#10: Iowa State says it is aware of online sports wagering allegations involving approximately 15 active student-athletes in football, wrestling and track & field. The university also notes it has “notified the NCAA and will take the appropriate actions to resolve these issues.” The Iowa Board of Regents notes it is aware of the allegations, as well as those involving the Iowa baseball team and ensures the board and the universities will cooperate fully with any investigations. UI also says it was made aware last week of “potential criminal conduct related to sports wagering” and received a list of individuals "alleged to have participated in sports wagering." (link)
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#9: The Las Cruces Sun News Groves dives deeper into push back by some New Mexico State constituents on the recent contract extension & compensation increase for Aggies AD Moccia amid some tension around his department. Of note from Groves: “In 2020, Moccia notified (former University Chancellor) Arvizu and former University President John Floros that a Chicago-based search firm contacted him to gauge interest in AD openings at DePaul and Central Michigan. Moccia's contract included a clause that required written notice to leadership when he is contacted by other institutions for potential jobs. [...] In December of 2021, Moccia had a Zoom interview regarding the UNLV AD position, and in November of 2021, Moccia notified leadership of interest in the Florida International AD position.” (link)
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#8: UCF is seeking $176.6M in funding from the Orange County tourist tax to pay for construction of an athletics village. Additionally, Florida Citrus Sports wants $800M to put a roof over Camping World Stadium. (link)
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#7: Washington AD Cohen taps Fresno State Senior Assoc. AD for Business Operations Cappadoro as Senior Assoc. AD/CFO in Seattle. (link) |
#6: ESPN shares a cool video on the newest NFL arms race: how creative teams can be with their schedule releases. Videos over the past few years have included former players, video games, easter eggs, cats in vases for some reason and other increasingly out-of-the-box themes. (link)
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#5: NCAA President Baker has tabbed management consulting firm Bain & Company for a “top to bottom” review of the association, per CBS’ Dodd. Big East Commissioner Ackerman tells Dodd she would like to see a “clearly defined commercial unit within the national office. [...] The NCAA is a billion-dollar concern because of the money they bring in from March Madness. I think we would all benefit from a clearly defined structure, business unit that would be run by a chief marketing officer and a chief commercial officer who would be entrusted with oversight over television with a dedicated broadcast person underneath them.” Ackerman also points to the possibilities of a partnership with student-athletes on NIL, the need for a dedicated leader to oversee all women’s sports & streamlining FBS football. More Ackerman: “Every time there is a lawsuit about football, the NCAA gets sued, all 350 [Division I] schools. Because these lawsuits are about them, when the NCAA gets sued, we're all sharing in the risk and legal liabilities.” Lots here to unpack. (link)
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#4: The NFLPA and Rev. Al Sharpton release a statement denouncing the NCAA’s refusal to pay student-athletes, noting the “13th Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude ‘except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.’ … The NCAA argues that ‘amateurism’ should be given the same deference and legal effect as the 13th Amendment ‘slavery exception.’” The statement continues to assert that the “NCAA’s comparison trivializes the historical significance of the 13th Amendment. It implies that college athlete labor belongs to the NCAA and its member schools in a manner repugnant to all college athletes, particularly to African-American descendants of slaves. … The NCAA and its member schools should do the right thing and pay college athletes on an hourly basis, just as is the case for fellow students who work in campus offices, dining halls, libraries and as support staff at NCAA games.” Full statement. (link)
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#3: The men’s and women’s lacrosse national championship brackets are set. Top seeds on the men’s side include Duke, Virginia, Notre Dame and Maryland. (link); Top seeds on the women’s side are Northwestern, Syracuse, Boston College and North Carolina. (link)
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#2: West Virginia and Mountaineers Men’s Basketball HC Huggins have released statements regarding the homophobic remarks Huggins made on a Cincinnati radio program, which reads, in part: “During the conversation, I used a completely insensitive and abhorrent phrase that there is simply no excuse for —and I won't try to make one here. I deeply apologize to the individuals I have offended, as well as to the Xavier University community, the University of Cincinnati and West Virginia University. As I have shared with my players over my 40 years of coaching, there are consequences for our words and actions, and I will fully accept any coming my way. I am ashamed and embarrassed and heartbroken for those I have hurt. I must do better, and I will." WVU: “Coach Huggins' remarks today on a Cincinnati radio show were insensitive, offensive and do not represent our University values. Coach Huggins has since apologized. West Virginia University does not condone the use of such language and takes such actions very seriously. The situation is under review and will be addressed by the University and its athletics department.” (link)
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#1: Spectrum News' McInnis reports Hawai'i President Lassner will recommend LIU Senior Deputy AD Angelos to become UH's next AD. McInnis with added context: "Angelos still faces a large step to be officially hired as David Matlin’s successor; he must be confirmed by the UH Board of Regents at its meeting on Thursday. Due to a change in the structuring of UH upper administration since previous athletic director hires, the AD is now selected by the president and given final say by the regents." (link)
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