Thursday, December 13, 2001
Florida quarterback Berlin to transfer
College football roundup
Enquirer news services
MIAMI — Florida quarterback Brock Berlin has asked for and received coach Steve Spurrier's permission to transfer to another school.
“I'm all for Brock Berlin, and he needs to play two years of college football somewhere,” Spurrier said Wednesday at an Orange Bowl news conference. “I think Brock can tell you he loves it at Florida. But he needs to play somewhere. I agree. It's not fair to him to back up Rex Grossman for four years.”
Both Berlin and Grossman, the Associated Press Player of the Year, are sophomores and would graduate at the same time if they each stayed in school and neither took a redshirt year.
Berlin will be with the team through the Orange Bowl, when No. 5 Florida plays No. 6 Maryland. He is expected to make a decision a few days afterward.
He already has said he is considering his options.
“I've learned a lot these past two years,” Berlin said last week. “And it just didn't work out the way I thought it would. I'm going to think it over and go from there.”
Berlin's mother, Nancy, said Wednesday that her son is doing some soul searching as he prepares for final exams and the Orange Bowl.
“He wants to play,” she said from her home in Shreveport, La. “He hasn't made any decisions. I'm sure he'd be open. He loves being a Gator. He loves the University of Florida. He loves the whole scene. Whatever decision he makes is going to be tough.”
Mostly in mop-up duty, Berlin threw for 483 yards and nine touchdowns this season.
CALIFORNIA:
Jeff Tedford, offensive coordinator at Oregon the past four seasons, was hired Wednesday as the football coach at Pac-10 rival California.
He replaces Tom Holmoe, who resigned at the end of a 1-10 season. Holmoe had a 16-39 record in five years as coach of the Bears.
“I've been wanting to be a head coach for a long time, and I don't think there's a better fit,” Tedford said.
Tedford will continue at Oregon through the Fiesta Bowl, where the Ducks will play Colorado. At the same time, he has begun putting together a staff to help recruit.
Cal's last winning season was 1993 when the Bears finished 9-4 under Keith Gilbertson and were ranked No. 25. The school's last conference title was in 1975.
BROYLES REWARD:
Miami defensive coordinator Randy Shannon received the Frank Broyles Award on Wednesday night as the top assistant football coach in the nation.
Under Shannon, the top-ranked Hurricanes were No.1 in scoring defense, No.4 in pass defense and No.11 in total defense. Miami, the Big East champion, shut out three opponents and gave up seven points or less in eight of its 11 games.
Miami will play Nebraska in the Rose Bowl Jan. 3.
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Florida quarterback Berlin to transfer
