Miami and Davis are thin and getting thinner

Sporting News, The, Feb 12, 1996 by Ivan Maisel

Two months ago, Miami received its long-awaited sentence from the NCAA and climbed upon a two-year tightrope. The probation handed down by the NCAA Committee on Infractions left Coach Butch Davis with 12 scholarships to give this winter and 14 next year. The Hurricanes' margin of error is nonexistent. Not only must the coaches be absolutely certain of their recruiting choices, the Hurricanes have to figure out a way to play injury-free football. At a school that asks for about $20,000 per annum, walks-ons are a dream.

That's why when second-string quarterback Scott Covington approached Davis after the season and asked for a release from his scholarship, Davis played hardball. He said no. He meant for his answer to be heard by Covington and by other teammates thinking if leaving. Covington, as is his right within NCAA rules, requested a university hearing. Last week, he got his hearing, and though there was no announcement by week's end, he was expected to get his release. Covington is a native of southern California and is expected to head home and enroll at California, where he will become the protege of new Coach Steve Mariucci.

Miami stressed to Covington that Vinny Testaverde and Gino Torretta served apprenticeships before they won the Heisman Trophy. Covington played mop-up duty last season, appearing in seven games with a few meager stats (22 of 42 for 324 yards, 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions). No one doubts his future. However, Covington came across the country to play for Dennis Erickson. That didn't happen -- Erickson left after the 1994 season for the Seattle (Los Angeles?) Seahawks.

Davis, looking at the specter of having no experienced quarterbacks behind Ryan Clement, didn't help Covington. There are coaches who will help find a home for disgruntled reserves. The most famous case of that is when Oklahoma Coach Barry Switzer picked up the phone 10 years ago and asked UCLA's Terry Donahue if he wanted a good passer. That's how Troy Aikman became a Bruin. Davis made his point. Covington, homesick a nd sick of the prospect of sitting next season behind Clement, made his. He will play for Mariucci, who as the Green Bay Packers' quarterbacks coach turned his last protege, Brett Favre, into the NFL's Most Valuable Player. (Actually, Mariucci should receive greater credit for being the offensive coordinator who turned Mike Pawlawski into an outstanding quarterback for Cal in 1991. That took more coaching than making Favre into an MVP.) Favre loves Mariucci. When Mariucci left, Favre said, "I went into (General Manager) Ron Wolf s office and told him that I would restructure my contract, would give up money out of my contract, if that would make a difference in having him stay. Thank God, I'm at the point in my career where I feel I can survive without him here every day helping me."

For old times' sake (and a quick family vacation), Mariucci flew to Hawaii last week and coached Favre in the Pro Bowl. For the Cal program, getting a guy like Covington injects some life into an otherwise lackluster recruiting class.

Miami dragged out the process long enough that Covington won't be able to enroll at Cal this semester, which eliminates the possibility that he could participate in spring practice. It's not that big a deal -- Covington won't be eligible until 1997, anyway. Still, Davis didn't do him any favors. Seven months before the season begins, Davis has lost one of the few cushions he had. Miami's season will be decided in the training room. If the Hurricanes have any injuries at all, they will watch Syracuse and Virginia Tech fight for the Big East title.

Family man

Say this about Steve Spurrier. He believes his own sermons. He often speaks of "the Gators" with a family-like tone. Now he has backed up his words with actions that reinforce his sense of loyalty. Two years ago, Spurrier moved Ron Zook out of the defensive coordinator position but kept him on staff. Spurrier made the move after the defense came under heavy criticism for its woeful performance against the pass.

Under Zook, Florida was was one of the few schools in the country that used a 4-4-3 alignment. Spurrier hired Bobby Pruett to revamp the unit, and Pruett did his job, using an aggressive scheme that relied more heavily on the Gators' physical advantages. He left Gainesville last month to become head coach at Marshall, his alma mater, and Spunier replaced him with Zook.

Earlier this winter, Zook made inquiries about the head coach opening at Rutgers, which was eventually filled by Terry Shea. Now Zook has his old job, back on the level of head-coach-in-waiting. The 4-4-3, how ever, will not return.

Around the nation

Our report of Northwestern being considered for the Pigskin Classic notwithstanding, the traveling preseason bowl will feature Texas A&M at Brigham Young in August. The organizers of the game have decided to go for the sure thing -- campuses with fans who will fill the seats. The Cougars are not a Top 25 team, but they have Top 25 fans. Aggies Coach R.C. Slocum has never been afraid of the preseason bowls. With the loss of four-year starting quarterback Corey Pullig and tailback Leeland McElroy, you would think the last thing Texas A&M would want to play is a team with a veteran quarterback (Steve Sarkisian). On the other hand, the Aggies did beat the Cougars, 65-14, in the 1990 Holiday Bowl. ... If you're wondering about the status of the Football Rules Committee and its post-mortem on the 1995 season, so are we. The committee pushed its annual meeting to this week. The coaches who are members of the committee began spending all three days in their hotel rooms phoning recruits. The NCAA delayed the meeting until after the February 7 signing date.