More details are emerging about the situation surrounding his removal.

But perhaps the most puzzling aspect of this whole deal is Arizona State's treatment of its student-athletes.

A source very close to the situation told me that three things have yet to happen.

• Pat Murphy wasn't allowed to speak with his team before or after resigning as coach of the Sun Devils. This apparently made the players furious.

• Arizona State athletic director Lisa Love didn't address the team immediately before or after the resignation. She has yet to address the team.

• Arizona State president Michael M. Crow also has yet to address the team.

In other news, we're hearing that at least one member of Murphy's staff also is on his way out. The staff member isn't former assistant Andy Stankiewicz, who left early last week to pursue a job with the Seattle Mariners.

This situation is far from over. Stay tuned.

Area programs such as North Carolina, North Carolina State and Wake Forest have made strides in the facilities department the past few seasons.

The Tar Heels built a new stadium on the existing site of Boshamer Stadium, N.C. State did a sparkling renovation of its ballpark a few seasons ago and Wake Forest moves into a good-sized stadium that previously was used by Winston-Salem's Minor League Baseball franchise.

Now Duke is doing something about its situation. The Blue Devils announced Tuesday they will play 18 home games at the 10,000-seat Durham Bulls Athletic Park in 2010. The ballpark serves as home for the Durham Bulls, Tampa Bay's Triple-AAA affiliate.

No details were released about the deal extending past the '10 season, but conventional wisdom suggests it will extend if the deal works out in year one.

"We are excited to have the opportunity to play downtown at the DBAP," said Duke head coach Sean McNally, now in his fifth year as head coach at his alma mater. "We are especially thankful to Jim Goodmon and Dr. Kevin White for their hard work in making this possibility a reality. It should be a great experience and relationship for our players, Duke University, Duke Athletics and the Durham community. We have made great strides as a baseball program over the last four years; this move downtown both recognizes that progress and absolutely helps us in our mission to elevate the program further. Opening Day at the DBAP for Duke Baseball can't come soon enough."

Duke's departure to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park could spell the end to using Jack Coombs Field as its home ballpark. The Blue Devils haven't played a home game away from Coombs field since it was constructed in 1931.

This is an interesting move for the Blue Devils. And a good one, too.

Sure, the Blue Devils are moving away from their 2,000-seat on-campus facility. But going to a great Minor League facility in the heart of their city is a wise decision. Duke doesn't have the athletic budget to build ballparks like North Carolina and N.C. State.

The Devils, in response, are doing the second-best thing.

It may not be the best situation possible, but it's certainly better than sitting back and letting your opponents build cathedrals while you do nothing.

Other programs that share minor league facilities include Penn State, Utah, New Mexico, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Nebraska and The Citadel.

The Dirtbags are a perennial regional contender. But last season, the program took a small step back by finishing 25-29 with an unimpressive 11-13 mark in the Big West.

Most important, though, is the fact they failed to make an NCAA regional.

The Beach hopes the regional hiatus is short lived. It should be.

The Dirtbags welcome back six hitters that finished last season with batting averages better than .300. They also welcome back a pair of weekend starting pitchers in Jake Thompson and Andrew Gagnon. The bullpen, though, is a concern.

In addition to the player personnel the Beach welcomes back in the spring, the return of pitching coach Troy Buckley also is a much needed boost. Buckley, of course, was very instrumental to the Dirbags' success earlier this decade.

It's time to dissect the Dirtbags.

Long Beach State's five keys

1. Forget about last season -- Long Beach State is a perennial regional contender and shouldn't get deterred by what transpired last season. As coach Mike Weathers told me during the offseason, what occurred last season is not typical of his program. Last season was last season and I fully expect the Dirtbags to turn the page sooner rather than later. With a plethora of key cogs back at the plate in the spring, the Dirtbags will have the leadership and experience needed to make some noise. The Big West, though, will be incredibly difficult with UC Irvine, Fullerton and Cal Poly all expected to be solid.

2. Show more progress at the plate -- The Dirtbags welcome back seven hitters that earned significant playing time last season. They're most excited about the return of Steve Tinoco, TJ Mittelstaedt, Jordan Casas, Devin Lohman, Derek Legg and Jonathan Jones, which all finished last season with batting averages better than .300. It also will be interesting to see what Kellen Hoime and freshman Juan Avila bring to the table. The Dirtbags also will usher in the Joey Terdoslavich era at Long Beach State. Terdoslavich was a highly touted player at Miami a few seasons ago, but sat out last season because of the new transfer rule. He could provide a huge boost to the LBSU lineup. There's no reason for this unit not to best last season's .289 batting average.

3. Starting pitching must improve -- There's no question that Long Beach State's starting pitching must improve between now and the spring. The Dirtbags had a solid ace pitcher in Adam Wilk last season. Wilk, however, has since signed a professional contract. He ended last season with a 2.78 ERA in 94 innings. The returning starters for LBSU include Jake Thompson and Andrew Gagnon. Thompson started 14 games last season and had a 5.61 ERA in 85 innings. He also struck out 42 and walked 13 and opponents hit him at a high .302 clip. Gagnon, meanwhile, started 13 games and compiled a 6.32 ERA in 72 2/3 innings. He struck out 44 and walked 23 and teams hit .327 off him. LBSU needs Gagnon and Thompson to rise to the occasion. If not, others must fill the voids.

4. Create quality bullpen depth -- The Dirtbags have some work to do in the bullpen without top relievers David Born, Anthony Carrillo, Charlie Ruiz and Dustin Rasco. Born finished last season with an ERA under three and led the team in appearances. Carrillo, Ruiz and Rasco also compiled solid numbers. That leaves the Dirtbags with Jason Markovitz, David Brown and Josh Corrales as their top returnees. Markovitz made 18 appearances last season and had a 4.12 ERA in 19 2/3 innings. He also struck out 15 and walked nine and limited opposing teams to a .304 batting average. Brown had a 6.30 ERA in 20 innings and Corrales had a 6.64 ERA in 20 1/3 innings. The Beach will need more arms. Perhaps newcomers such as Jordan Mejia, Eddie Magallon, Tommy Nance, Cris Trout, Troy Watson and Nate Underwood can provide a boost. If not, the Dirtbags definitely will need the starters to step up.

5. Embrace the return of Troy Buckley -- The Dirtbags received a tough blow a few years ago when Buckley decided to leave the program to take a high-end job with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Buckley, though, has returned to Long Beach State as pitching coach. He will not return to his old post as recruiting coordinator. Still, his return is huge for a program that missed the postseason in '09. Buckley is an excellent pitching coach and the Dirtbags should reap the benefits of his return. It's time to embrace his return to Blair Field. It will be particularly interesting to see if the pitching staff improves in the coming months.

The goal of every team this fall is the same, though. Everyone wants to fill in their holes and improve their weak spots in hopes of reaching the College World Series in 2010.

In our weekly trip around the nation, we get the latest on fall workouts at Cal State Fullerton, East Carolina, Southern Mississippi and Kentucky.

Fullerton and Southern Miss both hope to make returns trips to Omaha in the spring. East Carolina, meanwhile, has one more step to take to get to Omaha. Kentucky, though, has high hopes even after failing to make a regional last season.

Around the nation

• Cal State Fullerton has missed outstanding shortstop Christian Colon this fall because of an injury, but other players have risen to the occasion and given Dave Serrano and his staff something to get excited about. Serrano believes the pitching staff has a chance to be great with several talented arms on the roster. Additionally, the offense is filled with young, but very talented players. Pitchers that are having impressive falls include Colin O'Connell, Dylan Floro, David Hurlbut and Raymond Hernandez ... Offensively, Nick Ramirez, Carlos Lopez and Corey Jones are elevating their games. Ramirez was a big-time power producer last season and is continuing where he left off as a freshman. Lopez and Jones, though, missed last season because of injuries. Both players are primed to be power producers in the spring. The Titans believe Jones is coming back a vengeance and Lopez is a hitter with a very high ceiling ... While the offense and pitching staff are garnering plenty of attention this fall, also keep an eye on the battle behind the plate between Billy Marcoe, David Carrillo and Geno Escalante. All three are having good falls. Marcoe is a seasoned veteran, while Carrillo is a junior college transfer and Escalante is a true freshman.

• Kentucky will be back in an NCAA regional in the spring if it meets expectations. The Wildcats are having a good fall, but without ace pitcher James Paxton in the mix. Paxton has been sidelined because of knee surgery and just now is back to throwing bullpen sessions. The Wildcats expect to have him back at 100 percent for the season ... Speaking of pitchers, the Wildcats are extremely excited about talented sophomore Alex Meyer. Meyer put together a solid freshman campaign last season and is expected to be even better as a sophomore. UK coach Gary Henderson said last week that Meyer stayed in Lexington, Ky., throughout the summer and got bigger and stronger. As a matter of fact, he has climbed from 208 to 220 pounds from last season to now. Henderson also is impressed with Meyer's improved work ethic ... The Wildcats don't have a set weekend rotation outside of Paxton and Meyer. The third spot is open to a plethora of pitchers, including Sean Bouthilette, Logan Darnell, Braden Kapteyn, Taylor Rogers, Kyle Jackson and Jordan Cooper ... At the plate, the Wildcats are impressed with junior college transfer shortstop Taylor Black. They also are pleased with returnees Chad Wright, Keenan Wiley, Braden Kapteyn and Gunner Glad. Veteran catcher Marcus Ndiffer is a seasoned veteran, but really has caught the coaches' attention ... Henderson said he really likes the '10 team. He believes they'll be more offensive and have much more depth in the bullpen.

• East Carolina put together an impressive '09 campaign and was a couple wins away from advancing to the CWS. The Pirates came up short last season, but Omaha again will be the expectation for the upcoming season. There's a reason for that. The main reason is the fact coach Billy Godwin believes the '10 pitching staff will be the best he has had in Greenville, N.C., with the return of Brad Mincey, Seth Maness, Patrick Somers, Kevin Brandt and others. Godwin is most impressed with freshman right-handed pitcher Joseph Hughes. Hughes had a fantastic fall and is in the running for a spot in the weekend rotation ... Offensively, the Pirates obviously have a couple big holes to fill. However, they also welcome back several key hitters including Kyle Roller and Trent Whitehead, among others. The Pirates are pleased with the progressions made by sophomore Corey Thompson, juniors Austin Homan and Cam Freeman and freshmen John Wooten and Bryan Bass. Wooten also made waves at second base with his superior defensive skills. Also keep an eye on redshirt freshman Phillip Clark between now and the spring. Clark had a nice summer at the Cape Cod League and followed that up with an impressive fall. Godwin said he is in the mix in left field and first base ... In terms of areas that could improve, the Pirates are focused on team defense between now and the spring.

•  Southern Mississippi gave long-time coach Corky Palmer the perfect retirement present last season when it defeated Florida in the Gainesville Super Regional and reached the CWS. Now the Golden Eagles hope to return to Omaha with coach Scott Berry in charge. The Eagles certainly have some key holes to fill between now and the spring. Much focus has been on the mound, where the Eagles hope to create more depth to take some pressure off ace pitcher Todd McInnis. Berry believes that pitchers Cody Schlagel, Scott Copeland and junior college transfer Ryan MacNamara must rise to the occasion. Copeland had a very productive fall. Also keep an eye on sophomore transfer Mandella Mingo. Mingo, a left-handed pitcher, had an impressive fall and could be in the weekend rotation come spring ... In terms of position players, the Eagles believe Joey Archer has made a smooth transition from first to third base. Also, junior Adam Doleac has been a defensive surprise. The middle infield with shortstop BA Vollmuth and Taylor Walker leading the way. Walker was a third baseman last season, but made the move to second this fall.

Here are some intriguing notes from programs around the league:

• Rice coach Wayne Graham is very optimistic about his team this fall. Veteran Diego Seastrunk has improved a lot behind the plate this fall and also is hitting at a high clip. Graham said that Seastrunk is in the best shape he's ever been. Steven Sultzbaugh is having a sensational fall and is "killing" the ball according to Graham. To no surprise, newcomer second baseman Michael Ratterree is having a fantastic fall. Graham said Ratterree is a fantastic athlete and the real deal ... On the mound, junior left-handed pitcher Doug Simmons has been a pleasant surprise this fall. The Owls changed his release point at the beginning of fall workouts and that switch has made all the difference. Graham said the lefty was great against Texas State in a scrimmage last week and throws 87-91 with good movement and a good changeup. Redshirt freshman pitcher Anthony Fazio is having a good fall and appears to be back in business. Boogie Anagnostou, a newcomer, also is a good fit and Graham said Jared Rogers has matured a great deal since last season. Other pitchers that have impressed Graham include J.T. Chargois, Chase McDowell and Tyler Spurlin ... Last but not least, there has at least been some speculating that Graham might be a candidate for the vacant Rice athletic director position after Chris Del Conte made the move to TCU. Graham said he has no interest in that side of athletics. He's a baseball coach only.

• After a tough first campaign with the Knights, UCF coach Terry Rooney is sleeping a little better these days after he welcomed an exceptional recruiting class to campus this fall. Rooney said his program has 21 new players and the learning curve must improve between now and the spring. He did say, however, that the players are continuing to gain familiarity with his styles and expectations. He admits it will take time, but wants the program to have a championship mentality sooner rather than later. In the surprise department, the maturity of many of the newcomers has been a welcomed surprise for the second-year coach. Freshman infielder Darnell Sweeney is standing out this fall. Sweeney could start at shortstop and is swinging the bat very well this fall. He also is displaying a high level of maturity for such a young player. On the mound, keep an eye on right-handed pitcher Owen Dew. Dew is a junior college transfer that has blossomed since having a solid summer at the Alaska League a few months ago. Rooney believes he has the potential to be one of the better arms in C-USA ... Overall, Rooney feels like this team has potential, but still is cautiously optimistic because of its lack of experience.

• Tulane has its sights set on making it back to an NCAA regional in the spring. Coach Rick Jones took some time out to provide us with some snippets from fall workouts. In terms of improvements that need to be made, Jones said the team needs to gain more experience. He expects to start up to five freshmen in the spring. He does say, however, that the young players are very talented. In terms of positives, Jones is very pleased with how seasoned veterans Rob Segedin and Robby Broach are performing this fall. They both missed much of last season with injuries, and having them back and healthy is like adding a pair of outstanding recruits. Jones is very excited about the dynamic duo ... Jones believes freshman Garrett Cannizaro, a shortstop, will be an immediate impact player. He is having an impressive fall ...  On the mound, keep an eye on right-handers Kyle McKenzie and Alex Byo. McKenzie is throwing 91-95 with a great breaking ball and Byo has great control with a plus changeup and slider.

• Houston is another C-USA team hoping to return to a regional in the spring. The Cougars hope to find someone to fill the closer's role sooner rather than later. For now, though, that role is a concern. In the surprise department, Taylor Hammack is finally healthy and having a fantastic fall on the mound. Michael Goodnight, who started on the weekend as a freshman last season, is following up a good summer at the Cape Cod League with an even better fall for the Cougars. UH's coaches are very excited about Goodnight for the upcoming season. Other surprises to keep an eye on include transfers Ryan Still, Austin Gracey and Matt Creel. Still and Gracey are infielders and Creel is a two-way player for the Cougars ... In terms of an overall fall assessment, the Cougars believe they lacked both speed and power offensively last season. So far this fall, UH believes it has fixed those issues. The Cougars also believe they're stronger defensively and have much more experience than last season.

• Memphis sure has had an exciting fall. As the Tigers continue fall workouts, they're also having to deal with a facility that finally is getting renovated. That's great news. Memphis coach Daron Schoenrock said the key to the end of the fall and the time leading up to the spring is to get healthy and increase depth. He believes the Tigers will have a very solid team if the front-line guys stay healthy. However, there are six position players that are out this fall because of various injuries. Three of the six are out until at least December. Schoenrock is very pleased with his pitching staff this fall ... In terms of surprises, Coach Rock is very pleased with the pitching staff and how the team approaches practice ... Position players that have stood out include outfielders Robby Graham and Derrick Thomas, first baseman Trey Wiedman, catchers Phillip Chapman, Rick Russell and Shawn Ablett and second baseman Adam McClain ... Pitchers that have stood out include left-hander Brennan Martin, Ryan Fraser, Ryan Holland (much improved command), reliever Marcus Barnes and JUCO transfer Chase Joiner.

Creighton won't have to worry too much about getting used to its surroundings if it makes it back to the College World Series beginning in 2011.

In an agreement with the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority of Omaha, the Bluejays have agreed to play their home games at TD Ameritrade Park, which will serve as the new home of the College World Series beginning in '11.

Under the lease agreement, the Bluejays will play some home games at the ballpark in '11 and all of their home games at the ballpark starting in '12. Creighton fans also will have the ability to purchase suites and club seating included with the new stadium.

TD Ameritrade Park will have a capacity of 24,000 spectactors. By comparison, the current home -- Rosenblatt Stadium -- has an official capacity of 23,100 spectactors.

"MECA and Creighton have an excellent working relationship and we thank Creighton University President Father John Schlegel and athletic director Bruce Rasmussen for their continued support of our facilities and the City of Omaha," Werner-Robertson said. "We are proud to have Creighton basketball and now baseball as anchor tenants at Qwest Center Omaha and TD AMERITRADE Park Omaha."

The Sun Devils had an excellent team two seasons ago and were ousted from the postseason in super regional play by eventual national champion Fresno State.

Last season, though, the Devils returned to business. They dominated the Pac-10 and won a regional and super regional before returning to the College World Series with weekend starters Mike Leake and Josh Spence leading the way.

Leake, an All-American, was a first-round draft pick this past summer and is long gone. Spence, though, surprised everyone by deciding to return to Tempe, Ariz., for his senior campaign. His return is absolutely huge for the Devils.

Offensively, the Devils appear to be in solid shape. Sure, replacing power hitters Jason Kipnis and Carlos Ramirez will be difficult. However, they welcome back at least eight key hitters, including Kole Calhoun, who was a man on a mission in Omaha this past summer.

Look for the Sun Devils to once again return to Omaha.

It's time to breakdown the Devils.

Arizona State's five fall keys

1. Move forward without Mike Leake -- The Sun Devils were spoiled the last three seasons with the right-handed pitcher in the weekend rotation. Leake was an outstanding asset for the program and finished off his career in style last season. He started 18 games and had a 1.71 ERA in 142 innings. He also struck out 162 and walked 24 and held opposing teams to an incredibly low .193 clip. The Devils are in fantastic shape with the return of senior pitcher Josh Spence, but Leake being out of the rotation still is a huge hit. Others such as Seth Blair, Matt Newman and Mitchell Lambson must rise to the occasion in the spring.

2. Spence needs to have a big year -- The Australian left-handed pitcher had an amazing junior campaign last season. But after turning down the Angels after getting drafted in the third round last season, you just hope he doesn't have a down 2010 campaign. Spence compiled great numbers in '09. He started 15 games and made 18 appearances and had a 2.37 ERA in 102 2/3 innings. He also struck out 125 and walked 30 and held opposing teams to a .240 batting average. The Devils certainly have some talent on the mound, but Spence must emulate last season's numbers to have the ability to win a national title. We don't expect the lefty to skip a beat.

3. Create more bullpen depth -- The Sun Devils found a way to put together phenomenal numbers on the mound last season without too much depth. It worked last season and the Devils compiled a 2.90 ERA. But in '10, we expect the Devils to work hard on creating more bullpen depth. In addition to Leake's departure, the Devils also are without Jason Franzblau, who recorded 20 appearances last season. Potential key relievers include Matt Newman, Mitchell Lambson and Jordan Swagerty. More arms will be needed and several newcomers could assume starter or reliever roles. The list includes freshman stud Jake Barrett, Merrill Kelly, Brady Rodgers and Josh Moody. Look for ASU to make this a top priority between now and the spring.

4. Replace the power of Kipnis and Ramirez -- The Devils welcome back a talented lineup but need some hitters to rise to the occasion from a power standpoint. ASU will be without Jason Kipnis and Carlos Ramirez in the spring. Kipnis batted .384 with 16 homers and 71 RBIs last season. Ramirez, meanwhile, batted .338 with 19 homers and 75 RBIs. Also worth noting is the fact Kipnis recorded 21 doubles and four triples and Ramirez rpped 13 doubles and a pair of triples. ASU welcomes back power producer Kole Calhoun, but that won't be enough. It needs some guys to step up in the spring.

5. Meet expectations at the plate -- Sure, the Devils have a plethora of power to replace, and that could become a huge issue in the spring. But for now, it does look like this team will be able to hit with consistency from a batting average standpoint. ASU batted .303 last season in what was considered a "down" year for many inside the program. That likely is good news for the upcoming campaign. Even without Ramirez and Kipnis, the Devils still welcome back at least eight hitters that earned significant playing time last season. The list includes Johnny Ruettiger, Kole Calhoun, Drew Maggi, Matt Newman, Andy Workman, Riccio Torrez, Raoul Torrez and Zack MacPhee. Look for this unit to be much better in the average department. Power, though, is a question mark.

The Bruins, the second weekend of the season, had stiff tests at the Houston College Classic at Minute Maid Park. They finished the tournament 0-3 and proceeded to rattle off four more losses after the failed trip to Houston.

It took UCLA a long time to rebound from the slow start. The start also kept them -- despite a good Pac-10 record -- from making an NCAA regional.

With last season serving as motivation, the Bruins enter the '10 campaign with a new outlook.

UCLA welcomes back a very talented weekend rotation with Trevor Bauer and Gerrit Cole leading the way. The bullpen also is in decent shape. The offense, though, could be a cause for concern after hitting just .285 last season.

The Bruins have some holes to fill at the plate, but otherwise are in good shape.

The '10 campaign should be a good one for the Bruins.

UCLA's five fall keys

1. Use last season as motivation -- There's no question the Bruins entered last season with high hopes. They were preseason ranked and many expected them to at least reach an NCAA regional, if not a super regional or perhaps even the College World Series. But instead of taking another step forward, the Bruins took what is perceived to be a huge step back. That may not be the case as the Bruins still are loaded with talent. But UCLA must return to winnings ways in the spring. Also important is the offensive transformation to Vanderhook's way of doing things. I get the feeling some Bruins had issues transitioning to Vanderhook's way of thinking. That won't be the case in '10.

2. Continue to get big performances from Bauer, Cole -- Cole earned nationwide recognition last season for spurning the New York Yankees as a top-round pick to head to UCLA. Well, amazingly enough, he wasn't even the best pitcher on the staff last season. That award went to fellow freshman Trevor Bauer. Bauer started 10 games and made 20 appearances and had a 2.99 ERA in 105 1/3 innings. He also struck out 92 and walked 27 and held opposing teams to a .225 batting average. Cole, meanwhile, started 14 games and had a 3.49 ERA in 85 innings. He struck out 104 and walked 38 and held teams to a low .191 clip. UCLA is in good shape on the mound if the dynamic duo emulates last season's production.

3. Rob Rasmussen needs to step up -- With Bauer and Cole anchoring the weekend rotation, all eyes now are on the No. 3 spot in the weekend rotation. That label likely will go to talented prospect and junior left-hander Rob Rasmussen. However, the Bruins need Rasmussen to be much more consistent. He started six games and made 18 appearances last season. He also had a 6.45 ERA in 44 2/3 innings. Additionally, he struck out 51 and walked 26 and teams hit him at a .295 clip. Rasmussen put together an impressive summer at the Cape Cod League, but we'll see if that translates to success in the spring. UCLA's weekend rotation will be one of the nation's best if Rasmussen pans out.

4. Find some power production -- When UCLA coach John Savage looks at his team's power potential in the spring, he might need to do a double take. Without Cody Decker, Casey Haerther, Gino Aielli, Eddie Murray and Gabe Cohen, the Bruins have lost 39 of their 54 homers as a team last season. That equates to a loss of 72 percent of their homers. That's a staggering number if you ask me. UCLA isn't a team known for its power production in the first place, but some newcomers and returnees must rise to the occasion in the power department for the Bruins to take a step forward in the spring. If not, they better do all the little things right.

5. Improve offensively -- It's only a matter of time before Vanderhook gets the offense going, but we'll see if the '10 campaign will be that time. The Bruins finished last season with a .285 batting average and will enter the spring without three of their top four hitters. UCLA welcomes back two hitters -- Justin Uribe and Blair Dunlap -- that finished last season with batting averages better than .300. They need others such as Chris Giovinazzo, Niko Gallego, Steve Rodriguez and Tyler Rahmatulla to step up. Also keep an eye on newcomers Cody Keefer, Jeff Gelalich and Beau Amaral. The offense will determine the team's fate in the spring. We're that certain of it.

The Rebels certainly have recruited at a high level the past few seasons, and should be OK from a talent standpoint. However, they have some gaping holes to fill on the mound.

Ole Miss is going through fall workouts without four of its top pitchers from last year's team. It welcomes back ace pitcher Drew Pomeranz, though.

Though the pitching staff has some question marks, the offense still is in good shape even without Jordan Henry, Logan Power and other key hitters. They welcomed back six key hitters this fall, including Tim Ferguson, Matt Smith and Zach Miller.

It'll be interesting to see how the Rebels progress between now and the spring.

It's time to dissect what the Rebels need to accomplish.

Mississippi's five fall keys

1. Get another big-time campaign from Drew Pomeranz -- With the plethora of pitchers the Rebels are without this fall, Pomeranz's success in the spring is more important than ever before. The junior left-hander had a strong summer and will enter the spring as one of the nation's best pitchers. As a sophomore last season, the lefty started 16 games, threw a pair of complete games, had an 8-4 record and compiled a 3.40 ERA in 95 1/3 innings. He also struck out 124 and walked 37 and limited opposing teams to a .237 batting average. The Rebels may be fine on the mound if Pomeranz lives up to expectations.

2. Rebuild the pitching staff -- Even with the return of Pomeranz, David Goforth, Rory McKean, Kyle Barbeck and Aaron Barrett, the Rebels still have several huge holes to fill on the mound without Scott Bittle, Nathan Baker, Brett Bukvich and Phillip Irwin. Bittle made six starts and 14 appearances last season and had a 2.17 ERA in 45 2/3 innings. Baker made 20 appearances and had a 3.63 ERA in 67 innings, Bukvich had a 4.42 ERA in 71 1/3 innings and Irwin had a 3.84 ERA in 86 2/3 innings. Overall, the Rebels lost 40 starts from the '09 campaign. That's a lot of innings to replace. Adding to Ole Miss' woes on the mound is Jake Morgan's UCL injury, which will require surgery and likely will keep him out the entire '10 campaign.

3. Reload at the plate -- The Rebels have the tough chore of replacing key hitters such as Jordan Henry, Evan Button, Kyle Henson and Logan Power. However, they still will enter the spring in good shape. At least that's what the stat sheet suggests. The Rebels finished last season with a .310 batting average and welcome back Tim Ferguson, Matt Smith, Zach Miller, Matt Snyder, David Phillips and Kevin Mort. Ferguson batted .358 with two homers and 21 RBIs last season, Smith batted .336 with eight homers and 59 RBIs, Miller batted .341 with five homers and 38 RBIs, Snyder batted .298 with eight homers and 31 RBIs, Phillips batted .290 with two homers and 20 RBIs and Mort batted .286 with 33 RBIs. Sure, the Rebels have some holes to fill. But there's no question the offense should hit well above .300 in the spring.

4. Find more power production -- The Rebels welcome back a talented crop of hitters that finished last season with solid batting averages. However, this team needs to find more power between now and the spring. The Rebels are in a power-hitting conference and still managed to win the SEC co-championship last season with just 56 homers, which ranked 108th in the country alongside teams such as Vanderbilt and Washington State. The Rebels would be much more dangerous with some added power to the lineup. Perhaps a few newcomers can provide a boost in this department.

5. Use last season as motivation -- As much as it may pain the players to even think about this, it's important for the Rebels to use last season's super regional collapse against Virginia as a rallying point. Sure, the Rebels have had a tendency to fall apart in big-time postseason situations the past few seasons. But remember, each season is exclusive. It wasn't too long ago that many considered North Carolina a perennial postseason failure. Now the Tar Heels have reached the College World Series four-straight occasions and will have another solid team in '10. Ole Miss' time is coming at some point. My guess is sooner rather than later. Will this be the team that does it? It's up to them.

Long-time head coach Jim Wells decided to retire and associate head coach Mitch Gaspard was promoted to head coach.

So, how have fall workouts transpired for the Crimson Tide?

In some ways, fall workouts have been successful. Gaspard differs from Wells in some areas and the team is learning new ways of doing things. In other ways, though, fall workouts already have been grueling for the new coach because of a rash of injuries.

"We're in our second week of team workouts and we're banged up," Gaspard said. "With the exception of a few injuries and such, though, it's been a smooth transition for the program. This team is really working hard to improve in all areas; especially on the mound."

But what about the injuries?

OF Brandt Hendricks -- The Crimson Tide is most disappointed in the injury to Hendricks. The redshirt freshman outfielder had shoulder surgery out of high school and was sidelined for that reason last season. Well, now Hendricks is back on the shelf for some time. He broke his leg sliding into second base last week. Gaspard said the Crimson Tide expects Hendricks to certainly miss the rest of fall workouts.

OF Andrew Miller -- A true freshman, Miller is still rehabbing a broken ankle he sustained back in June. Gaspard said Miller still is in a recovery period and likely will be out of commission another three weeks to a month. Once he returns, Gaspard expects the freshman to compete for the starting job in the right field.

LHP Matt Taylor -- The left-handed pitcher was a late-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates, but chose to attend college at Alabama. Now he must wait a few weeks to make a statement. Taylor was pitching and playing center field for the Crimson Tide until his knee cap popped out of place. The Tide isn't sure when he will return, but Gaspard described Taylor as a great competitor with a good arm. He also believes he will factor into the weekend rotation come spring.

RHP Adam Scott -- The senior right-hander woud love nothing more than to stay healthy. Scott recently suffered a small fracture in his foot. The Crimson Tide expect him to be out of commission for at least two more weeks. Scott started five games and made 16 appearances last season. He also had a 5.28 ERA in 44 1/3 innings.

By that we mean forget about last season.

The Aggies entered the 2009 season with high hopes. We had them ranked No. 3 to begin the campaign, and they were ranked No. 1 by at least one publication. To say the least, A&M had the personnel to live up to those expectations.

Unfortunately for coach Rob Childress, things didn't exactly go as planned.

The Aggies were in the hunt for the Big 12 title before the final few weeks of the season, but sputtered against Oklahoma and rival Texas to end the regular season.

A&M didn't host a regional and was sent to the Fort Worth Regional. There, the Aggies ran into an Oregon State club that had their number. They finished the season far short of Omaha, Nebraska.

With last season serving as extra motivation, the Aggies hope to reload this fall.

Texas A&M's five fall keys

1. Use last season as a motivational tool -- The Aggies are in the midst of fall workouts with a group of players willing to work hard, but there's always room for extra motivation. A&M wants to forget about last season, but perhaps it can use the failures of the past to its advantage this fall. The A&M coaching staff was disgusted with what transpired last season. They don't want that to happen again. We'll see if there's an attitude change this fall.

2. Find a way to replace weekend starters Alex Wilson and Brooks Raley -- Overcoming the departures of their top two weekend starters won't be easy. It'll be extremely difficult. The Aggies knew there was a great chance Wilson would sign this past summer, but Raley seemed to be a long shot before the Cubs opened their checkbook and gave him exactly what he wanted financially speaking. Raley's departure is tough both at the plate and on the mound. He finished last season with a 3.76 ERA in 93 1/3 innings and Wilson had a 4.22 ERA in 89 2/3 innings. To make matters worse, sophomore Ross Hales likely won't be able to pitch until April because of offseason arm surgery. The weekend rotation is a huge question mark this fall.

3. John Stilson needs to be the man -- With the departures of Wilson and Raley and the uncertainty surrounding Hales' return to the weekend rotation, the former JUCO All-American needs to meet expectations. We had the opportunity to see him pitch in a scrimmage last week and left the practice impressed with his ability. His numbers at Texarkana JC speak for themselves. Last season, the right-hander was 10-1 with a 2.20 ERA in 73 2/3 innings. He also struck out 78 and walked 21 and allowed just 18 earned runs. Also throw returning starter Barret Loux into the same mix as Stilson. Loux has had a decent career with the Aggies, but had some back bone spur issues in his elbow last season. Insiders say Loux is healthy. He finished last season 3-3 with a 4.12 ERA in 48 innings. Both Stilson and Loux have to be on their game this fall for the Aggies to be confident entering '10.

4. Replace the bats of the Big Three -- The Aggies return some talented hitters this fall, but also have the tough chore of replacing power hitters Luke Anders and Kyle Colligan in addition to versatile two-way player Brooks Raley. Anders batted .307 with 13 homers and 53 RBIs last season, Colligan batted .288 with 15 homers and 45 RBIs and Raley batted .304 with a home run and 26 RBIs. He also was 25-for-29 in stolen bases. The Aggies may be able to overcome some early-season pitching woes if the offense surprises. Replacing these guys won't be easy, though.

5. Get back to business offensively -- Before last season, the Aggies -- under the direction of Matt Deggs -- had been known for their scrappy and aggressive offensive style. But last season, the Aggies deviated from the usual plan and were anything but versatile. They also were bad with runners in scoring position. They vow to return to their old ways this fall. The Aggies are led at the plate by Brodie Greene, Caleb Shofner, Adam Smith, Kevin Gonzalez and Joe Patterson. They also have high hopes for newcomers Tyler Naquin, Matt Juengel and Andrew Collazo. The Aggies need to rise to the occasion at the plate beginning this fall.