The BCS Takes Its First Misstep

The BCS Guru, one of our trusted partners in crime, is back. He's taking a look at 10 (long?) years of the Bowl Championship Series, starting with a relatively controversy-free coronation of Tennessee as the national champion in 1998.

Oh yes, Tulane was 11-0 and got snubbed, and Kansas State, which finished third in the final BCS standings, found itself in the non-BCS Alamo Bowl. But would the BCS have been better off starting with a plus-one format featuring matchups of Tennessee vs. Ohio State and Florida State vs. Kansas State?

Why Isn't Ferentz Feeling the Heat?

Marc Morehouse of the Cedar Rapids Gazette has an interesting piece regarding behavior of athletes — football players in particular — at the University of Iowa's Hillcrest Residence Hall, where the alleged sexual assault of a woman occurred last Oct. 14 by then-footballers Cedric Everson and Abe Satterfield.

A father of a student who was living in Hillcrest said the dorm was "Just a lot of debaucher, centered around the football athletes in that dorm." He called the behavior on his son's floor "appalling."

From having visited Iowa last week, we didn't get the sense Ferentz is in trouble. Frankly, he should be.

The recent string of incidents involving Iowa football players — 17 arrests and five felony charges since April 2007 — is appalling, and the Iowa City community should be outraged. What has become of this university?

Usually this type of behavior is tolerated when a team is winning. Ferentz's team is not, even with a continuing softening of the schedule. Maybe somebody can explain why Ferentz isn't feeling the heat for all of this.

Numb Nuts

No wonder eventual winner Sameer Mishra of West Lafayette, Ind., was the crowd favorite at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Thanks to Loser With Socks.

Reporters' Notebooks

Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The Southeastern Conference presidents and athletics directors on Friday voted against a proposal that would have created an early signing date. The league also distributed $127.2 million back to its members. That is a 4.3% increase from last year's total of $122 million. Of the $127.2 million total, $50.6 million came from football television, $25.3 million from bowls and $13.7 million from the SEC title game. That's 70.4% of the revenue coming from football. Each member got roughly $10.6 million.

Steve Ellis, Tallahassee Democrat: Recent comments about a playoff system by Florida State president T.K. Wetherell sparked the ire of SEC commissioner Michael Slive. "Let me always be very clear to tell you I don't agree with the Florida State president," Slive said. "President Wetherell's statements were counterproductive, because those who support a plus-one do not support a playoff. I never said playoff. I never used the 'p' word."

Dirk Facer, Deseret News: Utah and Notre Dame are talking about a 2010 game in South Bend. "We're excited, and I think it's a great opportunity if it comes to fruition," Utes coach Kyle Whittingham said.

Daniel Lyght, Fresno Bee: Fresno State and Colorado are close to agreeing to a three-game series. The first game would be in 2011 in Boulder, with the teams meeting in Fresno in 2012. The final game would be in 2013 in Boulder.

Dave Reardon, Honolulu Star-Bulletin: Hawaii is hoping to raise $100,000 through a new parking deal with Aloha Stadium. The money would go toward athletic scholarships.

Alex Abrams, Springdale Morning News: Arkansas kicker Alex Tejada dislocated the kneecap on his left plant leg during a workout.

Pete Bosak, Centre Daily Times: Penn State's Phil Taylor and Novorro Bowman pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct. The two were charged with being among a group of as many as 15 football players who beat and stomped a Philadelphia man outside a party at the HUB-Robeson Center last Oct. 7.

Jake Trotter, Oklahoman: Oklahoma's Bob Stoops expects hotshot recruit Josh Jarboe to be on the roster this fall after felony guy charges against the receiver were lowered to misdemeanors.

Lauren Pack, Dayton Daily News: Zachary Marshall of Miami (Ohio) has been charged with aggravated burglary and assault. Police say the offensive lineman attacked a female student.

It's SEC Limericks Time!

The site 3rd Saturday in Blogtober puts on its creative writing cap and pens several humorous limericks relating to Southeastern Conference football. Here are a couple of examples:

Tennessee
In Knoxville lived a drunk kicker named Britton
Who vowed to all he was quittin’
But he kept hopping bars
Then hitting parked cars
Till half a season he found himself sittin’.

Florida
How could we forget the Gainesville God?
With the golden arm and the bionic bod.
The object of national media affection
Who gives Verne Lundquist erections
And nobody sees this as odd?

Thanks to Brad.

Reporters' Notebooks

Jennifer Thomas, Centre Daily Times: Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell wants to see an annual outdoor hockey game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers at Penn State's Beaver Stadium. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman called the idea "intriguing."

Tommy Hicks, Mobile Press-Register: Southeastern Conference coaches aren't ready to jump on the bandwagon being driven by Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe that would allow players five years of eligibility and eliminate redshirts.

Mr SEC: Auburn's Tommy Tuberville, advocating a playoff at the SEC meetings: “Ohio State would have finished fifth in our league and they’re ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll." Thanks to Get The Picture.

Kevin Scarbinsky, Birmingham News: Mike Gottfried says an early signing period for recruits might not be such a great idea.

Sports by Brooks: A recent study shows that playing football can make you shorter and that some players actually shrink during games.

Justin Lawson, Reno Gazette-Journal: Three Nevada players were arrested over the Memorial Day weekend for driving under the influence, and two of the players have been kicked off the team.

Tom Witosky, Des Moines Register: If two former Iowa players go to trial for allegedly sexually abusing a woman in a campus dormitory last fall, the trial is likely to get "ugly," an attorney says.

Rochelle Olson, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Former Minnesota player Dominic Jones will serve a year in a workhouse and have to register as a sexual offender after his conviction of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct for an incident caught in a 37-second cell-phone video.

Bryan Strickland, Durham Herald-Sun: Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis and cornerback Leon Wright were cited for underage alcohol consumption Wednesday morning.

David Gonzalez, Daily Illini: Former Illinois player Erique Robertson was sentenced to 43 days in prison after pleading guilty to a charge of unlawful use of a firearm, a class 4 felony.

Tim Stephens, Orlando Sentinel: More conference realignment talk, this time regarding the Mid-American Conference.

Join Us Tonight on the Radio Show

The fertile fields around Parkersburg are known for producing bushels of corn and soybeans, and the high school football team in this small Iowa town has carved a reputation for raising future NFL players.

The Aplington-Parkersburg Falcons, coached by Ed Thomas, the 2005 NFL high school coach of the year, have four players currently on NFL rosters, a remarkable achievement for this community of only 2,000.

On Sunday night, Parkersburg was devastated by a tornado that claimed the lives of five residents. Two others perished in neighboring New Hartford, making this the deadliest twister in the state since 1968.

We will be discussing our trip Monday to Parkersburg on the Sports Byline USA Radio Network. Please join us at midnight Friday on the Pacific Coast. You can listen over the Internet by clicking here, and we will be taking phone calls at 800-878-7529.

Reporters' Notebooks

Ryan Wood, Lawrence Journal-World: Former Minnesota and Kansas coach Glen Mason is now vice president of business development for Marquette Asset Management, a small financial company in Minneapolis.

Dave Curtis, Orlando Sentinel: The Southeastern Conference talks at creating its own TV network have taken urgency because the league's contracts with network partners expire in the next year.

Tim Stephens, Orlando Sentinel: Perhaps it's time for the SEC to eye a hostile takeover of the college football marketplace.

Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: SEC coaches have voted, 9-3, in favor of a proposal for an early signing day.

Eric Hansen, South Bend Tribune: Another player is leaving Notre Dame. Linebacker Aaron Nagel has decided to transfer. Northwestern, Vanderbilt and Illinois are possible destinations.

Honolulu Star-Bulletin: The University of Hawaii and former football coach June Jones will attempt to resolve a contract dispute through mediation.

Ed McGranahan, Greenville News: Tommy Bowden's new contract at Clemson includes $1.8 million in annual guaranteed compensation, with potential for nearly $700,000 in bonuses and perks.

Todd Milles, Tacoma News Tribune: Washington State quarterback signee Calvin Schmidtke has been released from his football letter of intent by the school after facing several legal issues.

Scott Dochterman, Cedar Rapids Gazette: The aggregate numbers involving the Iowa football program include 17 arrests — five felonies — since April 2007.

Natalie Sayewich, Sun Journal: East Carolina athletic director Terry Holland remains particularly cagey when discussing the Pirates' future conference ties. Thanks to EDSBS.

Brent Schrotenboer, San Diego Union-Tribune: Former San Diego State defensive lineman Martin Miller has been sentenced to life in prison after his conviction on charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder.

The Real Truth About Webcam Recruiting

Southeastern Conference coaches are on the cutting edge of technology, and the use of video conferencing to keep in touch with recruits is now the rage. The site 3rd Saturday in Blogtober got its Internet hack on, tapped into the webcams of SEC coaches and discovered what is really happening in this corner of cyberspace. We present two examples, with the rest of the humorous details at 3rd Saturday.

A Football Town Needs Your Help

On Sunday night, an EF-5 tornado ripped through the Eastern Iowa towns of Parkersburg, New Hartford and Dunkerton. The twister, at times more than a mile wide, packed winds of 205 miles per hour and stayed on the ground for 43 miles. Seven people lost their lives.

Half of the town of Parkersburg (population 2,000) is gone and the high school was destroyed. Parkersburg is a football town, a small-town dynasty. Coach Ed Thomas' teams have produced four current NFL players — centers Casey Wiegmann of the Denver Broncos, Brad Meester of Jacksonville Jaguars and defensive ends Jared DeVries of the Detroit Lions and Aaron Kampman of the Green Bay Packers — a remarkable achievement for the 240-student school. The field, named after Thomas, is known as the "Sacred Acre."

Friday nights are special in Parkersburg, and towns like it are the backbone of this nation. You can see more photos of the devastation by clicking here, and if you're interested in helping the community in its rebuilding efforts, please click here.

Reporters' Notebooks

Jeff Latzke, Associated Press: Oklahoma has banned any business from employing more than five Sooner athletes at the same time as part of its response to NCAA violations that occurred when three players took pay for work they had not done at a car dealership.

Brent Zwerneman, San Antonio Express-News: Texas A&M linebacker Derrick Stephens has been told by doctors that he must end his career because of multiple concussions.

Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Arkansas' Bobby Petrino talks about his abrupt departure from the Atlanta Falcons and insists he's not the bad guy who has been portrayed in the media. "When people know me, they understand how I am," he said.

Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Southeastern Conference coaches appear to be in favor of an early signing period.

Bruins Nation: Rick Neuheisel, unplugged. You can see the UCLA coach Saturday night in a Newport Beach athletics fundraiser. Cost: $250 per person, or grab a platinum table for only $10,000.

Tom Keegan, Lawrence Journal-World: What they are saying about Kansas' chances at the local barber shop.

Tom Witosky, Randy Peterson and Sean Keeler, Des Moines Register: More trouble for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Two former members of the team — Abe Satterfield and Cedric Everson — are being sought on charges of sexual abuse. The list of Hawkeye legal troubles. A stench is descending on the program.

Chip Scoggins, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Return specialist Harold Howell, who was called "one of the most electrifying high school football players I have ever seen" by Minnesota coach Tim Brewster, has been dismissed from the team.

John Hunt, Oregonian: Oregon recruit Dewitt Stuckey was arrested Friday night in Stockton, Calif., after a fight and charged with two felonies.

Kate Hairopoulos, Dallas Morning News: Southern Methodist quarterback Justin Willis was reinstated to the team.

Joseph Person, Columbia State: South Carolina backup defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis has been dismissed from the team for violating university policy.

Brad Rock, Deseret News: First Brigham Young steals Utah State's colors. Now the Cougars have snared the Aggies' quarterback. What's next?

To bypass registration, go to Bug Me Not.

Walk-On's

We continue our Thirst and 10 contest with a look at Walk-On's, a bistreaux and bar in the shadows of Louisiana State's Tiger Stadium.

Although the name "Walk-On's" is tied to LSU's first football game against Tulane, the idea for the establishment came from Jack Warner and Brandon Landry, who "met in 1997 on the hardwood of LSU’s Pete Maravich Assembly Center. As young boys growing up, both dreamed of playing basketball for LSU and both succeeded in that dream — it just so happened to be as walkons!"

There is a sizable beer tent on football game days, but the fun revolves around higher-quality spirits. A signature drink is the Death Valley, which is "guaranteed to turn you into Tiger bait!" Or the Slurricane. "Some guy from New Orleans named Pat invented it, we perfected it. How? Easy, we added Everclear!"

Creole dishes dominate the menu, but there are traditional favorites such as burgers and steaks.
Now not everybody is fond of the joint. The review below gave Walk-On's only four stars out of 10:

"I have eaten at Walk-ons numerous times. The food and service is subpar for a university neighborhood bar and grill. I like the restaurant and the menu has potential some day, they just haven't gotten it right yet. That being said, they do enjoy a good business because of their proximity and ties to LSU. They are their best during an LSU football or basketball game with the game on the numerous TVs, people drinking a lot of drinks, and enjoying the appetizers."

Reporters' Notebooks

David Paschall, Chattanooga Times Free Press: More than half of Rivals top 20 signees of 2005 have run into off-the-field problems that have sidetracked or ruined their careers. Thanks to Get The Picture.

Ron Higgins, Commercial Appeal: Discussion of a proposed Southeastern Conference television network will be the focal point at the league's annual spring business meetings in Destin, Fla.

Paul Finebaum, Mobile Press-Register: Alabama's Nick Saban will bring in Kevin Elko, a motivational speaker, to work with the team this summer.

John Adams, Knoxville News Sentinel: The SEC should consider putting an end to non-divisional rivalries on an annual basis. Thanks to FanBlogs.

Dick Harmon, Deseret News: Utah State quarterback Riley Nelson will transfer to Brigham Young upon his return from a Latter-day Saints mission in March 2009.

Crewcut Prepares for Battle

These delightful photos of Crewcut Charlie Weis in Germany were snared by FanHouse. Weis has been touring military bases along with Georgia's Mark Richt, Miami's Randy Shannon and Auburn's Tommy Tuberville.

Baton Rouge Style

We thank Losers With Socks for finding this Louisiana State fan celebrating the Tigers' 28-24 victory over Florida last season.

The Changing Face of Cal Athletics

In 1987, California chancellor Ira Heyman gave a speech to NCAA delegates warning of the great dangers that colleges faced pursuing an aggressive course in intercollegiate athletics while skewing academic priorities.

Heyman advocated freshman ineligibility for varsity sports, reductions in coaching staffs, salaries and athletic scholarships and a ban on postseason football and basketball games.

Twenty-one years later, Cal is trying to escalate its national standing in athletics with little apology.

Much of this started with the hiring of Jeff Tedford as football coach in 2002. Now the Bears are ready to build a $125 million athletic performance center and spend $175 million on renovating Memorial Stadium.

Among those opposing the athletic performance center are a group of tree-sitters who have been living in an oak grove that will be razed to build the center. The project is facing a legal challenge and a judge is scheduled to render a decision in the next two weeks.

Even if Cal loses in the courts, it's clear the Golden Bears will not turning back the clock to 1987.

Reporters' Notebooks

Mike Baldwin, Oklahoman: Oklahoma State season ticket sales are on the rise, likely because the school won't be selling individual tickets to the game against rival Oklahoma, forcing Sooner fans to purchase Cowboy season tickets.

Dave Hickman, Charleston Gazette: West Virginia's Bill Stewart says the new out of bounds rule is out of bounds.

Alan Schmadtke, Orlando Sentinel: A college football pop quiz to separate the coaches from the players.

Steven M. Sipple, Lincoln Journal Star: Texas Tech's Mike Leach: If Van Gogh were to paint a football game, to me that would be kind of interesting."

Dave Matter, Columbia Tribune: A look at the best nonconference games on Big 12 schedules.

Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel: The four major universities in Florida have different levels of conditions when it comes to releasing public records.

To bypass registration, go to Bug Me Not.

Gopher Fans Come Out of the Hole

Minnesota is a year from moving into the new TCF Bank Stadium, but season ticket holders are in an uproar over a new points plan for the 50,000-seat venue that was announced Friday.

The plan, Gopher Points, "rewards" season-ticket holders with points based upon their financial support, loyalty and affinity. Many fans, however, are finding that they will have to spend even more money just to keep the same seats.

Considering the awful product Minnesota has fielded for 40 years — the Golden Gophers last won a share of the Big Ten title in 1967 and are coming off a 1-11 season — many long-time fans are lining up in punt formation.
Here are a sampling of comments posted on the Minneapolis Star-Tribune's website:

C Behling: Let's see, with gas at $3.90 a gallon, maybe it would be cheaper to drive up to North Dakota State . . . Oh, that's right. The Gophs couldn't get on the Bison's schedule this year.

Aipacjewspy: How else are they going to pay for all the lesbian sports teams that no one cares to watch?

S.P. Mike: When they are 1-11 next year and blowhard [Tim] Brewester is giving lame excuses again Joe "I don't have a clue" Maruri will be begging you to buy tickets. . . . With gas at four bucks a gallon I will not be driving to a Gopher game that I will have to pay 500 bucks over the cost of the ticket to keep it.

Pete 1949: 1-11 and pay more to watch us play Central Florida, Marist etc.

Abc123def456: Why do the Goofers think they can charge filet and champagne prices for hot dogs and Kool-Aid?

Charlie IQ: Reward loyalty? My ass. It's another way to raise more money by taking advantage of a scarce commodity by creating arbitrary "classes" of patrons. It has all the elegance of K-Mart's blue light specials or a downlink at your favorite multi-level scam.

Lex Luger: A place that recruited Mitch Lee and Dominick Jones. A place that has had a lousy football team for 47 tears. A place that allowed Clem Haskins to operate with impunity. A place that brought that no good fraud Lou Holtz into our cities. What a deal.....

Mekaster: It's a joke. What's really great is the Big Ten Network. They want me to pay to watch a losing team(s) that I already pay for. I wish them the worst.

His Chances of Rejoining FSU Could Be Shot

Tight end Charlie Graham started 11 games last season for Florida State before he was sacked because of academics and has spent this spring at Tallahassee Community College trying to regain his eligibility.

On the night of May 15, police were called to Graham's apartment. A neighbor said someone was outside the residence firing a gun into the air.

Officers arrived and questioned Graham and a companion. According to the police report obtained by Scott Carter of the Tampa Tribune, "Mr. Graham was intoxicated and celebrating being eligible to play college football again."

Graham acknowledged firing a gun into the air and was cited for discharging a firearm within city limits (in this case, less than two miles from Doak Campbell Stadium). He also had his .32-caliber semi-automatic weapon and a rifle confiscated.

In the wake of receiver Preston Parker's arrest on gun and drug charges, Graham realizes he might have a problem rejoining the team.

"Everything school-wise is going great," he said. "Technically, I'm not on the team. I'm not even enrolled at Florida State, but if punishing me is what they want to do, then I have no choice, because I made a stupid choice."

North Carolina Tops UWire List

Our friends at UWire, a site that showcases work of aspiring journalists, has announced the UWire 100, a listing of the nation's top collegiate journalists.

The UWire 100 students hail from 66 different schools. Among the schools represented by multiple members of the UWire 100 are North Carolina (five), Penn State (four), Iowa (four), Florida (three), Syracuse (three), Indiana (three) and Texas (three).

Reporters' Notebooks

Bob Condotta, Seattle Times: Washington and Louisiana State have agreed to a home-and-home series, starting with a 2009 game in Seattle. The Huskies and Tigers will meet in 2012 in Baton Rouge. Washington is never shy when it comes to scheduling big-time opponents.

Chris Foster, Los Angeles Times: Rick Neuheisel can receive up to $1.75 million a season in salary and bonuses, plus a $1.5 million home loan and other perks, according to the terms of a five-year contract finalized last week.

Howard Richman, Kansas City Star: Defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald, a freshman All-American and two-year starter at Virginia, is transferring to Kansas State.

Mark Brennan, Fight On State: What is Iowa's Kirk Ferentz doing on the Penn State campus, talking with Nittany Lion athletic director Tim Curley? Thanks to Kevin of We Are Penn State.

Ryan Wood, Lawrence Journal-World: A new contract is in the works for Kansas' Mark Manginio.

Dick Harmon, Deseret News: Brigham Young recruit Stephen Wirthlin is on the mend after breaking his neck in an automobile accident.

Scott Dochterman, Cedar Rapids Gazette: Iowa State's Gene Chizik says he won't make a decision on a starting quarterback until late August. Austen Arnaud and Philip Bates are battling for the job.

Ferd Lewis, Honolulu Advertiser: Hawaii is seeking approval to lower some ticket prices for the upcoming season.

Bellotti's Salary Could Top $3 Million

Oregon's Mike Bellotti could earn over $3 million this year if he reaches all the incentives in his reworked contract. Bellotti made $1.9 million in 2007, with $800,000 of that coming from a clause that awards the coach 8% of the gross of Autzen Stadium's total reserved ticket sales.

The reworked deal, sparked by UCLA's interest in Bellotti last December, boosts his base salary from $750,000 to $1,127,500. It also adds incentives tied to on-field success as well as TV exposure and players' academic achievement.

Oregon State's Mike Riley, whose team has won two in a row against the Ducks, is paid slightly more than $1 million.

Thanks to Image of Sport.

Reporters' Notebooks

Tom Kensler, Denver Post: The Big 12 agreed to retain the distribution formula for football revenue that has been in place since the league was formed in 1996. Under that formula, annual revenues derived from televised games involving Big 12 teams are divided in half. One of the pots is distributed evenly among the 12 members. The other pot also gives bonuses for TV appearances: ABC, $260,000 to a Big 12 member for a league game and $520,000 for a nonconference game; ESPN, $300,000; Fox Sports, $150,000; Versus, $50,000.

Berry Tramel, Oklahoman: Jack Mildren, who quarterbacked the Oklahoma Sooners to glory and then became the state’s lieutenant governor, died Thursday night after a bout with cancer. He was 58. Mildren timeline.

Tristan Scott, Missoulian: Montana offensive lineman J.D. Quinn was arrested on charges of drunken driving after being pulled over for a mudflap violation. Quinn transferred from Oklahoma after he took money for work that he didn't perform at a Norman auto dealership.

The Big Lead: Does anyone remember the last time Notre Dame, Nebraska, Miami and Florida State had back-to-back poor seasons? The age of the true dynasty is long gone.

Don McKee, Philadelphia Inquirer: Joe Paterno, who favors a playoff system, doesn't see one coming. "I'm only going to be a head coach another 10 or 15 years, and I don't think it will happen by then."

Roger Clarkson, Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia offensive lineman Clint Boling, who started 11 games as a freshman, was arrested for driving under the influence.

Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Five games that will decide the Atlantic Coast Conference championship.

Ryan Wood, Lawrence Journal-World: Kansas' Mark Mangino says his rant after a 27-23 loss to Texas in 2004 was calculated. Mangino was fined $5,000 by the Big 12 after saying officials favored the Longhorns because of Bowl Championship Series implications.

Joe Logan, Philadelphia Inquirer: Adam Taliaferro, the former Penn State defensive back who broke his neck during a game against Ohio State, continued his inspiring story. He graduated from Rutgers School of Law-Camden.

Susan Simpson, Oklahoman: T. Boone Pickens is back. The Texas billionaire gave a $100 million gift to Oklahoma State to endow 150 faculty jobs.

The Original Varsity Club

If you're a fan of The Ohio State University, The Varsity Club in Columbus is The Place to Be.

Founded in 1959, the two-story indoor and outdoor venue is located less than 500 yards from Ohio Stadium. The Varsity has considerable clout in the city. On game days, the bar has a permit to shut down a side street called Tuttle Park. Refrigerated beer trucks are brought in to serve as vendors to customers in the street.

"It's a beehive on game day, stuffed inside and outside. Fatcat alums mixed with poor underclassmen," writes the Midwest Correspondent.
A counter on the Varsity's website ticks down the seconds until the start of the season. Doors swing open for business at 9 a.m. on game days, unless Michigan is in town. Then the place opens at 8.

Not much is known about the Varsity's menu. This, after all, is a place to drink.

Reporters' Notebooks

Michael Rothstein, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette: According to the latest federal tax records, Notre Dame paid Tyrone Willingham more than Crewcut Charlie Weis in base compensation. List of Notre Dame's top salaries.

Ed Miller, Virginian-Pilot: Joining the Atlantic Coast Conference has paid off for Virginia Tech, which reported football income of $40.75 million last season, the most in the league.

Donnie Webb, Syracuse Post-Standard: A reader outlines why it might be wise for the Big East to consider expansion, with Central Florida being a target for football.

Scott Carter, Tampa Tribune: Florida State quarterback Drew Weatherford is almost fully recovered from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

Scott Rabalais, Baton Rouge Advocate: Les Miles is trying to assure fans about Louisiana State's quarterbacking situation. "We're going to have one in every formation," he said.

Tom Murphy, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Arkansas junior running back Brandon Barnett was arrested and charged with contempt of court for failing to pay a speeding ticket.

Ken Tysiac, Charlotte Observer: Plans for the first phase of renovations at North Carolina's Keenan Stadium have cleared a hurdle.

Jason Kaneshiro, Honolulu Star-Bulletin: Hawaii's athletic department is facing an expected deficit of $1.7 million in 2009. The loss would add to a cumulative deficit estimated at a minimum of $4.5 million.

Don Williams and Jeff Walker, Lubbock Avalanche Journal: Texas Tech starting center Stephen Hamby was arrested for aggravated assault. He allegedly punched a man twice in the face in March. The victim suffered a fractured jaw.

Bash Riprock's

Bash Riprock's opened for business in 1986 and from the looks of it, Lubbock has never been the same.

The establishment, which offers "food, fun and then some" is located across the street from Texas Tech's Jones AT&T Stadium.

It features two bars, six pool tables, 20 televisions and according to reader Greg, "excellent old-fashioned burgers and fries."

While this is a place for burgers, it's also a place for beer. There are 20 beers on tap and 300-plus bottled beers. Nightly specials include $1.50 longnecks, $4.50 pitchers and $2 drafts.
"Live music [hip-hop, R&B and country acts] is also featured on the weekends," Greg writes. "The waitresses wear white tank tops and blue jeans which reflects the relaxed atmosphere of the establishment."

Reviews are few and far between on Bash Riprock's. If you've been there, we'd like to get your impressions.

Reporters' Notebooks

Chip Brown, Dallas Morning News: Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe said he hopes a fifth year of eligibility for football players gets a strong look from the NCAA rules committee.

Tom Kensler, Denver Post: Beebe also expressed his opposition to a "plus one" system to determine a national champion.

Chadd Cripe and Brian Murphy, Idaho Statesman: Boise State is replacing its blue AstroPlay field with a blue FieldTurf surface. The installation is scheduled to be completed by early August.

Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: When examining a team's schedule, it's not only where you play an opponent, but when you play them.

Mark Snyder, Detroit Free Press: Rich Rod held a 90-minute roundtable with reporters, discussing everything from Joe Tiller's criticism of his recruiting tactics to his legal troubles with West Virginia.

Dave Dye, Detroit News: Former Oklahoma quarterback Keith Nichol will transfer to Michigan State.

Alexis Huicochea and Ryan Finley, Arizona Daily Star: Johnathan Turner, an expected starter at defensive end for Arizona, has been accused of sexual assault.

Losers With Socks: A downloadable Southeastern Conference helmet schedule.

Brett McMurphy, Tampa Tribune: The inaugural St. Petersburg Bowl, featuring teams from the Big East and Conference USA, will be played Dec. 20.

Stratosphere Hits a New Low

Look on the back of a sports betting ticket from a Las Vegas casino and you'll notice an expiration date, usually 60-120 days after the event. But it's an unwritten rule that a sportsbook will always cash a winning ticket, even after the expiration date. To do otherwise is simply not good for customer relations.

Michael Shackleford, a professional gaming consultant, the author of a book on gambling strategy and an adjunct professor at Nevada Las Vegas, wagered $1,000 on Oklahoma State to beat Texas Tech last Sept. 22. It was a moneyline wager, meaning the Cowboys, who were slight underdogs, had to win the game outright, at odds of plus-190.

Oklahoma State won, 49-45, and the winning ticket paid $2,900 (the original $1,000, plus $1,900 in profit).

Shackleford finally made it to the Stratosphere on Jan. 26 to collect his winnings. That was 126 days after the event, 66 days after expiration date on the back of the ticket. The Stratosphere told him to take a hike, and now Shackleford has taken his fight to the Gaming Control Board.

"I plan to fight this until the day I die,” Shackleford said.

Although the case remains unresolved, it was revealed in an April 2 hearing that the Stratosphere’s redemption period for sports tickets is actually 120 days, not 60 days. The casino continued to issue tickets with the erroneous 60-day deadline printed on them because "the property has several rolls of ticket stock material on hand, [and] it was not cost effective to reprint new wagering tickets," according to the board.

Gamblers in the city have taken note. Jeff Haney of the Las Vegas Sun writes: "But regardless of the outcome, the Stratosphere bosses should be ashamed of their actions. This episode gives another black eye to Nevada’s legal sports betting scene, which in terms of black eyes lately seems to resemble Floyd Patterson at the end of his second fight with Muhammad Ali."

Dirtbag's

Welcome to Dirtbag's, a part of growing up in Tucson. A part you're not likely to remember. It's our second entry in Thirst and 10.

Dirtbag's opened its doors in 1982 and serves a variety of concoctions, from the Sicilian Whore (eight exotic liquors with a pineapple flair) to the Cocaine Shooter (vodka, raspberry liqueur and grapefruit juice). And if you're a risk-taker, try the Surfer on Acid. (Dirtbag's doesn't even list the ingredients in that one.) Fortunately, Arizona Stadium is only a short walk (crawl?) from the front door.

The establishment is separated into three areas, the first being a rectangular room with a large bar and wood interior. Framed newspaper clippings line the walls. The waitresses? Top-notch, according to reader Marc.
Venture deeper and you'll find a room with a mini bar and additional seating. The menu includes the Dirtburger, a half-pound of ground beef, and Dirtfries.

The third area is an outside patio with about a dozen tables. A great place to soak in the warm desert nights.

Not everybody is fond of the place. Check out this review: "Dirtbags is full of the U of A set. Ditsy blondes and steroid abusing jocks. If it was not for the music all you would here is 'Oh, my god', 'My daddy gave me a Bentley' and so on. Give it a miss unless you really want to be subjected to this. The barstaff are rude too."

Let's hear what the readers have to say. Post your review in comments.

Pete Who?

Pete Carroll does his version of Jay Leno's Jaywalking on the USC campus, asking students and visitors if they know who the football coach is at the university.

Conference USA: Is Bigger Better?

More talk of conference expansion, this time coming from Conference USA. East Carolina athletic director Terry Holland has been pushing an expansion concept that would increase the size of the league from 12 to 16 or possibly 18 teams that would be split into two divisions.

Thus far, there has been little support for the idea. Holland, in an email to Jack Bogaczky of the Charleston Daily Mail, said "that if you can't go back to eight or nine teams for the conference, then move ahead to eight- or nine-team divisions. Twelve is simply the wrong number in my opinion."

What teams might be targeted in an expansion? Bogaczky speculates that Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee State and South Alabama, about to start its program with a major college goal of 2013, could be in the mix.

Reporters' Notebooks

Georgia Sports Blog: Georgia fans are taking advantage of a promotion where fans can purchase season tickets to Arizona State games for only $99. The cost of a ticket to the Bulldog-Sun Devil game in Tempe is $55 and many Georgia fans, fearing they won't be able to get a ticket, have decided to purchase the $99 season ticket.

Brett McMurphy, Tampa Tribune: Something called Big & Rich will tape a concert intro for ESPN's "College GameDay" on Tuesday in Tampa.

John Lantigua, Palm Beach Post: The demolition of the Orange Bowl is nearing completion, memories being hauled away bit by bit, bin by bin, truck by truck.

Dave Reardon, Honolulu Star-Bulletin: There appears to be interest in Hawaii and Alabama scheduling a home-and-home series.

Jon Wilner, San Jose Mercury News: A look at the top 2009 draft prospects in the Pacific 10. USC's defense could produce two top-10 picks and four top-20 selections next April.

Paul Strelow, Columbia State: Clemson junior middle linebacker Cortney Vincent will not be reinstated to the team for the 2008 season. That means the Tigers will have to replace all three of their starting linebackers from a year ago.

Kyle Tucker, Virginian-Pilot: Virginia Tech has rescinded a scholarship offer to quarterback Pete Rose, who was arrested last week on drug charges.

Maurice Patton, Tennessean: Vanderbilt is betting that facility upgrades will boost fan interest.

Paul Finebaum, Mobile Press-Register: Race remains a volatile sports topic.

Steve Ellis, Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State's Preston Parker pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of carrying a concealed weapon and marijuana possession. The plea deal will allow the Seminoles' best player to return to the team after a two-game suspension. The games he will miss, of course, are against Western Carolina and always tough Chattanooga.

Jerry Hill, Waco Tribune: Former Baylor player Kyle Woods, left paralyzed in a 1979 practice accident, is getting a new disability-friendly home, thanks to fundraising efforts of a committee headed by former Bear coach Grant Teaff.

Scott Dochterman, Cedar Rapids Gazette: There used to be a simple charm to watching sports on TV. The simplicity that accompanied a game now has been replaced with television booths where the analyst and play-by-play person argue more, talk louder and interject less game action than ever before.

To bypass registration, go to Bug Me Not. Here is today's mystery link.

The Esso Club

Our first entry in the Thirst and 10 contest is a strong one. Check out the Esso Club in Clemson, celebrating its 75th year of satisfying thirsty customers. (Click the images for a closer look.)

It started as a gas station in the 1920s and possesses the oldest beer license in town, dating to Dec. 5, 1933. The good times started mere hours after the end of prohibition and the business actually pumped gas until 1985, according to Wikipedia. We can imagine it took some customers several hours to fill their tanks. ...

The main bar is topped with the original wooden seating from Clemson's Memorial Stadium. As legend has it, Brent Musburger stops in for a cold one when he's in town.

Ryan of the site, Gobbler Country, paid a visit to the Esso Club last October for Virginia Tech's game against the Tigers. But despite the tradition and uniqueness of the Esso, he was not all that impressed.
"I would be surprised if the Esso Club loses the vote," he writes. "It has the history and the name recognition. However, I was a little disappointed when I went there last year. I think it's because I had it built up in my mind."

Have something to say about the Esso? Fire away in comments.

Girls, Girls, Girls

Social networking sites have absolutely no redeeming value. You certainly don't want to waste time on the Wiz Facebook page and the new photo album, "Good Cheer." It's Monday and work is already piled up on the corner of your desk. So just move along.

Another Heisman Close Encounter?

Florida's Tim Tebow and Missouri's Chase Daniel shared this — dare we say — touching moment at last year's Heisman Trophy ceremony. Let's hope they had some privacy later to really express their feelings for each other. ...

Now if things go according to plan this fall, Tebow and Daniel will be back on the big stage in New York for the Heisman ceremony. They are among the early favorites to win the award, according to odds posted at Bodog.

Tebow is 7/2 and Daniel is 8/1 (at the time of this post). Ohio State's Chris Wells is a sparkling 5/1, the same odds given to a pick on the field.

The following players are 10/1: Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech), Knowshon Moreno (Georgia) and Pat White (West Virginia).

Others of note: Colt McCoy of Texas and Percy Harvin of Florida are 25/1. Ian Johnson of Boise State is 35/1. Jimmy Clausen of Notre Dame (he of seven touchdown passes and six interceptions in 2007) is 50/1. Armanti Edwards of Appalachian State is 100/1.

Edwards Shows Rich Rod Who Is No. 1

Braylon Edwards has solved his No. 1 problem.

To refresh, the Cleveland Browns receiver endowed a $500,000 scholarship for the Wolverine player who wears No. 1. That jersey number has been given to a receiver since 1979, and Edwards was one of the players to proudly wear No. 1.

Then word leaked that freshman defensive back J.T. Floyd was spotted wearing No. 1 this spring. Edwards expressed his displeasure with Rich Rodriguez in a radio interview.

But on Saturday night, Edwards spoke with Rich Rod at the "Champions for Children's Hearts" dinner gala at Crisler Arena.

Said Edwards: "Everything has been taken care of ... You don't break tradition. I don't care who you are or what school it is, you don't break tradition. You could come in here and completely revamp everything, change the coaching staff, you could change the uniforms, change a lot of stuff, but you don't change tradition. The No. 1 is one of our oldest, most storied traditions here — don't change it."

OK, then. Glad we got that settled.

Rich Rod also addressed Crewcut Charlie Weis' "to hell with Michigan" comment.

"We've taken a lot of shots in the last few months," he said. "If you want to take another one, you're going to have to stand in line. But I don't get caught up in that stuff too much."

Time for Rooney Rule in College Football?

There are 120 head coaching jobs in Division I-A and only six African Americans head coaches.

"In this day and age, it's a shame and an embarrassment," Washington's Tyrone Willingham said. "We've gone too long with the numbers the way they are. We have to change what we're doing. The good ol' boy network is alive and well."

In the NFL, where the Rooney Rule mandates that teams interview minority candidates for head coaching opportunities, five of 32 head coaches are African American.

"We need to find a way to get qualified minority coaches in front of the search committees, the athletic directors, the presidents," Willingham said.

"It's not so much about hiring; it's about creating opportunities. And it's about hiring the right people."

Thanks to Image of Sport.

Reporters' Notebooks

The Big Lead: Despite the recent arrest of standout receiver Preston Parker, Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden doesn't sound ready to institute a gun ban for the players in his program.

Alan Schmadtke, Orlando Sentinel: East Carolina and Memphis are not going anywhere, certainly not to the Big East in the immediate future. And conference realignment is not on the horizon.

Suzanne Halliburton, Austin American-Statesman: Penn State's Joe Paterno was his feisty self Friday night during a fundraiser in Austin. "Yesterday, I didn't think this event was getting enough press," he said. "I decided to go to the hospital and see if I could spruce it up a bit. I feel good."

Ian R. Rapoport, Birmingham News: All is well in the world of Alabama football. Crimson Tide Sports Marketing has reached a 10-year deal with Coca-Cola for it to be the official soft drink of the Crimson Tide.

Dennis Dodd, CBS Sports: Florida State president T.K. Wetherell has it right. College football will have a playoff.

Michael Murphy, Houston Chronicle: UCLA and Houston have agreed to a three-game series beginning in 2010, with two of the games at the Rose Bowl.

Brian Bennett, Louisville Courier-Journal: Senior running back George Stripling was dismissed from the Louisville team because of an undisclosed violation of team rules. He played in 34 career games for the Cardinals, finishing with 1,338 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Kyle Tucker, Virginian-Pilot: Peter Rose, a star quarterback and recent Virginia Tech signee, is facing felony drug charges after being busted in an undercover police investigation.

Ryan Finley, Arizona Daily Star: Arizona's Mike Stoops supports the new sideline rule and vows he will not be penalized for it.

Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Is Nick Saban "getting around" the rules? Far from it. And have you had enough of the Rich Rodriguez story yet?

Paul Finebaum, Mobile Press-Register: Jacksonville State coach Jack Crowe has just sold his soul for a quarterback.

Jeff Potrykus, Milwaukee Journal Sentinal: NFL referee Bill Carollo, who has officiated two Super Bowls and was an alternate for a third, is the new Big Ten coordinator of officials.

Detroit Free Press: Michigan State backup quarterback Connor Dixon has been granted a release from his scholarship.

Brian Dohn, L.A. Dialy News: Kai Maiava, who was a fullback at Colorado, is transferring to UCLA, where he will become an offensive lineman.

Craig Smith, Seattle Times: Jailed Washington State safety Xavier Hicks has lost his chance for early release because he violated work-release rules.

A.J. Carr, Raleigh News & Observer: North Carolina linebacker Wesley Flagg has been kicked off the team.

Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle: A Q&A with NCAA president Myles Brand.

Safety Wanted to Expand His Coverage

An embarrassing incident for Purdue safety Torri Williams, who was arrested Wednesday and charged with theft in connection to a shoplifting incident at a Lafayette grocery store.

His alleged crime? Stealing condoms from a Pay Less Super Market on May 7.

Williams, a senior, is due in court June 9 to answer to the misdemeanor charge. In the meantime, he has been suspended by Boilermaker coach Joe Tiller "for conduct detrimental to the squad."

This is not the first time Williams has been in trouble. In December he pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He was sentenced to 364 days of unsupervised probation, terms of which require that he maintain good and lawful behavior.

Introducing Thirst and 10

Simply put, we're looking for the best bars to get a buzz on before (during?) and after games. This is a bar-only category and there are ground rules. The establishment must be within crawling distance of the stadium (because as we all know, it's not cool to drink and drive). It must feature cheap booze, hot looking waitresses (or waiters if that's your thing), bathrooms and indoor plumbing.

You can send your nominations to dawizofodds (at) aol.com, or post them in the comments below. Tell us why an establishment is worthy of entry. We're looking for places of character (no corporate shops). If the joint has a layer of grime, even better.

And once again, it must be within a reasonable distance of the stadium. We will post entries that qualify and when finished, our panel of experts will cut the field to 10. Then you, the voting public, will select a winner. The bar crawl begins Monday. Cheers!

Airing It Out

Join your humble webmaster early Saturday morning on "Sports Overnight America," which can be heard over the Sports Byline USA Radio Network. The fun starts just after midnight in the Pacific time zone. Listen to the show live by clicking here and give us a call at 800-878-7529.

Reporters' Notebooks

Phil Stukenborg, Memphis Commercial Appeal: That talk about Memphis joining the Big East is just that — talk. Tiger athletic director R.C. Johnson said, "I have had no meetings with the Big East."

Dave Hickman, Charleston Gazette: Unless Notre Dame is in the process of leaving the Big East, Memphis won't be joining anytime soon.

Jeff McLane, Philadelphia Inquirer: Joe Paterno was taken to a hospital after complaining of nausea, weakness and fatigue. It was determined that the 81-year-old coach was suffering from dehydration.

Michael Rothstein, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette: Crewcut Charlie Weis continues to have his name dragged into Spygate. It appears he was a key player the New England Patriots' illegal taping practices.

Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Why can't the Atlantic Coast Conference play its title game in the Georgia Dome? The Southeastern Conference is the main reason. Plus, the NCAA puts bowls on notice. There might not be enough 6-6 teams to go around.

Randy Kennedy, Mobile Press-Register: The ACC is severing its ties with the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise after the 2008 season and is looking to land a spot in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile beginning in 2009.

Brian Davis, Dallas Morning News: About 70% of coaches favor an early signing date, according to a survey by the American Football Coaches Association.

Michael Grant, Louisville Courier-Journal: Rising costs have forced Louisville to scale back its expansion of Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.

Jerry Hill, Waco Tribune-Herald: Baylor's opener at home against Wake Forest was moved from Aug. 30 to Thursday, Aug. 28.

Craig Smith, Seattle Times: Jailed Washington State safety Xavier Hicks has violated terms of his work-release agreement.

Here is today's mystery link. Thanks to Gordon Keith.

Rich Rod Wanted Wife to Write Features

More goodies from Rich Rodriguez's deposition, thanks to the efforts of Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press.

Rich Rod said he planned an expansion of his website at West Virginia to provide "inside information" as a fundraiser for projects that were not getting the support that the coach wanted. The idea appeared similar to Dennis Franchione's VIP Connections newsletter, which paved the way for Fran's ouster at Texas A&M.

Rich Rod wanted to charge $90 a year for the inside information, which would have included goodies such as human interest features written by his wife, Rita.

The coach also dodged repeated attempts to find out if someone from Michigan would fork over the $4 million to West Virginia if Rich Rod were to lose the lawsuit. Rodriguez was instructed not to answer those questions by his attorney, Marv Robon.

Report: Memphis, Big East Are Talking

Memphis officials have been "in serious talks with the Big East about joining the conference," according to Matt Stark of WHBQ-TV in Memphis.

Stark's report is based on unnamed sources and offers no other details. Earlier this week, a column by Desmond Conner of the Hartford Courant suggested that East Carolina had expressed interest in joining the Big East, which has only eight football playing members but a full slate of 16 teams in basketball.

Memphis, like East Carolina, is a member of Conference USA, the league the Big East raided in 2003 after losing Virginia Tech, Miami and Boston College to the Atlantic Coast Conference. Louisville, Cincinnati and South Florida were the football playing members of Conference USA that jumped to the Big East.

Will Perrilloux, Ray Ray Be Teammates?

Former Louisiana State quarterback Ryan Perrilloux made it official Wednesday, announcing that he would be transferring to I-AA Jacksonville State, where he will be eligible to play this fall.

Perrilloux also said he had been in contact with former Clemson running back Ramon "Ray Ray McElrathbey, pictured above, and former Texas El Paso and Florida State receiver Fred Rouse about joining him at the Alabama school. Jacksonville State coach Jack Crowe said he had received releases that would enable him to talk with both players and that he would do his "due diligence" to investigate both.

McElrathbey, who gained national fame for taking custody of his 11-year-old brother Fahmarr in 2006, did not have his scholarship renewed by Clemson's Tommy Bowden. McElrathbey has two years of eligibility remaining.

In Tennessee, This Is How They Roll

The driver of this truck patterns their life after the Volunteers. Thanks to Losers With Socks.

Reporters' Notebooks

Jeff Potrykus, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Fresno State has turned down an offer to play Wisconsin in 2009 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Instead, the teams will play at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.

Michael Rothstein, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette: Crewcut Charlie Weis had his name dragged into the New England Patriots' illegal taping practices.

Adam Rittenberg, ESPN.com: Big Ten coaches hope to spearhead a proposal that would add a two-week dead period each summer to the NCAA's recruiting calendar.

Teddy Greenstein, Chicago Tribune: Illinois' Ron Zook has found his own way around the "Saban Rule." He is speaking at high school coaching clinics — six in all. "It's one-stop shopping," the Zooker said.

Kevin Tatum, Philadelphia Inquirer: For the first time since it expanded to 12 teams and split into two divisions in 1997, the Mid-American Conference will go by overall league records to decide its divisional championships.

Mike Casazza, Charleston Daily Mail: West Virginia quarterback Patrick White has apparently thrown his support behind Barack Obama.

Steven M. Sipple, Lincoln Journal Star: The bruised relationship between Frank Solich and Nebraska could be on the mend.

Andrew Logue, Des Moines Register: Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard said his home was vandalized three times last year after he recommended hiring Kevin Lykins, a Baptist pastor from Texas, as a life skills assistant.

Scott Dochterman, Cedar Rapids Gazette: Iowa State's preliminary renovation timeline for Jack Trice Stadium was released accidentally to the public.

Frank Dascenzo, Durham Herald-Sun: Nobody should question the number of good players in the Atlantic Coast Conference. But it seems perfectly legitimate to question how many really good teams the league has.

Tim Stephens, Orlando Sentinel: Five years later, remembering the raid of the Big East by the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times: USC has reached an agreement to play home games at the L.A. Coliseum for at least the next 25 years.

Chris Foster, Los Angeles Times: Osaar Rasshan will become the third UCLA quarterback to have surgery in the past month. He will have his left knee worked on, but is expected to be ready for fall camp.

Craig Smith, Seattle Times: Xavier Hicks, the Washington State safety who put rubbing alcohol in the contact lens case of former teammate-roommate Grady Maxwell after a dispute over an unpaid cable bill, will be suspended for the first three games of the season.

Terry Bannon, Chicago Tribune: Former Illinois player Jody Ellis pleaded guilty to felony theft in Champaign County Circuit Court and was sentenced to 120 days in jail and 30 months of probation.

Ryan Autullo, Toledo Blade: Former Bowling Green captain Loren Hargrove and a former Falcon teammate were arrested on felony drug trafficking charges.

To bypass registration, go to Bug Me Not. Here is today's mystery link. Thanks to SI On Campus.

Arkansas, Kentucky Also Called Rich Rod

Some juicy tidbits were made public Tuesday with the release of Rich Rodriguez's deposition in the lawsuit brought against the Michigan coach by his former employer, West Virginia.

The lengthy document, which you can review by clicking here, makes note of a conversation Rodriguez had on Dec. 11 with Arkansas about its opening. Rich Rod dismissed the school after a brief phone conversation.

There is also mention of his rejection of Alabama in December 2006 and an earlier conversation he had with Kentucky.

Previously, it was thought Rich Rod's first contact with Michigan came during a face-to-face meeting on Dec. 14 in Toledo. But according to the coach, Wolverine athletic director Bill Martin was in the Toledo area on Dec. 12 to meet with Rodriguez's financial adviser, Mike Wilcox.

Rich Rod also talked about his call to Terrelle Pryor on Dec. 16 to tell the prep quarterback that he was taking the Michigan job. Rodriguez said the call was actually placed by Tony Gibson, his recruiting coordinator, and that he got on the phone "two minutes before the team." Rodriguez said the call was made on behalf of West Virginia and that it wasn't a recruiting call for Michigan.

Leak Sells Off His Title Feat

The shoes quarterback Chris Leak wore in the 2007 Bowl Championship Series title game have been put up for auction on eBay, with a buy it now price of $10,000.
A memorabilia company purchased the shoes from Leak. The quarterback signed each shoe and wrote "Game Worn BCS Title Game 2006" on the each toe. Leak is pictured below wearing the shoes in the game.
The memorabilia company also purchased the helmet Leak wore during the Army All-American game in 2003. This item has a buy it now price of $2,500.
Leak, who was the MVP of the game, also signed the helmet.
It has been a bizarre couple of weeks in Gainesville, starting with word that Leak's successor, Tim Tebow, recently helped circumcise impoverished children in the Philippines.

Last Friday, Florida safety Jamar Hornsby was kicked off the team after he was charged with credit card theft and fraudulent use of a credit card. The card in question belonged to a Florida student who died in an October 2007 motorcycle accident that also claimed the life of walk-on defensive back Michael Guilford.

Last weekend, offensive lineman Matt Patchan was shot in a shoulder during an incident at a park in Tampa. Patchan's injury is not life-threatening and he is expected to make a full recovery.

Thanks to Losers With Socks and Swamp Gas.

Andrews Talks About Those Creepy Blogs

A couple of clips from Erin Andrews' appearance on CNBC's "The Big Idea With Donny Deutsch." In the top clip, Andrews talks about blogs and the creep factor. In the bottom clip, she discusses how she got her first broadcasting break with TBS. Thanks to the Sports Point and Awful Announcing.

Average Margin of Victory on Rise in BCS

The Big Lead has posted additional statistical analysis backing the claim that the Bowl Championship Series is falling far short of its stated goal "to match the two top-rated teams in a national championship game and to create exciting and competitive matchups between eight other highly regarded teams in four other games."

Max Wasserman, a student at Cornell, compared the margin of victory of every Rose, Fiesta, Sugar and Orange bowls from the past 30 seasons, the last 10 of which have been under the BCS system. Outside of the Fiesta Bowl, the average margin of victory has increased by at least two points in the 10 years under the BCS.

Crappy games equal crappy TV ratings. No wonder there was a sharp decline in viewership of four of the five Bowl Championship Series games this past season.
The Rose Bowl had a 32-point margin of victory and saw a ratings drop of 20%. The Sugar, with a 31-point spread, dropped 25%. The BCS title game (spread of 14) dropped 17% and the Fiesta (20-point margin) dropped 8%. Only the Orange Bowl, a competitive game with a three-point spread, saw an increase in its rating at 6%.

Wasserman also compared the average margin of victory in the 10 BCS title games to the average from the past 30 I-AA title games. The BCS games averaged 14.5 points and the I-AA games 12.87.

Wasserman writes: "Just goes to show that if you want the best chance of having the truly best teams play for the championship, have a playoff. It’s better for everyone and everything. Except the Rose Bowl."

Thanks to Image of Sport.

Reporters' Notebooks

Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times: A USC "spoof" video featuring Brennan Carroll, son of USC coach Pete Carroll, has been pulled off YouTube. UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel reportedly was showing the video to recruits because he thought it reflected negatively on USC's program.

Jake Schaller, Colorado Springs Gazette: The U.S. Army is reviewing its "Alternative Service Option" program that allows West Point graduates to play professional sports immediately after graduation. The program is not in place at the Naval or Air Force academics.

Ken Tysiac, Charlotte Observer: The Atlantic Coach Conference said no to a proposal to add a ninth conference game. Coaches were firmly against the proposal.

Get the Picture: If you want to watch the 1947 Sugar Bowl between Georgia and North Carolina or the 1943 Rose Bowl between Georgia and UCLA, those games are now online.

Dennis Dodd, CBS Sports: Trickle-down economics appear to work in the coaching fraternity. Coordinators are cashing in and salaries of other assistants are on the rise as well.

Marc Morehouse, Cedar Rapids Gazette: You think it's easy putting together a cushy nonconference schedule featuring Maine and Florida International? An Iowa official explains how it's done.

Drew Edwards, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Junior receiver Kenny O'Neal is leaving Tennessee.

Mike Kern, Philadelphia Daily News: This is the most anticipated season for Temple since, well, feel free to fill in the blank.

Here is today's mystery link (not safe for work).

No Limit to This Roster

Although the NCAA limit of 85 has been met on the Wiz Facebook page, it doesn't mean the fun has come to a grinding halt. Far from it. We subscribe to the Nick Saban school of thinking and will simply add as many people as possible. If one of the 85 happens to pull a hamstring or — worse yet — a groin, it's next man in. So join us in this growing corner of cyberspace. You could soon find yourself on a full-ride Facebook scholarship.

Is East Carolina Knocking on Big East Door?

A few years ago after a raid by the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Big East's membership in the Bowl Championship Series country club was being questioned.

Now the eight-member Big East is snubbing its nose at teams that want to join its BCS party. Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese said outside of a few coaches wanting to add a ninth member, conference presidents and athletic directors are against expansion.

"Schools aren't talking to me and I'm not talking to anybody," Tranghese said. "People [from schools interested in joining] call me and I tell them I'm not talking because I'm not authorized. Plus our people have no interest. You get your board members, fans, it's incredible. I have told anybody and everybody it's not happening. Don't bother me."

So who has expressed an interest in joining the Big East? East Carolina and coach Skip Holtz, according to Desmond Conner of the Hartford Courant. And the Pirates would be willing to take extreme measures to gain entrance:

• Play a conference football schedule with zero compensation from the Big East so current members don't have to give up any of their share of revenue.

• Be responsible for negotiating a television contract for home games until the league wants the school to be a part of its package.

• Not expect any of the league's BCS revenue until earning a BCS bid of its own representing the conference.

• Come in as a football member only. Other sports would play in another league in order to not interfere with the league's current 16-member setup for all other sports.

• Show a solid track record of putting fans in the seats at home, on the road and at bowl games — all on a trial basis for a few years.

"We would agree to all of that and others," one prominent East Carolina supporter told Conner.

Thanks to the Business of College Football for sending this item our way.

They're Drinking the Kool-Aid at SMU

Forget about June Jones the football coach. June Jones the salesman has them buying at Southern Methodist.

Then again, coming off a 1-11 season, what are the options?

"Everybody that's come to practice talks about how much fun everybody's having," freshman quarterback Logan Turner said. "Guys want to be out there. We're having fun and we're learning at the same time. We know these guys have been successful."

Junior receiver Emmanuel Sanders said he told Jones, "You play college football like a video game."

"It's just very complex, and it's very fun," Sanders told the Dallas Morning News. "He plays a mind game with the opposing defense. They'll never figure out what he's throwing at them."

The positive vibes start with Jones. "I've noticed a change from day one to now," he said. "They're getting used to what we're about and how we coach. I'm confident the way we do it works."

Reporters' Notebooks

Ken Tysiac, Charlotte Observer: A team from the Atlantic Coast Conference hasn't played in the Bowl Championship Series title game since 2000, but officials point to the recent NFL draft for a validation of the quality of play in the league. Miami athletic director Paul Dee says the Hurricanes' move to the Orange Bowl should help revive the program, which is a disappointing 12-13 the past two seasons.

Jeff Call, Deseret News: Running back Manase Tonga, who was Brigham Young's second-leading rusher in 2007, has been ruled academically ineligible for 2008.

Tom D'Angelo, Palm Beach Post: Florida State's Preston Parker could be back on the field this fall if his attorney can get a felony charge for carrying a concealed firearm reduced to a misdemeanor.

Greg Wallace, Anderson Independent-Mail: Clemson showed clear confidence in Tommy Bowden by extending his contract after Arkansas came calling last fall. But, if he can’t get the job done with this group, many will wonder why.

Joseph Person, Columbia State: Steve Spurrier on his team: "We're like our mascot. The gamecock is an animal ... that fights until it's dead. The Gamecocks, we dang sure aren't dead yet. We have a lot of fight in us going to next year."

Nick Williams, Tampa Tribune: Florida offensive lineman Matt Patchan was shot in a shoulder during an incident Friday night. He is expected to make a full recovery. Thanks to the Bull Gator.

Tennessean: Sales of season tickets for Vanderbilt games are up nearly 18% from this time last year.

Ryan Finley, Arizona Daily Star: Arizona's Mike Stoops plans to move fall training camp out of Tucson for three or four days to give his team a break and generate interest in nearby towns.

Minneapolis Star-Tribune: Sophomore receiver Tray Herndon has been granted his release by Minnesota. He had 22 receptions for 235 yards and one touchdown in 2007.

Gutty Little Bruins: Video of Slick Rick Neuheisel schmoozing recruits at UCLA's spring scrimmage.

Eleven Warriors: Jason Simmons, a former captain at Ohio State who was accused of having sex with a 14-year-old student, pleaded guilty to three felony counts of sexual battery.

Andrew Martin, Ohio State Lantern: Ohio State fans need to get a life.

To bypass registration, go to Bug Me Not. Here is today's great mystery link. Thanks to Randball.

And this note: If you've been touched by the devastating cyclone in Myanmar, the tornadoes in Oklahoma, Missouri and the Midwest, storms in the Southeast, wildfires in California & Florida and earthquakes in China, not to mention the everyday needs in our own communities, please check FanBlogs or EDSBS for the Charity Bowl, where you can show your team colors.

Coaching Salaries Are Ridiculous

Little wonder that Americans think spending on college sports is out of control. California coach Jeff Tedford, for example, had a .500 team in 2007 that earned a berth to the insignificant Armed Forces Bowl, where it squeaked past Air Force, 42-36, to finish 7-6.

Despite the disappointing season, Tedford cashed in, earning $2.8 million.

Back in Berkeley, the university continued its struggles to maintain academic programs.

Daniel Borenstein of the Contra Costa Times writes:

"Yet, the university continues to subsidize intercollegiate sports at Cal, last year by $6.4 million.

"If athletic departments can afford such rich salaries, perhaps it's time to eliminate the subsidy, or even reverse the flow and use some of the sports profits to offset the cost of badly needed programs elsewhere on campus.

"The subsidy, for example, could pay for roughly 45 full-time Cal instructors."

Although Tedford is the highest-paid employee in California's educational system, he has friends at the top. Ben Howland, UCLA basketball coach, pulled in $1.41 million in 2007. Ben Braun, former Cal basketball coach, had a salary of $1.07 million. And Karl Dorrell, ousted as UCLA football coach, had a salary of $961,687. The four were the top earners in the California system.

Thanks to Image of Sport.

Building of Hayes Statue Is Stalled

Woody Hayes is an Ohio State legend, having won three national championships and 13 Big Ten titles in 28 seasons as coach. Although the university dedicated the Woody Hayes Athletic Center in his memory, a movement by students to build a statue of the coach is stalled.

Over a year ago, a ballot measure to build the statue — estimated at more than $30,000 — was approved by students, but completion of the project seems unlikely because of the expense.

"Just because a proposal is passed does not mean it is going to be a top priority for the [student] administration in charge," said Pete Steele, former Undergraduate Student Government vice president.

USG Sen. Patrick Sprinkle said: "We have not been able to get additional support from various campus groups. In future years, I would like to see USG, the Alumni Association, the Department of Athletics and the Class Gift Committee collaborate to see this statue idea get off the ground."

A Cover Curse for NCAA Football?

You've likely heard of the Madden Curse, where an NFL player that appears on the cover of the video game suffers a subpar performance the following season. Is there such a hex for NCAA Football?

The blog Bears With Fangs tackles the question, rating covers from 1998 (Danny Wuerffel) to 2008 (Jared Zabransky).

Reporters' Notebooks

Bob Hertzel, Times West Virginian: Rich Rodriguez's decision to give the revered No. 1 jersey at Michigan to a defensive back comes as no surprise. He controlled everything at West Virginia, except the line of scrimmage against Pittsburgh.

Pat Harty, Iowa City Press-Citizen: Have Iowa officials gone too far by approving a social networking policy that will force student-athletes to adhere to guidelines on public networking sites?

Bernard Fernandez, Philadelphia Daily News: Joe Paterno on his future and how it impacts recruiting: "If a kid asks, 'Are you going to be there?,' I tell him exactly how I feel. I say, 'Look, I don't know if I'm going to be here the three, four or five years you're going to be here. But I feel great and I intend to coach as long as I feel good.' ''

Greg Stoda, Palm Beach Post: The "head coach in waiting" arrangement at Florida State might not go as smoothly as advertised should Bobby Bowden decide to coach beyond 2008.

Jake Trotter, Oklahoman: Former Oklahoma coach John Blake is hoping he'll be offered another shot to lead a college program.

Kevin Scarbinsky, Birmingham News: Is Louisiana State better without quarterback Ryan Perrilloux? Maybe one day, but in the short-term, the Tigers are in for a world of hurt.

Mitch Vingle, Charleston Gazette: Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese explains why he was opposed to the plus-one system for the Bowl Championship Series. "Our view is we're open to talking about anything. But the plus-one idea is just a disguise for a playoff."

Gutty Little Bruins: UCLA's Rick Neuheisel is reportedly using a profanity-laced video featuring Brennan Carroll, the son of USC coach Pete Carroll, as a recruiting tool against the Trojans.

Smoking Trees in Belize: When it comes to redesigning uniforms, perhaps old school is best.

Take a Hike

And now, for something completely different on Mother's Day, check out this scary hike up a walkway built in 1901 in the climbing sector of El Chorro in southern Spain. Thanks to Ken.

Here is the Wikipedia entry on Caminito del Rey.

Reporters' Notebooks

Jeff McLane, Philadelphia Inquirer: Joe Paterno snapped when answering questions about off-the-field issues at a Nittany Lion Club fund-raiser. "I'm sick and tired of talking about this, that and the other thing, to be very frank with you," he said. "We got a tough schedule, a good football team, and we're going to have a lot of fun and you guys all should be excited!" He then slammed his fist down on the table. "Right?!" Paterno squealed.

Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun: Florida safety Jamar Hornsby was kicked off the team after he was charged with credit card theft and fraudulent use of a credit card. The card belonged to a Florida student who died in an October 2007 motorcycle accident that also claimed the life of a walk-on defensive back.

Michael Rosenberg, Detroit Free Press: What Charlie Weis said about Michigan was not a big deal. But if any Irish player said that, Weis would be furious. He has fostered a contentious relationship with the media — essentially, he doesn’t trust us, and doesn’t trust his players to talk to us. The only voice in South Bend is Crewcut Charlie’s.

Detroit Free Press: Appalachian State, which pulled a shocking 34-32 upset last season at Michigan, is getting calls from Big Ten teams looking for the secrets of beating the Wolverines.

Kyle Hightower, Orlando Sentinel: Central Florida cornerback Johnell Neal was injured in a shooting in his hometown of Baton Rouge.

Jon Wilner, San Jose Mercury News: San Jose State is considering installing artificial turf in Spartan Stadium in time for the 2009 season.

Mark Snyder, Detroit Free Press: Sophomore quarterback Keith Nichol, who was No. 3 on the depth chart at Oklahoma, is transferring, with Michigan State and Michigan on his list possible teams.

Mick McGrane, San Diego Union-Tribune: Although not one "student-athlete" was among the 96 people arrested in a drug bust on campus, the fallout could damage coach Chuck Long's ability to recruit at San Diego State.

Lee Hermiston, Iowa City Press-Citizen: Search warrants used to investigate an alleged sexual assault possibly involving Iowa players last October have been sealed for an additional 60 days.

Associated Press: More teams are adopting policies against fans scattering the ashes of loved ones on the home turf.

Tuscaloosa News: Alabama freshman receiver A.J. Walker, 19, was charged with public intoxication.

Smoking Trees in Belize: The ugliest uniforms in college football belong to. ... hey, where are those Oregon unis?

To bypass registration, go to Bug Me Not.

Life After 'Rudy' Still Lucrative for Rudy

It can be argued that nobody has gotten more mileage off one play than Rudy Ruettiger. The Notre Dame walk-on parlayed a meaningless sack at the end of a 1975 game into the film "Rudy." That served as a springboard into a career as a motivational speaker.

His latest gig is selling a beverage that is being marketed as a health drink, appropriately titled "Rudy." Ruettiger's company caught a break earlier this week when it struck a deal with Collins Brothers, Inc., a distributor of non-alcoholic products based in Illinois. According to Michael Rothstein of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, the deal could put the drink into Walgreen's, CVS, Osco and Albertson's stores.

Despite the news, investors do not appear to be impressed. Stock of Ruettiger's publicly traded company closed Thursday at 50 cents a share. But that hasn't stopped Ruettiger from reportedly building a new home in the glitzy Southern Highlands Golf Club in Las Vegas.

Here is Rudy's play from the 1975 game against Georgia Tech. His sack comes at the 1:15 mark.

Reporters' Notebooks

Andrew Carter, Orlando Sentinel: Florida State president T.K. Wetherell said Jimbo Fisher did not breach terms of his contract when he talked with West Virginia.

Caulton Tudor, Raleigh News & Observer: Atlantic Coast Conference officials are expected to discuss going to a nine-game conference schedule when league meetings begin this weekend.

Fred Girard, Detroit News: There are suggestions that if Rich Rodriguez loses his $4 million court fight to West Virginia, Michigan will end up paying the bill.

Scott Dochterman, Cedar Rapids Gazette: Iowa approved a social networking policy that will force student-athletes to adhere to department guidelines on public networking sites.

Craig Smith, Seattle Times: Pullman police have recommended that one second-degree assault charge and five fourth-degree assault charges be filed against Washington State defensive tackle Andy Roof.

Scott Carter, Tampa Tribune: Bobby Bowden on the firing of Florida State radio analyst Peter Tom Willis: "Your job is to be a PR man. You're getting paid to boost FSU up. It's not a high school offense. Some things, you don't say."

Jeff Metcalfe, Arizona Republic: Mark your calendar for Oct. 5, 2013. Arizona State and Notre Dame are scheduled to play at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

Jake Schaller, Colorado Springs Gazette: Air Force has made the initial steps toward the construction of a privately funded $9 million indoor facility for intercollegiate sports.

Work Too Much? Stressed Out? Read This

We're happy to report that a blogging buddy of ours, Kevin Donahue, is on the road to recovery. On Sunday, April 27, Kevin began to have chest pains. What followed was a heart attack that nearly took his life. Had he not instinctively taken two aspirin, he likely would have died.

Kevin is only 34, but like many of us is a workaholic. "Hereditary, not enough time to exercise since we moved, and boo-coo stress at work ... the trifecta," as he puts it. Even at his young age, it's important to get checked by a cardiologist.

Kevin has blogged about his experience, an entry titled, "The day I almost died." It's must-read material. Please check it out.

Your Chance to Be Heard

A reminder to join us Friday at midnight in the Pacific Time Zone for "Sports Overnight America, Saturday Edition" on the Sports Byline USA Radio Network. You can listen to the show over the Internet by clicking here. Give us a call at 800-878-7529.

Daily Texan Tackles Athletic Establishment

Congratulations to the Daily Texan, the Texas student newspaper, for standing up to bullying tactics by a Longhorn athletic department official.

The Daily Texan, in an editorial titled "Unwritten rules of covering college sports hurt readers," tells the story of behind-the-scenes maneuvering by assistant athletic director John Bianco, who did his best to get a story on quarterback John Chiles removed from the paper's blog. Here is part of the editorial:

"Last month, The Daily Texan reported on its blog that the Austin Police Department suspended an assault with injury investigation in which Longhorns backup quarterback John Chiles was a suspect. When the Texan originally reported that APD confirmed Chiles as a suspect, assistant athletics director John Bianco wrote several threatening emails to Daily Texan sports editor and journalism senior Ricky Treon, calling him unprofessional and his reporting 'untruthful.'

"Bianco warned that other news agencies (and potential employers) 'realize how you do business now,' which 'will hurt you in the long run.' He also said that if the Texan's editors didn't pull the post off the blog, 'John Chiles would understandably have an issue with the entire paper' which would be 'unfortunate for the Texan's long-term working relationship with him.' "

Reporters' Notebooks

Mitch Vingle, Charleston Gazette: Potential problem for Florida State coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher. West Virginia athletic director Ed Pastilong said in a deposition for the school's lawsuit against Rich Rodriguez that "following Rich's official resignation I had telephone conversations with Jimbo Fisher.'' T.K. Wetherell, FSU's president, said at the time that Fisher's contract stipulates he can't even talk to other schools about a job.

Berry Tramel, Oklahoman: The Atlantic Coast Conference is playing 23 of its 48 nonleague games (47.9%) against Bowl Championship Series opponents. The Pacific 10 is second at 45.2%. Then comes the Big East (39%), the Big 12 and Southeastern (31%) and the Big Ten (29.5%).

Howie Stalwick, Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Xavier Hicks, Washington State's projected starter at free safety, has been sentenced to 45 days in jail after pleading guilty to third-degree theft and third-degree attempted assault. Hicks pleaded guilty to stealing a credit card and pouring rubbing alcohol on the contact lenses of then-teammate and roommate Grady Maxwell.

Jim Moore, Seattle Post-Intelligencer: The arrest of defensive tackle Andy Roof is possibly the most embarrassing development of them all at Washington State.

Lisa Kennelly, Newark Star-Ledger: If you're considering one of the new club and loge box seats at Rutgers Stadium, get ready to pay. The bill will run more than $3,000 for one of 852 club seats and more than $17,000 for one of 28 four-seat loge boxes.

Jon Solomon, Birmingham News: The average attendance for spring games staged by BCS teams was 19,631. Nebraska was the "winner" with a crowd of 80,149 — the second-highest attendance on record for a spring game behind Alabama's 92,138 in 2007. With a chart of attendance for all spring games by BCS teams.

The Chattanoogan: A man is facing an obscenity charge after displaying a sign reading "F--- you, Fulmer" on his car in Signal Mountain, Tenn. The sign apparently does not refer to the Tennessee coach, but to a Signal Mountain police officer named Fulmer.

Pete Pelegrin, Miami Herald: Florida International was slapped with an extra year of probation by the NCAA for numerous violations by 12 Golden Panther teams. The football team will have to forfeit three scholarships.

Steve Ellis, Tallahassee Democrat: The staggering turnover of players continues at Florida State. Starting left tackle Daron Rose has been ruled academically ineligible, meaning 25 players from last season's roster are no longer with the team.

Bob Tompkins, Shreveport Times: Louisiana State coach Les Miles said it's "way premature" for him to give the nod to either Andrew Hatch or Jarrett Lee as the likely starting quarterback this fall.

Jake Trotter, Oklahoman: Oklahoma is installing a state-of-the-art, $4.5 million high-definition video screen at Memorial Stadium. The new board (3,689 square feet) is expected to be among the five largest in the nation. The others: Texas (7,370), Nebraska (4012), Texas A&M (3,869) and Arkansas (3,210).

Eric Bailey, Tulsa World: Former Texas quarterback G.J. Kinne will transfer to Tulsa, choosing the Hurricane over offers from UCLA, Fresno State and Louisiana Tech.

In Defense of Crewcut Charlie Weis

Old buddy Crewcut Charlie Weis has been under attack the past week for running his mouth. At least that's how it is being interpreted in some circles.

Last week came the "I could get hoodlums and thugs and win tomorrow. I won't do it that way" comment. Weis made the remark before a Notre Dame booster club and was categorized as a racist in certain corners of cyberspace. Far from it.

Consider that the good people at Notre Dame have always held themselves to a higher standard. Or at least that is the Kool-Aid they drink, especially at booster club gatherings. But come to think of it, given Notre Dame's sinking gridiron fortunes, perhaps a few hoodlums and thugs wouldn't hurt. This is football, after all.

On Wednesday, somebody was fishing around YouTube and found a video of Crew saying, "The hell with Michigan." (Fifty second mark on the above video.) The outrage! Word spread on the blogosphere like a California wildfire. But seriously, what did you expect the big guy to do, put on ruby red lipstick and kiss Rich Rod's behind? Of course you want to kick Michigan's rear, and you let the boosters know it.

Michigan is in no position to protest. Turn back the clock to August 2006, when Bo Schembechler made the following comment about the Wolverines playing the Fighting Irish: "We don't need Notre Dame. They need us more than we need them. Hell, we're playing all these Big Ten teams. When Penn State came into the league, then we should do everything we can to get this Notre Dame series over with. Now that's the way I feel.

"I would rather have an intersectional game than a Midwest game. Play Southern Cal. I don't care. Play Texas ... somebody like that. But not Notre Dame."

Rolls Tide!

It has been a few days since we had fun at the expense of our good friends at Alabama. This is best viewed in an enlarged format, so click the image and you'll notice the White Cheddar Cheez-It box. A very nice touch.

Thanks to a reader who wishes to remain anonymous.

The Real Truth About Facebook

After only two days, we are convinced that social networking sites have absolutely no redeeming value. Perhaps that explains why we're now hooked on Facebook. So this is yet another shameless plug to check out the Wiz on Facebook. Join the growing list of fans and spread the word like some nasty computer virus. The benefits are many. We will let you know what they are just as soon as we figure them out.

The Biggest Duck on the Pond

Phil Knight was a middle-distance runner and 1959 graduate of Oregon. He got into the sneaker business and made a fortune, with his worth at an estimated $10.4 billion. He sometimes arrives at Duck football practices by helicopter, landing in a nearby field.

No one knows exactly how much money Knight has given Oregon, but some estimates put it at $230 million. Much of it has gone to athletics, helping to build facilities that are considered among the nation's best.

But not everybody in Eugene is happy about this. There is a growing divide between the academic and athletic community over Knight's influence, highlighted by a planned $20 million academic center for athletes. Professors have criticized the project that includes a water feature that some have likened to a moat.

Oregonian columnist John Canzano says the problem is not Knight. "It's the university," he writes.

"University of Oregon president David Frohnmayer is leaving in 2009. He had a chance to stand for something. He spent 11 years as the state attorney general, but in the end, he goes down as a leader who could have stood for so much more if he would have said 'no' a few times."

Edwards' No. 1 Problem Is With Rich Rod

Braylon Edwards, recently flagged for piling on sports bloggers, now has a new target: Rich Rodriguez.

The receiver, who wore the No. 1 at Michigan, endowed a $500,000 scholarship for the Wolverine player who wears No. 1. That jersey number has been given to a receiver since 1979.

But as part of the changing culture of Michigan football, Rich Rod reportedly has given that number to freshman defensive back J.T. Floyd. When asked about this by ESPN Radio's Mike Tirico, a somewhat annoyed Edwards let it fly.

"I'm glad you gave me a 'Go Blue' question, because Rich Rod gave the No. 1 jersey to an incoming freshman DB. The No. 1 jersey has never been worn by anybody outside of a wide receiver — it dates back to Anthony Carter, so I'm going to have a talk with [Rodriguez] about that next time I see him. But outside of that, he's been doing a great job.

"He's getting that call soon, very soon. We have a jersey scholarship fund for this whole deal. What is he thinking?"

Big Guys Stepping On the Little Guys

Not exactly sure what Myles Brand has accomplished in his tenure as Grand Poobah of the NCAA outside of collecting a fat paycheck. He likely would point to his fraudulent Academic Progress Report, which was released Tuesday.

This annual report regularly punishes the smaller schools and rewards the larger institutions, which are able to prop up their so-called "student-athletes" with an endless supply of tutors, favorable professors and state-of-the-art academic centers.

San Jose State's Dick Tomey called it "class warfare" and he's right. Of the 37 football programs penalized by the NCAA for not meeting academic standards, only two were from Bowl Championship Series conferences. Washington State lost eight scholarships, Kansas two. Little San Jose State lost nine.

"There’s such a difference between the BCS schools and those who are not," Tomey told the New York Times. "I don’t think it's an intended difference, but it highlights financial things like not being able to throw money at the problem and solve it very quickly."

Nonetheless, the APR does have some benefits. In February, Arizona's Mike Stoops wisecracked that "Arizona State has turned into a JC, and we're a four-year college." So who is at the bottom of the APR rankings among BCS teams? It's Arizona, of course, a point that Pitchfork Nation jumped all over.

And there is a nifty piece of work by Brett McMurphy of the Tampa Tribune. He breaks down the best and the worst APRs in the BCS. Last season's Sun Bowl, for example, should have been titled the Academically Challenged Sun Bowl. The game matched South Florida, which had the third worst APR, vs. Oregon, which was No. 6.

Reporters' Notebooks

Michael Rothstein, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette: Crewcut Charlie Weis, when asked about a comment he made last week before a Pennsylvania booster club that was interpreted as being racist by some bloggers. Was his comment blown out of proportion? "Blew up by who? A USC fan on the West Coast? That was no slight toward any college. It doesn't even warrant, it doesn’t even elicit a comeback. Doesn't even elicit a response."

Drew Davison, Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Kelan Luker, a former Southern Methodist quarterback, quit football in 2002 and joined a rock band. But he's returning to the gridiron this fall at Tarleton State. "The door opened up and I wanted to play one more time before I got too old."

John Maher, Austin American-Statesman: Texas announced plans to endow the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs to be part of the university's Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law.

Ferd Lewis, Honolulu Advertiser: The Western Athletic Conference Council, at its annual spring meetings in Phoenix, voted to significantly slice the amount future conference representatives might keep from Bowl Championship Series appearances, commissioner Karl Benson said.

George Hostetter, Fresno Bee: Fresno State president John Welty approved a steep hike in a much-debated student fee that will help the athletic program while expanding access to academic extras. Students will face a $52 per semester increase, $32 of which will go to athletics.

Associated Press: Two former Mississippi State players won't serve jail time for their roles in a March 27 gunfire incident on campus.

Mitch Vingle, Charleston Gazette: The Big East's seat at the BCS table, which was questioned after the raid of Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College by the Atlantic Coast Conference, is finally secure.

Tim Stephens, Orlando Sentinel: It would appear that SMU booster need to pony up some cash.

Project Alaska Turf Needs Your Help

It started on July 23, 2006, when a reader named John sent a link to an Anchorage Daily News story detailing plans for Barrow High to start a football team. The next day, Wayne Drehs read our post and a few weeks later, the ESPN.com writer and a film crew were 330 miles north of the Arctic Circle, covering the northernmost football game ever played.

The two-part story (video below) was featured on ESPN in October 2006, and a woman in Jacksonville — over 5,000 miles away — was so inspired after watching it that she started a movement to replace Barrow's gravel field with artificial turf. Cathy Parker's Project Alaska Turf became a smashing success and last August the Whalers, after a training camp in Jacksonville with members of the Bartram Trail High team, played their first game on the blue field next to the Arctic Ocean.

The story is far from over. Parker is continuing her efforts and is raising funds for a Barrow football camp, titled "Band of Brothers." The camp, to be held in July, will feature members of the Bartram team. Details are on Parker's website. We can't think of a better cause.

Tim Tebow Will Cut You Down to Size

Tim Tebow shows the Bull Gator Club how he did it in the Philippines. Thanks to Losers With Socks. Click the image for a closer look.

Reporters' Notebooks

Joseph Santoliquito, Philadelphia Daily News: Callahan Bright was supposed to be the next Jerome Brown or Warren Sapp. As one of the top prep recruits in the country, he selected Florida State over Texas A&M during a live announcement on ESPNews, but never made it to Tallahassee. Now, after working for a time picking up trash, he is trying to put his career back together at Shaw, a Division II team in Raleigh.

Mike Perrin and Doug Segrest, Birmingham News: Former Louisiana State quarterback Ryan Perrilloux could be headed to Jacksonville State in Alabama.

Mike Hlas, Cedar Rapids Gazette: Adding two more bowl games makes the bowl pool deeper and shallower at the same time. Just imaging all the meetings of mediocrities we will have come bowl season.

Howie Stalwick, Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Pullman police have requested that Washington State defensive tackle Andy Roof be charged with one count of second-degree felony assault and five counts of fourth-degree gross misdemeanor assault for an incident on campus last month.

Steve Ellis, Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State has released projected starting linebacker Marcus Ball from his scholarship. He was one of the 19 scholarship players who were suspended in December in the academic fraud scandal. Of the 19, less than 12 are still on the team.

Terry Hutchens, Indianapolis Star: Jerimy Finch, a linebacker who played at Florida last season as a freshman and the surprise of Urban Meyer's 2007 recruiting class, has been released from his scholarship. He could be headed to Indiana.

Hilary Dickinson, Minnesota Daily: Minnesota junior offensive lineman Nedward Tavale sustained minor scrapes on his leg and arm, as well as a black eye, when he was knocked off his mo-ped by a passing car.

Phil Stukenborg, Memphis Commercial Appeal: Conference USA football will become even more wide-open — if that's possible — with the additions of June Jones at Southern Methodist and Larry Fedora at Southern Mississippi.

To bypass registration, go to Bug Me Not. Two mystery links today: here (two jokers) and here (too funny).

The Wiz Now on Facebook

Yes, that's right. Old school meets new school. Check out the Wiz on Facebook.

We're new at this and not sure what it all means. Somebody said we need friends. We've known that for a long time, actually. Perhaps some Facebook veterans can send us a tip or two.

There's also a link to the Facebook page on the right-hand column here on the Wiz.

Rock on!

Tebow Begins Work on His Doctorate

The legend of Tim Tebow continues to grow.

Tebow, the Florida quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner, spent spring break in the Philippines and — according to Dave Curtis of the Orlando Sentinel — helped circumcise impoverished children.

Tebow, who has no surgical training, was visiting an orphanage his father's ministry runs in the country and assisted with the care of locals who had walked miles to the temporary clinic the ministry helped organize.

"The first time, it was nerve-racking," he said. "Hands were shaking a little bit. I mean, I'm cutting somebody. You can't do those kinds of things in the United States. But those people really needed the surgeries. We needed to help them."

Richard Moleno, a Florida graduate and aspiring doctor, said: "You could see he was really into it. He thought it was cool. I'd make a stitch, he'd cut a stitch. He got his hands a little wet in surgery."

Saban, Pinkel and the Kent State Shootings

It is one of the darkest moments in U.S. history. Four Kent State students, among protesters against America's involvement in the Vietnam War, were fatally shot by members of the Ohio National Guard on May 4, 1970.

Alabama's Nick Saban was a defensive back at Kent State and will never forget that day.

"I always think about it," he said. "Allison Krause" — one of four students who died that day — "who I had English class with, I didn't know her well but she was in class with me.

"When things strike home like that, it gives you a different perspective on those things."

Missouri's Gary Pinkel was a senior in a high school only 15 minutes from Kent State, where he enrolled in the fall.

"It’s something that'll be with you forever," he said. "There’s not a May 4 that hasn't gone by where I don't think about it. I vividly go through everything in my mind. It'll forever have an effect on me."

Reporters' Notebooks

Gentry Estes and Evan Woodbery, Mobile Press-Register: On the April day that Alabama's Nick Saban introduced video conferencing to the recruiting scene, Auburn's Tommy Tuberville knew about it by that afternoon.

Bob Spear and Bob Gillespie, Columbia State: Does Lou Holtz deserve to be in the College Football Hall of Fame? Yes he does. No he doesn't.

Jerry Tipton, Lexington Herald-Leader: Kentucky has been given approval to use a private jet for recruiting visits.

Alan Schmadtke, Orlando Sentinel: Meet Andrew Hatch, the transfer from Harvard who is Louisiana State's new starting quarterback.

Brian Christopherson, Lincoln Journal Star: Do network announcers have it out for Nebraska? Cornhusker fans seem to think so.

Kyle Ringo, Boulder Daily Camera: The recruiting process can take a toll on high school athletes. One recruit lost more than 20 pounds from stress while being recruited.

Mark Tupper, Decatur Herald & Review: Does Ron Zook love recruiting? "No," he said. "I don't like recruiting any more than anyone else. I just hate to lose."

Pat Harty, Iowa City Press-Citizen: Iowa athletic director Gary Barta said building a new indoor practice facility is high on the to-do list, but that plans are still in the preliminary stages.

Tom Luicci, Newark Star-Ledger: Rutgers says 99% of season ticket holders have renewed for 2008.

Mike Knobler, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The NCAA got it right by allowing former Georgia Tech quarterback Taylor Bennett to transfer to Louisiana Tech and be eligible to play immediately.

To bypass registration, go to Bug Me Not.

Spring Report

Oregon State was the last team in the nation to conclude drills on Saturday and the Mike Riley's Beavers appear to have solved one of their issues: finding a replacement for All-American kicker Alexis Serna.

Walk-on Justin Kahut made kicks of 55, 50, 42 and 31 yards. The effort will likely earn Kahut a scholarship in the fall.

The Beavers will need to develop depth along the offensive line.

Here are links to previous spring reports (100 total):

Games of April 26: A total of 12 reports.
April 19: Busiest weekend of the spring, with 47 reports.
April 12: Second-busiest weekend, with 30 reports.
April 5: Seven reports.
March 29: Four reports.

Thanks to Image of Sport.

End of the Sports News as We Know It

Songwriter Ryan Parker tackles the spat between the mainstream media and sports bloggers that once again garnered attention last week. For the uninformed, this latest flareup started when decorated journalist Buzz Bissinger unloaded on Deadspin's Will Leitch during a segment of "Costas Now" on HBO (video link here).

Reporters' Notebooks

Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia, which opens the season with home games against Georgia Southern and Central Michigan, is complaining about the difficulty of its schedule, which includes its first nonconference game (at Arizona State) west of the Central Time Zone since 1960.

Brent Schrotenboer, San Diego Union-Tribune: A judge has ordered a trial date of March 13 for a lawsuit seeking repayment of almost $300,000 in cash, a vehicle and goods a sports marketer said he gave to Reggie Bush and his family while Bush played at USC. Thanks to Mike.

Andrew Carter, Orlando Sentinel: Bobby Bowden doesn't sound like he's ready to retire.

Des Moines Register: Floyd White, an Iowa State graduate assistant, was arrested and charged with drunken driving and criminal trespassing causing damage of over $200.

Scott Dochterman, Cedar Rapids Gazette: Iowa State has been given approval to begin planning a $65 million renovation to Jack Trice Stadium.

Taylor Bell, Chicago Sun-Times: Illinois reportedly has made scholarship offers to more than 150 players. Thanks to Kevin of We Are Penn State.

Alan Schmadtke, Orlando Sentinel: Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus has gained full control of the Butkus Award, given to the nation's top linebacker, from the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando. He will move the awards ceremony to Chicago.

Tom Murphy, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: The NCAA has denied Arkansas' appeal for immediate eligibility for transfer quarterback Ryan Mallett, who left Michigan earlier this year.

Chip Scoggins, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: This hasn't been the smoothest of offseasons in the Big Ten. After a poor bowl showing, the conference has seen change and tumult during spring practices.

Jake Schaller, Colorado Springs Gazette: Air Force senior players have to wait two years before pursuing NFL careers, and it doesn't look like that will change despite the publicity generated by the Detroit Lions' selection of Army defensive back Caleb Campbell in last weekend's NFL draft.

Dave Reardon, Honolulu Star-Bulletin: An email written by written by then-Hawaii athletic director Herman Frazier last December acknowledged a spoken agreement that June Jones would not have to pay a penalty of $400,008 if he left the school before the end of his contract.

Mick McGrane, San Diego Union-Tribune: Redshirt freshman Ryan Lindley has been tabbed the successor to Kevin O'Connell as San Diego State's starting quarterback entering camp in August.

Idaho Statesman: Boise State fans who want to attend the Broncos' game at rival Idaho will also have to buy tickets to the Vandals' game against Idaho State at the Kibbie Dome.

Idaho Statesman: Boise State senior linebacker David Shields, whose career has been hampered by injuries, has a shoulder injury that likely will end his career.

Dick Harmon, Deseret News: The Mountain West and Western Athletic conferences didn't fare well in the NFL draft, with a total of only 14 players selected. USC alone had 10 selections.

Perrilloux Given the Boot for Good by Miles

Ryan Perrilloux's career at Louisiana State has come to an end.

The quarterback was kicked off the team Friday by coach Les Miles, who issued a four-paragraph statement saying the troubled player "was given every opportunity to be part of this football team. In the end, he didn't fulfill his obligation as an LSU student-athlete."

Perrilloux's time at Baton Rouge was marked by a series of incidents that led to runs-ins with police and three suspensions from the team. He missed all of spring drills after a suspension believed to be for missed classes and team meetings.

But he was reinstated and joined his teammates for a trip to the White House, where the Tigers were honored for winning the national championship. The reinstatement came amid reports that Perrilloux had been involved in an incident at a bar-restaurant and that Miles had called the establishment to apologize for his player's behavior.

Perrilloux's departure leaves LSU with Andrew Hatch, a walk-on transfer from Harvard, and Jarrett Lee, a redshirt freshman, as the top quarterbacks.

USC Reloads for Another Run at Title

Our tour of spring drills would not be complete without a stop at the L.A. Coliseum, home of the USC Trojans.

Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, left, had a difficult decision this spring, having to choose between Mark Sanchez or Mitch Mustain as the starting quarterback.

Sanchez eventually won the job, but Mustain, who is eligible after transferring from Arkansas, showed his progress in the April 19 spring game, which drew a crowd of 22,000.
Sanchez, above, completed 16 of 24 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns and Mustain, below, completed six of 10 for 111 yards and two scores.Mustain, who was 8-0 as a freshman starter at Arkansas in 2006, made his intentions clear after the scrimmage. "I didn't come here to be a backup," he said.
Pete Carroll greets fans and signs autographs after the scrimmage.
It's important to keep your eyes on the sidelines at Trojan events.
That's former USC tailback Petros Papadakis making the rounds. Papadakis is host of a local radio show in L.A. and is a color analyst for Pacific 10 Conference games on Fox Sports Net.
Gary Klein of the L.A. Times and Scott Wolf of the L.A. Daily News patrol the sidelines.
Bruce Feldman of ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine talks with Klein during the closing minutes of the scrimmage.

A Shameless Plug for the Radio Show

When the clock strikes the magical hour of midnight in the Pacific Time Zone on Friday, that's your cue to go to the Sports Byline USA Radio Network and click on "Listen Live." The Wiz will be on the air and taking your calls at 800-878-7529.

And be sure to check out Sports Byline's other quality programming, including Ron Barr's show from 7-10 p.m. on Monday-Friday, and the popular Wrestling Observer with Dave Meltzer from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday. All times Pacific.

BCS Evil: Plenty of Blame to Go Around

It turns out the Big Ten and Pacific 10 were not alone in putting a stop to a proposal for a "plus-one" Bowl Championship Series playoff.

A proposal by Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive would have put the top four teams in the BCS standings in a playoff, but the measure never had a chance.

As Chris Dufrense of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "This was as predictable as Duke losing a football game."

Also expressing concern about the proposal were the Big 12, Big East and Notre Dame.

Bottom line: There will be no playoff until 2014 at the earliest.

Conference commissioners say the game has never been better. And really, who can disagree? Consider that two more bowls have been added — the Congressional Bowl in Washington and the St. Petersburg Bowl — bringing the postseason lineup to a whopping 34 games. That means virtually any team that can crank out a 6-6 record will be headed to the postseason. Yes, it's worse than the NHL or NBA playoffs.

What incentive is there for the Big East to support a "plus-one" format? The eight-team league now has seven bowl tie-ins.

Adding the St. Petersburg game also increases ESPN's stock in the postseason. The network now owns, operates and televises six bowls, the others being Las Vegas, Hawaii, Armed Forces, Papajohns.com and New Mexico.

The formula for success is simple: Line up the nonconference schedule with home games against the likes of Tennessee Tech, Maine, Wofford and Villanova, ensuring four victories. Then grind out a 2-6 conference record and presto — you're bowling!

Who says the game has problems?

Reid: Gundy's Tirade Was 'All a Front'

Former Oklahoma State quarterback Bobby Reid has a story to tell. A much different story than the one told by his former coach, Mike Gundy, whose rant directed at Oklahoman reporter Jenni Carlson last September was thought by many to be in defense of Reid.

Reid, who has since transferred to Texas Southern, says Gundy's outburst "basically ended my life."

Thanks to Joel.

Reporters' Notebooks

Doug Segrest, Birmingham News: A judge overturned the $5 million jury verdict awarded to former Alabama booster Ray Keller for defamation and invasion of privacy by the NCAA. Keller was labeled as one of the "rogue boosters" and "parasites" in the NCAA's findings of illegal recruiting by the Crimson Tide program.

Steve Ellis, Tallahassee Democrat: William Floyd, a former Florida State fullback, replaces Peter Tom Willis on Seminole radio broadcasts. The firing of Willis was in part supported by Bobby Bowden, who was upset about some of Willis' comments, especially the one delivered during the 2005 Florida State-Clemson game in which he referred to Jeff Bowden's offense as a "high school offense."

Bill Koch, Cincinnati Enquirer: Quarterback Ben Mauk says his fight to get a sixth year of eligibility is not over. Although the NCAA said no to his request on Wednesday, he will now plead his case to the Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee.

David Ramsey, Colorado Springs Gazette: Is scheduling the Southern Utah Thunderbirds really the best way to build up the Air Force Falcons?

B.G. Brooks, Rocky Mountain News: Colorado State and Colorado finalized plans to move their game to Aug. 31, a Sunday, to accommodate Denver fire and police personnel who could be overextended by the Democratic National Convention, to be held in the city the previous week.

Mick McGrane, San Diego Union-Tribune: Unless San Diego State can accelerate the aging process by a year over the course of the next four months, its offense may find the end zone harder to locate than Waldo in downtown New Delhi.

Paul Buker, Oregonian: Oregon State president Ed Ray told the Beavers to ignore the "knuckleheads" in the media.

Bruins Nation: Why watching a game at the Rose Bowl is one of the most uncomfortable experiences known to man.

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