1.When the USC Trojans begin spring practice later this month, practices will be at 8 a. m., proving that imitation is the sincerest form of validation. Oregon coach Chip Kelly scheduled practice in the mornings last fall when the Ducks came within one play of a national championship. The Ducks’ staff analyzes the video and goes over it with the players in afternoon meetings after classes. The schedule probably gets the players to bed a little earlier, too.

2.Tommy Tuberville became a proponent of morning practices at Auburn but hasn’t scheduled them at Texas Tech. He is, however, going earlier in a different way. The Red Raiders already are midway through their spring work. It’s the legacy of corner LaRon Moore, who missed the first four games of the 2010 season after breaking his leg in a practice last April. Texas Tech will be done this year by March 26.

3.The big story in Miami athletic director Kirby Hocutt deciding to take the same job at Texas Tech is the gap between how Miami sees itself and how the college athletic world sees Miami. But there is a weird twist to it. Hocutt spoke with Tuberville last December in New York about the Hurricanes’ vacant head coaching job. At the time, Tuberville said publicly that he wasn’t a candidate. Fast forward nearly three months, and Hocutt joins Tuberville instead of vice-versa.