Thursday, August 14, 2008

Reporters' Notebooks

Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The Southeastern Conference and CBS have agreed to a 15-year contract extension to televise the league's football and men's basketball games through 2023. The deal does not eliminate the possibility of an SEC television network. That won’t be determined until the SEC announces the remainder of its television contracts with ESPN and Raycom.

Will Collier, From The Bleachers: CBS and the SEC partner up through 2023? How wonderful. Fifteen years of lousy kickoff times, terrible announcers and a commercial every 10 seconds. Whoo-pee.

Bob Condotta, Seattle Times: The Dawgfather speaks. Washington legend Don James is critical of the Huskies' nonconference schedule, with games against Oklahoma, Brigham Young and Notre Dame. "I don't like it at all. I'd shoot my athletic director if I had that." He added: "Next year is even worse. Who on earth would put LSU in there as an opener? We played LSU (in 1983, a 40-14 Husky loss) but it wasn't like they had just won the national championship."

Bill Koch, Cincinnati Enquirer: Quarterback Ben Mauk has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, which denied the quarterback a sixth season of eligibility. A hearing for a permanent injunction is scheduled for Aug. 22.

Jon Wilner, San Jose Mercury News: The five easiest schedules. You should be ashamed, Iowa.

Losers With Socks: Why the Big Ten blows. Look at all those cupcakes!

Jake Trotter, Oklahoman: Josh Jarboe has found a new home. The receiver, who was booted off Oklahoma's team after posting a rap video on YouTube that contained lyrics about carrying guns and shooting people, is headed to Troy.

Jean-Jacques Taylor, Dallas Morning News: It says here that Texas Tech has no business even being considered as a title contender in the South Division of the Big 12.

Tim Cooper, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Arkansas and ISP Sports have agreed to a 10-year deal that will allow ISP to establish Arkansas Sports Properties and manage all multimedia rights for Arkansas’ athletic programs. The deal guarantees Arkansas $73 million.

Joe Rexrode, Lansing State Journal: Three Michigan State freshmen players are facing misdemeanor charges of failure to obey police.

Jacob Messer, Charleston Daily Mail: Marshall players are brushing off a piece in Sports Illustrated that says the Thundering Herd will be one of the weakest teams in Division I-A.

Felix Chavez, Las Cruces Sun-News: New Mexico State and San Diego State have agreed to play a two-game series beginning in 2009.

Jason Lieser, Palm Beach Post: That's what I'm talking about. Former Miami standout Lamar Thomas is now an assistant coach at Boynton Beach High in Florida. You might remember Thomas from the Backyard Brawl.

Bruins Nation: They're already getting fired up in Seattle for Nov. 15, the day Rick Neuheisel returns with his UCLA Bruins.

Sports By Brooks: A rash of jock itch at USC, with about 25% of the players scratched from practice.

Joseph Goodman, Miami Herald: Congratulations to Tim Tebow. He turns 21 on Thursday. Time for an adult beverage?

Horton's Hob-Nailed Boot: Are these the first photos of UGA VII?

Stewart Mandel, SI.com: A worthwhile cause here. Mandel is holding a "Conference Showdown" in his weekly Mailbag challenging each conference's fans to raise money for DonorsChoose.org. He writes: "It is an extremely innovative charity that allows individuals to not only donate to public schools, but to direct their donations to specific projects in specific teachers' classrooms around the country."

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