Third & Shorts

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Prairie View names new head coach
By Bob Speights
N.E.T. Sports Gazette
HALLSVILLE, Texas –– Prairie View A&M announced Friday, Jan. 10, that it had selected 1973 Prairie View graduate, C.L. Whittington, as its new head coach of the Prairie View football program. Coach Whittington brings to Prairie View a vast wealth of experience as a player, coach, administrator and educator.

Whittington has spent four years of high school football, four years of college football (Prairie View A&M) and six years with the Houston Oilers.

“I have played every position except center and quarterback," Whittington said. While with the Oilers, he played strong safety, free safety, linebacker, wide receiver, running back and tight end.

In 1976, Whittington led the team in interceptions as starting free safety and played in two AFC Championship games.

From 1984 to 1989 he coached the defensive backs, wide receivers and special teams for Prairie View. He spent five years as defensive coordinator for Texas Southern University. While there he also coached the defensive back/special teams intern program for the Washington Redskins.

During his three seasons (1995-97) with the WLAF Frankfurt Galaxy, he was defensive line coach and/or linebacker coach. The Galaxy won the 1995 World Bowl Championship and was runners-up in 1996.

Upon his assessment of the Prairie View football program, Whittington, who has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree from Prairie View, said, “I can’t change the past but I can change the future. I have two immediate jobs: One, to access what I have now; two, to start recruiting. I have 25 scholarships and intend to fill them with the top players from around the country.”

When asked what he would like the high school coaches to know about him. He smiled and said, “I have 25 scholarships available.”

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Southern Miss names Scherer OC Hattiesburg, Miss. –– Southern Miss Head Football Coach Jeff Bower has announced that Rip Scherer will be the Golden Eagles’ offensive coordinator and quarterback coach and that Mitch Rodrigue will become the offensive line coach.

Scherer has coached at Penn State (GA-QB/Receivers/1974-76), North Carolina State (QB/Part-Time Assistant/1976-77), Hawaii (Assistant-RB/1977-79), Virginia (Assistant-QB/1979), LSU (Assistant-QB/1979-80), Georgia Tech (Assistant Head Coach-OC, QB/1980-85, 86-87), Alabama (Assistant Head Coach-OC, QB/1987-88), Arizona (OC, QB/1988-91) and Kansas (OC-QB/2001) in a variety of assistant’s roles and has served as head coach at both James Madison (1991-94) and Memphis (1994-2000).

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Tressel Donates $125,000 to Youngstown

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio –– Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel hasn’t forgotten his former school despite winning a national championship at Ohio State. Tressel and his wife, Ellen, have pledged $125,000 to Youngstown State University toward construction of a $12 million student recreation center.

Tressel led Youngstown State’s football team to four NCAA Division I-AA national championships during a 15-year career there. Ellen Tressel is a 1975 Youngstown State graduate.

Ohio State beat Miami 31-24 in double overtime last Friday to win the national title in Tressel’s second year as the Buckeyes’ coach.

He is assured of making more than $800,000 this year, including almost $200,000 in bonuses, and could earn $1 million if his players reach certain academic goals.

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