Tom Humphrey, Knoxville News Sentinel: Freedom of the press? Not in Tennessee. An opinion by state attorney general Bob Cooper says public universities — that includes the University of Tennessee — have a right to put restrictions and conditions on media coverage of athletic events. Football games and the like, the opinion says, "are not public events" and a university "may take any legal measures that are intended to protect its rights under copyright law." Link to Cooper's opinion. News Sentinel Editor Jack McElroy says the opinion may have serious implications.
Joe Gisondi, Sports Field Guide: Go ahead, Tennessee, limit media access if you are truly that myopic. But expect a much more contentious press corps — that is, when they show up at all.
Marlen Garcia, USA Today: The Justice Department's antitrust division is looking into how NCAA teams award scholarships. The Feds want to know why scholarships are awarded on a year-to-year basis. The NCAA said it is because they are merit awards.
Ted Miller, ESPN: Expansion? The Pacific 10 and the Big 12 are talking partnership. Possibilities include a joint network and pooling of TV rights.
Mike Hlas, Cedar Rapids Gazette: We just passed the halfway point of the offseason. A look at the opening night games of Thursday, Sept. 2.
Sports Business Daily: A spring game attendance chart for Bowl Championship Series teams.
ESPN.com: The 2010-11 bowl schedule. The New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 18 starts the run of 35 games. The BCS title game is Jan. 10 in Glendale, Ariz.
Brent Schrotenboer, San Diego Union-Tribune: San Diego State's athletic department, which had a $2 million deficit last year, will hire a telemarketing firm in an attempt to boost ticket sales for football. Telemarketing campaigns don't always work. Colorado State hired a contractor in 2005 but entered its home opener with about 1,000 fewer season tickets sold than the previous year. Thanks to Mike!
Randy King, Roanoke Times: More on Frank Beamer's fall. The Virginia Tech coach said it happened Wednesday night. "I'm all right. They [Tech's sports medicine staff] think I pulled a tendon loose from the bone. My whole arm is purple. It looks worse than it is."
Matthew McGowan, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Mike Leach's legal team claims Texas Tech is playing loose and fast with the rules after they obtained a copy of what they call a "highly relevant" email from a third-party subpoena they filed with an oil company in search of correspondence between regents. Leach attorney Ted Liggett said he does not know exactly how the company had a copy of it, but the university should have turned the email over when Leach filed a subpoena for such correspondence weeks ago.
Teddy Greenstein, Chicago Tribune: The Insight Bowl announced that it has swapped network partners for its Big Ten vs. Big 12 game: ESPN is in, the NFL Network is out.
Brian Cook, The Sporting Blog: It's time to pop the bowl bubble.
Cecil Hurt, Tuscaloosa News: Jacksonville has joined Atlanta and Dallas as cities that would be interested in playing host to a neutral-site game for Alabama.
Lonnie White, FanHouse: Pac-10 commish Larry Scott comments on the NCAA investigation of USC: "No one has any inside information on what is going to happen. If they say they know, they really don't. ... I can't tell you how the Pac-10 will respond until the ruling comes in and the rationale used in coming to the decision."
Columbia State: Former South Carolina running back George Rogers was named a Palmetto Patriot in the State Senate, a memento, lawmakers said, for being one of the university’s greatest players and acting as a noteworthy ambassador for the school.
Rod Frisco, Harrisburg Patriot-News: Joe Paterno and Dave Wannstedt are urging the Pennsylvania State Football Coaches Association to add spring football to the list of approved PIAA activities.
Paul Myerberg, Pre-Snap Read: The countdown begins with a look at No. 120 North Texas. Plus, Myerberg details five things he likes and dislikes about the Mean Green. At No. 119 is Eastern Michigan and the likes and dislikes.
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