CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) -

BROWNS NAME BRAD CHILDRESS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

The Cleveland Browns today named Brad Childress offensive coordinator, the team announced. Childress brings 33 years of coaching experience on both the collegiate and professional levels to the Browns, including 13 in the NFL. Most recently, he spent five seasons (2006-10) as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings.

As head coach of the Vikings, Childress guided Minnesota to a regular season record of 39-35 (.527), as the team won consecutive division titles (2008-09) for the first time in 28 years (1977-78). In 2009, the team posted a 12-4 record, matching the second-best win total in franchise history, while leading the NFL with a club-high 10 Pro Bowlers. Also in 2009, the team’s passing offense, led by quarterback Brett Favre, finished the season ranked eighth, as Favre set career-highs in passer rating (107.2) and completion percentage (68.4%), while throwing 33 touchdown passes. During Childress’ first four seasons at the helm, the Vikings’ rushing offense posted the fourth-most rushing yards in the NFL (136.1 ypg) and the third-best average for rushing yards per carry (4.5). Under Childress’ tutelage, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson led the NFC and ranked second in the NFL with 1,341 rushing yards as a rookie. Peterson also led the league in rushing in 2008 with a franchise-best 1,760 yards and paced the NFL in 2009 with 18 rushing touchdowns. 

Prior to joining the Vikings, Childress spent seven seasons (1999-2005) with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he tutored the quarterbacks for the first three years (1999-2001) and spent the final four as offensive coordinator (2002-05). During his tenure with the club, the Eagles posted a 70-42 record (.625), captured four consecutive NFC East Division titles (2001-04) and advanced to the postseason five straight seasons (2000-04). Philadelphia also represented the NFC in Super Bowl XXXIX following the 2004 season. During that season, Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb set franchise records in passer rating (104.7) and completion percentage (64.0%), while becoming the first quarterback in NFL history with more than 30 touchdown passes (31) and fewer than 10 interceptions (8) in a single season. As offensive coordinator, Childress led a group that ranked in the top 10 in total offense twice, amassed more than 5,000 yards each season and averaged 333.8 yards per game. In addition, the offensive unit was highlighted by seven starters who earned a combined 14 Pro Bowl berths from 2000-05. 

Childress began his coaching career at the University of Illinois, spending the 1978 season as a graduate assistant before coaching both the running backs and wide receivers for six seasons (1979-84). In 1985, he entered the NFL coaching ranks as he spent one season (1985) as the quarterbacks coach with the Indianapolis Colts. Over the next 13 years, he made coaching stops at Northern Arizona (1986-89), the University of Utah (1990) and the University of Wisconsin (1991-98). As the quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator at the University of Wisconsin, the Badgers appeared in five bowl games, which included two Rose Bowl victories in 1993 and 1998.

Childress began his collegiate career at Eastern Illinois before transferring to the University of Illinois, where he played quarterback and wide receiver. He graduated from Eastern Illinois with a degree in psychology. A native of Aurora, Illinois, Childress attended Marmion Christian Academy.

Brad and his wife, Dru-Ann, have three sons, Andrew, Christopher and Kyle, and one daughter, Cara. They also have twin grandsons, Aiden and Brecken.

Brad Childress’ Coaching Background:

1978-84                University of Illinois, graduate assistant/running backs/wide receivers

1985                       Indianapolis Colts, quarterbacks coach

1986-89                Northern Arizona University, offensive coordinator

1990                       University of Utah, wide receivers coach

1991                       University of Wisconsin, running backs coach

1992-98                University of Wisconsin, quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator

1999-2001            Philadelphia Eagles, quarterbacks coach

1992-05                Philadelphia Eagles, offensive coordinator

2006-10                Minnesota Vikings, head coach

2012-                     Cleveland Browns, offensive coordinator

http://canton.woio.com/news/sports-recreation/70129-browns-name-brad-childress-offensive-coordinator

Article Courtesy of WOIO 19 Action News

CANTON, Ohio – Ron Johnson, the head football coach of the Canton McKinley football team, has been fired after four seasons on the sidelines.

The firing has led to a fierce debate in the Hall of Fame city, where it appears residents are split over the controversial decision.

Jacksonville, FL (WOIO) – The last time the Buckeyes saw the Florida Gators, in January of 2007, the national title was on the line.  Obviously, there wasn’t nearly as much at stake this time, but in the end, it still wasn’t much fun, as the Gators held off OSU in the Gator Bowl on Monday, 24-17.

The Gators used two special-teams touchdowns to pull away for the win:  a 99-yd kick return by Andre Debose in the second quarter, and a Graham Stewart fumble return off a blocked punt in the third quarter.

Debose’s return came seconds after DeVier Posey had pulled in a 5-yd touchdown pass from Braxton Miller early in the second quarter, temporarily tying the game at 7.

Miller hooked up with Jordan Hall with just under a minute remaining in the game to pull the Buckeyes within 7, but it was too little, too late, in Luke Fickell’s final game as interim head coach.

http://www.19actionnews.com/story/16430853/buckeyes-fall-to-florida-in-gator-bowl

Article Courtesy of WOIO 19 Action News

Berea (WOIO) – The Browns cleaned out their lockers on Monday and headed home, but not before expressing optimism that the right foundation is in place, and far better days, and seasons, are on the horizon.

“I didn’t tell you that a year ago, because we were way off”, cornerback Sheldon Brown told Tony Zarrella, “but we’re headed in the right direction”.

Brown also threw his full support behind first-year head coach Pat Shurmur, saying players fought for their coach until the end.

Still, that sentiment comes after the Browns finished 4-12, with six straight losses to close out the season.

“4-12 is unacceptable”, said kicker Phil Dawson, who’s coming off his best season as a pro, and who’s about to hit the free agent market. 

The Browns, who own the 4th overall pick in next April’s draft, as well as a late first-round pick as well, face many tough decisions over the next few months, including their quarterback situation, and Peyton Hillis’ future with the team.

http://www.19actionnews.com/story/16430470/browns-hit-offseason-optimistic

Article Courtesy of WOIO 19 Action News

The Ohio State University football team has received a one-year bowl appearance ban from the NCAA and will lose nine scholarships over the span of three years, according to a release from the NCAA.

Ohio State’s athletic program was informed of the ruling by the NCAA’s committee on infractions on Tuesday afternoon.

The NCAA’s committee on infractions found Ohio State and former head coach Jim Tressel to have engaged in ‘unethical conduct’ for not reporting NCAA rules violations during the 2010 season.

Many of the penalties handed down by the NCAA had already been self-imposed by the university for the alleged activities of eight football players found to have received cash and tattoos from the owner of a Columbus tattoo parlor.

According to the fact of the case presented to the NCAA, the players received more than $14,000 in cash payments in addition to free or discounted tattoos at the parlor.

According to the NCAA’s ruling, Ohio State will be banned from the 2012 postseason, which includes possible participation in the Big Ten Conference championship game.

Ohio State’s football team will also forfeit three football scholarships each of the next three years. Ohio State had self-imposed a reduction of five scholarships during the same time frame. The NCAA deemed the reduction insufficient.

Former Ohio State head football coach Jim Tressel has also been slapped with a “show-cause” order by the NCAA. The order means that a school wanting to hire Tressel could face sanctions and appear before the NCAA to show why he should be hired.

The NCAA also ruled that all wins from the 2010 season and $338,811, the amount the university received through the Big Ten Conference revenue sharing for bowl games, will be forfeited.

According to the release and unnamed, involved booster and a former student-athlete will be banned from having contact with the program for five-years.

http://www.fox8.com/sports/wjw-news-ohio-state-to-learn-of-sanctions-today,0,63754.story

Article Courtesy of WJW Fox 8

Athletic director Gene Smith confirmed to The Associated Press early Tuesday that the NCAA’s committee on infractions would hand down its final sanctions of the Ohio State athletic program at 3 p.m. EST.

The decision comes almost a year to the day since problems were first revealed in the football program. Five players were suspended last Dec. 23 for the first five games of the 2011 season for accepting cash and tattoos from the owner of a local tattoo parlor. Coach Jim Tressel was subsequently forced to resign.

Ohio State offered to vacate the 2010 season, return its share of bowl money and be on probation and have minor recruiting restrictions. The NCAA could add to those penalties.

article courtesy of Newsnet5.com

CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Browns admit team doctors did not check quarterback Colt McCoy for a concussion on the sidelines, after he took a serious hit to the head during last Thursday’s game against Pittsburgh.

President Mike Holmgren said the medical team did not see him get hit, and he only complained about a hand injury, not a head injury.  He added the team followed proper protocol.

McCoy is resting at home and Holmgren said his condition is improving.

Holmgren was visibly upset at the Wednesday news conference and said he’s tired of all the criticism. “This is not business as usual,” he said.

McCoy sustained a concussion from a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit from Steelers linebacker James Harrison in the fourth quarter of the game Thursday. McCoy was replaced for two plays by backup Seneca Wallace before coming back in and throwing an interception. Holmgren said McCoy complained his hand hurt, but didn’t mention his head hurt.

“Our medical staff did what they were supposed to do and they’re good,” reiterated Holmgren.

But fans who are critical of how the Browns treated McCoy think Holmgren is making too many excuses. They question why the medical team didn’t see the hit or see McCoy lying on the field, and why the coaching staff apparently didn’t communicate effectively with the team doctors.

During the news conference, Holmgren offered a vote of confidence to Browns Head Coach Pat Shurmur, assuring him he will be head coach for the Browns next season.

The team will not face sanctions from the NFL.

Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/sports/football/browns/browns-say-colt-mccoy-complained-of-hand-not-head-injury-during-pittsburgh-game#ixzz1gXtqOCfM

CLEVELAND – The father of Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy is blasting the team for putting his son back in the game after a hard-hit Thursday night.

The Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot reported on Friday that Brad McCoy said his son doesn’t remember parts of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. McCoy told the Plain Dealer he didn’t think his son was tested properly for a concussion on the sidelines.

Colt McCoy took a helmet-to-helmet blow from linebacker James Harrison, who was penalized for the hit. Harrison has a history in the league of being fined for hits to the head.

“He never should’ve gone back in the game,” Brad McCoy told the Plain Dealer. “He was basically out (cold) after the hit. You could tell by the ridgity of his body as he was laying there.”The longtime high school football coach also said he didn’t like the way Browns head coach Pat Shurmur handled the situation.

The Browns lost 14-3 during the game at Heinz Field.

Shurmur will talk to the media Friday afternoon.

The NFL has a very strict concussion policy and has recently increased the fines against players for helmet-to-helmet hits.

Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/sports/football/browns/Report-Colt-McCoys-dad-mad-at-team-for-putting-son-back-in-game#ixzz1g4laW5VO

(RNN) – After weeks of speculation and denial, former Florida Gators head football coach Urban Meyer will take the reins of Ohio State’s football program, according to ESPN.

The sports network reported that Meyer would become the Buckeyes’ head football coach in a report on ESPN.com, citing multiple unnamed sources.

In recent days, speculation built to the point that Meyer issued a statement to ESPN before Thanksgiving saying, “I have not been offered any job nor is there a deal in place. I plan on spending Thanksgiving with my family and will not comment on this any further.”

The rumors weren’t quelled for long. On Friday, ESPN publicist Mike Humes tweeted, “Urban Meyer won’t be appearing on ESPN this weekend. He requested off his studio assignment and we obliged,” adding fuel to the speculative fire.

Meyer, a native Ohioan and a graduate of the University of Cincinnati who earned a master’s degree from Ohio State, was one of the fastest-rising young coaches in college football when he came to the University of Florida in 2005 after a successful stint at Utah. He delivered on expectations. In six seasons as the head coach, Meyer led the Gators to two SEC championships on the way to two national championships.

The first national championship came at the end of the 2006 season, culminating with a 41-14 rout over Ohio State in the BCS National Championship game.

Two seasons later his Gators again won the 2008 BCS national championship, beating the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners 24-14.

His tenure at Florida ended under unusual circumstances when he claimed he was having health problems.

http://www.19actionnews.com/story/16134377/report-buckeyes-take-urban-meyer

Article Courtesy of WOIO 19 Action News