The Wiz of Odds

Urban Meyer Threatens Reporter

Jeremy Fowler, a reporter for the Orlando Sentinel, was in the line of fire Wednesday at the close of a Florida spring practice session.

Fowler was among two dozen reporters watching coaches and players exit the field when coach Urban Meyer approached the group and went after Fowler for a story he filed Monday. Fowler's story contained a quote from Deonte Thompson suggesting the receiver was happy to be playing with a quarterback not named Tim Tebow.

"You never know with Tim," Thompson said. "You can bolt, you think he's running but he'll come up and pass it to you. You just have to be ready at all times. With [John] Brantley, everything's with rhythm, time. You know what I mean, a real quarterback."

Meyer, who claimed Fowler misrepresented Thompson's comments, ripped into the reporter, with the exchange videotaped by Steve Johnson of Gator Bait.

Meyer: "You’ll be out of practice — you understand that? — if you do that again. I told you five years ago: Don't mess with our players. Don't do it. You did it. You do it one more time and the Orlando Sentinel's not welcome here ever again. Is that clear? It's yes or no."

Fowler: "Urban, come on. Don't make any threats. That’s fine. I'll play by rules.  But all I was doing is quoting the guy. I don't think I was the only one."

Meyer: "You're a bad guy, man. You’re a bad guy."

Fowler: "Thanks Urban, I appreciate that."

Meyer: "Maybe when you get a chance, call his family and all that and help them out with it [the controversy Fowler's blog post created]. The kid has never been in trouble one time. He's a great student, a great kid and you're going to do that [to him]?"

Meyer then issued his threats: "If that was my son, we'd be going at it right now."

As he walked away, Meyer told Fowler to "be very careful."

Reporters Notebooks

Dennis Dodd, CBS Sports.com: The Pacific 10 is looking at a conference title game, even if it doesn't expand to 12 teams. NCAA bylaws state that a league must have 12 members to stage a championship game, and that rule would have to be changed. Officials at the Los Angeles Coliseum, Rose Bowl and Qwest Field in Seattle have expressed interest in playing host to a Pac-10 championship game.

Craig Harris, Arizona Republic: The Fiesta Bowl wants a refund of at least $600,000 from Glendale for overpayment of taxes on ticket sales for three years at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Lya Wodraska, Salt Lake Tribune: The toughest ticket for fans of a road team this fall? Try Utah's trip to Notre Dame on Nov. 13. The Utes, who were given 5,000 tickets to sell for the game, already have taken more orders than they have tickets available, forcing the school to implement ticket limits for season-ticket holders.

Orrin G. Hatch, Deseret News: Utah's senior senator writes a column taking on the Bowl Championship Series. "Few organizations have been met with more public scorn and condemnation over the past several years than the Bowl Championship Series. In fact, I think it could be said that, on most days, even Congress has higher approval ratings."

Tom Twentyman, Detroit News: Michigan State's Keith Nichol is moving from quarterback to receiver. The move coincides with the development of Andrew Maxwell at quarterback.

Luke Brietzke, Decatur Daily: It seems like everybody is on the Auburn gravy train. The school has paid out $7.1 million in buyouts the past 18 months. Even former offensive coordinator Tony Franklin ($280,000) and defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads ($305,000) are included.

Central Michigan Lost $188,903 on Trip to GMAC Bowl

Central Michigan won a thrilling 44-41 victory over Troy in the Jan. 6 GMAC Bowl, but the Chippewas returned from Mobile without a dime in their pocket. The team lost of $188,903 on the trip, and officials are defending the expenditure, saying the true value of the trip could not be measured.

"Bowl games are not profit. It's the extended value that helps grow a university," athletics director Dave Heeke said.

It's the second year in a row a team from the Mid-American Conference has run up a big bill traveling to Mobile. Ball State reported a loss of $142,398 last year.

Spiller Reportedly Scored 10 on Wonderlic

Former Clemson standout C.J. Spiller blazed to a 4.37-second clocking in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, but he struggled in the Wonderlic test, used to assess the aptitude of prospects.

Spiller reportedly scored a 10 in the 12-minute, 50-question exam, the lowest score among running backs. Toby Gerhart, formerly of Stanford, had the highest score, a 30.

Spiller was not alone among prospects with low scores. Former Indiana defensive end Greg Middleton reportedly had a 6, and former Mississippi offensive lineman John Jerry had a 9.

Reporters Notebooks

Ron Bellamy, Eugene Register-Guard: Mike Bellotti's departure from Oregon comes with a golden parachute. He will receive $2.3 million from the university "to fulfill commitments made to Bellotti at the time of his appointment" as athletic director. Bellotti, who became athletic director last July 1, is to receive a $600,000 payment by May 1 and monthly payments of $25,000 for almost six years.

George Schroeder, Register-Guard: It was clear Bellotti never wanted to be athletic director, but he was pushed into it. Why? Pat Kilkenny was stepping down from the job, and higher powers worried that Chip Kelly might be leaving to become head coach elsewhere. To entice Bellotti, Oregon found $2.3 million reasons to convince him it was a good idea.

Adam H. Beasley, Miami Herald: Florida International requires each student — through athletic fees — to pay about $350 to support intercollegiate athletics. It's one of the highest fees in the nation and is part of a concerted effort to raise FIU's profile through athletic excellence. The theory is that sports generate excitement, which enhances the student experience and burnishes the institution's brand.

Austin Ward, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Adjust those recruiting ranking from two years ago. Bryce Brown, the hotshot running back from Wichita, has left the Tennessee team.

Laura Diamond, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia is clamping down on tailgating on campus, barring fans from bringing tents, kegs, generators, grills and other items to North Campus. University officials have been targeting tailgaters and their trash since the Sept. 12 home game against South Carolina when fans dumped about 70 tons of garbage and left mounds of tents, grills, coolers and chairs across North Campus. Some even urinated on public buildings and defecated outside.

Arash Markazi, ESPN L.A.: Pete Carroll was back in L.A. to fire up runners for the city's marathon. He also talked about his recent appearance before the NCAA committee on infractions on behalf of his former employer, USC. "Everything went very well. I think the university did everything they could to put all of the truth and information out there in front of the committee, and I think everyone there felt good about the process. There are still some issues that need to be determined in the next month or so, but I don't think we could have done any better than what we did."

Bellotti Leaves Oregon for ESPN Analyst Job

Another stunner out of Oregon. Athletic director Mike Bellotti announces he's stepping down to become an analyst at ESPN.

Bellotti said his decision had nothing to do with the recent troubles surrounding the football program, and his announcement came days after he dismissed basketball coach Ernie Kent.

Bellotti was athletic director for only a year. He took over the post after 14 years as football coach, and his decision to move "up" to the athletic director's job was a curious one. In 2007, UCLA made a run at hiring Bellotti after it fired Karl Dorrell. Bellotti stayed after he was given a fat, new contract.

Thanks to KMTR.