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Steve Spurrier has engineered countless highlight moments during his college football coaching career, but his performance at Southeastern Conference media days last month will not be counted among them whenever the ol' ball coach decides to retire to the ol' golf course.

The way Shawn Springs looks at it, he, Randy Moss and Joey Galloway are among the Patriots' graybeards.

For Springs and Moss, "graybeard" is more of an honorific, but for Galloway, that's actually true.

Tradition has become an awkward partner for Big Ten football. It has been its strength, and its debility.

The conference had historically quashed its opponents with its size, roughed them up with its brawn, and overwhelmed them with its sheer power. Then speed, quickness and innovation minimized the caliber and velocity of the Big Ten's traditional weaponry.

Since joining the National Football League in 1966 the Atlanta Falcons have managed to win one NFC championship (and earn the accompanying Super Bowl berth that goes with it), along with three division titles.

That's seeing the glass as half full.

Surrounded by cameras, microphones, notepads and nosy news types, JaMarcus Russell seemed at ease. It was a far cry from his first two seasons as an NFL quarterback.

Even when a sensitive question about his weight was lobbed across his bow, the Oakland Raiders quarterback did not flinch.

There are two kinds of football schedules in the Southeastern Conference -- tough and tougher. But the slightest difference in schedules in a conference as demanding as this one can sometimes determine a championship.

As if this kid hasn't taught us enough already, Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford has provided one more example of how to stay above the fray.

Actually, there are three examples.

Texas, Oklahoma State and Nebraska the Sooners' biggest rivals in football.

Here's what Bradford has done since the first week of last December:

Anthony Kim and Hunter Mahan were major golf revelations on the international stage at last year's Ryder Cup. Kim and Mahan offered such fresh energy and clutch shots that U.S. captain Paul Azinger sent them out first and second, respectively, in singles play on the final day.

The original members of the illustrious Four Horsemen will gather next week for a reunion of pro-wrestling legends.

That includes the star who rode away.

A fellow told a story during the RBC Canadian Open last week. It was about a man, his young son, and Tiger Woods. It wasn't pretty.

The father and his son had been watching the first two rounds of the Open Championship two weeks ago, where Woods missed the cut. He threw clubs. His face contorted in anger at himself.

It wasn't pretty.