Player Notes

South Carolina running backs coach Montario Hardesty understands the outside concerns around the Gamecocks backfield.But he doesn’t seem to share them.“I think some of it is warranted,” Hardesty told The State on Wednesday during the annual Birdies With Beamer media golf outing. “I think that it’s going to be a great time for us to show what we have in the room. And I think guys have chips on their ...

COLUMBIA — Most figured he’d have the aptitude for it. One does not grow up the son of Frank Beamer, who emphasized special teams and became an innovator by using his best players to perform those duties, and not realize their importance.Yet when it comes to hiring a head coach, picking one who has only been a special-teams coordinator among all of his myriad stops — and never an offensive or defensive ...

A year ago, after collecting a school-record 12 victories during the 2021 season, the San Diego State football team reconvened looking to see what it could do for an encore.SDSU’s 2022 season concluded with a 7-6 record, capped with a Hawaii bowl loss to Middle Tennessee State.The Aztecs’ streak of 13 straight seasons bowl eligible was extended, but the season was a disappointment by most measures.SDSU ...

INDIANAPOLIS – Greg Schiano’s job has changed plenty since he returned as Rutgers football coach in 2019.Name, Image and Likeness has dictated much of that change.“It’s changed my job immensely,” Schiano said in an interview with local reporters ahead of Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday. “I’ve also learned that if you don’t like it, really you have two choices: Either change it or change the way you ...

INDIANAPOLIS — Ryan Walters is a defensive coach at a Purdue football program known for historically great offenses.Don't worry, Walters assured everyone during Thursday's Big Ten media day at Lucas Oil Stadium.Walters said, even with departures of Aidan O'Connell, Payne Durham and Charlie Jones to the NFL, he expects the Boilermakers offense to be that high-powered, throw-it-all-over-the-field style ...

INDIANAPOLIS — Minnesota coach PJ Fleck's description of Purdue coach Ryan Walters' Illinois defense sounds like an oxymoron until you look at the box score.Last season the Illini secondary, held the Golden Gophers to 38 yards through the air on 6-of-18 passing with three interceptions.Having talented players such as top-5 NFL draft pick Devon Witherspoon certainly helps a defense thrive, but Fleck ...

On Saturday, Pitt fans and coaches alike will hope to see things turn around as one of the most notable names to visit campus this summer, Yasin Willis, is expected to announce his collegiate destination.“Big announcement Saturday,” Willis tweeted last weekend, “stay tuned!”While Pitt already has a running back in its 2024 class, the Panthers would undoubtedly accept Willis into the group. Rivals rates ...

Counting down the days to the start of Oregon State’s 2023 preseason football camp on Aug. 3.Here is the fifth of 10 countdown topics: The most important game of the Beavers’ 2023 season.It’s Oregon State at Oregon on Nov. 24, no?Of course, if the Beavers are 9-2 or better and have a shot to reach the Pac-12 title game. But so much must happen to make the game meaningful beyond the rivalry.The key ...

Oregon State leadership expressed support of the Pac-12 on Friday, as the conference deals with school defections, media rights negotiations and possible expansion.OSU president Jayathi Murthy and athletic director Scott Barnes met with the Pac-12′s CEO group, athletic directors and conference commissioner George Kliavkoff during a virtual conference call late Thursday afternoon. The hastily assembled ...

Chad Weiberg admits he had no way of knowing in July 2021 what the future of the Big 12 would look like. He likely wouldn’t have thought then, in the aftermath of OU and Texas announcing their departure for the SEC, that the Big 12 would be pilfering another Power Five league only two years later.But here’s what the Oklahoma State athletic director did know back then: he and other leaders in Stillwater ...