Trooper Had to Guard Nebraka Athletic Director

Disturbing news out of Nebraska. A state bodyguard was assigned to Cornhusker Athletic Director Steve Pederson at Nebraska's final home game — Nov. 12 against Kansas State — after it was determined that a "legitimate threat" was made against Pederson and his family, state officials said. This came after Nebraska was drilled by Kansas, 40-15, ending the Cornhuskers' 36-game winning streak against the Jayhawks. The response also was in part to a column written by Ben Schwartz in the North Platte Bulletin, Pederson's hometown. One segment of the column read: "Tell me it's wrong to call up Steve Pederson's house at 3 in the morning, breathe heavily into the phone and then whisper, 'I'm going to kill your children.' " Schwartz later apologized (registration).

Miami Clearly Is a Program in Decline

They're still trying to piece together what happened to spark the brawl between players from Louisiana State and Miami at the end of Friday night's Peach Bowl, but at least the Hurricanes finally showed some fight. But they appeared to lose that battle, too. Did LSU pour it on? You betcha it did. What brought this on? Perhaps it was the memory of Miami's 44-3 rout of LSU in 1988 in a Tiger Stadium downpour. The bigger question is what has happened to Miami, winner of five national titles? The last, won in 2001, has never seemed smaller in the rear-view mirror. Asked if his team quit, Hurricane coach Larry Coker said, "I don't think we stopped. I don't think we played the entire day." As for the Miami players, we don't know what they were thinking. The postgame locker room was sealed shut from reporters. One thing is for certain: Coker, whose greatest success has been with others' recruits, must take a good share of the blame (some registration).

No Honor for Hizzoner

The cleanup continues in Boise, where "inappropriate remarks" at Monday's MPC Computers Bowl banquet fired up Boston College players and fans and inspired the Eagles to a 27-21 victory over the hometown Boise State Broncos two days later. Boise Mayor David Bieter, above right, has issued an apology for his banquet remarks in hopes of removing the black eye suffered by his city, but from the looks of letters to the editor received by the Idaho Statesman, that shiner won't be clearing up any time soon.

Columnists' Corner

Tom Powers, St. Paul Pioneer Press: Is Glen Mason worried about losing his job? He doesn't appear to be concerned (registration).

Jim Souhan, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Laurence Maroney? Gone. Greg Eslinger and Mark Setterstrom? Gone. A chance for the Gophers to win their 43rd consecutive Music City Bowl? Gone. Glen Mason and his coaching staff? Going, going ... (registration).

Mike DeArmond, Kansas City Star: Nobody needed this Independence Bowl victory more than Missouri's Gary Pinkel (registration).

Pete Thamel, New York Times: New Jersey is a memory, USC is a dream for two former New Jersey preps (registration).

Ron Bellamy, Eugene Register-Guard: Where did it all go wrong for Oregon? Maybe it should have stuck with Dennis Dixon at quarterback after taking a 7-3 lead against Oklahoma in the Holiday Bowl.

Martin Fennelly, Tampa Tribune: It's called Meineke Car Care Bowl Fever. We're not sure if there is a cure.

Bob Wojnowski, Detroit News: The days of simply lining up and beating opponents the same, old way are over for the Michigan Wolverines.

Joe Biddle, Tennessean: It was an announced tickets-sold crowd of 40,519 at the Music City Bowl, but anybody in attendance knew there was nowhere close to that number of folks in the stands.

Reporters' Notebooks

Randy Peterson, Des Moines Register: Expect the Houston Bowl to have a crowd of only 35,000, but it has nothing to do with the turnout of fans from Texas Christian or Iowa State.

Angelique S. Chengelis, Detroit News: Michigan's Lloyd Carr is still angry that an untested replay crew was essentially broken in at the Alamo Bowl. "It was ludicrous," he growled. Does he plan to file a complaint? "It's too late," he snarled.

Brian Christopherson, Lincoln Journal Star: The bizarre ending to the Alamo Bowl will assume a place in college football lore.

Ted Lewis, Times-Picayune: A youth group staying at the Hyatt in Atlanta is cause for some sleepless nights for West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez.

Chadd Cripe, Idaho Statesman: New Boise State coach Chris Petersen has a rebuilding project on his hands, but it involves his staff, not his team, which returns 20 of 24 starters.

Steve Conroy, Boston Herald: Boston College will be rebuilding, but coach Tom O'Brien believes he will have capable replacements to make a run at the ACC Atlantic Division title.

Tom Luicci, Newark Star-Ledger: It was a breakthrough season for Rutgers, but can the Scarlet Knights keep it going in 2006?

Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times: ESPN is interested in switching USC's Sept. 9 game at Arkansas to Sept. 2, and it appears all parties are in favor of the date change.

Chip Towers, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Alex Mortensen, the Arkansas quarterback and son of ESPN's Chris Mortensen, appears to be headed to Georgia Southern (registration).

A Reminder to Drink Responsibly

UCLA appears to be on its best behavior as it enters Friday's Sun Bowl. But a year ago, that wasn't the case. According to a story in the El Paso Times, two Bruin starters were sent home from last year's Las Vegas Bowl after showing up for a team meeting drunk and then throwing up in front of coaches and teammates. The story never identified the players, but an Internet search provided the names of Benjamin Lorier and Eyoseph Efseaff. Bruin tight end Marcedes Lewis provided more details into the shenanigans: "In past years, like when we went to Vegas last year, dudes were drunk and they had alcohol leaking out of their pores at practice. This year hasn't been anything like that for us." Coach Karl Dorrell added, "Spirits are good." We presume he was talking about the team, not the nightlife in Juarez.

Columnists' Corner

Berry Tramel, Oklahoman: A team that was lost in September’s swelter has been found in December’s salt breeze. Oklahoma beat No. 5 Oregon in a rousing Holiday Bowl that showed why the Sooner tribulations of 2005 should be a one-year aberration (registration).

John Canzano, Oregonian: Even if Oregon had pulled out the Holiday Bowl victory and eked past Oklahoma in that final, magical drive, it would have gone down as a qualitative loss, which means the Fiesta Bowl selection committee got it right weeks ago.

Terence Moore, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: How do you say rinky dink, as in something called the Emerald Bowl, as in why is the ACC even sending one of its members to this thing? (registration).

Kurt Kragthorpe, Salt Lake Tribune: Something that was believed entering the Emerald Bowl was absolutely true: One of the participants was a team that nobody should want to play at this time of year. Except it was not Georgia Tech.

Jim Souhan, Minneapolis Star Tribune: It's a lose-lose situation. Minnesota has offered a great deal of money to a coach, Glen Mason, it doesn't seem to like, a passive-aggressive maneuver that, even if Mason agrees to those terms, will leave sour tastes all around (registration).

Mike Hlas, Cedar Rapids Gazette: Florida players insist it will be different this time, that the 37-17 loss to Iowa two years in the Outback Bowl wasn't a true representation of Gator football (subscription, so story is in comments).

Resistance Is Futile

You've been watching wall-to-wall coverage of bowl games on the self-proclaimed Worldwide Leader. Somehow, you pull yourself up from the coach and manage to escape for a moment. As you venture toward the kitchen, you see that computer-generated yellow line flash before your eyes. Enough is enough, you tell yourself. I've been watching too much football and must turn the channel. So you flip over to the Rose Parade, and what do you see? "The Magic of Sports in High Definition." Yes, ESPN has, for the first time, sponsored a float for the parade of parades (float #58 on that link). And you think you could escape this madness by actually going to the Rose Bowl? Ha! Don't bet on it. ESPN is sponsoring the National Championship Tailgate Party, the only official tailgate at the 2006 Rose Bowl. For $20, you too can join this exclusive gathering. Hurry, seating is limited! Only the first 10,000 patrons will be admitted. And if you really want to blend in with the party crowd, don't forget your 2006 ESPN Rose Parade pin (near the bottom of that link). It's only $6.

They'll Remember This Alamo Bowl

Memories of Cal-Stanford, except the guys in red aren't band members. The final play of the Alamo Bowl is getting a lot of attention, and why not? This frame capture from the ESPN telecast shows the Nebraska bench swarming the field while the final play continues. "It was an obvious violation of rules," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr snarled. Well Lloyd, Michigan had a few representatives milling around on the field, too. But we understand. You lost. ESPN has joined the cause, harping about the bad officiating, but they must have missed the Oklahoma-Texas Tech game, which in our opinion, can't be topped. Nonetheless, the Sun Belt crew assigned to the game did seem a tad overmatched, and Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney was among the first to call Sun Belt counterpart Wright Waters to complain. It brings back memories of the 1982 Cal-Stanford game, and we've been saving this glorious link for just this moment. Meanwhile, they could care less in Lincoln, where the Husker Nation is beaming and snickering about that final play (page links to video report). Also, if you are looking for a video of the play, ESPN has one in its Motion section. We were unable to provide a direct link.

Minnesota May Be Looking for a Coach

Minnesota is ready to part ways with coach Glen Mason, who will lead the Golden Gophers against Virginia in the Music City Bowl on Friday. Mason, who earned $1.43 million this season, wants $1.8 million in a new deal. The university is offering $1.5 with incentives. The contracts of Mason's nine assistants are up at midnight Saturday and the university says it will send letters of termination to the assistants if Mason doesn't agree to a new deal by then. "We do not want [Mason] coaching into next season without a renewal," university general counsel Mark Rotenberg told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Some Gopher assistants are taking the hint. Secondary coach Kerry Cooks reportedly is a candidate to join Bret Bielema at Wisconsin (some registration).

Columnists' Corner

Bob Wojnowski, Detroit News: Michigan better let the bitter taste of this 7-5 season marinate, then learn from it, because it shouldn't happen again.

Curt McKeever, Lincoln Journal Star: Even the biggest critics have to give Nebraska some credit after its victory in the Alamo Bowl.

Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times: Opposing recruiters looking to use speculation that USC's Pete Carroll was headed back to the NFL will have to come up with a new strategy.

Barry Tramel, Oklahoman: A victory in the Holiday Bowl will serve as a springboard for Oklahoma's return to elite status in 2006 (registration).

Kirk Bohls, Austin American-Statesman: We knew Texas was going to be good when the season started. But this good? (registration).

Reporters' Notebooks

Steve Conroy, Boston Herald: Boston College got all the motivation it needed to beat Boise State during a banquet Monday night that turned into a pep rally for the Broncos.

Eric Hansen, South Bend Tribune: It turns out that the Fiesta Bowl won't be Brady Quinn's last game as Notre Dame's quarterback.

Ron Higgins, Commercial Appeal: Fresno State has built its reputation by playing the best. Now the Bulldogs are finding it more difficult to schedule powerhouse teams (registration).

Bob Holt, Northwest Arkansas Times: Arkansas quarterback Alex Mortensen, the son of ESPN's Chris Mortensen, is looking to transfer.

Nehlen Blog: Jason Gwaltney, a highly recruited running back who choose West Virginia over USC and Ohio State, is leaving the Mountaineer program.

Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal Constitution: The ACC is reworking its bowl lineup, and the Peach Bowl is going to be a big winner (registration).

Jeff White, Richmond Times-Dispatch: Virginia's defense will have to be at its best to slow Minnesota's punishing running game.

We're Bullish on Satellite Radio

The Wizard happens to be fortunate enough to have a satellite unit and can say firsthand that it is a godsend for the sports fan. So if you can't locate that bowl game on the old radio dial of yours while you cruise around town, you might want to upgrade to one of these satellite units from Sirius and XM. Between the two companies, nearly every bowl game is covered. Thus, we present you with the listings of bowl coverage for Sirius and XM.

Columnists' Corner

Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times: Life after death, as in NCAA death penalty. Try telling that to Southern Methodist.

Dan Bickley, Arizona Republic: Arizona State can aim for the sky in 2006 after defeating Rutgers in the Insight Bowl.

Jerry Izenberg, Newark Star-Ledger: Rutgers put together a helluva plan to beat Arizona State, but didn't have the horses to pull it off.

Bernie Lincicome, Rocky Mountain News: It's over. What became a nightmare of a season for Colorado finally ended.

B.G. Brooks, Rocky Mountain News: New Colorado coach Dan Hawkins isn't expected in Boulder until Sunday, but it appears he will be arriving Friday.

Curt McKeever, Lincoln Journal Star: Nebraska's season resembles that of the 1999 squad, which finished 7-5 before turning it around in 2000 and making a run to the national title.

Ron Morris, Columbia State: South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier finds unique names for plays, but there is a method behind his madness.

Terry Wood, Northwest Arkansas Times: Arkansas coach Houston Nutt is no doubt happy 2005 is about to end. And why not? The 2006 season looks promising.

Reporters' Notebooks

Kevin Manahan, Newark Star-Ledger: Even in defeat, Rutgers fans made their bowl experience a memorable one.

Patrick Obley, Columbia State: Clemson coach Tommy Bowden isn't talking "what-if" after the Tigers concluded their season with four losses by a total of 16 points.

Randy Peterson, Des Moines Register: Standout Iowa State defensive end Jason Berryman is back in his hometown to play in the Houston Bowl, but he returns with a felony on his record.

Joseph Pearson, Columbia State: South Carolina defensive backs Ko Simpson and Johnathan Joseph aren't talking about speculation that each will leave early to start pro careers.

Ned Barnett, Raleigh News & Observer: It is one of the mysteries of football that the biggest players are the hardest to see. N.C. State left guard John McKeon is a prime example.

Reporters' Notebooks

Kevin Manahan, Newark Star-Ledger: It appears many Rutgers fans made a stop in Las Vegas before heading to Phoenix for the Insight Bowl.

Matt Richtel, New York Times: Internet casinos are outlaw operations in the eyes of the federal government, but they look like solid investments to many of Wall Street's largest firms (registration).

Carl DuBois and Scott Rabalais, Baton Rouge Advocate: Louisiana State quarterback JaMarcus Russell didn't make the trip to Atlanta for the Peach Bowl. His left shoulder, which he separated Dec. 3, hasn't healed, so Matt Flynn will get the start.

Frank Dell'Apa, Boston Globe: Mathias Kiwanuka could have been cashing huge paychecks, but the Boston College defensive end says he has no regrets about coming back for a senior season (registration).

Mark Blaudschun, Boston Globe: So what's at stake for USC in the Rose Bowl besides the obvious? A chance to put this Trojan run among the all-time best (registration).

Steven M. Sipple, Lincoln Journal Star: The Alamo Bowl has plenty of ramifications for Bill Callahan and Lloyd Carr. Above all, you don't finish 7-5 if you happen to be the coach at Nebraska or Michigan.

Chadd Cripe, Idaho Statesman: Maybe it's time to raise the minimum number of victories to qualify for a bowl to seven instead of six.

Mike Malloy, Des Moines Register: It has been a long, hard ride for Quinn Sypniewski, the first Colorado player to receive a sixth season of eligibility.

Dirk Facer, Deseret Morning News: Utah is all business as it prepares to mix it up with Georgia Tech in the Emerald Bowl.

Tom Mulhern, Capital Times: Wisconsin players roll their eyes when the inevitable question comes up about Auburn's speed.

Chris Dempsey, Denver Post: If you're a coach and desire to live in Boise, get that resume polished up. New Colorado coach Dan Hawkins is taking most of his assistants with him after Boise State's bowl game against Boston College.

Jorge Milian, Palm Beach Post: Miami, already thin at receiver, will not have starter Ryan Moore in the Peach Bowl. He has been suspended. Moore is the third receiver lost since the end of the regular season.

Finishing Moves

There was Darnell Autry, above right, carrying the ball and Northwestern to an improbable Big Ten title and berth into the 1996 Rose Bowl. And there was defensive back Hudhaifa Ismaeli, called "the best athlete I have ever been around" by another teammate. But it ended for both, each without a degree. Autry wound up in Las Vegas, working as a doorman in a bar at Treasure Island and as a lifeguard and hotel security agent elsewhere. Ismaeli found work on a production line in a factory that made sewer pipes, or doing construction work. Now, each is poised to take part in graduation ceremonies at Northwestern in June.

Columnists' Corner

Terry Foster, Detroit News: George Perles, the former Michigan State coach, has a big dream. Someday, his Motor City Bowl will become part of the BCS lineup and play host to a national championship game.

David Whitley, Orlando Sentinel: Ancient Hawaiian proverb says, "Uoki loa'a kaumaha luna li'ili ua." In other words, Central Florida has the kind of mentality that will make bowl trips an annual event.

Matthew Aguilar, El Paso Times: It is difficult to imagine, when Texas El Paso finished 2-11 a couple of years ago, that an 8-4 season and a bowl appearance would be a letdown. But the 2005 team didn't live up to expectations.

Greg Hansen, Arizona Daily Star: Arizona remains one of five BCS teams to have gone seven or more years without a bowl appearance, but not all is lost.

Reporters' Notebooks

Mike Knobler, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: What do Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, UCLA, USC, Michigan, Wisconsin and Boston College have in common? They rank among the AP top 25 in football and the U.S. News & World Report top 40 in academics (registration).

Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle: College jobs have become much more appealing recently to coaches with NFL experience, but this isn't a good year for those wanting to return to campus.

Ken Hambleton, Lincoln Journal Star: On the afternoon of Oct. 21, 1905, a plucky Nebraska team traveled to Ann Arbor and put up a good fight for a scoreless half, then fell, 31-0, to mighty Michigan.

Tom Reed, Akron Beacon Journal: Pride is at an all-time high at Akron, which rose from the depths in 2002 and plays in its first bowl game on Monday (registration).

Iowa City Press-Citizen: Iowa has Florida beat in one category. The Hawkeye assistant coaches get fatter paychecks.

Columnists' Corner

David Whitley, Orlando Sentinel: Central Florida earned the right to be called Cinderella, but it limped away with a slipper full of sand after losing to Nevada.

Ron Higgins, Commercial Appeal: The decision to temporarily declare USC's Matt Leinart ineligible for saying "Next on Sportscenter" is another example how the NCAA hurts so-called student-athletes (registration).

David Knox, Birmingham News: Cast another vote for a playoff. Says ESPN's Chris Fowler, "You're not going to convince me that attractive BCS bowl matchups are better than a playoff."

Sam King, Baton Rouge Advocate: Outside of USC or Texas, Miami might be the toughest bowl opponent available that Louisiana State could have drawn.

Reporters' Notebook

Jeff D'Alessio, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: A recruiting analyst breaks down ACC and SEC recruiting and lists the top remaining targets for all the teams (registration).

Idaho Statesman: Boise State senior safety Cam Hall has been declared academically ineligible and will not play in the MPC Computers Bowl.

Steven M. Sipple, Lincoln Journal Star: Not a bad haul for players from Nebraska and Michigan. Each received an XBox 360 as the primary gift from the Alamo Bowl.

Phil Stukenborg, Commercial Appeal: Ticket sales for the Motor City Bowl are brisk and officials are optimistic about setting an attendance record (registration).

Jim Masilak, Commercial Appeal: A loss to USC took its toll on Fresno State, but the Bulldogs are grateful for one more game (registration).

Duff Wilson, New York Times: University High, a correspondence school in Miami being investigated for giving fast, high grades to qualify high school athletes for college scholarships, is going out of business Dec. 31, its founder says (registration).

Mick McGrane and Brent Schrotenboer, San Diego Union-Tribune: Oregon coach Mike Bellotti says there is an East Coast bias in college football.

Jason King, Kansas City Star: The victory over Houston in the Fort Worth Bowl will give Kansas and its fans plenty of reason to be optimistic entering 2006 (registration).

Chris Low, Nashville Tennessean: Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe says he's back at Tennessee because "it was the right thing to do."

Patrick Obley, Columbia State: Clemson offensive lineman Christopher Capote had to have his right ear essentially reattached after a harrowing automobile accident.

Texas Has Been Infiltrated by Infidels

Ha! We got your attention. Works every time. This is what is called a tease, as in teasing a story. This piece happens to be about USC fans who to live in Austin of all places. Yes, the Austin chapter of the USC Alumni Association has about 180 members. We are going to expose their clandestine operation right here, right now. They gather on game days at the Seven-10 Grill and Sports Bar, which is tucked into the back of an alley, a bowling alley. And they are not alone. Operatives are busy planning attacks in other parts of the Lone Star State. In Dallas, there will be a "Let's Mess With Texas" Rose Bowl viewing party. The North Texas chapter has about 1,500 members. Said one Trojan alum of Texans: "They have the aura that everything is bigger and better. I don't think they really know what is going on outside of Texas." Oh, and the poster child? Her name is Jenn Sterger. Read more about her here. And see more of her here.

The Long and Short of It

We smell a rat, and it's a rather large one at that. Here's the deal: Former Temple assistant Toby Neinas, son of sports consultant Chuck Neinas, has been hired as an assistant at San Diego State by new coach Chuck Long, left. Toby is the son of sports consultant Chuck Neinas, who was used by San Diego State during the searches that landed Long and athletic director Jeff Schemmel. As one person commented to the North County Times, "I am sure the fact that both Chuck Long and Jeff Schemmel landed their jobs from Chuck Neinas had nothing to do with this." Yea, right. Chuck Neinas is arguably the most powerful player in college athletics these days, and he has quite a history with San Diego State. He help the school land Mike Bohn as athletic director in 2003, then helped Bohn get his new gig at Colorado. That paved the way for Schemmel, then Long. And who did Bohn turn to when he needed a coach to replace Gary Barnett earlier this month? You guessed it, Chuck Neinas, who made the initial contact with Boise State's Dan Hawkins.

We're Fired Up About This One

Because we know you are packing on the pounds this holiday season, the Wiz wanted to remind everybody that getting up off that couch can help you burn 500 calories a day. Now if exercise doesn't flip your switch, consider the West Virginia approach — just burn the damn couch! Our fondness for that couch-burning crew from Morgantown is well documented, so when we were informed that a new blog had opened shop dealing specifically with West Virginia athletics, we couldn't resist the opportunity to run yet another photo of what Mountaineer fans do best.

Power of the Oppressed

It should come as no surprise that many newspapers are cutting editorial staffs. Now although this is a disturbing trend, there seems to be no end to the number of writers ready to work for nothing. One only needs to glance at the letters to the editor of a local paper to see some of the best prose in ink. And unlike many of the paid staffers at the paper, the letter-writers aren't afraid to let it rip. This week we present some offerings from the Mobile Register, where that Alabama-Auburn thing never dies.

Columnists' Corner

Richard Justice, Houston Chronicle: After losing to Kansas in the Fort Worth Bowl, Houston is again at a football crossroads. Yes, another one.

Bob Wojnowski, Detroit News: During the telecast of the Alamo Bowl, TV commentators surely will recount the famous Battle of the Alamo in 1836, when brave Texans fought the Mexican Army for the right to brandish "Fire Millen" signs.

Randall Mell, South Florida Sun-Sentinel: Penn State fans are back at it, complaining that Bobby Bowden's 31 victories at Samford should not count in his total of 359, which is six wins ahead of Joe Paterno.

Paul Finebaum, Mobile Register: Alabama coach Mike Shula doesn't want an Xbox 360 for Christmas. He wants some beefy linemen.

Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle: OK, we're late on this one, but it's such a good read: How the Mormons saved Las Vegas.

Reporters' Notebooks

Patrick Obley, Columbia State: Expect to see plenty of empty seats at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Clemson has sold 9,500 of its 12,500-ticket allotment. Colorado? Only 2,000 tickets have been gobbled up by Buff fans.

Joey Johnston, Tampa Tribune: Everything went wrong 20 years ago when Tampa got its bowl game. Now the Outback Bowl is a source of pride for the community. Also, a look at some of the stars of past Outback Bowls.

Joseph Goodman, Miami Herald: Penn State's gameplan for its matchup against Florida State in the Orange Bowl? Get after Seminole freshman quarterback Drew Weatherford (registration).

Jason King, Kansas City Star: Kansas will lose much of its defense, but coach Mark Mangino said the Jayhawks will reload, not rebuild (registration).

Thomas Murphy, Mobile Register: Would it be surprising to know Alabama's highly regarded defense played only one of the best 61 offenses in the nation in 2005? It's true.

Eric Hansen, South Bend Tribune: What's it like for Robin Quinn, mother of Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, to be living in the shadow of the Ohio State Buckeyes?

Phil Stukenborg, Commercial Appeal: Who will foot the bill for this one? Memphis coach Tommy West kept his promise. The Tigers will wear black shoes in the Motor City Bowl, a switch from the normal white the team wears (registration).

Changing the Face of Texas Football

It was 1969, and Texas had just defeated Arkansas, 15-14, in Fayetteville in what had been billed as the Game of the Century. President Richard M. Nixon entered the locker room and declared the Longhorns as national champions. Julius Whittier was a member of the team, but as a freshman was not eligible to play varsity at the time, and he watched from Austin. Whittier was also the only black football player at Texas. He didn't know it at the time, but Longhorns were the last all-white team to win the national championship. In 1970, Whittier became the first black letterman for Texas, and today he takes great pride in the Longhorns. About half of the players are black, including standout quarterback Vince Young (registration).

Columnists' Corner

Jason King, Kansas City Star: Houston and Kansas players have been trading insults all week. They settle it on the field Friday night (registration).

Tom Hoffarth, L.A. Daily News: Too many bowls? Ratings show that the viewing public can't get enough.

Dick Harmon, Deseret Morning News: Brigham Young scored 28 points in losing to California in the Las Vegas Bowl. It should have been enough to win.

Double D, Boston Herald: One of the Wiz's favorite handicapping columns is back, with a look at the coming week's bowl games.

Jeff Shain, Miami Herald: Texas, owner of the fifth-worst graduation rate in Division I-A football, is playing for the nation championship (registration).

Dave George, Palm Beach Post: Could the BCS possibly evolve into a playoff system? It might be closer than you think.

Geoff Calkins, Commercial Appeal: Memphis running back DeAngelo Williams will be doing plenty of running before the Motor City Bowl (registration).

David Whitley, Orlando Sentinel: Do we turn on Kalakaua, Kapiolani or Keeaumoku? Central Florida players have plenty to worry about in Hawaii.

Randy King, Roanoke Times: Three Virginia Tech linemen will carpool 700 miles to get to the Gator Bowl.

Reporters' Notebooks

Jeff Metcalfe, Arizona Republic: There is a long list of Arizona State players who are battling the flu and it is becoming a concern as the team prepares to play Rutgers.

Marlon W. Morgan and Jason Smith Commercial Appeal: The losses continue to pile up for Mississippi Madman Ed Orgeron. Assistant George DeLeone and running back Jamal Pittman are leaving the program. But he scored by landing the talented Greg Hardy and four JUCO players (registration).

Chadd Cripp, Idaho Statesman: The coaching transition at Boise State is creating an awkward recruiting environment.

Chad Hartley, Reno Gazette-Journal: Nevada cornerback and co-captain Kevin Stanley has been booted off the island. He was declared academically ineligible.

Jamey Eisenberg, Palm Beach Post: Joe Paterno knows a thing or two about bowl games, and the Penn State coach already has his team in Florida, preparing for the Orange Bowl.

Ira Schoffel, Miami Herald: Cornerback Antonio Cromartie, sidelined five months ago by knee surgery, is practicing and wants to play in the Orange Bowl (registration).

Nate Allen, Northwest Arkansas Times: Alabama Birmingham offensive coordinator Pat Sullivan has interviewed for a vacancy on the Arkansas staff.

Paul Gattis, Huntsville Times: Alabama cornerback Simeon Castille has been ruled academically ineligible for the Cotton Bowl.

Charles Durrenberger, Arizona Daily Star: Arizona assistant Josh Heupel, the 2000 Heisman Trophy runner-up as a quarterback at Oklahoma, is headed back to Norman.

Carl DuBois, Baton Rouge Advocate: The Peach Bowl carries a powerful incentive for victory, but will Louisiana State and Miami be motivated after late-season collapses?

Phil Stukenborg, Commercial Appeal: Memphis players, many of whom have never seen snow, are in a festive mood as they arrive in frigid Detroit (registration).

Rick Star, Tribune-Review: West Virginia is 0-3 in bowl games under Rich Rodriguez, who is tired of being asked about it.

This One Goes to Eleven

We were sitting around the old castle with the blokes the other day, wondering, "What if we were to start a contest to determine the best NCAA football blog in the land?" Hello Cleveland! The only thing better would be building a replica of Stonehenge to display on the site. But much to our dismay, Red Reporter beat us to it. Then we learned that the Wizard was not only nominated, but named a finalist! This was a total surprise, given the number of complaints we receive, like how much more black could the site be? And the answer is none. None more black. Despite all the commotion, the bottom line at the Wizard remains the same: Have ... a good time ... all the time.

A Journey Into the Unknown

So you're ready to saddle up and head for Old El Paso and the Sun Bowl. You arrive safely and immediately start gazing at the twinkling lights of Juarez, one of the most dangerous places known to man. The locals tell you not to step foot in the city for risk of life and limb. You think back to that time your mom told you not to stick that knife in the toaster, but you did it anyway and survived, so what could go wrong, right?

Thug Life

Booker Stanley is in trouble again. The Wisconsin running back allegedly beat and choked a woman at his off-campus apartment early Wednesday. He faces tentative felony charges of second-degree reckless endangerment, false imprisonment and intimidation of a victim and two counts of misdemeanor battery. In case you forgot, here's a link to those gruesome images from Stanley's alleged involvement in a fight last April, which led to four misdemeanor charges. At least somebody in Madison is starting to get upset (link to a page with a video report). What remains to be seen is if Stanley, although suspended indefinitely, will appeal the suspension and be allowed to play in the Capital One Bowl (some registration).

Columnists' Corner

Jason King, Kansas City Star: The breakfast included pancakes. The talk included football. And Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins put on the butter and syrup when talking about Mark Mangino's program (registration).

Matthew Aguilar, El Paso Times: Jordan Palmer's poor play in the GMAC Bowl raises questions about his ability to lead Texas El Paso next season.

Eric Hansen, South Bend Tribune: You have questions, we have answers. What you need to know about the Notre Dame-Ohio State matchup in the Fiesta Bowl.

Jeff Shain, Miami Herald: Winners, please. He gets busy with predictions for the coming week's bowl games (registration).

Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News: In an effort to help you in your postseason investments, he offers his two cents on which side to take (registration).

John Rohde, Oklahoman: They're getting nervous in Norman. USC is only 14 victories shy of breaking Oklahoma's NCAA record winning streak of 47.

Mark Bradley, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia Tech isn't happy about having to play in the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco. "We got screwed," tailback P.J. Daniels said (registration).

Al Jones, Biloxi Sun Herald: Southern Mississippi wasn't at its best, but the Golden Eagles were good enough to finish a turbulent season with a victory against Arkansas State.

Reporters' Notebooks

Mike Sullivan, North County Times: New San Diego State coach Chuck Long has his No. 1 recruit: defensive coordinator Bob Elliott.

Mark Knobler, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Teams in the ACC and SEC who don't play in bowl games will earn almost as much money as teams that do (registration).

Carter Strickland, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Score one for Georgia over West Virginia. The Bulldogs got the prime practice facility in Atlanta in preparation for the Sugar Bowl (registration).

Dan McCarney, San Antonio Express-News: Michigan fans might not be excited about a trip to the Alamo Bowl, but Nebraska fans are expected to arrive in San Antonio in droves.

Steven M. Sipple, Lincoln Journal Star: And speaking of Nebraska, yet another recruit has backed out of an oral commitment.

Will Vandervort, Columbia State: Clemson junior receiver Kelvin Grant says coach Tommy Bowden isn't being truthful about the reasons for his dismissal from the team.

Steve Kirk, Birmingham News: You have been warned, plan accordingly. Expect one, possibly two Alabama players to be declared academically ineligible for the Cotton Bowl.

Associated Press (via Chicago Tribune): Iowa is the toughest place to play in the Big Ten. Minnesota center Greg Eslinger said of fans at Kinnick Stadium, "Every once in a while they'll throw cigarette butts at you. ... Sometimes they're lit."

File This One Under Sharing

Colorado is buying 103 iPods for football players to the tune of about $36,050, a week after a state audit criticized athletic department spending. Our first reaction was to run out and buy Apple stock. Our second reaction was to see if we could field a team that could be more competitive in the Big 12 title game. That might get us a new laptop or something. But couldn't this lead to more trouble in Boulder? After all, lost amid all this hubbub was that in 2003, former Colorado defensive end Matt McChesney was sued by the Recording Industry Association of America for illegally downloading and sharing copyrighted music. Yes, that same McChesney who is now employed by the New York Jets. When the suit hit the fan, McChesney was accused of sharing more than 1,300 pieces of copyrighted music online. Among the songs McChesney was accused of downloading: "I'm a Thug" by Trick Daddy and "She Swallowed It" by NWA.

Columnists' Corner

Paola Boivin, Arizona Republic: A nice piece on former Arizona State quarterback Paul Justin, who returned to Tempe 14 years after playing to earn his degree.

Steven M. Sipple, Lincoln Journal Star: A touch of crass: Nebraska learned of Josh Freeman's decommitment via a text message from the player's father.

Rick Starr, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: West Virginia is not only trying to beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, it must try to prove critics of the Big East wrong.

David Mayo, Grand Rapids Press: Why should you watch every bowl game? If you are searching for an excuse, he has one for you.

Kevin Scarbinsky, Birmingham News: If there is one person that knows how to slow the Trojan horses, it's Texas defensive coordinator Gene Chizik.

Reporters' Notebook

Susan Miller Degnan, Miami Herald: Miami is hurting at receiver, so expect Devin Hester to see extended time at the position in the Peach Bowl (registration).

Dave Ranney, Lawrence Journal-World: Kansas a basketball school? Officials expect 10,000 Jayhawk fans for Friday's game against Houston in the Fort Worth Bowl.

Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle: Instant replay will be used at every bowl, the first step in making the system mandatory throughout Division I-A next season.

Patrick Kinahan, Salt Lake Tribune: You don't drink, smoke or gamble. How do you have fun in Las Vegas? Brigham Young players seem to be enjoying themselves.

Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star: Terry Allen is Missouri State's new head coach. Yes, that Allen, who as Kansas coach in early November 2001, was told: Beat Nebraska that day or clean out your desk. The Jayhawks lost, 51-7 (registration).

Chadd Cripe, Idaho Statesman: Dan Hawkins isn't the only thing Boise State lost to Colorado. The former coach is taking several assistants with him.

Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times: In a bizarre story, USC quarterback Matt Leinart was declared ineligible for a short period of time by the NCAA for appearing in a promotional segment for ESPN.

Columnists' Corner

Rick Cleveland, Clarion-Ledger: If motivated, Southern Mississippi should have no trouble beating Arkansas State.

Paul Finebaum, Mobile Register: Mike Price is back in Alabama, and he is showing grace and an ability to turn around a Texas El Paso program.

Martin Fennelly, Tampa Tribune: George O'Leary took one hard fall and hit bottom. Now he has Central Florida in a bowl game.

Reporters' Notebooks

Mick McGrane, San Diego Union-Tribune: Bob Elliott, the defensive coordinator at Kansas State the past four seasons, is expected to join Chuck Long at San Diego State.

Suzanne Halliburton, Austin American-Statesman: The attorney representing two Texas players said police have no plans to charge the two in a Dec. 10 incident (registration).

Andy Staples, Tampa Tribune: Florida's recruiting class, regarded by some as the best in the nation, could swell to 33 players.

Chris Dempsey, Denver Post: Mark Helfrich, the quarterbacks coach and passing-game coordinator at Arizona State, will be Colorado's offensive coordinator next season.

B.G. Brooks, Rocky Mountain News: Colorado quarterback Joel Klatt is not pleased with a hit by Texas linebacker Drew Kelson that likely ended his college career.

Lincoln Journal Star: Josh Freeman, a top-flight quarterback recruit, has changed his mind. He plans to attend Kansas State instead of Nebraska.

Charles Durrenberger, Arizona Daily Star: Arizona is having a banner recruiting haul. The question is, how is Mike Stoops doing it?

We Take Our First Peek ... at a Bowl Game

It's a fitting way for Southern Mississippi to end the season. A team once displaced by Hurricane Katrina plays in a displaced bowl game. That's right, we're talking New Orleans Bowl, baby! The only things that have changed are the site (Lafayette) and Sun Belt representative (Arkansas State ... it seemed like North Texas had a lock on this bowl, didn't it?). Tuesday's epic battle kicks off the postseason, and the Golden Eagles are 17-point favorites. Although this is the eighth bowl in nine seasons for Southern Mississippi, not everybody is happy with coach Jeff Bower (he does graduate 85% of his players). The Indians are just happy to be here, considering the program moved from I-AA to I-A in 1992. The joy is at such a high level that starting linebacker Chris Littleton got into trouble Saturday night and was arrested on charges of battery of a police officer and resisting arrest. So much for Lafayette hosting a bowl game again (some registration).

Columnists' Corner

Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times: When attempting to pick winners for that office bowl pool, examine the critical do-they-really-want-to-be-there factor.

Wally Hall, Northwest Arkansas Times: That grumbling coming from Arkansas fans? It's mainly because Notre Dame and Tennessee have moved ahead of the Razorbacks in the courting of quarterback Mitch Mustain, the nation's No. 1 recruit.

Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star: It's that time of year again, when the bowl games unite against the bashers (registration).

Reporters' Notebooks

Tom Mulhern, Wisconsin State Journal: Wisconsin fans have a reputation for traveling, but demand for tickets to the Capital One Bowl is lackluster at best.

Terrance Harris, Houston Chronicle: Pressed for time and can't decide which bowl games to watch? Here is a handy guide to separate the studs from the duds.

Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Mr. College Football" takes a crack at explaining how the bowl selection process in the ACC went awry (registration).

Ron Bellamy, Eugene Register-Guard: Oregon has played five games against Oklahoma, all in Norman, and lost them all by an aggregate score of 184-17.

Jim Masilak, Commercial Appeal: Akron, a year after being the only bowl eligible team left out of the postseason lineup, is thrilled about its trip to the Motor City Bowl.

Odeen Domingo, Arizona Republic: Jeff Joseph is a man of many hats. His son, Devraun Thompson, plays for Rutgers. And Joseph was on Arizona State's 1987 Rose Bowl team.

Longhorns at Center of Probe Likely to Play

Don't expect Texas officials to take action against running back Ramonce Taylor, left, or cornerback Cedric Griffin, who reportedly are being investigated by Austin police in connection with alleged assaults on Sept. 4 and Dec. 10. The attorney representing Taylor, who has started the last four games, and Griffin, who has started every game, provided new details into the Dec. 10 incident. The attorney also said that his clients were not involved in the Sept. 4 incident. Bottom line: Expect Taylor and Griffin to be on the field Jan. 4 when the Longhorns play USC in the Rose Bowl (registration).

Is a Playoff the Way to Go?

The smorgasbord of bowl games is about to begin, with 28 games in 16 days. Excessive? To some, yes. But others say this is the perfect way to end the season. The topic even sparked the interest of Congress, which held a hearing to ask gridiron movers and shakers whether the NCAA should stage a Division I-A playoff. It's already done on all other levels, including I-AA, where Friday night's finale was an example of what a true title game means to players and fans (story is in comments).

Reporters' Notebooks

Jeff Potrykus, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin receiver Marcus Randle El, the brother of former Indiana and Pittsburgh Steeler standout Antwaan, was arrested after alleged being involved in a bar fight. He likely won't play in the Capital One Bowl. Potrykus also has a piece on Bret Bielema denying he has an escape clause in his contract that would allow him to leave for Iowa, if that job were to become open.

John Heuser, Ann Arbor News: Larry Harrison, who left Michigan after allegedly being caught fondling himself outside a home, has now been dismissed from the North Carolina A&T team.

Jeff D'Alessio, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The paper presents its Super Southern 100, the top players in the region. Here is the list (registration).

Mike Sullivan, North County Times: Is San Diego State getting serious? The hiring of Chuck Long appears to be an indication the school wants to change its football image.

Steven M. Sipple, Lincoln Journal Star: Now that finals are over, Nebraska is preparing for its final football against Michigan in the Alamo Bowl.

Paul Honda, Honolulu Star-Bulletin: Hawaii is battling to keep its homegrown talent from leaving the state.

Texas-Sized Trouble Brewing for Longhorns

The Rose Bowl is over two weeks away, but already there are questions whether Texas will have enough players to field a team for its matchup against USC. Starting cornerback Cedric Griffin, left, and running back/kick returner Ramonce Taylor reportedly are under investigation by Austin police for incidents on Sept. 4 and Dec. 10 that allegedly involved robbery and assault. One report said the Sept. 4 incident involved an automatic handgun. Nice. We can only hope the Austin police act quickly because if there is one thing the fine God-fearing citizens of Pasadena don't need, it's the importation of alleged criminals into their law-abiding city. We also have a link to a page featuring a video report from KEYE (some registration).

San Diego State Takes a Long Shot

A Gulfstream IV jet, owned by San Diego Padres owner John Moores, a San Diego State booster, landed Friday at Norman's Max Westheimer Field. On board was Aztec athletic director Jeff Schemmel, who had arrived to pick up Chuck Long, the Oklahoma offensive coordinator who will be introduced Saturday as San Diego State's coach. Long was never a fan favorite at Oklahoma, but he is stepping into what many believe is a gem of a job. We also have a video report (registration).

Reporters' Notebooks

Chad Hartley, Reno Gazette-Journal: It's official: Nevada fans do not travel well. As of Thursday, the school had sold about 75 tickets for the Wolfpack's game against Central Florida in the Hawaii Bowl.

Joseph Person, Columbia State: This could be it for the Independence Bowl, which is without a corporate lifeline for the second year in a row. Person also has a report on South Carolina co-defensive coordinator John Thompson being put on a paid leave of absence.

David Staba, New York Times: Turner Gill, Buffalo's new coach, faces one of college football's most monumental challenges (registration).

Chadd Cripe, Idaho Statesman: Boise State lost Dan Hawkins, but a big cheer went up when Chris Petersen was introduced as his replacement.

B.G. Brooks, Rocky Mountain News: Dan Hawkins said all the right things in his first day on the job at Colorado.

Report: Texas Players Under Investigation

Several players from Texas are being investigated by the Austin Police Department for robbery and assault, according to reports in Austin. The investigation stems from two incidents on Sept. 4 and Dec. 10 (some registration).

Long, Hawkins, Petersen Have New Jobs

Oklahoma offensive coordinator Chuck Long has been offered and is expected to accept the job at San Diego State, the Oklahoman reports. It's not clear if he will stay with the Sooners through the Holiday Bowl, which, oddly enough, is played in San Diego. And as Colorado was introducing Dan Hawkins as its new coach, Chris Petersen was taking over for Hawkins at Boise State. We currently offer a link to video of the Hawkins press conference here. KTVB in Boise has several video reports posted on Petersen and Hawkins.

I-AA: No Argument Here

A national champion will be crowned Friday night when Northern Iowa and Appalachian State meet at Max Finley Stadium, which is plopped in a warehouse district in Chattanooga. One sportswriter couldn't tell if he was supposed to cover the game or load trucks. Each team will be playing their 15th game, but the players have balanced academics and athletics (story in comments), which apparently can't be done on the I-A level. This championship, unlike I-A, will be won on the field (registration).

Officer in Central Florida Shooting Cleared

Dennis D.R. Smith, a reserve officer for the Orlando Police Department, has been cleared of any wrongdoing in the shooting death of Central Florida campus police officer Mario Jenkins, left, who was working an undercover operation to combat illegal drinking before the Central Florida-Marshall game on Sept. 24. But authorities said Michael John Young, who allegedly grabbed Jenkins in a bear hug during a pregame confrontation between Jenkins and a tailgater, will face charges of felony battery on a law enforcement officer and a misdemeanor charge for obstructing a law enforcement officer.

Rose Bowl Notebook

Suzanne Halliburton, Austin American-Statesman: Texas will try to learn from the mistakes Oklahoma made in last season's title game (registration).

Doug Krikorian, Long Beach Press-Telegram: Reggie Bush's biological father wants to set the record straight.

Scott Wolf, L.A. Daily News: Coveted defense end Walker Lee Ashley has been academically approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse. Wolf also reports that USC's opening opponent in 2007 could be Idaho, coached by former Trojan assistant Nick Holt.

Reporters' Notebooks

Mike Knobler, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The ACC will be making adjustments to its bowl-selection process after Georgia Tech and Boston College were sent on cross-country ventures. Knobler also chips in with this gem: The No. 24 team in the AP poll has won its bowl game each of the past six seasons (registration).

Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech has suspended two receivers for violation of team rules.

Joe LaPointe, New York Times: Joe Paterno's political ties could clear the way for Penn State's Tamba Hali to be reunited with his mother for the first time in 11 years (registration).

Brian Rosenthal, Lincoln Journal Star: Former Nebraska standout Turner Gill will be named Buffalo's coach on Friday.

Adam Schmadtke, Orlando Sentinel: Central Florida fans are bowled over by the high cost of seeing the Golden Knights play in the Hawaii Bowl. Schmadtke also reports on Central Florida's plans for a 45,000-seat stadium.

Charles Durrenberger, Arizona Daily Star: Arizona coach Mike Stoops has added the nation's top junior college prospect to his recruiting class.

Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Chick-fil-A is eating the Peach. The fast-food giant will acquire exclusive naming rights to the Atlanta bowl next season, when it will simply be called the Chick-fil-A Bowl (registration).

Doug Lesmerises, Cleveland Plain Dealer: Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk is dating the older sister of Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn.

Margaret Fosmoe, South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame fans will find out Monday who won and who lost in the lottery for Fiesta Bowl tickets

Angelique S. Chengelis, Detroit News: Michigan's Lloyd Carr has come out in favor of a 16-team playoff.

Michael Smith, Louisville Courier-Journal: Kentucky's Rich Brooks, winner of nine of 34 games, is talking bowl for his Wildcats in 2006.

Ryan Wood, Lawrence Journal-World: Houston's passing game doesn't worry Kansas as much as the Cougars' running game.

So He's Not the Player of the Year?

In the interest of fairness, we present Matt Leinart's side of the story surrounding the incidents Saturday night/Sunday morning at Marquee, the New York club where the USC quarterback was photographed dancing with a Texas woman who allegedly slapped the USC quarterback after he made an inappropriate move. "She didn't slap me. And I didn't grope her," Leinart said. InsideUSC.com has the story, which is also linked at Ben Maller and Deadspin.

Columnists' Corner

Stan Hockman, Philadelphia Daily News: Joe Paterno quit? That will never happen in a million years (registration).

Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel: Tim Tebow looks good on paper, but high school credentials don't mean squat in college.

Shelly Anderson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: And you thought your school had it bad. Imagine, for a second, being tied to Colorado.

Caulton Tudor, Raleigh News & Observer: North Carolina needs an offensive coordinator, and former East Carolina coach Steve Logan would be a perfect fit.

Reporters' Notebooks

Frank Fitzpatrick, Philadelphia Inquirer: Penn State might be a team shroud of secrecy, but that's not the case if you pick up the glossy fashion magazine W (registration).

Terrance Harris, Houston Chronicle: Former Western Michigan coach Gary Darnell will be hired as Texas A&M's defensive coordinator.

Izzy Gould, St. Petersburg Times: Yet another reminder why recruits should never give their cell phone number to a coach.

Lorenzo Perez, Raleigh News & Observer: North Carolina State fans are gobbling up tickets for the Meineke Car Care Bowl. The same can't be said for followers of South Florida (registration).

Carter Strickland, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia's Mark Richt is likely to get a restructured contract after the season (registration).

Ferd Lewis, Honolulu Advertiser: Central Florida is transporting a 253-member party to Honolulu for the Hawaii Bowl. That alone will cost in excess of $500,000.

Keith Whitmire, Dallas Morning News: Lee Hays, the man who will install the spread offense at Baylor, has been through Marine Corps sniper school (registration).

Ballroom Dancing Classes Come in Handy

Nothing like getting in the gutter in search of the truth. Photos of Matt Leinart partying it up at Marquee after the Heisman ceremony appeared on Deadspin and Ben Maller, so we must ask: Is young Matt living a life of sin? The woman pictured with Leinart certainly doesn't appear to be Brynn Cameron, who was linked to Leinart in this April 28 story and even as recently as Oct. 21. Maybe this is why Vince Young of that Brokeback Mountain team didn't want anything to do with Leinart and Reggie Bush after the ceremony (breaking protocol, we might add). Even more shocking: the woman Leinart pursued for most of the night was from Texas! According to Deadspin, Leinart "hit on one of the girls from Texas all night, danced with her, and then was so drunk he groped her ... she turned around and slapped him, and left." We wonder if that was Vince Young's girlfriend. Quite a different story from this so-called behind-the-scenes piece.

Hawkins to Colorado Is All but Complete

It appears Boise State will be looking for a coach. The Rocky Mountain News reports that Dan Hawkins is believed to have received a verbal offer to replace Gary Barnett at Colorado, and the Daily Camera takes it one step further, saying Hawkins likely will be introduced as coach by the end of the week. The Idaho Statesman reports that Hawk, as the locals call him, spent Tuesday in Boise, despite prior plans to take a recruiting trip. We also have a video report from Boise's KTVB (some registration).
Update: The Denver Post reports Hawkins meeting with Boise officials, including president Robert Kustra, on Wednesday. The Idaho Statesman reports that Boise State offensive coordinator Chris Petersen already has expressed interest in replacing Hawkins.
Update II: KTVB in Boise has a new video report. The station talked with Hawkins, who issued a no comment when asked directly if he was taking the Colorado job. KUSA in Denver also has a video report and a 30-minute interview with Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn, who says Barnett was owed $4.2 million, but the sides settled on $3 to end the agreement.
Update III: KTVB reports it's a done deal, and Hawkins will be introduced as Colorado coach Friday. Colorado Board of Regents will sign off on the deal Thursday. In a seamless transition, Petersen is expected to take over at Boise.

You Have Our Permission to Sin

OK, we've been busted. Things are a tad slow today as our student-athletes take their final exams and preparations start for the bowl games. Given these factors, we thought a slight interruption was in order, so meet Melissa Theuriau (12 MB video). See, the French aren't all bad! We are told she is a newsreader for "LCI Morning," whatever that is. For lack of a better description, she is stunningly beautiful. Theuriau has her own spot in cyberspace and we can only hope that our calling attention to her will pressure authorities to hasten her departure out of that den of inequity called France to the safe haven of the U.S.A.

Gators Get Their Man

"He's not Michael Vick, but he could be Alex Smith." OK, but right now he's Tim Tebow, and it seems the Gator Nation is putting a lot of hope on this high school senior's left arm, which accounted for 34 touchdown passes this season. Oh, don't forget the 21 rushing touchdowns, either. Chris Leak will be out of a job before we know it. Tebow seems like such a nice kid, too (video). Alabama might have beat Florida on the field, but this is a signature loss for the Crimson Tide and coach Mike Shula. And you know they won't be watching Wednesday night in Alabama when ESPN airs its big blowout on Tebow.

Columnists' Corner

Wally Hall, Northwest Arkansas Times: The suspicion is that standout prep quarterback Mitch Mustain is going to Tennessee, but for his sake, he shouldn't choose the soft Orange of the Volunteers.

Steven M. Sipple, Lincoln Journal Star: Patience. Rome wasn't built in a day, and constructing a winner at Nebraska takes time, too.

Tom Luicci, Newark Star-Ledger: Temple, a coaching graveyard, thinks it has found a savior in Al Golden.

Chuck Woodling, Lawrence Journal-World: Could a player from Kansas ever win the Heisman? Never say never.

Mike Lucas, Capital Times: Bret Bielema is a proven recruiter, but is he the right man to take over for Barry Alvarez at Wisconsin?

Reporters' Notebooks

Rachel Bachman, Oregonian: Oregon and Oklahoma snapped up their combined 22,000 tickets to the Holiday Bowl, so what happened to the other 46,000 seats?

Charles Durrenberger: Arizona Daily Star: A studly defensive tackle and two big receivers have given their word to Arizona coach Mike Stoops.

Jeff Metcalfe, Arizona Republic: Welcome back Koetter: Arizona State says it will extend the contract of Dirk Koetter, whose record is 32-28.

Eric Hansen, South Bend Tribune: Now that Notre Dame has the best recruiting class in its history, the Fighting Irish can start going after juniors.

Bruce Adams, San Francisco Chronicle: California continues to have quarterback problems, plus the players get a lecture on the evils of Las Vegas.

Rodney McKissic, Buffalo News: Former Nebraska standout Turner Gill will meet Buffalo president John Simpson on Wednesday.

James Hammond, Columbia State: South Carolina is having trouble selling its ticket allotment for the Independence Bowl.

'Horns and Thorns

Pasadena or Bust! It appears Texas fans are getting desperate. Two Longhorn faithful are trying to get to the Rose Bowl and in a move to raise funds, are selling T-shirts over the Internet. Imagine their disappointment after USC rolls the Longhorns. As for tickets, good luck. They aren't cheap and prices remain steady. No wonder they call it "Brokeback Mountain." Good luck with this one, boys.

Guerrero Covers Up

The great Ben Maller site comes through again. Lisa Guerrero, in a rare photo with her clothes on, says she won't have a credibility problem if she returns to work as a sportscaster. This is news to us, because we never knew she had any credibility. Guerrero will appear in the January issue of Playboy, photos of which have been leaked. Now she finds herself playing defense as fishes for her next gig. It is the money, or the title of Most Successful Former L.A. Cheerleader Guerrero is seeking? Paula Abdul still has a sizable lead.

Buddy, Can You Spare a Dime?

They released the findings of a state audit into the Colorado athletic department and there's a lot of troubling movement of money through former coach Gary Barnett's football camp. But Barnett is not alone. There were plenty of hands in the till. We have links from stories in the Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News and Daily Camera. We also offer links to video reports from KUSA, KMGH and KCNC. What this will mean to the new coach remains to be seen, but since we are on that topic, Butch Davis is out of the running. Boise State's Dan Hawkins is very much in the mix, but he's facing tough questions from the folks back home after word leaked of his interview. Hawkins and UCLA assistant Jon Embree have been interviewed thus far (some registration).

The Next Big Thing (Maybe)

Three years ago, Chris Leak of Charlotte's Independence High announced he was going to Florida. He was the recruit of century and would transform the Gators into a national title contender. Obviously, that didn't quite work out as planned. Californian Josh Portis, master of the spread offense, came aboard, and now he's gone. So that brings us to Tuesday, when Florida's Mr. Football, St. Augustine quarterback Tim Tebow, will announce his college of choice. The finalists: Florida, Alabama, LSU, Michigan and USC. The Crimson Tide's Mike Shula got in the last word, and everybody in Alabama is holding their breath. OK people, this recruiting business is out of hand. You don't know what you have until you bring it home. Some kids have the heart and drive to improve and others don't. Some are mismatched in a system. Just too many variables. And who is to say a kid won't change his mind. Look at Michael Goodson, nicknamed Michael Good-God (video). The running back out of Houston gave his word to Oklahoma State. Now he's reportedly choosing between Texas A&M and USC. The only proper way to judge a recruiting class is by looking back five years and see what you ended up with. And while you're at it, recruit some linemen. They are the guys who win games (some registration).

How to Be a Notre Dame Fan

OK, we stole this one from the fine blog, themightymjd. But it was so good we just had to post it here. Some clever soul from Boston College has developed a flowchart on how you become a fan of the Fighting Irish. We just love it when the good people at B.C., yet another school that Notre Dame looks down on, poke fun at the Irish. Ohio State fans might want to have this flowchart handy for your trip to Tempe. In other words, prepare to be called a gang of "thugs" after the Buckeyes' victory. And expect a lot of people to be limping around afterward with sprained ankles after jumping off the Notre Dame bandwagon.

Political Football

It's the wacky and crazy world of politics. He likely didn't score any points with voters in Texas, but Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, regarded by some observers as a presidential timber, was addressing Florida Democrats at their 2005 convention in Orlando last weekend. Vilsack remarked that USC's Reggie Bush was about to win the Heisman as the country's best player. "It'll be the first time a Bush has won when all the votes have been counted," he said, eliciting laughter and applause from the partisan throng.

Columnists' Corner

John Kelso, Austin American-Stateman: So Vince Young got his panties in pile and didn't party with Reggie Bush after the Heisman ceremony, breaking protocol. Who cares?

John Mackovic, Desert Sun: When was the last time there were two Heisman winners in the same draft? Or two Heisman winners in the same draft from the same school?

Mike Huguenin, Orlando Sentinel: Here are some things to ponder while awaiting the first bowl game.

Dave Hickman, Charleston Gazette: Quiet please! West Virginia is concerned with crowd noise in what amounts to a home game for Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

Reporters' Notebooks

Steven M. Sipple, Lincoln Journal Star: Former Nebraska standout Turner Gill appears to be the top choice to become coach at Buffalo.

Michael C. Lewis, Salt Lake Tribune: Georgia Tech's lack of enthusiasm for traveling cross-country to play Utah in the Emerald Bowl is being noted by the Utes.

Randy Diamond, Tampa Tribune: The selection of Florida by Outback Bowl officials is not sitting well with tourism officials in Tampa.

Jerry Hill, Waco Tribune-Herald: Look for Baylor to join the ranks of teams using the spread offense with the hiring of Lee Hays as offensive coordinator.

Marlon W. Morgan, Commercial Appeal: Mississippi Madman Ed Orgeron is looking for quarterbacks. Brent Schaeffer, formerly of Tennessee, might be a start (registration).

Emily Badger, Orlando Sentinel: Florida State's shocking victory in the ACC title game has injected new life into the program.

Colorado Search Is Heating Up

Former Cleveland Brown and Miami Hurricane coach Butch Davis said he would be interested in becoming Colorado's coach, but he has yet to be contacted. Davis has been out of coaching the past year after being fired by the Browns. UCLA assistant head coach Jon Embree met with Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn in Boulder on Sunday night. He followed Boise State coach Dan Hawkins, who interviewed with Bohn on Saturday, the Boulder Daily Camera reports.

Dorrell Suspends Kicker Medlock

UCLA kicker Justin Medlock, far left, was suspended indefinitely by coach Karl Dorrell after he was arrested early Saturday morning in an alcohol-related accident. He will not play in the Dec. 30 Sun Bowl against Northwestern. If there is any good news out of this it is that Hannah Jun, a member of the Bruin women's golf team and passenger in Medlock's vehicle, did not require surgery being injured in the accident. She is expected to make a full recovery, according to UCLA officials. We have links from the Los Angeles Times, Daily News and Daily Bruin.

Columnists' Corner

Kirk Bohls, Austin American-Statesman: Vince Young is angry, and that could be bad news for USC in the Rose Bowl (registration).

Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Wake Forest's Jim Grobe would be a perfect fit for Colorado, but are the folks in Boulder smart enough to hire him? (registration)

Steven M. Sipple, Lincoln Journal Star: Nebraska has some explaining to do to recruits who want to know how in the world the Cornhuskers lost to Kansas.

Jeff Shain, Miami Herald: What happened to the good, old days? It used to be that you couldn't stage a national title game without a team from Florida (registration).

Kurt Kragthorpe, Commercial Appeal: Brigham Young and Utah might have been better off sitting out this postseason (registration).

Reporters' Notebooks

David Barron, Houston Chronicle: An assistant professor at Rice says the mass media coverage that USC received had a big hand in Reggie Bush's margin of victory in the Heisman voting.

Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech coach Mike Leach has become the toast of New York.

Mike Knobler, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia Tech fans who can't attend the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco are buying tickets and giving them to members of the armed forces (registration).

Damien Pierce, Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Texas Christian athletic director Danny Morrison thinks the new BCS formula will benefit the Horned Frogs (registration).

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Houston Nutt's hiring of Gus Malzahn as offensive coordinator has hit a nerve with Arkansas fans.

Kurt Voigt, Springdale Morning News: Top prep quarterback Mitch Mustain made it official: He's no longer committed to Arkansas.

Rus Baer, Columbia Daily Tribune: There is no questioning the athleticism of Missouri quarterback Brad Smith, but NFL teams hint at a position change.

UCLA Kicker Facing Felony Charges

Bruin kicker Justin Medlock was arrested early Saturday and charged with two felony counts of driving under the influence and hit and run. Hannah Jun, a member of the women's golf team and the lone passenger in Medlock's car, was taken to the UCLA Medical Center where she had "very severe" spinal cord injuries. Officers who arrived on the scene found Jun "half in, half out" of the car and apparently trying to climb out the window. Medlock, who suffered minor injuries, walked away from the accident before officers arrived on the scene. He was arrested almost an hour later by the Inglewood Police Department about 1.5 miles from the scene of the one-car accident. For more information on Medlock's booking, you can go to this link, enter his first and last name click search.

When Readers Become Writers

Unquestionably, some of the best writing in newspapers comes from readers. That's no surprise. Demographic studies show that newspaper readers are college educated, upper middle income and just happen to possess a good set of lungs. To prove our point, we've surfed around and found some entertaining prose turned in by readers. Oregon faithful continue to hammer away at Notre Dame and voters in every poll imaginable after the Ducks were screwed out of a BCS bowl. Then there is a forum for USC fans to gloat over rival UCLA. And even a USC employee gets in the act to let the world know that Trojans are not as dumb as people make them out to be.

Columnists' Corner

Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel: Some advice for Reggie Bush: Stay in school and avoid the Houston Texans at all cost.

Jim Mashek, Biloxi Sun Herald: Mississippi Madman Ed Orgeron has positioned himself among the screaming elite, but his program continues to go south.

Jon Wilner, San Jose Mercury News: We have new respect for South Carolina's Steve Spurrier. He ranked Notre Dame 14th, lowest among voters in the coaches or Harris polls.

Ray Melick, Birmingham News: Spurrier continues to pile it on. "(Notre Dame) didn't hardly beat anyone with a winning record. Personally, I think it's a crying shame they allow them to go 9-2 and play for the big money."

Pete Fiutak, College Football News: Sorry UCLA fans. Top to bottom, Gary Beban is ranked as the worst Heisman winner.

Reporters' Notebooks

Chadd Cripe, Idaho Statesman: He's interested. Boise State's Dan Hawkins says he "probably would listen" if Colorado contacts him about replacing Gary Barnett.

Chris Dempsey, Denver Post: How does Butch Davis and Colorado sound? The former Miami and Cleveland coach appears to be the front-runner.

Bob Clark, Eugene Register-Guard: Oregon receiver Matt Bramow allegedly spit on a police car. Shortly thereafter, he was fitted for handcuffs.

Robbie Andreu, Gainesville Sun: Florida might want to recruit a few quarterbacks. No. 2 Josh Portis is packing his bags.

Michael Wallace, Clarion Ledger: At least 14 players, including nine from Mississippi Madman Ed Orgeron's February signing class, have left the team since last summer. The latest is quarterback Ethan Flatt.

Honolulu Advertiser: You knew this was coming when Hawaii failed to become bowl eligible. The Hawaii Bowl is desperate for fans.

Jason Kelly, South Bend Tribune: There's a lot of pressure on Notre Dame. Lose to Ohio State and the bowl losing skid is up to eight.

Lenn Robbins, New York Post: It seems as if Vince Young has a little Joe Namath in him (hopefully not the Suzy Kolber part). He's predicting a Texas victory in the Rose Bowl (registration).

Nutt on Defensive After Offensive Hire

A sign of desperation, perhaps? Arkansas has had back-to-back losing records for the first time under Houston Nutt, and he completed a shuffling of his staff by naming Springdale High coach Gus Malzahn as his offensive coordinator. What makes this hire, shall we say, interesting, is that Malzahn is coach of Mitch Mustain, left, arguably the nation's top prep player. Mustain had committed to Arkansas over Notre Dame on Aug. 15, but withdrew that commitment last weekend after reportedly being courted by David Cutcliffe, who himself was a candidate to become the Razorback offensive coordinator before being hired by Tennessee. There is much speculation going around, and Nutt spent much of the press conference defending his selection, but did he hire Malzahn to secure Mustain as a recruit? (some registration).

The Son He Barely Knows

His name is Reggie Bush Sr., a fleet-footed running back at Hawthorne High in 1982-83. He is the biological father of Saturday's probable Heisman winner. Unable to work since hurting his back in a 1990 car accident, the 40-year-old collects an $800 monthly disability check from the government and lives with roommates in a neighborhood where steel bars protect storefront windows from theft and vandalism. His role in his now-famous son's life has been limited for various reasons, and he watched on TV as Reggie dazzled 92,000 fans last weekend.

Columnists' Corner

Joe Starkey, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: It's all about Joe Pa: Penn State's Joe Paterno has unfairly taken the spotlight from the team and put it on himself.

Paul Finebaum, Mobile Register: Auburn's Tommy Tuberville has the best team in the SEC and probably did his best coaching job.

Jake Curtis, San Francisco Chronicle: Reggie Bush's jersey number is 5, but 8.86631016 shows just how special he is.

Bernie Lincicome, Rocky Mountain News: The Heisman Trophy, that little stiff-arming darling, generally is given to the wrong person.

Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune: Pressure? The hiring of a new coach at San Diego State is perhaps the most important in school history.

Reporters' Notebooks

Mark Anderson, Las Vegas Review-Journal: A first for the Las Vegas Bowl. The Brigham Young-California matchup officially is a sellout.

Charles Durrenberger, Arizona Daily Star: Instant replay in the Pac-10 is getting a big thumbs up.

Eric Hansen, South Bend Tribune: Lou Holtz's 1988 Notre Dame team won the national title, but he considers the 1989 team to be his best.

Brendan Riley, Associated Press: At least somebody is winning. Nevada casinos hauled in a record $1.06 billion in October, their biggest month ever.

Andy Vasquez, Orlando Sentinel: Nobody will travel as far to get to a postseason destination, but Central Florida isn't complaining about going to Hawaii.

Clifton Brown, New York Times: The consensus among NFL scouts is that Texas' Vince Young would benefit with another year at the college level (registration).

Neill Woelk, Boulder Daily Camera: Colorado is taking a streamlined approach to finding a replacement for Gary Barnett (registration).

John Shipley, St. Paul Pioneer Press: Is Minnesota getting ready to part ways with Glen Mason after the 2006 season? (registration)

Pushing a Heisman Candidate Over the Top

Promoting a Heisman candidate used to involve something called the U.S. Mail. You probably remember licking a stamp and throwing the envelope in a big blue box on a street corner. The contents somehow ended up on a doorstep about a week later. How strange it all seems now with the Internet at our fingertips. The folks at USC have embraced technology and used it to the full extent this year, promoting its Heisman candidate — or in USC's case Heisman candidates — by posting videos of Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart. And if you think USC was ashamed of the illegal "Bush Push" that got Leinart into the end zone at Notre Dame, think again. It's a key ingredient of both videos. The school also pushed receiver Dwayne Jarrett, who was a candidate for the Biletnikoff Award, with another video, which can be accessed on this page.

End of an Error in Boulder

Gary Barnett went peacefully as Colorado coach, but then again, when your employer cuts you a $3 million check, it's difficult to talk badly about them. Given that Denver is one of the last competitive newspaper markets in the country, the volume of copy is a bit overwhelming. So in a change of pace, the Wiz will link to the main pieces in the Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News and Daily Camera. From there you can connect to all the related stories. If you are into video, check out KUSA, KMGH or KCNC. As for a replacement, athletic director Mike Bohn says he has a "No. 1 all-star" in mind. Some say that might be UCLA assistant Jon Embree, a former Colorado player and coach. We know one thing: Rick Neuheisel won't be a candidate (some registration).

It's Official: Big 12 Referees Are the Worst

This was the first season instant replay was used in throughout college football (OK, the Sun Belt and WAC didn't get involved) and for the most part, it enhanced the game. But the introduction of technology also gave us a scorecard on the officials, and by a nice margin, the Big 12 had more stoppages to review plays and more on-field calls overturned. Even more disturbing: In November, when the stakes were much higher, 50% of the reviewed calls were overturned. The Wiz recalls a fourth-and-three play in the Oklahoma-Texas Tech game where the play was reviewed but the spot of the ball was never corrected (reviewing it and still getting it wrong is very bad). In fact, three of the final eight plays on Texas Tech's winning drive were reviewed. It was almost as if the officials wanted every play reviewed. Not a good thing. We can only hope that the officials assigned to the upcoming Lingerie Bowl aren't in need of such a crutch because that is one game where we really need to focus on the action (registration).

Columnists' Corner

Norman Chad, Houston Chronicle: He's watching too much football. You know that computer-generated yellow first-down line on your TV? He now sees it in his living room on his way to the kitchen.

Andy Baggott Wisconsin State Journal: In the past three months, Wisconsin athletic director/football coach Barry Alvarez lost his brain, his vision and his voice.

Drew Sharp, Detroit Free Press: Matt Leinart's problem? He's a victim of his own success.

Doug Carlson, Tampa Tribune: Only now are we learning how angry Bobby Bowden was before the Virginia Tech game.

Nancy Clark, Des Moines Register: Read this and you'll want to load up on Texas Christian against Iowa State in the Houston Bowl.

Jim Litke, Associated Press: A site that has predicted the Heisman outcome with stunning accuracy predicts Reggie Bush will win in a landslide (registration).

Kevin Scarbinsky, Birmingham News: Pat Sullivan wants to be a head coach again. Middle Tennessee might give him a shot.

Reporters' Notebooks

Michael Vega, Boston Globe: Say what? Boston College athletic director Gene DeFilippo and Oregon counterpart Bill Moos endorsed a plan for an eight-team playoff.

Jeffrey Martin, Wichita Eagle: New Kansas State coach Ron Prince, hired away from Virginia, won't be helping the Cavaliers with their bowl preparations.

Joe Rexrode, Lansing State Journal: Let's hear from the man, Michigan State athletic director Ron Mason. So Ron, is John L. Smith on the hot seat?

Tom Kubat, Lafayette Journal & Courrier: And while we're at it, what does Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke have to say about the crummy job turned in by Joe Tiller?

Jerry Hill, Waco Tribune-Herald: It's all the rage. Guy Morriss is about to hire an offensive coordinator, and it appears Baylor will be switching to the spread offense.

John Niyo, Detroit News: The Wiz likes to get in his licks on Crewcut Charlie Weis, but the Notre Dame coach really is a good guy.

Steve Ellis, Tallahassee Democrat: Fickle Florida State fans have found something they like: Orange Bowl tickets.

Mick McGrane: San Diego Union-Tribune: Here's what is left of the team if you're thinking of tossing your name into the ring of candidates at San Diego State.

Meet Michigan's Beer Guzzlin' Granny

Frances Levin, an 83-year-old grandmother, was in Ann Arbor last month to attend the Indiana-Michigan game. While walking to the game, her group stopped at 914 State Street, the apartment building known for its three-story beer bong. So what's a granny to do? “They said, ‘You can’t do this!’ and I said ‘Why not?’ ” Levin pushed her way to the front of the line, then polished off a 12-ounce beer through the legendary bong as the students cheered. “I love everything about the kids. I want them to drink less, but I guess that’s a little old-fashioned.”

Gary, Dr. Kevorkian Will See You Now

Even Ralphie the Buffalo is joining the stampede to bring down coach Gary Barnett. Colorado officials are looking into an unsigned letter that alleged players were tipped off well in advance of random drug tests. The letter also claims that Barnett attempted to influence the sworn testimony of subordinates involved in the numerous civil lawsuits brought as a result of an earlier recruiting scandal. Barnett and his attorney are not commenting, but the coach did meet Wednesday night with athletic director Mike Bohn. Earlier, the Board of Regents met in closed session to discuss matters, including personnel issues and contracts (some registration).
Update: Press conference called (6:30 p.m. Denver) to announce Barnett's dismissal. Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News and Daily Camera links. KUSA and KCNC in Denver will live stream the press conference.

Now We Turn Our Attention to the Coaches

Yes, the Wiz has been poking fun at the likes of Rocket Ismail and Pat Haden for their strange voting patterns in the Harris Poll. Now in the interest of accountability, we present you the coaches. They were basically forced to make their votes public for the first time and you can get a look here. ... Wow, where do we begin. OK, let's take Jim Tressel, pictured from his championship days. Tressel's top four: USC, Texas, Penn State and ... Ohio State! Tressel was not alone. Crewcut Charlie Weis, Mike Bellotti and Tommy Tuberville also voted their teams No. 4. This is like Congress voting itself a pay raise! Then you have plain stupidity. Houston Nutt left West Virginia off his ballot. Confronted with the news, he issued an apology. They tend to hold on to such things in West Virginia (ever hear of this Hatfield and McCoy feud?). Maybe if Nutt can ever get his team bowl eligible again, it could play the Mountaineers.

Your Tax Dollars at Work

They had the big hearing in Washington D.C. about the BCS, and you know what, it was a giant waste of time. There is no legislation regarding the BCS, and none is planned. One columnist says lawmakers have more important issues to deal with, like why do the coaches make all the money when the players make all the tackles. We were more entertained by those GoDaddy.com commercials that ran during the Super Bowl.

Columnists' Corner

Ron Bracken, Centre Daily Times: Joe Paterno is a public relations embarrassment to Penn State. His decision not to allow players to be interviewed before the Orange Bowl was simply bush league.

Jeff Shain, Miami Herald: What has become disheartening about the Heisman trophy is the rush to coronation (registration).

Dave Hickman, Charleston Gazette: Big East fans screaming about the ACC sending a 7-4 Florida State team to a BCS bowl should know better.

Ron Bellamy, Eugene Register-Guard: Oregon can make a case on a national stage that it was the real deal this season and will be next season.

Kevin Scarbinsky, Birmingham News: What's up with this? Now ESPN and Auburn's Tommy Tuberville are becoming fast friends.

Joe Biddle, Nashville Tennessean: Don't believe this crap about the BCS being perfect for a second. Even Bertie the bartender could have told you Texas and USC were the two best teams.

Jerry Brewer, Lousiville Courier-Journal: For all the talk, Louisville still has a long way to go. Just look at coach Bobby Petrino's 1-4 record against top 25 teams.

Reporters' Notebooks

Doug Lesmerises, Cleveland Plain Dealer: Rose Bowl tickets aren't the only ones fetching high prices on the open market. Fiesta Bowl scalpers are making a mint, too.

Alan Schmadtke, Orlando Sentinel: Central Florida has big plans, believing George O'Leary can do for the Golden Knights what Bobby Bowden did for Florida State.

Jim Henry, Tallahassee Democrat: Bobby Bowden is 76, but there he was this week, busting through four feet of snow to visit a recruit.

Carl Dubois, Baton Rouge Advocate: Louisiana State must develop a running game before it can mount a challenge against Miami in the Peach Bowl.

Chris Low, Nashville Tennessean: Oregon and Tennessee have reached an agreement to play a home-and-home series.

Luke Walton Tossed Out of USC Game

Here is one more indication that the USC bandwagon has gotten out of control. Luke Walton of the Lakers was on the sideline during the first half of Saturday's UCLA-USC game at the Coliseum. Walton went unnoticed for much of the first half, then began calling attention to himself. Officials took note and asked Walton for a field pass. He didn't have one. Walton eventually was ushered out of the Coliseum, with police grabbing him by both arms. Kudos to insideusc.com for getting the story and photos.

How the Rich Get Richer

We will let you in on a little secret to make money fast. If you have a Rose Bowl ticket, sell it. A $175 face-value ticket can get you a big profit. A big profit. Tickets started trickling into the hands of the public on Tuesday and were quickly showing up for resale between $1,000 and $4,000. We will use USC as an example. It has 62,000 season-ticket holders but has an allotment of only 24,000 Rose Bowl tickets. Now if you happen to be well off and can contribute $25,000 a year to USC (earning you entrance into the Scholarship Club), you were allowed to purchase up to eight Rose Bowl tickets. If you are one of these fortunate souls, you can use two of the tickets and turn around and sell six (no doubt prime seats) at the current top dollar of $4,000. So $4,000 multiplied by six is $24,000. Wonderful! Plop down another $1,000 and you have your Scholarship Club dues paid for the next year! Is this a great country or what?

Department of Dumb and Dumber

Central Florida professor Richard Lapchick has released his annual report on bowl-bound teams' graduation rates. We could tell you that 41% of the 56 teams competing in the postseason fall below the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate, or that nearly half of the teams competing fail to graduate 50% of their student/athletics. There's a lot of data to go over. But let's get to the bottom of it, which is where we find Toledo. The Rockets scored 864 in the APR rankings, far below the NCAA "cut" score of 925. As for the dumbest bowl, it appears to be the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, where Nevada and, oddly enough, Lapchick's Central Florida will square off.

To the Victors Go the Spoils

You have to love this. One Texas Tech fan took his celebration to a bit of an extreme, heckling reporters, players and Oklahoma assistant Chuck Long after the Red Raiders' 23-21 victory over the Sooners on Nov. 19 at Lubbock. If you'll recall, three of the final 13 plays on Texas Tech's winning drive were reviewed, including the winning touchdown by Taurean Henderson. Now this heckler didn't quite see it the way the Sooners did, saying at one point, "The Big 12 refs tried to rip us off, but we won anyway. Go Raiders!" It's 1:26 of pure video joy.

A Faster Way to Reach Us

We all realize the need for speed. Fast linebackers and corners, guys who can get after them. That's what it is all about. So to trim down and help you quickly get the juicy offerings, the Wiz can now be reached at the follow URL: thewizofodds.com. Tell your friends, your neighbors, perhaps even your relatives.

If you prefer the big, bulky run-stopping defensive tackles (maybe it's a goal-line situation), our old address remains in play: thewizardofodds.blogspot.com. As always, we enjoy hearing from you and appreciate everybody taking time out of their day to pay us a visit.

Columnists' Corner

Kirk Bohls, Austin American-Stateman: Deep in the heart of Texas, another informed voter. Reggie Bush tops his Heisman ballot (registration).

Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune: San Diego State has athletic facilities unequaled on the West Coast, but it has a coaching graveyard second to none.

Mark Kiszla, Denver Post: Barring a change of heart by the school administration, Gary Barnett is done as Colorado's coach.

Bernie Lincicome, Rocky Mountain News: If Colorado wants to fire Gary Barnett, it deserves to go wherever its delusion will take it.

John Canzano, Portland Oregonian: Oregon is too good for Oklahoma, but the Ducks can get a lesson from a Kansas State team that lost to Texas A&M in the 1998 Alamo Bowl.

John Smallwood, Philadelphia Daily News: Al Golden thinks turning around Temple will be easy compared to what he went through at Boston College (registration).

Paul Finebaum, Mobile Register: The evil empire, better known as the Bowl Championship Series, hit the lottery and had the last laugh.

Reporters' Notebooks

Bob Clark, Eugene Register-Guard: Gee, isn't this interesting. Tyrone Willingham, whose Washington Huskies played both, voted Oregon fourth and Notre Dame ninth.

Mike Organ, Nashville Tennessean: The coaching carousel has turned uncharacteristically slowly, but if one big name were to fall, the dominos would follow.

Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star: Those creampuff nonconference schedules? Teams that loaded up at the bakery are now going bowling (registration).

Chadd Cripe, Idaho Stateman: A $9.5 million indoor practice facility will be ready just in time for MPC Computers Bowl participants Boise State and Boston College.

Dave Reardon, Honolulu Star-Bulletin: Now that it looks like Jerry Glanville won't be leaving, Hawaii can concentrate on recruiting cornerbacks.

Natalie Meisler, Denver Post: Texas Christian's No. 14 spot in the BCS standings came a year too early for the Mountain West Conference.

Bruce Adams, San Francisco Chronicle: California coach Jeff Tedford wants fewer off-field distractions this postseason, but come on, the Bears are playing in Las Vegas!

Kick Them While They Are Down

Talk about piling on. Nebraska coach Bill Callahan is getting in his shots at Gary Barnett, who reportedly is clinging to his job as Colorado coach. Barnett acknowledged as much on Monday, and his attorney is now doing a lot of the talking. Athletic director Mike Bohn was in New York and issued a statement that he would speak about Barnett's status "at the appropriate time." Players are rallying behind Barnett, hoping he will be the coach for the Champs Sports Bowl. But quarterback Joel Klatt, victim of a vicious lick in the Big 12 title game, likely won't play against Clemson (some registration).

'Air Craft' Grounded in San Diego

One of the great mysteries in college football is why San Diego State can't field a winner. The area has some of the finest talent around (Reggie Bush came from the 619 area code), doesn't have overpowering academic requirements and remains one of the most desirable places to live. Tom Craft became the latest to fail, as athletic director Jeff Schemmel (pictured) announced the firing (video) of the coach on Monday. The Aztecs have 15 starters back next season and this will be a job sought by many. The ever-growing list has started with Dennis Erickson, Rick Neuheisel, Bob Toledo, Jim Harbaugh, Cam Cameron, Bobby Hauck, Al Borges, Dave McGinnis and Bob Elliott. Schemmel says he wants a new coach by Christmas.

That Whining You Hear Is Only a Wolverine

That's Lloyd Carr of 7-4 Michigan. Or as we like to call him, L-L-L-Loyd Carr. His team beat Iowa, but when it came time for bowl invitations to be handed out, the 7-4 Hawkeyes aced out his Wolverines for the Outback Bowl. Instead, Michigan is headed to the Alamo Bowl, where it will play Nebraska. Considering he coaches the winningest team in college football history, this hasn't gone over well with the locals. The Sack Carr site is up and humming. And even the student newspaper is taking shots at Carr. And what about those Hawkeyes, think they feel ashamed for taking Michigan's rightful spot on college football's big day? Hardly.

Columnists' Corner

Chuck Culpepper, Newsday: Some people think the United States has too many bowl games but these people are, of course, communists.

Bob Lutz, Wichita Eagle: His first impression of new Kansas State coach Ron Prince is favorable.

Pete Fiutak, College Football News: With so many bowls and so little time, he breaks down the ones to see and the ones to miss.

John Markon, Richmond Times-Dispatch: Virginia Tech will play its second game in less than a month in Jacksonville. That's two trips too many.

Mike Huguenin, Orlando Sentinel: He is counting the minutes until kickoff of that Arkansas State-Southern Mississippi tilt in the New Orleans Bowl, played this year in Lafayette.

Paola Boivin, Arizona Republic: A trip to Tempe reminds Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith why he left.

Chuck Carlton, Dallas Morning News: Reggie Bush in a landslide? It looks to be the case as the Heisman voting draws to a close (registration).

Reporters' Notebooks

Jim Masilak, Commercial Appeal: Think ESPN doesn't have any influence on postseason selections? Tell that to Memphis (registration).

Mike Hlas, Cedar Rapids Gazette: Cheer up, Boston College fans. Boise isn't Siberia. There isn't a football stadium with blue turf in Siberia (subscription, so story is in comments).

Steve Conroy, Boston Herald: OK, the system is flawed and Boston College is going to Boise. Just another of life's tough lessons, right?

Suzanne Halliburton, Austin American-Statesman: Is Texas scared of USC? Maybe USC should be scared of Texas (registration).

Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle: Vince Young is making a last-minute push to win over Heisman voters.

Jimmy Burch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram: The Texas 1-2 step. The Longhorns have precedent when Nos. 1 and 2 collide.

Doug Segrest, Birmingham News: Most everybody got what they wanted as the regular season came to a close.

Countdown to Kickoff: Bowl Odds Posted

Let's get this edition started with a look at the bowl odds from Covers.com. Which conferences will shine this postseason? The Wiz believes Big 12 teams will take it on the chin, but again, our judge is the almighty pointspread. And, as happens every postseason, you will see several key players either suspended for a rule violation or declared ineligible because of academic shortcomings. In the case of the Rose Bowl, a key player will come down with the flu two days before the game, then hobble onto the field and win MVP honors.

This Is No Passing Fancy

The New York Times Magazine has an awesome piece on Texas Tech and coach Mike Leach. Although the Red Raiders lack front-line talent, Leach has taken the program to new heights by changing the geometry of the game and pushing the limits of space and time on the gridiron. This is a lengthy piece but one that is worthy of your time (registration).

The BCS Got It Right? Tell That to Oregon

Today's quiz: Who got screwed more on Sunday, Ron Jeremy or Oregon's football team? Answer: The Ducks got ... well, you know, f'd. Notre Dame, through some act of God, wormed its way into the Fiesta Bowl. Now how did this happen? Oregon fans are quick to point out that among the voters in the Harris Poll, used in-part by the BCS to determine the best teams, is none other than former Domer Rocket Ismail. His ballot was rather interesting, putting Notre Dame at No. 4 and Oregon at ... No. 11? And how about Pat Haden, who works for the NBC, the Notre Dame Broadcasting Company. His ballot has Notre Dame at No. 3! Oregon knew this was coming. A letter writer to the Register-Guard on Sunday pointed out that Notre Dame has the weakest schedule among BCS teams. And to make it worse, the same thing happened in 2001 to the Ducks. One columnist says it's time for the Pac-10 to get out of the BCS business, having been screwed in 2003 (USC) and 2004 (California) in addition to the injustices against Oregon. And you think this is a West Coast bias toward Notre Dame? Think again. A columnist in Ann Arbor who has seen Notre Dame and Ohio State play says the Buckeyes win hands down.

It's Getting Hairy for Gary in Boulder

Give Colorado coach Gary Barnett credit. He's not a quitter. As for his team, well, that's a different story. Barnett is under fire again, this time for his team's play on the field, not its actions off it. Barnett says he doesn't plan to step down and expects to coach the Buffaloes in the Champs Sports Bowl. What amount of effort Colorado puts forth on Dec. 27 remains to be seen, but by all indications, the players have given up. Colorado has been outscored by an unheard of 100-6 in its past two games. No wonder bowl opponent Clemson is licking its chops. The final blow to Barnett's seven years at Colorado could come Dec. 12, when a state audit of his camps will be made public. Early indications say the university is in for a public embarrassment along the lines of 70-3, the score of the Buffs' loss to Texas in the Big 12 title game (some registration).

This One Just Doesn't Compute

Welcome to the ACC, Boston College. The Eagles will become the fourth member of the conference to play in the dreaded MPC Computers Bowl in frozen Boise, joining Clemson (2001), Georgia Tech (2003) and Virginia (2004). The Boston media is smoking and wants answers. Like how did this happen to the 8-3 Eagles, who were bypassed by the Champs Sports Bowl (it took 7-4 Clemson) and Meineke Car Care Bowl (it took 6-5 North Carolina State). Worse yet, the Eagles have to play on the blue turf against Boise State, the team with a 31-game home winning streak, best in the nation (some registration).

Explosive Situation in Iowa City

Iowa is in the midst of a renovation of Kinnick Stadium, which will include a new press box. Instead of tearing down the old press box piece-by-piece, officials decided to bring it down in a matter of seconds on Saturday. Explosives were used to separate and send the structure crashing to the pavement, and we have video and photos of the event.

Closing Encounters

Big 12

Neill Woelk, Boulder Daily Camera: The shellacking at the hands of Texas appears to have been Gary Barnett's last game as Colorado coach (registration).

Buck Harvey, San Antonio Express-News: Mack Brown, who couldn't win the big one, can now become a Texas legend (registration).

Pacific 10

Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times: USC's thumping of UCLA resolves all the questions and sets up a clear title game between the Trojans and Texas.

T.J. Simers, Los Angeles Times: It was no time to be conservative, but that's exactly what UCLA coach Karl Dorrell decided to do.

Atlantic Coast

Joey Johnston, Tampa Tribune: Florida State's stunning victory likely sets up an Orange Bowl matchup between Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno.

Aaron McFarling, Roanoke Times: Virginia Tech caught a break when a Miami loss cleared the way for a spot in the title game, but the Hokies squandered the opportunity.

Southeastern

Sandy Davis, Baton Rouge Advocate: Louisiana State fans were searching for reasons behind the loss to Georgia, but the one they should grasp is that the Bulldogs were the better team.

Andy Johnston, Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia didn't appear to be SEC championship material in August, but the Bulldogs were up to the task.

Big East

Joey Knight, Tampa Tribune: South Florida might be headed to a bowl, but this team lacks any real sense of character.

Mitch Vingle, Charleston Gazette: West Virginia saved face for the Big East by its strong finish in Tampa.

Army-Navy

Rick Maese, Baltimore Sun: When it was over, players from Army and Navy gathered at midfield in a show of unity.

Keith Goldberg, Times Herald-Record: Navy tricked up its option attack and Army never had a chance.

Louisville-Connecticut

Rick Bozich, Louisville Courier-Journal: Who needs Brian Brohm at quarterback when you have Hunter Cantwell?

Terry Price, Hartford Courant: Connecticut was all set to knock South Florida from the Meineke Car Care Bowl but experienced engine troubles.

San Diego State-Hawaii

Ferd Lewis, Honolulu Advertiser: June Jones' run-and-shoot offense had plenty of run in a 49-38 victory over San Diego State.

Mick McGrane, San Diego Union-Tribune: Tom Craft may have coached his last game as San Diego State coach.

Tulsa-Central Florida

Adam Schmadtke, Orlando Sentinel: Tulsa held Central Florida to only 55 yards in the second half and won the Conference USA championship.

Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel: The big-game loss will only help George O'Leary's Central Florida program.

Mike

Need a Coach? Virginia Is the Place to Go

Virginia suddenly has become the cradle of coaches. Kansas State has called a team meeting for Monday and you know what that means. Cavalier offensive coordinator Ron Prince will be introduced as coach. Prince grew up in nearby Junction City and residents of that community speak highly of the 36-year-old. Considering that Prince has never been a head coach, it's a bold move, and one columnist wonders if athletic director Tim Weiser settled on a second-tier candidate. At least one other Cavalier aide is gone. Assistant head coach Danny Rocco has been hired by I-AA Liberty. And defensive coordinator Al Golden appears to be at the top of Temple's list. (some registration).

Wizard Runs Out of Steam

Our man barely crosses the finish line, closing the regular season with a 1-6 entry and dropping his season mark to 49-47-2 (51%). His winner was Hawaii. His losers were UCLA, Louisville, Army, Colorado, Louisiana State and Central Florida.

Another Look at UCLA ... Oh Yeah, and USC

How about those UCLA Bruins! The football team, I mean. ... Drew Olson is picking up steam in his bid for the Heisman. And then there is this anesthesiologist in The OC who went to USC. He even freaks out at the thought of wearing baby blue surgical scrubs. This entire UCLA-USC thing divides the community and even breaks up business deals. And it lasts year-round (some registration).

Prince to Play Manhattan

Did you hear the news? Prince is coming to Manhattan! Yes, Prince! No, not the musician, stupid, Ron Prince, the football coach. He's taking over for Bill Snyder. Yea, that guy, the Virginia assistant. He was the one who came in on the private jet the other day with the Wildcat logo on it. For a second interview. Then all the other candidates were tripping over themselves to say how happy they were at their current jobs and were never really interested in becoming a member of the Kansas State community. Yea, right! Like how bogus is that? (some registration).

Columnists' Corner

Rick Maese, Baltimore Sun: A powerful piece about three former members of the Navy team who are among the 2,000-plus American casualties since the war in Iraq began. If you have time to read only one story today, please read this (registration).

Randy Kennedy, Mobile Register: Look who is coming back to Alabama? None other than Mike Price, whose Texas El Paso unit will get a bid Saturday to the GMAC Bowl.

Tim Brando, Shreveport Times: Yes, that Brando, not the Marlon guy. He says scrap the title games and add a playoff.

David Barron, Houston Chronicle: Four of the first nine Big 12 title games have been won by underdogs.

Mike Harris, Richmond Times-Dispatch: This is not the Florida State of old. In fact, the Seminoles have never lost four in a row under Bobby Bowden, who has been coach since 1976.

Terry Price, Hartford Courant: Connecticut has never defeated a ranked team, but a victory against No. 16 Louisville would make the Huskies bowl eligible.

Andrew J. Beckner, Charleston Daily Mail: Here's a twist for you. West Virginia, which beat Pittsburgh in 19-degree conditions, is worried about playing in warm weather.

Jim Kleinpeter, New Orleans Times-Picayune: The loser of the SEC title game drops into a pool of four teams vying for three New Year's Day games.

Paul Finebaum, Mobile Register: No one is more deserving to be SEC coach of the year than LSU's Les Miles.

David Lee Morgan Jr., Akron Beacon Journal: The Motor City Bowl might not be the most desirable of postseason destinations, but don't tell that to the Akron Zips (registration).

Eric Hansen, South Bend Tribune: How dare these people criticize Crewcut Charlie Weis and Notre Dame's strength of schedule.

The Wizard and Week 14

It's all about value, and the man believes there is plenty to go around in the final week of the regular season. After four consecutive winning weeks, his record stands at 48-41-2 (53.9%). To see what he has planned for Saturday, click on comments.

It's the Only Game in Town

No such beast as the NFL exists in L.A., but no need to worry. The city has been the center of the college football universe and the game is fast approaching. We're talking USC-UCLA. Getting a ticket is next to impossible, but fans try unique methods, including whiter teeth. For the right price, you can get a sideline pass, but that could prove to be a losing bet. And speaking of wagers, one man's opinion in Las Vegas could impact the line, which has USC as a 21-point favorite.

Just Another Snakeoil Salesman?

Michael Franzese makes his money on the lucrative lecture circuit. That wasn't always the case. Franzese once was the heir apparent to New York's Colombo crime family. In a 2002 interview on HBO's "Real Sports," Franzese claimed that former Iowa running back Ronnie Harmon threw the 1986 Rose Bowl by fumbling four times in a 45-28 loss to UCLA. Franzese is coming to Iowa for a lecture, but will he be asked about his allegation against Harmon?

Fresh Prince of Manhattan? Not So Fast

Virginia assistant Ron Prince interviewed for six hours Thursday with Kansas State administrators and could be the surprise choice to follow Bill Snyder as coach. He would become only the fourth black head coach in Division I-A. But Bob Lutz of the Wichita Eagle says wait a minute. There is another candidate K-State should interview: USC assistant Lane Kiffin.

Columnists' Corner

Dick Weiss, New York Daily News: Drew Olson, the forgotten man in the Heisman race, could win over voters by leading UCLA to a victory over USC.

John Henderson, Denver Post: He has been on the beat for 40 years and hasn't seen a runner like Reggie Bush since Gale Sayers. But Sayers was in the NFL then.

Charles Hollis, Birmingham News: He examines the title games in detail and offers a stunning prediction.

B.G. Brooks, Rocky Mountain News: Texas' Mack Brown has plenty of naysayers despite 10 consecutive seasons of winning nine or more games.

Lenn Robbins, New York Post: Only Notre Dame fans read the same words and one comes away smiling; the other fuming (registration).

John Hunt, Oregonian: Oregon appears to be outside looking in when it comes to the BCS, but the Ducks love the attention.

Jay Posner, San Diego Union-Tribune: ABC analyst Dan Fouts says UCLA has "a legitimate shot" to beat USC.

Greg Hansen, Arizona Daily Star: The Pac-10's bowl arrangements are almost comatose and have been for years, so why not add a title game?

Reporters' Notebooks

Mike Knobler, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Which conference is better, the ACC or the SEC? He breaks it down (registration).

Jeffrey Flanagan, Kansas City Star: Don't be surprised if you start to see Big 12 games played on Thursday night (registration).

Chuck Finder, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: In less than a decade, South Florida's program went from birth to potential BCS berth.

Mark Blaudschun, Boston Globe: In its nine-year history, the Big 12 has seen its No. 1 team lose four times in the championship (registration).

Matthew Aguilar, El Paso Times: Texas El Paso's Jordan Palmer has a problem. He has thrown 18 interceptions, one shy of the national leader.

Scott Wetzel, Opposite Picks: Don't listen to what they have to say about UCLA. Jump all over USC and give the points.

Ron Maly's Blog: He says the Des Moines Register fumbled the ball in breaking down bowl scenarios for Iowa.

Double D, Boston Herald: He stands 72-71-1 for season. His advice? Lay the points and take Virginia Tech.

They Didn't Have a Prayer or a Clue

ESPN touts itself as the Worldwide Leader in Sports, but exactly where are they leading us? A look back at the predictions of all the high-salaried experts employed by ESPN (even our old buddy Trev Alberts is in on this one) didn't tell us that West Virginia would win the Big East, Penn State would win the Big Ten, or Georgia would win the SEC (OK, that one is still up for grabs). We could make some cute joke here, but just remember that all the chatter you hear out of Bristol is just that, chatter. After all, it is the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network.

Too Fast, Too Furious

OK, the Wiz would like to apologize for being a day late and a dollar short on this one, but the New York Times has a piece on USC's Reggie Bush that includes a splendid link to eight minutes of video of Bush in action at Helix High in La Mesa. Now if you think Bush is a man among boys now, you should check some of the mammoth plays he turned in as a prep (registration).

Fire Jeff Bowden? Not a Chance

When a Bowden family member comes under attack, this wily bunch knows where to send the troublemakers. Point them to Papa 'Nole, because as we all know, nobody messes with Papa 'Nole. The latest example involves Florida State offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden, whose unit has stumbled through the last month of the season, most noteworthy a 34-7 humiliation at rival Florida. Everywhere you look, there are calls for Jeff to be fired. So in steps Terry Bowden, the ABC analyst/motivational speaker. "People aren't calling for my dad's head because they don't have any guts. The buck stops at my dad." In other words, daddy ain't gonna fire his son.

Columnists' Corner

Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times: So what happens if USC or Texas were to lose on Saturday? Then the fun begins.

Andrew Bagnato, Arizona Republic: When it comes to TV ratings, at least in the Fiesta Bowl, Penn State's numbers are far greater than Notre Dame's.

Joe Henderson, Tampa Tribune: Jim Leavitt could have made a lot more money going to Kansas State, but he decided South Florida was best for him.

Jeff Shain, Miami Herald: More on potential potholes for the BCS, plus he gives some fearless predictions on this weekend's games (registration).

Chuck Carlton, Dallas Morning News: The Big 12 title game earns money, but outside of that, it's a crummy deal (registration).

Reporters' Notebooks

Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times: USC tailback LenDale White isn't sure if he will be able to play against UCLA.

Mike Hlas, Cedar Rapids Gazette: A look at the glory and the gory of the past football weekend, lifted from published sources nationwide (subscription, so story is in comments).

Mike Knobler, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Bowl games are stuck in neutral waiting for the final weekend of play to be completed (registration).

Michael Pointer, Indianapolis Star: Former Purdue linebacker Kyle Williams appears to be in a boatload of trouble for two incidents Tuesday night.

Tim Bisel, Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State has zeroed in on Virginia offensive coordinator Ron Prince to replace Bill Snyder.