• Meet the new boss. Gainesville native Will Muschamp introduced himself to the Gator flock Monday night, confirming that he talks like he coaches: Like a runaway train at 500 mph, with occasional glances at the script.
The actual news of the night: The vaunted spread option attack that terrorized the SEC under Urban Meyer will give way to a more "pro style" philosophy, which may or may not be enough to convince John Brantley to stick it out after a rough debut as the starting quarterback. [Gainesville Sun, Florida Times-Union]
• Leasing with the enemy. One minor quibble against Muschamp's credentials as head Gator: He co-owns a beach house with Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher, an old friend from their days on the same staffs at Auburn and LSU. The Rites of Rivalry are clear on what must happen next: A public fistfight of atonement, to purify the hate. [Palm Beach Post]
• Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Maryland offensive coordinator James Franklin is "close" to accepting the head coaching job at Vanderbilt, but despite multiple reports Tuesday that his departure for Nashville is all but sealed, Vanderbilt vice chancellor/de facto athletic director David Williams continued to insist that the two sides are still only "talking." If they can't get this done in the next day or two, somebody needs to turn this coaching search around and just bring back Robbie Caldwell. The press conferences would be more interesting, anyway. [Washington Post, The Tennessean]
• We hardly knew ye. Two of USC's three first-team All-Pac-10 picks, defensive tackle Jurrell Casey (voted by teammates as team MVP) and offensive tackle Tyron Smith, said Tuesday they plan to forego their senior season to enter the draft. Trojan watchers aren't surprised, though neither is considered a first-round lock. [Orange County Register, L.A. Times]
• Hurting Heels. Two senior starters, guard Alan Pelc and All-ACC linebacker Bruce Carter, will miss North Carolina's Music City Bowl date with Tennessee after undergoing season-ending surgery Monday to repair an injured shoulder and torn ACL, respectively. Carter and Pelc end their UNC careers with 77 starts between them over four years. [News & Observer]
In the postseason's other ACC-SEC showdown, Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder may be forced to miss the Chick-Fil-A Bowl against South Carolina after undergoing a second surgery Monday to repair the lingering elbow injury that held him out of the 'Noles' 16-13 win over Clemson in November and later the ACC Championship loss to Virginia Tech. [Orlando Sentinel]
• You've come a long way, baby. And because no roundup is complete without him, here's Cam Newton leading a goofy rap last year at Blinn Junior College:
He should have done that on Letterman instead.
Quickly… Teryl Austin looks like Texas' new defensive coordinator, but it's far from a done deal. … NCAA president Mark Emmerich on the complexities of closing the Cecil Newton loophole. … Iowa does some damage control. … Arkansas is investigating a secondary recruiting violation for "simulating a game-day atmosphere" on an official visit. … An early look at the Cotton Bowl's "Figure 8" trophy. … An extremely unauthorized take on "Leaders" and "Legends." … Ohio State players don't know jack about Arkansas. … And here's a handwritten list of SMU players on the payroll in the early eighties, including the name of a certain Hall-of-Fame running back.
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Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.
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