AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas likes its position in the Big 12 Conference and has not talked with the Big Ten about its expansion plans, athletic director DeLoss Dodds said Wednesday.

Dodds spoke with The Associated Press on Wednesday after recent speculation that the Longhorns program could be courted by the Big Ten, which is considering expanding.

And Ed Bond was there to document it.

Let's start with an easy one: Is the NCAA tournament going to 96 teams?

I don't know. It will be a decision that will be made after consultation with the membership and our Division I board of directors.

First workout on March 30

CHAMPAIGN – Whew! Football recruiting is in the rearview mirror. Not very encouraging for the Illini, was it? Ron Zook and his new gang salvaged what they could with 21 signees, mostly from distant precincts. It fell short of his previous standards.

But for those of us living in the now, we'll worry about 2012 later. Meanwhile, Zook has plenty of talent returning from more highly ranked classes to make things interesting for the two years that matter, the next two.

A 13-year assistant coach at Illinois, the Rantoul native never had a day like Sunday. The special teams coordinator celebrated on the field with his wife, kids and mom as the New Orleans Saints hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.

No matter how far we wander, we always come back to Westchester St. Joe products Demetri McCamey and Evan Turner.

We didn't think Ron Turner (right) would be out of work very long after being the designated scapegoat for the Bears (how's that working for you, anyway?) According to Internet reports, Turner will coach quarterbacks and receivers for Stanford's Jim Harbaugh.