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Top 10 Most Read is released every Friday afternoon, allowing you to compare the most read stories over the past seven days to your own interest list. Feedback, as always, is welcome to Matt@D1ticker.com.
#10:Houston Chronicle's Zwerneman: "Jason Cook's exit may loom larger than expected for Texas A&M." Cook: "You reach transition points at places. I've been at A&M for 13-plus years, worked with two presidents, two athletic directors and three chancellors. I had an opportunity to be a part of some amazing things here. Throughout my career I've been a builder, and you reach that point where there's an urge to build something again." Zwerneman reviews Cook's legacy with athletics & his push to be more transparent with key fan sites following the Aggies. (link)
#9: Long & interesting read on FieldTurf from NJ.com's Baxter & Stanmyer titled, "The 100-Yard Deception." The lengthy investigative piece centers on fields around the nation that deteriorated earlier than they were supposed to, internal communications on how the situations should be handled by FieldTurf executives, alleged crimes committed in a cover-up operation, what those in charge knew about the product before installation & the hundreds of millions spent by local governments. This one may take an entire day to read, but it's an eye-opener. (link)
#8: Apparently former LSU AD Bertman is selling/sold his version of the Waterford Crystal football awarded for the Tigers 2007 FB National Championship. Bertman's is only one of three that exist (link); As noted Sunday, former LSU AD & Baseball HC Bertman was selling his Waterford Crystal football from the Tigers 2007 FB National Championship. The piece ended up going for $22,500 through Goldin Auctions. WBRZ reports Bertman is a frequent customer of Goldin's. Retired car dealership owner Smith won the bid, says it will be displayed somewhere in the state of Louisiana, "where it belongs." (link)
#7: SBD/SBJ's Mullen profiles notable HC agent Armstrong & starts with the story of when Armstrong was driving to Fort Lauderdale, got a call from client & then-Central Michigan HC Jones about an interview the next morning with Cincinnati in Detroit. Armstrong turned his car around & went straight to the Orlando airport, sans other clothes or any personal items, to meet Jones in the Motor City. Penn State HC Franklin says it's the personal approach that won Armstrong his business, especially after he fully engaged Franklin's wife Fumi, "It was amazing how many agents that were somewhat dismissive and disrespectful of my wife." Mullen notes Armstrong's recent exit from CAA to Athletes First & portfolio additions of UNLV HC Sanchez, Houston OC Applewhite & former LSUHC Miles to go along with the likes of Texas A&M's Sumlin, Ohio State's Meyer, West Virginia's Holgorsen & many others. (link)
#6: Midnight is the perfect time during finals week to take a study break, as Auburn AD Jacobs, FB HC Malzahn and MBB HC Pearl hosted a surprise get-together in the school library on Sunday. Pearl hit the PA system, "Attention all hard-working Auburn students, this is Coach Pearl of the Auburn men's basketball team and I'd like to call a 30-second timeout." Students were able to enjoy doughnuts, coffee, juice and other treats as they chatted with the three athletic leaders. Pictures and video. (link)
#5: No more "Thunderstruck" video at North Dakota State for the FCS Playoffs & leadership is looking for more clarity from the NCAA. (link)
#4:Indiana's student newspaper comes with more on the FB situation in Bloomington that reportedly led to the exit of former HC Wilson. A number of student-athletes mentioned by name & recount their stories of health challenges & demeaning attitudes from the coaching staff. The article sheds a negative light on how the athletic training team handled some injury situations. Offensive lineman Taylor: "You guys left me at the hospital, and now you want to tell me the reason I’m injured is because of bad technique. Bad technique by the trainer, for sure." Another student-athlete points to "a constant psychological mind game" (link); Indiana's student newspaper continues its coverage of former FB HC Wilson's exit, digs in on the handling of former student-athlete Carovillano. "I believed what they were telling me, that I was soft. I kept denying I was hurt. That’s the culture they created." Carovillano goes on to say he wasn't a fan of AD Glass using the term "philosophical differences" in separating with Wilson as the issues were much deeper & his father wonders how the review didn't find a lack of medical care. Carovillano's father has also traded emails with Glass since the presser & has been reassured the department has implemented changes in its medical procedures. More. (link)
#3: Notre Dame alums paid for an ad in Wednesday's student newspaper criticizing AD Swarbrick & FB HC Kelly with another reportedly set to run on Sunday. "Unremarkable" was used to describe Swarbrick's tenure & the group says it has no confidence in Kelly. On- & off-field "failures" listed include an 0-10 record versus Top 12 opponents over the last four seasons, no bowl wins, NCAA penalties, student-athlete arrests, more. (link)
#2: A number of student-athletes from the undefeated 1996 Marshall FB team criticize how they were treated during events honoring the squad before the Thundering Herd's game against Florida Atlantic on October 15. Using words like "disrespectful," "embarrassing" and "disheartening," former student-athlete Beckett expressed a sentiment echoed by many of his former teammates in being ushered off the sidelines by security after the pre-game ceremony, "It was almost like a dog-and-pony show. It was very disheartening. Within 15 or 20 minutes, you were forgotten. It was almost like it was a bad movie. I couldn't believe this was happening." (link)
#1: I don't do many uniforms, but check out what Army is wearing this weekend for its match-up with Navy (link); I included Army's FB uni for this weekend previously, now check out Navy's. Equally cool (link).
