The Wiz of Odds

The Making of a Poster Schedule

Last Wednesday, this site featured the Florida State poster schedule, which was created by Old Hat Creative. It took 12 hours of Photoshop work to create the poster, but you can watch the entire process in 5:37.

"It gives you a first-hand approach to how the poster went from a blank page to coolness," writes senior art director Brian Hostetler.

The man behind the mouse was artist Geoffrey Rogers.

Reporters Notebooks

Dirk Chatelain, Omaha World-Herald: Nebraska's game against Texas is 83 days away, but the obsession with beating the Longhorns has already reached the boiling point for Cornhusker fans.

Austin Meek, Topeka Capital-Journal: Former Kansas State coach Ron Prince testified that former athletic director Tim Weiser sketched a preliminary contract proposal on a napkin after the Wildcats' 73-31 loss at Nebraska in 2007. That contract — and Prince's accompanying buyout agreement — would become the basis for the ongoing legal battle between the school and its former coach.

Tim Feran, Columbus Dispatch: Time Warner Cable customers could miss Ohio State's game against the Miami Hurricanes in September if a contract dispute between the company and ESPN is not resolved.

David Brandt, Clarion-Ledger: With No. 2 quarterback Raymond Cotton deciding to transfer, might Mississippi be interested in Jeremiah Masoli?

Navy

Midshipmen quarterback Ricky Dobbs has a dream. "In the year 2040, I hope to run for president," he said last year. For now, he'll run Navy's option offense, something he has already mastered. Dodds totaled 33 touchdowns last season — 27 rushing and six passing — and is on the Heisman radar as he enters his senior season. An undefeated regular season would help Dobbs' campaign, and it's not out of the question. The Midshipmen's Bowl Championship Series opponents — Maryland, Wake Forest, Notre Dame and Duke — are beatable, and the rest of the schedule is manageable. Navy's dominance of the Commander-in-Chief's trophy will be tested in an Oct. 2 game at Air Force. Then there is the season finale on Dec. 11 against Army.

As a run-up to the start of the season, the Wiz will display one poster each day until our supply is exhausted. Last year, the site displayed 69 posters.

Then we turn it over to readers, who will vote on the poster of the year. In the meantime, send your team's poster schedule to jayzuma (at) gmail.com. Thanks to Scott!

Click the image for an enlarged view.

Reporters Notebooks

Tyson Alger, Oregonian: Former Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli is now free to "move on with his life" after he cleared up legal obligations stemming from a June 7 traffic stop.

David Moulton, Naples News: Making the case for Bowl Championship Series teams leaving the NCAA.

Dennis Dodd, CBS Sports: Les Miles' stock has tumbled to the point that Michigan might take a pass if he were to get fired by Louisiana State.

Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel: Has Tennessee's program plunged to a point where the Volunteers actually have to gamble on an unproven coach in Derek Dooley?

Andy Baggott, Madison.com: It's unclear what the Big Ten will do with 12 teams, but Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez has ideas.

David Brandt, Clarion Ledger: Mississippi quarterback Raymond Cotton has left the team. He was the No. 2 quarterback behind Nathan Stanley entering fall drills.

Jim Wyatt, Tennessean: Tennessee Titans running backs coach Kennedy Pola will be the offensive coordinator at USC. Titans coach Jeff Fisher is upset with Lane Kiffin for showing a "lack of professionalism."

Florida

The Gators will try to maintain their high level of play as they embark on the post-Tim Tebow era. John Brantley becomes the starting quarterback and he's a better passer than Tebow, but there is no replacing Tebow's leadership ability. The schedule, which features seven home games, is favorable, but there are troublesome road games against Alabama (Oct. 2) and Florida State (Nov. 27). Florida is favored to win the East Division of the Southeastern Conference, but after going 26-2 the past two seasons, an unexpected loss could turn 2010 into the ultimate test of character for Urban Meyer's team. 

As a run-up to the start of the season, the Wiz will display one poster each day until our supply is exhausted. Last year, the site displayed 69 posters.

Then we turn it over to readers, who will vote on the poster of the year. In the meantime, send your team's poster schedule to jayzuma (at) gmail.com.

Click the image for an enlarged view.

Reporters Notebooks

Rebecca Ferrar, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Bar Knoxville, the site of a July 9 brawl allegedly involving a number of Tennessee players, has been cited numerous times by the Alcoholic Beverage Commission and the Knoxville police department for violations of beer and liquor laws, including advertising free liquor, failure to maintain law and order and allowing sexual or pornographic conduct on the premises. Thanks to Paul!

Ray Glier, New York Times: Are agents merely pimps, as suggested by Alabama's Nick Saban. "I would never tolerate nor permit Saban or any other coach to lump me in that category," agent Ralph Cindrich said. "In terms of him throwing that out there, most agents know what goes on in college programs and what programs are clean or not. You want to find out who has the dirty programs, give immunity and go off the record with agents, and it would be like a cockfight, the last one standing wins."

David Whitley, FanHouse: Saban owes pimps an apology.

Bylaw Blog: The identity of the person behind the Bylaw Blog is revealed. It's John Infante, assistant director of compliance at Loyola Marymount.

Susan Shan: There are some women who are just an embarrassment to the women in sports reporting, broadcasting and writing. A prime example is Jenn Sterger.

Iliana Limón, College Gridiron 365: Taking a closer look at conference television contracts.

Brent Schrotenboer, San Diego Union-Tribune: The San Diego State athletic department finished with a $1.5 million net deficit for its fiscal year ending June 30 and this week laid off seven employees, including four assistant coaches in men’s and women’s tennis, men’s soccer and women’s crew. An undisclosed donor then committed $90,000 to the athletic department to fund the reinstatement of two of the assistant coaches.