Bill Graves, Oregonian: Oregon State's athletic department fell $5.9 million in the red by the end of the last fiscal year. Oregon also was in the red, falling $642,000 in the hole in the same period.
Neil Johnson, Tampa Tribune: Former South Florida defensive end Nick Schuyler, the lone survivor of a fishing trip that turned deadly for three men a year ago, tells of watching his friends die on NBC's "Today" and "The Oprah Winfrey Show."
Ed McGranahan, Greenville News: More than 40,000 email messages of protest were received by Clemson president Jim Barker after an NCAA decision to remove from its site an advertisement financed by the same group that produced the ad for the Super Bowl featuring former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow. Barker was targeted in the campaign because of his role as chairman of the Division I board.
Brian Fremeau, BCF Toys: In 20 years, the frequency of games played between teams ranked in the top 25 has been nearly cut in half. The primary reason for the decline has been conference expansion.
Teddy Greenstein, Chicago Tribune: Five teams — Missouri, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Rutgers — were analyzed as targets of Big Ten expansion, according to a report that was prepared for the league. Plus, negotiations are advancing for Illinois to play Northwestern this fall at Wrigley Field.
Jon Wilner, San Jose Mercury News: The Pacific 10, which currently generates about $100 million in annual revenue, would like to increase that amount by 50%. In regards to expansion, the central question becomes: Would adding two teams create so much more net revenue that the 1/12th splits are greater than the 1/10th splits? Thanks to Kevin!
Tim Stephens, College Gridiron 365: Five factors that could sink conference expansion.
Bleed Crimson: The Aggies have signed running back Kenny Turner of Fullerton College. Turner was arrested and convicted on a second-degree felony for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon at age 16. He spent five years in prison but earned his GED.
Chadd Cripe, Idaho Statesman: Boise State's Kevin Sapien, a starting offensive lineman, won't play during his senior year because of debilitating neck and shoulder injuries.
Jon Solomon, Birmingham News: ESPN reached an agreement to telecast the Gator Bowl and extended deals with the Capital One and Outback.
Bob Young, Arizona Republic: Isaiah Mustafa, a receiver on Arizona State's 1996 Rose Bowl team, is the guy in those Old Spice commercials. Link to YouTube video. Thanks to Dan!
Brandon George, Dallas Morning News: The editor of the Texas A&M Commerce student newspaper wants an apology from Guy Morriss after the coach praised his players for the theft of about 2,000 copies of the Feb. 25 edition of the newspaper that detailed the arrest of two members of the team.
Cole Manbeck, Manhattan Mercury: Arthur Brown, a former five-star linebacker and one of the top players in the nation in 2008, is transferring to Kansas State after seeing the field minimally in the past two seasons at Miami. Could Arthur's brother, Bryce Brown of Tennessee, be far behind?
Jack Moran, Eugene Register-Guard: Former Oregon receiver Garrett Embry, targeted in a theft probe, has hired an attorney. Michael Buseman also represents LaMichael James in the running back's domestic assault case.
Paul Buker, Oregonian: Oregon State quarterback Lyle Moevao was denied an additional year of eligibility. Moevao will be remembered for this block.
Ken Goe, Oregonian: In an amicable split, the Walt Disney Company has agreed that the Oregon Duck mascot is not Donald Duck and that the mascot is no longer subject to Disney's trademark.
Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times: A deposition in a civil lawsuit against Reggie Bush has been postponed because of a delay in the arrival of legal paperwork.
Andy Alcock, WLKY: Police have questioned an unnamed Louisville player in the assault of an Army veteran who served time in Iraq.
Marc Morehouse, Cedar Rapids Gazette: Iowa is raising ticket prices by $3 a game.
Kyle Veazey, Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State lost seven of its 56 allotted official recruiting visits during the current academic year as a result of violations that it says occurred when recruits visited a strip club during an official visit on Jan. 15.
Jose Patino, Tampa Tribune: Joel Miller says he will not pursue legal action against former South Florida coach Jim Leavitt, who was accused of striking the player during the halftime of last year's Louisville game.
Kansas City Star: The widow of former Kansas athletic director Bob Frederick has sued the city of Lawrence and Black Hills Energy, a natural gas utility, alleging that their negligence contributed to her husband’s death last year in a bicycle accident.
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