Trouble and Turmoil at Toledo

Toledo President Lloyd Jacobs has ordered a massive restructuring of the athletic department, citing problems with team travel, lack of financial control and unlawful handling of medications, according to the Toledo Blade.

In addition, all football and basketball players, except incoming freshman, have been told they must be interviewed by outside/special counsel and a faculty athletics representative to determine their eligibility for the upcoming season.

Jacobs was asked if he has lost confidence in football coach Tom Amstutz and basketball coach Stan Joplin.

“Do they have my support in everything? Possibly not,” he said. “I don’t know what everything is that they do. Do I hold them accountable? We have 7,000 employees. I hold every one of them accountable for our value system. I hold them accountable for doing their job, everyone accountable for following the rules of the state, the NCAA."

What appeared to have triggered this was the FBI investigation into an alleged points-shaving scheme involving Rocket running back Harvey McDougle. The case fell apart almost immediately and charges against McDougle were dropped.

The paper also reported that in October 2006, the NCAA approached university officials three days before the Toledo-Kent State football game on Oct. 14, notifying them that a large bet had been placed on the game. That NCAA later informed Toledo that no further investigation was warranted at the time.

Records obtained by the newspaper show that the wives and girlfriends of Toledo coaches, and boosters and other nonessential personnel, were allowed to fly with the football and men’s and women’s basketball teams at university expense. Records also show that coaches traveled to Germany and charged trip expenses to their Toledo credit cards.

Reporters' Notebooks

Mark Alesia, Indianapolis Star: Indiana coach Terry Hoeppner will miss the 2007 season to continue his battle against cancer. Offensive coordinator Bill Lynch will take over on an interim basis and the situation will be reevaluated after the season.

George Hostetter, Fresno Bee: The days of routine contract extensions for Fresno State coach Pat Hill are over.

Dave Curtis, Orlando Sentinel: Florida guard Ronnie Wilson will be charged with one count battery and one count of discharging a firearm in public. Both are misdemeanors and carry a maximum punishment of a year in county jail and a $1,000 fine. He will be arraigned July 3.

Kate Hairopoulos, Dallas Morning News: A big blow to Southern Methodist. All-Conference USA linebacker Reggie Carrington, a sixth-year senior, has left the team.

Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star: Outgoing Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg, who is leaving to become a vice president for the Big Ten Network, is taking a step down in terms of influence and prestige. Plus a look at the Big 12's hits and misses in Weiberg's nine years. And what the conference needs in a new leader.

Wendell Barnhouse, Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Weiberg's resignation rates low on sports fans' radars, but the Big 12 might not be around or what it is today if not for him.

Scott D. Pierce, Deseret Morning News: The people running The mtn., the Mountain West Conference's TV network, just don't seem to get it.

And here is today's mystery link.

To bypass registration, go to Bug Me Not.

The Fastest 90 Minutes in Sports

Worst. Finals. Ever. The NBA is a mess. First came the fiasco that was called the All-Star game, then teams were tanking games late in the regular season in an effort to get into the draft lottery. Finally, the Spurs and Cavaliers put on a four-game snoozefest, with the first team to 80 declared the winner. OK, maybe it wasn't that bad, but our friend Tim Griffin of the San Antonio Express-News, who has been covering the finals, will be along to explain what this means for the future of the league. He will join us on "Sports Overnight America" around 11:30 (Pacific) Friday night.

Just after the midnight hour on the West Coast, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times will be our guest. He is the Angels beat writer and has been covering the team for the past 11 seasons. We will talk all things baseball until 1 a.m.

The show can be heard over the Internet at SportsByline.com, over the American Forces Network, the Cable Radio Network or one of the Sports Byline affiliates. Please join in the conversation by calling 800-878-7529.

Report: Big 12 Commish Headed to Big Ten

Anybody discounting the impact of the Big Ten Network take note: Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg, who at one point was voted the fourth most influential person in college athletics, is resigning to take a job with the Big Ten Network, according to a report by Kevin Kietzman of Kansas City's Sports Radio 810 WHB.

Imagine that, a commissioner of a Bowl Championship Series conference stepping down to take a less-glamorous position with a BCS rival. Weiberg is likely getting a substantial boost in pay, and if you're in the Big 12 — or any other BCS conference — you have to be concerned with the money and influence the Big Ten is throwing around.

As they say, money talks, and the Big Ten is rolling in it.

Thanks to Jeremie at AM 1430 The Buzz, Tulsa's Sports Authority.

Update: Story now confirmed. Weiberg will become the vice president of university planning and development for the Big Ten Network. Here is the link from the Kansas City Star.

Why Crewcut Is in a Pickle Over Clausen

Notre Dame officials fessed up Wednesday and acknowledged that quarterback Jimmy Clausen had a "procedure" on an elbow, although they didn't say which elbow it was. The likely truth is that Clausen, the most celebrated recruit to arrive in South Bend since Ron Powlus, had surgery on his right throwing elbow, first reported by the site Log's Blog.

Thus the question: Why did Notre Dame hide the fact that Clausen had surgery?

Put yourself in the position of Notre Dame coach Crewcut Charlie Weis. Simply put, he doesn't want opponents to know that his prized quarterback is coming off surgery on his throwing elbow. After all, knowing a quarterback has an issue with his throwing arm can change an entire defensive scheme. Weis is no dummy.

You can argue that Weis is looking out for the best interest of the kid and the team, or perhaps even himself. The risk in all of this is that when you are found to be covering up an injury or a surgery, your reputation and credibility suffers.

Weis made his philosophy clear during his spring press conference on March 21, a day after a Chicago Sun-Times report quoted Clausen's dad, Jim Clausen Sr., saying his son was injured. Weis was miffed when asked about Clausen and interrupted a reporter:

Question: "You say everyone is full to go, and last time we talked, you said Clausen ..."

Weis: "He's full to go. Contrary to recent reports, he's full to go, too. By the way, just so we can clear that one up, the only one who will answer for the health of our players will be me. So next time, we can just keep it that way, because I'll do the answering for the health of our players."

So there you have it. Can you believe anything Weis says from now on?

Weis did not make Clausen available to the media during spring practice, so we have yet to hear the quarterback's side of the story.

One last note: We'd like to mention John Walters of NBC Sports.com, who did what all journalists should be doing and properly credited Log's Blog for breaking the story. As for those who didn't extend the same professional courtesy, your credibility — much like Weis' — has been tarnished.

Thanks to Image of Sport.

Reporters' Notebooks

Jim Moore, Seattle Post-Intelligencer: A Washington State fan checks in on Washington coach Tyrone Willingham. "The man concerns me. He appears to be turning the team around and doing it with players who don't break the law."

Jon Wilner, San Jose Mercury News: When it comes to ranking the top teams in the Pacific 10 for the past 20 years, Washington's 1991 unit earns top billing.

Mick McGrane, San Diego Union-Tribune: Offensive lineman Whitley Fehoko, considered the gem of San Diego State coach Chuck Long's first recruiting class, has been granted a release from his scholarship. He is considering Texas Tech, Tulane, Oregon State, Texas A&M and Washington.

Kathy Boccella, Philadelphia Inquirer: Not so Happy Valley. Penn State students remain upset after the school's 21,520 allotment of season tickets sold out in 59 minutes.

Jacob Summers, Crimson White: Alabama students planning to attend the Iron Bowl at Auburn might have to make other plans, because Crimson Tide officials said students who have not earned 92 hours as of the fall semester will not be able to purchase tickets to the game. Thanks to Mike!

B.G. Brooks, Rocky Mountain News: Colorado coach Dan Hawkins is preparing to run a half-marathon next month in Australia.

Erin Jordan and Tom Witosky, Des Moines Register: A $19.5 million renovation and expansion project at Iowa State's Jack Trice Stadium, which includes 24 luxury skyboxes, received final approval.

Steve Irvine, Birmingham News: The father of a former backup quarterback at Alabama said his son left the team because of the way Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban was "treating kids."

And here is today's mystery link.

Did Clausen Have Elbow Surgery?

Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen, who has been bothered by bone spurs in his right (throwing) elbow, recently underwent surgery on the elbow, according to the site Log's Blog.

"I recently found out from a trustworthy source who I cannot name (read: doctor) that ND freshman QB Jimmy Clausen recently underwent elbow surgery. Supposedly he will miss the entire season.

"Whether that means the recovery period covers the length of the season or ND will choose to redshirt him is unclear. With Clausen out the two leading candidates for the job would be Demetrius Jones and Evan Sharpley. I hope this is wrong."

Clausen, regarded as the top quarterback recruit in the country, graduated from high school early and enrolled at Notre Dame in January. His father, Jim Clausen Sr., told the Chicago Sun-Times in March that his son's injury was discovered last summer.

"We've been aware that this was an issue," the elder Clausen said in March. "He played 15 games with the problem this past season, so you know he's a competitor. But I think at the end of the season, he started to lose some velocity.

"At some point, if it's causing that much discomfort, we'll see what other option is best."

Last week, quarterback Zach Frazer, who was upset at being told he was the No. 4 quarterback entering fall practice, expressed a desire to transfer. Miami, Louisville, Rutgers, East Carolina and Connecticut were said to be the schools interested in Frazer.

A link to Jimmy Clausen's website. Thanks to Image of Sport.