It’s time to level the playing fields
A GRIP ON SPORTS
Want to perpetuate a two-tiered system in college sports, a system with haves and have-nots? Then just keep the rules the same. Want to promote more parity, lo level the playing field a bit? Then let's make some changes. Read on.
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• I'm not talking finances here, that would be un-American. Yes, there is more money available for some colleges, that's a given. When it comes to academics, Stanford has quite a bit larger endowment than Cal State Stanislaus. And in sports, USC is always going to have deeper pockets than Washington State. It's not worth whining about or trying to get the NCAA to change. But there is one way to level the playing field a bit and, believe it or not, the NCAA used to have it right – back in the day. But, of course, being it was the right thing to do, the organization made a change. When I was covering UC Irvine basketball in the early 1980s, the Anteaters were not very good. (Which proves the point some things have not changed.) Anyhow, when the NCAA tournament began, their game schedule was over. But that did not mean UCI didn't practice. It did. Until the NCAA tournament was over. It was within the rules. And it allowed the schools who didn't have the success of making the tournament the chance to get better, using the next two or three weeks to lay the groundwork for the following season. It was a common-sense rule – everyone should be allowed an even playing field – that never should have disappeared. But it did. I really don't know when the rule changed. Probably while I was distracted trying to help raise my children in the 1990s. Now the season ends for college basketball teams when they have no more games to play. So when a 13-17 team loses in its conference tournament, the returning players on that team can no longer work with their college coaches, the guys paid hundreds of thousands of dollars (and oftentimes more) to make them better players. They can work with the weight coaches, sure, but do team-building and defensive drills? Nope. That's verboten. The same thing happens in football. The good teams go to bowls. They've "earned" a couple more weeks of practices with a 6-6 or better record. The bad teams, the ones that need skill work and fundamentals and team repetition more than anyone? They can't practice. They have to split up and watch the better teams get better. Why? How hard would it be to say teams can practice until the season, the entire season, is over? Follow the weekly time rules, sure, maybe even cut them down some. But allow the schools that don't make bowls to continue to work together as a team, for an offensive line to work with their position coach on getting better, for defensive backs to continue to refine their coverage skills, for quarterbacks and receivers to get their timing down under the watchful eye of a guy trained to help them improve. As long as any teams are practicing, all teams should be allowed to practice. I don't want to invoke "fairness" because I don't believe in it. Nothing in life is truly fair. (Look at a picture of Brad Pitt. Look in the mirror. I rest my case.) But I will invoke equality. Level the playing field. Let the haves get ready for games, face more competition and collect the bowl-supplied swag. Fine. But let the have-nots prepare for the next season.
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• WSU: One area in which non-bowl coaches really spend their time is on recruits. Even though it's a dead period right now – meaning, basically, coaches have to stay home – Washington State is still reeling in the commits. The Cougars received another one yesterday and Jacob Thorpe has the particulars in his morning post, which also includes links. Of course nothing is for certain until players can sign in February. ... ESPN.com's Pac-12 blog has a midweek mailbag as well as a post that served as the impetus to my column above.
• EWU: The Eagles face California in the Bay Area tonight, trying to snap the first two-game losing streak of the season. The Bears are 9-1 but haven't been tested. They will be tonight. ... Portland State couldn't do what Eastern did earlier this season, win at USF.
• Idaho: The Vandals were not tested last not by Walla Walla University, winning 86-39. Sean Kramer has the story.
• Whitworth: The Pirate men extended their winning streak to four games with a 67-52 victory at Trinity University in Texas. ... Lewis and Clark's new football coach has some big-school ties.
• Preps: Thursday nights are wrestling nights in the GSL and last night was no different. Mike Vlahovich was at University's win over Mead. ... We also have a roundup of other sports, including basketball.
• Seahawks: The big news yesterday was the Hawks wrapping up linebacker K.J. Wright for the next four years, giving him an extension worth $27 million. If you are wondering why it came now, there are always answers. ... Now the team has a couple of other stars – Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson – to get done next. ... Think this Sunday's game at Arizona is big? Well, the Phoenix folks think it is really big. ... There are a lot of connections between the teams. ... It doesn't appear as if the Hawks will have their A-1 offensive line available to protect Wilson this week. The healthiest guy up front might just be the weakest. Well, that's Darrell Bevell's problem. ... The Cardinals like to bring pressure. How well the Hawks handle that may dictate whether the offense gets going.
• Mariners: If you are looking for clues whether the M's will make any more big changes – as opposed to yesterday's small ones – then read this.
• Sounders: As I said, the MLS seems to hold a draft every week. And the Sounders seem to lose guys all the time.
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• Only a few more hours before the bowl season kicks off. And not all that much more time until a big NFL weekend. To prepare for it, I'm going on the radio today, teaming up with Keith Osso and Rick Lukens on 700 ESPN for three hours of, well, fun. You can listen here between 3 and 6 p.m. if you like. Until then ...
