A knee injury to senior safety Brad Meissen has Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry adjusting his depth chart heading into Saturday’s scrimmage at Falcon Stadium.
Meissen, a starter when Air Force’s defensive alignment calls for two safeties, sustained a knee injury in Wednesday afternoon’s practice. DeBerry is expecting that Meissen will be out of action for four to five weeks.
To replace Meissen, DeBerry is considering a move of junior Garrett Rybak from cornerback to safety.
“We have pretty good depth at cornerback,” DeBerry said. “We could move a couple of players around.”
If Rybak moves to safety, juniors Nathan Smith and Carson Bird would fill the left cornerback position. Both Smith and Bird played last year. Senior Chris Huckins, the backup for Chris Sutton at right cornerback, also could figure in the mix to replace Rybak.
Also, sophomore defensive tackle Anthony Schelstrate might be sidelined for some time with a knee injury. Schelstrate, a backup, is awaiting the results of an MRI.
With the Falcons still more than two weeks away from their Sept. 9 opener at Tennessee, DeBerry is banking on Saturday’s scrimmage as well as next Friday night’s intrasquad game at Falcon Stadium to finalize the depth chart.
– Irv Moss
Rankings: The Bowl Championship Series agreed to a four-year contract extension with Harris Interactive, the company that coordinated the polls used last year to replace The Associated Press top 25 in the BCS standings.
The agreement runs through the 2010 BCS bowls.
The Harris Interactive College Football Poll debuted last season after The Associated Press asked the BCS to no longer include its media poll in the formula used to determine which teams play for the national championship.
The Harris poll is voted on by a panel of former college football players, coaches and administrators, plus some media members.
The rest of the components of the BCS formula will be the USA Today coaches’ poll and six computer standings – Jeff Sagarin, Anderson & Hester, Richard Billingsley, Colley Matrix, Kenneth Massey and Dr. Peter Wolfe.
“The BCS was pleased with how the Harris Interactive College Football Poll was structured and delivered last season,” BCS coordinator and Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive said. “Harris Interactive’s approach to the coordination of the poll and desire for integrity in the process warranted this extension.”
Wisconsin: Receiver Marcus Randle El will miss the 2006 season after injuring his right knee.
Randle El hurt his knee at practice Wednesday afternoon. An MRI exam showed he had damage to ligaments that would require surgery. No further details were provided.
“Everyone in our football program feels for Marcus and supports him and wishes him a speedy recovery,” coach Bret Bielema said. “As is the case anytime someone is injured, it leaves a spot for someone else to step in and contribute so we don’t miss a beat. That’s what I expect to happen.”
Randle El, a junior and brother of Washington Redskins receiver Antwaan Randle El, has three receptions for 36 yards and four punt returns for 57 yards during his career.
Southern Utah: Quarterback Royal Gill has been ruled ineligible to play this year because of NCAA transfer rules.
Gill transferred to Division I-AA Southern Utah from New Mexico State. But because he was going from one four-year school to another and had already used his one-time waiver, he must sit out this fall.
Gill started his career at Stephen F. Austin, then transferred to Pima Community College in 2004. He went on to New Mexico State for last season and was hoping to play for the Thunderbirds this year.
