VectorVictor

Race Red here too...though I accidentally voted for Candy Red because I fail at message boards.

Same here. But when I think about it, I only stop down for ESPN Classic when Nebraska's on, and that's via DVR. Live content--we don't get to skip commercials and people typically don't time-shift.

Bagman for Cam Newton payment identified. This would set up the direct link between Auburn and Cam Newton's father, if it were to pan out.

Note: this is rumor only, but the source has been reliable in the past re: Verizon programming and update changes w/me in the past. Talked with one of my friends which handles Verizon FiOS installations and support down here in Texas (which, may I add, is such a choice service--very few qualms with their TV or internet service). Apparently Verizon FiOS will be one of the first television providers to convert over to the Longwhorn Network. I said 'convert', because Verizon supposedly will be doing away with ESPN Classic and replacing it with the dreaded Longhorn Network. Eventually, ESPN Classic itself will cease to exist (or will be converted into a type of show on all ESPN channels instead of being its own channel) and the channel will be converted to Bevo TV for everyone. This helps ESPN bypass problem carrier negotiations that aren't going well at all (save Verizon--they'll take anything--look for it on channel 320 in SD here in the next week), and it helps ESPN cut expenses (in a way...) from one of it's lowest performing networks. Not saying it's going to happen exactly as such, but it appears that ESPN looking at using an end around to slip the channel in by re-purposing an existing channel that television providers have already contracted for and agreed to. Take it for what you will, but I, for one, will be pissed if the Whorns not only kill the Big XII, but ESPN Classic to boot.

Just in case the Miami story took away our attention fro--oh look, shiny!!! Sorry, what were we discussing again? I think only half of the wait is for fine-print haggling. The other half is getting A&M their moving buddy, which I still think is going to be the suddenly-mute-on-the-subject Missouri.

Copypasta? Someone get hungry when searching for the other 8.5 million prediction threads?

Where's the disgust for the QB hanging his WR out there to dry like that? Oh, that's right--QBs can do no wrong in the NFL anymore, and Tim Tebow isn't the QB that can walk on water. The hit is legal, IMO. Roger Goodell is an asshat that is ruining NFL football.

Not sure how I feel--sucks that it happened, and the way those upper desks are designed in Arlington, a swell of people going for a ball from behind you could easily push someone off--figured it was a matter of time. But since this wasn't the case, I do have to say Darwin played a hand in this. But then again, this guy was a firefighter and dad. Feel sorry for the families he's leaving behind. F***itall, I'm torn. I'm sure Nolan Ryan thinks he's doing a good thing here, so hooray for good intentions?

I agree. If you're not going to use it for extreme cases...say, a school that has been on probation every decade since the 1980s *and* was already on probation for serious violations, then why even have it on the books? And again, any arguments about using the death penalty and how it impacts those around the program are not valid arguments, especially if you propose in your next breath to punish Miami heavily. The ACC already knows they're going to lose TV ratings and bowl revenue--the group Miami associates with is already being impacted in the same manner as if Miami were to receive the death penalty. The problem is that the death penaly won't impact anyone who was reponsible. That's just it--it's not one person that's responsible, but a whole corrupt program that has been corrupt since the 1980s. And again, even if you slap Miami with USC-style sanctions, schools that aren't named Miami are going to get hurt. You think anyone (that's not a fan of the schools) will tune in to an ACC match with Miami being hobbled, or Nebraska's non-con tilt with them in 2014? Collateral damage will happen, regardless of the punishment. Best to make it quick and merciful for the benefit of the other 11 ACC members and those schools that scheduled Miami for NC play, than to make them all collectively suffer. Frankly, I would rather see Miami get the death penalty and be off our schedule (so we don't have to buy out the contract) so we can go get someone else instead of playing a weak Miami that no one will care about for two years.

But A&M and Missouri are the only ones with the cojones to go anywhere. And I think Fro should be extremely pleased that I accused Missouri of having said cojones. Likely doesn't happen very often from a Nebraska fan.

I seriously doubt they could get eight of the ten Big XII institutions to go along with this (3/4s majority would be required for this IIRC). Oklahoma, A&M, and Missouri would all want to keep their options open. And Okie Lite has been reading their own press clippings, so they may feel as if they could get a solo invite to a BCS conference (very unlikely) if the Big XII goes tits up. Honestly, if the Big XII wanted to fix itself, it would vote Texas, and then Beebe, out of the conference. It could survive if they had a leader who wasn't a f*****g idiot. Hell, anyone on this board could do a better job than that f*** ***d Beebe. Hell, a three year old could do a better job.

That I did not know. Are you sure about this? Wasn't it just last year that their AD was crowing about how great the SEC was while the Big XII convulsions were happening?

Coaching may have something to do with this as well. Even though the Royals are last (again), they're not the same pushover they were a year or two ago (save for when Grienke was on the mound). Still, something tells me that Alex may be shopped around this year--Seattle, Oakland, or Texas may be good fits for his services?

Good job, men. Congrats!

Then why don't we just take back the education he received as a player and see if he still gets his CATO Institute internship. Plus, what about schools like Nebraska that use the football money to pay for all the other sports and run the AD as a non-profit that doesn't take taxes? Why aren't we highlighting the programs that are doing it right, instead of pointing to the ones doing it wrong and using them as the reason why we can't have nice things?

I don't think Religion has always been the political tool it is today--at one point during its creation, it had to have altruistic intentions, or it would have ceased to grow.

I just don't understand why our federal gov't (or most state gov'ts) can't seem to balance their yearly budgets. Seems pretty simple really. Just look at the level of revenues. Then spend less than that. The other side of the story . . . this guy is bragging about saving millions . . . but Montana accepted over a BILLION dollars in federal stimulus money. It's easier to operate in the black when you have someone pumping a cool billion into your state. Kind of like Rick Perry, who took stimulus money, and then still had a massive $9 billion deficit that education bore the brunt of cuts for.

I agree. If you're not going to use it for extreme cases...say, a school that has been on probation every decade since the 1980s *and* was already on probation for serious violations, then why even have it on the books? And again, any arguments about using the death penalty and how it impacts those around the program are not valid arguments, especially if you propose in your next breath to punish Miami heavily. The ACC already knows they're going to lose TV ratings and bowl revenue--the group Miami associates with is already being impacted in the same manner as if Miami were to receive the death penalty. Hell, look at Nebraska--the Journal Star article makes it sound like Miami is likely off our schedule, regardless of death penalty. Would fans honestly value a zombified Miami program shambling into Lincoln to play? No, and Dr. Tom knows this, which is why you may see a move to drop Miami (and perhaps add a certain school from Norman with an open 2014 date?). So tell me again what the difference is between protracted punishment and the death penalty, as the later seems to be a more efficient penalty method and carries a very similar impact to those around the program?

"Dirt burglars"?

That's a good possible "new Death Penalty," actually, but even that would have ramifications for the ACC. This is exactly why the "impact to other teams" argument doesn't hold any water--no matter what you do, you're going to impact the teams in that conference with Miami and anyone (including DoNU) that has a non-con game with them. It's impossible to penalize Miami with it not impacting the conference they're in or the teams they agreed to play. In essence, Fro, instead of giving 'death' to Miami, your idea would turn them into a shambling zombie of a program. That action still has a significant and, ultimately, similar impact to a death penalty--the punishment is simply protracted across, say, a decade or two instead of one or two years. And there's something to be said about a quick, merciful death. Ultimately, I honestly think any argument against the NCAA death penalty that is predicated on mitigating impact is really disingenuous. Punishment should be metered due to the crimes committed, influenced by past history, and tempered by any good works or openness to cooperation that the institution provides--not by how it will impact the neighbors.

Craig James' ego is that of ten normal guys, so just saying him satisfies your request, yes?

Probably because he was a Diet Pepsi guy and he just didn't want to offend.

This is blatant cowardice on the part of the NCAA. Miami is not a linchpin program that would break the ACC or local Florida FBS football. They aren't a good TV draw, and whatever cache they built with the public is years old. If anything, Miami is *THE* perfect program to make an example of and give the death penalty to, especially considering the extent of the violations. If anything short of the death penalty takes place, fans should revolt and (proverbially, not literally, of course) burn down the NCAA offices.

Add Oklahoma and SMU, and you may be on to something.

And remember, Florida is a reddish state--these words tend to exacerbate things in such locations. --- Also, people keep bringing up the USC debacle, but how many players were ever implicated in that mess, and for how many years? I thought it was only (only!) twenty or so players over Pete's reign. If I'm remembering correctly, USC's infractions would be small potatoes compared to what Yahoo Sports dug up on Miami. Plus, let's look at it this way--would giving the death penalty to Miami kill the ACC in either the short or long term? Probably not, especially with expansion on the horizon. USC getting the death penalty...that's more of a linchpin program for the Pac-12, and it's temporary removal would likely cause the Pac-12 to collapse in on itself. Ohio State, same thing. Even though it shouldn't be, I'm sure the program's importance to the conference is being taken into account here...and Miami really isn't all that special to the ACC, and Miami has willingly played the villain since the 80s. This alone makes them the perfect program to make an example of. How many players got USC their penalties? http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/d28c898042cdd2bc958fd5a6e282e000/20100610+USC+Public+Report.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=d28c898042cdd2bc958fd5a6e282e000 (A) 2. When you start doling out punishment because of someones status as a powerhouse (or not) in a conference you lose legitimacy as an impartial enforcement body. Which is already thought of as arbitrary in it's enforcement. More of that would be bad. Yet, we have judges that do that very thing in our legal system--they weight punishment against the crime, impact to dependents/innocents, and the defendant's importance, political climate (if the judges are voted on), among other factors. Not saying it's right, but there's a precedent in our own judicial system of this taking place. I would think it's not a reasonable stretch to see this occur when the NCAA doles out punishment. The NCAA said they weren't going to let schools get away with this any more. You have a school that's been trying to get away with it since 2002 (and earlier, more than likely). You have a school whose AD was on the NCAA committee that personally lambasted USC for lack of oversight for their infractions, and now his (former) school is the one with the lack of oversight. I promise that if there's a death penalty levied, it's because of politics and the lack of importance on the part of the Miami program in the grand scheme of things. The NCAA is backed into a corner on this one, and the school is more or less a disposable one on the whole collegiate football landscape.