THE SCOOP
Somewhere out there — the best guess would be in Alabama — there are 14 eager gamblers with more than just school pride riding on Auburn winning the national championship. They’ve got bets on the Tigers winning the national championship. At 1,000-1 odds, it could be quite a payoff.
BONUS ITEM
The loss to Michigan State will cost Ohio State coach Urban Meyer $350,000 in bonus payments, according to his contract. Meyer’s six-year contract with OSU calls for a $250,000 payment if his team makes it to a national title game and $100,000 bonus if the Buckeyes win the Big Ten title. Don’t cry for Urban. He’s due $650,000 in bonus payments in coming months: a $450,000 retention payment, $50,000 for winning the Big Ten Leaders Division and $150,000 for a BCS appearance. That’s all on top of his $4 million annual compensation.
CLOWNEY TICKET
Authorities have released video of South Carolina star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney being ticketed, with troopers saying he drove 110 mph in a 70 mph zone. Video obtained Tuesday by the Associated Press shows Clowney being pulled over in a Chrysler 300 around 7:30 p.m. Saturday on Interstate 77 north of Columbia, S.C. Clowney is barely audible on the recording and remains in the car during the seven-minute recording. The ticket carries a $355 fine. He does not have to show up for a Jan. 9 court date.
FOOT TACKLE
Oklahoma State says it will discipline a male cheerleader who extended a foot as if to trip Oklahoma’s Eric Striker as he celebrated the game-ending touchdown in last week’s Bedlam matchup. Deputy athletic director Dave Martin says the university does not condone physical or verbal abuse toward players or fans. In a statement to The Oklahoman, Martin said the cheerleader will see “consequences for his poor judgment and actions.” The cheerleader’s explanation? He was extending the foot in a mocking manner and didn’t make contact.
LEFTOVERS
By season’s end, according to the (Columbia, S.C.) State newspaper, 79 of the 126 major-college programs were eligible to play in bowls. That means 47 teams had losing seasons. With 35 bowls being played, only nine teams were eligible to play but were not extended invitations. Hardest hit was the Sun Belt, where seven teams were eligible by posting 6-6 records or better. Yet only Louisiana-Lafayette (New Orleans Bowl) and Arkansas State (GoDaddy.com Bowl) reached the postseason. Western Kentucky (8-4), Louisiana Monroe (6-6), South Alabama (6-6), Troy (6-6) and Texas State (6-6) were left out, joining Florida Atlantic (6-6) of Conference USA, Toledo (7-5) and Central Michigan (6-6) of the Mid-American, and San Jose State (6-6) of the Mountain West as teams that were bowl eligible but stayed home. Seven .500 teams will play in bowls and could finish with 6-7 records. They include Washington State, Oregon State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Rutgers, North Carolina and Mississippi State.
Compiled by Ray Cox
About the Author
