SUMG

If I'm the Rangers...that tall goon better be ducking every time he steps into the batter's box...next week when we play the Mariners again. I have never seen a batter get so mad over a pitch....that was so far from hitting him. The pitch missed that him by a foot. Here's the brawl video. About 3 minutes into it...they show the pitch that started all the brouhaha: http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives...rawl-video.html

The boys over at TY Sports have a great opinion piece on this APR fiasco. (comparing our situation in hoops to Indiana's). Great reading: http://tysports.blogspot.com/

"UNT officials noted that the school did have its original penalties from the NCAA reduced. UNT was supposed to lose eight scholarships in football and two in men's basketball."

(from the D-RC blog): http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5764886.html

I don't think we will get credit for a win against FIU last year in football. They said the violations occurred from 2002-2003 school year to the 2006-2007 school year. Our last football game with FIU was part of the 2007-2008 school year. So you can cancel the kegger, TG.

More info from the NCAA website: The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions has penalized Florida International University for major NCAA rules violations in its athletics program. The violations include ineligible participation, misapplied financial aid rules and a lack of institutional control. Penalties for the violations, including those self-imposed by the institution, include four years of probation, a vacation of records and reductions of scholarships in 11 sports. During the five academic years from 2002-03 through 2006-07, 45 student-athletes in 15 sports were allowed to compete while ineligible as a result of the university's misapplication of basic NCAA eligibility rules. These misapplied rules pertained to full-time enrollment, progress-toward-degree requirements, the “five year” eligibility rule, squad lists and transfers. The university also over-awarded athletics scholarships in three equivalency sports – men’s and women’s soccer and women’s golf – from 2004-05 through 2006-07. The committee found the violations coincided with the university’s rapid move from classification as a Division I Football Championship Subdivision member to a Football Bowl Subdivision member. Within four years of the inception of its football program, the university was playing in the highest classification and had added about 100 student-athletes to the university’s athletics squads. The committee noted that the university’s compliance effort was not expanded or improved as the athletics program grew. The athletics compliance office and academic advising units were understaffed, and not all departments on campus had been integrated into the compliance effort. In addition, personnel making eligibility certification decisions were not properly educated on NCAA rules and were making decisions using a software system that at times did not contain all of the relevant information. In determining the penalties, the Committee on Infractions considered the university’s cooperation in the investigation; the recent substantial improvements in the compliance system; its status as repeat violator (it is currently on probation from a 2005 case); self-imposed penalties and corrective actions. The penalties are as follows: • Public reprimand and censure. • Four additional years of probation to be added to the end of the institution’s current probationary period (May 20, 2008). As a result, the institution’s probationary period is extended through May 19, 2012. • The university will vacate all wins in which the 45 student-athletes competed while ineligible, including participation in any NCAA championship. The individual records of the ineligible student-athletes will be vacated as well, including any records accumulated during championship competition. Further, the university’s records regarding each affected sport, as well as the record of the former head coaches in those sports, will reflect the vacated records and be recorded in all records publications including, but not limited to, university media guides, recruiting material and university and NCAA archives. Any public reference to tournament performances or individual championships won during this time will be removed, including, but not limited to, athletics department stationery and banners displayed in public areas such as the arenas in which the affected teams compete. Finally, any championship awards shall be returned to the NCAA national office. • Reduction of grants-in-aid as follows: Football, three in 2008-09 (self-imposed by the institution); Baseball, 1.5 reductions in 2007-08 (self-imposed by the institution); Men’s basketball, one reduction in 2007-08 (self-imposed by the institution); Men’s soccer, 4.3 total, with a reduction of 3.06 in 2007-08 and 1.26 in 2008-09 (self-imposed by the institution); Softball, one reduction in 2007-08 (self-imposed by the institution); Women’s golf, .04 in 2007-08 (self-imposed by the institution); Women’s swimming/diving, .50 reduction in 2008-09 (self-imposed by the institution); Women’s soccer, 3.48 total, with reduction of 2.26 in 2007-08 and 1.22 in 2008-09 (self-imposed by the institution); Women’s tennis; one reduction in 2008-09 (self-imposed by the institution); Men’s track/cross country; 1.5 reduction in 2008-09 (self-imposed by the institution); Women’s track/cross country; two reductions in 2008-09 (self-imposed by the institution); Women’s volleyball, one reduction in 2007-08 (self-imposed by the institution). The Committee on Infractions consists of conference and institutional athletics administrators, faculty and members of the public. The committee independently rules on cases investigated by the NCAA enforcement staff and determines appropriate penalties. The committee’s findings may be appealed to the Infractions Appeals Committee. The members of the Committee on Infractions who reviewed this case are Josephine Potuto, the Richard H. Larson Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Nebraska College of Law and chair of the committee; Alfred Lechner Jr., attorney; Dennis Thomas, the commissioner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and formerly director of athletics at Hampton University; Andrea Meyers, athletic director emeritus, Indiana State University; Gene Marsh, James M. Kidd Sr. Professor of Law at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa School of Law; Jack Friedenthal, professor at George Washington University National Law Center; Thomas Phillips, attorney with the Austin, Texas office of the law firm Baker Botts and formerly the chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court; Dennis Thomas, the commissioner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and formerly director of athletics at Hampton University; and Yvonne “Bonnie” Slatton, professor of physical education and sport science, University of Iowa.

It'd be nice if the Sun Belt had a stronger commissioner...one who occasionally went to bat for his league and its' teams.

http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/ It doesn't say....does this mean all their sports???? ...It doesn't specify.

Found these failing Big 12 basketball APR scores in the Startlegram: Ours was 924, as you know. Colorado 873 Iowa State 869 Oklahoma 911 Texas A & M 912 TCU (Mountain West) 922 On each of these....there is this note: Despite having an APR below the minimum of 925, the sport was not penalized for one of two reasons. One, no athletes in that sport left while academically ineligible; two, the NCAA granted a waiver based on circumstances and evidence the school has a plan to improve academics. Yeah, that's fair.

I have to disagree with you on that. I think some on this board are blaming Dickey. But, it seems to me, the high majority are miffed at the NCAA. I fall into that category. I think this reeks of being more NCAA crapola....where standards are being applied on a subjective basis rather than an objective one.

(From the DMNew sports blog): Of the 37 schools penalized for failing to meet minimum Academic Progress Rate requirements in football on Tuesday, the only schools to lose more scholarships than North Texas' five were: Alabama-Birmingham (9) San Jose State (9) Washington State (8) Idaho (8) Southern (6.3) Toledo (6) San Diego State (6) Weber State (5.86)

Congrats on the new turf. Since those APRs listed are a 4-5 year average...if you guys got a 1000 in b-ball this year....your previous years' scores must have been awful. That's why I have a problem with this nonsense.

Here are the SBC scores and the schollies lost are in parentheses. Football: WKU 945 (0) Ark Sta 934 (0) Troy 930 (0) UNT 917 (5) FAU 915 (3) ULM 912 (0) ULL 903 (0) MTSU 902 (0) FIU 887 (3) Basketball: Denver 957 (0) UALR 939 (0) WKU 937 (0) FAU 927 (0) UNT 924 (1) Troy 916 (0) MTSU 906 (0) Ark State 893 (0) New Orleans 882 (0) South Alabama 877 (1) FIU 854 (1) ULL 839 (0) ULM 837 (0) What hacks me off is...we're in the upper divisions...we get slammed. Several schools aren't passing on either...don't get any penalty. None of the Louisiana schools are passing in either sport (nor is MTSU). I wonder if they're cutting the Louisiana schools slack because of Katrina? Either way...this sucks.

As you can see from reading that...apparently we've already done our appeals...had some good points on our side...and the NCAA still zapped us.

(From the D-RC blog): http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/

Yeah, but I heard he got it on a subprime loan, and that he's having trouble making payments.

So actions of kids who flunked out 4-5 years ago (or whatever)...that should be held against kids of today? What I'm saying is, that we now have 6 scholarships that aren't available to offer to "good student" athletes.

I do find it idiotic though....that the NCAA wants to stress EDUCATION.....by doing what? Keeping 6 kids (5 football, one basketball) from getting a free one. Yeah, that makes sense.

One thing interesting about the list: The total lack of the "big boys." No Texas. No Oklahoma. No A $ M. No Arkansas. LSU....just loses a third of a baseball scholarship. Is it that we're so much worse than them...or is this more SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT by the turds at the NCAA. (just like the Indian mascot rule which doesn't affect Florida State and Illinois---just "smaller" programs). I mean, if graduation rates figure into the APR.....it seems to me that every year, Texas loses a player or two early....to the NBA Draft. How the hell can UT's b-ball graduation rates be that good?

We're by far, the hardest hit of any area school. This is by Chip Brown, of the DMNews: North Texas will lose five scholarships in football and one in men's basketball after the NCAA released its annual report on the Academic Progress Rates for its member institutions - a four-year look at graduation rates culminating with the 2006-07 academic year. "We recognize and appreciate the intent of the APR and will continue to work hard toward not only meeting, but exceeding the standards set by the NCAA," UNT athletic director Rick Villarreal said. "We do, however, work under the belief that it is one of many components in measuring academic success. "In our athletics program, we are continually implementing support programs and enhancing facilities that further the ability of our student-athletes to be academically successful and to graduate. Our focus is to promote an environment where our students achieve their academic goals. That is demonstrated by the graduation rate of our student-athletes, which improved from 37 to 67 percent from 2001 to 2006." Here is a list of Big 12, Texas and area schools penalized for failing to meet minimum standards: Kansas State - lost 1 scholarship for men's basketball LSU - lost .34 scholarship for baseball Oklahoma State - lost 1 scholarship for women's basketball Prairie View A&M - received a public reprimand for men's golf Sam Houston State - lost .01 scholarship for baseball and 1.03 for men's track Stephen F. Austin - lost 3.18 scholarships for football and 1 for women's basketball Texas A&M-Corpus Christi - lost .56 scholarship for baseball Texas Southern - lost .45 scholarship in men's tennis and received a public reprimand Texas State - lost 2.95 scholarships in football and 1 in women's basketball Colorado - received a public reprimand for men's basketball Kansas - lost 2 scholarships in football North Texas - lost 5 scholarships in football and 1 in men's basketball UT-Arlington - lost 1.17 scholarships in baseball and 2 in women's basketball UTEP - lost 1 scholarship in men's basketball UTSA - lost 1 scholarship in women's basketball, .49 scholarship in baseball and .50 in men's cross country UT-Pan American - received a public reprimand in baseball

I've followed UNT hoops since 1975....and IMHO....Coach Jones has been our best coach ever, when it comes to graduating kids. So, I think he and his support staff (including academic advisors) do a great job in this regard. To give you an idea of how NCAA Academic standards have tightened over the years: In 1978...we had a senior player....named Melvin "Lurch" Davis. Great player. The story was....that he had accumulated 29 hours in 3+ years...and most of those were PE.

I also remember then Head Coach Dave Campo...doing some singing (karaoke)...during one episode. They do a great job on that show. I think it's NFL Films doing the work...and as you know they do great work.

I know how to Tivo...but for the most part...am a techno-imbecile. How does one tivo-sync???

Just like in 2002....HBO"s "Hard Knocks" will follow the Dallas Cowboys at their training camp this July-August. That's a great show. Last year, they documented happenings at the KC Chiefs training camp.