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November 30, 2007Morning Coffeeby Josh at 09:11 AM on November 30, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Division I, Division II, Division III, Football, Morning Coffee, Women's Basketball
Full disclosure. Some folks were making a big deal about finding out how much money Joe Paterno is paid by Penn State each year to coach the football team. Previously, the number was kept private, but after a five-year court battle, JoePa’s salary entered the public domain this morning. Ready for the number? The 80-year-old coach was paid $427,220 through the first 10 months of 2007, on track to put his salary around $512K. While Paterno certainly lives comfortably on his salary, it is nowhere close to the dollars earned by many of his peers in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Alabama pays Nick Saban $4 million and Bob Stoops earns more than $3 million annually at Oklahoma. Comparatively speaking, JoePa earns peanuts. Big weekend. There are a bunch of big football games out there tomorrow. The Football Championship Subdivision, Division II and Division III playoffs are all in full swing, and a number of conference championships will be decided in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Boston College and Virginia Tech play for the ACC title at 1, Tennessee and LSU will fight for the SEC at 4 and Oklahoma and Missouri play for the Big 12 at 8. A win by West Virginia over Pittsburgh at 7:45 will put the Mountaineers in the BCS championship game. In Division II, we have to watch all-time leading rusher Danny Woodhead and Chadron State against Northwest Missouri State – Chadron State scored 76 in a classic with Abilene Christian last week. But let’s not forget the rivalry game game of the day – the meeting of our academies – Army and Navy play at noon on CBS. Basket o’ errors. Apparently there were 36 scoring errors made in the early-season women’s basketball game between Oklahoma and Mississippi State. While that doesn’t change the outcome, it does impact Courtney Paris, who was credited with two additional rebounds and now has her double-double streak still intact at 66 games. Thirty-six errors is a lot, but as someone who once entered every missed field goal as a missed three-point shot during a conference basketball game, I understand how these things can happen. Really? I know it’s the NBA, but come on Knicks. 59 points? Really?
November 28, 2007Morning Coffeeby Josh at 08:52 AM on November 28, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Diversity and Inclusion, Division I, Division II, Division III, Football, Morning Coffee, Women's Sports
Huddle up! We have to give credit to the administration at Augusta State for being progressive. Donna Hobbs, associate professor of chemistry and faculty athletic representative (FAR) at the university, recently launched a new program called Faculty Huddle Up. As part of the program, faculty members adopt one of the school’s 10 teams, and the relationship grows from there. Faculty members are encouraged to attend practice, games and even host team dinners. Is there a better idea than getting faculty members actively involved with student-athletes and coaches? It seems to be the perfect way to appropriately mesh the academic and athletic experiences on campus. Lot of scoring. In case you missed it, a Division II playoff-record 149 points were scored in a game between Chadron State and Abilene Christian this weekend. Despite trailing Abilene Christian 49-20 entering the fourth quarter, undefeated Chadron State outscored its opponent 36-7 in the final frame to force overtime. After trading touchdowns in the first two overtime periods, Chadron State won on a 12-yard run from quarterback Joe McLain in the third extra period. NCAA all-time leading rusher Danny Woodhead gained 192 yards on the ground and scored four touchdowns for Chadron State while Abilene Christian’s Bernard Scott ran for 308 yards and five touchdowns in a losing effort. In Saturday’s quarterfinals, Chadron State will take on Northwest Missouri State, the last team to beat the Eagles. Sister, sister. Twin sisters Kari Klynstra (Wheaton (Ill.)) and Kacie Klynstra (Messiah) went head-to-head in the Division III Women’s Soccer Championship game on Saturday, with Kari getting the best of her sibling with a 1-0 win. Both sisters earned all-tournament honors. After the game, Kari said: "Once you step on the field it's just like any other game. You're just playing against another opponent, you're with your team, but as soon as the game’s over, she's still my sister first. We knew going into college that when we both picked schools with good soccer traditions that there was a chance we'd play each other and were both prepared for it." Messiah suffered its only loss of 2007 in the championship game, which marked its fourth consecutive trip to the national semifinals. The Falcons won the 2005 national title. Bowl me over. Interesting note from the HBCU Sports Blog, as a number of historically black colleges and universities find themselves among the top-ranked bowling teams in the country. Delaware State, Jackson State and Alabama A&M are all ranked in the top 10.
November 26, 2007Morning Coffeeby Josh at 11:51 AM on November 26, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Division I, Division III, Ice Hockey, Morning Coffee
Historic ice. Less than 24 hours after the NIT cleared out of town, Madison Square Garden had lowered the temperature and welcomed a pair of college hockey teams to the house for the first time in a few years. The men’s ice hockey squads from Boston U. and Cornell played in the Garden on Saturday night, with the Terriers grabbing a big win, 6-3. We discussed how dreams came true for the basketball players scoring their first buckets on the hardwood at the Garden, but the same is true for the hockey players who skated their first minutes in the building. The Garden is special, and a sold-out crowd suggests MSG might think about offering college hockey games on a more regular basis, as the last one was played in 2003. GOAL!!! I was sitting in my parents’ living room on Saturday night and decided to check out what was happening in the world of Division III soccer. The men and women both had title matches scheduled that day, so I was curious to see how things had unfolded. It turns out that I picked the perfect time to search, as I noticed that CSTV was streaming the game live on its Web site. I picked up the scoreless men’s final between Trinity (Texas) and Middlebury in the first overtime and watched the teams play a second scoreless extra frame before heading into the most dramatic of finishes – penalty kicks. I tore my laptop from its plug and plopped it right down on my father’s lap, as we watched Middlebury win its first men’s soccer championship on kicks, 4-3. It was an amazing spectacle to watch, and I began thinking about all the sports fans that missed the incredible game because they were watching football. There are a lot of amazing sporting events to watch out there, and seeing a national championship decided in this fashion was tremendous. The road back. Exciting news from the Big Easy – the University of New Orleans is bringing back three varsity sports. Men’s and women’s tennis, as well as men’s swimming and diving, will begin competition next fall, after a hiatus caused by Hurricane Katrina. After the hurricane, the university reopened and sponsored just six sports, instead of the minimum 14. The NCAA granted an exemption that would allow New Orleans to ease back into full sponsorship. This first step back is reason to celebrate.
November 23, 2007Red Sox, Patriots And Lyonsby Josh at 11:33 AM on November 23, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Division III, Guest Blogs, Guest Blogs, Women's Basketball
Wheaton (Massachusetts) basketball player Jennie Pleat shares her excitement about the upcoming season. The Sox won the World Series for the second time in four years! Growing up just north of Boston, I was raised living and dying with Boston sports teams. Unfortunately, the 1990s were not the best years for the Sox, Celts and Pats. However, the turn of the millennium boosted morale for New England fans. The Patriots are winning their way to the top once again, the Red Sox ended the infamous curse and the Celtics landed two superstars. Nonetheless, my fingers are still crossed! There’s nothing like watching one of your favorite teams win it all. Wheaton College became a chaotic red blur as soon as Papelbon threw the pitch to clinch the clean sweep. Between horns, screams, chants and the faint sound of “Sweet Caroline,” half of my friends jumped into the filthy, scummy pond on campus. Halfway across the country, watching the Red Sox players celebrate the win, smiling, cheering and yelling “number one!” gave me the chills. My thoughts drifted to that same feeling I experienced first hand in high school, when my basketball team won the state championship two years in a row. There’s really no feeling like it in the world. The only thing on your mind at that moment is “we did it!” Pure happiness, relief, accomplishment and confidence ensue. On October 21st, three coaches, thirteen players and three hours of practice marked the beginning of a Wheaton fight for that exact feeling. Continue reading "Red Sox, Patriots And Lyons" » November 20, 2007On The Road: Practice With The Orangeby Josh at 04:58 PM on November 20, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Division I, Division III, NCAA Basketball, On The Road I arrived in Penn Station around 11 this morning, took the subway up to Times Square, headed out into the rainy New York morning and walked the few blocks north to the Marriott Marquis. At noon, select players and coaches from Syracuse, Ohio State, Texas A&M and Washington arrived to have lunch and chat with the media for a couple of hours. Everyone is thrilled to be in New York to play big-time basketball games and enjoy Thanksgiving in the city that never sleeps. Following the press conferences, I headed west to 10th avenue and walked up to 58th Street, locale of John Jay College, a Division III institution that specializes in criminal justice and law. Syracuse is working out here for a couple of hours prior to a reception this evening at the historic Tavern On The Green. Perhaps the irony is clear to me solely because I was a Division III student-athlete, but I find it interesting that Syracuse, which plays its home games in front of 30,000+, is sharing an old-school gymnasium with the John Jay women’s basketball team as I write this post. When we discuss the New York experience – the games in Madison Square Garden, the dinner at Tavern On The Green, seeing the floats on Thanksgiving – this has to be part of it. The NCAA is a diverse association and it’s not all about arenas that are bigger than mid-sized American cities. There are more John Jays out there than Syracuse’s, so I have to think that part of the Big Apple learning experience for Jim Boeheim’s student-athletes is this shootaround at a school that specializes in criminal justice.
November 13, 2007Morning Coffeeby Josh at 06:31 AM on November 13, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Division I, Division II, Division III, Football, Morning Coffee, NCAA Basketball, Volleyball
Gameday at Williams. Who saw Fowler, Corso and Herbstreit in Willamstown on Saturday? That’s right – the ESPN College Gameday team hunkered down at Division III Williams College this weekend, scene of one of football’s best rivalry games between the Ephs and Lord Jeffs of Amherst. Williams went on to win the game, 20-0, and finished its season 6-2 despite losing its first two contests of the year. Williams claimed its 45th Little Three (Williams, Amherst, Wesleyan) title and will head into the off-season smiling. As a conference rule, NESCAC teams don’t compete in the Division III football championship, so Saturday’s victory will have to last the Ephs into next August. Obviously, the game is meaningful enough to get the ESPN gang out to Massachusetts and for true football fans, taking in an Amherst-Williams game is just as important as seeing Ohio St.-Michigan and Harvard-Yale. Smart idea. Nick Smart caught 16 passes in Southwest Baptist’s loss to Washburn on Saturday, finishing his season with an NCAA-record 143 receptions. It was rough year for the Bearcats, who finished 0-11 overall, but Smart gave fans a reason to smile all season long, as he came ready to play week in and week out. Along with the 143 catches, Smart also had 1,263 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Stealing the show. Of course, I spent part of yesterday evening checking out the Syracuse men’s basketball team in its season opener against Siena. Yes, I was pumped about Jonny Flynn and his 28 points and nine assists. Of course, Paul Harris fired me up with 15 rebounds. And obviously, I shouted for Donte Green, who blocked five shots in his college debut. But none of that was as impressive to me as when the broadcasters began sharing the resume of Siena head coach Fran McCaffery. Why did the bio catch my attention, you ask? Well, it turns out that McCaffery did his undergraduate work at Pennsylvania, one of the nation’s finest universities. While that’s impressive, it’s not nearly as impressive as the fact that he received his bachelor of science degree from the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, which is widely regarded as the best undergraduate (and graduate) education one can receive in the field of business. Upon his graduation from Penn, McCaffery headed to Lehigh, where he worked as an assistant coach and picked up his master’s degree. He became Lehigh’s head coach at the ripe old age of 26 and went 49-39 in three years. He then spent 11 seasons as an assistant at Notre Dame before moving on to UNC-Greensboro, where he spent six years at the helm. McCaffery is in his third year at Siena. Pretty decent credentials, huh? Reverse curse? Congratulations to Double-A Zone student-athlete blogger Sam Mitchell, who was named Conference Carolinas women’s volleyball player of the year. She was named to the all-conference team for the third-straight season. Way to go, Sam!
November 08, 2007Morning Coffeeby Josh at 10:04 AM on November 08, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division I, Division II, Division III, Morning Coffee
Getting it done. Want proof that student-athletes are performing well in the classroom? Well, here it is. The second year of Academic Success Rate data shows that 69 percent of Division II student-athletes graduate within a six-year window. The ASR is similar to the Division I Graduation Success Rate and was developed to provide a more accurate representation than the federal methodology, which doesn’t take into account nearly 16,000 nonscholarship student-athletes. If the federal rate is used as an indicator, 55 percent of Division II student-athletes graduate within six years – significantly higher than the 46 percent from the regular student body. One fast dude. Former Hunter College men’s cross country standout Omri Holzman finished 34th in Sunday’s New York City Marathon, finishing the 26.2-mile course in 2:32.13. It was the best career finish for Holzman, who finished 48th last fall in the same year he finished his undergraduate studies. The City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) male scholar-athlete of the year in 2006, Holzman graduated from Hunter with a 3.73 GPA and a degree in computer science. During his time in college, Holzman balanced his athletics responsibilities with a full-time day job at the United Nations while attending night classes. A 15-time conference champion, the Tel Aviv native first took up running during his days in the Israeli army. Findlay wins! It hasn’t been a great week for Big Ten basketball, so it’s a good thing we’re not in the full swing of the regular season. On Tuesday night, Ohio State became the second Big Ten squad to drop an exhibition game to a Division II opponent in less than one week, as Findlay dropped the Buckeyes, 70-68. Last week, Grand Valley State’s men’s team knocked off Michigan State in an exhibition contest. Both exhibition games were aired on the Big Ten Network, as was the season-opening football game between Appalachian State and Michigan. Will Big Ten schools start looking for a way back to network television??? Findlay happens to be have a strong Division II program and Ohio State is rebuilding following last year’s run to the national championship game, but there does seem to be more parity in college hoops than one might expect.
November 02, 2007Hail To Thee, Alma Mater!by Josh at 11:45 AM on November 02, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Division III, Guest Blogs
NCAA Governance Intern Heather Mathis chronicles her experience during homecoming weekend at her alma mater, Maryville College (Tennessee). Heather was a four-year soccer standout during her days at Maryville and also served on the Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. “Hail to thee our alma mater, Hail to Maryville!”
Since becoming an intern here at the national office, I have really missed the experience of being on a college campus. Nothing can replicate the atmosphere that is created when classes conclude on Fridays and college students head outdoors to enjoy themselves and plan for the weekend. I also miss the small community that surrounds the college, and how incredible the support is for college initiatives and activities. In order to reconnect with my not-so-distant past, I returned to Maryville College for homecoming weekend. I searched for all of my orange and garnet apparel, picked up my college roommate from the airport, and headed to Maryville, Tennessee. My return to the lofty Chilhowee mountains of Tennessee was packed full of activities that make homecoming weekend at Maryville very special. As a small private college, I believe the institution does things the right way for the alumni, faculty, administration, staff, parents, students, and the community. The homecoming weekend was more about the engagement of the community and the returning alumni than just a football game. The weekend schedule included banquets, athletics contests, a pep rally, a parade, a crafts festival, and a theater production. As a political science major in college, I was exposed to Robert Putnam’s Bowling Alone. Putnam explained the significance of community and discussed the deterioration of it in recent years. Studying Putnam’s work as a student at Maryville allowed me to be more aware of the importance of community engagement, and therefore I was relieved to see that Division II was focusing on the importance of community when I arrived at the NCAA National Office as an intern. Though I did not realize it as a student, my return to Maryville as a post-graduate made me appreciate just how lucky I was to have attended a school that focused a great deal of energy and resources on community engagement. I want to highlight Maryville College on a job well done and thank the individuals within the institution for a wonderful weekend of homecoming festivities. Go Scots!
October 31, 2007Morning Coffeeby Josh at 10:31 AM on October 31, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Division III, Morning Coffee, Sportsmanship
Tough Saturday. Nevada basketball player Tyrone Hanson was beaten unconscious and robbed at a Halloween party in Reno on Saturday night where three people were shot to death. Hanson, who has since been released from a local hospital, has been kicked off the basketball team because head coach Mark Fox told his players not to go out that night. Hanson had violated team rules earlier in the year and the second miscue was too much for Fox. Although he didn’t do anything wrong at the party, Hanson just wasn’t supposed to be there, and will now pay the price. It seems to be a hard lesson for a kid who is recovering from a brutal beating, but he isn’t crying foul. Do you think the punishment is too severe? Should coaches be able to dictate when their players go out and when they don’t? Pass the baton. Haverford’s men’s cross country team won its 15th consecutive Centennial Conference championship on Saturday, finishing well in front of second-place Dickinson. A pair of Haverford runners led the pack and headed into the final stretch in the lead, on their way to a certain one-two finish. Before the line, senior Ian Ramsey-North slowed by a step to allow classmate Donald Letts to finish first and claim the individual conference crown. Last year, Letts slowed down at the finish line to allow senior Zachary Vaslow to be the individual champion. In 2005, Grant Scott allowed Ramsey-North to finish first and the senior wanted to pass forward the favor to his friend Donald this time around. Stepping aside to allow a teammate to win an individual conference championship is quite an unselfish act – and an unusual tradition. But if Haverford keeps on winning conference titles, can anybody argue with the practice? Good news for cheeseheads. Wisconsin sports fans have much more to cheer about than the 6-1 Green Bay Packers. On Monday, Charter Communications announced the launch of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) channel through its Video On-Demand service. The channel will feature athletics events from one of the premier conferences in the country and is the first initiative of its kind in Division III. A variety of sports will be broadcast, including football, basketball, swimming, wrestling, volleyball and track and field.
October 29, 2007Morning Coffeeby Josh at 09:20 AM on October 29, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division I, Division III, Football, Morning Coffee, Morning Coffee
The Mississippi Miracle. Did you see the Miracle in Mississippi this weekend? It wasn’t at Ole Miss or Mississippi State, but at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. Ranked 24th in the Division III poll, Millsaps entered its contest with 19th-ranked Trinity (Texas) a perfect 5-0 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference games – a win for the Majors would have clinched the SCAC championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. With Millsaps leading 24-22 with two seconds remaining, one of the greatest plays we’ve ever seen unfolded before our eyes. On its final snap, Trinity completed a pass over the middle of the field and proceeded to lateral the ball 15 times before wide receiver Riley Curry stormed into the end zone and catapulted the Tigers to a 28-24 win. ESPN selected the play as tops for the week, and nominated it as a Pontiac Game-Changing Performance. Despite the loss, Millsaps still sits atop the SCAC standings, but at 4-1, Trinity is in control of the conference title. If the Tigers win out, they will earn the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The season changed on a two-second play that took a minute – and you’ve got to see it to believe it. Watch the clip below. What really matters. West Virginia smashed Rutgers on the football field Saturday 31-3, but the final score wasn’t the most important part of the game. At the beginning of the broadcast, Rutgers Coach Greg Schiano introduced his players, sharing their majors and GPAs with the viewers instead of nicknames or football statistics. Not only did Schiano inform the nation that academic success is an integral part of his program, he provided a stark contrast between the collegiate and professional games. When the Colts or Patriots are introduced, there aren’t majors and GPAs associated with the players’ names. Professional football players have one job – to win games. While winning is supremely important in college, there’s a lot more than just football involved in the experience. It’s a hog’s world. Arkansas’ men’s cross country team won its 34th consecutive conference title on Saturday, finishing the SEC championship meet well in front of second-place Florida. Of the 98 runners competing, Arkansas placed five among the first 11 finishers. The Razorbacks have a storied program and the conference title may have helped ease the pain of losing two national championships earlier in the week. The university has had three appearances before the NCAA Committee on Infractions in the last 10 years, and last week, the committee vacated two national championships from the track and field program as part of ira penalty for major violations of NCAA recruiting rules.
October 26, 2007Campus Connection: Salve Reginaby Josh at 01:56 PM on October 26, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Campus Connection, Division III
There are few people in intercollegiate athletics as involved with the NCAA governance structure as Del Malloy, director of athletics at Salve Regina. Currently the vice-chair of the Division III Management Council, Malloy also attends the meetings of the Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee on a regular basis. Fourteen of Salve Regina’s 18 varsity programs have cumulative grade point averages above 3.0 and Malloy says that academic pursuits are the top priority of the institution’s student-athletes. On today’s Campus Connection, Malloy fills us in on the current landscape at Salve Regina and in Division III.
October 23, 20073-Minute Drillby Josh at 03:07 PM on October 23, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to 3-Minute Drill, Division I, Division II, Division III, Governance Have you ever wondered how NCAA rules are made? While legislation in all three divisions is proposed and passed by representatives from NCAA member institutions, the process differs between Division I and Divisions II and III. On this week’s 3-Minute Drill, Atlantic-10 Associate Commissioner and Division I Management Council Chair Jackie Campbell tells us about the override procedures recently enacted for three proposals in Division I. NCAA Director of Governance, Membership, Education and Research Services Delise O’Meally also fills us in on the differences between the three divisions.
October 17, 2007Morning Coffeeby Josh at 11:27 AM on October 17, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Division I, Division II, Division III, Morning Coffee
Chief Wahoo is offensive. During last night’s game between the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians, I was reading a live chat on ESPN.com. Rob Neyer, the host of the conversation, was asked by a fan if he thought Cleveland mascot Chief Wahoo offended Boston’s Jacoby Ellsbury, who is of Native American descent. Neyer answered well – stating that he was sure Ellsbury found the mascot offensive but that he was likely not concerned about it during the game. Do you have eligibility remaining? In Monday’s Morning Coffee, we discussed Mike Flynt, the 59-year-old grandfather who plays football for Sul Ross State. Flynt began his college career more than 40 years ago, but after being kicked out of school as a senior, never finished his eligibility. In a comment on the post, one reader asked why Flynt was able to complete his eligibility four decades later. It’s a great question. Sul Ross State is a Division III institution, and Divisions II and III have a 10-semester/15 quarter rule that permits student-athletes to leave school and continue their playing careers upon their return. Division I, on the other hand, employs a five-year eligibility clock that runs out five years after the date of enrollment in the institution. Therefore, if Flynt had played three years at Florida State and left for twenty years, he couldn’t have come back to play his fourth season, as his eligibility would already have been exhausted. Can you Woo Woo? Cheerleading is very much a part of the intercollegiate athletics landscape. Virginia State sports information intern Bianca Warren recently wrote a nice piece about junior Candace Hankins and the rest of the Woo Woo’s.
October 11, 2007Morning Coffeeby Josh at 10:44 AM on October 11, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Division I, Division III, Ice Hockey, Morning Coffee, Morning Coffee
Money can wait. When standout student-athletes have an opportunity to move on to participate in professional sports, they generally don’t hesitate to leave school early. The allure of six- and seven-figure salaries is just too great, and school and intercollegiate athletics are usually left behind. There are exceptions to every rule, however, and friend of the Double-A Zone Patrick Miller provides a perfect example in his recent article about four North Dakota hockey student-athletes. After seeing their hockey team fall in the national semifinals in April, North Dakota fans expected a mass exodus of players to the National Hockey League. It didn’t happen. Looking for a third consecutive trip to the Frozen Four and a first national championship, superstars Ryan Duncan, T.J. Oshie, Taylor Chorney and Joe Finley elected to return to Grand Forks instead of leaving for the bright lights of the National Hockey League. Each could be gearing up for their first full professional seasons right now, but they are still balancing classes and hockey practice in the university setting. Each member of the quartet returned to school for his own reasons, but there’s no doubt that leaving dollars on the table is not an easy thing to do. It’s refreshing to see student-athletes pining after a national championship and in no rush to grow up. It will be interesting to watch North Dakota’s results this season, but with much of last year’s roster still intact, expectations are high for the nation’s preseason No. 1. Protecting student-athletes. After reading our post about the deadly heat during the Chicago Marathon, College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Commissioner Chris Martin sent a note to let us know about an important initiative in his league. In August 2005, CCIW institution Illinois Wesleyan lost one of its football players to a heat-related illness suffered during a preseason football practice. Although it wasn’t the sole reason for future discussion on the issue, the tragedy made the presidents and chancellors of the conference institutions aware that something should be done to protect current and future student-athletes. Last spring, the CEOs created a conference-wide Heat Task Force made up of athletics directors, senior woman administrators, athletic trainers and others athletics administrators to discuss the pressing issues. The group created a Heat Illness Protocol that was put into place for football and soccer this fall. The new set of guidelines states that “intercollegiate competition occurring during extreme heat conditions shall include mandatory hydration/cooling breaks at specified times in the sports of football and men’s and women’s soccer.” The CCIW has put student-athlete welfare at the forefront of its thinking and should be commended for doing everything possible to prevent another devastating casualty.
October 10, 2007Morning Coffeeby Josh at 08:45 AM on October 10, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Community Service, Division I, Division II, Division III, Football, Morning Coffee, Sportsmanship
Shameful act. Rivalries are part of intercollegiate athletics and that’s much of what makes the enterprise so special. Too often, it seems, fans are crossing the line of what’s actually appropriate within the landscape. We’ve established that it’s not right for fans to shout negative and harassing things at opposing players from the stands, but some Texas Tech students stooped to a new low this week. Community service on campus. James Madison’s student-athletes hosted “A Day With the Dukes” last month, a special program for Special Olympians. The Olympians attended a basketball scrimmage, volleyball match, football game and toured athletics facilities … Harvard’s wrestling team participated in the university’s Day of Service on September 29. Every member of the wrestling team participated in the event – many volunteering at a local Boys and Girls Club while others organized activities for children during the Chinatown Field Day for Youth program. Other wrestlers helped clean the banks of the Charles River and some planted flowers and picked weeds at a rundown house in Boston … Last Saturday, the Tusculum women’s volleyball program hosted its second “Dig For The Cure” Day during a match with Brevard. The Pioneers raised more than $1,500 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, as both teams collected pledges from sponsors per dig registered during the match. Concession geniuses. This summer, we discussed the deliciousness associated with a cheeseburger served between two halves of a jelly donut. While surfing the Web last night, I stumbled upon what may be the next great concession stand innovation to hit stadiums and arenas across the country – the french-fry covered hot dog. It’s already hit the streets in Seoul, South Korea, so hopefully it won’t be long before we’re chowing down on this piece of heaven during the seventh-inning stretch.
October 09, 2007The Sunset Of His Careerby Josh at 11:30 AM on October 09, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division III, Guest Blogs, NCAA Basketball One of the best Division III programs in the country, the Washington University in St Louis men’s basketball team went 25-5 last season and advanced to the national semifinals. Troy Ruths led the Bears with 19.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game as a junior, and as he gears up for his final go-around in a college uniform, Troy has decided to join us on the Double-A Zone. Right now I'm about at sunset, with one glorious last spectacle before I fizzle into the post-athletic abyss we like to call “the rest of our lives.” Well, at least I hope it’s glorious. There are a ton of seniors, no doubt, entering their last season with the same anticipation with which I charge into mine. I'm sure they all want their senior season to be legendary, but only a few will actually achieve a championship berth. The pressure to perform as a senior surely comes down to the fact that it is the ultimate season – there isn't a subsequent year to make up for last year's failures or to build on last year's achievements. This is it. Continue reading "The Sunset Of His Career" » October 08, 2007Morning Coffeeby Josh at 09:32 AM on October 08, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Division I, Division II, Division III, Football, Morning Coffee
King of the ground. Danny Woodhead needed 121 yards on Saturday to become the all-time leading rusher in the history of NCAA football. The Chadron State tailback didn’t even need three quarters to eclipse the mark, and finished with 208 yards and two touchdowns in a 21-0 win over Western New Mexico. Woodhead surpassed the record established by Grove City’s R.J. Bowers in 2000 and now has 7,441 career yards on the ground. With a handful of regular season games remaining, and a probable run in the postseason, Woodhead seems a safe bet to eclipse the 8,000-yard mark for his career later this fall. The country will get a live look at Woodhead on October 18, as Chadron State and Nebraska-Kearney play on CSTV.
Wedding bells. New York Yankees pitcher Ian Kennedy and USC women’s basketball player Allison Jaskowiak were married on Saturday outside St. Louis. Last month, Kennedy was unsure if he would be able to make the wedding – which sparked much interesting debate on the Double-A Zone – because the potential existed for the rookie to be pitching in the postseason. Kennedy was left off the team’s Division Series roster, however, and was able to proceed with his nuptials. If the Yankees advance to the American League Championship Series, the groom could still see postseason action. The bride will begin basketball practice at USC next week, so it looks like the honeymoon will have to wait. Heat kills in Chicago. Fall hasn’t arrived yet in the Midwest, and that much was apparent yesterday, as sweltering temperatures forced race organizers to shut down the Chicago Marathon course in the middle of the race. Hundreds suffered from dehydration and a Michigan police officer died while trying to complete the 26.2 miles. The race actually turned out to be one of the best in marathon history, as Patrick Ivuti edged Jaouad Gharib by 0.05 seconds to win the men’s event. I’ve often wondered if marathons were appropriate for NCAA competition. Although yesterday’s circumstances were certainly extenuating, I’m not sure we could monitor student-athletes enough throughout such a long race to make sure they’re healthy. What do you think? Al Gore would be proud. The NCAA is doing its part for the environment, starting a green initiative that cuts down on waste in the national office. I don’t know if it’s 90 degrees in October because of global warming, but something doesn’t seem right out there. I’ve chucked my Styrofoam coffee cups for a new mug, and implore you all to do the same. Like Kermit, we can all work harder at “Bein’ Green.” Weekend football notes. Stanford shocked the world – and USC – on Saturday night, knocking off the second-ranked Trojans, 24-23. With 49 seconds remaining, Cardinal quarterback Tavita Pritchard found Mark Bradford for a 10-yard touchdown strike. It was the first career start under center for Pritchard … Illinois fans are going bananas, as their team dumped fifth-ranked Wisconsin to improve to 3-0 in the Big Ten for the first time since 1990. Rashard Mendenhall and Juice Williams combined for 252 yards rushing in the 31-26 upset … South Florida is 5-0 and currently ranked fifth in the Football Bowl Subdivision … North Dakota overcame a 10-point fourth quarter deficit and went on to beat Minnesota State, 38-34 … For the second straight week, Pittsburg State tangled in overtime, but this time came up a bit short. The Gorillas fell to Northwest Missouri State on Saturday, 37-34, in front of more than 19,000 fans at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Xavier Omon ran for 274 yards and five touchdowns to lead the ninth-ranked Bearcats … St. John’s (Minnesota) scratched by St. Olaf, 30-29, to improve to 6-0. Head coach John Gagliardi, now in his 59th year at the helm of the St. John’s program, won his 449th career game.
October 04, 2007Coaches' Corner: Intercollegiate Athletics In The Big Appleby Josh at 03:22 PM on October 04, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Coaches' Corner, Coaches' Corner, Division III, Volleyball, Women's Sports
There are plenty of misconceptions about what higher education and intercollegiate athletics are supposed to look like. The truth is, however, is that there isn’t a specific blueprint that any one of the NCAA’s 1,000+ institutions follow. In today’s Coaches’ Corner post, Baruch women’s volleyball coach Allison Gunther discusses the experience her players have as student-athletes at a commuter school in the heart of New York City. Although I have been at Baruch College for 14 months, it only took me one month to realize that Baruch was a college like none other! Baruch is located in the heart of New York City, in buildings 14 stories high equipped with escalators and elevators. The college is the largest public business school in the United States, and the second most diverse institution with more than 15,000 students. I also recently discovered that most of the student population commutes on average 40 minutes to attend class four days a week because we do not have dorms. But that’s not a knock on Baruch; it’s actually proof that Baruch’s academic reputation is so esteemed that students will tolerate the commute to get a top-notch education at an outstanding price of $2,000 per semester for an in-state resident! I initially wondered how it was possible for an urban school, with no dorms or on-campus fields, to possibly be successful in athletics? I was in for a learning experience. In the past two years, we have won seven conference championships and have had five teams qualify for the NCAA tournament. We have also won back-to-back Commissioner’s Cups, which are awarded to the college with the most successful athletic program in the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC). I believe that one of the reasons our teams are so successful is that the athletes support one another, whether it’s traveling on the fan van to a soccer game in Queens or helping out one another with homework in the student-athlete lounge. Because Baruch does not provide dorms, the athletics department and student-athlete lounge becomes their second home and their fellow student-athletes their extended family. Although most students commute from home, we have recruited more and more student-athletes from around the country and abroad. On my volleyball team alone, I have players from Texas, Arkansas, Nevada, Albania, West Indies and Puerto Rico. And instead of dorms, athletes find apartments together in New York City. All this success comes with the dedication of our athletics staff and coaches, consisting of seven full-time and eight part-time employees, and more importantly, the student-athletes who manage to balance their schoolwork, practices/games and commutes into their busy schedules. Baruch College is truly a unique place. Morning Coffeeby Josh at 08:41 AM on October 04, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Division I, Division II, Division III, Morning Coffee
Sederick Green is fast. Sederick Green has finished first in each of Virginia State’s cross country races this fall save one – and that was a meet he didn’t compete in. While it might sound like Green is just another solid runner, the junior has battled all sorts of pain and injury throughout his career. As a sophomore, Green had tendonitis in his knee and wasn’t at 100 percent for most of the season. Finally healthy this fall, Green recently ran the 8-kilometer course at the Bowie State Invitational in 28 minutes, 25 seconds. Undefeated in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association competition, the Trojans are looking toward a league title with Green leading the charge. Sister like sister. Jennifer and Alayna Hirsch shared a lot of things growing up, but the twins never expected to share injuries. As high school freshmen, Alayna tore her left ACL while playing basketball. One year later, Jennifer tore her left ACL on the softball diamond. Upon their arrival at Millikin, the twins had hoped to put their injury-sharing relationship behind them, but things don’t always go as planned. During the non-traditional soccer season last spring, Jennifer, the team’s starting goalie, tore her right ACL during a workout. The following week, Alayna was hit in the right knee during a softball game. Although she was able to finish her junior campaign, Alayna proceeded to tear her right ACL running toward second base in a game this summer. Experts at leaning on one another for support, the twins are working together to get back on their respective fields after surgery. Jennifer recovered from her surgery in record time and is back in goal, leading the Big Blue to its best start in school history. Alayna also expects to be at the top of her game when softball practice begins in January. We don’t lose. There are three Division I women’s soccer teams yet to lose this season – Boston College, BYU and Villanova. Player of the week. NYIT sophomore and Jamaica native Andre Lee was named East Coast Conference Player of the Week for his recent play on the soccer field. Lee tallied game-winning goals against St. Thomas Aquinas and New Haven last week. Healthy lifestyle. Kelly Pless isn’t an NCAA student-athlete, but her fight against obesity demonstrates the importance of physical activity. Three years ago, Pless weighed in at 215 pounds. After making significant lifestyle changes and deciding to train for marathons, Pless has dropped more than 90 pounds.
October 02, 2007Coaches' Corner: 100 And Counting For Liz McGrail And Oneonta Stateby Josh at 11:15 AM on October 02, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Coaches' Corner, Division III, Women's Sports
A three-sport athlete during her days at Oneonta State, Liz McGrail’s biggest athletic impact was felt on the soccer field, where she scored 137 points to become the leading scorer in school history. During her junior year, McGrail and the Red Dragons went undefeated in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play and claimed the 1999 league crown. Eight years later, Oneonta State still hasn’t lost a SUNYAC game. Now in her first year as head coach of the women’s program, McGrail was on the sidelines Saturday as the Red Dragons defeated Geneseo State, 4-1, to make it 100 consecutive conference games without a loss (98-0-2). In today’s Coaches’ Corner post, McGrail shares some of her thoughts on the milestone. To be a part of 100 straight State University of New York Athletic Conference games without a loss as a player and now as a coach has been an incredible experience that I am very proud of. The first things that come to mind are the history and tradition of Oneonta State women's soccer. Tracey and David Ranieri have built this program on the values of a hard work ethic, a passion for something you love, and commitment to something greater than your self! It has become the culture of the Oneonta State women's soccer team and it has been one constant variable during the last nine years. The only other constant variable that has been a part of this streak from the beginning is David Ranieri. David is an alumnus of Oneonta State, and former standout player who has been embedded in the program since 1993. He is the only person to witness and coach every player from the first game to the 100th game. He would say that it goes beyond the players and the coaches to the parents that are at every game, and the fans that follow us everywhere, to the area youth that run along the sidelines. It has become an ever-growing family that only those a part of it would understand.
As a player on this team from 1997-2000, we never dreamed it would come to this. The streak began in 1999; my junior year. We never set out to have it as a goal of ours. How could we? We were only there for four years and that’s not even 50 conference games. Each year you make team goals – goals that are realistic and attainable – and as a team you work for them. In 1997, my first year, we were undefeated in the SUNYAC and reached the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. It was at that time that the program got its first taste of what was possible. Every year since, it has been a goal of the team to go undefeated in SUNYAC play and get to the NCAA tournament. Now the goal is getting to the Final Four and taking home the championship. As you reach team goals you are setting a standard and raising the bar for the players that come after you. While my team set the standard of winning the SUNYAC championship, the 2003 team set the standard of winning the national championship. The culmination of the last nine years has set the standard of never losing a conference game. To be able to come back and coach the team that I played for, the team that helped shape me to be the person I am today, has been a dream come true. To have the streak still alive is just icing on the cake. It amazes me to see the players continue to raise the bar and it’s still about the same foundations David and Tracey instilled in me and my teammates. It’s about hard work – day in and day out, it’s about the passion for the game we all love, it’s about playing for your teammates and now it has become playing not just for your current teammates, but for everyone who has come through this program. Streaks are made to be broken and when that day comes, we will be proud to have been a part of something great and feel privileged that it lasted as long as it has. Morning Coffeeby Josh at 08:32 AM on October 02, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Division I, Division II, Division III, Morning Coffee, Softball, Women's Sports
Nice job Glenallen. It doesn’t get much more exciting than last night’s baseball game between the Colorado Rockies and the San Diego Padres. After 162 games, the National League West rivals found themselves playing one more game for the Wild Card berth into the postseason. In an instant classic, the Rockies won on a controversial sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 13th, and sent the Mile High city into absolute bedlam. It was a perfect ending to the regular season, but it wasn’t the baseball that made me shut off my television at midnight with a smile. During the game, I noticed that Colorado first base coach Glenallen Hill was wearing a helmet while he was out on the field. Most base coaches stand 90 feet away from the batter without any sort of protection, and it signals significant progress when a Major League coach sets an example for our high school and college kids who emulate what they see on television. In Little League, kids who coach bases are required to wear helmets. Many high schools enforce the same rule. In college, however, the rules don’t require base coaches to wear helmets, so most don’t. In July, Tulsa Drillers first base coach Mike Coolbaugh was struck in the head by a foul ball and died shortly after. It might take a while to get everyone thinking safety first, comfort and appearance second, but Glenallen Hill certainly set a great example last night. Striking performance. New Jersey City freshman Jennifer Albuja isn’t waiting too long to make her mark on the school record books. The soccer striker scored her 14th and 15th goals of the season yesterday to lead the Gothic Knights to a 2-0 victory over Keystone. With her 15th tally, Albuja shattered the program’s single-season scoring record in just her 10th college game. Albuja also registered 16 shots (seven on goal) in the game, breaking the single-game school record of 14, set by Kelly Daly in 2005. With eight regular season games remaining in her freshman year, Albuja’s assault on the NJCU record books isn’t close to complete. Softball smarties. St. Bonaventure didn’t win a national championship on the softball field in 2007, but for the second consecutive year, the program was tops in the country in the classroom. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced that the Bonnies topped Division I programs with a team GPA of 3.622. In Division II, Grand Canyon also claimed top honors for the second straight year, turning in a cumulative team GPA of 3.633. Emerson led Division III softball programs with a 3.548 GPA.
September 28, 2007Coaches' Corner: Wash. U Tennis Coach Discusses Importance Of Team Camaraderieby Josh at 03:47 PM on September 28, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Coaches' Corner, Division III
In six seasons with the Washington U. in St. Louis men’s tennis program, Roger Follmer has compiled a 92-36 overall record and led the Bears to six consecutive berths in the NCAA Division III tournament. The 2006 ITA/Wilson Division III national coach of the year discusses why the team matters in a largely individual sport. Putting the team concept into the non-traditional tennis season is difficult. It’s not an easy thing to do even in our traditional spring season in an individual sport like tennis. Furthermore, the non-traditional fall season presents even more challenges than the spring team season. That’s because our fall non-traditional season is really individual based with the sole emphasis focused around the Fall Regional Tennis Championships where we crown an individual singles and doubles pair champion(s). So what do we do to make it a team thing in our non-traditional fall tennis season? Well what we do is "morning madness," adopted from Coach Chuck Kriese’s hallmark first week of 6:00 a.m. practices/conditioning workouts at Clemson University with his men's tennis programs. Our men are put through 6:45 - 7:55 a.m. workouts for about three weeks. (So maybe I am a bit of a softy compared to the legendary coach of the Clemson Tigers.) Broken down into four workouts the first week, three the second week, and one the last week, this is a good time to get everyone together and improve our fitness, and more importantly, our team camaraderie.
September 26, 2007Campus Connection: Birmingham-Southernby Josh at 10:56 AM on September 26, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Academics and Athletics, Campus Connection, Division III
Nine years ago, Birmingham-Southern transitioned from the NAIA to Division I under the leadership of Director of Athletics Joe Dean Jr. Nearly a decade later, Dean has pioneered the college’s move to Division III. In addition to bringing football back to the campus for the first time since 1939, Birmingham-Southern has also added track and field and lacrosse programs for both genders. On today’s Campus Connection, Dean tells us about the impact the move to Division III has had on admissions and why this was the right move for the college.
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September 25, 2007Coaches' Corner: Tufts' Ethan Barron Has Learned To Coach From Withinby Josh at 12:55 PM on September 25, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Coaches' Corner, Division III
The head coach of Tufts’ men’s cross country and track and field teams, Ethan Barron has learned a great deal since he took over the programs in an interim capacity during the 2005-06 academic year. Now the full-time coach, the 2001 Middlebury graduate provides other young coaches with some important advice in the Coaches’ Corner.
Any good leader understands how fast hypocrisy can destroy one’s credibility and integrity. Being a reliable role model is critical to developing a successful coaching relationship with your athletes. This fact is true for both action and thought. As a young coach, I have found that role modeling actions, such as dedication, loyalty, work ethic, and making healthy lifestyle choices, is the easy part of the job. The difficult part lies in role modeling thoughts and truly internalizing my own classification for success. I set a very internal definition of success for my athletes, yet have found it very difficult to measure myself by this same standard. Failure and success have absolutely nothing to do with the outcome of any race or competition. However, it does have everything to do with how well you sleep at night. If, when your head touches down, you slip into a deep, restful sleep…then you’ve succeeded. Success is the absence of REGRET. The only immunization against regret is simply doing and understanding that you did everything in your power to put your best effort forth. Anything except striving for your best is failure. Many disagree, and say that with this definition I am destined for failure. They claim that with this approach I will always fail because perfection is unattainable. However, that is exactly my point. Gauging success and failure by whether or not perfection is achieved reflects an exercise in futility. We are all guaranteed failure. It is in the mere ‘drive to attain’ perfection that success will present itself. This is my definition of success, one that I instill upon my teams, and one that I struggle with mightily as a young coach. Coaching embodies so much more than a profession, it is a privilege. Yet as a young coach, I can’t help but feel some external need to prove myself. I was a 26-year-old head coach whom many felt was a poor choice for the position. And maybe it was spite for those who doubted me, or a desire to validate those who believed in me, or maybe it was just a selfish desire to win, but I began to measure my own personal success by our programs’ championship performances. I lost sight of my own introspective definition. My need to be accepted by others outweighed my need to respect myself. And that should never be the case. That being said, I have two thoughts for any other young coaches finding themselves in new roles. First off, dogs and bees may be able to smell fear, but athletes will always sense hypocrisy. If you don’t truly believe what you’re saying, then DON’T SAY IT. It’s a slippery slope to start walking. Finally, the only person who can ever decide whether or not you are a good coach is YOU. Constant and honest self-reflection is a key part of the job. So be cautious with whose advice you seek and be patient with those who have been coaching longer than you’ve been alive. I understand that this is a job and it is what puts food on the table; however, there are some things that extend beyond that fact. Peace of mind is one of them.
Morning Coffeeby Josh at 11:15 AM on September 25, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBacks (0)Posted to Division I, Division III, Football, Morning Coffee, Sportsmanship
Gundy tirade makes sense. Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy went bananas at a post-game press conference on Saturday, and the Cowboys had just won an important game over Texas Tech, 49-45. Instead of discussing his team’s play, Gundy offered vicious criticism of columnist Jenni Carlson, who writes for The Oklahoman.
Do you want to dance? When the Rugby World Cup rolls around every four years, rest assured that the New Zealand All Blacks will be in the mix for the prestigious title. Not much has changed during the 2007 World Cup, as the All Blacks have dominated pool play and earned a quarterfinal berth with a perfect 3-0 record in the tournament. While the All Blacks have achieved fame for their outstanding play on the pitch, they’re also noted for the haka they perform before each international match. A Maori dance that has been associated with New Zealand for nearly 150 years, the All Blacks began performing the dance in 1905. The dance has been adopted by a few college programs, most notably BYU and Hawaii. While rugby teams generally watch the All Blacks as they perform the dance, the sportsmanship ramifications have become a hot topic at the college level. Hawaii’s football team was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct a couple of weeks ago, but because of the traditional aspect of the dance, head coach June Jones has indicated his team will continue its performance before games – when the other team is not on the field. A spirited and emotional dance, the haka has been seen by some as intimidating and threatening, and has caused a couple of fights on the football field. There certainly is a traditional element to this ritual in New Zealand, but does a team dance belong at the college level? Should our teams have on-field “performances” before they play, or should those displays be confined to locker rooms? Go alma mater. Brandeis was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Jostens Institution of the Year. The award is presented annually to the ECAC institution that exemplifies the highest standards of collegiate academics and athletic performance. Four Brandeis teams reached the semifinals of ECAC Division III New England tournaments last year, and both basketball programs posted 20-win campaigns and qualified for their respective NCAA tournaments. In addition to its on-field success, Brandeis had 156 student-athletes named to the University Athletic Association All-Academic team.
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I wasn’t playing last night so I had time to think about Chief Wahoo, and although I’m not of Native American descent, was more than offended. A truly distorted characterization of Native American people, Chief Wahoo does nothing to honor the culture or traditions of the group, instead serving to marginalize them. Whether or not you agree with the NCAA’s policy that restricts the use of Native American mascots, nicknames and imagery, most reasonable people will probably agree there is nothing valuable or respectful about Cleveland’s mascot. This morning, when I started surfing around the Web to see what was happening in the world of sports, I found one of the most despicable fan photos I’ve ever seen. Although it’s offensive, I felt compelled to include it in this post to provide some context. Most individuals wouldn’t want their culture mocked by a mascot in this fashion. Would you?
With Saturday’s football game between the Red Raiders and rival Texas A&M rapidly approaching, members of a fraternity did their best to make a buck off grotesque references to the Michael Vick proceedings. On the front, the t-shirt says “VICK ‘EM”; on the back, a football player wearing a Vick jersey is holding a rope with an image of the Texas A&M mascot at the end of a noose. The Texas Tech fraternity responsible for the t-shirts has been suspended indefinitely by the university and the t-shirts will not be sold before Saturday’s game on the campus. Texas Tech acted swiftly to remedy the situation, but we still have to wonder – what were these kids thinking? When would it ever be appropriate, funny or a remotely good idea to design something in such poor taste? It goes against the spirit of rivalries and the nature of competition.
Tusculum is one of 42 institutions that have dedicated a home match to raising money for breast cancer research this season … On Friday, members of the Sewanee women’s basketball team 
In Saturday morning’s paper, Carlson offered her perspective on why Oklahoma State quarterback Bobby Reid had been replaced as a starter. Carlson suggested that although Reid had exhibited his talent, his attitude left something to be desired. She questioned his toughness and commented on the fact that his mother had been seen feeding him chicken on Friday night. Gundy, who probably should have exhibited a bit more self control in his tirade, was incensed that a college student-athlete was subjected to such criticism in a public forum. I have to agree with the head coach on this one. It’s one thing for a reporter to report – to say that a quarterback struggled finding his receivers, or a kid didn’t play because of a violation of team rules. It seems to cross the line, however, when a writer decides that it’s appropriate to attack the personal character traits of a college junior. During his tirade, Gundy said to Carlson: “If you want to comment on his play, comment on his play. But don't comment on something that's outside of his play that is downgrading or belittling to a young man who is trying to do things right and he has to get splashed all over the newspaper in the state of Oklahoma.” Gundy is right – there is a difference between college and professional athletes. Kids like Reid aren’t paid to play the game, and therefore, shouldn’t be subjected to the heat that professionals often take in the media. They’re just kids, going to school and playing a game they love. The popularity of college football doesn’t make it okay to rip a student-athlete in the press. It’s just inappropriate.