Greg Bolt, Eugene Register-Guard: Oregon president Richard Lariviere said Mike Bellotti was asked to resign as athletic director and that the $2.3 million settlement to the former football coach was a "buyout" of a contract that was never put on paper. Lariviere's comments ran counter to earlier statements by the university, which implied that Bellotti was leaving of his own accord and gave no hint that he was, in fact, urged to leave.
Mike Graham, Dallas Morning News: Is Mike Leach helping the enemy? The former Texas Tech coach is in Stillwater this week as an observer at Oklahoma State's practices.
Bob Condotta, Seattle Times: Washington's athletics department lost $5.5 million in 2009.
Dawson Bell, Detroit Free Press: Michigan’s recently deceased wolverine died of unspecified natural causes at about 9 years of age, according to a necropsy performed by the state Department of Natural Resources and Environment. It was the only wolverine in the Michigan wild that has been verified in modern history.
Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: What happens if the Big Ten expands to 16 teams?
Joseph D. Bryant, Birmingham News: Birmingham is $77 million in debt, but the city council approved buying a used scoreboard from the University of Alabama for $30,000. Moving the scoreboard from Bryant-Denny Stadium to Birmingham's Legion Field will push the bill to $200,000.
Erik Brady, USA Today: A company is using open-records requests to create a database of what every Division I coach and assistant in every men's and women's sport at every public college is paid — then sells the data to athletics departments.
Tom Mulhern, Capital Times: Wisconsin's Bret Bielema tweeted that he was trying to "lock up" home-and-home games against Nebraska and Notre Dame, but according to the Omaha World Herald, there are several hurdles to clear for a Badger-Cornhusker matchup, making a series unlikely.
Brett Vito, Denton Record-Chronicle: Riley Dodge, who started 10 games last season at quarterback for North Texas, was moved to receiver. Dodge has suffered a series of injuries since his senior season in high school and no longer had the arm strength to play quarterback. When Dodge arrived in Denton, he was thought to be the perfect fit for the Mean Green's pass-happy offense.
Dave Birkett, Ann Arbor.com: Tate Forcier started every game at quarterback last year for Michigan, but sophomore backup Denard Robinson is pushing Forcier for the starting job.
Bill Koch, Cincinnati Enquirer: Former Notre Dame quarterback Demetrius Jones is no longer part of the Cincinnati program. "I would just say that we have certain expectations that we live by," coach Butch Jones said. "It starts with academics and going to class. The only thing I'll say is that he's made a decision and he's moving on. I wish him the best in his endeavors."
Tom Dienhart, Rivals: College assistant coaches are getting paid like the pros.
Chadd Cripe, Idaho Statesman: Boise State's Chris Petersen has challenged any of his players to beat him in a three-mile run for charity on Saturday.
Tommy Deas, Tuscaloosa News: Alabama could have close to 92,000 for its spring game.
Chuck Carlton, Dallas Morning News: A new bowl game — the Dallas Football Classic — took a step toward reality by meeting all NCAA guidelines for certification. The game's debut is expected to be Jan. 1, 2011 at the Cotton Bowl.
John Hunt, Oregonian: Oregon kicker Mike Bowlin will face three misdemeanor harassment charges and one misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct stemming from the brawl that put fellow kicker Rob Beard in the hospital.
Kaitlyn Cole, Online Universities: The top 10 coach (and player) scandals in college history.
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