Ken Tysiac, Raleigh News & Observer: North Carolina's investigation into possible improprieties in its program took a serious turn with the announcement of possible academic misconduct. The allegations involve a tutor who formerly was employed by coach Butch Davis. ESPN's Joe Schad reports that the tutor was also Davis' nanny.
Luke DeCock, Raleigh News & Observer: The academic mess could make a mess of Davis' future. A clause in Davis' contract says that if an NCAA violation occurs in the
program that he reasonably should have known about, the university can
fire him without owing him payment for the remaining years on the
contract.
J.P. Giglio, Raleigh News & Observer: North Carolina opens the season in eight days, but which players will take the field remain unclear. The coaching staff already had begun preparations for Louisiana State as if senior standouts Marvin Austin and Greg Little, who are involved in a separate NCAA investigation for possible improper contact with a sports agent, would not be available.
Scott D. Pierce, Deseret News: It would be in the Mountain West Conference's own self-interest to give Brigham Young a bigger slice of the TV revenue pie. Because, without the Cougars, the pie is going to get a lot smaller.
Vai Sikahema, Deseret News: The former BYU player urges the school to boldly move forward:
"Let's throw caution to the wind and declare our independence.
Independence from the shackles of the World Wide Leader of incompetence,
the mtn. network (who was the marketing genius who thought it would be a
good idea to make "mtn." lowercase?), Mountain West Conference and the
idiocy of MWC commissioner Craig Thompson."
Dan Hinxman, Reno Gazette-Journal: Nevada president Milton Glick has sent a letter to the Western Athletic Conference informing the league of Nevada’s intention to join the Mountain West for the 2011-12 school year.
Sports Media Watch: The overhaul of ESPNews continues, as the network's eponymous half-hour newscasts are set to virtually vanish from its schedule. ESPNews will debut two new shows on Monday that — along with SportsCenter — will make up the network's entire weekday line-up.
Tom Hoffarth, Farther Off the Wall: Greed vs. Greed: With a week to go, who to side with in Time Warner Cable vs. ABC/ESPN.
Jeff Barker, Baltimore Sun: Maryland has adopted an unusual method of preparing for Navy's triple-option offense: The Terps are practicing without a ball.
Tony Barnhart, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Five coaches on the hot seat, new coaches who will succeed and struggle.
Larry Brown Sports: Pete Carroll is up to his old tricks in Seattle, planting a fake snake in a cooler and then videotaping frightened players.
Scott Wolf, Inside USC: The spot in USC's Heritage Hall lobby reserved for the Football Writers Association of America national championship trophy was replaced by the 1995 Cotton Bowl trophy.
Lee Benson, Deseret News: Former Brigham Young athletic director Glen Tuckett hasn't been an administrator for 14 years, but he says what's happening today in college athletics is "a formula for fiscal failure."
Jason Lieser, Gator Bytes: Florida's Urban Meyer said there is no issue with Ronald Powell and Dominique Easley, the freshmen who were reportedly upset and threatening to transfer.
Laken Litman, Dallas Morning News: A refresher in some of the rules changes as the season draws near.
Joseph Person, Columbia State: Ties between South Carolina players and the Whitney Hotel date to at least 2009, multiple sources told the newspaper.
Jake Trotter, Oklahoman: More than two dozen students tried out to become Oklahoma's kicker. Bob Stoops has not been pleased with the in-house kicking competition between Patrick O'Hara, Jimmy Stevens, Bryce Easley and Michael Hunnicutt, hence the casting call.
Chase Goodbread, Tuscaloosa News: Alabama's Nick Saban said progress has been made on the sport agent issue.
Leslie Reed, Omaha World-Herald: Nebraska freshman Jake Cotton, son of offensive line coach Barney Cotton, is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday on a misdemeanor charge that he slapped his former girlfriend late last year.
Tom Murphy, Morning News of Northwest Arkansas: Arkansas' radio broadcasts won’t be available in Spanish this season, ending a three-year run.
Paul Myerberg, Pre-Snap Read: A look at No. 7 Virginia Tech.
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