Stuff We Don't Like to Talk About

[garyd63]

This hardly ever happens, right!?!

New York Times
October 28, 2010
Binghamton Coach Gets $1.2 Million to Resign
By PETE THAMEL

The tumultuous tenure of Kevin Broadus, the coach who oversaw the Binghamton basketball program’s first N.C.A.A. tournament berth and also its subsequent implosion, has ended.

On Thursday, the university announced that Broadus had received a $1.2 million settlement to resign from the university. Binghamton’s president, C. Peter Magrath, said that Broadus would receive $819,115 from the Binghamton athletic department and that $380,884 would be paid by the State University of New York.

The payment, which exceeds the value of Broadus’s remaining contract, requires him to withdraw the racial discrimination lawsuit he filed in March and to relinquish his right to any other claims against the university. . . .

Broadus’s departure with $1.2 million has left many uneasy.

“It shows you where our priorities are,” said Bruce Svare, a psychology professor at SUNY Albany. “They certainly aren’t in terms of academic integrity and trying to get to the truth. It’s very upsetting and disappointing.” . . .

And more here:

The payout comes at a time when SUNY's budget is strapped after $210 million in cuts this year, resulting in SUNY Albany's recent removal of several programs, and Zimpher being pressured to surrender her housing allowance and criticized for handing out $30,000 raises to her top administrators.

http://www.pressconnects.com/articl...0476/Magrath++We+ll+move+money+to+pay+Broadus

 

[garyd63]

And the beat goes on. You lose when you lose and you lose when you win. So now we can add a new phrase to our policy/process hip conversations. “Win-win” situations can be tempered with “lose-lose” realities. At least when it comes to the Big Buck College Athletic programs.

NYT November 11, 2010
How Broken Must College Football Be to Fix It? By GEORGE VECSEY

It is time for my annual foray into the lower depths of higher education — that is to say, the business of Bowl Championship Series football as perpetrated on or near centers of learning. . . .

My theory is, when a university suddenly becomes proficient at football or basketball, it is usually a sign its admissions director is being held hostage in some rural hideaway.

But this is worse. The B.C.S. system turns out to be a private enterprise for the usual suspects in the insider conferences. The top colleges make money, but the big winners are the major bowls — and the administrators thereof.

According to the Sports Illustrated article, Paul Hoolahan, the top executive of the Sugar Bowl, made $607,500 in 2007 and the Sugar Bowl was given $3 million by the hard-strapped Louisiana government.

The big losers are the lucky tigers who get invited to the Cement Shoes Bowl and then lose money that could have gone to athletes or, even better, budding physicists or linguists or cellists and other potential assets to society.[my emphasis]

The same article points out that Virginia Tech and the Atlantic Coast Conference had to purchase 17,500 tickets at $125 each for the 2009 Orange Bowl, but sold only 3,342, for a loss of $1.77 million — surely worth it for a marginal inclusion into Our Thing, as the B.C.S. could be called.

The latest Heisman mess and the B.C.S. shakedown have led me to reconsider my long-held position — “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” — about bowl games and the national championship. . . .

As it is now, only the anointed championship bowl game is worth a glance. And the old concern about keeping the lads from their classrooms and laboratories seems laughable at this stage.

Full article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/12/sports/ncaafootball/12vecsey.html

 

[Sackalot]

I doubt that many would argue that the BCS is a mess and it has resulted in a multitude poor decisions. ISU is not a BCS school...so this is somewhat irrelevant. Bowls are broken...back in the day the were great and fun, the Orange Bowl the Rose Bowl, etc. They were all on New Years Day and it was fun, they weren't ridiculous and so numerous that everyone got confused.

I think that the BCS is stupid. I hate the fact that the National Champion is decided....on January 4 or 5 or even later. It is stupid. I hate the fact that there are soo many bowls. I hate the fact that tickets are soooo expensive. I hate a lot of things about it. But, and it is a big but!! We are talking about 30-40 schools (if that) and there are hundreds and hundreds of schools out there that have nothing to do with this crap...and ISU is one of those.

Corruption is what is brought forth in this article and I do agree it is probably happening because it always happens. Lets not bring up the corruption that occurs within research circles. The millions upon millions of dollars in grants and funding that is misused, misappropriated and "stolen" by researchers in an effort to supposedly study something that is just not useful to society either!! Point is this, corruption exists in many forms and across many different areas...on a college campus, in society, gov't, etc. There is no question that corruption exists in the BCS....but there is corruption everywhere. Those that are in control of the BCS should be brought to the fire for their poor decisions and those that are corrupt in other areas should also be brought to the fire.

 

[garyd63]

Corruption is what is brought forth in this article and I do agree it is probably happening because it always happens. Lets not bring up the corruption that occurs within research circles. The millions upon millions of dollars in grants and funding that is misused, misappropriated and "stolen" by researchers in an effort to supposedly study something that is just not useful to society either!! Point is this, corruption exists in many forms and across many different areas...on a college campus, in society, gov't, etc. There is no question that corruption exists in the BCS....but there is corruption everywhere. Those that are in control of the BCS should be brought to the fire for their poor decisions and those that are corrupt in other areas should also be brought to the fire.

Couldn't agree more, Sackalot. Start a thread on the specifics of these forms of corruption and waste if you want. They're irrelevant to what I'm bringing up--corruption and waste, monetary and human, in college sports.

 

[garyd63]

Here’s an interesting item. I think we can all agree we don’t discuss women’s soccer nearly enough on this forum–except indirectly, when the GPAs of college athletes are being figured. Anyway, what do you think? Smart coaching, good for amateur athletics (sic), or another example of the slippery slope to full tilt professionalism in college sports?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/sports/soccer/19seminoles.html?_r=1&ref=sports

November 18, 2010
After Reprimand, College Coach Receives Support From Soccer Peers
By JERÉ LONGMAN

The Florida State women’s soccer team will play Saturday for a berth in the quarterfinals of the N.C.A.A. tournament, having made a provocative tactical decision that raised intriguing questions about sportsmanship, integrity and the autonomy of a coach to choose a lineup. . . .

And if you don’t get around to reading this article, here’s a one paragraph takeaway that updates the sorry financial situation of college sports.

The debate is whether conference tournaments are necessary competitive events or primarily a means to provide additional financing and television showcases at a time when the vast majority of colleges are losing money on athletics. Only 14 of the nation’s 120 major athletic departments reported making a profit in the 2008-09 school year, according to the N.C.A.A.

 

[Callmedoc]

Gary I was just wondering...since you said my accusations of professors harassing football players, "was ridiculous and False"

It got so bad for Sycamore football that Miles had to file complaints against professors for making fun of players in class, he said.

“I’ve had to complain to the administration about professors laughing at our players,” Miles said. “So anytime you can help these young men get in a situation where they’re enjoying their college experience now … that’s what it’s all about.”

 

[4Q_iu]

Here’s an interesting item. I think we can all agree we don’t discuss women’s soccer nearly enough on this forum–except indirectly, when the GPAs of college athletes are being figured. Anyway, what do you think? Smart coaching, good for amateur athletics (sic), or another example of the slippery slope to full tilt professionalism in college sports?


And if you don’t get around to reading this article, here’s a one paragraph takeaway that updates the sorry financial situation of college sports.

Did you read the 2nd paragraph?? Do you know WHY he kept the players home???

It's two-fold, yes -- partly because he wanted his team well-rested for the NCAA tourney (and not the ACC tourney), but also because he was tired of having to travel to NCarolina annually for the ACC tourney after just returning from a long road trip.

In a nutshell, every time the Carolina Women's soccer teams are due to travel prior to the tourney, the schedule is redone TO BENEFIT 4 schools.

Shouldn't come as a surprise as the ACC Commish is a UNC grad.

The rest of the Fla State story:

http://m.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101108/FSU08/11080321/-1/WAP&template=wapart

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Couldn't agree more, Sackalot. Start a thread on the specifics of these forms of corruption and waste if you want. They're irrelevant to what I'm bringing up--corruption and waste, monetary and human, in college sports.

Since you want to continue to beat this dead horse, one that isn't even in our pasture by the way, it's ON YOU to point out the relation to Indiana State. Better yet, give concrete examples where ISU is doing these things you mention.

Man, I love ice cream. The sky is blue. Do you like bubblegum? I need to wash my underwear. I think I'll have watch some TV now. I need a hair cut? Who are you? Where am I? WTF? I love lamp. Bring da ambalamps. You dun goofed son. Drops mic. I'm out.

 

[garyd63]

I quote:

Ye Olde Sycamore Pub (1 Viewing)
Open-topic moderated forum. Any topic (within reason) is appropriate here as long as they can be discussed with at least a degree of tact, civility, and respect for differing opinions.

I guess I take "open-topic" to mean, well, open-topic. If I'm wrong on this, banish me forever and continue merrily along in a bubble of uncritical fandom.

As far as linking every incident of corruption, money grubbing, exploitation, wastefulness, criminal activity, and on and on to ISU, that, as I have stated before is not my intention. ISU has been relatively free of "Stuff We Don't Like to Talk About." Certainly we are untouched by the major stuff, so far. I say so far because there are no guarantees in this business. It is a business and it can turn into a dirty business in ways even I can't imagine. Educational institutions along with their athletic boosters and fans have chosen to swim in these fetid waters. If we take on the odor of these waters at some point no one should be surprised. My point is that there is no reason for any of it.

Big Buck college athletics contribute nothing to the education of our students.

 

[garyd63]

Did you read the 2nd paragraph?? Do you know WHY he kept the players home???

It's two-fold, yes -- partly because he wanted his team well-rested for the NCAA tourney (and not the ACC tourney), but also because he was tired of having to travel to NCarolina annually for the ACC tourney after just returning from a long road trip.

In a nutshell, every time the Carolina Women's soccer teams are due to travel prior to the tourney, the schedule is redone TO BENEFIT 4 schools.

Shouldn't come as a surprise as the ACC Commish is a UNC grad.

The rest of the Fla State story:

http://m.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101108/FSU08/11080321/-1/WAP&template=wapart

This is a complex situation. It's also a symptomatic situation.

I take this controversy as an example of how money, win the big one and let the rest of the players and teams and the conference go scratch, my job is on the line, trumps the often stated but less and less practiced, spirit of what college athletics is supposed to be. The coach calls the shots and he's aiming his control at a target that's good for the coach. Any surprise that other coaches back him up? Any surprise that the hometown sports rag supports him?

 

[garyd63]

If I said this dgreen, I’d like very much to see the context:

Gary I was just wondering...since you said my accusations of professors harassing football players, "was ridiculous and False"

And if Coach Miles said this I would like to know who he said it to, when he said it, and if the administration is following it up and if not, why not.

It got so bad for Sycamore football that Miles had to file complaints against professors for making fun of players in class, he said.

“I’ve had to complain to the administration about professors laughing at our players,” Miles said. “So anytime you can help these young men get in a situation where they’re enjoying their college experience now … that’s what it’s all about.”

 

[bluestreak]

Hey Boda

How do you work that ignore thingy again?

 

[Callmedoc]

Hey Gary,
I am not going to waste my time copy and pasting the link but you could take the time ot read one of the many other things on this website...it is on the Southern Illinois Indiana State game thread...He said it to the Southern Illinois student paper...But please I would like to see you post about the positives in ISU athletics other than Badgering our athletics on an athletics website, it's like trying to preach to a bunch of christians about being aethist...

 

[Callmedoc]

Stand corrected....it was in the SIU student paper on the game...

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Here's something I don't like to talk about... soccer.

What do you guys think? Nice shot, eh?

 

[garyd63]

Probably a student complaining about fees she pays to support athletic teams.

 

[garyd63]

November 19, 2010
SEC Suspends Vols’ Coach for First 8 League Games
By PETE THAMEL

In what could be a harbinger for stiffer penalties for rules breakers in college sports, the Southeastern Conference announced Friday that the Tennessee men’s basketball coach, Bruce Pearl, would be suspended for the first eight league games. . . .
In September, Tennessee cut Pearl’s pay by $1.5 million over five years and prohibited him from participating in off-campus recruiting for a year after he acknowledged that he misled N.C.A.A. investigators about photographs taken of him with a recruit in 2008. Tennessee also found that Pearl and his assistants had broken N.C.A.A. rules by making too many phone calls to recruits. . . .
“I’m in favor of this type of thing,” Hamilton [Mike Hamilton, Tennessee’s athletic director] said. “I think it’s necessary if we’re going to take back control of things in college athletics.”

GO HERE http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/20/sports/ncaabasketball/20tennessee.html?ref=sports

I guess this means AD Hamilton is admitting things among the Programs of Plenty of Deficits are out of control. As the NYT's reported yesterday, "Only 14 of the nation’s 120 major athletic departments reported making a profit in the 2008-09 school year, according to the N.C.A.A."

 

[Callmedoc]

Gary...what are you talking about???? Pearl was suspended because of breaking NCAA rules...and what's your comment about a student who is annoyed by his fees??? I don't see you complaining about the printer fees, Student recreational center fees...I mean, you complain about a certain fee when there are tons of them...

 

[garyd63]

Just to clarify for dgreen. When I posted this,

“Probably a student complaining about fees she pays to support athletic teams.”

I was replying facetiously to the “soccer violence” clip Jason posted.

When you ask this, dgreen,

“Gary...what are you talking about???? Pearl was suspended because of breaking NCAA rules...”

all I can say is read this in my post again. Here’s what my comment is responding to,

“I’m in favor of this type of thing [suspensions for breaking rules],” Hamilton [Mike Hamilton, Tennessee’s athletic director] said. “I think it’s necessary if we’re going to take back control of things in college athletics.”

Get it? Mike Hamilton is saying, to repeat, “I think it’s necessary if we’re going to take back control of things in college athletics.”

Doesn’t this “taking back control” indicate that things have been out of control? It would be great if Hamilton would elaborate on this thought, but he's more than ready to put it all behind him, move on, win the next big game, hire the next big salaried coach. And isn’t this just more “Stuff We Don’t Like to Talk About”?

 

[garyd63]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/25/sports/ncaafootball/25leach.html?ref=ncaafootball

November 24, 2010
Leach Expects Depositions in Texas Tech Suit to Clear His Name
By PETE THAMEL

College football’s firing and hiring season will begin in earnest in the next few weeks, and Mike Leach is hoping to land a job after his contentious firing as coach at Texas Tech last year, partly on the grounds that he mistreated one of his players.

Leach said a key to his re-entry into major college football lies in the thousands of pages of court documents tied to his lawsuit against Texas Tech. He is seeking more than $12 million for breach of contract.

Texas Tech fired Leach on Dec. 29, 2009, for “continuous acts of insubordination” and his treatment of wide receiver Adam James, who accused Leach of isolating him in an equipment garage and media room while he was sitting out practice because of a concussion. The university said Leach’s treatment of James was “meant to demean, humiliate and punish the player rather than to serve the team’s best interest.”

The university has refused to pay Leach the rest of a five-year, $12.7 million contract he signed in February 2009. . . .

Only $12.7 million!?! What are the big babies and boosters at Texas Tech crying about? They bought the product, it had no returns or refunds all over it. Just ask any of the schools paying off big bucks to the lemons they purchased in hopes of. . . of . . . Oh right, few stop and ask that before they they throw money around.