Buckeye coach Tressel praises Pelini
digg it!
Facebook
del.icio.us
Seed Newsvine
Fark It
Reddit
BY BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel offered praise for Bo Pelini when talking about the success of Youngstown-bred coaches.
The Vindicator, a newspaper that covers the area including Pelini’s hometown of Youngstown, Ohio, reported Tressel as saying: “It’s something we’re very proud of. A lot of great coaches come out of this Valley and get trained in this Valley. Bo Pelini is going to do a good job. He’s competitive and I think he’s got the right perspective. He’s going to build something bigger than a program and bigger than a team.”
Husker fan, UT employee
University of Texas employees had to get involved in a recent mess involving 36-year-old Husker fan James Conradt.
Conradt — who is in some hot water after posting a faux story on a Husker message board this week about two Oklahoma quarterbacks being arrested on drug charges — is the manager of the University of Texas’ computing services department.
A UT spokeswoman told The Austin American-Statesman on Thursday that the school investigated the actions of Conradt and found that he did not create and post the false story while on the job or on university equipment.
“The department is aware of it,” UT’s Robin Gerrow told The American-Statesman, “but since he did not use any UT time or equipment, no disciplinary action is expected.”
Conradt took a template from The Oklahoman and pasted a bogus story about Sooner quarterbacks Sam Bradford and Landry Jones having been arrested for distributing cocaine.
At least two radio stations then reported the story as if it were true.
Conradt apologized after his attempt at a practical joke was traced to him, but it’s not certain if the situation will go away that easily.
Jones’ father, Kevin, has said he plans to take legal action against Conradt and told The Oklahoman: “I’ve got deep enough pockets to do it.”
Trying to restore goodwill
Ironically, the bogus Internet story came the same day as The Tulsa World reported that OU athletic director Joe Castiglione is hoping to “restore the long-held goodwill between the storied rivals” Nebraska and Oklahoma.”
Nebraska visits Oklahoma this year for the first time since 2004, a game in which things didn’t go particularly well for anyone.
OU won an unremarkable game 30-3, but it will be more remembered for flying fruit over a last-second field goal that caused Nebraska to beat the spread, a Husker player’s arrest and a “hillbillies” comment.
According to Tulsa World columnist Dave Sittler: “Castiglione’s plan is to celebrate the legendary 1971 meeting of the two ‘Big Reds.’ He reportedly intends to invite and honor everyone from both teams involved in ‘The Game of the Century.’
“The invitation list for a Friday night dinner and a ceremony at halftime of Saturday’s game will include players, coaches, trainers, managers and any other personnel who played a role in that remarkable Thanksgiving Day shootout on Owen Field, which ended in a 35-31 Husker win.”
Peterson’s writing gig
Husker senior wide receiver Todd Peterson is among 22 college football players who will write weekly columns in Sporting News Today.
The players will cover topics on and off the field. You can read Peterson’s work at sportingnewstoday.com.
Sal movie
A movie is in the works about former Colorado quarterback Sal Aunese, who died of stomach cancer at the age of 21 in 1989.
Some may forget, but Tom Osborne recruited Aunese, but lost out, in part, because of the persistence of a young Buffs’ assistant named Les Miles.
Toughest stadiums?
It’s obviously very official when the people at EA Sports put their stamp on something.
Their rankings are out for “NCAA Football 09” on the toughest college football stadiums to play in.
Nebraska’s home cracked the top 10:
1. LSU (Tiger Stadium)
2. Florida (Ben Hill Griffin Stadium)
3. Ohio State (Ohio Stadium)
4. Penn State (Beaver Stadium)
5. Tennessee (Neyland Stadium)
6. Oklahoma (Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial)
7. Oregon (Autzen Stadium)
8. Wisconsin (Camp Randall Stadium)
9. Virginia Tech (Lane Stadium)
10. Nebraska (Memorial Stadium).
Reach Brian Christopherson at 473-7439 or bchristopherson@journalstar.com.
Most Commented news