Matt Murschell, College Gridiron 365: Illinois' Ron Zook, asked if the Southeastern Conference was a "better conference" than the Big Ten: "At this time, it probably is but I think there's teams in the Big Ten Conference just as well as there's teams in the Southeastern Conference that can play against anybody. The biggest thing that I've noticed is that maybe in the Southeastern Conference there's a few more big guys that can run, but trust me there's some awfully, awfully good players in the Big Ten Conference as well."
Adam Zuvanich, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: No freedom of speech in the new Big 12? Texas Tech's Tommy Tuberville was publicly reprimanded by the league for comments he made about the league’s unity and viability.
Dave Birkett, Ann Arbor.com: The NCAA investigation into Michigan’s program has cost the university nearly half million dollars, and expenses continue to mount.
Zac Boyer, Hartford Courant: Connecticut's program lost nearly $280,000 during the 2008-09 academic year and was one of five teams from Bowl Championship Series conferences that failed to make a profit, according to figures from the U.S. Department of Education's Equity in Athletics report. Three BCS programs lost more money — Syracuse, which lost $835,000, Wake Forest ($3.07 million) and Duke ($6.72 million). Rutgers, which spent $19.07 million on its program, was the only other team to fail to make a profit, though it broke even.
Jill Vejnoska and Dan Chapman, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia fans tend to think that athletic director Damon Evans should be fired. "I don't think he's got a snowball's chance in hell of keeping his job right now," said Robert Hughes, a Bulldog Club member. "And he might not be able to save his marriage."
Capital Press: Perhaps it's time that Oregon State, a land-grant institution located in a region known as the Grass Seed Capital of the World, replace the artificial turf on Reser Stadium with natural turf.
Mark Snyder, Detroit Free Press: What does $226 million get you these days? A dramatic makeover of Michigan Stadium.
Jon Solomon, Birmingham News: Former U.S. representative Tom McMillen applauds recent Knight Commission suggestions to restore balance between academic and athletic spending among universities.
Associated Press: The NCAA plans to publish academic progress rate figures for coaches, and many coaches are expressing concern.
Randy Peterson, Des Moines Register: The story of former Iowa State quarterback Joe Noble. After the Cyclones lost to Oklahoma on a questionable call in 1944, he was so upset that he joined the Navy.
Alex Alvarez, Fishbowl New York: ESPN Magazine is moving from its New York headquarters to Bristol, Conn.
John Archibald, Birmingham News: Former Birmingham News columnist Rey Melick is now a spokesman for BP.
Lost Lettermen: Former Michigan kicker Ali Haji-Sheikh is now the general manager of a Porsche dealership in Birmingham, Mich.
Dave Matter, Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri senior safety Jarrell Harrison was arrested for shoplifting at Spencer’s in the Columbia Mall. Harrison appeared in 13 games last season and started eight.
Paul Myerberg, Pre-Snap Read: Counting them down with a look at No. 62 North Carolina State and No. 61 Kentucky.
Follow Jay Christensen on Twitter and join the Wiz on Facebook. To bypass registrations, go to Bug Me Not. Interested in sponsoring the site, have a tip, complaint or idea? Contact: jayzuma (at) gmail.com.
Comments