Lee Barfknecht, Omaha World-Herald: Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne wants Big 12 coaches to be able to ask the conference to "rest" an official because of repeated substandard work. "If you feel somebody has really not measured up," he said, "you could request that he not work any of your games the next year."
Bernard Fernandez, Philadelphia Daily News: Penn State's Joe Paterno will push for a Division I-A playoff during next week's Big Ten meetings. "It makes sense that we have a playoff," he said. "I don't know what the problems are, but I don't like to hear the phony reasons why they don't have it. 'The kids are going to spend too much time away from class.' Aw, come on. Look what they do with the basketball [NCAA tournament]. All the other divisions in NCAA football have playoffs. I really think a playoff is fairer."
Brent Schrotenboer, San Diego Union-Tribune: San Diego State defensive lineman Eric Ikonne spent a week in the hospital last month after collapsing during a workout because of overexertion. Ikonne has sickle cell trait, which makes him susceptible to breakdown during high-intensity workouts. Plus, San Diego State athletic director Jeff Schemmel had his contract extended through June 2013.
Eric Hansen, South Bend Tribune: ESPN analyst Lee Corso says Charlie Weis needs to be Charlie Weis, a point he made last season on air. "That's not second-guessing. That's first-guessing. And you saw what happened. Everybody got mad at me, but two things happened at Notre Dame last year that I'd never thought I'd see — crowing about a win against Navy and being so proud they beat Hawaii in a bowl game. Hello?"
Matt Humphrey, College Gridiron 365: The top 10 coaches at creating controversy. Steve Spurrier edges Lane Kiffin for No. 1.
Larry Hartstein, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Spurrier on the Paul Finebaum Radio Network, talking about Urban Meyer: "They've still got that rumor going down there, Paul, that if he has about one more big year he might be the Notre Dame coach. I know you've heard that rumor."
Sal Interdonato, Times Herald-Record: The future home for the Army-Navy game has been narrowed to four sites: Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia; the new Giants Stadium in East Rutherford; M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore and FedEx Field in Landover, Md.
Ed Gunther, National Championship Issue: The arguments for and against a Division I-A playoff.
Tom Kensler, Denver Post: John Elway is OK with his son's decision to quit football. "Just talking to him, it's like the world has been lifted off his shoulders. So I'm happy for him."
Rich Thompson, Boston Herald: Boston College standout linebacker Mark Herzlich disclosed that he has been diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer.
Mike Casazza, Charleston Daily Mail: The Big East is looking to improve its deal with the Gator Bowl during league meetings next week.
Mike Hlas, Cedar Rapids Gazette: It's officially a recession: Nike will cut 5% of its work force.
Michael Rothstein, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette: Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird has ties to Notre Dame.
Kate Hairopoulos, Dallas Morning News: Conference USA officials recommended reducing a travel party to 66 players and only essential support staff. Injured players would no longer be allowed to make trips.
Grand Rapids Press: Michigan running back Kevin Grady is in jail for seven days after violating his probation on a 2008 drunken driving conviction.
Jeffrey Martin, Kansas City Star: John Currie, a 38-year-old executive associate athletic director at Tennessee, is Kansas State’s new athletic director.
Ginger Gibson, Wilmington News Journal: Delaware governor Jack Markell signed the state's betting bill into law.
Paul Strelow, Columbia State: The Atlantic Coast Conference has decided it no longer would mimic the NCAA’s ban on predetermined championship events being held in South Carolina. The NCAA’s ban, which began in 2001, is in place so long as the Confederate flag continues to fly on the grounds of the state capitol.
The Quad: The countdown continues: No. 110 Louisiana Lafayette and No. 109 Kent State.
To bypass registration, go to Bug Me Not. Here is today's mystery link.
Tom Osborne's suggestion for the Big XII is what they used to do in the Big 8, and it worked well for those schools.
And frankly, considering that the Big XII has THE worst officiating out of all the BCS conferences (and maybe even the Mountain West), anything like this would help with that reputation and reality.
Posted by: Matt | May 15, 2009 at 12:45 PM
The Kentucky Derby winner was Mine That Bird, not Mine That School.
Posted by: Penn State Clips | May 15, 2009 at 03:45 PM