Say It Ain't So Joe

* You really have to admire the chutzpah of many universities and college football coaches who want and demand so much from boosters, alumni, and fans but don't believe that they or the public have the right to know what they are being paid. Case in point is Joe Paterno and Penn State who has been fighting to keep his salary secret. In a decision reaffirming the public's right to know how state money is spent, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the state retirement system must disclose the salary of legendary football coach Joe Paterno. "Individuals and private entities cannot reasonably expect the Commonwealth to keep secrets from its citizens regarding the disbursement of public funds, past, present or future," wrote Justice James J. Fitzgerald 3d in the high court's 4-2 decision.

* Georgia assistant coaches may be out a sizeable amount of pocket change. Vanderbilt kicker Bryant Hahnfeldt's 49-yard missed field goal against Tennessee in the final minute this past Saturday could keep Georgia's assistant coaches from collecting a total of nearly $100,000. It seems that's the bonus money they would have received if Hahnfeldt's kick went through the uprights instead of barely missing in a 25-24 Vanderbilt loss. A Tennessee loss would have clinched a trip to the SEC title game for Georgia. Georgia's nine assistants each get a bonus worth six percent of their base salary for reaching the SEC title game, according to their contracts. That ranges from as much as $13,200 to at least $8,500. They still will collect that $98,619 total if Kentucky beats Tennessee this Saturday.

* Seems that Bama coach Nick "The Liar" Saban is up to his less than ethical ways. He had suspended his star wide receiver DJ Hall for the Louisiana-Monroe game but after his team was getting beat, he suddenly lifted his suspension and put Hall in after halftime. Bama lost to ULM 21-14.

* File this under unbelievable but not surprising. North Carolina coach Butch Davis who last November signed a seven-year deal worth about $1.86 million annually may be seeking a contract extension. This comes in the wake of speculation that Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt will be fired. Davis is an Arkansas alum and there are rumors that he is interested in the job. Davis is in his first year at North Carolina.