NCAA History Guide

There are many reasons why North Carolina is a strong state when it comes to higher education. Besides its natural beauty and southern charm, the Tar Heel State is also proud to have four of the top 25 best-value universities in the nation, according to Forbes. Given the pool of talent it has been receiving, NC cities have been ranking high beside New York as a thriving metropolis. So when you visit NC, make sure to take a tour of their best campuses and feel the intellectual spirit surrounding you.

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As we begin week three of college football, it is safe to say the season is in full-swing, which means college football fans’ lives are now revolving around the game. Die-hard fans know that Saturday is all about football and some are even taking days off work to follow their favorite team to away games. While the games are the primary focus of the season, there is a lot more to it. College football is also about tailgating and the stadiums.

Continue reading “The Best of the Best College Football Stadiums” »

Bob Bowlsby, Big 12 Conference commissioner, has been making sports headlines as he speaks out against the college sports overlord that everyone loves to hate- the NCAA. The main source of contention? The elite leaders of NCAA sports- the 20% that win 92% of championships- are increasingly unable to pass legislation because the smaller schools are voting them down.

Bowlsby is speaking out against the democratic system of the NCAA itself, saying that ” it’s virtually impossible right now to configure legislative proposals that have any chance of getting through the system intact that would accomplish anything in the way of meaningful change.” He, along with many others in the college sporting world, are frustrated by the bureaucratic roadblock to creating the real change that the NCAA needs to see.

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Summer is the perfect time to get fit, and each year the warm weather brings with it new fitness crazes. If you’re looking to get outdoors and try something new this summer, try one of these hot new ways to burn some calories.

Obstacle Course Races

5K races and the like have definitely gotten a lot more inventive in the last few years. There are now tons of unique races to take part in across the country. One fun trend is the “Warrior Dash” and other races that incorporate obstacle elements into the run. Runners are ditching the traditional marathon runs in favor of competitions that include climbing, mud, fire, and even electrified wires in some of the more intense races. It’s the perfect way for hardcore runners to put their endurance to the test, and have a blast in the process.

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Well, this is one that doesn’t happen all too often. An NCAA football player is faced with a seemingly impossible choice- NFL football or Rhodes Scholarship? In a stereotype-defying turn of events, the smartest player on Michigan State University’s football team is also one with a bright future in football. So when it comes to a career on Wall Street vs. a career on the field, what’s a 21 year old to do?

That decision is the one facing Mike Sadler right now, as he embarks on a quest for a PhD in economics while simultaneously considering his punting prospects in the NFL. Sadler graduated in 3 years from MSU with a degree in applied engineering sciences, while maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Meanwhile, he also kept up with the rigorous training schedule of a starting football player, and averaged a league-leading 43.3 yards per punt and placed 40% of punts within the opposing 20 over the last 2 seasons.

Continue reading “A Scholar Among Us” »

The NCAA is often criticized for its commercialism and lack of true collaboration. With the NCAA-run March Madness tournament just completed, however, it’s hard to imagine a world of college sports in which the NCAA does not play a pivotal role. In football, on the other hand, strides are being made that just might change the relationship between universities, conferences, and the NCAA.

The first, seemingly unimportant, development is the branding of the new College Football Playoff. The new format, set to debut after the 2014 regular season, hopes to resolve some of the arguments for reform that have become increasingly prevalent in the last several years. The logo has just been chosen this week, and the gaining momentum for the new playoff leads to a startling realization: unlike the championships for nearly every other college sport, the branding of the College Football Playoff features no mention of the NCAA. This may in fact be a deliberate choice. As college football seeks to reformat their playoff process, they may also be looking to refocus on college football, rather than the NCAA.

Continue reading “The NCAA Fate in Football” »

Are you looking for a great way to stay fit during the off season? Well, there are a ton of different options out there, but as a college student many options can be expensive. Today I’ll look at some economical ways to stay fit during the off season.

Home fitness programs – P90x and others

A home fitness program is always a great economical solution; with so many videos and dvds out there, training at home is easy. I personally recommend P90x as it is a great program that really hits all areas as it includes weight lifting, cardio, stretching and yoga. The dvds are only around $100 – cheaper if you get them used and you’ll only need to spend another $70 or so for workout bands, a pullup bar and yoga mat.

An alternative to P90x is Insanity. This program focuses more on cardio, so you’re going to have to supplement this with another weights workout separately. Of course there are a ton of different dvd sets that you can get. There has also been a massive surge in fitness apps, so if you have a smart phone, I’d recommend checking the selection to see if anything looks interesting.

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Most active people have, at one time or another, had to deal with injury. Injuries occur either through accidents, due to poor training practices, or from using the wrong gear. Failure to warm up or stretch before or after training can also lead to injuries. While some types of injuries may be minor, others are more serious and take a longer time to heal.

Most active people have problems coping with injuries because they are not used to reduced activity. Some even refuse to admit they are injured and they continue with activities that make the injury worse. Several things can be done to cope with a sports injury.

1. Admit you are injured

The first thing you need to do is to admit you are injured and thus you cannot do most of the things you do every day. If you are an athlete, this means that you should not attempt to compete if you have an injury, however slight, as you risk making it worse. Admitting it will also help you to get help. Do not assume that the injury will just ‘heal itself’.

Continue reading “5 Ways To Avoid ‘Losing It’ When You Have A Sports Injury” »

It’s about that time of year again, basketball fans – March Madness! Whether you’re on spring break now or next week, you’ll still return in time to catch the start of the tournament on March 19. Or, maybe you’ll be on break during the tournament, but most bars and sports restaurants will broadcast the games.

Schedule

This year’s complete schedule, courtesy of the NCAA website, is as follows:

• First Four – March 19-20
• Second/Third Rounds – March 21-24
• Regionals – March 28-31
• Final Four – April 6 & 8

Continue reading “March Madness is Upon Us” »

While rifling through old files on my computer, I came across a pretty old post about Les Miles and LSU. Time sure flies. And, he’s still head coach of the LSU football team, which I suppose isn’t that much of a surprise, but still worth mentioning if you didn’t think he would be (or just don’t know who he is). Just for fun, here’s the post:

Les is More, Sorta

This week LSU announced they had extended the contract through 2010, bumping his annual salary from $1.25 million in 2005 to $1.65 million in 2006. This seems to me like a bit of a kneejerk reaction on behalf of LSU and am not sure that Miles is a proven commodity that would warrant a raise after a great season with Nick Saban’s players. I for one really enjoyed his sideline antics and moments of panic during the Tennessee loss last year. Deer meet headlights, headlights meet deer…

Continue reading “In College Football History: Les Miles” »