Bernie Machen's one-man crusade for a college football playoff came to an abrupt end Friday when Southeastern Conference university presidents voted overwhelmingly to work for change within the current BCS system that determines the national championship.

Florida's Machen made his playoff pitch to his fellow presidents, which led to what he called a "very lively" one-hour discussion. But when a private vote was taken, Machen was convinced the best way to address his concerns was to work within the system in place.

"What we learned from my colleagues is that we see the world pretty much the same," Machen said Friday, the final day of the SEC's spring meetings in Deland, Fla. "We started the conversation with 'Do you see what I see?' And it turns out that they did."

SEC presidents instructed league commissioner Mike Slive and Ole Miss Chancellor Robert Khayat to work for improvements in the next BCS contract, which could be renewed after the games of January 2010.

But Machen and Slive said no specific changes were recommended Friday.

"In the final analysis, knowing that there is no perfect system and knowing that a playoff is not in the cards, we have to decide if (No.) 1 vs. (No.) 2 is enough," Slive said. "Or do we need to make an adjustment within the constraints of the academic calendar, the constraints of protecting the regular season and the constraints of protecting the bowl system?"

Machen went into Friday's meeting thinking he'd be taking his case to presidents in other conferences. But after the SEC meeting, Machen said he'd have no other ones on this subject.

"I'm done," he said.

MORE FOOTBALL

COORDINATOR DONATES KIDNEY TO LINE COACH'S WIFE: Oregon State offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf donated a kidney to offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh's wife.

Laurie Cavanaugh, 48, had living-donor kidney transplant surgery on Tuesday at Portland's Oregon Health & Science University Hospital.

Laurie Cavanaugh has autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, which enlarged her kidneys.

Langsdorf was identified as a match through tests with 18 individuals. She said the process of finding a donor took about a year and a half.

"I remember being in San Antonio at a football convention in San Antonio and he (Langsdorf) came up to me and said, 'Hey, I'm a go,' " Laurie Cavanaugh said Friday at OHSU, where she is recovering.

"I was like 'Wow!' After about 18 people, I was shocked and excited. At that point I was getting kind of hopeless, I didn't think I was going to get anyone."

Langsdorf, also speaking from the hospital, said: "I didn't think it was right to sit back and not do anything, when I probably could have. So I decided to get tested. The fact that I was such a good match for her was such a positive thing."

Laurie Cavanaugh fought back tears when expressing her gratitude to Langsdorf, who said he merely wanted to help.

"It reminds you that when you're feeling OK and things are going pretty good in your life, you shouldn't have many complaints," Langsdorf said. "That's probably the biggest thing for me -- to give something to a friend and have it work out."

LACROSSE

ANOTHER NEWSPAPER AD PRAISES DUKE LACROSSE TEAM: For the second time in less than a week, a Duke graduate has bought a newspaper advertisement praising the lacrosse team.

Today's full-page ad is to appear in the New York Times, The Washington Post, The News & Observer and the Durham Herald-Sun, according to a news release. The ad is also to run in Monday's Wall Street Journal and a pair of lacrosse magazines.

The $400,000 advertisements, paid for by an anonymous Oklahoma oil businessman who graduated from Duke, praise the Duke lacrosse players and their families for "standing tall during extraordinarily difficult circumstances over the past 15 months."

On Wednesday, another Duke alumnus bought a full-page ad in USA Today for $106,400 to show support for the program.