1 » Earlier in the season, rumors insisted that Florida Gators defensive coordinator Charlie Strong would be given heavy consideration for the head coaching job with the Memphis Tigers. Reports later surfaced that Strong was not being thought of for the post. Following a rousing victory over the Florida State Seminoles on Saturday, rumors have now surfaced that the Louisville Cardinals hope to secure Strong as their future head coach. “I know my job is here right now and it’s the only thing I can worry about,” Strong said when questioned about the rumor. “You can’t let yourself get consumed with it. My job is, ‘Let’s go beat Alabama.’ What can I do? If they are going to hire me, they are going to hire me. But my job right now – let’s go beat ‘Bama.”

2 » A pair of former Gators put themselves in the spotlight this past weekend. Cameron Newton, who was dropped from the Florida football team after being arrested for stealing and destroying a laptop, found a starting job with Blinn College in Texas and is on his way to leading that team to a junior college bowl game in a week. This weekend, however, he was visiting the Mississippi State Bulldogs and head coach Dan Mullen (his offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach while at Florida). Newton is expected to pick MSU for obvious reasons and was seen ringing a cowbell during his visit.

Jonathan Mitchell, a former Florida basketball player who transferred to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights for increased playing time, said earlier in the week he was looking forward to showing Gators head coach Billy Donovan what he had lost. Instead, Mitchell only scored six points, contributed two rebounds and two assists and committed a team-high four turnovers – nothing that bothered Donovan or Florida.

Tags: Billy Donovan, Blinn College, Cameron Newton, Charlie Strong, Dan Mullen, Florida State Seminoles, Jonathan Mitchell, Louisville Cardinals, Memphis Tigers, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Rutgers Scarlet Knights

According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, the Memphis Tigers have whittled an initial list of 50 leading contenders to replace head coach Tommy West down to just five. Among the five are North Alabama head coach Terry Bowden, LSU Tigers assistant Larry Porter (former Memphis running back), Oklahoma State Cowboys co-offensive coordinator Gunter Brewster, Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill and Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster.

Mysteriously absent from this list are three coaches who were considered early front-runners for the position: former Auburn Tigers head coach Tommy Tuberville, Florida Gators defensive coordinator Charlie Strong and current Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn. OGGOA continues to hold that Strong deserves a more prominent head coaching position; no one should be too broken up over this if it is indeed true.

There is a strong belief that Porter could be the early favorite for the job, seeing as he is an alumni who has twice been named Rivals’ “Recruiter of the Year.” Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson said earlier this week that the ability to recruit would be paramount in a coaching candidate, with head-coaching experience secondary.

Tags: Charlie Strong, Memphis Tigers, R.C. Johnson, Tommy West

1 » Following big signings by the Florida Gators baseball, volleyball and women’s basketball teams, softball head coach Tim Walton announced Thursday that two highly coveted high school players have signed national letters of intent to play for the Orange and Blue starting in 2010. Utility player Kasey Fagan (Dunnellon, FL) and shortstop Cheyenne Coyle (West Hills, CA) are both extremely talented women who will bring a lot to the program. For more on their accomplishments, check out this article on GatorZone.

2 » Defensive coordinator Charlie Strong is garnering heavy interest from the Memphis Tigers for their head coaching vacancy, according to reports. OGGOA believes Strong should not take the job if offered, simply because we feel he deserves and can receive the head job at another big-time program rather than a second-tier school (football-wise). Gainesville Sun columnist Pat Dooley shares similar thoughts while Miami Herald beat writer Joseph Goodman thinks Memphis would be a good fit. “I just have to work and continue to do this job right now,” Strong said when asked about the rumors. “My whole focus is making sure our defense goes out and plays well.”

3 » In recruiting news… Four-star small forward Stacey Poole, Jr., the son of former Gators standout Stacy Poole (who ranks as the team’s No. 4 all-time scorer), has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats and head coach John Calipari. Poole is one of the best forwards in the country and the first signee for Kentucky’s 2010 recruiting class.

Three more BITS about Spurrier, big plays and special teams after the jump…
Continue Reading » SIX BITS: Softball signees; Strong as head coach; Poole, Jr.; Spurrier; big plays; special teams

Tags: Charlie Strong, Cheyenne Coyle, John Calipari, Kasey Fagan, Kentucky Wildcats, Memphis Tigers, softball, South Carolina Gamecocks, Stacey Poole, Steve Addazio, Steve Spurrier, Tim Walton, Urban Meyer