Football Preview 2017

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer The coaching carousel could have an impact on which teams from outside the five major conferences have the most success this season. Western Michigan of the Mid-American Conference had an undefeated regular season in 2016, while Houston won the American Athletic Conference and upset Florida State in the Peach Bowl two years ago. Both teams are breaking in new coaches now that P.J. Fleck went from Western Michigan to Minnesota, and Texas hired Tom Herman away from Houston. Herman replaces Charlie Strong, who was fired from Texas but landed at ...

Transfers Outside of QB Who Could Make Impact

By GENARO C. ARMAS AP Sports Writer MADISON, Wis. — Chris James has waited long enough to take a handoff at Wisconsin. The running back sat out a year after leaving Pittsburgh to move to Madison, looking for a better backfield opportunity. That moment has finally arrived. James is part of this year’s crop of Division I transfers who could make immediate impacts with their new teams. “It’s been such a long time coming,” the eager James said. The Badgers have had recent success with transfers, a run that started when quarterback Russell Wilson arrived from North ...

Redshirt Freshman QBs May Be Big in SEC

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer This could turn into a big year for redshirt freshman quarterbacks in the Southeastern Conference. It all depends on how a few preseason competitions turn out. Florida, Tennessee and Texas A&M all have redshirt freshman quarterbacks bidding for starting spots. None of the three schools has named a starter. Texas A&M’s Nick Starkel has emerged as the likely front-runner in a race that also includes Oklahoma State transfer Jake Hubenak and true freshman Kellen Mond. Florida’s Feleipe Franks had a big spring game performance but is facing a ...

Several Freshmen Could Produce Early in NCAA

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher says he learned long ago not to assume which of his freshmen would make the biggest impact each year. How much someone might play in his first college season can depend on everything from his level of homesickness to the position needs of his new team. “There are just so many different (factors),” Fisher said. “And position can have a big impact. Certain positions are harder to play early in your career than they are for other guys. There’s not as much learning.” That uncertainty still exists even in ...

Krol Ready to Tackle Challenge at Bridgeport

By KIM NORTH BRIDGEPORT — For the third time in the last four seasons, Bridgeport has a new head football coach. Gary Krol was hired when Zack Melton resigned after last season following a two-year stint. Melton had replaced Rudy Vavrock who brought the program back to prominence. Krol is no stranger to football. After graduating from Martins Ferry High School and the University of Dayton, the 49-year-old got his start in the coaching profession as an assistant at Western Connecticut State University in the mid-1990s. He then had stops at Millersville University, Westminster ...

Plan of Attack: How A Coach Prepares

By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Football Writer NEW YORK — A big dry erase board hangs on the wall of one side of the meeting room. It has rows and rows of numbers and words handwritten in blue marker that only make sense to someone who speaks the language of football. On the opposite wall sits another big white board, mostly empty with a few categories written in red marker: 3rd and 1-2; 3rd and 3-6; Red Zone; Goal Line. The task for Fordham’s offensive staff, led by 33-year-old coach Andrew Breiner, on this muggy summer day in the Bronx is to mark up most of that board and ...