Florida State has kicked senior cornerback/punt returner Greg Reid of the team for the dreaded "violation of team rules." Reid was charged with marijuana possession 3 weeks ago and had previusly been arrested on charges of resisting arrest and perjury, although those charges were dropped. Reid led the nation in punt returns as a freshmen.
Florida State has kicked senior cornerback/punt returner Greg Reid of the team for the dreaded "violation of team rules." Reid was charged with marijuana possession 3 weeks ago and had previusly been arrested on charges of resisting arrest and perjury, although those charges were dropped. Reid led the nation in punt returns as a freshmen.
My Hokies picked up a commitment from Kendal Fuller - the fourth Fuller brother to come to VT and a possible 5-start CB prospect. His final decision was between Virginia Tech and Clemson, though he was highly recruited up and down the east coast.
CLEMSON, S.C. - Daniel Rodriguez is about to fulfill a dream, and more importantly to him, keep a promise to a brother-in-arms.
Rodriguez found out this week he had been cleared by the NCAA and the Atlantic Coast Conference to join Clemson's football team as a walk-on receiver.
Once Rodriguez trots onto the practice field on Friday in his orange No. 83 for Clemson's first practice, he'll complete a transformation from a struggling teenager to a young man who's achieved his goal after witnessing some of the most horrific fighting in Afghanistan.
"It's been kind of long journey," he said Wednesday.
Rodriguez played football at Brooke Point High in Stafford, Va., but acknowledged he let his parents' divorce and problems at school get the better of him. When his father, Ray, died four days after graduation, Rodriguez was devastated and seeking a way out.
He chose the Army.
"I went to the recruiter and said, 'Get me away from here,' " he said.
Rodriguez served in Iraq during the troop surge of 2007. On his second tour, he found himself in Afghanistan and in the line of fire during one of the war's bloodiest fights, the battle of Kamdesh in October 2009.
Rodriguez said close to 400 Taliban combatants overwhelmed the U.S. outpost of fewer than 40 soldiers. Eight Americans were killed, including Rodriguez's friend, Pfc. Kevin Thompson.
Just a few days earlier, the two young men shared their dreams of what they'd do after returning home. Thompson made Rodriguez promise to chase his goal of playing college football.
Rodriguez left Kamdesh with shrapnel in his leg and neck, and a bullet fragment through his shoulder. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal of Valor. He also received a Purple Heart and was promoted to staff sergeant before an honorable discharge in 2010.
With Thompson's words a guiding force, Rodriguez began punishing workouts after he got home that often went six hours a day to get himself in football shape. Another friend taped the regimen to catch the interest of college coaches, placed it on YouTube and "it went viral," Rodriguez said.
He received inquiries from about 50 schools, including from Clemson and coach Dabo Swinney.
Swinney, a former walk-on at Alabama who eventually became a scholarship receiver, saw a kindred spirit in Rodriguez and was eager to give him a chance. Not that it was easy.
Rodriguez's home state schools of Virginia and Virginia Tech contacted him, too. Virginia said his grades were not good enough to enroll while Rodriguez said Virginia Tech wasn't eager to move forward with getting waivers from the NCAA and ACC for him to play. Swinney said the Tigers would give it a try.
"There was a lot of paperwork and Clemson was willing to do that," Rodriguez said. "I'm grateful to them."
Swinney is happy to have Rodriguez on his sideline.
"He is getting the opportunity to follow his dream," the coach said. "We are excited to have him join our program. I have no doubt that he will become a great leader for us."
Rodriguez returned from combat diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
"I don't think any one of us who came off that mountain didn't," he said of Kamdesh.
He went to therapy, something he said wasn't for him. Rodriguez chose to work out his issues through training, doing 200 pull-ups, pushups and sit-ups each day. He's run the steps at Clemson's massive Memorial Stadium in a military gas mask to increase his fitness.
He began classes earlier this year and is majoring in political science. He hopes to get into the sports training field. When people learn of his military background, Rodriguez gets the typical questions about his service from curious college students and Tiger teammates. Rodriguez answers as honestly as he can.
"I'm using the hardships, the horrors, the killing, the friends that I've lost as my fuel to (get) where I want to be," he said. "So I think if you can turn and manipulate anything negative in your life and use it as something good, that's what I've taken into my life."
Rodriguez said he's kept Thompson's mother updated on his progress. "She's pretty excited," he said.
The Iowa running back situation is getting out of hand. Yesterday De'Andre Johnson was kicked off the team after 2 incidents with police in a 3 day span. He is the third running back to leave the team or get kicked off the team since the end of last season, with Mika'il McCall and Marcus Coker choosing to leave the team following suspensions. In addition running back Jordan Canzeri hurt his knee in spring practices and will miss the season. Sophomore Damon Bullock is Iowa's only running back with a carry in a Big Ten game, and he has 20 career rushing yards. The link has an interesting list of Iowa's running back problems dating back to 2000.
Georgia has a very easy schedule by SEC standards. They don't have to play LSU, Alabama, or Arkansas. Their only games against ranked teams are at #9 South Carolina, vs. #23 Florida, and at #25 Auburn.
Sounds about right. The SEC ended the season with 4 top-10 teams in 2011. They're just the best conference. I probably would have put USC #1 in the preseason poll though.
Sounds about right. The SEC ended the season with 4 top-10 teams in 2011. They're just the best conference. I probably would have put USC #1 in the preseason poll though.
USC probably has the best starters in the country but I worry about their depth since they only have 75 scholarship players. Getting Silas Redd was huge for their RB depth but they still could be in trouble when players inevitably start getting hurt.
Some college football related news from Louisiana.
The Louisiana Tech Bulldog died of a heat stroke after an employee left him outside and then covered it up by saying the dog was missing. I think his name was Tech XX. I know it's not national news but it's causing a controversy locally here.
But..... ***Balloting had concluded before Penn State running back Silas Redd announced he would transfer to Southern California.***
The American Football Coaches Association bars teams under major NCAA or conference probation from receiving votes. However, because Central Florida said it is appealing a football bowl ban handed down Tuesday by the NCAA, it will remain eligible until the NCAA rules on the appeal. Ohio State, North Carolina and Penn State are ineligible for votes this season because of NCAA sanctions.
But..... ***Balloting had concluded before Penn State running back Silas Redd announced he would transfer to Southern California.***
The American Football Coaches Association bars teams under major NCAA or conference probation from receiving votes. However, because Central Florida said it is appealing a football bowl ban handed down Tuesday by the NCAA, it will remain eligible until the NCAA rules on the appeal. Ohio State, North Carolina and Penn State are ineligible for votes this season because of NCAA sanctions.
USC had 19 first place votes, LSU 18 and Alabama 20 first place voted in the poll. The poll was so close i might have actually affected USC's place and put them at #1. Personally I've never thought very highly of the Coaches poll anyway and consider the AP as the most important poll.
Of course everyone hates UMD so of course they got the shaft
Maryland recruiting really isn't bad given how awful they've been in recent years. Their 2012 class was ranked #6 of 12 in the ACC and their 2013 class is also ranked #6 of 12 in the ACC. They need to show at least some improvement in 2012 or Randy Edsall will be gone.
They need to show at least some improvement in 2012 or Randy Edsall will be gone.
lol the only way he goes is if he's again so awful he's losing more money than it'll cost to buy him out... If he plays 500 ball and they eek out a profit he'll keep coming back His contract was so poorly done thats about the only way I can see him going.
Michigan Wolverines ranked anywhere from 4th-8th...GO BLUE.
I had doubts when Brady Hoke was hired but the guy has proven a dynamite recruiter. He had the 7th best class in the nation in 2012 and his 2013 class is #2 behind only USC. He has Michigan going in the right direction.
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