Sports By Brooks: ESPN is the focus of a barrage of complaints
for its Friday telecast of the prep game between Northern California
teams Folsom and Grant. The network pulled players out of class to do
interviews and tried to restrict local media coverage of the game. The
network delivered boxes of sports-branded bottles and jugs with
the explicit order to display them on the sideline. Grant coach Mike
Alberghini said the money ESPN paid for carrying the game was "piddly."
Folsom officials said they had to wrestle for their $2,000 check, and
they argued for Grant to get something, too. The Pacers received $1,000.
Mike Hlas, Cedar Rapids Gazette: Former Iowa coach Hayden Fry will be the conductor as Hawkeye fans attempt to set a new Guinness world record Friday for the largest organized Hokey Pokey Dance. The current world record was set in 2003 in Toronto with 4,431 participants.
Steve Wieberg, USA Today: Will the North ever be able to rise again in college football?
Caulton Tudor, Raleigh News & Observer: For anyone to deny that North Carolina's football culture is either out of control or close to that point is to turn a sterile nose to the rancid odor that has permeated Kenan Stadium throughout the summer. That's especially the case with coach Butch Davis, who is being paid $2 million annually to win games and operate a clean, respectable program.
Chris Murray, Reno Gazette-Journal: Nevada's $21.4 million athletic budget ranks fourth in the Western Athletic Conference, but the Wolf Pack will be about $11 million below the Mountain West average went they become a member of that league.
George Schroeder, Eugene Register-Guard: The former president of the Football Writers Association of America defends the group's decision to strip USC of the 2004 Grantland Rice Trophy and leave the title vacant.
Melissa B. Taboada, Austin American-Statesman: Texas has started to sell water packaged in a bottle that is a scale-model replica of the iconic Texas Tower. About 40% of proceeds from H2Orange will go to scholarships, fellowships and internships for Longhorn students. Not everybody is pleased with the venture. Protestors say the bottles hurt the city's "zero waste" goals.
Chris Dufrense, Los Angeles Times: Predictions for the season. UCLA will finish closer to 4-8 than 8-4. Boise State or Texas Christian will play in the Rose Bowl. No more naked Oregon State players will be arrested until after signing day next February.
Barry Horn, Dallas Morning News: The ESPN family of networks will present a mind-numbing 31 games on opening week.
Ron Morris, Columbia State: Southern Mississippi's Larry Fedora in July, speaking to Golden Eagle fans: "Every college football fan in the entire country will be watching us — watching the Golden Eagles beating South Carolina. I've already told the guys: 'When it happens, walk across the field and shake their hands like you expected it to happen.' "
John Mackovic, Desert Sun: New USC president C.L. Max Nikias should be applauded for several swift moves to clean up the school's athletic programs.
Janet Miller, Ann Arbor.com: Michigan is bringing in-stand vending back to the Big House.
Mark Hasty, FanHouse: Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany's stance on the Michigan-Ohio State game is disrepectful.
Ray Buck, Fort Worth Star-Telegram: What has Mike Leach been doing in his "retirement year"? He hung out with "Friday Night Lights" director Peter Berg and actor Matthew McConaughey, then "went to France for two weeks and was a consultant to a football team over there."
Adam Sparks, Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Middle Tennessee State quarterback Dwight Dasher has been suspended indefinitely for accepting a $1,500 loan against NCAA rules.
Rachel Bachman, Oregonian: A Q&A with Oregon State president Ed Ray, one of the most influential leaders in college sports.
Kate Hairopoulos, Dallas Morning News: June Jones signed a two-year contract extension with Southern Methodist. The deal carries him through 2014.
Patrick Finley, Arizona Daily Star: The Pacific 10 will have high-definition in its replay booths.
Vahe Gregorian, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: No charges have been filed against Missouri running back Derrick Washington, under investigation for sexual assault, but the co-captain has been suspended indefinitely from the team.
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia tailback Washaun Ealey, who led the Bulldogs in rushing a year ago, was suspended for the opener against Louisiana after being charged with hit and run and driving on a suspended license.
Brandon Chatmon, Oklahoman: Oklahoma State's Jamie Blatnick pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of assault and battery and will receive a deferred sentence.
Jason Lieser, Gator Bytes: Two members of Florida’s heralded freshman class were cited this summer in Gainesville. Safety Matt Elam and receiver Solomon Patton were issued citations on misdemeanor charges of possession of alcohol by a person under 21.
Spokesman-Review: A downloadable Division I-A team-by-team schedule. You can click here for the download.
Paul Myerberg, Pre-Snap Read: A look at No. 6 Texas Christian and No. 5 Nebraska.
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only $2k and it was to take HS kids out of class time for interviews and brand the sideline with ESPN branded stuff? I bet a 10 second spot read by the announcer covered that in prepre game show. What a joke.
Posted by: jeremy | August 28, 2010 at 08:18 PM