Reporters' Notebooks

Eric Prisbell, Washington Post: The New York attorney general's office is investigating whether 40 college athletic programs steered athletes to a student loan lender in return for perks and other financial incentives. Among the schools subpoenaed: Auburn, Georgia Tech, Marquette, Oregon State, Rutgers, Texas Christian, UCLA, Kansas, Virginia Tech, Louisville, Oregon, Pittsburgh and South Florida. The press release and a complete list of schools.

Scott Wright, Oklahoman: Former Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer will change his name to "Barry Switcher" for a day if 2,500 cell-phone users switch to Alltel from another provider this month. Check out Switcher, er Switzer, with Mack Brown.

Brett McMurphy, Tampa Tribune: A huge run on tickets to South Florida's game against West Virginia has prompted officials to open the upper deck of Raymond James Stadium for only the fourth time for a Bulls' home game.

Bernard Fernandez, Philadelphia News: April 12, 1861 marked the first engagement in the Civil War. A little more than 146 years later, talk of secession again could lead to a divide between North (Big Ten, Pac-10) and South (everybody else).

Chip Scoggins, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Just because there is a new NCAA rule outlawing text messaging doesn't mean coaches won't be electronically plugged into a recruit. There is something called email.

Baton Rouge Advocate: Many new rules at Louisiana State's Tiger Stadium, including a ban on smoking.

Scott Caccila, Commercial Appeal: An attorney for Mississippi recruit Jerrell Powe is threatening to take the NCAA to federal court if the governing body denies academic clearance to his client.

Kyle Hightower, Orlando Sentinel: Central Florida's new 45,000-seat on-campus stadium is already drawing rave reviews from Conference USA brethren. Now the Knights want to become the first league team to break into the Bowl Championship Series.

Dick Harmon, Desert News: Brigham Young's Bronco Mendenhall had his contract extended through the 2011 season.

Here is today's mystery link.