Associated Press
The college football notebook …
BRISTOL, Conn. ó An ESPN spokesman says Urban Meyer will not be appear on the network this weekend after the former Florida coach requested he be taken off his assignment.
Several media outlets have reported that Meyer is set to become the new coach at Ohio State.
On Friday, ESPN spokesman Mike Humes posted on his Twitter account: “Urban Meyer won’t be appearing on ESPN this weekend. He requested off his studio assignment and we obliged.”
Meyer has been working as a game analyst this season for ESPN, and the rest of his usual broadcast team will be covering the Buckeyes’ game against Michigan in Ann Arbor on Saturday.
Earlier in the week, ESPN announced Meyer would work in the studio Saturday.
There are four teams that Meyer has never beaten as a head coach: Auburn (0-2), Miami of Ohio (0-1), Northern Illinois (0-1) and Michigan (0-1).
CONTRACT EXTENSION
MIAMI ó Al Golden insists he wanted to make a long-term commitment to Miami. The Hurricanes happily obliged.
Golden is now under contract with the Hurricanes through Feb. 1, 2020, the announcement coming Friday during a 24-17 loss to Boston College.
Four more years have been tacked onto the deal Golden signed with Miami this past spring ó a move the coach hopes is enough to end whatever speculation exists about him being potentially wooed elsewhere anytime soon.
The timing of the announcement was somewhat unusual, the university releasing the news with about 12 minutes to go in the game.
Miami is not going to a bowl game because of an ongoing NCAA investigation into the athletic department and compliance practices, a probe born after a former booster said he provided 72 Hurricane players and recruits with extra benefits from 2002 through 2010.
BCíS BEST
MIAMI ó Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly keeps adding to his impressive resume.
With his second tackle against Miami on Friday, Kuechly topped the Atlantic Coast Conference single-season record he set in 2010. It also was the 525th of his college career, now the most in Boston College history, passing Stephen Boyd’s 524 stops from 1991-94.
Kuechly came into Friday with a nation-leading 182 tackles this season. He’s had 10 or more tackles in 33 straight games and is under consideration for several national defensive awards.
Kuechly says he has not decided whether to return for his senior season or enter the NFL draft, where he would likely be a first-round selection.
TEMPLE WINNING
PHILADELPHIA ó Temple coach Steve Addazio speaks with a booming, room-commanding voice. When he opens his mouth, people tend to listen. Addazio is counting on some bowl committees out there that are willing to hear him out when he says his Owls deserve to go to a bowl game.
Temple accomplished a number of firsts with its 34-16 Mid-American Conference victory over Kent State Friday afternoon, including the first time the Owls won eight games or more for three straight years. It also marked the most victories by a first-year coach, Addazio.
But it’s a second-time snub Temple was looking to avert by improving its record to 8-4. With their third straight victory, the Owls may have solidified a second bowl berth in three years. Last year, Temple was the only program in the country with a winning record that wasn’t invited to a bowl game.