Bud Withers, Seattle Times: Twenty-nine Division I-A coaches — 16 from
Bowl Championship Series teams — anonymously answered questions about a
variety of topics, including the coach for whom they have the least regard. The winner? USC's Lane Kiffin. Notre Dame's Brian Kelly, Alabama's Nick Saban and New Mexico's Mike Locksley also got mention.
Randy Peterson, Des Moines Register: Hotels charged Iowa and Iowa State more than $200,000 combined in 2009 for lodging the nights before home games at a time when many others at those universities are being asked to pinch pennies. Of the 120 Division I-A teams, only six — Arkansas State, Boise State, Fresno State, Louisiana Monroe, Tulane and Western Kentucky — do not stay in hotels before home games. Kansas, under new coach Turner Gill, will break from tradition and stay in hotels before home games this season.
Kyle Ringo, Boulder Daily Camera: Bad blood between Colorado and Baylor? Baylor alumni publicly badmouthed Colorado earlier this summer as talk of conference realignment heated up and it became clear the Buffaloes would be joining the Pacific 10. Colorado sources also have said privately they believe somebody at Baylor was responsible for providing Academic Progress Rate results to the Texas media that put the Buffaloes program in a negative light around the same time. The teams play Oct. 16 in Boulder. Plus, is there any hope for Dan Hawkins to save his job?
Brian Murphy, Idaho Statesman: The proposed $100 million-plus Bronco Stadium expansion project unveiled Friday night raises a serious question: Can Boise State afford to have an elite program?
Tom Hoffarth, Los Angeles Daily News: Former UCLA linebacker Ramogi Huma, who is the executive director of the National College Players Association, is pushing for California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's signature on the Student-Athletes Right to Know Bill (AB 2079), which would require universities to provide recruits a written summary of their policies on everything from medical insurance limits to athlete transfer rates and scholarship renewals, all within a week of contact. Plus, an expanded look at Huma and the bill.
Robbi Pickeral, Raleigh News & Observer: What does it take to become a tutor for athletes at North Carolina? One must receive four hours of training, including instruction on NCAA compliance. At the beginning of each semester, tutors sign a form agreeing to follow academic honesty policies. At the end of each semester, they sign another form stating they have neither witnessed, nor committed, any academic fraud or violations. Pay is $10 to $12 an hour.
Harvey Araton, New York Times: The new business model is college games in pro stadiums.
Eric Crawford, Louisville Courier-Journal: Kentucky is the first state with three African-American coaches at major college programs.
Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press: What would be failure in Rich Rodriguez's mind this season? "If we're not in the conversation as far as competing for a Big Ten championship and if we're not playing top 25 football by the end of the year."
Jake Trotter and Brandon Chatmon, Oklahoman: The practice of redshirting appears to be on the decline as more and more teams are ask for immediate contributions from first-year players. Plus, what players, coaches and media are saying about redshirting.
Barry Horn, Dallas Morning News: Crisis brought out the best in Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe.
Geoff Calkins, Memphis Commercial Appeal: Who cares if Barack Obama is a Muslim? Or Houston Nutt, for that matter? It's time for college football.
The Quad, New York Times: A look at key games in the season's first two weeks.
Stefan Stevenson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Texas Christian is closing in on 18,000 season tickets sold, easily surpassing the 2007 record of 14,490.
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