Reporters' Notebooks

Ted Sherman and Josh Margolin, Newark Star-Ledger: The New Jersey comptroller's office opened an inquiry into fiscal practices at Rutgers. The review is focused on the financial management of the athletics department amid reports of detailed hidden side deals with coach Greg Schiano.

Ray Melick, Birmingham News: With Ohio State as the preseason favorite to win a fourth consecutive Big Ten Conference championship, Southeastern Conference teams are slobbering over the prospect of dope-slapping the Buckeyes again in a third-consecutive BCS title game.

Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal Constitution: Trying to explain why Georgia, the sexy pick for the national title, was picked to finish second behind Florida in the SEC East.

Heisman Pundit: Five programs that should be great, but aren't.

Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times: It's time to look ahead because there's no going back.

Jake Trotter, Oklahoman: Oklahoma defensive end Auston English, the Big 12's preseason defensive player of the year, is out indefinitely after having emergency surgery to remove his appendix.

Mitch Vingle, Charleston Gazette: No truth to the report that the Big East is considering an arrangement with Army and Navy to give the league another member in regard to scheduling.

Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press: What's Lloyd Carr up to these days? The former Michigan coach is busy in retirement.

Rochelle Olson, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Former Minnesota player Dominic Jones, who is serving time for fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct: "My name now is inmate."

Jeff White, Richmond Times-Dispatch: Virginia offensive linemen Will Barker, who has started 25 games in a row, and teammate Dave Roberts were arrested at Club 216 in downtown Charlottesville around 3:45 a.m. Saturday. Both reportedly admitted to police that they stole beer from a cooler at the nightclub. Each was charged with a misdemeanor.

Mike Sorensen, Deseret News: Utah finalized its deal to play Notre Dame. The teams will meet Nov. 13, 2010, in South Bend.

Michael Rothstein, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette: Tennessee — as an athletic department — spends the most on recruiting. Notre Dame is second.

Robbie Neiswwanger, Springdale Morning News: Arkansas linebacker Freddy Burton and receiver Marques Wade have been suspended for the first two games (scrimmages against Western Illinois and Louisiana Monroe). They'll be back for game 3, against Texas.

Ian R. Rapoport, Birmingham News: If you're not familiar with the Jerrell Powe story (it's a lengthy one), here is a primer.

Will Collier, From The Bleachers: Interesting piece on the exodus of sportswriting talent from newspapers to online ventures.

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