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).
Angelique S. Chengelis, Detroit News: Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said there are no plans for the league to add a 12th team. He also said adding another league game to the schedule is an issue that's "alive" but said there's not a clear majority.
Bob Asmussen, Champaign News-Gazette: Delany discusses the future of the Big Ten's bowl lineup.
Ken Tysiac, Charlotte Observer: Florida State's Bobby Bowden says the Atlantic Coast Conference has an image problem because the league is so balanced. What it really needs, he said, is one dominant team.
Bart Wright, Greenville News: Bowden said his son, Tommy, was offered the Arkansas job in December of 2007, but decided to stay at Clemson. "He could have taken it right then but he wanted to be with those kids he had for another year so he stayed at Clemson; I think it was the right decision."
Tuscaloosa News: The Southeastern Conference announced a digital network that will offer exclusive live-streaming and on-demand video through the league's website.
Tim Tucker, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Steve Spurrier is not alone. Georgia's Mark Richt acknowledged that he did not fill out his own ballot for the All-SEC preseason team. His ballot was cast by sports information director Claude Felton.
Mike DeArmond, Campus Corner: Nebraska is the trendy pick to win the Big 12 North, but is it the smart pick?
Mark Fagan, Lawrence Journal-World: The owner of Mizzou.us is using the address to direct visitors away from their expected destination of a home page affiliated with the University of Missouri to KU.edu.
John Adams, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Lane Kiffin and the Tennessee Volunteers will continue their in-your-face campaign with a billboard in Florida.
Steve Conroy, Boston Herald: Encouraging news on the condition of Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich, who has been undergoing treatments to battle cancer.
Ferd Lewis, Honolulu Advertiser: Hawaii athletic director Jim Donovan has voluntarily accepted a 7% pay cut and other athletic administrators are expected to sustain mandatory trims while coaches could also be asked to accept reductions to contribute to the school's belt tightening.
Brent Schrotenboer, San Diego Union-Tribune: The San Diego City Council approved a 10-year lease for San Diego State to use Qualcomm Stadium. The city is guaranteed a profit of about $15,000 per game and a $1 surcharge will be added to most Aztec tickets to help pay for it.
Kyle Veazey, Clarion Ledger: Receiver Delmon Robinson has left Mississippi State's team. He played in 11 games last season, catching 12 passes for 125 yards.
MGoBlog: Impressions of Big Ten coaches.
Lincoln Journal Star: Nebraska I-back Quentin Castille pleaded no contest to failure to deliver a vehicle title on sale.
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