The Wiz of Odds

The Making of a Poster Schedule

Brigham Young's poster schedule won't be released until next week, but the Cougars have offered a sneak peak with this video of the photo shoot on the Bonneville Salt Flats.

USC's Use of Consultants Is Questioned

USC may have violated NCAA rules that prohibit consultants from coaching, according to a report by the Los Angeles Times.

Pete Rodriguez, whose coaching resume includes stops at the Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins of the NFL, helped with the Trojans' punting and kicking game last season. Rodriguez told the newspaper that he attended practices, monitored games and offered coach Pete Carroll behind-the-scenes advice.

Rodriguez said he believed that his work complied with the rules, but former NCAA investigator J. Brent Clark suggested that was not the case.

Reporters Notebooks

Berry Tramel, Oklahoman: Oklahoma's Bob Stoops said he would vote in the coaches poll this season after sitting out the controversial 2008 season. "You don't need to make a point twice," he said.

Ryan Greene, Las Vegas Sun: Nevada Las Vegas linebacker Bryce Salid remains hospitalized in California, but continues to improve after a skateboarding accident earlier this month that left him in serious but stable condition.

Tommy Craggs, Deadspin: Jim Lampley, the first sideline reporter, wonders why the job he pioneered still exists.

Daniel Lyght, Fresno Bee: Pat Hill's long-term future is one of Fresno State's uncertainties entering fall camp.

Brett McMurphy, Tampa Tribune: The principal at the school that had an "unusual number of grade changes" for offensive lineman Kamran Joyer has been reassigned. Joyer, who was denied admission to South Florida after officials questioned the grade changes, has been accepted into Louisville. Plus, South Florida linebacker Sam Barrington was arrested for a misdemeanor charge of driving with a suspended license.

Josh Robbins, College Gridiron 365: A look at how much revenue each Division I-A team brought in during the 2007-08 reporting year.

Brian Dohn, Los Angeles Daily News: Josh Smith, a receiver/kick returner who left Colorado's team in the spring, is transferring to UCLA.

Michigan State

The Spartans have shown steady improvement under Mark Dantonio, going 7-6 in 2007 and 9-4 in 2008. The defense, with eight starters returning, should be solid, but the offense will have to replace Javon Ringer, the workhorse running back who had an insane 390 carries last season, the most in Division I-A. Michigan State is one of five teams to have never played a Division I-AA opponent since the NCAA adopted the division setup in 1978 (the others being USC, UCLA, Washington and Notre Dame). But the Spartans fall off the list Sept. 5 when they play host to I-AA Montana State. Thanks to Harry and Brian!

Reporters Notebooks

Steve DeShazo, Fredericksburg News-Post: The Fridge no more. Maryland's Ralph Friedgen said he has lost 95 pounds and now weighs 306. "I need to get another belt," he said with considerable pride.

Randy Peterson, Des Moines Register: Iowa State defensive lineman Nate Frere, on Gene Chizik's surprise departure last December: "We kind of got burned on the last deal. When [Chizik] says that he's staying for sure, and then you find out through the media that he took a trip to see another school about another job, and then having to hear about it through the media that he accepted it ... and then he calls a team meeting after the fact ... There was a lot of emotion in that room. There was a lot of anger."

Dustin Hockensmith, Patriot-News: Creampuff Update: Of the Big Ten's 44 nonconference games, 30 of them are at home, 12 are on the road, and two are being played on neutral turf. Two of the 11 league teams, Penn State and Michigan, are playing all four of their nonconference games at home. Penn State and Northwestern also run through a nonconference slate that features four opponents who failed to reach bowl games last season.

Paul Flemming, Tallahassee Democrat: The NCAA says it's not a public agency, its internal investigation documents are not public records and any attempt to force open its files would violate its constitutional rights.

Jay Drew, Salt Lake Tribune: Brigham Young's Bronco Mendenhall on recruiting rankings. "Some guy that drives a pizza truck at night and then is giving stars to recruits in the day, and he's an expert? I don't adhere to that philosophy."

David Wharton, Los Angeles Times: More on the Rose Bowl likely having to invite a non-Bowl Championship Series team to Pasadena under terms of the new ESPN contract. Wiz note: Old news. Tony Barnhart first reported this back on May 29 (second item).

North Carolina State

The Wolfpack enter 2009 riding a wave of momentum. After a 2-6 start in 2008, North Carolina State ran off four wins in a row in November to secure a berth to the Pizza Bowl, where it lost to Rutgers. Quarterback Russell Wilson was a big reason for the turnaround and the good news is that he's only a sophomore this fall. The Wolfpack play eight home games. Click the image for an enlarged view. Thanks to Chris and Dave.