School Sport

Fans say there’s nothing like itthe days spent in the stands as the weather turns from unbearably hot to bitingly brisk; the mascots at war on the sidelines; the electric crackling between the opposing teams as each one steps up to battle for the role of “champion.” Yes, it’s college football season again, and we couldn’t be happier.The first two weeks of the 2010 NCAA season have already seen some good teams go down. Last weekend, the Virginia Tech Hokies, under the coaching of Frank Beamer, were defeated on their home turf by the James Madison Dukes. The rivalry which emerges between college teams is a large source of the drama of the games, and Dukes coach Mickey Matthews and his team know that well. Before the game, Matthews promised his team that they’d be in high demand by VT in just a few hours. After a punishing 21-16 victory, though, the team looks to be a rising star no matter whom you ask. Read the rest of this entry »

Alabama coach Nick Saban seems to think so. In August, he told scouts from several different teams to hit the highway, banning them from Crimson Tide practices. Previously, Saban had criticized the scouts for damaging the eligibility of players, such as in the case of the Crimson Tide’s defensive end Marcell Dareus. The student had supposedly attended an agent party back in May.But is the presence of NFL scouts really damaging to playersany more so than the constant stresses that regularly accompany varsity-level play? For players interested in hitting the big time, the scouts are the representation of the long arm of the NFL. As long as players follow the NCAA’s “no contact” rule, there should be nothing wrong with a little extra motivation. Besides, as 16-season scout Pete Russell explains, the scouts and NFL coaches have a lot riding on this, too. Without the information to make an educated decision, he told Fox Sports, “it could be the quickest way to the unemployment line.”