The West Coast is out in front again
A GRIP ON SPORTS
The Pac-12 has always been on the forefront of change in college athletics. Even when it was the Pacific Coast Conference, the folks back East felt there was something a little off about the sports out here. Heck, when Stanford initiated the "T" formation, it revolutionized college football. And where do you think the one-handed basketball shot originated? Yep, out west. So it should come as no surprise the conference is once again trying to inject something new into college athletics. Read on.
• Yesterday, a press release arrived in the in-box from the Pac-12. It didn't concern the usual stuff, football conference calls, players of the week, things like that. It covered an initiative from the conference. Basically, on all the reforms being talked about in the NCAA concerning scholarships, cost-of-attendance and the like, the Pac-12 is going to move forward. No matter what anyone else does. More money for the scholarship athletes. Longer-term scholarships. Better health coverage. More education expenses. You know, basically making sure the student-athletes are able to be students who graduate. Reading through the proposals, it is hard to find fault with them. They seem to be geared to putting the athlete first, which seems only fair. Is there an ulterior motive? Sure. In a nutshell, the Pac-12 is trying to defuse the results of the Ed O'Bannon decision, in which a federal judge ruled the NCAA needs to pay its athletes, and any future litigation. But that's OK. Motivation was needed. A judge supplied it. Are there nits to be picked? Sure. Washington State football coach Mike Leach has one, though it seems a bit misguided from a guy who once graduated law school. According to Jacob Thorpe's story in today's S-R, "Leach said longer agreements would limit the ability of coaching staffs to ensure that the students were compliant with the program’s standards. 'A guy’s got to act right and behave right,' Leach said. 'He’s got to do his part and so I don’t see why – because as it is now, most schools will pay until they graduate and all that – but they have to be a good citizen. They have to be a good citizen. They have to show up to their tutor appointments. They have to show up to academics. They have to show up to team stuff.' " Sorry, but it's hard to see how that would change under the new rules. A scholarship is nothing more than a contract between two parties, the school and the student-athlete. In any contract, both sides have obligations to fulfill. If either doesn't, the contract can be voided. If the athlete doesn't fulfill the obligations Leach outlined, he or she loses their scholarship. That happens now. All the new rules really do is protect the athlete if the school decides he or she is not good enough and wants the scholarship so it can award it to another, perceived better player. That happens now. If that's the case in the future, the school and the athlete would need to reach some sort of agreement, either to keep the player on scholarship until the term is finished or to help him or her find a place to play and learn that better serves their goals. Rules of behavior and the expectations for same do not need to change. But how the schools treat their athletes does. The Pac-12 is proposing to balance the relationship a bit. To introduce a new paradigm. Just like it's always done. Is it enough of a change to satisfy everyone? Probably not. But it's a step. A step others should and will follow.
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• WSU: Other, on-field items occurred yesterday and Jacob covered those as well. He has a practice report here on the blog as well as a morning post with links. He also made his picks of conference games. He's picking the Cougars to win, as is everyone associated with ESPN.com's Pac-12 blog. Such unanimity always scares me, especially when Las Vegas considers the game something of a toss-up, considering the home team, WSU, is basically only favored by a field goal. ... The Cougars have been more aggressive on defense recently and California knows it has to be ready for it. ... Need more conference power rankings? How about a midweek mailbag? ... Just thought this story out of Berkeley was worth reading.
• EWU: Jim Allen has an interesting feature today on the fine line fathers have to walk when broadcasting games in which their children are competing (pictured). I've been there, though it was on the writing end of things, which is probably a lot easier. ... Jim also has a Big Sky notebook and morning post with links.
• Whitworth: Injuries are beginning to pile up for the Pirates as conference play begins. Tom Clouse has the story.
• Chiefs: As can be expected this early in a season, Spokane made a roster change yesterday.
• Preps: It's Thursday and that means there is a Prep Page in the S-R. That also means Greg Lee has a column. The subject today is the shot clock in high school basketball. ... There is a new coach for Chewelah volleyball and, as Chris Derrick's story shows, her resume is impressive. ... Bill Pierce has a prep almanac piece, Greg and Sam Adams pick games and there is a roundup of Wednesday's action. ... Idaho is going to honor a former coach.
• Seahawks: There is at least one player on the Hawks that is living his dream: punter Jon Ryan. ... How much Luke Willson plays will be determined by how well he blocks. ... It looks as if Bruce Irvin will be back to face the Redskins on Monday night.
• Mariners: Jack Zduriencik, who spent yesterday on just about every Seattle radio station other than the classic rock one, says he will be "pretty aggressive" trying to add players for next year. Larry Stone feels they need to be "reasonably aggressive." I would prefer "very aggressive." ... Ryan Divish gives you the lowdown on the M's contract status. Bookmark the page for your offseason discussions. ... D.J. Peterson (pictured) is going to get a long look in spring training. ... There sure are a lot of awards these days.
• Sounders: Seattle would be higher in the power rankings – and headed to the White House next year – if its defense were better. The Sounders have been caught recently in transition. ... More speed would help defensively and there might just be a candidate for that spot. ... Versatility has been one of the Sounders' strengths, as has been Chad Marshall.
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• By the way, I was going to take a jab at Leach's law school, Pepperdine. A smart aleck remark about the level of education he received there was loaded and ready to be fired. Why? Because my college roommate, an attorney in Southern California, also graduated from the school. And he deserves a raft of crud for the way he treated me for three years – and for being such a slob. But I decided not to paint with such a broad brush and bit my tongue. For once. Until later ...
