Andy Rooney says:
I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don't agree with Darwin , but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his Theory of Evolution.
Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game. So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire Book of Acts. They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game.
But it's a Christian prayer, some will argue.
Yes, and this is the United States of America and Canada , countries founded on Christian principles. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect -- somebody chanting Hare Krishna?
If I went to a football game in Jerusalem , I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer.
If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad , I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.
If I went to a ping pong match in China , I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.
And I wouldn't be offended. It wouldn't bother me one bit.
When in Rome ......
But what about the atheists? Is another argument.
What about them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humour us for 30 seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer!
Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations.
Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep.Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying.
God, help us. And if that last sentence offends you, well, just sue me.
The silent majority has been silent too long. It's time we tell that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard that the vast majority doesn't care what they want. It is time that the majority rules! It's time we tell them, "You don't have to pray; you don't have to say the Pledge of Allegiance; you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honour Him. That is your right, and we will honour your right; but by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away. We are fighting back, and we WILL WIN!"
God bless us one and all...Especially those who denounce Him, God bless America and Canada , despite all our faults, We are still the greatest nation of all. God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God.
Let's make 2011 the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions. And our military forces come home from all the wars.
Keep looking up.
Nice job, Andy. Thanks to someone with some common sense and intelligence.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
BCS - Big Cash Scheme
As we settle-in to cheer on our favorite college football teams this bowl season, it's important to remember that an undisputed consolidation of power and money -- the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) -- controls which schools play in the major bowl games and National Championship game.
The BCS operates independently from, and without accountability to, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). It is controlled by commissioners from the six major college football ''power conferences'' (also referred to as ''BCS conferences'') plus the Athletic Director of the independent Notre Dame. This arrangement is agreed to, reluctantly, by the commissioners of the remaining five ''mid-major'' conferences (also referred to as ''non-BCS conferences'' because they do not receive automatic bids to the BCS bowl games as do the others).
The BCS is responsible for concentrating the wealth that comes from the major post-season events (Fiesta, Orange, Rose and Sugar bowls, and the National Championship game) among the schools in conferences with BCS influence, and leaving the other Division I-A, non-BCS schools at a competitive, financial and recruiting disadvantage. It's like telling nearly half of your members that they are not welcome at the club and are not eligible for the benefits that membership provides.
According to Brent Schrotenboer of the San Diego Union-Tribune: ''The six major conference commissioners have gained increasing power in the past 10 years and have turned it into television deals worth more than $110 million per year. They broker their power by representing their member school presidents and negotiating with bowls and television networks on their behalf. This year, they will distribute the vast portion of $210 million in bowl payouts to their members.''
The biggest area of controversy with the BCS system is unquestionably the disputed method for deciding a national champion. For starters, since the creation of the BCS in 1998, the convoluted mix of polls and computers to decide what schools should be appointed to play in the title game has succeeded only twice without controversy.
But no system could succeed that has to ''decide'' among schools with equal records and valid claims of inclusion when only two spots are available. And no system could succeed that leaves such a remote chance for a non-BCS school to compete for the championship, even with a perfect record.
Excluding deserving teams and student-athletes from the chance to compete also amounts to consumer fraud for the fans. Such matters should be resolved on the field like every other NCAA sport and every other football division, all of which have tournaments to determine a national champion.
The shrinking number of BCS defenders say the system preserves the tradition of the bowl games. But first, there's no reason why bowl games can not thrive either outside or within a tournament structure. Secondly, what tradition is left? Traditional match-ups are gone, as is the traditional New Years Day schedule, and the games have been commercialized to the point of destroying the bowl game experience and tradition for schools, student-athletes and fans.
Finally, bowl games are private businesses that should have no right, in partnership with the BCS, to prevent college football from a fair method of determining a national champion.
Those attempting to preserve the BCS, like the presidents of schools that make up the six BCS conferences and enjoy the BCS payouts, also say a playoff could mean less time for players to concentrate on classes and point to concerns that education would be sacrificed for money. But the BCS is influenced by persons and entities without respect to the interests of student-athletes or educational missions.
Where was the worry from presidents for student-athletes when they recently signed-off on an additional regular season game for every team, or when some conferences added a championship game, or when the presidents agree to allow more and more games every year on weekdays during the academic calendar, all to showcase their conferences and enjoy the television payouts? How do these developments give student-athletes more time for classes and exams?
Scale all these events back for the 124 Div. I-A schools, and add a national tournament for, say, the best 16-teams (including a few of the very best from traditionally overlooked conferences), and there would be far fewer games played overall. This would leave increased study time for all but the top 8-to-16 teams, depending on whether they currently play a conference championship. (Somehow this issue does not come up during the NCAA Basketball Tournament).
Whatever the changes or replacements to the failed BCS, the NCAA needs to take control of Div. I-A college football in the interest of all member institutions, their student-athletes, alumni and fans. There should never be so much power in the hands of so few without accountability as the BCS demonstrates each year.
The BCS operates independently from, and without accountability to, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). It is controlled by commissioners from the six major college football ''power conferences'' (also referred to as ''BCS conferences'') plus the Athletic Director of the independent Notre Dame. This arrangement is agreed to, reluctantly, by the commissioners of the remaining five ''mid-major'' conferences (also referred to as ''non-BCS conferences'' because they do not receive automatic bids to the BCS bowl games as do the others).
The BCS is responsible for concentrating the wealth that comes from the major post-season events (Fiesta, Orange, Rose and Sugar bowls, and the National Championship game) among the schools in conferences with BCS influence, and leaving the other Division I-A, non-BCS schools at a competitive, financial and recruiting disadvantage. It's like telling nearly half of your members that they are not welcome at the club and are not eligible for the benefits that membership provides.
According to Brent Schrotenboer of the San Diego Union-Tribune: ''The six major conference commissioners have gained increasing power in the past 10 years and have turned it into television deals worth more than $110 million per year. They broker their power by representing their member school presidents and negotiating with bowls and television networks on their behalf. This year, they will distribute the vast portion of $210 million in bowl payouts to their members.''
The biggest area of controversy with the BCS system is unquestionably the disputed method for deciding a national champion. For starters, since the creation of the BCS in 1998, the convoluted mix of polls and computers to decide what schools should be appointed to play in the title game has succeeded only twice without controversy.
But no system could succeed that has to ''decide'' among schools with equal records and valid claims of inclusion when only two spots are available. And no system could succeed that leaves such a remote chance for a non-BCS school to compete for the championship, even with a perfect record.
Excluding deserving teams and student-athletes from the chance to compete also amounts to consumer fraud for the fans. Such matters should be resolved on the field like every other NCAA sport and every other football division, all of which have tournaments to determine a national champion.
The shrinking number of BCS defenders say the system preserves the tradition of the bowl games. But first, there's no reason why bowl games can not thrive either outside or within a tournament structure. Secondly, what tradition is left? Traditional match-ups are gone, as is the traditional New Years Day schedule, and the games have been commercialized to the point of destroying the bowl game experience and tradition for schools, student-athletes and fans.
Finally, bowl games are private businesses that should have no right, in partnership with the BCS, to prevent college football from a fair method of determining a national champion.
Those attempting to preserve the BCS, like the presidents of schools that make up the six BCS conferences and enjoy the BCS payouts, also say a playoff could mean less time for players to concentrate on classes and point to concerns that education would be sacrificed for money. But the BCS is influenced by persons and entities without respect to the interests of student-athletes or educational missions.
Where was the worry from presidents for student-athletes when they recently signed-off on an additional regular season game for every team, or when some conferences added a championship game, or when the presidents agree to allow more and more games every year on weekdays during the academic calendar, all to showcase their conferences and enjoy the television payouts? How do these developments give student-athletes more time for classes and exams?
Scale all these events back for the 124 Div. I-A schools, and add a national tournament for, say, the best 16-teams (including a few of the very best from traditionally overlooked conferences), and there would be far fewer games played overall. This would leave increased study time for all but the top 8-to-16 teams, depending on whether they currently play a conference championship. (Somehow this issue does not come up during the NCAA Basketball Tournament).
Whatever the changes or replacements to the failed BCS, the NCAA needs to take control of Div. I-A college football in the interest of all member institutions, their student-athletes, alumni and fans. There should never be so much power in the hands of so few without accountability as the BCS demonstrates each year.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
You may have seen this. Hopefully it has gone to Millions
WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO TURN ON THE TV AND HEAR ANY U.S. PRESIDENT, DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN, GIVE THE FOLLOWING SPEECH?
'My Fellow Americans: As you all know, the defeat of the Iraqi regime has been completed.
Since Congress does not want to spend any more money on this war, our mission in Iraq is complete.
This morning I gave the order for a complete removal of all American forces from Iraq . This action will be complete within 30 days. It is now time to begin the reckoning.
Before me, I have two lists. One list contains the names of countries which have stood by our side during the Iraqi conflict. This list is short . The United Kingdom , Spain , Bulgaria , Australia , and Poland are some of the countries listed there.
The other list contains every one not on the first list. Most of the world's nations are on that list. My press secretary will be distributing copies of both lists later this evening.
Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those nations on List 2 ceases indefinitely. The money saved during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of the Iraqi war. THEN EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER, It'll GO TO OUR SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM SO IT WONT GO BROKE IN 20 YEARS.
The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world Hell holes and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption.
Need help with a famine ? Wrestling with an epidemic? Call France .
In the future, together with Congress, I will work to redirect this money toward solving the vexing social problems we still have at home. On that note, a word to terrorist organizations. Screw with us and we will hunt you down and eliminate you and all your friends from the face of the earth.
Thirsting for a gutsy country to terrorize? Try France or maybe China .
I am ordering the immediate severing of diplomatic relations with France, and Russia . Thanks for all your help, comrades. We are retiring from NATO as well.
I have instructed the Mayor of New York City to begin towing the many UN diplomatic vehicles located in Manhattan with more than two unpaid parking tickets to sites where those vehicles will be stripped, shredded and crushed. I don't care about whatever treaty pertains to this. You creeps have tens of thousands of unpaid tickets. Pay those tickets tomorrow or watch your precious Benzes, Beamers and limos be turned over to some of the finest chop shops in the world. I love New York.
Mexico is on List 2. It's president and his entire corrupt government really need an attitude adjustment. I will have a couple thousand extra tanks and infantry divisions sitting around now. Guess where I am going to put 'em? Yep, border security.
Oh, by the way, the United States is abrogating the NAFTA treaty - starting now.
We are tired of the one-way highway. Immediately, we'll be drilling for oil in Alaska -which will take care of this country's oil needs for decades to come. If you're an environmentalist who opposes this decision, I refer you to List 2 above: pick a country and move there.
It is time for America to focus on its own welfare and its own citizens. Some will accuse us of isolationism. I answer them by saying, 'darn tootin.'
Nearly a century of trying to help folks live a decent life around the world has only earned us the undying enmity of just about everyone on the planet. It is time to eliminate hunger in America . It is time to eliminate homelessness in America . To the nations on List 1, a final thought. Thank you guys. We owe you and we won't forget.
To the nations on List 2, a final thought : You might want to learn to speak Arabic.
God bless America .. Thank you and good night.'
If you can read this in English, thank a soldier.
'My Fellow Americans: As you all know, the defeat of the Iraqi regime has been completed.
Since Congress does not want to spend any more money on this war, our mission in Iraq is complete.
This morning I gave the order for a complete removal of all American forces from Iraq . This action will be complete within 30 days. It is now time to begin the reckoning.
Before me, I have two lists. One list contains the names of countries which have stood by our side during the Iraqi conflict. This list is short . The United Kingdom , Spain , Bulgaria , Australia , and Poland are some of the countries listed there.
The other list contains every one not on the first list. Most of the world's nations are on that list. My press secretary will be distributing copies of both lists later this evening.
Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those nations on List 2 ceases indefinitely. The money saved during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of the Iraqi war. THEN EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER, It'll GO TO OUR SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM SO IT WONT GO BROKE IN 20 YEARS.
The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world Hell holes and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption.
Need help with a famine ? Wrestling with an epidemic? Call France .
In the future, together with Congress, I will work to redirect this money toward solving the vexing social problems we still have at home. On that note, a word to terrorist organizations. Screw with us and we will hunt you down and eliminate you and all your friends from the face of the earth.
Thirsting for a gutsy country to terrorize? Try France or maybe China .
I am ordering the immediate severing of diplomatic relations with France, and Russia . Thanks for all your help, comrades. We are retiring from NATO as well.
I have instructed the Mayor of New York City to begin towing the many UN diplomatic vehicles located in Manhattan with more than two unpaid parking tickets to sites where those vehicles will be stripped, shredded and crushed. I don't care about whatever treaty pertains to this. You creeps have tens of thousands of unpaid tickets. Pay those tickets tomorrow or watch your precious Benzes, Beamers and limos be turned over to some of the finest chop shops in the world. I love New York.
Mexico is on List 2. It's president and his entire corrupt government really need an attitude adjustment. I will have a couple thousand extra tanks and infantry divisions sitting around now. Guess where I am going to put 'em? Yep, border security.
Oh, by the way, the United States is abrogating the NAFTA treaty - starting now.
We are tired of the one-way highway. Immediately, we'll be drilling for oil in Alaska -which will take care of this country's oil needs for decades to come. If you're an environmentalist who opposes this decision, I refer you to List 2 above: pick a country and move there.
It is time for America to focus on its own welfare and its own citizens. Some will accuse us of isolationism. I answer them by saying, 'darn tootin.'
Nearly a century of trying to help folks live a decent life around the world has only earned us the undying enmity of just about everyone on the planet. It is time to eliminate hunger in America . It is time to eliminate homelessness in America . To the nations on List 1, a final thought. Thank you guys. We owe you and we won't forget.
To the nations on List 2, a final thought : You might want to learn to speak Arabic.
God bless America .. Thank you and good night.'
If you can read this in English, thank a soldier.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Sports Agents: Bloodsuckers or Do-gooders?
NCAA, NFL and other officials working to slow the unscrupulous activities of "rogue" agents in football are close to handing down recommendations that would really make a difference, according to NCAA official, Rachel Newman Baker.
College football coaches are asking the NFL players association and state attorney generals to hit wayward agents with tougher penalties.
In recent months, NCAA investigations and player suspensions and dismissals have touched major college football programs. Top North Carolina player, Marvin Austin, was dismissed from the team for his dealings with an agent.
College players who deal with smooth-talking agents not only put their college careers in jeopardy, but also the good standing of the team and school they play for, and do the agents really care? Ultimately all they want is the student-athlete's name on their dotted line.
The athlete wants the money the agent can provide and the agent wants to negotiate said athlete's professional contract - for a sizable fee. Agents do provide a service to athletes. In many cases the athlete may earn a college degree while playing Saturday gladiator for Goober U. Sadly, all too often Goober U. did not prepare the athlete to earn gainful employment outside of his sport. You're done playing. Here is your mickey mouse Goober degree - bye!
One would guess that professional sport contracts are pretty complicated, and a good lawyer/agent does provide guidance and some protection for the athlete - for a handsome fee. Thus professional sport salaries have become obscene. The higher the salary, the higher the agent's percentage of that salary.
One would see why an agent would want to get a contract with a sure-fire-to-make-it pro athlete as early as possible. There is money to be made so why not slip the athlete some up-front funds in order to get his name on the dotted line? A really big-timer would be worth the risk.
The powers that be should make it very painful for the agent who works outside the guidelines. At the very least, the NFL should suspend all dealings with an agent who has caused an athlete to lose college eligibility.
College football coaches are asking the NFL players association and state attorney generals to hit wayward agents with tougher penalties.
In recent months, NCAA investigations and player suspensions and dismissals have touched major college football programs. Top North Carolina player, Marvin Austin, was dismissed from the team for his dealings with an agent.
College players who deal with smooth-talking agents not only put their college careers in jeopardy, but also the good standing of the team and school they play for, and do the agents really care? Ultimately all they want is the student-athlete's name on their dotted line.
The athlete wants the money the agent can provide and the agent wants to negotiate said athlete's professional contract - for a sizable fee. Agents do provide a service to athletes. In many cases the athlete may earn a college degree while playing Saturday gladiator for Goober U. Sadly, all too often Goober U. did not prepare the athlete to earn gainful employment outside of his sport. You're done playing. Here is your mickey mouse Goober degree - bye!
One would guess that professional sport contracts are pretty complicated, and a good lawyer/agent does provide guidance and some protection for the athlete - for a handsome fee. Thus professional sport salaries have become obscene. The higher the salary, the higher the agent's percentage of that salary.
One would see why an agent would want to get a contract with a sure-fire-to-make-it pro athlete as early as possible. There is money to be made so why not slip the athlete some up-front funds in order to get his name on the dotted line? A really big-timer would be worth the risk.
The powers that be should make it very painful for the agent who works outside the guidelines. At the very least, the NFL should suspend all dealings with an agent who has caused an athlete to lose college eligibility.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Ivy League, Part 3
At present the six power conferences and television pretty much control college football. Even though not all schools in these conferences are operating in the black, all of the biggest budgets are here. This means some programs can be extravagant if not down right arrogant. If the present trend continues, where will it all end?
What if some sort of common sense was forced upon everyone? For instance, what if each FBS program was reduced to 65 or 70 football scholarships instead of the present 85? Eighty-five scholarships represent four offensive and four defensive teams per squad as an example. Or three deep at each position and 19 redshirts. Is that much depth really necessary?
What if all Division I programs (FBS and FCS) were allowed 70 scholarships? The Ohio State-Michigan game will still draw over 100,000 and a national television audience and schools will save 15 scholarships, which could be a considerable saving. Or give those 15 scholarships to say, softball or baseball.
This would mean that Appalachian State has as many scholarships as Michigan. Whoa! Michigan sure isn’t for that simply because they are Michigan, even though Appalachian State (63 scholarships) defeated the Big Blue in the Big House in 2008. Villanova has as many as the University of Pittsburg. Whoa! The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has the same as UT Knoxville. That will never happen.
But what if every school in DI had a 70 scholarship limit, it is still a level playing field. If everyone has the same, then no one has an advantage. Funding tuition, room and board, tutoring services, books and materials, and other support services requires a lot less for 70 athletes than 85. And it will not make a difference to those 100,000 spectators mentioned above.
The budget for athletics at Ivy League schools is a part of the overall operating budget of each school. There are no separate athletic “corporations” like those that operate at most of the power conference schools. Funding Ivy programs does not require tens of millions in athletic-related revenue. Ivy League athletics is for the students who are interested in competing and operates as an educational program of the school. Team members are real student-athletes, taking real courses, earning real degrees.
There are no athletic scholarships in the Ivy League, but there is need-based financial aid. A bright, but poor (I think the politically correct term is economically disadvantaged) student from Tennessee can qualify for full tuition at Yale. Theoretically Yale could have 100 football players receiving financial aid. But if an athlete’s parents are wealthy, they pay the full tuition. Why wouldn’t this work for everyone? Think of the money to be saved by schools struggling to build or maintain competitive programs.
What if some sort of common sense was forced upon everyone? For instance, what if each FBS program was reduced to 65 or 70 football scholarships instead of the present 85? Eighty-five scholarships represent four offensive and four defensive teams per squad as an example. Or three deep at each position and 19 redshirts. Is that much depth really necessary?
What if all Division I programs (FBS and FCS) were allowed 70 scholarships? The Ohio State-Michigan game will still draw over 100,000 and a national television audience and schools will save 15 scholarships, which could be a considerable saving. Or give those 15 scholarships to say, softball or baseball.
This would mean that Appalachian State has as many scholarships as Michigan. Whoa! Michigan sure isn’t for that simply because they are Michigan, even though Appalachian State (63 scholarships) defeated the Big Blue in the Big House in 2008. Villanova has as many as the University of Pittsburg. Whoa! The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has the same as UT Knoxville. That will never happen.
But what if every school in DI had a 70 scholarship limit, it is still a level playing field. If everyone has the same, then no one has an advantage. Funding tuition, room and board, tutoring services, books and materials, and other support services requires a lot less for 70 athletes than 85. And it will not make a difference to those 100,000 spectators mentioned above.
The budget for athletics at Ivy League schools is a part of the overall operating budget of each school. There are no separate athletic “corporations” like those that operate at most of the power conference schools. Funding Ivy programs does not require tens of millions in athletic-related revenue. Ivy League athletics is for the students who are interested in competing and operates as an educational program of the school. Team members are real student-athletes, taking real courses, earning real degrees.
There are no athletic scholarships in the Ivy League, but there is need-based financial aid. A bright, but poor (I think the politically correct term is economically disadvantaged) student from Tennessee can qualify for full tuition at Yale. Theoretically Yale could have 100 football players receiving financial aid. But if an athlete’s parents are wealthy, they pay the full tuition. Why wouldn’t this work for everyone? Think of the money to be saved by schools struggling to build or maintain competitive programs.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Oh my gosh. My friend Bob Lee has really done it this time.
He calls it like we all see it:
Players From Mars - Fans From Venus
With everyone lathered up over sports agents and athletes, this is an appropriate time to bring up some serious ponderables. Today’s title comes from a psycho-babble book about men & women being different.....
SEC FB coaches like Saban and Miles and Spurrier are trashing "sports agents" as sleazy pimps. Isn't that like Kim Jong Il telling us Hugo Chavez is a bed-wetter?
Enjoy the entire thought. You just have to read this.
Players From Mars - Fans From Venus
With everyone lathered up over sports agents and athletes, this is an appropriate time to bring up some serious ponderables. Today’s title comes from a psycho-babble book about men & women being different.....
SEC FB coaches like Saban and Miles and Spurrier are trashing "sports agents" as sleazy pimps. Isn't that like Kim Jong Il telling us Hugo Chavez is a bed-wetter?
Enjoy the entire thought. You just have to read this.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
The Ivy Way, Part 2
Presently the United States is suffering a recession. People are out of work. Folks are losing their houses to foreclosure, da, da,da. Some college programs are cash rich and some are struggling.
According to Forbes Magazine, in 2005 there were 10 college football teams raked in at least $45 million in revenues--among them, the University of Notre Dame, University of Georgia, Ohio State and Auburn University--compared to none the previous five years. Forbes Magazine
In 2007–08 according to a study by The Orlando Sentinel, there were six college football programs with over $90 million in football revenue and nine more with revenues of over $80 million. If you care, Louisiana-Monroe had the smallest income at $7.8 million.
So is college football all about the money or what? In order to sustain and surpass such profits, schools will have to raise ticket and concession prices, demand heftier donations for the privilege of purchasing season tickets, and garner more lucrative corporate sponsorships, among other yet devised means.
To keep up with their conference and national foes, new facilities will need to be built and present ones renovated. For example, there is a lot of profit in building and selling luxury suites at stadiums. Recruiting budgets will certainly need to be increased as recruiting bases get larger and coaches’ salaries will zoom. All will require larger and larger budgets and the income to support such budgets.
Why? To what purpose does the athletic arms war contribute to a university, its mission and its goals? At many of these schools barely one-half of their Saturday gladiators even graduate.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
2010 FCS Preseason Poll
1. Montana
2. Appalachian State
3. William & Mary
4. Villanova
5. South Carolina State
6. Southern Illinois
7. Elon
8. Richmond
9. New Hampshire
10. South Dakota State
11. Delaware
Villanova won it all in 2009, but doesn't have the talent to repeat.
Montana can never be counted out any year.
William & Mary could be in the title game.
Appalacian State will see what life is like witout Armanti Edwards.
The title game has been moved from Chattanooga to Frisco, Texas, and will have to compete with the Cotton Bowl. Too bad for the FCS. No team within 600 miles will be in the championship game.
2. Appalachian State
3. William & Mary
4. Villanova
5. South Carolina State
6. Southern Illinois
7. Elon
8. Richmond
9. New Hampshire
10. South Dakota State
11. Delaware
Villanova won it all in 2009, but doesn't have the talent to repeat.
Montana can never be counted out any year.
William & Mary could be in the title game.
Appalacian State will see what life is like witout Armanti Edwards.
The title game has been moved from Chattanooga to Frisco, Texas, and will have to compete with the Cotton Bowl. Too bad for the FCS. No team within 600 miles will be in the championship game.
Monday, July 5, 2010
The Ivy League Concept
The Ivy League members are: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Pennsylvania, Princeton and Yale. The Ivy League competes in the NCAA Division 1 in all sports. Football competes in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), once known as I-AA.
Before the advent of athlete scholarships at most present day football-playing schools, the Ivy League won more than 40 recognized national football championships. Princeton won 24 and Yale, 19.
The league sponsors more sports and more teams than any conference in the country, 33 men’s and women’s sports and an average of 35 varsity teams at each school. There are no athletic scholarships at Ivy League schools.
“Athletes shall be admitted as students and awarded financial aid only on the basis of the same academic standards and economic need as are applied to all other students”. Wikipedia.com
Since 2002, the Ivy League…
- Produced 47 NCAA individual national champions.
- Amassed nearly 100 student-athletes per year earning All-American honors
- Totaled 136 Academic All-Americans
- Had 223 competitors at the five Olympic Games (2000 – 2010), collecting 91 metals, including six gold.
“This successful competition in Division I national athletics is achieved by approaching athletics as a key part of the student's regular undergraduate experience: with rigorous academic standards, the nation's highest four-year graduation rates (the same as those for non-athletes), and without athletics scholarships. Ivy athletic programs receive multi-million-dollar institutional support as part of each institution’s overall academic programs, independent of win-loss or competitive records and together with extensive programs of intramural and recreational athletics.” IvyLeaguesports.com
Athletics is funded through the general school budget, not athletics receipts. Harvard will have a football program regardless of gate receipts or television revenue. Athletics is one part of the total academic program. Isn’t this the way college athletics programs should be managed?
Of course there are no 80- or 90- or 100,000 seat stadiums in the Ivy League. You will not see an IL school in a bowl game. (The Ivy League presidents forbid post season play in football). There are no $2 million coaches in the Ivy either. But every athlete is a real student-athlete. Every athlete is in the same admissions pool as every other student. Every athlete takes real courses and is on track to graduate.
Why would this same philosophy not work at, say, an SEC school? Because many athletes at SEC schools do not have to meet the same admissions standards as non-athlete students. Are there students at SEC or Big 12 or ACC schools who are academically prepared for college? Students who will never graduate? The Ivy League has a graduation rate of over 90%, compared to some SEC schools who graduate (within five years) only 50% of their athletes. Yet everyFootball Bowl Subdivision () FBS school spends hundreds of thousands of dollars to support tutoring programs for athletes. Is this to help them graduate or just to stay eligible?
One can say that we are not comparing apples to apples. The Ivy League schools have a different philosophy than other schools, especially the large public universities. This is a fair assessment. But let’s do a little “out-of-the-box” thinking for a few paragraphs.
END of PART 1
Before the advent of athlete scholarships at most present day football-playing schools, the Ivy League won more than 40 recognized national football championships. Princeton won 24 and Yale, 19.
The league sponsors more sports and more teams than any conference in the country, 33 men’s and women’s sports and an average of 35 varsity teams at each school. There are no athletic scholarships at Ivy League schools.
“Athletes shall be admitted as students and awarded financial aid only on the basis of the same academic standards and economic need as are applied to all other students”. Wikipedia.com
Since 2002, the Ivy League…
- Produced 47 NCAA individual national champions.
- Amassed nearly 100 student-athletes per year earning All-American honors
- Totaled 136 Academic All-Americans
- Had 223 competitors at the five Olympic Games (2000 – 2010), collecting 91 metals, including six gold.
“This successful competition in Division I national athletics is achieved by approaching athletics as a key part of the student's regular undergraduate experience: with rigorous academic standards, the nation's highest four-year graduation rates (the same as those for non-athletes), and without athletics scholarships. Ivy athletic programs receive multi-million-dollar institutional support as part of each institution’s overall academic programs, independent of win-loss or competitive records and together with extensive programs of intramural and recreational athletics.” IvyLeaguesports.com
Athletics is funded through the general school budget, not athletics receipts. Harvard will have a football program regardless of gate receipts or television revenue. Athletics is one part of the total academic program. Isn’t this the way college athletics programs should be managed?
Of course there are no 80- or 90- or 100,000 seat stadiums in the Ivy League. You will not see an IL school in a bowl game. (The Ivy League presidents forbid post season play in football). There are no $2 million coaches in the Ivy either. But every athlete is a real student-athlete. Every athlete is in the same admissions pool as every other student. Every athlete takes real courses and is on track to graduate.
Why would this same philosophy not work at, say, an SEC school? Because many athletes at SEC schools do not have to meet the same admissions standards as non-athlete students. Are there students at SEC or Big 12 or ACC schools who are academically prepared for college? Students who will never graduate? The Ivy League has a graduation rate of over 90%, compared to some SEC schools who graduate (within five years) only 50% of their athletes. Yet everyFootball Bowl Subdivision () FBS school spends hundreds of thousands of dollars to support tutoring programs for athletes. Is this to help them graduate or just to stay eligible?
One can say that we are not comparing apples to apples. The Ivy League schools have a different philosophy than other schools, especially the large public universities. This is a fair assessment. But let’s do a little “out-of-the-box” thinking for a few paragraphs.
END of PART 1
Happy 4th ... maybe
Hope no one lost any fingers lighting fireworks. My neighborhood was a fireworks war zone from about 9:30 pm until midnight. My poor dog barked himself hoarse.
Every year we are reminded of the wisdom of our founding fathers. A government for the people and by the people was unheard of in the 18th century. The US Constitution has stood the test of time. Now we take our country and our freedoms too much for granted.
We always felt reasonably safe through wars, the Great Depression, desegregation, and a multitude of other fears and threats. We knew that our present leaders were just as wise as the Ben Franklins and George Washingtons of the past. We looked on them as intelligent men and women who possessed integrity and were willing to give up a normal comfortable life to be "public servents". Oh my. The time has come to maybe be a little fearful of a government structure that has become too huge, with far too many dishonest hands in the common barrel. Men and women who have no fear of God as did the founding fathers.
Guess maybe we have become too smart, too saavy for a God of the ages. We have highly educated, very intelligent, honest men and women to run the government. Why should I be afraid. If they can't solve the problems, our computers will eventually do it. More... maybe.
Every year we are reminded of the wisdom of our founding fathers. A government for the people and by the people was unheard of in the 18th century. The US Constitution has stood the test of time. Now we take our country and our freedoms too much for granted.
We always felt reasonably safe through wars, the Great Depression, desegregation, and a multitude of other fears and threats. We knew that our present leaders were just as wise as the Ben Franklins and George Washingtons of the past. We looked on them as intelligent men and women who possessed integrity and were willing to give up a normal comfortable life to be "public servents". Oh my. The time has come to maybe be a little fearful of a government structure that has become too huge, with far too many dishonest hands in the common barrel. Men and women who have no fear of God as did the founding fathers.
Guess maybe we have become too smart, too saavy for a God of the ages. We have highly educated, very intelligent, honest men and women to run the government. Why should I be afraid. If they can't solve the problems, our computers will eventually do it. More... maybe.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
A Manning Day
I just returned to my office from watching Peyton Manning having a passing route workout with two of his Colt wide receivers, Austin Collie and Anthony Gonzales. I work at an all boys school (I retired in 2008 after 35 years as athletics director), with a great strength facility and an artificial turf field. Manning has worked out here often. He has a business and a home here in Chattanooga.
They had a printed script of their workout and did not do a lot of standing around, even though the temperature was over 100 on the field. They worked on individual and combination routes for well over an hour from the + 35 yardline. Very impressive.
They had a printed script of their workout and did not do a lot of standing around, even though the temperature was over 100 on the field. They worked on individual and combination routes for well over an hour from the + 35 yardline. Very impressive.
Back when I was a boy
A bottle of Coke was 5 cents
A gallon of gas was 33 cents
Men looked and acted like men
Nice girls were shy and did not use 4-letter words
The World Series was in early September
A real man kept his word
Pray was ok anytime, anywhere
College and professional athletes were positive role models
Big business was conducted with integrity
Marriage was a lifetime commitment
Divorce was shameful
Hard work was honored
Government was not so big
"Political Correctness" was not a phrase let alone a philosophy
If you failed, you failed - no excuses and no one else to blame
America defended its people from foreign invaders
Americans believed in the Ten Commandments, as did our founding fathers
If I did wrong, I got a spanking and it did not warp my id
The 1957 Chevy hardtop was the coolest car ever
Being mediocre was not a good thing
A gallon of gas was 33 cents
Men looked and acted like men
Nice girls were shy and did not use 4-letter words
The World Series was in early September
A real man kept his word
Pray was ok anytime, anywhere
College and professional athletes were positive role models
Big business was conducted with integrity
Marriage was a lifetime commitment
Divorce was shameful
Hard work was honored
Government was not so big
"Political Correctness" was not a phrase let alone a philosophy
If you failed, you failed - no excuses and no one else to blame
America defended its people from foreign invaders
Americans believed in the Ten Commandments, as did our founding fathers
If I did wrong, I got a spanking and it did not warp my id
The 1957 Chevy hardtop was the coolest car ever
Being mediocre was not a good thing
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