertain but 13 wins would definitely be the extreme, a national championship level extreme.

Monmouth LB Sullivan ineligible for 2013

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:47:59 -0400

West Long Branch, NJ (Sports Network) - Monmouth University has declared senior middle linebacker Dan Sullivan ineligible for the 2013 season due to an undisclosed violation of team policy.

In announcing the suspension on Wednesday, Monmouth said Sullivan will continue to practice and can participate in all organized team activities.

The Hawks are joining the Big South Conference for football only this year. Last year, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Sullivan was named to the Northeast Conference first team.

The two-year starter, a local product out of Manasquan, has 137 career tackles. He was in on a team-high 64 stops, including nine tackles for loss and five sacks, with one interception and one forced fumble last season.

Sam Houston State hires DC from McNeese State

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:50:18 -0400

Huntsville, TX (Sports Network) - Sam Houston State has run a defense with some of the same structure as McNeese State, so the Bearkats expect a smooth transition in hiring defensive coordinator Mike Collins away from the Cowboys.

Sam Houston State announced the hiring on Wednesday as its new defensive coordinator switched Southland Conference programs. His new team has won two straight conference titles and reached the FCS championship game in each of the past two seasons.

Collins coached 12 seasons over two stints at McNeese State, including since 2008. He also was the Cowboys' assistant head coach and secondary coach.

The 2009 Cowboys were Southland co-champions.

"This is a great opportunity. I'm excited to be a Bearkat," Collins said. "What interested me most about the position was the outstanding job coach (Willie) Fritz has done here at Sam Houston. I appreciate the way the team has played with such discipline. I've also seen the support the university administration has given the program. Sam Houston obviously is committed to success in athletics. I am thankful for the opportunity they have given me."

Previously, Collins was the defensive coordinator and later the head coach at his alma mater, Louisiana-Monroe, the defensive coordinator at Northwestern State, and he spent the 2003 season as an intern on Nick Saban's national championship staff at LSU, then was the linebackers coach a year later.

Collins replaced Steve Stoker, who left Sam Houston State last month to become the defensive coordinator at UTEP. Stoker served in that position with the Bearkats the last four seasons.

In the FCS Huddle: Running backs carry heavy load

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:49:28 -0400

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - This could be the year of the crooked number among FCS running backs.

Some of the best ones have already provided a preview of what could be in store.

Towson's Terrance West rushed for 29 touchdowns as a freshman two years ago.

Indiana State's Shakir Bell pounded Drake for 349 yards - a Missouri Valley Football Conference record - in a game last season.

South Dakota State's Zach Zenner hit 2K last year with a 2,044-yard season.

While plenty of top FCS running backs departed after last season, including another 2,000-yard rusher in Wofford's Eric Breitenstein, it's the high quality of returnees that stands out for the upcoming season.

Add in some of the other staples from the Walter Payton Award Watch List and there will be some NFL opportunities down the line with this year's running backs crop.

Bell, Zenner, West and Sam Houston State's Timothy Flanders make selecting two backs for a preseason All-America team both a no-win and no-loss situation. All four deserve to be there, so there are no right or wrong answers, just great backs to pick from.

Flanders is the compiler in this year's group. He leads all returning backs in career rushing yards (4,234) and touchdowns (55). Bell's 115 yards per game is highest among the returnees.

Northern Arizona's Zach Bauman has the chance to go over 1,000 yards for the fourth straight season, and only injuries last year have kept Delaware's Andrew Pierce from having the same opportunity this year.

Villanova's Kevin Monangai, Stony Brook's Marcus Coker, Northern Iowa's David Johnson, Georgia Southern's Dominique Swope, The Citadel's Darien Robinson, Wagner's Dominique Williams and Fordham's Carlton Koonce are among the other most skilled backs.

The list runs deep, too, with 23 possible returning 1,000-yard rushers (three are quarterbacks) as well as the return of 2011 century club runners like Saint Francis' Kyle Harbridge (injured last season), Montana State's Cody Kirk and James Madison's Dae'Quan Scott.

The balls will still fly often in this age of passing offenses, but that may make the FCS's top returning running backs stand out even more this year.

Catch them if you can.