Jim McElwain to coach Florida Jim McElwain's representatives and Colorado State have cleared up the issues surrounding his buyout, and McElwain has agreed to become the next head coach of the Florida Gators. The coach, who will be introduced at a news conference Saturday, will be paid an average of $3.5 million per season over a six-year contract, according to sources. "Coach McElwain was someone we targeted from the beginning of the search," Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley told the school's official website. "The more we worked through the process and did our due diligence, coupled with our meeting and conversations with him and those around him, it was obvious he is the right person to lead the Florida Gator football program." Read more http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/11977425/jim-mcelwain-becomes-florida-gators-coach
Florida introduces Jim McElwain Florida coach Jim McElwain took playful shots at his alma mater, the Oakland Raiders and himself. He was friendly, funny, witty and self-deprecating during his introductory news conference Saturday. More importantly to the Gators, he was ultra-confident that he can and will get what used to be one of the most feared offenses in the Southeastern Conference back to being a juggernaut. "I believe I can win with my dog Claire-a-bell," McElwain said. "There are good players here. It's our responsibility to get that going." Read more http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/11987953/florida-gators-introduce-coach-jim-mcelwain
Volunteers extend Butch Jones The Tennessee Volunteers and coach Butch Jones have agreed to a two-year contract extension through 2020 that is worth $3.6 million per season, the university announced Monday. Jones, in his second year leading the Vols, led the program to a 6-6 record and its first bowl berth in four seasons. Read more http://espn.go.com/college-football...teers-extend-butch-jones-contract-2020-season
Vanderbilt fires DC David Kotulski Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason has fired defensive coordinator David Kotulski, making him the fourth assistant let go since the season ended. Mason announced the move Monday. Mason brought Kotulski with him from Stanford, and Kotulski also coached inside linebackers at Vanderbilt. The two first worked together at Bucknell in the 1990s, and Kotulski was linebackers coach at Stanford when Mason was defensive coordinator in 2012 and 2013. The Vanderbilt coach called Kotulski a very close friend and true mentor, and Mason said he appreciates his help this past year. Read more http://espn.go.com/college-football...res-fire-defensive-coordinator-david-kotulski
Auburn introduces Will Muschamp Will Muschamp didn't last two weeks out of coaching. Muschamp accepted the job as Auburn's defensive coordinator 13 days after coaching his last game at Florida and following a weeklong vacation in the Dominican Republic. By the second day he was restless and wondering to wife Carol: "What do you do all day?" "I'm just a ball coach and at the end of the day that's what I enjoy doing and I'm very thankful to have a great family that understands that," Muschamp said Saturday at his introductory news conference. "We're looking forward to the next step." Read more http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/12023138/auburn-tigers-introduce-muschamp
Arkansas suspends two for bowl Senior cornerback Carroll Washington and junior safety Rohan Gaines have been suspended for an unspecified violation of team policy and will miss the Texas Bowl against Texas on Dec. 29. The suspension ends Washington's career. He played in all 12 games this season for the Razorbacks (6-6) and has 17 tackles. Read more http://espn.go.com/college-football...arroll-washington-rohan-gaines-suspended-bowl
Hugh Freeze to earn $4.3 million Mississippi coach Hugh Freeze earned a big raise after leading the program to a nine-win season and a spot in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Dec. 31. The school said on Friday that it's finalized a contract with Freeze that will pay a base salary of $4.3 million next season -- a raise of more than a million from his 2014 salary. Ole Miss athletic director Ross Bjork said last week that the school and Freeze had reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, but details were released in a university statement on Friday. The contract runs for four years, which is the longest allowed by Mississippi state law. Read more http://espn.go.com/college-football...coach-hugh-freeze-earn-43-million-next-season
Auburn redshirt freshman Jakell Mitchell shot and killed Auburn redshirt freshman tight end Jakell Mitchell was killed in a shooting in the early hours Sunday morning, according to multiple reports. The shooting took place at an apartment complex near Auburn's campus, according to AL.com. Police responded to a call for the shooting at 12:25 a.m. ET. His death is being treated as a homicide and an autopsy will be performed on Monday. Mitchell was taken to an area hospital after suffering multiple gunshot wounds at the Tiger Lodge apartment complex, but died after arriving at the emergency room. Read more http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-fo...otball-freshman-homicide?eadid=SOC/Twi/SNMain
Christian Kirk chooses Texas A&M The suspense lasted all the way until the end for ESPN 300 wide receiver Christian Kirk, who announced Wednesday that he will attend Texas A&M. Kirk, the nation's No. 30 overall prospect and No. 3 receiver, made the declaration in front of a packed room, including friends and family, at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, and provided yet another significant recruiting victory for Kevin Sumlin and the Aggies. Read more http://espn.go.com/college-sports/r...espn-300-third-ranked-wr-chooses-texas-aggies
Leonard Floyd won't play Belk Bowl Georgia will be without linebacker Leonard Floyd when it takes on Louisville in the Belk Bowl later this month. Floyd had surgery Tuesday to "clean up his shoulder," according to Georgia coach Mark Richt. "We wanted to give [Floyd] the maximum amount of time to be prepared for his senior year," Richt said Wednesday during his Belk Bowl news conference. Read more http://espn.go.com/college-football...a-bulldogs-play-belk-bowl-due-shoulder-injury
Dylan Thompson, S. Carolina edge Miami in Independence Bowl It took South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier less than two quarters to abandon his game plan and go back to what he knows best. "We're going to chuck it down the field and see what happens," Spurrier said. Thanks to Dylan Thompson and Pharoh Cooper, the change of heart worked. Thompson threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns, Cooper caught nine passes for 170 yards and a touchdown, and South Carolina beat Miami 24-21 on Saturday in the Duck Commander Independence Bowl. Read more http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=400610216
Kyle Allen's four TD passes lead Texas A&M to Liberty Bowl win Texas A&M relied on big performances from freshmen all season, and the Aggies' bowl game was no different. Kyle Allen threw for four touchdowns and ran for a fifth Monday, and Texas A&M erased an early 10-point deficit to defeat West Virginia 45-37 in the Liberty Bowl. Read more http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=400610226
Brandon Allen tosses 2 TDs as Hogs trample Longhorns in Texas Bowl Arkansas got a victory in the Advocare V100 Texas Bowl to finish with a winning record for the first time since 2011. Now coach Bret Bielema is looking for much bigger things from his program in the future. "If they continue to have the growth they did this year, they're going to be able to do some special things," Bielema said. Brandon Allen threw for 160 yards and two scores as Arkansas rolled to an easy 31-7 win over Texas in the Texas Bowl on Monday night, the Razorbacks' first bowl appearance since 2011. Read more http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=400610223
Nick Chubb runs for 266 yards as Georgia rolls over Louisville When quarterback Hutson Mason went down with an injury in the second quarter, Georgia coach Mark Richt said the Bulldogs turned to plan B. "Just give it to Nick," Richt said with a wide smile. Freshman Nick Chubb took over from there, running for a career-high 266 yards and two touchdowns as No. 13 Georgia defeated 21st-ranked Louisville 37-14 in the Belk Bowl on Tuesday night. Read more http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=400610215
Source: John Chavis to Aggies LSU Tigers defensive coordinator John Chavis is headed to the Texas A&M Aggies to take the same position on Kevin Sumlin's coaching staff, a source told ESPN's Brett McMurphy on Wednesday. The 58-year-old Chavis has been the defensive coordinator under Les Miles at LSU since 2009. He won the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach in 2011. Read more http://espn.go.com/college-football...r-john-chavis-heading-texas-aggies-lsu-tigers
Mark Richt: 'The plan' is to coach Georgia coach Mark Richt chuckled when responding to speculation that he might retire after the No. 13 Bulldogs' 37-14 victory over No. 21 Louisville in the Belk Bowl on Tuesday night. "I have no idea," a smiling Richt said. When Richt was asked if he'd be back on the sideline next season, which would be his 15th at Georgia, he said: "That's the plan. You can go ask the team." Richt, 54, has been among the winningest coaches in college football since 2001. His .739 winning percentage (136-48 record) ranks fourth among active FBS coaches who have coached at least 100 games in FBS conferences, trailing only Ohio State's Urban Meyer (.843), Oklahoma's Bob Stoops (.792) and Alabama's Nick Saban (.752). Read more http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/12104342/mark-richt-plans-back-coach-georgia-bulldogs
No. 16 Missouri beats Minnesota in Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl When Missouri played its best this season, the Tigers stopped the run or ran well themselves. Minnesota found out what happens when the Tigers are successful at both. Marcus Murphy ran for 159 yards, Russell Hansbrough added 114 yards and a touchdown and No. 16 Missouri beat Minnesota (No. 25 CFP) 33-17 on Thursday in the Citrus Bowl. Read more http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=400610217
Tennessee overwhelms Iowa to win first bowl since 2008 Tennessee coach Butch Jones was soaked from a celebratory sideline dousing. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs carried the Most Valuable Player trophy with him all around EverBank Field. Both of them, as well as the rest of the Volunteers, donned championship hats for the first time in years. It was tangible proof that the program is headed in the right direction. Dobbs accounted for three touchdowns, Jalen Hurd ran for two scores and Tennessee beat Iowa 45-28 on Friday in the TaxSlayer Bowl for its first postseason victory since the Phillip Fulmer era. Read more http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=400610224
Auburn's Nick Marshall expects to be a cornerback in the NFL, even though he's playing quarterback at the Senior Bowl. Marshall came out to Tuesday's practice in a yellow quarterback's jersey initially but then worked with the defensive backs and also as a gunner on special teams. Read more http://espn.go.com/nfl/draft2015/st...s-qb-nick-marshall-expects-defensive-back-nfl
Arkansas coach Bret Bielema has dipped into the head-coaching ranks to find his offensive coordinator. Dan Enos, the Central Michigan head coach for the last five seasons, has joined the Hogs' staff as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Enos replaces Jim Chaney, who left to become the offensive coordinator at Pittsburgh. "Dan is a great fit for our program," Bielema said. "He runs a pro-style offense and brings expertise at the quarterback position as both a player and coach. We played against each other in college, and he was a very intelligent and talented quarterback who showed great toughness and leadership. He has an outstanding reputation and will be a tremendous asset for Razorback football." Read more http://espn.go.com/college-football...-central-michigan-chippewas-head-coaching-gig
