• Ed Thomas, a popular Iowa high school football coach who saw many of his players make it to the NFL, was shot & killed in the school’s weight room this morning.

• Road tripping, Wisconsin style: Driving home drunk in a golf cart.

• Break out the blindfolds - Oregon’s new football uniforms are here.

• Terrell Owens gets cursed out by teammate Joanna Krupa for getting themselves eliminated on ABC’s “Superstars”.

• No “Moneyball” movie means no sex scenes between Billy Beane & an Outback Steakhouse waitress.

Read more…

Crikey! The guys from Tennessee and Wisconsin sure can put away the Bloomin’ Onions:

The NASHVILLE TENNESSEAN serves up the news of the Volunteers & Badgers chowing down before facing each other on New Year’s Day in the Outback Bowl. The sponsoring steakhouse set up a welcoming meal on Wednesday for the two teams in Tampa.

When the plates were cleared, 5,500 pounds of food were working their way through the digestive systems of the boys from Knoxville & Madison.

Among the amounts gorged upon were 750 pounds of steak & chicken, 900 ribs, 700 Caesar salads, 1,300 slices of chocolate cake, 85 gallons of BBQ sauce - and the piece de resistance, 950 Bloomin’ Onions.

Hope the Tampa-area Walgreens had enough Pepto-Bismol in stock for the morning after.

PIRATES OUSTING OUTBACK FROM OUTFIELD OF PNC PARK: Outback is out for the Pirates, as the Aussie-themed eatery at PNC Park has closed its doors:

The PITTSBURGH POST GAZETTE reports the restaurant space will be undergoing renovations in time for new dining digs to be ready by next season’s Opening Day.Ballpark visitors hoping to dine at Outback had to purchase a specific ticket package that included food allowances in order to enter the restaurant. Pirates officials plan for the new place to be open to all ticket-holders.

Outback’s final day last Friday was a surprise to the restaurant’s workers, who said they weren’t told about the possible closing. In fact, some employees were planning a Christmas party for this Friday. Guess it’s “Bah, Humbug!” for them.The steakhouse isn’t the only nearby eating establishment to close its doors. The Hi-Tops Sports Bar located across the street shut down in October. A consultant blamed the bar’s poor sales on the Pirates’ “chronic losing.”

Will a new food factory on the foul line bring Pittburgh fans back to the park? It’s certainly an easier attempt than, say, fielding a winning team.