Cowboy Joe and Pistol Pete hope to reignite school spirit after an abysmal 2010 3-9 season (1-7 in MWC play) by urging fans to vote on which uniform to wear on opening day. The Cowboys are set to open the 2011 season against Weber State on September 3rd. In anticipation of a successful 2011 campaign and to bolster fan support, head coach Dave Christensen gives fans six uniform combinations and three helmet options to vote on for opening day....
What happens when a school attempts to aid student-athletes by providing some additional textbooks and school supplies–a self-imposed two-year probation. Nebraska announced yesterday that it inadvertently distributed to student-athletes nearly $28,000 worth of textbooks and other school supplies from 2007-10. According to NCAA rules, a school is allowed to cover course textbooks, but nothing else. This means when the school provided professor recommended books, secondary sources, and various school supplies, it violated NCAA rules. After an internal investigation, Nebraska’s...
There is no question Luke Fickell has a passion for Ohio State football, but as the program is in the aftermath of Jim Tressel and an ongoing NCAA investigation, did athletic director Gene Smith make the right decision in naming Fickell head coach? Ohio State has a tarnished reputation amidst the cash and tattoo scandal. In an opportunity to show the public that the university wants to change its image, the AD made a questionable move by hiring an...
Ohio State hired Jim Tressel before the 2001 season to replace John Cooper and to revive its struggling program. Since then, Tressel has brought to Columbus a national championship, three BCS championship births, 7 Big Ten conference titles, a Heisman Trophy, and complete domination over rival Michigan. Unfortunately, the legendary Tressel has also brought shame to this storied program that cannot be overlooked. Under his watch, their have been numerous arrests, questions about recruiting, and concerns regard players receiving extra...
Colorado alum and former Carolina Panther WR Ray Carruth will not get a reversal in his conspiracy to commit murder conviction. Carruth appealed his conviction to the 4th Circuit pleading certain statements made to paramedics and certain hospital notes should not have been admitted into evidence during his criminal trial because the victim, Cherica Adams, who was in a comma, was unavailable to be cross-examined. Carruth argued that the inadmissible statements negatively swayed the jury and the opportunity to...
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...
In another indication that the NCAA over indulges in bowl revenue capacity, the Nebraska Cornhuskers can’t give away Holiday Bowl tickets. As a Holiday Bowl participant, Nebraska is required to sell or purchase 11,000 tickets per their allotment agreement. As of today, only 7,500 have been sold. This means Nebraska is on the hook for $210,000.00. Well it doesn’t take one with a business and marketing degree to see why Nebraska can’t sell their share of tickets. Here is...
A picture is worth a thousand words, and in Arkansas’ case they better start talking before the NCAA gets involved. Apparently, the above snap-shot of 10 football recruits, which on its face looks harmless, is a potential NCAA recruiting violation. Per the NCAA rules, a program cannot create a “false game day environment.” Now the question remains, is handing out jerseys and placing name plates on lockers considered a game day environment? The NCAA is obviously the judge and...
