The A List

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Shaquille O'Neal Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Shaquille O'Neal returns to LSU At a student seminar in Baton Rouge someone asked if he'd ever do a sequel to Kazaam. His reply: "Only if I could do a love scene ... with your mother." Ka-zaam!

Wisconsin names starter by coin flip Right tackle Morgan Davis got the nod over Mike Lorenz in the Badgers' opener against Central Florida when he called tails. Funny, 'cause it seemed as if U-Dub used the same method in its play-calling last week against Arizona (262 total yards).

Chris Rix confesses: I'm a Star Wars geek The Florida State quarterback carries a light saber in his car. Honestly, I'd be more surprised if you told me Rocky IV's Brigitte Nielsen, a.k.a. Mrs. Drago Asskicker-ovsky, was shagging Flavor Flav. What? She is, you say? Every Sunday at 10 p.m. EST on VH1? How odd.

Ex-Vanderbilt receiver joins The Real World: Philadelphia Yes, they're on different shows, but let's start the odds at 2 to 1 that M.J. Garrett ('03) hooks up with Asskicker. Seriously though. A fratty white ex-jock? Good to see some diversity.

Tennessee diver Lauryn McCalle, Harvard cross-country runner Melissa Dell make Glamour's 2004 "Top 10 College Women" list SI on Campus writer simultaneously pitches two student-athlete profile ideas to his editor.

Western Illinois thumps Division II Cheney 98-7 Not sure what's most baffling: the 210 points Cheney has yielded in four games, Western Illinois coach Don Patterson's intentionally balking at breaking a cool hundy or the fact that Western Illinois's nickname is the Leathernecks. With a name like that, of course they're gonna slaughter teams.

Quote of the week Virginia senior Marquis Weeks, on his 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against North Carolina: "That was just instinct. Kind of like running from the cops."

5 Money Picks: September 25

Anyone see Notre Dame-Michigan State? The Irish score and Ty Willingham runs into the bathroom. As he's coming out, the Spartans are taking the kickoff to the house. Very Renée Zellweger-at-the-Golden Globes. On to this week:

N.C. STATE AT VIRGINIA TECH, noon, ESPN. The 'Pack couldn't find a pass attack against Ohio State's D. Ibid. Virginia Tech 27, N.C. State 14

IOWA AT MICHIGAN, 3:30 p.m., ABC. So goes the Big Ten: Someone's gotta win the conference games. Fine. Overranked Michigan 24, Overrated Iowa 21

CLEMSON AT FLORIDA STATE, 3:30 p.m., ABC. Headed for 1-3, Tigers are toast in the ACC. Florida State 28, Clemson 12

WASHINGTON AT NOTRE DAME, 3:30 p.m., NBC. UW gave up 424 yards on the ground ... to UCLA. ND 26, Washington 23

USC AT STANFORD, 7 p.m., TBS. The Cardinal's making waves, but not this big. USC 34, Stanford 17

All times eastern

LAST WEEK'S RECORD: 3-2

Q&A With: Matt Leinart

Why he matters: USC QB is early fave to win Heisman.

Your TV watching habits? "As much as I say, 'I hate it, I hate it, I hate it,' I end up watching reality TV all the time. I couldn't help but watch The Bachelor, and I went to high school with the girl Jesse Palmer chose [Jessica Bowlin]. Personally, I don't think I need a TV show to find love."

What about The O.C. -- you watch that? "I'm from the O.C. It's not like that. They have the most insane stereotypes on that show, like, My best friend's mom is cheating with my friend. Not real. Still, people ask me if I watch it, and I have to lower my head in shame. 'Yes.'"

Why didn't it work out with ex-girlfriend and Roxy model Veronica Kay? "She was used to all the attention, and I had no idea what to expect. It got overwhelming. Under different circumstances, things may have worked out better. Now I'm not dating. Hear that, girls?"

Your impression of President Bush? "I love Bush. He's my quarterback. I know I'll probably piss off a lot of people with that, but I just like his attitude and the way he handled things these last few years."

Issue date: September 23, 2004

SI ON CAMPUS Sports Illustrated On Campus, a new magazine covering college sports and collegiate lifestyles, is available as an insert in 74 major college newspapers across the country every Thursday throughout the school year. Click any of the links below to see selected content from the latest issue. • Cover Story: The Nebraska Murder • The A List: Shaq, Money Picks and a Q&A • Road Trip: University of Mississippi • Scorecard: The Vibe at Virginia • The Final: Today's Forecast • Previous issue: September 16, 2004