Chizik brushes off doubts regarding Tigers
HOOVER, Ala. — Auburn coach Gene Chizik is visibly tired of questions relating to possible NCAA violations that may have occurred last season during the Tigers’ run to the BCS Championship.
During his time with the print media at Thursday’s Southeastern Conference Media Days session, Chizik was asked a handful of questions in different ways about the NCAA and rules violations. His answers didn’t vary much, although he did talk publicly about his conversation with an NCAA official that is involved with infractions. (July 22, 2011, Page 8A)
Newberg: Recruiting is a marathon, not a sprint
National Signing Day has been a big part of Jamie Newberg’s life for the past 20 years. The national football recruiting analyst, who lives in Tampa, Fla., is currently working for ESPN and will be a main member of the network’s coverage team on Wednesday. (more…) (January 28, 2011, Page 6A)
No Joke: Phillips takes over at UK
It was just a week ago that first-year Kentucky coach Joker Phillips had to make the toughest decision of his short tenure. After evaluating two scrimmages and countless hours of practice the first two weeks, Phillips decided that senior Mike Hartline would be the starting quarterback when the Wildcats take on Louisville in the season opener.
Hartline has the most overall experience at the spot, but sophomore Morgan Newton, the player that pushed Hartline the most during practices, was 5-3 as a starter last year when Hartline went down with an injury. In the end, Phillips likes his depth at the quarterback spot, one of the strength areas on the team. (August 30, 2010, Page 3B)
Saban not shy talking about agents
SEC MEDIA DAY NOTEBOOK — Sports agents shouldn’t expect to get a Christmas card from Alabama head coach Nick Saban this year. If Saban had it his way, agents who violate the rules by funneling money to players still in college would get a year ban from their profession.
Alabama is one of the schools that has been in the unfortunate position recently of having to deal with questions regarding agents and players. A report surfaced Wednesday at the Southeastern Conference’s Media Days that Crimson Tide defensive lineman Marcel Dareus had been ruled ineligible to play this year. The school denied that claim, which was originally reported by the Tuscaloosa News, saying that no action had been taken.
But if the Crimson Tide did lose Dareus, who apparently attended a party in Miami that was funded by an agent, it would be a sizable blow to their chances of repeating as national champions.
Saban, who is not known to always be the best coach to talk about anything let alone something controversial, blasted agents that don’t do things the right way by equating them to pimps. (July 22, 2010, Page 2B)
