Links at Lunch: Clouds Over Miami, Ohio State; NCAA Systemic Problems; In The Numbers
By Kyle Kensing
Much like barber shop quartet supergroup The Be Sharps, “The Ineligibowl” label for Saturday’s Miami-Ohio State game is less clever the more it’s used (would Coach Tressel be the game’s Chief Wiggum?). That said, the intrigue surrounding it and each participating program’s future grows. The Miami Herald uncovered a new caveat of The U’s myriad troubles, a potential direct connection between Nevin Shapiro and assistant coaches. Such direct agent/booster and coach relationships spell almost certain doom, as was the case with Butch Davis and assistant John Blake at North Carolina.
Of course, Ohio State is by no means in the clear. FOX Sports’ Bill Reiter writes of the cloud lingering over both Jim Tressel and OSU football.
In regard to Miami’s particularly unenviable situation, since Charles Robinson’s report dropped last month opinion has included instant condemnation and kneejerk defense. The conversation regarding Miami really needs to be snatched away from the pious pulpit pounders and the columnists who lob fan-inspired, unsubstantiated rotten eggs between “Wire” viewings. Aaron Torres mentions this in his breakdown of The Herald report over at Crystal Ball Run.
- The numerous NCAA violations under investigation at a laundry list of universities exposes a troubling pattern that The Big Lead shines a needed light on via a Drexel University Sports Management study titled “The Price of Poverty in Big Time College Sport.”
- Mississippi State enters tonight’s SEC tilt with LSU in need of a win to avoid an 0-2 conference hole, yet faces 11 straight games of bad precedent. The Bulldogs must also figure out how to address a Tiger defense that shut down an offense that Bill Connelly writes does what MSU does, only better.
- A loss tonight would send MSU into panic, much in the same way Georgia fans are beginning to sweat. But fear not, writes Parrish Walton at The Victory Formation. Brighter days are ahead for the Dawgs.
- It’s a few days old, but Autzen Zoo had an interesting breakdown on the continued evolution of Oregon’s offense.
- Wisconsin has flexed its offensive might in similar fashion the last few seasons, but in its two blowout wins the Badger defense has risen to new heights evaluated at Badger of Honor.
- Expect some big offensive numbers in Saturday’s Maryland-West Virginia regional, non-conference clash. Dwayne Watts, Hail WV’s Sports Dude, goes by the numbers of the Mountaineer and Terrapin offenses.