Extra bucks for play-in winner. The Division I Board of Directors voted to award a unit of revenue distribution to the winner of the opening-round game in the men’s basketball championship beginning in 2008. Traditionally, teams are awarded a unit of revenue distribution for earning a berth in the championship and for each victory thereafter. The only exceptions were the winner of the opening round game and the winner of the championship game. For example, all 65 teams were awarded one unit upon qualification for last year’s NCAA tournament. After advancing to the championship game, Florida and Ohio State each received six shares for five wins – a victory in the final game is not rewarded with a unit of revenue distribution. Last year’s play-in game was between Niagara and Florida A&M and both teams were awarded one share. This year, Niagara would have had a second share because of its opening-round win. Conceivably, the winner of the play-in game could receive seven shares of revenue distribution if it ran the table, but since a No. 16 seed has never beaten a No. 1, that doesn’t seem terribly likely. Instead, the benefit will help those programs build for future success.

Markers to the rescue. Virginia Tech rolled to a 27-3 victory over Georgia Tech in Atlanta last night, as Sean Glennon tossed three touchdown passes for the Hokies while wearing a Georgia Tech jersey. That’s right, Glennon had to wear a replacement jersey courtesy of the Yellow Jackets after his own and three others vanished prior to the game. Glennon’s name was written in magic marker on the back of a Georgia Tech road jersey while the school’s nickname was blacked out across the front.

Student-athletes in the community. The Saint Augustine’s women’s basketball team participated in American Cancer Society’s “Strike For Survival” bowling event, helping to raise $500 for cancer research. One day earlier, the Lady Falcons volunteered for the Interfaith Food Shuttle, delivering meals in vans to elderly folks nearby … With classes cancelled due to the devastating wildfires, student-athletes at San Diego State spent their spare time providing support for victims last week by volunteering at Qualcomm Stadium and the Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center … Thanks to the baseball and softball programs at Texas-San Antonio, gloves, bats, balls and more are on their way to Iraq. The equipment will help soldiers continue a softball league they have started on base.