Reporters' Notebooks

Carolyn Jones, San Francisco Chronicle: An arborist was brought in to snip ropes and dismantle a wooden platform at California's Memorial Stadium oak grove, where tree-sitters have been roosting for more than 14 months to protest the university's plans to build an athletic training center where about 100 trees stand. Thanks to Larry Brown Sports.

Sam Donnellon, Philadelphia Daily News: Imagine this thought when Joe Paterno was promoted to Penn State's head coach in 1966: Fidel Castro will surrender power sooner than he will — and without a coup, anger or any ugliness.

Chris Foster, Los Angeles Times: Rick Neuheisel and Norm Chow say they plan to customize UCLA's offense according to the talent on hand at Westwood.

Cindy Luis, Honolulu Star-Bulletin: Hawaii officials have set a goal of selling 30,000 season tickets, up from last year's total of 22,975.

Brian Bennett, Louisville Courier-Journal: Rod Council, Louisville's best cornerback, was dismissed from the team after he was arrested in connection with an armed robbery in his native North Carolina.

Cliff Kirkpatrick, Corvallis Gazette-Times: Hard-hitting Al Afalava, a three-year starter at safety for Oregon State, was cited for criminal mischief, which is a felony, DUII and hit-and-run by police.

Rich Emert, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: The recruiting saga of Christian Wilson. Michigan's loss was North Carolina's gain.

Ian R. Rapoport, Birmingham News: The lawyer for Alabama defensive lineman Jeremy Elder said he has been shown no evidence that his client admitted to committing two acts of first-degree robbery and that he will reserve judgment until he views the facts.

David Ferrara, Mobile Press-Register: Alabama recruit Julio Jones has become a star witness in a murder trial. The receiver told jurors about events on the night of May 12, when he saw an acquaintance fatally shot in the head.

James Vareney, Times-Picayune: Two Louisiana State players expressed surprise at the indefinite suspension of Ryan Perrilloux, saying everything appeared to be coming together for the troubled quarterback.

Randy Rosetta, Baton Rouge Advocate: "Woo, pig sooie" has been a rallying cry for Arkansas fans since the 1920s. But how did "Calling the Hogs" begin?

Joseph Person, Columbia State: South Carolina starting receiver Dion Lecorn was arrested and jailed on a marijuana charge after police responded to a complaint of loud music coming from a car parked outside an apartment complex.

Andy Hess, Student Printz: Two Southern Mississippi players have been put on indefinite suspension for violating team rules.

Jack Salisbury, Stanford Daily: Stanford and Oregon State will open the season on Thursday, Aug. 28, in a nationally televised game.

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