The Wiz of Odds

Reporters Notebooks

Richard Deitsch, SI.com: ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews, who was secretly videotaped in the nude while alone in a hotel room, will discuss the incident Sept. 11 on "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

David Whitley, FanHouse: Maybe ESPN sleuths and some unnamed police force are trying to get to the bottom of the Erin Andrews' peephole video. If so, I want them chasing me the next time I drill a hole in a hotel wall and videotape my way into Internet history.

Jon Gold, Inside UCLA: The wildfire raging above Pasadena could affect Saturday's San Diego State-UCLA game at the Rose Bowl. Officials are worried about air quality in the area. "Wednesday we hope to have a definite answer," Pasadena fire department spokesman Lisa Derderian said. "We're telling businesses, a lot of it has to do with people with existing medical conditions. Asthma, heart, lung disease. The problem is we have no wind. That's good for firefighting, but bad for not blowing the air out."

Jon Solomon, Birmingham News: Fox Sports is leaving the Bowl Championship Series business after this season but will continue airing the Cotton Bowl from the 2010 to '13 seasons, as first reported by John Ourand of Sports Business Journal.

Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register: Starting strongside linebacker Cory Reamer and freshman quarterback AJ McCarron were the latest subtractions from Alabama's practice on Monday because of a flu-like virus that has spread on campus.

Al Jones, Biloxi-Gulfport Sun Herald: Southern Mississippi receiver DeAndre Brown said he does not expect to play in the opener against Alcorn State. Brown is still recovering from a gruesome fracture of his lower left leg suffered in the New Orleans Bowl.

Berry Tramel, Oklahoman: The Civil War, or as Southerners like to call it, the War of Southern Independence, ended 144 years ago. But its effects remain, in politics, in race relations, in self-examination and perhaps even in football.

Rich Rod Goes on the Offensive

Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez became emotional Monday while denying allegations that his program regularly violates NCAA rules on training and practice sessions. "We know the rules," Rodriguez said. "We go by the rules."

The Detroit Free Press story that detailed the alleged abuses sparked a probe by university officials. "We will have more to say on this as soon as we have completed our assessment," athletic director Bill Martin said in a statement.

A look at other coverage surrounding the allegations:

The Old Boys Network Is Alive and Well

Headhunter Chuck Neinas was the focus of an ESPN "Outside the Lines" report this past weekend. Much of this is territory the Wiz has covered, but with athletic directors screaming poverty at every opportunity — "We need seven home games to pay the bills!" — this is a good time for a refresher course.

Back in the day, athletic directors used to have a backup plan if a coach was fired or left for another job. Simply look at a list of potential candidates that was updated from year to year, then call the athletic directors at other schools and ask permission to speak with the parties. Everything was done in a gentlemanly way.

Granted, there were a few who preferred to be discreet and sought a "middleman" to help find a coach, and that often involved a well-heeled and trusted alum who was more than happy to be part of the process.

Today, you have headhunters like Neinas, who have made small fortunes doing the jobs athletic directors and college administrators were hired to do.

Michigan

All that practice time and the best the Wolverines could do in 2008 was 3-9? Rich Rodriguez sits squarely on the hot seat as he enters his second season as coach, but he is catching a break from the schedule-maker. Michigan plays its first four games at home and has eight overall. The only challenge in the first month will come in Week 2 when Notre Dame visits Ann Arbor. If the Wolverines can go 5-3 at home, all they will need to do is win one on the road to return to postseason play. Poster designed by Old Hat Creative.

Freep Reporters Give Their Side of Story

Detroit Free Press reporters Michael Rosenberg and Mark Snyder talk about their investigation of the Michigan program with Tom Leyden of Detroit's WXYZ. The reporters explain the reasons behind the use of anonymous sources.

Thanks to UMGoBlog and the Midwest Correspondent.

Reporters Notebooks

Michael Rothstein, Ann Arbor.com: The Detroit Free Press report on how Rich Rodriguez and his staff allegedly exceeded NCAA guidelines regarding practice time limits is another black eye for Michigan football. Consider what has happened since Rich Rod became coach. He had a messy contract situation with West Virginia that was played out in public. Then there was a 3-9 season. Players left the program, questioning "family values" of the coaching staff. And a failed cocaine deal that led to the dismissal of receiver Justin Feagin, a Rich Rod recruit. How much more can Michigan take?

Mark W. Smith, Detroit Free Press: Online reaction to the Michigan story.

Robert Cessna, Bryan-College Station Eagle: Another coach has dropped weight in the offseason. Texas A&M's Mike Sherman is 40 pounds lighter.

Kurt Streeter, Los Angeles Times: It's time to give the federal ban against sports gambling the boot.

Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star: A look at Bill Snyder's influence on college football. It's not all good, especially when it comes to the scheduling of nonconference games.

Birmingham News: All guts, no glory. Offensive linemen may be the most selfless players in any sport. There are few stats, plenty of aches and pains and not much glamour. They get noticed only when one makes a mistake. But they're the key to moving the ball. Plus, a PDF detailing career offensive line starts for the past five Bowl Championship Series title game participants, this year's top 10, and the 12 Southeastern Conference teams.

Katie Thomas, New York Times: The college season is set to begin, but the swine flu season has already started.