This Man Does Not Like to Share

There are few secrets in college football. Coaches travel from team to team in the offseason, studying the nuances of this or that from other coaches. But not everybody is on board. Say hello to South Carolina's Steve Spurrier, who keeps his playbook under lock and key. "We've had teams that want to come visit us, and what we say is we'll provide some tape," Spurrier said. "You can come and watch tape. But as coaches, we don't sit down and go over every detail with them. I think that is the way it should be." Not so, says the American Football Coaches Association, which takes the idea of sharing so seriously that in 1996 it developed the Professional Development Series. In the PDS, coaches give seminars of specific aspects of the game and their philosophies (registration).

Reporters' Notebooks

John Heuser, Ann Arbor News: Michigan's Preferred Seating Program, which mandates a donation for certain season ticket holders, has added $9.5 million to the athletic department's annual fund.

Sophia Voravong, Lafayette Journal and Courier: Former Purdue receiver Vinny Sutherland, in town for the Boilermakers' spring game, was arrested on suspicion of public intoxication.

Jeff Potrykus, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin defensive end Jamal Cooper has been suspended for the opener against Bowling Green.

South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame will open the 2008 season against San Diego State and the 2009 season — as expected — against Nevada.

Doug Segrest, Birmingham News: David Swank, a former chairman of the NCAA's Committee on Infractions, is critical of how the governing body handled its investigation of recruiting violations at Alabama.

Kyle Ringo, Boulder Daily Camera: It's clear that Colorado coach Dan Hawkins is intent on establishing a strong recruiting foothold in Texas (registration).

William Kalec, Times-Picayune: Louisiana State defensive end Al Jones, Jr. was arrested on misdemeanor charges of disturbing the peace.

Chris Low, Tennessean: Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer has dismissed a reserve defensive lineman after the player was arrested.

Brian Dohn, L.A. Daily News: A more detailed interview with the alleged victim of an assault led to charges being filed against two UCLA players.

USC's Sanchez Hires UCLA Attorney

So what is a Trojan to do when they get in trouble? Call a Bruin, no less. That is the route chosen by USC quarterback Mark Sanchez, who was arrested last week on suspicion of sexual assault. His attorney is Leonard Levine, a UCLA graduate who acknowledged writing several letters to the L.A. Times critical of coach Karl Dorrell and former basketball coach Steve Lavin. But Levine's name also appeared on a letter published on April 23, 2005, after the district attorney's office, citing insufficient evidence, did not file sex- or drug-related charges against former USC cornerback Eric Wright. It read: "Let's see, UCLA football players are arrested for drunk driving and handicapped-parking offenses, and are prosecuted and convicted. USC players are arrested on suspicion of rape, with 136 illegal pills in their apartment, and no charges are filed. Not only does USC have better players, it has better lawyers! It's almost like, if you went to USC, you can get away with anything." Levine told the paper he did not write the letter and that it was penned by a friend who signed his name to it as a joke without him knowing. "It's clever, but it's not me," he said. ... OK then. And we all know that attorneys can be trusted. ... Not all the news appears bad for the Trojans. The L.A. Daily News, citing sources, reports that at least two witnesses have emerged that could give statements viewed favorable toward Sanchez's defense. And the Bruins have their own problems. Linebacker John Hale and defensive lineman Jess Ward pleaded not guilty to a felony count of assault for an incident that occurred over two months ago.

Quality of Cotton Remains in Question

Texas and Oklahoma reached agreement to keep the Red River Shootout in the Cotton Bowl through 2010, but this looks like the beginning of the end for the facility, which has played host to the game since 1929. Oklahoma and Texas toyed around with playing a home-and-home series, or considered moving the game to Arlington, where the NFL's Dallas Cowboys are building a new stadium. There is a strong possibility that officials who run the namesake New Year's Day bowl will move the game to the new Arlington facility after this season, the last year of a three-year agreement officials have with the City of Dallas, which operates the Cotton Bowl. The aging facility has cramped seats and bad toilets, and as a Dallas columnist wrote, "Maybe you noticed it's a dump." Dallas voters will be asked in November to approve a $50 million bond proposal to give the Cotton Bowl a facelift, but this could be a tough sell (registration).

Shuler Is on the Run Once Again

Heath Shuler set nearly all of Tennessee's passing records until Payton Manning came along, but the quarterback, who was a first-round selection of the Washington Redskins in the 1994 draft, never made an impact in the NFL. In fact, his name often comes up when the talk turns to draft busts. Shuler, now 34, retired from the NFL in 1999 and started a real estate company based in Knoxville. The business has been wildly successful, becoming one of the largest independent firms in East Tennessee. Now Shuler is plotting a triumphant return to Washington by entering the political arena. Shuler won the Democratic primary in North Carolina's 11th District and will try to unseat Rep. Charles Taylor, who cruised to victory in the Republican primary, in November. Taylor chairs a powerful House Appropriations subcommittee and has been in office for 16 years, but his ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff have turned off many voters (some registration).

A Look at the All-World Class of 2002

More reason to toss out those recruiting rankings. Bruce Feldman of ESPN takes a look at the careers of players who appeared in the 2002 U.S. Army All-American Game. Back then, these guys were deemed all-world. Some of the players have another season of college eligibility, but as you will see, only seven were first-day selections in the NFL draft, including Denver's pick of last year, Maurice Clarett, pictured with this post. And Scout rankings are put to the test with a look at how the NFL's first-round selections were graded coming out of high school. Thanks to reader Kevin for the links!

Reporters' Notebooks

Howard Richman, Kansas City Star: Kansas State is nearing completion of a contract for a home-and-home series with the Miami Hurricanes for 2008 and 2009 (registration).

Andy Hamilton, Iowa City Press-Citizen: Three more Iowa players have been linked to a phone flap involving complimentary passes to games.

Mike Sullivan, North County Times: Quarterback Kevin Lopina is transferring from Kansas State with his likely destination to be San Diego State.

Chris Low, Tennessean: Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer called a team meeting after the arrest of linebacker Marvin Mitchell on a charge of disorderly conduct.

Chad Hartley, Reno Gazette-Journal: Nevada is in the final stages of contract talks to play a game at Notre Dame in 2009.

Steve Kirk, Birmingham News: Alabama coach Mike Shula will earn $1.55 million annually with a chance to make even more under terms of a new contract.