Former NFL receiver Reche Caldwell arrested in illegal gambling ring

The lasting image of former NFL receiver Reche Caldwell was one of amusement after his reaction after dropping a pass against the Indianapolis Colts in an AFC Championship game while he was a member of the New England Patriots.

Caldwell is now in the news for the wrong reasons. Caldwell was arrested for his involvement in what Tampa police said was an illegal gambling operation.  Police say Caldwell was one of three leaders of the operation. Five other men are facing a variety of charges including probation violations, possession of a control substance and illegal gambling.

The 34-year-old Caldwell was a standout wide receiver at Florida and was chosen in the second round of the 2002 NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers. He also played for the New England Patriots and Washington Redskins. His younger brother Andre Caldwell is a receiver for the Denver Broncos.

Caldwell was held in the Orient Road Jail and released early Monday on $4,000 bail.

Steve Spurrier has some fun at Florida's expense; also jabs Florida State

Steve Spurrier loves to zing other football programs when he has an opportunity to do so. Remember the one about Tennessee ( you can't spell Citrus without UT) and Florida State (FSU=Free Shoes University).

This time Spurrier took a shot at his old school Florida. The former Heisman Trophy winner and national championship winning coaching legend had a one liner directed at the Gators.

"Somebody told me the Gators are going to be home for the holidays," zinged Spurrier. "Maybe we can get a bunch of Gators who'll come to our ballgame, fill up the stands … and root for the Gamecocks."

Spurrier also took the time to sneak in a jab at Florida State (again), when the questioned about Jadeveon Clowney's speeding ticket.

“I didn't know Jadeveon's car that could go that fast. He doesn't have a pretty car like those FSU guys used to drive.”

Spurrier turned the Capital One Bowl press conference into his own little laugh fest.

Even though Spurrier  has aged and mellowed, he still hasn't lost his touch for a good one liner.

Dave Christensen out at Wyoming

After losing to Utah State 35-7 on Saturday and finishing short of a bowl bid after a 4-2 start, Wyoming head football coach Dave Christensen has been fired.

The Cowboys finished the season 5-7, making this the second straight losing season after making a bowl in two of his first three seasons.

 “We have come to a point where our football program has not achieved at the level of success that we expect, and we know from past experience that we can be successful,” athletic director Tom Burman said in a statement released by the school. “It is with that in mind that we move forward in search of a new leader for Cowboy Football.”

The former Missouri offensive coordinator finished with a  27-34 record with the Cowboys, going 16-22 in the Mountain West Conference.

However, Christensen may not be out of work for too long as he's expected to be mentioned as a possible candidate for offensive coordinator jobs at Florida or Utah.

Florida fires offensive coordinator Brent Pease

After enduring their first losing season since 1979, the Florida Gators had to make some changes. It wasn't head coach Will Muschamp being fired, he got the dreaded vote of confidence from athletic director Jeremy Foley.

The Gators ended up firing offensive coordinator Brent Pease and offensive line coach Tim Davis.

The Gators ended the season last in the SEC in points and yards and failed to score more than 20 points during seven straight losses to end the season. The team allowed 56 sacks under Davis.

During a season-ending 37-7 loss to Florida State, the Gators managed just three first downs during the first half and did not score until the fourth quarter as the Seminoles wore down Florida’s defense and pulled away for an easy win. A far cry from the high powered teams of Gators past.

Florida’s offensive woes led athletic director Jeremy Foley to address them prior to Saturday’s FSU game.

“I don't think it's any secret,” Foley told a media throng. “We've got to fix that side of the ball. I’m not being disrespectful to anybody, but you look at some of the games we've lost, we haven't scored many points. This year or last year or what have you, that has to get fixed.

“That's going to be Will's responsibility. I'll help him, support him, advise him, whatever have you. I will tell you if you ask him today, it's his biggest concern.”

The Gators spent most of the season without their first string quarterback Jeff Driskel, running back Matt Jones, receiver Andre Debose and three offensive tackles, Chaz Green, Tyler Moore and D.J. Humphries. Second team quarterback Tyler Murphy was also lost for the season with a sprained shoulder leaving the team with third stringer Skyler Mornhinweg.

Last week, Pease, who is under contract through the 2015 season, said he felt he deserved another chance based on the circumstances. He also sounded resigned to his fate.

Where Muschamp decides to go next for an offensive coordinator is anyone's guess. But he'll need someone that's going to devise a scheme to put points on the board and help win some games.

Can Will Muschamp survive after loss to Georgia Southern?

No lower-division team had ever beaten the Florida Gators, who won their previous seven games against Football Championship Subdivision teams by an average of 45 points.

That was until today when Georgia Southern marched into the swamp and shocked the Gators 26-20 for arguably the school's worse loss in team history. Florida, which paid Georgia Southern $550,000 for this game to be a punching bag was the team left on the canvas.

Even though Florida was depleted by injury and came into the game with a losing record this still goes down as an upset. The Eagles, which won their third consecutive game despite playing without 19 of 65 scholarship athletes, so this loss doesn't make any sense for Florida fans.

The question after this loss is can Gators coach Will Muschamp survive after what's sure to be a 4-8 season after the finale against in state rival Florida State. The Gators have already lost to a revived Miami team and look in danger to falling to the third best program in the state. If Central Florida can keep heir momentum the Gators could fall to number four.

Athletic director Jeremy Foley and school president Bernie Machen said last week Muschamp was safe, but that was before the worst loss in school history and before there were thousands of no-shows in The Swamp.

Muschamp did lead the Gators to the Sugar Bowl last season but the offense has been fairly dismal during his tenure. In all fairness, despite the injuries Muschamp has kept the Gators competitive. That might not be enough in today's landscape.

Muschamp has gone 7-6, 11-2, and currently sports a 4-7 record that will end the nation's longest bowl streak. Not exactly the win totals of Steve Spurrier, Urban Meyer, or even the ghost of Charley Pell This is a program that is used to winning big. There might not be enough support for Muschamp to weather this storm.

Jeremy Foley has a tough decision on his hands because this is the same coach that led the Gators to an 11-2 season a year ago. A lot of things have gone wrong this season, some totally out of Muschamp’s control. Had Muschamp won this game, Foley probably could have given Muschamp a pass even with a bad loss to Florida State. But now, with this embarrassment, there might be nothing left to do but cut ties.

Kevin Sumlin and Will Muschamp trading words

It's hard being the new kid on the block in anything. Unless there is a reputation of being the biggest bad ass in your old neighborhood there is always going to be someone that picks on you.

Texas A&M consider yourselves picked on. Last week Florida coach Will Muschamp decided to fire the first shot at newcomer Texas A&M. 

While he was at a gathering for the Florida faithful, Muschamp took a shot at College Station, the home of the Aggies and the 12th man. He poked fun at Aggieland and I'm sure the locals aren't too thrilled about it.

Muschamp last week had asked a gathering of Gators fans, “You ever been to College Station? It'll be the only time you go,” according to the Lakeland (Fla.) Ledger.

Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin didn't take too kindly too Muschamp's jab of his new home.

“He needs to worry about his own team,” Sumlin said Wednesday.

Guess who will be the Aggies' first SEC opponent. That's right, Florida.

That should add some spice to the conference kickoff

Florida's Erving Walker charged with stealing taco

In a pretty strange crime to hit the blotter, Florida guard Erving Walker has been charged with stealing a taco and running from police.

Walker, a senior who ranks first in school history in assists, was arrested and given a notice to appear in court early Friday. He was charged with petty theft and resisting an officer without violence, both misdemeanors. He was not taken to jail.



Gainesville Police say Walker ordered a $3 taco from a street vendor, got the food and ran away without paying. When a police officer caught up with him and told him stop, Walker kept going, according to the police report.


When officers finally caught Walker with help from “several marked patrol cars,” he told them he was “just playing around,” the report said.


Walker is scheduled to appear in court April 19.


You steal a taco and elude police and you were just playing? I don't think so. I do think it's funny that Walker couldn't afford to pay for $3 taco. I know that he has to be getting hooked up by some boosters down in Gainesville. So you know he could've paid for it. He must've really been hungry to evade the cops over it.

Maybe if Walker would've spent more time "playing" against Louisville in the Gators Elite Eight loss, they'd be in New Orleans playing in the Final Four.

Beano Cook Guarantees Urban Meyer Will Coach Ohio State In 2012

With the toruble Jim Tressel is having at Ohio State, there are many predicting his demise. I don't think he'll be there much longer but only time will reveal.

One man thinks this year will be his swan song and that there is only one man for the job.

Beano Cook guarantees Urban Meyer will be the coach at Ohio State in 2012.  Here we go again. I hate to say this but Cook comes off as a senile old man.

“I think Ohio State has major problems and I think Jim Tressel has major problems. I’ve said on my Podcast. . . (that) Urban Meyer will be the coach at Ohio State in 2012. That was my prediction and I stick by that prediction. Urban Meyer will be ready to coach somewhere. He said when he was coaching Florida that there were only three schools he would ever coach at – Michigan, Ohio State and Notre Dame. I think Brian Kelly is going to do the job at Notre Dame and Michigan just hired a new coach, and I think this will be Jim Tressel’s last year. I’m not saying it should be. . . . This is a mess, it isn’t over yet and I think this is his last year coaching at Ohio State.”



“I just think that now that it’s come out that he talked about this problem with an alumnus from Jeannette, Pa., (Terrelle) Pryor’s hometown about selling these jerseys and other things and he did not tell the president or athletic director. I think Ohio State will get hit by the NCAA because they were misled. The worst thing you can do with the NCAA is not tell them the truth right away and that’s what happened. I think Ohio State is going to get hit.


“I just think it’s a mess. … I just think he will resign. That’s my opinion. That’s all. It’s just a prediction and that’s what we do in this business. Predict.”

Ok, more of a prediction than a guarantee, but remember this is the same guy that said Ron Powlus would win two Heisman's and scores of national championships. So take this how you want. I'm not writing off Tressel, but it would take an act of Houdini like proportions to escape the mess he's in right now.

If Momma's Not Happy, Nobody's Happy

When national signing day comes around for high school seniors to choose a school parents are normally happy to see their kid move on to the next phase of their life. Sometimes they'll choose a school close to home, go to where their parents went, or move far away as possible to see how it is at a place different from where they came from. Parents won't always agree, but are usually so proud they don't care. This past week there was a player whose name escapes me right now, his mom forged a letter of intent. Now we have the case of Jacoby Brissett.

Brissett is highly thought of in recruiting circles and a very talented athlete. He was called the best uncommitted quarterback and was being recruited by Florida, Miami (the U), Wisconsin, and North Carolina to play basketball. So you know he's good, at least at the high school level. He made his announcement during his senior night basketball ceremony. He chose Florida. And mama's not happy.  

Ellicia Brown, Brissett's mother, wanted him to go to Miami. Brissett won't send his letter of intent until Monday, so maybe mom figures she can "talk some sense into him". Brown isn't too thrilled about how Florida handled the process of Brissett's recruitment.

“Not my choice,” Brown said. “I’m very disappointed. I didn’t like the way Florida handled the process. I’ve never been able to meet the head coach … I’ve never met (Will Muschamp) face-to-face and I find that very disrespectful and I’m just hurt with the whole process with the Gators. I was hoping that he would respect me and go to ‘The U’ because ‘The U’ showed respect to his mom.”


“He knew I would be hurt and disappointed,” Brown said. “So he texted me.”

There was a mixture of boos and cheers from the crowd, some decked out in Hurricanes gear, left the game.

I see she realizes that it's his choice, but it is what it is. He's doing what he feels is in his best interest, since he wants to play both basketball and football in college. Florida has a better program in both sports than Miami at this point. Also, maybe if Randy Shannon was still coaching the Canes maybe Brissett would be "taking his talents to South Beach".  Just support his decision and give him the unconditional love only a mother can give her son.



  

Urban Meyer Steps Down. Who's Next At Florida?

Urban Meyer is leaving Florida and this time its for real. I won't get into specifics or anything, all I know is he wants to spend more time with his family. Can't fault the man for that. There's gonna be plenty of speculation on who takes over.

The first name from everyone's mouths' was Mississippi State's Dan Mulllen. Mullen didn't know anything about Meyer leaving and texted Brad Locke of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal "news to me. Happy at State". He's still a candidate for the open Miami job.

Louisville's Charlie Strong could also be in the mix. He was Meyer's defensive coordinator and had Louisville bowl eligible this year. I personally think that won't happen.

Bob Stoops' name has been thrown into the mix but I see him leaving for an NFL job before jumping ship at Oklahoma.

Here's one name that I think could hit the ground running at Florida. Mike Leach. The offensive personnel seems to be tailored to his style of play. There's a pro style quarterback in John Brantley, who seemed an odd fit in Meyer's spread. Everyone knows Leach loves his qb's to chuck the ball around 50 times a game. There's speed to burn at the skill positions and those players are also highly thought of. He would have a solid defense. And he could recruit like mad with that crazy scheme he runs. His name isn't on the list but I wouldn't be surprised if he landed in The Swamp.

Meyer does a double take.Just a leave of absence will do

The head Gator,Urban Meyer has decided that all he needs is a leave of absence to recharge his batteries and spend aome time with his family.I'm not gonna rant on him,but in some ways it was too good to be true.Meyer had a great job,in a good locale,with a team expected to contend for championships for years.Sometimes,someone just needs to take a time out and assess what's important in the short term to be able to last for the long haul.Since it was more because of health reasons,I wouldn't want to see him possibly lose his life and leave behind a grieving family because of football.Good for you Urban,and I'm also glad you chose to stick around so we don't have to hear the numerous Urban Meyer to fill in the blank school.

Urban Meyer leaving Florida?

As I'm sitting here watching the Meineke Car Care Bowl,a report comes out that Urban Meyer is stepping down from the head gig at Florida.Supposedly,it's for health reasons he says he's been neglecting.I would hope it's nothing serious or life threatning.Sometimes it's better to leave and step back than to risk your health.Although it's puzzling to me,I understand.
  Meyer burst onto the coaching scene and made a name for himself at Bowling Green.He then went to Utah and led them to a BCS win over Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl.He then went to Florida and racked up two championships in five seasons and had them in contention for another this season.The man has been a winner everywhere he's been.If this is indeed true,I wish him the best.Live a full life and live it well Urban.Your name will be mentioned with every coaching job that opens up.