The Wiz of Odds

New Mexico State

DeWayne Walker's first season as Aggie coach was a long one, but that's not unusual in Las Cruces, where there has been only three winning seasons in the past 30 — one less than the number of posters the team produced for this season. New Mexico State actually started 3-3, then lost its last seven, with many of the defeats of the blowout variety. Making matters worse was the Aggies' anemic passing game, which averaged only 88.77 yards a game and had 18 passes intercepted. Walker hired former Minnesota, California and Northwestern offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar in the offseason in hopes of ending a bowl drought that dates to 1960, the longest skid in Division I-A.

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. Thanks to Bleed Crimson.

 

Louisiana State

Patrick Peterson, who is arguably college football's top shutdown cornerback, is featured on the Tigers' poster. LSU's abundance of talent on defense will keep it in the thick of the Southeastern Conference West Division race, but the Tigers' hopes and dreams will ultimately ride on the development of the offense. LSU was a lowly 112th in total offense in 2009, and that won't cut it in the rugged SEC.

Creating a poster schedule might look like easy work, but it's truly a job for trained professionals. LSU publications director Jason Feirman has detailed the process behind this poster. Read about it by clicking here. The process began last fall and the poster was sent to the printer earlier this week. It will be available to fans on Aug. 8.

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.

This is the 22st poster that has been displayed, and we have 37 in hand.

Click the image for an enlarged view.

Reporters Notebooks

Kris Knowlton, Lincoln Journal Star: Nebraska fans will have to spend more time and money traveling to Big Ten games. Traveling by car to and from each Big Ten city will mean an extra 3,168 miles on the odometer — the equivalent of driving from Seattle to Orlando. It adds up to about $425 in gas and an extra 51 hours, 8 minutes — two days — on the road.

Brian Grummell, FanHouse: According to multiple reports, Kyle Parker will return to quarterback Clemson this fall after failing to reach an exclusive baseball-only contract with the Colorado Rockies.

Austin Ward, Knoxville News Sentinel: Nick Lamaison's brief and unsuccessful career at Tennessee ended in May, but the quarterback continues to be denied a release from his scholarship. Lamaison left Knoxville in May, and his former position coach at South Hills High in Walnut, Calif., is upset. "I understand, I get it, he played there and got a scholarship opportunity, there's a new coach and things didn't work out," Michael Owens said. "But I feel like they're just penalizing the kid."

Rick Scoppe, Jacksonville (N.C.) Daily News: Former Stanford, Notre Dame and Washington coach Tyrone Willingham said he is retired. "I've done 30 years of collegiate and professional coaching. That's not a bad career. I think I've had failures. I think I've had successes. I think I've been places that most people will never go in life with my career. It's a good career." 

Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times: A busy Tuesday at USC. Mike Garrett was ousted as athletic director after 17 years and replaced by former Trojan quarterback Pat Haden. The university also announced that it would return its copy of Reggie Bush's Heisman Trophy.

Dennis Dodd, CBS Sports: USC should return Garrett's Heisman, too.

Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times: Garrett did many things right, but his arrogance and obliviousness did him in.

Kyle Ringo, Boulder Daily Camera: USC receiver Travon Patterson is said to be contemplating a transfer to Colorado for the fall semester. Plus, athletic director Mike Bohn, whose department operated on about $47 million last year, said strategic cuts will be made for the coming year.

Mike Herndon, Mobile Press-Register: Tuesday's revelation that Alabama defensive end Marcell Dareus may have violated NCAA rules by attending an agent's party in South Beach earlier this summer throws a dark cloud over what should have been a triumphant return to Southeastern Conference media days for Nick Saban.

Darren Rovell, CNBC: Is the NCAA really boasting about agent regulation? Please. The NCAA has been inadequately monitoring agent conduct for a quarter of a century.

A Look at Marvin Austin's Twitter Account

Marvin Austin, one of the North Carolina players at the center of an NCAA inquiry into possible improper contact with sports agents, was a busy man on Twitter before his account recently went dark. Austin posted more than 2,400 updates and built a following of more than 1,800 people.

Much to the joy of North Carolina State fans, a cached version of Austin's account — ANCHORMANAUSTIN — still exists on Google. The site State Fans Nation took a cruise through the 6-foot-3, 305-pound defensive tackle's life on Twitter and found that he has a fondness for guns. The above photo, posted in May, came with this message: "Da taurus 500 maggie…call it da bust it baby!!!!!!"

Florida State

Jimbo Fisher's team should have no trouble scoring points behind quarterback Christian Ponder, but it's the defense that holds the key to the season. One of Fisher's first moves was to bring in Mark Stoops as defensive coordinator. Stoops had spent the previous six seasons at Arizona, and he's facing quite the challenge in Tallahassee. Florida State gave up an average of 30 points a game last season and finished 108th in total defense. The nonconference schedule features a road game at Oklahoma and home games against Brigham Young and Florida.

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. This is the 21st poster that has been displayed, and we 37 others in hand.

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. Thanks to Jason! Poster designed by Old Hat Creative.

Reporters Notebooks

Daniel Lyght, Fresno Bee: Ending months of speculation, Fresno State coach Pat Hill said that he has agreed to a pay cut and a new contract that will extend his tenure through the 2013 season. Hill, entering his 14th season at Fresno State, declined to give financial details of the deal, which has yet to be signed.

Steve Andress: KEZI-TV: Former Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli reportedly has completed his last two classes to earn his undergraduate degree at the school, allowing him to transfer and play immediately in 2010.

Pete Pelegrin, Miami Herald: The sportswriter announces his departure from the newspaper. He's not a happy man. (If link is taken down, a copy of the column is saved here.) Update: Also added a copy of reader comments. Find it by clicking here.

Ken Tysiac, Raleigh News & Observer: Despite aggressive countermeasures, the influence of agents hustling to curry favor among college athletes is one of the biggest problems athletic administrators face as they try to keep their programs from running afoul of NCAA rules.

Eleven Warriors: Which program has the most annoying fans? Here are five to choose from: Notre Dame, Florida, Louisiana State, Tennessee and Miami.

TMZ: Colt McCoy got married last weekend, and even at his wedding party, he was upstaged by former college rival Tim Tebow.

Joseph Plambeck, New York Times: ESPN is planning several changes to its magazine to better coordinate its coverage with ESPN's networks.