The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Baylor chooses Temple’s Rhule as new coach
Baylor hired Matt Rhule on Tuesday, hoping the highly successful Temple coach can rebuild the Big 12 Conference program hit hard by scandal and suddenly struggling on the field.
Rhule becomes the fulltime replacement for twotime Big 12 champion coach Art Briles, who was dismissed after a scathing report over the university’s handling of sexual assault complaints, including some against football players.
Rhule, who had consecutive 10-win seasons with the Owls, will be introduced by Baylor on the Waco campus today.
The Bears are 6-6 and headed to the Cactus Bowl despite a six-game skid under former Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe, who had been out of coaching two years when he put his retirement on hold in May to serve as Baylor’s acting head coach this season. Grobe told Athletic Director Mack Rhoades in September, when the Bears were still undefeated, that he didn’t want to be a candidate for the full-time job.
The 41-year-old Rhule is a former Penn State linebacker who has a monumental task ahead of him in putting together a coaching staff and a recruiting class for the Bears. With a monthlong quiet period in recruiting starting Monday, Baylor has only one firm verbal commitment.
Nagurski Award: Alabama senior defensive lineman Jonathan Allen won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Monday night given annually to the nation’s best college defensive player.
Allen called it “the greatest single accomplishment of my life.”
Allen was selected over four other finalists, including Crimson Tide teammate Reuben Foster, a linebacker. Florida State cornerback Tarvarus McFadden, Michigan linebacker Jabrill Peppers and Clemson defensive end Christian Wilkins were also among the finalists who attended the awards ceremony hosted by the Charlotte (N.C.) Touchdown Club.
Alabama (13-0) is ranked No. 1 in the country, in large part due to its dominant defense.
The 6-foot-3, 291-pound Allen has 56 tackles and nine sacks this season for the Crimson Tide, tied for third-most in the SEC. He had four tackles and 1½ sacks this past weekend as Alabama defeated Florida 54-16 to win its third straight SEC title.
Broyles Award: Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables won the Broyles Award, given annually to the top assistant coach in college football. Venables was a finalist for the third time for the award named after former Arkansas coach Frank Broyles.
Other finalists included Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, Colorado defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt, Michigan defensive coordinator Dan Brown and Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Matt Canada.