Reports I heard last nite have Kelvin Benjamin going to FSUcks.
On Mon, Dec 13, 2010 at 6:29 AM, Juno Gator <[email protected]>wrote: > > *The view from Texas: Head coach-in-waiting plan burns Longhorns as Will > Muschamp joins Florida Gators* > > By Kirk Bohls The Austin American-Statesman > > AUSTIN, Texas - Turned out Will Muschamp wasn't the head coach-in-waiting > after all. He's now the head coach-in-absentia. > > One of the biggest gambles in Mack Brown's storied tenure at Texas > backfired Saturday when the fist-pumping, chest-bumping defensive > coordinator tired of waiting for his turn at the top and headed to Florida > in a shocking move. > > Texas never should have agreed to the risky setup. It ended badly at > Florida State, where Bobby Bowden tried to cling to his job too long and was > forced out, and it ended poorly in Austin, where Brown faces upheaval among > his coaching staff. > > Brown fires or receives the resignations/retirements of three of his > long-standing aides, including offensive coordinator Greg Davis, and now the > head coach loses one of the best defensive coordinators in college football. > > Just how good Muschamp is became obvious when the Gators hired him despite > his never having been a head coach. That the 39-year-old Georgian landed > this gig on the heels of a 5-7 season during which his defense drastically > underachieved stands as testament to his abilities and reputation. > > Sure, Florida Athletic Director Jeremy Foley is gambling on Muschamp, but > no more than Texas AD DeLoss Dodds was gambling in November 2008 when he > agreed to Brown's idea that Muschamp be named head coach-designate. > > It's a lousy idea, if only because other assistants may think they are > serving two bosses - Mack Brown and the next Mack Brown - and because Mack > decided to linger longer than expected. > > Brown was more interested in keeping Muschamp around to help win another > national championship than he was in scripting the perfect exit. Keeping a > great talent like Muschamp was a good idea, but head coaches-in-waiting > shouldn't have to wait more than one year or two at the most. > > At least one source told me Brown had decided before this season began that > he would step down at the end of the 2010 campaign, but he changed his mind > after his first losing season at Texas, worried that his legacy had been > tarnished. > > Muschamp was annoyed by the decision, sources close to the football program > have said, and chose to leave what he thought was promised him: arguably the > best coaching position in the country because of Texas' enormous resources, > facilities and budget and the recruiting edge that is the Lone Star State. > > No one can blame Brown for sticking around. Brown, still only 59 and in > good health, has built one of the best programs in college football, but now > faces the biggest crisis of his tenure, even bigger than that damning, > five-year losing streak to Oklahoma. > > Now he must fill both his offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator > positions, and Muschamp could easily take budding offensive coordinator > Major Applewhite with him to further deplete Brown's staff. > > There might not be many greener pastures than Texas, but Florida might be > one of them, and it's easy to see Muschamp lusting after what is one of the > top-five programs in the country. > > Muschamp will find one huge problem in that he has to replace a legend in > Urban Meyer, but then, he was prepared to do that in Austin. > > > > > > > *Glades Central WR Kelvin Benjamin to announce his college choice Thursday > * > > by Jeff Greer > > Highly touted Glades Central receiver Kelvin Benjamin said he will make his > college choice at the Glades Central High School gymnasium on Thursday at 4 > p.m. > > [image: Kelvin Benjamin (Thomas Cordy/Palm Beach > Post)]<http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/highschoolbuzz/2010/12/12/glades-central-wr-kelvin-benjamin-to-announce-his-college-choice-thursday/kb/> > > Kelvin Benjamin > > Benjamin (6-6, 220, No. 2 on the *Big > Board*<http://pbgametime.com/recruiting/big_board/>) > will pick from *more than 40 scholarship > offers*<http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/highschoolbuzz/2010/12/02/glades-centrals-kelvin-benjamin-deciding-between-florida-florida-state/>. > He said Sunday night that he’d pick between Miami, Florida and Florida > State. Several sources have told me that Florida State, where Benjamin’s > good friend and former Glades Central receiver Greg Dent is a freshman, is > the leader. > > It’s unclear if the recent hires of Will Muschamp at Florida and Al Golden > at Miami will have any affect on Benjamin’s choice, although he told > Rivals.com that he was *more familiar with > Muschamp*<http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1164547>than > Golden. Florida wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni has > *visited Belle Glade several > times*<http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/highschoolbuzz/2010/12/01/florida-coach-zach-azzani-visits-kelvin-benjamin-glades-central/>in > recent weeks, meeting with Benjamin and juniors Jaime Wilson and > Dominique Gibson, who are both Florida targets. > > Glades Central coach Jessie Hester said in August that Benjamin was *leaning > toward > Florida*<http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/gatorbytes/2010/08/20/recruiting-gators-leading-field-for-wr-kelvin-benjamin-coach-says/>, > if where he unofficially visited most was any indication. But Florida State > has made a serious push for the uber-talented receiver, whose sheer size > (80-plus-inch wingspan and 9 1/8-inch hands) makes him a huge target and > *difficult > to bring > down*<http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/highschoolbuzz/2010/11/12/video-glades-central-seniors-send-off-kelvin-benjamin-with-a-bang/> > . > > Benjamin recently visited West Virginia and has been spotted wearing > Florida State hats and jackets over the past few months, whipping almost > every fan base on the East coast into a frenzy over where he’s headed. He > attended Florida State’s 31-7 win over Florida on Nov. 27 in Tallahassee and > *enjoyed the > visit*<http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/highschoolbuzz/2010/12/02/glades-centrals-kelvin-benjamin-deciding-between-florida-florida-state/>. > Benjamin also took an official visit to Marshall, and Hester told our Matt > Porter 10 days ago that LSU had an outside shot at the 80th-ranked recruit > and ninth-rated receiver in the 2011 class. > > Before reaching the Florida high school football age maximum of 19 years > and 9 months, Benjamin had 30 catches, 551 receiving yards and six > touchdowns in eight games. He will play in the Offense-Defense Bowl in > Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Jan. 31. > > > > > > > *New Florida Gators coach Will Muschamp showed unusual determination as > far back as high school* > > By Jason > Lieser<http://www.palmbeachpost.com/services/staff/jason-lieser-17930.html> > Palm > Beach Post > > The first time Will Muschamp tried to become a Florida Gator, the school > ignored him. > > After breaking his leg in high school, it was difficult for Muschamp to > persuade football coaches to take a chance on him, but one of Steve > Spurrier's assistants invited him and his family to Gainesville in 1991 to > discuss walking on to the team. > > He and his parents drove seven hours from their home in Rome, Ga., but when > they arrived at the football offices, no one was there to meet him. > > "It's a long story," Muschamp's father, Larry, said Sunday from his home in > Mentone, Ala. "I don't remember the coach's name anymore, but the secretary > said, 'He's not here right now.' So we went out to get something to eat and > came back. Then she said, 'He's out jogging.' That was enough. We got in the > car and drove home." > > Muschamp is returning to Florida this week, but now he will do so as the > boss. The Gators hired him Saturday to replace Urban Meyer and will hold an > introductory news conference Tuesday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. > > Meyer, who resigned Wednesday, plans to coach the team in the Outback Bowl > against Penn State on Jan. 1. > > Muschamp, 39, has never been a head coach, but during the past eight years > he has become known as one of the country's smartest defensive coordinators. > Texas thought so highly of him that it named him the head coach-in-waiting > behind Mack Brown. > > The rest of his reputation, as described by relatives and friends, is that > of a relentless worker and zealous sideline motivator. He also has a dry > sense of humor and penchant for pulling pranks. > > Muschamp has such a history of tricks that his dad thought he was playing a > joke when he called Saturday to tell him he accepted the Florida job. His > parents, like many Gators fans, were stunned. > > "He said, 'Mom, I'm the new head football coach at the university of --' > and I thought he was going to say Texas," his mother, Sally Muschamp, said. > > "When he said Florida, I couldn't even speak. I was so shocked." > > The Muschamps spent 10 years living in Gainesville within a short walk of > the stadium and went to nearly every Gators home game. The three boys > pretended to be Florida players like Cris Collinsworth, John Brantley, Scot > Brantley, Wes Chandler and Dock Luckie when they played football in their > back yard. > > It was a football-centric family that began in Rome and returned to that > town after leaving Gainesville. Larry played at North Carolina before taking > a job as a principal and football coach. Muschamp's older brother, Pat, was > an offensive lineman at Army and Mike, the oldest boy, was a quarterback for > Duke. > > It was always Pat and Mike against Will. Having to compete against brothers > who are five and seven years older than he helped Will develop toughness and > unbending confidence. > > Once, in a Little League baseball game, Muschamp's team somehow ran out of > pitchers. The coaches tried to figure out their next move during a nervous > huddle on the mound when Muschamp, who had never pitched, interrupted, "Give > me the ball. I'll get him." > > "They had a huge kid that looked like Babe Ruth up next and I thought, > 'Good Lord, here we go,' " Larry Muschamp said. "And he struck him out. We > won the game." > > Will Muschamp excelled in football, baseball, basketball and track at > Rome's Darlington High School. He was a dominant running back at 6 feet, 185 > pounds, and a star outfielder before breaking his leg during his junior > season. > > Muschamp was sprinting from left field toward a shallow pop-up when he > tripped over Darlington's shortstop. Hearing Muschamp call for the ball, the > shortstop dropped to the ground to get out of his way, but Muschamp stumbled > over him and landed awkwardly. He broke his tibia and fibula. Both bones > protruded through his skin. > > Doctors inserted a 17-inch steel rod in his leg, and his parents assumed > his sports career was finished. Muschamp had been getting calls from several > college football programs, including Southern California, but his phone went > quiet after the injury. > > He was undeterred, though. Muschamp met with one of his coaches at 6 a.m. > every school day to work out in the swimming pool and returned for his > senior year before fighting his way onto Georgia's team as a walk-on in > 1991. > > He quickly earned a scholarship and a starting spot at safety. He was named > a team captain at Georgia before his senior season. > > "That tells you what the players thought of him," former Bulldogs coach Ray > Goff said. "He's a fireball. He'd get after it. He played hard and he wanted > everyone else to play just as hard." > > Muschamp now uses the steel rod, framed in a shadowbox, as an office > decoration and a reminder of how hard he worked to recover. He uses the > story to inspire players. > > His other motivational tactics have been clear to television viewers for > years. Cameras frequently caught him screaming on the sidelines at Texas, > Auburn and LSU. > > He readily tries to chest-bump players, often with comedic results. > > Linebacker Brian Orakpo knocked him to the ground during one of those > celebrations in 2008 and a Texas defensive back sent him staggering to the > grass during last season's national championship game. > > "It's fun to watch," said friend Keith Moreland, a former major-league > baseball player who does color analysis on Texas radio broadcasts. "The kids > are excited to see him so excited. Sometimes enthusiasm is manufactured, but > it's never that way with him. > > "His emotion, everything that goes into it, gets everybody up to a > different level. I don't know that he'll be as animated as a head coach. > He's said before you probably can't be as passionate as a head coach, but > you'll still see some passion." > *Reports: Health impacted Urban Meyer’s resignation* > > by Jason Lieser > > *The Gainesville > Sun<http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20101211/ARTICLES/101219888/1090/gatorsfootball?Title=Gatorsports-exclusive-Meyer-resigned-over-health-risks&tc=ar> > * and the Associated > Press<http://sports.ap.org/college-football/story?id=pf1897e432a6c48358cdf1ad48701db01>reported > that ongoing health concerns prompted Urban Meyer’s decision to > resign at Florida. > > [image: Meyer resigned Wednesday. (WPTV image)] > > Meyer resigned Wednesday. > > Throughout the season, Meyer reiterated that his health was fine and said > he did not want to discuss it. Three weeks ago, he said he was “absolutely” > returning as head coach for 2011. > > At his resignation press conference, Meyer was asked if his health was a > factor in this decision and he said, “No.” > > Meyer is suffering from a recurring burning feeling in his chest, and > doctors told him last week his cardiovascular health could suffer if stayed > in coaching, the AP reported. > > Shortly after his 24-hour resignation last December, Meyer was diagnosed > with esophageal spasms, which slow food’s route to the stomach. Chest pain, > difficulty swallowing, heartburn and regurgitation are some of typical the > symptoms. > > Meyer said he was able to treat the problem with medication and lifestyle > changes, including more exercise and better eating habits. > > Meyer resigned again Wednesday, this time for real, and Florida replaced > him with former Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp on Saturday. > *YouTube: Will Muschamp’s greatest hits* > > by Jason Lieser > > You know that hands-on-the-knees, subdued look Urban Meyer had all season > as his team went 7-5? Don’t expect that from new coach Will Muschamp. > > Search his name on YouTube and one of the popular clips that comes up is > titled, “Will Muschamp is a crazy MOFO.” Sounds like fun. > *QB recruit Jeff Driskel spoke with Will Muschamp, still committed to > Gators* > > by Jason Lieser > > It’s been trying week for Florida commits with coach Urban Meyer’s sudden > resignation, but new coach Will Muschamp already is solidifying the Gators’ > recruiting class. > > That starts with Oviedo-Hagerty quarterback Jeff Driskel. He’s still on > board. > > [image: Driskel stuck with the Gators through Meyer's resignation and is > happy with Muschamp's hiring. (ESPN photo)] > > Driskel stuck with the Gators through Meyer's resignation and is happy with > Muschamp's hiring. > > One of Muschamp’s first priorities after getting the job Saturday was > checking in with Oviedo-Hagerty quarterback Jeff Driskel. Driskel, who > committed to Florida in April. > > Muschamp made a strong impression on Driskel and his family in their phone > call, and Driskel’s mother said he remains intent on joining the Gators. > > “He’s fully committed,” Mary Driskel said. “He got his classes set up. He’s > on his way.” > > Driskel will report to Gainesville on Jan. 7 and will participate in spring > practices. > > Driskel and his family were in town this weekend for his official campus > visit and quickly got in touch with Muschamp after Florida announced his > hiring. > > “Sounds like a high-energy guy,” Mary Driskel said. “He was really excited > to come to Florida and really excited that Jeff is committed to Florida.” > > “(The past week) was a little bit tough, but Florida’s Florida. It’s a good > school and it’s a good environment. Jeff’s really happy up there. We knew > they were going to hire a good coach.” > > Mary Driskel also said she hopes Muschamp retains current quarterbacks > coach Scot Loeffler, who has been instrumental in recruiting Jeff Driskel, > but Muschamp did not mention any names as possible assistants. > > Driskel (6-4, 230, 4.5 in the 40-yard dash) is rated the No. 1 quarterback > prospect in America by Rivals.com and No. 2 by Scout.com. He was the > Gatorade Player of the Year in Florida as a senior this season. > > > > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus > signature database 5697 (20101212) __________ > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > > -- > GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! > 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions > 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions > 2008 National Football Champions | > Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), > Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us
