NCAA News, NCAA Football, NCAA Basketball

Below are the ACC preseason media picks;

ATLANTIC DIVISION

1. Clemson (59) 383
2. Wake Forest (5) 304
3. Florida State (1) 265
4. Boston College 154
5. Maryland 147
6. N.C. State 112

COASTAL DIVISION

1. Virginia Tech (58) 383
2. North Carolina (4) 288
3. Miami (1) 253
4. Georgia Tech (1) 195
5. Virginia (1) 161
6. Duke 85

Tommy Bowden’s team could certainly “run” the table with returning thunder and lighting backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller.  Another key for the Tigers is returning senior QB Cullen Harper who last year threw for 27 Touchdowns and an even more impressive 65% completion percentage.  The main obstacle in the way of the Tiger’s ACC Championship hopes are mid season road games against Wake Forest (October 9th), Boston College (November 1st), and Florida State (November 8th).  However barring a late season chokefest Clemson is the most likely candidate to win the ACC

Former Top 10 prospect Brandon Jennings signed with the Italian professional team, Pallacanestro Virtus Roma on Wednesday.  Jennings had alluded to possibly signing with a European professional team after multiple attempts to pass the SAT had not made him eligible.   The top point guard in his class, Jennings had originally committed with Arizona, but throughout the recruiting process was never academically eligible. 

The deal will be in the two to three year range and will include an option for Jennings to leave if the NBA Drafts in 2009.   Pallacanestro Virtus Roma is considered a middle of the pack team in the Italian Pro League.  Jennings will prove to be an experiment in how High School Basketball blue chips consider the European leagues during the recruiting proccess.  If successful, Jennings may have ushered in the era of young talent jumping the NCAA ship for European currency. 

The Gator defense was looking to replenish and get better during the offseason coming off one of their worst seasons in recent memory.  Instead, their secondary, the worst in the SEC a year ago has been plagued by injury.  Reserve defensive back John Curtis already had been out with an ACL tear, when starting safety Dorian Munroe fell victim to the injury bug.

Munroe tore his ACL and will miss the entire season following reconstructive surgery on the ligiment.  With the loss, the Gators will look to start incoming freshman and standout recruit Will Hill alongside veteran safety Major Wright. 

While Florida’s offense is looking to be nothing less than spectacular this year, their defense may again be what keeps this high powered Gator football team from another National Championship.   

Florida State was handed another crippling blow this weekend, when it was discovered that their starting Left Guard, Evan Bellamy would miss up to six months with a blood clot in his leg.   The Seminoles’ offensive line was already decimated by the scholastic scandal that suspended 2 other lineman for the first 3 games of the season.  Bellamy played in 10 games last season and was the starting Left Guard for the Seminoles’ bowl game.   The Seminole’s will not only miss the sophomore, but will also be without any senior leadership on the offensive line.  Advantageously for Florida State, the offensive line will not be tested until September 20 against Wake Forest. 

On Wednesday Tennessee insured that their football and basketball programs would have a strong figure at the head coaching position at least through 2014.  That is the year they signed both football coach Phillip Fulmer and basketball coach Bruce Pearl until.

Fulmer’s deal includes an average salary of around $3 million with incentives for winning National and SEC Championships.  If he wins an SEC Championship he will recieve a $350,000 raise.  If he wins a National Championship he will recieve an $850,000 raise.  The deal also includes a yearly $100,000 raise for every year he remains head coach of the Volunteers.  Other incentives on the deal include a $350,000 BCS Bowl bonus, a $1,000,000 bonus for reaching his 20th year with the school, and added years on the contract for every 8 win season he produces.

Bruce Pearl’s contract was upgraded making his average salary $2.3 Million.  The deal includes a $250,000 bonus for retaining the position, and a straight up $1.5 million bonus.  In order to protect themselves from NBA teams, Tennessee also added a buyout clause.  If Pearl were to leave the team within the next five years he would owe $2.5 million, which would decrease each year to an end total of $1 million.

Tennessee looked to secure their basketball and football programs with these deals.  With Phillip Fulmer’s impressive .766 winning percentage and Bruce Pearl’s ability to bring the Tennessee Basketball Program to the national forefront, it indeed looks like they have secured a bright future through 2014.

One of the most notorious mascots in NCAA history passed away on Friday.  The nine year old University of Georgia Bulldog, Uga VI, died of congestive heart failure in Savannah.  The Georgia mascot had been known for notorious acts of violence against rival players as is apparent in the infamous video of the mascot biting an Auburn player during a football. 

Uga VI became the Georgia mascot in 1999, replacing his father Uga V.  Uga VI’s reign has been the most successful of any Uga before him.   During his reign Georgia has been to 3 BCS bowls, had the best winning percentage than any other time in Georgia’s history, and Uga has been on the cover of Sports Illustrated.  Uga will be buried on Georgia’s field with his predecessors.   Decision on the next Uga has not been made yet.

The 2008 NBA Draft went about as expected with Memphis star PG Derrick Rose going #1 to the Chicago Bulls.  Double double extradionair, Kansas State’s Micheal Beasley went next as anticipated to the Miami Heat.  The Timberwolves then took star USC guard O.J. Mayo at #3.  All seemed to be going as expected even when Memphis took UCLA big man Kevin Love a little early at 5.  Then the blockbuster deal went down.  Memphis traded with Minnesota the rights to Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, and Jason Collins, for the rights to O.J. Mayo, Marko Jaric, Antione Walker, and Greg Buckner.  It seems Minnesota wanted Love all along, and they get a 3 point threat in Miller.   Below is the 1st round results of the 2008 NBA Draft Lottery Picks.

1.  Chicago- Derrick Rose: Memphis

2.  Miami -  Michael Beasley: Kansas State

3.  Memphis- O.J. Mayo: USC

4.  Seattle- Russel Westbrook: UCLA

5.  Minnesota- Kevin Love: UCLA

6.  New York-  Danilo Gallinari: Italy

7.  LA Clippers- Eric Gordon: Indiana

8.  Milwaukee- Joe Alexander: West Virginia

9.  Charlotte-  D.J. Augustin: Texas

10.  New Jersey- Brook Lopez: Stanford

11.  Portland- Jerryd Bayless: Arizona

12.  Sacramento- Jason Thompson: Rider

13.  Indiana- Brandon Rush: Kansas

14. Golden St.- Anthony Randolph: LSU

15. Pheonix- Robin Lopez: Stanford

16. Philadelphia- Marquis Speights: Florida

Duke’s case against a Louisville lawsuit designed at getting the Cardinal’s $450,000 in damages from Duke backing out of 3 schelduled games, was indeed unique.  The Duke attorneys claimed that the Louisville football team could not expect to claim anything because it would be very easy for the University to find a replacement because Duke’s football performance was dismal as best.

Kentucky Judge Phillip J. Shepherd agreed with the Duke lawyers claim that Duke’s football prowess was at a ”threshold that could not be any lower”.  Shepherd found that Duke was not liable for the $150,000 per game as long as Louisville could find equavalent teams to play.  

Despite having one of the worst records in the most storied college football program, Notre Dame signed a lucrative contract extension with NBC. The contract details remained secretive but NBC sports chairman Dick Ebersol insists that the rate is a flat fee and not based on ratings. Ratings for last year’s games were abysmal at best with the young Notre Dame squad going 3-9 in the win column.

Head Coach and offensive guru, Charlie Weis looks to stick with one quarterback this year with sophomore Jimmy Clausen likely running the spread offense Weis made famous in New England. With any luck, which the Irish had none of last year, the Fighting Irish could be in the race for a major bowl. This would help the NBC Sports ratings tremendously.

Florida State wideout Preston Parker plead guilty to a misdemeanor marijuana possession and misdemeanor concealed weapon charge relating to an April arrest in Palm Beach County Florida. The versatile athlete and probably most valuable weapon in the already less than stellar Seminole offense had his future at Florida State in question after the arrest in which he was pulled over with a loaded .45 caliber pistol resting on his dashboard. Parker was sentenced to 50 hours community service and 12 months probation for the offenses.

Florida State University and Head Football Coach Bobby Bowden in turn responded with a two game suspension, compulsory drug tests and an additional 50 hours of community service. Bowden remarked on the judgement, “Preston made a very serious mistake, and there are consequences when one of our boys gets in trouble.” Indeed the additional hours spent serving food to students, the forewarned drug tests, and suspension from “powerhouses” Western Carolina and Chattanooga really serve to set an example to future violators.

Parker apologized for his transgressions in a statement release by his attorney. “I fully blame myself for being in this situation, because it could’ve easily been avoided.” he stated.

Parker will return to the Seminole lineup on September 20th against Wake Forest, Florida State’s first ACC game.