Reporters' Notebooks

Craig Smith, Seattle Times: Washington State safety Xavier Hicks has been charged with felony second-degree assault. He is accused of putting rubbing alcohol in his roommate's contact-lens case after a dispute about household expenses.

Mary Hayes Weier, Information Week: A team of researchers at Mercer University's Stetson School of Business and Economics has put together statistical software to predict college football recruits' choices. It claims an accuracy rate of 73%. Thanks to Gutty Little Bruins.

Stephen Tsai, Honolulu Advertiser: Tyler Graunke, who was expected to enter spring practice as the Hawaii's No. 1 quarterback, has been suspended for breaking team-related rules.

Scott Dochterman, Cedar Rapids Gazette: Iowa State's athletics department expenses exceeded its revenues by more than $9.4 million during the 2007 fiscal year, according to figures obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

Dave Hickman, Charleston Gazette: West Virginia's Bill Stewart has booted linebacker John Holmes, defensive end James Ingram and running back Ed Collington after the three were arrested on felony drug charges.

Howard Richman, Kansas City Star: This one caught our eye. Kansas State is bringing in 19 — that's right, 19 — junior college players.

Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Nice piece on buyouts and how colleges are now protecting their investment in a proven coach.

Brandon George, Dallas Morning News: Texas Tech has added dreaded Eastern Washington to its 2008 schedule as a replacement for Tulsa in the Red Raiders’ season opener Aug. 30.

Kyle Ringo, Boulder Daily Camera: Colorado's Dan Hawkins hopes to have a contract extension completed by the time the 2008 season begins Aug. 30 in Denver against Colorado State.

Bridget Wentworth, Newark Star-Ledger: An assault case against Rutgers assistant head coach Chris Demarest has been dismissed.

Kate Hairopoulos, Dallas Morning News: June Jones concedes he doesn't feel the same calling to Southern Methodist as he did to Hawaii, but he's happy with the move.

Tim Stephens, Orlando Sentinel: For all who are deeply into this recruiting stuff, here is a rather detailed league-by-league breakdown. Let's revisit this in four or five years. ...

Rochelle Olson, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Former Minnesota player Dominic Jones formally pleaded not guilty to third-degree criminal sexual conduct for an alleged assault on a drunken woman last April.

Michael Rosenberg, Detroit Free Press: Hmmm. Consider this: Rich Rodriguez had a pedestrian 33-22 record at West Virginia before Pat White became the starting quarterback. Since then, the Mountaineers are a spectacular 28-3.

Tennessean: Tennessee defensive back Antonio Gaines has been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA after missing most of the 2007 season because of a torn ACL.

Gregg Bell, Associated Press: Washington's Tyrone Willingham on turmoil surrounding his program: "If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger. And I think this has made our program stronger."

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