NCAA Football Update - 3/22/2009

• Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis has abandoned any thought of coaching from the press box. He plans to be on the field to yell at players, call plays, and look exhausted. [ESPN]
• Florida State backup QB E.J. Manuel will miss the remainder of spring practice with a dislocated finger on his throwing hand. Manuel has undergone surgery and no timetable has been set for his return. Manuel will be a redshirt freshman this fall and was set to be the primary backup for starter Christian Ponder (soon-to-be redshirt junior). Now soon-to-be sophomore Corey Eddinger will be Ponder's backup, for the time being.
• Uber prospect Bryce Brown selected Tennessee over LSU, Kansas State, and Oregon. Brown joins fellow freshman-to-be David Oku at Tennessee, providing the Volunteers and new head coach Lane Kiffin quite the young stable of backs.
• On to the QB posts... Connecticut may have a five-way battle for the starting QB spot if nothing is resolved this spring. As it stands now, Zach Frazer or Cody Endres are expected to earn the spot but Casey Turner and Johnny McEntee will try to supplant them. If no decision is made before the summer, true freshman Mike Box could have a shot. [Hartford Courant]
• After a rough two years in South Carolina, new starting QB Stephen Garcia has changed his attitude and outlook for the Gamecocks. Vying for the backup job are Reid McCollum, Aramis Hillary, and Zac Brindise. [The State Newspaper & The State Newspaper]
• Domonique Davis, Justin Tuggle, and Codi Boek are vying for the Boston College QB spot. Davis started the final three games of the 2008 season in relief of the injured Chris Crane. New head coach Frank Spaziani does not expect to name a starter until August, allowing all three individuals the time to learn the new pro-style offense. [Boston Herald]
• Former Miami QB Robert Marve has added Nebraska to his list of possible schools he'd be willing to transfer to. Besides the Cornhuskers, Marve lists Purdue, Michigan, Texas Tech, South Florida, and UCLA as contenders for his services. It is widely believed that he will end up with USF. [College Football Talk]
  
• The Syracuse QB race is wide open but it is assumed that one - or both - of the seniors will get the job. Cameron Dantley, who started the final 11 games of the 2008 season for the Orange, and Andrew Robinson, last year's game one starter, should take the job. Head coach Doug Marrone has said he will not go on upside but by who gives the team the best chance to succeed now. Also under consideration are David Legree, Ryan Nassib, and Charley Loeb. [The Post-Standard]
• Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino has not settled on a starting QB as spring practice opens. You'd think redshirt sophomore (for the '09 season) Ryan Mallett would have a leg up on "freshman" Tyler Wilson. However, Mallett has shown little maturity on and off the field despite starting a bunch of games for Michigan in 2007. [Whole Hog Sports]
• Greg McElroy is expected to take over for departed John Parker Wilson as the Crimson Tide's new QB. The challengers are Star Jackson and Thomas Darrah. McElroy was the backup for Wilson last season and is entering his fourth year at Alabama. [Tuscaloosa News]
• Ryan Colburn is the most experience QB left on the Fresno State roster after the graduation of Tom Brandstater, a three year-year starter. Colburn has thrown five passes in three seasons and will be a redshirt junior for the '09 season. Though he is expected to be named the starter, there is a competition for the job. Matt Faulkner, Ebahn Feathers, and Derek Carr are all younger options that will be on the heels of Colburn should he falter. [Fresno Bee]