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Kent State AD Nielsen provides insight on department assessment by Collegiate Sports Associates, expects to have preliminary results in March with a final version in May, won't comment any further on if the situation could lead to sport program cuts, CSA conducted 56 interviews while on campus in December, says he has no prejudice on what he wants the effort to conclude, confident in how the department is being run - link
Final installment of five-part interview series with Indiana boss Glass, worried that the autonomy movement could inch college athletics closer toward a form of pro sports, Hoosiers heavily monitor student-athlete movement on the academic side to make sure all protocols are being properly followed, calls it a "trust-but-verify" model, likes the Colleg FB Playoff structure with current four-team setup - link
Missouri Chancellor Loftin commented Friday on the AD search process for the Tigers, not sure if he'll use a search firm yet, but notes the advantages of doing so, lauded outgoing AD Alden on the athletic-academic balance he help create & Loftin doesn't want to lose forward momentum, six weeks was all he needed to execute his previous AD search while at Texas A&M, author lazily notes some potential candidates - link, link
Tulsa prepping to unveil a new strategic plan for athletics later this week, 'Enhance' outline provided to the Tulsa World Journal includes initiatives of program integrity, athletic excellence, the student-athlete experience, facility enhancement, external engagement, development & fundraising, as well as administrative excellence & professional development, Prez Upham recognizes challenges for a school with a smaller enrollment & alumni base - link
UMass Chancellor Subbaswamy wants to hire a new AD within the next four to six weeks as outgoing AD McCutcheon is headed to UC Santa Barbara, internal search committee could be formed & announced as soon as tomorrow, Vice Chancellor Kennedy will lead group & select search firm to assist with process, wants a leader who can raise the profile of the department through "networking, marketing & fundraising" - link
Rutgers pushing forward on the Fred Hill Baseball & Softball complex that will cost upwards of $3.3m & provide an indoor training facility for the Scarlet Knights Baseball & Sotball programs, to date over $1m has been raised, sets deadline of June 30th to complete funding push, AD Hermann notes some highly-accomplished Baseball alums who are assisting with the process, obviously named after long-time Baseball HC Hill - link
Big Sky Presidents set to vote on future home of the league's MBB & WBB Tourneys & potentially expanding the fields of each, neutral site post-season events would be a change for the conference, interesting timing as Sacramento State leads the Men's side, but doesn't have a facility large enough to host the tourney, nor is their a nearby option available, decision for future could be announced during this year's event - link
Mississippi AD Bjork & New Mexico State AD Moccia reflect on how outgoing Missouri AD Alden shaped their own careers as Alden's tree of ADs around the nation is deep & impressive, Bjork recalls Alden getting him involved in high-level opportunities at the young age of 26 to help him down the path of becoming an AD, Moccia says Alden laid the groundwork for modern fundraising, wanted a staff who was committed to their career, not just a job, more - link
Anatomy of a hire: San Antonio Spurs HC Popovich had been a NBA AC for only six years whose only HC experience was at DIII Pomona-Pitzer when then-team chairman McDermott hired Pop in the mid-90s, nearly 1,000 wins later it's a move that has undoubtedly worked out, shared Air Force Academy & family connections, as well as tutelage under Don Nelson were key factors, commitment to discipline & excellence also motivators, lots more - link
Excellent profile on Washington insider Hogan who has helped the NFL through their domestic violence issues, hired by the league days after the Ray Rice video hit public airwaves, has met with key lawmakers & politicians around the nation to frame the NFL's efforts to improve & appropriately address their key position of societal leadership, has found that the NFL carries more weight publicly than the White House, more - link
As of late last night more than 1,200 flights had already been grounded through Monday with the prospects of another heavy winter storm that looks to impact the Midwest & Northeast, Chicago's O'Hare saw nearly 900 cancellations as a foot of snow has been forecast for the city, Cleveland, Newark, Indianapolis & New York also involved - link
Good read on how the funding model for Colorado State's new on-campus FB stadium has changed since its original inception in 2011, Prez Frank strongly believes the selling of $220m in revenue bonds is low risk & can make-up for decades of limited investment in the school's athletic facilities, plans started with little state involvement & the projection of strong private giving, either way the project looks like it's going forward - link
Kentucky Asst. AD for Marketing & Licensing Schwake confirms the Wildcats will again run a commercial during the Super Bowl, presumably only in the Lexington market as the cost of the opportunity is noted at $10k, UK has done the same the past two years & Schwake says the timing is key for season ticket sales & all about leveraging the highest profile TV night of the year - link (scroll down)
NBC Sports Group chairman Lazarus believes the true viewership for the Super Bowl is under-reported because of people watching in bars, restaurants & offices that can't be counted by Nielsen, thinks one in every two Americans watch the game equaling 160m, 30-second national spots went for an average of $4.4m this year, Nielsen continues to progress to more accurately measure out-of-home viewing - link
Hawaii Chancellor Bley-Vroman calls the NCAA notice of allegations surrounding the school's MBB program "disturbing" & adds that the matter is being taken very seriously, document specifically points to former HC Arnold for arranging & observing an on-campus evaluation illegally & then telling student-athletes to cover-up the situation, AC Akana also heavily implicated, Arnold says he'll have a response today or tomorrow - link
Niche autonomy situation as Colorado College AD Ralph is waiting to see how the NCAA defines full cost-of-attendance in the coming weeks before he decides how tp implement the change for the Tigers DI programs, National Collegiate Hockey League is not expected to dictate a league-wide amount, Ralph does say the school can afford the upgrades, but wants to do so in a manner that fits within their mission - link
More on that same niche topic as RIT AD Spiotti says his department is the odd man out after not being able to build momentum to allow for multi-divisional schools to provide athletic scholarships, Atlantic Hockey Conference Commish DeGregorio passionate that the autonomy move is the wrong way to go, also argues for NCAA sports to be federated individually to allow each to govern unique situations - link
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Wake Forest AD Wellman & Georgia Tech AD Bobinski, both former key members of the NCAA MBB Tourney selection committee comment on the current MBB RPI ratings putting Kansas above Kentucky in the top spot, Wellman says it doesn't make much sense, Bobinski uses it as an example of why the RPI is just one piece of the overall selection process & why he tried to watch as many games as possible - link
Ohio State announces FB ticket prices for their 2015 home slate, Hawaii & Western Michigan set at $65, down from the normal $79, Northern Illinois, Maryland & Minnesota pegged at $79, Penn State match-up will cost $125 & Michigan State $150, student tickets remain at $34, third year for variable pricing model as the Board of Trustees allows for two premium-priced games - link
Pac-12 VP for Communications Hirsch notes challenges for MBB scheduling that will see USC host Utah today on Super Bowl Sunday, every game being on TV creates an added level of complexity on top of travel schedules & rest days, USC has seen below average crowds for games on the same day as the Super Bowl in the past - link
Maryland Assoc. AD for Marketing Blankenship says the Terps move to the Big Ten & strong MBB start has re-engaged students who help to create an atmosphere upgrade in the Xfinity Center, attendance is up through the first four home games of the league slate, Maryland Sports Properties GM Young also notes the up-tick in corporate support as suites have sold-out for a number of games already - link
Reports indicate Louisville will enhance the contract of FB DC Grantham after he turned down the same role with the Oakland Raiders, pay bump from $1m to $1.4m would make him one of the highest paid ACs in the nation, four-year deal would also pay more annually than some HCs in the American, Mountain West, MAC, C-USA & Sun Belt - link
Georgia State MBB HC Hunter tries to refrain from getting fined, but says he's never been more frustrated with officiating this year, even after the Panthers won over Arkansas State yesterday when 13 fouls were called in the first four minutes of the second half including student-athlete Harrow's seventh technical of the season - link
