NCAA Football Update - 3/8/2009

• There are three candidates that classify as "duh" for early 2009 Heisman front runners. They are QBs Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford, and Colt McCoy. But who are some dark horses? [Zombie Nation]
• The Florida State cheating scandal - uncovered in December 2007 - has been settled by the NCAA. Ten of the University's athletics programs have been affected, including football. Wins will be vacated from the 2006 and/or 2007 seasons meaning that the all-time wins race between FSU coach Bobby Bowden and Penn State's Joe Paterno just got a lot less intriguing. Bowden had trailed Paterno by a mere one game following the conclusion of the 2008-2009 college football season. [Zombie Nation & College Football Talk]
• The Mid-Western Conference went ahead and proposed its new eight-team playoff to the NCAA last week. The MWC seeks to allow any conference entrance to the eight team tournament, not just those from current BCS conferences. Also, the teams would not be determined by a rankings system but by a panel of 12, who will then seed the teams.
• With Matt Stafford a near consensus Top 5 choice in the 2009 draft, redshirt senior QB Joe Cox will be taking over at Georgia. Cox was a heralded prospect when he came to Georgia in 2005. Unfortunately for Cox he could never beat Stafford. Coaches think he can excel and will be one of the best senior QBs in the nation in 2009.
• Former Miami head coach Larry Coker has been named the first head coach of the University Texas-San Antonio football team. UTSA will begin play in 2011 at the FCS level.
• Alabama head coach Nick Saban does not plan on naming a new starting QB prior to the end of spring practice. With John Parker Wilson possibly calling plays in the NFL next season, the QB job comes down to Greg McElroy, Star Jackson, and Thomas Darrah. [Bama Beat]
• Pittsburgh linebacker Adam Gunn was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. Gun, who had previously used his redshirt season, suffered a neck injury in the season opener and missed the rest of the teams games. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
• Despite QB Jerrod Johnson returning, Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman is keeping to his word and allowing Ryan Tannehill to compete for the starting spot. [Aggies Insider]
• Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel is one of six college coaches heading overseas to talk to and spend time with our troops. And he is very excited about it. [Cleveland.com]
• One of the nations top prospects finally committed to a university for the 2009 campaign. RB David Oku has chosen Tennessee, the program he originally verbally committed to. [Rivals]
• Another top prospect who was yet to decide, TE Orson Charles, has selected Georgia. [Athens Banner-Herald]
• Another team needs to fill a void at QB: Rutgers. QB Mike Teel is gone and Jabu Lovelace, Dom Natale, D.C. Jefferson, and Steve Shimko will compete during spring practice and training camp for the job. Lovelace, Teel's backup the two years ago, suffered a foot injury this winter and will miss spring practice. [North Jersey.com]
• Not another QB quandary! This one, however, surprises no one. LSU head coach Les Miles rarely names a starter, even when one is returning for another year. The job comes down to Jordan Jefferson and Russell Shepard. Both are extremely young and raw. Jefferson started the Tigers final two games and will be a true sophomore this fall. Shepard will be a true freshman but was arguably the nation's #1 QB recruit. [Shreveport Times]
• Time to check in with Big Ten blogger Adam Rittenberg at ESPN... first up is - surprise! - a QB competition. At Michigan State Keith Nichol and Kirk Cousins will try to replace Brian Hoyer. [Adam Rittenberg]
• It's been a bit slow at the blog in recent days (it is only early spring, after all) but Rittenberg is chronicling what he calls "positional superlatives". Check out Michigan State, Wisconsin, Penn State, Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, and Minnesota. [Adam Rittenberg]