SPORTSbyBROOKS has been all over the Bernie Fine story, and he asked the tough question – why didn’t ESPN share the damning audiotape of Laurie Fine with the authorities back in 2002? Check out the video above as the story is starting to grow.

Not surprisingly, former University of Florida Gators football head coach and ESPN analyst Urban Meyer just denied a report from SPORTSbyBROOKS that he had accepted the head coaching job at Ohio State.

Rumors had been rampant that Meyer was in line to take the job, but Brooks reported that Meyer had indeed accepted even though it had not been formalized in a contract. Brooks reported that Meyer was in the process of putting together a staff and the Luke Fickell would stay on with the Buckeyes. He also reported that Meyer also aims to add Chris Spielman and Kirk Herbstreit to the staff among others. Spielman makes some sense as he once lobbied to coach at Ohio State, but the Herbstreit part seems to be far-fetched as Herbie has one of the best gigs in broadcasting.

On the air during the ESPN broadcast of the Michigan-Nebraska game, Meyer just said that he had not been offered the position and that he had not agreed to coach at Ohio State. He did not, however, issue a blanket statement that he was not going to coach at Ohio State next season, so he can easily hide behind the fact that he hasn’t signed a contract. But Brooks made that clear in his story, so this looks more like the standard denial that doesn’t mean a thing.

Luke Fickell is the interim coach at Ohio State, and it is generally understood that Ohio State was going to look for a big name at the end of the season. Fickell understood that, so any discussions between Ohio State and Meyer are more understandable and are not a slap in the face to Fickell given his interim status. Fickell has made some progress through the season, but it has been clear many times that he is in over his head. Staying at Ohio State under Meyer would make a ton of sense for him. He can continue to learn at his alma mater and someday be considered either for the Ohio State job or another big job.

This makes even more sense given Urban Meyer’s health issues. He left the Florida job twice, and you have to wonder if he’ll give up on Ohio State as well if problems resurface.

As for Spielman, he did not make any comment during the broadcast when Meyer issued his “denial.” This could be an intriguing opportunity if he decides to join Meyer’s staff, though it also sets him up as a rival to Luke Fickell. Can these guys work together if both of them are angling for the top job at Ohio State in the future?

That said, the main story is Meyer’s status. His statement today tells me that these rumors are real, and that the Buckeyes will soon have a new head coach.

SPORTSbyBROOKS has a source that has confirmed that expansion to 96-teams is pretty much a done deal.

In the past week I’ve learned from a CBS source that the NCAA has privately informed its current March Madness television partner that 96 teams “will happen.” The change will likely take effect beginning next season. 2012 at the latest.

Earlier this month, I wrote the following on the subject of expansion:

Read the rest of this entry »

- THE SPORTZ ASSASSIN argues that the NFL should let Michael Vick play.

- ON 205TH lists 10 reasons why David Ortiz is struggling.

- Will Leitch of DEADSPIN writes about why the NBA Draft Lottery is so great. DEADSPIN also compares a 2003 column by Rick Reilly to a 2009 column by Rick Reilly.

- Brooks of SPORTSbyBROOKS isn’t happy that a somewhat prominent radio host mentioned his blog on the air. Now he’s thinking about shutting his site down.

- SPORTSbyBROOKS documents the debate happening Down Under where there are some who think that getting rid of the Australian rugby cheerleaders will clean up the athletes’ poor behavior. Yeah, right.

- On his blog over at YARDBARKER, Brendan Haywood wonders what a lot of us are wondering — what in the hell was Arizona State thinking when they refused to give President Obama an honorary degree when he spoke at the school’s commencement?

- YEP YEP has a post entitled, “Athletes and their ridiculous cars,” which is pretty self-explanatory. I think my favorite is Travis Outlaw’s lime green ’96 Impala. WTF?

- DEADSPIN finds it highly ironic that Jon Gruden is working for ESPN after digging up some interesting quotes that Chuckie has given us over the years about the Worldwide Leader.

- With the Preakness’s decision to restrict alcohol in the infield, STEADY BURN fondly remembers the good ol’ days of the Terrorlawn.

- 20 SECOND TIMEOUT provides a nice breakdown of the All-NBA voting.

- SPORTSbyBROOKS informs us that USC head coach allegedly gave $1,000 to one of O.J. Mayo’s handlers after Mayo signed his letter of intent as a high school senior.

- DEADSPIN has a few quotes from former NFL-er Tony Banks, who says he used to date Dirk Nowitzki’s girlfriend/fiancee.

- THE LOVE OF SPORTS lists 10 Guys You Love to Hate, and it’s a good one.

- Methinks Brett Favre is getting kind of a raw deal this offseason. His potential return is all speculation, yet there are a lot of people telling him to go away (when he’s already gone away). Anyway, according to VIKINGS GAB, Favre told Trent Dilfer via text message that he is not coming out of retirement again.

- Forget what I said about #4 getting a raw deal. DEADSPIN is reporting that he and Vikings head coach Brad Childress are going to meet at an “undisclosed location” to discuss Favre’s status. So much for his desire to “retire a Packer.”

- FIVE TOOL TOOL gives props to Yao Ming for fighting off knee pain to help the Rockets close out the Lakers in Game 1 last night.

- NBA TIPOFF explains what’s going on with Ron Artest’s mohawk.

- SPORTSbyBROOKS has the dirt on the budding feud between ESPN’s Jon Barry and Atlanta head coach Mike Woodson. Does anyone care? For the record, I agree that for a seven-game series, that Hawks/Heat tilt was pretty dreadful.

- BUSTED COVERAGE informs us that NBA TV beauty Melanie Collins goes to the same gym as Erin Andrews. Good God. Where do we sign up?

- Speaking of Erin, SPORTSbyBROOKS says the engagement ring she’s wearing is “for show.” Though if it’s meant to ward off unwanted advances, why tell everyone its true purpose?

- LARRY BROWN SPORTS found a quote from Sixers guard Andre Miller where he says that one of the Magic players said that they were a better team without Dwight Howard. I wonder if it was Howard’s backup, Marcin Gortat…

- DEADSPIN has video of Ron Artest joking about his history of going into the stands and trying to beat up fans that throw beer on him.

- TONYBLOGS wonders why the media is yawning about the allegations that A-Rod has used steroids since high school.

- SPORTSbyBROOKS reveals that Spike Lee’s documentary about Kobe almost didn’t happen because KB24 demanded full creative control. (Keep in mind, this is a story from the NY Post’s Page Six, where facts are optional.)

- THE NY POST’s Phil Mushnick says Stephen A. Smith makes it impossible to feel sorry for him.

- THE BIG LEAD says that Mike Mayock had the best mock draft, and has the numbers to prove it.

- SCACCHOOPS has an update on top high school basketball prospect John Wall, and the current state of his decision process.

- DEADSPIN has video of the worst chest-bump in the world. They also have video of Ben Gordon “celebrating” after hitting a game-saving three against the Celtics.

- SPORTSbyBROOKS writes about the supposedly budding relationship between Lakers center Andrew Bynum and pop star Rihanna.

- Awful Announcing posts hilarious “Superbadge” video, starring Suns’ Shaq and Alando Tucker and directed by Steve Nash.

- Hugging Harold Reynolds offers up an NFL Draft edition tale of the tape between Mel Kiper and Todd McShay.

- With Leather comments on Jake Delhomme’s new contract and his dance moves.

- The Big Lead dishes on Kevin Love’s disappointment over finishing sixth in the ROY voting.