Steelers’ Tomlin: Idea he’s a candidate for college jobs ‘a joke’
PITTSBURGH » Note to big-time college football programs looking for new coaches: Mike Tomlin isn’t interested.
The Pittsburgh Steelers coach said Tuesday he considers it a “joke” that his name has popped up as a potential candidate for places such as Southern California.
“I got one of the best jobs and in all the professional sports, why would I have any interest in coaching college football?” Tomlin said.
Former Heisman Trophy winner and USC star Carson Palmer told The Dan Patrick radio show that Tomlin was a “wild card” as the Trojans look for someone to replace Clay Helton, who was fired in September.
Former Buffalo Bills general manager Doug Whaley, who worked in the Steelers front office alongside Tomlin for several years before moving on to the Bills, said on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh last week that Steeler fans should be worried about the letters “U-S-C” and “L-S-U.”
Tomlin is 148-81-1 in 15 seasons with the Steelers, one shy of the number his predecessor — Hall of Famer Bill Cowher — reached in the same number of seasons with the club. The Steelers signed Tomlin to a threeyear contract extension in April that runs through 2024.
The 49-year-old, who played collegiately at William & Mary before going into coaching, has no connection to USC or LSU. He’s spent the overwhelming majority of his coaching career in the NFL. Tomlin last coached at the college level while serving as the defensive backs coach at the University of Cincinnati in 1999 and 2000. He joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a defensive backs coach in 2001 and has been in the NFL since then.
Tomlin, whose team is 3-3 heading into a visit to AFC North rival Cleveland (4-3) on
Sunday, said this would be the last time he addresses his name in connection — however loosely — with college jobs.
“Never say never, but never,” he said. “Anybody else got any questions about any college jobs? There is not a booster with a big enough blank check.”
Illini QB Sitkowski out for season
CHAMPAIGN, ILL. » Illinois quarterback Artur Sitkowski will miss the rest of the season after breaking his left arm against Penn State. Brandon Peters will start the Illini’s home game against Rutgers on Saturday.
Coach Bret Bielema announced that Sitkowski would have surgery on his arm Wednesday and have another operation in two to four weeks to correct a chronic problem in his right shoulder. Bielema said Sitkowski would miss spring practice and should be full strength next fall.
Sitkowski’s arm was broken when he was hit as he threw a rollout pass in the fourth overtime of Illinois’ 20-18 nine-overtime win at Penn State last Saturday.
Sitkowski completed half his passes (74 of 148) for 704 yards and six touchdowns with two interceptions in his five games. The sophomore was in his first year with the Illini after transferring from Rutgers.
Clemson’s Pace in COVID protocol
CLEMSON, S.C. » Clemson leading rusher Kobe Pace will miss the game with Florida State this week as he’s in COVID-19 protocol.
The 5-foot-10, 210-pound Pace has started five games for Clemson and leads the team with 327 yards on 59 carries. Clemson (4-3, 3-2 ACC) faces the Seminoles (3-4, 2-2) on Saturday.
Pace’s absence is the latest blow to a backfield that had its share of changes this season. Highly regarded freshman Will Shipley missed two games with a lower leg injury, returning this past week at Pittsburgh.