Monday, February 25, 2008

Reporters' Notebooks

Kirk Bohls and Suzanne Halliburton, Austin American-Statesman: That Texas-Arkansas game scheduled for 2009 at Fayetteville? The Razorbacks want to soften their nonconference schedule and postpone the matchup until 2014.

Birmingham News: The Southeastern Conference at 75. When it comes to money, revenue or profits, the SEC is second to none. In five parts: How the league got rich; charter schools move on; greatest voices of the SEC; a database of financial details on Division I conferences and a list of compensation for conference commissioners. A wealth of information.

Joe Drape, New York Times: With an assist from Tom Osborne, Bo Pelini is winning them over in Nebraska. With audio slideshow.

Mark Kram, Philadelphia Daily News: Interesting piece on the history of the 40-yard dash.

Dave Curtis, Orlando Sentinel: Meet Florida's Urban Meyer, known as Darth Vader on the recruiting trail.

Frank Schwab, Colorado Springs Gazette: Colt Brennan's incident at Colorado has resurfaced as he turns his attention to the NFL.

Chris Nelsen, Detroit Free Press: How did Michigan offensive lineman Jake Long get called for only one holding call in his career? "It's a skill. If you can get away with it and not get caught, it's absolutely a skill. I try to make sure I get my hands inside every single play, so if I do hold a little bit, the refs won't be able to see it."

Bob Wieneke, South Bend Tribune: There should be no future shortage of talent at Notre Dame, with high school juniors itching to join forces with Crewcut Charlie Weis.

Mark Alesia, Indianapolis Star: Perhaps IU should call itself IOU. Buyouts to coaches and administrators at Indiana have totaled more than $4 million since 2000.

Mark Cuban, Blog Maverick: The owner of the Dallas Mavericks (was he the anonymous $550,000 donor that helped buy out Kelvin Sampson's contract?) has a big problem with the NCAA.

Baton Rouge Advocate: Suspended quarterback Ryan Perrilloux? Louisiana State's Les Miles was more interested in talking about the strike he threw before the Tigers' baseball season opener.

Kirk Bohls, Austin American-Statesman: New Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, who can scream with the best of them, has already unleashed his vocal cords in the Longhorns' first two spring workouts.

Ian R. Rapoport, Birmingham News: Alabama captain Rashad Johnson was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after he allegedly pushed a bar security guard to the ground. He is the eighth player arrested since Nick Saban became coach on Jan. 3, 2007. Plus, Auburn's Tommy Tuberville has a few words of Alabama fans: "Regardless of what you hear, we will have a football team next year! We've won six in a row, and we're working on seven!"

Kevin Scarbinsky: Birmingham News: Nick Saban: "It's not win at all costs. Anybody who thinks that or says that is wrong. They certainly don't know me."

Scott Dochterman, Cedar Rapids Gazette: Iowa's Kirk Ferentz has suspended receiver James Cleveland and backup quarterback Arvell Nelson after drug-related arrests early Saturday at the dormitory room they share on campus. There have been 14 arrests involving 13 Hawkeye players during the past year.

Tommy Bowman, Winston-Salem Journal: Louisiana State, consider this your last warning: Appalachian State, with 12 starters returning, begins spring drills on Monday.

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