Reporters' Notebooks

Pat Harty, Iowa City Press-Citizen: Iowa's Kirk Ferentz and 16 of his players traveled to southwest Louisiana to help in the ongoing recovery of Hurricane Rita, which struck in September 2005. They spent two days cleaning up around a school that was ravaged in the storm. They are also planning a trip to Parkersburg, Iowa, much of which was recently destroyed by an EF-5 tornado.

Charley Walters, St. Paul Pioneer Press: Despite coming off a 1-11 season, Minnesota's Tim Brewster is as buoyant and invigorated as the day he got the job. "That one-win season very easily could have been a six-, seven-win season, easily," Brewster said. "We lost six games by a total of 23 points. We were in three overtime games."

Jonathan Okanes, Contra Costa Times: California is doing everything it can to make sure tailback Jahvid Best is ready for the season. Best missed a sizable chunk of the 2007 season and spring drills after suffering a bruised hip. Best, a sprinter, also sat our Cal's track and field season.

Play Is Under Review: What's it like to cover Nick Saban on a daily basis? Ian R. Rapoport of the Birmingham News, who had a confrontation with the Alabama coach this spring, offers his perspective. Thanks to Dunaway & Brown.

Rob Keys, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: The good news is that Arkansas is at least on the radar of sportsbooks in Las Vegas. The same can’t be said for Vanderbilt, Mississippi State or Mississippi.