On Monday the state of New Jersey it could begin offering licenses for sports betting on January 9 with the assumption a federal lawsuit filed by various professional sports leagues (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL) and the NCAA does not stand in the way. Perhaps trying to pressure the state to cave on the concept of sports betting, the NCAA announced they will remove championships located within The Garden State.
Five championships will be removed from New Jersey in 2013, including the Division I Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, Diving Regionals (Piscataway, March 14-17), Division I Women’s Basketball Championship, Trenton Regional (Trenton, March 30-April 2), Division III Men’s Volleyball Championship (Hoboken, April 26-28) and the Division II and III Women’s Lacrosse Championships (Montclair, May 18-19). New host sites, dates and times will be determined later. Of course, this move actually hurts some of the smaller schools serving as hosts for some of these events, so good job here by the NCAA.
Other states to allow sports betting include Delaware, Oregon, Montana and, of course, Nevada. If the NCAA is so concerned about holding championship type events in states that allow sports betting, then why do they allow for a bowl game played in Las Vegas to exist? Is it because the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas somehow avoids any sort of betting surrounding it? Not likely.
It seems pretty simple to not sanction a postseason game played in Las Vegas, does it not? Or what about potential Pac-12 Championship games being played in the state of Oregon?
Nice try NCAA, trying to play the role of morality police when it comes to sports gambling. But we all see through your $500 million assets and $260 million fund.
Ever wonder what former Stanford, Notre Dame and Washington head coach Tyrone Willingham is up to these days? He is still in the coaching game, sort of, as a volunteer assistant for Stanford's women's golf team.
Here's a look ahead to the rest of the week. And a recap of the initial BCS standings.
The heat is starting to rise for Texas head coach Mack Brown. Is he on his way out? [CBSSports.com] He has no plans to step down any time soon. [FOX Sports]
Meanwhile, Texas quarterback David Ash says he will play Saturday when the Longhorns take on Baylor despite being roughed up against Oklahoma. [FOX Sports Southwest]
Texas Tech has lost two wide receivers for the remainder of the year to injury. Javon Bell (broken foot) and Brad Marquez (knee) will hurt the depth in the passing game. [Fort Star Telegram] Meanwhile linebacker Daniel Cobb has been cleared of a felony burglary charge from August. [AP via FOX Sports] Finally, defensive back Cody Davis took to his personal blog to say he believes West Virginia was "by far the most cocky and arrogant team" he has ever seen on film and in person. [The Student of the Game]
When Notre Dame is winning, NBC is happy. Ratings for NBC's fourth Notre Dame telecast (vs Stanford) were up 50 percent from their fourth broadcast last season (vs USC) and 179 percent from their fourth game in 2010 (vs Pittsburgh). [Sports Media Watch]
Middle Tennessee State has lost their leading rusher for the rest f the regular season. [AP via SI.com]
The AIRBHG strikes again at Iowa, perhaps. Mark Weiserman is not listed on the depth chart for this weekend's game against Penn State. [College Football Talk]
Arkansas wants a new head coach in place by December, which means the clock is ticking. [AP via SI.com]
Now you can own Paul Rhodes' broken headset. [Kegs 'N Eggs]
Boise State's black uniforms. [No 2-Minute Warning]
Urban Meyer is not happy with Ohio State's defense, nor should he be. [AP via SI.com]
Is it time for Tennessee to look for a new head coach? Long-time Dooley supporter and co-managing editor Aaron Torres thinks so.
Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron celebrated Saturday's win over Missouri by heading out to the bars later that night back home. He signed a couple of uh…autographs as well. [Shot of Ginn]
Columbus radio host Scott Torgerson suspended for remarks about Kirk Herbstreit. [Awful Announcing]
Clemson is home to the best tailgating scene in the south, apparently. [Southern Living]
Twelve teams are undefeated, and a total of seven can possibly finish the year without a loss. [Examiner.com]
Michigan is going for historic win 900 this weekend. [Examiner.com]
Facebook comments sum up Gene Chizik and Auburn.
Auburn has been outscored 62-3 in the fourth quarter this season. [Cullman Times]
Image of the Day
Ahh, gamesmanship in the Ivy League. Dartmouth apparently forgot to pack a kicking tee for their contest at Yale a couple of weeks ago, and the hosts declined to provide one. No matter, as Dartmouth improvised and had the equipment staff make one out of a water bottle.
Dartmouth won the game, 34-14.
HT Reddit
Video of the Day
Today is the birthday of former Colorado quarterback Kordell Stewart. So cue up the video of the most famous play in his football career, the Miracle in Michigan, as called by the one and only Keith Jackson…
