NCAAF teams
Ivan Maisel, ESPN Senior Writer 11y

3-point stance: Freeh Report not last word

1. Former U.S. Attorney Richard Thornburgh, commissioned by the family of late Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, poked enough holes in the Freeh Report to let the air out of it. Thornburgh’s report, released Sunday, illustrated that the Freeh Report was not the last word on the Penn State scandal -- merely the first. The NCAA built its case against Penn State on the Freeh Report because the Board of Trustees vouched for it. That’s not much of a defense now that the Freeh Report appears to be a rush to judgment. Instead, it’s one more blow against what credibility the NCAA has left.

2. By accepting Kyle Whittingham’s offer to become Utah co-offensive coordinator, Dennis Erickson did more than return to the sideline one year after being fired at Arizona State. He delayed his candidacy for the College Football Hall of Fame. Erickson’s record of 179-96-1 (.650) and two national titles (Miami, 1989-91) means his entry into the Hall is a question of when, not if. And his acceptance of the job confirms him as a guy less interested in the trappings of a million-dollar job than in coaching ball -- and kids.

3. Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops pushed offensive line coach James Patton out the door (to Indiana) after seven seasons because the Sooners’ running game has been mediocre for four years. In that time, Oklahoma hasn’t averaged more than 163 yards per game or finished higher than seventh in the Big 12. It may be a recruiting issue. The Sooners have had one All-American (tackle Trent Williams) in the last four years. Stoops will tell us the new direction of his running game by revealing Patton's replacement.

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