College football 2013 news: Nick Saban denies Texas rumors; Clemson pulls away
Add in some fresh helmet looks and some B1G sky-painting, and we’ve got ourselves a news day.
Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports
...Thursday afternoon that Texas had interest in Nick Saban, the Alabama head coach shot them down ... and in true Saban form, too. From Michael Casagrande of AL.com:
Week 4 preview Q&As
Arizona State-Stanford by House Of Sparky and Rule Of Tree
Michigan State-Notre Dame by The Only Colors and One Foot Down
Auburn-LSU by College And Magnolia and And The Valley Shook
Tennessee-Florida by Rocky Top Talk and Spencer Hall
Kansas State-Texas by Bring On The Cats and Barking Carnival
Purdue-Wisconsin by Hammer And Rails and Bucky's 5th Quarter
Michigan-UConn by Maize And Brew and The UConn Blog
West Virginia-Maryland by Smoking Musket and Testudo Times
Arkansas-Rutgers by Arkansas Fight and On The Banks
Missouri-Indiana by Rock M Nation and Crimson Quarry
“Every year it’s something. Last year it was the Cleveland Browns,” Saban said. “The year before that it was somebody else, the NFL. Terry and I are very happy here in Tuscaloosa. We’re really love the University of Alabama. We really feel like a part of the community here and we have a lot of good friends here.”
Then he topped it off to a large round of applause.
“And, quite frankly,” Saban said, “I’m just too damn old to start over somewhere else.”
The 61-year-old Saban has coached Alabama since 2007. The connection to Texas first surfaced earlier in the afternoon when an Associated Press report indicated Saban met with two Texas regents after last year's BCS Championship Game. That meeting was reportedly to gauge Saban's interest in the job. Per the report, current Longhorns head coach Mack Brown was later informed of the discussion with Saban, and at some point thereafter, Brown indicated he would retire.
The story ends there. At least for the time being.
Clemson pulls away in 2nd half
No. 3 Clemson was on upset watch early, but a better second-half offense helped the Tigers put down the NC State Wolfpack, 26-14.
One huge call -- probably of the "blown" variety -- helped in a big way, as the refs nullified a would-be go-ahead, 83-yard touchdown run by NC State running back Bryan Underwood, determining instead that he stepped out of the bounds some 40 yards earlier.
That was the turning point of the game, as NC State fumbled the ball away three players later. Five players later, Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd tossed a 30-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Martavis Bryant for the dagger.
One note to keep an eye on: Clemson left tackle Isaiah Battle was ejected late in the fourth quarter for this nasty uppercut punch on NC State defensive back Jarvis Byrd. It seems safe to expect Battle to miss some playing time.
This week in fancy helmets: Maryland and Missouri
Maryland pride helmets alert: The Terps will be wearing these this weekend:
The link above has a bunch more photos, as well as some video. But Testudo Times’ “BREAKING NEWS: HELMETS” banner really says it all. Maryland’s state flag helmets are typically an annual “oh dear God no” moment, but these are a bit sharper. Or shinier, at least.
Missouri will also be wearing breaking out new helmets Saturday, and the Tigers’ black-and-chrome matte lids are sure to be more positively received.
Michigan Men did what?
Why, they sky-painted the blue sky “Go Blue” over East Lansing, Mich., during the Youngstown State-Michigan State game last Saturday.
No, this wasn’t the work of some Michigan booster. Turns out, the athletic department paid for it, and the best part is that they insist no specific area of Michigan was targeted. From MLive.com, three of the most confusing paragraphs you’ll read this week:
EAST LANSING -- The University of Michigan athletic department paid between $3,000 and $5,000 for skywritten Wolverines slogans on Friday and Saturday, one of which appeared over the Michigan State University campus shortly before a football game.
Dave Ablauf, spokesperson for the U-M athletic department, said the skywriting costs about $100 per “piece,” and his department paid for “somewhere between 30 and 50 pieces” over the two-day weekend.
But the specific “Go Blue” message Michigan paid for that appeared over East Lansing cost less than $100, Ablauf added.
A subhed to the article even says “UPDATE: Michigan athletics spent less than $100 on “Go Blue” skywriting at MSU, U-M spokesperson says.” But that math of $100 per piece for 30-50 pieces seems pretty straightforward.
Whatever the financial cost, it’s surely quite B1G.
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