It never ends...

...or the Norwegian curling team/John Daly apparel outfitter strikes again.

This time, it's at Morehead State University, where women's basketball coach Tom Hodges whimsically signed a contract with LoudMouth golf to outfit his coaching staff for the 2010-2011 season. "It's a little outside my comfort zone," he said, "but anything that gets Morehead State in the headlines and puts our great university front and center, I'm all for it."

This is Tom Hodges first season as a head coach. At just 27 years old, he will be the youngest D-I women's basketball coach this year. But he's inheriting a squad that went 22-11 last year - the school's best season in three decades - and finished second in the Ohio Valley Conference regular season. That season, however, did not include an NCAA tournament berth.

At the end of the day, this just seems silly. But the media attention Hodges and MSU have received does underscore the issue of women's sports coverage in the media. When less than 5% of all sports coverage (on TV) is devoted to women's sports, this stunt is emblematic of the gimmicks required to get some publicity. Kudos to Hodges for realizing that, certainly there are worse ways to get media publicity. Still, I maintain a fragment of hope that it's his team's play can earn some coverage - and not just his garish garb.

Is this the new currency in NCAA FB recruiting?

An interesting blog post last week from the excellent college sports blog over at The Chronicle for Higher Education details the success of the University of Oregon's video production department, hailing the athletic department's video coordinator Steve Pohl as "the Speilberg of College Sports."  The first video below, from Pohl and UO with the help of digital film production house Pushplay Productions, recently won an award at the 2010 College Sports Video Summit, where it took home the prize for best college sports video of the year.

Big deal, you might say.  But considering the video went up against entries from ESPN (promo work for the College Baseball World Series) and CBS (the 2010 NCAA basketball championship game between Butler and Duke), well, it actually is kind of a big deal.

What makes it an even bigger deal is that productions like this and university employees like Steve Pohl are considered unnecessary by the committee charged with helping the NCAA rein in spending, the Knight Commission.  Considering these video producers and products do nothing to help the health or mind of the student-athlete, there's no arguing that they are superfluous economically.  However, the question is, how important are slick videos like this for satiating both the fans and potential recruits?  While I hope an 8-minute season montage won't be the deciding factor for standout high school football athletes, it has become just one more perk in the long list at the University of Oregon, where being the best means having the coolest stuff: the close relationship with Nike founder Phil Knight, the country's wildest athlete academic center, and an almost-innumerable amount of uniform combinations.

Oregon Football 2009 Season Highlights from Pushplay Productions on Vimeo.

Watching the video does make me wonder, however, if "the medium is the message" for both recruits and fans.  Also, I always love watching videos like this just to see what gets omitted.  Where's LeGarrette Blount, the running back who sucker punched a Boise State University player and had to be restrained and escorted off the field by police after a game in Boise last September?  Or the team's dreadful graduation rate (49%)?

Anyway, I guess I should be thanking my lucky Title IX stars that the video production team isn't all about football.  Here's a slightly-less inspiring video about the Ducks' 2010 Track and Field team.

Oregon Track and Field 2010 from Pushplay Productions on Vimeo.

Yeah.  Can you believe they (Pushplay Productions/Oregon) have the music rights to Phoenix?  I guess after you saw the shattering opponent football players in the first video, you're ready to believe anything. Like, that they spelled "Field" wrong in the Track and Field video.

Um, yeah. What about those graduation rates again?

Big City Lacrosse and an [even] bigger Stadium

Of all the sports stories I've broached in the 4 or 5 months of TES existence, I've never felt the need to mention college lacrosse - until now.

The New Meadowlands Stadium opened with college lacrosse, in what

officials are calling a "soft open," to prepare for...you guessed it...a Bon Jovi concert.

Why, you ask?  Well, because this past Saturday a college lacrosse event officially opened the new Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey.  The future home to the NFL's Giants and Jets, the stadium played host to a triple-header of top-notch lacrosse action in an event known as the Konica Minolta Big City Classic.  The three games featured two-time defending national champions Syracuse squaring off against Princeton, tenth-ranked Hofstra meeting Colonial Athletic Association rival Delaware, and a meeting between the nation's last two undefeated men's lacrosse teams: the number-one ranked Virginia Cavaliers and the number-two ranked North Carolina Tarheels.

No. 1 rule for playing defense in college lacrosse?  Throw off your 

opponent by yelling, "Say hi to your mother for me."

Syracuse, Hofstra, and Virginia were the winners on the day, but, by setting the record for the largest crowd to ever watch regular season college lacrosse - with 25,710 - and opening the $1.6 billion facility, the second annual Big City Classic was a victory for the sport of lacrosse (the inaugural BCC was played in Giants Stadium in 2009).

Interestingly, the KMBCC is not the only event-oriented NCAA lacrosse double/triple-headers taking part in an NFL stadium this season.  Back in March, the college lacrosse season opened at M&T Bank Stadium with the Konica Minolta Face Off Classic.  In its fourth year of existence, the KMFOC drew 19,742 fans to the Baltimore Ravens' home field to watch Maryland, Duke, Princeton, Johns Hopkins, Notre Dame and Loyola take part in afternoon action.

This upcoming weekend the M&T Bank Stadium will again play host to college lacrosse for the second annual Smartlink Day of Rivals.  Army and Navy will play the first game and Maryland and Johns Hopkins will conclude the double-header under the lights (game time is set for 6.30 pm).

Returning to the new Meadowlands Stadium, how did the new building fare in its debut?  Well, there were a few hiccups: Jets owner Woody Johnson was puzzled when the elevator to his suite never came, parking attendants couldn't direct fans to the proper lots, and concessions stand offerings were scaled back.  One stadium official, when asked whether concessions were being sold beyond the concourse level, simply replied, "I don't think so.  Maybe.  It's the first day.  No one really knows what's going on."

For his part, Jets owner Johnson was optimistic: "This building is still a couple years away from really being completed.  This place is still evolving, but I love the way it looks.  This is ten years' worth of work.  But we're still getting ready."  Why is it a couple years away from being completed?  What's left to do?  And what does Johnson mean by "still evolving" --- have the rats not entered the building yet?

"Still evolving?"  That kind of talk can get you in trouble 

with creationist Jets fans.

Fan reactions varied.  One 25-year Giants season ticket holder told the New York Daily News that he thought the new digs have "less of a Giants feel to it," and are "way too neutral for me."  However, another Giants fan was so impressed by the facility that he thinks "the players are going to play better in a place like this."

We know that's not possible in new Major League Baseball stadiums, no matter how much leagues try to convince fans that new facilities can improve on-field play - as outlined by this blog on Field of Schemes.  But analyzing the discourse of recent stadium openings - like the new Yankee and Dallas Cowboys stadiums, or more recently, the Minnesota Twins new ballpark (here and here) - makes me wonder if the new Meadowlands Stadium will be met with the same unabashed media kudos.  The minor glitches from the KMBCC aside, the new stadium has to please both Giants and Jets fans - a task that appears surprisingly complex.

We'll have an opportunity to survey the grand opening in September, when the Giants and Jets host their season-opening games in the new stadium on consecutive days.  However, I expect that no matter how "evolved" the stadium is at that point, the media perspective on the new stadium will come up smelling roses.  For what might not get covered, follow this post after the jump...

Did CBS ruin One Shining Moment?

Beginning in 1994, CBS has concluded its men's NCAA basketball championship with a montage entitled "One Shining Moment."  Over the years, the tradition has become somewhat of a fan favorite - combining slow motion, announcer calls, and inspiring lyrics.  It has to be one of the most popular sports montages.  For goodness sake, it has its own web site!

There's a "One Shining Moment" book.  

I know what you're saying, no "OSM" flame thrower?

Written expressly for the tournament, CBS used a Teddy Pendergrass performance from 1994-1999, then took a brief hiatus from the song/montage, only to return with a Luther Vandross in 2003.  The Vandross recording was especially noteworthy since it was his last before suffering a stroke in 2003 (Vandross passed away in 2005).  His version of the song, in my opinion, is masterful - and any recording from 2003-2009 is, thereby, a classic.  The 2006 version is below, but I could have chosen any of the recent tournaments as evidence (for fun, here's 2009, 2008, 2007).

For whatever reason, CBS decided to retire the goosebumps-inducing performance from Vandross and replace him with former American Idol finalist and Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson (the musical backing is the same).  And let's just say that the new version was  not very well-received, as more than a few sources took notice.

But I'll let you be the judge.  Above, you heard Luther and here is Hudson:

Um, yeah.  Considering this was one of the best men's tournaments of all-time, I was underwhelmed.  Some of the detractors above talked about how the montage lacked a number of great moments from the tournament, but I'll just say that musically, I think she missed it.  And why show us shots of her in the studio when we could be watching more tournament highlights?

Perhaps another session in the recording booth, come at it a little bit differently...ah, what am I saying?  Do the right thing, CBS, and bring back the Vandross recording.

Cornell's run and a Big (East) Conference Breakdown

Cornell University's men's basketball team became the first Ivy League school to make it to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen since 1979 by beating the University of Wisconsin 87-69 on Sunday.  Not to say that there weren't some - including ESPN's Andy Katz and Jay Bilas - who could see this thing coming, and how.

Chris Wroblewski, #3, is majoring in above-the-head hand-clapping.

In 1979, the same year that Larry Bird's Indiana State and Magic Johnson's Michigan State University would eventually play for the title, the University of Pennsylvania reached the Final Four by beating - among others - North Carolina and Syracuse on their Cinderella journey.

Cornell faces an equally difficult task this Thursday, when the Big Red will take on the heavily-favored University of Kentucky Wildcats.  But there are plenty out there who believe the Big Red can keep on screening and stroking.  Oh, and one more thing: that the game will be staged in Syracuse, NY, just 57 miles from Cornell's Ithaca, NY campus.

ESPN loves an underdog.  To be fair, they love Duke, too.

Other fresh faces in the Sweet Sixteen this year include Northern Iowa, Butler, St. Mary's, and Xavier.  The precipitous rise of these mid-major schools have led the New York Times to wonder whether the NCAA selection committee is doing a disservice to the tournament by favoring the power conferences (Big East, Big 12, Big Ten, ACC, Pac-10, SEC).

Is the Big Ten winning?

If there's any way to slice it, clearly, the Big East was the biggest loser through the first weekend of the tournament, in more ways than one.  Just two of their eight teams survived the opening two rounds but, to add insult to injury, Darren Rovell claims that the first-round losses of Georgetown, Marquette, and Notre Dame last Thursday cost the Big East almost $4 million in revenue (earned from playing in future games) on that day alone.  Rovell's estimates do not include the three other Big East casualties from the weekend: Louisville's loss on Friday, Villanova's loss on Saturday, or Pittsburgh's loss on Sunday.

The other thing that we now know, for sure, is that Big East is not the country's best (although it is the biggest) and all the talk about the depth of the Big East can stop.  Like when Big East commissioner  John Marinatto said, after the NCAA tournament field was announced, "Receiving eight NCAA bids is a testament to the depth of our conference this season.  Since the Big East expanded to 16 institutions five years ago, we believe the overall level of play...has been consistently outstanding."  Or when Georgetown coach John Thompson III insinuated the conference's tremendous depth last month, "Across our league, the differences between the top teams and the guys who are down at the bottom is a magnification of small differences."

Right.  If only Marinatto or Thompson were talking about the entire NCAA tournament field would they be correct.  Because if there is anything that the past weekend has taught us, it's that NCAA basketball this season is in a state of ultimate parity and that there are good - and maybe even great teams - scattered throughout every conference in the country.

UConn Update and Snuggie World Record

Ironically, even though Spring Break is this week, I've had to spend more time working on schoolwork than keeping up with the blog.  So I'd just like to update a couple of things from last week.

First, the UConn basketball team broke their NCAA record winning streak yesterday, beating Notre Dame in the Big East semifinals for their 71st straight win.  The only record that stands in front of the Huskies now is the 88 straight games won by John Wooden's UCLA Bruins teams from 1971 to 1974.

Wooden won 10 NCAA titles in 12 years as coach of the Bruins from 1963-1975.

Interestingly, Wooden also has won a trophy for winning the most trophies.

Putting the UConn Huskies into the conversation with the Wizard of Westwood and the greatest college basketball dynasty of all time is certainly deserved.  Simply put, witnessing this kind of greatness is something special - which makes the following video from ESPN's Jeremy Schaap quite interesting to me.  One of the points he seems to make is that the Huskies team doesn't get enough recognition and they should.  I always find it a bit disingenuous for a major media outlet to complain that some thing or phenomenon should get more media coverage.  Don't you - Jeremy Schaap and ESPN - contribute to the sports conversation?  And if you wanted to talk about the Huskies, you would.

In a second update, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Detroit Pistons on Friday in front of a sellout crowd of more than 20,000 at Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena.  But, (maybe?) more important than an NBA regular season victory, the fans in attendance set a Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people wearing fleece blankets.  Here's some video of the event.

The things people will do for their sports teams, or, is it the things people will do for a free Snuggie?

Big Ten Expansion and frightening college mascots

My attention was drawn to the college sports yesterday, after news surfaced that a report commissioned by the Big Ten Conference recommended the league add a 12th team.  At the heart of the issue is the roughly $22 million each school receives annually from revenue-sharing television broadcast contracts (the Big Ten Network and others).  The report was commissioned to ensure that adding one of the five possible schools - Notre Dame, Missouri, Syracuse, Rutgers, or Pittsburgh - would not lower the league's annual revenue pool (the highest among the NCAA's six BCS conferences).

In the end, the report found that the Big Ten would retain their high revenues by adding any of the five studied schools.  A source inside the league told the Chicago Tribune that, "we can all get richer if we bring in the right team or teams."  However, it appears that Rutgers is the early leader for an invitation because of its ability to access the New York media market as well as its recently-renovated stadium (to the tune of $102 million).  The deal would be a slam dunk for Rutgers: accepting an invitation would quadruple the annual revenue it earns as a member of the Big East Conference.  Currently, there is no timetable for extending an invite.

But, as I often venture into the absurd, there was some other news coming out of the Big Ten that caught my eye yesterday.  Specifically at Purdue University - home of the Boilermakers.  The University's unofficial mascot since 1956, Purdue Pete, is getting an makeover.  While the mascot has endured slight changes and updates since its inception, this latest update will be more of a wholesale change.

  

The current iteration seems harmless to m....

...well, on second thought, yeah.

Why change something as sacred as a mascot?  Plain and simple: he's scaring the children.  From Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke: "Look, I'm the one who gets the phone calls from parents who say that big face scares their 3-year old.  It's been 25 to 30 years since he got a makeover.  At some point, the poor old guy has to come into the 21st century."

Don't let Pete near your officially-licensed Wilson footballs.

Terri Lucie Thompson, vice president of marketing for Purdue, says that Pete's eyes and mouth are the problem: "He has a very square jaw and kind of cleft chin.  Does that stay?  The fear could be coming from his eyes."  You think?

Anyway, this story got me thinking, which other schools have scary looking mascots that could afford to be updated?  How about a countdown?

Coming in at number three: the Nebraska Cornhusker:

Blank stare? Check.  Creepily-oversized smile? Yikes.

At number two: the Stanford Cardinal.

I'd rather my psycho trees avoid contracting rabies.

And, finally, number one: the Providence Friar.

Not sure whose idea it was to hoist the Friar into this position, 

but I'm as scared as the cheerleader on the left.

Getting worse...

Ok, now I probably won't be able to fall asleep tonight.

Well, that was both fun and completely terrifying.  I'd be happy to take any other mascot suggestions.  Of course, if the University of Mississippi ends up adopting Admiral Ackbar as a mascot, he'd be in consideration for this list.  By the way, NPR interviewed the leader of the Ackbar movement yesterday, during "Morning Edition."  Almost as impressive as the Ackbar mascot Twitter page.  Seriously.

Well done, Ole Miss, well done.

A Student-Athlete Taj Mahal at Oregon

Last year, the University of Oregon's football team enjoyed one of their most successful seasons in recent history.  The team won the Pac-10 and finished at 10-3 after losing to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.  However, recently, the team has found itself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons (ESPN: Another day, another Oregon problem).

The off-the-field issues complicate things for one of the foremost athletic departments in college sports.  With the support of alumnus Phil Knight, the founder of Nike, the University of Oregon has established itself as a leader in the development of collegiate sportswear - the football team had the option to wear 80 different uniform combinations during 2009 season.  Beginning in January, the school put itself on the map with the most ostentatious of student-athlete development centers, designed - in part - to help resuscitate the football team's woeful 49 percent graduation rate.

Feel free to count for yourself.

Opened on January 6, 2010, the University's John E. Jacqua Academic Center for Student Athletes has been dubbed "the Taj Mahal of academic services."  Stretching out over three floors, the 40,000 square foot structure, whose cost has been kept under wraps but was financed with a gift from Knight, features white oak floors and trim, an auditorium paid for by former Oregon and NFL QB Joey Harrington, stylish furniture, an open-air gas fireplace, "acres of iMacs," and a host of other features reminiscent of a modern art museum.

In case you're wondering, Jaqua, who helped found Nike, 

has his name on a campus concert hall and the law library.

The building facade is made of glass, as studies show that

access to sunlight can aid learning.

Three-story atrium inside the JEJACSA.

This light sculpture of Phil Knight sits in the ladies restroom.

Don't act like you're not impressed.

Anyone else see Beaker the Muppet in this photo?

Where's the NCAA-required three-story Einstein collage, you ask?

UO's is comprised of photos of the school's athletes.

Joey Harrington's auditorium.  Not sure what will happen when it turns pro.

Custom engraved computers.

Quite simply, the pictures speak for themselves.  The building, for all its splendor (that's the right word, don't you think?) has angered some students and faculty members.  For many, there is a concern that the Jacqua Center is too exclusive.  The only spaces that non-student-athletes or professors can take advantage of are some first floor tutoring areas and a coffee shop.

For others, the concerns are far more substantive.  Geography professor Peter Walker has referred to the center as "a symbol of this University's wrong priorities."  Furthermore, in an article for the school's independent newspaper, Walker is quoted as saying:

"This University has the lowest faculty salaries of any comparable university in the country, and the highest-per-student-athlete expenditures.  That is more than a coincidence - it speaks to our University's priorities, which have become backwards from what a quality university should be.  Top-quality professors have been leaving this University for years because of the bad salaries.  That hurts the quality of the education available to student-athletes and non-student-athletes alike.  The irony is that we're headed toward a five-star 'Academic Center' at Jaqua with a two-star academic program.  That doesn't benefit anyone, including the student-athletes."

A summary of this post leaves a host of questions.  First, is the Jaqua Center evidence of the University of Oregon placing athletics over academics?  If it is, what is the long-term effect of such an arrangement?  Is it right for centers of education to place such a high priority on athletics?  Or, is this just a development of the relationship between sports and media?  Given the incredible amount of money for appearing on television (see ESPN's recent SEC football contract) or in bowl games, can universities be faulted for their "wrong priorities"?

Second, does a university have the right to do whatever they want with money from incredibly-rich donors like Knight and Jaqua?  Should professors and students be prohibited from taking advantage of the University's most advanced academic facilities?

Finally, and most importantly, why is there a light statue of a grinning Phil Knight in the ladies bathroom?

Update: NCAA March Madness Expansion...highly likely

Even though the NCAA has denied they are expanding the Men's 2011 NCAA basketball tournament, NCAA president Greg Shaheen has said that the organization is currently "investigat[ing] the possibility of expanding the tournament" to 65, 68, or 96 teams."

So what about the NIT, taker of 32 teams just outside the NCAA tournament's bubble?  Apparently, the NCAA's deal with the NIT expires after this season, and the teams sent to that tournament could become a part of the now-expanded NCAA tournament in 2011.

Reports have coaches in support of the move.  Illinois head coach Bruce Weber told a Chicago news site,

"Selfishly I think as a coaching profession, there's so much pressure on you to get into the tournament, if you don't get in, you're a failure.  So, I think it would help keep jobs, it would maybe stabilize some programs, so I am definitely for it.  I think most of our coaching profession is."

Fair enough coach, but what happens when getting into the tournament is no longer a mark for coaches to meet?  Would fans and universities (presidents and athletic directors) create new benchmarks, like say, progressing to the round of 64?  Seems like a specious argument until you consider that even if 96 teams make the NCAA tournament, that means there are 251 teams that won't (a total of 347 Div 1 NCAA basketball schools).  From the current system where just 18% of NCAA teams make the tournament, the potential of a 96-team tournament would bump that percentage to almost 28%.  Wouldn't future coaches contracts take that into account?

Bruce Weber would have trouble wearing this jacket at the DMV 

if he got fired from his job at Illinois.

"Sitting at 2-5, I'm all for it," Texas Tech coach Pat Knight quipped yesterday.  But besides job preservation, coaches are realizing the economic impacts for their organization.  As Knight continued,

"From a money standpoint, I think it'd be good because it's not like people are going to not watch those early round games just because they extended it.  I'm sure they're going to be able to get TV contracts."

According to ESPN Dallas-Ft. Worth, Kansas coach Bill Self also recognizes that TV is a huge element of expansion:

"Whatever it is, if it's 96 there's going to be 97, 98, 99 that feel like they got left out...I think television will dictate so much of it.  I think it's worth discussing, but I haven't seen anyone's formula that would be the right formula.  Football can't figure it out and they deal with less teams."

While it's highly unlikely that Bill Self and Kansas will have to worry about being the 99th team on the outside of the 2011 NCAA Tournament, I find it interesting that Knight and Self acknowledge that television controls the sport.  It's no different than most other sports in the States or the world over, for that matter, but it is interesting that fans have no say whatsoever in sports and TV scheduling.  Consider the fact that college football, during the regular season, is broadcast five or six nights a week on ESPN.

Ranked number 1 in February 2010, 

ranked number 99 in February 2011?  Not likely.

As for the impending NCAA TV deal, currently Sports Business Daily has CBS partnering with Turner Sports (TNT/TBS) for a deal that will show the opening rounds on cable and eventually make the move to CBS for the later rounds.

Is the NCAA ready for these guys?

Long a player in the professional basketball ranks, is TBS/TNT a good fit for the NCAA tournament?  Furthermore, from an attendance standpoint, will an expanded tournament be able to fill the large arenas that typically house the opening rounds?  These questions are just a few that surround an issue I don't think is going away any time soon.

For your viewing pleasure, here's the 2009 "One Shining Moment," the best annually-occuring montage in all of sports.  And, of course, the only sports montage featuring the incomparable Luther Vandross.  The 2011 version?  Will probably need a new title..."One Shining Slightly Longer Period of Time?"

-------

As a short aside, one country that had placed regulations on TV scheduling for sports until recently was Germany.  Until 2006, in the nation's top soccer division, the Bundesliga, 7 games would be played at 3.30 pm on Saturday and 2 games would be played on Sunday at 5 pm.  And that was it.  Until Rupert Murdoch's Sky broadcasting, in 2006, moved one of the Saturday games to 6.30 pm and another game to Friday evening at 8.30 pm.

Even with a sport so staunchly defended in Germany as soccer, nothing is impenetrable to the mighty force of television.  Which means fans won't have a say here either - whether it's NCAA football, basketball, or any other sporting contest.

How many teams?...and Green Men Galore...

Will next year's March Madness have 96 teams?  According to reports, including this work from Sports Business Daily, the NCAA is looking to opt out of its current contract with CBS after this year and initiate a new bidding process for a 12-year deal.  They have until August 31 to opt out of the three remaining years left on an 11-year, $6 billion contract.

The 2011 NCAA tournament will be hosted in Houston, and, 

if the NCAA gets their way, 

every other arena available in the continental U.S.

The NCAA is hoping for a new deal that will give them a no-penalty exit clause and, more importantly, the ability to expand to tournament to 68 or 96 teams.  Under the 68-team format, there would be three play-in games to start the tournament.  A 96-team field would include an extra round for 64 teams, with the top 32 teams would receiving a first round bye.

Could the people on the side move in a bit?  

We gotta fit in 32 more.

It's being reported that Turner Sports, ESPN, Fox, and even CBS are interested.  According to Sports Business Daily, the options for the NCAA are thus:

• The NCAA could keep its current deal with CBS
• The NCAA could make a new deal with CBS
• The NCAA could make a new deal with a new partner, or
• The NCAA could create a split-rights agreement.

More games, more money for the NCAA -- the same reason there's no playoff in division one college football.

Anyway, here's something completely unrelated, but it made my weekend.  Gotta love those Canucks...