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New San Diego State football coach Brady Hoke is the schools seventh head coach hired since Claude Gilbert, Don Coryells hand-picked successor, was fired in 1980.

Johnny Moore, one of Gilberts former players that was a senior safety on the 1980 team that finished 4-8, wrote me a letter to express his gratitude for the influence Gilbert had on his life on and off the field. Moore said he didnt appreciate much of what Gilbert taught him until later in life, but he finally got the message.

The same could be said of San Diego States administration not appreciating what it had in Gilbert when he was dismissed with a career record of 61-26-2 in eight seasons. Gilbert went on to enjoy success as San Jose States head coach and is now retired in Grass Valley.

Moores letter:

Tom:

Recently, I read an article that you wrote (A Decision that still haunts SDSU football) September 30, 2006). As I was reading your article, my memories were flooded with several emotions. I felt angry that president Thomas Day and the SDSU booster club decided to release (fire) one of the greatest SDSU football coach. I felt sad that coach Gilbert doesnt truly know how grateful I am for his strict discipline and understanding of a spoiled kid (Johnny Moore).

The 1980 season was a difficult year for the football at SDSU. I would like to read an article about the 1980 players and why we had a 4-8 season. Maybe one day sports writers will sit down with some of the football players set the record straight.

If you can forward this e-mail to coach Gilbert, I would like my coach to know that I have received a M.Ed. in school counseling. This is important because when I left SDSU in 1980 my GPA was 1.52. After several years had passed, I decided to return to school: Los Angeles Valley College (A.S.), San Diego City College (A.A.), SDSU (B.S.), and finally the University of North Texas (M.Ed.) so I can continue to be a positive role model for my students.

Coach Gilbert always stated that a good man thinks about his mistakes, but a great man works though his mistakes. I decided to work though my mistake of not taking academics serious.

Ive been coaching high school football collectively for 13 years and I can honestly say coach Gilbert was a major influence in my life. And please make no mistake, coach Gilbert surrounded himself with awesome assistant coaches.

Purdue head football coach Danny Hope tonight announced the hiring of Cornell Jackson as the Boilermakers running backs coach.

He replaces Joel Thomas, who left to become running backs coach at Washington.

Jackson, who has 11 years of experience coaching running backs, comes to Purdue from Kansas State, where he was the linebackers coach in 2008.

Cornell is a great addition to our staff, Hope said. He comes highly recommended and has coached in some big-time conferences. Hes an aggressive coach and an excellent recruiter. He preaches ball security, physical running and finishing each play. We really hit the jackpot with him.

Previously, Jackson had stints as running backs coach at Baylor (2007), New Mexico (2005-06), Washington (2004) and Arizona State (1996-99). In 2006, Jackson coached first team All-Mountain West Conference selection Rodney Ferguson, who rushed for 1,132 yards in leading the Lobos to the New Mexico Bowl. The year before, DonTrell Moore earned Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year honors after becoming just the sixth player in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 yards four times in a career.

At Arizona State, Jackson tutored five running backs who went on to be selected in the NFL Draft and two Terry Battle and J.R. Redmond who earned All-Pac-10 recognition. During Jacksons five seasons, the Sun Devils played in three bowl games: 1996 Rose, 1997 Sun and 1999 Aloha.

Jackson coached at Washington for three seasons, beginning with the linebackers in 2002 and followed by the safeties in 2003. In addition to coaching the running backs in 2004, he had additional duties as recruiting coordinator. Jackson was with the Huskies when they lost to Purdue in the 2002 Sun Bowl.

I am excited about the opportunity that coach Hope has given me and my wife, Jackson said. I know that Purdue University is an outstanding school with a highly regarded football program and coaches. I am looking forward to being a part of the staff and working in the Big Ten.

In 2000 and 2001, Jackson coached the linebackers at Houston. He also worked with that position at New Mexico (1995), Pacific (1992-94) and Utah State (1990-91).

Jackson began his career as running backs coach at Butler County (Kan.) Community College in 1987, then moved to Central Missouri State as a graduate assistant working with the running backs in 1988 and 1989.

Jackson has taken part in four NFL internships with the San Diego Chargers (linebackers) in 2004, Denver Broncos (running backs) in 2001, St. Louis Rams (running backs) in 1999 and Seattle Seahawks (linebackers) in 1993.

A native of Jackson, Miss., Jackson (born Sept. 28, 1960) was a two-time all-conference defensive back at Hinds Junior College in 1982 and 1983 before moving on to Sterling (Kan.) College to continue his playing career and earn a bachelors degree in health and physical education in 1986. His wifes name is Lorri.

TCU might play without standout linebacker Robert Henson in the Poinsettia Bowl Tuesday night when No 11 TCU faces No 9 Boise State.

Henson did not practice on Saturday and coach Gary Patterson indicated on Sunday there’s a chance Henson won’t be on the field against the Broncos.

When asked if Henson would play Patterson said, “I don’t know about that yet, but there isn’t anything wrong with him.”

Henson, a senior from Longview, Texas, was a first-team all-Mountain West Conference selection this season, part of a TCU defense that ranked second in the country in total defense. Henson finished the season with 73 tackles and two interceptions in his first full season as a starter.

Duke has given David Cutcliffe a two-year contract extension.

The Blue Devils on Sunday said they extended Cutcliffe’s contract through 2015. Terms were not released, as is customary at the private school.

Athletic director Kevin White called Cutcliffe “an elite player within the entire college football coaching community.”

By going 4-8 this season, Duke matched its win total from 2004-07. The Blue Devils started 3-1 and pushed their mark to 4-3 with a win at Vanderbilt, but ended the season with five straight losses in November.

Southern Mississippi receiver DeAndre Brown fractured his lower left leg and was taken to the hospital during the first quarter of Sunday night’s New Orleans Bowl against Troy.

Only minutes after his 67th reception of the season set a school record, Brown’s leg gave out unnaturally as he landed in the end zone during a long incompletion. The defender on the play, Tavares Williams, put his hands on his head and then gestured for help when he turned and saw Brown holding his leg, which dangled from the shin.

Brown writhed in pain as trainers raced to his side. He was placed on a stretcher and lifted onto a cart. He then sat up, receiving applause, as the cart headed into the tunnel in the Louisiana Superdome.

Southern Miss spokesman Jack Duggan said the injury was a lower leg fracture but could not immediately provide details on the severity.

Brown, a freshman, was a prized recruit last year and quickly became the Golden Eagle’s leading receiver, finishing the regular season with 66 catches for 1,108 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Washington quarterback Jake Locker will be out for up to eight weeks. After breaking his right thumb, a damaging blow for a team looking at a possible 0-5 start for the first time in 39 years.

Locker had surgery Monday to repair the fracture. He was injured throwing a block in the second quarter of a 35-28 loss to Stanford on Saturday.

“Obviously, I think it’s a huge loss,” coach Tyrone Willingham said. “He adds so much to our team in so many ways. His presence, his running skills, what he’s done for us in the passing game.”

Locker has thrown for 512 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 180 yards and three scores this season.

With redshirt freshman Ronnie Fouch running the offense, the Huskies offense will change significantly. Fouch is an adequate runner but isn’t a threat like Locker, who set a modern Pac-10 record for yards rushing by a quarterback last season.

Fouch is a more conventional passer, who hit on 13 of 27 attempts for 186 yards and a touchdown in relief against Stanford. He also directed a 95-yard touchdown drive in the closing minutes, capped with a 1-yard touchdown dive to pull Washington within 35-28 with 1:25 left. The ensuing onside kick went out of bounds, and Stanford ran out the clock.

“I’m the type of guy that if we lose a game, I put the blame on myself,” Fouch said. “Whenever we lose I feel like it’s my fault. I put the blame on myself for losing, and I want to go out against Arizona and do whatever to help this team win.”

Some names on the Boston College depth chart remain familiar to Tom O’Brien. But when the North Carolina State coach leads the Wolfpack against his former team, it’ll be different this time.

Most of the novelty - and the awkwardness - has disappeared for the winningest coach in BC history.

“I don’t know if it’s old hat, but it doesn’t seem the same as last year,” O’Brien said Monday. “A lot of people that I still know (are) there, but it certainly has a much different feel to it now that I’ve been here for a year-plus.”

Of course, there are many reasons why a been-there, done-that feel surrounds the latest O’Brien-vs.-BC matchup. The coach already went through this a year ago, when he brought his largely unknown N.C. State team to Chestnut Hill on the nine-month anniversary of his December 2006 departure and absorbed a 37-17 beating.

It was followed by a season full of speculation from outsiders wondering if O’Brien had any regrets leaving a Boston College program that temporarily rose to No. 2 in the BCS standings to rebuild a Wolfpack program mired in the ACC Atlantic Division cellar. “I knew what I was doing,” the coach said at the time.

This time, last-place N.C. State (2-3, 0-1 ACC) has more pressing concerns: A growing list of injuries and a confidence-shaking 31-point home loss to No. 10 South Florida.

Left tackle Julian Willliams (shoulder) could become the 11th Wolfpack starter to miss time due to injury. Former third-string quarterback Harrison Beck was the starter on the depth chart released Monday, while Russell Wilson - who dressed but sat out the USF loss with an undisclosed injury - was not listed for the second straight week.

“I think we’ve got bigger things on our plate than his second game against his old team,” center Ted Larsen said.

Still, it could create an interesting dynamic this weekend for Boston College’s second visit to Carter-Finley Stadium. The scene surrounding the first - the Wolfpack’s come-from-behind 17-15 win in September 2006 - was impressive enough to persuade O’Brien to leave BC for state-supported N.C. State and its glitzy facilities.

What’s new this year about Boston College (3-1, 0-1 ACC) is star quarterback Matt Ryan is gone, and so is the familiar pro-style offense that O’Brien favored as he led the Eagles to 75 wins during his decade with team (1997-2006).

“It’s probably more of what (offensive coordinator) Steve Logan wants to do,” O’Brien said. “Obviously, keeping Matt in his comfort zone last year. (This team has) more option, more read, more of a spread style - the offense of the late 2000s.”

O’Brien has kept up many of his ties to New England, still rooting for the Boston Red Sox, but he insists there’s no time for nostalgia this weekend. Not with his wounded Wolfpack hoping to heal quickly enough to make a move in a wide-open divisional race in which four teams - including both N.C. State and Boston College - already have one conference loss.

“With Clemson losing, that puts them back with us, so everybody’s got a shot,” O’Brien said. “It’s anybody’s guess right now who’s going to win the conference, so every game right now is a championship game.”

California running back Jahvid Best will miss at least one game with a dislocated left elbow. But the versatile speedster won’t require surgery.

Best was injured in the third quarter of the Golden Bears’ 42-7 victory over Colorado State last Saturday. The sophomore is third in the nation with 215.5 all-purpose yards per game, and third in the Pac-10 with 105.3 yards rushing.

Best, who fumbled two times while rushing for 85 yards against the Rams, was hurt while putting out his arm to cushion a fall. Freshman Shane Vereen has played well in the Bears’ first four games as Best’s backup or his replacement in the backfield when Best lines up as a receiver.

California (3-1, 1-0 Pac-10) hosts Arizona State (2-2, 1-0) on Saturday, followed by an off week. Best hopes to be available for the Bears’ trip to Arizona on Oct. 18.

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Cantwell, Long expected to play against Memphis.

Louisville Hunter Cantwell will be ready to go when the Cardinals play at Memphis on Oct. 10, coach Steve Kragthorpe said Monday.

Cantwell injured his left ankle in the third quarter of Louisville’s 26-21 loss to Connecticut last week when he was hit from behind while scrambling. Cantwell returned to the game but struggled the rest of the way and threw an interception with 2:45 remaining that UConn’s Lawrence Wilson returned for the go-ahead score.

Kragthorpe said during a teleconference Monday that he anticipates Cantwell will play against the Tigers and isn’t worried about the loss sticking with him going forward. Cantwell has thrown for 876 yards and five touchdowns this season for Louisville (2-2).

Cantwell could get some help next week. Kragthorpe said wide receiver Scott Long should make his season debut at Memphis after missing the first four games with a foot injury.

Here comes No 4 Missouri, with its 54-point-per-game offense and Heisman hopeful quarterback Chase Daniel.
Nebraska coach Bo Pelini seems plenty worried.
Pelini says his team is making too many “bonehead” errors and needs to clean up its act to stick with the Tigers (4-0) on Saturday. Last week, the Cornhuskers (3-1) allowed Virginia Tech’s chugalug offense to run up season bests in points and yards in a 35-30 loss.

The coach said Monday that his defense got away with blown coverages in its first three games against lesser competition. The Hokies took full advantage, and who knows what could happen if the high-powered Tigers are able to do the same.

“We’re not executing as consistently as we would like to,” Pelini said. “A lot of that is coaching. We’re giving up too many big plays and making bonehead errors.”

Virginia Tech finished with 377 total yards, and Tyrod Taylor, not known for his passing, was 9-of-15 for 171 yards.

“He had open receivers on ones he didn’t complete,” Pelini said. “We dropped some coverage. We played undisciplined football, with too many missed assignments. It’s pretty easy to complete balls when that happens.”

Missouri poses big problems as it looks for its first win in Lincoln since 1978. The Tigers are second nationally in both scoring (53.8 points) and total yards (595.5 yards). Daniel is 101-of-133 for 1,412 yards - 353 yards per game - and 12 touchdowns. Receivers Jeremy Maclin and Chase Coffman are averaging more than 90 yards per game, and Derrick Washington is running for more than 90 a game.

“They’re good across the board,” Pelini said. “They have a good running game and a good passing game, but it starts with the quarterback. Then you throw in Maclin. You can’t focus on stopping one guy or you’ll get killed.”

Daniel lines up unusually deep in the shotgun in Missouri’s spread offense, making it difficult to pressure the quarterback. Daniel has been sacked once in four games.

“You’re not going to sack him a lot, but you have to try to affect him some, get some push up front, collapse the pocket and make him uncomfortable,” Pelini said. “They line him up deep back there, and he’s good at getting rid of the football and making quick decisions. They do a nice job as far as how to handle him and how they go about it.”

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said Pelini, a defensive coordinator at his previous stops, is capable of making quick adjustments to get his defense playing at a higher level.

“He has his mark,” Pinkel said. “They’re disciplined, well-coached, physical, tough - all of the above. Their biggest test was against Virginia Tech, and Virginia Tech is very good up front. He (Pelini) is good at what he does. I expect their defense will improve and get better each week, so it will be a real challenge for us.”

Nick Saban doesn’t want to talk about rankings in September. He even insists he doesn’t even know where Alabama stands in the polls.

If that’s true - and it seems unlikely even for the ultra-focused coach - he’s one of the few in college football still in the dark. The second-ranked Crimson Tide has been all the rage since a mostly one-sided win at then-No. 3 Georgia Saturday night, but Saban cares far more about his team staying focused and keeping it going.

“I don’t even know what we’re ranked. Nobody’s told me,” Saban said Monday, 24 hours after the latest AP poll came out. “I don’t really care because it really doesn’t matter. Whatever it is, can somebody tell me who was ranked there last year at this time? Does anybody know?”

Sure, coach. It was LSU, your former team and the eventual national champion. If that result renders the analogy a little less effective, his point is clear: The Tide (5-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) hasn’t won anything yet.

If that message didn’t come through, Saban poses another question: “Who was leading the marathon at the Olympics halfway through? Can anybody tell me. If they didn’t win, it doesn’t matter. Nobody cares.”

The Tide is a long way from the finish line entering Saturday’s game against unbeaten Kentucky (4-0). After that, the always-brutal SEC schedule includes visits to Tennessee and LSU and a home game with Auburn.

Saban doesn’t have to go back even a week to hammer his point home. There was Oregon State’s upset of top-ranked Southern California on Thursday night and Mississippi’s win at then-No. 4 Florida on Saturday.

Saban even paraphrased postgame comments from two of those team’s stars.

“It’s the same old thing. You can read what (Mark) Sanchez says at USC about, ‘We weren’t prepared for this game. We didn’t prepare right.’ Or what (Florida’s) Percy Harvin says about, ‘I don’t know how we let this happen.’

“If you get satisfied and you fall in love with yourself, you get complacent and lose your desire.”

That’s why Saban greeted his players for Monday’s 7 a.m. film review by pointing out special teams snafus and what he perceived as late-game letdowns. Tide players said he offered plenty of praise, too, but later talked to reporters about “monumental” breakdowns on special teams that included allowing a punt return for a touchdown.

The Tide has racked up plenty of positive signs in rising to its highest ranking in 15 years. Nobody else has beaten two Top 10 teams already, after all, and done it easily. Alabama raced to a 31-0 halftime lead before Georgia made it more respectable in the second half before losing 41-30.

Plus, Alabama hasn’t trailed all season, has outscored opponents 74-0 in the first half and is one of four Bowl Subdivision teams with four non-offensive touchdowns.

The Tide also leads the SEC in scoring and rushing offense and rushing defense.

‘Bama players insist their approach doesn’t change even with the lofty ranking, which cornerback Javier Arenas said “doesn’t make a bit of difference.”

“It’s not a whole different ballgame,” Arenas said. “We’re the same football team we were when we came out of training camp. We’re aware of it, but we’re mature enough to not let that affect us. People were talking good about us before this game and we didn’t let it get to our head.”

But No. 2? Come on, that’s a big deal, right?

“It was cool,” Arenas conceded briefly. “It doesn’t mean anything to us. At the end of the season ask me how it felt and I’ll let you know.”