Stanford coach Shaw: BCS system is 'flawed'

Updated: November 22, 2011, 7:34 PM ET

It was a vocal day for Stanford Cardinal coach David Shaw -- who, in his brief tenure leading the Cardinal, has not been known to be overly passionate.

Usually mild-mannered and reserved, Shaw used his Tuesday roundtable meeting with the media as a pulpit for what's wrong with the Bowl Championship Series.

?

Bottom line is, the BCS is flawed. ... They themselves know it, which is why they proposed a lot of changes going forward. All I've heard all year is the computers don't like Stanford. Well, the computers haven't programmed themselves.

? -- Stanford coach David Shaw

"Bottom line is, the BCS is flawed," Shaw said. "They themselves know it, which is why they proposed a lot of changes going forward. All I've heard all year is the computers don't like Stanford. Well, the computers haven't programmed themselves.

"To have a one-loss Pac-12 team behind a one-loss ACC team (Virginia Tech) means that the computer values the ACC more than it values the Pac-12. Which I don't believe is the case. I don't think that's accurate."

Shaw noted that Virginia Tech beat common opponents Duke by four points, (14-10), while the Cardinal beat them by 30 (44-14).

"I keep hearing about quality wins," he said. "Well first off, who decides what the quality wins are and secondly, how does a quality or non-quality loss affect people? Whereas we lost to a very good Oregon team ranked No. 10, (Virginia Tech) lost to a team ranked No. 17 (Clemson). I don't get it."

Stanford moved up from No. 9 to No. 6. in the latest BCS standings. But among the six one-loss teams ranked in the Top 10, Stanford is behind four others.

"Oklahoma State is outstanding, a very good football team," Shaw said. "Once again, we lost to a team that was in the Top 10, they lost to a team that's not ranked. I don't get it. Not saying that where we should be opposed to where other people are, I'm just saying the explanations I get don't make any sense. Now, there is a lot of football to be played a lot of stuff that's going to shake itself out."

More on Stanford football

Everything Stanford football, from recruiting to news to game coverage, is available from ESPN.com's Kevin Gemmell in his Stanford football blog.

More:
?�ESPN.com's Pac-12 blog

"I felt like it was to a point where I had to say something. I don't understand it," he added. "Most of the people I talk to don't understand it. Most of the people that are explaining it don't completely understand it. The experts have their disagreements. I just wanted to lay that out there. Do with it whatever you want."

Shaw said his team has moved on and is focused on Saturday's game against Notre Dame -- that they "laughed about it" when they got together on Monday.

Asked what he thinks the solution should be, Shaw said his opinion is irrelevant.

"It doesn't matter what I'd like, he said. "That's not where we are right now ... I think those are off-season discussions. We are where we are right now. We have to play good football and see where that puts us."

Shaw's statements came just a couple of hours after he made an impassioned speech about why quarterback Andrew Luck should win the Heisman Trophy. Speaking on the Pac-12 coaches' conference call, Shaw said "it's an absolute joke" that Luck's national perception might be slipping.

"There is nobody in college football that is doing what Andrew Luck is doing," Shaw said. "Don't forget, I spent nine years in the NFL. I evaluated every single quarterback that came out in the NFL during that time and have seen all of the good ones since then. There is nobody that I've heard of that does as much at the line of scrimmage in college football. There are not that many guys in the NFL that are doing as much as Andrew is at the line of scrimmage.

"The guy is running the game at the line of scrimmage. He's controlling the protections. He's controlling the running game. We're calling three, four plays in the huddle, which most guys can't even think about handling and he does that."

Kevin Gemmell covers Stanford football for ESPN.com

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Margarito cleared for NY rematch against Cotto

Tue Nov 22, 2011 8:42pm EST

(Reuters) - The eagerly-awaited rematch between Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico and Mexico's Antonio Margarito will go ahead as planned in New York next month after officials finally gave the go ahead for the world title fight to proceed.

The super welterwight bout, scheduled to take place at Madison Square Garden on December 3, was in doubt after the New York State Athletic Commission raised questions about the health of Margarito, who suffered a serious eye injury that required surgery in his loss to Manny Pacquiao last year.

The Commission rejected Margarito's initial application to fight Cotto but agreed to let him undergo further medical examinations by an eye specialist of their choice.

On Tuesday, the Commission reviewed their decision and agreed to grant a boxing license to the Mexican.

Had the Commission refused to let the fight proceed, the promoters were considering moving it to another American state although Cotto caught them by surprise when he told reporters he wasn't going anywhere else.

"I'm not going to present myself in any other state," Cotto, the WBA super welterweight champion, said on a conference call.

"If the people from the New York commission said that Margarito is not able to fight because of his eye, then (everybody) has to respect that and any commission in the U.S. has to respect that."

Margarito, 33, defeated Cotto in their first meeting in 2008 with an 11th round knockout.

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Julian Linden; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Stanford coach Shaw: BCS system is 'flawed'

Updated: November 22, 2011, 7:34 PM ET

It was a vocal day for Stanford Cardinal coach David Shaw -- who, in his brief tenure leading the Cardinal, has not been known to be overly passionate.

Usually mild-mannered and reserved, Shaw used his Tuesday roundtable meeting with the media as a pulpit for what's wrong with the Bowl Championship Series.

?

Bottom line is, the BCS is flawed. ... They themselves know it, which is why they proposed a lot of changes going forward. All I've heard all year is the computers don't like Stanford. Well, the computers haven't programmed themselves.

? -- Stanford coach David Shaw

"Bottom line is, the BCS is flawed," Shaw said. "They themselves know it, which is why they proposed a lot of changes going forward. All I've heard all year is the computers don't like Stanford. Well, the computers haven't programmed themselves.

"To have a one-loss Pac-12 team behind a one-loss ACC team (Virginia Tech) means that the computer values the ACC more than it values the Pac-12. Which I don't believe is the case. I don't think that's accurate."

Shaw noted that Virginia Tech beat common opponents Duke by four points, (14-10), while the Cardinal beat them by 30 (44-14).

"I keep hearing about quality wins," he said. "Well first off, who decides what the quality wins are and secondly, how does a quality or non-quality loss affect people? Whereas we lost to a very good Oregon team ranked No. 10, (Virginia Tech) lost to a team ranked No. 17 (Clemson). I don't get it."

Stanford moved up from No. 9 to No. 6. in the latest BCS standings. But among the six one-loss teams ranked in the Top 10, Stanford is behind four others.

"Oklahoma State is outstanding, a very good football team," Shaw said. "Once again, we lost to a team that was in the Top 10, they lost to a team that's not ranked. I don't get it. Not saying that where we should be opposed to where other people are, I'm just saying the explanations I get don't make any sense. Now, there is a lot of football to be played a lot of stuff that's going to shake itself out."

More on Stanford football

Everything Stanford football, from recruiting to news to game coverage, is available from ESPN.com's Kevin Gemmell in his Stanford football blog.

More:
?�ESPN.com's Pac-12 blog

"I felt like it was to a point where I had to say something. I don't understand it," he added. "Most of the people I talk to don't understand it. Most of the people that are explaining it don't completely understand it. The experts have their disagreements. I just wanted to lay that out there. Do with it whatever you want."

Shaw said his team has moved on and is focused on Saturday's game against Notre Dame -- that they "laughed about it" when they got together on Monday.

Asked what he thinks the solution should be, Shaw said his opinion is irrelevant.

"It doesn't matter what I'd like, he said. "That's not where we are right now ... I think those are off-season discussions. We are where we are right now. We have to play good football and see where that puts us."

Shaw's statements came just a couple of hours after he made an impassioned speech about why quarterback Andrew Luck should win the Heisman Trophy. Speaking on the Pac-12 coaches' conference call, Shaw said "it's an absolute joke" that Luck's national perception might be slipping.

"There is nobody in college football that is doing what Andrew Luck is doing," Shaw said. "Don't forget, I spent nine years in the NFL. I evaluated every single quarterback that came out in the NFL during that time and have seen all of the good ones since then. There is nobody that I've heard of that does as much at the line of scrimmage in college football. There are not that many guys in the NFL that are doing as much as Andrew is at the line of scrimmage.

"The guy is running the game at the line of scrimmage. He's controlling the protections. He's controlling the running game. We're calling three, four plays in the huddle, which most guys can't even think about handling and he does that."

Kevin Gemmell covers Stanford football for ESPN.com

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Vikings' Peterson has ankle sprain, Sunday status uncertain

Mon Nov 21, 2011 2:48pm EST

(Reuters) - Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has an ankle sprain and remains in doubt for next week's NFL clash against the Atlanta Falcons is uncertain, coach Leslie Frazier said on Monday.

Frazier said Peterson, who injured his left ankle in the second quarter of Sunday's loss to the Oakland Raiders, would try to practice on Friday to determine whether he could play against the Falcons on Sunday.

The four-time Pro Bowl player will wear a walking boot the next couple of days, Frazier said.

"It's nothing more serious than that...and he'll recover from it," Frazier told his weekly news conference.

"It's just the matter of the amount of time he'll miss. We'll have a better indication toward the end of the week."

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Julian Linden)

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Bodenheimer, Skipper assume new ESPN roles

Updated: November 22, 2011, 11:47 AM ET

BURBANK, Calif. -- George Bodenheimer has been named executive chairman of ESPN, and John Skipper will replace him as president of the network and co-chair of Disney Media Networks.

?

I've been with ESPN 31 years -- my entire professional career. Constant change and consistent growth have marked each of those years, and to me those two themes underscore today's news.

? -- ESPN president George Bodenheimer

The announcement was made Tuesday by Bob Iger, the president and chief executive officer of the Walt Disney Company.

"With George's continued presence, John's experience and vision and an executive management team and workforce that are unparalleled in the sports media business, ESPN is extremely well positioned for continued success," Iger said in a statement.

Bodenheimer will relinquish his day-to-day operating responsibilities as president of ESPN, his role for the last 13 years, on Jan. 1. As executive chairman, he will continue to chair ESPN's board of directors, provide strategic direction and support the transition to Skipper, who will assume day-to-day operating responsibilities also on Jan. 1.

"I've been with ESPN 31 years -- my entire professional career. Constant change and consistent growth have marked each of those years, and to me those two themes underscore today's news," Bodenheimer said in a statement. "After 13 years as president, I felt it was a good time to step away from the day to day management of ESPN and let others take the lead. I very much appreciate Bob's support over the years, and look forward to my future role with ESPN."

Skipper, who joined ESPN in June 1997 as senior vice president and general manager of ESPN The Magazine, has served as ESPN's executive vice president of content since October 2005. Previously, he was senior vice president of The Disney Publishing Group, overseeing all of Disney's magazine, book and licensed publishing operations in the United States.

"I am humbled and excited to be given the opportunity by Bob and George to lead this terrific company," Skipper said. "George set a high bar and an impeccable example, and I will dedicate all of my energy to follow George's lead in both empowering and supporting my 7,000 ESPN colleagues who do such great work every day."

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Meyer: 'Decision to make' if Ohio State offers job

Urban Meyer resigned as Florida coach after the 2010 season to spend time with his family and focus on his health.

AP

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Former Florida coach Urban Meyer says he still has concerns about returning to coaching, but "right now there are no decisions to be made."

Media reports have fueled speculation Meyer could be the next Ohio State coach.

In an interview Monday with The Sun in Gainesville, Fla., Meyer reiterated he hasn't been offered the Ohio State job. He also says he didn't interview for the Arizona job.

Meyer resigned after the 2010 season because of health issues and to spend more time with his family.

He told the newspaper concerns about his health and the amount of time he can commit to his family still remain.

He says "if something happens with Ohio State, I'll have a decision to make. There has been no offer to make a decision about."

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Big, bad B.J. Raji pushes way to TD for Packers offense

As if the Green Bay Packers didn't have enough weapons on offense, they unleashed one Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the size of a refrigerator.

Heavens to William Perry, it's fullback B.J. Raji. Sent in for what was expected to be blocking purposes, Perry took a handoff from Packers QB Aaron Rodgers on second down and scored from a one-yard touchdown.

?NFL Week 11 scoreboard: Get all the action and information here

The Packers' first TD of the game, it came with 3:08 left in the first quarter. Raji, by trade a defensive tackle at 6-2, 337 pounds, pounded the ball up the middle as blockers helped shove Buccaneers defenders into the end zone.

Raji's TD was a surprise, but it paled in comparison to a spectacular 54-yard run by Bucs featured back LeGarrette Blount in the second quarter. Blount took a handoff up the middle and escaped at least six potential tacklers on his way to the end zone.

Raji is more adept at stopping running backs than being one, but his role in Week 11 shows he can have it both ways.

It's not the first career touchdown for Raji. In last season's NFC Championship Game, Raji picked off a pass and returned it 18 yards for a TD. He became the first Packers defensive lineman to score a playoff touchdown.

Perry rose to fame with the Chicago Bears in the 1980s when they used him as a fullback in goal-line offense plays. The same height as Raji, Perry was also a defensive tackle who at times weight 50 pounds more than Raji.

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Arizona announces Rodriguez hire on Twitter

Updated: November 21, 2011, 9:42 PM ET

Arizona has hired former West Virginia and Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez as its next football coach, as athletic director Greg Byrne made the news official with a photo posted on Twitter.

Posted to Byrne's Twitter page on Monday was an entry that read "And the new Arizona football coach and his family is......."

Miller: Arizona Makes Right Choice

In hiring Rich Rodriguez before the end of the season, Arizona made the right choice at the right time, writes Ted Miller. Blog

The post included a link that, when clicked, led to a photo of Rodriguez with his family.

Byrne will officially introduce Rodriguez at a news conference Tuesday at the McKale Center, the school said. He replaces interim coach Tim Kish.

Arizona (3-8, 2-7 Pac-12) fired Mike Stoops last month after struggling to a 1-5 start.

Rodriguez coached Michigan from 2008-2010 and West Virginia from 2001-2007. Rodriguez posted a 60-26 record at West Virginia, finishing first in the Big East four times.

Rodriguez was 15-22 at Michigan, including 6-18 in Big Ten play, before being dismissed.

During Rodriguez' tenure, the school acknowledged that it was guilty of four NCAA violations. It was put on three years of probation, though Rodriguez and the school avoided major penalties in part because the NCAA agreed that the coach didn't fail to promote an atmosphere and compliance in his program.

Rodriguez has been working as an analyst for CBS Sports this year, but had made it clear he wanted to get back into coaching as soon as possible.

Byrne fired Stoops on Oct. 10, two days after the Wildcats lost to Oregon State. The team was 1-5 at the time, with the only victory over FCS member Northern Arizona, and 10 straight losses to FBS schools.

Kish, the team's defensive coordinator, took over as interim coach and the team won two Pac-12 games, over UCLA and last Saturday 31-27 over rival Arizona State. The Wildcats conclude their season Saturday at home against Louisiana-Lafayette.

Information from ESPN college football reporter Joe Schad and The Associated Press was used in this report.

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SN Power Rankings: LSU, Bama, Arkansas on top

No, you?re not looking at the SEC West Division?it?s this week?s Sporting News Power Rankings. After Oklahoma State lost for the first time this season and Oregon and Oklahoma both suffered their second losses, Alabama and Arkansas moved right behind top-ranked LSU.

The Cowboys were upset at Iowa State in double overtime on Friday and fell to No. 5 in this week?s rankings.

Oregon missed an opportunity to move back into the BCS title game talk with a 38-35 home loss to USC and the Sooners squandered its chance by falling to Baylor 45-38 on a TD pass with 8 seconds left in the game.

All of that allowed Alabama to move up to No. 2?where the Crimson Tide was before losing 9-6 to LSU in overtime just two weeks ago. It also allowed Arkansas to move to its highest point of the season. Arkansas? only loss came against Alabama.

The Razorbacks really have a chance to shake up things this week when they travel to Baton Rouge to play top-ranked LSU. No. 2 Alabama plays at rival Auburn.

And there?s no better time to cast your vote in the Sporting News Valvoline Fan Poll where LSU is holding off Alabama.

1. LSU 11-0 (1)

2. Alabama 10-1 (3)

3. Arkansas 10-1 (6)

4. Stanford 10-1 (7)

5. Oklahoma State 10-1 (2)

6. Virginia Tech 10-1 (9)

7. Oregon 9-2 (4)

8. Boise State 9-1 (10)

9. Southern Cal 9-2 (16)

10. Houston 11-0 (12)

11. Georgia 9-2 (11)

12. Michigan State 9-2 (13)

13. Oklahoma 8-2 (5)

14. Wisconsin 9-2 (13)

15. South Carolina 9-2 (15)

16. Clemson 9-2 (8)

17. Michigan 9-2 (19)

18. Kansas State 9-2 (18)

19. TCU 9-2 (20)

20. Penn State 9-2 (21)

21. Baylor 7-3 (NR)

22. Notre Dame 8-3 (24)

23. Virginia 8-3 (NR)

24. Nebraska 8-3 (16)

25. Georgia Tech 8-3 (25)

Also receiving votes (by votes received): Auburn, Louisville, Rutgers

Fan Poll: Vote for your Top 25!

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Chinese team eyes Mavs free agent center Tyson Chandler

The Chinese Basketball Association?s (CBA) Zhejiang Guangsha Lions have made an offer to free agent center Tyson Chandler, ESPN.com reports. Chandler, of course, was a key part of the Mavericks? championship run last season.

The CBA passed a rule this summer prohibiting its teams from signing NBA players under contract. Chandler?s deal with Dallas expired after last season.

Zhejiang Guangsha has already signed restricted free agent Wilson Chandler, who finished last season with the Nuggets after being traded from the Knicks as part of the Carmelo Anthony deal

A major consideration for Chandler is the CBA?s rule requiring NBA players who sign with Chinese teams to stay in the league for the entire season. That would preclude Chandler from returning to the NBA?and cashing in on what figure to be a lucrative contract as one of the top free agents?until the CBA season is over. The Chinese regular season ends in mid-February, and the playoffs go into March.

Chinese teams are aggressively pursuing NBA players now that the NBA season appears to be in real doubt. Guangdong on Friday signed Suns free agent Aaron Brooks, and the Xinjiang Flying Tigers, who already have Nuggets free agent Kenyon Martin under contract, have made offers to Hawks free agent Jamal Crawford and Mavs free agent J.J. Barea, ESPN notes.

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