The Wiz of Odds

Notre Dame's Long National Nightmare Is Over

It ended on an island far, far from Old Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish's NCAA-record nine-game bowl losing skid — peppered with blowout losses to Colorado, Oregon State and Louisiana State — ended with Notre Dame handing out a blowout of its own, a 49-21 rout of Hawaii.

It was accomplished with Charlie Weis, on crutches and facing knee surgeries, calling plays from the press box.

Yes, all is well at Notre Dame, with a 7-6 season under its belt and hopes on the rise for 2009.

In an entry titled "Season's Beatings," John Walters of NBC Sports.com put it all in perspective.

Reporters Notebooks

Teddy Feinberg, Las Cruces Sun-News: UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker and Texas Christian offensive coordinator Mike Schultz are two of the three finalists for the New Mexico State job. The third candidate remains a mystery.

Darryl Slater, Richmond Times-Dispatch: Virginia Tech has sold about 4,700 of its allotment of 17,500 tickets to the Orange Bowl. If the school fails to sell 8,000, it pays for the unsold tickets. Plus, don't expect to see Virginia Tech designate defensive coordinator Bud Foster as its coach in waiting any time soon.

Ken Goe, Oregonian: Oregon and Oregon State fans are not flocking to postseason destinations and the faltering economy is getting the blame.

Associated Press: An Oklahoma victory in the Bowl Championship Series title game would be worth $100,000 to Bob Stoops. He has already earned a $150,000 bonus for leading the Sooners to the title game.

Associated Press: Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy will receive a $400,000 bonus for getting the Cowboys to their third consecutive bowl game.

Golden Shower

ESPN's Dave Pasch, who announced Wednesday's Hawaii Bowl with Andre Ware, enjoys those golden showers on Oahu. Thanks to Tombo Ahi at UH Football.

Reason to Celebrate

Texas Christian fans were living it up toward the end of the Horned Frogs' 17-16 victory over Boise State in Tuesday night's Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego. TCU, which finished 11-2, is likely to end the season ranked in the top 10 in polls, the only losses coming on the road to Oklahoma and Utah.

Reporters Notebooks

Tommy Deas, Tuscaloosa News: Being named coach of the year has paid off for Nick Saban. The final performance bonus in his contract has kicked in, pushing his income for the year over $4 million.

J.P. Giglio, Raleigh News & Observer: North Carolina's Butch Davis will earn over $2 million this year, but athletic director Dick Baddour says it's money well spent. Attendance is up by an average of almost 9,000 fans per game, and ticket revenue for 2008 is projected to be almost $3 million greater than John Bunting's final season (2006).

Inside Lacrosse: Former Notre Dame tight end Will Yeatman is expected to transfer to Maryland. Yeatman is also a standout attackman in lacrosse.

Mick McGrane, San Diego Union-Tribune: San Diego State coach Brady Hoke reportedly has hired Al Borges as offensive coordinator. Former New Mexico coach Rocky Long is expected to be hired as defensive coordinator.

Mike Reynolds, Multichannel News: Outside of dismal ratings for the New Orleans Bowl, ESPN received solid early returns on its telecasts. Thanks to The Big Lead.

Reporters Notebooks

David Whitley, Orlando Sentinel: The coach-in-waiting contract Florida State gave Jimbo Fisher could be a ticking time bomb. Fisher is due to get $5 million if he's not the head guy in January 2011. And with Bobby Bowden showing no indication of stepping aside, the university could be on the hook for the $5 million owed to Fisher plus Bowden's $2.5 million annual salary. That's $7.5 million paid to two coaches for one season.

Al Jones, Biloxi Sun Herald: Southern Mississippi receiver DeAndre Brown, who suffered a gruesome break of his left leg during the New Orleans Bowl, said he plans on resuming his playing career. "I may not be back for spring drills, but I will be back for the fall and play next season. With rehab and hard work, I will be back at 100%."

Margaret Baker, Biloxi Sun Herald: An independent pathologist has concluded that prep running back Billy Joe Johnson was outside his truck with the driver's door open when he died of a gunshot wound to the head. Police said Johnson, who had numerous scholarship offers, committed suicide, but Johnson’s family, along with representatives of the NAACP, say that is not the case.

Sal Interdonato, Middletown Times Herald-Record: Cal Poly coach Rich Ellerson is in talks to become the new coach at Army.

Fresno Bee: Fresno State fans are letting Pat Hill have it after the Bulldogs lost to Colorado State in the New Mexico Bowl to finish a disappointing 7-6 season.