The Wiz of Odds: Reporters Notebooks

Otis L. Sanford, Memphis Commercial Appeal: Tennessee attorney general Bob Cooper's legal opinion that public universities have a right to put restrictions and conditions on media coverage of athletic events is clearly about the insatiable desire of the Southeastern Conference and its member schools to exercise control over their sporting events and to make more money — lots and lots of money.

Brent Schrotenboer, San Diego Union-Tribune: Can the Mountain West Conference trust the Bowl Championship Series system? No, because the criteria used to determine whether a seventh league would be granted entrance into the exclusive group gives a built-in edge to the power conferences. Thanks to Mike!

Phil Miller, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Not even three years removed from beaming its first Hail Mary pass into living rooms, the Big Ten Network, once scoffed at as an expensive exercise in hubris, has blossomed into a money-maker surpassing even its own most optimistic forecasts. The network has increased its advertising revenue by more than 30% in the past year and totaled $66 million in profits.

Tom Luicci, Newark Star-Ledger: Rutgers professors worry that joining the Big Ten would be one more sign that the university is willing to pursue big-time football at the expense of academics — a topic that has led to tension between faculty and administration in recent years.

Ron Morris, Columbia State: When South Carolina pays assistant coach Ellis Johnson $200,000 more than university president Harris Pastides, it sends a strong signal that college football is out of hand.

Rachel Beck, Corvallis Gazette-Times: Two former Oregon State players and one current team member are facing felony charges of unauthorized use of a vehicle — a university golf cart.

John Aguilar, Boulder Daily Camera: Nevada Las Vegas linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator Tyler Gregorak was arrested in Boulder after police said he took a loaded handgun and wallet from a bouncer at a downtown strip club. He faces possible charges of first-degree trespassing and prohibited use of a weapon.

Ken Tysiac, Charlotte Observer: The Atlantic Coast Conference could announce a new TV deal this week.

Bill Wagner, Annapolis Capital: Slotback Marcus Curry, who led Navy in receiving and was third in rushing, was dismissed from the team. Curry had been found guilty of one honor offense and accumulated 335 demerits during his three semesters at academy.

Heisman Pundit: Perhaps Jeff Tedford of California has been called a quarterback guru, but is he a top evaluator of talent?

Seth Emerson, Columbia State: Former SEC commissioner Roy Kramer, who oversaw the league's additions of South Carolina and Arkansas in 1990, said there was never any serious consideration of "going beyond 12 [teams]. But I think the conference today would have to look at those kinds of things if the Big Ten makes a very dramatic move."

Dave Birkett, Ann Arbor.com: The Big Ten Network rakes in an estimated 88 cents per cable/satellite subscriber in its eight-state footprint (Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin) and six cents a subscriber elsewhere.

Ferd Lewis, Honolulu Advertiser: Hawaii's proposed $50 student athletic fee would be less than half of what Western Athletic Conference rivals Idaho ($124), Utah State ($123) and Boise State ($101) extract from their students.

Adam Greene, Knoxville News Sentinel: Herschel Walker thinks Tennessee is better served with Derek Dooley than Lane Kiffin as coach. "Derek has done very well and is a very smart young man. I've known him since he was a little boy. I'm happy to see him here and see Kiffin leave."

Caulton Tudor, Raleigh News & Observer: South Florida's Skip Holtz would love to see East Carolina, his former employer, gain entrance into the Big East. "It'd be great for the school, and I think it'd be great for the Big East, too. That's what I thought there, and it's what I think here. I'm not changing. I'll always be a big supporter of that."

Jennifer Sullivan, Seattle Times: Washington defensive end Andru Pulu was sentenced to six months in jail for breaking a man's nose during an off-campus fight in March.

Knoxville News Sentinel: Former Tennessee offensive lineman Aaron Douglas is transferring to Arizona Western College, a 29-hour drive from Knoxville. Volunteer coach Derek Dooley granted Douglas his release only if he transferred to a school outside of an eight-hour driving radius of Knoxville.

Paul Myerberg, Pre-Snap Read: The countdown continues with a look at No. 118 Western Kentucky, plus five likes and dislikes.

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