Pete Thamel, New York Times: The Pacific 10 Conference announced that Larry Scott, the chief executive and chairman of the WTA, would become the league's new commissioner on July 1, replacing Tom Hansen. Perhaps Scott’s biggest strengths — television and marketing — matches the Pac-10's greatest weakness. "I've picked up on the sense that some people feel that the Pac-10 may not be boxing at their appropriate weight, so to speak," Scott said of the league's television deal.
Harvey Araton, New York Times: The specter of losing as many as 14 victories from his grand total of 382 has moved Bobby Bowden to accuse the NCAA of "killing a flea with a hammer." If he believes that institutional classroom cheating is an insect on the face of big-time college football, it is time for Bowden, 79, to flee Florida State.
Jeff Barker, Baltimore Sun: Maryland has promised to pay offensive coordinator James Franklin $1 million if he is not named to succeed Ralph Friedgen as head coach, according to a copy of Franklin's agreement with the university. Friedgen's contract expires Jan. 2, 2012. If Friedgen remained after that, Franklin could either remain as offensive coordinator or resign and collect $1 million.
Dennis Dodd, CBS Sports.com: The spring top 25, with an explanation why the Iowa Hawkeyes are not included.
Tim Stephens, College Gridiron 365: When a coalition led by Tulane President Scott Cowen in 2004 won better access to college football’s Bowl Championship Series, was the price of their victory actually the BCSification of basketball?
Bill Beckner, Jr., Valley News Dispatch: Receiver Toney Clemons, the cousin of Steve Breaston, has been released from his scholarship and will transfer from Michigan.
Joseph Person, Miami Herald: Florida begins spring practice on Wednesday, with expectations for another national championship chiseled in stone.
Michael Carvell, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Tennessee's Lane Kiffin said he is through apologizing to Florida.
Pete Pelegrin, Miami Herald: Florida International is expected to trim $1 million from its athletic budget, but athletic director Pete Garcia said everything would be done to project the teams.
Lya Wodraska, Salt Lake Tribune: A gas leak near Rice-Eccles Stadium forced Utah to cancel practice.
Bobbi Roquemore, Dallas Morning News: Southern Methodist coach June Jones will have a player wear No. 23 in the 2009 season in honor of Jerry LeVias, the former Mustang receiver in the 1960s who was the first black scholarship athlete in the Southwest Conference.
Brett McMurphy, Tampa Tribune: A different South Florida senior will wear Keeley Dorsey’s No. 10 jersey for each game to honor their former teammate, who collapsed and died during a weightlifting workout two years ago.
Mike Hlas, Cedar Rapids Gazette: Minnesota's Tim Brewster has obviously put aside the disappointment of his team's 42-21 loss to Kansas in the Insight Bowl.
Lawrence Journal-World: Kansas' Mark Mangino was inducted into the Pittsburgh chapter of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.
Enrique Rangel, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Your tax dollars at work: The Texas House of Representatives passed a resolution honoring former Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell for his "stellar career that distinguished him as one of the top quarterbacks in the college ranks."
Associated Press: Sizing up Pacific 10 teams entering spring practice.
Ben Maller: Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh, who has been rumored to have interest in NFL coaching jobs, was spotted walking around the lobby of the post St. Regis Monarch Beach at the NFL owners meetings Tuesday.
Charles Goldberg, Birmingham News: Auburn named Wayne Bolt the team's director of football relations.
Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times: USC cornerback Shareece Wright declined a plea-bargain offer by the San Bernardino County District Attorney's office to reduce a felony charge of resisting a police officer to a misdemeanor. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Thursday.
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