Reporters' Notebooks

Michael Rothstein, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette: Crewcut Charlie Weis, when asked about a comment he made last week before a Pennsylvania booster club that was interpreted as being racist by some bloggers. Was his comment blown out of proportion? "Blew up by who? A USC fan on the West Coast? That was no slight toward any college. It doesn't even warrant, it doesn’t even elicit a comeback. Doesn't even elicit a response."

Drew Davison, Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Kelan Luker, a former Southern Methodist quarterback, quit football in 2002 and joined a rock band. But he's returning to the gridiron this fall at Tarleton State. "The door opened up and I wanted to play one more time before I got too old."

John Maher, Austin American-Statesman: Texas announced plans to endow the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs to be part of the university's Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law.

Ferd Lewis, Honolulu Advertiser: The Western Athletic Conference Council, at its annual spring meetings in Phoenix, voted to significantly slice the amount future conference representatives might keep from Bowl Championship Series appearances, commissioner Karl Benson said.

George Hostetter, Fresno Bee: Fresno State president John Welty approved a steep hike in a much-debated student fee that will help the athletic program while expanding access to academic extras. Students will face a $52 per semester increase, $32 of which will go to athletics.

Associated Press: Two former Mississippi State players won't serve jail time for their roles in a March 27 gunfire incident on campus.

Mitch Vingle, Charleston Gazette: The Big East's seat at the BCS table, which was questioned after the raid of Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College by the Atlantic Coast Conference, is finally secure.

Tim Stephens, Orlando Sentinel: It would appear that SMU booster need to pony up some cash.