1. Marcus Lattimore: More devastation
Sporting News already has looked at the 10 best stories of the 2012 football season. Today we look at the 10 worst.
The South Carolina star running back?s second devastating injury in a year?s span brought tears of sadness and joy. After returning from a torn left ACL in Oct. 2011, Lattimore dislocated his left knee and tore three ligaments in a game vs. Tennessee this past October. The entire Gamecocks sideline came onto the field offering well wishes as he was carted off, and, in the ultimate sign of respect and admiration, so did at least half the Vols bench. Lattimore is going pro, but he?s in the midst of a 12-15 month recovery. Live strong, Marcus (but not in the Lance Armstrong way).
2. Bobby Petrino: Hog wild
If only his April 1 motorcycle accident were an April Fool?s joke. Instead, it left the Razorbacks coach with a badly scraped face, exposed his affair with a young woman he just hired, and led to his firing after he lied to school officials about all of it. And yet there was Western Kentucky, about eight months after all this went down, welcoming this guy with open arms after Willie Taggart left for South Florida. We all make mistakes, but not even the biggest vacuum job can cleanse just how dirty all of this feels. But in a world where money rules, it makes cents (and dollars).
3. Devon Walker: Life-altering injury
We still don?t know just how badly injured the former Tulane walk-on is after he fractured his spine Sept. 8 vs. Tulsa on a fairly innocuous hit that frighteningly called for resuscitation efforts. The school?s website has devoted a page charting his recovery, with the latest post mentioning he is ?not yet mobile, but each day he continues to fight to get better.? We all hope for the best in his recovery. Says Walker: ?I know that my fight is just beginning. Please continue to pray for my recovery. Thank you very much.?
4. USC: Falling on its sword
Just how could a team that entered with the preseason Heisman Trophy favorite and a No. 1 ranking finish 7-6? It started with horrific defense that culminated with the resignation of defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin late in the season, and ended with a shoulder injury that kept Barkley from playing in the final two games of the season. We all overlooked the Trojans? deficiencies on defense, and now, we wonder what scholarship sanctions will mean for the depth of this ?it? program.
5. North Carolina: It's academic?and systemic
The NCAA spared the Tar Heels? athletic program of further sanctions because the academic scandal that pervaded the school involved more than athletes. Wow. That?s like saying Al Capone?s cronies shouldn?t be punished for following the boss? orders. Little wonder why the state of Pennsylvania is suing the NCAA to get Penn Sate?s four-year bowl ban and $60 million fine overturned. Man up, UNC. It?s hard to believe so many smart people could have a blind eye for this long.
6. Tyrann Mathieu: Honey Badger blows it
The Honey Badger?s season ended before it began, as an alleged failed drug test led to the 2011 Heisman Trophy finalist being kicked off the team in August. As if that weren?t enough, he was arrested on marijuana possession charges in October, indicating any lessons learned from his fall from Mike the Tiger?s loving arms went unheard. While Mathieu now promises he?s a changed man, college football fans hope those claims aren?t as hollow as the Big East.
7. Auburn: War Eagle grounded
How can you go from a 14-0 season in 2010 to being fired just two years later? Some would call it the Gene Chizik way. Despite superb recruiting classes in those two years, Chizik?s teams went backwards, all the way to a 3-9 season in 2012, including zero wins in SEC play. His hiring of Scot Loeffler was a disaster, and Gus Malzahn?s departure prior to 2012 and his return after the season indicate just who was responsible for the school?s highest success. Again, how did Chizik turn 5-19 in two seasons at Iowa State into an SEC job??
8. Miami and Oregon: Hammer falls?
Both schools face potential NCAA sanctions. The Hurricanes turned down a shot at the ACC title game to deny itself its second straight season of postseason play following all the improprieties, recruiting and otherwise, that happened courtesy of rogue booster Nevin Shapiro. And because the Ducks and NCAA could not resolve the case involving Oregon's shenanigans involving alleged player funneler Willie Lyles, the school is likely headed to a hearing. Enjoy that, Canes and Ducks fans. But maybe there?s hope if the PSU case goes the state of Pennsylvania?s way.
9. Big (L)East
While we rooted for Louisville?s success against Florida in the Sugar Bowl, the bugler has been summoned to play Taps at this league?s funeral. The Cardinals and Rutgers will join Syracuse and Pittsburgh as departures, and Boise State decided to leave the league even before it joined. The league?s Catholic 7 basketball schools are breaking away too, leaving the remnants of this league looking for higher ground. While the death of this league actually may be good for the health of college football, we mourn what used to be a very influential and powerful conference.
10. Southern Miss: From penthouse to basement
A year after winning the Conference USA title by beating then unbeaten Houston, the Golden Eagles saw Ellis Johnson come in after Larry Fedora left for the North Carolina job, and proceed to take a 12-2 team all the way to 0-12. The freefall cost Johnson his job, and forced the school to change its 2013 home game vs. Nebraska into a money road game just to pay Johnson?s $2 million buyout. It?s with all that said that we wish new Eagles coach Todd Monken lots of luck.
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