Alford gets to work. Lately, it seems that more and more coaches mean business about the academic pursuits of their players. Steve Alford is in his first year as head coach of the New Mexico men???s basketball program, and as much as he wants to see the Lobos win on the court, he wants to see his guys succeed in the classroom. The NCAA???s reform metrics (Academic Progress Rate and Graduation Success Rate) have revealed academic struggles with the program and Alford is well aware that New Mexico could lose scholarships because of its checkered past. New Mexico Athletics Director Paul Krebs voiced his support for Alford in Tuesday???s Albuquerque Journal: ???We're very pleased with Steve and his staff, not only in recruiting and how they manage the program, but their focus on academics. We have a long way to go, Coach Alford is fully aware of that, where (academics) become a strength rather than a liability." Before Alford has coached his first game, he has already made a positive impact on the New Mexico program ??? the NCAA???s academic reform initiatives were instituted to change behavior, and this is a prime example of how well they can work.

Textbook scandal. Alabama is investigating a potential textbook scandal among scholarship student-athletes at the university. Five football players were suspended from last Saturday???s game against Tennessee for violating NCAA rules covering free books given to them for their own coursework. Scholarship student-athletes often receive a textbook stipend as part of their financial aid package, and apparently, some at Alabama may have been selling the free books to make extra money.

Bryant goes DI. Bryant has accepted an invitation to join the Northeast Conference, an 11-member Division I conference. The university had already filed with the NCAA and is currently in its first year of a five-year transition period for full Division I membership. During its summer meeting, the NCAA???s Division I Board of Directors issued a four-year moratorium on schools applying for a move to Division I. Bryant applied before the moratorium was put into effect, however, and is slated to be a full-fledged Division I member in the fall of 2012.

Historic victory. Williams beat Tufts on the gridiron Saturday, 34-13, and notched the 600th victory in program history. Juniors Brian Morrissey and Ryan Powell each scored a pair of touchdowns for the Ephs, who improved to 3-2 overall. Williams is now 600-341-47 during its 122-year football history, and becomes the fifth Division III program with 600 wins.