Rough Ride Continuing For Sweeney

You’d be hard pressed to find another coach who has endured as many mishaps as Fresno State’s Jim Sweeney.

As the 66-year-old coach approaches 200 victories (he’s at 196), Sweeney is just recovering from a near-fatal auto accident on St. Patrick’s Day. He spent six days in the hospital after breaking ribs, a kneecap and a leg. Surgery followed.

Twenty-two days after the wreck, he showed up at spring practice in a wheelchair. He did, however, climb the viewing tower without assistance.

In the past six years, Sweeney has had surgery seven times - two back operations, two angioplasties, prostrate surgery and rotator cuff surgery.

“I feel blessed. I thought I was going to die,” the former Washington State coach said after the accident in which his new Pontiac Bonneville slammed into a stalled flatbed truck at 55 mph. “Flirting with death, that was about as close as you’re ever going to come and not have it happen.”

Smart scheduling

Tennessee and Florida State may have talent on the field, but there are some pretty smart folks off the field making the schedules.

Both the No. 2 Volunteers and No. 3 Seminoles play nine of their 11 games within their own state.

Tennessee plays six home games in Knoxville; two in Memphis, against Mississippi and Memphis State, and one in Nashville, against Vanderbilt. The Vols venture outside Tennessee to play only Georgia and South Carolina.

Florida State plays six games at home in Tallahassee, against Duke, North Carolina, Clemson, Virginia, Southern Mississippi and Florida; two in Miami, against the Hurricanes and Maryland, and one in Orlando against Wake Forest. Out of state, the Seminoles are at North Carolina State and Georgia Tech.

At Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish won’t be fightin’ much in October. They only have two games, home against Washington (Oct. 12) and Air Force (Oct. 19).

At Kansas, the hometown fans will have to go 43 days between games at Memorial Field. After the season opener against Ball State on Aug. 29, the next home date is Oct. 12 against Texas Tech.

Short people

Navy sports information director Scott Strasemeier recently conducted a search to find the shortest player in Division I-A this season. It uncovered Kent State wide receiver Kahlil Byers - all 5-foot-3, 143 pounds of him. Next shortest is Navy’s own Willie Smith, a 5-4, 175-pound slotback.