President-elect Barack Obama isn't the only person taking on a new national leadership role in January.

At the conclusion of January's NCAA Convention, Matt Baysinger will become chair of the Division I National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), replacing former Lafayette basketball student-athlete Kerry Kenny. Baysinger, a former track and field student-athlete at Kansas, currently serves as the committee's vice-chair.

The D-I National SAAC is made up of 31 student-athletes from around the country, each representing a Division I multi-sport conference. The committee meets to discuss NCAA legislative issues, and serves as a public outlet for campus SAAC representatives and student-athletes around the country.

A few weeks ago, the Double-A Zone attended the Division I Regional Leadership Conference in La Jolla, California. We talked with Baysinger about his new SAAC position, the lessons he learned as a student-athlete and his career goals.

After visiting with Baysinger and other Division I SAACers throughout the event, it is clear the voices of all student-athletes will continue to be heard by this dedicated group of leaders.

The Double-A Zone's interview with Baysinger can be heard here.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, the Double-A Zone has come up with the top ten things we're most thankful for.

10. OK, we know it sounds a little cheesy, but it's true. We're thankful for our 88 championships in 23 sports and three divisions. Seriously, it's exciting stuff out there. We haven't had many championships yet, but so far in cross country, for example, we've seen course records broken and the first three-peat female cross country national champion.

9. We're grateful college age students came out to vote in record numbers. It's a remarkable accomplishment and shows how passionate and impactful the youth vote can be. Since we're on the vote, we're also grateful President-elect Barack Obama is such a huge fan of college sports.

8. Speaking of the Final Four, we're grateful that the college basketball season has started. Don't miss the NIT action this weekend from Madison Square Garden.

7. We're grateful we don't live in Lubbock.

6. Thank you Mike Leach for all your zany antics. Your wacky personality and quirky nature have been terrific blog fodder.

5. The conversation our readers had about minority hiring in intercollegiate athletics was one of the most dynamic and invested conversations we've ever had on the Double-A Zone. Read the post and share your thoughts.

4. We're grateful that Ball State has gone undefeated. Ok, everyone loves a good Cinderella story, but we're particularly fond of this one because one of our staff members is a ranging Cardinal and we like to see him happy.

3. We're grateful that nine NCAA student-athletes and three club athletes were selected as Rhodes Scholars. These remarkable individuals prove that tremendous academic skill and athletic prowess are not mutually exclusive. They truly are "student-athletes."

2. Passion, bravery and leadership are characteristics every student-athlete shares. But, the unique sacrifices and uncommon valor of student-athletes serving in the armed forces is something we can all be very grateful for.

1. Maybe the thing we're most grateful for this holiday is the support of our readership, which allows us to highlight the amazing accomplishments of student-athletes around the country. Thank you for another terrific year. Please keep those comments coming.

Did we miss something on our top-ten?

In January, Oklahoma State's Athletic Director Mike Holder announced that there would be no single-game ticket sales for the Bedlam game. Fans can only get into the game by purchasing OSU season tickets or securing a ticket through Oklahoma, which was given an allotment of 5,000 at $100 apiece.

OSU is anticipating as many as 10,000 empty seats for Saturday's game, which will decide the Big 12 South champion.

Google is hosting "millions of photos from the LIFE photo archive, stretching from the 1750s to today." Sports images are a big part of the collection. The Double-A Zone has spent the last few days searching the sports photos. Check out a slideshow of our favorites, including Wilma Rudolph, Mark Spitz and Billie Jean King.

Double-A zone slideshow

A recent article in the Notre Dame student paper talked about the number of arrests and ejections during football games this season. "The 14 arrests and 22 ejections at the Syracuse game compare to 34 arrests on campus and nine ejections from the stadium for the first home game against San Diego State University, 29 arrests and two ejections for the Michigan game, 35 arrests and three ejections for the Purdue game, nine arrests and seven ejections for the Stanford game and eight arrests and four ejections for the Pittsburgh game."

The Double-A Zone's question: Does this happen at other schools, and just isn't publicized?

A couple weeks ago the Double-A zone wrote about the Penn State bus auction. The auction is underway and the first bus has been sold. The winning bid for the first bus on the block: $4,050. There are still 19 buses available. The "ultimate tailgating vehicle" would look pretty sweet at the Rose Bowl.

The Band of the Fighting Irish will make its first-ever trip to Los Angeles for Saturday's game against the University of Southern California. The cost for the trip was predominately paid for by anonymous donations. The USC marching band has been traveling to South Bend for 35 years. Did you know that the Notre Dame band is the oldest university band in continual existence and was founded in 1845? They have supported every home game since 1887. What, did they take a break for the Civil War?

You might remember Jimmy Patsos. He's the Loyola (Maryland) basketball coach who, earlier this season, watched his team from the stands after getting upset with the officials. He did something even more bizarre Tuesday night.

Patsos had two defenders shadow Davidson's Stephen Curry on every possession, no matter the scenario. Curry spent the entire game standing in the corner of the court. He was held scoreless, and Davidson won by 30.

Patsos' rational: "We had to play against an NBA player tonight. Anybody else ever hold him scoreless? I'm a history major. They're going to remember that we held him scoreless or we lost by 30?"

The Double-A zone knows what it will remember.

Florida State football student-athlete Myron Rolle seems to get the majority of the press about his Rhodes Scholarship, but did you know there are eight other NCAA student-athletes and three club student-athletes who were awarded Rhodes Scholarships this year? Overall 32 students from U.S. colleges and universities were given the annual scholarship, which provides the opportunity to study for two or three years at Oxford in England.

Congratulations to all of the fall national champions! Most of you don't get the publicity you deserve, although you each have accomplished great things.

There are currently three undefeated, non-BCS conference teams remaining in Division I FCS football - Utah, Boise State and Ball State. However, only Utah is virtually assured a BCS bowl game at this point. Most likely, Boise State and Ball State will be on the outside of the BCS picture when it is all settled. Simply put, Boise State and Ball State picked the wrong year to go undefeated. In the current BCS system, it is unlikely that two non-BCS conference teams will ever make the prestigious bowl games in the same season. What would you do to change the current system?

One of the best things about college basketball is the top teams are willing to play each other early in the season since a November loss doesn't hurt anyone's title chances. We are seeing that all around the country (or world) this week, including last night in the Virgin Islands where second-ranked Connecticut beat 19th-ranked Wisconsin, 76-57. Tonight, two top 10 teams will square off in Hawaii - Texas and Notre Dame. The winner will most likely take on No. 1 North Carolina in the tournament's final, assuming the Tar Heels get by Oregon. How much do you enjoy these early season matchups in college basketball?

The sports industry - like many businesses around the country - is largely fueled by advertising dollars. With the recent worldwide economic crisis, many advertisers are being forced to rethink their spending, which could impact a large number of athletics departments.

There's little question many advertisers are in the process of cutting back on advertising budgets. One prominent example is General Motors, which has reported plans to scale back its advertising with many national sports organizations. Additionally, the car manufacturer recently announced it's ending its nine-year partnership with golf superstar Tiger Woods.

Some sports organizations and teams are finding it difficult to attract sponsors during these economic times. As long as the market value of companies keeps dwindling, there will be fewer advertising dollars available for spending. Those companies that can afford to continue advertising will undoubtedly be asking for more return for their buck.

These tough economic times are trickling down to many athletics departments around the country. The degree to which advertising cutbacks are impacting schools vary depending on each school's situation.

At Middle Tennessee State, the school has eliminated its football fireworks shows and reduced the recruiting travel days for coaches. Numerous other schools have reduced team travel and implemented additional cost-saving measures.

It's likely that the financial crisis is also impacting Division II and III athletics departments. Many of these schools rely on local advertisers for extra revenue. However, with the financial struggles for numerous mom-and-pop businesses around the country, there's little doubt that some small athletics departments are being affected too.

In addition to eliminating and reducing certain high cost endeavors, many athletics departments are getting creative in their approaches to bring in additional revenue (if they haven't done so already). More on-the-court ads and other high-profile ways to get sponsors in the public's eye will continue to be the trend.

Let's turn the conversation to you. Have you felt the effect of the economic crisis on your campus? What are some creative ideas your athletics department has used to generate extra revenue and combat the difficult financial times?

Rutgers has committed the financial resources to make itself a viable football school, including a rather large salary increase for football coach Greg Schiano and a $102 million stadium expansion. Some people are arguing that the athletics department's approach is excessive, and the school turned a blind eye to the athletic department's finances. In order to help fund these activities, the athletics department moved the tennis, fencing and swimming teams from varsity to intramural status. Some argue the school is compromising academics by spending millions on football. Is Rutgers being responsible with how its allocating its financial resources? If not, who should be held accountable?

In 2004, Alex Smith led the Utah Utes to an undefeated record and a trip to the Fiesta Bowl, where they defeated Pittsburgh. Alex Smith isn't the Utah quarterback anymore, but this year's script is quite similar. The Utes finished with another perfect regular season after taking care of rival BYU on Saturday, They currently sit at sixth place in the BCS standings, which assures them a spot in a BCS bowl game.

Yesterday, the Division I men's and women's cross country national championships were held, and a pair of Pac-10 schools took home top honors. Oregon won its second consecutive men's national title, led by individual champion Sam Chelanga. On the women's side, Washington won the team title, and Texas Tech's Sally Kipyego captured her third straight individual title.

If Texas Tech would have defeated Oklahoma Saturday night, the Red Raiders would have clinched the Big 12 South. However, after the Sooners routed Tech, 65-21, the picture is not so clear.

Texas Tech, Texas and Oklahoma each have one conference loss heading into the final weekend of the regular season. If all three teams hold serve this weekend (Texas Tech hosting Baylor, Texas A&M at Texas, and Oklahoma visiting Oklahoma State), the debate will begin in full force.

In this three-way tie scenario, the team with the highest BCS ranking will win the Big 12 South, which will most likely be either Oklahoma or Texas based on last night's updated BCS standings. Don't forget about Texas Tech though. An Oklahoma State win, which would follow the trend of home-domination at the top of the Big 12, would send Texas Tech to the Big 12 title game (based on its head-to-head victory over Texas).

It will be a fascinating last week of the regular season, that's for sure. Which team do you think will emerge out of the Big 12 South?

Adam Berry is a football student-athlete at Princeton. At a recent discussion on diversity Berry admitted that, rather than being proud of his athletics involvement, he felt a pressure to hide the fact that he was on the football team.

According to Berry, professors, students and others often decried athletes as academically inferior. It took one supportive professor to turn his attitude around, helping Berry realize that "no student-athlete gets to Princeton on the merit of his or her athletic ability alone."

Watch Berry's insightful commentary on the perception of student-athletes.

Do you think there is an unfair stereotype that athletes are just "dumb jocks?"

Isn't this about the same as picking your next bride before the divorce from the current?

Florida State football student-athlete Myron Rolle had the perfect day on Saturday. After interviewing Saturday afternoon to become a Rhodes Scholar in Birmingham, Alabama, he was awarded the prestigious scholarship. He then boarded a private charter to arrive in College Park, Maryland, for Florida State's football game versus the Terrapins. The Seminoles were able to dominate Maryland, 37-3, capping a great day for Rolle. His next big decision will be choosing between utilizing the Rhodes Scholarship for additional years of study or pursuing a NFL career. Rolle should be the model for all student-athletes.

Sixty-nine-year-old Bill Snyder has been re-hired as Kansas State's head football coach. After retiring from the job three years ago, Snyder replaces Ron Prince in Manhattan. Snyder accumulated a 136-68-1 record in his previous 17-year stent at K-State, helping to resurrect what was an awful program before he became the head coach (the program had a 22-game winless streak before Snyder took over in the late 1980s). What do you think about a 69-year-old coach taking over a major college football program? Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno have proven age doesn't matter in coaching, although neither one came to a new team at age 69.

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno had successful hip replacement surgery yesterday, and should be back in the office in a few weeks. This should give him and his staff ample time to prepare for the Rose Bowl. The Nittany Lions clinched a share of the Big Ten title with a win over Michigan State on Saturday. Penn State holds the tiebreaker over Ohio State by virtue of its win over the Buckeyes earlier this season, which gave them the Big Ten's Rose Bowl berth.

The Division II football playoffs are entering the quarterfinal round, and each of the top two seeds in each of the four brackets are still alive. Perhaps the craziest round-of-16 game from this past weekend was Abilene Christian's 93-68 win over West Texas A&M (yes, this was a football game, not basketball). It will be interesting to see which of these eight powerhouse teams emerge as the national champion on December 13th.

If the Cal Poly-Wisconsin football game was not on your radar screen on Saturday afternoon, then you missed a classic contest. Cal Poly, which was ranked third in the Division I FCS polls at the time of the game, gave the Badgers all they could handle at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin survived, 36-35, in overtime. Cal Poly led most of the game, including late in the fourth quarter until Wisconsin tied it with a touchdown and two-point conversion. But get this...Cal Poly missed three extra points in the game, including one in overtime! Can you remember the last time you saw a team miss that many extra points in one game? Despite the loss, Cal Poly proved it is for real, and should be a force in the FCS playoffs, which begin this coming weekend.

Several NCAA sports crowned national champions over the weekend. Here is a snapshot of the action:

Terrapins capture third field hockey title in four years
Maryland's field hockey team survived the pressure of being the No. 1 ranked team heading into the postseason, emerging as the national champions yesterday with a 4-2 victory over ACC rival Wake Forest. This is the second time Maryland has defeated Wake Forest in a championship venue this season after its 4-3 victory in the ACC Championship game a few weeks ago. The win is Maryland's third field hockey national championship in the last four years.

Bloomsburg continues Division II field hockey dynasty
Last week, we neglected to mention Bloomsburg's Division II field hockey national championship as a result of a 6-2 win over Massachusetts-Lowell. This was Bloomsburg's third straight national championship, and sixth in the last seven years.

Bowdoin wins back-to-back field hockey titles in dramatic fashion
Bowdoin's field hockey team won its second consecutive Division III national championship with a 3-2 double overtime victory over conference rival Tufts yesterday. Senior Lindsay McNamara ended her career in a memorable fashion with the championship-winning goal. She is also the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Tournament play.

Emory wins Division III volleyball national title
Congratulations to the Emory Eagles, this year's NCAA Division III volleyball national champions. The Eagles defeated La Verne in the championship match and finished the season with an impressive 35-6 record. Emory's Dani Huffman was named the tournament's most outstanding player, and teammates Alexandra Wright and Natalie Schonefield found spots on the all-tournament team.

Adams State dominates Division II cross country championships
Adams State took home both the Division II men's and women's cross country national titles over the weekend. On the men's side, Adams State, led by individual runner-up Aaron Braun, held off Western State by 21 points. In the women's competition, Adams State won its sixth straight championship, and 14th overall.

Middlebury captures Division III women's cross country crown
Middlebury won the Division III women's cross country national championship over the weekend, outlasting Calvin and Williams. This is the fifth women's cross country title in Middlebury history.

Cortland State brings home first ever cross country title
Cortland State took home its first ever title in Division III men's cross country. North Central finished in second place, while Williams placed third.

Yes, we know the stakes are higher during rivalry week, but what's up with the pre-game fighting? Teams were pushing and shoving in a bunch of games over the weekend, including, before the Michigan-Ohio State and West Virginia-Louisville contests (just to name a few). Can anything be done to prevent this pregame jawing? Is it the responsibility of the referees, coaches or student-athletes themselves to keep control of the situation?

Each year, it seems we take Southern California's appearance in the Rose Bowl for granted. However, after Oregon State's 19-17 last-second win Saturday night at Arizona, the Beavers have the Pac 10's Rose Bowl berth in its control heading into its final game. It won't be easy for the Beavers next week - they'll face rival Oregon in the Civil War game. The Ducks also have an outside shot at the Pac 10 crown.

I returned recently from a trip to China, where I was a guest of the Ministry of Education. The Chinese had a successful Olympics, and they want to expand their approach to sports from one that focuses on preparing elite athletes for international competition to one that also includes coupling sports and education in their universities. In addition to meeting with the leadership of their equivalent to the NCAA, I met with university presidents, administrators and officials in several cities.

It was my first trip to China. Like others who visited China recently, I was impressed by the urban building boom and the evidence of economic advancement. One city I visited was Shenzhen, an hour north of Hong Kong. Twenty-five years ago, it was a small village. Today, it is a modern city of over eight million, complete with, what seemed to be, hundreds of new skyscrapers.

As I talked with those both inside and outside the universities, there was one thing that caught my attention and that distinguished the current social milieu in America from that of China. It was not the enormous investments made in infrastructure or technology, but the attitude of the population.

There was almost a complete lack of cynicism.

I know that I met with a select and selected population. I spent the time in major cities, not rural areas. It was limited exposure, to be sure.

But there was a common attitude that I found remarkably refreshing. There was some willingness to disagree among themselves and with those in authority; but it always occurred matter of factly, not with the kind of cynicism that takes any situation, even a very good one, and focuses on the negative.

I spend my time these days, as president of the NCAA, in the college athletics community. College sports, I strongly believe, is one of the great subcultures in America. The athletes are enthusiastic and capable young men and women and the fans are avid supporters of the university teams for which they play. There are not many events that are as enjoyable as watching a hard fought football game on a sunny fall Saturday afternoon, or a basketball game between two teams proud of their university affiliations.

But, as good as college sports is, it is also embedded in and surrounded by cynicism. You read it every day in the press, hear it from media commentators and know that it is never far below the surface of fan exuberance.

Of course, college sports are not perfect. More than a few participants are moved by externalities -- by future prospects for money and fame, rather than the joy of the game. The competitive urge sometimes overpowers the sense of fair play, for coaches and fans alike. But the cynicism in the air detracts from the overwhelming good of the activity.

Actually, I do not blame the cynics in college sports. They caught the virus from the rest of American culture. Americans these days permit and, indeed, encourage cynicism to pervade their lives. Well, maybe, the Chinese do too, and I just met an unrepresentative sample. But the refreshing example of the sample -- whether it is representative or not -- made me realize that it certainly would be more pleasant if we managed to keep our cynicism in check.

Being exposed to those who seem to have done so, makes obvious the benefits of not letting cynicism dominate.

I am a pathological optimist. It may be that, with the leadership of President-elect Obama, our culture will move away from its cynical attitude. Maybe, the good will not always be overwhelmed by the marginal or just imagined negatives. As we repair our broken economy, and as we relearn to lend a helping hand when needed, we can change the dominance of cynicism in our culture.

Such change, if it comes, is not likely to begin with sports. Cynicism is deeply rooted in the contemporary college sports culture. But, as we change as a nation, it should eventually reach the sports culture.

As I said, I am an optimist.

The first round of Division III's 32-team NCAA football tournament got underway this weekend, and there were plenty of upsets. The bracket is broken down into four mini-brackets of eight teams, and get this - each of the four seven seeds won their opening round games (Curry, Wheaton, Wartburg and Wesley). In case you were wondering, national champion favorite Mount Union was not bit by the upset bug - the Purple Raiders took care of Randolph-Macon, 56-0.

Purdue football coach Joe Tiller coached the final game of his career on Saturday, and it couldn't have gone much better. His Boilermakers defeated in-state rival Indiana 62-10 to claim the Old Oaken Bucket. Although Purdue won't qualify for a bowl game this season, Tiller had a great 12-year run in West Lafayette. His teams played in 10 bowl games, including the Rose Bowl in 2000 when the Boilermakers shared the Big 10 title.

This entry is written by Carl Ehrlich, a football student-athlete at Harvard. He wrote this entry before Saturday's 10-0 victory over rival Yale, which gave Harvard a share of the Ivy League title.

Check out Carl's previous blogs: Playing Under the Lights, Summer Dogs , R.I.C.E., A tale of two lives, Remembering recruiting and No holidays in football.

There are a lot of mistakes that I could (and do) make when posting my blog entries. I've had singular/plural issues, used the passive voice, confused tenses and I've even added the occasional contraction apostrophe to a possessive pronoun. But the one mistake that I will never make is giving another team "bulletin material."

The fate of my blogging career will not hang on the perils of this game. There will be no guarantees, no predicted scores, no personal call outs, and definitely no "mama" jokes.

Before sending each entry in to be posted on GoCrimson.com, I carefully go through the document one more time from the perspective of the other team. Because while putting up a blog that goes unnoticed may be unrewarding, putting up a blog that grabs the attention of another team would be much worse.

Anything can be misconstrued as an insult when a game grows near and everyone is looking for something to complain about to fire themselves up. Besides, Yale is a tough team to beat. We've watched a lot of film on them and they do a lot of things well. They've thrown the ball really well the last couple of weeks, and they're a hard-nosed team - they play hard. We're lucky to get them at home.

To show you how extreme this "bulletin material" hunt is, imagine a Rohrshach quote experiment using just the text above.

"The fate of my blogging career will not hang on the perils of this game."

Player 1: Ehrlich thinks he's above it all.
Player 2: So it's a career now, is it?
Player 3: We'll show this bozo some peril!

"Everyone is looking for something to complain about to fire themselves up."

Player 1: So we're a bunch of whiners, huh?
Player 2: We're fired up already!
Player 3:Typical Harvard psychoanalysis of everyone but themselves.

"They are a tough team to beat. They've passed the ball real well the last couple weeks."

Player 1: Typical Harvard trash talk, thinking they can talk about our running game like that. That's a back-handed compliment if I've ever seen one.
Player 2: All year I've busted my tail and he's only going to talk about the last couple weeks? Like the first half of the season didn't even exist?
Player 3: Tough team to beat? Who said they were going to beat us?!

"The bottom line is that we've got a lot of respect for these kids. We're very lucky we get to play them at home."

Player 1: They feel lucky to play us? Typical Harvard condescension!
Player 2: They won't feel very lucky on Saturday!
Player 3: And who is he calling a kid?

"We've watched a lot of film on these guys. They're a hard-nosed group of guys that who play really tough."

Player 1: They've watched film, so what? If this guy thinks he can just watch film on me and just come out on Saturday and beat me he is dead wrong.
Player 2: Besides, the camera adds ten pounds.
Player 3: What did he say about my nose?

What's going to happen Saturday? Let me tell you this:

Joe Namath was seen as a hero when he "guaranteed" a victory over the heavily favored Colts.

Matt Hasselbeck became a pariah when, on ( the "frozen tundra of Lambeau Field," he announced that "we want the ball and we're gonna score," before throwing an interception that was run back for a touchdown to seal the wildcard game for the Pack in 2003.

Babe Ruth's "called shot" will live in the hearts of baseball fans forever.

In 1994, the back of the New York Post read, "We Will Win Tonight", a guarantee from Mark Messier in a dramatic season for the Rangers.

Patrick Ewing's "see you in Chicago" pronouncement will life in infamy. So my prediction?

It's going to be a great game. Put that on your bulletin board.

Clustering...allows you and teammates to create a bond since you took the same classes and went through the same struggles on the athletic venue.

Earlier this week, I was in Austin when Texas named defensive football coordinator Will Muschamp as its head coach-in-waiting. He'll take over when current head coach Mack Brown decides to retire. In a culture where attractive assistant coaches frequently get wooed to head coaching vacancies, schools locking down their future head coaches might become a trend in college sports.

Texas isn't the first school to do this. We saw it at Florida State, where Jimbo Fisher was named as Bobby Bowden's successor. Last year, Arizona name Kevin O'Neill to succeed basketball ball coach Lute Olson. The situation didn't go as smoothly as the school hoped, as neither Olson or O'Neill still remain at the school.

Despite Arizona's situation, naming a head coach in-waiting seems to be a smart practice for athletics departments. Certain criteria should be met - a school is confident it has its future head coach on staff, the current coach is getting near retirement age, the coach-in-waiting is willing to wait and remain loyal to the program, and the school has the financial resources to pay the soon-to-be head coach.

In Texas' case, all of these circumstances were met. Athletics Director DeLoss Dodds is confident he has his future leader in the young and fiery Muschamp. Additionally, the school has the resources to reward Muschamp - his salary will increase to $900,000 beginning in January, making him the highest paid assistant coach in the country.

There's no doubt Muschamp now has remarkable job security, especially in an industry when coaches seem to continually play musical chairs. When Brown retires, Muschamp will get a new five-year contract for an undisclosed amount. With this deal, Texas is committing to Muschamp in an unprecedented fashion, especially considering he has no previous head coaching experience.

An argument could be made that naming a head coach-in-waiting is a risky gamble. It's easy to reward coaches while times are good, like they are currently in Austin. But what will happen if and when the school has a down year?

Remember when Notre Dame gave Charlie Weis a 10-year extension during his first season in 2005? After a couple of recent mediocre seasons, many Irish supporters are beginning to question his contract extension.

There are still a lot of unanswered questions about Texas' situation. How much longer will Brown decide to coach? Could Muschamp still be enticed by another job offer during his coach-elect status? Is it possible Texas might change its mind on Muschamp?

It will be fascinating to see how these issues play out over the next several years. Texas certainly won't be the last school to name a head coach-in-waiting, and it will be interesting to see how widespread a trend this will become in intercollegiate athletics.

One thing is for sure, it was an intriguing time to be at Texas last week when this announcement was made.

Beginning Monday, Morning Coffee will be changing its format and will be re-named "In the Zone." New posts will be added throughout the day, so check back often. In the Zone is a collection of sports headlines, from the Double-A zone staff. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Texas Tech scores 167 points
Ten Texas Tech players scored in double figures as the Red Raiders knocked off East Central, 167-115. The Red Raiders took 113 shots to 94 for East Central, quite a pace for 40 minutes. Texas Tech led 77-57 at halftime. The 283 combined points were the most in Texas Tech history. What would Bobby Knight say?

Coach watches from the stands
Loyola College's Basketball Coach Jimmy Patsos is known for his fiery sideline temper. During Thursday's game against Cornell, the coach tried something unconventional to control himself. Patsos was given a technical foul early in the game, and rather than arguing with the official, he walked down and sat at the end of the bench. It didn't end there. After getting upset with an official in the second half, Patsos left the bench and joined the athletic director in the stands. Loyola lost, 82-72. What message does that send to student-athletes he's suppose to be coaching?

QB Harrell not in search of new friends
Texas Tech's Graham Harrell, a front-runner for the Heisman Trophy, has a Facebook page but doesn't use it anymore. "I have Facebook, but I'm not a Facebook guy anymore because it's got a little overwhelming," said Harrell. "They cut you off at 5,000 friends. I hit that a while back. To add a new friend, I have to delete an old one, and that just doesn't seem fair." The Double-A zone recommends Harrell get a fan page. Ohio State's fan page has more than 20,000 friends. The Double A-zone has a fan page too. Sign up!

UCLA football managers work behind the scenes
The Daily Bruin profiles the football team's managers. "They labor behind the scenes for 40 hours a week, before practice, during and after. Sometimes they work 13 hours on Saturday. Every cleat, pad, helmet, compression shirt and facemask is meticulously prepared, all without any notoriety or public recognition. This is the life of a student football manager."

14-year old makes golf history on Euro Tour
A Hong Kong teenager became the youngest player to ever make the cut at an European Tour event on Friday, breaking the record set by current world No. 2 Sergio Garcia. Fourteen-year-old Jason Hak shot a 70 in each of the first two rounds at his home tournament, the $2.5 million Hong Kong Open, just making the even-par 140 cut at the end of the second round. Save your eligibility, kid.

While students certainly have choices, the system should not force them to choose between academics and athletics when both should be achievable.

With the increased requirements of academic reform, academic advisors in athletics departments around the country are feeling the pressure to keep their student-athletes eligible. Although these advisors report to the athletics director, in many ways their position sits at the intersection of academics and athletics and that can sometimes be difficult to balance.

In its spring 2008 edition, NCAA Champion magazine took a hard look at the world of academic advising and found that since academic reform was instituted "expectations are higher, stress levels have increased and downtime has become almost nonexistent." According to the article, advisors "might encourage student-athletes to stretch their limits by taking challenging courses. But they also must consider that student-athletes need to meet specific grade standards and show progress toward a degree in order to compete."

It's this tension that sparked today's article in USA Today. While it's clear that the dual goals of academic advisors may occasionally come in direct opposition, the USA Today article takes the issue a step further, insinuating that advisors encourage athletes to avoid tough majors altogether.

The paper points to a study it released yesterday which implied that athletes at many Division I institutions select easier majors so they can balance their academic and athletic demands. While there may be some advisors inclined to usher student-athletes into easier majors as a solution to remaining eligible, the characterization in USA Today didn't take into account the hard work and dedication of the vast majority of Division I academic advisors?

While academic advising is important, the USA Today article also fails to point out that ultimately an athlete's academic success falls directly on their own shoulders. "It's the student-athletes' responsibility to go to class, to take the tests, to write the papers," Jim Rost, director of the student-athlete enhancement center at Middle Tennessee, told Champion.

"It's our responsibility to provide the best environment for them to be as successful as possible," he said.

Academic reform has made many positive contributions to Division I athletics. The transformation hasn't always been easy, but in the end, student-athletes are better prepared for life thanks to the education they received at their institutions.

"By and large, people are very passionate about what they're doing and they really care for the welfare of the kids," Rost said. "It's a really rewarding field, but it takes a lot out of you too."

Do you think USA Today correctly characterized the work of academic advisors?

NCAA President talks Title IX
NCAA President Myles Brand told USA Today that universities are likely to cut programs due to tough economic times, but they should not use Title IX as an excuse for cutting men's programs. Title IX mandates equal opportunity for men and women. The law does not mandate a university cut men's programs to accommodate this proportionality. "I would suggest that athletics directors need to spend more smartly," Brand told the paper and suggested cutting costs in travel, facilities and "expenditures in the highly visible sports."

Game tickets are expensive
Stop off at the ATM before trying to buy tickets for this weekend's BYU vs. Utah game. The game is already sold out, and seats are going for $110 apiece, the average price for tickets sold so far is $198, and a pair of 50-yard line seats is $3,200. Face value of tickets for this game range between $35-$60. What would Joseph Smith say?

Undefeated football team helps fundraising effort
Texas Tech announced it received $2.3 million in donations the last two weeks, helping the university meet its fundraising goal to expand the east side of the football stadium. Being undefeated and ranked second in the nation has its perks.

SMU basketball coach getting a haircut
Matt Doherty, head coach at Southern Methodist University, promised his players he'd cut his hair if they got B's on in their summer schools classes. The players did, and Doherty is headed to the barber.

University blocks access to Web site
The gossip Web site JuicyCampus has been blocked from Tennessee State University reported the Chronicle of Higher Education. We understand why Tennessee State decided to block the site where users anonymously post insulting messages about their peers, but we wonder if it raises First Amendment issues. Whatever happened to "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all"?

Homeless man has a friend in Tony Romo
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo recently took a homeless man to the movies. The man, who goes by Doc, was outside a theater in Dallas when a man came up and offered to buy him a movie ticket. Romo and Doc ended up sitting together, watching the movie "Role Model." Romo also changed a couple's tire on the way home the night of the season opener.

Golfer disqualifies himself, loses PGA Tour Card
Professional golfer J.P. Hayes disqualified himself from the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament for inadvertently using a golf ball that isn't on the list approved for competition. The error was costly for Hayes because it makes him ineligible to play full-time on the PGA Tour in 2009.

According to the front page of today's USA Today, Division I student-athletes are "guided toward beating the system." The paper contends that some student-athletes take "easy" majors to keep their academics compliant with NCAA eligibility requirements.

Despite the fact that university degree programs are developed by university faculty at accredited institutions, the paper implies that "fluff" majors are alive and well thanks to student-athletes who are unable to meet the requirements of more strenuous degrees. While it's certainly legitimate to ask if a degree upholds the academic integrity of an institution, it's quite another to imply that student-athletes who select these majors are doing so to receive a pass on their academic obligations.

The paper cites an independent study it conducted which found evidence of Division I student-athletes "clustering" in certain majors. According to the study, 118 of the 142 schools surveyed had at least one team in which 25 percent or more of the juniors and seniors majored in the same thing.

But, is there really anything wrong with clustering if the institution finds a degree meets its academic standards? Student-athletes clearly aren't the only students majoring in sociology (one of the majors used as an example in the article). If a sociology degree had no value, why would the institution offer it in the first place?

The article also raises the very real issue of balancing the demands of academics and athletics. Some athletes, like former Kansas State football student-athlete, Steven Cline, opt to switch majors rather than placing their eligibility at risk in a more demanding field of study.

Cline went to Kansas State with the intension of becoming a veterinarian, but after performing poorly in freshman biology, he said he discussed his situation with his athletics academic advisor who told him social science would be "an easier path." Cline then made the decision to forget his dream in favor of, "not-so-demanding courses that helped him have success in the classroom and on the field."

It's a decision Cline regrets. "It was a stupid effort on my part," he told USA Today. "I wouldn't advise any other athlete to do that. I'd tell them to choose a career--a real career for their life after football and work toward it."

Here's the thing that USA Today doesn't make clear, Cline had a choice. No one made him select social science. If he thought it would be too difficult to major in pre-veterinary curriculum, he could have made several decisions, including dropping out of football altogether.

Student loans stink (trust me, I know), but plenty of people have them and do a good job of paying their own way through school without athletic scholarships.

There's no question student-athletes have greater demands placed on them than typical students. But for every student-athlete like Cline who struggles to balance difficult curriculum with the rigors of college athletics, there are exceptional athletes like Nicky Anosike who managed to juggle a triple major in political science, legal studies and sociology while leading her team to a NCAA National Championship.

In the end, it's all about making tough choices. Would Cline have succeeded in his dream major if he didn't have football competing for his time? Maybe, but maybe he would have decided to switch anyway.

A new Rudy for Notre Dame
His name is Mike Anello,a 5-foot-10, 170-pound senior who plays on special teams. He walked on to the Notre Dame football team as a sophomore, but didn't play. He played in eight games as a junior last season and impressed the coaches enough to earn a scholarship for his senior year.

Curry picks up where he left off last year
Davidson's Stephen Curry, who gained fame during March Madness last season, returned to the court last night against Oklahoma. Davidson lost, 82-78, but Curry scored a career- and game-high 44 points. Who's ready for March Madness?

All-access with Alabama's Nick Saban
Rivals.com tagged along with Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban last week as the Crimson Tide prepared to play Mississippi State. Follow Saban to staff meetings, practices, film sessions, speaking events. Alabama knocked off Mississippi State, 32-7

JoePa plans to return
Penn State Coach Joe Paterno, who will need need hip-replacement surgery after the season, has no plans to retire. Leg problems have forced him to coach from the press box this season. Next season will be Pateron's 44th as head coach.

Is he right? Should fans "get a life?"
Michigan Head Coach Rich Rodriiguez has a message to fans who have lost touch. "It's amazing some of the things that people would say [on a message board] or yell at you of a personal nature," Rodriguez said Monday. "You almost want to tell them, 'Get a life.' There's a whole lot bigger problems. Look at the economy."

If we want fans to behave better, then the environment needs to change to decrease the importance of beer to make the experience more "enjoyable."

Vancouver Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis has teamed with a military sleep expert to boost his team's performance. Gillis understands the connection between sleep and winning and he has taken very commendable (albeit unconventional) steps to make certain his team well-rested.

The Canucks are required to wear a biorhythm bracelet that measures the athlete's waking and sleeping patterns. The information is then used to adjust the team's schedule and hotel room pairings with the goal of maximizing sleep.
While it's unlikely a college coach will have the resources to go as far as Gillis in studying a student-athlete's sleep habits, all coaches should learn to take the consequences of sleep deprivation seriously.

Recent studies have shown the amount of sleep a person gets directly impacts their physical health, emotional well-being, productivity and performance. A lack of sleep can lead to serious health problems such as an increased risk of depression, obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

An on-going study by Cheri Mah of the Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic and Research Laboratory shows that sleep can also adversely affect a student-athlete's performance.

The 2007 study involved six healthy students on the Stanford men's basketball team. Researchers asked the subjects to maintain their typical sleep-wake patterns for two weeks. After two weeks, the student-athletes were subjected to an extended sleep period in which they obtained as much extra sleep as possible.

"To assess improvements in athletic performance, the students were judged based on their sprint time and shooting percentages. Significant improvements in athletic performance were observed, including faster sprint time and increased free-throws.

Athletes also reported increased energy and improved mood during practices and games, as well as a decreased level of fatigue."

The Stanford researches followed up the 2007 study this year by focusing on members of the Stanford swim team. The same methods from the 2007 study were used.

"Athletic performance was assessed after each regularly scheduled swim practice," reported the findings. "After obtaining extra sleep, athletes swam a 15-meter meter sprint 0.51 seconds faster, reacted 0.15 seconds quicker off the blocks, improved turn time by 0.10 seconds and increased kick strokes by 5.0 kicks."

The Stanford studies have made coaches more aware of the importance of sleep, and many have made changes to their practice and traveling schedules to allow student-athletes more time for sleep.

The results are paying off.

"Many of the athletes in the various sports I have worked with, including the swimmers in this study, have set multiple new personal records and season best times, as well as broken long-standing Stanford and American records while participating in this study," Mah said.

Mah offers these tips to help athletes improve their performance by maximizing their sleep:

• Make sleep a part of your regular training regimen.
• Extend nightly sleep for several weeks to reduce your sleep debt before competition.
• Maintain a low sleep debt by obtaining a sufficient amount of nightly sleep (seven to
• eight hours for adults, nine or more hours for teens and young adults).
• Keep a regular sleep-wake schedule, going to bed and waking up at the same times
• every day.
• Take brief naps to obtain additional sleep during the day, especially if drowsy.

The bottom line is student-athletes need to find time to sleep and they must be supported in those efforts by their trainers, coaches and university administration.
Maybe it's time for coaches to consider slumber parties rather than 6 a.m. practices.

Do you think student-athletes get enough sleep?

Get out your checkbook
Penn State is selling the team's buses. The blue buses were used to take the Nittany Lions to and from the stadium during home games from 1980 to 2007. Potential buyers have until Wednesday morning to bid on the first bus for sale, a 1980 Ford with 105,173 miles and room for 44 passengers. The money raised will go to Penn State's transportation department. What college football memorabilia would you spend money on?

A football teams scores 74 points, and loses.
The reason? The other team scored 128. The shootout happened over the weekend between two high school teams in Nevada. The 128 points broke the national scoring record of 118 for eight-man football, and Pahranagat Valley set a national eight-man record with 17 touchdowns.

History made in Japan
A 16-year-old high school pitcher became the first professional female baseball player in Japan. The knuckleballer was selected in the Kansai Independent Baseball League draft.

Former Cal coach Newell dies at 93
Pete Newell, who won an NCAA championship, an Olympic gold medal and who later tutored some of the game's greatest big men, died Monday. Newell's "big men" camps featured some of the game's greatest stars, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, Shaquille O'Neal and Ralph Sampson.

Vanderbilt faculty protest boxing match held on campus
Saturday's WBC super middleweight bout between Jermain Taylor and Jeff Lacy drew criticism from the school's Faculty Senate Executive Committee. The committee said Vanderbilt's status as an internationally renowned academic medical center disqualifies boxing events from coming to campus. "The World Medical Association, for example, which represents physicians from dozens of countries, condemns boxing as an activity whose 'basic intent is to produce bodily harm in the opponent,' one that 'produces an alarming incidence of chronic brain injury,'" the memo said. Additionally, the committee believed Saturday's fight was contrary to the fundamental mission of the university.

This is a great recruiting video for incoming players. This definitely helped in making my decision to come to SC STATE next fall. I hope to make an impact early on as a freshman.

Your team just won the big game - what do you do?

Clap, cheer, high-five your fellow fan.

Wrong.

Didn't you get the memo?

Simply savoring a team's victory isn't an adequate response to winning anymore. These days some fans use sports celebrations as an excuse to break laws and destroy property.

Recently, the Double-A zone wrote about fans rushing the field.

Last week, Iowa fans rushed the field after upsetting Penn State and some were injured. After the game, Iowa City police arrested 12 fans for public intoxication.

In September, Penn State fans celebrated a big win over Ohio State by tearing down street signs, throwing beer cans at police and smashing windshields. Fourteen people were arrested.

A few years ago, after the University of Minnesota hockey team won its second straight NCAA Championship, hundreds of fans began setting mattresses and dumpsters on fire. Police in riot gear used pepper spray to disperse the crowd.

Raucous and destructive celebrations are not confined to college campuses.

Boston Celtics fans rioted after the team won the NBA championship last season. Celtics fans jammed the street outside Boston Garden to celebrate, some smashing storefront windows before dozens of police in riot gear dispersed the crowd.

The same thing happened in Philadelphia after the Phillies won the World Series in October. Fans flipped cars and smashed windows. Riot police made 76 arrests.

How can colleges curb violence after games?

Being stricter about alcohol sales and consumption is a good start. Maybe it's time for some universities to do a better job of policing tailgaters before games.

Should there be stricter university penalties for student's arrested after games?

Some conferences fine schools whose fans rush the field. Why doesn't every conference follow this rule?

In general, universities should do a better job of preparing for violence by educating the student population and working with law enforcement to keep students and fans off the playing field after games.

One other thing...

Media, you need to stop glorifying images of inappropriate behavior. Knock off using footage of fans rushing the field. We know it's a compelling visual, but it's also a very dangerous activity that can have dire consequences.

As rivalry week begins in college football remember, a big part of being a respectful fan is sharing in the excitement of a win with the team and your university. It's a Punic victory if your side wins, but the university is left to burn.

Notre Dame football and NBC go green for final home game
Notre Dame and Syracuse students will be playing a part in NBC Universal's Green Week. NBC is sponsoring an ad competition between the two schools. Students can create 30-second films about sustainability issues, and the winning ad will be broadcast during the Notre Dame-Syracuse football game.

Coastal Carolina trimming athletic budget
Coastal Carolina announced it will trim $200,000 from its athletic budget. The cut is 10 percent of $2 million in state funds allocated toward athletics-related operations. "Everyone is going to be a little more frugal," CCU women's cross country and track coach Alan Connie said. "We don't want to impact the programs. We are still going to take necessary trips. It's just a question of examining everything, just asking ourselves is this absolutely necessary?"

Is it smart for a school to add a football program
during these tough economic times?
The UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees voted 8-0, with one abstention, to adopt Chancellor Phil Dubois' plan to add a football program at the school. The UNCC team would play in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Set your TIvos college basketball fans.
ESPN is having a hoops marathon: Fourteen games spread over 23 consecutive hours. The action tips off at midnight with Memphis hosting Massachusetts. It wraps up with a NIT-Regional Final at 11:30 p.m.

President-elect Barack Obama talks playoffs on 60 minutes
During President-elect Obama's interview last night, he again talked of having a college football playoff. "If you've got a bunch of teams who play throughout the season, and many of them have one loss or two losses, there's no clear decisive winner. We should be creating a playoff system," Obama said. His plan: "Eight teams. That would be three rounds to determine a national champion. It would add three extra weeks to the season. You could trim back on the regular season. I don't know any serious fan of college football who has disagreed with me on this...So, I'm going to throw my weight around a little bit. I think it's the right thing to do."

Women's Final Four cities announced
The NCAA announced Friday the host cities for the Women's Final Four 2012-16 are: Denver (2012), New Orleans (2013), Nashville (2014), Tampa Bay (2015) and Indianapolis (2016). The Men's Final Four host cities will be announced Tuesday.

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the NCAA Division I Regional Leadership Conference in La Jolla, California. Nearly 100 student-athletes and 65 athletics administrators from the West region attended the event, which gave the participants the opportunity to network, develop their leadership skills and discuss the issues that face Division I student-athletes and institutions.

Like many of the participants, this was my first opportunity to attend a NCAA Leadership Conference. As a former student-athlete, I did not know the NCAA ran these types of events for each of its three divisions. It was an eye-opening experience for me, and made me jealous because I would have loved to attend one of these conferences during my student-athlete days.

Undoubtedly, many student-athletes, administrators and parents around the country are unaware about the NCAA's commitment to these conferences. Thus, we decided to film this video to showcase what it is like to attend a NCAA Leadership Conference:

Black male journalists cannot forget that they have a platform and a responsibility - especially when it comes to our sisters, mothers, and daughters.

Have you ever thrown a trophy away?
Legendary Haverford Cross Country Coach Tom Donnelly was profiled in today's New York Times. While noting his many accomplishments and numerous NCAA Championships, the Times also mentioned Donnelly's peculiar habit of throwing away his Division III NCAA Coach of the Year Awards (which he has won several times). While he normally tosses the trophy in the wastebasket, a legendary dunk in the Mississippi has become Haverford lore. "I do feel bad about that trophy I threw in the Mississippi, because you don't want to pollute an important, historic waterway," he told the Times. "But I don't want any of those trophies. I appreciate the gesture, but a coaching award distracts from the essence of a coach's job, which is to educate the students. You can only justify the existence of a team at a college campus if being on the team benefits the athletes' educational experience. Being a truly committed member of a team can be a highly valuable learning experience. That's what is important, not some trophy." What do you think about Donnelly's philosophy?

End of an era
Last night, the University of Akron played its final game at the Rubber Bowl. The University of Buffalo defeated Akron 43-40 in four overtimes. Opened in 1940, the Rubber Bowl was partially funded by $1 donations from 30,000 Akron residents. It has stood for 68 years, and more than 3 million people passed through the gates. Next season, the Zips move into a new stadium on campus.

Operation Hat Trick
The University of New Hampshire athletic department is creating a special project called Operation Hat Trick, the program will give hats to injured military personnel. For every two hats sold, a third will be donated to the Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Manchester, N.H.

Bozeman's blog
Todd Bozeman, head basketball coach at Morgan State University, has his own blog. The coach does a great job of updating it. Check it out.

'Knee Guys' put Rutgers on the road to recovery
Rutgers football players Kordell Young and Zaire Kitchen are recovering from knee injuries and using each other for support and inspiration.

I am optimistic and believe that the NCAA will be an agent of change and will hire qualified minorities into leadership roles.

This entry is written by Carl Ehrlich, a football student-athlete at Harvard. Check out Carl's previous blogs: Playing Under the Lights, Summer Dogs , R.I.C.E., A tale of two lives and Remembering recruiting.

Last Tuesday, as every eligible American should have, I voted.

Many Americans might find the election and their personal voting decision to be a private matter. As for me, I feel as though my vote is far too important of a topic to "let it shine under a bushel basket."

Those who know me and my stance on the issues will say that I made up my mind before the election even started. But I just knew in my heart of hearts what the right choice was for myself and for my country. Putting all accolades and obvious collegiate bias (a Harvard man!) aside, I looked deep into the candidates and deeper into myself to determine whom I would put my vote behind.

While a GoCrimson blog endorsement might not carry much weight on a national level, I feel as though my candidate is ready to lead this country and I would be remiss if I didn't do everything I could to help him get elected. That is why I'm officially supporting Mike Fucito for the Lowe's Senior CLASS MVP.

Fucito is a senior on the men's soccer team who is having a great season and epitomizes the "classroom, character, community, and competition" that the award looks to recognize. It's a shame the award doesn't recognize the ability to pass for Dustin Pedroia, because then it would be no contest.

Make sure to log onto the website (http://www.seniorclassaward.com/vote/sport/menssoccer/?KEY=&DB_OEM_ID=9000&DB_LANG=&IN_SUBSCRIBER_CONTENT=) and cast your vote for Harvard's own.

Yes we can.

Election Day came and went last week (with a patriotically high number of absentee ballots mailed by Harvard Football players), and while the significance of the results were not wasted on the team, the "holiday" aspect of it was. Talking to my mom, a school teacher who had off school for Election Day, she began to ask how I was putting my Election Day to best use before catching herself.

C'mon Mom, you know better. There's no crying in baseball, and there are no holidays in football. Not traditional ones, anyways. Because of the demands of our schedules, our workouts don't match up well to the federal holiday calendar. The consummate football player would respond that everyday is a holiday because we get to play the sport we love, but I'll (for the sake of the non-football playing reader of course) operate on the more functional, commonplace definition of a holiday as a day off.

But in lieu of traditional holidays, we on the football team have created our own. During the offseason, we refer to our workout-less Wednesdays as "Mini-weekends" and the actual weekends then become "mini-vacations."

Our annual Media Day, held each August, is always circled on the calendar during preseason, and although it's not a day off, The Game is the most important day of the year to many in the Harvard Football family.

Working backwards, a few examples of traditional holidays...

I spent "Veteran's Day" on Tuesday icing down the injuries that I had accumulated during my service on the gridiron.

On Election Day I "elected" to wake up at 5:45 to get a lift in.

We spent all of Halloween driving to Dartmouth and preparing for the game. Matt Hanson wore the scariest looking suit and tie combo I've ever seen

On September 1st I was in the midst of camp and had two practices, bringing a whole new meaning to "Labor Day."

On the Fourth of July I celebrated my dependence. We did actually get workouts off for this day but the next week's conditioning loomed over my head so I got an extra run in.

Thought you were getting a day off for a cheap holiday? April Fools!

Season update: While I thought this would be a fun topic to write on, there isn't a player on the team that would want to be anywhere else in the world right now than down at the field house. We're in a two-game season for the ivy-league championship and play at Penn this week in a matchup of first place teams. Even if Christmas was tomorrow I'm not sure anyone on the team would notice.

This entry was written by David Pickle, the NCAA's Managing Director of Publishing.

Almost everybody who follows sports must agree that there are too few head football coaches in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision. If no new minority hires are made between now and the beginning of next football season, only four of 119 coaches would be African-American. That's clearly unacceptable.

The media is outraged, and properly so.

However justified the anger and frustration are, one has to be struck with the parallels between the problems of college football and those of another highly visible American institution: sports journalism.

It probably is true that the prominence of college football trumps the relative obscurity of newspaper sports editors. It's safe to say that 99 percent of the readers of the local newspaper do not know who the sports editor is, and even fewer care. That's nothing against sports editors; it's just that their chosen field is obscure by nature. Conversely, almost every fan is deeply aware of who is coaching their favorite teams. So, if interest is the standard, then you have to say the problem with college football coaches is a bigger one.

Often, though, the problem in college football is framed in the fact that about half of the FBS student-athletes are black while about 95 percent of the coaches are white. I'm among those who believes that disparity is the heart of the problem. But if almost half of the participants are minorities - and the percentage is certainly higher in some professional sports -- then why are Blacks routinely excluded from directing how they are covered at the nation's newspapers?

Maybe journalists and college administrators should compare notes to solve their mutual problem.

Garrett Lussi is a senior baseball student-athlete at North Georgia. He is currently the Peach Belt Conference's SAAC representative.

I recently had the honor of representing North Georgia College & State University (NGCSU) at the NCAA Division II Leadership Academy in Naples, Florida. This trip not only opened my eyes to what kind of leader I can be on and off the field but what kind of person I truly am. The Academy taught me the qualities it takes to be a leader and what exercises I can use to enhance those skills to better myself and NGCSU. The Academy showed us what hard work and dedication can accomplish when people work together as well as provided us with the necessary tools to be positive agents of change on our respective campuses.

When we arrived at the Academy, we were broken into hexagon teams. They chose to call them hexagon teams because there are six different attributes that make up Division II. The six groups were: learning, passion, resourcefulness, service, balance, and sportsmanship. The hexagon teams consisted of people from many different Division II schools in the southeast, with no one group having more than one representative from the same institution. In those six groups, there were two facilitators that worked with us and guided us on what being a leader entitles and how we as student-athletes and administrators can strive to get more out of a certain situation instead of settling for just enough to get by. The facilitators were from all over the country and brought in by the NCAA because of their strong leadership attributes and their ability to exemplify those qualities.

After learning more about my personal behavioral style and characteristics of great leaders in our hexagon teams during the first half of the Academy, we had the chance to learn more about Division II and meet with our respective schools the rest of the weekend. One issue that was emphasized greatly (not only in the Division II National SAAC meeting we had, but in our conference meetings as well) was making sure we were stressing good game environment at all of our contests. One of the many good ideas mentioned was to have a student-athlete from both schools meet at the middle of the field or court and each read a sportsmanship statement provided by the conference SAAC. This would help promote good sportsmanship, not only with the two teams competing, but with the fans as well. Along with the Positive Game Environment Initiative, we further learned as student-athletes how we can play a large role on our campus with the NCAA Division II Strategic Positioning Platform and Community Engagement Initiative.

Another topic highly publicized over the weekend was Division II's Make-A-Wish initiative. Statistics showed that last year alone Division II raised a total of $316,958. We found out to grant one child's wish would cost $5,000 and Division II was able to grant over 60 wishes. Over the five year span Division II has been involved with Make-A-Wish, we have raised more than $765,000. This not only showed how great of an impact the student-athletes of Division II have made towards Make-A-Wish as a whole, but what type of positive impact we can make on a child who is less fortunate by getting everyone involved in our campus community to help make a difference.

NGCSU cross country and track coach Amanda Harris was the administrator that accompanied Brit Smith, a women's tennis student-athlete, and myself to the Leadership Academy. Coach Harris felt this academy was extremely beneficial for her ability to better coach her student-athletes. She learned about her own leadership style and ways to communicate more efficiently. Overall, she was very impressed with what the Academy offered.

Reflecting back, the Leadership Academy was an inspirational experience that really opened my eyes to who I am and how I can better myself not only as a teammate but as a person. It showed me that I can create positive change in myself, my school, and my community. If anyone ever has the opportunity to experience a Division II Leadership Academy, do not hesitate to attend. You will undoubtedly be a more effective leader and positive agent of change when you leave.

Increased expectations at American
The American's men's basketball program made its first ever NCAA Tournament last season, and nearly handed second-seeded Tennessee an opening round loss. Now the expectations at American have been elevated, and there seems to be more interest in the basketball program than ever before. For starters, the size of the pep band, and number of season tickets have doubled since last season. Additionally, the school has created a radio and television show geared around the team. We'll see how American deals with the pressure of being the Patriot League favorite this season.

Central Michigan hangs on
Last night's college football game between Central Michigan and Northern Illinois turned out to be a classic MAC battle. Northern Illinois rallied from a 24-point fourth quarter deficit to send the game into overtime, but Central Michigan came away with the 33-30 road victory. With the win, CMU remains unbeaten in MAC play and will face undefeated Ball State next Wednesday in what will help straighten out a crowded and top-heavy MAC West.

Need to get butts in the seats
Tonight, Miami hosts Virginia Tech, although don't expect to see a full Dolphin Stadium. Despite having one of the best programs over the last 25 years, the school has only sold out 28 games in its history, which includes five Orange Bowls. Miami is surely not the only football program in the country to struggle with its attendance. What can schools do to entice more fans to show up?

Wedgebusting is dangerous
Kickoffs are arguably the most dangerous play in football, and it was proven again on Sunday in the Eagles-Giants NFL game when Jonathan Goff suffered a concussion after a helmet-to-helmet collision with an Eagles blocker. Here's the interesting thing about the play - three Eagles blockers were in tight formation as the lead blockers for the ball carrier, which has drawn comparisons to the 1892 Flying Wedge when Harvard formed a "V" with 10 players around the ball carrier. This dangerous play was eventually outlawed, although we still see a resemblance of it in today's football. What can be done to make kickoffs safer?

Superstitious?
It's called "No Shave November." The Oregon State football student-athletes quit shaving Nov. 1 in an effort to help the team's Rose Bowl chances. So far, it's worked. The team is 2-0 this month. The Beavers haven't played in the Rose Bowl since 1964.

Gophers get the gold
Congratulations to Gigi Marvin, Rachael Drazan, Anne Schleper and Jocelyne Lamoureux. The four Minnesota women's hockey student-athletes helped Team USA earn the gold medal in the Four Nations Tournament held last week in Lake Placid, N.Y. Other teams participating were Canada, Finland and Sweden. This is the third time the U.S. women's team has won the gold medal, with Canada taking the other ten gold medals since the event began in 1996.

At the 2009 NCAA Convention the Division I Legislative Council will be asked to evaluate the legitimacy of online courses. At issue is whether or not student-athletes will be able use online courses to fulfill the academic requirements of eligibility.

Two proposals will be considered. The first would allow online and other nontraditional courses offered by an institution to be used for full-time enrollment requirements. The second proposal would allow nontraditional courses taken at a different four-year institution to fulfill credit-hour and progress-toward-degree requirements.

As universities begin to adapt their learning models to the changing educational landscape, these online courses will play a significant role and it's encouraging to see the membership taking up the issue.

Proponents of online courses argue they offer an alternative and more flexible approach to the traditional academic setting. Additionally, online learning allows a student to take courses from other institutions that may not be available at their own.

While the benefits of an education without walls are significant, controlling the quality of the courses and ensuring a student's retention of the material is very difficult. Additionally, online courses may be more vulnerable to cheating.

Because a student never enters the classroom, for example, it's virtually impossible to verify if the student receiving the credit is the one taking the course. What's to stop a student from paying someone to take the course on his or her behalf?

While the adoption of the two proposals does not have any influence on individual university policy, there is some evidence that universities themselves are struggling to find a balance between traditional and non-traditional classrooms.

The Des Monies Register reported this week that the University of Iowa has capped the number of online students and courses its faculty can teach after discovering some faculty members received substantial bonuses (called overload pay) for teaching classes over their typical workload.

A subsequent analysis found that Iowa's public universities spent $2.27 million in overlaod pay in 2007-08. According to the paper, "14 University of Iowa were paid overload bonuses in excess of 30 percent of their base salaries for the year that ended June 30." The bonuses ranged from $17,000 to $120,000.

Regardless of the decision the Legislative Council reaches, the issue of online learning will be one the educational community will tackle for years to come.

What do you think the NCAA should do about online college courses?

Nov. 22 will be busy for Florida State safety
Last week we wrote about the dilemma facing Florida State safety and Rhodes finalist Myron Rolle. His final interview for the prestigious Rhodes scholarship and FSU's game against Maryland were on the same day. Rolle already made the decision to skip the game, but now it looks like he might get to play after all. Rolle will be in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday afternoon to interview for a Rhodes Scholarship. After he's finished he'll hop a charter flight (The school successfully petitioned the NCAA) and should make FSU's game at Maryland by halftime.

BCS considering moving games from Fox to ESPN
Sources told Sports Businness Daily, "The BCS is considering a proposal from ESPN that would see all BCS bowl games, including the championship game, wind up on ESPN. Fox still has another five days to accept the BCS' proposal, which is seeking about a 50 percent annual increase over the current deal's $82.5 million annual fee. The BCS is looking for a four-year, $500 million deal, which would put the average annual payout at around $125 million." If the BCS ultimately accepts the bid, it would mark the first time all games in a major championship were not available on an over-the-air broadcast network. What will people do who don't get ESPN?

Putting a player's health first
A few weeks ago we wrote about Penn State's decision to remove quarterback Daryll Clark from the game against Ohio State where he suffered a concussion. Clark sat out a game due to the injury and was brought back in for Saturday's loss against Iowa. To their credit, Penn State coaches were cautious with Clark, using wide receiver Derrick Williams to run the ball from a shotgun formation "Part of the reason we did that with Derrick is because we were concerned about Clark, having still had that concussion," Coach Joe Paterno said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. Clark, who was cleared to play, said he felt fine. Still, it's nice to see coaches putting a player's health first.

Where does he park the car?
A Florida man has transformed his single-car garage into a home theater and shrine to his alma mater, the Florida Gators. The new space has four televisions and a museum's worth of Gators memorabilia. The Web site also has tours of Eli Manning's and CC Sabathia's homes.

"Hoosiers" Cast Member Teams Up With UMKC
Actor, John Thompson, who played Sheriff Finley in "Hoosiers", is back in front of the camera. The actor stars in two spots for University of Missouri-Kansas City. In one, he explains the difference heart can make for a player and a team. In the second, he explains the selfless virtues of setting a simple pick.

I am all for the most qualified person getting the job! The issue comes down to the integrity and commitment of those doing the hiring.

Passion, bravery and leadership are characteristics every student-athlete shares. But, on this Veteran's Day, we honor the unique sacrifices and uncommon valor of those student-athletes who serve in the military.

We invite you to share your own stories of student-athlete's serving our country at home and abroad.

1st Lt. Michael J. Cleary, Hamilton College ('03)

Died in Iraq on December 20, 2005.

Cleary came to College Hill in 1999. He joined Sigma Phi, participated in varsity soccer as well as intramural sports, and lettered in tennis.

Affected by the events of September 11, Cleary joined the ROTC program. In his senior year he applied to the Marine Corps' flight officer program and was accepted. When told his entry into the program would be delayed until the following January, he decided to enlist immediately in the Army, beginning basic training three weeks after his graduation as an economics major in May 2003.

In his short military career, Cleary completed Officer Candidate School as well as Airborne School and the elite Sapper School at the Army's Engineer Center. Commissioned as a second lieutenant, he was deployed to Iraq in January 2004 and promoted to first lieutenant.

On December 20, 2005, he led his unit to an insurgent bomb factory near Samarra, Iraq. The group was returning from the mission when it was ambushed by insurgent forces. A roadside bomb exploded and Cleary was killed instantly.

In the words of his advisor, Associate Professor of Economics Stephen Wu, "Michael was the type of student who was a joy to teach -- inquisitive and hardworking... above all, he was truly an outstanding young man with great integrity."

This summer Cleary's best friend and Hamilton College roommate Jon Bellona spearheaded a cross-country run to honor Cleary and all those who have died in Iraq. The 10-week trek finished at Arlington National Cemetery. Along the way, runners placed a placard at each mile, representing a fallen solider.

4,128 placards dotted the route.

2nd Lt. Emily Perez, United States Military Academy (`05)

Died in Iraq on Sept 12, 2006.

A gifted track and field student-athlete at Army, Emily Perez was an equally gifted leader, according to Jonathan Smidt, athletics chief of staff at Army. She was the first ethnic minority woman to be named command sergeant major of the Corps of Cadets at Army, a position that put her in charge of enforcing discipline for more than 4,000 cadets.

After graduating in 2005 with a degree in sociology, Perez was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the medical services corps and deployed to Iraq in December. There she served as a treatment platoon leader, battalion public affairs officer, officer in charge of reconnaissance around her forward operating base and a convoy commander.
Universally beloved by fellow soldiers under her command, Perez was on a mission when an Improvised Explosive Device exploded near her vehicle.

In her memory a street at the Forward Operating Base Duke was named "Emily's Way" and the treatment facility at the base also has been named in her honor.

She was honored posthumously with the 2008 NCAA Award of Valor.

Major Doug Zembiec, United States Navy Academy ('95)

Died in Iraq on May 10, 2007.

Zembiec's wrestling career got off to a slow start as a freshman at the Naval Academy, but he went on to become an all-American and compile a career mark of 91-25-1. Zembiec, graduated in 1995 with a major in political science.

In 2004 then Captain Zembiec and his fellow soldiers were on a rooftop in Fallujah, under fire from AK-47s and rocket-propelled grenades. After trying unsuccessfully to radio for assistance from a tank below, Zembiec raced to the street and climbed into the tank, and instructed the tank where to fire.

"He was totally committed to his goals in life and freedom for the country. He loved what he was doing," former Navy Wrestling Coach Reginald Wicks said. "He's definitely a hero and deserves the recognition. But, he's missed by a lot of people."

Zembiec was also honored posthumously with the 2008 NCAA Award of Valor.

1st Lt. Derek Hines, United States Military Academy ('03)

Died in Afghanistan on Sept. 1, 2005.

Hines wasn't the biggest player on the ice for the Black Knights, but he played big according to Army head coach Brian Riley. "Hinesy" contributed 12 goals and 32 points during his four-year career and was perhaps better known for his unofficial fan club, whose members would show up at every home contest and bang Heinz ketchup bottles against the glass in an enthusiastic show of support for No. 7.

On Sept. 1, 2005, members of Hines' squad, Afghan soldiers and police surrounded a house in the small village of Baylough, where a Taliban commander was hiding. The
Taliban commander opened fire on the soliders. Hines jumped out of hiding and returned fire, killing the man, but not before being fatally wounded himself.

"Derek was exactly the type of young man you hope all your cadets are when they are part of your program, but I think even more importantly, he was everything you hope your cadets will be when they leave your program," Riley said. "Ultimately, when you leave this world and you can impact as many people as Derek did in such a short amount of time, that speaks volumes about the type of young man he was."

He was honored posthumously with the 2007 NCAA Award of Valor.

These are men and women exemplified the spirit of leadership and the true meaning of sacrifice. We honor their bravery, passion and valor and, more than anything, thank them for their service.

The college basketball season is officially underway!
Fifth-ranked Duke defeated Presbyterian in the season opener last night, 80-49, and Georgia Southern edged Houston, 65-63. With college football in high-gear and the beginning of college hoops, is this your favorite time of year?

Texas TV channel
While it is becoming common for conferences to form their own television channels, there hasn't been an individual institution that has done it until now. Texas announced plans to launch a new athletics network, which is tentatively named the Longhorn Sports Network. Negotiations are underway for the channel to be picked up by national cable providers. While the channel won't be able to show live football and basketball games, it will still be a great recruiting tool for the school. It's only a matter of time before other major athletics departments follow Texas' model.

Experienced chain gang
While football student-athletes play at Gustavus Adolphus only four years, one thing has remained constant on the school's sidelines - the chain gang. The four men who hold the first down sticks have a combined 145 years of experience on the job, and it sounds like they have loved every minute of it.

HBCU love
ESPN's "College GameDay" will broadcast its weekly show this Saturday from the campus of Florida A&M. This marks the first time the show has ever been to a Historically Black College. The game between Hampton and Florida A&M is a pivotal matchup in the MEAC, as both schools are chasing frontrunner South Carolina State.

Former Olympian passes away
A bit of sad news in the collegiate sports world. Richard Stockton athletics director Larry James passed away late last week after a stint with cancer. As a Villanova track and field student-athlete in 1968, James overcame a 15-yard deficit to help his team win the Penn Relays. Later that year, at Mexico City Olympics, James won gold and silver medals.

Yankees preserving history
The Yankees are preserving their old stadium's history in the move to the new ballpark across the street. On Saturday, a group of Bronx youth and former Yankee stars moved some of the dirt from around home plate and the pitching mound to the new stadium. It will be fun to see how the team moves the historic monuments to the new ballpark.

Successful college coaches don't always take a traditional (or conventional) route to their job.

Texas Tech Head Coach Mike Leach and Oregon State head coach/brother-in-law to the President-elect, Craig Robinson, are good examples.

To say the Red Raiders head coach, nicknamed "Mad Mike", is a non-traditional coach would be an understatement.

Leach's playlist is a crumpled sheet of paper with about a dozen of plays on it. He has a fascination with pirates and talks about them during his weekly press conferences. He gives out dating advice (Have you seen the YouTube clip?) and even quoted Winston Churchill after upsetting the No. 1-ranked team in the country.

Leach's quirks don't end there.

Short on kickers this season, Leach offered a roster spot to a student he saw kick a 30-yard field goal during halftime of a recent game. The pick paid off; Matt Williams hit all nine of his extra point attempts against Kansas a couple weeks later.

"I thought it was easier for him in the game than it was during the contest," Leach said after the game. "For that one, he came out of the stands in his shirt and street shoes and they said, 'Here, make it.' To me, that's hard."

A recent New York Times article talked about his unusual path to Texas Tech.

"Raised in Cody, Wyo., Leach took an unconventional path to the top levels of college football. He graduated from Brigham Young and earned a master's degree at the United States Sports Academy, which prepares students for careers in sports. Then, when Leach attended law school at Pepperdine, a classmate said he diagrammed football plays in his constitutional law class," Ronald F. Phillips, Pepperdine's vice chancellor and the law school's dean emeritus, told the newspaper.

Leach, one of four Football Bowl Subdivision coaches who did not play college football, is doing something right. His team is second in the country and in the hunt for a national championship.

Craig Robinson walked away from a high-six-figure salary, huge house and luxurious vacations to be a college basketball coach.

The New York Times reported "Robinson decided nine years ago while in a cab in Chicago to take an assistant's job on Bill Carmody's staff at Northwestern. He made a tenth of his previous salary, but said he felt whole again."

Robinson, a two-time Ivy League player of the year, graduated from Princeton with a business degree, and went on to a successful financial career. He spent seven years as a vice president for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter before deciding he wanted to be a college basketball coach.

He brought his business skills and education to the court, spending two seasons at Brown where he instilled discipline, a strong work ethic and a winning attitude. Last year Brown won a school-record 19 games.

Being well-rounded - and having a good vocabulary -- is important to Robinson. The New York Times reported that the coach keeps a dictionary in the locker room for players to look up the words he used.

This season Robinson takes over a struggling Oregon State team - not quite the global challenge facing his "relative-elect" but one that would challenge any coach.

For both Leach and Robinson, making their way to a head coaching job has been anything but ordinary, but maybe this non-traditional path is what has led them to extraordinary success.

Share your thoughts:
There are plenty of coaches out there with unique paths to the top spot.

• How did your coach get where he/she is?
• What unique stories do you have?

If enough people respond, we'll compile the most unique stories in another post down the road.

Aggie fans go batty
Welcome to Kyle Field, Home to thousands of bats. The creatures have infested Texas A&M's stadium, and school officials don't mind. They've designated the stadium a bat-friendly zone. " These bats help us by eating a lot of bugs around the stadium, but unfortunately, what goes in also comes out," athletic director Bill Byrne said. Crews spend hours each week power-washing the stadium for bat residue.

Have you seen this Ann Arbor?
The official Ohio State Buckeyes Facebook page recently topped 20,000 fans. Ohio State now has the largest Facebook fan base among official collegiate athletics sites. Georgia is second. The Double-A-Zone would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that we have our own Facebook page. Sign up, you know you want to.

Already making excuses, coach?
Think St. Louis Head Coach Rick Majerus is worried about his young team? You be the judge. "They're going to get shellacked," Majerus said. "There's a train wreck coming. It's inevitable." The team has seven freshmen and only four upperclassmen. Is this really the way to pump your guys up for the season?

Lineman an inspiration to those with epilepsy
Former LSU football standout and current NY Jets player Alan Faneca talks about living with epilepsy and working with the Epilepsy Foundation of America. Faneca has battled the disease since high school and takes medication to control seizures. It's always nice to see professional athletes giving back to the community.

Father and son square off
Kent State's first-year head coach Geno Ford will face his father, Muskingum's first-year head coach Gene Ford tonight in an exhibition game. The two coaches sat down with Mac-Sports.com to talk about the game.

Oklahoma State's ticket policy
There might be empty seats at Boone Pickens Stadium for the Bedlam game against Oklahoma. OSU is not changing its ticket policy, which requires fans to purchase season tickets to get a ticket for the game against the Sooners. Associate Athletic Director Craig Clemons' reason for not changing the policy, "The strategy isn't about the short-term consequences of empty seats for the 2008 game but the long term success of athletics at OSU. If we are to compete for championships in the Big 12 Conference we must sell more season tickets."

During the 2008 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship, Tennessee freshman Vikki Baugh fell to the court writhing in pain. She tore her ACL.

The injury is all too common among female athletes and universities must work to mitigate the risk. Although the research varies, women are two and a half to four times more likely to tear their ACLs than men, depending on the sport.

A new multi-media feature launched by the NCAA has taken on the subject. While there's no clear solution to the problem, the feature offers some possible remedies, such as training programs for teaching proper jumping and landing techniques. Click here to check out the feature.

The reason women tear their ACLs more than men is a hotly debated subject. Some researchers blame the anatomical differences between men and women. Some blame social pressures, which encourage men to begin athletic competition earlier in life thereby giving them more time to train their muscles.

The NCAA believes in sharing knowledge among our membership. So, we want to know about your experience.

Have you had an ACL injury? If you have, tell us about your recovery?

Have you been involved with a training program to prevent ACL injuries?

What is your university doing to protect female athletes from this devastating injury?

What advice would you offer student-athletes seeking to protect themselves from a torn ACL?

Florida State student-athlete named Rhodes finalist
Myron Rolle made the right decision. The FSU safety, a 3.75 pre-med student-athlete, is a finalist for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. He's skipping the Seminoles Nov. 22 game against Maryland for an interview in front of the selection committee in Birmingham, Ala. The scholarship is awarded to just 32 students to study at Oxford University in England. There is a small chance he could still make the game, but it would require the university to petition the NCAA for permission to fly Rolle to and from the interview in a private plane owned by an alumni.

Check out the new uniforms
Baseball is returning to the University of Oregon after 28 years, and the Ducks teamed up with ... wait for it ... Nike to create its baseball uniforms. Nike, known for producing eye-catching jerseys for the Oregon football team, has done the same for baseball. The coolest feature: The gray pinstripes are made with the words of the Oregon fight song. Over the top? Maybe.

Utah one step closer to busting the BCS
Utah remains unbeaten, and in contention for a BCS bowl game after a come-from-behind win against TCU last night. Utah is 10-0 for the second time in school history, matching the teams 2004 start - also a BCS-bowl year.

YouTube channel launched
Division III's Iowa Conference recently launched a YouTube channel, http://www.youtube.com/iowaconf. The channel will feature videos highlighting student-athletes and administrators from the conference.

Microblogging is huge!
In other new media news, Illinois State Athletics has hopped on the Twitter bandwagon. The university now has a Twitter page, www.twitter.com/ISURedbirds. The Double-A Zone launched our own Twitter page in October and the NCAA News also has a presence on the site. A column on Twitter was featured in this month's champion magazine.

BSU wide receiver recovering from spine fracture
Ball State's Donte Love attended Thursday night's game against Northern Illinois. He joined the team on the field for the coin toss and sat in the coaches' box during the game.

Cougars QB returns to campus
Washington State University senior quarterback Gary Rogers suffered a fracture in his spine against Portland State earlier this year. Like Love, Rogers is making steady progress toward recovery.

Here's a scary statistic: The antibiotic-resistant strain of the common staph bacteria is now responsible for more deaths in the United States than AIDS, according to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The risk that student-athletes will develop a staph infection is very real and universities must work to mitigate the danger.

When the issue isn't taken seriously, the consequences can be severe. Student-athlete Kenny George, the 7-foot-7 center for UNC-Ashville, for example, had part of his right foot amputated from a staph infection complication.

So, what exactly are staph infections and how can they be prevented?

From a Time magazine article: "Staph is bacteria carried on the skin, which can enter the body through a cut or during a medical procedure, causing the infection. Most are minor, but certain strains are particularly resistant to anti-biotics and can cause athletes to miss significant playing time."

The New York Times reported athletes, especially football players, are more susceptible to MRSA than the average person.

"Football players are prone to staph infections because of their sport's skin-on-skin contact, the frequency of cuts and the warm, moist conditions in locker rooms, which encourage the growth of bacteria," the paper reported. "Because they are regulars in surgery wards, athletes are susceptible to infections there, too."

Dr. Betsy McCaughey, chairman and founder of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths, published a 12-step brochure to help athletes avoid staph infections. The brochure recommends athletes take precautions with cuts and scrapes, keep hands washed, and disinfect locker rooms and workout equipment with bleach.

Download a PDF of the brochure.

On Sciencedaily.com, Dr. Brian B. Adams addressed MRSA in athletes and recommendations for preventing the spread of infection.

"Our review found that physical contact, shared facilities and equipment, and poor hygiene all contribute to MRSA among athletes," said Dr. Adams.

Dr. Adams suggestions to prevent the spread of MRSA:

• Cover all wounds. If a wound cannot be covered adequately, consider excluding players with potentially infectious skin lesions from practice or competitions until the lesions are healed or can be covered adequately.
• Encourage good hygiene, including showering and washing with soap after all practices and competitions.
• Ensure availability of adequate soap and hot water.
• Discourage sharing of towels and personal items, such as clothing or equipment.
• Establish routine cleaning schedules for shared equipment.
• Train athletes and coaches in first aid for wounds and recognition of wounds that are potentially infected.
• Encourage athletes to report skin lesions to coaches and ask coaches to assess athletes regularly for skin lesions. .

Coaches, trainers and institutions must continue to be proactive in preventing staph infections among student-athletes. MRSA shouldn't be the reason an athletic career - or a life - ends before its time.

Here's a scary statistic: The antibiotic-resistant strain of the common staph bacteria is now responsible for more deaths in the United States than AIDS, according to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The risk that student-athletes will develop a staph infection is very real and universities must work to mitigate the danger.

When the issue isn't taken seriously, the consequences can be severe. Student-athlete Kenny George, the 7-foot-7 center for UNC-Ashville, for example, had part of his right foot amputated from a staph infection complication.

So, what exactly are staph infections and how can they be prevented?

From a Time magazine article: "Staph is bacteria carried on the skin, which can enter the body through a cut or during a medical procedure, causing the infection. Most are minor, but certain strains are particularly resistant to anti-biotics and can cause athletes to miss significant playing time."

The New York Times reported athletes, especially football players, are more susceptible to MRSA than the average person.

"Football players are prone to staph infections because of their sport's skin-on-skin contact, the frequency of cuts and the warm, moist conditions in locker rooms, which encourage the growth of bacteria," the paper reported. "Because they are regulars in surgery wards, athletes are susceptible to infections there, too."

Dr. Betsy McCaughey, chairman and founder of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths, published a 12-step brochure to help athletes avoid staph infections. The brochure recommends athletes take precautions with cuts and scrapes, keep hands washed, and disinfect locker rooms and workout equipment with bleach.

Download a PDF of the brochure.

On Sciencedaily.com, Dr. Brian B. Adams addressed MRSA in athletes and recommendations for preventing the spread of infection.

"Our review found that physical contact, shared facilities and equipment, and poor hygiene all contribute to MRSA among athletes," said Dr. Adams.

Dr. Adams suggestions to prevent the spread of MRSA:

• ??? Cover all wounds. If a wound cannot be covered adequately, consider excluding players with potentially infectious skin lesions from practice or competitions until the lesions are healed or can be covered adequately.
• Encourage good hygiene, including showering and washing with soap after all practices and competitions.
• Ensure availability of adequate soap and hot water.
• Discourage sharing of towels and personal items, such as clothing or equipment.
• Establish routine cleaning schedules for shared equipment.
• Train athletes and coaches in first aid for wounds and recognition of wounds that are potentially infected.
• Encourage athletes to report skin lesions to coaches and ask coaches to assess athletes regularly for skin lesions.
• Coaches, trainers and institutions must continue to be proactive in preventing staph infections among student-athletes. MRSA shouldn't be the reason an athletic career - or a life - ends before its time.

Better job security: NFL or college football coach?
There are two types of jobs in the NFL. Working for Al Davis, and not working for Al Davis. Stanford Head Coach Jim Harbough is apparently interested in the Raiders coaching position. Good idea? Here's a quick Raiders coaching history: Joe Bugel, lasted one season. Jon Gruden, lasted four seasons. Bill Callahan, lasted two seasons. Norv Turner, lasted two seasons. Art Shell, lasted one season. Most recently, Lane Kiffin lasted one season plus four games. You've been warned, coach.

Tulsa rallies around teammate
An outstanding story about Tulsa football player Wilson Holloway and his battle with cancer. The left tackle has been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma twice. During his chemotherapy Holloway continues to come to practice and dress for games. His fight has inspired his teammates.

Bulldogs on TV
South Carolina State University , 7-2 and leading the MEAC, will be on ESPNU tonight at 7. The Double-A Zone recently visited the SCSU campus and spent the weekend with the team. Check it out.

Ready for Rocky Top?
Wyoming squares off against Tennessee this weekend in Knoxville. The Cowboys coaching staff is getting the team ready by playing the Vols' unofficial fight song, "Rocky Top", on a loop during Cowboys' practices. Think the team is already tired of the song?

College students react to election results
The Wired Campus blog from the Chronicle of Higher Education noted several college students posted videos of their campus' reaction to the Obama victory.

A wonderfully insightful piece on a tragedy. It opens up a discussion that we can no longer overlook.

Few times in our lives are we able to mark an iconic and historic moment of transformation. Last night was one of those nights.

But let us not forget that that Barack Obama did not stand alone as he addressed thousands of supporters in Chicago. Small acts of bravery and courage--a white basketball team playing a black basketball team in secret during the age of segregation; a black woman refusing to give up her bus seat--stood with him. These moments made President Obama possible.

We must seize the momentum of Obama's historic example to work with renewed vigilance toward increasing opportunities for minorities and women in the intercollegiate athletics community. While many great strides have been made, college athletics has yet to adequately reflect the diversity and racial landscape of the higher education community as a whole.

Historically black colleges and universities excluded, as of June 2008, 93.1 percent of Division I athletics directors, 92.3 percent of Division II athletics directors and 96.1 percent of Division III athletics directors are white. There are only eight female athletics directors in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and, although there have been women conference commissioners in Division I and III, this year marks the first time a woman was hired for that position in Division II.

We must do better.

Last night President Obama proved to a generation of young men and women that in America anything is possible. As a community with a rich tradition of embracing diversity on the playing field, we must also strive to open wide the doors of opportunity to minorities and women seeking to contribute as coaches and administrators.

Yes, change is possible, but only if we come together to work toward its cause.

It was a successful night for athletes running for office
More than a dozen sports figures were involved in elections last night.

Was this really necessary?
South Carolina's Steve Spurrier is never at a loss of words when it comes to Tennessee football. When asked about Fulmer's $6 million buyout, Spurrier said, "I don't know whether to feel sorry for coach or congratulate him for the biggest buyout in the history of college football. He got the best deal ever, I think."

Who would foul grandpa?
Ken Mink, a 73-year-old full-time student, scored two points Monday night in Roane State Community College's 93-42 victory over King College's junior varsity. Mink last played college basketball 52 years ago. His two points? Foul shots.

Is it time for college football to have a bench decorum rule?
Nebraska Head Coach Bo Pelini acknowledged he has a bad temper, and it might be hurting the university's image and recruiting efforts. During Saturday's game, TV cameras showed him cursing at officials, which earned him an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and screaming at assistant coaches and players. "My job is to coach and represent this university in a particular way all the time, and if I ever fall short, that's something that hurts me personally. And it's something I have to fix," Pelini said.

When is it fair to start asking for accountability?
Earlier this week Michigan Head Coach Rich Rodriguez asked Michigan fans and the media for a little patience. "I'm sure a lot of people are saying that I'm a bad coach," Rodriguez said. "Everybody can have their opinion, but I've been here 10 months. I feel as good as I (ever) have as far as I know we can build this program to be one of the best in the country. ... We'll get it right. I mean, everybody wants to push the panic button. Ten months, geez." Is it fair to blame a coach for losses if he hasn't recruited the team?

Eyeing the majors
USA Today has an interesting story about two pitchers from India hoping to become professional baseball players. Why so interesting? Neither guy picked up a baseball until a year ago. Thursday, they will pitch in front of major league scouts in Tempe, Ariz. Good luck, guys.

Unbelievable
A high school football play you have to see to believe.
Read what The Atlanta Journal Constitution has to say about it.

It was successful night for athletes running for office
More than a dozen sports figures were involved in elections last night.

Was this really necessary?
South Carolina's Steve Spurrier is never at a loss of words when it comes to Tennessee football. When asked about Fulmer's $6 million buyout, Spurrier said, "I don't know whether to feel sorry for coach or congratulate him for the biggest buyout in the history of college football. He got the best deal ever, I think."

Who would foul grandpa?
Ken Mink, a 73-year-old full-time student, scored two points Monday night in Roane State Community College's 93-42 victory over King College's junior varsity. Mink last played college basketball 52 years ago. His two points? Foul shots.

Is it time for college football to have a bench decorum rule?Nebraska Head Coach Bo Pelini acknowledged he has a bad temper, and it might be hurting the university's image and recruiting efforts. During Saturday's game, TV cameras showed him cursing at officials, which earned him an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and screaming at assistant coaches and players. "My job is to coach and represent this university in a particular way all the time, and if I ever fall short, that's something that hurts me personally. And it's something I have to fix," Pelini said.

When is it fair to start asking for accountability?
Earlier this week Michigan Head Coach Rich Rodriguez asked Michigan fans and the media for a little patience. "I'm sure a lot of people are saying that I'm a bad coach," Rodriguez said. "Everybody can have their opinion, but I've been here 10 months. I feel as good as I (ever) have as far as I know we can build this program to be one of the best in the country. ... We'll get it right. I mean, everybody wants to push the panic button. Ten months, geez." Is it fair to blame a coach for losses if he hasn't recruited the team?

Eyeing the majorsUSA Today has an interesting story about two pitchers from India hoping to become professional baseball players. Why so interesting? Neither guy picked up a baseball until a year ago. Thursday, they will pitch in front of major league scouts in Tempe, Ariz. Good luck, guys.

Unbelievable
A high school football play you have to see to believe.
Read what The Atlanta Journal Constitution has to say about it.

Student-athletes should be required to undergo an echocardiogram...every year, you hear of an athlete or athletes dying from circumstances that might have preventable.

If the Redskins Rule is any indication, today's election won't even be close.

For those of you unfamiliar with the prophetic power of the Washington Redskins, I offer the following evidence:

Since 1937, when the Redskins win their final home game before an election, the incumbent's party remains in office. A Redskin loss spells victory for the party out-of-power.

Granted, he couldn't take sides during his half-time interview with Monday Night Football's Chris Berman, but I wonder if Obama had a Terrible Towel hidden in the breast pocket of his suit...

Superstitions aside, both candidates had a lot to say about athletics and the value it has brought to their lives.

Obama said he learned many life lessons from his high school basketball coach who told the rebel Obama, "This is not about you, it's about the team."

McCain said sports helped him turn his life around from punk kid to productive public servant. In remembering his high school football coach, McCain said he taught him to, "Always do the honorable thing even when you think no one is looking."

During this election, we've periodically made note of the connections between politics and sports. The simple fact that these candidates chose Monday Night Football to give their final interviews says much about the profound power and influence sports has in our culture.

Interestingly, both Obama and McCain drew parallels between their run for office and the ups and downs of athletics. With his campaign behind in the polls, McCain urged supporters to not count him out until the "game" is played. Obama talked about the need to remain steady even in the face of potential victory or overwhelming odds.

Politics aside, who doesn't agree with Obama that the Final Four is the most exciting sporting event around? Senator, you have a standing invitation from the Double-A Zone. We'd be honored to have you as our guest in Detroit.

Whatever choice you make, we hope you're voting today--it's a historic moment in our shared history and we should all take advantage of our right to make our voices heard.

Will the Redskin Rule hold true? I know I'm going to stay up and watch the results, but since I'll be in the office at 7:30 tomorrow morning, I hope it doesn't go into overtime.

• Today is voting day, although few people know why it always takes place on a Tuesday in November. Congress created the tradition back in the 1800s to work around the schedules of farmers. In those days transportation wasn't so easy. Monday and Wednesday were travel days, and Congress didn't want to interfere with the religious days of the week. Additionally, in November, the weather was mild enough for travel and the harvest was complete for the year. It's amazing to think about how democracy has been a cornerstone for our country for all these years, although it appears the voting process has evolved to some degree during this time.

• Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer is leaving the school at the end of the season after reportedly being forced out. Toledo head football coach Tom Amstutz announced Monday he will step down at the end of the 2008 season. Also, Washington announced coach Tyrone Willingham would be fired at the end of the season. Is there any reason for lame duck coaches to finish their seasons? Is it beneficial for the student-athletes?

• Tickets for last Saturday's Texas-Texas Tech showdown were in high demand, and unfortunately, more than 500 fans were sold counterfeit tickets around campus. These fans were denied entry into the stadium, and it will be difficult for law enforcement to track down the sellers since the fans paid cash. Fans should learn from this. One suggestion: Take a picture with the seller whenever buying second-hand tickets before a big game.

• Speaking of the Texas-Texas Tech game, you probably noticed the lightning-quick rushing of the field by the Tech students at the end of the game. Texas football coach Mack Brown was not pleased with the access fans had to his student-athletes, including high-profile QB Colt McCoy. Fans rushing the field is a serious issue in today's college sports landscape. We recently talked about it with East Carolina athletics director Terry Holland. What can be done to prevent injuries to fans and student-athletes in situations like these?

• Alabama football coach Nick Saban is will return to Baton Rouge for the first time as a visitor this weekend when his No. 1 ranked Crimson Tide squad takes on LSU. Saban is trying to avoid talking about his personal situation leading up to this week's game, although it will be hard for him to dodge the questions.

• Two runners from Sunday's New York City Marathon died after the race. Is there anything that can be done to prevent tragic injuries and deaths like these?

• The preseason basketball all-Americans have been announced. As expected, North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough led the voting. What do you think about student-athletes being recognized before a single game has been played in the season?

The NCAA rules committee did college football fans a favor when, in 1996, it changed the game's overtime system. I was never more grateful than during Saturday's four overtime marathon between Pittsburgh and Notre Dame -- a game I was exceptionally lucky to attend.

Few fans and participants will tell you it was a well-played football game. From the outset it was a frustrating, "pull your hair out" type of contest, especially if you had any kind of emotional attachment to either one of the teams. In the end, the unpredictable (and sometimes sloppy) play from the afternoon gave way to a marathon game, which was easily the best football game I've I've ever been to.

A dreadful first half performance by Pittsburgh led to a 17-3 Notre Dame half-time lead. The energy in the stadium seemed to favor the Irish and fans were confident it would be an easy win. But, those sentiments didn't last long when a costly third-quarter personal foul took the life out of Notre Dame faithful and swung the momentum toward the Panthers.

Pitt was able to cut the margin to seven and then scored a touchdown on a do-or-die fourth down play (the exact same play the Panthers ran on second and third downs) to send the game to overtime.

If this was the pre-overtime days, the game would have ended in a 24-24 tie and I would have been one unhappy and unsatisfied sports fan.

Thankfully, however, the two teams played on. The series of subsequent overtimes could be described as entertaining, frustrating or strange (depending who you ask).

It quickly turned into a kicking contest that made it feel more like a World Cup soccer shootout than a hard-nosed football game. Eight overtime possessions. Eight field goal attempts. The game was finally resolved when Pitt's Conor Lee knocked home a 22-yard game winner in the fourth OT after a Notre Dame miss.

Some critics may argue that after four hours on the field, it isn't fair to have the game decided by the kickers. While there might be some validity in this claim, there's no arguing that the overtime periods produced the most exciting and memorable action we saw all day long.

The overtimes truly had a little bit of everything, except for a touchdown. Pressure kicks. Curious play calling. Happy fans. Disgruntled fans. Heck, there was even a stoppage when the sprinklers turned on and soaked the field.

There's no question that the overtime periods transformed an average game into the most exciting college football game that I've ever attended. Professional football take note: College football's overtime system creates excitement, and it beats the heck out of a coin toss any day.

Texas Tech students show dedication
More than 1,700 students camped outside Texas Tech's stadium last week in an effort to get the best seats for No. 7 Texas Tech's game against No. 1 Texas. Student seating is not reserved. The students were treated to barbeque from head football coach Mike Leach and pizza from head basketball coach Pat Knight. The Red Raiders didn't disappoint. Texas Tech knocked off previously unbeaten Texas, 39-33.

Do you think Alabama will be playing for a national title? Texas Tech?
There was another shake-up in college football. Alabama became the fifth team this season to be ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25, taking over the top spot after previously No. 1-ranked Texas was beaten by Texas Tech. Alabama also took over the top spot in the BCS ranking, Texas Tech moved to 2nd, up from 7th, and Penn State remained 3rd.

Is the BCS system flawed?
It seems this question comes up every year. The Bowl Championship series hands out six automatic berths to BCS conferences champions, leaving one at-large bid for another school. If the season ended today, three non-BCS conference teams -- Boise State (9th), Utah (10th) and Texas Christian (11th) -- are in position to earn the bid.
Parity is leveling college football's playing field.

Music and athletics in harmony
The Tokyo String Quartet is teaming up with the USC athletic department for a workshop on sports and music. The workshop will compare various aspects of music and athletic performance.

Do preseason polls have value?
Expectations continue to grow for the North Carolina men's basketball team. The Tar Heels are No. 1 in The Associated Press' preseason Top 25, and the first unanimous No. 1 since the preseason poll began in 1981-82.
Connecticut tops the AP's preseason women's poll. This is the first time in five seasons and the sixth time in school history the Huskies have the top preseason ranking.

A little extra motivation
USC graduate Will Ferrell and Football Coach Pete Carroll pulled a Halloween prank on their team.

Hilarious.