Links At Lunch: Mile High Jim McElwain, Nick Saban’s Smile, Luke Kuechly’s Trophy Case
By Kyle Kensing
BCS season is here, and that means a fresh batch of consternation about the system. The Mountain West has been trying to break the format’s glass ceiling for years, and yesterday the conference submitted its latest plan to join the automatic qualifier ranks per MtnWestReport.com.
The MWC boasted three of the five non-AQ, BCS game winners at the time of their bowls (Utah in 2004 and 2008, TCU in 2010), as well as the other two currently in Boise State (2006 and 2009). However, every BCS bowl game participant under the BCS banner will be gone next season, and BSU the year after. The conference’s bid is contingent on the Conference-USA partnership bearing fruit, or one of the league’s remaining members emerging as a contender quickly.
Colorado State was regularly a top 25 team in the mid-to-late-1990s, and the hope in Fort Collins is Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain can restore that glory. CSU announced McElwain as the program’s new head coach on Monday, reports CBSSports.com’s Adam Jacobi. Maybe it’s losing his OC that has Nick Saban looking so stoic — but then again, BamaHammer.com has some more theories as to why the Tide coach doesn’t crack a smile.
More links after the jump.
- Missouri University issued supporters of its athletic program an SEC FAQ, reports Zoulogy.com. Unlikely to appear in said FAQ is the dismal prognosis an earlier MU-SEC merger would have spelled for the Tigers, which RockMNation.com breaks down.
- Miami loses one of its finest for 2012. Running back Lamar Miller is NFL-bound, and CanesWarning.com examines.
- Though 2011 was a rough season for Boston College collectively, linebacker Luke Kuechly had an outstanding individual campaign. Last night, he received the Bronko Nagurski Trophy given to the nation’s top defender. SoaringToGlory.com has the complete rundown of Kuechly’s off-season trophy case.
- Yesterday, SaturdayBlitz.com examined the bleak coaching outlook at Arizona State. Today, HouseOfSparky.com has a fitting soundtrack for the ordeal.