NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Vanderbilt's commitment to excellence and academics and the chance to coach in the Southeastern Conference helped school officials lure James Franklin away from Maryland to become the Commodores' new coach.
Franklin, the offensive coordinator who was in line to succeed Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen, was introduced Friday as Vanderbilt's third head coach this season.
"It was obvious to me right away that this place could be something really special," Franklin said. "It was really about the people. I was blown away by the people. Really, I was in a situation where I didn't really have to take a job."
Franklin replaces Robbie Caldwell, who took over July 14 when Bobby Johnson unexpectedly retired and resigned Nov. 27.
This will be the first head coaching job for Franklin, who turns 39 in February. He will be the first black coach of any major sport at Vanderbilt and only the third in the Southeastern Conference after former Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom and Kentucky coach Joker Phillips.
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Texas regents discuss coordinator candidates
AUSTIN, Texas - University of Texas regents went behind closed doors to discuss candidates for Longhorns offensive and defensive coordinators and authorized coach Mack Brown and school officials to negotiate contracts.
The meeting Friday was conducted by telephone from the regents' headquarters in Austin and was attended in person by school president William Powers Jr. and athletic director DeLoss Dodds. Brown didn't attend.
Powers and Dodds wouldn't say which assistant coaching candidates were discussed and declined to comment when asked if hirings were imminent.
The formal motion approved by the regents said other coaches not discussed in the meeting could also be hired.
Brown is searching for coordinators on both sides of the ball after a 5-7 season, Texas' first losing season since 1997. Longtime offensive coordinator Greg Davis resigned Dec. 6 and defensive coordinator Will Muschamp left Dec. 11 to become Florida's head coach.
Punitive damages being sought in death of player
ORLANDO, Fla. - Attorneys for the parents of a Central Florida football player who died following a 2008 off-season conditioning workout have filed a motion seeking punitive damages in their wrongful-death lawsuit.
The motion was filed Friday in Orange County Civil Court. Punitive damages are intended to deter the defendant from similar conduct and not necessarily compensate the plaintiff.
The parents of Ereck Plancher already were seeking compensatory damages in the lawsuit. They allege that coaches and trainers ignored signs of fatigue that led to their son's death.
An autopsy showed Plancher had a sickle cell trait that caused problems with his red blood cells during physical exertion. UCF officials have called Plancher's death a tragedy and said staff did everything they could to save him.
Extra points
• California says wide receivers coach Kevin Daft will not return to the football staff in 2011. The school made the announcement Friday.
Daft spent seven seasons with Cal. He coached wide receivers the past three years. He also coached quarterbacks in 2007 and was a graduate assistant from 2004 to 2006.
• Nevada coach Chris Ault is being recommended for a two-year contract extension after leading the Wolf Pack to a 12-1 regular-season record and the No. 13 ranking. The Wolf Pack will face Boston College on Jan. 9 in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco.
• Central Missouri quarterback Eric Czerniewski won the Harlon Hill Trophy as Division II's top player.
Czerniewski set Division II records this season with 5,207 yards passing and a nation-leading 46 touchdown passes.
TODAY'S BOWLS
New Mexico Bowl
• Who: BYU (6-6) vs. UTEP (6-6)
• When: Noon (ESPN)
• Line: BYU by 11 1/2.
• Series record: BYU leads 28-7-1.
• Last meeting: BYU 31-14 in El Paso on Nov. 14, 1998.
• What's at stake: A winning season. That's what happens when 6-6 teams are matched in a bowl game, but don't be too quick to shrug off the New Mexico Bowl. There have been recent thrillers - Colorado State rallied to beat Fresno State 40-35 in 2008 and Wyoming beat Fresno State 35-28 in double overtime last year.
New Orleans Bowl
• Who: Ohio (8-4) vs. Troy (7-5)
• When: 7 p.m. (ESPN)
• Line: Troy by 2 1/2
• Series record: First meeting.
• What's at stake: Ohio is in its fifth bowl and is still looking for its first bowl victory after falling to Marshall in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl last season. Troy seeks its second New Orleans Bowl victory in three appearances, and second victory overall in six bowl games.
Humanitarian Bowl
• Who: Fresno State (8-4) vs. Northern Illinois (10-3)
• When: 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)
• Line: Northern Illinois by 1
• Series record: Series tied 2-2.
• Last meeting: 1991, Fresno State 55-7.
• What's at stake: Every three years it seems Fresno State is destined for a bowl trip to Boise. This year is no different, but comes with the added bonus of the Bulldogs trying to make amends for the last time they stepped on the blue turf and were whacked 51-0 by Boise State in late November. Northern Illinois is in a whirlwind of change with coach Jerry Kill leaving to take the head job at Minnesota and his replacement, Dave Doeren, busy prepping Wisconsin's defense for the Rose Bowl. That leaves interim coach Tom Matukewicz responsible for getting the Huskies to care about their third straight bowl appearance.
The Associated Press
