The stated goal of the Bowl Championship Series is "to match the two top-rated teams in a national championship game and to create exciting and competitive matchups between eight other highly regarded teams in four other games."
But the BCS fell far short of that goal this past postseason, with a sharp decline in viewership of four of its five games, according to Nielsen Media Research. The BCS was not alone as viewership of all bowl games took a significant pounding.
BCS games held down five of the top six spots of most-watched postseason games, but only the Orange Bowl saw a slight increase (6%) in viewership. The declines were dramatic, with the Sugar Bowl experiencing a drop of 25%, followed by the Rose (20%), BCS title (17%) and Fiesta (8%).
Viewership of all bowls declined by 12% with a 3.6 average rating, the lowest in the 10-year history of the BCS, according to Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News.
We've charted all the data for careful examination. To get a closer look, click a chart to enlarge it. This chart shows the 2007 ratings for each of the 32 games. The Insight and Texas bowls — games with the lowest viewership — were broadcast by the NFL Network, which has a limited subscriber base. Here's a look at the 2006 ratings, when the BCS lineup held down the top five spots. The Alamo Bowl between Texas and Iowa clocked a 6.0 to become the most-watched bowl game ever on ESPN. Here's a look at the difference in percentage from 2006 to 2007. As you can see, 21 of the 32 games had lower ratings in 2007, with many of the ratings being significantly lower. The biggest loser was the Texas Bowl between Texas Christian and Houston. The biggest winner was the Capital One between Michigan and Florida. The Southeastern Conference had the most total viewers. It also had the most teams in postseason play with nine. The number of teams each league had in postseason play are in parenthesis. Games involving Big Ten teams earned the highest average rating. These figures were calculated by adding the ratings for games involving teams from each league and then dividing by the number of teams in postseason play. An example would be the previously mentioned Capital One, which had a rating of 9.1. The Big Ten would get a 9.1 (as would the SEC). The eight games involving Big Ten teams totaled 45.7, making the average viewership 5.7.
As reference, here are the bowl game matchups and broadcasting partner.
BCS Title: Louisiana State-Ohio State (Fox) Rose: USC-Illinois (ABC) Capital One: Michigan-Florida (ABC) Fiesta: West Virginia-Oklahoma (Fox) Orange: Kansas-Virginia Tech (Fox) Sugar: Georgia-Hawaii (Fox)
Chick-fil-A: Auburn-Clemson (ESPN) Holiday: Texas-Arizona State (ESPN) Cotton: Missouri-Arkansas (Fox) Liberty: Mississippi State-Central Florida (ESPN) Music City: Kentucky-Florida State (ESPN) Champs Sports: Boston College-Michigan State (ESPN) Meineke Car Care: Wake Forest-Connecticut (ESPN)
Emerald: Oregon State-Maryland (ESPN) Outback: Tennessee-Wisconsin (ESPN) Gator: Texas Tech-Virginia (CBS) Alamo: Penn State-Texas A&M (ESPN) Motor City: Purdue-Central Michigan (ESPN) Sun: Oregon-South Florida (CBS) Las Vegas: Brigham Young-UCLA (ESPN)
Papajohns.com: Cincinnati-Southern Mississippi (ESPN2) Armed Forces: California-Air Force (ESPN) Poinsettia: Utah-Navy (ESPN) New Mexico: New Mexico-Nevada (ESPN) Independence: Alabama-Colorado (ESPN) New Orleans: Florida Atlantic-Memphis (ESPN2) International: Rutgers-Ball State (ESPN2)
Hawaii: East Carolina-Boise State (ESPN) GMAC: Tulsa-Bowling Green (ESPN) Humanitarian: Fresno State-Georgia Tech (ESPN2) Insight: Oklahoma State-Indiana (NFL Network) Texas: Texas Christian-Houston (NFL Network) Source: Nielsen Media Research
We have Jim Davidson of the OZone to thank for this. There are many more shots Erin Andrews from the Ohio State-Penn State basketball game on Tuesday night in State College. To see the gallery, click here.
This is good stuff, with Jimmy Johnson telling the story about Meyer's phone skills (more violations?) on national TV during the Bowl Championship Series title game.
Johnson on Meyer: "I had to drag him through the stands. He was there on the telephone talking to these recruits saying, 'Come with me to the championship game next year. We're going to be here next year.' "
Chris Rose then chimes in, "But it's a dead period in recruiting right now. ..."
Johnson (no stranger to playing loose and free with the rules): "He can make one phone call a week. He told me that."
Glad we got that straightened out. ...
Meyer's top-rated recruit of 2007, defensive tackle Torrey Davis, received a citation from Gainesville police Jan. 19 after he was spotted drinking an alcoholic beverage at a downtown nightclub. He is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 7.
An expected 2008 recruit, Chaz Sutton, who committed to Florida in July, had his scholarship offer pulled Monday by the Gators. Florida was concerned that Sutton would not meet academic requirements. South Carolina and Clemson wasted little time in getting in contact with Sutton.
The majority of Oklahoma fans wanting a ticket to the Sooners' game at rival Oklahoma State this fall are going to have to pay and pay dearly.
Oklahoma State officials announced they won't be sell individual tickets to the Nov. 29 Bedlam game outside of the normal 5,000 tickets allotted to the Sooner fans. To get in, fans will have to buy a season ticket to see the Cowboys, a cost of $294 for a seat in the west end zone. A seat along the sidelines increases to $419.
Michigan's Rich Rodriguez received a new perk: A $1.5 million line of credit (reportedly at no interest) from the bank founded by his boss, athletic director Bill Martin. Rich Rod then turned and offered the check to his former employer, West Virginia, with a catch: Sign and cash the check and the monthlong contract dispute is over.
West Virginia's response: No deal. Mountaineer officials say Rich Rod's offer is $2.5 million short — and growing. The universitysays it wants to add $4,000 in daily interest on the $4 million the coach owes for breaking his contract, although there is an argument that figure should be a more reasonable $904.11 a day. Still ...
"The amount owed by Mr. Rodriguez under the terms of the contract in effect at the time of his resignation is $4 million," West Virginia attorney Jeff Wakefield said. He added that the sides are not engaged in settlement talks. Rich Rod has until Feb. 4 to respond to West Virginia's lawsuit.
A lot of posturing going on, including West Virginia shipping off a check last week for $287,000 that covered owed bonuses and incentives to Rich Rod. This could get even uglier.
Mark Alesia, Indianapolis Star: The NCAA has agreed to a $218 million fund for athletes over six years and to allow schools to give athletes year-round health insurance as part of a settlement of an antitrust suit.
Nick Perry and Ken Armstrong, Seattle Times: Some players on Washington's 2000 team took academics seriously. Others did not. "I was a football major," offensive lineman Rock Nelson says. "Class was not important to me."
Matthew Futterman, Newark Star-Ledger: Rutgers officials have approved a controversial plan to start a $102-million stadium expansion before securing all the money needed to complete it.
Ron Maly: Alleged quotes from gridiron giants of the past and present. Our favorite, from Alex Karras: "I never graduated from Iowa, but I was only there for two terms — Truman's and Eisenhower's."
Maya Srikrishnan, Daily Texan: Texas coach Mack Brown made his first appearance at a Faculty Council meeting, answering questions about the football team's 42% graduation rate, the lowest in the Big 12. Thanks to Ben Maller.
Brian Dohn, L.A. Daily News: UCLA got a commitment from junior college quarterback Kevin Craft. Another quarterback, McLeod Bethel-Thompson, is transferring to Sacramento State.
Chadd Cripe and Brian Murphy, Idaho Statesman: Boise State receiver Jeremy Childs has been suspended from school for this semester because of plagiarism, but could return this summer for his junior year, according to his brother.
Doug Lesmerises, Cleveland Plain Dealer: Ohio State's Jim Tressel and Michigan's Rich Rodriguez will be in the stands to watch Terrelle Pryor play basketball Saturday night in what is expected to be the last recruiting pitches the coaches can make for the hotshot prep quarterback.
Mike DeArmond, Kansas City Star: Tony Temple, who ran for 281 yards and four touchdowns in Missouri's Cotton Bowl victory over Arkansas, has dropped an appeal for another year of college eligibility and will enter the NFL draft.
Bill Koch, Cincinnati Enquirer: Details of Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly's new contract were released. He gets a bump in pay from $800,000 to $1.2 million.
J. Brady McCollough, Kansas City Star: Kansas coach Mark Mangino reportedly was out of the hospital and back at work on Tuesday.
Doug Segrest and Daniel Blank, Birmingham News: The son of Major Ogilvie, an All-Southeastern Conference running back who played on two Alabama national championship teams, plans to follow his father's footsteps as a walk-on at Tuscaloosa.
Julie Straw, WLBT: Jared Foster, a quarterback who enrolled at Mississippi earlier this month, was arrested and charged with selling steroids. He was dismissed from the team. Thanks to EDSBS.
Bryan Strickland, Durham Herald-Sun: David Cutcliffe must be turning it around at Duke. Receivers Eron Riley and Austin Kelly face misdemeanor charges stemming from an incident late Friday night.
Bryan Mullen, Tennessean: A police probe has cleared Tennessee offensive lineman Anthony Parker of a misdemeanor charge.
Seattle Times: Washington State starting defensive tackle A'I Ahmu was arrested and ticketed for a misdemeanor alcohol offense Saturday night on campus, according to Pullman police.
While Michigan fans appear to have already moved on, that's not the case in West Virginia. The Wheeling Nailers, the "AA" affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers, announced that Saturday will be "Shred Rich Rodriguez Night" when the dreaded Charlotte Checkers roll into WesBanco Arena.
They drop the puck at 7:35 p.m.
Anyone whose name is Rich Rodriguez gets in free. Fans bringing in articles about Rodriguez to get shredded will get in for a discounted rate. Any fan caught wearing University of Michigan apparel will be charged double in order to help Rodriguez pay his $4 million buyout to West Virginia.
The Nailers are not alone in trying to capitalize on the Rich Rod mess. A resolution introduced by West Virginia Congressman Alan Mollohan to honor the Mountaineer football team passed in the U.S. House of Representatives.
While Mollohan has virtually reassured re-election for life in his home state, don't lawmakers have more important matters to deal with? John Bresnahan of the Politico says this was a waste of time:
"The assertion in the resolution that the WVU had to 'overcome adversity' to win the Fiesta Bowl doesn't really make it for me.
"As one Crypt colleague pointed out, if there was one team that really overcame some adversity this year, it was the Virginia Tech Hokies, whose campus saw the horrific murder of 32 students and teachers in April 2007. Virginia Tech came back and almost won the national championship this season. West Virginia, meanwhile, choked horribly in a Dec. 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers. which cost the Mountaineers a chance to play for a national championship. Not good."
Finally, Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports ranks the 18 coaching hires. No. 1 is Michigan's hiring of Rich Rodriguez. No. 18? West Virginia's hiring of Bill Stewart.
Writes Dodd: "Stewart seems to be a nice guy but we know absolutely nothing about him as a head coach despite the Fiesta Bowl. Let's judge him in five years and see if he can deliver four Big East titles and two BCS bowl teams — like Rodriguez did."
Ken Armstrong and Nick Perry, Seattle Times: The paper continues its fantastic series on the 2000 Washington Huskies. To Washington fans, Curtis Williams was a tragic hero. To the courts, he was a wanted felon. Link to series.
Rick Plumlee, Wichita Eagle: Kansas' Mark Mangino, 51, was expected to be released from the intensive care unit at Lawrence Memorial Hospital on Tuesday after being admitted Sunday night for undisclosed reasons.
Mike DeArmond, Kansas City Star: Larry Smith, 68, who coached at Tulane, Arizona, USC and Missouri during a 24-year career and compiled a 143-126-7 record, died after a long battle with chronic lymphatic leukemia.
Jerry Crowe, Los Angeles Times: Smith, who was fired by USC three days after the Trojans lost to Fresno State in the Freedom Bowl, said of the 1992 loss, "Our guys didn't give a damn about being there."
Gil Lebreton, Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Texas' Mack Brown hasn't spent his offseason watching old Rose Bowl reruns.
Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times: Appalachian State offensive lineman Kerry Brown is still talking about the victory at Michigan. "We knew we were going to win."
If you thought a Classless Act was any type of behavior that could be considered degrading to the game, well, your right.
We're back again with Classless Acts of the 2007 season. None of the Rich Rodriguez-West Virginia content is included because that situation has spilled well into 2008 and will be considered next year.
There are several strong candidates and once again, we've opened this to voting. You get only one vote, so choose carefully. Here we go:
1. Texas A&M and Dennis Franchione: There was a lot that went down in College Station so we decided to group it together. As a season with much promise began to unravel after a 34-17 loss at Miami, word was leaked to the San Antonio Express News that Franchione had been selling a secret email newsletter called VIP Connections to elite boosters for $1,200 a pop. As if he needed the extra coin. He was making $2 million a year to coach the Aggies.
When it became clear he would be fired, Franchione decided to go for two with 4:32 remaining at Nebraska and his team clinging to a 36-14 lead. At the Alamo Bowl, an Aggie yell leader said, "Joe Paterno's on his death bed! And someone needs to find him a casket!" Then a Texas A&M fan, obviously not wanting to wait his turn at the concession stand, was caught on camera digging in his nose and consuming a tasty snack.
2. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State: The mother of all tirades: "I'm a man! I'm 40!" Gundy went off on Oklahoman reporter Jenni Carlson for "inaccuracies" in a column about quarterback Bobby Reid, who had been benched in favor of Zac Robinson. In the end, Carlson was proven right, as the coddled Reid expressed his dissatisfaction by transferring to Texas Southern.
To Gundy's credit, the rant sparked his wobbling team, whose 1-2 start included a 41-23 loss on national TV to Troy. The Cowboys went to the Insight Bowl and Gundy got his contract extended by one year. To Carlson's credit, she didn't take her foot off the pedal either, taking Gundy and his staff to task for sending in the offensive starters with five minutes left against Baylor and the Cowboys leading by 31.
3. Mike Leach, Texas Tech: Lost amid Gundy's rant was Leach throwing defensive coordinator Lyle Setencich under the bus after the 49-45 loss to the Cowboys. Setencich "resigned" the next day, but Leach was only warming up.
After a 59-43 loss to Texas, Leach went after the officials (view the two-part YouTube video here and here). Without naming him, Leach noted that referee Randy Christal lives in Austin. "I think it's disturbing that Austin residents are involved in this. People work too hard, too long, there's too much money invested in these games to allow that. Am I condemning the crew? Hell yeah, I'm condemning the crew." Leach was fined $10,000 by the Big 12.
4. Joe Glenn, Wyoming: Glenn started this and gets the blame over Utah's Kyle Whittingham. On the Monday before the teams played, Glenn guaranteed to Cowboy students that his team would win. Whittingham's Utes then poured it on, building a 43-0 lead in the third quarter.
It was at that point that Utah successfully recovered an onside kick that sent Glenn into the stratosphere. Glenn issued a one-finger salute to Whittingham before the Utes finished it up with a 50-0 victory. Glenn was reprimanded by the Mountain West Conference.
5. Joe Paterno, Penn State: Paterno, in a race with Bobby Bowden for most career victories, was in a race to get somewhere on Oct. 5. He was involved in what was described as an incident of road rage, first reported on Blue White Illustrated, the Penn State Rivals board.
As the story goes, the coach was tailgating a couple driving around campus, then: "The driver gets out and starts screaming obscenities at the woman [who was driving], flipping both middle fingers and repeatedly saying 'do you know who I am!' "
It takes four days for the Internet-fueled story to be reported by the mainstream media. Paterno first denies it happened, then says he was doing nothing more than playing traffic cop, which is what you want your then-80-year-old coach doing.
There were other problems, namely Paterno's players getting into fights, further embarrassing the university and quaint berg of State College. (The team's poster schedule actually included the words "Fight On!")
Paterno successfully cleaned up that mess too, ordering his team to clean up the stadium after home games. But that was merely a preemptive strike by the coach to keep university officials from clamping down. After five home games, Paterno told his team that cleanup duty was no longer a Sunday morning requirement.
6. Crewcut Charlie Weis, Notre Dame: How low will the Fighting Irish go under Crewcut Charlie? The fall from grace started on Jan. 3 when the Irish showed little fight in a 41-14 loss to Louisiana State in the Sugar Bowl.
Weis then moved back the start of spring practice so he could squeeze in his gastric bypass malpractice lawsuit. That ended in mistrial so they had to do it all over again in the summer. The jurors barely had time to send for coffee and donuts before denying Weis all of his claims. Weis then said that his celebrity "was certainly used against me in the trial."
In between, Weis denied claims that anything was physically wrong with prized recruit Jimmy Clausen, although it was clear that the quarterback had surgery on this throwing elbow. Notre Dame also kept secret for two months that Clausen had been cited for transporting alcohol as a minor. Defensive lineman Derrell Hand was arrested and jailed after allegedly propositioning a female police officer who was posing as a prostitute.
Then the defections started. Zach Frazier was the first to leave, and fellow quarterback Demetrius Jones, who would start the opener, followed. Weis made the situation worse, denying Jones a release from his scholarship before agreeing to the departure. The Irish looked unprepared and offensively challenged in games. They finished 3-9 and TV ratings were off 40% from 2006 and half of what they were in 2005. Of course, Weis supporters say Tyrone Willingham was to blame for all of this.
7. Mark Dantonio, Michigan State: After Dantonio was named coach on Nov. 27, 2006, he installed a clock in the Spartan practice facility that counted down the seconds until the Michigan game. "At least they'll be on time for the game," Michigan left tackle Jake Long remarked.
When the Wolverines lost to Appalachian State, Dantonio asked if there should be a moment of silence. Then it came time to play the game and Dantonio's team came from ahead to lose, 28-24. It was open season for the Wolverines, with running back Mike Hart pouring it on, referring to Michigan State as a "little brother" of Michigan.
Dantonio couldn't take it, saying the Wolverines "need to check themselves sometimes." He also said, "if they want to mock us all they want to mock us, I'm telling them, it's not over." Hey coach, if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.
8. Mark Richt, Georgia: After the Bulldogs scored first against Florida, Richt's troops wentrunning onto the field to celebrate, resulting in two 15-yard penalties.
Nearly every commentator and columnist applauded the move, but consider this: The play was reviewed and had it been ruled that Georgia did not score, the Bulldogs would have been pushed back to the 31-yard line, possibly changing the dynamics of the game. Under any scenario, this was a bush league move.
9. Greg Schiano, Rutgers: Navy coach Paul Johnson reportedly was upset when Schiano kept star running back Ray Rice in the game with 2:17 to play and the Scarlet Knights leading, 34-17. Rice, of course, made it worse by scoring a touchdown. Then Rutgers' fans piled on, showering the Midshipmen players, fans and families with obscenities.
The next week, Rutgers called three timeouts in the final 2:03 of the first half while holding a 45-0 lead against Norfolk State. "Forty-five-zip and you're calling three timeouts at the end?" Spartan coach Pete Adrian said. "Hey, if that turns you on, it's fine."
A gripping series of investigative stories this week by the Seattle Times, detailing Washington's 2000 team, winners of the Rose Bowl, owners of an 11-1 record and ranked No. 3 in the nation.
This is an unprecedented look behind the scenes — based largely on documents unavailable at the time — that reveals a disturbing level of criminal conduct and hooliganism by the players and questionable moves and motives of police and the legal system. Among the findings:
A safety who reportedly had cut his wife's face, broken her arm and nose. He started the opener wanted on an oustanding warrant.
A tight end under investigation on suspicion of rape.
A linebacker under investigation for robbing and shooting a drug dealer. Police didn't charge him until after the season was over.
At least 12 members of the team were arrested or charged with a crime that carried possible jail time. At least 12 others got in trouble with the law in other seasons.
Yes, Rick Neuheisel was the coach, and he did little or nothing when it came time to discipline players.
A great person and one of the best photographers ever. Committed to the craft, he was fearless in the field, yet sensitive to those around him. Steve was based in L.A. and was part of local history, closing the Herald Examiner before shooting sports for Wire Image and other clients. He was planning to teach and give back to the community. Steve died last week of an apparent heart attack. You'll be missed, my friend.
As posted in comments, there is also a message thread at Sports Shooter.
Dan Galindo, Winston-Salem Journal: Luke Caparelli, a reserve running back at Wake Forest, is no longer enrolled at the university after he posted a note on his Facebook page saying that he threatened to "blow up the campus." The note, written in the third person, also included the threat, “for those left standing he will have an Uzi locked and loaded in his bag.”
Richard Justice, Houston Chronicle: It's a common theme in college sports these days. If you need a friend, get a dog.
Bryan Mullen, Tennessean: Tennessee's rough start to 2008 continued when All-Southeastern Conference offensive lineman Anthony Parker was arrested early Saturday and charged with disorderly conduct.
Todd Wills, Dallas Morning News: Former San Diego State quarterback Kevin Craft, who spent last season at Mount San Antonio Junior College, could be bound for Southern Methodist.
Waco Tribune-Herald: The top 100 high school recruits in Texas and where they are headed for college.
Jake Trotter and Mike Baldwin, Oklahoman: Oklahoma and Oklahoma State officials discuss the policies in place to evaluate the character of prospective student-athletes.
George Hostetter, Fresno Bee: Money trouble for Fresno State's main sports booster group and a possible student backlash are adding new challenges to the university's efforts to retool its athletic department.
An Illinois judge was a big winner when it came to reselling tickets to Rose Bowl, using the special access to tickets he has as a major booster to resell at least 60 tickets at a substantial profit, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Moultrie County Circuit Judge Dan L. Flannell is also president of the Sullivan Illini Quarterback Club, which donated $22,000 to the Illinois athletic department last year.
There is a circular nature to the arrangement: The more the club profits from its ticket sales, the larger its donations, which in turn gives it greater access to more and better tickets. By spreading its donations among several accounts, the club was able to buy 26 Rose Bowl tickets when the individual account maximum was eight.
"Is this the way the University of Illinois wishes to raise money? That just blows me away," said Tony Lawson, a longtime fan who lives in Phoenix. "[The club] has found a way to manipulate and circumvent the system to their benefit."
Flannell did much of his dealing online. According to eBay listings, he sold tickets to the game for as much as $340 more than their $135 face value.
Although Flannell denies any wrongdoing, he could be in violation of an Illinois Supreme Court rule that says judges should not allow their names to be used to solicit funds for a civic or charitable organization, according to Steven Lubet, a legal ethics professor at Northwestern.
"Being president of the club that's only function is raising money would very likely involve soliciting," Lubet said.
Welcome to the newest way for fans to become unofficial football recruiters. Social networking sites Facebook and MySpace have become a hotbed for fans to connect to prospects and — in some cases — put them down.
Nebraska recruit Will Compton told the Daily Nebraskan that about every fourth message on his Facebook wall is from a fan of a team recruiting him. In some cases, a fan from a rival team will leave a mean-spirited message.
"It gets annoying sometimes," Compton said. "People forget that I'm a person, too, and not just a football player. I have other things going on in my life other than football."
There are even organized efforts among online recruiters. At least a dozen Facebook and MySpace profiles set up for each major college team and have disclaimers stating they have no affiliation with the team they are promoting.
Fred Girard, Detroit News: In a Jan. 10 letter of resignation, Rich Rodriguez says he agreed to a $4 million penalty clause in his contract with West Virginia only because the school's new president, Mike Garrison, promised him the clause would be at least halved, if not cut completely. Text of the letter.
Drew Sharp, Detroit Free Press: At this point, Michigan and Rich Rod would be wise to find an end to the squabble with West Virginia.
Paul Finebaum, Mobile Press-Register: It has been 25 years since Bear Bryant died. Will Alabama ever escape the long shadow of Bryant? The question ought to be why would Alabama want to?
Joseph Person, Columbia State: South Carolina's Steve Spurrier reminded his team to use caution on mopeds after two players were involved in separate scooter accidents in a six-day span.
Craig Barners, South Florida Sun-Sentinel: A flag football game between Miami Dolphin legends and Miami Hurricane legends will highlight events scheduled as an official farewell to the Orange Bowl this weekend.
Jeff McLane, Philadelphia Inquirer: Three Penn State players who were suspended for the final two games of the season for their alleged connection to a campus fight in October have been "excused" from the team.
National Football Foundation: An exhaustive listing of viewership, attendance and trivia about the bowl season. Thanks to Get The Picture!
Thanks to Boi From Troy, we have this picture of USC linebacker Brian Cushing from his 19th birthday celebration.
Cushing is finally of legal drinking age, having turned 21 this week. As Boi points out, Cushing can finally raise a toast to his Rose Bowl defensive MVP award.
Another bit of interesting news from USC. Defensive back MoziqueMcCurtis, who was victimized by Stanford receiver Mark Bradford for the winning touchdown reception in the Cardinals' 24-23 victory over the Trojans, reportedly is no longer a member of the team.
The Los Angeles Times reports that McCurtis, who has a year of eligibility remaining, will not play next season so he can prepare to pursue admission to law school.
Joe Johnson, Athens Banner-Herald: Former Georgia quarterback Mike Usry, now a landlord, faces charges of criminal trespass and disorderly conduct after he tried to evict a family from a house over late rent.
Carter Strickland, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Is Georgia the team to beat? The Bulldogs are not shying from title talk.
Brent Schrotenboer, San Diego Union-Tribune: San Diego State is facing more scholarship reductions because of a poor Academic Progress Rate.
Brett McMurphy, Tampa Tribune: For South Florida, is $1 million worth not getting a return game from Notre Dame?
Chris McGann, Seattle Post-Intelligencer: A University of Washington plan to use $150 million in public funds to help renovate Husky Stadium has crashed hard.
Kansas City Star: As part of Kansas State’s spring football weekend, the Goo Goo Dolls will perform at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, the night before the spring game.
Detroit Free Press: ESPN analyst and Ohio State alum Kirk Herbstreit: "I think it's a six-win season for Michigan next year, I really do."
David Whitley, Orlando Sentinel: How good of a season did Reggie Bush have in 2005? Tarnished Heisman author Don Yaeger: "Reggie Bush made more money that year than June Jones did coaching Hawaii."
Chip Brown, Dallas Morning News: Does Major Applewhite's arrival in Austin mean Chris Simms' homecoming must wait?
Joseph Person, Columbia State: Steve Spurrier, who lost defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder after only 17 days, hired Arkansas' Ellis Johnson, who begins work for his third Southeastern Conference team in 26 days.
Brent Zwerneman, San Antonio Express-News: A Brazos County grand jury has indicted Texas A&M players Yemi Babalola and Brandon Joiner. The men are charged with two counts of aggravated robbery.
We once again venture down the slippery slope of an off-topic post. In the most unusual yet beautiful and electric duet, we bring you James Brown and Luciano Pavarotti in a benefit for Angola on May 28, 2002, in Modena, Italy. Bravo, and thanks to our bud Andy!
Urban Meyer's recruitment of junior college receiver Carl Moore — already under investigation by Florida officials for possible NCAA rules violations — might involve Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow as a participant in additional violations.
The new allegation surfaced from a Dec. 18 story in the Sacramento Bee. The story details how Meyer, who was with Tebow for the Dec. 8 Heisman presentation in New York, called Moore shortly after Tebow was presented the award. According to the story by Joe Davidson, "Florida coach Urban Meyer placed the call and then placed the device in the hands of Tebow."
Tebow reportedly told Moore: "Carl!, I just won the Heisman! Come on down here, and let's win a national championship!"
NCAA rules state that a coach is not to make a call and then let another of his student-athletes talk to a recruit.
To this point, the investigation into the recruitment of Moore had centered on Meyer's involvement with Moore's girlfriend, Maranda Smith. From published accounts, Meyer had recruited Smith for the Gator gymnastics team in hopes of securing Moore. Under NCAA rules, this is forbidden because a football coach cannot recruit for another sport.
In a Gainesville Sun story last week headlined, "UF notebook: Gymnastics gets recruiting assist from Meyer," Smith said she "used to talk to [Meyer] every day back in November when he was recruiting Carl."
" '[Meyer] never called me personally,' Smith said. 'Carl sometimes didn't have his phone or his phone would get cut off. So, he had given Coach Meyer my number and [Moore told Meyer], "If you call my number and I don't answer or it goes to voice mail, call Maranda because I'll be with her more than likely," and that's how he got a hold of Carl.' "
"Smith said on Wednesday that she 'never talked to Coach Meyer about life or anything for more than two seconds.' Smith said that Meyer would call her and then ask to speak with Moore."
Meyer was not available for comment and said to be recruiting, but the Orlando Sentinel reported Tuesday that Meyer had "met last week with Jamie McCloskey, UF's senior associate athletics director for compliance. The coach emerged from that meeting thinking he had committed no NCAA recruiting violations.
" 'No problems with that,' Meyer said. 'We're fine.' "
On Wednesday, the Sentinel reported that was not the case, this time quoting McCloskey:
"We are in information-gathering mode," McCloskey said. "And we're going to see where that takes us."
Did Meyer really believe he was in the clear when he talked to the Sentinel, or did he merely hope that the issue would go away?
Back to the Meyer/Tebow call to Moore. Here are the specific rules in question regarding that call:
NCAA rule 13.02.5.2: "Enrolled student-athletes or other enrolled students shall not make or participate in telephone calls to prospective student-athletes at the direction of a coaching staff member or financed by the institution or a representative of its athletics interest."
NCAA rule 13.02.5.1 (b): "It is permissible for an enrolled student-athlete to receive [not make] telephone calls made at the expense of a prospective student-athlete after July 1 following the completion of the prospective student-athlete’s junior year in high school. Telephone calls made by enrolled students (excluding student-athletes) pursuant to an institution’s regular admissions program directed at all prospective students shall be permissible."
Here are two videos giving a behind-the-scenes look at USC's Pete Carroll before the Rose Bowl. USC Rips It, a site operated by school's football office, put the videos together. They are trailers for a DVD incorporating all segments of the game that officials are planning to sell. Thanks to All Things Trojan.
Update: The videos have been pulled from YouTube and, according to All Things Trojan, are now viewable at USC Trojans.com. We're still looking for a direct link.
Update II: Embeding has been disabled. Here are the direct links for the top video and bottom video.
A gradual disintegration of the relationship between Rich Rodriguez and West Virginia officials is documented in a series of emails obtained by the Associated Press through a Freedom of Information Act request.
The emails, written over a five-month period, would appear to strengthen Rodriguez's claim that promises made to him were broken. Rodriguez is using this as a cornerstone of his argument to get out of a $4 million buyout clause in his contract.
The emails also contain complaints by Mike Brown, Rodriguez's agent, that Gov. Joe Manchin was interfering with the program. Manchin denies the claims. The AP released chronological excerpts of key exchanges between the parties at the center of the dispute.
Mike Casazza of the Charleston Daily Mail also reported that West Virginia athletic department officials used money from a WVU Foundation account set aside for football recruiting expenses to manage other costs in the athletic department.
Although officials say they did nothing wrong, Rodriguez reportedly was frustrated at the way the account was used.
Bob "The Beast" Sapp arrived on the University of Washington campus in 1992 as defensive lineman. He switched to offense his second year and eventually became a third-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 1997.
The 6-foot-4, 368-pound Sapp bounced around the NFL and was cut by four teams, tried his hand at the minor league professional wrestling circuit and eventually went to Japan in 2001 after being recruited by K-1 founder Kazuyoshi Ishii. The YouTube clip is from an event at the Bellagio in 2003, where Sapp, ever the salesman, called out Mike Tyson.
He left K-1 in 2005, appeared in several films, including a remake of "The Longest Yard," and has since returned to Mixed Martial Arts. Sapp, who estimates that he has endorsed more than 400 products (mainly in Japan) and made $7 million in his career, is back in the Great Northwest to promote an upcoming event he will participate in at the Tacoma Dome.
Michael Rothstein, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette: The playing career of Notre Dame junior defensive lineman Derrell Hand, who was arrested and jailed last summer after allegedly propositioning a female police officer who was posing as a prostitute, could be over.
Dave Matter, Columbia Tribune: A look at how the 2007 All-Big 12 team was ranked as prep recruits on Rivals' five-star scoring system.
Derek Redd, Palm Beach Post: Florida State is raising prices for football tickets, but only by $1.
Robbie Andreu, Gainesville Sun: A message to Louisiana State pledge Patrick Johnson: Don't be a punk.
Suzanne Halliburton, Austin American-Statesman: Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis is getting a $74,000 boost in pay so his salary ($425,000) will match that of new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp.
To bypass registration, go to Bug Me Not. Here is today's mystery link. Thanks to Houston.
Michigan student Christopher Breece had his party plans ruined last weekend by the NCAA.
Breece, aware that hotshot quarterback recruit Terrelle Pryor was going to be in Ann Arbor, decided to organize the "Terrelle Pryor Greenwood Block Party," according to the Michigan Daily. He posted word of the event on Facebook and within two days, more than 1,500 people confirmed they would attend.
Then Breece received a voicemail message from an NCAA representative telling him that the party's description violated the organization's policies because students are considered extensions of the university's athletic department. Breece was stunned and sought a second opinion, eventually talking to Michigan officials who told him the same thing: the party, as advertised, should be canceled.
Breece was unable to delete his original listing, so he had to alter it to say the event would be "in support of Michigan football." Word spread quickly and combined with bitter, 10-degree weather, most of those who planned to attend stayed home.
A Missouri senator has introduced legislation proposing that the state's official game bird be changed from the bobwhite quail to the Kansas Jayhawk, pictured with Fox's Chris Rose earlier this month at the Orange Bowl.
If approved, it would be legal to hunt the Kansas Jayhawk, a mythical creature, in the state of Missouri.
Dan Clemens, a Republican senator from Marshfield and alum of Missouri, says his bill is a satirical way to highlight the Tigers' 36-28 victory over Kansas last fall. Former Jayhawk football coach Don Fambrough does not see the humor in Clemens' bill.
"They're not very nice people to start with," he said. "As long as I've been here, I could tell you a list of things like this they've done over the years."
Fambrough has his own proposal: "I’m going to recommend that our people make the Tiger our most wanted. I have no love for those people."
His trophy case now features the 2007 Big 12 coach of the year award along with eight separate national coach of the year honors. On top of that, he guided a Kansas team that was considered to have second-rate talent to a 12-1 record and a victory in the Orange Bowl.
Yet when opening after opening came up, no one called Mark Mangino. Why? Because he's fat and bald, that's why.
"Arkansas hired a con man, who couldn’t even finish the season at his previous job as coach for the Atlanta Falcons (Bobby Petrino). UCLA hired a coach who has had problems follow him at every stop and was essentially blackballed from college since 2002 (Rick Neuheusel).
"West Virginia hired a coach who used the 'n' word when referring to a player at his previous head coaching stop (Bill Stewart). And Michigan hired a guy who promptly shredded documents at his old school and is trying to dodge a contractually obligated $4 million buyout (Rich Rodriguez).
"It’s pathetic. These bastions of higher learning are willing to roll the dice on candidates with character concerns for their head coaching positions but not on men with impeccable character whom the boosters’ wives won’t swoon after."
The Wiz is one man's effort to keep a college football world informed. Frankly, it's an impossible task and we need your help. Consider the benefits: Perhaps you'll come across a juicy tidbit about your arch-rival. Rather than keep it to yourself or a few friends on a message board, send it our way. After all, there's no better way destabilize a rival program than to have a bit of embarrassing news broadcast to the world, is there? Send your tips to: dawizofodds (at) aol.com.
It turns out Florida's Urban Meyer is not in the clear over potential recruiting violations. Florida officials now say they are still investigating Meyer's potential secondary violations in his recruitment of junior college receiver Carl Moore and his girlfriend, gymnast Maranda Smith.
Writes Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel: "Now we know why Urban Meyer is such a great recruiter. Because he doesn't just offer scholarships to players. He apparently offers scholarships to their girlfriends, too."
He goes on to write that if Meyer did break rules, he needs to be punished, even if it's only a light tap on the wrist.
Dirk Facer, Deseret Morning News: Details are emerging in the weekend assault on two Utah players. One of the players was stabbed in the ribs and abdomen with a knife. The other was stabbed twice in the back with a screwdriver. A third man, a recruit who plans to sign next month with the Utes, was hit in the right cheek with a hard metal object, believed to be brass knuckles.
Jeff Darlington, Miami Herald: Former UCLA coach Karl Dorrell is expected to be named receivers coach of the Miami Dolphins.
Irv Moss, Denver Post: Troy Calhoun will be paid $645,899 under terms of his new contract with Air Force. He will get a bonus of $28,000 if his Falcons win the Commander-in-Chief's trophy.
Daily Camera: Department of Boondoggle: Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn, Louisiana State athletic director Skip Bertman and outgoing Washington athletic director Todd Turner are in Vietnam as part of a Nike-sponsored trip in an effort to combat allegations that the company operates sweatshops overseas.
Tony Phifer, Coloradoan: Another school is going to try and cash in on signing day. Colorado State is going to charge fans up to $27 to hear coach Steve Fairchild give his assessment of his first recruiting class.
This chart shows the 2007 ratings for each of the 32 games. The Insight and Texas bowls — games with the lowest viewership — were broadcast by the NFL Network, which has a limited subscriber base.
Here's a look at the 2006 ratings, when the BCS lineup held down the top five spots. The Alamo Bowl between Texas and Iowa clocked a 6.0 to become the most-watched bowl game ever on ESPN.
Here's a look at the difference in percentage from 2006 to 2007. As you can see, 21 of the 32 games had lower ratings in 2007, with many of the ratings being significantly lower. The biggest loser was the Texas Bowl between Texas Christian and Houston. The biggest winner was the Capital One between Michigan and Florida.
The Southeastern Conference had the most total viewers. It also had the most teams in postseason play with nine. The number of teams each league had in postseason play are in parenthesis.
Games involving Big Ten teams earned the highest average rating. These figures were calculated by adding the ratings for games involving teams from each league and then dividing by the number of teams in postseason play. An example would be the previously mentioned Capital One, which had a rating of 9.1. The Big Ten would get a 9.1 (as would the SEC). The eight games involving Big Ten teams totaled 45.7, making the average viewership 5.7.
