A Big House Divided

Grand remodeling plans for Michigan Stadium might have to be altered if a group of 33 current and past Michigan faculty members, including former president James Duderstadt, have a say. The 80-year-old facility, arguably the crown jewel of college stadiums, needs a makeover, and officials have proposed adding luxury boxes to pull in additional revenue. Not so fast. "Private luxury boxes would symbolize a dramatic, disturbing and damaging departure from the university's egalitarian values and tradition,'' according to a letter the group sent to the Board of Regents. Such seating would also, "physically divide fans who have always sat and cheered together, elevating a select few above the rest solely by virtue of their wealth.'' Wolverine fan John Pollack has joined the cause by starting the site Save the Big House. Pollack estimates between 1,200 and 1,300 people have signed his on-line petition that calls for enclosed seating to be dropped from the plans.

Reporters' Notebooks

Scott Wolf, L.A. Daily News: Mark Sanchez may have won the battle to replace Matt Leinart as USC's quarterback after it was announced that John David Booty will undergo surgery for a herniated disk in his back.

John Supinie, Peoria Journal Star: Ed Zaunbrecher worked one day of spring practice as quarterbacks coach at Illinois, then quit to take a position at Purdue.

Eric Crawford, Louisville Courier-Journal: A jury ruled in favor of Louisville coach Bobby Petrino in a lawsuit brought against him by a former player.

Doug Lesmerises, Cleveland Plain Dealer: Ohio State, a team regarded among the favorites to win the national title, begins spring drills.

Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech will be switching to FieldTurf as the surface at Jones Stadium, which has had some form of AstroTurf for the last 36 seasons.

Jeff Metcalfe, Arizona Republic: The battle for the quarterback job at Arizona State has the potential to turn ugly.

You Want Crewcut? We Got Crewcut!

Quite an impressive package put together by video guru Nevin (aka Oldie Olderson, according to the Notre Dame blog The Blue-Gray Sky). This is worth checking out, even if you don't give a hoot about the Fighting Irish. We couldn't help but chuckle over comments made by the ESPN "College GameDay" crew — namely Mark May and Lee Corso — in the "Season Highlights" clip. After Crewcut Charlie Weis tells the audience at his introductory press conference that Notre Dame is going to have a "hardworking, intelligent, nasty football team," the video cuts to May and Corso predicting that Crewcut would be lucky to win one of his first six games. And long after it became clear that Crewcut is one helluva coach, May continues to pound away, saying there is no way the Irish will finish 9-2 and earn a berth to a BCS bowl game. Better yet, he predicts that Tennessee will beat Notre Dame. Nevin also helped create Notre Dame's top 10 plays of the 2005 season, also posted on Blue-Gray.

It All Makes (Dollars and) Sense Now

It's called a seismic event in the relationship between college football and television. Orange Bowl officials agreed to NBC's request to have their Jan. 1, 1965 game between Texas and Alabama moved to prime time in exchange for — you guessed it — more money. Television was once a technology feared by college administrators, who expressed concerns that broadcasting games might lead to decreased attendance and a loss of revenue. But those days are a distant memory, and now TV plays the role of dictator. Author Keith Dunnavant chronicles the partnership between college football and TV in his book, "The Fifty Year Seduction: How Television Manipulated College Football, From the Birth of the Modern NCAA to the Creation of the BCS." Dunnavant recently spoke at the University of Michigan, and Wolverine coach Lloyd Carr was among those in attendance.

Reporters' Notebooks

Joseph Person, Columbia State: The owner of a bar has dropped criminal charges against a South Carolina player and a former player, saying he did not want to ruin their futures.

Michael Smith, Louisville Courier-Journal: Louisville coach Bobby Petrino told jurors that he never promised former player Ryan Holifield a scholarship. Holifield is seeking $123,000 in damages, the estimated worth of a four-year scholarship.

Mark Alesia, Indianapolis Star: Athletic departments at taxpayer-funded universities nationwide receive more than $1 billion in student fees and general school funds, according to an analysis by the newspaper.

Jeff Metcalfe, Arizona Republic: Terry Richardson, Arizona State's only experienced receiver, will miss the rest of spring drills because of a violation of team rules.

Ryan Callahan, Tennessean: Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe is putting his stamp on Tennessee's offense in a big way.

Mark Janssen, Manhattan Mercury: Former Kansas State coach Bill Snyder has found that life after football can be hectic (registration).

Curtis Johnson, Huntington Herald-Dispatch: Marshall running back Ahmad Bradshaw, who entered a plea of guilty to misdemeanor petit larceny, will be sentenced on May 15.

Paul Honda, Honolulu Star Bulletin: Three Hawaii prep players who will be seniors in the fall are drawing considerable interest from recruiters.

Reporters' Notebooks

Greg Hansen, Arizona Daily Star: Some longtime Arizona fans are having to spend big bucks to renew their season tickets. Not everybody is happy about it.

Bob Condotta, Seattle Times: Washington coach Tyrone Willingham says he turned down a chance to play a 13th game at Hawaii because "my thought was that we will have a 13th game."

Aaron Fentress, Oregonian: Brady Leaf and Dennis Dixon are in a heated battle for the starting quarterback job at Oregon.

Roman Modrowski, Chicago Sun-Times: Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski is turning pro. He will make his professional boxing debut June 10 in card carried by HBO pay-per-view.

Chad Hartley, Reno Gazette-Journal: The Western Athletic Conference could be adding a third bowl to its lineup if a proposed game in Albuquerque comes to fruition.

Doug Doughty, Roanoke Times: Virginia coach Al Groh has dismissed standout linebacker Ahmad Brooks and two other players from the team.

Mike Knobler, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia Tech begins spring drills with a plethora of issues to address (registration).

Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Florida coach Urban Meyer is coming down hard on his players, saying the "me-first attitude" must go (registration).

Jon Solomon, Birmingham News: Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville anticipates coaches will be able to challenge a call through instant replay when a new rule is finalized.

Joseph Person, Columbia State: Former South Carolina linebacker Dustin Lindsey finally turned himself into police after his alleged involvement in a brawl and said he wants to rejoin the team.

Steve Batterson, Quad City Times: Spring drills at Illinois began without a quarterback on the field who has attempted a pass for the team.

John Shipley, St. Paul Pioneer Press: A series of setbacks has Minnesota down to only two healthy running backs this spring (registration).

Iowa City Press-Citizen: For the second year in a row, Iowa will not have a spring game because of the continuing renovation of Kinnick Stadium.

No Rainbow in the Dark for Longhorns

It seems everybody is a Texas fan these days. Is that rocker Ronnie James Dio flashing the "Hook 'em Horns" sign? Well, we have news for all of you on the Texas bandwagon. The Longhorns might have the longest winning streak in Division IA at 20, but they are not favored to repeat their title feat. In fact, they once again are regarded as second-class citizens to that dreaded rival up Interstate 35. According to lines posted at Betting Express, Texas is 12-1 to win the 2007 BCS title. The favorite? Ohio State at 5-1, followed by Notre Dame and — you guess it — Oklahoma at 6-1. USC is listed at 7-1. If you are into longshots, take a look at Oregon State and Brigham Young at 500-1, or better yet, Nevada Las Vegas at 1000-1.

Reporters' Notebooks

Mary Jane Smetanka and Conrad Defiebre, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Minnesota officials are proposing to swap 2,840 acres of university-owned land for a bigger state contribution for a new stadium (registration).

Tom Mulhern, Wisconsin State Journal: Wisconsin has a reputation for churning out tailbacks, so who might be next in line?

Ryan Finley, Arizona Daily Star: Arizona coach Mike Stoops sees a comparison between his third season and that of basketball coach Lute Olson.

Steven M. Sipple, Lincoln Journal Star: Nebraska quarterback Zac Taylor continued his strong play during a 30-play scrimmage.

Mike Baldwin, Oklahoman: Oklahoma State is going all-out for its spring game, inviting more than 250 former Cowboy players in an event called the "Legends of the Gridiron Weekend." (registration).

Nolan Clay, Oklahoman: Former Oklahoma standout Adrian Cooper, who played six seasons in the NFL, has pleaded guilty to securities fraud and money laundering (registration).

Alan Trubow, Austin American-Statesman: Texas appears to be cashing in on its title. The Longhorns already have 17 commitments for the class of 2007 (registration).

Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Meet Texas Tech defensive end Jake Ratliff, the king of the tattoo.

Natalie Meisler, Denver Post: It's all about improving the defense this spring for Colorado State, still torched by its 51-30 bowl loss to Navy.

Tom Witosky, Des Moines Register: Former Iowa State defensive end Jason Berryman has been ordered by a judge to stay out of bars for the next eight months.

Reporters' Notebooks

Selena Roberts, New York Times: Many observers outside the NFL are asking why the league continues to use the Wonderlic test (registration).

Jeff Darlington, Palm Beach Post: The Miami Dolphins appear to be interested in moving up in the NFL draft to get a shot at former Texas quarterback Vince Young.

Scott Wolf, L.A. Daily News: USC offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin said he was contacted by Miami for a position on the staff but was not interested.

Eric Hansen, South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame coach Crewcut Charlie Weis appears to be yelling less this spring, but he still has a way to get his point across.

Ryan Finley, Arizona Daily Star: Arizona, with 16 returning starters, 11 redshirt freshmen and one junior college transfer among its roster of 75, begins spring drills on Monday.

Kyle Tucker, Virginian-Pilot: Snow and frigid temperatures forced Virginia Tech to practice indoors, but the competition for the quarterback job is starting to heat up.

Ira Schoffel, Jacksonville Times-Union: Florida State's defense, led by a rejuvenated front line, dominated play during a full scrimmage (registration).

Mark Janssen, Manhattan Mercury: Kansas State begins spring drills on Monday, but coach Ron Prince has already been putting his stamp on the team (registration).

Brett McMurphy, Tampa Tribune: Freshman quarterback Matt Grothe is quickly moving up the depth chart at South Florida.

Jeff Metcalfe, Arizona Republic: Mike Nixon traded a four-year pro baseball career that took him as high as triple-A to walk on at Arizona State.

Ron Morris, Columbia State: South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier says he is going to pay more attention to his defense after it collapsed against Missouri.

Shawn Courchesne, Hartford Courant: If Connecticut coach Randy Edsall has any complaints about his team this spring, he isn't sharing them.

Mick McGrane, San Diego Union-Tribune: San Diego State coach Chuck Long is making good on his promise kickstart the running game.

Reporters' Notebooks

Joseph Person, Columbia State: That was quite the fracas at the Pour House early Friday morning. Police have issued a warrant for former South Carolina linebacker Dustin Lindsey for his involvement, and defensive end Shea McKeen has already been arrested.

Ron Higgins, Commercial Appeal: Haven't been keeping up with developments this spring in the Southeastern Conference? Here's a synopsis to get you up to speed (registration).

Jeff Rice, Centre Daily Times: Linebacker Paul Posluszny, who tore two ligaments in his right knee in the Orange Bowl, won't be participating in spring drills.

Jeff Potrykus, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Wisconsin tailback Booker Stanley is likely going to stand trail for allegedly sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend.

John Helsley, Oklahoman: Rough and rugged Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson won't be getting much contact work this spring.

Steven M. Sipple, Lincoln Journal Star: Former Nebraska quarterback Scott Frost has joined the enemy. He will become a graduate assistant at Kansas State.

Chip Towers, Atlanta Journal Constitution: A breakdown of the quarterback race at Georgia after Saturday's two-hour scrimmage (registration).

Chip Alexander, Raleigh News & Observer: North Carolina State is looking for replacements for standout defensive ends Mario Williams and Manny Dawson (registration).

Andy Hamilton, Iowa City Press-Citizen: Former Iowa cornerback Jovon Johnson's name has surfaced in a probe over players who might have received improper benefits from a cellular phone company employee who has since been fired.

Sean Keeler, Des Moines Register: New Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard appears to mean business, but coach Dan McCarney says he is not feeling any heat.

Journalist Now Embedded With the Trojans

USC — to the best of our knowledge — is the first team to print its 2006 poster schedule, and the Trojans have selected "Encore" as their theme. So this kicks off our campaign to get everybody involved. The Wiz would like fans to send images of poster schedules from other teams. The email address is in this link. We promise to proudly display as many as possible. And since we mentioned USC, an interesting story was reported this week. Coach Pete Carroll had a campus tryout earlier this month, and budding journalist Ben Malcolmson decided to take the George Plimpton route and attend the event with the sole intent of chronicling his experience for the Daily Trojan, USC's student newspaper. Twenty-eight students tried out, and two days later Malcolmson learned he was one of only nine to make the team. "I have covered the team for three years," he wrote. "Now I'm part of it."

Reporters' Notebooks

Mike Baldwin, Oklahoman: Four quarterbacks combined to complete 22 of 28 passes for 228 yards in Oklahoma State's first scrimmage (registration).

Zak Brown, Boulder Daily Camera: It's spring break at Colorado, and coach Dan Hawkins plans to spend part of it skydiving (registration).

Jeff Carroll, South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame receiver Jeff Samardzija, who is also a standout pitcher, could be in line for a big-money offer from a major league team.

Paul Finebaum, Mobile Register: After going 26-4 in its past 30 games, Auburn is in position to make a run at a national title.

Bob Holt, Northwest Arkansas Times: Arkansas should not be troubled by a lack of depth in its offensive line this spring.

Tom Mulhern, Wisconsin State Journal: The honeymoon is over for Bret Bielema. Now it's time for the Wisconsin coach to get to work.

Andy Hamilton, Iowa City Press-Citizen: Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has reversed field and says he now supports a rule change that would give coaches the power to challenge an official's call.

Chip Towers, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia will hold its first scrimmage of the spring and it will be a particularly important one for the quarterback candidates (registration).

Nick Jezierny, Idaho Statesman: Idaho and coach Dennis Erickson begin spring drills, and quarterback Steve Wichman is ready for a fresh start.

Chadd Cripe, Idaho Statesman: Boise State's Bryan Harsin is only 29, but he is one of the youngest offensive coordinators in college football.

Matthew Aguilar, El Paso Times: Texas El Paso's defensive line was battered by injuries in 2005, but the Miners' unit could become Conference USA's best unit in 2006.

We Aren't Finished With the Wonderlic Test

It turns out Dusty Dvoracek will have to share 2006 Wonderlic valedictorian honors with Grambling State quarterback Bruce Eugene, right, who also tallied 41 out of a possible 50. This is according to NFL Quarterback Wonderlic Scores, which states that scores cannot be verified. The site is the work of Mac Mirabile, who lists alleged scores of prospects dating to 1970, when Terry Bradshaw is said to have scored 15. As for the 2006 class, USC's Matt Leinart notched 35, Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler had 26, Alabama's Brodie Croyle scored 24 and Georgia's D.J. Shockley had 19. Mirabile also has started a blog. Pro Football Weekly has posted alleged scores for prospects who attended the 2004 and the 2005 NFL combine.

Trojans Suffer Another Loss

There is trouble at USC, where quarterback John David Booty, left, the expected replacement for Matt Leinart, could miss the rest of spring practice. Booty is sidelined because of back spasms and a possible disk problem. If he does not respond to treatment, surgery would be an option and he would probably be out until July. Booty suffered the injury Tuesday during the first practice of the spring and did not attend Thursday's practice. "We need to proceed with caution," offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin said. The next man in is freshman Mark Sanchez, who is regarded by many observers as having more potential than Booty, but Sanchez has yet to grasp the complexities of the offense. Booty's misfortune gives him the hands-on opportunity to learn. "That's exactly what [Booty] would do if our positions were reversed," he said.

Reporters' Notebooks

Andy Hamilton, Iowa City Press-Citizen: At least five Iowa players are at the center of an investigation into allegations they received preferential treatment from a former employee of a cellular phone service who obtained free tickets to the Outback Bowl. Text of decision.

Eric Crawford, Louisville Courier-Journal: Jury selection began for a trial that could change the way recruiting promises are viewed.

Kelly Simmons, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia is the latest school to crack down on partying, telling tailgaters that they won't be allowed on campus before 7 a.m. on game days (registration).

Jon Solomon, Birmingham News: The author of a book that chronicles Alabama football fanaticism is facing a lawsuit over unlawful use of a photo.

Doug Segrest, Birmingham News: Alabama picked it up on offense during the second scrimmage of the spring.

Steve Ellis, Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State quarterback Drew Weatherford was effective but not spectacular during a half-scrimmage.

Paul Buker, Oregonian: Oregon State still has a hangover from its disastrous 2005 finish, when it lost four of its final five games.

Suzanne Halliburton, Austin American-Statesman: NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip will honor national champion Texas by painting his car burnt orange for an April 8 race at Texas Motor Speedway.

Kent Baker, Baltimore Sun: Things are looking up at Navy, where 18 starters and 38 letter-winners return.

Joseph Person, Columbia State: After tipping the scale at 333 pounds following a smorgasbord of Cajun cooking, South Carolina's Stanley Doughty decided to diet.

Joe Macaluso, Baton Rouge Advocate: Renovations to Louisiana State's Tiger Stadium are ahead of schedule and officials say the work should be done by June 28.

Donnie Webb, Syracuse Post-Standard: Wyoming and Syracuse have agreed to a home-and-home series, with the first game to be played Sept. 30 at the Carrier Dome.

The Crap You Have to Go Through

Forget about those NFL dreams. You became a big-time college player because you knew it would be your only chance to gain entrance into the Playboy Mansion, where you could experience that once-in-a-lifetime thrill of meeting a real live bunny. Right? You'd get off on that, just like the Texas Tech bellringer. Well, think again. This is your reality if you are a player at Texas Tech. Wednesday's practice — the first of the spring — was moved to the university's intramural fields, an area rife with rabbits. It wasn't long before the players discovered that the fields were covered with droppings. "I think there was more rabbit poop than anything out there," quarterback Graham Harrell said. "It's what the fields were made of, seemed like."

Reporters' Notebooks

Marlon W. Morgan, Commercial Appeal: Mississippi Madman Ed Orgeron appears to have settled on Brent Schaeffer as his starter, even though the former Tennessee quarterback is still in California (registration).

Suzanne Halliburton, Austin American-Statesman: Vince Young arrived at Texas' pro day in a new Mercedes, then tried to impress the NFL scouts (registration).

Jeff Metcalfe, Arizona Republic: Rudy Burgess is getting work as a cornerback and could become a two-way player for Arizona State.

Mick McGrane, San Diego Union-Tribune: With Tupac's "California Love" blaring from speakers, the Chuck Long Era began at San Diego State.

Todd Henrichs, Lincoln Journal Star: Success has a price at Nebraska, which has decided to hike ticket prices by nearly 7%.

Eric Hansen, South Bend Tribune: Crewcut Charlie Weis continues to raise expectations not only for himself, but for his Notre Dame players.

Steve Warden, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette: Spring might have been in the air, but snow was on the ground outside the Mellencamp Center as Indiana opened drills.

Jerry Hill, Waco Tribune-Herald: The spread offense isn't fooling anybody on the defensive side of the ball for Baylor.

Chip Towers, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Michael Brown, a former lineman at Florida, says he plans to transfer to Georgia (registration).

Mark Anderson, Las Vegas Review-Journal: Former USC players Rocky Hinds and Eric Wright are receiving all the attention at Nevada Las Vegas.

Darnell Dickson, Provo Daily Herald: Brigham Young will have plenty of offense, but it's the defense that is a concern.

Tony Phifer, Coloradoan: The goals haven't changed for Colorado State. The Rams must find a way to stop the run.

Dave Hackenberg, Toledo Blade: The Bruce Gradkowski Era is over at Toledo. Now the Rockets must find a replacement for their departed quarterback.

Jeff Arnold, Ann Arbor News: An inability to close out games doomed Eastern Michigan in 2005, and the Eagles are intent on turning that around this fall.

Graham Couch, Kalamazoo Gazette: Several Western Michigan players will be learning new positions this spring.

Dusty Dvoracek Moves to Head of the Class

The scores from the Wonderlic test administered to prospects at the NFL combine are supposed to be kept under lock and key, but the numbers keep leaking out. As you recall, a perfect score on the test is 50, and the highest score any player posted this year was a 41 by former Oklahoma defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek. If you want to send a congratulatory note to the Sooner bad boy, you can go to what is advertised as his site. Now several prospects besides Texas' Vince Young struggled with the test. Former Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick, for example, scored an 11 (the average score for all the quarterbacks was 24.6). Syracuse defensive end Kader Drame, Alabama linebacker Freddie Roach, Louisville defensive tackle Montavious Stanley, North Carolina State tight end T.J. Williams and Oklahoma cornerback Chijioke Onyenegecha tied for the lowest score at eight. Penn State cornerback Alan Zemaitis had a nine. Young's score is listed at 15, although he did take the test twice and the results of the first effort are not listed (some links require ESPN Insider account).

Reporters' Notebooks

Chip Scoggins, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Minnesota enters spring not knowing if running back Gary Russell of safety Brandon Owens will be with the team in the fall.

Randy King, Roanoke Times: Finding a replacement for quarterback Marcus Vick is only one of the concerns for Virginia Tech.

Susan Miller Degnan and Barry Jackson, Miami Herald: Backup Miami quarterback Kirby Freeman is talking about transferring to Texas (registration).

Bruce Adams, San Francisco Chronicle: California is looking for a quarterback to take charge this spring and end the inconsistent play at the position.

Molly Yanity, Seattle Post-Intelligencer: J.D. Williams, the older brother of former Washington player Curtis Williams, is joining the Husky staff.

Craig Smith, Seattle Times: Washington State opened spring drills with several players watching from the sidelines.

Mick McGrane, San Diego Union-Tribune: Air Craft? Try Ground Chuck. New San Diego State coach Chuck Long wants to run the ball.

Chip Towers, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia got a surprise visit from former quarterback D.J. Shockley during practice (registration).

Chuck Finder, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: West Virginia backup quarterback Adam Bednarik is having pain in his throwing shoulder and might require surgery.

Dave Matter, Columbia Tribune: Missouri's switch to the spread offense in 2005 resulted in more plays, but it didn't always show on the scoreboard.

Steven M. Sipple, Lincoln Journal Star: Is this the year that Nebraska's offense breaks through and puts up big numbers?

Justin Harper, Oklahoman: Oklahoma held its first practice of the spring, and afterward quarterback Rhett Bomar addressed his citation of minor in possession of alcohol (registration).

Alicia McGhee, Ames Tribune: Former Iowa State defensive back Jerry Gair was sentenced to 37 years in prison.

Brian Murphy, Idaho Statesman: Jared Zabransky's job as starting quarterback at Boise State may not be all that secure.

Keith Jackson: 'I Consider Myself Retired'

Legendary sportscaster Keith Jackson is talking retirement again and if he does call it quits, it will be a huge loss to college football fans. Jackson, 77, said he planned to tell executives: "I'm retired. Talk me out of it." Jackson added: "My posture is, I consider myself retired. I can feel the fork. Fifty-three seasons is a long time." He nearly retired in 1998, but was talked out of it by Howard Katz, then the head of ABC Sports. The above image is from ABC media net (registration).

Elliott Cherishes His Second Chance

Had life treated him differently, Bob Elliott could have been the coach at Iowa. Today he is blessed to be alive and eager to begin his first season as defensive coordinator at San Diego State. Elliott, who spent 12 years as an assistant on Hayden Fry's staff at Iowa, was in line to be Fry's successor until he began suffering from polycythemia vera, a cancer condition in which bone marrow becomes hyperactive. Elliott had to leave coaching to battle for his life and Kirk Ferentz took over for Fry. Elliott had a bone marrow transplant in 1999 and after he recovered, landed a job as an assistant at Iowa State before moving to Kansas State (pictured above left). His cancer has been in remission since the transplant with the exception of a brief setback in 2001, and he joined Chuck Long's staff in December. The Aztecs begin spring practice Tuesday.

Reporters' Notebooks

Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times: The 34-game winning streak is over, but talent-rich USC is intent on starting a new one.

Bill Vilona, Pensacola News Journal: Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews was livid with his troops after a 32-play scrimmage that was dominated by the offense.

Susan Miller Degnan, Miami Herald: Former Miami assistant Art Kehoe, who was fired Jan. 2, has filed a civil lawsuit against the university (registration).

Mike Baldwin, Oklahoman: Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy wants to have a starting quarterback in place by the end of spring drills. (registration).

Tom Kubat, Lafayette Journal and Courier: Quarterback coach Blaine Bennett has become the fifth Purdue assistant to leave since the end of the 2005 season.

Eric Hansen, South Bend Tribune: A 9-3 record isn't good enough for Crewcut Charlie Weis. The Notre Dame coach is hungry for more.

Jeff Metcalfe, Arizona Republic: Arizona State quarterback Sam Keller says his right thumb, hurt in an Oct. 8 game, is nearly 100%.

Prince of a Deal

Contract details have been made public for Ron Prince, who was named to replace Bill Snyder as Kansas State's coach. Price's deal calls for an annual salary of $750,000, plus a slew of performance bonuses that could push the deal to $1 million. Prince can add to the deal with money from the annual camp for prospects. The rookie coach also gets two cars, a full membership to the Manhattan Country Club, golfing privileges at Colbert Hills, the use of a suite and 12 tickets to home games and 10 tickets to away games, six men's and women's basketball tickets, and travel expenses for his wife when she accompanies him on team or business trips. Here is the full text of Prince's contract. You can compare it to Snyder's last contract, which was signed in June of 2001. Also, here are the details of contracts signed by Prince's assistants (registration).

The Man in Black Is Back

Racing enthusiast and sometimes Hawaii defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville is back in Honolulu preparing for the start of spring practice on Tuesday, and the veteran coach promises his unit will actually be able to slow an opponent in 2006. Hawaii is coming off a 5-7 season despite an offense that generated the 11th-most yards in Division I, 476.17 a game. Glanville's defense? It gave up 438.42 yards a game — 102nd of 117 teams. "We're all so much better than a year ago," said the colorful Glanville, beginning his second season on the Warrior staff. "We're coming down running. We wanted to get there a year ago, but I think we can now. I can tell already everybody is light years from where we were."

For All the Weight Watchers Out There

Florida State offensive lineman Matt Meinrod had his senior season cut short because of a dislocated ankle and a broken fibula in his left leg, but he appears to be a quick healer. Two videos are circulating showing the 6-foot-4, 317-pound Meinrod displaying not only his strength, but his power of recovery. The first video was allegedly shot four months after the injury and shows Meinrod deadlifting what is said to be 700 pounds three times. The second shows "Monster" Matt deadlifting what is said to be 765 pounds in late February. The Monster, a three-year starter, filed an appeal for a sixth year of eligibility after his latest setback, but the NCAA turned him down. He is one of the more intriguing prospects in the April 29-30 draft, but ever-critical NFL scouts are focusing on a series of injuries that limited the Monster to only 19 starts.

Reporters' Notebooks

Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech returns 15 of 22 starters, but for the first time in fives seasons it will be without a senior quarterback.

Steven M. Sipple, Lincoln Journal Star: A lack of confidence is not a problem in Lincoln after Nebraska closed 2005 with three consecutive victories.

Kyle Ringo, Boulder Daily Camera: Punishing tailback Mell Holliday, the father of five children, is moving up the depth chart at Colorado (registration).

Eric Hansen, South Bend Tribune: Standout Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski scored a victory last week in a charity boxing match.

Jeff Metcalfe, Arizona Republic: Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter added a wealth of experience to his staff in the offseason.

Evan Woodbery and Paul Finebaum, Mobile Register: Auburn's spring game was a snoozer with only one touchdown being scored, but the Tigers will win 11 games in 2006.

Joseph Person, Columbia State: South Carolina needs offensive line help after its lost three senior starters. Reinforcements do not arrive until summer.

Bob Thomas, Florida Times-Union: Quarterback Drew Weatherford was impressive in the first scrimmage of the spring for Florida State (registration).

Paul Zeise, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt, coming off a disappointing 5-6 season, says every position is up for grabs.

Reporters' Notebooks

Brent Schrotenboer, San Diego Union-Tribune: San Diego State is expected to lose four scholarships because of poor academic performance.

Suzanne Halliburton, Austin American-Statesman: Texas is spending the maximum allowed by NCAA rules for its championship rings (registration).

John Heuser, Ann Arbor News: Michigan's Antonio Bass suffered a knee injury during a conditioning drill and will miss spring practice.

Jeff Metcalfe, Arizona Republic: Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter and assistant Darryl Jackson paid a visit to injured recruit Angelo Richardson.

Chadd Cripe, Idaho Statesman: Boise State is looking for bigger and better things from sophomore tailback Ian Johnson.

Otis Kirk, Northwest Arkansas Times: Arkansas wants to add some offensive firepower when the 2007 signing day rolls around.

Reporters' Notebooks

Mike Knobler, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey's new five-year contract includes a $5,000 bonus for each of his assistants for every victory over Georgia (registration).

Ed McGranahan, Greenville News: Clemson boosted ticket prices by an average of $5.50 a game, with a seven-game home package now costing an average of $299.

Joseph Person, Columbia State: South Carolina was given approval to raise tickets prices by an average of $10 a game, boosting the average price for a ticket to $40 a game.

Suzanne Halliburton, Austin American-Statesman: Vince Young is the latest former college player to cash in on the autograph circuit (registration).

Eric Swedlund and Ryan Finley, Arizona Daily Star: Arizona will lose four scholarships because of poor academic performance.

Brian Dohn, L.A. Daily News: UCLA got an oral commitment from a standout running back for its class of 2007.

Ryan Callahan, Tennessean: Tennessee receivers are paying the penalty for dropped passes this spring. Every drop earns a round of sprints after practice.

Reporters' Notebooks

Eric Hansen, South Bend Tribune: The Cotton Bowl was added to Notre Dame's postseason possibilities to go along with the Gator, Sun and Houston bowls and bowl championship series games.

John Heuser, Ann Arbor News: An image of Michigan quarterback Chad Henne was used in an ad for FieldTurf and the agency responsible has apologized.

Jeff Metcalfe, Arizona Republic: Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter and receivers coach Darryl Jackson will visit injured recruit Angelo Richardson on Thursday.

Jim Moore, Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Hotshot Washington recruit Jake Locker appears to have no desire to give up a potential career in baseball.

William Kalec, Times-Picayune: Talk of Louisiana State running back Alley Broussard leaving the team appears to be unfounded.

Evan Woodbery, Mobile Register: With an abundance of talent at defensive end, Auburn's Alonzo Horton is moving to strong-side linebacker.

Dan Collins, Winston-Salem Journal: Wake Forest will start spring drills trying to dig its way out of a cycle of three consecutive losing seasons (registration).

Ryan Thorburn, Daily Camera: Joel Klatt is gone, but don't expect any quick decisions when it comes to replacing the Colorado quarterback (registration).

Steve Ellis, Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State coach Bobby Bowden knows what his team needs, and he is hoping linebacker Buster Davis can provide it.

Tom Osborne, Member of the Prohibition Party

First they take away the commercials. Then they take away the booze. Next thing you know, they will want our guns! A big push is about to start to ban beer advertising during NCAA-sanctioned events, and the pointman is former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne. He's now a Republican congressman in — you guessed it — Nebraska! He has introduced legislation to ban the ads, and he is going to make his biggest push Wednesday, on the eve of the NCAA basketball tournament, which will have an intoxicating number of advertisments for adult beverages. Osborne has clout behind him, with former North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith, the American Medical Association, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (certainly not in the Wizard's interest) and more than 180 national, state and local organizations, just to name a few. The idea here is that banning beer ads will stop people from drinking or even thinking about beer. Fat chance, we say. In fact, we'd be willing to bet a beer on it! And don't even begin to calculate what a huge blow this would be to college athletics, which get the trickle-down profits from beer advertising. (some registration)

Reporters' Notebooks

Vincent Bonsignore, L.A. Daily News: UCLA defensive end Bruce Davis was having a stellar spring, then he suffered a left knee injury during the second-to-last spring practice.

B.G. Brooks, Rocky Mountain News: It's clear that after only one day of spring practice at Colorado that new coach Dan Hawkins likes to keep everyone involved.

Dave Curtis, Orlando Sentinel: Florida coach Urban Meyer says he will not suspend three players for their roles in a gun incident last month.

Otis Kirk, Northwest Arkansas Times: Expect college coaches to be making several visits to Arkansas this fall. The state is brimming with prep talent.

Christopher Walsh, Tuscaloosa Times: Alabama may have an emerging star in running back Jimmy Johns (registration).

Tim Doherty, Clarion Ledger: Southern Mississippi middle linebacker Marcus Raines, who spent time in prison before joining the team, is making a favorable impression.

Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Lorenzo Booker hasn't lived up to the billing, but the Florida State running back says he will be a difference-maker in 2006 (registration).

Joseph Person, Columbia State: With rain in the forecast, Steve Spurrier called an audible and ordered spring practice to start a day early. Also, a feature on running back Cory Boyd and five Gamecocks to watch this spring.

Will Vandervolt, Columbia State: Clemson coach Tommy Bowden, father of Lauren Bowden, says defense will determine how successful the Tigers can be in 2006.

Chadd Cripe, Idaho Statesman: Family came first for Sean Kugler, who left his job as an assistant with the Detroit Lions to join the staff at Boise State.

Stephen Tsai, Honolulu Advertiser: Hawaii got good news when defensive end Melila Purcell III learned he met academic requirements to play as a fifth-year senior.

David White, Fresno Bee: Tom Brandstater, Sean Norton or Ryan Colburn. Those are your candidates to become Fresno State's starting quarterback.

Reporters' Notebooks

Steve Ellis, Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State opened spring drills with the emphasis on developing the running game.

Dave Reardon, Honolulu Star-Bulletin: Hawaii will be without two defensive backs this spring. They are out because of academics.

Bill Bumgarner, Times-Picayune: Louisiana State has added a cornerback and defensive tackle to its class of 2007.

Lafayette Journal and Courier: Purdue has lost another assistant. Running backs coach David Mitchell is leaving the program.

Chadd Cripe, Idaho Statesman: Boise State's spring drills will be a get-to-know-you session for the new coaching staff.

Brent Schrotenboer, San Diego Union-Tribune: San Diego tight ends coach Toby Neinas is defending his qualifications for the job.

When Work Becomes Home

It's often difficult to keep from bringing work home, but when home is work, where do you draw the line? Such is the problem at San Diego State, where several members of the new coaching staff of Chuck Long are finding it difficult to locate affordable housing in pricey San Diego. The solution? Sleep at the office. Said tight end coach Toby Neinas, who left Temple to come to San Diego for the $108,000-a-year gig: "I still own a house in (Philadelphia). I can't afford to have a mortgage and pay rent. I can't do both." Only one problem with this: it runs afoul of the state fire marshal and the university's written building policy. And one can't point the finger at the university. It spent big bucks on Long's staff, making it No. 1 among the seven public schools in the Mountain West Conference in salaries for its nine full-time assistants.

Reporters' Notebooks

William Kalec, Times-Picayune: Louisiana State running back Alley Broussard is far from a full recovery eight months after having surgery on his right knee.

Bradley Olson and Andrea F. Siegel, Baltimore Sun: The rape case against Lamar Owens has focused attention on drinking by Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy (registration).

Tom Kubat, Lafayette Journal and Courier: Former Purdue safety Bernard Pollard was not allowed to participate in on-campus workouts for NFL scouts after having a falling out with coach Joe Tiller.

Ryan Thorburn, Boulder Daily Camera: There is much work to do for new Colorado coach Dan Hawkins, including erasing the memory of that 70-7 loss to Texas. Plus five keys to the Buffs' spring (registration).

Dave Matter, Columbia Tribune: Missouri learned that it has an abundance of depth at safety after an injury to William Moore in the Independence Bowl.

Steven M. Sipple, Lincoln Journal Star: Marlon Lucky will get the first shot at replacing the productive Cory Ross as Nebraska's I-back.

The 75 Big Games of 2006

There were plenty of memorable games in 2005, but the USC-Notre Dame game arguably topped them all. Just take a look at this video. But as our attention turns to 2006, the conditions appear ripe for even more classics. College Football News has an early look, rating the 75 biggest games of 2006. As a teaser, the rematch between the Fighting Irish and the Trojans ranks No. 2. And if you really want to be in the know, surf over to the fine MDG blog. Talk about an offseason workout. He has been doing an incredible job of posting schedules for the heavy hitters, with predicted wins and losses. Here are hotlinks to his schedule postings to date: Atlantic Coast; Big East; Conference USA; Independents; Pacific 10 and Southeastern.

Reporters' Notebooks

Ryan Callahan, Tennessean: Tennessee's inexperience on both lines was evident during a two-hour scrimmage. "Really, the best thing we did was protect the punter," Coach Phillip Fulmer said.

Jessie Patterson, Tuscaloosa News: It's beginning to look like Alabama is going to miss Brodie Croyle. The candidates to replace the quarterback continue to struggle (registration).

Collin Mickle, Opelika-Auburn News: Auburn's pass rush was described as "seemingly unblockable" during the Tigers' second scrimmage of the spring.

Lonnie White, Los Angeles Times: UCLA sophomore quarterback Ben Olson struggled early but finished strong during a 90-minute scrimmage.

Will Vandervort, Columbia State: Clemson freshman receiver Jacoby Ford, who enrolled in January, made a big impression in the Tigers' first scrimmage of the spring.

John Sutter, Oklahoman: Oklahoma quarterback Rhett Bomar was arrested and charged with minor in possession of alcohol while attending a Hornets' game (registration).

NCAA 's Tax Exemption Being Questioned?

Those executives pulling down the big money at NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis might soon be earning their pay. The governing body's tax-exempt status reportedly is being called into question. Former Michigan president James Duderstadt said he was interviewed for an hour by a staff member of a U.S. House of Representatives committee regarding possible misuse of the tax-exempt status of college sports by the NCAA and others. The Chronicle of Higher Education reported that two other "college officials," both anonymous, said they had talked to the committee about the same issue. The House Ways and Means Committee has been looking into all nonprofit organizations on issues such as compensation.

Reporters' Notebooks

Dave Matter, Columbia Tribune: The search to find a replacement for quarterback Brad Smith has started as Missouri held its first practice of the spring.

Will Vandervort, Columbia State: How much progress has Clemson made this spring? Coach Tommy Bowden, father of Lauren Bowden, should know more after a scrimmage on Saturday.

Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times: Linda Will, the mother of late Northwestern safety Rashidi Wheeler, was awarded an estimated $10.7 million to end a wrongful-death lawsuit.

Stephen Tsai, Honolulu Advertiser: Mikhail Kafentzis, a freshman running back at Hawaii, is transferring, probably to Portland State.

Dave Reardon, Honolulu Star-Bulletin: Would you move from Honolulu to Boise? Keith Bhonapha, a graduate assistant at Hawaii, is doing just that.

Josh Nelson, Ames Tribune: Iowa State running back Greg Coleman was reinstated to the team after assault charges against him were dropped.

Trying Times for Oklahoma State Fans

This takes balls. Big brass balls. Oklahoma State, which received a "gift" of $165 million from Boone Pickens on Dec. 30, has announced a plan to raise its athletic operation budget by at least $3 million. And who should pay for this? Not Pickens. Rather, rank-and-file Cowboy fans have been asked to pony up. The cornerstone of the plan is a 27% increase in football season tickets along with a demand for more donations. All this after a forgettable 4-7 season. "No one is doing this to take advantage of people," said Burns Hargis, chairman of the Board of Regents. Yea, right. What about those 410 homes north of campus that the university plans to take through eminent domain so it can build an athletic village? (some registration)

The Weight Is Nearly Over for Davis

Former USC tailback Anthony Davis says he is prepared for his gastric bypass surgery on Saturday, a procedure that will be cybercast by Lite and Hope. Davis, a College Football Hall of Famer who is 5-foot-9, was the picture of health at USC, playing at 175 pounds. But the 53-year-old has ballooned to over 300 pounds the past 10 years and has developed obesity-related health problems. The surgery, which will begin at 10:30 a.m. EST and last about 90 minutes, will be narrated by singer Carnie Wilson, whose own bypass procedure in 1999 was the first to be cybercast. Davis said he started to consider the procedure after the 2004 death of NFL Hall of Famer Reggie White at age 43. "That was a serious wake-up call for me," he said. The former Trojan, runner-up to Ohio State's Archie Griffin in the 1974 Heisman voting, estimates it will take two years to reach his target weight of 185. Davis is best remembered for his spectacular games against Notre Dame and unique end zone celebration.

Reporters' Notebooks

Jeff Metcalfe, Arizona Republic: Receiver Angelo Richardson, one of Arizona State's top recruits, is in the intensive care unit of an Oakland hospital recovering from wounds suffered in a shooting.

Patrick Obley, Columbia State: Negotiations continue over the move of Clemson's road game at Temple to Charlotte for a Thursday night in October.

Rich Hammond, L.A. Daily News: Chris Horton, a free safety his first three seasons, appears to have secured a starting job as UCLA's strong safety.

Joseph Person, Columbia State: Clarence Bailey, a junior college offensive tackle expected to contend for a starting spot, won't be allowed to enroll at South Carolina until summer.

Ron Agostini, Modesto Bee: California coach Jeff Tedford has one thing on his mind: overtaking powerhouse USC in the Pacific 10.

Bradley Olson, Baltimore Sun: Testimony was halted in the pretrail hearing of Lamar Owens when it was revealed the Navy quarterback had violated an order to stay 100 feet from his accuser.

Pete Bosak, Centre Daily Times: A judge ruled that former Penn State player Scott Paxson could stand trial on charges that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2004.

Iliana Limon, Albuquerque Tribune: New Mexico safety Aleem Harris, facing four felony counts, is unlikely to return to the team.

Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting

We know, it's difficult to recognize him in this condition, but yes, that is Mason Bentley, the son of former Athens mayor Upshaw Bentley. Bentley, 49, suffered a broken nose and a punctured and collapsed lung in a fight Saturday with neighbor Donald Leeburn Jr., 68, a member of the Board of Regents and prominent Georgia athletics booster. The two men got into it after their dogs began barking at each other, an altercation that was witnessed by Georgia gymnastics coach Suzanne Yoculan, who was accompanying Leeburn on a walk through the exclusive neighborhood. Police don't expect to file charges, but deputies who responded noticed the smell of alcohol on Bentley and suspected he had been drinking. Of note here is that Leeburn is chairman of Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee Crown Distributing, a big-time liquor distributor (some registration).

Only the Strong Survive

Ohio State will be at or near the top of the 2006 preseason polls, but right now is not a fun time to be a member of the team. There are windsprints, drills where a player must carry a teammate 50 yards on their back, and the dreaded wheelbarrow drill. Even the speedy Ted Ginn, running for glory against rival Michigan, is not exempt. And these winter workouts start at 6 a.m. Said linebacker John Kerr: "All this is a gut-check, that's it. They want to see who's going to be able to go through pain and still perform at a high level." (some registration).

Get the Wiz by Email and Other Tech Notes

Too lazy to visit the site each day? We know how you feel. So to make your life easier, we are trying a new feature called FeedBlitz. Any word containing blitz can't be all bad, can it? ... This is a service that allows you to get one email a day that contains all of our updates posted in the previous 24 hours. A sign-up box for this service is located at the bottom of the second column. This is all free and email addresses are not shared or sold. If you want to know more, click on FeedBlitz and it will take you to the site. You can also read this blog and any other blog or site that uses RSS (Real Simple Syndication) through Bloglines, which makes use of RSS through your browser. We have a label near the bottom of the second column for Bloglines as well. Again, it's free, seamless, painless and highly recommended. You've probably noticed that we've started hosting advertising on the site. The Wiz encourages all to pay a visit to those who help sponsor the site because, well, it helps keeps the creditors off our back. And last, we welcome any comments, criticism or tips you would like to pass along. Go to View My Complete Profile, click on email and fire away.

Reporters' Notebooks

Randy Kindred, Bloomington Pantagraph: Trouble at Illinois, where coach Ron Zook dismissed one player and suspended four others, including starting quarterback Tim Brasic.

Jeff Metcalfe, Arizona Republic: Arizona State's Dirk Koetter is set for a boost in salary to $980,000, making him the fourth-highest paid coach in the Pac-10.

Suzanne Halliburton, Austin American-Statesman: Texas held its final spring practice until March 20, and coach Mack Brown is pleased with the play of the candidates to replace Vince Young (registration).

Susan Field, Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun: Two former Central Michigan players have pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter and a third man pleaded guilty to the same charge for their roles in the beating death of a man outside a bar.

Bradley Olson, Baltimore Sun: Navy quarterback Lamar Owens, in a conversation taped by an investigator, tearfully apologized to a fellow midshipman he is accused of raping.

Lance Pugmire and Michelle Keller, Los Angeles Times: Former Iowa receiver Ivory Webb, the San Bernardino sheriff's deputy accused of attempted voluntary manslaughter, entered a not-guilty plea.

Chang Is Thrown Into the Rhein Fire

Timmy Chang, the NCAA career passing yardage record-holder, hasn't given up his dream of playing in the NFL. The former Hawaii quarterback, who was signed by the Arizona Cardinals in 2005 but was cut in training camp and played in the exhibition season for the Detroit Lions before failing to make the final roster, is in Florida working out with the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe. He was sent to the Fire by the Philadelphia Eagles, the team that currently own his rights. His main competition for the starting job is former Michigan quarterback Drew Henson, who is property of the Dallas Cowboys.

Reporters' Notebooks

Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times: Former Iowa receiver Ivory Webb, now a sheriff's deputy in San Bernardino County, was charged with attempted voluntary manslaughter. Link contains path to video of shooting (on right-hand side).

Dave Curtis, South Florida Sun-Sentinel: Florida football signee Percy Harvin has been banned by Virginia officials from further competition in high school because of unsportsmanlike conduct.

Phillip Marshall, Huntsville Times: Auburn defensive tackle Pat Sims, who quit the team last fall, is making the most of his second chance.

Jerry Hill, Waco Tribune-Herald: Linebackers coach Gary Joe Kinne, who has recovered from a gunshot wound received last April, is quickly fitting in at Baylor.

Robbie Neiswanger, Clarion Ledger: Corey Actis, an offensive lineman, became at least the fifth member of Mississippi's football team to be arrested since January.

Bob Wieneke, South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame coach Crewcut Charlie Weis got a non-binding commitment from a Chicago-area linebacker.

Marla Ridenour, Akron Beacon Journal: Former Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk is now engaged to Laura Quinn, sister of Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn.

Eugene Scott, Arizona Republic: Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter is named in a lawsuit brought by the father of Brandon Falkner, the former Sun Devil player who was killed by teammate Loren Wade.

$870,000-Plus Reasons to Run the NCAA

Turns out universities are not alone in cashing in on "student-athletes." NCAA president Myles Brand pulled in a whopping $870,000-plus in compensation in 2004-05. Brand's compensation is more than every public university president, according to figures published in November by The Chronicle of Higher Education. And who says priorities on academics and athletics are out of order? Only seven private school presidents make more than Brand, who must love to look at that tasteful painting, courtesy of Indiana University, where he used to be president. Brand is not alone in counting his mounds of cash. At least eight other honchos at NCAA headquarters are pulling in more than a quarter-million a year. Seriously, how many vice presidents do you really need? It's doubtful Indianapolis has enough country clubs to keep this group happy. Although "student-athletes" might be getting a free education, we've all learned one lesson today: Greed.