Today's top story ... East Carolina hire Holtz ... Skip
Former South Carolina and Notre Dame assistant Skip Holtz, son of Lou Holtz, is expected to be named the new coach of the Pirates; However, no official announcement and/or confirmation could be made
ACC
Miami, Fla.
As the Canes’ complete this week’s practice sessions, the injury status of some players still remain questionable; Starting LBs Roger McIntosh (junior) and Tavares Gooden (sophomore) are still hampered by shoulder stingers, redshirt freshman Greg Olsen (broken wrist w/ cast) has still been unable to practice, but senior starting DT Santonio Thomas (knee sprain) is expected to be healthy enough to play against the Hokies, as is redshirt freshman backup QB Kyle Wright
Big XII
Colorado
Due to sophomore CB Gerett Burl’s injury (broken finger) suffered during last Friday’s game against Nebraska, Burl will not get the start tomorrow night versus Oklahoma; Sophomore DB Lorenzo Sims, who moved to starting safety for the Nebraska game, will be back at his normal CB spot opposite fellow sophomore Terrence Wheatley; junior Tom Hubbard and sophomore Tyrone Henderson will man the safety spots If the Buffs are unable to beat OU, the Champs Sports Bowl will apparently take CU as its opponent to take on GA Tech; If Texas gains a BCS spot, however, that could alter plans
Oklahoma
Senior standout CB/PR Antonio Perkins is expected to be at full strength for tomorrow’s Big XII Championship game versus Colorado; Perkins previously missed four games with a knee injury and has been limited to CB duties for the past couple games; During tomorrow’s game, however, Perkins will be utilized in the secondary and on punt returns … Head coach Bob Stoops states that he has no plans to coach anywhere else
Big East
Temple
Now that the Owls’ football program has been let go from its Big East affiliation, the University is exploring options to remain at the DI-A level or move down to DI-AA
Big Ten
Michigan
The University is considering plans to renovate Michigan Stadium for the first time since it was built more than 75 years ago; Plans include luxury boxes, more restrooms, and more accessible concessions
Michigan State
Sophomore starting QB Drew Stanton, who suffered an eye injury in the Nov. 20 loss at Penn State, is fully recovered and expected to start tomorrow’s game at Hawaii … Senior RB DeAndra Cobb, who has been hampered of late by a shoulder injury, is also expected to play in tomorrow’s contest
C-USA
USF
Freshman OL Danny Muy, who transferred from Nebraska last month, will reportedly enroll at USF in January and hope to be eligible to play in the 2005 season; Muy, a Florida native, recently found out his mother has breast cancer, which prompted his transfer from NU; Muy and his family are hoping that the NCAA will grant him a special family waiver, so that he wouldn’t have to sit out a year due to the transfer
Independents
Notre Dame
University officials met with Utah head coach Urban Meyer on Thursday afternoon, and sources close to the situation indicated that the Irish have already made an offer; Meyer, however, has yet to make a decision
Mountain West
BYU
Utah’s D-coordinator Kyle Whittingham and USC’s O-coordinator Norm Chow are among BYU’s top choices to replace Gary Crowton, who stepped down earlier this week; Chow, however, has not expressed interest in returning to the Cougars
Pac-10
Southern California
O-coordinator Norm Chow stated that he had not been contacted by Stanford, but indicated that he would be interested in talking to Stanford after this weekend’s game
UCLA
Sophomore standout RB Maurice Drew, who has been slowed by his high ankle sprain injury all week, was able to go through a partial practice on Thursday, but is expected to play in tomorrow’s home contest versus No. 1 USC; Head coach Karl Dorrell, however, stated Drew would not get the start; Senior Manuel White and true freshman Chris Markey will fill in the blanks at the tailback spot
SEC
Auburn
Due to junior starting LB Antarrious Williams still being hampered by a wrist injury, senior Derrick Graves will make his second consecutive start during tomorrow’s contest versus Tennessee; Williams expects to return to action for the Tigers’ bowl game …
Florida
On Thursday, athletic director Jeremy Foley flew to Salt Lake City to meet with current Utes’ head coach Urban Meyer, regarding the head coaching vacancy at Florida; Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops once again stated that he is not interested in coaching the Gators … … According to an unnamed source, fired head coach Ron Zook told his players he would coach the Gators in its bowl game; However, if Zook is hired by another program between now and then, his plans may change
