Coaches, players, cheerleaders ... and other tidbits

Posted Jul 1, 2010 by Scott Carter

Updated Jul 1, 2010 at 04:19 PM

Hey folks, hope everyone is having a good Thursday. I’ll be away from the blog most of today working on some reporting, but I want to check in with a few links worth your time:

++ If you’re like me, you’re probably a lot more excited about that USF-Notre Dame 2011 season opener than the 2010 opener against Stony Brook. Talk about some good storylines leading up to that game in South Bend.

Much like USF fans are pleased with the hiring of Skip Holtz, Irish fans – a tough group to please – seem a little more bubbly with Kelly’s hiring than the past couple of Notre Dame coaches.

Click here to listen to an interview with Kelly, who touches on why he doesn’t want to see Notre Dame join the Big East or any other conference.

++ After news of his Tuesday arrest surfaced yesterday, former Bulls RB Mike Ford took matters into his own hands: he stopped by the offices of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune to give his side of an alternation with his live-in girlfriend.

Click here to read what Ford had to say. He says he didn’t slap her. Hmm, why does this story bring back so many recent memories?

++ If you saw my blog post yesterday, you know I’ve got a thing for preseason college football magazines. Sorry, just can’t help it. My favorite is perhaps the Blue Ribbon Yearbook, which is set to hit store shelves soon.

But you can click here to read Blue Ribbon’s in-depth breakdown of the Big East and USF if you have a few minutes to spare.

++ Remember Tiffany Blevins, the USF cheerleader who was a finalist in the Athlon Sports Sideline Spirit contest last fall?

Blevins finished second to Auburn’s Kameron McDaniel, but she still made it into this year’s national magazine. If you happen to pick up a copy, you’ll find her on Page 178.

++ Former Ole Miss player Eniel Polynice, who signed with Seton Hall on Wednesday after a serious flirtation with USF, talks with NBE Basketball about his decision. Click here to read.

++ “They paid $3 million to get in the first round to get me – whooo.’’ – That’s my favorite quote from Dominique Jones in a Dallas Morning News story picked up here by Jones’ hometown newpaper’s website. Click here to check out the story.