Headlinin’: The bell tolls for Marshall’s Snyder
Making the morning rounds.
• Coming and going in C-USA. Congratulations, Marshall, on bowl eligibility for the first time since joining Conference USA in 2005, and good luck on finding a new coach: The once-proud Herd gave Mark Snyder his walking papers following Saturday’s 52-21 debacle at UTEP to close the regular season, despite the first .500 effort of Snyder’s five-year tenure in Huntington. Could we be looking at the dreaded "interim" boss in a bowl game? [Associated Press]
Elsewhere in the East Division, Memphis has officially filled its coaching vacancy with LSU running backs coach Larry Porter, who starred for then-Memphis State in the early nineties and carries the "up-and-coming" label into his first head-coaching gig. Just keep him away from Tommy West, and he’ll be fine. [Baton Rouge Advocate]
• You were always the wrong man for the job. Do you have a brother? Just a few hours after admitting Louisville’s relationship with just-fired coach Steve Kragthorpe hadn’t worked "from Day One," U of L athletic director Tom Jurich stuck to his guns by telling the local Courier-Journal "I want somebody that’s got a lot of Steve’s characteristics" to fill Kragthorpe’s seat. Among the leading names on the initial rumor list are Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong and Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain, who match wits Saturday in Atlanta (in case you hadn’t heard). [Louisville Courier-Journal]
• We, on the other hand, want the exact opposite at all costs. Burned by another 6-6 train wreck despite one of the most prolific offenses in Notre Dame history, the South Bend Tribune urges the Irish to "get defensive" with their replacement for Charlie Weis (who remains, as of this moment, not officially fired). That criteria would eliminate Urban Meyer, Brian Kelly and Jon Gruden out of hand, but obviously scoring points is not the answer here. [South Bend Tribune]
• Baby ‘Horn riding dirty. Texas freshman Marcus Davis was suspended for the season Sunday after being pulled over for riding on a flat tire and charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance. In exile, Davis joins fellow freshman D.J. Monroe, on ice since his own DWI arrest earlier this month. [Austin American-Statesman]
Quickly … Due to a knee injury, UConn linebacker Greg Lloyd will miss the Huskies’ season finale against South Florida and won’t be back for a bowl game or spring practice. … Nebraska is encouraged by the chinks in the armor of Texas’ defense after the Longhorns were ripped by Texas A&M. … With LSU likely on its way to the Capital One Bowl, Tennessee is thinking Outback, but might land in the Cotton to prevent a return trip to Dallas by Ole Miss. … Playoffs?! Those crazy Canadians. … And can Michigan fans tolerate a replica of Ohio Stadium in their home if they’re allowed to rub out cigarettes in it?
