NCAA Football: Michigan Suspends Players, Temple to Name Rhule As New Coach

On Saturday, bowling season kicked off with two great games. In the Gildan New Mexico Bowl, Arizona had an amazing comeback with two touchdowns in the game’s final two minutes and defeated Nevada 49-48.

For a team that just ushered in the Rich Rod Era, the Wildcats appear to be in good hands.

In Game No. 2, the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, #22 Utah State avenged last year’s loss, rolling over Toledo 41-15. The win represented the first one for the program since 1993.

With 33 bowl games left to play, there’s more action this week before the Christmas holiday. Beginning on Thursday, Dec. 20, here’s this week’s games:

• San Diego County Credit Union Poinsetta Bowl – BYU (-2.5, 48.5 o/u) vs. SDSU
• Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl St. Petersburg – UCF  (-7, 61.5 o/u) vs. Ball St.
• R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl – East Carolina vs. Louisiana – Lafayette (-6, 65 o/u)
• MAACO Bowl Las Vegas – Washington vs. Boise St. (-5.5, 46.5 o/u)

In other NCAA football news, three Michigan players have been suspended for the Jan. 1, 2013 Outback Bowl vs. South Carolina and the coaching carousel continues.

Michigan Suspends Three Players for Outback Bowl

Michigan punter Will Hagerup

On Sunday, Michigan announced the following three players had been suspended for violating team rules: starting cornerback J.T. Floyd, punter Will Hagerup and senior linebacker Brandin Hawthorne.

For Hagerup, this is his third suspension with previous ones in 2010 and 2011.

The players will not travel with the team to Tampa, Fla. for the game.

Michigan Coach Brady Hoke said in a statement via ESPN, “It is an honor to play football for the University of Michigan and we have high standards and expectations for everyone that represents our program. These young men used poor judgment in each circumstance, and these suspensions are teaching moments for our team.”

For Floyd and Hawthorne, the suspension means the end of their college football careers. Floyd had been a two-year starter with 179 tackles, 18 pass breakups and three picks while Hawthorne predominately played special teams but saw some playing time as a linebacker. His career stats include 63 tackles and one pick.

But the biggest loss may be junior Hagerup, who was this year’s Big Ten’s punter of the year with his 45-yard average punt (62-yard long).

So how will this impact Michigan for the Outback Bowl? Their lineup just got a little greener.

Floyd and Hagerup brought a lot of experience and talent. Michigan will turn to sophomore Raymon Taylor and junior Courtney Avery with Taylor showing more promise against top opponents.

The team will now change up their defensive schemes and move around some players.

As for the punting situation, sophomore Matt Wile is likely to get the starting nod. He saw playing time this season and pinch hit for Hagerup when he served his 2011 suspension.

The Gamecocks also announced last week that their senior wide receiver D.L. Moore would be absent from the bowl game due to also violating team rules. He was a starter in five games with eight catches, two touchdowns and 139 yards.

Michigan will be hurt by these absences and the nod goes to the Gamecocks (-5, 48 o/u)

Coaching Carousel Keeps Going

Matt Rhule

Teams continue to fill holes in their coaching ranks and on Sunday, ESPN reported that Temple went shopping in the NFL and hired New York Giants assistant Matt Rhule the school’s new coach.

The announcement is expected to come on Monday.

Rhule has a history with Temple, serving as an assistant with the team before jumping to the Giants in March as an assistant offensive line coach.

As an undergrad, Rhule played football at Penn State and has gained 14 seasons of college coaching experience; his most recent has been six seasons at Temple. In 2011, he served as co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach.

Rhule will be succeed Steve Addazio who left the program for Boston College.