Pac-12 Football Mailbag: Will Matt Barkley Play Against Notre Dame?

Got a question? Go ahead and email me at [e-mail] or hit me up on twitter, @LisaHorne.

This week's mail: 

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@lisahorne Will Barkley play Sat. @notredame?

— JDonovan12 (@JDonovan12) November 20, 2012

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That's a good question. The USC athletic department has been very adamant about not releasing injury information unless a player is out for the season. Suddenly, the school decides to not only release that Barkley won't be playing, but it releases the specific affected body part (AC joint) and injury (sprain) that's preventing him from starting.

Wait, what?

I am suspicious by nature, but this has me even more suspicious. Why give up that information so freely? Could coach Lane Kiffin be pulling a fast one on us?

Because, you know, he's never done anything like that before. 

Hasn't he always told us the truth? Hasn't he always played completely by the rules?

Oh...snap.

With the news of California Golden Bears head coach Jeff Tedford losing his job today, this one-worded question was asked to me on twitter: 

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@lisahorne Arkansas?

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"— H. Jose Bosch (@HJBosch21) November 20, 2012"

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Hasn't every coach in FBS been rumored to be interested in this job? One person actually emailed me to claim that Arkansas has $6.5 million to pay its new coach. Riiiiight.

Then there's that Jon Gruden rumor. Listen, Gruden grew up in Ohio. If he didn't bite at the Ohio State job after Tressel "resigned," then why do Arkansas fans think that they can land Gruden?

Arkansas is not Ohio State, so put down the Kool-Aid and back away from the ledge, folks. Instead, take a look at some realistic coaching candidates. Like Jeff Tedford.

Tedford turned around a lowly Cal football program. Tedford is a no-nonsense veteran who adheres to all of the college football recruiting rules. All of them. There won't be any controversy at your school. There won't be any scandals. There will be top-notch quarterbacks.

Kyle Boller ring a bell? Aaron Rodgers? Tedford also gets players into the NFL. According to a Star-Telegram report, "Cal had 25 players on NFL rosters at the start of this season, ninth most in the nation."

So yeah, put Tedford on the list of potential Arkansas head coaches. Put him at the top. 

—Lisa