NCAA Endzone

Maryland
Starts: March 27.
Spring game: April 28.
Last season’s record: 9-4.
Losing QB Sam Hollenbach leaves coach Ralph Friedgen with a huge hole to fill on an offense that last season successfully achieved a balance between the run and pass. Jordan Steffy is a possible candidate, but Friedgen - who serves as offensive coordinator - will look long and hard at everyone on the depth chart. The Terps also need a new punter and placekicker.

Miami
Starts: March 6.
Spring game: April 7.
Last season’s record: 7-6.
Randy Shannon’s first spring as coach of the Hurricanes will have plenty of challenges, including integrating several new assistant coaches and a new offensive scheme. The biggest question is at quarterback, where it’ll be an open competition between Kyle Wright and Kirby Freeman. But Shannon’s top priority likely will be finding a way to regain the confidence that his team lost a year ago, when the Hurricanes stumbled and coach Larry Coker was fired.

Michigan
Starts: March 17.
Spring game: April 14.
Last season’s record: 11-2.
The search begins to replace All-Americans CB Leon Hall, DT tackle Alan Branch, DE LaMarr Woodley and LB David Harris. The offense is loaded, however, with three-year starters QB Chad Henne, RB Mike Hart and T Jake Long, plus talented WRs Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington. Two months ago, coach Lloyd Carr signed a new version of his contract that might lead to 2007 being his last season. The reworked deal allows Carr to collect a deferred compensation account if he is employed by the school in any capacity until July 1, 2008. Previously, Carr had to be the head football coach until July 1, 2007, to receive the deferred compensation account.

Michigan State
Starts: March 20.
Spring game: April 21.
Last season’s record: 4-8.
The Spartans are breaking in a new coach, Mark Dantonio, and a new QB, Brian Hoyer, this spring. Dantonio - a former Michigan State assistant under Saban - left Cincinnati after John L. Smith was fired. Michigan State will go from a spread offense to a traditional one, with a fullback and tight end. Hoyer played in eight games last season, throwing for 863 yards and four touchdowns, and started the final game when Stanton was out. On defense, half the starters have to be replaced, which isn’t necessarily bad news.

Mississippi
Starts: March 2.
Spring game: April 7.
Last season’s record: 4-8.
Priority No. 1 for the Rebels will be replacing their three starting linebackers, including All-American and Butkus Award winner Patrick Willis. Disciplinary action has also left the team thin at the position. With S Jamarca Sanford switched back to his old position, freshman Jonathan Cornell is the only returning player with a start (one). Those at other positions will be given a shot to play linebacker this spring while the team awaits the summertime arrival of junior college transfer Tony Fein.

Mississippi State
Starts: Feb. 26.
Spring game: March 31.
Last season’s record: 3-9.
The heart of the Bulldogs’ defense will be playing in the NFL next year, and coaches have made several position changes that will require adjustments. Most notably coach Sylvester Croom moved CB Derek Pegues to SS. The team must replace MLB Quinton Culberson, three DLs and two CBs. Junior college signees DT Jessie Bowman and LB Dominic Douglas are already on the defensive depth chart. QB Josh Riddell, a potential back-up to injury-prone quarterback Michael Henig, already is enrolled.

Nebraska
Starts: March 21.
Spring game: April 14.
Last season’s record: 9-5.
Arizona State transfer Sam Keller is the favorite to succeed Zac Taylor at QB, and there is good depth with returning backup Joe Ganz and junior-college transfer Zac Lee. RB Brandon Jackson’s early departure for the NFL leaves Cody Glenn and Kenny Wilson, both coming off injuries, and Marlon Lucky, hospitalized four days for undisclosed reason in mid-February, competing for the job. Rebuilding the defensive line will be a priority.

North Carolina
Starts: March 19.
Spring game: April 14.
Last season’s record: 3-9.
The Tar Heels must adapt to new coach Butch Davis’ discipline-first style. Returning QBs Joe Dailey and Cameron Sexton must seize the chance to make an impression on Davis this spring, because a Top 15 recruiting class is coming to Chapel Hill in the fall with several players capable of making an immediate impact. Dailey, a Nebraska transfer, has to take better care of the ball. No ACC team threw more interceptions (18) last season.

North Carolina State
Starts: March 14 or 17.
Spring game: April 14.
Last season’s record: 3-9.
Tom O’Brien is looking to emphasize discipline to a Wolfpack team that often lacked it under Chuck Amato. N.C. State’s new coach figures to spend most of the spring getting to know his players and what they’re capable of, and several of the key contributors on last season’s team are back. That includes RBs Andre Brown and Toney Baker, and QB Daniel Evans, who led N.C. State to wins over Florida State and O’Brien’s old team at Boston College.

Notre Dame
Starts: March 24.
Spring game: April 21.
Last season’s record: 10-3.
Jimmy Clausen, the stage is yours. The highly touted freshman quarterback will be given every opportunity to compete for the job vacated by Brady Quinn’s departure. Notre Dame needs Clausen to develop quickly, because the offense lost more than just Quinn. New defensive coordinator Corwin Brown will try to fix a unit that has shown little ability to stop good offenses. This is his first chance to be a coordinator, and he’s said he’ll decide how the Fighting Irish line up - 3-4 or 4-3 - after he gets a look at the personnel.

Penn State
Starts: March 23.
Spring game: April 21.
Last season’s record: 9-4.
The broken right leg that hobbled Joe Paterno late last season should be healed enough for him to roam the practice field without a cane. He’ll be looking for a replacement for workhorse RB Tony Hunt. Austin Scott, who redshirted last year, figures to be the top candidate but must prove he can stay healthy. When last seen, Scott ran for 110 yards and two TDs in the 2006 Orange Bowl. Backup Rodney Kinlaw and little-used sophomores Evan Royster and Brent Carter might also be in the mix. Whoever takes over must produce enough to take pressure off QB Anthony Morelli.

Ohio State
Starts: March 29.
Spring game: April 21.
Last season’s record: 12-1.
The 41-14 rout at the hands of Florida in the national championship game was also the final game for most of the stars on an offense that averaged 38 points a game. Gone is Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, leading rusher Antonio Pittman, WRs Anthony Gonzalez and Ted Ginn Jr. and OLs Doug Datish and T.J. Downing. Todd Boeckman, Rob Schoenhoft and Antonio Henton will fight to replace Smith at QB. Chris Wells will take over for Pittman. There are few questions on defense, where LB James Laurinaitis leads a pack of veterans.

Oklahoma
Starts: March 5.
Spring game: April 7.
Last season’s record: 11-3.
Star RB Adrian Peterson is gone to the NFL, but the Sooners have an even more pressing need in finding a new starter at quarterback. Junior Joey Halzle, redshirt freshman Sam Bradford and recruit Keith Nichol will compete for the chance to hand off to Allen Patrick, who entrenched himself as Peterson’s replacement last season, and throw to an experienced group of WRs, which includes Malcolm Kelly and Juaquin Iglesias. Other holes must be filled at defensive end and linebacker.

Oregon
Starts: TBA.
Spring game: TBA.
Last season’s record: 7-6.
The Ducks have decisions to make at QB, where Dennis Dixon and Brady Leaf continue to compete for playing time. Last season, Mike Bellotti made Dixon the starter, but Leaf made two starts - the Civil War game and in Oregon’s 38-8 loss to BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl. Also in the mix at QB is Nathan Costa. The situation will be a priority for new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly from New Hampshire, who is replacing Gary Crowton.

Oregon State
Starts: April 2.
Spring game: April 28.
Last season’s record: 10-4.
The Beavers return 17 starters, but QB Matt Moore, who blossomed late last season, is gone. The Beavers will look to sophomore Sean Canfield to take over, backed up by Lyle Moevao. Oregon State also lost a leader on defense in strong safety Sabby Piscitelli. Among those returning are wide receiver Sammie Stroughter, running back Yvenson Bernard and kicker Alexis Serna.

spring football, NCAA, Michigan

All this week NCAA Endzone will take a look at spring football and how the major college teams are preparing for the 2007 season.

Months before the first games are played, the 2007 college football begins with spring practice.

For new coaches and coordinators, it’s the first chance to put their stamp on a team. For some players, it’s about a climbing to the top of the depth chart. For others, it’s about proving that injured body part is as good as new.

Over the next two months at campuses around the country, the foundations for next season are being set. Here’s a sampling of what’s ahead (teams listed in alphabetical order):

Florida
Starts: March 21.
Spring game: April 14.
Last season’s record: 13-1.
The defending national champions are now QB Tim Tebow’s team. Coach Urban Meyer has a quarterback whose mobility is a better fit for the spread-option, and the offense could look even more like Meyer’s Utah squad with Alex Smith. How Tebow progresses in his first spring as the starter is worth watching. Ultimately, the offense should be on the rise. The defense must replace four stars who left early for the NFL draft. About a third of the Gators’ heralded recruiting class is already enrolled and will participate in spring ball.

Florida State
Starts: TBA
Spring game: TBA.
Last season’s record: 7-6.
This spring in Tallahassee, the focus is on the revamped coaching staff. Coach Bobby Bowden overhauled his assistants after the Seminoles’ worst season since his first in 1976. Jimbo Fisher left LSU to take over as offensive coordinator. His No. 1 job is to straighten out quarterbacks Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee. Rick Trickett, who worked wonders with West Virginia’s offensive line, is in charge of getting Florida State’s blocking fixed. Chuck Amato returns to re-take the defensive coordinator post after Kevin Steele jumped to Alabama.

Georgia
Starts: March 5.
Spring game: April 7.
Last season’s record: 9-4.
Unlike last season, the Bulldogs don’t have to worry about the quarterback position; Matthew Stafford locked up that spot with his strong play down the stretch as a freshman. But Georgia will try to fill major holes in the offensive and defensive line, which likely will be the focus on spring practice. Unlike in past years, Georgia recruited heavily in the junior college and prep school ranks, looking for players who could make a quicker impact. Seven linemen already have enrolled in school and will be available for spring workouts.

Georgia Tech
Starts: March 1.
Spring game: April 7.
Last season’s record: 9-5.
All eyes will be on the quarterback and receiver positions during spring workouts. Junior Taylor Bennett, coming off a 326-yard performance in the Gator Bowl, is the early favorite to replace four-year starter Reggie Ball at QB. Also keep an eye on freshman Steven Threet, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound prospect who enrolled early. At receiver, the Yellow Jackets must replace first-rounder-to-be Calvin Johnson, who gave up his senior season. James Johnson had 39 catches and 7 TDs as a sophomore, but no other receiver had double-figure receptions.

Illinois
Starts: March 27.
Spring game: April 21.
Last season’s record: 2-10.
The Illini lost TBs E.B. Halsey and Pierre Thomas, but Rashard Mendenhall, who carried 78 times for 640 yards and scored five touchdowns, returns. QB Juice Williams will be a sophomore and a second-year starter. Illini coaches say he needs to learn to put better touch on the ball but say his decision-making improved as the season progressed. Defense was Illinois’ strength, and nine starters return. LB J Leman, who led the Big Ten in tackles, anchors the defense.

Indiana
Starts: March 20.
Spring game: April 14.
Last season’s record: 5-7.
Coach Terry Hoeppner, who missed two games after having brain surgery in late September, returns for his third season upbeat and without the revolving quarterback situation that dominated the first half of last season. Sophomore Kellen Lewis is the incumbent, and backup Blake Powers is expected to move to tight end. WR James Hardy, who had a two-game suspension last year, gets a clean start. Hoeppner is counting on improvement from a defense that has six returning starters. The question is the offensive line, which lost four starters.

Iowa
Starts: March 1.
Spring Game: April 14.
Last season’s record: 6-7.
A 2-6 record in the Big Ten has sparked coach Kirk Ferentz and his staff to “open their eyes” to the prospect of playing underclassmen sooner. Competition at wide receiver and in the defensive backfield should be heated. The position to watch will be quarterback, where sophomore Jake Christensen is expected to step in for Drew Tate. Iowa also has holes to fill along the offensive line and at both safety spots.

Iowa State
Starts: March 20.
Spring Game: April 14.
Last season’s record: 4-8.
First-year coach Gene Chizik, the former Texas defensive coordinator, will have his work cut out for him as he attempts to fix one of the nation’s worst defenses. The secondary was abysmal in 2006, so look for heavy competition there. Senior QB Bret Meyer, who regressed last season thanks to a terrible offensive line, will have to learn new offensive coordinator Robert McFarland’s system. There will be plenty of starting jobs up for grabs during spring practice on a team that went 1-7 in the Big 12.

Kentucky
Starts: March 28.
Spring game: April 21.
Last season’s record: 8-5.
QB Andre Woodson temporarily lost his starting job last spring, but he is entrenched as the starter after throwing 31 TD passes and leading the Wildcats to their first bowl game victory since 1984. WRs Keenan Burton and Dicky Lyons Jr. are back. RB Rafael Little leads a trio of talented backs, so the offense should be in good shape. Former defensive backs coach Steve Brown takes over the coordinator duties, trying to improve a unit that ranked second-to-last in the nation in yards allowed.

Louisville
Starts: March 31.
Spring game: April 20.
Last season’s record: 12-1.
Coach Bobby Petrino and RB Michael Bush are gone, but there’s plenty of talent still around. QB Brian Brohm opted to stick around for his senior year rather than enter the NFL Draft, and new coach Steve Kragthorpe is eager to figure out a way to implement all of the players at his disposal. The few questions the Cardinals have are on defense, which lost six starters. But a handful of freshmen received extensive playing time last year, and more help is on the way this summer when linebacker Willie Williams arrives after spending last season at West Los Angeles Community College.

LSU
Starts: Feb. 26.
Spring game: March 24.
Last season’s record: 11-2.
LSU’s offense is in the midst of a makeover following the early departure of QB JaMarcus Russell and two of his best receivers. QB Matt Flynn, who’ll be a senior, is the projected starter, with sophomore Ryan Perrilloux backing up. New offensive coordinator Gary Crowton, hired when Jimbo Fisher left for Alabama, is expected to implement some spread-option looks. The Tigers’ are also looking for two new starters at safety and on the defensive line. Some of those spots might not be set until late summer, after several highly rated recruits have had a chance to suit up in August.

NCAA, spring football, Florida

All this week NCAA Endzone will take a look at spring football and how the major college teams are preparing for the 2007 season.

Months before the first games are played, the 2007 college football begins with spring practice.
For new coaches and coordinators, it’s the first chance to put their stamp on a team. For some players, it’s about a climbing to the top of the depth chart. For others, it’s about proving that injured body part is as good as new.

Over the next two months at campuses around the country, the foundations for next season are being set. Here’s a sampling of what’s ahead (teams listed in alphabetical order):

Alabama
Starts: March 24.
Spring game: April 21.
Last season’s record: 6-7.
Alabama players will get their first real taste of Nick Saban’s demanding coaching style, making this the Crimson Tide’s most anticipated spring in years. Saban’s only major question mark on offense is who will replace three-time leading rusher Kenneth Darby. Top candidates include Jimmy Johns and Glen Coffee. The Tide must replace six defensive starters but get back All-SEC CB Simeon Castille and MLB Prince Hall.

Arizona State
Starts: March 19.
Spring game: April 14.
Last season’s record: 7-6.
The Sun Devils will have to adjust to new coach Dennis Erickson, who replaced the fired Dirk Koetter. The offense is solid behind QB Rudy Carpenter, a two-year starter who bounced back from early struggles a year ago, although the team needs to identify a go-to receiver to replace TE Matt Miller. The bigger concern is shoring up the defense, which allowed 40 or more points four times last season.

Arizona
Starts: March 21.
Spring game: April 14.
Last season’s record: 6-6.
Coming off their best season since 1998, the Wildcats are looking to upgrade their offense. That’s why coach Mike Stoops hired offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes from Texas Tech. Arizona has to replace WR/KR Syndric Steptoe, their most exciting player, along with workhorse RB Chris Henry. QB Willie Tuitama has dealt with concussions but has played 15 games in his first two seasons, with 16 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions. The defense got a lift when star CB Antoine Cason announced he would return for his senior year.

Arkansas
Starts: March 13.
Spring game: April 14.
Last season’s record: 10-4.
Spring practice might be a reprieve for this program, which has endured plenty of off-the-field turmoil lately. Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn left to join the staff at Tulsa, and freshman QB Mitch Mustain has been released to transfer. As coach Houston Nutt scrambled to defend his program, athletic director Frank Broyles announced he’ll retire at the end of the year. The Razorbacks return RB Darren McFadden, who was the Heisman Trophy runner-up last year - if anyone remembers that far back.

Auburn
Starts: Feb. 27.
Spring game: March 17.
Last season’s record: 11-2.
Plenty of jobs will be up for grabs, including at RB with the loss of Kenny Irons. The top candidates to replace him are junior Brad Lester and sophomore Ben Tate. Lester has the experience and scored nine TD last season, but has had injury problems and was suspended for the bowl game. Tate looked impressive in several games as a freshman. The Tigers also must replace four offensive linemen, top receiver Courtney Taylor and four defensive starters.

Boise State
Starts: March 12.
Spring game: April 13.
Last season’s record: 13-0.
Coming off its exhilarating Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma, the Broncos will need to find a replacement for their two leaders - QB Jared Zabransky and LB Korey Hall. Senior Taylor Tharp will get the first shot at replacing Zabransky. He should get pushed by Bush Hamdan and Nick Lomax, the son of former NFL QB Neil Lomax. Whoever the QB is, he’ll have some time to develop with RB Ian Johnson and four offensive linemen returning. Replacing Hall won’t be as easy. Josh Bean was a special teams standout, but has yet to show the same instincts that made Hall the WAC defensive player of the year.

Boston College
Starts: March 24.
Spring game: April 28.
Last season’s record: 10-3.
For the first time in 10 years, coach Tom O’Brien isn’t at the helm. He defected for North Carolina State before the Meineke Bowl and former Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski replaced him. Jagodzinski, who previously worked at BC as offensive coordinator, has plenty of returning talent to work with, starting with QB Matt Ryan.

Cincinnati
Starts: March 26.
Spring game: April 21.
Last season’s record 8-5.
New coach Brian Kelly took over when Mark Dantonio left for Michigan State after the regular season and promised to install a high-powered passing attack. The first priority is to find a quarterback to run it. Dustin Grutza won the job as a sophomore last season, but struggled and was replaced by senior Nick Davila for Cincinnati’s 27-24 win over Western Michigan in the International Bowl, which Kelly coached. Kelly has signed two Ohio prep quarterbacks - Chazz Anderson and Zach Collaros - to letters of intent.

Clemson
Starts: March 10.
Spring game: April 14.
Last season’s record: 8-5.
Little went right for coach Tommy Bowden’s Tigers after a 7-1 start. Clemson lost four of its final five, including a surprising defeat to Kentucky at the Music City Bowl, and Bowden lost key recruits to academic concerns. The Tigers will have a new starting QB for the second straight year. And there are questions whether star RB C.J. Spiller’s heart is truly at Clemson after he reportedly considered transferring.

Colorado
Starts: March 12.
Spring game: April 14.
Last season’s record: 2-10.
Dan Hawkins’ first season was a disaster, but the defense wasn’t to blame. Colorado allowed just 22.3 points per game, its lowest since 1998. Their leading receiver, however, was TE Riar Greer, who had 24 catches for 261 yards. Last year’s starting QB, Bernard Jackson, will be pushed by junior-college transfer Nick Nelson, and the Buffaloes will have to make big strides at RB and WR to play the exciting style that Hawkins employed at Boise State. Replacing All-America K Mason Crosby also is a high priority.

Connecticut
Starts: March 13.
Spring game: April 14.
Last season’s record: 4-8.
The biggest question mark is at QB - again. The Huskies signed Tyler Lorenzen, a 6-foot-5 junior college standout from California, this winter. He is considered the front-runner for the job over returning starter D.J. Hernandez and Dennis Brown, who redshirted last season. Lorenzen and UConn’s top recruit, Jarrell Miller, a linebacker from Richmond, Va., have already enrolled in the school and will take part in spring drills.

Duke
Starts: March 26.
Spring game: April 21.
Last season’s record: 0-12.
The Blue Devils have plenty of work to do after their fourth winless season in 11 years. Duke returns QB Thad Lewis, who made steady progress as a freshman, including leading his team to within a few yards of a win over Miami. They must replace DB John Talley, who shared the ACC lead with seven interceptions, but the biggest job coach Ted Roof has is convincing the Blue Devils they can win.

spring football, NCAA

The University of Cincinnati is investigating allegations that current football players and recruits engaged in sex acts with a former soccer player during a recruiting visit, according to a published report.

The Cincinnati Enquirer first reported the story.

The allegations came from an anonymous letter dated Feb. 14 that was sent to UC president Nancy Zimpher, Daniel Cummins, the director of judicial affairs, and Barbara Rinto, the director of the UC Women’s Center. The note was signed, “A Concerned Athletic Department Employee” according to the paper.

The newspaper reported that the letter said the sex acts took place during a party at which alcohol was served, the sex acts were videotaped and the tapes have been circulated in UC dormitories.

In 2004, the NCAA passed emergency legislation after the widely-publicized allegations of parties involving sex and alcohol for football recruits at the University of Colorado. The new NCAA rules required schools prohibit the use of alcohol and sex as enticements in recruiting.

If the allegations are true, Hand said, it would be a violation of the university code of conduct as well as a likely violation of residence hall regulations and athletic department on-campus recruiting visit rules.

At this point, there are no allegations of criminal conduct.

Cincinnati, recruiting, violations

Boise State’s thrilling Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma put coach Chris Petersen on the verge of earning $1 million a year — if his Broncos can continue their success.

Details of Petersen’s proposed five-year, $4.25 million contract have been posted on the state board of education’s website. The contract, to which he has agreed, still must be approved by board members at a meeting next Thursday.

The deal calls for Petersen to receive an annual base salary of $850,000. If the Broncos win 12 games, he will receive an additional $161,500. Another $100,000 will be added if the team wins a Bowl Championship Series game.

The Broncos went 13-0 last season and were ranked No. 5 in the final Associated Press poll. Boise State opened up its bag of tricks in a 43-42 overtime win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl — using a hook-and-ladder to score the tying touchdown and a Statue of Liberty play to score the winning 2-point conversion.

Petersen currently is in the second year of a five-year contract with an annual base salary of $575,000.

Boise State, Chris Petersen, Fiesta Bowl

Rutgers gave football coach Greg Schiano a four-year extension, the second time in less than two years that the school extended his contract.

Schiano, who received a seven-year extension to 2012 in December 2005, is now signed through 2016. His total compensation package will rise from about $1 million to $1.5 million per year.

Schiano, hired in 2000, orchestrated Rutgers’ rise from one of the nation’s worst programs to a top-10 team last season. He led the Scarlet Knights to their first bowl appearance in 27 years in 2005 and their first-ever bowl win last season.

Last season, Rutgers won its first nine games, rose to a highest-ever No. 7 ranking in The Associated Press poll and defeated Kansas State 37-10 in the Texas Bowl. The Scarlet Knights finished 11-2 and were within a triple-overtime loss at West Virginia of playing in a BCS bowl.

Rutgers went 7-5 and reached the Insight Bowl in 2005. In the eight seasons before Schiano arrived, Rutgers was 9-46-1 in the Big East. In the last two seasons they were 9-5 in the conference.

A former assistant at Miami, Schiano was rumored to be the top candidate to replace fired Larry Coker there, but took his name out of consideration in December.

Rutgers returns 13 starters for next season including Heisman Trophy candidate Ray Rice, who rushed for a school-record 1,794 yards last season, junior quarterback Mike Teel and All-American defensive tackle Eric Foster.

The Scarlet Knights recently released a schedule that includes eight games at Rutgers Stadium, where they were 6-0 last season.

Rutgers, Greg Schiano, Big East

Frank Broyles announced his retirement Saturday, employing his usual lively fashion to tell stories about his old football teams and speak with pride about the athletic department as he stepped toward marking the end of five decades with the Razorbacks.

In 50 years as Arkansas’ football coach and athletic director, Broyles built a program with high-profile coaches and top-notch facilities. He told the university’s board of trustees Saturday he will retire at the end of the year, ending days of intense speculation about his future.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who played for Broyles, addressed the crowd gathered in the ballroom at the Arkansas Union. Among others attending were football coach Houston Nutt, defensive coordinator Reggie Herring, basketball coach Stan Heath and track and field coach John McDonnell.

Broyles’ career at Arkansas began Dec. 7, 1957, when school trustees hired him away from Missouri, where he had coached one year. Broyles, now 82, wore a red blazer and tie as he spoke and red-and-white balloons and banners decorated the room. One banner read, “Thanks Coach.”

White said he had asked Broyles to remain as a university consultant but said terms had not been worked out. Broyles is a noted fundraiser — recently captaining a $1 billion capital campaign for the school — and the former ABC football analyst is a popular speaker wherever he goes.

While he was coaching, Broyles became famous for hiring top assistants. More than 25 of them eventually became head coaches, including Joe Gibbs, Jimmy Johnson, Johnny Majors and Jackie Sherrill. The Broyles Award is now given each year to the nation’s top assistant football coach.

Broyles also hired Lou Holtz to replace him as football coach in 1977 and hired Eddie Sutton and Nolan Richardson as basketball coaches. Sutton took the Razorbacks to the Final Four and Richardson guided Arkansas to the 1994 national championship. McDonnell’s track teams since 1984 have won 42 NCAA championships: 11 cross-country, 19 indoor and 12 outdoor.

Broyles, a Georgia native, is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He was a three-sport star at Georgia Tech and compiled a 144-58-5 record as a head football coach. His most memorable season was probably 1964, when the Razorbacks went 11-0 and were named national champions by The Football Writers Association of America.

That season was part of a school-record 22-game winning streak that didn’t end until the following season in the Cotton Bowl.

His 1969 team, ranked No. 2, played No. 1 Texas at Fayetteville in that year’s “Game of the Century.” President Nixon attended the game, which Arkansas lost 15-14.

White said recent controversy surrounding the football team — including the departure of offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and a pair of top freshmen — might have played a role in the retirement decision.

Arkansas, Frank Broyles

Continuing a tradition that began last year, the Mississippi State Bulldogs will kick off the 2007 football season on Thursday night with an ESPN televised game against the LSU Tigers on Aug. 30, the Southeastern Conference confirmed.

Mississippi State opened at home on Thursday night last season against South Carolina, a game the Gamecocks won, 15-0.

“Opening the season against LSU on national television provides terrific exposure for our university and our football program,” MSU coach Sylvester Croom said in a statement released by the school. “The best thing about the move is that it keeps our players focused throughout the spring and summer on LSU.”

The change, which came at the initiation of ESPN, is the product of months of work between MSU, LSU, Auburn and Tulane.

Mississippi State’s new schedule has the Bulldogs playing at Tulane on Sept. 8 and at Auburn on Sept. 15, according to www.clarionledger.com.

A university release said the school’s football schedule is still not complete and that changes are expected.

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Despite the potential risks, Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis decided to have gastric bypass surgery because he was afraid he would one day “drop dead” if he didn’t lose weight.

Weis, who suffered life-threatening complications and nearly died after the June 2002 surgery, testified Wednesday in his medical malpractice case against two surgeons that he has struggled with his weight all his life.

“I’ve probably been on every diet known to mankind,” he said in response to questions from his lawyer, Michael Mone.

Weis, whose father died of a heart attack at 56, said he worried he wouldn’t be able to see his two children grow up or reach his goal of becoming a head coach.

Weis claims in his suit that Massachusetts General Hospital physicians Charles Ferguson and Richard Hodin acted negligently by failing to recognize life-threatening internal bleeding and infection two days after the surgery.

Defense lawyers have said the doctors cared for Weis properly and that he experienced one of the known complications of the surgery.

Weis spent more than a month in the hospital after the surgery, lost feeling in his feet, and has had mobility problems since the surgery. He still needs a golf cart to get around practice at Notre Dame, and standing for up to five hours straight during games causes him severe foot pain.

Weis, the former offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots, decided to have the surgery shortly after the Patriots’ February 2002 Super Bowl victory over the St. Louis Rams.

William J. Dailey Jr., a lawyer for the doctors, suggested under cross examination of Weis that the surgery was successful because it helped Weis achieve his stated goals: He lost nearly 90 pounds and landed his dream job at Notre Dame.

Weis said he was so secretive about his decision to have the surgery that he didn’t tell his wife until about two weeks before the operation. The only member of the Patriots he confided in besides the team doctor was quarterback Tom Brady.

Weis is seeking unspecified damages.

Mississippi State, LSU, Charlie Weis

An NCAA committee has proposed rolling back some football rules that were enacted last season to shorten games after coaches complained the changes were unfair.

The NCAA football rules committee, meeting Wednesday in Albuquerque, N.M., recommended going back to starting the clock on the snap after a change of possession instead of when the referee signals the ball ready for play.

It also suggested starting the clock on kickoffs after the ball is touched by the receiving team rather than when it is kicked.

Last season, the average Division I-A game lasted 3 hours, 7 minutes — 14 minutes shorter than in 2005. In 2006, games averaged 127.5 plays, 14 fewer than a year earlier.

Coaches complained about the rule changes last season, particularly the rule starting the clock when the referee signaled.

To make up for the time being added back, the committee proposed the following changes:

• Using a 15-second play clock immediately after timeouts instead of a 25-second clock;

• Reducing timeouts from 65 seconds to 30 seconds;

• Kicking off from the 30-yard line instead of the 35 to cut down on touchbacks;

• Limiting the time officials have to review a replay to two minutes.

The rule changes need to be approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on March 12.

NCAA, football, rules changes

Nebraska running back Marlon Lucky was in fair condition Tuesday with an undisclosed problem, though his family said his hospitalization was not caused by alcohol or “illicit drugs.”

Lucky’s health has been shrouded in mystery since he was taken to BryanLGH Medical Center West on Sunday night. The Lincoln Journal Star reported that Lucky was unconscious when rescue workers arrived at the apartment he shares with teammate Jordan Picou.

Lucky’s family issued a statement through the NU athletic department that did not address why emergency personnel were called to his off-campus apartment.

“Marlon’s condition continues to improve. He has been removed from the intensive care unit, and his condition has been upgraded to fair,” the family said. “We would like to make it clear that Marlon’s medical emergency did not come about as a result of the use of alcohol or any illicit drugs.”

Lucky, from North Hollywood, Calif., was slowed by a back injury and shared playing time with three other I-backs as a sophomore in 2006. He started six games and was the team’s second-leading rusher, with 728 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught 32 passes for 383 yards. He averaged 19.1 yards on eight kickoff returns.

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Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema was rewarded for his highly successful first season with a new five-year, $7.5 million contract.

The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents approved an amended contract that will increase Bielema’s salary from $750,000 to $1.3 million this year.

Bielema, who guided the Badgers to a 12-1 record after taking over from Barry Alvarez, will be guaranteed a $100,000 salary increase every year under the deal. The contract will run through Jan. 31, 2012.

Bielema, at 37 the second-youngest head coach in NCAA Division I-A, led the Badgers to the most victories in school history, a tie for second place in the Big Ten and a 17-14 victory over Arkansas in the Capital One Bowl. The Badgers finished at No. 7 in The Associated Press poll.

The raise will bring Bielema’s salary up from near the bottom of Big Ten coaches to the middle, said Walter Dickey, chair of the Athletic Board.

The deal guarantees Bielema a base salary of $400,000, plus $900,000 from department program revenue. That amount will increase by $100,000 every year.

The amendment replaces a five-year, $4 million contract that ran through 2011. That deal guaranteed him $750,000 in salary every year, which would have increased by $25,000 per year. Bielema also earned $50,000 for the bowl game and $10,000 for being named Big Ten coach of the year under the contract’s bonus provision.

Alvarez, who remains the university’s athletics director, said Bielema “had a terrific first season, one that made us the envy of many universities nationally.”

“He did it through hard work, by setting high standards on the field and in the classroom and by refusing to compromise on his values,” Alvarez said in a statement.

Alvarez tapped Bielema as his successor when he announced his retirement as coach in 2005. Bielema spent two years as defensive coordinator under Alvarez and worked as an assistant at Kansas State and Iowa before coming to Wisconsin.

Wisconsin, Nebraska, Marlon Lucky, Bret Bielema

The NCAA alleges Oklahoma failed to adequately monitor the employment of several athletes, including some football players who worked during the academic year.

The NCAA’s findings came in an investigation after Oklahoma self-reported violations and dismissed starting quarterback Rhett Bomar and offensive lineman J.D. Quinn in August for taking excess pay from a Norman car dealership where they worked.

Oklahoma disclosed Monday that it had received its notice of allegations from the NCAA and is scheduled to appear before the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions on April 14 in Indianapolis.

The NCAA asked athletic director Joe Castiglione and football coach Bob Stoops to attend the meeting, along with compliance officials, general counsel Joseph Harroz and director of football operations Merv Johnson.

In its notice, the NCAA claims Oklahoma didn’t follow its own guidelines when it “did not collect gross earning statements for the 12 football student-athletes who notified the institution of their employment at Big Red during the 2005 summer vacation period … and as a result the institution did not detect the violations” it self-reported.

Oklahoma claims it did not detect the football players’ employment because the players did not complete required forms. The university also claims it was transitioning duties at a time when the NCAA alleges that Oklahoma failed to collect some of its monitoring forms in a timely manner.

The NCAA points out that the failure to monitor occured “despite receiving information that at least one student-athlete worked at Big Red during the academic year.”

Bomar and Quinn were both dismissed from the program and transferred to Division I-AA schools — Bomar to Sam Houston State and Quinn to Montana. Bomar was ordered to pay back more than $7,400 in extra benefits to charity, while Quinn was told to pay back more than $8,100.

Oklahoma has also banned athletes from working at the Norman car dealership where Bomar and Quinn were employed until at least the 2008-09 academic year and has moved to prevent the athletes’ supervisor at the dealership from being involved with the university’s athletics program. The dealership is now under new ownership.

Oklahoma also will reduce the number of football coaches who are allowed to recruit off campus this fall.

Stoops has said the players “knowingly” broke the rules.

Oklahoma, violations, NCAA

The University of Southern California is looking into whether it may have violated NCAA recruiting rules while pursuing highly rated recruit Joe McKnight, a university official said.

McKnight signed a national letter of intent with USC on Wednesday and made comments during a news conference that seemed to suggest communications involving former Trojan Reggie Bush, who is now with the New Orleans Saints.

Former players are forbidden from telephoning prospective recruits, their relatives or guardians.

The university’s action was first reported by the Los Angeles Times on its Web site late Thursday.

USC coach Pete Carroll denied any call took place, and McKnight’s high school football coach said the recruit misspoke during the news conference. The star running back has been living with his high school coach, J.T. Curtis.

During the Wednesday news conference, McKnight said Carroll set up a conference call so he and Curtis could talk to Bush and ease concerns USC might face sanctions.

The NCAA and the Pac-10 Conference are investigating whether Bush or his family received “improper benefits” from agents while he was playing for USC.

Regarding McKnight, Mike Matthews, associate commissioner of compliance for the Pac- 10, said boosters are not supposed to be involved in the recruiting process but could not comment without knowing specifics. NCAA spokeswoman Crissy Schluep also said she could not comment without knowing more.

Curtis told the Times on Thursday that he spoke to Carroll during McKnight’s recruitment, but not on a conference call with McKnight or Bush. He also said McKnight told him “Coach Carroll was talking to Reggie on the speakerphone and Joe was able to listen and hear Reggie Bush’s side of the story,” the newspaper reported.

After being informed of Carroll’s denial Thursday night, Curtis called McKnight and later said the recruit never heard Bush on a speakerphone.

USC, recruiting, violations

UCLA coach Karl Dorrell, whose Bruins finished the season 7-6 but beat Southern California for the first time in eight years, has been given a one-year extension, putting him under contract through the 2011 season.

The 43-year-old Dorrell, who has a 29-21 record in four seasons at UCLA, signed a five-year contract in July that included an $850,000 salary and incentives up to another $505,000 annually.

His first contract in 2003 called for a $600,000 salary plus incentives.

The Bruins stunned then-No. 2 USC 13-9 in the regular-season finale to knock the rival Trojans out of the Bowl Championship Series title game. UCLA finished the regular season with a three-game winning streak, but lost 44-27 to Florida State in the Emerald Bowl.

Another Pac-10 coach was rewarded when Oregon football coach Mike Bellotti agreed to a five-year contract extension.

The 56-year-old Bellotti gets a salary of $150,000 a year, with a guaranteed base of $650,000 in compensation that includes such things as car, country club membership and TV contract, a university spokesman said Monday.

The contract also includes incentive payments that could boost his annual take to $1.1 million.

Athletic Director Bill Moos said in a statement the agreement would provide stability for the football program and cited Bellotti’s record in 12 years: 10 of the school’s 20 bowl appearances and second in Pac-10 overall victories. He is the only coach to have led Oregon to 10 or more wins in a season, and has done it three times.

The Ducks were 7-6 last season.

Oregon, UCLA, Karl Dorrell, Mike Bellotti

Florida won the recruiting crown in nearly as dominating fashion as the national championship. The Gators capitalized on last month’s national title win over Ohio State and down years from Sunshine State rivals Florida State and Miami to bring in the top recruiting class in the country Wednesday.

“No one is even that close to them,” recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CSTV said. “They got help everywhere. In the past 10 years, this has to rank right at the top in recruiting classes. Every position is absolutely loaded.”

The Gators also were picked as the top class by SuperPrep, Rivals.com and National Blue Chips, beating out Southern California, SEC rivals Tennessee and LSU, and Texas.

The Trojans closed strong, adding top running backs Joe McKnight from Louisiana and Broderick Green from Arkansas on Wednesday to a class that already included another top back in Marc Tyler; defensive end Everson Griffen, SuperPrep’s No. 1 overall player; the nation’s No. 1 receiver, Ronald Johnson from Michigan; and blue chip linebacker Chris Galippo from Anaheim, Calif.

“USC continues to be the place that a lot of skill-position players look to first,” said analyst Bobby Burton of Rivals.com. “That doesn’t mean the guys they get on defense aren’t special. It just means they have the pick of the litter when it comes to offensive skill players.”

But the Gators’ class was best of all, signing nine of the top 16 players in talent-rich Florida and the No. 1 players from South Carolina, Indiana, Maryland and New England, according to Rivals.com.

Florida’s class includes Rivals’ third-best pro-style quarterback in John Brantley, the nation’s top guard in James Wilson, top weakside defensive end in Carlos Dunlap, second-best defensive tackle in Torrey Davis, and top two safeties in Jerimy Finch and Major Wright.

Two recruits from last year’s stellar class, quarterback Tim Tebow and receiver Percy Harvin, played key roles in the 41-14 win over Ohio State in the BCS title game, and coach Urban Meyer is hoping for similar production from some of the players in this year’s class.

recruiting, USC, Florida

Today is national letter of intent day for high school footballers around the county. This is the time when the uber recruiting guru’s bask in the glory of their own stats.

Numbers are crunched, 40 times analyzed and heights and weights are shouted out from websites, blogs and magazines like carnival barkers at the local fair.

Everyone can get caught up in it. Even yours truly did from time to time I’m sorry to say. Top 100 lists, top 20 recruiting classes and all sorts of meaningless reports will be thrown at us on how USC scored another major recruiting class, Texas is going to be strong, and yada, yada, yada.

The truth is no one knows if a recruiting class is good until they get on the field and play. Even then the final results won’t be known for a couple of years at least.

High school is not college just like college is not pro. The high school stud in his hometown will have to face many high school studs in college. What a kid did under those Friday night lights means nothing at this level.

Acclimation to college life and the workload of being a student athlete have grounded many a sure-fire blue chipper. This year will be no different. There will be can’t-miss players who miss and on the other side of the coin, prospects supposed to miss who don’t.

What it all boils down to is this: don’t put your faith in recruiting rankings and all that jazz. These are 18-19 year olds who need to develop maturity and get used to college life and the transition into adulthood. That can take time.

Certainly it’s interesting and fun to follow from a hobby-like standpoint and it’s definitely important to the long-term sustenance of an athletic program. But a lot of people get way too caught up in it. Even in this age of instant feedback, it’s as inexact a science as ever.

A perfect example of this came in 2003 when Tripp Carroll, considered one of the top offensive lineman in the nation signed with Virginia Tech. He was a can’t-miss; blue chipper if there ever was one.

Guess what?

He missed. Tripp spent one year as a long snapper and then called it a day for his football career. On the flip side, South Carolina recruited a safety rated 85th out of all safeties and given only a two-star rating in that 2003 class.

His name was Ko Simpson and he’s now in the NFL. Go figure.

I guess what I’m trying to say is have fun with it, but don’t take it too seriously. Here at the NCAA Endzone will be putting up our own top 20 recruiting class on Friday, but rest assured, it will be with tongue firmly in cheek.

recruiting, signing day, football