Ben Winslow, Deseret News: Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff says he is launching an investigation into the Bowl Championship Series for a possible violation of federal antitrust laws after an undefeated Utah team was left out of the national title game for the second time in five years.
Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star: A Michigan doctoral student in survey methodology has developed a rating system for college football teams. Florida was tied for 12th (with Nebraska) and Oklahoma was 20th. His top teams are Texas and USC.
Tim MacMahon, Dallas Morning News: Sorry Mack Brown, but Texas does not belong at No. 1.
Chuck Carlton, Dallas Morning News: Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp is no fan of Oklahoma. "I'm not rooting for them. I might watch the game but I'm not rooting, I guarantee you that."
Michael DiRocco, Florida Times-Union: A check of online ticket brokers StubHub, gotickets and ticketsolutions revealed a price range of $380-$217,000 for a ticket to the BCS title game. As of Monday, the cheapest tickets of the three were at StubHub, where $380 gets you a seat in the upper level at the corner of the end zone on the Oklahoma side.
Brett McMurphy, Tampa Tribune: Utah fans have started to lobby voters in the Associated Press poll to put the Utes at No. 1. McMurphy writes that he has already received over 50 emails.
Jon Solomon, Birmingham News: Why you shouldn't bet on bowl games. The favored team in the first 32 bowl games has an 18-14 record (16-16 vs. the spread). Plus, ratings for the Pizza Bowl dropped 12%.
Dirk Chatelain, Omaha World-Herald: Since the Big 12's inception in 1996, only three coaches have won nine games in their first season. Mack Brown and Frank Solich in 1998 and Bo Pelini in 2008.
Dwain Price, Fort Worth Star-Telegram: The father of Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree said his son is seeking a specialist to figure out why the receiver’s nagging right high ankle sprain hasn’t healed.
Kent Youngblood, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: Minnesota defensive coordinator Ted Roof is leaving the team to take a similar position at Auburn. Roof is a former head coach at Duke.
Bobbi Roquemore, Dallas Morning News: Southern Methodist and Washington State have agreed to a home-and-home series beginning in 2009.
Nick Walker, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Former Arkansas quarterback Nathan Dick is transferring to Central Arkansas.
Mark Heller, East Valley Tribune: Arizona State is raising ticket prices on 83% of the seats in Sun Devil Stadium.
Kevin Scarbinsky, Birmingham News: Charles Barkley is going to be surprised once he sobers up. New Auburn coach Gene Chizik has already hired four African Americans as assistants.
Bob Condotta, Seattle Times: New Washington defensive coordinator Nick Holt has a three-year deal worth $2.1 million.
Jay Drew, Salt Lake Tribune: Brigham Young and Oklahoma will open the 2009 season on Sept. 5 in the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington.
Sports Union: A celebration of cheerleaders from teams that were victorious in the bowl season.
I hope that Mr. West doesn't have any professors on his doctoral committee that know anything about college football. Might be "thanks for playing, now back to the drawing board....."
Posted by: allhailcale | January 06, 2009 at 04:44 PM