Slaton, Mozes make history
by Jack Bogaczyk
Daily Mail Sports Editor
MAKE it 4-for-4 for Dan Mozes and Steve Slaton, and chalk up another school first for West Virginia's 2006 Gator Bowl-bound football team.
The Sporting News announces its 2006 All-America team today, and WVU senior center Mozes and sophomore running back Slaton are first-team selections. Whether or not they make the Associated Press team (out later today), they already are consensus All-America first team picks.
WVU has had nine previous consensus picks (a majority of votes at their positions), stretching from two-platoon back Ira Errett Rodgers in 1919 to linebacker Grant Wiley in 2003.
Never, however, have the Mountaineers had two consensus picks in one season.
The NCAA service bureau recognizes five All-America teams to determine consensus status -- the Football Writers, American Football Coaches, Walter Camp, The Sporting News and AP. Mozes and Slaton have made all four to date, so they have clinched consensus status.
If the pair makes the AP first team, they will be the first unanimous All-America picks for WVU since punter Todd Sauerbrun in 1994. The only other unanimous choice in Mountaineer history was linebacker Darryl Talley (1982).
Somewhat stunning for a program known historically for running the ball, Slaton is WVU's first consensus All-America running back since Rodgers 87 years ago.
THE PENDING contract agreement West Virginia has with football Coach Rich Rodriguez, as reported previously, will come with a sweetening of salaries for his nine assistant coaches and strength and conditioning coordinator Mike Barwis.
Although the figure hadn't been made public, another $125,000 to match this past summer's bump will be added to an expected $50,000 (combined) for the 10 aides in the new fiscal year (July 1, 2007).
Rodriguez split $125,000 among the group (at the head coach's discretion) last July 1. Another $50,000 in raises (combined) already was scheduled on the same date this year.
So, Rodriguez's 10 aides will be making a combined $1,376,759.
Four years ago, the figure was around $800,000.
It's also pretty apparent that schools are getting wiser in locking up big-dollar coaches. If you thought the doubling of the Rodriguez-WVU buyout to $4 million was an exception, it's become pretty much the norm.
N.C. State put a $4.2 million buyout on new Coach Tom O'Brien's seven-year deal. It reduces by $600,000 annually.
SO, DO you think Boston College has enjoyed its less-than-two years in the Atlantic Coast Conference so far? Do you think the Eagles, guaranteed revenue sharing aside, wish they had stayed in the Big East?
Let's see ... N.C. State Chancellor Mary Anne Fox first blocked BC on its initial try for ACC expansion membership ... Then, O'Brien's football team tied for a division title in 2005, but was sentenced to the league's No. 8 bowl, in chilly Boise ... Then fellow ACC member Virginia Tech hired away BC's baseball coach.
Despite an ACC bowl selection revision (the so-called "BC rule") preventing a team from being bypassed in the bowl pecking order, 23rd-ranked BC falls below record-equals Maryland and Clemson in this year's picks to ACC No. 6, despite beating the Terps and Tigers.
Then, the Wolfpack lures away O'Brien, who has brought more than stability to the Eagles' program. After 2-for-2 on ACC bowl snubs, was O'Brien's move any surprise?
Nice neighbors, huh ... Seems BC could use some headache powder.
|
