College Football News and Notes
Kentucky and coach Rich Brooks finalized a new four-year agreement Tuesday that raises his yearly salary to $1 million and keeps him under contract with the school through the 2010 season.
Brooks, who led the Wildcats to an 8-5 record last season and their first bowl appearance since 1999, had a year remaining on his original five-year contract.
The new deal has a university option for 2011, and incentives for winning five or more Southeastern Conference games, the SEC Eastern Division or overall league championship, participation in bowl games, increases in football ticket revenues and academic performance by the team.
Brooks, the former Oregon and St. Louis Rams coach, took over at Kentucky in 2003 with the program under NCAA sanctions from the previous regime.
Kentucky went 9-25 in its first three seasons under Brooks before its breakout season of 2006.
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Heralded high school quarterback Matt Simms, the son of former Giants quarterback Phil and brother of current Buccaneers quarterback Chris, has recommitted to the University of Louisville, with the approach of National Signing Day on Feb. 7, ESPN has learned.
Matt Simms, who made an oral commitment to Louisville in August, de-committed from Louisville after head coach Bobby Petrino left for the Falcons.
“I’m not going to Louisville,” Simms told the New Jersey Herald News earlier this month. “As far as my recruiting goes, I’m pretty much back to square one.”
Athletes are not bound to schools or to their scholarship until they sign a letter of intent in their respective sport.
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After only two weeks on the job, Alabama assistant coach Steve Marshall has left to take a job with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for Steve,” Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said Sunday.”It’s a shame that it didn’t work out for him here, but I wish him well.”
Marshall was out of coaching this past year after two seasons as an offensive line assistant with the Houston Texans.
Kentucky, Louisville, Rich Brooks
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