Gator commitment Chris Rainey (5-11), a running back from Lakeland High, gained 326 yards on 22 carries in the Daytona Beach Mainland in the Class 5A semifinal game last Friday. The Mainland coach said Rainey reminded of Desmond Howard from Michigan. Rainey could be suspended for the state title game Friday night against St. Thomas Aquinas due to allegedly taking improper gifts and money. Miami Northwestern High running back Antwain Easterling is in trouble with the law after being involved with having sex with a 14-year old student in the bathroom of his school. His status for the state title game against Lake Brantley is in question. Easterling is being recruiting by Florida and Miami.

Arkansas will play Wisconsin the Capital One Bowl. The Hogs are back in a bowl game for the first time since 2003. Arkansas had nine players selected on the first team Associated Press Poll. Five were first team and four were second team.

Alabama has reportedly hired West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez to replace Mike Shula. The parties have agreed in principle, but the university has not officially set a press conference. The Miami Herald reported Thursday that Alabama had offered Miami coach Nick Saban a 10-year, $50 million contract. However, Saban, his agent Jimmy Sexton and Alabama officials are disputing the report.

The Tide is preparing for its 54th bowl appearance, a NCAA record. Alabama, 30-20-3 in postseason play, has more bowl wins than any team in NCAA history. Alabama last played in the Independence Bowl in 2001. They have never played Oklahoma State. Defensive coordinator Joe Kines is the interim head coach. Backup quarterback Jimmy Barnes tore an ACL in practice. Tailback Jimmy Johns might have to be the backup quarterback.

Auburn will be playing Nebraska in the Cotton Bowl. The Tigers make their seventh straight appearance under Tommy Tuberville and third straight New Year’s Day Bowl. They have won three of their last four bowl games. Auburn is going for its 11th win this season. They have won 11 games only three times in their 113 year history. Tiger coaches redshirted 22 players this past season including 10 on defense. Linebacker Craig Stevens played in the first three games before redshirting with a hamstring injury. Offensive coordinator Al Borges is being considered for the Stanford job. Stanford was on of the worst offenses in the country last season.

Georgia will play Virginia Tech in the Peach Bowl. The last time the two teams have played was in 1931. It has been eight years since Georgia played in the Peach Bowl. Coach Mark Richt is unbeaten in nine games against ACC opponents. He is 3-2 in bowl games. Bulldog redshirt freshman defensive tackle Kade Weston was selected to the Sporting News SEC All-Freshman team. Weston, who played in every game, had 12 tackles and 12 quarterback hurries. Defensive coordinator Willie Martinez interviewed for the Florida International vacancy, but decided to withdraw his name. Georgia’s defense allowed only 25 touchdowns in 12 games this season. Center Ian Smith was arrested last Wednesday after being found drunk and passed out. He was suspended for the first two games of the season for public intoxication. Smith was expected to compete for a starting job next season. Fernando Velasco will take on his duties for the bowl game. Corvey Irvin (6-4, 275), a defensive end and Jarius Wynn (6-5, 275) defensive tackle, both from Georgia Military College, have committed to the Bulldogs raising the number of verbal commitments to 23. The Bulldogs had six offensive and defensive player selected to the AP All-SEC first and second teams. Tackle Daniel Inman was the only first team pick.

Kentucky will play Clemson in the Music City bowl in Nashville. The Wildcats are back in a bowl for the first time in seven years. They have lost their last three bowls. Clemson, who has lost three of its last four games, is ranked No. 12 in total offense and No. 13 in total defense. Wildcat quarterback Andre Woodson who threw for 3,216 yards and 28 touchdowns was named the team’s most valuable player by his teammates. Kentucky leads the league in passing averaging 274 yards per game. D J Stafford (6-3, 263), the No. 12 ranked defensive end in the nation from LaGrange, Georgia, has committed to the Wildcats.

LSU, which is on a six-game win streak, heads to the Sugar Bowl to play Notre Dame, who is trying to snap an eight game bowl losing streak. The last win for the Irish was 1994. Notre Dame last played in the Sugar Bowl in 1992 when they beat Florida. LSU, which is playing in its 12th Sugar Bowl, has orders for more than 42,000 tickets to the Rose Bowl. The Tigers opener for 2007 has been changed. Middle Tennessee originally scheduled to come to Baton Rouge on Nov. 3 will be the opening game. ESPN might move the Nov. 15 game at Mississippi State to Thursday, Aug. 30 to open the season. If the game is moved, the Middle Tennessee game will be cancelled. LSU also plays Virginia Tech on Sept. 8. The Tigers end up first in the SEC in total offense (404 yards per game) and defense (238 ypg), a first in their history. Jarvus Jones (6-7, 250), a four-star offensive tackle from Rosenberg (Texas) Lamar, has committed to the Tigers. He is a Rivals250 member.

Ole Miss sustained a blow when linebacker Rory Johnson signed with an agent this weekend and declared for the NFL draft. He was second on the team with 94 tackles. Ole Miss had a third straight losing season and its second in a row under Ed Orgeron. The Rebels lost to LSU, Alabama, Georgia and Auburn by a combined 17 points. Orgeron played 17 true freshmen this season. The loss of defensive backs Charles Clark, Trumaine McBride and Bryan Brown, who are out of eligibility, means to secondary has to be rebuilt.

South Carolina will play Houston in the Liberty Bowl. This is only the fourth time in South Carolina history that they have gone to a bowl game in consecutive years (1979-80, 1987-88, and 2000-01). USC is 3-9 in bowl games. This is the first SEC team in the Liberty Bowl since 1992. Gamecock coach Steve Spurrier was rewarded with a year contract extension through 20012 and a raise in pay from $1.25 million to $1.75. He is the first Gamecock coach in history to lead the team to a bowl game in his first two seasons. Houston quarterback Kevin Kolb has 27 touchdowns and only three picks this season. Ten starters from this year’s defense against Clemson return next season. Spurrier has told the players that they are playing for their jobs next season. He doesn’t want a repeat performance of the bowl game last year. Linebacker Jasper Brinkley was named to the first team All-SEC team. He was the only player to be named. Tampa Jefferson’s Stephen Garcia (6-2, 210), the third best dual threat quarterback according to Rivals.com, verbally committed to South Carolina, considered his favorite.

Tennessee will play Penn State in the Outback Bowl. This is the third bowl game between the teams. Starting guard Anthony Parker will miss the bowl game after having his knee scoped. Freshman Jacques McClendon will start in his place. Outside linebacker Jerod Mayo is out with a knee injury. His status for the bowl game is yet to be decided. The Vols latest verbal commitment is receiver Kenny O’Neal (6-0, 195), a receiver from San Francisco Community College. Offensive lineman Arron Sears won the Jacobs Award for the best blocker in the SEC. He is the first Vol in 16 year to win the trophy.

SEC HOOPS NOTES:

Alabama (7-1) lost its first game of the season at Notre Dame Thursday night. Russell Carter scored 27 points to spark the Irish. Alonzo Gee led Alabama with 24 points. Ron Steele, who has been battling tendonitis in his knees, returned to action with 12 points and five assists in the win over Tennessee State. Mykal Riley, a 6-foot-6 junior college transfer, has been one of the bright spots in the early going for the Tide.

Auburn signed Tyrell Lynch, a 6-foot-9, 220 pound power forward from Laurinburg Prep

School in Laurinburg, N. C. Providence, Nebraska and Missouri also offered him.

Georgia’s one point win over Wake Forest was the fifth straight for the Dawgs. Mike Mercer led Georgia with 18 points.

Kentucky’s 12-point loss to North Carolina was the third straight to the Tar Heels. The Wildcats had 22 turnovers, seven from guard Joe Crawford. Junior center Randolph Morris had 21 points and five rebounds. Jared Carter, a 7-foot-2, 250 pound sophomore center will have season ending shoulder surgery. His absence leaves the Cats with just four true post players.

Mississippi State freshman Ben Hansbrough had 23 points, eight assists and three steals in his first starting role in a win over Texas A & M Corpus Christi. He hit five of six treys. Jamont Gordon already has three 20 point games this season.

Tennessee guard Dane Bradshaw is the leader in the conference in assist to turnover ratio. In the Murray State game last week, he had five assists and no turnovers. The Vols had a huge win this week over state rival Memphis as Chris Lofton scored a career high 34 points.

ACC FOOTBALL NOTES

N C State has hired Boston College coach Tom O’Brien. Many reports said on Wednesday that Navy’ Paul Johnson was the top candidate. Tennessee Titan assistant Norm Chow took his name out of the mix Wednesday.

Miami has hired defensive coordinator Randy Shannon to replace former coach Larry Coker. President Donna Shalala and the coaching committee decided to hire Shannon after questioning him most of Thursday afternoon. Athletic director Paul Dee was going to set up interviews with additional candidates, but stopped the process after Shalala decided on Shannon. Cane officials were rebuffed Monday by Rutger’s coach Greg Schiano, who decided to remain in New Jersey. Texas Tech coach Mike Leach had some conversation with Miami officials in New York. Former quarterback Bernie Kosar and Arizona coach Mike Stoops were also considered in the mix. Other reports said TCU coach Gary Patterson could also be in the mix. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops was also rumored for the job. Rich Rodriguez’s name came up on Wednesday. Miami was wary of his $2 million buyout.

Florida State meets UCLA for the first time in the Emerald Bowl. The Noles haven’t been to California since 1997. The Emerald Bowl is in the first season of a four year contract between the ACC and the Pac 10. Bobby Bowden announced this week that Jeff Bowden will be the offensive coordinator in the bowl game.

Georgia Tech will face West Virginia in the Gator Bowl. The Mountaineers are coming off an impressive triple overtime win over Rutgers. West Virginia has lost all five of its Gator Bowl appearances. They lost to FSU last year. Tailback Tashard Choice ran 21 times for 100 yards in the loss to Wake Forest. Receiver Calvin Johnson caught eight passes for 117 yards.

Wake Forest will face Louisville in the Orange Bowl after beating Georgia Tech in the ACC Title game. Quarterback Riley Skinner hit receiver Willie Idlette to put his team in position for Sam Swank to kick the winning 22-yard field goal. Skinner completed 14- of- 25 passes. Wake limited Tech quarterback Reggie Ball to 9- of- 29 passing for 127 yards with two picks. Demon Deacon linebacker Jon Abbate had 15 tackles and one sack.

North Carolina coach Butch Davis has fired offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti, offensive line coach Mark Weber and assistant head coach John Gutekunst. UNC was No. 10 in total offense last season. The quarterbacks threw 10 interceptions.

Boston College will play Navy in the Charlotte Car Care Bowl on Jan. 30. BC beat UNC two years ago in the same bowl. Clemson and Maryland, two teams BC beat, received better bowl bids. O’Brien, 75-45 in 10 years, was the 10th highest paid coach ($733,000) in the ACC. NC State will pay him over $1 million. Assistant head coach Jerry Petercuskie would be a viable replacement for O’Brien, if BC decided to hire from within.

West Virginia possibilities to replace Rodriguez: LSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher (played college football in West Virginia), Florida assistant coach John “Doc” Holliday (three-time letter-winner as a linebacker for West Virginia) and New Orleans offensive assistant Georgia Henshaw (former West Virginia lineman), and former Notre Dame coach Bob Davie (tie with West Virginia athletic administration).

Maryland will play Purdue in the Champs Sports Bowl. The bowl chose Maryland over BC 9-3 and Clemson 8-4. The bowl is the fourth in sixth years under Ralph Friedgen. Maryland’s last bowl was a loss in the 2004 Gator Bowl. Purdue 8-5 is No. 114 out of 119 in total defense, but No. 10 nationally in total offense. Boilermaker quarterback Curtis Painter threw for 3,721 yards, but he also had 18 picks. Purdue failed to beat a team with a winning record.

Clemson tailback C J Spiller is recovering from an ankle sprain. Coach Tommy Bowden said one of his team’s goals is to win their ninth game in the bowl against Kentucky. Clemson leads the ACC in rushing, total offense and scoring offense.

Virginia Tech has not been to the Peach Bowl since 1986. Tech has had three consecutive 10 win seasons. Southern Cal is the only other team to do so. The Hokies are on a six game win streak. Tailback Branden Ore will return from a high ankle sprain. Guard Ryan Shuman, who missed the last four games with a knee injury, is expected to play. Tackle Brandon Frye is expected to be at full strength after battling an ankle injury throughout the season.

Heisman Trophy finalists are Troy Smith of Ohio State, Brady Quinn of Notre Dame and Darren McFadden of Arkansas.

BRENT BEAIRD IS A SPORTS WRITER FOR THE CLAY COUNTY LINE IN ORANGE PARK, FLA., HE ALSO WRITES FOR RIVALS.COM, SAMSPORTSLINE.COM AND GATOR BAIT MAGAZINE. HE CAN BE HEARD ON ESPN 1460 ON MONDAY AND THURSDAY AFTERNOONS ON THE RUMBLE WITH MIKE DEMPSEY AND TOM MCMANUS.