Mike SzvetitzSports Editor
(0) Comments
Vanderbilt head coach Bobby Johnson resigned today, citing personal reasons.
That’s a surprise. Obvioulsy.
I really like Bobby. He’s always a bright spot at SEC Media Days. He knows who he is as a man, and as the coach of the Commodores. He also knew his role ... to play the enjoyable spoiler. Everyone pulled for Vanderbilt because Johnson was the coach.
Johnson showed his gold daily. And Vandy is a better program for it.
Here’s the link to The Tennessean story.
Below is the latest AP story as of 2:30 p.m.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson retired abruptly Wednesday as the Commodores’ head coach for what he called personal reasons.
Vice Chancellor David Williams announced the news in a post on the university’s athletic website Wednesday just before a news conference. Minutes later, the 59-year-old Johnson stepped up to a podium and said he was retiring from college football.
Johnson called it a very difficult decision but one not prompted by health concerns for either himself or his wife.
“Football is not life, but it’s a way of life and it consumes your life,“ Johnson said. “You only have so many years to live, and you want to see a different way.“
Johnson’s retirement comes a week before he was scheduled to appear at the Southeastern Conference’s preseason media days, nearly three weeks before players report for fall practice and just seven weeks before the Commodores’ opener Sept. 4 against Northwestern.
Williams announced that Robbie Caldwell will be the interim head coach after serving as assistant head coach.
“I am saddened by the fact Bobby has made this decision,“ Williams said. “At the same token as I’ve said to the staff, it’s our obligation to respect his decision. I did try to talk Bobby out of it. I tried to talk him out of it yesterday. I tried to talk him out of it last night, and I tried to talk him out of it this morning.“
He has led Vanderbilt the past eight seasons and went 2-10 in 2009. He went 29-66 at Vanderbilt and coached the Commodores to their only non-losing season since 1982 in 2008 with a win at the Music City Bowl that gave them a 7-6 record.
“This is quite a shock to us,“ Caldwell said.
Johnson had become just the third coach in Vanderbilt history to hold the job for at least eight years, joining Dan McGugin and Art Guepe. Johnson went 29-66 at Vanderbilt and coached the Commodores to their only non-losing season since 1982 in 2008 by winning the Music City Bowl.
Johnson also ended losing skids to eight other SEC teams during his tenure, including a 22-game string to Tennessee in 2005.
But he lost the top recruit of his incoming class in February when Georgia running back Rajaan Bennett, the highest-rated player ever signed to Vanderbilt, was shot to death at his home.
(PHOTO CREDIT: AP)
Mike SzvetitzSports Editor
(0) Comments
Media Days is a week away, and we’re excited. Can’t you tell?
Here’s the schedule for the three-day extravaganza ...
2010 SEC FOOTBALL MEDIA DAYS
July 21-23
Wynfrey Hotel ∙ Hoover, Ala.
Schedule and Listing of attending student-athletes (listed in alphabetical order) and coaches
WEDNESDAY, JULY 21
10:30 a.m.— BCS Presentation (Bill Hancock – BCS Executive Director)
1-3:50 p.m.
ALABAMA
Head Coach Nick Saban
Don’t’a Hightower (LB, 6-4, 260, So., Lewisburg, Tenn.) Freshman All-America in 2008 and played in just four games due to injury in 2009
Mark Ingram (RB, 5-10, 212, Jr., Flint, Mich.) Heisman Trophy winner, first-team All-American and first-team All-SEC – 2009
Greg McElroy (QB, 6-3, 220, Sr., Southlake, Texas) Had lowest interception pct. In school history and 2nd lowest in SEC history – 2009
MISSISSIPPI STATE
Head Coach Dan Mullen
Charles Mitchell (DB, 5-11, 205, Jr., Clarksdale, Miss.) 4th on squad with 64 tackles and tied for 2nd with 4 interceptions - 2009
Chris Relf (QB, 6-4, 240, Jr., Montgomery, Ala.) 2nd on squad with 500 yards rushing and completed 53.7 percent of passes - 2009
Quentin Saulsberry (OL, 6-2, 305, Jr., Coldwater, Miss.) Started all 12 games at left guard - 2009
3:20 – 6 p.m.
FLORIDA
Head Coach Urban Meyer
Ahmad Black (SAF, 5-9, 185, Sr., Lakeland, Fla.) Honorable Mention All-SEC with 70 stops, one interception and 5 pass deflections - 2009
Mike Pouncey (C, 6-5, 315, Sr., Lakeland, Fla.) First-team All-SEC and second-team All-America - 2009
Justin Trattou (DE, 6-3, 252, Sr., Ramsey, N.J.) Has recorded 64 total tackles in 39 career games, including 18 starts - Career
KENTUCKY
Head Coach Joker Phillips
Randall Cobb (WR/QB/RS, 5-11, 188, Jr., Alcoa, Tenn.) First-team All-SEC as all-purpose player (1,673 total yards) - 2009
DeQuin Evans (DE, 6-3, 257, Sr., Long Beach, Calif.) Fourth-team All-SEC by Phil Steele’s College Football - 2010
Derrick Locke (TB/KR, 5-9, 190, Sr., Hugo, Okla.) Second-team All-SEC as all-purpose player (1,830 total yards) - 2009
THURSDAY, JULY 22
8:15 – 8:30 a.m. Rogers Redding (SEC Coordinator of Football Officials) (Wynfrey A&B)
8:30-1:10 a.m.
ARKANSAS
Head Coach Bobby Petrino
Jake Bequette (DE, 6-5, 271, Jr., Little Rock, Ark.) Two-year starter, leading team in sacks with 5.5 and QB pressures (8) - 2009
Ryan Mallett (QB, 6-7, 238, Jr., Texarkana, Ark.) Set or tied 16 different school records in first season as Razorback starting QB - 2009
D.J. Williams (TE, 6-2, 251, Sr., Little Rock, Ark.) Second-team All-SEC with 32 catches for 411 yards and 3 TDs - 2009
GEORGIA
Head Coach Mark Richt
Drew Butler (P, 6-2, 203, Jr., Duluth, Ga.) First-team All-American and winner of Ray Guy Award (nation’s best punter) - 2009
Shaun Chapas (FB, 6-2, 242, Sr., St. Augustine, Fla.) Named by Sporting News as SEC’s best blocking back - 2009
A.J. Green (WR, 6-4, 207, Jr., Summerville, S.C.) First-team All-SEC with 53 catches for 808 yards and 6 touchdowns - 2009
10:50 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Head Coach Steve Spurrier
Patrick DiMarco (FB, 6-1, 234, Sr., Altamonte Springs, Fla.) Team captain named team’s Joe Morrison Award as top Offensive Player in Spring - 2010
Cliff Matthews (DE, 6-4, 260, Sr., Cheraw, S.C.) Second-team All-SEC with 47 tackles, including 10 for losses - 2009
Shaq Wilson (LB, 5-10, 226, Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.) Led team with 85 total tackles, including 3.5 for losses - 2009
VANDERBILT
Head Coach Bobby Johnson
Chris Marve (LB, 6-0, 230, Jr., Memphis, Tenn.) Second-team All-SEC, leading league in tackles per game (10.1 / 121 total) - 2009
Warren Norman (RB/RS, 5-10, 190, So., Stone Mountain, Ga.) Second-team All-SEC and SEC Freshman of the Year (1,941 total yards) - 2009
John Stokes (LB/SN, 6-5, 235, Sr., Memphis, Tenn.) 7th on team in total tackles (44) and 8th in solo tackles (22) - 2009
FRIDAY, JULY 23
8 – 8:15 a.m. Football Writers Association of America Presentation (Wynfrey A&B)
8:15 – 8:30 a.m. National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame Presentation (Wynfrey A&B)
8:30 – 11:10 a.m.
AUBURN
Head Coach Gene Chizik
Josh Bynes (LB, 6-2, 239, Sr., Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.) Led team and 7th in SEC with 104 total tackles - 2009
Aairon Savage (DB, 5-11, 200, Sr., Albany, Ga.) All-SEC performer before missing last two seasons due to injury – 2008-09
Lee Ziemba (OT, 6-8, 320, Sr., Rogers, Ark.) Second-team All-SEC and has started every game of his career - 2009
TENNESSEE
Head Coach Derek Dooley
Nick Reveiz (LB, 5-10, 224, Sr., Farragut, Tenn.) Former walk-on who earned starting spot only to have season cut short by injury - 2009
Luke Stocker (TE, 6-6, 253, Sr., Berea, Ky.) Tied for 4th among SEC tight ends with 29 catches for 389 yards and 5 scores - 2009
Chris Walker (DE, 6-3, 245, Sr., Memphis, Tenn.) Led Vols in sacks (6.0) and tied for team lead in interceptions (2) - 2009
10:50 – 1:30 p.m.
LSU
Head Coach Les Miles
Jordan Jefferson (QB, 6-5, 220, Jr., St. Rose, La.) Fifth in SEC in pass efficiency, throwing for 2,166 yards - 2009
Patrick Peterson (DB, 6-1, 211, Jr., Pompano Beach, Fla.) Second-team All-SEC and second-team All-America - 2009
Kelvin Sheppard (LB, 6-3, 239, Sr., Stone Mountain, Ga.) Led team with 110 total tackles, including 8.5 for losses - 2009
OLE MISS
Head Coach Houston Nutt
Kentrell Lockett (DE, 6-5, 260, Sr., Hahnville, La.) Chucky Mullins Courage Award Recipient – 2010
Jerrell Powe (DT, 6-2, 320, Sr., Waynesboro, Miss.) Named to Lombardi, Outland and Nagurski Watch Lists - 2010
Bradley Sowell (OT, 6-7, 315, Jr., Hernando, Miss.) Helped Rebel offense rank 2nd in SEC and 14th in nation in least sacks allowed - 2009
Mike SzvetitzSports Editor
(0) Comments
Former Auburn University running back Dontae Aycock is expected to enroll at the University of South Florida this fall and walk on the Bulls’ football team, according to the St. Petersburg Times.
Aycock, who will have to sit out a year because of the transfer to another Division I program, was released from his scholarship at Auburn for violation of team rules, Auburn officials confirmed to the Opelika-Auburn News in May.
The St. Pete Times reported that Aycock told the newspaper that he asked for his release before he was dismissed.
“He’s going to attend USF,” his brother, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Dwight Smith, told the St. Pete Times on Thursday. “He’s going to try to earn a scholarship. Coming home was his No. 1 priority.”
The newspaper also reported that Aycock and Smith have already met with USF first-year head coach Skip Holtz.
Aycock redshirted during his freshman season at Auburn, but was expected to play a significant role this season in Gus Malzahn’s offense.
Aycock finished his high school career at Tampa’s Chamberlin High School, where he rushed for 1,406 yards and 28 touchdowns his senior season. He also threw for 1,491 yards and 17 TDs as the quarterback.
Page 1 of 61 pages 1 2 3 > Last »
