Team Spotlight

Andrew Pistone

While we have a come a long away as a society, nation and planet with regards to
the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there are still chilling reminders that it is not
yet in the rear view mirror. Carnegie Mellon’s situation surrounding the
Division III football championships highlights that reality. The university 
requires
[https://athletics.cmu.edu/sports/fball/2021-22/releases/20211119ha194x]weekly
testing for all varsity sports, and had a few members of the football team test
positive for the virus ahead of the playoffs.

As a result, they were not able to participate, which is a disappointing turn of
events for the program.

> “Our team had a remarkable season, and they earned the privilege to compete at
the highest level,” said Carnegie Mellon Athletic Director Josh Centor. “While
we won’t be able to play, this does nothing to diminish the accomplishments of
each and every member of our program.” Via Athletics.CMU.Edu
[https://athletics.cmu.edu/sports/fball/2021-22/releases/20211119ha194x]
> The safety of our players, coaches, staff, & community comes first. Even still,
we’re devastated to have our season conclude this way. 

We celebrate the successes of this season. Thank you to all who have & continue
to support us. #RDT
[https://twitter.com/hashtag/RDT?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
https://t.co/UqrgOzrBXb

— Carnegie Mellon Football (@TartanFB) November 19, 2021
[https://twitter.com/TartanFB/status/1461739799757340690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
What makes this development even more disappointing is the notion that the team
won’t be able to send longtime
[https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/NCAA/2021/11/19/carnegie-mellon-university-football-tartans-coach-rich-lackner-retiring-division-iii-ncaa-playoffs/stories/202111180066] 
coach Rich Lackner off with victories in the postseason. Lackner has been the
head man for 36 seasons, and has amassed 234 wins and 13 conference titles. He
is retiring after this season, and his players have loved the atmosphere he
created.

> “I was focused on the game(the final regular season game), but it was hard not
to notice what a big community and family Lackner has built with all of these
players coming back to watch his final game,” said running back Tre Vasiliadis.
Via Post-Gazette.com
[https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/NCAA/2021/11/19/carnegie-mellon-university-football-tartans-coach-rich-lackner-retiring-division-iii-ncaa-playoffs/stories/202111180066]
> Congratulations to HC Rich Lackner on being named the @PAC_Athletics
[https://twitter.com/PAC_Athletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] Coach of the Year!

Coach Lackner is now an eight time Coach of the Year honoree! ( @NewsUAA
[https://twitter.com/NewsUAA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] & PAC ). #RDT
[https://twitter.com/hashtag/RDT?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] | #TartanProud
[https://twitter.com/hashtag/TartanProud?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] | 
#DieHardDOGS
[https://twitter.com/hashtag/DieHardDOGS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] | 
#MenofAction
[https://twitter.com/hashtag/MenofAction?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] | 
#TartanDOGS
[https://twitter.com/hashtag/TartanDOGS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] 
pic.twitter.com/tUp7SQ3dxu [https://t.co/tUp7SQ3dxu]

— Carnegie Mellon Football (@TartanFB) November 18, 2021
[https://twitter.com/TartanFB/status/1461361500564590595?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
Carnegie Mellon claimed a share of the conference with their victory in the
regular season finale, and obtained an automatic bid for postseason play.
Considering the timing of the positive tests, and larger national developments,
it seems possible that had the playoffs been a few weeks later, Carnegie Mellon
may have been able to participate. Booster shots were authorized for emergency
use on November 19th for everyone 18 years of age and older. We don’t know if
every player or staff member would have been able to get one, or have had the
chance to, but in a slightly different world, the football team may have had the
chance to get hot and go on a run.

College Football: Carnegie Mellon Withdraws From Division-II Championship Bracket

As conference realignment continues to occur at an increased rate in college
sports, fans are becoming increasingly familiar with the positives and
drawbacks. Schools tend to make more money, gain more exposure, and compete at a
higher level of athletics, generally speaking. However, these moves also slowly
destroy the fabric of longstanding rivalries, relationships and traditions
developed over the course of decades.

James Madison University athletics is the latest in a long line of schools who
are moving to a new conference. They are joining the Sun Belt Conference, and
leaving the Colonial Athletic Association(CAA) behind. There’s only one problem;
the CAA isn’t taking too kindly to the Dukes’ move.

While it isn’t uncommon for conference’s who are being broken up with to throw
stones, the CAA is taking it to a different level. They have decided to ban
James Madison athletics from competing in conference championships this season,
denying teams the right to secure possibly one last CAA crown.

> JMU informed its athletes tonight that the CAA will not allow its teams to
compete for league championships this year if it announces its move to the Sun
Belt. 
JMU's appeal to league presidents was denied.https://t.co/o7swzHI4h1

— Mike Barber (@RTD_MikeBarber) November 4, 2021
[https://twitter.com/RTD_MikeBarber/status/1456048911609651206?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
There are a couple of levels to this type of response from the CAA. First of
all, it sounds like the conference wants to stymie ideas of any other schools
who might be thinking of jumping ship. Apparently
[https://www.si.com/college/2021/11/05/james-madison-athletes-take-biggest-fall-realignment-caa]
, the CAA has invoked this clause before to schools that have departed the
conference, such as Old Dominion, George Mason and East Carolina. Because this
precedent was set, James Madison had to have known this would happen. But
clearly, the draconian rule has not stopped universities from wondering whether
the grass was greener on the other side.

Conference commissioner Joe Dantonio has stated that he was not in a position to
prevent this from happening.

> “I’ll be honest. It’s not my job to determine whether it makes sense or doesn’t
make sense. It’s my job to make sure the bylaws are enforced the way they’re
written,” he said. Via Sportingnews.com
[https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-football/news/james-madison-barred-caa-conference-championships-sun-belt/18qysuq8cbwal1taqho03cgmrn]
However, for the student-athletes and coaches, this announcement was a tough
pill to swallow. Not being able to compete at the highest level in any year
would be difficult. But coupled with the pandemic ravaged season of a year ago,
this adds additional insult to proverbial injury.

> UNCW Chancellor says to JMU student-athletes,” “Let them eat cake.” The CAA
Presidents are petty, vindictive and out of touch. Shameful. 
https://t.co/4gulwgNSQN

— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) November 10, 2021
[https://twitter.com/JayBilas/status/1458572839913730052?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
> “For the punishment to fall on the athletes is just so hard. After a year of
COVID, to have this, it’s indescribable. I keep thinking it’s like a dream and
I’m going to wake up,” said James Madison volleyball coach Lauren Steinbrecher.
Via SI.com
[https://www.si.com/college/2021/11/05/james-madison-athletes-take-biggest-fall-realignment-caa]
Reaction to enforcement of this clause has been harsh, and it would appear that
this bylaw should be removed from the conference’s set of regulations.
Alternatives could replace it in ways that would financially deter a school from
wanting to leave, but surprising teams towards the end of their season in this
manner is unfortunate.

James Madison Athletics Caught In Conference Re-Alignment Crosshairs

Bryan Armetta

It's been a chaotic week of college basketball. In less than seven days of play,
we've had an overtime classic, a 37-point masterclass, and jaw-dropping upsets.
It's heartburn for coaches, but heaven for hoops fans.

While we're still a long ways from March, it's never too early to prognosticate
on how this year's drama will unfold. Here are four bold predictions that just
might be right this season.

Gonzaga got better

There wasn't a ton of new information we learned about #1 Gonzaga in a
comfortable twelve-point home win over #8 Texas. Championship game embarrassment
against Baylor aside, last year's WCC champs had an unprecedented 2020 campaign,
steamrolling all challengers en route to an undefeated regular season. The 2021
group seemed to pick up where they left off last Saturday.

> THE DREW TIMME SHOW 🍿

37 PTS (career-high)
15/19 FG 
7 REB 
3 AST

#1 Gonzaga beats #5 Texas 86-74 💪 (via @ZagMBB
[https://twitter.com/ZagMBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw])pic.twitter.com/zhK7hI63IE
[https://t.co/zhK7hI63IE]

— Overtime (@overtime) November 14, 2021
[https://twitter.com/overtime/status/1459755604193464325?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
There have been some questions about the Zags this offseason. With Jalen Suggs
and Corey Kispert departing for the NBA last summer, it was fair to wonder how
the Bulldogs planned to replace the production of two lottery picks. Enter
seven-foot unicorn Chet Holmgren, a big man with elite shot-blocking and
shooting ability, along with talented Iowa State transfer Rasir Bolton at guard.
Despite Holmgren's lackluster two-point outing vs. Texas, he still has a good
chance of emerging as the nation's top freshman standout. 

While the new additions should keep Gonzaga highly competitive, their ceiling
has been raised by the improvement of their returning players, most notably Drew
Timme. The junior big man was already in contention to win the Wooden Award, but
his career-high 37 points against a powerless Longhorns interior defense
solidifies his place as the favorite to take home the honor. Timme, along with
other returnees Andrew Nembhard and Anton Watson, give Gonzaga a mix of core
stars and new recruits that not even last year's unit possessed. While going
undefeated again is an unrealistic expectation (especially with a showdown
against #2 UCLA looming), it's certainly no stretch to call this the most
talented roster Mark Few has ever coached.

Syracuse will contend for the ACC title

Ever since Syracuse left the Big East for the ACC eight years ago, the Orange
have been good, but far from great. Typically sneaking into the tournament
rather than winning their beast of a conference, Jim Boeheim's team could make
history this season, namely from long-distance. 

Buddy Boeheim, one of the elite shooters in all of college basketball, should be
as good as last year, if not better. The Orange's other starting guard, Joseph
Girard III, has looked much better from long range with an absurd 100%
three-point percentage through two games. Another opening week standout has been
Villanova transfer Cole Swider, a forward who combines size and a lethal
shooting stroke. With three of the better shooters in the nation on the floor
together, opposing defenses will have no choice but to guard the perimeter. That
should open up the paint for five-star freshman Benny Williams, seven-foot
center Jesse Edwards, and Cornell transfer Jimmy Boeheim (son of Jim, brother of
Buddy).

> Syracuse's Joe Girard is 8/8 from three-point range during his first two games,
with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 12:4. Playing near flawless basketball for
the Orange at PG.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 15, 2021
[https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1460329254902644739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
That being said, the Orange did stumble in a 100-85 home loss to Colgate on
Saturday night, a tough break for a team with high expectations. Still, Colgate
was boosted by shooting a scorching 42% on three-point attempts. If Coach
Boeheim's zone extends the floor a bit more and tightens up on the boards, the
experienced Orange should be able to improve.

Admittedly, part of this bold prediction can be traced to even more uncertainty
amongst 'Cuse's conference rivals. North Carolina has been inconsistent, Duke
has already gone through off-court issues
[https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article255858341.html],
and Virginia might be in for a rebuilding year following their loss to Navy.
None of this means Syracuse should be seen as conference favorites, since
they've had their own struggles. However, it sure helps to have solid chemistry
and so few distractions this early in the season, with shooters capable of
getting hot and taking just about anyone down. Watch out for the Orange as a
pesky ACC challenger this year.

The Big East is deeper than ever this year...and the Big 10 is worse

 Talk about a conference-wide statement. In the span of one week, the Big East
asserted itself as a force by taking out some of the Big 10's premier programs
during the Gavitt Tipoff Games. Most impressive: they did it without the help of
#5 Villanova.

The first domino to fall occurred last Monday, when Shaka Smart's Marquette
Golden Eagles shocked #10 Illinois by a score of 67-66. The following day, Seton
Hall went to Ann Arbor and took down #4 Michigan, 67-65. Finally, Xavier beat
#19 Ohio State 71-65 on Thursday. Overall, the Big East is 6-2 against the Big
10, with three of those wins coming against arguably the best teams in the
conference. The signs are pointing to a potential Big East resurgence, perhaps
reminding us of those intense, highly-competitive seasons prior to the
conference's initial dissolution eight years ago.

> The @BIGEASTMBB [https://twitter.com/BIGEASTMBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] showed out
in the Gavitt Tipoff Games! 🎉 🙌 pic.twitter.com/3Kk1s8kuxo
[https://t.co/3Kk1s8kuxo]

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) November 19, 2021
[https://twitter.com/CBBonFOX/status/1461542175850708993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
On the other side, it's difficult to recollect a time in which the Big 10 looked
so shaky, especially when factoring in #20 Maryland's loss to George Mason. With
talented squads suffering brutal losses to weaker (on paper) teams, one can't
help but think of the Big 10's highly publicized failure in the postseason last
year, where nine teams entered March Madness but only Michigan reached the Elite
Eight. The teams beaten this week should turn it around, and #6 Purdue is still
undefeated after a neutral-site victory over North Carolina. Still, it's not
crazy for Big 10 fans to panic somewhat. It's now been two years where the
majority of the conference has failed to play up to both their opponents and
their own talent level. That is cause for concern.

Men's Basketball: Hot Takes After A Wild Opening Week In CBB

Alexis Peltzer-Harding

As the WNBA season wrapped up in mid-October, some of the younger women's
basketball talent is just getting warmed up all across the country. The NCAA
Women's Basketball season will begin on November 9th and the recently released
NCAA Preseason Poll offers a glimpse of what could go down in the months before
the 2022 Women's Final Four in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Below are a look at how the Preseason Top 10 looks in Women's College Basketball
and some of the most intriguing storylines we found.

2021-2022 Pac-12 Preseason Women's Basketball Rankings
 1.  Stanford Cardinal
 2.  Oregon Ducks
 3.  UCLA Bruins
 4.  Oregon State Beavers
 5.  Arizona Wildcats
 6.  Washington State Cougars
 7.  Colorad Buffaloes
 8.  Arizona State Sun Devils
 9.  USC Trojans
 10. Utah Utes
 11. Washington Huskies
 12. Cal Bears

Stanford builds early confidence
Picked to win the Pac-12 regular season title for this upcoming women's
basketball is Stanford. Looking at the team's previous season performance and
their Hall of Fame inductee coach, it makes sense why they are the current pick
for number one. 

Their coach, Tara VanDerveer, has been very outspoken about why she thinks they
deserved the last season's victory. She also talks up her team and its abilities
for this next season, further boosting the confidence of those rooting for the
team.

However, because of county health restrictions, the team was forced to spend 10
weeks outside of campus due to COVID-19. VanDerveer does not let this sway her
confidence and ensures that they will continue to work just as hard to pull
through again this season.

A main motivator for the team is the way that they won last year's championship.
The final two games before they took home the gold were extremely close games,
the final result of the championship game being a one point difference. 

This makes the team think that the result could have genuinely gone either way,
therefore, they have a more intense drive to improve. Next season, the goal is
to win again, just with a larger point gap. The team is focused on improving and
keeping up with the other teams in their league.

Oregon hopes to pose a problem for the Cardinal
They also have their eye on the second pick for the top, Oregon. It was also
very telling when VanDerveer picked them as the preseason first place team -
granted she could not pick her own team, but it is another motivator for the
team to gain traction.

The preseason poll creates some competition for the teams. If anything, it shows
them who to beat to prove to the public that they are the best team. It lights a
fire under everybody, the players, the coaches, and the fans.

The Pac-12 teams continue to adequately represent that talent that resides in
the West Coast. After Oregon is UCLA, a powerhouse school for all sports. Having
UCLA in such a spot is an exciting prospect to watch for the upcoming season.

Following UCLA is Oregon State, yet another Northwest representative that is
expected to be a power house. They are followed up by Arizona and then
Washington. Washington is a fairly new addition to the lineup as they just
recently made their way to the NCAA tournament after a 30 whole years.

This is a basis for coaches to determine who they should play in the preseason
to prepare for the tournament. They schedule preseason games against those top
spots so they can gauge how they'll do in the upcoming tournament and their
teams weak points.

The first game for these teams is scheduled for December 11. The Pac-12
competition also is able to show who is most likely to succeed in the NCAA
Championship. The coaches are excited for the upcoming season and be sure to
look out for these top 6 teams and make your own predictions.

Who do you think will come out on top of the Pac-12?

Women’s Basketball: Preseason Poll Released For 2021-2022 Season

Some of college football’s most daunting homefield advantages come to mind
pretty quickly. The Big House at the University of Michigan. Happy Valley at
Penn State. Owen Field at the University of Oklahoma. Visiting any of these
venues, and many others across the nation is no easy task. The sheer decibel
level of fan support for these schools is enough to make opposing offenses
quiver at the thought of going into a silent count.

But perhaps the most unique home-field advantage literally has to do with the
playing surface itself. The Boise State Broncos play their games at Albertsons
Stadium, on a blue field. According to its website
[https://www.boisestate.edu/licensing/trademarks/blue-turf-blog/], they were the
first school to have a field that was not green in the country—they made the
switch in 1986.

> Help us create 𝑩𝒍𝒖𝒆 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒐𝒔 to finish the season! There’s only 24 hours
left to purchase a ticket for any of the remaining home games for just $27.16! 

🎟 https://t.co/CEN6XOBfPN pic.twitter.com/QkKDNlBvkT [https://t.co/QkKDNlBvkT]

— Boise State Broncos (@BroncoSports) October 13, 2021
[https://twitter.com/BroncoSports/status/1448424564707381251?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
Whose idea was it to do something that no one had ever thought of before? Gene
Bleymaier, who was Boise State’s athletic director in 1986, didn’t want his
school to follow in the footsteps of every other program, and came
[https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/mwest/2021/09/18/boise-state-blue-turf-genius-idea-schools-brand-oklahoma-state/8397377002/]
up with the novel concept of a blue field.

> “I was just thinking everybody knows that it’s artificial turf; there’s nobody
that thinks it’s grass,” Bleymaier reasoned. “They know it’s not grass, so
there’s really no reason it needs to be green. Why not do it on our school
colors?” Via Coloradoan.com
[https://www.coloradoan.com/story/sports/csu/football/2016/12/21/story-behind-boise-states-blue-football-field/95712824/]
Despite his confidence that this would be a great idea, Bleymaier was a little
nervous about how such an idea would be received by the general public. The
decision was kept under wraps until the timing was right to tell the world.

> “I knew people would think it was crazy and there’ll be a lot of critics. I
wanted to call a press conference quickly and announce it and make it clear the
decision had been made and there wasn’t going to be a debate,” Bleymaier
revealed. Via Idahopress.com
[https://www.idahopress.com/blueturfsports/blue-turf-creator-gene-bleymaier-headlines-2020-boise-state-hall-of-fame-class/article_39e629ef-792e-5777-985b-8ec85c7f23ac.html]
As it turns out, Bleymaier was set to be inducted into Boise State’s Athletics
Hall of Fame this month, but the ceremony was postponed, to be rescheduled for a
later date. His claim to fame is a special one, and will be linked with the
program for generations to come.

> Gameday @BroncoSportsFB [https://twitter.com/BroncoSportsFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
. I’ll be watching CFB 11a-1p at Twisted District. Come join the party. Then
heading over to the stadium to tailgate after that. Night kickoff on the Smurf
Turf. We ready, Pokes! Look out! pic.twitter.com/XOYtVQY9O3
[https://t.co/XOYtVQY9O3]

— Damon Amendolara (@DAonCBS) September 18, 2021
[https://twitter.com/DAonCBS/status/1439244141636902918?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]

Why Is Boise State’s Football Field Blue?

Lily Ford



Let's talk Women's College Soccer. As the fall continues on the soccer season is
getting more and more competitive. This is a crucial part of the year for the
sport as it is nearly coming to an end and playoff's and championships are just
around the corner. So, how do the ranks look? And what players are standing out?
Let's take a look. 

On Sunday, Number 6 Duke took down and defeated the Number 1 team Florida State
for their first lost of the season. This was an exciting game where no one stood
down, but Duke's defense was to solid to get by. Duke will be finishing their
regular season with a game against Louisville on Thursday, October 28th. 

There has been a few shifts in the rankings for Women's Soccer. University of
Virginia takes over the Number 1 spot as Florida State shifts to number 3 after
their loss to Duke. The win for Duke moved them up to the number 2 spot. 

Arkansas is currently on a 14 game winning streak after their win Sunday against
Mississippi. This win also gave them the division title for SEC regular season.
This latest win and their current streak as them in the number 4 spot for
rankings. They will have their last regular season game on Thursday, October
28th against LSU. 

Santa Clara had a huge win against top school Pepperdine last week pushing them
up in the rankings and keeping their 16 game win streak alive. Pepperdine moved
from being 3rd in rankings to 13. Santa Clara is currently sitting at 25. 

Rutgers Women's soccer secured a part of the Big Ten title after their Sunday
night win against Michigan State. They are on a 9-game win streak which is the
longest in program history. They are currently ranked 6th in the NCAA standings.
Rutgers will finish off their season this weekend with a games on Thursday and
Sunday. 

The Top 10 in the NCAA Women's Soccer ranking currently are: 
 1.  Virginia
 2.  Duke
 3.  Florida State
 4.  Arkansas
 5.  UCLA
 6.  Rutgers
 7.  North Carolina
 8.  TCU
 9.  Stanford
 10. USC

Things are bound to shift and move has the regular season comes to a close this
week. It will bring an exciting and competitive play-off and tournament season.
Keep your eyes peeled for these top schools and their winning streaks. You never
know what will happen during play-offs and championships.

Women's Soccer: Which Division-I College Teams Could Make A Late Run

The Ferentzes case began when Kirk Ferentz and Brian Ferentz were accused of
racial biases against their players. They are said to maintain something along
the lines of the "Iowa Way". Their "traditional" views on the way football
players should act and dress was found to be racially motivated by the players,
so they brought them to court.

The black members of the team had many complaints about the ways they were
treated in comparison to their white peers. They said they were being
discriminated against, held to a higher standard than their caucasion
teammatesz. They mentioned that the Ferentzes forced them to abandon things that
are a part of their culture. 

For example, they were unable to wear the protective hairstyles of their culture
and were not allowed to partake in the clothing style they wished either. If
they were doing such things they were said to be demeaned via racial slurs and
forced out of those habits. If they spoke out about it they would be retaliated
against by their coaches. 

Those teammembers have chosen to take their case to the courts and demand action
on the coaches that berated them. They want justice for the awful time that they
had to endure during their time on the team and they haven't recently been
getting many positive updates.

Recently, there has been an update in the case. A judge has delayed the
dispositions of the Ferentzes due to a variety of factors. Originally, it was
meant to be held on October 19 and 20 but it was pushed back on behalf of the
bye week that team was going through. 

The judge accounted for all of the activities that they would be doing during
the bye week and decided that having the deposition was inconvenient. Kirk
Ferentzes argued that he would not have the time to properly put together a case
with his lawyers in that time. 

He also expressed the issues with putting such an important date during a bye
week because of how much preparation they put in for the upcoming games. These
reasons, thusfar, have been valid enough for judges to give them leway.

Many are upset at the fact that the Ferentzes are still alloted to be coaching
during the trial of these accusations.  The plaintiffs are especially against
this leiniency toward the defendeds because of the favoritism they believe is
taking place.

They argue that many people had to put their lives on hold to deal with this
trial and that their occupation should not be favored over any others. They
refuse to accept the excuse that a football coach during football season would
be subject to less harsh punishment. 

While these cases against them rage on, the Ferentzes simply continue to coach
the  team and prepare for their next match. Regardless of the 10 others that are
pushing to convict them on racial bias charges, they are continuing their
season.

The judges seem to remain on the side of the Ferentzes as the case progesses.
There will be likely no further progress until those months pass and new
deposition dates are assigned.

College Football: Iowa coaches receive ruling on racial slur allegations

What makes a college sports town great? It certainly helps to eat, live and
breathe the experience of the school’s athletic programs. Longstanding
traditions built over many decades also play a huge role. On campus activities,
as well as scheduled off campus events bring up the energy level surrounding a
program, and are often main reasons why students(athletes and non-athletes
alike) choose to attend a university.

Earlier this month, 247Sports
[https://247sports.com/LongFormArticle/The-16-best-college-football-towns-in-the-nation-172478359/#172478359_1] 
had the enjoyable but inherently difficult task of cherrypicking some of the
best college towns in the country. This exercise was done in conjunction with
the return of fans at recognizable pre-pandemic capacities, and included 16
different towns. They did not count down or count up from 16-1, so we have to
view each inclusion with the understanding that they are not materially “better”
than another.

We took a look at their list, and will give our thoughts on a few of their
choices.

Boulder, Colorado
Rooting for their University of Colorado Buffaloes with a frenzied level of
fervor, Boulder is an excellent choice for a top level college town. While
Denver gets most of the acclaim as the Mile High City, Boulder’s elevation is
actually even higher than the state’s capital city. This gives them an inherent
advantage against visiting teams who are not ready to play four quarters at
Folsom Field.

> No place like Folsom 🏡 pic.twitter.com/P4h0yYT6hb [https://t.co/P4h0yYT6hb]

— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) October 6, 2021
[https://twitter.com/CUBuffsFootball/status/1445818642113892355?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
Imagine not feeling your best midway through the second half in a scene where a
passionate fanbase is giving you the business. For the nature-lover fans, there
are a bunch of scenic views to take in and walks to embark on, making this a
well rounded location.

Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown is a really cool place to watch a college football game. The town has
traditions linked with the state’s past that are interwoven with the
Mountaineers football team. West Virginia has a rich coal mining tradition, and
the “Mantrip [https://wvusports.com/sports/2017/8/2/mountaineer-mantrip.aspx]”
lead-in before kickoff really helps get the energy going.

The football team and its staff* are dropped off at the university medical
center a couple of hours before the game—the marching band, cheerleaders, mascot
and other selected fans escort them to the stadium. It’s an ode to the
transportation mechanism that brought miners underground to start their shifts.

Madison, Wisconsin
Fans of the Badgers are known for being some of the most ardent in the nation.
Perhaps their most well known tradition is their “jump around” routine at the
beginning of the 4th quarter of each home game. While it isn’t that old*(it’s
only been around since 1998), Jump Around
[https://badgerherald.com/sports/2020/09/14/football-the-origins-of-wisconsins-most-popular-traditions/] 
is one of the most fun in-game traditions in the game.

In addition to that, Badger fans are so in love with their team that they hang
around after the game regardless of the outcome for “Bucky’s 5th Quarter.” This
is usually a 30-45 minute performance held by the Wisconsin band that closes out
gameday for the fans.

Boone, North Carolina
This one doesn’t necessarily come to mind when thinking of college football
powerhouse cities. However, Boone is home to the Appalachian State Mountaineers.
Yes, the very same Appalachian State football program who shocked the world in
2007 by going to the Big House and defeating the Michigan Wolverines.

The Mountaineers have played [https://engage.appstate.edu/event/7385429]in Boone
since 1928, establishing a long-standing relationship with the town in the
northern part of the state. At their homecoming game, students have competitions
playing a one minute song on the kazoo, which is definitely a fun wrinkle. Boone
also features some stunning views of local mountain ranges as well.

College Football: Four Of The Best College Towns In Division-I

The reigning NCAA Division I women’s soccer champions appear to be getting all
of the perks associated with being on top. The Santa Clara Broncos, in a
partnership with ChiliSleep, will presumably be getting an upgrade on their
level of comfort when they sleep. The Cube with Chilipad, which is the signature
offering from Chilipad, will be used by the entire women’s soccer team and
staff. In addition to the larger team collaboration, Broncos forward Kelsey
Turnbow has agreed to an NIL agreement with the company. She’s a popular draw
for the team, considering her selection in the NWSL Draft by the Chicago Red
Stars.

> We've partnered with @ChiliSleep
[https://twitter.com/ChiliSleep?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] to bring the power of
temperature-regulated sleep technology to the defending National Champions.

➡️ https://t.co/EVBLmhMGG5#StampedeTogether
[https://twitter.com/hashtag/StampedeTogether?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] 
pic.twitter.com/9L2lb0zsPJ [https://t.co/9L2lb0zsPJ]

— Santa Clara Women's Soccer (@SCUWomensSoccer) October 7, 2021
[https://twitter.com/SCUWomensSoccer/status/1446146246616485909?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
It's not unheard of for brands to be closely associated with programs, or even
specific teams within a university. This partnership straddles an interesting
line which shines a light on resources certain programs have that others may
not. Programs certainly have different spending thresholds and priorities within
their departments for training and player well-being. At the end of the day,
will higher tech mattresses lead Santa Clara to a second consecutive NCAA title?
Probably not on its own, but senior Athletic Director Ryan Holleman is excited
to have ChiliSleep as an ally.

> “We’ve long focused on on-field performance tech, but with ChiliSleep, we are
now incorporating off-field tech to boost player recovery,” he said. Via 
Santaclarabroncos.com
[https://santaclarabroncos.com/sports/w-soccer/2021-22/releases/20211007i32iy5]
Financial terms of the partnership are not immediately known. It’s not uncommon
for mattress brands to align themselves closely with athletes, as we’ve seen
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott appear in many Sleep Number commercials
over the years. Turnbow released a statement stating that the new bed has helped
her feel refreshed this season.

> “With juggling rigorous academics and the pressure of repeating as national
champions, the Cube is definitely helping to improve how well I feel each day,”
she said. Via Santaclarabroncos.com
[https://santaclarabroncos.com/sports/w-soccer/2021-22/releases/20211007i32iy5]
As the lines between commercial relationships and amateurism in college athletes
continue to blur and dissolve, we will likely see more publicized deals with
companies that market themselves as performance enhancers for players.

> Did you hear? ChiliSleep & Santa Clara Athletics are collaborating this season!
Our bed cooling products help improve sleep dramatically. This is going to be
huge for the women’s soccer team’s off-field recovery! Help us celebrate by
retweeting. Go Broncos! 🎉⚽️@SCUWomensSoccer
[https://twitter.com/SCUWomensSoccer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] 
pic.twitter.com/vUMwOQIvac [https://t.co/vUMwOQIvac]

— ChiliSleep (@ChiliSleep) October 7, 2021
[https://twitter.com/ChiliSleep/status/1446178949084626956?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]

Santa Clara Women’s Soccer Begins Partnership With ChiliSleep

Over and above the benefits sports provides on the field—-teamwork, persistence,
discipline, among others—are other positives that make the experience a
rewarding one. These end up looming larger than the games, and come into play
when dealing with real life events. Sports teams provide a camaraderie and
support system for student-athletes, and which unfortunately, Ferrum College has
had to lean on heavily within the last month or so.

Tragically, the Panthers’ men’s soccer team has had to deal with the loss of
goalkeeper Cole Lipinski, who died on September 19th. There aren’t many ways to
prepare for something like this, especially the loss of a teammate who was so
young and had so many years ahead of him. Lipinski was also a lacrosse player
for Ferrum, and had intended to continue playing this spring.

The weekend after Lipinski’s death, the program honored his memory in their game
against Virginia Wesleyan with a touching tribute
[https://cable12ynn.com/2021/09/23/ferrum-college-mourns-the-loss-of-cole-lipinski/]
. He wore number 99 for Ferrum, and the Panthers’ goal was left unguarded for 99
seconds at the beginning of the match.

Lipinski had dreams
[https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/fredericksburg/name/cole-lipinski-obituary?id=21878636]
of becoming a physical therapist. He was no stranger to knee injuries throughout
the course of his athletic career, and wanted to help others recover and get
back on the field. He interned at a PT clinic this summer, and was more excited
than ever to embark on that path in college and beyond.

A vigil
[https://cable12ynn.com/2021/09/23/ferrum-college-mourns-the-loss-of-cole-lipinski/]
was held on September 24th for Lipinski on the school’s campus.

Somehow, the Ferrum college soccer program will continue to forge on after such
a traumatic event. It won’t be easy, and head coach Matt Cureton will have his
work cut out for him in an unexpectedly trying season. At the end of the day
though, it’s a good thing that the Panthers’ players and coaching staff have one
another to speak to and reminisce with.

Ferrum College Soccer Grieves After Loss Of Teammate

Corey Ghee

The South Dakota Coyotes will travel to Cedar Falls and take on the Northern
Iowa Panthers. The Coyotes were about to pick up their first meaningful victory
over rival North Dakota, while the Panthers lost a tough road game to North
Dakota State. 

HISTORY: These two FCS powers first met in every season from 1947-1982, before
resuming their series in 2008. Northern Iowa leads the head-to-head series
27-17, and they've won the last three meetings.

South Dakota Coyotes

21)South Dakota was able to defend the border and bring home the Sitting Bull
trophy after defeating North Dakota at home. The Coyotes took a three-point lead
into halftime and held off the Fighting Hawks for the 20-13 win.

Carson Camp appears to be the real deal behind center. The freshman quarterback
performed well in his second border war with North Dakota, going 16-23 for 179
yards and two scores. Camp is up to 1,147 passing yards with nine touchdowns to
two interceptions.

Redshirt freshman Travis Theis is coming off of the best game of his career.
Despite not scoring for the first time this season, Theis ran for a career-high
138 rushing yards, bringing his season total to a team-leading 380 yards and
five touchdowns.

Leading receiver Carter Bell had a quiet game last week, but he leads SD with 23
catches and 371 receiving yards. Senior wideout Caleb Vander Esch caught a
season-high eight passes for 92 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown in the win
over North Dakota.

Northern Iowa Panthers 

17)Northern Iowa suffered their second loss of the season last weekend to North
Dakota State. The Panthers kept things close early, but the Bison broke away in
the third and cruised to victory, handing UNI the 34-20 loss.

Theo Day replaced two-year starter Will McElvain in Week 2 and had looked solid
prior to last weekend. The MSU transfer had a rough day, going 12-31 for 257
passing yards, with a touchdown. He didn't turn the ball over, but he was
harassed by the Bison defense, and taken down five times.

Day will look to rebound here, and so will the run game. No back gained over 40
yards last weekend, but KU transfer Dom Williams leads the team with 367 rushing
yards, and he scored for third straight game in a row against ND.

Isaiah Weston and Quan Hampton give the Panthers solid options on the outside.
Weston is one of the best deep threats in the FCS, and he leads UNI with 415
receiving yards and four touchdowns. Hampton has caught four passes in four of
five games and he leads the team with 24 catches.

Predicted Winner: Northern Iowa

The Panthers really need to get back on track here, and with their schedule only
revving up even more, look for them to get back in the win column here.

FCS Game Of The Week: South Dakota Coyotes vs. Northern Iowa Panthers

The Richmond Spiders will host the James Madison Dukes this weekend. These two
Virginia FCS powers have met in every season since 1983, forming one of the
fiercest rivalries in the state. 

HISTORY: JMU leads the all-time series 20-18, and they've won the last five
meetings. Richmond's last win came when these two schools became the first
FCS-pairing to host College Gameday in 2015 in Harrisonburg.

James Madison Dukes (4-1)
8) James Madison enters on the heels of a tough loss to fellow powerhouse
Villanova. The Dukes took an eleven-point lead into the locker room, but they
couldn't score after the break and the Wildcats would go on to pick up the win,
28-27.

Cole Johnson has played well through the first half of the season, but he had a
tough time last weekend. Against Villanova, Johnson went 24-40 for 174 passing
yards, and he didn't throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season. The
redshirt senior brings a ton of experience to the position, and he'll look to
bounce back this weekend in the state capital. Johnson has thrown for 1,301
passing yards with an impressive 14:1 touchdown-interception ratio.

The Dukes are one of the best rushing teams in the FCS, and their led a nice
solid in the backfield in Latrele Palmer and Percy Agyei-Obese. Palmer has been
their most consistent rusher, leading the team with 303 rushing yards.
Aygei-Obese led the team in rushing in 2019, and he returned last week to rush
for 83 yards and two scores against Villanova.

Antwane Wells Jr. and Kris Thornton have been reliable pass catchers thus far
for JMU. Wells Jr. leads the team with 397 receiving yards, and five touchdowns,
while Thornton leads the team with 38 catches out of the slot.

Richmond Spiders

The Richmond Spiders are in a bit of a funk. The Spiders played Villanova and
Virginia Tech admirably on the road, but an injury to four-year starter Joe
Mancuso led to a third straight loss last weekend to Elon, 20-7. 

When Mancuso went down on the first drive against Virginia Tech, it thrusted
senior quarterback Beau English into the spotlight. English was solid against
Elon, going 21-42 for 193 passing yards and a touchdown, but the offense
faltered on third down often. He'll have his work cut out for him this week with
the Dukes.

Savon Smith and Aaron Dykes have split the workload again this season, and have
yielded decent results against tough competition. Smith leads the team with 275
rushing yards, while Dykes has gained 231 rushing yards, caught 15 passes and
leads UR with 5 total touchdowns. Junior wideout Isaac Brown leads the pass
catchers with 16 catches for 227 receiving yards.

Predicted Winner: James Madison Dukes

This matchup always churns out good football, and with both schools itching to
get back in the win column, this one should be no different. JMU has dominated
this series, and it should continue this weekend. Richmond's offense has been
stagnant since Mancuso's injury, and they may not be able to overcome that here.

FCS Game Of The Week: James Madison Dukes vs. Richmond Spiders

Many college basketball fans think that the season gets underway in earnest
around Thanksgiving, when there are several high profile early season
tournaments taking place all over the country. However, it might be more
appropriate to say that things get kicked off much earlier in October with
Midnight Madness.

Most of us are intimately familiar with the excitement that March Madness can
bring, but Midnight Madness is a concept not everyone might know much about.
Held several weeks before the first game, Midnight Madness is essentially a big
party thrown by the school to get the fans excited about the upcoming season. As
you might have guessed, these festivities are held at a specific time of the
evening—midnight! Despite the late start, fans, athletes and alumni like fill
the arena with good vibes, hope, and well wishes for the upcoming campaign.

Not many can resist a good natured event such as Midnight madness, but who’s
idea was it to start the party so late? The tradition
[https://www.si.com/college/2019/10/04/midnight-madness-schedule-dates-kentucky-duke]
began with a lot less fanfare at the University of Maryland before the 1971
college basketball season. Terrapins head coach Lefty Driesell sent his players
to run for one mile just after 12AM during the start of the season. Little did
anyone know, that classic coaching decision would turn into a gala that would be
broadcasted on ESPN+.

> “This was Lefty’s way of saying, ‘Hey world, Maryland is here now. We got a
great team and I’m going to be the first team in America to practice,” Tom
McMillen said Via NBCsports.com
[https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/ncaa/ever-wonder-how-midnight-madness-got-its-start-university-maryland]
. 
McMillen was on the Maryland basketball team during that groundbreaking run.

> On today from 10 to noon on @espn630dc
[https://twitter.com/espn630dc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]. 50 years after Lefty
Driesell invented midnight madness, @LenElmore
[https://twitter.com/LenElmore?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw], who helped launch it joins
me at 11:20

— Andy Pollin (@andypollin1) October 8, 2021
[https://twitter.com/andypollin1/status/1446431758543736852?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
It doesn’t matter whether the program has fallen on hard times, or whether the
recruiting season didn’t go as planned. Everyone and their mother, or their
wives, looks forward to Midnight Madness.

> “…We’ll have Hoosier Hysteria, which my wife has been telling me for about 60
straight days,” former Indiana men’s basketball coach Tom Crean said while he
was leading the Hoosiers. “’Quit trying to run drills. Make it entertaining for
the fans’(Crean’s wife said)”. “So I’m trying to listen to her on that.” Via 
Indystar.com
[https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/hoosier-insider/1/01/01/midnight-madness-iu-calls-it-hoosier-hysteria-and-other-basketball-notes/2555417/]
It’s such a spectacle, that celebrity acts often show up to campus. Midnight
Madness for the Kansas Jayhawks(also known as Light Night In the Phog) featured
a performance by Run DMC earlier this month. The Memphis Tigers brought in
rappers Lil Baby and Future to perform at their Midnight Madness kickoff in
2019.

If you’re really lucky, the coach of the basketball team might agree to be shot
out of a cannon. Midnight Madness might be the best sports-related party you’ve
never heard of.

College Basketball: When is Midnight Madness?

Aria Modirmassihai

Five years ago, Baylor Football head coach Art Briles was fired after reports
broke out that he failed to properly address a sexual assault claim from a
student. Half a decade later the NCAA has announced that after completing an
investigation into the matter they have decided not to punish the school or any
of the staff involved.

According to an NCAA review board, Briles and the university didn't violate its
rules by their inaction.

Baylor was also faced with several other charges such as impermissible benefits
and improper recruiting practices involving a female hostess group. For these
charges, the University was placed on 4-year probation and had other recruiting
restrictions placed against them.

The Bears are still allowed to compete in playoffs this year and did not lose
any scholarships. Former assistant director of football operations Odell James
was given a 5-year show-cause order as a result of his lack of cooperation in
the investigation.

This is not the first time the NCAA has decided not to punish a school for not
reporting a sexual assault claim.

In 2018, Michigan State women's gymnastics head coach Larry Nassar faced several
charges of sexual assault. Nassar was found guilty and sentenced to 175 years in
prison, however, both the school and program were not punished by the NCAA.

> "Baylor admitted to moral and ethical failings in its handling of sexual and
interpersonal violence on campus but argued those failings, however egregious,
did not constitute violations of NCAA rules," the committee reported.
"Ultimately, and with tremendous reluctance, this panel agrees. To arrive at a
different outcome would require the [committee] to ignore the rules the
Association's membership has adopted -- rules under which the [committee] is
required to adjudicate. Such an outcome would be antithetical to the integrity
of the infractions process".
The panel claimed that despite their personal feelings towards the incident, in
order for them to punish the University they would have to go against the
punitive bylaws.

Former Head Coach Art Briles, who was at the heart of the incident, has been
cleared of all NCAA violations against him according to his legal team.
According to Briles’ lawyer, “The NCAA's decision today clears the way for Mr.
Briles to return to coaching college football”.

The report cited the culture of non-reporting and ignorance as to the reasons
why no individual was directly found guilty. It seems like the entire program
had taken keen to turn their backs on any sexual assault claims. The report did
state that Coach Briles and others did not meet the minimum expectations of how
any leader should react to claims of sexual assault in their organization.
Despite this, they could not find any offense that constitutes a level I or II
NCAA violation.

Despite not being found guilty of any NCAA violations, the findings, in this
case, create a deeply disturbing image of the culture of the Baylor Athletic
Program. Both Baylor and Briles will need to work tremendously hard to help earn
back the trust of the college sports community.

Baylor to not be punished by NCAA for sexual assault allegations

You may not have realized it, but we’re actually in the middle of National
Hispanic Heritage month in the United States. The period of recognition for this
important topic started on September 15th, and ends on October 15th. Many
organizations are embracing this period of self reflection and advancement for
the Hispanic and Latinx communities, including
[https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/general-inclusion-releases-hispanic-latinx-resource-guide] 
the NCAA. The ethnic background of student-athletes, coaches, and other members
of the sporting/academic landscape are being celebrated.

> 𝐍𝐂𝐀𝐀 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 | 𝐄𝐏 𝟕𝟓
𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘤 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩@TheAndyKatz
[https://twitter.com/TheAndyKatz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] talks with @WCCsports
[https://twitter.com/WCCsports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] commissioner Gloria Nevarez
and @GSAthletics [https://twitter.com/GSAthletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]' Ben
Rodriguez – founder of @LA_CAASA
[https://twitter.com/LA_CAASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] – about 
#HispanicHeritageMonth
[https://twitter.com/hashtag/HispanicHeritageMonth?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
. https://t.co/GLnJ0MMq85

— NCAA (@NCAA) September 24, 2021
[https://twitter.com/NCAA/status/1441477538702843905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
To this end, the NCAA office of inclusion produced a guide for member schools
which provides some helpful context on the history of the Hispanic community in
the United States. This educational pamphlet
[https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/inclusion/ethnic/INC_CelebratingHispanicHeritageMonthResource.pdf] 
also includes commentary from Hispanic-American student athletes and staff
members.

> “I would encourage Hispanic student-athletes to be brave and seek positions of
leadership in which they can get the opportunity to speak and share their
experiences in a professional environment,” Purdue University Northwest men’s
soccer player Ismael Contreras expressed. “Whether it be the Student-Athlete
Advisory Committee, student government or a different organization, take the
leap and believe in yourself…” Via NCAA Hispanic Culture Guide
[https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/inclusion/ethnic/INC_CelebratingHispanicHeritageMonthResource.pdf]
According to the guide, one out of every six people in the United States is of
Hispanic or Latinx descent. To that end, the NCAA understands the importance of
communicating with and on behalf of a notable part of the population.

> “The office of inclusion is delighted to provide additional resources for the
membership to educate and celebrate individuals of different cultures. Though it
was created for Hispanic Heritage Month, the guide can be used anytime to
recognize and support Hispanic/Latinx student-athletes and staff on campuses
across the country,” said Niya Blair Hackworth, who is the NCAA Director of
Inclusion. Via NCAA.org
[https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/general-inclusion-releases-hispanic-latinx-resource-guide]
Colleges all across the nation are getting back to connecting on an in person
basis, and that level of connection holds true for the Hispanic community at
campuses throughout the country. Harvard’s Nayleth E. Lopez-Lopez spoke about
how the pandemic short-circuited student efforts to hold cultural events on
campus, but that it is great to be back.

> “I’m honestly so happy that we can finally meet up and form community with the
first-years and sophomores, because I know, especially from sophomores—they got
hit hard last year. I feel like they weren’t able to fully see how strong the
Latin community is here at Harvard,” she said. Via TheCrimson.com
[https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2021/9/28/hispanic-heritage-month/]
> “More importantly to me, it was being a Latina, and to be able to represent
those girls that may not realize the opportunities they sit for.” - Coach Lisa
Fernandez speaks on her impact in light of #HispanicHeritageMonth
[https://twitter.com/hashtag/HispanicHeritageMonth?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] 
 

🎥: https://t.co/GL42s8tLNi#GoBruins
[https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoBruins?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] 
pic.twitter.com/1HP0HaSw5r [https://t.co/1HP0HaSw5r]

— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) October 1, 2021
[https://twitter.com/UCLASoftball/status/1444018880532279300?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]

NCAA Inclusion Department Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

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