College Athletics Clips

BEST QUOTES CLONE COACHES … “College football is being taken over by the Stepford Coaches -- cookie-cutter clones whose idea of candor and color is the forced smile they put on for the Nokia photo op. Like it or not, these are the rock-star coaches of the YouTube generation.” … Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel columnist, lamenting the “array of ultra-serious, hyper-focused coaches like Urban Meyer and Nick Saban.” Bianchi says college football needs the old Steve Spurrier back—“the wisecracking smart aleck who everybody loved to hate.” … Orlando Sentinel, 8-22-08

News

Twenty-one isn’t working

There’s an alcohol problem on college campuses, and 128 college presidents have banded together to do something about it. Chronicle of Higher Education, 8-19-08

Top selling schools and manufacturers for collegiate licensed products
Collegiate Licensing Company’s year-end list: Texas (universities), EA Sports (non-apparel licensees) and Nike (apparel licensees). SportsBusiness Journal, 8-18-08

Please Steve Spurrier, save college football from the Stepford coaches

CLIPS GUEST COMMENTARY Our guest author disses today’s messiah coaches as “cookie-cutter clones whose idea of candor and color is the forced smile they put on for the Nokia photo op.” Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 8-22-08

Spartans football facilities take a big step up

Michigan State opened the $15.5 million Skandalaris Football Center, a 25,000-square-foot addition to the Duffy Daugherty Football Building. MSU Spartans.com, 8-21-08

Gophers to have football on-campus in 2009
Minnesota in tail end of construction on $288.5 million stadium, Minneapolis Star Tribune, 8-23-08

MWC Looks Forward to its 2nd Decade
The nine-team conference has made strides during its first decade, but Commissioner Craig Thompson knows it must grow in the next. Wyoming News, 8-21-08

Wake Forest intro’s sky-high football tower

Deacon Tower is 125 feet tall and 122,000 square feet and has all the bells and whistles of a modern college football stadium. Winston-Salem Journal, 8-22-08

Unrestrained Growth in Facilities for Athletes: Where is the Outrage?
CLIPS GUEST COMMENTARY Our guest author comments on the sometimes lavish sums being invested by big programs to keep student-athletes academically eligible. Frank Splitt, Drake Group, 8-22-08

Nine schools gain active D3 membership
Small schools are continuing to flock to the NCAA D3 level. NCAA News, 8-13-08

New Ivan Maisel book should spark debate among college football fans
a CLIPS BOOK REVIEW The title says it all: "The Maisel Report: College Football's Most Overrated & Underrated Players, Coaches, Teams, and Traditions." al.com, 8-18-08

Kentucky mulling over trio of athletic facility projects
Wildcats may get new arena, stadium facelift, and an on-campus ballpark. Lexington Herald-Leader, 8-22-08

Multi-sport Athletes a Dying Breed
Money, specialization and money are causing multi-sport stars to become extinct. ESPN.com, 7-28-08

First national study of 'How America Pays for College'

A new study from Sallie Mae and Gallup is as comprehensive and expansive as any. Sallie Mae.com, 8-20-08

Survey: Universities take costly measures to help athletes in academics
As many top sports universities’ academic-services budgets are growing fast, it has become more like “keeping up with the Joneses.” Chronicle of Higher Ed, 8-14-08

You get what you pay for
NCAA President Myles Brand’s compensation last year was $935,000. Indianapolis Star, 8-17-08

Student sections provide the juice that football players need
Student sections can serve as a death warrant for many opposing teams, here's a glimpse of some of the best. ESPNU.com, 8-12-08

Some truly dumb jocks
CLIPS GUEST COMMENTARY .Com on! Wrestlers Donahoe and Jordan should've known better. Chicago Sun-Times, 8-14-08

Big season ticket sales in big/little Montana

The D1-AA University of Montana Grizzlies have been attracting spectators than many D1-A teams. U-Montana press release, 8-8-08

All eyes on Alabama
It’ll be all eyes on Alabama as Coach Nick Saban – “the most powerful coach in sports?” -- will be obliged to produce. Forbes.com, 8-7-08

It is prudent to make sure that buyout clauses are crystal clear
West Virginia and former coach Rich Rodriguez disagreed over the details of his buyout clause, and the court ruled in the school’s favor – in the sum of $4 million. Charleston (WV) Gazette, 8-7-08

Princeton Review's Annual College Rankings
America’s preeminent college ranker (oops, sorry USN&WR) has just issued its 2009 rankings in 62 categories, some relevant and some silly. Princeton Review, 8-10-08

Why the Fairness Argument on Pay for Play Isn't a Fair Argument
CLIPS GUEST COMMENTARY Myles Brand makes a perfectly logical case for not paying student-athletes. If you accept his premises, that is. Huffington Post, 8-12-08

Forbes Mag: Best/Worst Football Coaches (by value)
If anyone can assess the valuation of college football coaches (an extraordinarily difficult undertaking), then maybe Forbes magazine can do it as well as anyone. Forbes, 8-13-08

Arkansas will add super seating for basketball
The establishment of premium seating can seem like something from nothing, and that’s what they’re doing in Fayetteville. ArkansasRazorbacks.com, 8-7-08

Self signs sweet 10-year extension
The deal totals $30 million over the next decade for the coach of KU’s national champions. KC Star, 8-6-08

In a conference of rock stars, Johnson is SEC's roadie
CLIPS GUEST COMMENTARY The modest success of Vanderbilt’s football coach Bobby Johnson can be attributed to the “egghead” factor and being in a tough conference. Pat Forde, ESPN.com, 8-6-08

Superconferences: Notre Dame to the Pac-10? Are you nuts?
CLIPS GUEST COMMENTARY Our guest author – possessor of an active imagination – prognosticates 16-team BCS superconferences, presidential second-thoughts and putting Notre Dame in its place. Tim Stephens, Orlando Sentinel, 6-18-08

SEC debates media rights
The future of the SEC hangs in the balances of television contracts. Birmingham News, 7-28-08

Facebook monitoring: protecting 18-year olds from themselves
More college athletic departments are developing and enforcing social networking policies for student-athletes. USA Today, 7-28-08

Hart's hiring doesn't mean the end of Mal Moore
CLIPS GUEST COMMENTARY Our guest author says that new hire Dave Hart is going to run the Alabama athletic department, and Mal Moore will continue to do everything else. Ray Melick, Birmingham News, 7-31-08

CBS to launch fantasy college football – with student-athletes’ names
US Supreme Court decision opens door for college football fantasy leagues. Wall Street Journal, 7-29-08

The expensive quest for the hearts and minds of 17-year old recruits
Nearly half of the nation's largest athletics programs have doubled or tripled their recruitment spending over the past decade, as their pursuit of elite athletes intensifies and becomes more national in scope. Chronicle of Higher Ed, 8-1-08

Education must teach that there is more to life than hoop dreams
CLIPS GUEST COMMENTARY Our guest author advocates responsible paternalism and the removal of the pro option after high school. Len Elmore, SportsBusiness Journal, 7-28-08

Texas-big expansion nearing completion
The $176 million expansion of the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium will add 10,000 seats and attract advertisers. Daily Texan, 7-31-08

At the University of Houston, a $38.7 million stadium expansion
UH seeks a boost in imagery via luxury suites and club seats. Houston Chronicle, 7-31-08

When parents aren't good sports, how do you expect kids to be?
CLIPS GUEST COMMENTARY Our guest author writes about the “parents of protégés phenomenon.” (nutty parents) Cathryn Stout, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 7-27-08

Study: Warm-ups reduce risk of ACLs among female soccer players
A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that warm-ups and conditioning can prevent knee injuries among female soccer players. American Journal of Sports Medicine, July 2008

Is online reading REALLY reading?
A lengthy front page article in the New York Times presents both sides of the spirited debate about the legitimacy of online reading. NY Times, 7-27-08

New Michigan State AD has his work cut out
First-year AD Mark Hollis has been given the task of finding profitability in tough market. Lansing State Journal,7-13-08

Boycott might open economic discussion for NCAA athletes
CLIPS GUEST COMMENTARY Our guest authors comment on the miniscule voice of basketball players regarding “working-condition reforms in areas of scholarship allotments, practice times, game scheduling and potential financial compensation.” Wow. SBJ, 5-12-08

Two women’s coaches sue for gender & sexual orientation discrimination
San Diego Mesa College is slapped with lawsuit citing gender and sexual orientation discrimination. Outsports.com, 7-24-08

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