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USA Today's Berkowitz gets more juice from key industry leaders on some needed changes to college athletics, South Carolina Prez Pastides wants the 'Power 5' to look closely at providing student-athletes health care after their playing days are over, a la the Pac-12, Ohio State Prez Drake on the topic, "It’s a complicated issue...but it’s certainly something that I’d like for us to be able to discuss and would think upon very favorably." Pastides also wishes there were more coordination between P5 leagues on rolling-out enhancements together - link
More from South Carolina Prez Pastides, this time on the decision to pay former FB HC Spurrier through the end of the season despite his resignation, "There were alternate payment possibilities that could have cost the university more. Without getting into detail, I think most people are thinking the alternative is zero. But there are alternate possibilities that could have been arrived at through negotiation with the coach that possibly could have been more. So I think the university felt, given how this all happened and our ability to move forward quickly, that this was appropriate." $900k to $1.1m is the amount in question, TBD on if Spurrier will serve as Special Asst. to the Prez & AD at an annual rate of $100k as his contract allows - link
O'Bannon case update: NCAA legal argues the potential en banc review of the situation should be denied, hints at greater appeals action beyond what the plaintiffs are pushing, does not believe the plaintiffs met the burden necessary for the en banc option, a response from the NCAA was part of standard procedure before a decision can be made on the next step, financial & governmental implications for as soon as 2016-17 hang in the balance - link
Arizona State Prez Crow comments on a hot topic in the Pac-12, FB game times, "We have the students’ interests at heart and at the same time we have to be able to generate revenue for the teams and for the schools because the football revenue pays for so many other sports. But we’re looking at (scheduling)...We need to do a better job of scheduling and spreading that stuff out. We obviously have to work with the (television) carriers, but at the end of the day, we’ll determine what the schedule is. We have to do that. The conference must determine the schedule to the interests of the schools." - link
With the tragedy in Paris still at the forefront of everyone's mind, Ohio State AD Smith comments on security upgrades around this weekend's home FB game against Michigan State, "I think this is the beginning of different changes that you'll see down the road." Additional patrols, more cameras & a new clear bag policy are all safety upgrades going into place at The Horseshoe, "...yeah I think that is a direct result of what's going on around the world. We're trying to respond to that." - link
You may have seen this on Saturday night as Nike co-founder Knight was on headset in the Oregon FB pressbox during its win at Stanford, OC Frost on Knight's presence, "I think there are some people who would be in his position that could (be) intrusive, and he's never that. He's just our No. 1 fan and supporter. We love having him around. He does a lot of listening and not very much talking." - link
Watch: Ole Miss AD Bjork covers some key topics during an interview from Tupelo, on Missouri, "...there's no manual on any of that stuff. You just have to lead with knowledge, you have to lead with inspiration, so I really applaud the folks at Missouri for working through that. And then for us at Ole Miss, dialogue with our student-athletes...that's our obligation." Also, "I think it's really a new day in student-athlete voice...it's really a movement to say that, 'This is why we're here,'" covers additional ground on stadium security, life as an AD, progress for the Rebels & more - link
Kansas State AD Currie in a letter to his fans on the developments at Mizzou, "We are reminded that we must work every day to be active listeners and truly care about the experience and well-being of every member of our community." Believes his FB team continues the battle through "an unprecedentedly tough stretch," notes it's a good time to remember his favorite goals coined by FB HC Snyder, unity & no self limitations - link
NJIT AD Kaplan has some thoughts on the fresh piece from The Chronicle of Higher Education & Huffington Post on the role of subsidies in college athletics, "All schools subsidize athletics because it helps promote the university. NJIT recruits a full range of students, including the brightest in the country, and they want a solid athletics program to help them become well-rounded citizens." Rutgers Senior Director of Digital Media Luicci on the goal in Piscataway, "That’s the mission: to get the subsidy to go down while we figure out how to compete in the Big Ten." - link
Wichita State students are planning to protest at Wednesday's Kansas Board of Regents meeting against some decisions made by Prez Bardo, one demand is to have AD Sexton removed from the dual role of VP for Student Affairs, claim Sexton's attention is spread too thin, but spokesman Heldman calls it "perplexing" on why students would want to remove an African-American VP, earlier in the week Bardo announced the addition of a new role, Asst. to the Prez for Diversity, other demands detailed - link
$12.2b: The amount Marriott International has proposed to pay in order to acquire Starwood Hotels, would create the world's largest hotel company, Starwood has been on the block since early in the year, but Marriott was not previously seen as a likely suitor, only $340m in cash is being used for the deal, the rest is stock, together you're looking at $2.7b in billings for the fiscal year that ended in September, $200m in cost savings could be realized through efficiencies, more - link
Miami (FL) AD James is using Korn Ferry to assist with his FB HC hiring process, also put together an advisory committee that counts former letter-winners Testaverde & Vilma as members to go along with Deputy AD Strawley & Board of Trustee members Bass, Epstein & Saiontz, James says there's a significant amount of interest in the job, Korn Ferry noted in article for aiding search that led to the appointment of new SEC Commish Sankey - link
And another, Hawaii names a committee of nine to help vet potential FB HC candidates, includes Assoc. AD for Administrative Services Clapp, Vice Chancellor for Students Ideta, Director of Compliance Paterson, Baseball HC Trapasso, former AD & current Ahahui Koa Anuenue Chair Yoshida & Asst. Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management/Director of Admissions Shabazz, per Chancellor Bley-Vroman the group will work closely with AD Matlin, no word on a search firm - link
Louisiana Monroe brass comment on their FB HC search, Prez Bruno says he & AD Wickstrom are meeting to outline the type of candidate who could excel for the Warhawks, hopes to begin in earnest next week, Wickstrom says he & Bruno are on the same page & that a "history of winning" will be the top criteria in identifying a new leader, ULM owes former HC Berry $300k for a contract that runs through December of next year - link
One name mentioned off & on for vacant FB HC spots is California's Dykes, but official word out of Berkeley has key parties working toward an extension, comes on the heels of the Golden Bears achieving bowl eligibility for the first time since 2011, AD Williams, "He has changed the culture within the program and it is where it needs to be. And the team’s performance on the field has improved significantly...Sonny is our guy and we plan on him being here." Current deal is a five-year $9.7m pact that runs through the '17 season - link
"Submitted calls to the league office for review" is commonly the refrain we hear when a coaching staff has issues with certain officiating decisions, but UCLA FB HC Mora wonders if that process does any good, "I don't know if that is always as effective as you'd like it to be...it tends to be a great source of frustration when you get the answer back rather than being a source of impactful discussion." Mora wasn't thrilled at some refereeing judgments during last Saturday night's loss to Washington State - link
Florida A&M AD Overton details penalties stemming from improper NCAA oversight in a couple of areas, financial hit will be $153,255 for the Rattlers, but no scholarships, coaching bans or extension of FB's current postseason ban were self-imposed, Overton plans to hire a second full-time Compliance staffer this year & a third next year, drug testing forms, completing medical examinations in the appropriate time, eligibility & playing season requirements all at odds - link
Vox's Nelson with a review of anonymous social media platform Yik Yak that has caused problems on campuses around the nation, "The bigger and more vexing problem with Yik Yak is the comments that aren't specific threats, but that are still clearly hostile or harassing. The app can be a glimpse into a campus's id. And what it finds is much harder to fix than making a few arrests." List of institutions where it's been an issue is too long, feminist groups have been pushing the Department of Education to intervene, more - link (warning, includes a small amount of questionable language)
In a step that had been delayed for a couple of months, DePaul officially broke ground on the new McCormick Place Events Center that will host MBB, some WBB & a number of other university functions, opening set for the 2017-18, which is a year later than originally planned, Mayor Emanuel, "DePaul knows that when Chicago thrives, DePaul thrives and that when DePaul grows, Chicago grows." MBB HC Leitao uses term "game changer" - link
Earth is moving in Johnson City on East Tennessee State's new $26m FB stadium, Senior Assoc. AD/COO Carter says all the suites & half of the 500 club seats are already gone, new digs due to open in time for the 2017 season, former Tennessee FB HC & key ETSU consultant Fulmer, "This a very symbolic step, but a great statement for how hard everybody’s worked," facility will be built in two phases with all the necessities first - link
Legal situation between Oklahoma State & former FB AC Wickline continues, Texas HC Strong, student-athlete Swoopes & former AD Patterson are all on a formal witness list for the trial that's scheduled to begin in May of next year, OSU continues to push for $600k from Wickline as it claims he broke his previous employment agreement in Stillwater by leaving for another job that did not include play-calling duties - link
New Mexico FB is bowl eligible for the first time in eight years thanks, in part, to back-to-back upsets of Mountain West stalwarts Utah State & Boise State, all-out ticket sales push for this weekend's home game against Colorado State, AD Krebs, "Our fans have waited patiently for the rebuilding of our football program. There is no more waiting. You have waited long enough. Be a part of this last push. It’s a big bandwagon. There’s plenty of room for you." - link
Ball State MBB defeated Eastern Illinois last night in its home opener & unveiled a new center-hung four-sided video board in Worthen Arena, AD Sandy, "It’s a big change, more like a modern arena. It’s probably pretty expensive, but it’s also probably about as cheap as anything you could do for an arena." Student-athlete Calhoun laughs at how teammate Kiapway was watching replays on the new boards while on the bench instead of the live action on the court - link
Executive compensation & more pro league financials: NHL Commish Bettman made $9.6m during the 2013-14 season according to tax filings, base pay was $9.49m, Deputy Commish Daly pulled-in $3.121m, COO Collins $2.209m, Senior EVP for Hockey Operations Campbell at $1.62m & CFO Harnett rounds out the $1m+ group at $1.279m, Skadden Arps led the way on legal fees from the league at $13.3m, financial loss for 2013-14 was $8.47m, way down from the lock-out plagued 2012-13 season that produced a squeeze of -$71.87m, more - link
