Coach Joe Paterno has never been afraid to voice opinions. Brian Bahr/Getty Images

Joe Paterno took another shot at the BCS. "You can take the BCS and shove it, as far as I am concerned. I've said that 50 times over the last 10 years," Paterno said. "They say Bowl Championship Series. Who are they kidding? It's not a championship series. It's a bowl championship. Forget the series."
-- Philadelphia Inquirer

Despite the promise of access to Penn State players at a pre-Orange Bowl press conference, coach Joe Paterno spoke urgently about the need to shield his football team and bluntly about his irreverence for the media. Penn State's players, Paterno told the media in a contentious session yesterday, would not be made available. "I don't care," Paterno told a reporter who mentioned that the lack of player availability would hinder his reporting ability. "I'm only worried about the squad."
-- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Joe Paterno didn't rule out the possibility that Derrick Williams, the outstanding freshman wideout who has missed five games with a broken arm, might play against Florida State. "The doc said that he has a chance, but it is not a done deal," he said.
-- Philadelphia Inquirer

It's Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn's call on whether to fire Gary Barnett. Bohn returned Wednesday from meetings in New York and met with Barnett Wednesday evening, according to athletic department officials with knowledge of the situation.
-- Denver Post

At a regularly scheduled regents meeting Wednesday, Colorado President Hank Brown said evaluation of Gary Barnett has centered not only on the team's on-field performance but off-field factors as well, including a state audit due to be released Monday concerning the coach's summer football camp. State auditors investigating the football program are concerned about large cash advances for staff and courtesy-car agreements for coaches, according to a CU document.
-- Denver Post

Dolphins running back Ricky Williams, who has a Heisman Trophy vote for winning the award after his senior season at Texas in 1998, said he voted for his fellow Longhorn, quarterback Vince Young, over USC tailback Reggie Bush.
-- Sun-Sentinel