Chizik Clarifies, World Continues On Normal Rotation...

((HT: ESPN/SEC))

In direct opposition to Danny Sheridan's nebulous rant and riff on the PFRN yesterday about bag men and the such, Auburn head coach Gene Chizik went on the four-letter and discussed the SanDestin incident with the NCAA and what he can't control...

Anish Shroff asks questions...

BREAKING: tOSU Offers To Vacate 2010 Wins

((HT: WBNS-TV Columbus))

Ohio State University officials announced a self-imposed penalty to the NCAA of vacating wins from the 2010 football season, including the Sugar Bowl win over Arkansas, as a penalty for Tattoo-Gate...

The university submitted its response to the NCAA on Friday and it was also announced that former head coach Jim Tressel would appear in front of the committee...

Here's our friends at 10TV with Paul Aker in the newsroom...


The two years probation and the Vest's status going from "resigned" to "retired" are pretty funny if you ask the HQ...

The Columbus Dispatch's Randy Ludlow writes that there are two things missing- the post-season ban and the reduction of schollies...

The fact that the school thinks that no one else should be punished because only Tressel knew of the infractions is laughable at best...

From Ludlow and the response...
"The responsibility is upon Tressel. No other institutional personnel were aware" of the violations, and the former coach failed in his obligation to report them, the response says. "The institution is embarrassed by the actions of Tressel."

Sure... more when we know more...

And, while we're at it, here's NBC4's interview with AD Gene Smith...

McAdoo Sues North Carolina

Not THAT McAdoo...

We're talking football this time...

Defensive end Michael McAdoo, who is technically in the eyes of the NCAA an "ex-football player," is suing the school demanding he be reinstated after being declared ineligible for academic misconduct. He's also seeking damages from the school and the NCAA. The lawsuit also, while it's at it, accuses the NCAA of "gross negligence" in ruling him ineligible based on "inaccurate information." McAdoo's attorneys filed the lawsuit back on Friday.

McAdoo was one of seven players forced to sit out all of last season while the NCAA investigated all those improper benefits and academic misconduct allegations.

The lawsuit also "seeks to compel" chancellor Holden Thorp to reinstate McAdoo while also preventing the NCAA from interfering in the process. A hearing on that request is scheduled for July 15.

The HQ would like to tell McAdoo "good luck on all that..."
Here's some file tape on McAdoo that got him to Chapel Hill...
((HT: youtube))

DEVELOPING: Did 2 UGA Athletes Get Improper Benefits...?

((HT: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer/Bitter))

Andy Bitter's work in the Ledger-Enquirer yields some important questions involving the eligibility of footballer Jarvis Jones and hoopster Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

The director, and the number two, of a Columbus-based, city-funded AAU basketball team that had both of the college athletes on their roster at one point is purported to have paid for travel of Jones to and from Los Angeles during his time when he was enrolled at USC.

Here's what USC thought they were getting before Jones got injured...
((HT: DawgPost))


Jones' mother gave power of attorney to a Parks and Rec Department employee, Shelley Stephens, who under questioning during an investigation into the department said that Adams used a Porter city-sanctioned credit card for the flights.

Georgia Blazers director Tony Adams and Herman Porter are also linked to the payment of a cellphone bill tied to the mother of Caldwell-Pope.

In July of 2009, Porter's card was allegedly used to square an account that was Rhonda Caldwell's. Four cell phone numbers were listed on the account itself, and one was linked to Kentavious.

From Bitter:

Porter’s attorney, Manny Arora, said, “I think the government investigated into every aspect and if there were other issues, I’m sure they would have come up, as contentious as the case was. But we really just want to put everything behind us. We’re on misdemeanor probation for a little while and we just want to get it over with and move on.”

The University of Georgia seems not to be aware of the allegations and investigation. Caldwell-Pope was contacted for an interview as part of the investigation, but he allegedly hung up when they investigators wanted to firm up a time for questioning.

Here's what Mark Fox thinks he's getting in Caldwell-Pope...
((HT: rtmcgruder))


Remember, the NCAA came down hard and quickly in other cases last year around the basketball and football communities. It will be interesting to see if the folks in Indianapolis drop the hammer quickly on two key pieces of Athens athletics that haven't even taken the field yet...

HQ's conventional wisdom and Magic 8-Ball says "Signs Point To Yes..."

More when we know more...

DEVELOPING: UNC Gets NCAA Notice- And It Ain't Good...

And you know that's never good news...

Here's the Notice of Allegations from the folks at the NCAA...

Basically, it says that UNC, through their relationship with former assistant coach John Blake providing false and misleading information to the NCAA enforcement staff and to the institution and for failure to cooperate with the investigation, steered athletes to agent Gary Wichard, and Blake got paid for things he didn't report to UNC that he got paid on.

Tutor Jennifer Wiley refused to provide information to the NCAA enforcement staff and to UNC and provided extra benefits by paying travel and parking expenses and tutored athletes.

There are also allegations of academic fraud against unnamed student-athletes and Wiley, allegations that student-athletes received preferential treatment and accepted impermissible benefits, allegations against a former student-athlete for unethical conduct, and... the ever popular...

"Failure to monitor" Chris Hawkins, the social media activity of the football team in 2010; and possible extra benefits to a student-athlete triggered by agent legislation connected to Hawkins...

That's a lot...

Quoting Chancellor Holden Thorp:

"I deeply regret that Carolina is in this position. We made mistakes, and we have to face that. When the investigation started a year ago, we pledged to cooperate fully with the NCAA, to go where the facts took us, and to face the issues head on. Our level of cooperation is evident in the allegations, some of which arise from facts that we self-reported to the NCAA. We will emerge with a stronger athletics program, and we will restore confidence in Carolina football."

Quoting AD Dick Baddour:

"We are disappointed to be in this position because it goes against everything we believe in, but we are thankful to get to the next step in the process. These are the issues that we have been dealing with since last summer. We will gather the information the NCAA has requested and prepare to address the notice with the NCAA in the fall. We have a strong staff that will help get us through this and put us in a position where we will be a better athletic department as a result. Our fans have been through a lot this past year, and we appreciate their continued patience and support as we work through these next steps with the NCAA."

And quoting head coach Butch Davis:

"I feel terrible that these allegations occurred under my watch. I especially regret that the university has had to endure this scrutiny because of the football program. The responsibility for correcting any problems that put us in this position is mine, and I take that responsibility very seriously.

"I want to thank our fans for the tremendous support we have received. Their loyalty and support has been especially appreciated by our student-athletes. The opportunity I have to serve the University of North Carolina is one that I cherish, and I will continue to focus on improving every aspect of our football program."

UNC has 90 days to provide a response to the NCAA Committee on Infractions. The gets to appear before the committee in Indianapolis on October 28th...

So, who's fired in all of this before we're done...???

Davis...??? Baddour...??? Both...??? None of the above...???

The HQ thinks Davis lasts one more season before he's blown up as a "See...??? See...???" move by the school. Baddour may last. He probably shouldn't...

Here's the early Breaker from our friends at WRAL-TV
((HT: WRALSportsFan.com))


WRAL's wall-to-wall coverage is hyah...
It's a must read...

and all of this leads to deep doodoo...

Dudley Ross Disputes SI Article

((HT: WBNS-TV))

Tattoo store owner Dudley Ross wouldn't go on-camera to dispute the Sports Illustrated article. Now, he's saying the quotes were "lies spun by people who wanted to bring him down."

That's a first... a desire to bring a tattoo store owner down...???

Here's Paul Aker ruling the HQ again...

Terrelle Pryor's Driver's License Suspended Early In May, Involved In New Tattoo Allegations... ((UPDATED- His License Is Still Suspended))

((HT: WBNS-TV))

And the HQ doesn't think that it has anything to do with the stop sign he rolled through when our friends at 10TV saw him leaving his tOSU team meeting Monday night...

But, earlier in May, it was disclosed that Pryor's license had been suspended for a failure to provide proof of insurance. There is no word on whether or not he fixed the issue and was driving around on a provisional license- or the Ohio equivalent to something like that...

Paul Aker has new allegations from another worker over at Fine Line Ink who has proof that athletes, including Pryor, dealt memorabilia for tattoos last December- after former head coach Jim Tressel claimed to know of the problems arising on campus... and just before the Feds told tOSU of the problems in Columbus...

Here's the interview...


2215 UPDATE: WCMH-TV/NBC4i says the Franklin County ((OH)) Clerk of Courts told them that Pryor was not given driving privileges. Pryor's license was suspended for no proof of insurance and is in effect through August 18.

Driving with a suspended license is a first-degree misdemeanor in Ohio punishable by a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Also from NBC4i

Sources tell NBC4 Sports that nine current Ohio State football players are being interviewed Wednesday by the NCAA as part of the ongoing investigation. These are the current players who were named in the recent article by Sports Illustrated.

Oops...again...

NCAA to Justice Dept: Talk to the BCS not us

Mark Emmert

Ha! We actually see NCAA president Mark Emmert's point, though it isn't quite that simple.

Emmert today responded to a letter of inquiry from the Justice Department's anti-trust lawyer asking why there was no NCAA playoff in football rather than the "BCS" Championship.

Emmert sent a letter today in response. In that letter, Emmert says "Inasmuch as the BCS system does not fall under the purview of the NCAA, it is not appropriate for me to provide views on the system."

He also added, "With regards to the Association's plans for an FBS football championship, there are no direction absent plans from our membership to do so. These are short answers to your request."

You can read the entire response RIGHT HERE

Technically speaking, Emmert is correct. What's scary here is that the NCAA has essentially ceded the whole premise of a Division One football championship to a corporate entity. And, while that unto itself isn't a "Holy Crap" revelation, it also means essentially "Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil".

Keeping in mind the perspective that the NCAA Basketball tournament brings "Billions" of dollars to the NCAA's coffers, it make you wonder why exactly they haven't tried a similar approach with football. It, on several levels defies logic. We find it "INCREDIBLY' hard to believe no NCAA member institution has been willing to propose a playoff. We also are "INCREDIBLY" disappointed if the NCAA really gave up the rights to the championship of their most popular sport for essentially nothing.

No, we think there is something more here. What it is, we don't know, but we have suspicions. We think if the justice department did their due diligence on both the BCS and the Bowl system in general, they'd find a lot more hinky behavior going on. We think there are far too many people on the Bowl level and BCS level making way too much money to give up their golden goose. As evidenced by the Fiesta Bowls lavish spending, they make far more money than any of us can dream of. When the guy in charge of the Sugar Bowl is making $500-plus thousand a year for that job, it is way too damn much. When schools are paying hundreds of thousands and in some cases millions of dollars to these so-called "Non-profit" bowl games for unsold tickets, we smell a scam.

Maybe that is where the DOJ should be spending their time looking.

Ohio State investigating car dealers relationship with players

Jim Tressel-Ohio State/Courtesy: scienceblogs.com

 ((ht: dispatch.com))

Ooohhh. This is getting even better. A report in today's Columbus Dispatch details an ongoing investigation by Ohio State's director of compliance as to whether athlete's and their families at the school recieved "Improper Benefits" from a local car dealer.

Folks, this is getting deep.

According to the report, the owners of Jack Maxton Cheverolet and Auto Direct, both located in Columbus, were interviewed in detail by Ohio State's director of compliance, Doug Archie.

Archie says he doesn't believe that any violations have occurred, but he wants to investigate the transactions to make sure. He says that both dealers contact him and discuss transactions with players on a routine basis.

There is a common thread in the investigation and that is a salesman who worked at both dealers. The same salesman, was on the Ohio State pass list as a guest of players.

Read the entire story from the Columbus Dispatch RIGHT HERE

We aren't going to come out and say...at least directly that this doesn't pass the "Smell" test, but quite honestly....it doesn't. We've been told in the past that there were some questionable transactions involving players and local car dealers in the past, but there has...at least to this point, never been any corroborating evidence.

However, the story talks about a particular Ohio State athlete, linebacker Thaddeus Gibson,  who purchased a 2009, Chrysler 3000 with less than 20,000 miles on it...and according to the transaction record...paid $0 for it. For his part, Gibson responded "I paid for the car, and I'm still paying for it". But then didn't answer any other questions.

This may prove out to be nothing, but then again it may not. Just the sheer number of athlete's and families involved in sales does and should raise a red flag. And there seems to be some preliminary evidence it may not have all been "Above board". For Ohio State's sake, this better play out to be much-ado-about nothing, because if it doesn't...and is tacked on to the problems they are already facing with the NCAA...ooohh...we shudder to think about the repercussions.

Gus Is Out...

((HT: CBS/youtube))

But it's not all bad...

Gus and CBS couldn't agree on a new deal, so they've gone their separate ways...

There's talk he'll end up somewhere very high-profile, sometime very soon...

We always have this...


And this...
((HT: NFL on CBS))


And this...
((HT: NFL on CBS))


Looks like Gus has "running away from CBS speed..."

DEVELOPING: UConn Gets National Title

Steve Kerr punctuated the TNT crew's run on the national broadcast with the following line to Jim Nantz: "You sure this isn't Steelers-Ravens...?"

Kerr wasn't too far off as horrible shooting and good defense made for one of the ugliest national championships in recent memory.

UConn's Jim Calhoun, at age 68, gets a title by beating Butler who appeared in the last college game of the year for the second year in a row.

This out of focus bucket was, probably, the last good thing to happen to Butler from the field on Monday night in Houston...
((HT: youtube/NCAA on CBS))


Here's some Butler fans lamenting outside the arena...
((HT: Fox59 Indianapolis))
 

More when we know more...

BREAKING: Okay, How Many Of You Had Texas A&M and UConn

First, Texas A&M knocks off Stanford in a frantic last thirty seconds in one semifinal for the NCAA women's title, and then Notre Dame follows that up with a 72-63 upset of UConn in the other semi-final.

It's the Irish and the Aggies in Indy...

Three-time Wade Trophy winner Maya Moore ((That's the Heisman for women's hoops)) bows out with her fourth career collegiate loss...

South Bend, Indiana native Skylar Diggins had a season-high 28, and Natalie Novosel had 22 to pace the winners.

"I thought they did a smart thing and drove it at us really hard, and they forced the officials to make a call one way or another. All the credit to them, and they made some incredible jumpshots. They've been a great team all year. It's their turn," UConn head coach Geno Auriemma admitted after the game.

Here's Notre Dame coverage from our friends at WSBT-TV in South Bend
 

More when we know more...
Here's early, quick coverage from our friends at KBTX-TV in Waco...

Mark Emmert Is Thinking About It...

((HT: Frontline/PBS))

The new head of the NCAA, Mark Emmert, is this/close to admitting that his organization should be paying athletes...

And the HQ thinks that as soon as Messrs. Keller and O'Bannon et al. win their case against the NCAA for the usage of their likenesses and not getting reimbursed for it, the end game will be the addition of the stipend to an athletic scholarship.

Emmert had to say something to cover his sport's collective tookas... and he did it on PBS...

The only issue then will be determining if non-revenuers get the same as revenuers when it comes to their stipending. And THAT won't be a new fire to put out, will it...???

Here's Part One of the "Frontline" special "Money and March Madness" where Emmert looks like he got blindsided...

Watch the full episode. See more FRONTLINE.

Auburn has a new headache to deal with (UPDATED)

((ht: sportsbybrooks))

Our pal Brooks got a look at the upcoming episode of HBO's Real Sports, set to air today (Wednesday), and let's just say, it makes Auburn, along with a couple of other schools not look to good.

The segment in question is a piece done by Andrea Kremer talking about "Pay to Play" in College Football. And according to 4 former Auburn players featured in it, they were given money to play. And yes, Auburn fans, if you read the transcript....it doesn't sound so good for you. And there is a mention of LSU in this as well, for you folks in Baton Rouge

Read the Sports by Brooks story RIGHT HERE

For their part, neither the NCAA or Auburn responded to the story though they were apparently contacted about it.

The story quotes each of the players, talking about the varying amounts they would receive, either by handshake or in book bags. Some players got more than others, it would appear, though they all got something.

As for Real Sports, this story is a part of an hour devoted to the problems inherent in college football. And it isn't necessarily kind to the NCAA, or others.

Though they aren't totally breaking new ground with the in depth look here, they are bringing to light several issues that have been simmering just under the surface for years. There have always been allegations, particularly in the SEC, that things like what Auburn is now being accused of have gone on for a long, long time.

This by far is not the only issue that needs to be addressed. We have, for years advocated that the players need to be getting a stipend for living expenses while at school. Just look at how much money the schools and the NCAA make off the players likenesses. There is no rational argument that can justify them doing this. Most college football players come from backgrounds that make it virtually impossible for them to afford doing the things that most college students do on a daily basis. That has always been an issue.

We hope this story and others will open some eyes, not as much on Auburn, although, if true, they need to be punished. But more the NCAA, an entity that for years has been making money hand-over-foot, exploiting and taking advantage of college age athletes.

They'll argue, they re-invest the money they make. We'd argue that they don't do enough of it. Prove that you are as altruistic as you claim and then maybe we'll change our tune, but not until then.

Here is the video preview of the upcoming episode. Thanks HBO:

College Sports Part One

ADDENDUM: While it would be astronomically naive to have the HQ put its fingers in its collective ears about the subject, there are a few points to look at with the Auburn witch hunt ((it seems)) by HBOSports, Brooks and others...

First, McGlover was confronted by teammates and asked why he would go ahead and say what was divulged on "Real Sports." He told Ronnie Brown that it was for his foundation- and, as strange as it seems, HBO Sports cut a PSA for McGlover's "Foundation" after the interview was completed. Brown could openly refute what McGlover asserted if asked, but he wasn't by Gumbel and Company.

So much for alleged journalistic integrity...

Second, regrettably, the statute of limitations for charges such as these is four years. There are no members of the Auburn staff from the Tuberville era still employed on the Plains- unless you count Chizik's assistantship in 2004. Therefore, the NCAA can do only one of two things:

1) Still go ahead and punish the university for the environment they've created as something along the lines of repeat offender/culture of deceit status- which they've done to schools in the past because they felt like it or,

2) Go after Tuberville in his current environment and have the entire town of Lubbock commute to Indianapolis with torches, pitchforks, and firearms in tow.

Chaz Ramsey and Raven Gray talk about "anonymous" this and "unidentified" that. Troy Reddick talks about "unidentified" assistants after he was turned down for a GA job with the school.

The HQ has its journalistic side and its "poke the bear" side, too. And we're admittedly split on this particular element. If the "anonymous and unidentified" finally are given names and faces, then we're cool with what goes down in the long run. If college busts and those desperate for the reclamation of their 15 minutes are doing it just for that- then it's a shame you feel like ratting out your alma mater for something you put on your self in a time of your life you can't get back.

The Sporting News' Ken Bradley caught up with a few current-past Tigers...

Lee Ziemba says he didn't get a dime...

"I remember trying to figure out—I was just talking to my girlfriend about this yesterday—I just got my first credit card yesterday and I was talking about how nice it was not to have to choose between eating food and putting gas in my truck for once. Even though now I have money, I told her that would be helpful back when I was in college. That’s the way things were. They were late giving us our scholarship checks, we were getting money on the 17th or something like that, late on our rent checks and stuff. We struggled in college. As much as you whined and complained and tried to get money, you weren’t getting a dime. So I don’t know where all this is coming from.”

Ramsey was injured in his time on the Plains, and was recently a loser in a lawsuit against an athletic trainer who Ramsey claimed screwed up his rehab.

Charles Goldberg wrote in an al.com article that McClover's high school coach, Ken Scott at Fort Lauderdale-Dillard says that Auburn never paid any of the players that came from there.

Goldberg also details the exchange between Brown and McClover:

"I found out that Stanley was talking about he had a choice to go to different colleges, and one of the reasons he chose Auburn was because they offered him money," Brown said. "So I called him. I said, 'Whoa, what is this? What is this about?'

He said, 'Well, it has nothing to do with Auburn. I was just telling my story about me trying to help kids. I figured it would be good to tell my story.'

"I said, 'What are you talking about? If you tell that story, people are going to say you were paid.' He said, 'This has nothing to do with the school. This is about me and my story, and trying to help kids.'

"I said, 'You can't implicate a school eight or nine years later. Why would you say that anyway?'"

Brown said McClover didn't have an answer.

PROGRAMMING ALERT: Quentin Groves is also letting the free world know that, after the HBO Sports program, he's hosting a live event on UStream to debunk what they're going to divulge...

Apparently, the number of players disputing everything-HBO is now up to 14...

More when we know more...

BREAKING: UVA Throws Perfect Game

((HT: Virginiaathletics))

Cavaliers pitcher Will Roberts throws the 8th perfect game on record in the history of the NCAA. UVA beat GW 2-nil...

Bully for him...
Here's your highlights...


Coverage of the Wahoos 2,000th career win from the Newsplex is hyah...

NC State gets territorial about their "Wolfpack"

NC State Mascot/Courtesy: mancavesports.org

And they are pretty determined to not let anyone else use the name. At least not in the form that they use it in.

The Raleigh, North Carolina school has apparently told tiny Loyola University that they can no longer use the name "Wolfpack" or logo because it's "Trademark Infringement". But...they did say that "For a Fee", they could use it. How generous

Read the story from the Charlotte Observer RIGHT HERE

Loyola Logo/Courtesy: loyola university

Apparently NC State had a similar dust up with the University of Nevada. That suit, required Nevada to rename themselves the"Wolf Pack" and change the mascot--slightly.

While we understand the world of "Trademark Infringement" and marketing and all that, this is just plain STUPID. We half expect to hear from NC State from either using the term "NC State" or "Wolfpack". Though we find it hard to believe that it might lead anyone to believe that NC State is sponsoring us.

Suits and legal action such as this are happening more frequently these days. And they are happening because schools and/or teams think they can make a buck off of it. Even if a school or team uses a similar name and/or logo, we find it incredibly hard to believe that there would be "Confusion" over who it represents or endorses. Which is exactly what the Assistant General Counsel, Shawn Troxler of North Carolina seems to be inferring.

And since the Washington Redskins sued the Washington Post for using the name "Redskins" in their pro football section, we'll have to let you know if we get legal paperwork from the clowns at NC State.

And because we always wanted to know what would happen if a 3rd rate mascot from a 4th rate school in the ACC did the weather, we found this which includes the NC State Mascot:



Try suing this version of the "WOLFPACK..BITCHES!"



See what happens when Tony Schiavone tried...???
((HT: WCW/TNT/youtube))

VCU Enjoying Time In Their Foursome

((HT: WTVR-TV Richmond))

The Rams got home and they partied...
Here's the early coverage...
 

Okay... So Who Had Butler And VCU

Playing each other...
In Houston...
For a chance at a national title...

That'd be none of us...
But how awesome is that Bill Self has lost to Northern Iowa and VCU in consecutive years...???

Jus' axin'
Here's early returns from downtown Richmond...


Here's Coach Smart with a demurely-dressed ((For him)) Craig Sager...
((HT: CBSSports/NCAA/SI.com))

Butler Does It Again... Another Foursome

((HT: Fox59 Indianapolis))

The Butler Bulldogs returned to Hinkel Fieldhouse in the middle of the night after beating ((notice the HQ didn't say "upsetting")) Florida in the Regional Final Saturday.

You figure a few people would show up...
It was more than a few...
 

The March Through The Madness: It's Butler And UConn

((HT: CBSSports/NCAA))

Although they're not playing each other... yet...

Butler outlasted Florida in one national quarterfinal...
It was another Gus Alert...


And UConn survived Arizona in Anaheim as we sampled another one and done in Arizona's bench...