Nov 302011
 

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — Kirby Smart has not interviewed with the committee searching for a new Ole Miss head coach, a source close to Alabama’s defensive coordinator said today.

Smart has been on the road this week recruiting with Alabama head coach Nick Saban, the source said.

That’s contrary to various Internet reports.

One report out of Mississippi said Smart was scheduled to meet Tuesday in Tuscaloosa with the committee, co-chaired by former Ole Miss quarterback Archie Manning and Mike Glenn, the executive vice president at FedEx. The report came from HeadtoHeadRadio.com, via Twitter.

FootballScoop.com went farther, saying that members of the selection committee that met with Smart were extremely impressed, according to sources.

Another report, from the website RedCupRebellion.com via Twitter, said Smart would be announced later this week at the Rebels’ head coach.

Smart was considered one of four main candidates to replace Houston Nutt, who recently was fired. One of those candidates, Louisiana-Lafayette coach Mark Hudspeth, reportedly withdrew as a candidate on Tuesday.

The other candidates are Larry Fedora and Hugh Freeze.

Fedora’s 10-2 Southern Miss team meets Houston on Saturday in the Conference USA Championship Game. He previously was the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State (2005-07) and Florida (2002-04).

Freeze’s 9-2 Arkansas State team is at least the co-champion of the Sun Belt Conference. It ends its regular season Saturday with a home game against Troy and recently accepted a bid to the GoDaddy.com Bowl. He was the Ole Miss tight end coach and recruiting coordinator in 2006-07.

Related topics: Kirby Smart, Ole Miss football, Ole Miss Rebels

via Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart has not interviewed for Ole Miss job, source says | al.com.

 Posted by at 12:50 pm
Nov 302011
 

PHILADELPHIA — Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky sexually abused a boy more than 100 times, then threatened his family to keep him quiet about the encounters, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday that details new accusations not included in criminal charges against Sandusky.

The lawsuit is the first in the Penn State child sex-abuse scandal and identifies the plaintiff, now 29 years old, only as John Doe. It claims Sandusky abused the boy from 1992 to 1996 at the coach’s State College home, in a Penn State locker room, on trips to Philadelphia and at a bowl game.

The plaintiff said in a statement issued by his lawyer soon after the filing, “I am hurting and have been for a long time because of what happened, but feel now even more tormented that I have learned of so many other kids were abused after me.”

The accuser said that Sandusky sexually abused him more than 100 times from the ages of 10 to 14, and threatened to harm him and his family if he told anyone. The suit also names the university and The Second Mile charity as defendants. The man says he knew the coach through the children’s charity, which Sandusky founded.

The plaintiff is not among the victims named in a grand jury report released earlier this month that detailed a series of alleged assaults involving Sandusky and boys as young as 10.

Sandusky was charged in early November with abusing eight boys, some on campus, over 15 years, allegations that were not immediately brought to the attention of authorities even though high-level people at Penn State apparently knew about at least one of them.

Sandusky has acknowledged that he showered with boys but denied molesting them and has maintained he is innocent of the charges. Messages were left Wednesday for Sandusky’s lawyer.

The plaintiff filed a new complaint Tuesday with law enforcement, but his attorney wouldn’t say to which agency.

The lawyer, Jeff Anderson, said he believes Sandusky could not control his sexual impulses toward children. Anderson harshly criticized officials who failed to report their suspicions.

“We need to address the institutional recklessness and failures,” said Anderson, who specializes in clergy sex-abuse lawsuits. “Was it because of power, money, fear, loyalty, lack of education?”

The university said it had not yet seen the lawsuit.

The charity said it will respond after reviewing the lawsuit, but added: “The Second Mile will adhere to its legal responsibilities throughout this process. As always, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.”

The man who filed the lawsuit said Sandusky gave him gifts, travel and privileges after meeting him through The Second Mile in 1992. The abuse began sh

via Penn State Nittany Lions scandal — First Jerry Sandusky sex-abuse lawsuit comes from new accuser – ESPN.

 Posted by at 12:48 pm
Nov 292011
 

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — Alabama middle linebacker Dont’a Hightower is one of four finalists for the Lott Trophy.

The Lott IMPACT award goes to the defensive player who has had the biggest impact on his team, on and off the field. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

The other finalists also are linebackers: Texas’ Emmanuel Acho, Boston College’s Luke Kuechly and Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o.

The winner will be announced Dec. 11 in Newport Beach, Calif.

“These are outstanding football players, who represent their universities with distinction and honor,” Ronnie Lott said in a news release. “They are terrific players who also excel off the field with their character, integrity and hard work in the classroom. I’m excited to meet them at our awards banquet.”

Lott is a former college and pro football star defensive back for whom the trophy is named.

The IMPACT Foundation will award $25,000 to the general scholarship fund of the winner’s university. Each of the runner-ups’ school will receive $5,000.

 

via Tide’s Dont’a Hightower among four Lott Trophy finalists | al.com.

 Posted by at 3:14 pm