Notebook: Fulmer, Spurrier throw rocks from glass houses

No big deal, they're only scrubs, right? Come talk to the Ol' Ball Coach when a starter gets in trouble. Presumably presidents and athletic directors would have better perspective, if there wasn't the nagging fact that many times they are deferring to the highest-paid person on campus -- the coach.

"He needs to take care of his own house and leave mine alone," Fulmer said of Spurrier adding, "He's got plenty of issues over there, I'm sure, to deal with .... It doesn't bother me one bit ... maybe it rained that day and he didn't get to play golf."

For the record, that's a combined $3.55 million in salaries trying to channel Don Rickles. Hilarious if this was the Tonight Show. Insulting if you are parents or the president at either school.

Or it should be.

Basically, both coaches are saved from being called on the carpet by extenuating circumstances -- most notably their winning percentages. Winning football trumps just about any off-field troubles.

South Carolina is still wrapped up in the euphoria of getting Spurrier. Fulmer has an extension, a $2.3 million annual salary and that 1998 national championship to fall back on.

The Gamecocks are expected to get up off the mat and at least be entertaining with Spurrier's offense. The Vols should be favored to win the SEC this year, so anything upsetting the delicate balance of nature, especially discipline, could be frowned upon.

Especially since, hey, boys will be boys. Ask Pete Carroll. That's basically the way he summarized receiver Steve Smith allegedly breaking the jaw of Southern Cal teammate Dominique Byrd over a video game. At least it was something important ...

"It's like being a parent," Carroll said. "We try to do everything we can to make it clear to them how they should operate. You are never really at ease."

So is this a case of negligent parents? For sheer volume this is one of the worst offseasons in recent memory for off-field problems. The stain hasn't escaped the champion Trojans. It is one program where offseason problems could bring the program down. "Down" defined as wrecking a chance for a third consecutive national championship.

Carroll intimated last week at the end of spring practice that academic problems could be more serious than first thought. Defensive linemen Frostee Rucker and Manny Wright, tailback LenDale White and tight end Byrd were listed at or near the bottom of the depth chart because of academic issues.

"It's going to be a challenge to get all the guys back," Carroll said.

Star cornerback Eric Wright has been accused of rape and is to be arraigned this week. There is a good chance Carroll might have to start a true freshman in Wright's place if he never returns.

That's five potential starters not being around.

"For anyone to think that any coach at any level does not care about it, they just don't get it," Carroll said. "It's like parenting. You are always afraid that something is going to go in the wrong direction. We always take the hit when something bad happens."

Deservedly. No one said coaches didn't care about their players. It's just in cases of breaking the law they shouldn't be disciplining them. There has to be some accountability, beyond media sniping, to go along with all those millions.

SEC commissioner Mike Slive has what seems like the unrealistic goal of having all 12 schools off probation by 2007. That seems like an easy goal compared to eliminating all offseason bar brawls, assaults and arrests.

Twelfth-game musings

Opinions on adding a 12th regular-season game are easily divided into two camps:

1) The have nots who welcome a 12th game because it would be another chance to get to a bowl game. (Think of going from 5-6 to 6-6 eligibility on the last day of the season.) Not to mention additional income from an extra home game.

2) The haves who see a 12th game as just another chance to get beat.