LUBBOCK, Texas — Former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville is checking out the open head coaching job at Texas Tech.
Texas Tech athletics department spokesman Chris Cook said Tuesday that Tuberville, 55, would meet with university and athletic department administrators.
Tuberville stepped down at Auburn in December 2008, ending a 10-year tenure that included a perfect season and a string of teams that contended for Southeastern Conference championships.
Athletics director Gerald Myers has said he could decide on a new coach by the end of the week. He also said interim coach Ruffin McNeill will be strongly considered for the permanent job.
McNeill took over after Texas Tech suspended and then fired Mike Leach amid allegations of mistreating receiver Adam James after the player suffered a concussion. McNeill led the Red Raiders to a 41-31 win over Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday.
Tuberville was 85-40 at Auburn, including a 13-0 season in 2004 when the Tigers finished No. 2 and won the SEC title for the first time in 15 years. He led Auburn to five SEC Western Division titles and eight consecutive bowl appearances from 2000-07.
Penn State player going pro
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State linebacker Navorro Bowman will skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft in April. The junior had 86 tackles with a team-high 17 for a loss.
Buckeye will enter NFL draft
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Defensive end Thaddeus Gibson will forgo his final year at Ohio State to enter the NFL draft. Gibson recorded 82 tackles during his three years with the Buckeyes. He led the team with 13 tackles for losses this season, including four sacks, recovered two fumbles and intercepted a pass.
Sooner changes mind on NFL
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma cornerback Dominique Franks has changed his mind and decided to enter the NFL draft, forgoing his senior year. Franks announced his decision Tuesday after saying last month that he intended to play his senior season with the Sooners no matter what the NFL said about where he might land in the April draft. After returning home from Oklahoma’s victory against Stanford in the Sun Bowl, he apparently changed his mind. Franks started all 13 games fpr Oklahoma, recording 47 tackles and two interceptions, including one that he returned for a touchdown.
Thumb surgery for Miami QB
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Miami quarterback Jacory Harris is scheduled for surgery today to repair a torn right thumb ligament. Harris hurt the thumb in mid-November and originally was told surgery wasn’t necessary. He hurt the thumb again before Miami’s loss in the Champs Sports Bowl, and further evaluation this week showed repair was needed.
NCAA rejects FSU appeal
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The NCAA has upheld its decision to vacate up to 14 victories from former football coach Bobby Bowden as part of Florida State’s penalty in an academic cheating scandal. Bowden retired as major college football’s second most winning coach with 389 wins after Florida State’s 33-21 Gator Bowl victory over West Virginia, Jan. 1. Penn State’s Joe Paterno, who is still coaching, has 394 wins.
Notre Dame hires trio
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Former Grand Valley State head coach Chuck Martin, former Cincinnati assistant Mike Elston and Mike Denbrock, who coached at Notre Dame under Tyrone Willingham, have been hired as Fighting Irish assistants. New head coach Brian Kelly on Tuesday announced the hirings, naming Martin the defensive backs coach, Elston the defensive line coach and Denbrock, an Indiana State assistant last season, as tight ends coach. They join running backs coach Tony Alford, the only assistant retained from Charlie Weis’ staff.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
