John Clay's Sidelines

Update: ESPN now claims Feldman was never suspended.

Our friends over at the monolith that is the  World Wide Leader has embroiled itself into quite the sticky wicket. No, we’re not talking about Chris Berman’s bombastic commentary during the meaningless Home Run Derby. No, we’re not talking about the consistently vapid and self-congratulatory ESPYs.

Instead, we’re talking about ESPN’s decision to indefinitely suspend college football writer Bruce Feldman for participating in the autobiography of former Texas Tech head coach (and former Kentucky assistant) Mike Leach, even though the WWL had given Feldman permission to participate on the project.

Sports By Brooks broke the story of Feldman’s suspension. At issue is Leach’s claims in the book that ESPN hyped the story of his controversial interaction with Red Raider player Adam Jones because Jones is the son of ESPN football analyst Craig James. Even though ESPN approved Feldman’s participation in the book, the WWL did not like what the book had to say. So Feldman was told he cannot write for ESPN, tweet for ESPN, appear on television for ESPN, appear on radio for ESPN or ESPN podcasts.

Continue reading ‘Mike Leach book at center of outrage over ESPN reaction’

Big Blue Links for Saturday:

• DeAndre Liggins will work out for the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday, reports Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer.
• John Calipari uses CoachCal.com to talk about where he thinks his former players will go in the draft.
• Calipari helps a friend land on Stan Heath’s staff at South Florida, reports the Port Arthur News.
• Brandon Knight is confident in his ability to play point guard, writes Sam Amick of SI.com.
• Former UK women’s star Victoria Dunlap is set for her WNBA debut, reports H-L.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Bobcats to look at Liggins; Calipari helps a friend’

(AP photo)

ESPN is reporting tonight that Maryland may ask head coach Ralph Friedgen to take a buyout and retire.

If that happens, the leading candidate to replace Friedgen is ex-Kentucky assistant and former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach.

An excerpt:

Sources said that former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach would be the leading candidate to replace Friedgen if he is forced into retirement, with former Washington coach Tyrone Willingham and current New Mexico coach Mike Locksley also candidates for the job.

Leach has a close relationship with Under Armour, which is run by a former Maryland football player and has offices in nearby Baltimore. Willingham was the head coach at Stanford while Anderson was a member of the athletic department at California. And Locksley is from Washington D.C. and has recruiting ties to the area.

Dana Holgorsen

Pittsburgh may have a football coach for its BBVA Compass Bowl game with Kentucky on Jan. 8.

That doesn’t necessarily mean Dana Holgorsen will coach against the Cats.

But the Oklahoma State offensive coordinator has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Dave Wannstedt, reports Paul Zeise of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

An excerpt:

Holgorsen is one of the hottest names among college coaching coordinators. His high-powered spread offense is productive and fun to watch.

Holgorsen, who has coached at Texas Tech and Houston, just finished his first season at Oklahoma State and the Cowboys’ offense averaged 538 yards per game, the best in Division I-A. The Cowboys were also second in the NCAA national rankings in passing (355 yards per game and third in scoring (44.9 points per game).

The offense featured the Big 12 offensive player of the year and Biletnikoff award winner, wide receiver Justin Blackmon, who caught 102 passes for 1,665 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Holgorsen was also offensive coordinator at Texas Tech under former UK assistant Mike Leach.

After resigning under pressure, Wannstedt has not decided if he will coach in the bowl game.

SEC links for Friday:

• Tennessean columnist David Climer writes that Tennessee continues its rocky drop with loss in Chick-fil-A Bowl.
• Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Tennessee goes out with a thud.
• Jeff Schultz of the AJC writes on Virginia Tech’s decisive victory over the Vols.
• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes on Tennessee’s basketball win over Memphis.
• Clarion-Ledger has a report on Mississippi State’s ninth straight basketball victory.
• Geoff Calkins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal will not accept Josh Pastner’s apology.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: A rocky drop for Tennessee in Chick-fil-A’

The web site Wiz of Odds chronicles a growing rift between Mike Leach and his players at Texas Tech, which includes the suspension of a team captain and the ban of Twitter.

Here’s one tweet, from linebacker Marlon Williams, that might have prompted the ban:

“Wondering why I’m still in this meeting room when the head coach can’t even be on time to his on (sic) meeting.”

And here’s the former Kentucky assistant’s reply when asked about the tweet:

“Anybody that’s a malcontent doesn’t stay around here very long, because we’ve got a pretty good line of recruits that are fully willing to replace him. Interestingly enough, he doesn’t have a Twitter page anymore.”

We’re 36 days away from Kentucky’s football opener Sept. 5 against Miami of Ohio in Cincinnati.

The countdown continues.

Today we look back at Hal Mumme’s contoversial and combative staff. The coach’s four-year reign ended badly with not only probation, but with rifts within the football offices.

Whatever happened to those guys?

Here is a where they are now (sort of) with regards to Mumme’s initial staff in 1997:

• Hal Mumme (head coach): In first year as head coach at McMurry, a Division III shool in Abilene, Texas.
• Tom Adams (defensive ends): Adams passed away on August 2, 2006 at age 48 from cancer. He had been a defensive assistant at Baylor.
• Mike Fanoga (defensive tackles): Outside linebackers coach at Wyoming.
• Tony Franklin (running backs): Offensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee.
• Tim Keane (cornerbacks): Retired in 2007 after being defensive backs coach at Memphis.
• Mike Leach (receivers): Head coach at Texas Tech.
• Mike Major (defensive coordinator): Assistant football coach at Wharton High School in Texas. Coached the school’s basketball team last two seasons, but stepped down after this past year.
• Guy Morriss (offensive line): In first year as head coach at Texas A&M-Commerce, an FCS Division II school.
• Darrell Patterson (safeties): Running backs coach at Rice.
• Claude Bassett (recruiting coordinator): Defensive coordinator at Seguin High School in Texas.
• Sonny Dykes (graduate assistant): Offensive coordinator at Arizona.
• Chris Hatcher (graduate assistant): Head coach at Georgia Southern.

SEC links for Thursday:

• Mike Herndon of the Press-Register writes that Texas Tech’s Mike Leach sits atop Auburn wish list.

• 

  Tommy Tuberville

  Evan Woodberry of the Mobile Press-Register looks back on the Tommy Tuberville reign at Auburn.

• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger tackles speculation that Tuberville could be headed to Starkville as Mississippi State’s next coach.

• In the Montgomery Advertiser, Jay G. Tate gives more Tuberville details.

• Ian Rapoport of the Birmingham News quotes Bama’s Nick Saban as saying he guesses he’s just a 5-7 away from suffering the same fate as Tuberville.

• On ESPN.com, Ivan Maisel writes that Tuberville ouster merely echoes other SEC changes.

• At CBS Sportsline, Dennis Dodd writes that Auburn is again looking for a great coach — just like the one it had.

• Gainesville Sun columnist Pat Dooley writes that Florida football is looking out for No. 1.

• Mike Organ of the Tennessean reports on Vandy’s embarrassing 19-point home loss to Illinois-Chicago.

• Knoxville News-Sentinel columnist Mike Strange writes on Tyler Smith’s historical triple-double in Tennessee’s win over UNC-Asheville.

• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger reports that Ole Miss couldn’t hold on, and ends up losing to visiting West Virginia.

This is why we love e-mail.

This morning, I wrote this column where I described my first meeting with ex-UK assistant and current hotter-than-a-firecracker Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach.

This afternoon, Joe sent the following e-mail:

Knoxville is a Waffle House

SEC links for Tuesday:

Bryan Mullen of the Tennessean reports that UT’s freshman point guard is academically ineligible.

Maurice Patton reports in the Tennessean that Vandy may swap starters at quarterback.

Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun writes that Florida still feels Steve Spurrier’s presence.

In The State, Joe Person writes that quarterback Stephen Garcia is learning to deal with Spurrier’s criticism.

Mark McCarter of the Huntsville Times writes that Alabama AD Mal Moore is living in a dream.

Ray Melick of the Birmingham News addresses the variables in the BCS.

Tennessean columnist Joe Biddle writes that Tennessee players have surrendered without a fight.

Knoxville News-Sentinel columnist John Adams writes that Mike Leach is strong where Vols are weakest.

In the St. Petersburg Times, Bucs coach Jon Gruden says he’s not interested in Tennessee job.

In the AJC, Chip Towers writes that Georgia’s offensive line takes another hit.