My Corner of the World

Thursday, April 27, 2006

There could be a steroid contraversy coming soon to a college near you. The Dallas Morning News reports that among NCAA athletes who reported taking anabolic steroids, over 24-percent believe their coach knows what's going on. Almost 18-percent said the steroids came from a coach, trainer or team physician.

The entire report on substance abuse with college athletes can be found at NCAA.org.

Hey, at least the NCAA has their priorities. Tomorrow the organization will hear appeals from from Bradley University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the University of Illinois-Champaign & the University of North Dakota over their use of mascots the NCAA believes to be offensive.

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Meanwhile, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors will consider legislation today allowing 6-6 football teams to be bowl-eligible starting this season.

According to the NCAA website, other action items expected from the Board include:

Consideration of legislation defining season-length parameters for men’s and women’s basketball (and elimination of the “two-in-four rule”).

Approval of emergency legislation from the Working Group to Review Initial-Eligibility Trends that fortifies the validity of prospective student-athletes’ academic credentials and establishes a process by which to ferret out academic fraud in nontraditional high schools (that is, the so-called “diploma mills”).

Possible determination of the appropriate cut points in the APR under which teams become subject to the historically based penalties in the academic-reform structure.

Possible elimination of the subdivision labels in football (advocates for this have long believed the I-AA and I-AAA labels that apply only to football have been inappropriately used by media and others to label entire athletics programs).


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Grizzlies in the playoffs (AKA Will they ever win a postseason game?):

Bear down: Mavs beat Grizzlies easily, 94-79

Memphis' clock strikes 12 during Mbenga time

Grizzlies still perfect as they lose once again

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What's being written about DeAngelo Williams:

Randy Covitz, Kansas City Star - Memphis’ Williams has put up numbers like another No. 20
Williams, a compact, 5-foot-9, 214-pound whirlwind expected to be a late first-round pick in Saturday’s NFL draft, conjures up images of Hall of Famer Barry Sanders, with his thick build and ability to start, stop, dash, dart and change directions, sometimes all on one play.

The Lakeland Ledger - Dolphins Might Add RB to Draft Wish List
Coach Nick Saban declined to comment Wednesday on how the suspension (of Ricky Williams) alters the Dolphins' draft priorities. But they don't consider (Ronnie) Brown a workhorse running back, and with Sammy Morris and Travis Minor behind him on the depth chart, the position needs an upgrade. Running back prospects Miami might consider in Round 1 are LenDale White of Southern California, DeAngelo Williams of Memphis and Laurence Maroney of Minnesota.

Kent Somers, The Arizona Republic - Still talent at RB after Bush
After Houston takes Reggie Bush with the first pick in this weekend's draft, you could probably mow the yard, wash the car and take a good nap before the next running back is chosen. But that chasm between Bush and the rest of the field doesn't mean there is a dearth of talent at the position. There are a handful of running backs worthy of being selected in the first round. Minnesota's Laurence Maroney is fast enough to run outside, can change speeds and is a good blocker. DeAngelo Williams of Memphis is quick and has great moves. Joseph Addai was never a featured back at Louisiana State, but he has made a steady rise up the draft boards over the past few months.

Connor Byrne, RealFootball365.com - Walker, Williams would solidify Denver's offense
In the event that the Denver Broncos do add wide receiver Javon Walker before this weekend's draft, they can shift their focus away from the receiver position in Round One, and turn their attention to the running back position. Denver has the No. 15 overall pick on Saturday, so they'll be in peak position to select DeAngelo Williams, formerly of Memphis. The Broncos already have the 5-11, faster than lighting third-year man Tatum Bell, but Shanahan likes to employ two back sets, as he did when Anderson was with the team. Williams is by no means a bruising back like Anderson, but he'd be splendid in Denver's system, which seems to magically produce 1,000 yard backs year in and year out. During his career at Memphis, Williams emerged as one of the preeminent backs in the country. Williams stands only 5-9, but he makes up for it with his great running skills, the ability to block and be a receiver from the backfield. He's scarily similar to the 5-11 Bell, who is actually one pound lighter than the 214 pound Williams. If USC star Reggie Bush wasn't in the upcoming draft, it would be Williams hogging most of the spotlight at the running back position.

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The Houston Bowl appears to be in big trouble. It was revealed last week the bowl still owes Iowa State & TCU over half of their payout. Today, officials are meeting with various conference heads in Orlando to discuss the bowl's future.

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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has polled 10 presidents of BCS universities & all but one would consider a "plus-one" model for college football, meaning a championship game would be played one week after the major BCS bowls are played.

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After being turned down by TV commentator Steve Lavin Wednesday, N.C. State was ready to turn to West Virginia's John Beilein as their next head coach. That is until Beilein issued a statement saying, "It has never been my philosophy to comment on job openings at other schools, but the speculation today about me accepting another head coaching job is erroneous. I am flattered by the interest and recognition that the basketball program has received. I will be the coach at West Virginia next season."

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