NCAA interviews UNC players

NCAA investigators looking into the University of North Carolina’s football program have interviewed defensive tackle Marvin Austin and wide receiver Greg Little, the Charlotte Observer has learned. Sources familiar with the situation have said the two players were interviewed in connection with possible improper involvement with sports agents. – Charlotte Observer

NCAA investigating USC TE Saunders

The NCAA is investigating South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders about possible impermissible dealings with a sports agent, according to sources. An NCAA investigator was in Columbia last week to interview Saunders, according to one of the sources. It is believed that the investigation of Saunders is connected to the NCAA’s ongoing probe of North Carolina football players and agent activity. Saunders, a senior from Durham, N.C., has several friends on UNC’s team, including defensive tackle Marvin Austin, who is at the center of the UNC investigation. Saunders had little comment when reached by The State on Sunday. Asked if he did anything wrong, Saunders said: “I can’t say anything right now.” When Saunders was asked about last week’s meeting with the NCAA, he told a reporter, “I’ll have to give you a call back” – and hung up. – Herald Online

Robbie Caldwell goes from lining field to head coach at Vanderbilt

It was 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday and Robbie Caldwell was in shorts and a T-shirt, sweating. Vanderbilt’s assistant head coach was about to line a football field at the Commodores’ practice facility. That’s when he got a text message. It was from Coach Bobby Johnson, who asked his staff to gather at 10:45 a.m. “I thought we were just having a staff meeting,” Caldwell said. The next two hours would change Caldwell’s life. Johnson announced he was retiring. Caldwell was now the team’s interim head coach. After the shock wore off — and after he changed out of his dirty clothes — Caldwell got into head-coach mode. “We’ll hit the ground running,” said Caldwell, 56. To those outside the program, Caldwell has been Vanderbilt’s offensive line coach since Johnson began his first season in 2002, adding the title assistant head coach in 2008. – Tennessean

NCAA investigating UNC football program

North Carolina athletic director Dick Baddour said Thursday the NCAA is investigating a sports program at the school regarding possible rules violations. Baddour declined to say which sport, but a person familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press the NCAA is looking at Butch Davis’ football program. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the investigation is confidential. “I was told that I could limit my comments to the fact that they had been here and they wanted me to say that we had indeed been cooperative,” said Baddour, adding that the inquiry “has our full attention.” The investigation began with a phone call from the NCAA, Baddour said, though he didn’t say when the call came or when investigators had visited the Chapel Hill campus. – AP

Bobby Johnson resigns as Vanderbilt coach

Bobby Johnson resigned today as Vanderbilt’s football coach, less than two months before the season opener, according to sources familiar with the situation. Johnson went 29-66 in eight seasons, coaching the Commodores to a Music City Bowl victory in 2008. Last season, Vanderbilt was 2-10 overall and 0-8 in the SEC. – Tennessean

Richt under more fire since Damon Evans resignation?

With Damon Evans’ resignation, the relative heat on Mark Richt’s seat becomes a little unclear. Just last month at the SEC business meetings in Destin, Evans was cornered by writers and asked if Richt, 90-27 after nine seasons, was on the hot seat this season. “There’s no need for that because he’s not on a hot seat,” Evans said then. “Mark is in a good place with us, and I’m glad he’s here.” But Evans is no longer in power. Does that leave Richt alone to fight his battle, since the school may take its sweet time hiring Evans’ replacement? “I don’t worry about those things, I really don’t,” Richt said. “My focus is to do my job and my focus is to be obedient to my Lord and Savior. That’s kind of what I do. If that’s good enough, great.” Interim athletic director Frank Crumley said he would lean on school president Michael Adams and other administrators for advice in hiring and firing coaches. That’s not good news for Richt. – The Commercial Appeal

Kevin Sumlin rising fast

The hottest name among college football coaches is probably Houston’s Kevin Sumlin, 35. His Cougars went 18-9 in his first two years, including the program’s first bowl victory in 28 years in 2008. Last year, Houston went 10-4, beating Texas Tech and Oklahoma State, and led the nation in passing offense (433.71 yards a game), total offense (563.36) and scoring offense (42.21 points, tied with Boise State). That raised eyebrows and interest. – USA Today

NCAA violations in Vols bar brawl?

Bar Knoxville has been giving football players preferential treatment, the owners are now VIPs in a Tennessee internal investigation. Early television and radio interviews given by the owners of the Cumberland Avenue club, hours after the brawl that produced arrests for two UT players, seemed to indicate they were supplying extra benefits by allowing them in without a cover charge, which could be an NCAA violation. – Tennessean

Youngest Spurrier joins South Carolina staff

Before following his father and brother into the family business, Scott Spurrier had to secure the blessings of a more immediate family member — his wife. It helped that Jennifer Spurrier digs the pigskin. “She loves football,” Scott Spurrier said. “You kind of have to like football to be in our family.” Columbia’s first family of football has added another nameplate in the Floyd Building, the two-story facility on George Rogers Boulevard that houses South Carolina’s coaches’ offices. Well, that’s assuming graduate assistants get nameplates. – The State