-
briancolligan Caught in the Devil's Bargain -
garycope Me, Her, the Boy and a Dog -
kimbaland ...and then I found $5. -
stanastia stanastia -
toddwickersty Blanks & Postage -
maryanne There's Something About Mary
From The Roanoke Times
The NCAA released its Graduation Success Rate data Tuesday, and Virginia Tech trumped Virginia in football and men’s basketball.
For Tech football, 79 percent of scholarship freshmen entering school from 2001-04 graduated within six years, compared with Virginia’s 68 percent.
In men’s basketball, Tech was at 86 percent compared with UVa’s 50 percent. Unlike federal graduation rates, the NCAA’s GSR formula does not count against a school’s rate when an athlete in good academic standing transfers elsewhere.
UVa’s other teams ranged from 64 percent (men’s soccer) to 100 percent.
Oh no U didn’t! Oh yes U did!
My uncle had me design this shirt. He’s a NC State alum.
The raw fan in me can’t help but snicker at what UNC is going through. I am a very competitive person when it comes to sports, so to see a rival go down gives me a certain degree of satisfaction. However, as a realist and having covered sports for two decades, nothing surprises me any more, which is why I won’t let myself jump on this “UNC Cheaters” bandwagon, because at some point, and it’s only a matter of time, Virginia Tech will likely have a player or two that crosses a line and gets the program in trouble. I don’t believe Frank Beamer would ever put the program at risk knowingly, but when agents start flashing cash around NFL prospects, there’s always a risk.
Dear NCAA,
Thank you for handing down penalties that only adversely affect the players who did things the right way. This reeks of an organization desperate to prove that it has some sort of control over its member institutions despite lacking the ability and firepower to police the serious offenders and protect the student-athletes whose interests you purport to have at heart.
While I realize that all violations merit some kind of punishment, I have a hard time grasping the notion that one of the proudest moments in my life (and the lives of every other individual that was a part of the team and program in 2009) is apparently worth $312 in your eyes. If that truly is the case, I’d be happy to provide you with that same amount of money (cash or check, your choice) in exchange for the reinstatement of the title my teammates and I earned through our blood, sweat and tears.
It took months of hard work, dedication and personal sacrifice by a team of over 100 players, 10 coaches and countless staff members to achieve that championship, but, evidently, it only takes the handful of pencil pushers, lawyers and professors on your infractions committee to strip us of it.
I was a part of the 2009 ACC Championship team and, while you can pretend retroactively that it didn’t happen, I have vivid memories of an incredible season that was, and continues to be, one of the most fun, meaningful, important, and very real times in my 23 years on this planet. I’ll be wearing my championship ring with pride and if you want that too, you’ll have to pry it from my cold, dead finger.
Sincerely,
Sean Bedford
Former Georgia Tech center Sean Bedford on the Yellow Jackets’ recently vacated 2009 ACC title (from Ex-Jacket Lashes Out at NCAA: “Pry It from my Cold, Dead Finger” - CollegeFootballTalk - NBCSports.com)
Love this.
I really appreciate the university and the NCAA keeping this case so hush-hush. I’m 1000% over NCAA allegations and sanctions and other unsavory business at this point, so as someone pointed out over the weekend, good for them for keeping it quiet and under control until the investigations and rulings were complete.
I also love everything Bedford said here; violations or not, he’s right on when he says that everything that season meant to the team, and everything they accomplished, can’t ever really be taken away.
(via sportsinstilettos)
We love a good rivalry and sometimes we revel in other teams’ misfortunes (especially in the SEC or Big “10”). But when those teams come from our conference, which already struggles for respect (mainly because we can’t beat anyone on the big stage when it counts) and relevance, we have to stick up for our ACC brethren.
The 2009 Georgia Tech team deserved that title and the NCAA wants to strip them of that because of $312? That’s absurd. Mr. Bedford is correct - some punishment was warranted, but not loss of a championship.
I move that from this moment on, the NCAA be referred to as “Barney Fife.” All in favor, reblog/reply “Aye.”
Is it September yet?
The totals for the weekend include two individual NCAA Champions, with Alexander Ziegler and Dorotea Habazin sweeping the men’s and women’s hammer throws as the ninth and tenth NCAA Champions in Virginia Tech history. Twelve Hokies were named All-American, nine first team and three second team, with four finishing in the top three in their respective event.
Congratulations to Alexander and Dorotea on win NCAA titles! And congratulations to the men’s track and field team on its fifth place finish at the NCAA championships! Go Hokies!
I know nothing about cheerleading competitions (even though I’ve covered them), so I’ll let our resident former cheerleader, @nastiafan, take lead on the Hokies’ performance. Nastiafan, what say you?
