Leaked: USC Ready to Get Hammered With Probation. Then What?
by War Eagle Atlanta on Mar 15, 2010 11:00 PM CDT
7 comments
From the RUMOR mill (because no major sources other than blogs are claiming this) the NCAA has completed three days of interviews, including two focused solely on the football team--a virtually unprecedented duration--and word is leaking out that USC will soon be hit with major probation penalties in two sports. The only thing seemingly left in doubt is the severity of the sanctions. A two year TV ban, loss of scholarships and bowl eligibility and vacation of games possibly loom over the Trojans. And that's just the football team.
With the departure of Pete Carroll the likely bellweather for the fortune of the gridiron side, one can't help but think how the game itself will be affected should the NCAA deliver severe penalties to a major program like USC. Although everyone knew this was coming, the realization that the hammer is getting ready to drop has many perplexed about how the CFB landscape might change. Will it be for the better or for the worse, or will we just muck it up as usual? If improper benefits, the crux of both the football and basketball investigations, are found to be of the more flagrant variety, might the NCAA finally have a conversation about paying these players some money to alleviate the sting of being young, broke and impressionable? Or would that just lead to an onslaught of cash being diverted underground to augment the aforementioned stipends?
The prime argument against paying players has always been about the sanctity of their amateur status, but what does that really mean? It's not like they'll forfeit some opportunity to play in the Olympics or bar entrance into the NFL--there is no Olympic football and NBA players already under-achieve in the summer games. Hell, make them file a tax return like everyone else. There's little doubt that the players are employees, especially considering how much revenue they produce for their employers, but that's about it. The universities are the brand. Just because you work for Apple doesn't mean you get a share of the merchandising royalties for every iPod sold, but you should get something--like a paycheck. That's my capitalistic two cents. But since we're talking about amateur status and compensation, let's let the lawyers weigh in:
Flying under the sports radar is a class-action lawsuit from former collegiate basketball players who are suing the NCAA for compensation for using their likeness in video games. The implications of this suit are enormous. While the NCAA, a non-for-profit organization, has been fighting tooth and nail, it must now open it's books to the plaintiff's side, and once opened, this genie may never go back in the bottle. Recently, a 2009 court decision allowed retired NFL players royalties on the use of their images in video games, so the outlook for the NCAA might not be so rosy. The amateur status of athletes--maybe ALL or just those in SOME sports--might be turned on it's ear. Even if the NCAA is able to uphold the chastity of amateur status, that might not bar 'retired' athletes, i.e. those who have exhausted their eligibility, from one day collecting royalties.
Although I think it's still way too early to speculate specifics, I think we might see the NCAA look to throw a bone to the athletes sometime in the near future as a way to not only hold off potential future suits like the one above, but to perhaps mitigate the flood of improper benefits being directed at athletes at many schools. How would you handle it?
7 comments | 0 recs |
NCAA Brackets Anyone?
by WarDamnZach on Mar 15, 2010 7:41 AM CDT
in Basketball
0 comments
There is a ESPN Tourney Challenge group for us if you care to play. It is totally free, just sign up. There is no illegal betting or anything, it is not a pool, it is just for braggin' rights. Hope to see you all in.
Group name is: TrackemTigers
Password is: trackemtigers
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Who's On Deck?
by Jay Coulter on Mar 15, 2010 1:00 AM CDT
in Basketball
9 comments
Friday's firing of Auburn basketball coach Jeff Lebo barely made headlines across the world of college basketball. And that perhaps sums up best while it was inevitable that Auburn was going to make a change. Kudos to athletic director Jay Jacobs for not making Lebo sweat out the weekend and listen to rampant speculation about his future. He's one of the finest individuals to ever represent Auburn and Jacobs treated him that way.
Now the attention turns to the coaching search. This is unquestionably the most important non-football hire in the history of the Auburn Athletic Department. There are 92 million reasons why Jacobs must get this one right. He threaded the needle with Gene Chizik and will need to be just as adept this time around. Basketball success at Auburn has been about as elusive as bingo night at Victoryland.
So who tops the list? Listen to fans and it's simple: Write a fat check today and hire Missouri's Mike Anderson. If it were only that easy. Many Auburn fans still view Anderson as the one who got away back in 2004.
The former UAB coach was a fan favorite for the job six years ago before crossing wires with Auburn's former president and athletic department officials. Depending on who you talk with, the chances of Anderson listening to University officials again range from slim to none. You'll remember he spurned a lucrative offer from Georgia last year, instead signing a seven-year contract extension at Missouri. Even with those odds, look for Jacobs to take one more swing at the Birmingham native.
Here are some other names being prominently thrown around in Auburn circles...
Chuck Person - The former Auburn legend and current Los Angeles Lakers assistant is a popular choice among former players. His lack of head coaching experience and no college degree may be too much to overcome.
Sam Mitchell - The 2007 NBA Coach of the Year for the Toronto Raptors and Columbus, Georgia native knows the area well and is said to be interested in the job. He spent 11 seasons playing in the NBA and at one point was traded from the Timberwolves to the Pacers for Chuck Person. Small world.
Tony Barbee - The UTEP head coach is getting a lot of ink in recent days in connection with the Auburn job. His Miners lost to Houston in the Conference USA Championship Game Saturday, but is still heading to the Big Dance with a 25-6 regular season record. A John Calipari disciple, Barbee has no ties to the Deep South and that could be a liability. However, he's credited with being one of the nation's top recruiters.
Chris Mooney - Something of a long shot, the Richmond Spider head coach led his team to a 26-8 regular season record and lost to Temple in the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship game yesterday. A Princeton graduate, Mooney is viewed as one of the top young coaches in America. However, his lack of ties to the South may be a knockout.
Chris Collins - The son of NBA coach Doug Collins, the younger Collins serves as Mike Krzyzewski's top assistant at Duke. A four year player at Duke, Collins was team captain his senior year and was named second team All-ACC. Prior to returning to Durham in 2000, he served three years as an assistant at Seton Hall. Lack of head coaching experience could again be a factor.
Travis Ford - The former Kentucky star and current Oklahoma State head coach is widely regarded as one of the top young coaches in America. After turning around the UMass program in 2007, Ford left for Stillwater, where he's won more than 20 games in each of his first two seasons.
Jacobs has set no timetable for when a replacement will be hired. Obviously, if he's going to interview candidates who are in the NCAA Tournament, it could be late March or early April before someone's in place. The list is sure to grow bigger in the coming days. We'll keep you updated.
9 comments | 0 recs |
Jacobs Explains Decision To Terminate Lebo
by Jay Coulter on Mar 12, 2010 7:45 PM CST
in Basketball
13 comments
Below is a copy of an email sent out this evening by Auburn Athletic Director Jay Jacobs concerning today's termination of men's basketball coach Jeff Lebo...
Dear Auburn Family,
As most of you know by now, Coach Jeff Lebo will not return as head basketball coach at Auburn University.
I met with Coach Lebo earlier today and informed him that the time had come to move Auburn's basketball program in a new direction. As I shared with Coach Lebo, we deeply appreciate all that he and his staff have done for Auburn, and we wish each of them and their families nothing but the best. Coach Lebo has shown the utmost character, integrity and professionalism throughout his tenure at Auburn. He is and always will be a member of the Auburn Family.
While this was a difficult decision, our goals have not been met. Our basketball program has not made the progress we had all hoped it would make. Auburn ranks 11th out of 12 teams in both total wins and conference wins in the Southeastern Conference over the past six years. We have failed to reach the NCAA tournament each of the past six years, and we have reached the NIT only once. We know that Auburn can compete at a higher level in basketball, because we have done so in the past.
Our top goals as a department are winning and graduating our student-athletes. My responsibility is doing what is necessary to give our student-athletes the best chance to compete at the highest level. That is why a change was made.
While we always will remember and appreciate what Coach Lebo has done for Auburn, we must now turn our attention to the future of Auburn basketball. We will immediately begin the search for a new head coach to lead our program.
We will conduct a deliberate and thorough search driven by what is best for our student-athletes and our basketball program. Rumor and speculation will be rampant in the coming days. As in past searches, much if not most of what you may read or hear will be wrong. We will not refute rumors or comment on who will or won't be considered or who has or hasn't been interviewed. Our sole goal is to find the right man for Auburn.
Judging by recent searches at other schools, this process is more likely to take weeks than days. Rest assured that we are committed to finding a head coach who is the best fit for our team, this department, the Auburn Family and the community. We will find a coach with character and integrity who will always represent Auburn with class and who will energize our basketball program.
The new Auburn Arena demonstrates our commitment to basketball and our belief that we can compete for SEC championships and be a regular participant in the NCAA Tournament. The arena will help us in recruiting, it will give our new coach and our team a better home-court advantage and it will vastly improve the game-day experience for the Auburn Family.
There is no doubt in my mind that the future of Auburn basketball is bright. The Auburn Spirit is as strong as I have ever seen it, and the Auburn Family is as united as it has ever been. Let's continue to pull in the same direction. While we are certain to have our own opinions about how to achieve it, I am confident that we all share the same goal-to make Auburn the best that it can be.
I want to thank all of you for your support of Auburn University and Auburn Athletics. We ask for your patience as we move ahead in the coming days and weeks.
God Bless and War Eagle!
Jay Jacobs
Director of Athletics
13 comments | 0 recs
Dress Mexico in Auburn
by revwhitten on Mar 12, 2010 6:58 PM CST
7 comments
Most of you can probably tell from my nickname here that I am a minister. I'm actually a youth minister in Oxford Alabama. Every year I take between 3 and 5 mission trips into Mexico. Something struck me last time I was there. There was a three year old boy wearing an Alabama sweat shirt. With the mission groups being affiliated with people in the state of Alabama there is going to be Alabama shirts donated. Don't get me wrong, they aren't fans, I've only seen one Bama shirt there, and their football is round and can't be touched by hands except the goalie. But I jokingly told the kid that he was wearing the wrong shirt as us Auburn and Alabama fans do. The missionary with me said, "we give them what people give and that fits them."
So I thought to myself....we need to get Auburn represented in Mexico. So I'm asking anyone who might have some old Auburn clothes or hats (yes baseball caps are a big need in Mexico) to send them to me. I'd be very happy to accept them and I give you my word that all clothes given (except stinky wraggy clothing) will reach Mexico. It doesn't matter the sizes, but children sizes are probably the biggest need. I'll take shirts, sweat shirts (yes it does get cold in Mexico), caps, polos, sunglasses, jerseys, underarmour. I just ask that there are no clothes with cuss words or tanktops. Anything that one might be replacing, had their children grown out of, or that you want to purchase from your neighborhood thrift store. It doesn't matter if it's new or old, just wearable.
It's not a big deal. Just something fun to do and to surprise all the Bama fans and Texas and LSU fans that go on mission trips down there. If you would like to help and mail me the shirts, e-mail me at my username here (it's also at the bottom of this post) @yahoo.com and I can give you my church's address (I'd rather not give my actual address) and I'll get them where they're needed. There might not be one response to this, or there might be an overwhelming response. Either way I know I tried. Just something fun to do and to help out the less fortunate in Mexico.
I can't give anything in return for your participating in my small little "project." But that's not what it's about. It's about helping those in need who can't afford clothing....and while we're helping them out, we might as well make it AUBURN haha.
P.S. For any Bama lurkers or any other school affiliations, if you want to donate your teams colors I'd be more than happy. This serves a greater purpose than bragging rights. Just let me know :)
Thanks alot! Dios te bendiga! (God bless you!)
revwhitten
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Ken Rice Former AU All American - Placed on College Football Hall Of Fame Ballot For 2010 ...
Auburn's Ken Rice, a two-time First Team All-America (1959-60) defensive lineman, is one of 77 players and seven coaches who comprise the 2010 Football Bowl Subdivision Ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, the National Football Foundation (NFF) announced today.
Rice, who garnered consensus All-America honors in 1960, was a two-time First Team All-Southeastern Conference selection as well as being named the SEC's best defensive lineman the same year. He helped lead Auburn to a 24-5-1 record during his career.
4 days ago
aubtigerman
4 comments
0 recs
Lebo Fired
Thanks for everything, coach, and best of luck going forward.
4 days ago
jd is legend
10 comments
0 recs
Good Money Says The BCS Is Here To Stay
by Jay Coulter on Mar 12, 2010 1:00 AM CST
in Football
7 comments
For all the talk about the college bowl system being outdated and unfair, fans still flock to their television sets each winter for the games. Looking at last season's attendance and television ratings, it's easy to understand why college presidents are reluctant to mess with a good thing - at least from their standpoint. Never mind that the system accomplishes nothing, it's a huge success both in the stands and on television.
The simple truth is, when it comes to dollars and cents, the college bowl system is one of the great cash cows in America. Would a playoff be bigger? You'd have to guess so. But looking at this past season's television numbers, you realize the bowls are in a strong bargaining position.
This year's BCS Championship game between Alabama and Texas drew a Nielson television rating of 17.2. By contrast, last year's Game Six World Series where the Yankees claimed the crown, drew a 7.4 rating. Last year's NBA Championship Series between the Lakers and the Magic pulled an 8.4 average rating. Even with the biggest market in America playing for a championship, college football trounced MLB.
In addition to the BCS Championship, there were three other bowls - the Rose (13.2), Fiesta (8.2) and Sugar (8.5) who all drew bigger numbers than the deciding game of the World Series. And those weren't the only ones who drew large numbers. The Orange (6.8), Alamo (5.6), Capital One (6.8) and Chick-fil-A (5.0) all drew television ratings comparable to the championship series in Major League Baseball and the NBA.
For the record, Auburn's Outback Bowl matchup with Northwestern drew a very respectable 4.1 Nielsen rating and surprisingly had more viewer's than Bobby Bowden's swansong in the Gator Bowl (4.0) which was on the air at the same time on network television.
Of course, nothing will ever top the NFL. By comparison, the 2010 Super Bowl drew a record 106 million viewers. The 2010 BCS Championship, even with its big numbers, drew only 29 million television watchers. I've always wondered why the BCS hasn't made the championship game a more marquee event. How big would it be to stage a Super Bowl Saturday type event, where the game is on the weekend and it takes on a feel similar to the Super Bowl? It would be huge.
Looking at these numbers, the cold hard reality is that fans are likely stuck with the BCS for years to come. It will be hard to bring change when everyone is getting absurdly rich. The best any of us can hope for is perhaps a national championship play-in game that follows a week after the BCS games.
At this point, I'll take it.
7 comments | 0 recs |
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Southeastern Conference Standings
(updated 3.15.2010 at 12:34 AM CDT)
| East | Conf | Overall | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
Kentucky Wildcats
|
14 | 2 | 32 | 2 |
|
Vanderbilt Commodores
|
12 | 4 | 24 | 8 |
|
Tennessee Volunteers
|
11 | 5 | 25 | 8 |
|
Florida Gators
|
9 | 7 | 21 | 12 |
|
South Carolina Gamecocks
|
6 | 10 | 15 | 16 |
|
Georgia Bulldogs
|
5 | 11 | 14 | 17 |
| West | Conf | Overall | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
|
Mississippi St. Bulldogs
|
9 | 7 | 23 | 11 |
|
Mississippi Rebels
|
9 | 7 | 21 | 10 |
|
Arkansas Razorbacks
|
7 | 9 | 14 | 18 |
|
Alabama Crimson Tide
|
6 | 10 | 17 | 15 |
|
Auburn Tigers
|
6 | 10 | 15 | 17 |
|
LSU Tigers
|
2 | 14 | 11 | 20 |
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
