Seven news bites as the first Commander in Chief’s Trophy battle nears:
1. Sad Navy news. Navy slotback John Howell’s football career likely
ended Saturday. The senior suffered a right knee injury in the first quarter
against San Jose State and was helped off the field; he watched Monday’s
workout from the sidelines on crutches, according to this Washington Times
report, and Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo said Howell wouldn’t play again
this season. Howell racked up more than 500 yards rushing at Navy, including 60
this season on just six carries. Expect junior Darius Staten and senior Bo
Snelson to see more time at slotback alongside senior Gee Gee Greene.
2. Ending the QB controversy. Niumatalolo told the Times that despite
junior quarterback Trey Miller’s struggles (7 fumbles, three interceptions, 2.6
yards per carry), he’ll get the start against Air Force. Key quote from wideout
Brandon Turner: “Trey’s had it tougher than anybody.”
Boise State:
BOISE — Boise State’s offense is getting a pass-catching target back in
the fold as it loses another.
Junior receiver Geraldo Boldewijn is set to travel with the Broncos to
Hattiesburg, Miss., for Saturday’s game against Southern Miss after serving a
four-game suspension to start the season.
Boise State won’t be at full strength in the receiving department,
however, as junior tight end Gabe Linehan is likely out for at least a month
with a lingering hamstring injury.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be a month or longer, but he’s got some
hamstring issues … he’ll be out for a while,” Boise State coach Chris Petersen
said.
Colorado State:
Saying a new stadium would be in keeping with his vision of what
Colorado State University might look like 50 years from now, CSU president Tony
Frank on Monday announced he will support the construction of a new on-campus structure.
"I think a well-maintained stadium located on the main campus, now
with decades of tradition behind it, would be a great benefit to the
university, providing a familiar venue for athletics, graduations, freshman
convocations, band days, and other large events," Frank said in a
statement.
Fresno State:
Ever since Reggie Bush saved the Trojans with one of the greatest
single game performances in NCAA football history, Fresno State fans clamored
for another shot at USC and they will get it in 2014.
Fresno State Director of Athletics Thomas Boeh announced the Bulldogs
will open the 2014 season against USC in the Los Angeles Coliseum on Aug. 30.
“The Fresno State fan base has desired this rematch for several years
and we are very pleased to have the game included on the 2014 slate,” Boeh said
in a release. “Contracting this game with USC reflects our continued commitment
to maintain a non-conference schedule that is balanced, while including
competition with the nation’s elite programs.”
Hawaii:
PROVO — Norm Chow was the first Hawaii Warrior off the field after his
second shutout at LaVell Edwards Stadium in four visits as an opposing coach.
Following the customary handshake with BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall Friday
night after his Hawaii squad lost 47-0, Chow briskly walked to the locker room
as former Cougar tight end Chad Lewis chased him down for a handshake.
Hard to blame the guy for a quick exit. It was ugly.
While Chow's last visit to Provo was a triumphant 54-10 thumping of the
Cougars in University of Utah colors, this trip was a lot like his experience
wearing UCLA Bruin powder blue in 2008: His offense produced a goose egg like
UCLA's 59-0 defeat to BYU that year.
This is a far different face than folks are used to seeing from Chow, a
one-time hopeful candidate to succeed legendary LaVell Edwards in 2000.
Nevada:
Lost in the glare of Stefphon Jefferson’s seven-touchdown game at
Hawaii last week was that his backup, Nick Hale, had the best outing of his
Wolf Pack career.
The senior Hale carried the ball five times for 84 yards and one
touchdown, a 52-yard burst that was as impressive a touchdown as Nevada has
scored this season.
On the play, Hale stiff-armed a defender and then out-raced the Hawaii
secondary. At 5-foot-10 and 215 pounds, Hale is known for his strength. On that
play, he showed off his speed, too.
New Mexico:
ALBUQUERQUE — Trailing 25-0 to a nationally ranked team generally means
the start of something ugly for The University of New Mexico football program.
On Saturday, the Lobos (2-3) showed that things might be different now
that first-year head coach Bob Davie is calling the shots.
UNM showed a brand of toughness and tenacity in the second half of
Saturday’s visit from No. 24 Boise State that has been severely lacking in
recent years. The qualities combined to ignite a stunning rally that nearly
ended in what would have been one of the biggest upsets in school history.
Instead, the 32-29 loss to the Broncos (3-1) before 28,270 fans at
University Stadium will have to serve as an emotional boost for a program that
had lost 37 of its last 40 games coming into this season.
San Diego State:
FRESNO ---- San Diego State's porous pass defense and special teams
continued to plague the Aztecs on Saturday night against Fresno State.
Bulldogs quarterback Derek Carr passed for 536 yards and five
touchdowns to lead Fresno State to a 52-40 victory in the Mountain West
Conference opener for both teams.
Carr also ran for 43 yards to give him 579 total yards, breaking the
Mountain West single-game record set by BYU's Max Hall in 2007. That total also
broke Fresno State's 25-year-old school record of 548 set by Dave Telford in
1987.
"We were shell-shocked," Aztec coach Rocky Long said.
"We've played shell-shocked the last three weeks."
The Aztecs appeared to gain some momentum late in the first half after
Ryan Katz hit D.J. Shields for a 5-yard touchdown pass. However, Chance Marden
---- who had made his first three extra points of the night -- had his fourth
blocked by Tyeler Davison, and Charles Washington scooped it up and returned IT
for a 2-point defensive conversion. The conversion gave Fresno State a 36-27
halftime lead.
UNLV:
LOGAN, Utah (AP) - Chuckie Keeton threw for 402 yards and four
touchdowns and Kerwynn Williams compiled 260 yards from scrimmage as Utah State
beat UNLV 35-13 on Saturday night.
Nick Sherry completed 18 of 39 passes for 188 yards for the Rebels
(1-4). His 3-yard scoring pass to Max Johnson in the second quarter was the
first touchdown allowed by the Aggies in the first half this season.
On the first play from scrimmage in the fourth quarter, Keeton hit
Williams for a 74-yard touchdown pass to give Utah State a 27-13 lead.
Wyoming:
It’s a touchy subject that can lead to some pretty awkward interviews.
First there was Dan Mullen. Latest was Lane Kiffin.
What were these coaches so upset about?
Injuries. More specifically, questions about injuries.
See, The NFL has a system. The League requires coaches to provide
injury reports on Monday and Thursday. The specificity of the reports can vary
slightly, but teams that stray from the path too much can be punished with
fines. The reason for the league-wide standard is this: If every team knows
about every other team's injuries, no team has an advantage.
That’s not the case in college football, where teams are almost always
left alone when it comes to how much - if any - injury information it provides.
Why the difference?
There are concerns about how injury reports sway illegal gambling.
HIPPA laws - combined with the fact that college football players are also
college students - muddy the waters even more.
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