Reporters' Notebooks

Jerry Hill, Waco Tribune: Interesting story ... G.J. Kinne, a top-flight prep quarterback, says he will attend Baylor. His dad, Gary Joe Kinne, was hired as the Bears' linebackers coach in January. Gary Joe, you may recall, was the Texas prep coach who was shot in the abdomen by the parent of a player and lost 80% of his liver.

Anthony Hanshew, Huntington Herald-Dispatch: You wouldn't think of Marshall and Kansas State as rivals, but the short series has produced several memorable moments.

Donnie Webb, Syracuse Post-Standard: It's bleak. It's very, very bleak. If you believe the preseason magazines, Syracuse already has reservations in the Big East basement.

Dave Hickman, Charleston Gazette: Former Miami linebacker Willie Williams to West Virginia? Coach Rich Rodriguez says he called, but the Mountaineers told him, "Thanks, but no thanks."

Jim Young, Greensboro News-Record: Coaches are flocking to North Carolina, where there appears to be a bumper crop of prep talent.

Andy Staples, Tampa Tribune: Continuing the fine Gators at 100 series. A look at Florida's 1993-96 teams, which had a combined record of 45-6-1 and won a national title.

Dave Curtis, Orlando Sentinel: We're not done with the Gators. Coach Urban Meyer is fawning about his trip to watch a New England Patriot minicamp practice.

Ryan Wood, Lawrence Journal-World: If you take Kansas defensive coordinator Bill Young at his word, he has a budding star in lineman Rodney Allen.

Dave Matter, Columbia Tribune: Insurgents continue to pour across borders into Missouri. Iowa is the latest to swoop in and steal a top-flight recruit.

Mitch Sherman, Omaha World-Herald: A look at the strategy used by new Nebraska recruiting coordinator Shawn Watson. And the Cornhuskers are not shy about taking on Texas.

John Maffei, North County Times: San Diego State opens the season on Aug. 31, but unless something changes, that game and most of the rest of the Aztec season won't be on local television.

Mark Anderson, Las Vegas Review-Journal: The so-called experts say that Nevada Las Vegas coach Mike Sanford is beginning to turn around the program.

Phillip Marshall, Huntsville Times: James Gundlach, the Auburn professor who accused a colleague of academic misconduct, says he will no longer cooperate with a committee that will investigate the allegations.

Ron Higgins, Commercial Appeal: Louisiana State coach Les Miles has plenty to say about the state of the Southeastern Conference during a Q&A.