Saturday, December 21, 2013

Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon will return for his junior season

Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon announced that he will bypass the NFL Draft and return for his junior season.

Going into next season Gordon will be on many Heisman watch lists after rushing for 1,466 yards and 12 touchdowns in a timeshare backfield with James White.

“After talking it over with my family and my coaches, I have decided to come back next year,” Gordon said. “I love the University of Wisconsin and feel that there is still a lot of room for growth. Academically, another year in school will help me get closer to completing my degree and on the field I hope to help my team get back the Big Ten championship.”

“With this decision out of the way I can now focus on helping my team prepare for the Capital One Bowl and a great opponent in South Carolina.”

Badgers coach Gary Andersen is happy that Gordon will be back to lead the vaunted Badgers rushign attack in 2014.

“Melvin is a great player and a great kid and we are very happy with his decision. We tried to be very supportive throughout the decision-making process and relayed all the information he needed to make an informed decision. I’m glad he can now focus on the bowl game and prepare for a great 2014.”

Gordon was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation’s top running back and rushed for at least 140 yards in seven of Wisconsin’s 12 games. Only Heisman Trophy finalist Andre Williams of Boston College and Washington’s Bishop Sankey had more games of 140-plus rushing yards among Football Bowl Subdivision players this season, with eight apiece.

Tony Dungy not interested in coaching the Lions or anyone else

With the Detroit Lions reeling and fighting for a playoff spot that seemed a near certainty a month ago, many are predicting doom and gloom for head coach Jim Schwartz.

If Schwartz is indeed fired, you can cross NBC Sunday Night Football analyst Tony Dungy's name off the list of potential replacements.

Someone on Twitter asked Dungy if he would come back to coach the Lions if the job were available and Dungy replied "No I am done with coaching!"

Dungy was one of the most successful coaches in the NFL.

In 13 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts, he compiled a 139-69 mark. He went to the playoffs 11 times, leading the Colts to a Super Bowl victory in 2007.

Even though Dungy is a Michigan native, he seems like he's comfortable sitting next to Bob Costas and Rodney Harrison. If Schwartz is gone at season's end the Lions will have to look elsewhere for a coach. Dungy will not coach in Detroit or anywhere else.