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Big Ten Cash Payments, If Done Right, Could Be The Future of NCAA Sports

2011-05-20T17:00:12Z

There are some things we need to get out of the way first.

First of all you need to admit, as a fan of a big time college basketball or football team, that at least one player is probably receiving improper benefits. Not Cam Newton money, and not money directly from the school, but there is likely a player who gets a helping hand now and then from a booster or local business man or whatever. There is money being passed under the table in college athletics all over America, we just know about the ones that get caught.

Secondly, we need to acknowledge that, at least for football and basketball, universities are pulling in huge amounts of money based on the image, notoriety, and talents of their student athletes; student athletes who are legally prevented from entering the professional ranks for at least one year. Tim Tebow might as well have been the face of college football for three years, and (as far as we know) never received a dime for it.

Now the Big Ten is in discussions to start distributing the money from their $20 million dollar television deal directly to the student athletes. A departure from perhaps the ideal of the student athlete, but a step towards the reality of today. Which the two sounds more rational? A world where players are legally prevented from selling their own possessions for a few extra dollars or the University simply giving them a piece of the funds they clearly helped earn?

I understand the slippery slope argument that arises from this. How much should we pay them? What is to prevent each school simply upping the payments offered to their players as a way to lure better recruits? I think there is an easy solution to this.

For the past two years I was employed as a graduate assistant at my university, in exchange for about 20 hours of work a week, I was given a stipend of $900 a month to help with rent, gas, and groceries. You certainly would have a tough time raising a family on that, but my expenses were one of a college student. A good friend of mine, at a different university, in a different city, was paid $100 more per month than me, largely because the cost of living was higher there.

I think this system is fair and pretty easily maintained, and I would also add that they must stay consistent, so if you want to pay the football players more, we history GAs would be in for a nice raise too. If Big Ten universities paid their student athletes the same amount as their GA's, we wouldn't start seeing Lamborghinis parked outside the practice facility, but it would probably take away the motivation for players to sell their trophies.

As I understand it, the Big Ten is also considering to pay all the athletes, across all the sports equally, which I think would also stem any fears of a money arms race. While the teams outside of football and men's basketball rarely make enough money to fully support their programs, the players put in largely the same amount of work, and have the same financial obligations as do the basketball and football players. Paying all the sports equally would deter schools from simply dumping massive amounts of athletic budget into player payments, and also ensure that every player at a university is given equal treatment.

This isn't the sort of system that would have say, prevented Reggie Bush from getting close to $300,000 from USC boosters, or Cam Newton's father shopping him from school to school to the highest bidder, but it might deter players from going to boosters for a hundred dollars here or there for rent money or pizza money. It would hopefully also reduce the role of guys like Ed Martin or Sam Gilbert who prayed on poorer players by offering them money as college players, with expectations of larger pay outs back when they became pros.

Whatever can be done to stem the tide of violation after violation and sanction after sanction, an affliction that has harmed the reputation of college athletics since the 1980's, is a good thing for college sports.

2011 NCAA Tournament: Kentucky Eliminates Ohio State 62-60, Ends Big Ten Season

2011-03-26T04:23:13Z

The careers of three great Ohio State seniors have finally come to an end. David Lighty, William Buford and Jon Diebler, along with freshmen standouts Jared Sullinger and Aaron Craft, helmed a Buckeye team that lost won 34 games this year, and lost only three. Unfortunately, that third loss came in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, and the national championship run of the team that has spent so many weeks atop the polls has come to an end, at the hands of the No.4 seed Kentucky Wildcats.

For as much has been said about the Big East, the Big Ten and the ACC this year, it seems as though the often derided SEC will now have two teams in the Elite Eight. Kentucky was led by its own senior tonight in Josh Harrellson who scored 17 and grabbed 10 boards to lead his team. The three Kentucky super freshmen, Terrance Jones, Brandon Knight and Doron Lamb totaled 23 points for the Wildcats and John Calipari would need every last one as UK squeaked by against OSU.

With that ends the entire Big Ten season, where seven teams made it to the tournament, five advanced to the round of 32, two to the Sweet Sixteen, but none past that. The Big Ten will have to wait yet another year for its first National Title since Michigan State in 2000.

2011 NCAA Sweet 16: Ohio State And Kentucky Tied At 30 At Half

2011-03-26T02:57:16Z

It is a battle of two very similar teams, led by gritty seniors and highly talented freshmen, and half way through the Sweet Sixteen match of Kentucky and Ohio State, it is still a stalemate.

Ohio State is led by three seniors in the starting line up, but it is the freshman phenomenon Jared Sullinger is leading the Buckeyes so far with 10 points and 7 rebounds already, with Jon Diebler contributing 9 points of his own.

Kentucky's own freshmen stars, Doron Lamb and Brandon Knight, have so far combined for just 4 points in the first half, but their senior leader, forward Josh Harrellson is carrying the team with 12 points and 7 rebounds, against the OSU tough front line.

Whoever wins this game will be the team whose stars step up, David Lighty, and William Buford could still come alive in the second half for the Buckeyes, or the aforementioned Wildcats, Lamb and Knight could lift UK in the second half.

Given that Thad Matta's team has only shot 30% from the field and still managed to be tied with UK at half is a good sign for his team, because if the shots start falling, we already know just how many points this team could put on the board.

2011 NCAA Sweet 16: Butler Eliminates Wisconsin 61-54, Only Ohio State Remains From Big Ten

2011-03-25T04:39:46Z

Wisconsin was shooting hot last weekend, beating Belmont and Kansas State in the process, nut against Butler in New Orleans, the Badgers looked much more like the team that lost to Penn State in Indianapolis.

Wisconsin was shut down in the first half, scoring just 24 points and turning the ball over eight times, and for the first several minutes of the second half couldn't find the bottom of the net. The Badgers did turn it on eventually against the Bulldogs, and put up 30 points down the stretch, but it ended up being too little and too late, they had given Butler too much of a lead to hope to come back.

For Butler, it is the second consecutive year advancing to the the Elite Eight, and their tournament experience seemed to matter quite a bit. Senior forward Matt Howard had 20 points for the Bulldogs, with 9 coming off of his ice water free throw shooting. Brad Stevens' players made 7 free throws down the stretch to hold back the late Wisconsin charge, there would be no heart attack plays tonight.

Butler is now just one game away from another trip to the Final Four, and though no one can call them a Cinderella this year, three weeks ago, the Bulldogs weren't even necessarily in the field.

2011 NCAA Sweet 16: Butler Locking Down Wisconsin, 33-24 At Half

2011-03-25T03:12:15Z

Butler seems like they are well on their way to another Elite Eight, as they have stifled Wisconsin's offense up and down the court in the first half. It also certainly hasn't hurt that Butler has shot the ball very well, shooting 50% from the field and making four three pointers.

Wisconsin methodical offense is normally very good at controlling the pace, but thus far the Badgers seem to be grasping at straws, going just 8-23 in shooting and committing a very un-Wisconsin like eight first half turnovers. Notably silent thus far tonight is standout Jon Leuer, who has just 3 points on six shots.

For Brad Stevens and Butler their defense has led to plenty of easy points in the other direction. Shawn Vanzant is leading the way for the Bulldogs with a game high 9 points, while forward Matt Howard has 8 points of his own.

Wisconsin is going to have to take much better care of the ball, and show much better shot selection in the second half if it wants to spoil another miracle Butler season.

2011 NCAA Sweet 16: Badgers Ready For Defending National Runner Up Butler

2011-03-24T23:39:35Z

It is too bad that only one of these two teams can move on. The Wisconsin Badgers, who always seem to be counted out before the season starts and who always put together a solid season have to go up against last year's surprise Final Four team, Butler.

Butler who came within inches of a National Title last year has managed to scrape into the Sweet Sixteen in classic Butler fashion, by eking out victories by the skin of their noses. Butler won the 8/9 game over Old Dominion on a buzzer beating put back shot, and managed a one point victory over No. 1 seeded Pitt after two crazy fouls. Butler coach Brad Stevens may be headed elsewhere after the end of this season, as he is suddenly the most sought after coach in America, but until then, he is carrying his team on another unlikely tournament run.

If Butler is the most exciting team in the Sweet Sixteen, then Wisconsin is the least so. They handled No. 12 seed Belmont without blinking, despite being the trendy upset pick. In the second round, the withstood a 38 point game from Kansas State's Jacob Pullen, to pull away with a five point win over the Wildcats. They are predictable and, if their shots are falling, very difficult to stop. Jon Leuer and Jordan Taylor are both probably future NBA players, and are almost automatic in the Bo Ryan offense, throw in the motor of bench player Mike Bruesewitz and it is easy to understand why the Badgers have lost so few games this season.

It is a battle between two "tough outs" in this field, and while it will be sad to see one of them head home after tonight, it is probably going to be a great forty minutes of basketball.

For more Badgers coverage, check out the SB Nation Wisconsin Blog Bucky's 5th Quarter.

Arnold Palmer Invitational 2011: Martin Laird Outlasts Steve Marino For Win

2011-03-23T16:42:30Z

The 2011 Arnold Palmer Invitational, held annually at the Bay Hill Club in Orlando, is set to get underway on Thursday as the last tune-up for the world's best golfers prior to the Masters in two weeks. This year's field includes plenty of big names, including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Ells, Vijay Singh and Zach Johnson.

Woods is still looking for his first tournament win of the season, and with six career wins on the Bay Hill course, this tournament is as good an opportunity as any he'll get it this year.

Full first round pairings and tee times:

Bay Hill Club & Lodge Tee #1
Time	Players
7:40 am	Trahan, D.J.	Curtis, Ben	Dufner, Jason
7:52 am	Campbell, Chad	Goydos, Paul	Na, Kevin
8:03 am	Holmes, J.B.	Leishman, Marc	Walker, Jimmy
8:15 am	Slocum, Heath	Cink, Stewart	Stenson, Henrik
8:26 am	Wilson, Mark	Rose, Justin	Johnson, Zach
8:38 am	Garrigus, Robert	Laird, Martin	Singh, Vijay
8:49 am	Wagner, Johnson	Perry, Kenny	O'Hair, Sean
9:01 am	DiMarco, Chris	Cejka, Alex	Thatcher, Roland
9:12 am	Damron, Robert	Magee, Andrew	de Jonge, Brendon
9:24 am	Haas, Hunter	Kirk, Chris	Perry, Rod

Bay Hill Club & Lodge Tee #10
Time	Players
7:40 am	Herron, Tim	Davis, Brian	Fowler, Rickie
7:52 am	Pampling, Rod	Jacobson, Fredrik	Kendall, Skip
8:03 am	Snedeker, Brandt	Gamez, Robert	Janzen, Lee
8:15 am	Pettersson, Carl	Bohn, Jason	Choi, K.J.
8:26 am	Haas, Bill	Mahan, Hunter	Mickelson, Phil
8:38 am	Watson, Bubba	Furyk, Jim	McDowell, Graeme
8:49 am	Moore, Ryan	Immelman, Trevor	Verplank, Scott
9:01 am	Couch, Chris	Taylor, Vaughn	Sim, Michael
9:12 am	Senden, John	Wi, Charlie	Molinari, Edoardo
9:24 am	Bradley, Keegan	Martin, Ben	Saunders, Sam

Bay Hill Club & Lodge Tee #1
Time	Players
12:10 pm	Johnson, Richard S.	Weekley, Boo	Gillis, Tom
12:22 pm	Duval, David	O'Hern, Nick	Ishikawa, Ryo
12:33 pm	Streelman, Kevin	Simpson, Webb	Schwartzel, Charl
12:45 pm	Mediate, Rocco	Beckman, Cameron	Matteson, Troy
12:56 pm	Woodland, Gary	Johnson, Dustin	Woods, Tiger
1:08 pm	Vegas, Jhonattan	Els, Ernie	Poulter, Ian
1:19 pm	Ames, Stephen	Perez, Pat	Toms, David
1:31 pm	Howell III, Charles	Overton, Jeff	Barnes, Ricky
1:42 pm	Every, Matt	Stanley, Kyle M.	Hurley III, Billy
1:54 pm	Knost, Colt	Steele, Brendan	Manassero, Matteo

Bay Hill Club & Lodge Tee #10
Time	Players
12:10 pm	Marino, Steve	Levin, Spencer	Hanson, Peter
12:22 pm	Chopra, Daniel	Henry, J.J.	Faxon, Brad
12:33 pm	Bean, Andy	Jobe, Brandt	Ikeda, Yuta
12:45 pm	Atwal, Arjun	Lunde, Bill	Leonard, Justin
12:56 pm	Points, D.A.	Appleby, Stuart	Gay, Brian
1:08 pm	Baddeley, Aaron	Bettencourt, Matt	Allenby, Robert
1:19 pm	Villegas, Camilo	Van Pelt, Bo	Garcia, Sergio
1:31 pm	Pride, Dicky	Prugh, Alex	Gainey, Tommy
1:42 pm	Miller, Zack	Summerhays, Daniel	Compton, Erik
1:54 pm	Lyle, Jarrod	McGirt, William	Carpenter, Alex

Arnold Palmer Invitational 2011: Tee Times, Field, Pairings For Masters Tune-Up

2011-03-23T16:42:30Z

Woods is still looking for his first tournament win of the season, and with six career wins on the Bay Hill course, this tournament is as good an opportunity as any he'll get it this year.

Full first round pairings and tee times:

Bay Hill Club & Lodge Tee #1
Time	Players
7:40 am	Trahan, D.J.	Curtis, Ben	Dufner, Jason
7:52 am	Campbell, Chad	Goydos, Paul	Na, Kevin
8:03 am	Holmes, J.B.	Leishman, Marc	Walker, Jimmy
8:15 am	Slocum, Heath	Cink, Stewart	Stenson, Henrik
8:26 am	Wilson, Mark	Rose, Justin	Johnson, Zach
8:38 am	Garrigus, Robert	Laird, Martin	Singh, Vijay
8:49 am	Wagner, Johnson	Perry, Kenny	O'Hair, Sean
9:01 am	DiMarco, Chris	Cejka, Alex	Thatcher, Roland
9:12 am	Damron, Robert	Magee, Andrew	de Jonge, Brendon
9:24 am	Haas, Hunter	Kirk, Chris	Perry, Rod

Bay Hill Club & Lodge Tee #10
Time	Players
7:40 am	Herron, Tim	Davis, Brian	Fowler, Rickie
7:52 am	Pampling, Rod	Jacobson, Fredrik	Kendall, Skip
8:03 am	Snedeker, Brandt	Gamez, Robert	Janzen, Lee
8:15 am	Pettersson, Carl	Bohn, Jason	Choi, K.J.
8:26 am	Haas, Bill	Mahan, Hunter	Mickelson, Phil
8:38 am	Watson, Bubba	Furyk, Jim	McDowell, Graeme
8:49 am	Moore, Ryan	Immelman, Trevor	Verplank, Scott
9:01 am	Couch, Chris	Taylor, Vaughn	Sim, Michael
9:12 am	Senden, John	Wi, Charlie	Molinari, Edoardo
9:24 am	Bradley, Keegan	Martin, Ben	Saunders, Sam

Bay Hill Club & Lodge Tee #1
Time	Players
12:10 pm	Johnson, Richard S.	Weekley, Boo	Gillis, Tom
12:22 pm	Duval, David	O'Hern, Nick	Ishikawa, Ryo
12:33 pm	Streelman, Kevin	Simpson, Webb	Schwartzel, Charl
12:45 pm	Mediate, Rocco	Beckman, Cameron	Matteson, Troy
12:56 pm	Woodland, Gary	Johnson, Dustin	Woods, Tiger
1:08 pm	Vegas, Jhonattan	Els, Ernie	Poulter, Ian
1:19 pm	Ames, Stephen	Perez, Pat	Toms, David
1:31 pm	Howell III, Charles	Overton, Jeff	Barnes, Ricky
1:42 pm	Every, Matt	Stanley, Kyle M.	Hurley III, Billy
1:54 pm	Knost, Colt	Steele, Brendan	Manassero, Matteo

Bay Hill Club & Lodge Tee #10
Time	Players
12:10 pm	Marino, Steve	Levin, Spencer	Hanson, Peter
12:22 pm	Chopra, Daniel	Henry, J.J.	Faxon, Brad
12:33 pm	Bean, Andy	Jobe, Brandt	Ikeda, Yuta
12:45 pm	Atwal, Arjun	Lunde, Bill	Leonard, Justin
12:56 pm	Points, D.A.	Appleby, Stuart	Gay, Brian
1:08 pm	Baddeley, Aaron	Bettencourt, Matt	Allenby, Robert
1:19 pm	Villegas, Camilo	Van Pelt, Bo	Garcia, Sergio
1:31 pm	Pride, Dicky	Prugh, Alex	Gainey, Tommy
1:42 pm	Miller, Zack	Summerhays, Daniel	Compton, Erik
1:54 pm	Lyle, Jarrod	McGirt, William	Carpenter, Alex