The Wiz of Odds

Hatch Continues to Play Offense

Orrin Hatch, who made news last week by saying he is planning a Senate hearing into possible antitrust violations by the Bowl Championship Series, made an appearance Monday on 1280 The Zone in Salt Lake City. He continued to fire away at the BCS, saying it is based on "elitism."

"I like the word elitism," he said. "I was born in poverty. In my family, I had to earn everything. We didn't even have indoor facilities in my early part of my life. I had to fight for everything I've ever had. I was a janitor going through BYU. I'm proud of that."

He added: "Unfortunately as we've all grown up, we've found there are elite people who think everything should be done their way and not done in a fair way. And in this particular case, it [the BCS bowl system] isn't done in a fair way."

Hatch was just getting warmed up.

Gay Player Tells His Story to Outsports

A gay kicker on a Division I-A team in the Bible Belt has told his story to Eric Anderson of Outsports. The player, who goes by the pseudonym "Tim" in the story, is not totally "out." But his sexuality is not a problem with teammates and he often brings his boyfriend to team parties.

Anderson writes: "Like so many their age, the two met on Facebook. Although he once attended the same college as Tim, he has since transferred to another school. ... His boyfriend is an openly gay former baseball player (he was closeted while playing) for his school. He comes to watch Tim play football whenever he can.

"Although Tim does not introduce him to his teammates as his boyfriend, 'people know,' Tim says. One of the team's seniors said to him this past season: 'I know about you, and if anyone ever messes with you, you just tell me who they are and I'll beat the crap out of whoever it is.' "

Where There's a Will There's a Way

Pete Carroll, one coach who has mastered cyberspace, has been on a campaign to get Will Ferrell to join him on Twitter. Thanks to Dr. Saturday.

Houston Receiver Plans to Return This Fall

Patrick Edwards, the Houston receiver who broke his right leg last fall when he ran into a metal service cart during a game at Marshall, plans on playing this fall.

"Patrick Edwards is coming back next season and I'm going to pick up where I left off." Edwards said in an interview with Houston TV station KRIV. "I am going to be better than that because I've got confidence."

Notre Dame: Dive Right In

We're on a video kick, and here is one for Notre Dame, produced by Row 27.

Reporters Notebooks

Oregonian: Oregon announced that incoming athletic director and outgoing head coach Mike Bellotti will serve as an assistant coach during spring practices. Bellotti, who will begin his new administrative role in the athletic department on July 1, will serve as quarterbacks coach during the Ducks' 15 practices.

Bob Condotta, Seattle Times: Steve Sarkisian promises that every second of Washington's 15 spring workouts will be open to the public. "I want our kids used to performing in front of people. Because the last thing I want is for us to be enclosed and it's quiet and we are just out there with ourselves. And then we show up to play LSU and there are 73,000 people here and our kids are looking up in the stands like, 'Oh my gosh, they are here to watch me, to watch us.' And now they are worried about the people in the stands watching instead of what's important, and that's the game."

Brian Christopherson, Lincoln Journal Star: Bo Pelini got a 68% bump in pay that makes him the highest-paid coach in Nebraska history. His annual sum of $1.851 million appears to rank seventh in the Big 12, slightly more than the salary of Kansas State's Bill Snyder.

Cliff Kirkpatrick, Corvallis Gazette-Times: Oregon State senior running back Jeremy Francis has left the team. Francis missed the winter term to go home to Winter Park, Fla., so he could help his mother recover from heart surgery.

Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: A bunch of Southeastern Conference teams held scrimmages last weekend, and here are five things to ponder.

Mike McCall, Miami Herald: Florida has been running plays from the I-formation, with Tim Tebow under center, but Urban Meyer says it's not going very well. ''That I-package, I'm not sure how long that will be sticking around here,'' he said.