Bruce Fleming, New York Times: The Naval Academy
English professor, in an op-ed piece, writes that the
academy has lost its way. "The academy’s former pursuit of
excellence seems to have been pushed aside by the all-consuming desire
to beat Notre Dame at football (as Navy did last year). To keep our
teams in the top divisions of the National Collegiate Athletic
Association, we fill officer-candidate slots with students who have been
recruited primarily for their skills at big-time sports. That means we
reject candidates with much higher predictors of military success (and,
yes, athletic skills that are more pertinent to military service) in
favor of players who, according to many midshipmen who speak candidly to
me, often have little commitment to the military itself."
Jay Drew, Salt Lake Tribune: Former Brigham Young coach LaVell Edwards says he has no regrets about retiring 10 years ago. "It is funny," he says. "I hear people that retire say that they are as busy as they have ever been, and I used to wonder about that. But I guess it is true. It just seems like there is always something I need to be doing, or have been doing. But at the end of the week, I sit down and I think, what did I do?" Plus, five questions with Edwards, including his opinion of the Bowl Championship Series: "It is unfair, plain and simple."
Jay Drew, Salt Lake Tribune: BYU's policy of not playing on Sunday could hurt the Cougars' chances of changing conferences, but university president Cecil O. Samuelson reiterates that the policy will not change.
Dick Harmon, Deseret News: Who attracts more TV sets in football and basketball, BYU or Utah?
Kyle Veazey, Clarion Ledger: Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive, who has led the league since 2002, was paid $2.1 million in the fiscal year that ended on Aug. 31, 2009, according to Internal Revenue Service documents obtained by the newspaper.
Chadd Cripe and Brian Murphy, Idaho Statesman: Will Boise State president Bob Kustra get his wish and have Broncos move to the Mountain West Conference? Utah president Michael Young says an invitation involves more than athletics and wonders about Boise's academic "trajectory." Plus, a look at the nine Mountain West presidents who will decide Boise's fate.
Mike Sorensen, Deseret News: It's going to take an act of Congress for the BCS to change.
Dick Weiss, New York Daily News: Mark Herzlich, Boston College's All-American linebacker, is cancer-free and on schedule to play in the opener against Weber State.
Sports By Brooks: It would appear former Tennessee player Nu'Keese Richardson and his friend, North Carolina State defensive back Jarvis Byrd, have some serious growing up to do after "shopping" in a Wal-Mart. The players denied they did anything wrong.
Tom Coyne, Associated Press: Notre Dame has little desire to join the Big Ten, but why? For one thing, it doesn't need the money. And then there is this from Murray Sperber, who has written books on the FIghting Irish's history: "The idea of playing Iowa and Indiana every year doesn't particularly appeal to them."
Al Lesar, South Bend Tribune: Lou Holtz on what Notre Dame should do. "I would continue to be an independent, but [I make that decision] without all the facts. ... The fact is, Notre Dame has always been a national institution. We have fans all over the country. We played the best there was in the country, that was [then president] Father [Theodore] Hesburgh's goal. However, those things might be changing now within the structure of football. What was right for Notre Dame in 1946, 1986, may not be right for them in 2010. That's why I'm not the president."
Randy Galloway, Fort Worth Star-Telegram: In expansion, Texas is the prize.
Terry Hutchens, Indianapolis Star: If the goal of Big Ten expansion is better football and basketball, a good place to start is Texas.
John Grupp, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: One school that doesn't seem to improve the Big Ten's television footprint is Pitt.
Bart Wright, Greenville News: College football’s New Deal will only get more divisive as time passes and some get invited to the broadcast money equivalent of the Senior Prom, while others are left waiting, alone, looking for something more than a date.
Jay Paterno, State College.com: There will be no free lunch in Big Ten expansion.
Jim Henry, FanHouse: Pressure? Virginia's Mike London knows pressure and coaching isn't it.
Rob Moseley, Eugene Register-Guard: Phil Knight's Nike dollars continue to flow at Oregon. The Ducks are planning to build a new football operations center that will also require the construction of a new soccer and lacrosse facility. Cost of the project is valued "in excess of $5 million."
Joey Knight, Tampa Bay.com: Dontae Aycock has been dismissed from Auburn's team for an unspecified violation of team rules. Or at least that's the school's version. The running back has a different story. Aycock reportedly went to Gene Chizik to request a transfer. Soon thereafter, his dismissal was announced.
Lou Rabito, Philadelphia Inquirer: Let's orally commit to banning "orally commit."
Miami Herald: Florida walk-on defensive lineman Lamar Abel has died.
Lisa R. Schoolcraft, Atlanta Business Chronicle: Lee Corso's son, Dan, is now the executive director of the Atlanta Sports Council. Thanks to Get The Picture.
Dave Sittler, Tulsa World: Trying to sort out possible scenarios for Tulsa if there is a raid on Conference USA by the Big East.
New Mexico State: The Aggies will honor the U.S. military for a second consecutive season by wearing the crest of the USS New Mexico submarine on the back of their helmets.
Paul Myerberg, Pre-Snap Read: Catching up with the countdown: No. 105 Akron, No. 104 Louisiana Tech and No. 103 Rice.
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