Reporters' Notebooks

Scott Wolf, L.A. Daily News: There appears to be growing tension between USC's compliance office and the football team over recruiting trips to Papadakis Taverna.

Brian Murphy, Idaho Statesman: On the same day his highlight DVD was mailed to Heisman voters, Boise State tailback Ian Johnson spent his fifth consecutive night in a San Jose hospital.

Jodi Upton and Steve Wieberg, USA Today: At least 42 of the 119 Division I-A coaches are earning $1 million or more this season, up from five in 1999.

Mark Alesia, Indianapolis Star: NCAA president Myles Brand is playing defense. He's defending the governing body's tax-exempt status.

Paul Strelow, Columbia State: South Carolina returns to Clemson for the first time since the brawl of 2004, and Tiger coach Tommy Bowden wants precautions in place to prevent another incident.

Steve Ellis, Tallahassee Democrat: Outgoing Florida State offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden has a severance deal worth $537,000. Plus a commentary at FSU It's Time.

Marcus Nelson, Palm Beach Post: Don Strock, the only coach in Florida International's history, is stepping down at season's end.

Allison M. Heinrichs, Tribune-Review: Thursday night is the Backyard Brawl between West Virginia and Pittsburgh. Is a ticket to the game also a ticket to misbehave?

Peter Hockaday, Casper Star Tribune: Wyoming will stay at a casino-hotel the night before playing at Nevada Las Vegas, but don't expect the players to be spending time at the slot machines.

Brandon Zimmerman, Gainesville Sun: Firing your coach doesn't have to take place after the season. Just look at Florida, which fired Ron Zook in midseason and got an early start in pursuing Urban Meyer.

Associated Press: Jim Kleinpeter of the Times-Picayune has been removed as a voter in the AP poll because he mistakenly thought Oklahoma had lost to Texas Tech.