Savannah State strikes again
Did you know Savannah State had a football team before last week? I will admit, I did not.
Now those Tigers — yes, that’s their nickname — have popped up on the schedule of two legitimate BCS teams.
One week after Oklahoma State’s schedule release revealed that the Cowboys will open the season against Savannah State on Sept. 1, Florida State announced Savannah State will replace West Virginia as its opponent on Sept. 8. On Feb. 3, the Mountaineers backed out of their contracted game to be played in Tallahassee on that same date.
“West Virginia’s announcement at the 11th hour really put us in a very difficult position,” FSU athletic director Randy Spetman said. “We contacted every BCS school that had an opening in hopes of replacing WVU with a BCS opponent, but none of those few schools could make it work either because of our dates or theirs. It is important for our fans to realize that the schools we contacted during the search did not pass on the 2012 game out of concern for the competition, but because of challenges they faced with schedule changes this late in the year.
“We worked with Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas A&M, Cincinnati, Syracuse and Pitt to name a few along with our current non-conference opponents and television partners, but reached a point where our options simply dried up. We might have been able to play on the road at some BCS schools this season, but that would cost our fans and the university one of just seven chances to play a home game and also would have a negative impact on our local economy.”
Sept. 8 on WVU’s schedule remains open for the time being.
Conference realignment obviously played a role in OSU and FSU resorting to playing a team like Savannah State. My trusty colleague Berry Tramel has already illustrated just how bad this program is.
But credit the Tigers for signing up to play the Cowboys and Seminoles. The school will get a big chunk of cash for playing these games, which will help fund the football program. In fact, taking a severe beating at the hands of two major-conference teams (we assume) should actually help Savannah State become more competitive in the long run.
Shouldn’t do much for quality football in Stillwater on Sept. 1 and Tallahassee on Sept. 8, though.
Mocking Justin Blackmon’s possible draft destinations
NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said during a national teleconference last week that there’s no way Justin Blackmon slips past the Jaguars’ No. 7 overall pick in this year’s draft.
But where’s the best fit for JB?
Here’s how I would rank the teams picking second through seventh–we already know the Colts will take Andrew Luck with the No. 1 pick–based on several factors ranging from the quarterback to the city itself. These rankings could change depending on what pieces teams add or lose during free agency, and I’ll revisit them once we get closer to the draft on April 26.
1. St. Louis (No. 2 pick)
Quarterback
My colleague Jenni Carlson was the first to throw the Bradford2Blackmon combination my way while Blackmon was having a ridiculous performance in the Fiesta Bowl. I know Cowboy fans probably aren’t huge fans of Bradford because of his Sooner roots, but that’s got a nice ring to it, right?
Bradford struggled in a 2011 season where he was hampered by a sprained ankle. He ranked 31st in the NFL in completion percentage (53.5) and 29th in quarterback rating (70.5) and threw just six touchdown passes in 10 games.
But it is borderline silly to write Bradford off already, especially considering he was named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year and nearly led the Rams to the NFC West title in 2010.
Supporting cast
Bradford and the Rams need a lot of help. No Ram played in this season’s Pro Bowl. Enough said.
That’s why it’s an attractive option for the Rams to trade down, especially with a team looking to snag Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III with the second pick.
If the Rams stay at No. 2, adding USC left tackle Matt Kalil is the other logical choice. Bradford was sacked 36 times in 10 games last season.
Steven Jackson is still a solid running back, gaining 1,145 yards last season. But the Rams are thin at wide receiver and could use an exciting playmaker. That, of course, is why Blackmon is one of their targets.
Franchise
As noted above, the Rams nearly won a woeful NFC West in 2010 but haven’t made the playoffs since 2004.
And after this past season’s 2-14 debacle, coach Steve Spagnuolo and general manager Bill Devaney were replaced with Jeff Fisher and Les Snead, respectively. Fisher is a proven coach and a solid hire.
City
Playing for the Rams would keep Blackmon in Middle America, but St. Louis is absolutely a baseball town. Having Blackmon in blue and gold, along with Bradford, would make the Rams quite popular in Oklahoma, though.
2. Tampa Bay (No. 5 pick)
Quarterback
What the heck happened to Josh Freeman? One season after throwing just six interceptions, he tossed 22 as the Buccaneers’ record plummeted from 10-6 in 2010 to 5-11 in 2011.
Still, Freeman is a promising young quarterback with a strong arm and great mobility.
Supporting cast
The Bucs have some young pieces in place in running back LaGarrette Blount and wide receiver Mike Williams. Offensive lineman Davin Joseph was a Pro Bowler this season.
Tampa Bay has the cap room to add a No. 1 receiver through free agency — perhaps someone like Dwayne Bowe or Vincent Jackson. If that happens, drafting Blackmon won’t be necessary.
Franchise
Raheem Morris was fired as head coach after the Bucs ended the season on a 10-game losing streak and was replaced with former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano. Tampa Bay last made the playoffs in 2007.
City
While college football tends to dominate the state, Florida football fans are certainly knowledgeable and passionate. The beaches and sunshine in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area would be a nice perk.
3. Minnesota (No. 3 pick)
Quarterback
The Vikings spent the No. 12 overall pick in last year’s draft on Christian Ponder, and in 2011 he looked a lot like a rookie quarterback. He ranked 29th in the NFL in completion percentage (54.3) and 30th in quarterback rating (70.1).
It’s obviously too early to call Ponder a bust, but he needs to develop. A normal offseason, rather than a lockout-shortened one, should help that.
Supporting cast
Minnesota has some dynamic weapons in Adrian Peterson (970 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns before the knee injury) and Percy Harvin (967 receiving yards, 345 rushing yards).
But, like the Rams, the Vikings could use a left tackle. That makes Kalil an option with the No. 3 pick, especially if the Rams trade out of the No. 2 pick with a team that takes RG3.
Franchise
The Vikings last made the playoffs in 2009, when Brett Favre was slinging the ball around. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported last week that the city of Minneapolis and the Vikings have reached a preliminary agreement on a deal that will divide the costs to — finally — build a new stadium.
City
Minneapolis-St. Paul was rated the No. 14 sports town in America by the Sporting News but is known to have fair-weathered Vikings fans.
It also gets a wee bit chilly up there in the winter. Not a worry when playing football indoors, but can be a bit of a hassle in everyday life.
4. Washington (No. 6 pick)
Quarterback
This much we know — Rex Grossman will not be the Redskins’ starter in 2011. Neither will John Beck.
But who will?
You have to figure Washington will push hard for Peyton Manning. If he signs elsewhere, Matt Flynn and Kyle Orton would also be options.
If the Redskins try to add a quarterback through the draft, they’d almost certainly explore trading up to No. 2 to take RG3. Washington has also been a widely discussed destination for fellow former Cowboy Brandon Weeden.
Simply put, the attractiveness of Washington would skyrocket if Manning is the quarterback.
Supporting cast
Washington needs upgrades on the line and at receiver. But figuring out its quarterback situation is priority No. 1.
Franchise
Dan Snyder is still the owner. Mike Shanahan is still the coach.
Hey, at least the Redskins beat the Super Bowl champion Giants twice in 2011?
City
Life in the nation’s capital would be a lot different than life in Ardmore or Stillwater for Blackmon, but it could be a fun change. Redskins fans, who haven’t seen a playoff appearance since 2007, are frustrated but passionate and loyal.
5. Cleveland (No. 4 pick)
Quarterback
This is the biggest offseason question for the Browns, which is why they are the most likely team to trade up with the Rams to get the No. 2 pick and ensure it can snag RG3. There’s also a decent chance Griffin will still be there when the Browns pick at No. 4
If the Browns select Blackmon, or any player other than Griffin, at No. 4, it likely means either another team traded up to get RG3 at No. 2 or the Browns added a quarterback in free agency. Flynn and Orton seem like the most reasonable options, but Manning, of course, will likely be available, too.
Supporting cast
Greg Little and Josh Cribbs combined for 102 receptions, more than 1,200 yards and six touchdowns in 2011. Running back Peyton Hillis is a free agent. Offensive lineman Joe Thomas made the Pro Bowl this past season.
Franchise
The Browns are in the middle of the second-longest active playoff drought in the NFL, making their last postseason appearance in 2002. But team president Mike Holmgren is one of the most respected minds in football.
City
All Cleveland jokes aside, the Browns are known for having some of the most rabid fans in the NFL. OK, now you can insert jokes about Cleveland.
6. Jacksonville (No. 7 pick)
Quarterback
Blaine Gabbert’s rookie season was, simply put, a disaster. He had the worst quarterback rating of any starter in the NFL (65.4) and ranked 32nd in completion percentage (50.8). He was also sacked 40 times.
Supporting cast
Maurice Jones-Drew is the league’s premier running back, as he racked up 1,606 yards in 2011. But the Jags really need wide receiver help, which is why Mayock believes this pick is the lowest Blackmon could drop.
Franchise
It’s a new era in Jacksonville, as the team was sold to businessman Shahid Khan in January. Former Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey was hired to replace Jack del Rio, who was fired after eight-plus seasons in November.
City
Even in football-crazed Florida, tarps covering empty seats and television blackouts have become common in Jacksonville. The lack of fan support has caused rumblings in recent years that the team may be on its way out, perhaps to Los Angeles, but Khan has said he wants to keep the Jaguars in Jacksonville.
But did we mention that Florida has lots of beaches and sunshine?
Van Malone fits Oklahoma State’s opportunistic defensive style
Two things stuck out to me when Oklahoma State announced the hiring of Van Malone to, essentially, fill the void left when Joe DeForest joined Dana Holgorsen’s staff at West Virginia.
One is that Malone is from Houston and recruits that area. That was practically a necessity in hiring DeForest’s replacement, given his handle on Texas’ Gulf Coast region. Relationships with high school coaches and programs aren’t formed overnight, and Malone already has plenty of those established.
The other is that Malone’s defensive philosophy, which clearly focuses on forcing turnovers, will mesh well with Bill Young, Mike Gundy and the rest of the OSU staff. Tulsa led the nation with 24 interceptions in 2010 and tied for 12th in that category with 18 in 2011.
The Cowboys ranked second in the nation with 24 interceptions last season and led the nation with 44 turnovers forced.
Conversely, the Golden Hurricane ranked last in the nation in pass defense (319 yards per game) in 2010 and 117th out of 120 teams (286.31 yards per game) last season. OSU ranked 107th in that category (271.85) in 2011.
Malone’s secondary units at Texas A&M didn’t have the same success with forcing turnovers, but the Aggies improved their national ranking in interceptions every year from 2007-09.
Here’s a breakdown of how Malone’s teams fared in key secondary categories, dating back to 2007.
2007 (Texas A&M)
Interceptions: eight (T104th nationally)
Turnovers forced: 24 (T59th)
Pass defense: 254.8 yards per game (92nd)
2008 (Texas A&M)
Interceptions: eight (T99th)
Turnovers forced: 17 (T98th)
Pass defense: 242.7 yards per game (96th)
2009 (Texas A&M)
Interceptions: 12 (T50th)
Turnovers forced: 22 (T61st)
Pass defense: 254.7 (106th)
2010 (Tulsa)
Interceptions: 24 (first)
Turnovers forced: 36 (third)
Pass defense: 319 yards per game (last)
2011 (Tulsa)
Interceptions: 18 (T12th)
Turnovers forced: 28 (T25th)
Pass defense: 286.31 (117th)
Michael Harrison update: Not dismissed, but don’t expect to see him in 2012
Oklahoma State receiver Michael Harrison looks for open field after making a catch during a college football game against Missouri at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Tons of rumors have been swirling about the status of Oklahoma State wide receiver Michael Harrison the past three days or so.
It is my understanding that Harrison has not been dismissed from the team, as other reports have indicated. But I don’t expect to see him play in 2012.
A source told The Oklahoman Sunday night that the Cowboys were “not counting on (Harrison)” playing this season but did not say he had been dismissed.
Harrison’s absence would be a pretty significant blow to the OSU passing game, as he was expected to slide into a starting role on the outside and at least help make up for the loss of star wide receiver Justin Blackmon. Harrison tallied 20 catches for 255 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore in 2011.
Without Harrison, an already thin group returning at receiver for OSU is even thinner, as Josh Cooper, Hubert Anyiam and Colton Chelf were all seniors this past season.
Tracy Moore (45 catches, 672 yards, four touchdowns), Isaiah Anderson (28 catches, 315 yards, four touchdowns) and Josh Stewart (19 catches, 291 yards, two touchdowns) will be the top returning wide receivers in 2012.
OSU signed six wide receivers — C.J. Curry, Austin Hays, Jhajuan Seales, Brandon Sheperd, Jesse Vester and Blake Webb — in its 2012 recruiting class. The Cowboys also signed pass-catching junior college tight end Blake Jackson, and athlete Dominic Ramacher is expected to start his OSU career as a tight end-receiver.
Harrison was briefly ruled ineligible by the NCAA prior to the 2011 season but was reinstated the day before the Cowboys’ opener against Louisiana-Lafayette.
Oklahoma State recruiting target Trae Elston to make college choice on ESPNU’s Signing Day special
Oklahoma State recruiting target Trae Elston is expected to make his college announcement during ESPNU’s National Signing Day Special, the network announced Wednesday.
Elston, a defensive back from Oxford, Ala., could visit either OSU or LSU this weekend. He played in the Under Armour All-American Bowl and is a three-star prospect, according to Rivals.
Rivals lists Mississippi as Elston’s current leader.
Oklahoma State Spring Game set for April 21
Oklahoma State has announced that its Spring Game will be April 21 at a time still to be determined.
Coach Mike Gundy has tentatively set March 12 as the first day of spring practice.
We’ll post a full schedule when that becomes available.
Texas A&M women’s basketball coach Gary Blair sounds off on Aggies moving to SEC
Texas A&M women’s basketball coach Gary Blair was asked about visiting Gallagher-Iba Arena for the last time before the Aggies move to the SEC following A&M’s 57-53 loss to Oklahoma State Tuesday night.
He had plenty to say about OSU, the Big 12 and his unhappiness about leaving the conference.
I’ll get out of the way.
“I hate not coming back to this place.
“We had always played well here because of the respect that I have for this building, like when I went to Kansas. Y’all got the two best arenas, not just in the Big 12, but maybe in the country. Throw Cameron in there, too (Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium).
“Y’all have figured out that you don’t have to just be a football school. You can be a basketball school. You can be a wrestling school. You can be the whole thing. We’re starting to get that way. That’s one of the reasons I was not happy leaving the Big 12. Look where we’ve been in the Sears Cup the last two years—No. 6 and No. 8. We were No. 2 in (the women’s rankings), next to Stanford.
“You get a familiarity with the schools, and your fans get going and it’s just great. Now, we’re going to have to go find new teams and new rivalries. They only have to look at us and Missouri. We’ve got to look at 12 other schools and learn how to play against them and their tendencies. I know a little bit about it, but there’s only three coaches left in the SEC (from) when I was there (as the head coach at Arkansas). Three pretty damn good ones—Pat (Summitt) and Andy (Landers) and Sharon Fanning.
“I’m happy for the Big 12 that it stayed together. It would have been a joke if y’all would have had to go to the (Pac-12). That would have been the demise of Oklahoma State. Now you’re in the Big 12 again, you’re bringing two schools in. Be the best that you can be.
“We’re going to the SEC. I’ll spin it a different way next year. When we were in the SEC, we were the best league in women’s basketball for 10 straight years. Now, the Big 12 has been the best basketball (league) about the last eight out of nine. You have a couple good teams coming in.
“What you have here is you have an atmosphere. That crowd—I’ve never played in front of six, seven, eight thousand here. Thank Goodness. But your 4,000 or 3,500 are very, very loud. They get into it. They’re very knowledgeable about the game.
“We’re getting everybody’s best game. That’s to be expected. Hopefully, it’s going to make us a better team in March.”
Oklahoma State is Wide Receiver (Recruit) U
Oklahoma State added its fifth wide receiver commit Sunday when Jhajuan Seales from Port Arthur Memorial High School in Texas switched his pledge from Houston to the Cowboys. And there could still be more commits at the position coming before Signing Day.
OSU is the leader for four-star receiver Jaydon Mickens of Dorsey High School in Los Angeles, according to multiple reports and his Twitter account. Javon Williams, a four-star receiver from Chandler, Ariz., visited OSU this past weekend.
(Updated: I missed a report by Scout.com’s Inna Lazarev yesterday that Williams is down to UCLA and Arkansas.)
OSU does have holes to fill at receiver, with Justin Blackmon, Josh Cooper, Hubert Anyiam and Colton Chelf all leaving.
But placing this kind of emphasis on the position—and adding a pass-catching tight end in JUCO All-American Blake Jackson and big-armed quarterback Wes Lunt—shows that Todd Monken likely won’t deviate much from the wide-open, spread attack post-Weeden2Blackmon.
Someone on Twitter brought up how using a tight end would be different, which is somewhat true. But, as I wrote Sunday, Monken plans to use Jackson much like Tracy Moore was this season. Jackson is a big target, but he runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds. He’ll find holes in the zone, create matchup problems, break tackles and stretch the field.
Still, it would be interesting if OSU signed five or six wide receivers and two tight ends, but no running backs in this class.
Here’s a look at the wide receivers OSU has signed over the past three seasons and their production in the 2011 season.
2011
Torrance Carr (Dallas)–no action at receiver
David Glidden (Mustang High School)—no action at receiver
Johnny Haynes (Irving, Texas)—wound up at Navarro JC
Isaac McCoy (Alma, Ark.)—no action at receiver
Josh Stewart (Denton, Texas)—19 catches, 291 yards, two touchdowns
2010
Chris Dinkins (Tyler, Texas)—moved to linebacker, no longer on roster
Kevin Johnson (Houston, Texas)—no action at receiver
Montra Nelson (Arlington, Texas)—moved to fullback, no longer on roster
2009
Michael Harrison (Dallas)—20 catches, 255 yards, three touchdowns
Charlie Moore (Bullard, Texas)—three catches, 56 yards
Tracy Moore (Tulsa Union)—45 catches, 672 yards, four touchdowns
Twitter tells us Michael Wilson, Chance Allen now Cowboys; Keon Hatcher a Razorback
Twitter gave us three pieces of recruiting news Saturday—two that are good for Poke fans and one that is not so good.
Bad news first?
Owasso wide receiver Keon Hatcher appears to be set on signing with Arkansas.
Hatcher has been committed to the Razorbacks since August, but OSU entered the running late, and he was very “vocal” (on Twitter) about how much he enjoyed his visit to Stillwater last weekend. But he took his official to Fayetteville this weekend and tweeted “IMA HOG 100% #WPS” and a photo of him in Arkansas gear in the Hogs’ locker room. Someone then asked him if that was an “official” commitment (he never decommitted, by the way) and he responded “Yessir.”
Now for the good: Blake Webb was breaking all kinds of news Saturday night.
First, he revealed that Michael Wilson, a 6-foot-6, 265-pound offensive lineman from Aledo, Texas, switched his commitment from Texas A&M to OSU on his official visit this weekend.
Webb tweeted “Got my boy Big Mike Wilson Wilson to join tha brothahood #GoPokes.” Later, Cowboy wide receiver Charlie Moore tweeted “Big mike (Michael Wilson) joined cowboy nation today!! #bignight #okstate.”
Wilson, who committed to A&M last February, is a three-star prospect, according to Rivals.
Wilson isn’t the only A&M commit that OSU is trying to lure away. Five-star running back Trey Williams and three-star defensive back Corey Thompson, who have both pledged to the Aggies, will visit Stillwater next weekend.
Later, Webb tweeted “In case y’all were wondering, we got @DudaMcLovin Too!!! #cowboynation.”
@DudaMcLovin is Chance Allen, a three-star wide receiver from Missouri City, Texas. Allen is a high-school teammate of Thompson.
Wide receiver continues to be the most active position on the recruiting trail for OSU over the past few weeks, with Allen in and Hatcher out. The Cowboys now have four receiver commits in this class in four-star prospect C.J. Curry (Flowery Branch, Ga.) and three-star prospects Brandon Sheperd (Chesterfield, Mo.) and Blake Webb (The Woodlands, Texas) and Allen. Javon Williams (fours stars, Chandler, Ariz.) and Jhajuan Seales (two stars, Port Arthur, Texas) are among the wide receiver prospects that OSU is still targeting, according to Rivals.
This was a huge recruiting weekend for the Cowboys, as evidenced by the large number of prospects and their families sitting in Section 314 at Gallagher-Iba Arena for the men’s basketball game. I also spotted offensive coordinator Todd Monken, defensive coordinator Bill Young, offensive line coach Joe Wickline, wide receiver coach Kasey Dunn, linebacker coach Glenn Spencer, director of football operations Mack Butler and recruiting coordinator Jonny Barr at the game.
That means we should have plenty more news in the coming days as we enter the home stretch before Signing Day.
Mike Gundy’s second national Coach of the Year award: What does it mean?
Mike Gundy picked up another national coaching honor late Thursday night, winning the 2011 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year.
National Coach of the Year awards are a bit like All-America teams—there are a lot of them. But there are five “main” ones—Bear Bryant, Eddie Robinson, American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press and Home Depot.
This season, those five awards were split between Gundy and Les Miles. Gundy also won the Eddie Robinson Award, while Miles won the other three. Another connection between the former OSU colleagues.
I thought it would be interesting to go back and revisit the Coach of the Year awards from the past 10 seasons. You’ll see expected names like Nick Saban, Gary Patterson, Urban Meyer, Jim Tressel, Joe Paterno and Chris Petersen. You’ll see some “huh?” names like Charlie Weis and Tyrone Willingham.
But the only coach to sweep all five awards during that time? Mark Mangino in 2007. My friendly colleague Travis Haney put it best: “It’s that hard to win football games at Kansas. Take ‘em to a BCS game, you’re going to get love.”
2011
Eddie Robinson: Mike Gundy (OSU)
Bear Bryant: Mike Gundy
AP: Les Miles (LSU)
Home Depot: Les Miles
AFCA: Les Miles
2010
Eddie Robinson: Chip Kelly (Oregon)
Bear Bryant: Gene Chizik (Auburn)
AP: Chip Kelly
Home Depot: Gene Chizik
AFCA: Chip Kelly
2009
Eddie Robinson: Gary Patterson (TCU)
Bear Bryant: Chris Petersen (Boise State)
AP: Gary Patterson
Home Depot: Brian Kelly (Cincinnati)
AFCA: Gary Patterson
2008
Eddie Robinson: Nick Saban (Alabama)
Bear Bryant: Kyle Whittingham (Utah)
AP: Nick Saban
Home Depot: Nick Saban
AFCA: Kyle Whittingham
2007
Eddie Robinson: Mark Mangino (Kansas)
Bear Bryant: Mark Mangino
AP: Mark Mangino
Home Depot: Mark Mangino
AFCA: Mark Mangino
2006
Eddie Robinson: Greg Schiano (Rutgers)
Bear Bryant: Chris Petersen (Boise State)
AP: Jim Grobe (Wake Forest)
Home Depot: Greg Schiano
AFCA: Jim Grobe
2005
Eddie Robinson: Charlie Weis (Notre Dame)
Bear Bryant: Mack Brown (Texas)
AP: Joe Paterno (Penn State)
Home Depot: Joe Paterno
AFCA: Joe Paterno
2004
Eddie Robinson: Urban Meyer (Utah)
Bear Bryant: Tommy Tuberville (Auburn)
AP: Tommy Tuberville
Home Depot: Urban Meyer
AFCA: Tommy Tuberville
2003
Eddie Robinson: Nick Saban (LSU)
Bear Bryant: Nick Saban
AP: Nick Saban
Home Depot: Pete Carroll (USC)
AFCA: Pete Carroll
2002
Eddie Robinson: Jim Tressel (Ohio State)
Bear Bryant: Jim Tressel
AP: Kirk Ferentz (Iowa)
Home Depot: Tyrone Willingham (Notre Dame)
AFCA: Jim Tressel
