College Confidential

TCU likely headed to Poinsettia Bowl

If Houston wins Saturday, preventing TCU from reaching its third consecutive BCS bowl, the Horned Frogs (9-2) are most likely headed to the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, two sources at TCU said Wednesday. TCU would play Western Athletic Conference champion Louisiana Tech (8-4) at 5 p.m. Dec. 21 at Qualcomm Stadium on ESPN. The No. 18 Frogs finish the regular season against UNLV (2-9, 1-5) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

TCU has twice played in the Poinsettia bowl. The Frogs beat Northern Illinois 37-7 in 2006 and defeated Boise State 17-16 in 2008.

-- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs

Big 12 QBs Griffin, Weeden, Jones selected as Manning Award finalists

Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III joins two other Big 12 players on the list of candidates for the Manning Award, given to the nation’s top quarterback after the conclusion of bowl games. Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden and Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones also were among the 10 finalists, announced today.

The winner will be announced Jan. 18, after all bowl games have been played.

Other finalists include Stanford’s Andrew Luck, Southern California’s Matt Barkley, Michgan State’s Kirk Cousins, Houston’s Case Keenum, Boise State’s Kellen Moore, Wisconsin’s Russell Wilson and Arkansas’ Tyler Wilson.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Tarp to remain in place for Baylor-Texas game, meaning less than 500 tickets remain

Baylor officials said today that fewer than 500 tickets remain for Saturday’s football game against Texas at Floyd Casey Stadium. But those will be the last tickets sold for the contest because the tarp in the south end zone will not be removed. Officials expect a crowd of 45,000 for the contest _ stadium capacity with the tarp in place.

_ Jimmy Burch

Baylor QB Griffin selected as Walter Camp Player of Year finalist

Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III is one of five finalists for the 2011 Walter Camp Player of the Year award.

The list of finalists, released today by award officials, also includes Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, Houston quarterback Case Keenum, Alabama running back Trent Richardson and LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu.

The award is voted on by FBS head football coaches and sports information directors. The winner will be announced Dec. 8 on ESPN.

Griffin, who ranks second nationally in passing efficiency (191.11 rating) and total offense (390 yards per game), has led No. 17 Baylor (8-3, 5-3 in Big 12) to its highest BCS perch in school history in this week’s BCS standings.

_ Jimmy Burch

Baylor QB Griffin remains second in weekly Heisman poll

Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III remained a close second to Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck in the latest Scripps Howard News Service Heisman Trophy poll, released today.

Griffin, who missed the second half of last week’s 66-42 victory over Texas Tech because of a concussion, received three first-place votes but was left off the ballot by two of 10 pollsters on the voting panel. Griffin gets one final opportunity to sway voters Saturday when No. 17 Baylor (8-3, 5-3 in Big 12) meets No. 22 Texas (7-4, 4-4). He has been cleared by Baylor trainers to play in the contest.

Luck, who led No. 4 Stanford to an 11-1 record, has completed his regular season. Luck received four first-place votes and tallied 39 poll points, 11 more than Griffin. Remaining first-place votes went to Alabama running back Trent Richardson, Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley and Wisconsin running back Montee Ball.

The poll has correctly predicted the Heisman winner in 20 of its 24 seasons, including last year.

Below is a look at the top five finishers in this week's balloting:

Player, School, Season Stats, Poll Points (first-place votes)
1. QB Andrew Luck, Stanford, 3,170 passing yards, 70.0 comp. pct., 35 passing TDs, 9 interceptions, 153 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs, 39 (4)
2. QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor, 3,678 passing yards, 72.6 comp. pct., 34 passing TDs, 5 ints., 612 rushing yds, 7 rushing TDs, 28 (3)
3. RB Trent Richardson, Alabama, 1,583 rushing yds, 20 rushing TDs, 27 receptions, 3 receiving TDs, 27 (1)
4. QB Matt Barkley, 3,528 passing yds, 69.1 comp. pct., 39 passing TDs, 7 ints., 14 rushing yds, 2 rushing TDs, 17 (1)
5. QB Case Keenum, Houston, 4,726 passing yds, 73.2 comp. pct., 43 passing TDs, 3 ints., 43 rushing yds, 3 rushing TDs, 12

Jimmy Burch’s ballot
1. Andrew Luck, Stanford
2. Robert Griffin III, Baylor
3. Trent Richardson, Alabama
4. Tyrann Mathieu, LSU
5. Case Keenum, Houston

_ Jimmy Burch

Baylor officials may pull end zone tarp to sell extra tickets for Texas game

Baylor has 603 tickets remaining for Saturday’s game against Texas, school officials said tonight. If those seats are sold by Wednesday, school officials said they would consider lifting the tarp in the south end zone at Floyd Casey Stadium and selling the end zone seats as well. The tarp has not been lifted for a Baylor home game since 2006, when 51,385 attended a 31-21 loss to Texas A&M. Stadium capacity is listed at 50,000. The Bears’ largest home crowd this season was 43,753 for the opener against TCU.

_ Jimmy Burch

Texas LB Acho selected as finalist for Lott Trophy

Texas linebacker Emmanuel Acho is one of four finalists for he 2011 Lott Trophy, given to the college football player who has the biggest impact on his team, on and off the field. Other finalists announced today include Alabama linebacker Dont’a Hightower, Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly and Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o.

The winner will be announced Dec. 11. The award’s IMPACT acronym stands for integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community and tenacity. Acho, a senior, leads Texas in tackles (116) and tackles for losses (18) this season.

_ Jimmy Burch

Monday morning Big 12 coaches teleconference notes

First up is Texas coach Mack Brown:

Brown said his team watched Baylor beat Texas Tech this weekend and that they will be ready for the Bears.

"They've got the entire package put together and that's why they're one of the best," Brown said of Baylor. "We're playing against a Heisman Trophy candidate in Waco."

Brown commented on what reporters refer to as "politicking" for your team to play in the BCS national title game, as Brown did in 2009:

"I thought it was standing up for your team," Brown said. "But I think the game takes care of itself...If (the opportunity to do so presents) itself again, I'll stand up for my team again."

"I know absolutely two years is not enough to get a program turned around," Brown said of former Kansas coach Turner Gill's firing. "I am a Turner Gill fan...He's a guy that college football needs."

Brown said he's not sure Texas A&M will have too much impact on recruiting going forward.

"Most of the kids, they know pretty much where they want to go growing up," Brown said.

 

Next up is OKlahoma coach Bob Stoops:

Stoops said the wind was a major factor in Saturday's game against Iowa State.

He said during warm-ups, what usually would have been 100% completions was at 10% because of the strong winds.

Stoops said being able to play every team in the conference, the championship (as a result of the round robin schedule, versus a North-South schedule) is clearly defined.

He said he likes the round robin schedule because if there is a tie, you can see who beat who. And unlike when some teams from each division did not have to play all the teams from another possibly stronger division, that is not the case anymore.

 

Next up is Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy:

On the Bedlam game between OSU and OKlahoma coming up this weekend, Gundy said it is "cut and dry" for his team and they have a shot at doing something the school has never been able to do.

Gundy said he does not feel comfortable "politicking" for his team for a shot at the BCS national championship. He said he would do it if that was what the school administration felt like needed to be done.

"It's more important to win the game (against OKlahoma) than it is to make comments on where we stand in the BCS," Gundy said.

Gundy echoed Stoops' sentiments on the round-robin schedule. He said the teams from the conference will end up not having as many wins in years past but that the competition has become fairer.

 

Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville will not be on the teleconference call today.

 

Next up is Baylor coach Art Briles:

Briles said Baylor QB Robert Griffin III, who left the Bears' game against Texas Tech on Saturday, is back to normal and back to practicing and will be ready for the Bears' game against Texas this weekend.

"Robert is fine. He just had concussion-like symptoms," Briles said.

Briles said he didn't think two hits from Red Raiders defenders, that some had pointed out as being dirty and unnecessary, were indeed dirty.

"That's just football."

Briles said he is very pleased to see two quarterbacks he had dealings with in RG3 and Houston QB Case Keenum are in the discussions as Heisman Trophy finalists.

"I feel very blessed and fortunate for them."

Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman will not be on the teleconference call today.

 

Big 12 Players of the Week

Offense: Terrance Ganaway, RB, Baylor

Defense: Carrington Byndom, CB, Texas

Special Teams: Justin Tucker, K, Texas

Baylor QB Griffin listed as 'probable' for Texas game after suffering concussion against Tech

Baylor officials said this afternoon that trainers consider quarterback Robert Griffin III "probable" for Saturday's regular-season finale against Texas. Trainers said today that Griffin, a Heisman Trophy candidate, suffered a concussion in last night's 66-42 victory over Texas Tech, causing him to sit out the second half.

After the contest, both Griffin and coach Art Briles said the move was precautionary and Griffin expected to play against the Longhorns. Trainers said Griffin will practice this week in anticipation of the Texas game.

_ Jimmy Burch

Baylor QB Griffin climbs to 2nd place in weekly Heisman poll

Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III moved to second place in today’s updated version of the Scripps Howard News Service Heisman Trophy Poll, grabbing four of 10 available first-place votes.

Griffin trails Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, the season-long leader who received five first-place mentions. But Griffin gained significant ground on the strength his career-best 515 yards of total offense in Saturday's 45-38 upset of then-No. 5 Oklahoma. Griffin finished with 34 points from the 10-member voting panel, five behind Luck (39).

The poll has correctly predicted the Heisman winner in 20 of its 24 seasons, including last year. No. 18 Baylor (7-3, 4-3 in Big 12) meets Texas Tech (5-6, 2-6) at 6 p.m. Saturday at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

A full look at the poll:

Player, School, Season Stats, Poll Points (first-place votes)
1. QB Andrew Luck, Stanford, 2,937 passing yards, 70.3 comp. pct., 31 passing TDs, 39 (5)
2. QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor, 3,572 passing yards, 72.9 comp. pct., 33 passing TDs, 34 (4)
3. RB Trent Richardson, Alabama, 1,380 rushing yds, 20 rushing TDs, 28 (1)
4. QB Case Keenum, Houston, 4,269 passing yds, 73.4 comp. pct., 38 passing TDs, 15
5. QB Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State, 4,111 passing yds, 73.0 comp. pct., 34 passing TDs, 13

Others receiving votes: USC QB Matt Barkley 12, Boise State QB Kellen Moore 5, Wisconsin RB Montee Ball, 3, Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson 1

Voters: Kirk Bohls, Austin American-Statesman; Randy Beard, Evansville Courier and Press; Jimmy Burch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram; Bob Condotta, Seattle Times; Dennis Dodd, CBSSportsline.com; Vahe Gregorian, St. Louis Post-Dispatch; John Helsley, The Oklahoman; Mike Griffith, Knoxville News-Sentinel; Michael Lewis, Salt Lake Tribune; and Tom Luicci, Newark Star-Ledger.

_ Jimmy Burch