Michael Lev, Orange County Register: USC coach Pete Carroll said he and the school went through "all the proper channels" in hiring a special-teams consultant last season.
"We've documented it," he said. "The topic has just come up because
there's an article on it. We dealt with this thing way back when to do
it properly and do it the right way." Carroll said consultant Pete Rodriguez was paid by the school but declined to discuss further details of the arrangement.
Iliana Limón, Orlando Sentinel: Coaches pay at big-time programs continues to skyrocket despite the economic slump. A look at the salaries of all head coaches in Division I-A. Alabama will spend more for its 10-member staff this fall than 32 Division I-A teams from outside Bowl Championship Series leagues spent operating their entire programs in 2007. Plus, a look at Mountain West teams versus BCS opponents since 2005. The MWC is 29-32 (47.5%), with 34 of the games played at the BCS opponent's stadium (55.7%).
Jon Solomon, Birmingham News: The idea for the Southeastern Conference's new digital network, set to launch Aug. 27, comes straight out of iTunes but with a football twist. Viewing the content is expected to be free. Downloading it or ordering a DVD will cost money, creating a new revenue stream for the league, which negotiated its copyright away from ESPN and CBS in the latest TV rights deals. Plus, the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12 and Pacific 10 will look into the possibility of creating a single national channel.
Bud Withers, Seattle Times: New Pacific 10 commissioner Larry Scott is shrugging off the fixation over East Coast bias and promoting the league's "West Coast advantage" in places like Beijing and Shanghai.
Brent Schrotenboer, San Diego Union-Tribune: Former San Diego State coach Chuck Long has recommended the school increase the number of special admits for athletics, reduce academic requirements for transfers and move players to the Cuicacalli Suites, a fashionable on-campus residence that includes a pool and grill. It's part of a 23-page report Long produced as part of his new on-campus job doing special projects. Long was fired as coach in November, but his contract called for him to be reassigned at SDSU, making $715,900 per year, until Dec. 31, 2010. Thanks to Mike.