ZZZips

Nice article by Terry Pluto in today's PD on the Patriot Bowl.http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf?/...4250.xml&coll=2

The article below is one example of the huge disadvantage we have as a mid-major conference. This board has been hot and heavy on how to improve our stature and presence in the sports world. Everybody is for improvements but lets be realistic when we talk about "lets try this or that" like the big boys. We are lucky to have a broadcast let alone receive money from the producers.________________________________________________________________________________UW's proposed media deal nears approvalMadison - A multi-million dollar contract extension between the University of Wisconsin athletic department and Learfield Communications moved one step closer to formal approval Thursday.The Business, Finance and Audit Committee of the UW Board of Regents, meeting at UW-Oshkosh, recommended approval of the deal that would provide UW more than $76 million over the next 12 years. The deal, if approved, would extend the current agreement by 10 years and run through June 30, 2019.The full Board of Regents is scheduled to take action today on the committee's recommendation."It passed its first step," said Vince Sweeney, senior associate athletic director for external relations. "We'll know (Friday) whether it's soup or not."Some highlights of the proposed contract extension:Starting no later than May 1 of this year, Learfield would make a total of 12 annual payments totaling $75,025,000.Learfield would increase the annual rights fee for the final two years of the current contract by a combined $2,040,000. UW would be paid $4,925,000 on or before May 1 of this year and $5,425,000 on or before May 1 2008.Learfield would pay a one-time extension bonus of $1 million and pay $750,000 toward the instillation of courtside LED signage at the Kohl Center and LED fascia signage at Camp Randall Stadium.Learfield would continue to manage coaches' TV and radio shows and be responsible for live radio broadcasts of football, men's basketball, women's basketball and men's hockey games. Learfield would have limited TV broadcast rights for men's hockey, women's basketball and women's volleyball.Officials from Learfield first proposed the contract extension last June. UW felt comfortable with the deal after studying similar deals of other athletic departments."I think the committee was receptive to it and showed their support," Sweeney said. "I'm optimistic the full board will have the same viewpoint."

An nice article in todays (3/14/2007) NY Times.A Star’s Supporting Cast Takes a Bitter Bow By HARVEY ARATONTwo of LeBron James’s former high school teammates, now at the University of Akron, found their season ended earlier than expected.Access via http://www.nytimes.com/pages/sports/index.htmlYou must have at least a trial subscription to view.

This conference gets no respect. We need a new commissioner. Rick Chryst is not hghtly regarded and he has dragged our league down to his low level. When a 26-7 team is ignored by the NIT, it is a league embarrassment. Rome, Dru III and KD got screwed.

Erie Mansfield videohttp://www.wkyc.com/video/player.aspx?aid=31932&bw=

Downtown Akron football stadium moves forwardEric MansfieldPOSTED: Tuesday, March 06, 2007 5:51:25 PMUPDATED: Tuesday, March 06, 2007 8:26:40 PMAKRON -- University of Akron leaders have taken the next major step towards breaking ground on a $54 million stadium. Trustees voted Tuesday morning to hire Akron's Welty Building Company in partnership with the Hunt Construction Group of Indianapolis to lead the project. Hunt has a long history of managing new stadium construction to include Cleveland Browns Stadium, Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, and Ford Field in Detroit. The group has also managed stadium projects on the campuses of LSU and Louisville.If all goes as planned, University leaders hope to break ground later this year and be ready for the 2009 college football season. The site would be at the corner of Exchange and College Streets on the south side of campus."The open field provides a beautiful window into our campus," said Ted Curtis, University Vice President. "It's a collegiate atmosphere and our goal is to have a stadium on the campus, not across town, and not near the campus, but on the campus. It's very important for the collegiate feel."Curtis said the project would include retail and commercial development to support up to 200 events per year. New dormitories, classroom space, and labs would also be part of the master plan.The football stadium would boast 25-30,000 seats, lodges, suites, and additional parking.For decades, the Zips football program has been confined to the aging Rubber Bowl, which students and fans have long complained is too far from campus and too old.Recently, the University constructed new practice fields and an indoor field house as part of a $300 million campus overhaul. The stadium, University leaders said, is the missing piece to the final project.

Great first half inspite of the refs.Eleven players got minutes. Nine scored.Dials 11 pts, Woody has 8.58% from the field, 55% from behind the arc.

MBB Team is flying this afternon Cleveland-Houston-Tulsa.Tulsa airport has been open all day, vertually no delays.Oral Roberts University is closed today. Game tromorrow has not been cancelledTulsa's average snow fall for a "season" is 9.6 inches. They had 10.4 inches in one snowfall last night.