Bielema elevates Henry to DC
Aaron Henry has been promoted from defensive backs coach to defensive coordinator by Illinois coach Bret Bielema.
Henry had spent most of last week on the road recruiting with Bielema, who was visiting multiple defensive recruits and wanted to be able to put their potential coordinator in the same room.
When the news broke that Ryan Walters had taken the Purdue coaching position, Bielema had a simple question for Henry.
“We came back and were in the hotel lobby [in Jackson, Mississippi] and I looked at him and said, ‘Are you ready?’ He was like, ‘Coach we don’t leave for another hour-and-a-half.’ I was like, ‘No, that’s not what I’m talking about. Are you ready to do this. It’s official. Ryan is going to take the Purdue job, and I would like you to take over as [defensive] coordinator.’ ”
The Illini had their first official practice Saturday ahead of the ReliaQuest Bowl against Mississippi State on Jan. 2 in Tampa, Florida.
Meanwhile, star defensive backs Sydney Brown and Devon Witherspoon said that they will enter the NFL Draft and won’t play in the bowl. Witherspoon was a consensus All-American and the Big Ten’s Defensive Back of the Year. Brown was an All-Big Ten selection.
Louisville 24, Cincinnati 7
Jawhar Jordan ran for 115 yards, breaking free for two long touchdowns, and coach Scott Satterfield’s former team beat his new one as the Cardinals (8-5) bounced the Bearcats (9-4) in the twice-delayed inaugural edition of the Fenway Bowl, the first bowl game at Boston’s Fenway Park. A gridiron was laid out over the diamond and “Fenway Park” painted in the end zones using the traditional Red Sox font.
N.C. Central 41, Jackson State 34 (OT)
Quarterback Davius Richard ran for 97 yards and two touchdowns, including a oneyard plunge in overtime, and the underdog Eagles (10-2) derailed the Tigers (12-1) in the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta to spoil coach Deion Sanders’ bid for an undefeated season.
“I feel like we’ve won, but we didn’t win that game,” said Sanders, who now will devote his full attention to his new job as Colorado’s coach. Jackson State QB Shedeur Sanders, who will follow his dad to Colorado, was 30 of 40 for 349 yards and four touchdowns.
Oregon State 30, Florida 3
Deshaun Fenwick came off the bench to rush for 107 yards, and the No. 14 Beavers (10-3) nearly dealt the Gators (6-7) a rare shutout in the Las Vegas Bowl. Oregon State reached 10 victories for the third time program history and the first time in 16 years.
Fresno State 29, Washington State 6
Jordan Mims rushed for 205 yards and two scores, and the Bulldogs (10-4) completed the biggest in-season turnaround in FBS history while dumping the Cougars (7-6) in the LA Bowl. Fresno State is the first team to get to 10 victories after starting 1-4.
Southern Miss 38, Rice 24
Frank Gore Jr. ran for an NCAA bowlrecord 329 yards and accounted for three touchdowns to lead the Golden Eagles (7-6) past the Owls (5-9) in the LendingTree Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.