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Enough is Enough – Jon Embree

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Washington State 31 University of Colorado 27!

The Buffs gagged! They choked! They stunk it up at the end of the game and Washington State took advantage of the opportunity provided them. That is why you play the game.

On October 5, 2011 the Daily Camera summarized Head Coach Embree’s locker room speech to his players after the loss. He is quoted as saying, “I asked them: ‘When is it going to be enough? When is enough, enough? You put in all of this work, you do all of this stuff that you have done from spring ball to training camp for this? This is what we did the work for?’

“Embree said, “So when is it enough? When are they going to get tired of losing? When are they going to get tired of finding a way to lose?”

“Because you know what? This staff, we’ve been here for five weeks, and I’m tired of it. So if you’ve been here for five years, you’ve got to be tired of it too.”

So was the coach wrong for being so frank about their performance? Will his words be immortalized in a movie?

Can you coach players with losing habits to develop winning habits overnight?

Is it possible that parents have been more blunt with their own children when they don’t practice their piano before their lessons?

Were his comments any more harsh than what a father would say to his daughter who came in two hours after curfew with her shirt on backwards?

Has society become so “politically correct” that such harsh words cannot be spoken?

Will someone step forward in the future claim that the coaches words caused d him psychological damage?

Should the Buffs have joined hands with WSU after the game and sang Kumbaya?

Will the coach’s words ultimately motivate the players to perform better? Or will his tough love cause some of the players to quit the team?

Wasn’t it more repulsive to hear Denver Bronco Head Coach, Josh McDaniels, swearing at his team during the NFL Network’s 2009 Thanksgiving night broadcast?

College sports is a form of entertainment. Lots of money is at stake for Embree and his staff and for the competing universities.

Enough is enough!

 

The Pay to Play Debate Rears Its Head Again

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For the past 50 years, there has been an ongoing debate about whether college athletes should be paid to play. Over that time, the topic has moved to the forefront, then it has been put on hold for more pressing issues. Several years later it again becomes a hot topic for discussion and the cycle repeats.

Much like the merits of the BCS system, it is a great topic to debate over a beer. There are solid reasons to pay college players and there are an equal number of justifications for not paying them. And much like the debate over the  BCS system, it is an issue that will never be addressed to everyone’s satisfaction.

The Boulder Daily Camera recently (9/14) printed a quote from South Carolina’s football coach Steve Spurrier on the topic. He supported an advocacy group’s report that determined that college football and basketball players don’t get what they’re worth from their schools.

To that point Spurrier said, “I mean, 20 years ago, 50 years ago, athletes got full scholarships. Television income was what, maybe $50,000? And now, everybody’s getting 14, 15 million bucks and they’re still getting a scholarship.

Forty or 50 years ago, college football and basketball were sports that were played for the sake of competition and bragging rights. Today the two sports are minor leagues for the NFL and NBA. In some cases they are expected to generate enough revenue to support the entire athletic department. The Final Four and the BCS Bowl Series have become a form of entertainment more than a showcase of athletic accomplishment.

While the top schools may “rake in the dough” from their football and basketball programs, those sports do not always generate a profit. Without a profit from the major sports or significant support from donors, it is likely that many minor sports teams would have to be eliminated, if pay to play was instituted.

Much of the discussion about college athletics presumes that higher education will continue to exist in its current form 30 years from now. That is not likely given concerns that higher education is too costly and ineffective. As well, technology is making it possible to receive a more targeted education online or through alternate means.

A case can be made that there is a higher education bubble and that when it bursts, college athletics will be forced to take on a different form.  The NCAA 2042 Final Four may feature the Appalachia Online School of Technology Cougars (an online university specializing in technology training) and the Southern California Leadership School Lakers (a leadership school whose basketball team is a farm club of the professional team bearing the same name).

Until that happens, you can partake in the “pay to play” debate now while the topic is hot or you can wait a couple of years and be a part of the sequel.

 

The Closed-Mindedness of Academics?

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Higher education is incredibly important part to innovation that will make the U.S. competitive in a global economy.. Professors are offered tenure because it allegedly protects free thinking, the creation of new ideas, and innovation.

The country’s higher education is assumed to be the country’s the hotbed of open-mindedness.

The leadership of our colleges and universities have demonstrated their “free-thinking” and open-mindedness in the management of college athletics. And it is very telling.

The Daily Camera published an article on September 26, 2011 entitled, “Oregon State President Opens up about PAC-12 Decision”. The league was considering a second expansion in less than a year to include 16 teams. The article stated…

“Oregon State President Edward Ray said he would personally take a look at anything that made sense, even though there was a strong sentiment among the PAC-12 schools that expansion wasn’t in the league’s immediate best interests.”

Ray is the chair of the PAC-12 CEO Executive Group, which includes leaders from each of the league’s schools, and is responsible for governance of the conference.  In the above statement he appears to be willing to consider various viewpoints.

Later in the article Ray was quoted, “But I know that some of my colleagues said, ‘You know what? I don’t care what any of the facts are, I don’t want anything to change.’ ”

What kind of statement does this make about the open-mindedness, priorities, and leadership of the country’s top ACADEMIC institutions. If this is the thought process for athletics, what is their thought process for for making big-league academic decisions?

 

Football Players Cluster to the Same Majors

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Several weeks ago AP sports writer Paul Newberry penned an article published in the Daily Camera entitled, “College Athletes Cluster to Same Majors.” The AP research looked at the majors declared by football players at 68 universities which had received  automatic bids to the Bowl Championship Series. In short, Newberry indicated that football players favored majors in general studies and management.

It is common for groups of select students with similar interests to declare similar majors. For example members of the marching band are more likely to be music majors and members of certain sororities are likely to have a high concentration of students in business or communications.

In this case, clustering, as it is called occurs because football players seek majors that complement their practice and travel schedules. In many cases these majors may be less rigorous and require less time in the library. (Note: all research studies are careful not to refer to these as Mickey Mouse majors).

The AP study looked at sophomores, juniors, and seniors and did not include players who had not declared a major. Information was tallied from university media guides or websites, and information provided by the schools. The study found that clustering was prevalent at 39 of the 68 schools. The leaders in clustering are:

  • Georgia Tech            Management                                              43 players
  • Cincinnati                 Criminal Justice                                         40 players
  • Vanderbilt                 Human/Organizational Development  35 players
  • Wake Forest             Communications                                        34 players
  • Mississippi State     Kinesiology                                                  30 players
  • LSU                            Sports Administration                              28 players
  • UCLA                         History                                                         27 players
  • Baylor                        General Studies                                          27 players
  • Kansas                       Business                                                       25 players
  • Iowa                           Interdepartmental Studies                       21 players
  • Boston College         Communications                                        21 players
  • Clemson                    Sociology                                                      20 players

A review of other commentary on the topic shows the following:

  • Clustering is a common trend, more prevalent since the NCAA instituted the Academic Progress Rate. The APR was a mandate intended to force schools to have their athletes take classes that led to a degree that would lead to employment upon graduation.
  • Clustering varies between sports and schools.
  • Because school scan lose scholarships if APR numbers are not met, it is believed that counselors push athletes into less rigorous degrees.
  • It seems logical for athletic programs to recruit players to majors where players have had success in the past and it seems logical for athletic programs to promote those academic disciplines.
  • The NCAA claims that the APR program has increased graduation. While it is important for students and athletes to graduate, it is more important for them to receive an education that increases their chances of being hired.
  • The NCAA has conducted research that shows that about 80% of athletes are content with their majors.

Newberry’s research and the research of others illustrates how closely college athletic programs are being monitored in all aspects of their business.

Is clustering a problem? Probably not. Does clustering benefit the athletes? Possibly.

 

Golly Gee Whiz

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Ohio State University president (and former CU president), Gordon Gee was criticized for comments he made about the teams from the Big Ten and SEC. Gee stated that these schools deserve to play in the BCS bowl games more than schools such as TCU because they play a ‘murderer’s row’ of opponents and we do not play the Little Sisters of the Poor.

The December 3, 2010 issue of the Daily Camera quoted Gee as reporting to the criticism by saying, “What do I know about college football? I look like Orville Redenbacher. I have no business talking about college football.”

At least Gee has a sense of humor.

Has Gee, forgotten that over the past 15 years college and university presidents have taken greater control over the NCAA?

At least he didn’t belittle the academic programs of the schools that play the Little Sisters of the Poor (as was done by University of Colorado President Bruce Benson).

Golly Gee whiz.

The Arrogance of Academics?

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College athletics is big business – and that is okay. In 2010, the University of Colorado made a business decision to accept an invitation to join the PAC-12, an invitation they had rescinded years earlier. Most fan and critics believe Buff leaders made a judicious choice when it decided to switch conferences.

CU officials justified their decision, in part, by claiming that their academic mission aligned more closely with the schools in the PAC-12 than the Big 12. This discussion makes a nice sound bite that may appease Boulder residents who do not fully appreciate the contribution of the university and CU athletics to their community.

In fact, CU’s claim of academic prowess can be challenged. Boulder’s engineering school and Denver’s medical school are world class. Unfortunately, CU does not distinguish itself in most other areas.

The bottom line is the Buffs had to jump ship if they wanted to retain a “respectable” athletic program. The times they are a changing.

College football appears to be heading towards fewer, but stronger super conferences, i.e. a different structure intended to generate more revenue for the country’s elite programs. CU has a wonderful football tradition, but CU is not one of the country’s top funded programs. Unfortunately, the lack of adequate support makes it unclear whether CU can be is one of the country’s elite programs moving forward.

The switch to the PAC 12 will provide Buff leaders with an opportunity to generate more revenue for their athletic department. There are more CU alumni and major corporations on the West Coast than in Stillwater, Waco, and Lubbock.

On September 6, the Denver Post published an article, “CU President leery of PAC-12 Adding More Teams”. The article stated…

University of Colorado president Bruce Benson said this morning he is wary of further Pac-12 expansion, particularly if Colorado is placed in an “East” division with former rivals from the Big 12 such as Oklahoma and Texas.

Later in the article Benson added..

“One of the reasons – and there are a lot of reasons – we got in the Pac 12 is to play regularly on the West Coast,” Benson said. “When I hear things like East-West divisions, we’re going back to the Big 12 again. I don’t know who’s possibly going, but I sure don’t want to get shorted out of the West Coast.”

The Post article went on to say..

Benson and DiStefano always maintained a major reason for CU joining the Pac-12 was that the schools matched Colorado’s academic mission. While Oklahoma and Texas are on a par with CU academically, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State may not be. “I believe that we should have a robust academic atmosphere among all schools in the league,” Benson said. “What schools have cinch courses or gut courses? We don’t have any and never will. The Pac-12 doesn’t. Some Big 12 schools do.”

Wouldn’t it have been more appropriate for Benson to make some of these comments in private, rather than to the Denver media?

As a newcomer to the conference, does Benson really think he can influence decisions by making public statements about getting shorted out of the West Coast?

What entitles Bruce Benson to use ATHLETICS, specifically the PAC-12 Conference, as a bully pulpit for belittling the quality of learning in the schools of the Big 12? Shouldn’t he be more focused on making sure the CU campuses are the best they can be?

Arrogant or not?

RJR Platform Tennis Camps – A Game Changer

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With the platform tennis season right around the corner, players should think about lessons, drills sessions, or a clinic to improve your game? Even better, how about an extended weekend learning the sport at a platform tennis camp in scenic Jackson Hole, Wyoming? A camp setting provides a learning environment where tactics and techniques are introduced in the early stages and refined over the next 4 to 5 days.

This discussion looks at a compilation of the programs I have used while running RJR Platform Tennis Camps over the past 19 years. A camp consists of 8 sessions, each 2-3 hours in length. The sessions include instruction, drills, and match play to reinforce what was discussed earlier in the day.

Session I – Players are reminded about the importance of stretching and proper warm-up, hydration, and playing at high-altitude. The technical focus is on hitting serves with spin. (Note: the serve and first volley are taught as a unit.) Tactical discussions emphasize how placement of the serve and first volley dictate strategy and positioning for the remainder of the point.

Session II – The session begins by hitting controlled forehand drive service returns; however, the main focus continues to be the techniques and tactics of hitting the serve and first volley. (Serve and first volley sessions may also have a complementary service return focus). Volley technique and placement are again emphasized. The tactical goal of the serving team is to force the opposition to hit from either a neutral or defensive position after the first volley.

Session III- Forehand and backhand screen play is reviewed. From a technical standpoint, the emphasis is on efficient movement and positioning. Subtle positioning differences are noted for the forehand and backhand wires.

The tactical discussions center on shot selection (lob or drive) and placement (down-the-line, middle, or cross court).

Session IV – Again, attention is given to the serve and first volley. From a technical perspective, the focus is on efficient movement when volleying. Tactically speaking, players practice placement and court positioning. Drills focus on consistent execution of the serve and first volley to allow the serving team to efficiently maintain control of the net for the entire point.

Session V – The overhead instruction spotlights consistency and placement. Players try the various types of overheads (spin, push, pillow, waterfall, slash, roll, sidearm, 3/4 arm, tennis overhead). The importance of near-perfect execution on the overhead is highlighted during match play. For example, a scoring system may be put in place where a missed overhead causes the offender to automatically lose the game.

Session VI – Attention shifts to shot selection (lob or drive) and placement in the backcourt, beginning with the service return. Players are shown how to move the team at the net, create offensive opportunities, and escape from defensive predicaments. In the match play, players are motivated to keep their lobs in play. A scoring system is put in place where offenders automatically lose the game when they miss a lob.

Session VII – The session continues with a review of the technical and tactical aspects of serve and first volley, positioning at the net, and backcourt play. During a break in action, rules and etiquette are reviewed. Prior to match play, a series of drills are demonstrated to provide players with the tools to improve and maintain their skills after they leave camp.

Session VIII – In the final session players are divided into groups to focus on areas where they desire special attention.

Because platform tennis is easy to learn, many players feel that lessons are not necessary. Past participants in camps lasting 4-7 days can readily testify that they have increased enjoyment of the sport because of their improved technical and tactical knowledge.

 

Out of Their League – A Game Changer

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The world of sports was much different 50 years ago. Professional athletes were not paid well, they did not receive benefits, and for the most part they were exploited by the owners. They were expected to display their talents on the field and not draw attention to themselves in the media.

There were a limited number of books about sports; most were either statistical overviews of past seasons or feel-good biographies about the most popular stars in the game. At that time athletes were heroes and role models and parents wanted their sons to be a gentleman like Lou Gehrig.

But the innocence surrounding the world of sports and athletics changed at the hands of Curt Flood and Dave Meggyesy.

In 1969, Curt Flood, centerfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, refused to be traded and his claim ended up in the U.S. Supreme Court. He lost his case, but his actions unified baseball players in their fight against the reserve clause, which ultimately resulted in free agency.

In 1970, Dave Meggyesy, linebacker for the St. Louis Cardinal football team, penned the book Out of Their League. It was a disturbing, but necessary commentary about the dark side of football.

These gentlemen exposed sports and athletics as big business with a closet full of skeletons. Flood showed how athletes were taken advantage of financially. As a result of free agency the salaries of athletes have risen. As well, high-priced television contracts and payrolls, lockouts, and work stoppages have become too common. The bargaining table has become as important as the playing field and the scoreboard.

At the time, it was taboo to talk about the issues Meggyesy brought out in the open. Specifically he discussed the hypocrisy of college sports, racism, drugs and substance abuse, and brutality associated with football.

The following bullet points briefly touch on changes that have occurred in these areas since the release of Out of Their League.

• Hypocrisy of college sports – Over the years the NCAA has dictated that college programs have a greater focus on academics; proper physical and mental training; addressing drug and substance abuse; and injury prevention and care. Athletes are no longer dropped from programs if they become injured during their careers and tutoring is available when they need help in classes. The scandals of the past 10 years are testimony that college programs are drowning in hypocrisy, despite the best intentions of the NCAA. Genuine concern is shown for athletes, yet the unwritten goal of most programs is to win – fans and alumni don’t buy tickets or sponsorships to watch losing teams.

• Racism – Racism, as it existed among athletes during the 1960s, has declined significantly. Today, discussions about racism are more centered on discrimination, particularly the need for athletic programs to hire more minorities and women in the coaching and administrative ranks. Progress will continue to be made in hiring women and minorities.

• Drugs and substance abuse – As long as the scoreboard is lit and winners are rewarded, athletes will search for ways to legally or illegally improve their performance. Today athletes are tested for use of illegal and performance enhancing drugs. Although the process is not perfect, it has deterred some athletes from making poor choices.

• Brutality – Athletes have gotten bigger, stronger, and faster. As a result, the chances of severe injuries in football have increased. At the same time, greater attention has been given to proper training, drug prevention, improved equipment, and the care of injuries. As well, rules governing practice and the way the game is played have been changed to reduce injuries. Within the past decade former NFL players have drawn attention to the long-term problems associated with concussions and other injuries. As a result, concussion awareness and treatment programs have been put in place that benefit athletes in all sports at all levels.

Meggyesy’s book and Flood’s court case altered the way athletic teams and programs are financed and managed. As well, their actions brought about changes that cause fans to view their favorite teams and athletes much differently than fans viewed them 50 years ago.

 

Ralphie Roams Outside Folsom – Bad for Licensing Revenues

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The following articles from the Boulder Daily Camera are testimony to the fact that college athletics is big business. In Boulder, the ante has been upped since CU moved to the PAC-12 and since CU has experienced a $50 million shortfall over the past two years.

“Reining in Ralphie – CU Bolsters Brand. University Beefs up Logo Protection”
This article was the front page headline on Sunday June 5, 2011.

The article states, “The Buffs Barber Shop on University Hill is a shrine to CU sports-from the signature charging Ralphie logo dominating the window front to the pennants, signed footballs, clocks and encased Barbie cheerleader doll that decorate the inside of the shop. Now the business relationship between the barbershop and CU has been strained because of a dispute over licensing royalties, and the squabble has broken the partnership beyond repair, say both sides.”

The article continues by stating that CU earns about $750,000 per year from its trademark, well below the average of other PAC-10 schools, about $1.2 million. Officially licensed Buff merchandise includes dog bones, bird houses, Victoria’s Secret underwear and sweatshirts, action figures, tricycles, and cheerleading uniforms for toddlers.

By comparison, the University of Texas brings in $10 million a year in revenue from licensing agreements. Texas has turned down opportunities to use their logo on funeral urns, toilet seats, guns, knives, and the paper that covers patient tables in physicians’ offices.

The Camera stated that the use/misuse of Ralphie is not a light matter. His likeness smoking a joint has graced t-shirts promoting 4/20 that said “Buff. Buff. Pass.” Another hijacked image of Ralphie shows him being humped by Cam the Ram; the t-shirt is popular at the CSU-CU football game. Finally there have been concerns about the CU image being placed on shot glasses.

“Buffs Barber Shop, CU Come to Agreement”
This article appeared at the bottom of the front page on Thursday June 30, 2011.

The article states, “Under the new deal, the school’s trademarked charging Ralphie image will be removed from the store’s window front and replaced with a more generic buffalo logo.

“CU’s Licensing Officials Keeping Eye on New Ralphie’s Restaurant”
This article appeared at the bottom of the front page of the Local section on August 20, 2011.

The article states, “CU spokesman Bronson Hilliard on Friday wouldn’t go so far as to say that the restaurant is in violation of the school’s trademark policies. But, he said athletic director Mike Bohn and licensing director J.T. Galloway will be swinging by the restaurant to talk about the use of the name Ralphie. Hilliard further commented that they’ll talk to them about the use of Ralphie and see what kind of friendly arrangement we can come to. They’ll sit down, on a human level, and see what they’re trying to achieve. We to need to protect our symbols. But it will be in a friendly conversation, not a cease-and desist order.

Art Johnson, co-owner with his wife Lisa, played football during the 1970s. He also owns a real estate company called Golden Buff Realty.

The moral of the story – before you start a business, hold a fundraiser, or plan a public relations campaign that involves a local sports team’s logo or trade name, check with the organization about what can and cannot be used. Licensing agreements and trademarks are part of the revenue stream for these organizations and athletic departments rightfully protect their assets. To quote Hilliard, “Imagine what a liquor store or a marijuana dispensary or a strip club could do if they could get a hold of our brand.”

USTA Ten and Under Mandate Remains Contentious

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The United States Tennis Association recently announced that it passed rules requiring that 10-and-under tournaments be played using smaller courts and lighter equipment.

Their press release quoted USTA President Lucy Garvin as saying, “We’re very excited about what this change means to the future of tennis in the United States. Competition is an important element of learning and growing the game, and now all children 10 and under will have the proper platform with which to compete.”

In addition, Kurt Kamperman, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, USTA said, “This rule change to the competition format for kids 10 and under is critical to the long-term growth of our sport, and ultimately will help us develop new generations of talented players.”

The press release continued by saying that the change in tournament format by both the USTA and the ITF was reached after weighing the benefits for beginners as well as recurring and high-performing youth players. Studies have found that competition, when conducted in a welcoming environment that allows for multiple play opportunities, enhances kids’ enjoyment of the game. And for aspiring collegiate and professional players, the QuickStart Tennis play format fosters proper technique and enhances strategy, key components to success in competitive play.

Over the years teaching professionals, coaches, and manufacturers have endorsed the notion that multiple play opportunities, short courts, lighter racquets, and quality instruction increase the chances that juniors will enjoy and stay in the game. In fact they have developed short racquets, lighter balls, and have had short court programs in place since the mid-1980s.

The mandate handed down by the USTA was not welcomed by some prominent teaching professionals and many in the industry. The following objections to the 10U ruling are from a variety of sources:
• Some 10-year olds have advanced beyond the short court teaching tools and are playing competitive tennis on a full court. For that reason, an appropriate rule change would have allowed short courts for 10U competitive play rather than mandating them.
• The ruling in counter-productive. Ten-year olds who are already playing on a regular court will avoid the 10Us and play the 12Us.
• This is yet another attempt by the USTA to create a monopoly. They want to take credit for the work of others and try to control all aspects of the industry.
• The ruling has not been put in place for the benefit of the sport, but rather the benefit of increasing USTA power.
• Garvin and the USTA do not support the teaching profession. This is illustrated by her comment “Now all children 10 and under will have the proper platform with which to compete.”
• The USTA has spent hundreds of millions of dollars in the Player Development program, but have had limited success in development of world class players. This rule change illustrates they are not in touch with the sport or the needs of the tennis industry.
• Every USTA President and Board wants to leave their mark on the sport. This mandate is nothing more than that.
• The USTA is schizophrenic in its decision-making. It wasn’t that long ago that the USTA eliminated lower level age division rankings because research had demonstrated that competition was bad for players under 12 years of age. Now they are calling for increased competition at the younger ages.
• Over the past 20 years, clubs have gone out of business and courts have been eliminated at existing facilities. Dedicating space for new junior courts or converting existing courts for 10U play is not a cost effective investment for recreation departments, tennis facilities, or country clubs.
• The U.S. still has not fully recovered from the Great Recession. The USTA, which has not been a articipant in the recession, is not in touch with the challenges facing the industry.
• Similarly, the new ruling creates barriers to entry for new clubs. 10U courts have limited potential for revenue generation.

Even after the decision has been made, this remains a contentious issue between the USTA and some members of the industry. The real question remains, “Will the 10 and under players ultimately be the winner?”

Over the years, the USTA has introduced a number of excellent programs. Time will tell whether the recent 10U mandate will prove to be a “critical driver of long-term growth of the sport” and a generator of “generations of talented players”. In the meantime it is up to the teaching professionals and the industry to track the success of this USTA decision and hold them accountable if it turns out to be another USTA boondoggle.