Associated Press
The college football notebook …
STILLWATER, Okla. ó All-America receiver Justin Blackmon and quarterback Brandon Weeden are returning to Oklahoma State, giving the Cowboys another season with the two key playmakers in one of the nationís most dynamic offenses.
ěWe won 11 games with a lot of inexperienced guys and a lot of young guys, and you can only think that itís going to get better,î Weeden said while seated just to the right of Blackmon during a joint news conference. ěWeíre excited with where weíre at.î
ěWe have one goal, and thatís to win all our games next year,î said Blackmon, the first receiver to be selected the Big 12ís offensive player of the year.
The Biletnikoff Award winner as the nationís top receiver, Blackmon led the Bowl Subdivision with 148.5 yards receiving per game and 20 touchdown catches. His 1,782 yards receiving were the most ever by a sophomore, and he also set an NCAA mark with at least 100 yards receiving and a touchdown in 12 straight games.
Blackmon was considered a possible first-round draft pick, had he joined Georgiaís A.J. Green and Alabamaís Julio Jones in heading to the NFL early.
Weeden set school records with 4,277 yards passing and 34 TDs ó both in the top four in the FBS ó and was named the all-Big 12 quarterback in his first year as a starter.
LSU COACH
BATON ROUGE, La. ó Les Miles made it clear, in his own particular way, that he is living in the present.
His nostalgia for Michigan, where he played, and his enduring pride in his alma mater could not outweigh the relationships he’s built in the past six seasons at LSU, where he’s won 62 games and five bowls, including the 2007 national title.
“I’m one of those guys that believe where you are at is where you live your life,” Miles said Wednesday shortly after LSU announced that the Tigers’ coach had agreed to a new contract that would keep him living down on the bayou for the next seven seasons.
The announcement of Miles’ new deal came two days after Michigan Athletic Director Dave Brandon flew to Baton Rouge to meet with Miles about the Wolverines’ coaching vacancy that has since been filled by Brady Hoke.
Miles’ annual salary will remain the same at a little more than $3.75 million. However, his new deal gives him three additional years and more opportunities win bonuses based on postseason success.
SAN DIEGO STATE
SAN DIEGO ó Rocky Long has been introduced as the new head football coach at San Diego State. His promotion from defensive coordinator on Wednesday comes after Hoke was hired away by Michigan a day earlier.
NOTRE DAME
SOUTH BEND, Ind. ó Michael Floyd, Notre Dame’s leading receiver this past season and one of the top pass catchers in school history, has decided to return to the Fighting Irish for his senior season instead of declaring for the NFL draft.
The 6-foot-3, 227-pound Floyd enters his final year at Notre Dame with the most touchdown receptions (28), second-most receptions (171) and third-most receiving yards (2,539) in school history.