Rutgers Gets Worse?

Report: Rutgers AD at center of 2008 lawsuit http://espn.go.com/new-york/college-sports/story/_/id/9319545/julie-hermann-new-rutgers-scarlet-knights-ad-reportedly-center-sex-discrimination-suit?

Found this on ESPN though you would like to see it for yourself.

Rice Due 100K

Hey All,

Today I recently found out that EX-Rutgers head men's basketball coach Mike Rice is due a bonus of $100,000. Now this is absolutely ridiculous to me because of the reason why he was fired. For those of you who don't know why he was fired, Rice was fired for verbally and physically abusing his players. Now that being said, does that sound like someone who deserves their bonus? It sure doesn't to me, and if I was the athletic director, he wouldn't be receiving any type of bounce from me.

Now according to Rice's contract, if he finished the 2012-2013 season, then he would be awarded his bonus of $100,000. In my eyes his contract should be voided because of the reason as to why he was fired, but unfortunately it's not my call to make.

Rice was paid $622,500 and had bonuses for winning games and graduating players. The problem is, that some players quit, or transferred schools because of Rice's actions in practice. So right there, no bonus for you because you're the reason kids are leaving the schools.

Now, the video of him screaming gay slurs at the kids, slapping them in the back of the heads, throwing basketballs at them, and even shoving them around the court was brought to the athletic directors attention in December. He felt that it was best to just discipline the coach with a three game suspension and a $50,000 fine with anger management classes. If Rice would have been fired on the spot then, like he should have been, then he would not have been entitled to his bonus, but since nothing was done he is entitled to his bonus because he "completed" his contract obligations.

According to foxspots.com and Athletic Spokesmen Jason Baum Rice will be receiving his bonus of $100,000 because he did technically completed the terms of his contract, and they are legally obligated to give him his money. I just think that they could find a way to not pay him because of his actions, the loss of students to Rutgers University, and the consoling that some of the players had to go through because of the coach.

Until next time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports. 

WVU Rolls Past James Madison

Hey All,

As fun as they are to watch, Geno Smith and his West Virginia receivers don't play Sam Huff football.

Too much finesse. Too many yards. Too many points.

It was only appropriate, therefore, that on the day the Mountaineers honored their legendary linebacker, the less-heralded defense had a couple of moments that no doubt did him proud.

Give Smith his well-deserved accolades for his five touchdown passes Saturday in the No. 9 Mountaineers' 42-12 win over James Madison, but don't fault the defense if it boasts a bit about a couple of goal line stands that might have looked right at home in the Huff days of the 1960s.

"I bet you he was pretty excited, wasn't he?" West Virginia defensive coordinator Joe DeForest said. "I hope so. I'd like to talk to him about it. ... What they did there, they showed like they're growing up."

With the Mountaineers playing at the Washington Redskins stadium -- they need to maintain an East Coast profile for recruiting now that they've moved to the Big 12 -- former Redskins Hall of Fame linebacker Huff served as the honorary captain and soaked up the cheers as he held up his long-retired No. 75 jersey during the quarter break in the first half.

By then, Smith had already staked West Virginia (2-0) to a 21-0 lead. He went to complete 34 of 39 passes for 411 yards, moving past Marc Bulger (8,153) to set the school record for career yards passing (8,191).

Smith's favorite targets, Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin, both had 100 yards receiving by halftime. Bailey finished with 173 yards on 13 catches and three touchdowns, while Austin had 113 yards on 11 receptions and one score for the Mountaineers, who piled up 569 yards and improved to 13-0 all-time against FCS schools.

What could Smith have done better? Not much.

"I had five incompletions," the quarterback said. "I could've completed all five of those."

He added that he could have made better decisions when the offense hit a lull in the third quarter, but that's when the defense came through, stopping James Madison on four running plays after the Dukes had first-and-goal at the 3, then coming up with a third-down interception in the end zone after a first-and-goal at the 9.

"The two goal line stands were very impressive," West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen said. "As a team we overcame adversity there in the third quarter. We've got to get used to that."

They won't have much if Smith keeps playing like this, working the no-huddle attack with creative tosses, slip screens and scrambles. It was a thing of beauty when he ignored the rusher in his face and draped a pass onto Austin's shoulder for a 24-yard gain in the second quarter.

Much of the time, however, the quarterback found receivers so open that his passes became easy target practice, including his 4-yard touchdown throw to Dante Campbell for the redshirt freshman's first collegiate catch.

Stedman's touchdown catches came in various shapes and sizes -- a 9-yarder on a screen, a 3-yarder on a fade in which no one covered him, and a 30-yarder that Smith lobbed perfectly into a seam between two defensive backs down the sideline.

The Mountaineers have scored 181 points in their past three games -- including 70 in last season's Orange Bowl and 69 in their opener against Marshall.

The Dukes (2-1), remembered for stunning then-No. 13 Virginia Tech two years ago, tried just about everything, but they were never in this one.

"They've shown potential to upset people," Holgorsen said. "I give our guys credit for not falling into that trap."

James Madison got called for 12 men on the field twice on defense in the first quarter, and then successfully converted a fourth-and-1 at their own 34 on the first play of the second quarter -- a ploy that managed to keep the Mountaineers' offense off the field for a least a couple of extra minutes.

"We didn't come out of the chute at all," James Madison coach Mickey Matthews said. "I can't show you why. We didn't show a lot of poise."

The Dukes were also missing leading rusher Dae'Quan Scott, who injured an ankle last week. Then they lost Daniel Brown to a torn ACL in his right knee on the first offensive play, defensive tackle Jordan Stanton to a concussion, and safety Titus Till to an ankle injury.

James Madison's fans roared when their team finally forced West Virginia to punt late in the first half, and again when the Mountaineers' Shawne Alston was tackled for a safety in the third quarter -- although the two points were a bittersweet consolation prize that came after the offense had been halted by the Huff-like stop at the 1.

"The goal line stands by them in the third quarter," Matthews said, "certainly kept it out of reach."

Until next time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports.

College Football Playoff System

Hey All,

 Finally, the moment everyone has been waiting for, a playoff system for NCAA Football. In the 2014 season, there will be a four team playoff system.


Playoffs and tournaments long have determined champions of every college sport from baseball to bowling.That ended Tuesday. Come 2014, the BCS is dead.

A committee of university presidents approved a plan for a four-team playoff put forward by commissioners of the top football conferences.

For years, the decision-makers had balked at any type of playoff because they said it would diminish the importance of the regular season. If only two teams had a chance to win a championship in the postseason, even one loss could be too many. That made for some very high stakes regular-season games. As recently as 2008, Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive proposed the type of plan adopted Tuesday, and it was quickly shot down.

Four years later, minds changed. The 12 university presidents stood shoulder to shoulder on a stage at a news conference in a posh hotel in the nation's capital and delivered the news.

''It's a great day for college football,'' BCS Executive Director Bill Hancock said. ''As soon as the commissioners realized they could do this and protect the regular season, the light went on for everybody.''

The move completes a six-month process for the commissioners, who have been working on a new way to determine a major college football champion after years of griping from fans. The latest configuration is certain to make even more money for the schools than the old system,  and not satisfy everyone.

''There were differences of views,'' said Virginia Tech President Charles Steger, who headed the BCS presidential oversight committee. ''I think it would be a serious mistake to assume it was a rubber stamp.''

''This is the package that was put forth and we will strongly support it,'' he said.

Instead of simply matching the nation's No. 1 and No. 2 teams in a title game after the regular season, the way the BCS has done since 1998, the new format will create a pair of national semifinals.

Many college football fans have been clamoring for a playoff for years, and the BCS has been a constant target for criticism. Lawmakers have railed against it. A political action committee was formed, dedicated to its destruction. The Justice Department looked into whether it broke antitrust laws. Even President Obama said he wanted a playoff.

Now it's a reality.

No. 1 will play No. 4, and No. 2 will play No. 3 on Dec. 31 and/or Jan. 1. The sites of those games will rotate among the four current BCS bowls — Rose, Orange, Fiesta and Sugar — and two more to be determined. One of the new sites likely will be wherever the newly formed bowl created by the SEC and Big 12 is played, Slive said.

The Cotton Bowl, played at the $1.1 billion Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, has long wanted to be part of the BCS and is expected to make a strong push to be in the semifinal rotation.


The winners of the semis will advance to the championship on the first Monday in January that is six or more days after the last semifinal. The first ''Championship Monday,'' as it was called in the BCS release, is set for Jan. 12, 2015.

The site of the title game will move around the way the Super Bowl does, with cities bidding for the right to host.

The teams will be selected by a committee, similar to the way the NCAA basketball tournament field is set. The men's tournament has 68 teams, and 37 at-large bids.

The football committee will have a much tougher task, trying to whittle the field down to four. This season, 125 schools will play at the highest level of college football.

Among the factors the committee will consider are won-loss record, strength of schedule, head-to-head results and whether a team is a conference champion. The selection committee will also play a part in creating matchups for the games at the four sites that do not hold a semifinal in a given year.

''I think it's tremendous progress,'' Washington State coach Mike Leach, a playoff proponent. ''Five years ago there wasn't even dialogue about a playoff. Instead of diving in the water, they dipped their toes in. I think it's going to be ridiculously exciting and it's going to generate a bunch of money. I wish they dived in.''

The BCS had given automatic qualifying status to six conferences, the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, Atlantic Coast Conference, Pac-12 and Big East. That allowed those leagues better access to the big, high-payout games than the other five conferences, such as the Mountain West and Conference USA.

Automatically qualified status is gone and the commissioners believe the new system will create more interesting games beyond the ones that determine the national title.

''What the system now is, several semifinals, championship game and some access bowls. By creating a couple of access bowls, people will be able to play high-quality opponents in big venues with big brands,'' Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany said.


Get the latest news, features, stats and more from one of greatest sources of college football information.

No one has put a hard number on it yet, but this new format figures to more than double the TV revenue of the current BCS and Rose Bowl contracts. Those pay out about $155 million annually.

The commissioners want to lock in this format for 12 years with a television partner. The current four-year BCS deal with ESPN runs through the 2013 season. The new format will be presented to potential TV partners in the fall, starting with ESPN.

''I think we have found what we think is the right place and it stabilizes the postseason for a length of time that I think is healthy for the game,'' said Slive, whose members have won the last six BCS championships.

There are still some details to work out,  such as who will be on the committee and what new bowls will be involved in the semifinal rotation, but all the decision-makers are on board.

Lower divisions of college football already have a playoff, but the highest level has always used bowls and polls to determine its champion. Those days are coming to an end.

''We believe this new format will be good for student-athletes, for the alumni and for our institutions,'' Steger said. ''It's a best of both worlds result. It captures the excitement of the playoff while protecting the regular season.''

Notre Dame D-End Transfers

Hey All,

 As most of you know, it is a critical part of the year for college football. With spring ball happening, teams recruiting for next season, and players transferring to other schools. This is going to be the topic for this next blog; transfers, with the focus being on Notre Dame.

Defensive end Aaron Lynch, who left Notre Dame last week has transferred to the University of South Florida.

Lynch, who led Notre Dame with 5.5 sacks as a freshman in 2011, signed his scholarship paperwork on Monday. When he left Notre Dame, Lynch expressed a desire to play closer to his home town of Fort Myers Florida. With USF only being 120 miles away, he will be playing very close to his how town.

It is unclear whether the USF Bulls will seek a waiver from the NCAA that would allow Lynch to play ball immediately. Lynch being a 6-foot-6 270 pound Defensive end, the Bulls will be hopeful for the waiver to get him on the field ASAP. If the Bulls don't get a waiver, then Lynch must sit out for the 2012 season.

While at Notre Dame, Lynch was one of the nation's best freshman defenders. After an 18-14 Champs Sports Bowl loss to Florida State, in which Lynch had 5 tackles and 1.5 sacks, Seminoles QB E.J> Manuel predicted Lynch would be "All-World" in future years.

It will be interesting to see what will happen with Lynch, and whether or not he will receive a waiver or not to be able to play for USF this season. I don't think it will be good for him if he does not receive the waiver and cannot play this season. That could hurt him in the long run with not getting the experense that he needs to make it at the next level.

I will keep you up to date as soon as I hear what is happening with the newest member of the USF Bulls.

Until next time,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports.

Back to Back Champions

Hey All,

 A big day in D3 Hoops for a small school in the back woods of West Virginia. Bethany College a school known more for it's academics, rather than it's athletics, flexed its muscles last night at Hummel Field House. The Men's Basketball team did what they have done all season long, Win. Last night was the biggest game for the Bison as they played in the PAC Championship game, and Bethany College hosted this event being the #1 seed in the PAC, and #25 in the Nation this season.

The Bison were taking on Thomas More and were looking to repeat as Champions. They did just that in a hard fought victory last night, Feb. 25 2012. The Bison were lead by junior  Reece Mabery who scored 16 points and sophmore Leslie Addy who had 15 points in last night game. This was a hard fought victory for the Bison as Thomas More wouldn't go away without a fight.

The first half was highlighted by a stifling Bison defense, which limited Thomas More to just 19 percent shooting (5-26). The Saints’ Phil Feinberg hit a lay-up with 10:22 left in the half and it would be the final field goal of the opening stanza for the visitors. Leading 17-15 with 5:22 to go in the period, Bethany rolled off a 13-2 surge to build a 30-17 lead going into halftime. Addy, who buried a three for the final points before the break, dropped in 10 before halftime. In addition to holding TMC to just 17 points, the Green and White converted eight turnovers into 11 points on their end.

The opening points of the second half was a lay-up by Thomas More’s Colt Stafford, but another trey by Addy highlighted a 9-0 run that took Bethany’s lead to 39-19 with 16:32 to play. Just when it looked like BC was in position to put the game away, the Saints heated up from the outside and Bethany went cold. Three-pointers by Todd Krohman and Daniel Whelan helped the Saints chip into the deficit, but when Bison junior James Barton (Bethel Park, Pa.) hit a lay-up with 10:09 to go, it was still a 45-31 BC lead. However, that proved to be the final field goal of the contest for Bethany, who would have to win it with defense and free throw shooting. Thomas More climbed back into the game with a 14-3 run to chop the Bison lead to 48-45 with 5:19 to play. A couple missed free throws helped keep the Saints in it and when Ryan Hamm cashed in a three-pointer with 38 seconds left, BC held the slimmest of leads at 52-51.Bethany would finally secure the victory and their sixth PAC Tournament championship in 11 years by hitting clutch foul shots. Addy stepped up first by swishing a pair with 37 seconds left. Mabery then made a steal on the other end, one of his five thefts on the night, and was fouled. He buried both of those attempts and two more with five seconds to play following a TMC bucket to provide the winning margin. Once the final buzzer sounded, the raucous student section stormed the court to join the celebration with the record-setting Bison.

The difference makers were: Addy stepped up by setting a new career-high with 15 points, while Barton rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10. Senior British Alexander recorded nine points and seven boards before fouling out and junior Nick Wilcox scored eight points and matched his career-high with 13 rebounds.

With the win, the Bison repeat as PAC champions and win their 14th conference crown, the most in PAC history. Now with a 25-3 overall, BC has broken the single-season school record for victories previously set in 2004-05. Thomas More finishes the season with a 20-8 record. The victory and conference title also gives Bethany the PAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. It will be the program’s eighth overall trip to the Big Dance and second in a row after last year’s loss in the opening round to Manchester. The NCAA Tournament pairings and locations will be announced Monday at noon.

I will be informing you with whatever happens with the Bison and their run for now a NCAA title. I will also be updating you via Twitter (@michaelbonaven3). So if it's College Hoops you want, then be sure to check back in for updates as they happen.

Until next time reader,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports

The Army Navy Game

Hey All,

Sorry it's been long since the last time I've posted something, it's been a very busy week and I finally have time to post something so here we go.

This afternoon it was the great American Game Army Vs Navy. This game was a lot closer than most would think. Normally this game is mostly controlled by Navy, and Navy had no different plans this year. Navy has won the last 10 meeting between the two teams, and the overall record for all time meetings with Army Navy is 56-48-7 in favor of Navy. Navy's running attack could not be stopped, and both teams Defense were not existent. The final score in this game was 27-21 in favor of Navy. Both teams run a option style Offense which can utilize the passing game, but mostly focuses on the run. Between the two teams there was over 500 yards rushing combined. This is outstanding for a football game now a days. The triple option for Navy tore through the D of Army. With the fullback either getting the or could receive a fake and then the option will be ran. Navy needed this bust and this game is the most watched by the nation. It should be known as the great American game and especially with our country in a time of war, this is what they need. A good game between two of the countries armed forces. It brings back a sense of pride in our country, and it's nice to see when both teams go over to their fellow troops to sing their song, the apposing team comes behind them in respect. It was nice to see a change of passe with Navy winning this game, and still the respect between the two teams.

Until next time readers,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports.

Two Close Games

Hey All,

So much to talk about and so little time. Yesterday there were two outstanding games in the world of the NHL and the NCAA college football world. Let's start out with the game that came on first, the Pittsburgh Penguins vs the Washington Capitals. This game is always exciting to watch as I'm sure it is to play. The Pens were still down a few players with injury. Letang and Michalek didn't even make the trip due to injury. Everyone thought that this game was not going to go good for the Pens being down their top two Defensmen. But the rest of the Defense stepped up their game to fill in for the missing players. Not only did the Defense step up their game, but the Offense played out of their minds. The Caps didn't even have a shot on goal until 9 minutes into the game, whereas the Pens had 8 and they even put one past the goalkeep of the Capitals. That is how the score would look until the second period where the Caps would get one past Marc Andre Fleury to tie the game at 1-1. Like I said the entire team would pick up their play to fill in for Letang's and Michalek's absence from the game. Simon Despres, a rookie in the NHL, would pick up his first ever point in the NHL. He would pick up this point on the an assist on the goal from Chris Kunitz to make the game 2-1 in favor of your Pittsburgh Penguins just 2:36 into the 3rd period. This would be the final score in last night game, but not without an amazing rush from the Caps who aren't trying to lose the second game in a row under a new head coach. This would be the case for the Caps though who have always seemed to have the Pens number in the regular season. Not last night, the Pens Defense made it happen and Fleury was outstanding between the pipes. This was what the Pens needed after a tough lose to the Rangers two nights before. I can't wait to see what happens when Letang and Michalek come back, and if the Pens can keep that level of play up.

Let's get to the second game shall we. The West Virginia Mountaineers faced the University of South Florida Bulls in a very critical game for both teams. For the Mountaineers a win against USF and a win by Cincinnati on Saturday could very well mean that WVU will win the Big East and and a chance at a BCS Bowl game. The stars will need to aline in order for this to happen. This game last night though would not be easy for WVU as a win by USF would send them to their 7th straight Bowl appearance. It was a Defensive game from the very beginning. There was no scoring in the 1st quarter of the game, but in the 2nd quarter is when the Offense for both teams took off. The Mounties got on the board first with a touchdown coming from the Defense on a pick 6. Then it was USF's turn on Offense to try and get something going, but the Mountaineers D said not today and forced them to punt. This is when the Special Teams for WVU picked up the game and blocked the punt and got the ball on the 10 yard line. The D of the Bulls said now it's our turn to say no, and forced a field goal from the Mounties. They would later get one more to go up 13-0 and then they would give up a TD on a spectacular catch in the end zone. At the half the Mountaineers were up 13-7 at the half. After the half USF would drive again and pick up yet another field goal, but trouble would come back around for the Bulls on the next kickoff. Austin would take the next kickoff back for a touchdown and keep the D on the field. At the end of the 3rd it was 20-13 in favor of the Neers. The game would get crazy as the Bulls would come back and take the lead 27-20 with not a lot of time left on the clock. The Mounties would come back and tie it though with under 3:00 minutes to go. The Mountaineers would stop USF for the last time with 1:13 left to go on the clock, and get the ball back and drive down the field with no timeouts left. With just seconds left on a 4th and 10 WVU's Geno Smith would connect with Bailey well inside the range of the kicker. They would set up and spike the ball with 3 seconds left. They get everything set up and the kick put it through the uprights with no time left on the clock. You couldn't have asked for a better finish and a better way to end the regular season for the Mounties. Now they just need to hope that the Barecats of Cincinnati to pick up the victory against UConn Saturday and put WVU into a BCS Bowl Game.

Until next time readers,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports.

A New Conference For Two College Teams

Hey All, I know that most of you have probably heard the news that two of the Big East teams are leaving the conference for the ACC. I don't like this move because I know that these two teams, Pitt and Syracuse, are doing it because of money. Also I think that these two just think that they are the "power houses" in the Big East, and will have a better look at a bowl game if they move. Now I know they probably won't get a better bowl game, due to the fact that I don't think that they will do very good in this conference. The ACC is no give me conference, it has some tough teams in it, way tougher than that of the Big East. Some of the teams, to name a few, are; Maryland, Miami, Clemson, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Duke, Florida State, NC State, Wake Forest, and Boston College. All of these teams would crush both Pitt and Syracuse. And another thing, since they approved this move, what is going to happen with the "Back Yard Brawl"? One of the most historic rivalries in college football today is Pitt VS. WVU. This would not help the Big East ratings at all. The Big East is already a basketball conference as it is, now your taking teams out of it to move to conferences? They might as well just take the rest of the teams in the Big East and move them to other conferences, and get ride of the entire conference, for football, and just go from there. I can't wait to see how either of these teams do in their new conference, and just how next season when they move will turn out. If this is the last and final year for the "Back Yard Brawl", I am going to be one sad WVU fan.