QB fires off 101 passes in single game

Dana College’s Tom Lensch set an all-division college record by attempting 101 passes in a 60-35 loss to Hastings College on Saturday in Hastings, Neb.

Lensch completed 56 passes for a school-record 507 yards. He threw for three touchdowns and was intercepted three times.

Lensch broke the NAIA record of 92 attempts by Paul Gray of Hanover, Ind., against Georgetown, Ky., in 1991.

The NCAA record is 82 attempts by Purdue’s Drew Brees against Wisconsin in 1998.

Dana coach Bill Danenhauer said Hastings was playing a soft zone, and Lensch spent the day throwing under the coverage.

“We got back and looked at the stats and saw he threw 101 times, and I about fell over,” Danenhauer said.

Dana, a school of 500 students in Blair, Neb., plays a spread offense that features as many as five wideouts.

Report: Gators will seek Spurrier

Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit of ESPN’s GameDay crew both said Saturday that the Florida head coaching job, which will be vacated by Ron Zook at the end of the season, is Steve Spurrier’s – if he wants it.

Florida announced Monday that Zook will not be retained at the end of the season. Spurrier has already indicated to UF officials that he wants to be considered. Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley has confirmed the two parties have communicated and agreed to talk.

“Steve Spurrier, take him if you can get him,” Corso said. “He’s a legend in the state of Florida. And remember one thing, he’s very influential with the big money people in the Florida situation, and if they know that he wants that job and he doesn’t get it, watch out, the money might start to dry up and then the president (Dr. Bernie Machen) and the A.D. might be in a lot of trouble.

“Remember one thing about Spurrier, he left (to coach the Washington Redskins in 2002) for a $25 million contract. To me that’s a separation, not a divorce. Get him back if you can get him.”

Herbstreit is certain UF will offer Spurrier the job.

“The job will be presented to him,” he said. “It will ultimately come down to Steve Spurrier. Deep in his gut, does he still have the fire to deal with the recruiting, the academics, dealing with all the things that go into being a head coach? Does he still want to deal with that? If the answer is yes, the next head coach in Gainesville will be Spurrier.”

Dark day in Sunshine State

Disappointed football fans had plenty of company in the Sunshine State, with Florida, Florida State and Miami losing on the same day for the first time in more than 26 years.

No. 10 Georgia beat the Gators 31-24; Maryland upset No. 5 Florida State 20-17 and North Carolina handed No. 4 Miami its first loss of the season, 31-28.

The last time the state’s top three programs lost on the same day was Oct. 14, 1978, when Florida lost 23-12 at Alabama, Florida State fell 55-27 at Mississippi State, and Miami lost 24-19 at Georgia Tech.