The Wiz of Odds

Reporters Notebooks

Michael Deak, East Brunswick Home News Tribune: Ryan Hart, who was Rutgers' quarterback from 2002-05, and Troy Taylor, who was California's quarterback from 1986-89, have filed a lawsuit against EA Sports. The suit alleges the video game manufacturer used the players' likeness without permission. Former Nebraska and Arizona State quarterback Sam Keller filed a suit in May with the same claims.

Rey Melick, Birmingham News: An online betting service has posted odds on teams most likely to commit the next NCAA violation. USC tops the list at 8-1. Ohio State is No. 2 at 9-1, followed by Florida, Memphis and Mississippi at 10-1. North Carolina, Connecticut, Michigan State and Florida State are 12-1. Alabama is 13-1.

Doug Zaleski, Muncie Star Press: The Ball State athletic department has been accused of failing to provide equal intercollegiate athletic opportunities for men and women under the structure of Title IX. A four-person team from the Department of Education interviewed Ball State officials earlier this month.

Paul Finebaum, Mobile Press-Register: There is no buyout in Nick Saban's contract with Alabama, meaning his deal has less teeth than the front row at Neyland Stadium.

J.P. Giglio, Raleigh News & Observer: North Carolina, which at one point had 29 commitments for 12 available scholarships, has trimmed its roster to the point that it now has three scholarships open.

Colleges' Misuse of Student Privacy Law Gets Scrutiny

The Education Department, reacting to a series of stories by the Columbus Dispatch, has launched an examination into wide-ranging interpretations by colleges of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, commonly called FERPA.

Former U.S. Senator James Buckley authored the act in 1974 to shield students' report cards and transcripts from public view. But, as the Dispatch reported, the use of FERPA has extended far beyond the classroom.

College routinely cite FERPA to keep secret names of athletes who have gambled, accepted payoffs, cheated, cashed in on their notoriety and even sexually abused others. Names of coaches who broke recruiting rules or committed academic fraud and even rogue boosters have also been kept private. In one case, FERPA was even extended to an ESPN broadcaster named in school records.

"That's not what we intended," Buckley, 86, said. "The law needs to be revamped. Institutions are putting their own meaning into the law."

Reporters Notebooks

Mark Dent, Indianapolis Star: NCAA president Myles Brand, his weight noticeably down because of his fight with pancreatic cancer, made a rare public appearance Sunday evening during an awards ceremony.

Ken Tysiac, Charlotte Observer: North Carolina State linebacker Nate Irving suffered a broken leg and collapsed lung in a car crash Sunday morning.

Ryan Thorburn and Kyle Ringo, Boulder Daily Camera: Colorado's Dan Hawkins says his team is capable of a Big 12 title run. "Do we have the potential to do that? Yes, we do," he said. "But you've got to get hot, you've got to get some confidence going, you've got to avoid injuries. And then you never know how those things will go. But I think we're definitely getting closer to knocking on the door." Plus, former Colorado receiver Josh Smith has been given a release to transfer to UCLA in addition to USC.

Natalie Meisler, Denver Post: Louise Bennett Reed, a coal miner's daughter, bequeathed the Colorado athletic department her entire estate valued at $4.75 million. Reed, who died a year ago at age 103, was a volunteer academic/career counselor for Colorado players during the mid-1970s.

Patrick Finley, Arizona Daily Star: Starting this fall, all Arizona athletes will be required to set their Facebook pages to private.

Eric Hansen, South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame tight end Joseph Fauria has been given his release and is expected to transfer to a Pacific 10 team. Fauria said he decided to leave after he was suspended by Notre Dame's Office of Residence Life. Under terms of the suspension, Fauria was not allowed back on campus until after Christmas.

Air Force's Calhoun Unloads on BCS

A day after the Bowl Championship Series Presidential Oversight Committee slammed the door on the Mountain West Conference's plan for an eight-team playoff, Air Force coach Troy Calhoun ripped the system designed to exclude non-BCS teams from lucrative top-tier bowl games.

"We basically have a system for college football that too closely resembles the old Soviet Presidium," Calhoun said, referring to the policymaking and governing body of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

"You have a seven-member politburo that's decided if you aren't one of those party members, then you're unable to participate."

Calhoun was just getting started.

Reporters Notebooks

Brent Schrotenboer, San Diego Union-Tribune: San Diego State has brought in an outside consultant to help figure out ways to part with former coach Chuck Long, who is being paid $715,900 per year until his contract runs out on Dec. 31, 2010. Thanks to Mike.

Doug Tucker, Associated Press: The Kansas Board of Regents voted to require state universities to conduct regular audits that include their athletics departments after revelations that Kansas State coach Bill Snyder and others received tens of thousands of dollars in undocumented payments.

Alex Ebert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Under pressure from legislators angered by the Minnesota's plan to sell alcohol only in the private suites and premium seats at the new TCF Bank Stadium, the regents voted, 10-2, to make all athletic events on campus alcohol free.

Conquest Chronicles: Another year, the same result: Southeastern Conference and Big 12 teams are out-of-conference scheduling cowards. The Pacific 10 is full of idiots.

Ian Rapoport, Birmingham News: Alabama's Nick Saban is in negotiations for a contract extension.

Losers With Socks: Hmmmm. About that Marlon Brown Facebook account.

Reporters Notebooks

Todd Jones and Jill Riepenhoff, Columbus Dispatch: A look at the NCAA's expanding arsenal of ways to dim the public spotlight aimed at collegiate athletic scandals.

Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star: The NCAA has no plans to look into questionable financial dealings uncovered by an audit at Kansas State.

Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: There are signs that Florida and Georgia are ready to sign an extension to keep their annual game in Jacksonville.

Holly Anderson, Dr. Saturday: Traditional molting season has arrived again in Oregon.

Andrea Adelsen, Orlando Sentinel: With universities and athletic programs cutting back because of the economic crisis, Florida's athletic budget increased 7% to $89 million for the 2009-10 school year.

Gary Jacobson, Dallas Morning News: The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex economy could get a boost of over $100 million from nine games this season.