Making the morning rounds.• Looking good. Rutgers defensive lineman Eric LeGrand received a standing ovation from 3,000 well-wishers Saturday at an on-campus fundraiser in his honor, his first public appearance since being paralyzed from the neck down during the Scarlet Knights' win over Army last October. LeGrand told ESPN last month he's regained sensation throughout his body and seemed to be in good spirits during the event (hosted by Rutgers and MTV alum Bill Bellamy), telling the crowd "I'm gonna keep chopping' and doing my rehab." [Newark Star-Ledger]
• RIP. The family of former Notre Dame star Dave Duerson, a 1982 All-American and two-time Super Bowl winner who apparently committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest last week, will donate his brain to concussion research at Boston University, per Duerson's wishes. "He had informed (his family) at some point that he wanted his brain to be studied so people could learn more about the effect of brain trauma and so kids could play the game more safely in the future," said Chris Nowinski, co-director of BU's Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, in the Chicago Tribune. "The family requested that I confirm that Mr. Duerson's brain was donated to our research center, and it was Mr. Duerson's wishes." [South Bend Tribune, Chicago Tribune]
• The saga continues. The Fiesta Bowl informed the IRS in federal tax returns filed last week that it's in the process of reviewing political expenditures and possible "excessive benefits" to top officials – presumably including bowl CEO John Junker, who received a substantial raise to nearly $600,000 per year and was placed on administrative leave earlier this month. An ongoing state attorney general's probe into political contributions by Fiesta Bowl employees, allegedly encouraged and later reimbursed by the bowl, threatens the organization's non-profit status.
The Fiesta Bowl – along with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office – is also investigating an arrangement that that paid $508,776 in 2009-10 to a local security firm, Blue Steel Consulting, owned by a lieutenant in the sheriff's office. That was more than triple what the bowl paid Blue Steel (fans of "The Wire" should enjoy that reference) in 2008-09 and more than the firm took in from its previous three Fiesta Bowl contracts combined. And it doesn't include an undisclosed amount for private security for a pair of bowl officials. [Arizona Republic]
• Come on people now, smile on your brother. A few thousand turned out Saturday to memorialize a pair of terminal oak trees at Auburn's Toomer's Corner, including quite a few Alabama fans, who were literally embraced by the home crowd. The Facebook group "Tide for Toomer's" received so many donations over the weekend – reportedly more than $36,000 from 1,700 donors as of Sunday night – that it capped its PayPal account and began redirecting visitors to Auburn's official Toomer's Trees and Traditions Fund. [Al.com, Tide for Toomer's]
Meanwhile, accused tree-poisoner Harvey Updyke was released from prison on Friday night, and didn't appreciate the attention. [Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, WAKA TV]
Quickly… TCU missed out on LaMichael James because it couldn't get his name right. … Oregon running back Dontae Williams, a top-200 recruit last year, is transferring out of the Ducks' crowded backfield. … Jaxon Shipley finished high school early, cut short a successful track career and delayed his arrival at Texas for a few more months of hanging out with his older brother. … Al Golden is excited about Tate Forcier's "incredible resumé." … There's no spring quarterback derby in the works at Syracuse. … And the Mrs. Rich Rod sale brought in its share for the Salvation Army, too.
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Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.
Jennifer Morrison Adrianne Palicki Amanda Righetti Michelle Branch Melissa Howard
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