Reporters' Notebooks

Charles Goldberg, Birmingham News: Auburn is installing the spread offense of new offensive coordinator Tony Franklin during practices for the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Doug Doughty, Roanoke Times: Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage is defending his school's honoring of rival Virginia Tech during the teams' game on Nov. 24.

Wally Hall, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: ESPN, the worldwide leader, continues to pile on Bobby Petrino.

Bryan Mullen, Tennessean: Phillip Fulmer may lose another assistant. Receivers coach Trooper Taylor has been offered the offensive coordinator position at Baylor.

Kyle Veazey, Clarion-Ledger: Mississippi State defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson could be in the running for the defensive coordinator opening at South Carolina.

Brian McInnis, Honolulu Star-Bulletin: Hawaii won't be able to wear its favored all-black uniforms in the Sugar Bowl. Georgia got the first pick of a uniform color and selected an all-black scheme, putting the Warriors in their road whites.