With football recruiting in full swing, coaches better freshen up on the NCAA’s strict and complicated set of bylaws regarding what you can and cannot do. The minutiae of compliance rules is so ridiculous and impossible to follow that it’s no wonder coaches from virtually every program inadvertently flirt with some sort of secondary violation. To give you an example, last year Mark Richt inadvertently called a potential recruit when he accidentally dialed the wrong number on his cell...
After last season’s sub-par performance, Texas coach Mack Brown continues to rebuild his coaching staff by hiring ex-Longhorns. Former Texas sensation Jerry Gray was just named the Longhorns’ new assistant head coach and defensive backs coach. He will join fellow alums co-offensive coordinator Major Applewhite and defensive ends coach Oscar Giles. Gray is an outstanding addition to the coaching staff who certainly comes from a strong football pedigree that is second to none. He played DB for Texas (’81-’84),...
With the ousting of former Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez, the ole ball coach wants to rid his closet of all maize and blue memories. Apparently, Rodriguez donated 12 Hefty sized bags of Wolverine apparel to a Detroit-area Salvation Army store which will sell and/or auction items in a Coach’s Closet tent sale this Saturday. The 12 bags consist of over 432 items of Michigan swagger ranging from medium to XL sizes to include hats, t-shirts, and jackets. So...
The Greek philosopher Epicurus believed in happiness by maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain. It appears Nike, the goddess of Victory, tried to temper Oregon’s pain by launching an ad campaign that pays homage to the Ducks’ almost national championship season. Nike ads are abound that read: “Everyone Loses Games. Few Change Them.” On its face, this ad makes absolutely no sense. Oregon did not make any change. If anything, Oregon kept the status quo, as the SEC has now won...
Yesterday, South Florida officials disappointingly dropped a $2.75 million dollar ball. If you don’t recall, former Bulls head coach Jim Leavitt was relieved of his duties back in January 2010, after allegations of player abuse. When the school completed its investigation, the top brass concluded Leavitt should be fired for choking, slapping and berating a player, walk-on Joel Miller, during halftime of the November 21st Louisville game. Well Leavitt, in his backwards thinking, thought he was wrongfully terminated and did...
Word on the street is Pitt found its new head coach to replace the abruptly fired Mike Haywood with the hiring of Penn State staple and defensive coordinator Tom Bradley. Though neither Pitt nor Penn State confirmed the move, sources close to the team say it’s a done deal. Two Penn State players received text messages from Bradley that suggested he was offered the job and will ultimately take it once the contractual terms are ironed out. Bradley was...
Where private companies fail to self regulate, the government will interject accordingly. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) sent a firm letter to the FTC urging the commission to investigate helmet manufacturers and refurbishers (“helmet companies”) regarding their misleading safety claims. Behind motor vehicle accidents, the second leading cause of traumatic brain injuries between 15-24 year-olds is sports related. This startling statistic is the impetus for Sen. Udall to put pressure on the helmet companies to better test and certify helmets...
With a new coaching crew taking over for the departing Urban Meyer, it looks like former Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis will leave the NFL to join the Gators’ coaching staff. Weis, who is currently the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs (who incidentally lead the NFL in rushing and have a top tiered offense), will assume the offensive play calling duties for Florida head coach Will Muschamp. Though Weis’ Notre Dame days were anything but memorable, he...
