Associated Press
The college football notebook
SAN FRANCISCO ó Despite playing on the opposite side of the country, Boston College has gotten the chance to see quite a bit of Nevadaís vaunted pistol offense on television.
The Eagles spent more than a few Friday nights the past couple of years being entertained in their hotel by quarterback Colin Kaepernick, running back Vai Taua and the rest of coach Chris Aultís high-scoring crew while preparing for their own game the following day.
Boston College (7-5) has been forced to study the No. 13 Wolf Packís pistol much more closely the past few weeks in preparation for today nightís Fight Hunger Bowl.
ěI learned that we better be lined up right and we better be ready,î Boston College coach Frank Spaziani said. ěTheyíre prolific. I think itís misnamed. Itís not a pistol, itís a bazooka. We run the pistol. They run a bazooka. This things explodes.î
MILES UPDATE
BATON ROUGE, La. ó The top athletic official at LSU says the school has not been contacted by Michigan about head football coach Les Miles.
Athletics Director Joe Alleva issued that statement Saturday after the Tigers returned from their 41-24 win over Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl.
Alleva says that “Les Miles is LSU’s head coach and we are going to do everything to keep it that way.”
Miles has been mentioned widely as a candidate to succeed the fired Rich Rodriguez at Michigan.
STANFORD COACH
TANFORD, Calif.ó Stanford athletic director Bob Bowlsby has met with the entire Orange Bowl-winning Cardinal football staff since the departure of coach Jim Harbaugh to the San Francisco 49ers on Friday.
Bowlsby is moving ahead in his search for Harbaugh’s replacement, first determining who the internal candidates might be.
RUTGERS QB LEAVING
PISCATAWAY, N.J. ó Quarterback Tom Savage, once considered the face of Rutgers football, is leaving the Scarlet Knights program.
The sophomore, who lost his starting job to freshman Chas Dodd, informed coach Greg Schiano that he plans to transfer, the school announced Saturday.
One of the school’s most highly touted recruits, Savage played 18 games during his two-year career and competed 52.2 percent of his passes. He finished with 2,732 yards passing, 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
OREGON PRACTICE
PHOENIX ó The Oregon Ducks were loose as they wrapped up one of their last practices before the BCS title game against Auburn.
Players danced and played air guitar before settling in for their workout Saturday at Pinnacle High School. Defensive tackle Zac Clark says the Ducks are at the stage where they just want to play the game.
Oregon coach Chip Kelly says despite what looked like a relaxed atmosphere, the team’s practice was sharp.
Second-ranked Oregon has one more workout on Sunday before meeting the top-ranked Tigers on Monday night at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
COACHíS RESCUE
BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. ó Former Southern Mississippi football coach Jeff Bower helped rescue two people off a burning fishing boat Saturday.
Authorities said that Linda Jordan and Robert Miller were fishing on the Jourdan River when their boat caught fire around 8 a.m. Bower and a friend, Jerry Thigpen, were fishing in a nearby bayou, saw the fire, moved in their 26-foot boat and pulled the two off the burning 36-foot vessel.
SENIOR BOWL
MOBILE, Ala. ó The Billsí and Bengalsí coaches will lead the teams at the Senior Bowl.