Monday, April 19, 2010

The Big 10 is meeting in Washington, D.C. this week specifically to discuss expansion, so it’s really going to take place. With a mandate to expand, that will allow Big 10 commissioner Jim Delaney to notify other conference commissioners of the schools he’ll contact to gauge their interest in joining his league.

Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who should be chosen in the top three in this week’s NFL draft, announced he will donate $2 million to the Cornhusker strength and conditioning program and an addition $600,000 to endow a scholarship in the school of engineering. Suh graduated with a degree in construction management.

In a related matter, there are a record number of underclassmen coming out early for the NFL draft - a total of 53. That, coupled with the 60-plus underclassmen coming out for the NBA draft certainly points to watered down college play in those two sports.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have feelers out to see if anyone if willing to take their 10th overall pick and allow them to trade down in hopes of snaring former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. The Jags reportedly want a lower first round pick plus a second-rounder.

If not a quarterback controversy, Alabama will at least have a heated quarterback competition next fall as backup QB A.J. McCarron had an excellent day during the Crimson Tide’s spring game. As 91,000-plus looked on, McCarron completed 12 of 28 for 196 yards and two touchdowns while incumbent Greg McElroy hit on 12 of 22 for 141 yards, one TD and one interception.

There will be great argument over the NCAA’s latest brain-child. The college football governing body had instigated a new excessive celebration rule that basically takes points off the scoreboard if excessive celebration is called on a touchdown run or catch. If a guy looks back at the 10-year line and holds the ball out for the defender to see, it’s no touchdown.

Of all the local players, Georgia Tech’s defensive end Derrick Morgan should be the first taken in the pro football draft. Morgan is expected to be picked in the top 10, possibly ninth and headed for Buffalo.

And finally, Jason King of Yahoo!Sports predicts that top five risers and top five losers for next year’s NCAA basketball season. King says Memphis, North Carolina, Florida, Illinois and UNLV will come back strong while Louisville, Syracuse, Wake Forest, West Virginia and California will fade dramatically.

This is Norman Arey and I like Memphis’ basketball recruiting class above all others.