Ksu Takes Bad With The Good
College football
There was good news and bad news when officials from the Southwestern Bell Cotton Bowl Classic arrived in Manhattan, Kan., on Monday to formally extend Kansas State’s invitation to the 61st annual New Year’s Day event.
The good news - the Wildcats (9-2) would play in their first New Year’s Day bowl, facing the Cougars of Brigham Young (13-1).
The bad news - All-American cornerback Chris Canty’s status was questionable after an early morning DUI arrest.
Canty, a first-team All-American last season as a sophomore, was arrested Monday morning after being stopped on campus for speeding and registering more than the 0.08 legal limit for blood-alcohol content.
“I cannot comment on the situation because I do not know what the situation is at this point in time,” said Kansas State coach Bill Snyder.
Canty was unavailable for comment.
But Canty’s arrest did not stifle the mood in Manhattan, where the Wildcats prepared for their fourth consecutive bowl game and the fifth in school history.
“We’re certainly honored and pleased to have the opportunity to participate in the Cotton Bowl,” said Snyder. “BYU is certainly going to be a tremendous opponent. I think it’s an excellent opportunity for us to have a chance to play the No. 5 team in the country, and certainly deservedly so.”
Kansas State has played against Top 10 teams twice this season, losing to No. 6 Nebraska and at No. 8 Colorado.
“Here in Manhattan it might be old hat to get nine wins in a season,” said Rick Baker, president of the Cotton Bowl Classic. “But where we’re from it’s still a tremendous feat.”
The premier matchup in the contest will pit Brigham Young’s vaunted passing attack against Kansas State’s defensive backfield.
BYU quarterback Steve Sarkisian leads the nation in passing efficiency.
Canty, who was named defensive back of the year by the Touchdown Club of Columbus, leads a defensive backfield widely regarded as the best in the nation. And with the anticipated return from a broken leg of senior cornerback Joe Gordon, K-State’s backs might be back at full strength for the first time this season.
Gordon broke his leg in preseason drills. He returned for four games midway through the season, but was forced to the bench again when a plate in the leg cracked and needed to be replaced.
Baylor pursues Weatherbie
The Naval Academy has granted permission for Baylor University to talk to Navy football coach Charlie Weatherbie about the Bears’ head coaching vacancy, an academy spokesman said. Weatherbie said he will meet with Baylor athletic department officials this week.
Navy granted Baylor permission with the stipulation that Weatherbie not be contacted before last Saturday’s game against Army.
BC pulls back
Sources indicated Boston College athletic director Chet Gladchuk has ruled out Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick, 59, as a candidate to succeed Dan Henning. That seems to bolster the chances of Randy Edsall, a 38-year-old defensive backfield coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who served for three seasons in a similar capacity at BC under Tom Coughlin.
Edsall was one of two Jaguars assistants - offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, 45, being the other - who interviewed with Gladchuk at the end of last month. His selection would be in keeping with the trend of many schools that are turning to young coordinators and assistants in the college and pro ranks.
Hello, again
Matt Cavanaugh, the only identified candidate for Pitt’s football coaching job, met again with athletic director Steve Pederson and may be hired as early as today. Cavanaugh, the San Francisco 49ers’ quarterbacks coach and a former Pitt player and assistant, first met with Pederson on Dec. 2 and the two continued to talk during the week.
Stoops spurns Gophers
Minnesota’s list of coaching candidates got a little shorter when Bob Stoops turned down the job. Stoops, the defensive coordinator at No. 3 Florida, interviewed at Minnesota and toured the football facilities Sunday.
OSU names Riley
Southern Cal offensive coordinator Mike Riley has been named the new coach at Oregon State, the Corvallis Gazette-Times reported.
The list, please
Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel and Iowa State running back Troy Davis were among four players invited to Saturday night’s Heisman Trophy presentation.
Also invited to the Downtown Athletic Club, which awards the Heisman to college football’s top player, were Arizona State quarterback Jake Plummer and Ohio State offensive tackle Orlando Pace.
A Heisman spokesman said at least one more invitation was expected to go out today.