Marve headed to the Big TEleven?

According to the Indianapolis Star, former Miami, Fla. quarterback Robert Marve has Purdue in the lead for his now transfer-ready services.

This seems like a shockingly good fit for Marve. A decent football program with a new coach. He's not overshooting his ability like Mitch Mustain's ill-fated USC transfer and he's getting out of the South and away from all the SEC/Miami/Florida badmouthing that was going on before. Might do Marve some good to get out of the Sunshine state.

Other quarterback transfer news, former Michigan QB Steven Threet is now at Arizona State.

This is Threet's third school. He started at Georgia Tech, went to UM and now ASU. Whoopty-doo. Hey Sun Devils, if this kid ever sees any meaningful playing time, that's not good news.

Ready for the prom

So what is Auburn's Gene Chizik trying to accomplish?

When he took over the Tigers program he promised an all-out, aggressive approach to recruiting. One of those goals is to re-establish the Auburn brand in Alabama. I guess showing up at high schools in a stretch limousine is all it takes. So either there is someone important in that limo or its prom-time in the south.

Now Chizik can't visit the schools in the limo (per NCAA restrictions), but this has his redneck fingerprints all over it. The Mobile (Ala.) Press-Register reported, seven Auburn assistant coaches piled into a limo decorated with Auburn decals and flags and headed south to Mobile, an important in-state recruiting ground for the Tigers.

And it appears this road show is not over. Similar visits in other Alabama communities are expected to take place this week, according to the newspaper.

I've seen more class from Virginia Tech fans. Let's face it. This is so SEC.

Second thoughts?

Do you think Ball State standout quarterback Nate Davis is second guessing his decision to leave early for the NFL?

Probably not. Davis doesn't think that way. He is now a member of the San Francisco 49ers after being selected in the fifth round Sunday. However, this is well below early expectations.

When the athletic kid stepped away from college football to chase the fame and riches of pro football he never thought he would slip this far. Many experts were saying he could find his way into the first round, but he was definitely a second-round selection.

Then he had a poor showing at the combine and he joked about his poor performance in high school classes. Now word is out that he has dyslexia, which explains his learning difficulty.

But the NFL doesn't want a quarterback who struggles with basic reading and math. There were also concerns his unorthodox throwing style, small hands and those gloves he wears. Plus, he struggled in the Cardinals biggest games of 2008.

He has a chance, though. Many players who have been overlooked or slipped have proven many GMs to be wrong. Nate Davis just may be that guy. The Sporting News believes Davis could be the future QB in San Fran.

We'll see. Davis could be a huge fifth-round steal.

DIII coach's ignorance shines brightly

It seems coaching arrogance and athlete pampering extends well beyond the professional and Division I level.

Lance Leipold, coach at Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater, unloaded on some reporters from the student newspaper and barred them from covering the Warhawks. Now that his expletive-filled response is behind him, it appears Leipold is ready to apologize.

The Warhawks are talented and routinely compete at the highest levels of D3. But this is just laughable. If you have ever watched ESPN cover a D3 championship game all Pam Ward can talk about is how these athletes are students first. No scholarships mean the players are there for academics first.

Don't believe it.

The Leipold's of the world are all the proof you need. They take their teams more seriously than any D1 coach and they follow fewer rules and regulations.

A school spokesman says Leipold will be publicly reprimanded and the school chancellor will decide on any additional sanctions. He's led the program to back-to-back championship games, including one exciting win over Mount Union. I think his job is pretty safe.

He has since apologized for his salty language and overall ignorance.

This whole thing started because of an editorial in the Royal Purple that talked about a campus incident that involved a police officer being called to a weight room after three football players refused to show student identification to lift some weights. The editorial had a headline that read "Spoiled athletes need reality check."

This is true. Even at Division III.

Podcast: Episode 28

Back in the studio, Phil and Tom talk about the best non-BCS coaches, including Gary Patterson at TCU and Kyle Whittingham at Utah. We also offer teams facing the biggest question marks in the ACC and Pac-10, as well as dissect the drama that is Greg Paulus. Our quick hitters are some of our best yet. We wonder why Nick Saban was wearing a suit during the Alabama spring game, why Pete Carroll is writing a book and how Jackie Sherrill is getting Mississippi State into trouble again.

Redneck ways

This is special. A group of inbred, redneck Florida Gaytor fans shootin' up a Miami Hurricanes flag. The funny thing is the flag is still standing after they unload all of their ammo.

I'm really surprised Billy Bob didn't hold the flag while Jimbo and his buddies fired away.

(Hat tip to The Seventh Floor)

Jarrett Brown ready to take over at WVU

While many WVU fans are hyperventilating at the idea of not having Pat White at quarterback this fall, I'm one of the few who think the Mountaineers can actually excel under Jarrett Brown. He's not the running threat that White was, but Brown is a tough runner. And Brown is a much better thrower than White. It believe Jarrett has a chance to lead WVU to a Big East title.

Brown will become just the third first-year senior starting quarterback in the last 25 years. The other two are Kevin White in 1984 and Greg Jones in 1990. White led the Mountaineers to an 8-4 mark and a win in the Bluebonnet Bowl after sitting behind Oliver Luck and Jeff Hostetler.

Jones, who transferred to WVU from Miami, was a two-year back-up to Major Harris. Jones one year at the helm was difficult as the Mountaineers were in a rebuilding mode and finished 4-7.

Which path will Brown follow? I think he'll do even better than White -- Kevin, probably not Pat.