Thayer Evans and Pete Thamel, New York Times: The NCAA is in Wichita to investigate the controversial trainer and recruiting adviser Brian Butler, who is representing hotshot running back prospect Bryce Brown.
Bob Lutz, Wichita Eagle: In recruiting, there is the traditional way and there is the Bryce Brown way.
Dave Hooker, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Quarterback prospect Nick Montana says he wants the recruiting process finished by the end of summer. The son of Joe Montana reportedly has offers from Georgia, Louisiana State, South Carolina, Alabama, Stanford, Maryland, Arizona, Nebraska and Ohio State. He's waiting on Tennessee, USC and UCLA. (The Wiz watched Nick Montana throw three interceptions in a playoff game last fall.)
Mike Miller, Badger Beat: Former Wisconsin player Leonard Taylor, who was charged with stalking and telephone harassment late last year after allegedly threatening to kill Badger athletic director Barry Alvarez and others, was ruled mentally competent to stand trial.
Doug Segrest, Birmingham News: Attorneys for disassociated Alabama booster Ray Keller filed a motion for a new trial. Keller was awarded $5 million in 2007 after winning a defamation and invasion of privacy lawsuit against the NCAA. But the verdict was eventually overturned. Attorneys for Keller appealed the ruling to the Alabama Supreme Court, but withdrew the appeal earlier this week, opting to request another trial instead.
Tom FitzGerald, San Francisco Chronicle: Twenty-one staff positions are being eliminated in the Stanford athletic department, which faces an expected $5.4 million shortfall in revenue over the next three years. The staff cuts, which athletic director Bob Bowlsby called "excruciating," represent 13% of the department's 163 administrative and service positions. No coaching positions were affected.
Andy Staples, SI.com: The practice of oversigning raises ethical issues for players and teams, but the practice is becoming more commonplace. The NCAA allows teams to bring in a maximum of 25 new scholarship players in an academic year, but Troy signed 40 players, Mississippi 37, Hawaii 31 and Arkansas, Central Michigan and South Florida each signed 30. These teams will try to steer some players to junior colleges and grayshirt others. When all else fails, it's time to run some players off the team in order to trim to the maximum 85 on scholarship at any time.
ACC Sports Journal: Are there too many cooks in the kitchen at Virginia? Former Bowling Green coach Gregg Brandon is the new offensive coordinator and former Kansas State coach Ron Prince, who was the offensive coordinator in a previous stint with the Cavaliers, is back as special teams coach.
Jeff Potrykus, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin's appetite for cupcakes continues to increase. The Badgers announced that their 2011 schedule had been finalized with a game (scrimmage?) against South Dakota.
Ferd Lewis, Honolulu Advertiser: Hawaii's student senate voted overwhelmingly to support a resolution opposing the implementation of a student fee to aid the university's athletic department, which is swimming in red ink.
Scott Wolf, Los Angeles Daily News: Carmen Trutanich, who was investigated by the Pacific 10 and NCAA in 2005 after he represented several USC players involved in legal trouble, is running for Los Angeles city attorney. He just received an endorsement from the L.A. Daily News.
Seth Emerson, Columbia State: Mike Slive, the commissioner of the Southeastern Conference since 2002, says a playoff system is not the way to go in college football. He favors a plus-one format.
Paul Buker, Oregonian: Oregon State quarterback Lyle Moevao is going to have surgery on his right throwing shoulder. Depending on what doctors find, Moevao could be out for six weeks or four months.
Dugan Arnett, Lawrence Journal-World: With interest in its program at an all-time high, Kansas officials plan to address the possibility of forming a Gridiron Club, which would include a new premium seating section within the confines of Memorial Stadium.
Joseph Person, Columbia State: South Carolina's nine on-field assistant coaches will make a combined $1.83 million this year — a 17.5% increase from last year’s staff.
WPMI-TV: How do you know when they’re serious about ethics reform in Alabama? When a proposed ethics bill would limit gifts of free college football tickets from lobbyists. Thanks to Get The Picture.
Charleston Daily Mail: West Virginia and Louisiana State have agreed to a home-and-home series beginning in 2010 in Baton Rouge.
Tom Luicci, Newark Star-Ledger: New Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti says he is not running from the perception that he is "a football guy."
Daily Evergreen: The arrest of quarterback Marshall Lobbestael is the latest black eye for the Washington State team.
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