The college football season officially ended when Alabama beat Georgia in the National Championship Game on Monday, but there is still plenty of rumors flying around the country as the offseason begins, including the latest on a pair of coaching rumors - and a recruit who has already had his playing career ended before ever playing at the collegiate level. Here are all the latest news & rumors you need to know from around the country:
Bruce Arians was "messing" with Giants fans about Nick Saban
Former Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians created a bit of a firestorm earlier this week when he told FOX Sports' Colin Cowherd that Alabama head coach Nick Saban "covets" the New York Giants head coaching job and that he may leave Tuscaloosa for the Big Apple.
However, that may not be the case, as FOX Sports' Jay Glazer posted on Instagram that Arians told him he was "just messin" with Giants fans.
Sooooo about last night... had these two knuckleheads Bruce Arians and John Fox hit @rockandreillys with me to run up bar tab and oh by the way, after a few vodkas Arians said he was just messin w the world about #nickSaban to the @nygiants. Now,hmmm was that the Vodka talking? Bruce talking? Orrrr... a combo of the two hahahahaha.
Saban said after Alabama's championship win that this was the "happiest he's ever been." He has now been with the Crimson Tide for 11 years, posting a 127-20 overall record and winning five national titles in nine years.
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Rick Neuheisel a "legitimate candidate" to get Arizona head coaching job
CBS football analyst Rick Neuheisel has emerged as a top candidate to replace Rich Rodriguez as Arizona's head coach, according to Jason Scheer of 247sports.
Sources tell WildcatAuthority.com that former UCLA, Colorado, and Washington Head Coach Rick Neuheisel is a legitimate candidate for the Arizona job with one source going as far to say that he is among the leaders.
Neuheisel's pitch to Arizona Athletic Director Dave Heeke has been that he would put together a strong staff, likely led by former Wildcat Joe Salave'a at Defensive Coordinator.
Neuheisel has been the head coach at Colorado (1995-1998), Washington (1999-2002), and UCLA (2008-2011), and has been broadcasting ever since.
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Florida early signee has career ended due to heart condition
Three-star safety Randy Russell (Opa Locka, FL) was one of eight of Florida's signees during the Early Signing Period but he will never take the field for the Gators. Russell announced on Twitter that a heart condition will end his football career.
"In life, God will throw things at you that don't quite make sense," Russell wrote. "At that moment, they may seem unbelievable and even unbearable. It is important to know that everything happens for a reason.
"Today I was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. A heart condition that prevents me from continuing with the hopes of playing college football and becoming a professional football player. It is extremely hard to believe that after going through the process of early graduation, and consistently physically preparing myself for the next level, today, that all comes to an end.
"This is the last thing I expected to hear and I would not wish this upon my worst enemy. To everyone reading this, I encourage you to appreciate the finer things in life."
Russell was ranked as the No. 28 safety and No. 400 overall prospect in the 2018 class, according to the 247sports Composite.
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