Reporters' Notebooks

Natalie Meisler and Terry Frel, Denver Post: Sonny Lubick is out as Colorado State's coach. A news conference — nothing more than a spin job — will be held Tuesday announcing that Lubick, 70, will become senior associate athletic director.

Scott Cacciola, Memphis Commercial Appeal: Houston Nutt was a busy man on Monday. He "resigned" as Arkansas coach between negotiating terms of a possible deal to become Mississippi coach.

Dwain Price, Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Houston's Art Briles will interview Tuesday for the Baylor job.

Chadd Cripe, Idaho Statesman: Boise State's Chris Petersen, whose name has been mentioned with nearly every opening, does not sound like a man looking for a new gig: "This is a great place. I'm completely happy here. I'm not even kind of looking to go anywhere else, and I hope I can stay a long time."

Terry Hutchens, Indianapolis Star: Bill Lynch, who took over Indiana on an interim basis after the death of Terry Hoeppner, was given a four-year contract.

John Mullin, Chicago Tribune: Joe Novak has stepped down as coach at Northern Illinois. Among the expected candidates: Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Haywood, Illinois offensive coordinator Mike Locksley and former Cincinnati coach Rick Minter.

Donnie Webb, Syracuse Post-Standard: Syracuse is unlikely to fire Greg Robinson because of a costly buyout — around $3 million.

Bob Condotta, Seattle Times: Washington athletic director Todd Turner, when asked whether there was any doubt that Tyrone Willingham would return next season: "Not in my mind."

Jim Moore, Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Bill Doba made it easy for Washington State athletic director Jim Sterk to decide to go in another direction.

Chip Brown, Dallas Morning News: Advice for new Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman: Start owning recruiting in the Houston area and the Golden Triangle encompassing Beaumont, Port Arthur and Orange. That's where some of A&M's best players have come from.

Tom Kirkendall: The hiring of Sherman at seven years for $1.8 million per year is a good hire, especially considering how A&M badly overpaid for Dennis Franchione.

Andy Staples, Tampa Tribune: Might Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley be standing in the way of a Florida-Illinois bowl matchup because he wouldn't want the Gators to face the coach — Ron Zook — he fired three years ago?

Cecil Hurt, Tuscaloosa News: It wasn't the 6-6 record that was surprising, really. It was the way Alabama arrived at the .500 mark.

Mike Baldwin, Oklahoman: Oklahoma State most likely will play in the Insight Bowl after Alamo Bowl officials narrowed their Big 12 choices to Texas A&M and Texas Tech.

Brett McMurphy, Tampa Tribune: The Sun Bowl voted to extend an invitation to South Florida. A team from the Pacific 10 will be the opponent.

Rick Scoppe, Greenville News: South Carolina could get an invitation to the Music City Bowl, where its opponent could be Florida State.

Jake Schaller, Colorado Springs Gazette: Air Force has accepted a bid to play in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.

Jeff Wilson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Texas Christian is expected to play in the Texas Bowl, where it would take on the hometown Houston Cougars.

Ryan Autullo, Toledo Blade: Bowling Green is expected to get an invitation to the GMAC Bowl.

Dave Curtis, Orlando Sentinel: A complete list of bowl projections.

Mark Purdy, San Jose Mercury News: Veteran Stanford announcer Bob Murphy is calling his last game on Saturday — the Big Game against California.

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