CFB notebook: New Mexico’s Davie appealing suspension
— The Sports Xchange —
New Mexico head coach Bob Davie said Friday that he will appeal the 30-day suspension handed down to him by the Lobos’ athletic department on Thursday.
The suspension was a response to a report by one of three parties investigating the New Mexico athletics department regarding allegations against Davie and the football program.
A report filed by the Chicago law firm Hogan Marren Babbo & Rose apparently deals with a culture of improper practices, according to the Albuquerque Journal. The report encourages the university to “take strong action” to make sure it does not tolerate sexual harassment, sexual assault and physical abuse.
In response to the suspension, Davie released the following statement:
“Over the past nine months the University has conducted three investigations involving the football program dating back to 2012. None of these three investigations determined that I had violated any University policy. I have appealed the suspension imposed by Interim President Abdallah to the Board of Regents.”
–Iowa State quarterback Kyle Kempt has been granted a sixth season of eligibility by the NCAA, the school announced .
Kempt guided the Cyclones to an 8-5 record last season, including a win over College Football Playoff participant Oklahoma.
Listed as a senior during the 2017 season, Kempt referenced the “run-off rule” in his attempt to get another season. The NCAA can grant additional years to players who are “run off” from their original four-year schools.
Kempt made his first start at No. 3 Oklahoma on Oct. 8 and led Iowa State to a stunning 38-31 upset, passing for 343 yards and three touchdowns. The Hawkeyes earned a bowl bid behind Kempt, who set the school’s single-season completion percentage (66.3) record. He connected on 161 of 243 passes for 1,787 yards and 15 touchdowns.
–Defensive coordinator Brent Venables of Clemson has become the second assistant coach in college football to make $2 million per season.
School trustees approved a $300,000 raise for Venables, part of more than $700,000 in raises given to Clemson’s assistant coaches after the Tigers won a third consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference title and made the College Football Playoff for the third year in a row.
Venables joins defensive coordinator Dave Aranda of LSU as the only college assistants to make $2 million annually. Aranda recently received a contract worth $2.5 million.
–Jim McElwain was Florida’s head coach when the Gators lost to Michigan 33-17 in the 2017 opener, and now he could be joining Jim Harbaugh’s staff with the Wolverines.
McElwain was fired by Florida after the season, and 247Sports.com reported he recently interviewed for Michigan’s vacant assistant coaching position.
A website called the Wolverine Lounge reported McElwain would call the offensive plays if he is hired. There was no indication what title McIlwain would hold if he joins the staff.
Tim Drevno has been the Wolverines’ offensive coordinator the last three seasons, and he signed a five-year contract extension after the 2016 season.
–Georgia captured the Southeastern Conference title in 2017, played in the College Football Playoff Championship Game and had the top-rated class on National Signing Day this week.
First-year head coach Dan Mullen of SEC rival Florida apparently isn’t that impressed.
“Listen, winning one SEC Championship Game doesn’t make you a dominant program, you know what I’m saying?” Mullen told Gator boosters on Signing Day, according to 247Sports.com. “In two of the last three years, we’ve been to the SEC Championship Game. So even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while.”
Florida captured SEC East titles in 2015 and 2016 under former coach Jim McElwain.
