Spurrier not wasting any time
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Lane Kiffin has already discovered one thing that comes with the job of being Tennessee’s coach: needling from Steve Spurrier.
The South Carolina coach, who had a history of taking verbal jabs at Kiffin’s predecessor, Phillip Fulmer, questioned whether Kiffin broke NCAA recruiting rules by contacting Tennessee recruits before he was cleared to do so.
The NCAA requires coaches to take a recruiting certification test before they’re allowed to contact recruits.
Jarvis Giles, a high school running back recruit in Tampa, Fla., told several media outlets that Kiffin contacted him early Sunday morning — a day before he was scheduled to be introduced as the Vols’ new coach. Spurrier noted that Kiffin didn’t retake the recruiting test until after he was introduced as the Gamecocks’ new coach.
Ducks select future coach
EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon has picked offensive coordinator Chip Kelly to be head coach Mike Bellotti’s eventual successor, though school officials did not say when that will happen.
Bellotti will become the school’s athletic director when he steps down. Asked if he would step down after this season, Bellotti told reporters he didn’t think so.
Kelly becomes the latest coach-in-waiting, a trend in major college football these days. Texas recently announced defensive coordinator Will Muschamp will eventually replace Mack Brown.
UConn suspends RB
STORRS, Conn. — Connecticut tailback Andre Dixon has been charged with drunken driving and suspended from the team indefinitely.
He posted a $500 bond and is to appear in Rockville Superior Court on Dec. 15.
The Huskies play No. 23 Pittsburgh in their regular-season finale Saturday.
Dixon was also suspended last season for two games for violating team rules.
Surgery benches Wildcat
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky freshman quarterback Randall Cobb is doubtful to play in the Wildcats’ bowl game after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.
Coach Rich Brooks says the surgery performed Tuesday was a success. However, he says he won’t be able to practice for at least two to three weeks.
Cobb was injured Saturday during Kentucky’s loss to Tennessee. The speedster has started the last four games at quarterback. He has thrown for five touchdowns and rushed for seven more.
Aggies need a coach
LAS CRUCES, N.M. — New Mexico State fired football coach Hal Mumme on Tuesday, ending a four-year run during which the program often ended up in the news for the wrong reasons.
The Aggies lost seven straight games to end the season 3-9 and 1-7 in the Western Athletic Conference. They lost 49-0 at home to Boise State and ended the year last weekend with a 47-2 defeat at Utah State.
Athletic director McKinley Boston said he has begun a national search for a successor. Head coaching experience won’t be required, just an eagerness to work with a program that for decades has been one of the worst in major college football.
Joe Pa returns to team
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State coach Joe Paterno is back at work a week after undergoing hip-replacement surgery.
A team spokesman says the 81-year-old Paterno held a squad meeting Sunday night after players returned from Thanksgiving break.
The school had said he was already reviewing game film and setting practice schedules as No. 6 Penn State gets ready for the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 against a still-undetermined opponent. The Big Ten champions resume practice Friday.
Associated Press
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