D1.ticker - Eliminate the barrage of articles & time-consuming
searches. Efficient D1 athletics news in a daily email.
#10: Yahoo's Forde & Wetzel write on former AAU coach Augustine, who is embroiled in the MBB-FBI developments & whom the Yahoo pair call the "most dangerous man in college basketball." An unnamed MBB AC calls Augustine "a mover and a shaker," another, this one from the ACC, "He was facilitating. He’s involved. He never had his hand out with us, but he was trying to be involved." More, from a defense attorney in the case adding, "The absence of Sood and Augustine is not a mistake," in relation to last week's indictments. Federal defense attorney Grasso notes the reality of cooperating with the FBI, the level of honesty now required by Augustine & severe penalties for stepping out of bounds. A number of schools mentioned in Augustine's Twitter feed back in September include Florida State, Louisville, UCLA, Baylor, Arizona, Georgia Tech, Florida & Tennessee. (link)
#9: Here's a chart of Conference USA FB attendance to date by school. UAB on top by a wide margin. (link)
#8: USC Upstate will be added to the Big South as a full member starting next June. Spartans brass point to the geographic advantages of the move, benefits for the student-athlete experience, travel budgets & for alumni engagement efforts. Chancellor Kelly says university FAR Griffis determined student-athletes would miss 1,200 fewer classes cumulatively by competition in a league with a much tighter footprint. Big South Commish Kallander echoes excitement. (link)
#7: As you likely know, the three UCLA MBB student-athletes alleged to have shoplifted from a Chinese mall last week are back in the States. The New York Times' Landler & Shear take a look at the role President Trump played in the ordeal. President Trump's Chief of Staff, John Kelly, "Our president said to Xi, 'Do you know anything about these knuckleheads that got caught allegedly stealing?' The president was saying, 'It’s not too serious. We’d love to see this taken care of in an expeditious way.'" Kelly talked to the student-athletes, who apologize profusely, "I bet they learned a lesson in their lives." Trump later praised Xi for his assistance. (link); Pac-12 Commish Scott releases another statement, thanks all those who aided, refocuses on the experience for both programs involved. (link); Here was the paparazzi scene as the three Bruin student-athletes returned to LAX. (link); USA Today's Armour writes on the presence of LaVar Ball looms as UCLA decides what punishment will be handed down to his son, LiAngelo, as well as the other two student-athletes implicated. (link)
#6: USA Today's Wolken writes on the current, with more coming, leadership movement at the highest levels of college athletics, posits that there aren't enough "home run hires" to replace high-profile ADs & FB HCs. On the AD front, lists a number of "talented young administrators" who currently oversee 'Group of 5' programs, but, "these are not household names. And thus, it is difficult for schools and their boosters to have a clear-eyed vision of what kind of person they will need to get them to the next level "(White, Parker, Harlan, Baker, Mohajir, Yurachek, Kraft, Chun, McClelland, Frazier, Moccia, Karlgaard). As for FB, Wolken wonders if some of the biggest openings will really pin their hopes on the likes of UCF boss Frost or Memphis HC Norvell, who combined only have four years of HC experience. (link)
#5: The Big South is shaking up the mid-major ranks, one day after adding USC Upstate comes news of Hampton exiting the MEAC to join the Big South. Pirates AD Marshall: "Hampton University is always going to be an HBCU. That’s not going to change. We’re not leaving competing against our fellow MEAC schools. We’re going to compete against them. But as we look at the bigger picture, trying to build the best mid-sized athletic program in the country, you have to take steps. So we’re not leaving. We’re just expanding our reach." MEAC boss Thomas indicates he was informed of the move on Wednesday night. Norfolk State AD Miller with some feedback, "Being in this business as long as I have, nothing surprises me anymore. I guess they have their own reasons why they’re seeking another conference, and I wish them the best." (link); Membership changes may not be done for the Big South, especially with rumblings of Presbyterian dropping scholarship FB & heading to the Pioneer League, but Commish Kallander provides context to the Hampton addition, "This is not a numbers game for us. This is quality over quantity, and that is what assures a successful and stable league." (link, link)
#4: Northern Arizona AD Campos is headed back to the state of Texas, but it's the UTSA portfolio she'll take over. Official presser coming from the Roadrunners this afternoon. USA Today's Wolken broke the news last night. (link); With Campos out of the mix at UTEP, where she previously served in senior ranks, local ESPN radioman Kaplowitz, "I'm expecting UTEP to name Chris Park their new AD as soon as this weekend but no later than next Wednesday." (link)
#3: Former Fresno State AD Bartko in a statement, "These last few days, while gut wrenching in so many respects, have restored my belief that Fresno is full of solid, decent people who are unconditional in their love of others and their embrace of what’s right. […] Fresno deserves to set the highest bar in every part of our community to prove how worthy this place and its people are of greatness. This bar can be raised on an athletic field no matter what the starting blocks, in the stands of any stadium though crumbling, and in the hearts of people who aren’t even regular fans yet want us to compete with all we’ve got. We have set in motion what it takes to raise that bar, and the team at Athletics I’m so regrettably leaving behind has the talent to rise above the challenges in setting and maintaining that bar. That begins with having courage on many fronts. […] My journey will continue. My story will be told. Between the lines that you read in the newspaper, this is true: I am Jim Bartko, not a perfect man, who loves the mission of Fresno State, loves his family, knows what Athletics can do beyond the scores, and is willing to live in the truth come what may." More. (link)
#2: Can't say I've ever seen anything like this as Tennessee State FB student-athlete Lee punched Coordinator of Strength & Conditioning Greenstone in the head/face twice on the sidelines during last weekend's game against Southeast Missouri State. Lee was removed from the team & later expelled from the university. (link); Here's video of the incident. (link)
#1: Arkansas: Chancellor Steinmetz announced the exit of Razorbacks AD Long due to what he sees as a loss of support from key constituents. AVC/Senior Assoc. AD Cromer Peoples takes over as the interim boss. (link); Long pens a thank you note to the Hogs family, "Winning was always an important part of our Mission, as was doing it the right way with honesty integrity and a focus on preparing our young athletes for the rest of their lives. Collectively, all of our coaches exemplified that mission. […] The greatest gift an athletic administrator is given is watching as student-athletes arrive on campus and the growth that happens over the course of their education career. Four to five short years later, we all watch with abundant joy as they walk across the Graduation stage, diploma in hand and prepared to take on whatever in life comes their way! […] Thank you for the opportunity to serve our University the last 10 years. It has been a true honor." More. (link); Long will be paid the balance of his remaining contract, equal to $4.625M pre-mitigation/offset. (link); Long will remain on the College Football Playoff committee. (link); Alabama AD Byrne: "Shout out to my longtime friend @jefflongUA. He has been a great colleague and cares deeply about the student-athletes at Arkansas. He will be missed in our AD mtgs but our paths will cross frequently." (link)
