Friday Links: Could Russell Wilson Land At South Carolina?

Russell Wilson has become a hot name on message boards across the land as college football fans from the southeast to the mid-west try to figure out where this former N.C. State quarterback will land next season.

Wilson did big things for the Wolfpack in 2010, nearly leading them to an ACC Championship before falling short in the final week, but his need to be a two-sport man has tired head coach Tom O'Brien and forced him to go in a different direction for the betterment of his team—not sure how you get much better than Russell Wilson (308/526 for 3,546 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. 144 carries for 422 yards and 9 touchdowns*) but whatevs—so Wilson is saddled with the decision of where he will play next year.

Since he has already completed his coursework at N.C. State, he is free to transfer—according to NCAA transfer rules—to any school he pleases so long as he enrolls as their graduate program offers studies in something N.C. State does not (see Jeremiah Masoli).

So, now, every SEC team in need of a veteran quarterback, with the skill-set of Wilson, is chomping at the bit to see if they can be the chosen one. Auburn has been a hot name in the fray, as has Ole Miss, but Olin Buchanan (senior writer for Rivals.com) seems to feel that South Carolina is the best fit for Wilson given "proximity and opportunity". 

It does make sense to place Wilson as a Gamecock given how much talent they return and Spurrier's current quarterback troubles, but if South Carolina is where he wants to be (keep in mind Wilson is from Virginia), then he could just as easily land in Clemson. Better still, doesn't Penn State need a quarterback?

At this point no one knows where Wilson will land but it certainly is interesting to see a guy who no one gave two-cents about four-years ago, suddenly become one of the hottest commodities in college football—oh and did I mention he was a 2* prospect out of high school?

It just goes to show you, it's all about coaching and development. 

2. A deaf college football fan is suing the University of Kentucky for not offering closed-captioning on their scoreboard.

3. Brad Nessler used his noggin and left E$PN for a network that actually knows something about football.

4. Russell Wilson to the Pac-10?

5. Gus Malzahn explains why Cam Newton will be a success at the pro level—that sure would make Gus look like a genius if he did, wouldn't it?

6. Big Ten Commisioner, Jim Delany, isn't worried about Nebraska fitting into the conference come July 1.

7. I guess Boise State isn't used to cheating.

8. Some intellectuals at the University of Massachusetts are a bit peeved about a plan to move football into Division I FCS—one called the move a "profoundly stupid" idea.

9. New Florida coach, Will Muschamp, is making big money to make big things happen in Gainesville.

10. Knowshon Moreno could see a lot more touches this season.

Related articles

• Stunner: Russell Wilson given release by N.C. State (collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com)
• Russell Wilson's potential dance partners (blutarsky.wordpress.com)
• '95-percent' certainty Russell Wilson plays in '11 (collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com)

*Stats offered courtesy of cfbstats.com.

Joe Paterno to Robert Bolden: You'll Play For Me, Or You'll Play For No One

Robert Bolden, the former starting quarterback for the Nittany Lions (he started eight games before being benched in favor of Matt McGloin) has asked for his release—and been denied.

Apparently, Bolden isn't interested in the prospect of being in competition with a walk-on (Matt McGloin) and a wild card (Kevin Newsome) as he enters his sophomore season. By all accounts, he's probably imagining that his prospects could be much better elsewhere. Unfortunately for him, Paterno expects him to honor his commitment to the Lions and play out his existing contract...oops, wrong sport, sorry.

Paterno expects him to honor the letter of intent he signed last February, and won't jeopardize his depth chart simply because some 19-year old kid is unhappy about his minutes—this might be a good time to mention that the 2011 class for the Lions is looking thin and there isn't a quarterback prospect anywhere in the mix. If Penn State loses Bolden, it's Newsome and McGloin—assuming Newsome doesn't decide to transfer. 

Translation: things could become Unhappy, in Happy Valley, very quickly.

While you must applaud Paterno's gumption in playing chicken with his young star, the first question you have to ask is why bother keeping a guy who doesn't want to play for you? Aren't you just tempting fate and taking a major risk that his discontent trickles into your locker room?

Why bother?

On the other hand, perhaps Paterno is gambling that Bolden hasn't really thought this through, and he's really just doing him a favor. After all, why waste a year of eligibility sitting behind someone else, at another FBS school, when you could feasibly come in and win the starting job in the spring.

Patience is a virtue, right?

Whatever his motivation, Paterno is taking a pretty big risk in denying this kid his out. We'll soon see if it's a gamble that pays off.

Related articles

• QB Newsome stays behind, may transfer (philly.com)

Penn State Football: Brett Brackett's TD Catch Helps Catapult Joe Paterno to 400

It seemed harmless enough, an end of half touchdown score to bring a team back from the brink of embarrassment. At least, that's what the fans of the Northwestern Wildcats might have been thinking when they saw Matt McGloin connect with Brett Bracket for six points with less than :06 seconds left to go before the half.

Brackett's touchdown catch, however insignificant it might have seemed at the time, became just the momentum grabber the Nittany Lions needed to go from zero to 100—on both sides of the ball.

Or perhaps, better still, ol' Joe Paterno might have delivered one helluva halftime rally cry to his guys. Might he have told them they were better than their play showed? Perhaps he let them know that the play they had exhibited to that point was unacceptable and sub par?

Maybe he just said, "win this damn game, I don't need the press stretching out this 400 nonsense".

Whatever he told his players in the locker room, it worked, because the Penn State team we saw in the second half was very different than the one that was overrun in the first half. They came onto the field and lit up the third quarter with 21 unanswered points and stymied the Northwestern offense the rest of the way.

It was a win befitting of a coach that so many have come to love and respect, not only for his longevity in a game that has become more about "lately" than "history", but for his honesty. Paterno has always been a straight-shooter. Perhaps the Brooklyn boy in him wouldn't allow him to be anyone else.

Joe Paterno is now the winningest coach in FBS history and, quite frankly, it's an honor that no other coach is ever likely to have again anytime soon.

Congrats to Joe Paterno!

Related articles

• Penn State rallies for Joe Paterno's 400th win (sportingnews.com)

The USA Today Coaches' Poll Is Out—Who Won? Lost? Got Totally Hosed?

This morning, the dawn of the college football season officially peaked through the bedroom windows and dormitories of rabid fans across the nation as USA Today released it's annual Coaches' Poll.  While it offered very little in the way of a surprise at No. 1 (Alabama), there were some glaring omissions, low blows, and head-scratchers.

The poll, in it's entirety can be found at the link above, but here are just a few quick thoughts on a few of the picks. 

Winners:

Alabama (No. 1)

I don't think there should be any doubt that Alabama is the No. 1 team in the nation. They have some holes to fill, absolutely, but they are also loaded with talent and return the bulk of their position players on offense.


Iowa (No. 10)

The talk of the Big Ten has largely been focused on two teams this offseason, Ohio State and Penn State. Wisconsin has been looked at as a sleeper, but Iowa has gotten little, if any, love thus far. So, it has to feel pretty good to Kirk Ferentz that his peers can see what others cannot—the Hawkeyes have a good team this season and will definitely be making a little noise.


Oregon (No. 11)

Say what you want about their lack of an experienced QB, Chip Kelly has been on this train before—just ask Dennis Dixon. He has all that he needs at QB and the Ducks will be just fine—as long as their potency in the running game continues.


Georgia (No. 21)

After finishing the season unranked, ridiculed, and doubted by many as a feasible team in the SEC, much less the nation, Georgia makes a triumphant return to the polls after finishing the season unranked. It's a small victory as they are slotted in at No. 21, but when you consider the fact that South Carolina—the team many picked to win the east this season—wasn't ranked at all, you have to feel pretty confident that the Bulldogs are on the right track.


Losers:

South Carolina (Not Ranked)

Speaking of which, where on earth is South Carolina? As mentioned above, aren't they the team that many pundits are locking in as the sexy pick to overtake? Talk about billboard fodder. Spurrier's team not only lagged behind Utah. They fell behind Cincinnati, Houston, and Ole Miss—ouch!

Boise State (No. 5)

Boise State is at five, which is okay, but they can't be too happy about it. Many thought they would at least rate as the second team in the nation. After all, they did finish the season undefeated and return 22 starters—the most of any Division I team in the country.  Oh, and did anyone else find it curious that the coaches' chose to rank Virginia Tech directly after them?

That game at RFK Stadium in September just got more interesting if those rankings stand up. Virginia Tech as the underdog?...Interesting.

Wisconsin (No. 12)

They return a lot of talent, most importantly John Clay, and they have a schedule so blah that a Pee Wee league team could get ten wins—easy. So, why are they ranked behind Iowa? My best guess is the coaches tried not to rank teams ahead of the ones that beat them, but this is supposed to be the Badgers year, isn't it? Or maybe the coaches just didn't feel a need to reward mediocrity—just saying.

Glaring Omissions:

USC (Received No Votes)

Quick...tell me the last time you saw a poll that did not include the Trojans? It's been a long time. Again, it is the coaches' poll and I am sure they didn't feel a need to include a sanctioned team that isn't going to be bowl eligible for two years, but it still looks a touch odd, doesn't it ?

Michigan (Received No Votes)

Something tells me that people aren't buying the talk of a resurgence in Ann Arbor this season. Rich Rod is in the news for all the wrong reasons...again and none of his peers seem to be on board with his tactics. I still like the Wolverines to make it back to bowl season in 2010 but the fact that the team didn't even warrant one vote is astonishing.

Head-scratchers:

Florida (No. 3)

I do find it curious that Florida came in at No. 3. How on earth do you lose Tim Tebow, Joe Haden, Major Wright, Aaron Hernandez, and Riley Cooper and still be considered a Top 5 team? Obviously, people either think a lot of Urban Meyer or the Gatorade coming out of Gainesville is laced with something a lot stronger than electrolytes.

Texas (No. 4)

The same song applies for the Texas Longhorns—seriously? Garrett Gilbert may be the all-world quarterback that Mack Brown needs to replace the exited Colt McCoy, but he's not THAT guy THIS season—no way. No. 4 is tremendously optimistic for the 'Horns in my opinion. 

Utah (No. 24)

Really?...Why? I understand they have a soft schedule and a new home in the Pac-10 starting in 2011, but their are other teams more worthy of this spot than they are right now—see South Carolina, Connecticut, Navy...

Jordan Wynn is a talented QB and the Utes have a better than average offense with him in place but, last I checked, he doesn't play defense. This is a lame duck year for Utah in the Mountain West and every team will be gunning for them to fail—miserably.

Well, those are my thoughts on the poll...what say you?