Buzz Around Team Camps 12/5/08

Here's the lastest Buzz Around Team Camps for this Friday, December 5th:

San Diego St. via http://www.signonsandiego.com

Former Texas A&M and Alabama head football coach Dennis Franchione has had contact with San Diego State representatives about the vacant head coaching position there, according to a source close to the situation.

Franchione could not be reached for comment yesterday. Sources said others who have been contacted about the position include UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker, San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz, former Minnesota coach Glen Mason and Utah defensive coordinator Gary Andersen.

Andersen was named Utah State's new coach yesterday. Martz declined to comment when asked about it Wednesday. Mason's agent didn't confirm or deny involvement, instead referring questions about it to SDSU. Walker has made his interest known and is believed to have an interview set up soon.

Franchione, 57, resigned from A&M last year. He failed to meet expectations at A&M with a 32-28 record over five seasons but before that had developed a reputation as a program-builder at New Mexico and TCU.

SDSU is seeking a replacement for Chuck Long, who was fired Nov. 22. The Atlanta-based firm Parker Executive Search is assisting SDSU with the search.

Michigan via http://www.mlive.com

The crowd was relatively small, the speeches were short, and the University of Michigan football team wrapped up its 88th annual bust about two hours quicker than usual.

After a 3-9 season, the Michigan awards banquet on Thursday was, for the most part, a perfunctory affair.

School president Mary Sue Coleman addressed the audience of more than 700 and explained that "transitions are hard. We're in it for the long run."

McGuffie a No Show via http://www.mlive.com

When members of the Michigan football team took their seats at the annual football bust Thursday night, Sam McGuffie was absent from the group. The reason for his absence was unclear.

Coach Rich Rodriguez spoke before the team filed into the Laurel Manor, but said he would not address personnel issues or the status of assistant coaches.

Last week, Rodriguez said that McGuffie was dealing with some family issues at home in Texas, but said he expected that the running back would return to the Wolverines next season.

Carson Butler was also missing from the banquet Thursday night. Butler, who just completed his junior season, had lost his starting job at tight end and moved to the defensive line during the '08 season.

Running back Avery Horn was also not in attendance.

Rodriguez also said Thursday he expected to sign a full 25-member recruiting class this offseason, an estimate higher than the 20 to 23 he projected last week shortly after the season ended.

Purdue via http://boilerstation.jconline.com

Danny Hope has moved quickly to form his first staff as Purdue's head football coach, hiring two new assistants and promoting a graduate assistant Monday.

Gary Nord is the new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, replacing Ed Zaunbrecher. Shawn Clark takes over offensive line coaching duties from Hope and departing assistant John McDonell, who was in charge of tight ends and offensive tackles under retiring coach Joe Tiller.

In addition to the two hires, Hope has elevated J.B. Gibboney to special teams coordinator, relieving defensive tackles coach Mark Hagen of those duties.

Indications are there will be no further changes to the staff, unless one or more of the current assistants leave for another job.

North Carolina via http://www.newsobserver.com

North Carolina's football team appears to be the choice of the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte.

"I think the chances are good that it's going to happen," said Will Webb, the executive director of the Meineke Car Care Bowl. He added that an offer had not yet been formally made to the university.

UNC officials could not be reached for comment. UNC (8-4) is likely to play No. 23 Pittsburgh or West Virginia in the Dec. 27 game at Bank of America Stadium.

Washington via http://seattletimes.nwsource.com

Steve Sarkisian and the Washington Huskies wanted to wait a few more days to make their marriage official. But a search that began Oct. 27 when it was announced that Tyrone Willingham would not be back next season culminated Thursday when the Huskies decided to offer their head football coaching position to Sarkisian, an assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at USC.

The Huskies may make it official at a news conference on Sunday, said a well-placed source. And they had hoped that the news would wait until then.

An ESPN report broke the news about 6:30 p.m. Neither Sarkisian nor Washington athletic director Scott Woodward would confirm the report when talking later with reporters.

Pittsburgh via http://www.post-gazette.com

Since the Gator Bowl invited Clemson, North Carolina is now the most likely ACC representative in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte. That's good news for Pitt because it pushes Rutgers -- who has already played the Tar Heels -- out of the mix for that bowl and squarely into the PapaJohns.com Bowl. Pitt still needs Rutgers to beat Louisville tonight to keep Notre Dame out of the mix, but if the Scarlet Knights win, the developments with North Carolina virtually guarantee that Pitt is headed to the Sun Bowl regardless of what happens Saturday against Connecticut. West Virginia appears headed to the Meineke Car Care Bowl. But if the Sun takes West Virginia, Pitt would go to the Meineke Bowl as opposed to the PapaJohns.com bowl.

Navy via http://www.hometownannapolis.com

It is becoming more and more likely that Navy's opponent in the EagleBank Bowl will be Wake Forest.

Ball State's decision to decline an offer to play Boise State in the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl greatly increased that possibility. It now appears the Humanitarian Bowl will select Maryland and the way the rest of the Atlantic Coast Conference is sorting out Wake Forest may be the only team left for the EagleBank Bowl.

Syracuse via http://blog.syracuse.com

LSU football coach Les Miles has apparently inquired about bringing former Syracuse coach Greg Robinson to Baton Rouge as his defensive coordinator. Contacted Thursday night, Robinson did not deny the contact about the LSU job, though he said the information might be "reaching a little bit." He said he's weighing all his options.

"I don't see myself having the ability to do something right now," Robinson said. "First of all, I want to continue to work on our coaches to help them (find new jobs). Secondly, I have to weigh all my options. That's going to take some time."

Robinson indicated he's received other coaching inquiries. He said there have "been some calls about certain things. I'm not in a position at this time to make a decision."

At the same time, he said he is putting his own professional opportunities on hold, which "might remove me from some situations, possibly," he said. "That's where I'm at."

Southern Cal via http://conquestchronicles.com

Safety Kevin Ellison (knee) completed the full practice and said he would play against UCLA. Coach Pete Carroll said a decision on whether Ellison might start ahead of Will Harris would be made at game time. . . . Fullback Stanley Havili, still nursing two sprained ankles, practiced and said he would play.

Safety Advisory via http://www.latimes.com

The Pasadena Police Department on Thursday issued a safety advisory for Saturday at the sold-out Rose Bowl, where UCLA will host USC in football.

In a news release, police announced they would be taking a "zero tolerance policy to drunk and disorderly conduct both inside the stadium and on the grounds surrounding the Rose Bowl."

That includes areas used for tailgate parties.

"We recognize that there are longtime traditions in relation to this well-known crosstown rivalry," Police Chief Bernard Melekian said, "but our mission is to ensure public safety."