Showing posts with label National Collegiate Athletic Association. Show all posts
Showing posts with label National Collegiate Athletic Association. Show all posts

Saturday, November 09, 2013

What the Heck is this?



Being an ex-veteran, I am not sure that I like this at all. It doesn't look good. Not with an military uniform. The US military's uniform is very serious. The rather austere décor of the US military uniform is softened by a goofy rodent tail. I am all for putting the tails on the cheer leaders though.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Hockey, Hockey, Oy, Oy... Saturday Links



Saturday night is all right for some UND hockey between the University of North Dakota and the U-18 team at the Ralph.












Enhanced by Zemanta

Monday, October 21, 2013

NCAA Hypocrisy? Does anyone see anything wrong here?



Ah what the heck... Does anyone see anything wrong here? A white person dressed up like a Native American. Yet the Fighting Sioux nickname is offensive? Give me a break. I know that FSU has tribal support, but what is more offensive? I had a sociology professor in graduate school that said Native American mascots were a red face minstrel. Maybe this is what he was talking about? I am not against Native American nicknames, but this is ridculous.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

UND Hockey: Ryan Gropp backs out of his commitment to UND.

Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
There's big news to hit Grand Forks, ND today. Highly sought UND recruit Ryan Gropp has backed out of his commitment to UND to sign a contract with the Seattle Thunderbird's of the WHL, thus, ending his college hockey eligibility. Personally, I don't know how de-committing from UND and signing with the Western Hockey League is going to help his development, but whatever.
PENTICTON, BC – The Penticton Vees Jr. ‘A’ Hockey Club announced Tuesday that forward Ryan Gropp (96) has left the team for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

President, General Manager and Head Coach Fred Harbinson’s statement:

“Ryan’s mindset last summer when he committed to UND (University of North Dakota) and decided to return to Penticton, was that he would enter the NCAA as a true freshman which coincides with his draft year.

Unfortunately Ryan did not get off to the start everyone expected this season, hence possibly affecting his long term goals. After a few discussions with Ryan and his family, we came to the conclusion it would be best for Ryan to change directions and move on to the WHL.

Ryan was a great teammate during his time in Penticton, and our organization wishes him nothing but the best in his future hockey endeavors.”
Enhanced by Zemanta

Monday, August 19, 2013

NCAA Reverses course: Marine Veteran can play football

The wordmark and logo for Middle Tennessee Sta...
The wordmark and logo for Middle Tennessee State University. This logo has replaced Image:Mtsu old logo.jpg. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
A bunch of bumbling buffoons, this is a clown show, there is no excuse for this... The person at the NCAA that made this decision should be fired immediately and sent home in disgrace. I am for veterans rights and he served his country with honor and nothing he did in the service should do anything to jeopardize his eligibility. I am sick and tired of this organization.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) -- The NCAA has ruled that a Middle Tennessee football player who spent five years in the Marines will be allowed to compete this fall and that he will have four years of eligibility remaining.

It's a reversal from the NCAA's earlier decision to rule Steven Rhodes was ineligible because he played in a recreational league during his military service. School officials had said earlier Monday that they were working with NCAA officials to come up with a solution.

"This is exciting news for Steven and Middle Tennessee State University," school President Sidney McPhee said in a statement. "We express our gratitude to the NCAA for reviewing this situation and granting Steven the ability to play this fall. We are hopeful that the NCAA will look at the bylaws regarding all individuals who serve in the military before becoming a student-athlete."

Late Monday afternoon, the NCAA issued a news release saying Rhodes could play immediately and member schools would continue to re-examine the competition rules, especially as it impacts those returning from military service. Rhodes has been practicing at both tight end and defensive end

Enhanced by Zemanta

NCAA Stupidity: Marine Veteran fighting for eligibility to play for MTSU this season

English: National Collegiate Athletic Associat...
Number one in stupidity, the NCAA. This is a travesty. When I was in Germany, the U.S. Army had a intramural flag football league, so are we to believe that these veterans shouldn't be allowed to go to college and play football? This is absolutely shameful. Disgusting!
Adam Sparks, The Daily News Journal — Steven Rhodes felt a duty to serve his country and had a dream to play football.

But now, to his surprise, one is hindering the other in the peculiar case of the United States Marine and 24-year-old MTSU freshman football player versus the NCAA.

“This is extremely frustrating. I think it’s unfair, highly unfair,” Rhodes said. “I just got out of the Marine Corps, and I wanted to play. For (the NCAA) to say, ‘No, you can’t play right now,’ I just don’t understand the logic in that.”

Rhodes, an Antioch native, finished his five years of active service in the Marines this summer, when he called MTSU coaches in hopes of landing a spot as a walk-on player for the Blue Raiders. They happily granted the request of the athletic 6-foot-3, 240-pound Marine sergeant. He has played both tight end and defensive end thus far in preseason camp.

But not long after arriving on campus, Rhodes was told that his participation in a military-only recreational football league in 2012 would hinder his immediate eligibility to play Division I college football, per an NCAA rule.

Despite his age, military service and complete lack of college football experience, Rhodes must take a mandatory redshirt and not play a single game for MTSU this season.



Enhanced by Zemanta

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Tuesday Morning: A couple of Links












Enhanced by Zemanta

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Will Jim Delany take aim at NCAA?

English: National Collegiate Athletic Associat...
I found this article on my twitter feed, I find this article to be interesting, but in a way, I think  it kind of translates to other sports besides football, I think. There's a mind set out there, and frankly some of the schools in the WCHA didn't want to play against the smaller schools in the WCHA, that mind set was out there. It's really about the have's and the schools that have more. I believe.
Take 1: Brian Bennett Delany has probably been more supportive of NCAA president Mark Emmert than some of his other peers, but he has to feel many of the same frustrations as his commissioner colleagues. Like Slive, Delany is a big proponent of paying athletes an additional stipend on top of their scholarships to cover the full cost of attendance, and they are upset the NCAA has yet to approve that measure after both stumped for it more than two years ago. Bowlsby said Monday that commissioners of the five power conferences met six weeks ago and were unanimous in wanting major changes to the NCAA structure. It sounds like the major conferences are growing tired of a system where Ohio State and Nebraska have to share the same rules as Louisiana-Lafayette and Texas-San Antonio.

The threat of the power leagues breaking off and forming their own kingdom gives them leverage, although those conference don't really want to be in the business of putting on their own soccer and lacrosse tournaments. Still, this is clearly an organized assault on the NCAA by the most powerful leaders in college football, and I'd expect Delany to weigh in with his own concerns. He probably won't be as pointed in his comments as Bowlsby -- Delany tends to speak in carefully considered, lawyerly tones -- but as one of the sport's most influential figures, whatever Delany says on Wednesday will carry a lot of weight.
There's a lot of money to be made in college sports, it's very a big business and some schools no matter what aren't going to be able to even the playing field, financially. We also see this in college hockey as well. Lastly, I also believe the NCAA is a poorly run organization that isn't even-handed in the way they deal with member schools. I could see the big schools breaking away from the NCAA and forming their own governing body.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

AMSOIL Arena Will Bid for 2015, 2016 NCAAs

English: National Collegiate Athletic Associat...
If I am reading this article right, then the Ralph Engelstad Arena should be able to apply for a regional Championship. Right? I don't see a difference.
Zach Schneider, Northland's Newscenter --- The rink previously submitted a bid in 2010 to host a 2013 regional, but officials said that was eventually rejected because of the NCAA's preference to use neutral sites.

Now, AMOSIL Arena officials say they were told the NCAA has dropped that preference and will exert no bias against arenas that are home to an NCAA Division I men's hockey team.

AMSOIL Arena has played host to the NCAA Division I Frozen Four and Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Final Face Off on the women's side, but it has never been selected to host a major men's tournament.

The arena will prepare its bid over the next couple of months, officials said, before submitting it to the NCAA for review.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Tuesday, June 04, 2013

According to Court house news, UND the Coyotes.

English: National Collegiate Athletic Associat...
You know, if you're going to write a story, you should at least get your story straight first before you post it. This is shoddy work here, it's pretty obvious if you spent half a minute that the University of North Dakota has, and uses no nickname at the current time.
Joseph O’Connell, Court House News Service --- "However meaningful the nickname's grant may have been, there was no contract because there was no indication of mutual intent to create a legal obligation, let alone an obligation sufficiently definite and certain that a court could require its performance," the six-page ruling states.

Furthermore, any emotional harm claimed by the committee would not be relevant because "the committee complains of injury from UND's ceasing to use a name because of the policy of an association to which UND voluntarily belongs."

"Even if the Committee's alleged injury is sufficiently concrete and particularized, it does not result from the invasion of a legally protected interest," Benton wrote.

The court also found no support for the claim that the NCAA violated its own rules of due process.

"The committee cannot complain of being denied due process by the NCAA because, as a nonmember, it was entitled to none from the NCAA," Benton wrote.

After the North Dakota Legislature repealed a state law requiring UND to use the nickname and American Indian head logo, voters overwhelmingly approved the measure in the 2012 primary.

UND now uses the nickname Coyotes.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Fighthing Sioux Nickname: Spirit Lake committee's last effort to save Fighting Sioux nickname fails

This is just in, not really a big shock to me. I have talked to a few lawyers that didn’t see this case as having much of a chance of making it. This is probably the final chapter of the Fighting Sioux nickname.
Chuck Haga, Grand Forks Herald – In what may well be the final chapter in the long, contentious fight over UND’s Fighting Sioux nickname, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today affirmed a lower court’s judgment against the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe in its effort to save the nickname.

More than three months after impassioned arguments in St. Paul, the appeals court upheld the ruling last year by U.S. District Court Judge Ralph Erickson that the tribe lacked standing to sue the NCAA over its policy discouraging the use of American Indian names and images by member schools.

“The committee has not shown that the NCAA acted with discriminatory intent,” the appeals court stated in its opinion. “There is no evidence that the NCAA enacted the policy in order to eradicate Sioux culture, as the committee alleges.”

The appeals court also discounted the committee’s primary contention, that Spirit Lake and Standing Rock Sioux elders authorized use of the name by UND in a 1969 ceremony.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Thursday, May 09, 2013

NCAA Hockey: Coaches want to keep the status quo

English: National Collegiate Athletic Associat...

A couple of things have come out of the NCAA hockey meetings so far. Frankly, I am not all that happy with what has come out of the NCAA meetings. I didn’t really have that high of expectations anyways.
Brad Schlossman, Grand Forks Herald – There was a proposal at the annual Florida meetings last week to change the NCAA tournament format to allow the top eight seeds to host a best-of-three series in the first round, but it was met with resistance from a segment of coaches, Faison said.
“Clearly, for me, I’ve always been a supporter of the top eight hosting in the first round,” said Faison, who will be a member of the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Committee in September. “I think it’s a better way. There are still going to be upsets. It’s just better for the game.”
The primary concern of coaches with that format is that it’s not a competitively fair situation, Faison said.
In a nut shell, “certain” schools appear to want to keep the status quo, when it comes to the NCAA Division I Hockey Tourney.  But why would they want to change? Currently in its present form, the NCAA Hockey Tourney working marvelously for them.  Why would the eastern schools want to get on a plane and have to travel to say Denver, Minnesota, North Dakota or Wisconsin and play a best-of-three series when they can play a one-and-done series in their own back yard.
The same schools would also benefit from hosting their share of best-of-three series as well. So their refusal to be open to change is puzzling.
Going forward, this means, we will continue to let the schools out east drive an hour or less and play in what is basically their own back yards.
On the flip side, the NCAA will continue to have the western schools fly long distances and play in empty arenas, in unattractive cities in places that you would never dream of traveling to.
For whatever reason, the NCAA won’t make the eastern teams travel.
According to Grand Forks Herald beat writer Brad Schlossman, “BU and BC have got on a plane 3 times for a regional in the last 13 years. The teams lost by four goals in the 1st round each time.”
The NCAA wants regional games played in arenas posing as quiet emotionless mausoleums, all under the guise of the regional being held at “neutral” sites. The fact remains, these sites are not in fact “neutral” sites. All you have to do is look at Google maps to prove my point. The University of New Hampshire is 45 minutes away from last year’s regional site in Manchester, New Hampshire.
It appears that the UND hockey team is going to get a chance at hosting a regional “close” to Grand Forks, ND. Again, since the NCAA has decided in their infinite wisdom they don’t want any more regionals on-campus and want to play in empty arenas posing as quiet emotionless mausoleums, all under the guise of the regional being held at “neutral” sites. This would be the next best option, next to the Xcel Energy Center.
UND athletic director Brian Faison said the school is working on putting together a bid to host a men’s hockey regional at Fargo’s Scheels Arena in 2015 or 2016.
I know, be careful what you ask for. Right? That being said, there is going to be a problem with having a regional championship at that location. Having been to the Scheels Arena in Fargo, I don’t think it’s big enough for a regional championship. The Scheels Arena only seats 5,000 people for hockey.
What if the NCAA puts Minnesota and North Dakota in the same regional, they’ve done it on many occasions. In essence, Scheels Arena wouldn’t be big enough to accommodate both schools ticket demands. When you put a regional close to a host school like North Dakota with a rabid fan base like UND, their fans are going to show up. The same is true with Minnesota.  It will be interesting to see how this ends up.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Thursday, May 02, 2013

Do fans have unrealistic expectations?



I was reading Brad Schlossman’s blog the other day when I found a couple of posts from fans that I found to be; well interesting... Having been to numerous media days and press scrums, I was wondering what do the fans think that that media should members should ask the head coach? I mean seriously? There is a level of decorum and what is expected of the members of the media as well. Just because a question is asked, doesn't mean the coach would have to answer the question either.

Lastly, I live in this town too, and I am not seeing a big grown swell of dissatisfied UND hockey fans that want the head coach run out of town. Sure fans are upset with UND’s early exit from the NCAA tourney, but the UND's not going to win the NCAA tourney every season. It's just not possible. Or realistic. That’s life.

I am not sure what Brad or Tom Miller could ask Hakstol on the subject that would satisfy some of the fans that are unhappy with head coach Dave Hakstol. Whatever Dave does, he’s going to have his distractors. It’s also very easy to sit behind a computer screen and snipe at people, however, it much more different to stand or sit, in front of that person and face them and question their actions. That’s a fact of life.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Sunday, April 28, 2013

The UNO Mavericks get some good news, Ryan Walters to return for senior year





It’s always good news when a top players announces that he’s coming back for his senior year, especially with the amount of players that bolt for the professional ranks each spring, after their college seasons are over. This week, the UNO Mavericks got some very good news, when they found out that forward Ryan Walters is going to return to the Mavericks for his senior year.
The Hobey Baker Finalist Walters, was second in scoring in the WCHA and the NCAA last season scoring (22g-30a—52pts). Walters will be the top returning scorer in the newly formed NCHC (43g-57a—100pts).
Enhanced by Zemanta

Sunday, April 07, 2013

2013 NCAA Division I College Hockey Frozen Four Television Schedule (4/11, 4/13)


Here is next weekend’s National College Hockey television schedule. The NCAA’s Frozen Four takes center stage at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Starting on Thursday evening, there will be two semifinal games, as usual the semifinal games on Thursday will be on ESPN2.
The two winning teams will advance and play in the championship game on Saturday night at 6:00 p.m. central on ESPN.
In my opinion, this is most wonderful time of the year. It’s also very stressful. There is a finality, which surrounds the college hockey tourney. Seasons and careers end, with losses in the National tourney.   In a one game tourney, the best team doesn’t always win.
Some the players that are playing in this tourney will someday end up in the NHL.
Check your local cable television guide for channels.
Thu.Apr. 11UMass Lowell vs. YaleESPN23:30 p.m.209 / 144
Thu.Apr. 11Quinnipiac vs. Saint CloudESPN27:00 p.m.209 / 144
Sat.Apr. 13NCAA ChampionshipESPN6:00 p.m.206 / 140
All times are Central Standard Time.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Saturday, April 06, 2013

TSN.CA NCAA PLAYER RANKINGS


Over the TSN.CA web site, they have the NCAA Hockey Player rankings. Seven of the top 20 players are WCHA players and two of the top 20 are from UND. It's also interesting, that there are a lot of free agent goalies in the top 20 as well. I would expect Eric Hartzell from QU to get a free agent offer as soon as his team is done with the Frozen Four.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Wednesday, April 03, 2013

News story from Denver's Channel 9 on Gwozdecky firing



I think many of us are still in a state of shock that George Gwozdecky was let go in Denver. You can bet that this firing will come back to haunt the Denver University administration some day.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Time for the NHL to go to the hybrid icing like the NCAA



Time for the NHL to reconsider their stance on the touch up icing. This could be prevented if the NHL adopts the Hybrid Icing, like the NCAA currently has. I think it's a no-brainier. Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Joni Pitkanen hits leg first into the end boards racing for the puck, Pitkanen is then taken off the ice on a stretcher.
Enhanced by Zemanta

UND’s Hakstol: “regionals pinnacle of our season and should be played in a great atmosphere.”

und v. usa
und v. usa (Photo credit: intersubjectiv)

This past weekend, UND played in the NCAAWest Regional tourney in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  If you watched the games you will see that the games were sparsely attended,just like I had predicted.
So the NCAA wants the teams to play in empty arena’s posing as quite mausoleums during prayer time.
Come to think of it, I have probably been to churches that are louder than last week’s West and Midwest regionals.
The announced attendance for Friday’s game between Niagara and UND was 2289 and for Saturday’s game, the announced attendance was 1918 fans.
Seriously!
If mathematically challenged, that’s a grand total for 4207 fans to see the NCAA West Regional hockey games for the weekend. My words, “that’s pathetic.” The NCAA should be ashamed. There are high school hockey tourneys in North Dakota that have more people attend them then this regional.
Today was the last press conference of the year for UND hockey head coach Dave Hakstol was asked about his thought on the NCAA tourney being played in building with atmospheres like last weekend’s regional in Grand Rapids, Michigan?
“The pinnacle of our season should be played in a great atmosphere,” Hakstol said. “I think the players that are involved in the national tournament deserve that. “I think It’s something that has garnered a fair amount of discussion over the last couple of year, but no action.” We have to fix things. We’re not doing this the right way at the regional level – to play in front of… I saw a stat within out program we had 5500 people on a live chat, and there was maybe 1500 people in a building watching a great hockey game between Yale and North Dakota on Saturday night. That’s not right. That’s the pinnacle and that’s the spotlight of our season. Yeah, we have to change things. Certainly, I would like to work towards doing that, sooner, rather than later. The best regionals that I have been involved in, that I can remember, atmosphere wise, was here, in 05-06, where we hosted, competitive environment. The regional in Minnesota; last year at the Xcel Energy Center; in front of 10,000 people, we came up one game short. Great atmosphere to play in, spotlight event, the way the national tournament game should feel. Third one would have been; at the Kohl Center, where the University of Wisconsin hosted. We had the good fortune of coming out of that regional. That was a tough game, there was about 15,000 people cheering against us and 1,000 of our fans with us, but that was atmosphere, and that’s the stage that our national tournament should be played on, we need to get back to one shape or form. “
It’s pretty clear that the UND’s head coach would rather play in a raucous, loud arena filled with passionate fans, even if they’re another fan bases’  than an empty arena, in a nameless town with empty seats posing as fans for the sake of having a regional championship at a neutral site, in an empty building on Saturday in March.  I agree.
Cross-posted at the Hockey Writers-Combine.

Enhanced by Zemanta