The Wiz of Odds

Texas Turning Grass Into Green

Today's innovation award goes to Texas, which has figured out a way to replace its Bermuda/rye grass field with FieldTurf and turn a healthy profit.

On April 5, Texas will have a one-day sod sale that coincides with the spring scrimmage. Fans will be able to purchase a 12-inch by 12-inch square of grass for $20. There will be 57,600 available for purchase, with distribution to start an hour after the end of the scrimmage.

If Texas sells all the turf squares, it will take in $1.152 million.

The cost to install FieldTurf is $400,000, leaving Texas with a possible profit of $752,000.

Thanks to TV Tan Line for the image.

Reporters Notebooks

Dave Hooker, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Former Tennessee coach Johnny Majors attended his first Volunteer practice since his firing in 1992. Majors earlier attended a staff meeting with Lane Kiffin and his assistants. "[He] kind of ran the staff meeting," Kiffin joked. "I was supposed to be in charge. He just took over."

Brett McMurphy, Tampa Tribune: South Florida's Jim Leavitt said he will run a timed 40-yard dash as part of the team's promotions for the spring game.

Chip Towers, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: A new book scheduled to be released Tuesday in Atlanta paints a not-so-favorable picture of University of Georgia President Michael Adams and Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue.

Brian Dohn, Los Angeles Daily News: Former Nebraska quarterback Patrick Witt said UCLA is one of four schools he is considering transferring to, and he is in the process of setting up a visit. Stanford, Duke and Yale are also on his list.

David Goricki, Detroit News: Michigan's Rich Rodriguez confirmed that quarterback Nick Sheridan has a fracture of his lower right leg. He will be out four to six weeks.

Jake Trotter, Oklahoman: Justin Chaisson, a defensive end who recently signed to play at Oklahoma, was arrested in Las Vegas and has been charged with multiple criminal acts. According to police, Chaisson, 18, assaulted his 15-year-old girlfriend by holding a screwdriver to her neck and making threats to her. Plus, receiver Corey Wilson, who a month ago was critically injured in a car crash, is improving and may be released from a rehabilitation center next week.

Joseph Person, Columbia State: South Carolina backup fullback Dustyn McElroy has been dismissed from the team after allegedly biting a man in the face during a fight outside the Village Idiot bar and restaurant in Five Points last week. Plus, cornerback C.C. Whitlock has been suspended indefinitely for academic reasons and other issues.

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Hatch: BCS Is 'Un-American'

Utah s Orrin Hatch and Wisconsin's Herb Kohl announced Wednesday that the Senate Judiciary's antitrust subcommittee will hold hearings on the college football's postseason format.

Yes, that means you, Bowl Championship Series.

"The BCS system leaves nearly half of all the teams in college football at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to qualifying for the millions of dollars paid out every year," a joint statement read.

No date was given for the hearings, but the statement also said: "Sen. Hatch will introduce legislation to rectify this situation."

Hatch, the ranking Republican on the subcommittee, called the BCS "un-American" in January. He repeated that claim on Wednesday.

Reporters Notebooks

Courtney Ratkowiak and Andy Reid, Michigan Daily: Michigan quarterback Nick Sheridan was seen on campus with crutches and a large, black boot on his right leg. He is thought to have broken the leg during practice earlier Wednesday. Steven Threet transferred before spring practice, leaving Sheridan as the frontrunner to become the starter. If Sheridan's injury keeps him out of spring practice, it opens the door for early enrollee Tate Forcier to take the majority of snaps in practice.

John Maher, Austin American-Statesman: The Big 12 Conference has dropped a sponsorship deal with Training Day, a product that contains creatine, which coaches aren't allowed to give athletes.

Don Williams and Joshua Hull, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech and Baylor will play their 2009 game in the Dallas Cowboys new stadium in Arlington and the 2010 game at the Cotton Bowl. Lubbock businesses are not happy about the loss of a home game, saying the move will cost the community between $5 and $7 million.

B.G. Brooks In Denver Times: Colorado's Dan Hawkins, whose team finished 6-7 in 2008, says of his 2009 team: "Ten wins and no excuses." Plus, the Buffaloes are expected to announced they have added Toledo to their 2009 schedule, with the game to be played at the Glass Bowl in Toledo.

Andy Staples, SI.com: Recruits are flocking to seven-on-seven all-star team tournaments, and some critics say as such events could empower "street agents."

Nick Miller, SEC Junky: The hottest models/celebs/actresses from the Southeastern Conference.

Ray Melick, Birmingham News: Auburn's Gene Chizik kept the media out of practice. "I think there's enough pressure on these guys already to deliver. We just feel like this is a deal where we don't want any outside or any extra pressure on these guys. We just want them to go out and practice and not worry about what anybody thinks or writes or hears."

Former Mountaineer Is Wrestling With Success

If a career in the NFL doesn't pan out, Pat McAfee might have another avenue to success. The former West Virginia kicker recently made his debut in professional wrestling.

McAfee was sitting in the crowd at the South Charleston Community Center watching an IWA East Coast event titled "Scarcade." He was called into the ring by a man dressed as a doctor, who told the audience that he intended to teach McAfee a lesson for speaking in negative terms about a wrestler known as War Pig.

While the two were in the ring, War Pig came running out of a back room and into the ring. Within moments, McAfee was pinned against the ropes by the wrestler.

The kicker eventually fell to the canvas in pain, with War Pig continuing the assault, slapping McAfee around for about five minutes. But McAfee eventually got to his feet, landed a superkick and got the three count, much to the delight of the locals.