Neil Hayes: Let's not overcomplicate a process that already should have begun at Notre Dame. If Jack Swarbrick decides Brian Kelly is his top candidate, he should make the Cincinnati coach an offer. Notre Dame's athletic director should give him an exclusive, 48-hour negotiating window after which any potential deal will be withdrawn.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- As Notre Dame prepares to host UConn in the last home game of the season (1:30, Ch. 5, 890-AM), Irish coach Charlie Weis gave his seniors one more task before they're honored Saturday.
The biggest order of the day Saturday for Northwestern defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz will be trying to stop Wisconsin running back John Clay.
Prophetically -- as seam-gazing seers from Amos Alonzo Stagg to Kirk Herbstreit have understood the game's mystic -- the parents met at a sign-up desk for a touch-football league.
The name ``Meyer’’ has been synonymous with men’s basketball at DePaul. The name ``Bruno’’ has had the same distinction for the school’s women’s program.
About 10 years ago, I heard then-Northwestern football coach Randy Walker speak at a high school fund-raiser. Walker, who tragically passed away from heart failure in the summer of 2006, said a few things that resonated with me.
Efficiency is why Butler has been a good program for a long time, but consistency is the reason why the No. 11 Bulldogs have become a dominant mid-major program in recent years.
Robbie Harman scored 20 points, including six three-pointers, to power Central Michigan to a 67-48 rout Wednesday of UIC in Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Nick Nikolich insists he's not being modest. He's simply telling it like it is when he says the Defensive Player of the Year award he received this week should be divided 11 ways.
Coach Charlie Weis reopened the punting competition at Notre Dame this week after Eric Maust averaged 24.8 yards on five punts in the Irish's 27-22 loss Saturday at Pittsburgh. Ben Turk, who also has been inconsistent, didn't travel to Pittsburgh because he was sick with the flu.
It might be true, as coach Bruce Weber says, that Illinois' starting five isn't set. But the way things are going, his two precocious freshmen, Brandon Paul and D.J. Richardson, are looking rock-solid.
By the time Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis held his weekly news conference Tuesday, he had lost neither his job, nor his sense of humor. Weis was asked if he believed a decision had been made by the ND powers that be about his future.
Balanced scoring and solid three-point shooting combined to power Loyola past Canisius 89-69 Tuesday night before 2,114 at the Gentile Center.
With less than a minute to play Tuesday and DePaul's lead whittled to three points against Columbia, senior captain Will Walker huddled his team with a reminder that it was a new season.
The question has baffled the most astute Northwestern observers for the last two seasons, and it again appeared to stump coach Pat Fitzgerald: Why have his Wildcats (7-4, 4-3 Big Ten) been more successful on the conference road than at Ryan Field since the start of the 2008 league season?
When Illinois put together its unusual schedule, which features nonconference games against college teams after Big Ten play for the first time since 1910, it was expecting to be staying sharp by shortening the time between a bowl appearance. With its losing taking that off the table, the bye this week poses a challenge from a motivational standpoint.
Illinois will only be playing its second game when it takes on Northern Illinois tonight. But a pattern already is emerging with Bruce Weber's best recruiting class: When it comes to taking charge, you can't tell the freshmen from the juniors without a scorecard.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis says he doesn’t believe a decision has been made yet on whether he will be back with the Fighting Irish in 2010.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Brandon Paul scored all 20 of his points in the first half, leading No. 23 Illinois to a 80-61 victory over Northern Illinois on Tuesday night.
Northwestern senior forward Kevin Coble opted to have season-ending surgery on his left foot after an appointment with a second foot specialist Monday.
Through their struggles last season, the DePaul Blue Demons would end their huddles saying ''One, two, three -- together.''
Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema was nothing if not candid Monday when asked about facing Northwestern defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz for the first time Saturday, when the No. 17 Badgers (8-2, 5-2 Big Ten) visit the Wildcats (7-4, 4-3) at Ryan Field (2:30 p.m., BTN, 720-AM).
Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema was nothing if not candid Monday when asked about facing Northwestern defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz for the first time Saturday, when the No. 17 Badgers (8-2, 5-2 Big Ten) visit the Wildcats (7-4, 4-3) at Ryan Field (2:30 p.m., BTN, 720-AM).
Ron Zook believes the Illini aren't that far off in terms of bouncing back next year.
During their 27-22 loss Saturday at No. 8 Pittsburgh, the fast-fading Irish were lauded by the ABC broadcast crew of Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit for being resilient this season.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.—Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin has dismissed two of three freshmen players charged last week in an attempted armed robbery outside a Knoxville convenience store.
Northwestern coach Bill Carmody said Sunday that senior forward Kevin Coble has decided to have surgery to repair a Lisfranc fracture in his left foot and will miss the season. He said Coble, who led the Wildcats in scoring (15.5 points) and rebounding (4.8) last season, would need four months to recover.
If Juice Williams, who missed the Northwestern game with a sprained left ankle, is healthy, he'll be the starter when Illinois plays at No. 5 Cincinnati on Nov. 27, Illini coach Ron Zook said Sunday, adding that he expects the senior quarterback to be healthy.
If Juice Williams, who missed the Northwestern game with a sprained left ankle, is healthy, he'll be the starter when Illinois plays at No. 5 Cincinnati on Nov. 27, Illini coach Ron Zook said Sunday, adding that he expects the senior quarterback to be healthy.
As much as Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis wanted to make this game about his team, the 27-22 loss to No. 8 Pittsburgh will serve as more evidence for those who want Weis' tenure as Irish coach to end.
Northwestern senior guard/forward Jeff Ryan suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the Wildcats’ season-opening contest against Northern Illinois Friday night and will miss the remainder of the 2009-10 season.
CHAMPAIGN -- Few would argue that Northwestern might have been the happiest 7-4 team in the Football Bowl Subdivision on Saturday. But please don't use the words ''lucky,'' ''charmed'' or ''soft schedule.''
CHAMPAIGN -- Illinois' too-little, too-late attempt to salvage an oil spill of a season is officially over. Not that it ever was based in reality.
UIC coach Jimmy Collins didn't like what he saw when his Flames lost to Division II Lewis on Tuesday in their only exhibition game.
With both teams flashing spotty offense and good defense in the first half, Northwestern-Illinois opened more as a game of footsie than football. The Wildcats' first five possessions ended with three punts and two missed field goals. The Illini's first six concluded with four punts, a missed field goal by No. 1 kicker Matt Eller and a 30-yard field-goal by backup booter Derek Dimke. ... With NU trailing 3-0, coach Pat Fitzgerald finally bailed on the stalemate when he went for a fourth-and-one from Illinois' 43 late in the second quarter. Mike Kafka (right) missed on a short pass to Zeke Markshausen, but Illini coach Ron Zook then inexorably -- and inexplicably -- flipped the momentum by having redshirt freshman Jacob Charest pass on first down 1:07 before the break. Linebacker Nate Williams intercepted, Kafka zipped the Wildcats 54 yards in five plays and Markshausen's 28-yard touchdown catch sent NU off on top 7-3. ... Asked about his rare try on fourth down, Fitzgerald said: ''We had a guy open, but we just didn't make the play. We needed to have something happen. It was the first drive [of the game] that we really had some momentum, and I felt we [called] a good play.'' ... With 13 points in the fourth quarter, Illinois became the first Big Ten team to score against the Wildcats in the second half this season and still wind up losing. NU cruised while blanking Purdue, Indiana and Iowa after intermission. ... The victory was the first this fall for the Wildcats in which their opponent gained more yards rushing. The Illini won the ground battle 212 yards to 139. True freshman Arby Fields led NU with 50 yards on nine carries. ... The Wildcats won the turnover battle 2-0 on interceptions by Williams and cornerback Sherrick McManis. The game was the first of the season in which NU didn't turn the ball over. ... The Wildcats are 6-2 this season when McManis plays. ... Safety Brad Phillips left the game with a hip problem in the second quarter but managed to finish with six tackles. ... Redshirt freshman Hunter Bates made a leaping grab of an onside kick by Illinois with NU leading 21-9 in the fourth quarter. ''I was just doing my job,'' said Bates, the son of all-time Dallas Cowboys special-teams notable Bill Bates.
Scott Tolzien tied a career high with four touchdown passes and scored on a sneak, and No. 21 Wisconsin made Michigan's Big Ten season even worse with a 45-24 victory Saturday in Madison, Wis.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The oldest player on Ohio State's roster sent the Buckeyes back to the granddaddy of all bowls.
Even though Illinois is assured of its seventh losing season in the last eight years, coach Ron Zook vowed to ''keep trying to win. That's the only thing I know. That's why they keep score. And I'm pretty sure they're not going to cancel the next two games.'' ... Is there anything more rare than a nonconference game after the Big Ten season? Except for games against military teams in 1917 and 1942, the games against No. 5 Cincinnati on Nov. 27 and Fresno State on Dec. 5 will be the Illini's first regular-season games after Big Ten play since a thrilling 3-0 victory against Syracuse in 1910. ... Asked whether his players will be excited about taking a shot at the undefeated Bearcats, Zook said: ''You'd think they would be. If they're not, they probably won't be on the trip.'' ... The Cincinnati game will begin at 11 a.m. or 6 p.m. on an ESPN channel. ... Even though Jacob Charest didn't earn a victory against Northwestern, the redshirt freshman should be considered part of the solution, not part of the problem. Against a defense bent on confusing him, Charest went 14-for-27 for 145 yards. And he shook off a wobbly first half to lead Illinois to a pair of late scores. ''I know the game didn't turn out how we wanted,'' offensive coordinator Mike Schultz said, ''but you're seeing Jacob grow right in front of your eyes.'' ... Charest, on knowing the Illini will have a losing season: ''Honestly, it's a little disheartening. But if we can get these last two games, we can salvage some stuff and get things rolling into next year.'' ... After Matt Eller missed a 23-yard field goal -- his sixth miss in his last seven attempts -- Derek Dimke kicked a 30-yarder. It was the first field goal of his career. ... Tailback Mikel Leshoure, on Illinois' rally coming up short: ''These are probably the hardest games to lose -- the ones where you have a chance and they come down to a few plays. We just have to take the loss as a man and move on.''
Mike Kafka threw for 305 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score and Sherrick McManis made a last-minute interception to preserve Northwestern's 21-16 win Saturday over Illinois.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Kirk Cousins threw three touchdown passes, and Michigan State overcame an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Purdue 40-37 and become bowl eligible on Saturday.
Nick Toon caught two of Tolzien's touchdown throws for the Badgers (8-2, 5-2), who went to the air after putting together monster rushing performances in their previous two games.
DURHAM, N.C. -- Jonathan Dwyer rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns, Josh Nesbitt accounted for three scores and No. 7 Georgia Tech clinched a spot in the ACC championship game by routing Duke 49-10 on Saturday.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Linebacker Navorro Bowman had a 73-yard interception return for a touchdown and Evan Royster scored twice as No. 19 Penn State overcame four first-half turnovers to beat Indiana 31-20 on Saturday.
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Central Florida not only found a way to slow down Case Keenum and No. 13 Houston, the Knights didn't give the nation's most prolific passer a chance to pull off another improbable comeback.
Curtis Kelly was too much for Loyola, scoring 22 points to lead Kansas State to a 92-54 romp in Manhattan, Kan., in the season opener for both teams.
Northwestern basketball star Kevin Coble will get a second opinion about his injured left foot Monday. The 6-8 senior forward met with the media before the Wildcats opened their season with a 77-55 victory Friday against Northern Illinois before a crowd of 4,057 at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
CHAMPAIGN -- The first shots were fired in the battle for Illinois' fifth starting job Friday night. And Brandon Paul virtually made them all. Draining the first four shots of his college career -- three three-pointers and a transition basket -- the 6-4 freshman from Warren sparked the No. 23 Illini to an early lead and an easy 96-69 victory over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville in their season opener.
Notre Dame's trip to No. 8 Pittsburgh lost significant luster when the Irish dropped out of the Associated Press Top 25 after being upset by Navy at home last Saturday. Still, ABC will beam this prime-time game to most of the nation.
