Reporters' Notebooks

David Moore, Dallas Morning News: Texas Christian defensive end Tommy Blake is damaging his NFL earnings potential with his second leave of absence from the team. Why is he gone? An incident with coach Gary Patterson is thought to have sparked his departure.

Rick Cleveland, Clarion-Ledger: Southern Mississippi, a model of winning consistency for the last 13 years under coach Jeff Bower, suddenly finds itself in crisis mode after a 31-29 loss to Rice.

Bryan Mullen, Tennessean: Is Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer in trouble? Fans are turning up the heat on athletic director Mike Hamilton to take a hard look at the program.

Eric Lacy, Detroit News: Five of the most intriguing celebrities known to appear at games or practices of college football teams.

Kate Hairopoulos, Dallas Morning News: The bottom six teams in graduating football players: San Jose State, Arizona, Georgia, Texas, Michigan State and Oklahoma. Link to the NCAA's data.

Ray Melick, Birmingham News: Attention Dennis Franchione: When boosters are the source of a leak, it's time to bail.

Paul Finebaum, Mobile Press-Register: Who might eventually replace Franchione at Texas A&M? Don't be surprised to see Auburn's Tommy Tuberville in the mix.

Mel Bracht, Oklahoman: Texas and Oklahoma. It brings back painful memories for ABC sideline reporter Bonnie Bernstein, who suffered a pulmonary embolism after last year's game.

Brandon Scheller, Daily Evergreen: It's beginning to feel like the end for Washington State coach Bill Doba.

The Los Ogle: Lookie here! Oklahoman sportswriter Jenni Carlson has a MySpace page. Thanks to the BCS Guru.

Walt Moody, Centre Daily Times: It is difficult not to apply “living in denial” to the Penn State program.

Wendell Barnhouse, Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Meet Ray Parker, one of the most powerful men in college football. Ray Parker? He is one of the Big 12 Conference's television liaisons.

Scott Cacciola, Commercial Appeal: Mississippi Madman Ed Orgeron's team can't finish. His 1-4 squad has been outscored, 55-13, in the fourth quarter.

Bob Thomas, Florida Times-Union: It's time to interrogate Doug Rhoads, the first-year Atlantic Coast Conference coordinator of football officials.

Jon Wilner, San Jose Mercury News: If Louisiana State loses to Florida, there is a good chance USC and California could be ranked No. 1 and 2 when the teams play on Nov. 10.

Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times: Tailback C.J. Gable, who started the season opener for USC, will have surgery for a hernia and plans to petition for a medical redshirt.

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