Associated Press
The college football notebook… AUSTIN, Texas ó Texas quarterback Colt McCoy confirmed that he’ll return to the Longhorns for his senior season in 2009.
McCoy has led No. 3 Texas (11-1) to a Fiesta Bowl matchup against Ohio State with 3,445 yards passing and 32 touchdowns, both team records. He’s also the team’s leading rusher with 576 yards and is expected to be a finalist for the Heisman Trophy this week.
“I’m not going anywhere,” McCoy said in an interview published Monday on the Austin American-Statesman’s Web site.
McCoy said he wants to try to win a national championship next season after falling one spot short of the Bowl Championship Series title game this season.
McCoy has said all season he plans to be back next year, but said recently that he would at least inquire about his potential draft status.
WASHINGTONSEATTLE ó Steve Sarkisian has already been successful selling air.So, heck, selling 105 Washington football players, plus wavering recruits, angry fans and turned-off boosters on how he will quickly turn around their rock-bottom Huskies should be no problem.
“I’m going to bring a lot of passion to these kids. We just have to change the way they think,” Sarkisian said after being introduced as Washington’s third coach in five years Monday morning.
FULMER UPDATE
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ó Former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer will be a special assistant to university president John Petersen for three months.
Fulmer will be paid $12,500 a month between Dec. 1 and Feb. 28 to help with “developing and enhancing strategic relationships for the university,” Petersen said.
“Phillip Fulmer is a UT icon and a wonderful ambassador. Over his long career with the University he has developed a vast network of contacts, made invaluable relationships with alumni and UT supporters, and done extensive work with development,” Petersen said.
SEC AWARDS
ATLANTA ó Tim Tebow guided his team to the national championship game and put himself in contention for another Heisman Trophy. So it was no surprise when the Florida quarterback claimed his second straight SEC offensive player of the year award.
Tebow was honored Monday by The Associated Press with the release of its All-SEC team, which also tabbed Tennessee safety Eric Berry as defensive player of the year, Alabama’s Nick Saban as the top coach and Crimson Tide receiver Julio Jones as the best freshman.
VIRGINIACHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. ó Al Groh will be back for ninth season as the football coach at Virginia, but his son Mike, the offensive coordinator the past three seasons, will not.
Mike Groh was among three assistant coaches who resigned in a shakeup brought on by his father’s annual review.
CENTRAL FLORIDA
ORLANDO, Fla. ó A Central Florida football player who collapsed during training last week is improving and could be released from the hospital as early as Tuesday, his father said Monday night.
Brandon Davis became dehydrated while participating in a routine weightlifting session Wednesday and was taken to Florida Hospital East. His kidneys failed and he had tests on his liver and heart, his father, Adrian Davis said.