ON THE GULF OF MEXICO - Investigators looking into what went wrong in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill are a step closer to answers now that a key piece of evidence is secure aboard a ship.

The five-story high device breached the water's surface at 6:54 p.m. CDT, and looked largely intact with black stains on the yellow metal.

The blowout preventer was placed into a metal contraption specifically designed to hold the massive device at 9:16 p.m. CDT Saturday.

ATLANTA - With the NCAA lurking around Chapel Hill and some of its best players sitting in the stands, North Carolina found itself in a most improbable position.

"I don't know if I've ever been prouder of a group of kids," North Carolina coach Butch Davis said.

Patrick Peterson had 257 yards - including an 87-yard touchdown - on kickoff and punt returns, leading LSU (1-0) to a 30-10 lead at the break.