Joe Strupp, Editor & Publisher: Forty percent of sports reporters acknowledged in a recent survey to gambling on sports, while 5% said they had bet on sports they had covered, according to a study. In addition, those who gamble on sports were more likely than their non-gambling colleagues to acknowledge that gambling hurts objectivity in coverage. Thanks to Pam.
Darren Everson, Wall Street Journal: There are many factors working against the Big Ten as it tries to return to glory. The South and West continue to benefit because of the national population trend: 47 of the 50 fastest-growing metropolitan areas between 2007 and 2008 were in those regions, according to the Census Bureau. Playing football also is not as important to Northerners. In the last school year, more high schoolers in Georgia played football than in Pennsylvania, according to data from the National Federation of State High School Associations, even though Pennsylvania has nearly three million more residents. Thanks to Penn State Clips.
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: The American Football Coaches Association and the NCAA encouraged teams to shake hands on the field before Saturday's season-opening games to promote sportsmanship, but Georgia and Oklahoma State won't take part. Oklahoma State has decided against the pregame handshakes. "We'll do whatever they decide," Bulldog coach Mark Richt said.
Daniel Wallace, St. Petersburg Times: Jeff Jagodzinski, who was dismissed as Boston College coach in January for interviewing for a vacancy on the staff of the New York Jets, was unexpectedly fired as offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Chris Foster, Los Angeles Times: Saturday's game between San Diego State and UCLA will be played as scheduled at the Rose Bowl. Concerns about area wildfires and air quality had put the game in doubt.
BCS Guru: It's never too early for Bowl Championship Series standings, is it? The Guru has the list.
Mark Snyder and Michael Rosenberg, Detroit Free Press: The NCAA is taking an active role in the investigation into the Michigan program, according to three sources.
Bob Wojnowski, Detroit News: As you might have guessed, this is a big season for Michigan's Rich Rodriguez, and by "big season" he means, "he'd better not lose the opener."
Justin Pope, Associated Press: A 2006 survey of 21,000 student-athletes by the NCAA found that football players in major college programs estimated they spent 44.8 hours per week on athletic activities. That was nearly five hours per week more than any other sport, and 10 hours per week more than a majority of sports in the survey.
Scot Wolf, Inside USC: USC's official stats record Matt Barkley with 16 interceptions and Aaron Corp with two since spring practice. One caveat: Barkley's thrown more passes because of Corp's injury.
Dave Hooker, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Former Oklahoma State tight end Jamal Mosley is considering transferring to Tennessee and could visit Knoxville as early as Friday.
Don Kausler Jr., Birmingham News: Alabama's Julio Jones and Mark Ingram were cleared to play by the NCAA on the condition of repayment for "impermissible benefits" they received for a fishing trip near the end of May. Curtis Anderson, the man who paid for the trip, said, "I've never done anything wrong, and neither have these young men."
Doug Segrest, Birmingham News: Former Alabama assistant Ronnie Cottrell has filed a new lawsuit against the NCAA and others, including recruiting analyst Tom Culpepper. The new suit claims the NCAA used Cottrell as a "whipping boy" to bring down the late Logan Young, a Memphis businessman and former Crimson Tide booster, and that the NCAA agreed to cover Culpepper's liability in an earlier case with an indemnity agreement.
John Shinn, Norman Transcript: Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham will miss Saturday's game against Brigham Young because of an injury to his right knee.
Terry Hutchens, Indianapolis Star: What is life like for a college quarterback? Indiana's Ben Chappell eats a lot of Subway sandwiches and studies film — 10 hours a week — on his own.
Stu Durando, Decatur Herald & Review: This is it for the Arch Rivalry game between Illinois and Missouri in St. Louis. The Fighting Illini want to add another home game, a growing trend with BCS teams. This season, 40 of 66 BCS teams will play at least seven home games. Seven schools were able to schedule eight.
Tammy Nunez, Times-Picyune: The Tulane-Louisiana State series will likely end after this season's game.
Mara Rose Williams, Kansas City Star: New luxury seats planned for Memorial Stadium could bring in $40 million to the University of Kansas.
Stefan Stevenson, Dallas Morning News: Texas Christian athletic director Danny Morrison is stepping down to become president of the NFL's Carolina Panthers.
The Quad: Paul Myerberg's countdown ends with a look at No. 3 USC, No. 2 Florida and No. 1 Texas. Here is a link to all the teams in The Quad's countdown.
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