Tuesday Tidbits

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August 23, 2011

NC STATE FOOTBALL

COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: 11 DAYS

Akula Wolf (BackingthePack.com)
Welcome To The Forefront

During Rivers’ senior year State averaged 6.6 yards per play, chewed up defenses and spit them out without mercy–that was a hell of a storm, and a hell of a thing to match. Glennon’s task isn’t nearly so large, but the foundation around him is similar. The defense is going to be there for him to an extent it wasn’t for his predecessor. The question now is the same as it was by the middle of 2004: we’re here and who are you?

THE WILSON WATCH

Caulton Tudor (N&O)
Five ACC sure bets

5. Russell Wilson will throw a long touchdown pass on Wisconsin’s opening possession against Nevada-Las Vegas on Sept. 1, then accidentally flash a Wolf fingers profile to about 75,000 semi-attentive Badger fans in a classic Labor Day hyper-party state. They’ll embrace the sign as an insider rebellious political message and embrace the custom through the November, 2012 elections.
(So, too, will 7,777 visiting UNLV fans in the arena. Their thinking will be “What the heck, let’s give it a roll.”)

ACC NEWS

AP
FSU’s top RB might redshirt

Florida State tailback Chris Thompson remains sidelined with a chronic back injury and his coach isn’t sure when he could return.

Swofford: NCAA Probes Around ACC ‘Disappointing’

Swofford went on to say “you can’t necessarily legislate individual integrity and what people do, nor can you know everything that happens 24 hours a day.”

“I’m not sure we’ve done a great job of defining what success is in college athletics,” he said. “It’s not just winning. It’s not just the most money. Both of those things are important. To me, it’s really about being successful competitively while graduating athletes and doing it within the rules.

“It’s a pretty simple formula that’s not easily attainable, I suppose. At the same time, I think sometimes we’ve forgotten the context of where we’re operating, and that’s in really high-quality educational settings. And we need to act like it.”

Ben Broman (Testudotimes.com)
Oregon of the East: Up-Close Looks at Maryland’s 16 New Uniform Combinations

So, you’ve probably heard, Maryland’s released their new football uniforms.The sexy press photos are yet to come out, but I’m sure they’re on their way. In the meantime, though, we’ll have to make do. That means screen-caps of all the combos, which are past the break. But first, some general thoughts:

The new unis make heavy use of a pattern called “Terraprint”, that turtle-shell overlay that’s featured on the Maryland website, in the Maryland basketball jerseys, and on the white helmets. UA claims it’s taken from a real Diamondback Terrapin. Cool enough, but what’s really nice about it is that it’s distinctive. Oregon has its wings, and we have our shell.

As for the unis themselves, they’re pretty hit-or-miss, with some real nice ones (all-blacks, the Cameron Chism ones) and some real, real ugly ones (most anything with a gold top). The jerseys and pants have as much random piping as anything else these days, something I’ve never been a fan of, and way too many gradients, particularly in the numbers. That’s one of the reasons I like the black jersey so much: the numbers don’t have an annoying gradient like the white or red ones do.

THE U-NIVERSE

TIM REYNOLDS – AP Sports Writer
Shalala says 15 Miami athletes being investigated

The probe into Miami athletics is growing, with the university looking into the eligibility of 15 athletes who may have accepted improper benefits from a rogue booster.

Miami President Donna Shalala did not reveal any names of the players under investigation as she released a video statement Monday. The booster, convicted Ponzi scheme architect Nevin Shapiro, told Yahoo Sports for an article published last week that 12 current football players and one men’s basketball player got money, gifts and other items from him.

“We cannot let the actions of some define the many,” Shalala said.

The football players who were named by Shapiro in interviews with Yahoo Sports are Jacory Harris, Vaughn Telemaque, Ray Ray Armstrong, Travis Benjamin, Aldarius Johnson, Marcus Forston, Olivier Vernon, Marcus Robinson, Adewale Ojomo, Dyron Dye, JoJo Nicholas and Sean Spence. Shapiro also alleged to Yahoo Sports that he paid $10,000 to ensure that basketball player DeQuan Jones signed with the Hurricanes.

Spencer Hall (EDSBS.com)
TWELVE HURRICANES MAY MISS OPENER

As for future indicators of Miami’s health…there are none. No one knows what the NCAA is going to do, but if we were Miami we know how to end it like a proper samurai: blowing up our own athletic department, and doing so quite literally. Sure, make it look like an accident. This is Miami: it’s not like they’ll think it was insurance fraud. No, they’ll KNOW it was insurance fraud, and expect a healthy kickback for the privilege of paying out, so you might as well get in there and beat the NCAA to it in the name of dignity, honor, and a quick dollar.

RON MORRIS (THESTATE.COM)
Miami should cease all athletics

So, while Miami officials would like folks to identify their university with high academics, its medical school or its law school, that is a pipe dream. Most people know “The U” — as fans of the school’s athletics programs like to call it — for boorish behavior by its players, seediness among its boosters and occasional unethical conduct by its coaches.

It is a reputation grown out of thuggish acts when Miami gained national prominence while winning multiple national football championships in the 1980s. For most of the next three decades, the school and its athletics department have attempted to shed that image, albeit with little luck.

The time probably has come to give up the fight. There have to be enough university professors and administrators who recognize that a soiled reputation is not worth it. Abandon athletics.

Dennis Dodd (CBSSports.com)
Many named in Miami scandal still eligible. Why? Limited immunity

“Limited immunity” is a little-known procedure granted to NCAA investigators to get information from a player “when such an individual otherwise might be declared ineligible for intercollegiate competition,” according to the NCAA Manual.

Roe Lach put it another way: “When we think that’s really our only shot of getting that information.”

In essence, it allows guilty parties to become informants in exchange for playing time. The report contains at least two Miami transfers — Marve and Kansas State linebacker Arthur Brown — as well as seven players from other schools who were recruited by Miami but enrolled elsewhere.

Given the limited-immunity clause and other NCAA rules, it’s reasonable to conclude that 60 of the 72 players named in Yahoo’s report will not be affected. The large majority of those are either out of football or in the NFL. They cannot be compelled to talk by the NCAA. But no other former player or recruit has lost playing time. That would leave the 12 current Hurricanes who are named in the report. Their playing status has not been determined, at least not publicly.

NCAA BASKETBALL

Rush the Court
Dick Vitale Goes Off On The Dan LeBatard Show

When Vitale went on to state that none of the major coaches he knows would have tolerated what happened at Miami (citing Roy Williams, Mike Krzyzewski, and Bob Knight as examples), Stugotz suggests that every coach or program has committed at least one NCAA infraction even if only unknowingly. After Vitale got upset at him and brought up the prostitutes, Stugotz clarified by saying that he never implied that other programs were using prostitutes or doing things as big as Miami is accused of doing. Despite this clarification, Vitale becomes increasingly infuriated at the radio hosts and hangs up.

PODCAST/MULTIMEDIA

Riddick & Reynolds: Episode 15

Episode 15 features quite a bit of Miami discussion with Chuck Amato, some broader NCAA discussion, the evils of jocksniffers and somehow we even bring up Tiger Woods and the Chappelle’s Show racial draft.

NCAA FOOTBALL

Tennessee Football:

Tennessee Football

About 1.21 Jigawatts

Class of '98, Mechanical Engineer, State fan since arriving on campus and it's been a painful ride ever since. I live by the Law of NC State Fandom, "For every Elation there is an equal and opposite Frustration."

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35 Responses to Tuesday Tidbits

  1. PackerInRussia 08/23/2011 at 2:41 PM #

    “I’m not making excuses for him, but that is the reality. He had absolutely nothing to do with the Miami fiasco.”

    If Miami had been in the conference for a while, that may be true. But, don’t forget that they joined conference in the middle of this crap and were declared clean by the ACC:

    “The whole idea of bringing aboard Miami in 2004 was to add a big-hitter football commodity for TV contractual purposes. After much inspection (supposedly), the ACC pronounced the long-troubled Hurricanes a healthy, rehabilitated program that long would be an asset on and off the field for the conference.”
    http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/08/17/1419329/tudor-miami-could-become-dead.html

  2. Gene 08/23/2011 at 3:08 PM #

    “Dick Vitale is an amusing commentator, but ultimately, is a company man.”

    As a former coach, Vitale rarely has anything negative to say about a coach.

    I’d be shocked, if Vitale came out criticizing some of the most successful coaches in college basketball history. The guy tries to point out the “bright spots” in coaches, who are on the verge of being fired.

  3. sundropdrinker13 08/23/2011 at 3:42 PM #

    As to Swofford’s pay, it is $1.7 mil a year.

    http://ibleedgarnetandgold.wordpress.com/2011/05/17/john-swofford-makes-how-much/

  4. IamGumbyDammit 08/23/2011 at 4:20 PM #

    TruthBKnown Returns Says:
    August 23rd, 2011 at 10:07 am Didn’t Swofford say something about it being inappropriate to comment when Carolina’s investigation was still ongoing? Well, now he’s commenting when Miami’s investigation is still ongoing.

    Doesn’t that make him a hypocrite?

    TBKR, pardon me being technical, but no, it doesn’t. He’s already BEEN a hypocrite for a long, long time. This only makes it more OBVIOUS that he’s a hypocrite.

  5. HPWolf 08/23/2011 at 4:35 PM #

    Swofford is a joke. The rules are fine and the system is not broken. The rules need to be enforced with punishment that will deter cheating. Fine the school, fine the AD and then fine the coach. Maybe up to a years revenue or in the case of an individual a years salary. I bet they would learn compliance real quick and the gladly teach it to the players. Any palyer caught accepting gifts would be expelled from school with loss of scholarship. The then exploited 18 year old man child could then head to the CFL.

  6. tjfoose1 08/23/2011 at 5:22 PM #

    [quote]I’m certainly not a Swofford apologist. But in all honesty, DY has made a similar comment.[/quote]

    What is your point? Yow’s point was that you can’t legislate integrity. It was NOT that individuals and entities should not practice it, nor be excused from the responsibility of having it.

    Swofford is using it to deflect, to partially absolve the blame for its absence.

    Context is important.

  7. ncsu05mit10 08/23/2011 at 8:10 PM #

    Take a look at the other conference commissioners– there are only two that have a conference alum leading their conference. The Big East is headed by a Providence guy, and there’s the ACC with Swofford.

    James Delany, the commissioner of the Big 10, received his undergrad and law degree from UNC, and was also on the basketball team. Amazing what someone can do for a conference when they don’t have a direct allegiance (or are clearly more capable).

    Most of the other commissioners have at least a law degree and have a wide range of professional experiences– other conferences, work in the NCAA, private practice legal work, etc… Swofford has a graduate degree in Sports Management from Ohio University and has spent the majority of his career with UNC and the ACC.

    My wife, a UNC alum, has defended Swofford up until now. After his weak statement yesterday and after checking out the resumes of other conference commissioners, she thinks he needs to go. That’s telling.

  8. rtpack24 08/23/2011 at 9:29 PM #

    Swofford is asking general questions and his comments are vague and not to the point. He should be providing leadership and direction. Instead, just like where he came form he is accusing the system and playing the victim. Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  9. Master 08/23/2011 at 11:56 PM #

    I don’t think the system is broken at all. If it was broken, the NCAA would not be catching teams that break the rules. In other words, catching people breaking thr rules means the system IS working. By system, I’m refering to a set of rules that must be kept or you’l be punished. No system, I mean NO system will ever prevent humans from breaking the rules. The system is meant to catch the rule breakers.

    Bottom line is that Swofford is making excuses for the poor little Tar Heels that can’t help themselves from breaking the rules that are just too unfair for their coaches and players to abide by. What a total ASSCLOWN.

  10. PackerInRussia 08/24/2011 at 3:00 AM #

    ^ Good point. For example, how could the system have been different to keep Shapiro from doing what he did? The system didn’t catch him from what I understand (it was all him right?), so I guess you could fault it in that way: this guy was doing what he was doing for all these years and only got caught because he spilled the beans. The question is, is the system catching offenders or is it only when something accidentally (or purposely-Shapiro-or stupidly-Marv) leaks out and attracts attention. Not sure how else to go about it unless you station a NCAA rep on every campus who keeps his nose in everyone’s business.
    Saying it’s difficult to have a pristine (meaning not even a small minor violation)? I’ll buy that. Saying it’s virtually impossible? You’d have to prove that there’s no one doing it. And just saying “everyone does it” doesn’t count.

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