1.A, number of schools – Syracuse, Texas Tech and Stanford among them – interrupt spring practice for spring break. You would think that the interruption – three weeks, in Stanford’s case – might hamper the team’s development. Orange coach Doug Marrone said that it’s the other way around. Spring practice interrupts the vacation. “I remember as a player during spring break,” Marrone said. ‘Ugh, we’ve got to run. Ugh, we’ve got to find a gym.’ I want my players to go through the same pain I went through.”

2.Texas Tech went 12 practices before its spring break. The Red Raiders return for two sessions this week before their spring game on Saturday. Head coach Tommy Tuberville pointed out the numbers issue with seniors gone and freshmen yet to report. “Only having 55 to 60 guys, they all get beat up,” he said. “I had a bunch of guys hurt. It’s good for the players. When they go 15 straight, that’s a long haul.”

3.Murray Warmath, who died last week at age 98, coached at Mississippi State in 1952-53 before leaving for Minnesota, where he won the 1960 national championship. His replacement in Starkville, Darrell Royal, stayed two seasons before leaving for Texas, where he won three national titles. Throw in Bernie Bierman, who coached the Bulldogs in 1925-26 before winning three AP titles at Minnesota, and you have three Mississippi State coaches who left to win national titles elsewhere. Over to you, Dan Mullen.