There's no place like Saturday...


February 17, 2011

First Quarter Hail Mary...2/17

"...where completion is considered unlikely"

Maryland has its def. coordinator

Randy Shannon won’t be heading to Maryland, as it turns out, unemployment was a better financial decision, but the Terp’s have found their next defensive coordinator.

Randy Edsall has promoted inside linebackers coach Todd Bradford to the position of defensive coordinator. Edsall has brought in Keith Dudzinski to fill Bradford’s linebacker position.

Bradford, hired by Edsall just a month earlier, comes to Maryland from Southern Miss, with previous stints at Oklahoma State and Middle Tennessee.

Legendary Auburn trees poisoned

The famous Oak trees at Toomer’s Corner (touched on in the last article) near the Auburn campus have been poisoned with an herbicide used to kill trees. Authorities believe a “lethal” amount was used and the trees are unlikely to survive.

Toomer’s Corner is often the site of Auburn fans celebration after big wins, where hundreds gather around the trees, often tossing teepee into the near 130 year old trees.

The culprit, however, has made himself known. An Alabama fan, the offender called into a radio show hosted by Paul Finebaum admitting he used a substance called Spike 80DF to kill the trees. He called himself “Al from Dadeville.”

Authorities are investigating the matter, but honestly, it can’t be all that hard to find someone in Dadeville Ala. I’d say you took the rivalry a little far Al.

Fisher cashes in on wins

Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher has had just one season with the team to himself, and apparently FSU likes what they’ve seen. Fisher has received a $4.75 million raise.

The new deal includes a 5-year, $13.75 million contract that expires Jan. 4, 2016.

The Seminoles brought in a 10-4 record last season, with a win over South Carolina in the Chick fil’a Bowl. Recently, Fisher and staff inked one of the top rated signing classes. Ranked No. 1 by Scout.com, the Seminoles signed nine players ranked within the Top 100.

Muschamp get big catch in 2012 class

Less than a month after completing the 2011 signing class, Florida head coach Will Muschamp has already begun filling up on the 2012 class.

Monday the Gators landed in state running back Matt Jones to the class. Jones, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound running back, is considered one of the top players in the state of Florida for the 2012 class.

Jones attended the first junior day in Gainesville held by Florida, where he said he made up his mind.

"When I was at Florida on Saturday I knew that is what I wanted. I love the staff and coach Muschamp is great. I knew I was going to do it but I did not tell them until later in the day. I felt great up there and the Gator Nation better be ready.”

Equally impressive as his size and speed, Jones has the noteworthy tape to back up his high praise.

Expectations not too high in Champaign

While FSU’s Jimbo Fisher inked a new deal after a 10 win season, a 7-6 season for Illinois head coach Ron Zook was enough to get some new money.

Reports ran before the season that Zook needed a good year to keep his job, but apparently expectations weren’t all that high, as a seven win season was just fine enough. The Illini also brought in a win in the Texas Bowl.

The raise bumps Zook’s contract in 2011 to $1.75 million. He’ll need to prove he can win in 2011 without three of his best contributors this season, running back Mikel Leshoure, linebacker Martez Wilsons and defensive tackle Corey Liuget, all early enrollees for April’s NFL Draft.

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