Reporters' Notebooks

Ray Melick, Birmingham News: When it comes to one of the most pressing issues facing college athletics these days — student-athlete off-field behavior — the NCAA often comes across sounding as frustrated as the average fan.

Chris Rosenblum and Sara Ganim, Centre Daily Times: Defensive tackle Phillip Taylor became the third Penn State player charged in connection with a fight last October at the Hetzel Union Building on campus.

Chip Scoggins, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Ted Roof, Minnesota's new defensive coordinator, received a three-year deal worth about $1.075 million, plus an additional $150,000 if he completes his contract. The deal makes Roof, the former Duke coach, the highest-paid assistant in Minnesota history.

Doug Doughty, Roanoke Times: Virginia junior defensive back Mike Brown has been removed from team activities pending resolution of criminal charges, including grand larceny in connection with a Feb. 6 report of the theft of four items valued at $3,400 from a vehicle in a university parking lot.

Paloma Esquivel, Paul Pringle and Francisco Vara-Orta, Los Angeles Times: One of the top high school players in Los Angeles was shot and killed Sunday evening.

Ivan Maisel, ESPN: What's behind all the concerts the night before spring games? It's the brainchild of Shawn Garrity, a former Syracuse player, and Chuck Muncie, a former California standout.

Paul Gattis, Huntsville Times: Not so fast. It appears Tuscaloosa prosecutors are still considering filing charges against Alabama captain Rashad Johnson.

Paul Finebaum, Mobile Press-Register: It's a safe bet that Auburn's Tommy Tuberville will use the current legal woes facing Alabama early and often on the recruiting trail.

Joseph Person, Columbia State: Steve Spurrier confirmed tailback Mike Davis will be suspended one game this season for missing class, although the South Carolina coach is not saying which game.

Jeff Potrykus, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin's 2008 schedule reveals that the Badgers replaced an early season nonconference game against powerful Virginia Tech with a regular-season finale against feared Cal Poly, a I-AA team.

Chuck Carlton, Dallas Morning News: Kathy Saunders becomes the first woman to chair the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association.

Jerry Hill, Waco Tribune-Herald: New Baylor coach Art Briles' life has seemingly been a series of rebuilding jobs.

George Hostetter, Fresno Bee: As if finding money for two new sports next year wasn't challenging enough, the Fresno State athletic department now must tackle a projected budget deficit of more than a half-million dollars.

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