At its meeting in Indianapolis this morning, the NCAA Executive Committee, which is comprised of presidents and chancellors of NCAA member institutions, retained Illinois, North Dakota and Indiana University of Pennsylvania on the list of schools subject to restricts on the use of Native American mascots, names and imagery at NCAA Championships.

Bradley was removed from the list and was placed on a five-year watch list due to the fact that the school had previously removed all Native American imagery associated with its athletics programs.

This was the second and final appeal for Illinois, North Dakota and IUP. The first appeal was rejected by a committee made up of NCAA staff members.

I expect a bevy of comments declaring that this is political correctness run amok and that the NCAA, and the presidents and chancellors on its Executive Committee, have no idea what they???re doing.

I???ve made my position about this issue pretty clear in past blog posts ??? anything that makes a group of people feel uncomfortable is unwarranted. A group of people don???t need to feel as if they???re nothing more than cartoons and caricatures. While I understand that these three athletics programs have rich traditions and proud communities, they will recover and learn to treasure their new nicknames and mascots.

I understand the passion, anger and fans??? need to vent. I???m hopeful we can have an open-minded and purposeful discussion in the next few days.

Having grown up in New York City, where my father???s stories about living in the shadows of Yankee Stadium were a family staple, it was particularly painful to watch the Red Sox win the World Series in 2004.

I was in Boston when the Red Sox beat the Yankees for the American League Championship Series, coming back from three games down; the town went nuts. So crazy, in fact, that fan celebration turned into rioting in the streets, resulting in the death of a college student.

Instead of celebrating the team???s first World Series berth since 1986, Red Sox fans were discussing the tragic circumstances. Happiness turned to sadness and celebrations were somewhat tainted. It didn???t have to be that way.

I would never sit so high and mighty to say I haven???t celebrated a big victory, or stormed a field or two. That doesn???t mean I made decisions that would have made my mother proud.

Storming the field and partying with your friends sound like good, harmless ideas, and most of the time end up as good times remembered. When excessive drinking is thrown into the mix, those times can often spiral out of control and can result in street riots and unsafe behavior. When a young fan gets trampled to death or a goal post falls and kills someone, times of celebration turn to mourning. Somewhere, the fine line between good times and dangerous behavior is crossed, often without the cognizance of the participants.

How can we celebrate without taking it too far? In Jack Copeland???s NCAA News story last week, it???s proposed that changing fan behavior is possible and will prevent excessive and potentially dangerous post-game celebrations.

This is an issue we must confront before we head to the stadium, arena or field. We have to know how to keep it under control, so that everyone can enjoy sports in a safe environment.

This week, Sacred Heart assistant bowling coach Steve Peloquin stops by the Coaches' Corner and describes some of his experiences at the 2006 NCAA Bowling Championships.

"Two weekends ago, I had the privilege and opportunity to attend the NCAA Women???s Bowling Championship. Along with this event is the YES program. As the assistant coach for Sacred Heart University, I volunteered to assist in the program at last year???s championships. When Tim Clark sent out information on this year???s event, I immediately volunteered my services not knowing if our team would be selected as a participant in the event as they were last season.

"The YES program is truly an outstanding program that allows bowling to be brought to the youth of America. Bowlers of today began mostly in junior programs in their youth and continue to bowl into their golden years. This program allows both boys and girls of every culture to participate. Physical size and ability are of no concern as all beginners are of the same level. Bowling is an acquired skill.

"This year I had the opportunity to bring two of our players to the clinic. This was a tremendous success! Watching the interaction of my ladies with different age groups and levels and the participants reaction to the college players was a pleasure. The closeness in age was a factor and the participants were able to relate better to the players. Questions about college life and bowling for an institution were more easily asked and answered. This setting was helpful in opening the eyes of the players to begin to understand what we as coaches / instructors go through. It was also beneficial to see these young ladies in another light, as maturing young women.

"This is a great way of giving back to the ???community.??? It shows the kids it is alright to be a smaller part of something larger and one person can make a difference. The kids who took part in the clinic can see that there are different avenues to get to college. You don???t have to be the biggest, strongest, or tallest. Bowling is the great equalizer ??? all you need is desire and perseverance. This is by far the best kept secret of the NCAA."

Last week, I began my new duties as Coordinator of New Media Communications at the NCAA. I???m no longer an intern, but will continue to work with the Double-A Zone on a daily basis. I???m thrilled to continue working at the NCAA, but even more excited to continue having conversations about academics, athletics and the role of college sports in our society.

After yesterday???s edition of Mondays With Myles made its rounds about the Internet, a fellow blogger took exception to a number of things Dr. Brand and I discussed, namely why women???s sports are still disrespected.

On the ParadigmBlog, Brent writes: ???Let's get something straight here, women's basketball sucks. An elite high school boys team would wipe the floor with almost any women's college team, and could probably hold their own with a WNBA team.???

Whether or not a high school team would beat a women???s college team doesn???t matter. There is little that would prevent me from watching a Syracuse basketball game, whether or not the Orange are any good that year. I love Syracuse basketball and that will never change. Any professional team would wipe the floor with any of the elite men???s college basketball teams. No question at all.

Yet tens of thousands of people fill arenas throughout the college basketball season and support their favorite programs, even though the basketball players aren???t the best, or most talented, in the world. I???ve been to a sold-out women???s game at the University of Connecticut. I have never seen more painted faces in my life. Don???t tell me Gampel Pavilion was full of passive, disinterested patrons.

Brent assures us that he???s ???110% behind supporting and growing women's sports at the professional, college, high school, and youth league levels. It's important, and pretty much nothing bad comes from anyone playing sports. But that doesn't mean that it should be televised, have entire shows devoted to it on ESPN, and generally continue to be forced upon a public which has shown time and again it's not interested.???

Having been at the Women???s Final Four a few weeks back, I can attest to the fact that the public seemed quite interested in the three games. After returning to Indianapolis and speaking to individuals who were fortunate enough to attend the Men???s Final Four, many would have traded places with me in a second to have been just a small part of the action in Boston. Witnessing a buzzer beater and an overtime victory in an NCAA championship game is a memory I will never forget. It doesn???t matter who was on the court. Exciting is exciting.

While television ratings for women???s basketball don???t approach the level of the men???s games, it???s not a competition. These are different sports and they have different fan bases. But rest assured, women???s basketball has a lively and devoted fan base, and to call us uninterested is a slap in the face. To suggest the game ???sucks??? and doesn???t belong on television or in newspapers is utterly misguided and disrespectful.

Brent seems annoyed that women???s college basketball would receive more media attention than his 12-year-old brother???s basketball team.

In his response to a comment made by another blogger on his post, Brent responds: ???Women's basketball will remain unentertaining and undeserving of the attention it receives until the majority of those athletes can do things that male fans cannot. Which as I pointed out, they're able to do in myriad other sports like tennis, track, soccer, volleyball, etc.???

Hold on one second. Are you telling me that women???s college soccer players are as fast and strong as the men???s players? Would the Stanford women???s volleyball team compete with the school???s men???s squad? Probably not. Why are those sports different than basketball? Why does it matter if men???s teams would beat women???s teams in the same sport? It doesn???t.

If we were looking for the best athletes in a sport, we???d never tune into intercollegiate athletics. With cable stations now devoted to covering college sports 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it doesn???t take my economics degree to tell you the demand for college games, in all sports, is as high as its ever been.

I???m not a big supporter of professional basketball, but you???d never hear me say that the game ???sucks.??? That???s my personal preference and I???m entitled to it, just as Brent is entitled to deplore women???s basketball. But to say that women???s basketball is ???not entertaining and not played at a high skill level??? is ridiculous.

I don???t know how good Brent or his younger brother are at basketball, but I???m confident they couldn???t sit on the same bench as the women???s basketball teams I saw in Boston.

I was involved in a discussion on a message board a couple of weeks ago, and was quite bothered by what I was reading. The other participants in the discussion were appalled that the Women???s Final Four received as much media attention as it did, and they boasted that any boys high school basketball team could have beaten Maryland or Duke in the championship game.

It disturbs me that after one of the greatest championship games ??? men???s or women???s ??? in NCAA basketball history ??? people are still criticizing the women???s game. It doesn???t make any sense to me and I???m confident that if the majority of folks watched women???s sports, they would appreciate the quality of competition immensely.

In this week???s edition of Mondays With Myles, I recount that championship game with NCAA President Myles Brand, and broach the subject of why women???s sports don???t get much respect.

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Could we really be adding more bowl games? With applications for four additional bowl games submitted to the NCAA???s Postseason Football Licensing Subcommittee, it???s a very real possibility that we could have 32 postseason games on the docket this fall.

I understand that bowl games provide student-athletes with an opportunity to compete on a more prominent stage and allow many to experience a new part of the country for the first time. There isn???t one part of me that doesn???t appreciate the excitement the Arkansas State football team felt last fall when it got to compete in a bowl game. Remember, I???m the kid with t-shirts from 50 baseball tournaments in his bureau.

But 32 games are too many for the bowl season. With teams needing to finish at .500 or better to be bowl-eligible, we aren???t even a guarantee to be able to fill all 64 postseason spots. It???s conceivable that fewer teams than we need would even be eligible, which could force a rule change allowing a sub-.500 team into a bowl game, or perhaps even the cancellation of a game.

And aren???t bowl games supposed to be a reward for excellence? If all teams need to do to be rewarded is finish at dead even, isn???t it a reward for mediocrity? There are 119 Division I-A football programs, and more than half don???t need to play in the postseason.

The Postseason Football Licensing Subcommittee usually accredits a bowl game if the organizers have secured a television contract and two conferences that agree to send their teams to the game. Additionally, a $2 million letter of credit from a bank is also necessary in the proposal, as there needs to be guaranteed money for competing teams.

I don???t really watch most of the bowl games now, and I know I won???t watch the additional four that might find their way onto my television. That doesn???t mean there aren???t good reasons for eight additional teams to play a postseason football game, but I can???t get myself excited about the possibility.

The Double-A Zone is excited to introduce Coaches??? Corner, a new feature that will give readers the unique opportunity to see intercollegiate athletics from the eyes of head and assistant coaches across the country.

Today, Coach Andrejak describes last week???s experience in Houston.

"The things we do for the kids! Four A.M. wake-ups, 18-hour days, box lunches, lost luggage, posh hotels.......posh hotels? Well, maybe it's not all bad as coaches and student-athletes from a half dozen universities found out when we volunteered to work with kids for the YES (Youth Education through Sports) clinic in Houston, Texas. Two of my student-athletes and I were lucky enough to be invited to the NCAA Women's Bowling Championships to participate in the YES bowling clinic early Saturday morning. What a trip it was!

"It started out with a four in the morning wake up to make the hour drive from Dover, Delaware to Philadelphia for a 6:30 flight on Friday. Traffic on I-95 that early in the morning wasn't too bad and lines at the airport were going fairly smoothly. We arrived in Houston three hours later and made our way to baggage claim to wait for our bags. And we waited. And waited. Finally when the carousel stopped we resigned ourselves to the reality of the situation and trudged over to report our lost luggage -- along with six other people from the same flight.

"After receiving our claim number and a promise from US Air that our luggage would be at the hotel that evening, we piled into a taxi for the half-hour ride to the hotel. It was the first time any of us had been to Houston and I was impressed with our view from the interstate. I knew Houston to be one of the largest cities in the US area-wise but I was still surprised at the incredible tangle of roads and ramps near the center of the city.

"After checking into the hotel, we immediately took another taxi to Emerald lanes to watch the last two rounds of Friday's championship competition. It was amazing to see how much work had gone into creating a studio venue for the next evening's scheduled ESPN taping of the championship match. Bleachers had been placed behind all the approaches and the first 14 lanes were sectioned off by large black drapes. The cameras were in position and everything was ready to go. The championship match was to take place on lanes 9 and 10.

"That night, we attended a meeting for all the coaches and student-athletes to go over the next morning's schedule and to make sure we were all on the same page. The next morning, we arrived at the bowling center promptly at 7:00 in time for continental breakfast and another meeting to decide the logistics of the morning's undertaking. We found out that we would be working with more than a hundred youth ranging in age from 10-16. And what a group they were! I was shocked to see so many kids had crawled out of bed so early in the morning to get a few hours of instruction from college students. But show up they did and the enthusiasm was certainly there. The skills of these kids ranged from those who had only occasionally been in a bowling center to those who rolled in with their four-ball bags along with all the accouterments of the serious bowler.

"The game plan was for the student-athletes to do the instruction while each coach monitored their progress. The kids from Texas are a different breed. I haven't heard so many "Yes, ma'ams" since my own days of youth growing up in Mississippi. It was great to see how well they listened to what the college bowlers were telling them. They listened hard and they tried hard, but for many, making changes did not come easily. They would enthusiastically agree, nod in agreement, and then much of the time, bowl exactly they way they did before. But you could see them trying and looking for feedback from the college bowlers. All in all, the interaction between the two groups was very positive and I know the kids had a good time. And isn't that what it's all about after all?"

Student-athletes are lauded for their athletic achievements on a daily basis. Sometimes, these teenagers are lambasted for lackluster performances in the biggest games, when the spotlights are the brightest. Everybody has something to say about last night???s game ??? who played well and who needs to find more time on the bench.

It doesn???t bother me that student-athletes regularly find themselves under the media microscope and the talk of restaurants and bars in college towns across the country. That???s part of big-time intercollegiate athletics and I believe it prepares student-athletes for their post-college careers.

What does bother me, however, is that game stories and scandals fill the sports page on a daily basis, but off-the-field achievements are rarely reported. Why is it more important that Oklahoma???s Kevin Bookout led the Sooners in scoring against Texas, and not that he was a third-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American?

Not only did Joe Herber lead West Virginia???s men???s basketball team back to the Sweet 16 a few weeks ago, but the political science major earned a perfect 4.00 GPA in the classroom and received first-team academic all-American honors.

College sports fans should be aware that Maryland junior Shay Doron led the Terrapins to the national title. They should also know that the second-team academic all-American had a 3.71 GPA while concentrating in criminology.

For every negative story that hits the papers, there are hundreds of positive anecdotes about NCAA student-athletes that can and should be shared.

These stories matter more than what happens on the court. If student-athletes are going to be applauded and criticized for their athletics performances, we should certainly celebrate their achievements off the field as well, and take pride in how they represent the schools and teams we root for.

In Sunday???s edition of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Tim Tucker revealed that the University of Georgia athletics department had an operating profit of $23.9 million in fiscal 2005. Not only did the Bulldogs finish more in the black than any other athletics department in the nation, but they managed to earn more of a profit than three major professional teams in Atlanta.

Georgia used its surplus to reduce its long-term debt, put in almost $6 million in new scoreboards and video boards and is in the process of buying a new plane.

It???s important to understand that the vast majority of institutions don???t earn as much profit as Georgia did in 2005. In fact, most schools in Division I don???t turn a profit at all, and instead must be subsidized by the institution. In Divisions II and III, profits are nearly impossible to come by.

Needless to say, Georgia???s financial success in athletics serves as a reminder that intercollegiate athletics has become a big business. I???m not saying there???s anything particularly wrong with that, but it???s certainly worth discussing.

I subscribe to the belief that athletics ??? at any level ??? is integral to the mission of education. I felt that way as a high school student-athlete and as a college student-athlete. I loved wearing the name of my school across my chest on the cross country course or baseball field. It made me feel as if I were truly an important part of the community.

I???m comfortable with institutions subsidizing athletics departments, but I???m also more than supportive of athletics profits being shared with struggling academic departments on campus. If an athletics department can foot half the bill for a new science building, why shouldn???t that take place? There needs to be a give and take relationship.

I know that new scoreboards and video boards on football fields will help increase profits for years to come, and that is important. I just hope there is a greater plan than continuing to build and improve upon facilities for student-athletes. Not all of the profits have to go back to the athletics department.

In his 2006 State of the Association address, NCAA President Myles Brand said: ???We must not let the interest in the ???business??? of college sports become so alluring or enticing that it diverts us from the primary purpose of intercollegiate athletics ??? providing athletics opportunities for students that enhance their academic experience. We must never lose sight of the academic purpose while we are conducting the necessary business of college sports.???

Dr. Brand is correct ??? the business of college sports is necessary. Georgia should be proud of its immense profits, and those dollars are for the institution and athletics department to allocate. It???s my hope, however, that those dollars, and all surplus profits earned by athletics departments, go toward adding more opportunites for all students on college campuses.

On today???s edition of Mondays With Myles, NCAA President Myles Brand answers questions from some of our readers and listeners in a new podcast feature.

Every few weeks, Dr. Brand and I will choose a couple of questions submitted on the Double-A Zone and discuss them on our weekly podcast. Questions that aren't addressed on the podcast will be answered through e-mail or in a blog post. This is a great opportunity for people to find out more about the NCAA and to communicate directly with Dr. Brand.

Today???s questions focus on the differences between on-field celebrations in basketball and football, as well as conference realignment and the effect it has on NCAA member institutions.

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Mondays With Myles can be found on the Double-A Zone every Monday morning. To subscribe to the Double-A Cast, follow the link on the right or look for us on I-Tunes.

For nearly 40 years, the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) has provided summer activities for more than two million children from economically disadvantaged families. This year, federal funding for the program has been cut, and more than 70,000 children could find themselves without a place to go during the upcoming summer months. In today???s guest post, NYSP National Program Director Gale Wiedow provides us with insight about the issue and the repercussions of the budget cuts.

"In the summer of 1968, representatives from the NCAA and the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports piloted the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) concept at two university athletic facilities. On March 17, 1969, the White House announced that the federal government was committing $3 million to establish a sports program for economically disadvantaged youth, and NYSP was born.

"In the 37 years since the inception of the program, over 2 million children from economically disadvantaged families have benefited from participation in NYSP. While sports may be the ???hook??? that gets kids to the program, they soon find that NYSP is much more than a sports camp. It is a youth development opportunity that incorporates academics (math, science and writing skills), good nutrition (the USDA Summer Food Service Program provides meals for all participants), life skills such as alcohol and-other-drug abuse prevention and other personal health issues, and the attributes of sport such as teamwork, self-discipline, dedication to excellence, physical conditioning, and the pride of doing one???s best. Colleges and universities donate their facilities and the key leadership needed to conduct the program. Coaches, student-athletes, area high school and junior high coaches, teachers and administrators provide expert instruction, and the participants in the program have an opportunity to experience life on a college campus first-hand, all at no cost to the child.

"However, in 2006, the federal government did not include funding for NYSP. This summer, the 70,000+ children that participated in NYSP in 2005 will be at home or on the streets.

"We encourage those that feel that programs for our children are important, particularly those for children that cannot afford to participate in positive, adult-supervised programs during the summer months, to let their Congressional representatives know that they support NYSP and that the federal budget for fiscal year 2007 should include an appropriation for NYSP."

I grew up in the melting pot that is New York City, and having friends of all colors, shapes and sizes, never gave tremendous thought to the fact that the world hasn???t always been such an accepting place.

It was just 40 years ago that the Texas Western College basketball team started five African-American players en route to the 1966 national championship. Before the Glory Road boys made their name, significant strides were taken by other student-athletes to ensure equality on the court and off.

In the early 1960s, SEC power Mississippi State refused to play integrated teams, and had withdrawn its basketball team from tournament competition when faced with playing against teams with African-Americans on the roster.

All of that changed in 1963, when the Bulldogs advanced to play Loyola University in the Mideast Regional finals. The Mississippi State team left town under the radar and under the protest of many, but made it safely to East Lansing, where the Bulldogs lost to Loyola in a game that paved the way for the future of intercollegiate athletics. Loyola went on to beat Cincinnati in the national title game.

The game was named one of the Top 25 Defining Moments in the first 100 years of the NCAA, not because of what happened on the court, but because of the impact it had on society.

A couple of weeks ago, I was in New York City, and got to have lunch with one of my best friends from high school, Rafe Bartholomew. It might seem normal for two old buddies to catch up in their hometown, but Rafe and I hadn???t seen each other in quite a while, as I have moved out to Indianapolis and he received a Fulbright to the Philippines to write about basketball and the game???s cultural significance to the country???s citizens.

Over lunch, which featured a pair of delicious fried cod sandwiches, Rafe described some of the experiences he???d had in the Philippines and what he was hoping to achieve when he returns to the island later this month.

I was shocked at much of what he described ??? the living conditions in the streets of Manila, the poverty, the hunger. I was dumbfounded when he described the passion the people have for basketball, and his popularity among the natives.

An article from the Chronicle of Higher Education more adequately describes Rafe???s experiences in the Philippines. The story reaffirms the importance of athletics, not only in our own culture, but all around the world.

I???ve been doing a lot of thinking about professional sports lately. I don???t know if it???s the start of the Major League Baseball season, or the fact that the WNBA just held its annual draft, but I???ve definitely drifted outside the world of amateur athletics in the past couple of weeks.

Generally, I???ve been thinking about professional athletics and how the various leagues treat intercollegiate athletics and the value of an education.

A few weeks back, Chris Dilks, of the Western College Hockey blog, suggested in an e-mail that the collective bargaining agreements signed by the NBA and NHL greatly reduce the chance of student-athletes receiving their degree.

The NBA increased its minimum age requirement to 19 and in the NHL, the deadline to sign a college draft pick was moved up. Neither rule encourages kids to stay in school.

High school student-athletes are now encouraged to go to college for at least one year before they declare for the NBA Draft. Some would argue that this makes intercollegiate athletics seem more like a minor league than an integral part of higher education, and it???s certainly hard to refute that.

On the other hand, I???d rather kids get one year of a college education instead of none. With the NCAA???s new APR data, teams will be held accountable for student-athletes who leave school early for professional leagues and aren???t in good academic standing. Coaches must recruit players who will go to class and do the work. Otherwise, they will lose scholarships.

I don???t actually agree with the NBA age restriction, although I wish more kids went to college, and stayed for their full four years. I think the restriction is somewhat ridiculous ??? if a high school graduate wants to work at the age of 18 instead of going to college, he should be allowed to make a living. That living can be made in the NBA and high school graduates should be allowed to go to work.

For the most part, professional teams don???t think about the importance of their players receiving a college education. They want them to play well and help the team win. It???s a business, and it???s about making money. That???s what makes the professional model of sports so different from the collegiate model.

The WNBA doesn???t allow underclassmen to be drafted, and I applaud the league for that rule. The league has deemed a college education important for its players. It???s an interesting model, although I???m not sure it would work for other professional leagues.

The NCAA isn???t a breeding ground for professional leagues ??? the percentage of student-athletes who move on to the professional ranks is minute. Some student-athletes do come to college just to prepare for professional athletics, and that???s okay with me. Students leave school for various reasons all the time. Hopefully, they learn important things in the classroom while they???re there.

Last August, the NCAA Executive Committee adopted a policy restricting the use of Native American mascots and imagery in NCAA Championships. One of the more controversial decisions in the NCAA???s first 100 years, this policy has aroused the passions of thousands of people throughout the country.

In today???s edition of Mondays With Myles, I discuss this policy with NCAA President Myles Brand and find out the history behind the Executive Committee???s decision.

Listen to Mondays With Myles

Mondays With Myles can be found on the Double-A Zone every Monday morning. To subscribe to the Double-A Cast, follow the link on the right or look for us on I-Tunes.

Mondays With Myles is going interactive. If you???ve ever wanted to have a question answered by NCAA President Myles Brand, now is your chance.

In upcoming editions of our weekly podcast, I will ask Dr. Brand random questions from our Monday grab bag. If you have a question, please submit it in the comments section or send it to me via e-mail.

The criminal justice system mandates that we are not to presume guilt before the process completes. I am steadfast in adhering to that philosophy. I won???t make any assumptions of guilt or innocence on this blog.

Obviously, there are a lot of issues surrounding this situation, many of which are deep-rooted within the Durham community. I am hopeful that everything comes to light during the investigation so Duke can resume its presence as a staple of the community.

I???ve always thought of a college campus as a safe place, a home away from home, somewhere to grow up. Students come to college as children, they leave as adults. That???s the number one reason I want to work in intercollegiate athletics. To be able to play a role in that process is special.

Whatever happened at Duke is not supposed to happen anywhere, but especially not on a college campus. It has shattered the image of what an institution of higher education is supposed to look like, be like, feel like. That is unsettling.

I feel for the entire community, for the victim, for the student-athletes who weren???t involved and won???t get to play lacrosse this season. None of the people involved will ever be the same, and for that, I am truly sad.

Before I worked in the athletics department at Boston College, I had never seen a hockey game before. I???d seen some NHL games on television, but never before had I seen the action live. It makes a big difference.

One of the reasons I was fired up to work at BC was because I got to see big-time college hockey played each week. Additionally, there were always delicious sandwiches to munch on in the press box.

The first game I ever saw was BC???s season-opener against defending NCAA champion Denver last October. The Eagles cruised to a 6-2 win, and I quickly became a Boston College hockey fan.

BC continues its quest for the national title this afternoon at the Frozen Four in Milwaukee, when it will take on perennial power North Dakota. I saw the teams play in Chestnut Hill last year and it was quite a thrill. With nine national championships between them (North Dakota has seven), this promises to be a big-time game, and my only wish is that these two programs would have a chance to meet in the championship.

The second semifinal features another two elite programs in Maine and Wisconsin. The Black Bears have won a pair of national titles and the Badgers own five crowns, the last one coming in 1990.

Wisconsin is trying to make a sweep of the hockey titles after its women???s program became the first team outside of Minnesota to win the national title since championship play began in 2001. The Badgers shut out two-time defending champion Minnesota, 3-0, on March 26, as Jinelle Zaugg scored a pair of goals and Jessie Vetter recorded her second straight shutout in the crease.

While the usual suspects are chasing the national title in Milwaukee during the next couple of days, the tournament???s biggest story involved Holy Cross, which beat top-ranked Minnesota in overtime in the opening round.

In perhaps the biggest upset in tournament history, the Crusaders became the first No. 4 seed to defeat a top-ranked team since the field expanded to 16 teams. It was Holy Cross??? first-ever postseason victory.

Although the Crusaders fell in the next round to North Dakota, the excitement in the community and on the campus has yet to subside. The win was as big for Holy Cross as George Mason???s win over Connecticut was to the Patriot faithful. Victories like that remind us of the talent and desire that characterize student-athletes all across the country, not just those in the elite programs.

To get a taste of how excited people were about Holy Cross??? historic victory, listen to the radio call of Tyler McGregor's winning goal. Fellow blogger Patrick Miller sent the link my way and I am truly appreciative. The unbridled enthusiasm and joy communicated by the student broadcasters is extraordinary. It???s one of the most passionate calls I???ve ever heard and one that will be played on the Worcester campus for years to come.

The greatest moment in sports is when a team wins a championship. I???ve been fortunate enough to see it happen twice in the last two weeks.

Perhaps the youngest team to ever win a national title, the Maryland Terrapins refused to die, and came back from a double-digit deficit to beat ACC rival Duke tonight, 78-75, in only the second overtime championship game in history.

It was the kind of game you never wanted to see end. I wish they would have played for the next three hours, and I never had to leave my seat. I don???t know if I breathed in the last hour and I don???t know if I can speak yet.

As I???m writing this, confetti is falling from the rafters, and Maryland???s players are hugging each other, their families, anyone within an arm???s reach. They are up in the stands, they are on the floor, they are everywhere.

With a few seconds left in regulation, I rang my sister, who is a freshman at Maryland, just to check and make sure she was taking in the game. She responded like I was a moron ??? as if she would ever miss this game. My sister never showed any interest in any type of basketball before she went to college, but she spent her Tuesday evening with her sorority sisters, taking in the final game of the year. It says a lot about the game of women???s basketball and what intercollegiate athletics means to our college campuses.

I know I have to leave this seat and go back to my hotel soon, but I really don???t want to. I might watch them cut down the nets all night.

Congratulations to the University of Maryland, and a special cheer for Laura Harper, who shared her hopes and dreams with us all season long on this blog. Just one minute ago, she was named the Final Four???s Most Outstanding Player. I couldn???t be any happier.

This is only the second women???s national championship game to go to overtime. The only other overtime finale was in 1991, when Tennessee edged Virginia, 70-67.

With the score tied at 74, Double-A Zone guest blogger Ali Bales hit a free throw to give Duke a one-point lead. Kristi Toliver answered back with two free throws of her own and Maryland leads by one with 13.4 seconds remaining.

The entire crowd is standing and has been for the last 15 minutes.

I can???t believe it! Maryland only trails by one! This is unbelievable!

Turn the volume up on your televisions. You have to hear this crowd to believe it.

Maryland has cut the lead to three after trailing by double-digits for most of the game. This is going to come down to the wire, and I???m not sure my heart can take it. Every basket brings with it deafening shouts and screams from the teams??? faithful.

While each squad is represented in the stands, it does seem as if Maryland is playing with a sixth man right now. The crowd is trying to pull the Terps all the way back.

Duke leads, 53-50.

I didn???t realize that Maryland was as young as it is. The Terrapins started one junior, two sophomores and two freshmen tonight. It???s rare that you see a team with just two seniors get to the national championship game.

Junior Shay Doron is the team???s floor leader and will need to step it up if Maryland is going to get back in this game. She has scored the team???s last four points and has 10 in the game.

An interesting article on Doron ran in today???s edition of Newsday. It will definitely provide some insight on the veteran as well as the entire Maryland program.

I thought Maryland would win this game before it started, and despite a lackluster first half, I still think the Terrapins will overcome the 10-point halftime deficit and win the national championship.

The Blue Devils played a great first half, and their defensive intensity was superb. I think Maryland stayed just close enough and will go on a big run early in the second half, once it calms down and makes some offensive adjustments. Sophomore Crystal Langhorne hasn???t been a factor for the Terrapins, with just four points in the first 20 minutes.

Duke led throughout the entire first half, but Maryland is exuding an energy and a confidence that should shine through in the next period.

With less than eight minutes to go in the opening half, Double-A Zone guest bloggers Laura Harper and Ali Bales are both leading their teams in scoring.

Bales helped Duke out to its early lead and the junior has six points and three boards. Laura Harper also has six points and three rebounds for the Terrapins.

It looks like this blog will be a winner tonight!

A chilling rendition of the national anthem was just performed, and if others at the T.D. Banknorth Garden were as affected as I was, there are some serious emotions running around this arena right now.

The players are shaking hands at center court right now, and the fans rock the house with their cheers after each name is read. This place is out of control. It???s like nothing I???ve ever experienced before.

A national championship will be decided tonight.

I watched parts of the men???s tournament in five different cities ??? Indianapolis, Hot Springs, Charlotte, Boston and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I saw Texas beat West Virginia from a Bennigan???s in Hot Springs, and I witnessed Gerry McNamara???s last game from bed in Indiana, as Texas A&M beat Syracuse in the first round. The greatest game of the tournament involved upstart George Mason and Big East power Connecticut, and of course, I took that one in with hundreds of my closest friends at the Charlotte airport.

I didn???t have a vested interest in any of the team???s playing in the Final Four, and quite honestly, the three games were the least exciting of any I watched during the past few weeks. That said, there is no denying that my favorite moments of the tournament came after last night???s game, around midnight.

As Greg Gumbel led in to ???One Shining Moment,??? I received a phone call from my brother, who wanted to wish me good watching as my favorite two-and-a-half minutes of television came onto the screen. I thanked him, hung up the phone and prepared to absorb every second of Luther Vandross and the 2006 Men???s Basketball Tournament.

Because I???m in Boston for the Women???s Final Four, I gathered with some old college friends to watch last night???s game. We chatted without a break for better than two hours, but when the montage came on at the end, there wasn???t a whisper to be heard from the peanut gallery. It was like eating a delicious meal when you???re starving ??? you don???t stop to talk. ???One Shining Moment??? is better than that.

After it was over, my brother rang me again, disappointed in what he had seen. A Syracuse fan from birth, he had immediately noticed that there weren???t any clips of Gerry McNamara during the montage, and couldn???t believe it. We all love these two-and-a-half minutes of television because the clips are all so poignant and real. Watching Gerry McNamara finish his career on the bench, unable to play because of an injury, is about as poignant as it gets.

There were a ton of games, however, and I understand that Syracuse only played for 40 brief moments. My brother was more disappointed than I was ??? for years I???ve wondered how CBS puts the piece together as quickly as it does. I missed G-Mac, but it was still an incredible viewing experience.

I used to record ???One Shining Moment??? every year, but now I just go across to the NCAA Hall of Champions, where there is an interactive station that allows you to watch all of the arrangements. Whenever I watch Jim Boeheim and the Orange cut down the nets in the 2003 montage, I get all choked up. I don???t know what I???d do without ???One Shining Moment.??? It???s the best part of the tournament.

On today's edition of Mondays With Myles, NCAA President Myles Brand discusses sports heroes Jackie Robinson and Birch Bayh.

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Mondays With Myles can be found on the Double-A Zone every Monday morning. To subscribe to the Double-A Cast, follow the link on the right or look for us on I-Tunes.

LSU made it interesting early in the second half, but the game was never really in question, as Duke rolled to a 64-45 win and earned a spot in Tuesday???s national final game against ACC rival Maryland.

The Terrapins and Blue Devils will meet for the fourth time this season. Duke won the first two games, but Maryland answered with a big win in last month???s ACC Tournament semifinal.

I can???t accurately describe how amazing it was to be at the Women???s Final Four tonight. I???m hopeful I???ll go to other Final Fours throughout my life, but this first one was really something special. I can???t wait until Tuesday.

All-Americans Monique Currie and Seimone Augustus combined for two points in the first half, but Augustus has engineered an LSU comeback with seven points in the first eight minutes of the second half. Currie hasn???t scored in the second half.

At halftime of most games, we???re treated to band and cheerleading performances, which certainly do their part in getting crowds ready for the remainder of the game.

During the break of tonight???s national semifinal game between Duke and LSU, the NCAA honored its 25th anniversary team ??? a thrilling ceremony to witness.

Standing at center court were four of the greatest women???s basketball players of all time ??? Bridgette Gordon, Sheryl Swoopes, Diana Taurasi and Cheryl Miller. Former Tennessee standout Chamique Holdsclaw was unable to make it to Boston, but her former coach, Pat Summitt, drew thunderous applause as she was named coach of the anniversary team.

Taurasi???s reception shook the building as well, as New Englanders remember her as the force that led Connecticut to three consecutive national championships.

The six women who were honored have contributed as much as anyone to the evolution of the game. They???re responsible for the packed house tonight, as well as the countless teenage girls who look up to them and dream of becoming the next Sheryl Swoopes or Cheryl Miller.

I hope the other 20,000 fans in the building appreciate what they were a part of just a few minutes ago.

Double-A Zone guest blogger Ali Bales has been a major part of Duke???s defensive dominance so far tonight. Bales, who led the ACC in blocked shots each of the last two seasons, already has two deflections this evening.

Bales also has four points in nine minutes of action.

The second game is underway and the Duke defense is swarming. It seems that LSU wasn???t expecting that type of pressure from the Blue Devils, and it has affected the team???s confidence. The Tigers are passing up open shots and turning the ball over.

I wouldn???t count them out for long, especially because their fans must be some of the rowdiest people on the planet.

Duke leads, 16-4, with about 11 minutes to go in the opening half.

UNC came storming back, but NCAA guest blogger Laura Harper???s layup with 37.7 seconds remaining in the game sealed the deal for Maryland, which will play for its first national title on Tuesday night after winning 81-70.

Harper was an absolute stud tonight and I???m hopeful she???ll write another guest post for us soon.

The starting lineups for the second game have been announced.

LSU is starting Ashley Thomas, Erica White, Sylvia Fowles, Scholanda Hoston and Player of the Year Seimone Augustus.

Duke is starting Mistie Williams, Wanisha Smith, Lindsey Harding, Monique Currie and Double-A Zone guest blogger Ali Bales.

Laura Harper just returned to the game after spending the past few minutes on the bench with three fouls. She has 20 points and seven rebounds. She is having the game of her lifetime and is a major reason why the Terrapins are in front by 11 with seven minutes to go.

Camille Little has battled foul trouble most of the game, and has six points and four rebounds for the Tar Heels.

Maryland leads 36-34 at the half, and I really hope it comes down the finish. I???m ready for the second half to begin after being sufficiently fired up by the bands at the break.

In discussing the game on the Carolina message board during halftime, some of the Tar Heel fans are upset about some of the calls and think the whistle is going the other way. There have been some tough calls in the first half, and I hope the second stays free of controversy so the game can be settled on the court.

These teams are playing too well to have fans discuss whether a call was bad or not.

I can remember where I was, who I was with and what I ate during almost every Final Four of the last 10 years. Last year I had a buffalo chicken calzone with my friend Max and my fiancé as North Carolina won the national title. Three years ago, I had a buffalo chicken calzone and cried on my brother???s shoulder as Syracuse brought home the crown.

The NCAA basketball tournaments are the most exciting sporting events out there, and the culminating weekends usually provide memories that will never be forgotten.

Tonight, I get to do something most sports fans don???t ever have the chance to do ??? watch the Final Four in person. I???m in Boston, at the games, and while I???m not eating a calzone, I am watching the best women???s basketball in the world.

If anyone had doubts about how much women???s basketball has grown in the past few years, I wish they were here with me tonight. The arena is filled to capacity and passionate fans are cheering until their voices are hoarse, hoping to root their teams to the national title game.

Banners from the first 25 NCAA champions are hanging invitingly from the rafters, daring one of these four teams to step up and be the best.

Last night???s men???s games were a bit disappointing, but I???m positive tonight???s games will be nothing short of spectacular. With less than six minutes to go in the opening half, Maryland and North Carolina are tied, 30-30. It doesn???t get any better than this.

Last night???s Women???s Final Four Salute was an evening to remember, and not just because every student-athletes besides Ivory Latta towered over me.

I had a choice of going to the Men???s Final Four in Indianapolis or coming out to the Women???s Final Four in Boston. I???ve always been a fan of women???s basketball, and this year seemed like an ideal time to be at the championship, as the NCAA celebrates the 25th anniversary of women???s championships.

Last night, the Final Four teams were honored at the Salute Dinner and the celebration was truly spectacular. As the teams were introduced, a standing ovation that rattled the light fixtures on the walls of the Park Plaza Hotel awaited them. The teams filed in, one by one, led by drummers in Colonial dress.

Some of the student-athletes looked focused, others were awestruck. One student-athlete carried a video camera, filming everything she saw.

After dinner, the four coaches and a student-athlete from each of the teams participated in a discussion on stage. Latta and Seimone Augustus discussed the influence of their parents, while Jess Foley and Crystal Langhorne talked about the latest books they were reading.

Langhorne was asked why she chose to go to Maryland, especially after the program had won just 10 games the year before she got there. She said she wanted to go there and help the Terrapins achieve something they hadn???t before ??? win a national championship. Two more wins, and the sophomore will have achieved her goal.

LSU coach Pokey Chatman discussed the significance of both of the school???s basketball teams going after national championships and the impact Hurricane Katrina victims have had on their seasons.

After the panel discussion had concluded, a video montage of the season came up on the screen, accompanied by the Black Eyed Peas song, ???Pump It.???

People sat at their seats, intently watching jaw-dropping plays from the season and the tournament, gasping and cheering at different moments. The entire evening was a perfect lead in to Sunday???s national semifinal games.

I???m excited to be here this weekend, a small part of a huge celebration. It???s been 25 years since Louisiana Tech took home the first NCAA championship, and the game has evolved tremendously since then. When I think about the fact that I???ll be watching UNC, Duke, Maryland and LSU tomorrow night, I can???t contain my excitement. This may be the best crop of teams the Women???s Final Four has ever had and there???s no question we???re going to see some dynamite basketball.