by FOXSports.com

Updated: May 16, 2008, 10:28 AM EST 575 comments

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Spygate may finally be over in pro football, with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell meeting earlier this week with Matt Walsh, the ex-New England employee who taped opposing teams' signals. But attempting to get an edge is a part of sports. The NCAA has already made an attempt to prevent its college football coaches from using modern technology in a similar way in future seasons. The NCAA formally banned the use of audio or video equipment to steal signs from an opposing team in a new rule that was adopted in April by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel. Rule 1-4-9-g: states "Any attempt to record, either through audio or video means, any signals given by an opposing player, coach or other team personnel is prohibited." While the NCAA reacted, such attempts actually don't seem to be an overwhelming problem, at least that's what coaches are saying publicly. But there will remain a concern that opponents are trying to steal signals. "We always worry about our defensive coaches," Florida coach Urban Meyer said. "You can look across and see the defensive signals. On offense I don't worry about it at all because we're all (using) wristbands so there's no way to steal the signals from the offense. "But every year we're concerned about changing up our defensive signals." -- Florida Today

Report: KU's Arthur had grades changed in high school

One of the key components of Kansas' national championship team, according to a Dallas television report, never should have been eligible to play to begin with in college. WFAA-TV, Dallas' ABC affiliate, reported on its Thursday evening newscast that KU sophomore forward Darrell Arthur had numerous grades changed to keep him eligible as a high school player at South Oak Cliff High. The station's primary source was Arthur's former math teacher, Winford Ashmore, who said that he was asked by then-principal Donald Moten and current boys basketball coach James Mays during Arthur's freshman year in 2002-03 to bypass the rules for the superstar athlete. "Since Darrell Arthur really did not pass Algebra, which means he did not clear the (NCAA) clearinghouse, that also means that he really should not have been eligible for a Division I major college scholarship," Ashmore told the station. Arthur helped the Jayhawks to their first national title in two decades with 20 points and 10 rebounds in the title game victory over Memphis. Arthur has declared for the NBA draft, but has decided not to hire an agent, keeping his college eligibility alive. Marchiony said that Arthur is back in Dallas after finishing his finals this week. -- KC Star

O.J. Mayo accuser contacted by NCAA

Louis Johnson, who has accused basketball star O.J. Mayo of accepting cash and gifts in violation of college rules, has been contacted by the NCAA and will cooperate as it investigates the matter, his attorney, Jeff Silberman, said Thursday. Johnson contends that Mayo associate Rodney Guillory was given a new luxury vehicle and about $200,000 in cash, a portion of which he funneled to the NBA-bound guard on behalf of Bill Duffy Associates Sports Management. When Mayo announced last month that he was leaving USC to turn pro, he said his agent would be BDA vice president Calvin Andrews. -- LA Times

Vols Pearl rips early-exit effects

After a season during which Tennessee lost a basketball scholarship for poor academic performance, Coach Bruce Pearl on Thursday called for changes to NCAA rules that penalize schools when players turn pro early or voluntarily leave for other schools. Under the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate system, schools are penalized when players are academically ineligible or when they leave the program. Universities are most heavily penalized when a player who is academically ineligible leaves the program. -- Tennesseean

Williams still waiting on Tar Heels testing NBA water

North Carolina coach Roy Williams is used to playing the waiting game with recruits -- and now he's doing it with Tar Heels testing the NBA Draft waters. It might be three or four more weeks before Ty Lawson, Danny Green and Wayne Ellington decide to go pro or return to UNC, Williams indicated Thursday. None of the three has hired an agent, and they have until June 16 to withdraw their names from the June 26 draft. "I'm losing sleep over it probably, but not because it's a long window [of time]," said Williams, talking before his induction into the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday night. "I'll be with them, continue discussions, trying to get information and share it with them." While that trio would make the Tar Heels considerably stronger, there's no shortage of talent in Chapel Hill. Joining the 2008-09 team will be 6-foot point guard Larry Drew, 6-8 power forward Ed Davis and 6-11 center Tyler Zeller. -- (Raleigh) News & Observer

Mangino: Kansas recruiting well in Dallas

Kansas coach Mark Mangino was in town Thursday as part of the National Football Foundation's football forum at the Grand Hyatt at D/FW International Airport. While there were lots of big-picture topics to be discussed, one issue that couldn't be ignored was KU's recruiting surge here in North Texas. Mangino and his staff now have two incredible carrots to dangle in front of any Dallas-area player who thinks Lawrence, Kan., is too far from home. First off, the Jayhawks just completed a phenomenal season in which they won the FedEx Orange Bowl. And No. 2, Richardson's own Aqib Talib just became a first-round draft pick after an All-American season at KU. "We're doing extremely well here," Mangino said. "I don't think it's any secret that outside of Kansas and Kansas City area, this is our next priority in our recruiting -- the Dallas-Fort Worth area and the entire state of Texas." -- Dallas Morning News

Gators Meyer calls victim's father

University of Florida football coach Urban Meyer called Jim Slonina on Monday night to talk about the recent incidents involving a gas card that belonged to Slonina's daughter, Ashley, a Florida student who died in an Oct. 12 motorcycle accident. "He was truly sad that it had occurred and he talked to us from parent to parent," Slonina said. "I think a lot of coach Meyer. I honestly believe, I knew in my heart that he would not stand for this type of behavior. When he talked to me, it was person to person. From a parent to a parent." Former Florida Gator junior safety Jamar Hornsby is accused of using Ashley Slonina's BP gas card, which belonged to her father's company, Panhandle Engineering in Lynn Haven, after the girl's death. Hornsby turned himself in at 5:30 a.m. May 9, responding to a warrant on charges of fraudulent use of a credit card and larceny of a credit card. He was released on his own recognizance early that afternoon. Meyer dismissed Hornsby from the Gators later that day. -- Panama City News-Herald

South Carolina, Clemson Remain Players With QB Newton

QB Morgan Newton (6-5 215) of Carmel, IN recently picked up offers from Maryland and Florida giving him a total of 16, including USC and Clemson. While he's not narrowed his list, when he gets around to do so, Newton feels USC and Clemson stand a good chance to "probably" survive the cut. -- Palmetto Sports

Will Clawson fix Voles offense?

At Tennessee Philip Fulmer's right-hand man David Cutcliffe went to Duke to become a head coach. So Fulmer turned to Dave Clawson to run his offense. Clawson also brings the aura of a head coach to Tennessee since he had been a successful head coach at Richmond before coming to the Vols. -- Randolph Leader

SDSU going with Ryan Lindley at QB

Oklahoma's Sam Bradford was a redshirt freshman, a footnote not lost on SDSU redshirt freshman Ryan Lindley, who will enter fall camp as the team's No. 1 quarterback. "You're seeing a lot more redshirt freshmen starting now," Lindley said. "I think the only thing that really holds (redshirt freshmen) back in their first year now is that they may not be ready from a physical standpoint. But if you look at a guy like Sam Bradford, a guy who I kind of see myself as, if he can do it I can do it." -- San Diego Union-Tribune

Penn St. lands top recruit for offensive line

After a slow start, Penn State has bounced back in its recruiting efforts for the Class of 2009. Yesterday, the Nittany Lions landed one of the top offensive-line prospects in the nation, plus another lineman, giving them eight oral commitments thus far. Five of the pledges have come in the last week. Eric Shrive, a 6-foot-7, 300-pound senior-to-be from West Scranton, Pa., told the Web site rivals.com that he chose Penn State over Notre Dame, Ohio State and Michigan. The five-star recruit had at least 15 scholarship offers. Frank Figueroa, a 6-4, 282-pound guard from Alexandria, Va., committed yesterday morning, according to Blue and White Illustrated. -- Philadelphia Inquirer

Former Canes WR Lamar Thomas graduates sixteen years later

Sixteen years after leaving UM, former Canes receiver Lamar Thomas -- who lost his Comcast announcing job because of his rant during the UM-FIU brawl two years ago -- graduated from UM with a liberal arts degree last week and will look for a coaching job. -- Miami Herald

Bama hopes Fresno State's McElwain puts points up

There is a new offensive coordinator at Alabama. Nick Saban hired Jim McElwain from Fresno State to replace Major Applewhite, who also joined Will Muschamp in fleeing to Texas. McElwain brings with him a reputation for putting points on the scoreboard, something Applewhite was not able to do with much regularity. -- Randolph Leader

Louisville eliminate some seats from football stadium expansion

The one-year delay of the expansion of Papa John's Cardinal Stadium could cost the University of Louisville up to $10 million and might cause the university to scale back some of its plans. -- Business First of Louisville

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