The Wiz of Odds

Best Evidence to Date

Take a look at this image of Patrick Peterson's interception against Alabama. It clearly shows the Louisiana State cornerback with both feet inbounds. Thanks to Gary Hicks.

White Owl Arrested, Jailed

Long-time readers of the site will remember a story that was posted in June 2008 on White Owl, the eccentric quasi-mascot of the Kansas Jayhawks.

White, whose real name is Jimmy Tucker, was 61 at the time and seemingly had hit the jackpot when he announced his engagement to student Julia Lee, 22.

The wedding never happened and now White Owl is being held in Douglas County Jail on $5,000 bond. He is accused of violating a protection order filed by his ex-fiancee and not showing up in court for a hearing.

Another video from a documentary that is being made on White Owl is after the jump. Thanks to Andy Gray at Hot Clicks.

Clemson Cheap Shot

Watch Clemson defensive end Andre Branch try to rip the head off Florida State guard David Spurlock during a scramble for a loose ball in Saturday's game at Clemson.

Spurlock then gets up and confronts Branch, who points toward the scoreboard. What a classless jackass.

SI.com's Andy Staples writes: "This won't get the attention the Brandon Spikes' gouge got because Branch isn't one of the best five defensive players in the country — and because, let's face it, New Mexico soccer player Elizabeth Lambert set a new standard for away-from-the-play violence last week — but Branch deserves punishment just as much as Spikes did. I know Clemson coach Dabo Swinney doesn't teach this garbage, and Swinney needs to act swiftly to eradicate such behavior from his program. He should suspend branch for a game before Branch has the chance to completely copy Spikes and suspends himself."

Thanks to Tomahawk Nation.

Live Tonight on 'Sportspage on the Air'

I'll be the guest of Dave Weekley on WCHS' Sportspage on the Air in Charleston W.Va., tonight starting at 7:30 (Eastern). Sportspage on the Air is the longest continuously running sports radio program in West Virginia.

WCHS offers streaming, and you can listen over the Internet by clicking here.

Looking for a guest to talk college football? Send me an email: jayzuma (at) gmail.com.

Reporters Notebooks

Pete Thamel, New York Times: With a pedestrian Heisman Trophy field, no elite team that scintillates the masses and virtually no chance of a team outside the Big Three crashing the Bowl Championship Series title game, this college football season is sputtering to the finish. It is too bad that in this great era of parity that so many teams do not have the opportunity to prove themselves.

Steve Wieberg, Jodi Upton, A.J. Perez and Steve Berkowitz, USA Today: The newspaper's annual look at compensation for coaches, with additional links to a salary database, why some schools are slow to release data and the rising salaries of assistant coaches.

Amalie Nash, Ann Arbor.com: Retiring Michigan athletic director Bill Martin has apologized for his behavior during two home games that resulted in the filing of an incident report last month with the university's department of public safety.

Glenn Guilbeau, Shreveport Times: Louisiana State coach Les Miles was careful not to criticize officials for the controversial decision on what appeared to be an interception by Tiger cornerback Patrick Peterson in the fourth quarter of Saturday's loss at Alabama.

Paul Finebaum, Mobile Press-Register: Bad officiating is costing the Southeastern Conference credibility.

Gregg Doyel, CBS Sports.com: These blatant officiating mistakes — like the potentially $17 million blown call that helped Alabama stay undefeated against LSU? It's not a conspiracy, but it's not an accident, either.

Darren Everson and David Biderman, Wall Street Journal: Why Iowa is good for college football.

Dave Altimari, Hartford Courant: Newly released documents indicate that Connecticut player Jasper Howard took the first swing at the man accused of stabbing him to death, two witnesses to the fight told police.

'Stick It in Your Pipe and Smoke It, Baby!'

Great call by the Houston Cougar radio team of Tom Franklin and Ted Pardee of walk-on freshman kicker Matt Hogan's 51-yard field goal to beat Tulsa, 46-45, on the final play of Saturday night's game.

The Cougars scored a touchdown to pull within 45-43 with 21 seconds remaining, but misfired on a two-point conversion. Houston then recovered the onside kick and Case Keenum completed two passes for 27 yards to set up the final play.