With this, the "Dead Week" before the really good games, let's take some time to go over some rumors and some things that we've all been wondering about.


To begin, I've heard rumors out of Tuscaloosa that Bob Stoops and Nick Saban got together again this week. Was Stoops giving Saban information on Texas or was he there to learn more about the Pacific Institute that Saban has used to help his team stay focused this season.


Either way, my sources who usually are very good, are very tight-lipped and will neither say yes or no that Stoops and Saban met again.


What is known for sure is, that Stoops is no fool and he is smart enough to see what is working with the top teams and wants to give it a try himself. The Pacific Institute has helped Saban's team the last two years and was credited for helping turn around USC in the post as well.


According to an ESPN report, Stoops told Antowaine Richardson, a Pacific Institute instructor, that he had noticed what Saban's team has accomplished in the last two seasons.


"Bob Stoops' words to me were, 'I want exactly what Alabama got,'" Richardson told the Birmingham News.


I don't know if the Sooners need a head shrink or not, but they certainly need a healthy team, including a quarterback.


Was anyone else scratching their heads wondering why nobody was mentioning Tommy Tuberville and Phillip Fulmer for jobs this year? These men have winning records in the toughest conference in college football yet teams and athletic departments avoided them like a bad case of jock itch.


Are they going to have to wait like Dennis Franchione for a lousy team like Las Vegas to throw them a bone in another year or two? My, how the mighty fell so fast and so far apparently.


Both are still getting big, really big checks from their respective former employers. However, so it's not like they're on food stamps or anything, but still, you have to wonder why somebody didn't have them on a short list.


Did Miami's 9-3 season get Randy Shannon off the hot seat? A lot may be answered by their bowl game outcome.