AP: Big Ten, Big 12 or none of the above? Conference affiliation in play as Missouri curators meet Carefully crafted loyalty pledges to the Big 12 aside, Missouri’s interest in joining an expanded Big Ten couldn’t have been more obvious. But with conference rival Nebraska apparently the top choice to make that switch, and the [...]
Archive | June, 2010
Expansion: Texas, Texas A&M talk
It is going to be a very interesting day. Fresh from the AP: Texas and Texas A&M officials to meet to discuss future of Big 12 AP: Texas and Texas A&M officials are scheduled to meet to discuss the future of their athletic programs and the Big 12 amid speculation the league could be raided [...]
SHOCK: Auburn workers allege race discrimination
BIRMINGHAM NEWS: “Six Auburn University custodial employees who work in Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum have filed a charge of race discrimination against the university with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. All of the complainants are black.” Kevin Scarbinksy outlines the claims of racial discrimination at the link above. You’ll have to click it. A sample: “All white [...]
It’s official: UAB athletes dumbest in NCAA
The UAB football program has long been a complete joke on the field. Now, the joke follows them off the field as well, and the basketball program is just as funny. The Blazers’ basketball team scored an 825 in the Academic Progress Rate (APR), the second-worst among 343 Division I teams, behind only Chicago State. [...]
Idiocy: Pac-16 wants 2 BCS slots, no champ game
From ESPN: “The coach said it’s possible the Pac-16 would push for two automatic bids to the BCS, one for each division champion. That potential bonanza could open the possibility of the two division champs from one league playing for the national title, and it would eliminate the need for a conference championship game.” “The [...]
AP: Nebraska vote Friday? Regents amend agenda
AP: Nebraska could be on its way to the Big Ten by Friday. The university’s Board of Regents on Wednesday evening amended the agenda for its previously scheduled Friday meeting to include a briefing from chancellor Harvey Perlman and athletic director Tom Osborne on conference alignment. The regents then could vote to leave the Big [...]
Super Regional Previews
Want to know what is going on in the super regionals? Here is the Alabama-Clemson preview: ALABAMA (41-23) at CLEMSON (41-22) SITE: Doug Kingsmore Stadium; Clemson, S.C. HOW THEY GOT HERE: Alabama won Atlanta Regional: beat Elon 11-2, lost to Georgia Tech 5-2, beat Mercer 5-3, beat Georgia Tech 8-1, beat Georgia Tech 10-8. Clemson [...]
BP’s dividend looks safer tonight
Editor’s note: This is about business and politics, so regular readers you’ve been warned if you prefer only sports. I haven’t written much on the BP (NYSE: BP) oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico for a couple of reasons. First, as a shareholder in BP I have a specific position that wants BP to [...]
More on the APR & conference expansion
Here is a national view of the APR from the Associated Press. You’ll notice one interesting thing: Syracuse and Colorado. You might remember all that talk about “academics” in conference expansion. Does this expose some of that talk? Of course it does. Colorado and Syracuse are good schools with good athletic programs; however, every school [...]
Crimson Tide Teams Post Strong Showing in APR
Here is the official release from the University of Alabama just out of my email: 14 UA teams improved Academic Progress Rate scores from a year ago; no team fell below the NCAA penalty line of 925 All 21 University of Alabama varsity athletic teams scored above the national cutoff standard of 925 in the [...]
Cheerleaders return!
It has been too long since we’ve posted a few cheerleader and other hot girl photographs. So, why not enjoy a few that includes Erin Andrews (scroll down). Photo from fOTOGLIF A Boston Celtics cheerleader performs during a break in play against the Orlando Magic in Game 6 of their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series [...]
Nelson and Rutledge Highlight UA’s Draft Picks
This just arrived from UA Media Relations. I thought it would be enjoyed not only by baseball fans, but everyone who appreciates athletes who earn a shot at the next level. TUSCALOOSA – Junior right-handed pitcher Jimmy Nelson and junior shortstop Josh Rutledge highlighted Alabama’s 2010 Major League Draft picks in day two of the [...]
Bama wins regional behind gutsy Kilcrease
Good pitching beats good hitting any day, and Monday this proved correct again. Nathan “Peanut” Kilcrease…all 5’6″ of him…shut down the regional host Yellow Jackets in the deciding regional championship game at Russ Chandler Stadium on the campus of Georgia Tech University. Kilcrease threw 107 pitches just two days removed from throwing 99 in a [...]
Playboy All-Americans: Mark Ingram, Julio Jones
Alabama Crimson Tide football players Mark Ingram and Julio Jones were named Playboy Preseason All-Americans, and Greg McElroy won the Anson Mount Scholar-Athlete Award. The official press release follows below: MARK INGRAM AND JULIO JONES RECOGNIZED AS PLAYBOY ALL-AMERICANS WHILE GREG MCELROY NAMED ANSON MOUNT SCHOLAR-ATHLETE WINNER (UA) Alabama junior tailback Mark Ingram and junior [...]
A football fan’s tips for dating
We have entered the doldrums. Football season seems so far away, but that doesn’t mean we have to avoid important football related issues. One of the most important issues for a football fan (male or female) is finding the right balance between it and other aspects of life. Perhaps these tips will help balance football [...]
Conference expansion all about dollars
AP: “This is all about dollars,” said Gary Sherrer, vice chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents. “Frankly, I think some of those institutions should be embarrassed that that is the message they are delivering. It says we’ll do anything for a buck, and when you send that message to the students, why are we [...]
Saban starting to look like Bryant in another way
In his day, no one dominated college football like Bear Bryant. He altered the game. Around him, his opponents had to change in order to compensate and compete with him. He motivated young men to accomplish more than they thought they could. He strove for nothing short of excellence. He won championships. He created a [...]
The Aycock story won’t go away
That darn Tampa Bay Tribune is at it again. According to some, when we first reported a discrepancy surrounding Dontae Aycock’s dismissal from the Auburn football team, many went to great lengths to discredit the story. Eleven days later, much to the chagrin of some, the story surfaced in Tampa again: “Auburn announced his departure [...]
Thank God for Paul Finebaum
Paul Finebaum used his radio show to ridicule Rita Rodriguez, and that saved the Alabama Crimson Tide from the fate of having the failure known as Rich Rodriguez as coach. But his contribution to the state of Alabama was only beginning. Thankfully, Paul Finebaum exposed Tim James as the anti-Alabama, anti-Nick Saban, socialist candidate for [...]
A new Birmingham News
The Capstone Report has obtained exclusive details of a redesign of the Birmingham News. Several interesting stories in this edition. There is also an interesting change in the nameplate, and a new motto for the newspaper. The motto was inspired by this. (illustration by ITK) While the newspaper might not really plan to change its [...]
Arrogance landed USC in deeper trouble
Reports (see AP story embedded below) indicate USC faces severe NCAA sanctions. According to the AP, “The Los Angeles Times reported the NCAA sanctions include the loss of more than 20 scholarships. According to a story posted on ESPN.com on Wednesday night, the Trojans also will forfeit wins ‘from at least the 2004 season.’” These [...]