Every college football coach in America took to their press conferences on Wednesday and proclaimed what a success National Signing Day was for the future of their programs.
It’s the job of new in-state coaches Rich Rodriguez and Todd Graham to do so, but based on the actual (though obviously subjective) rankings, both coaches struck out.
Arizona State was ranked eighth in the Pac-12 by Rivals.com and Scout.com. Arizona fared even worse, ranking 11th in the conference by Rivals and No. 10 by Scout.
Fans can use the coaching changes as an excuse, …

Jaxon Hood has never been shy about speaking his mind.
The Hamilton defensive tackle felt he was undervalued by recruiting services and college coaches alike, and told it to anyone willing to listen.
He made a verbal commitment to Boston College in December when it looked like the in-state schools wouldn’t offer him a scholarship, but whether it was his talking or his play on the field, eventually Arizona and Arizona State noticed. Rich Rodriguez and Todd Graham both offered a scholarship to Hood shortly after they were hired, and he flipped …

It was an action-packed morning, as four local football stars chose their colleges and dozens more gathered at the Doubletree Suites Hilton in Phoenix on Wednesday.
I couldn’t talk to everybody, but here are some notes from a variety of players that were in attendance:
* Desert Ridge senior Jordan Becerra did it all in high school, splitting time at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and cornerback. He will play wide receiver at Harvard after there was some discussion about putting him on defense. Becerra said he prefers offense. “I like getting …

Saguaro has narrowed its coaching search down to two finalists and a decision could come as soon as today, according to a source close to the situation.
The finalists are in-house candidate Jason Mohns and an outside candidate, the source said.
John Sanders was fired in early January. He led the team to four state championships in five years as coach, but was dismissed because of a series of off-field missteps.
A separate source said Sanders will likely end up in a role with Arizona State, and the official announcement should come ‘very …

Several East Valley football standouts will make their college choices public tomorrow on National Letter of Intent Signing Day.
Chandler’s Javon Williams, Hamilton’s Jaxon Hood and Chaparral’s Dylan Cozens will announce their choices at the Doubletree Guest Suites hotel in Phoenix. There is a signing day event at the hotel from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Corona del Sol’s Andrus Peat will choose his college at 11:35 a.m. from the school on ESPNU’s signing day show.
Peat is choosing among Stanford, Nebraska, Florida State and USC.
Williams is down to Arkansas and UCLA. Cozens …

Saguaro began interviews for a new football coach yesterday and is finishing up today, athletic director Bob LaRue said in an email.
The school hopes to have a coach in place by next week.
John Sanders was fired in early January after leading the team to four state championships in five years, including the past two in a row. Sanders had great on-field success, but it was a build-up of incidents off the field that led to his dismissal, sources said.
Offensive coordinator Jason Mohns is a candidate, and numerous players are lobbying …

Pinnacle boys basketball forward Cody McDavis sprained his ankle on Friday night against Sandra Day O’Connor and will miss the next two-to-three weeks, coach Charlie Wilde said.
There was a concern that the ankle was broken or dislocated, which would have likely ended McDavis’ season, but an MRI showed it was only a sprain. He is averaging 13.0 points and a team-high 9.0 rebounds per game this year.
“He lucked out,” Wilde said.
McDavis will miss the final week of the regular season and most likely the sectional tournament, but Wilde is hoping …

It’s the final go-round of regular season games for girls basketball. Everything wraps up Friday night and Sectionals from each Division begin next Tuesday, with semifinals set for Thursday night and championship games on Friday night, Feb. 10  (Division IV girls are Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday).
The top eight teams in each Section advance to the Sectional Tournament, which is single elimination. If a team wins its first game in the Sectional Tournament it should advance to the state tournament.
(All games are 7 p.m.  and records are PP games only through Monday).
Pinnacle at St. …