Steve Yanda, Washington Post: Maryland's Ralph Friedgen, who has lost 86 pounds since October, talks about his diet plan. "I'd like to lose 150, but I don't know if I can do it," Friedgen said. "It gets harder now, but I'm going to keep on this thing. My age right now, I'm 62; I want to try to get this thing down so I can have a good life."
Randy Peterson, Des Moines Register: Bobby Elliott, at age 45, he was on the cusp of realizing a lifelong dream — to become coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes. He would have been on athletic director Bob Bowlsby's short list when coach Hayden Fry retired after the 1998 season had he not been taking daily doses of chemotherapy to arrest the blood disorder, called polycythemia vera. His health declining, he had no choice but to watch as Bowlsby hired Kirk Ferentz. Now, he has the greatest gift of all.
Chadd Cripe, Idaho Statesman: Social networking sites like Facebook might not be such a bad thing. Boise State officials are looking at ways to market athletics through these sites.
Chuck Carlton, Dallas Morning News: Larry Coker once had a tailback depth chart once read: Clinton Portis, Frank Gore, Willis McGahee and Najeh Davenport. Now he's selling a Texas San Antonio startup program that won't field a team until 2011.
Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech officials have a master plan for an 85,000-seat stadium when the time comes, and an idea of how to get there. But the growth must come a few thousand at a time. Toward that end, Tech is taking the sensible step of increasing capacity to 61,000 by the middle of next season.
Colby Sledge, Tennessean: Tennessee officials are promising more accountability in donations and pledges to the athletic department. The move comes after unfulfilled pledges, including a $1 million promise from a single donor, were part of a $1 billion campaign that has raised $852 million so far in gifts and pledges. The school eventually had to write off $9.6 million in pledges as uncollectible.
Bud Withers, Seattle Times: Cory Mackay, a defensive end who had just completed his freshman year at Washington State, was seriously injured in a one-vehicle accident. According to a report, his father says his son went underwent a three-hour surgery to fuse two vertebrae fractures.
Austin American-Statesman: Defensive tackle Jarvis Humphrey has withdrawn from classes at Texas because of a continuing kidney problem. Humphrey had to withdraw from Texas by Friday to be eligible for a medical waiver from the NCAA. If granted the waiver, Humphrey could retain his scholarship.
Associated Press: The Atlantic Coast Conference has dropped its association with the Humanitarian Bowl and added the GMAC Bowl to its lineup.
Andrew Carter, Chopping Block: Florida State president T.K. Wetherell said it's time for receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey to "step up" his efforts to control his players. "We need Dawsey to step up. He's been a great coach on the field, great recruiter. But he's going to have to get a little bit of a [men's basketball coach] Leonard Hamilton school of coaching."
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia's Mark Richt has suspended two players and booted another. Junior tight end Bruce Figgins is suspended six games and sophomore defensive end Justin Houston is suspended for two games. Junior receiver Tony Wilson is taking a medical disqualification, avoiding suspension.
Jill Painter, Inside UCLA: UCLA signee Randall Carroll ran a 10.30-second legal electronic 100 meters, the the fastest time in California in 17 years.
Scott Wolf, Inside USC: Washington returns 18 starters, more than any other Pacific 10 Conference team.
Penn State Clips: Weedgate is over for four players at Penn State. They were cleared after an investigation.
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