Gary Patterson was so not into stretching out the Notre Dame distraction, he signed a contract extension with TCU. Urban Meyer, Kirk Ferentz and Bob Stoops have all vociferously, publicly and in print said they’re not interested in the Notre Dame job. Notre Dame’s supposedly on to its B list (Skip Holtz? Randy Edsall?) and Brian Kelly, well, he’s still staying mum. Not professing loyalty to his current school (like the aforementioned), not saying he’ll talk to Notre Dame. To paraphrase Bearcats tight end Ben Guidugli, that silence says a lot.

In any case, Kelly for the second consecutive year is the American Football Coaches Association Region I Coach of the Year. He’s one of five regional picks (Nick Saban, Kirk Ferentz, Mack Brown and Gary Patterson are the others) and one has to wonder come January 12, when the winner is announced, who his employer will be.

Kelly’s star wideout, Mardy Gilyard, is on the AFCA All-American team. He’s the Big East’s sole honoree. I think Pitt’s Dion Lewis and Dorin Dickerson could’ve had an argument, but maybe not one to upend either the two tailbacks (Heisman candidates Mark Ingram and Toby Gerhart)or the tight end (BYU’s Dennis Pitta) chosen. Rutgers left tackle Anthony Davis could’ve been on this team too… if Rutgers’ line didn’t give up nine sacks in a loss to Syracuse. Regardless, here’s the whole team.