Marlena Hartz, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Windy Sitton, a member of the Texas Tech Board of Regents, is hopeful that a resolution can be worked out in the contract dispute with Mike Leach. "This stalemate, especially in the media, is just not good for Texas Tech. There are no winners," she said.
Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: One of the stumbling blocks in the Leach negotiations is Texas Tech's insistence on equal-money buyouts for both sides, something that is fast becoming a trend in college football as universities demand protection for the big-money investments they make in their programs, says Tony Barnhart of CBS.
Dwain Price, Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Tech's offer doesn't sit well with Leach, who feels like an extortion victim. "What are they going to do after they [get] you to [sign] the sub-par deal? Then the next year they’ll come at you and say, 'All right, we want to give you an extension again, and we're going to knock off another quarter of the thing, so take this one or we'll fire you.' And they’ll just kind of extort me down to damn near nothing."
KCBD-TV, Lubbock: The station gets a lengthy interview with Leach, who says he expects to be coaching the team in the 2009 opener against the always tough Fighting Sioux of North Dakota.
Brandon George, Dallas Morning News: Leach said he plans to attend Friday's Board of Regents meeting.
Richard Justice, Houston Chronicle: Texas Tech should be embarrassed. Texas Tech failed.
Geoff Calkins, Memphis Commercial Appeal: The Liberty Bowl is becoming a big money pit. Memphis officials say the Justice Department has given them until September 2010 to bring the facility into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The changes — according to the city — will cost $40 million.
Raleigh News & Observer: North Carolina has dismissed three players for violating team rules. That leaves the Tar Heels with at least 24 scholarship openings for next season. North Carolina signed 29 players earlier this month.
Josh Pichler, Cincinnati Enquirer: Bob Diaco has been named defensive coordinator at Cincinnati. He coached last season at Virginia.
Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register: Alabama receiver Earl Alexander and tailback Roy Upchurch will not be cleared for contact work in spring practice because of recent surgeries.
Associated Press: Houston Nutt was honored by Mississippi state lawmakers during a ceremony in the Senate gallery. "There’s no question about it — coach Houston Nutt was the right man for the job at Ole Miss," said Sen. Gray Tollison, a Democrat from Oxford.
Phil Kegler, Independent Florida Alligator: If the allegations against Florida offensive lineman Carl Johnson are true, then Urban Meyer will have no choice. Johnson must be kicked off the team.
Martin Fennelly, Tampa Tribune: Are South Florida assistants trying to get away from Jim Leavitt?
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