The Wiz of Odds

Northern Illinois Stuck With $154,125 Bowl Bill

Northern Illinois not only lost to Louisiana Tech, 17-10, in the Independence Bowl, it took a financial bath in the process.

The school has reported a loss of $154,125 for its participation in the Dec. 28 game. This despite busing the band instead of flying it to Shreveport, La.

The Huskies also came under budget in lodging, entertainment, equipment truck expenses and some per diem expenses.

The Independence Bowl has a payout of $750,000 per team.

"We have some dollars there that we got from guarantees from other sources that can pay for that trip," athletic director Jeff Compher said. "We have to dip into the other accounts that we have. I think this was done with a lot of care."

Mississippi's Powe Told Police That 'He Couldn't Read'

Mississippi defensive lineman Jerrell Powe told police early Sunday that "he couldn't read" after he was cited for a noise violation after playing loud music in his apartment at The Exchange in Oxford.

Officer Zachary White said in his report that when his finished writing the citation, he asked Powe to read the bottom of it and then sign. Powe responded that "he couldn't read."

Powe was a member of Mississippi's 2005 recruiting class but was declared academically ineligible by the NCAA because he had not completed 14 core high school courses. He attended Hargrave Military Academy and applied for eligibility in 2006, but the NCAA still wouldn't clear him. Powe was allowed to enroll and receive academic and financial aid in 2007, but the NCAA still ruled him ineligible to practice or play.

TCU Bans Student Reporter for Criticizing Quarterback

Meet Brian Smith, a senior broadcast journalism major at Texas Christian. He's also a student reporter and had been a regular contributor to "On Campus Cam," a talking heads-style show on The Mtn. where student reporters from conference schools are asked to give their opinions.

On an April 14 broadcast, Smith said that freshman quarterback Casey Pachall, who graduated early from high school to enroll at TCU, is good enough to unseat Andy Dalton as the starter.

"I think it's going to be tough to tell if Andy's really as solid a starter as everybody believes he is," Smith said. "And I think the reason for that is because Casey Pachall, a true freshman who enrolled in January, really looked good during drills and during the Purple and White game, and in my opinion he really could challenge Dalton for that starting spot.

"He can manage a game and he can play not to lose, but I don't really think he's the kind of guy who can win you a game. And Casey Pachall is that kind of guy."

Clausen: 'Weis Will Not Get Fired Because of Me'

April 22, 2006. Jimmy Clausen arrived at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend in a stretch Hummer limousine and announced that he would attend Notre Dame. "I'd like to end up here one day," he said when asked about his choice of venue for the announcement.

Three years to the day, the latest issue of the Sporting News arrived at newsstands and Clausen is again front and center along with his coach, Charlie Weis.

Much has been riding on Clausen's right arm since he arrived at Notre Dame, but after two inconsistent seasons, the quarterback is now playing defense.

"Coach Weis will not get fired because of me," he tells Matt Hayes.

Reporters Notebooks

Lee Barfknecht, Omaha World-Herald: There will be no more booze allowed in skyboxes at Nebraska's Memorial Stadium. Athletic director Tom Osborne confirmed that, in light of an alcohol poisoning case at a game last fall, skybox holders are being told stricter enforcement of the law banning alcohol on campus is coming.

Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times: Bowl Championship Series commissioners will revisit the Mountain West's proposal for an eight-team playoff in June after it has been properly vetted (translation: rejected) by college presidents.

Jeff Metcalfe, Arizona Republic: At least one Arizona State player has been selected in the last 45 years of the NFL draft, but that streak could come to an end this weekend.

Camp Pete Carroll: The latest from the USC coach. An online football world for kids.

Ryan Finley, Arizona Daily Star: Mike Stoops will make $1 million this year — and more in each subsequent year through 2013 — under a proposed contract extension pending approval from the Arizona Board of Regents.

Lost Lettermen: Tracking down the 32 biggest NFL draft busts. Trev Alberts comes in at No. 31.

Mike Tierney, New York Times: Georgia State is not alone in getting into the football business. The NCAA counts 28 programs that have been started this decade, and more are on the way.

Mumme: Most Influential Coach of Last 20 Years?

Chris Brown's excellent site Smart Football has an interesting read on Hal Mumme, one of the architects of the "Air Raid" offense that has helped revolutionize the game.

Although Mumme, who recently took over as coach at McMurry College in Abilene, has had varying degrees of success, he has never soared to great heights. Nonetheless, his coaching tree is impressive.

When Mumme became coach at Iowa Wesleyan in 1989, he hired Mike Leach, whose previous coaching job had been in Finland. The two perfected the system with stops at Valdosta State and Kentucky before Leach went out on his own, becoming the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma under Bob Stoops.