Lane Kiffin in the MAC? Conference USA? He may have thought about it

If you ever thought the pressure of coaching at USC might get to head coach Lane Kiffin, you might have been right. Kiffin admitted that he has at least mulled the idea of coaching at a lower profile school, or even a high school, in an interview with Ralph Russo of the Associated Press.

“I did think the other day what it would be like to be a high school head coach or to be at a small school,” Kiffin said in the AP story. “I thought about it the other day. The first time. I wonder if there’s something to that peace of mind. Maybe it’s something I can go back and do when I get older. I’m going to go coach high school.”

If 2013 does not go well, could Lane Kiffin be at a smaller school in 2014? Photo: Getty Images

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Stanford QB Josh Nunes retires

Photo: Getty Images

Stanford quarterback Josh Nunes will not play the 2013 college football season after deciding to step in to early retirement from football. Citing medical issues as a concern, Stanford announced the news Monday via Twitter.

We regret to report that senior QB Josh Nunes is medically retiring, ending his Cardinal career. Please join us w/ thx to Josh! #gostanford

— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) April 29, 2013

According to San Jose Mercury News, Nunes suffered a right biceps muscle injury in January and was not a part of Stanford’s spring practices. With Nunes out of the picture throughout the spring, redshirt sophomore Evan Crower saw increased reps in the spring game and head coach David Shaw believes Crower will be prepared to takeover the back-up duties in the fall behind Kevin Hogan.

Nunes led the Pac 12 champions in passing with 1,643 passing yards and 10 touchdowns in 10 games. He split playing time with Hogan last season as Stanford looked to replace Andrew Luck. Nunes won the starting job at the beginning of the season

Hogan is currently listed first on the updated depth chart for Stanford, with Evan Crower backing him up. Stanford added five-star pro-style quarterback Ryan Burns in the Class of 2013.

Oregon State shows off new logo and uniforms

I remember writing last year that it would be wise for Oregon State to listen to any ideas Nike was willing to offer. Those in charge in Corvallis certainly did not need me to tell them that though. Now, a little more than a year later we have a glimpse of what the result of a lengthy re-branding project has produced. And it’s fantastic.

New Oregon State uniform (black). Photo: Oregon State Athletics

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The Case for USC’s Marqise Lee (infographic)

To put it kindly, the 2012 season did not go according to script for USC in their first season off of NCAA sanctions. Starting the season as the number one team in the country with a Heisman Trophy caliber quarterback and a hot off-season transfer at running back, USC ended their regular season slate with a 7-5 record, a roughed up once-upon-a-time Heisman front runner and a running back who ended the year with fewer rushing yards than his third-string replacement at his old school.

Yet, there were a number of great moments for the Trojans this season. Many were provided by wide receiver Marqise Lee, who the school has shifted their focus to as the postseason award season gets underway. Here is a nice infographic that makes The Case for Marqise… … Continue Reading

Pac 12 Championship Game scenarios

UCLA has already clinched a spot in the Pac 12 championship game for a second straight season, and this year they did so without the need for an asterisk. A season after representing the Pac 12 South in the conference championship game because USC was ineligible for postseason play, the Bruins surprised many by winning the outright Pac 12 South Division this season following a home win against rival USC this past weekend.

With UCLA heading to their second Pac 12 championship game, it remains unknown who they will face form the Pac 12 North. As it turns out, UCLA will play a role in determining who they face, and where they face them this weekend when they host Stanford. UCLA could face Stanford or Oregon in the Pac 12 championship game. Here is the rundown on all of the Pac 12 scenarios to sort through this weekend.

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