The Wiz of Odds

Eugene Is Now Clown Town

A KMTR report on a billboard in Eugene that portrays Oregon players who have had run-ins with the law as clowns.

Tranghese: Big East's Future in Doubt

Mike Tranghese, who stepped down in June after 19 years as Big East commissioner, was in the middle of the last major conference realignment. In 2004-05, the Atlantic Coast Conference grabbed Boston College, Miami and Virginia Tech from the Big East. That set off a chain reaction that saw 23 teams change conferences and Army becoming an independent.

Tranghese put the Big East back together, adding football members Louisville, Cincinnati and South Florida from Conference USA.

He's not optimistic the Big East could do it again.

"The whole expansion thing with the Big Ten is very, very unnerving. ... If the Big Ten comes and takes multiple teams from the Big East, I think the Big East is in trouble," he said. "It's a tough situation because I don't think there's anything the Big East can do to prevent it. I think everyone is sort of sitting on pins and needles."

Reporters Notebooks

Dave Birkett, Ann Arbor.com: Alex Herron, who was named in a Notice of Allegations the NCAA sent to Michigan last month, is no longer part of the program. A spokesperson declined to say why Herron is no longer with the program or what led to his departure.

Scott D. Pierce, Deseret News: After a battle that lasted more than six months, Versus and DirecTV have settled differences. The sports channel returned to the satellite TV provider's lineup on Monday.

Greg Dooley, M Victors: Bo Schembechler's old business card is available on eBay.

Ron Higgins, Memphis Commercial Appeal: The Liberty Bowl got a much-sought Dec. 31 slot on ESPN's postseason lineup. The last two years, the game was played on Jan. 2.

Ann Arbor.com: An apology for an inappropriate remark made during a live chat.

Brian Kollars, Dayton Daily News: Ohio State extend Jim Tressel's contract for two years. The new deal runs through Jan. 31, 2015 — the end of the 2014 season.

Andrews Peeper Gets 30 Months in Prison

Michael Barrett, the Illinois insurance executive who secretly shot nude videos of ESPN's Erin Andrews, was sentenced Monday to 30 months in prison after giving a tearful apology to his victim.

"There are no words to tell Ms. Andrews how sorry I am for what I've done to her," he said. "I hope someday she can forgive me."

Andrews, who according to an Associated Press account was visibly nervous as she spoke, urged the judge for a harsher sentence.

"You violated me and you violated all women," Andrews told Barrett. "You are a sexual predator, a sexual deviant and they should lock you up."

After the sentencing, Andrews said, "Thirty months isn't enough."

The 911 Call in the Masoli and Embry Case

Here is the 911 call made early on the morning of Jan. 24 to report the theft of items from Oregon's Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. That led to last Friday's guilty pleas by Jeremiah Masoli and Garrett Embry. Thanks to KVAL.

Reporters Notebooks

Jon Solomon, Birmingham News: Alabama spent nearly $2 million more than Texas on the Bowl Championship Series title game. The Crimson Tide spent $4,296,631 on the eight-day trip, with almost a third of the expenses coming from bonuses to coaches and administrators. Texas spent $2,359,051 over eight days. Plus, South Carolina and Connecticut broke even on the Papajohns.com Bowl.

Esquire: The magazine is running a contest for "sexiest woman alive," which consists of online voting featuring 64 candidates in an NCAA tournament-like bracket. One of the candidates is USC's Lane Kiffin, seeded 16th, who is currently trouncing Natalie Gulbis, a No. 1-seeded candidate.

Scott Carter, Tampa Tribune: Former South Florida coach Jim Leavitt filed a lawsuit against the university and USF Foundation. Leavitt is seeking restitution for what his attorneys claim is a "breach of written contractual promises made to coach Leavitt in March 2008, as well as for accountability by USF for refusal to comply with the Florida Public Records laws.'' Link to documents related to the case.

Greg Auman and Gary Shelton, St. Petersburg Times: "I wouldn't have done anything different," Leavitt said. From here on out, all that matters is money. For Leavitt, there is nothing else to play for.

Tim Leighton, St. Paul Pioneer Press: Seantrel Henderson, the 6-foot-8, 340-pound offensive tackle recruit, plans to sign his letter of intent to USC on Thursday.

John Hunt, Oregonian: The Oregon student at the center of the Jeremiah Masoli and Garrett Embry case says some fellow students have been giving him a hard time for dragging the players into the theft case.

Dawson Bell, Detroit News: The only known wolverine in the wilds of Michigan has been found dead near where it was first spotted in 2004.