It happens to me every year about this time. Maybe I’m the only one? I don’t think so though…I like to call it the college football fizzle.
Every other sport – college or pro – builds up to an amazing finale. In NCAA basketball, you have March Madness. In the NFL you have playoffs and the Super Bowl. College football isn’t like that, though.
First, there’s the regular season. That’s all fine and good, even if it is a bit daunting to have so many teams. Most people just follow the conference they like best or even just their favorite …read more

Recently, the University of Central Florida released two documents relating to the death of wide receiver Ereck Plancher during the offseason. This comes after pressure from ESPN and the Orlando Sentinel, who have hounded the school to release information about investigation and circumstances surrounding Plancher’s collapse after a conditioning practice.
You can read the full story by ESPN at their website, but here are the main points:

Assistant athletic trainer Robert Jackson says that Plancher appeared to be exhausted, but never complained that he felt sick, hurt, light-headed, etc.
The schools says that the workout was “routine” and “not taxing,” but …read more

There’s a rant posted below. You’ve been warned.
Every year about this time, the BCA (Black Coaches and Administrators) begins to rise issue with the percentage of minorities working in college football. Whenever coaching positions begin to open up, there’s a big stink about it. It makes me roll my eyes, to be honest.
Listen, I know I’m white, but I am not a stranger to fighting persecution. I’m female and writing about sports – I’ve been told time and time again to shut up and that my opinion doesn’t matter because girls don’t know anything about football. Another topic …read more

Last week, Texas backup center Buck Burnette was dismissed from the team for violating unspecified team rules. Later, we found out his dismissal is due to a racial slur posted on his Facebook profile after Barack Obama was elected president.
Now, on one hand, how a person sees the world doesn’t effect how he plays football. Even though he might be terribly prejudiced (and probably still is, even if he did issue an official statement of apology via the AP), that’s the risk of freedom in America. In other words, EVERYONE is free to express their opinions, not just …read more

Since 2003, Kansas students have a strange tradition. At kickoff, they yell “Rip his fucking head off.” Ok, I guess it isn’t that strange – if you’ve seen Adam Sandler’s The Water Boy, you now that a fan yells that in the movie.
Problem is, this isn’t a movie. There are a lot of young fans in the audience and watching TV, and some think that this cheer is embarrassing and inappropriate. On Thursday, Kansas coach Mark Mangino actually sent out an email to the students, asking them to forget the chant.
Still, for some, it is just a …read more

Don’t forget to enter HERE to win $50 in the BCS Week Four giveaway!
Today, Michigan State put Notre Dame in their place, beating the Fighting Irish 23-7 rather easily.
It seems these days that no ND game is without sensationalism, though. If it isn’t J-Claw’s new hair (I just threw up a little in my mouth), it’s head coach Charlie Weis getting clobbered by his own players. Or how about today’s story – aptly named Laptopgate by Rivals.
Oh brother.
Basically, that story goes like this: An intern for Notre Dame brought his (or her…they didn’t say) laptop to …read more

Don’t forget to enter HERE to win $50 in the BCS Week Four giveaway!
Today, the NCAA announced their decision that Auburn did not commit academic fraud in 2005 and 2006. The investigation was a result of one professor claiming that some other professors were allowing students to take classes that required no class time and little work.
What the NCAA found was that some independent study courses weren’t as structured as they should have been. They were what I call “fluffy.” They didn’t go into great detail, but I’d venture to guess that these classes had students meeting once every …read more

Right not, the Internets (or, as I like to call it, the tubes) are all ablaze about the excessive celebration call at the end of the BYU game.
You can read about it here. And here. And here (linked removed, since I accidentally linked to idiots, see comments) and here and here and here and a million other places. Frankly, I’m just sick of creating links.
The call sucked. Washington Quarterback Jake Locker, in the last play of the game, scored a tying touchdown, and through the ball in the air as he jumped with his teammates. It wasn’t an “in your …read more

Everyone thought Cincinnati QB Ben Mauk’s story was over after the NCAA rejected his application for a sixth year. Then he decided to appeal. And appeal again. And appeal again…and…
Well, let’s just say that they denied him five times. This last time, they said that he was out of time, and that he wouldn’t be granted any more appeals.
So, he went over their heads. Mauk is now, in essence, suing the NCAA. The court case is being held in Hardin County, where Mauk grew up, and is being overseen by Judge William Hart, who refused to throw out the …read more

The NCAA has recently decided that they won’t be pursuing the removal of beer ads from college sports programs.
Currently, NCAA regulations allow networks to broadcast commercials for beverages containing 6% or less of alcohol, which means that most beers make the cut and rarely are liquor or wine ads shown. Stadiums are allowed to advertise beer as well, although the sale of alcohol is not permitted during games and all advertisements must be covered during championship games.
University presidents and coaches, such as Bobby Bowden and Jim Tressel, have supported the banning of beer ads, and over 100 presidents …read more