Beavers top tailback might miss Civil War
CORVALLIS, Ore. — Oregon State freshman star Jacquizz Rodgers is doubtful for Saturday’s Civil War game against Oregon because of a shoulder injury.
A Rose Bowl bid is on the line for the No. 17 Beavers (8-3, 7-1 Pac-10) in the annual rivalry game against the Ducks (8-3, 6-2), but Rodgers, the Pac-10’s leading rusher, could be watching from the sidelines.
“Quizz is very doubtful. He is feeling better but we don’t want to put him at risk and there might be something with his shoulder that it might not be right for him to play,” Oregin State coach Mike Riley said Tuesday.
Rodgers injured his shoulder on Oregon State’s second possession last Saturday against Arizona. The Beavers went on to win 19-17 on a field goal in the final seconds.
Riley characterized the injury as a second-degree sprain. He said a final call about Rodgers’ status would come later this week.
Rodgers averages 113.9 rushing yards a game, which ranks him 12th in the nation. He has rushed for 11 touchdowns and has already set a Pac-10 freshman rushing record.
This is what happens when you use ineligible players
ALVA, Okla. — Northwestern Oklahoma State will not play its scheduled NAIA quarterfinal game at defending national champion Carroll College on Saturday after discovering that three players were academically ineligible.
Northwestern will forfeit its regular-season games against Bacone and Texas College as well as a postseason game against Friends (Kan.) University because the players competed in those games while ineligible.
The school said the unidentified players dropped classes during the fall semester that reduced their course load below 12 hours, which is not allowed by the NAIA.
The NAIA plans to have its National Eligibility Committee review a report from Northwestern Oklahoma State and determine whether any additional sanctions are necessary.
Head coaching jobs coming for Missouri coordinators?
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Now that Missouri coach Gary Pinkel has been rewarded for the Tigers’ success with a second contract extension in two years, the prize for his top assistants could be new jobs as head coaches elsewhere.
Missouri is 9-2 overall and 5-2 in the Big 12 this season and will play in the league title game.
Offensive coordinator Dave Christensen (an Everett native) and defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, both longtime Pinkel aides, have been mentioned as candidates for coaching vacancies around the country.
Christensen’s name has been linked to Washington, where Pinkel was once offensive coordiantor as well as New Mexico and Wyoming. Eberflus is believed to be among the top choices at Toledo, where he started at linebacker under Pinkel and later served as an assistant.
Christensen said he hasn’t been contacted by any school and downplayed such chatter, noting that “anybody can put anything on the Internet and it’s supposedly the gospel.”
Of course, he’d like some of it to be on the money.
“If a great opportunity came and the season’s over, I would be interested in listening to them,” Christensen said. “Everybody wants to advance their career and I’d like to be a head coach someday.”
Christensen has been mentioned for openings in the past, given his role in Missouri’s no-huddle, spread offense. The Tigers are fourth in the nation with a 45-point average, sixth in total offense at 514 yards per game, fourth with 351.5 yards passing per game.
Bearcats without top DB
CINCINNATI — No. 16 Cincinnati will play it last two regular-season games without its top cornerback, senior Mike Mickens who had surgery on Monday to repair torn cartilage in his left knee.
Coach Brian Kelly said on Tuesday that Mickens, the school’s career interceptions leader, will be sidelined for a game Saturday against Syracuse and the final regular-season game at Hawaii. The Bearcats (9-2) hope to have Mickens back for their bowl game.
Cincinnati will clinch the Big East title and a BCS bowl berth if West Virginia loses on Friday to Pittsburgh. If that doesn’t happen, the Bearcats can win it by beating Syracuse at home on Saturday.
Football over for Tar Heel
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — North Carolina linebacker Mark Paschal won’t play college football again because of a spine injury he sustained last week against North Carolina State.
School officials said Tuesday that Paschal suffered a cervical spine.
Paschal had an MRI on Sunday. After reviewing the results, the school’s doctors recommended that he quit playing football because of the risk of further injury. He is expected to make a full recovery.
Associated Press
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