Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson, who will lead the Wolverines against Florida in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 29, announced Friday on Twitter that he will return for another season in Ann Arbor.
It was thought that Patterson, who transferred to Michigan from Mississippi this season because of NCAA violations in Oxford, might enter the NFL Draft.
“Can’t wait to play with the seniors one last time in the Peach Bowl,” Patterson said in his Twitter statement. “I also want to welcome and congratulate the new signing class — come in ready to work because we are coming for everything next season.”
Patterson closed his statement with “#Thosewhostay,” referencing the “Those who stay will be champions” slogan made famous by former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler.
Patterson won the starting job in fall practice and provided some much-needed stability at the position for coach Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines.
Patterson completed 65.1 percent of his passes for 2,364 yards and 21 touchdowns with five interceptions for the Wolverines (10-2). He also rushed for 268 yards and two touchdowns this season.
–Wisconsin junior quarterback Alex Hornibrook will not play in the Pinstripe Bowl because of concussion-related symptoms, the school announced Thursday. He was ruled out of the game after recurring concussion symptoms surfaced during practice earlier this week.
Sophomore Jack Coan will start in place of Hornibrook in the bowl matchup against the Miami Hurricanes on Dec. 27 at Yankee Stadium.
“Alex participated in a couple weeks of bowl practices,” Badgers coach Paul Chryst said in announcing the decision to hold out Hornibrook. “And then had some reoccurring (symptoms).”
Hornibrook started the first seven games of the season but went into the concussion protocol after a victory over Illinois on Oct. 20. He missed three-plus games because of the injury but returned for the regular-season finale versus Minnesota on Nov. 14. Hornibrook struggled in the 37-15 loss, going 22 of 33 for 189 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.
–The University of Connecticut fired four coaches, the school announced Friday. Defensive coordinator Billy Crocker was among four coaches dismissed in the wake of a disastrous 1-11 season that saw the Huskies allow the most points in the nation.
“After evaluating the program throughout the season and during the recruiting process, I decided to make these changes to my staff,” coach Randy Edsall, who is 4-20 at Uconn the last two seasons, said in a statement. “I appreciate all the work these four men have done and thank them for their effort and dedication during their time at UConn.”
Defensive backs Curome Cox also was not retained along with Eric Klein and J.D. Mehlhorn, the head and assistant strength and conditioning coaches, respectively.
The Huskies allowed a staggering 605 points this season, surpassing the previous FBS mark of 572 yielded by East Carolina in 2010. The team allowed a nation-worst average of 50.4 points, which was nearly five more than any other program. In addition, UConn’s defense was shredded for an NCAA-record 617.4 yards per game.
–Nick Saban was named the Walter Camp Football Coach of the Year on Thursday. Saban guided the No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide to a 13-0 record and the top seed in the upcoming College Football Playoff semifinals.
Defending national champion Alabama will play fourth-seeded Oklahoma (12-1) in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 29. The Crimson Tide is the only school to advance to the College Football Playoff in all five years.
Saban also won the Walter Camp honor in 2008 and joined Bob Stoops (2000, 2003), Gary Patterson (2009, 2014) and Joe Paterno (1972, 1994, 2005) as the only two-time winners of the award.
The Crimson Tide has won five national championships in the past nine seasons under Saban, who also won a national title with Louisiana State in 2003. In 23 seasons as a college coach, Saban is 236-62-1 at Alabama, LSU, Michigan State and Toledo. His six national championships are tied with Bear Bryant for the most in history.
