Notebook: Price tags for top coaches reaching stratosphere

The Notre Dame staff did come hard on Akron, Ohio, defensive end Travis Wilson, who questioned the Irish when Tyrone Willingham was fired. Seven Irish assistants reportedly showed up at Wilson's house at the same time recently to show the program's commitment.

Notre Dame officials aren't sure how the announcement of the signings will be handled on Feb. 2. Weis might be on a phone hook-up from Jacksonville. ...

Washington fans are griping over the sleepy recruiting results under Tyrone Willingham so far. Rivals.com had U-Dub at only nine commitments as of Tuesday and ranked the class 89th in the country. ...

Slick courts

Rick Neuheisel ended up where a lot of us said he would when he tripped over the NCAA's gambling taboo. That is, not in college.

Neuheisel recently found work as quarterback coach with the Baltimore Ravens. Nineteen months after the whole affair at Washington started, college football still won't have anything to do with him. Not Division III, not Division II, not Division I-AA, not even NAIA.

That speaks volumes about a sport that has welcomed back the likes of Mike Price and Hal Mumme. Fans and administrators can forgive a lot of things. Gambling and arrogance aren't two of them.

The former Washington coach's breach of contract suit begins this week. Neuheisel is trying to get $2.1 million he says is remaining on his contract after he was fired, as well as punitive damages. Washington has contersued to recover a $1.5 million loan it injected in Neuheisel's final contract.

He is also suing the NCAA over its investigative procedures that eventually cost him his job. Opening statements probably won't be heard until Jan. 31. The trail could last three to five weeks.

Will Neuheisel ever coach in college again? Suing a former employer and its governing body is not a good way to answer that question. Remember, the only reason the NCAA didn't find Neuheisel guilty of lying to investigators is that, in the same day, he finally admitted to participating in an NCAA Tournament pool. That is, after denying it twice.

Becoming an NFL assistant might be his only avenue back to head coaching. But the league has only 30 openings with scores more qualified candidates with more experience in front of him.

If a college touches him again, it will take years for his reputation to be healed. Or at least ignored.

Quick hits

• Bet you didn't know ... Miami's much-maligned Brock Berlin led the ACC in total offense (218.9 yards per game).
• Or that the ACC was the only I-A conference that didn't have a rusher average 100 yards rushing per game (over a full season).
• Or that Virginia finished tied for third in the standings but led the ACC with five first-team all-conference picks.
• Rice coach Ken Hatfield is considering installing a form of Utah's spread option offense. Makes sense since the Owls led the nation in rushing (360 yards) but were dead last in passing (75.3 yards).
• Michigan is planning a $150 million-$200 million project to add luxury suites and restrooms. The renovation might mean the loss of 4,000 seats from the largest stadium in the nation (107,501). A loss of 220 seats would allow Tennessee (107,282 seats) to regain that title.
• Good to see Temple stay at Division I-A. A school task force made the announcement last week. The program deserved better after its crass treatment by the Big East. (What was the difference between Rutgers and Temple?) The MAC is reportedly interested in admitting the Owls in football only as soon as 2006.