NCAA reaches $75 million settlement in concussion lawsuit

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That's a lot of money. It will be interesting to see if this has any effect on NCAA Division I Hockey.

John Keilman, Chicago Tribune -- The NCAA has created a new protocol to handle concussed athletes and will spend millions to monitor the health of athletes who might have suffered concussions while playing college sports, according to a settlement filed in federal court this morning.

The $75 million settlement caps litigation that began when a dozen college athletes -- including former Eastern Illinois University defensive back Adrian Arrington -- accused the NCAA of putting their health at risk by leaving concussion policies up to individual schools.

Under the agreement, NCAA schools will have to follow certain procedures. Players will not be allowed to return to action the same day they receive a concussion. All players, coaches and trainers will receive concussion education. And doctors trained in concussion diagnosis will have to be present for all games played in contact sports such as football, soccer and basketball.

Two NDSU softball players charged in connection with boozy initiation party

Since they’re not NDSU football players they will probably have the book thrown at them by the NDSU athletic department.

FARGO – Two people have been charged in Cass County District Court in connection with incidents that occurred on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 and involved individuals who at the time were members of North Dakota State University’s women’s softball team.

The charges stem from an initiation party for freshman players that included beer-chugging contests and forced shots of liquor, one of the players allegedly told police.

Cassidy Szeredy is charged with harassment and disorderly counduct, a Class A misdemeanor and a Class B misdemeanor, respectively, according to a Monday afternoon news release from the Cass County State’s Attorney’s Office.

So, today we find out that two NDSU Bison softball players Alexandria Sobrero and Cassidy Szeredy are facing charges of harassment and disorderly conduct as the result of a team party that went south late last year. This comes on the heels of five UND hockey players being charged for allegedly supplying alcoholic beverages to minors during a team party prior to the 2012-13 season.

It will be interesting to see how the NDSU athletic department handles this case. We will see if the NDSU softball team has a win all cost attitude or will these two players sit out a game or two.

Holtz: Notre Dame should join Big Ten

First off; Happy Independence day from Goon's World, may your day be safe and may it be a happy day for you and your family... Former Gopher and Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football Coach Lou Holtz says that the Irish should join the Big Ten conference.

Lou Holtz changed his mind. He thinks Notre Dame should join the Big Ten.

"I'm an old man, and all my life I've said that Notre Dame should remain independent because it's a national school," said Holtz, a former Fighting Irish coach who was in the Twin Cities last weekend. "We played the very best in the country from Texas to Tennessee to Miami of Florida to Southern Cal.

"However, two days ago was the first time I've ever said that I think Notre Dame ought to seriously consider joining the Big Ten. Because what I see happening, I see four or five superconferences."
[Star Tribune]