#10: Stanford has expanded its lead in the Learfield Directors’ Cup Winter Standings with 977 points. The Cardinal are followed by Texas (746.50), North Carolina (733.50), Michigan (708), Penn State (702.75), Notre Dame (698), Nebraska (672.25), Ohio State (669), Wisconsin (662.50) and Alabama (659.13) in the top 10. Full standings. (link)
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#9: The Chicago Bears have unveiled plans for a new multibillion-dollar lakefront stadium as part of a public-private partnership & includes interest in attracting Final Fours & high-profile college football games. The team will commit $2B to construct an enclosed stadium and a multipurpose recreational and cultural campus. From the Bears’ release: “The recreational and cultural campus anchored by a new replacement stadium will add to the vitality of downtown. It will attract residents and visitors alike to a more vibrant campus that can be enjoyed throughout the year. … Soldier Field will be restored to its original scale with open athletic fields, and the historic colonnade, honoring the military men and women who have served our country, will be preserved and publicly accessible.” Have a look. (link)
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#8: Stephen F. Austin announces West Texas A&M (DII) AD Michael McBroom as its next AD, effective May 15. SFA Interim President Gina Oglesbee: "We are excited about the future of Lumberjack athletics under McBroom's leadership. His proven ability to build championship-worthy programs – both on the playing surfaces and in the classroom – aptly matches the goals of SFA Athletics and the university." McBroom: "This is a dynamic time in college athletics, and our job is to set the stage so that we can achieve an unprecedented level of success across the board. SFA is going to carve out a niche that results in record numbers of championships, graduates and support for all teams and all student-athletes. My family and I can't wait to get to Nacogdoches and start this exciting new chapter." Dave Campbell's Texas Football's Cory Hogue reported it first. (link, link)
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#7: George Mason unveils a new logo to cap its three-year rebrand effort. President Gregory Washington: “Higher education in America is at an inflection point, with families having a harder time finding a top-quality, affordable college education at a university that will actually admit them. George Mason has always offered these things, but few families know of this value because our brand and message have not been adequately heard. This new look is our reintroduction to the community, and a symbol of our commitment to the fundamentals: outstanding and rigorous academics, pragmatic career preparation and internships, flexibility and value, and an atmosphere of belonging for everyone.” Having the entire university represented by a single logo also “fixes several operational challenges with the existing logo system, and visuals that were difficult to maintain consistently across the university’s complex academic environment.” Have a look. (link)
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#6: Tulsa AD Rick Dickson announces his retirement after a total of 32 years as an AD. President Brad R. Carson: "Rick has truly been a servant of this university. Driven by a sense of duty to student-athletes and higher education, he is the best kind of AD – one who answers the call and leads by example. He is not afraid of hard work and is generous to a fault. Rick's deep understanding of collegiate athletics and commitment to our university will be sorely missed. We wish him and his family all the best." (link)
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#5: The New York Yankees unveil the team’s new clubhouse, which, as you might imagine, has everything, including the Pinstripe Diner, various pools and several futuristic chambers whose functions surely elude this humble writer. (link)
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#4: A new rule finalized by the U.S. Department of Labor will require colleges and universities to provide either a pay raise or overtime benefits to thousands of admissions officers, student affairs professionals and athletics staffers. Previously, universities were exempt from clocking work hours and providing overtime pay to any employee salaried at or above $35,568. The new rule raises that bar nearly 65% to $58,656, effective January 1, 2025. The change is expected to impact roughly 4M employees nationwide, and the Biden administration has tried to address concerns about the timeline by breaking the shift into two parts—first a smaller increase to $43,888 by July 1, and then a larger jump to $58,656 in the new year. American Council on Education President Ted Mitchell: “We are disappointed that DOL failed to fully address the concerns raised by the entire higher education community. Ultimately, students will be harmed if institutions are forced to cut services, reduce financial aid, reduce staffing, and raise tuition to address the rapid growth in costs this rule would produce.” (link)
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#3: Missouri announces Memphis AD Laird Veatch will take over as the Tigers’ next AD. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey weighs in on the hire: "Laird Veatch's energy and leadership skills will serve him well in his new position as director of athletics at Missouri. His previous experience at Missouri provides him with insight into the Mizzou campus, and he will also benefit from his experience in the SEC as a senior member of the Florida staff. We welcome Laird, Brandy and their family back to the SEC." ZRG Partners assisted with the search. (link)
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#2: Portland State AD John Johnson announces his resignation, effective at the end of April. "I have enjoyed my time at Portland State, but my wife Lisa and I have decided at this time that we have a much greater need to be with her family. I will miss Portland State and the Big Sky Conference and am grateful for the opportunity I have had to lead a Division I athletics program once again, and I am confident that I leave the athletics program at PSU well positioned for the future.” JohnCanzano.com's namesake reported the news first. (link, link)
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#1: Texas A&M is laying off at least a dozen staffers and high-level administrators, including Executive Deputy AD/COO Justin Moore, Deputy AD for External Relations and Business Development Chris Park, Deputy AD for Administration & Leadership/SWA Kristen Brown, Assoc. AD for Branding, Creative and Communications Tyler Pigg. Aggies AD Trev Alberts explains the downsizing is a “reorganization related to existing and emerging threats to our business model” and adds: “We are on the cusp of unprecedented change in the world of intercollegiate athletics. As a department, we have to adapt and become more efficient and effective so that we are best positioned for the changes to come. However, what will not change is this: student-athletes are our priority and making sure their experience at Texas A&M is second to none is our goal. … These changes are difficult and let me state emphatically these people have done nothing wrong. These are good, hard-working members of the Aggie family and their service is greatly appreciated. I can assure you, this was not personal, it was a business decision, and a very difficult one at that.” (link, link)
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