NCAA - Football Wiretap

Racial Prejudice Linked To Opposition To Paying NCAA Athletes

Dec 30, 2015 2:26 PM

The National College Athletic Association (NCAA) will receive $7.3 billion from ESPN for the right to broadcast the seven games of the College Football Playoffs (CFP) between 2014 and 2026, and $11 billion from CBS and Turner Sports to broadcast “March Madness” over the next 14 years.

Most college athletes are “paid” with scholarships that cover only tuition, room, board, books and fees — although in 2015, the NCAA allowed Division I universities the option of increasing this to pay the full cost of attendance.

The NCAA has responded that fans don’t want college sports to go pro. As NCAA President Mark Emmert recently put it, “one of the biggest reasons fans like college sports is that they believe the athletes are really students who play for a love of the sport.”

In every survey to date, blacks are far more likely to support paying college athletes when compared to whites. 

According to NCAA data from 2014, blacks constitute the majority of players in college football and basketball, the two sports that most people think of when they think of college athletics.

Negative racial views about blacks were the single most important predictor of white opposition to paying college athletes, according to statistical analysis from the Washington Post.

The more negatively a white respondent felt about blacks, the more they opposed paying college athletes.

Kevin Wallsten, Tatishe M. Nteta and Lauren McCarthy/Washington Post

Tags: NCAA

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Robert Nkemdiche Apologizes For Marijuana Arrest

Dec 15, 2015 6:40 PM

Robert Nkemdiche issued a formal apology Tuesday, one day after being charged with marijuana possession as a result of his fall at a hotel near Atlanta.

"I want to apologize to Rebel nation, my teammates and coaches for my actions last weekend," Nkemdiche said in statement released by the school. "I made a mistake and put myself in an environment that doesn't reflect who I am as a person."

Nkemdiche is a projected first round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft should he declare and leave Ole Miss.

Edward Aschoff/ESPN

Tags: Draft, Draft Misc, NCAA

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Robert Nkemdiche Charged With Marijuana Possession

Dec 14, 2015 2:40 PM

Robert Nkemdiche was charged with possession of marijuana after falling out of a hotel window in Atlanta.

Nkemdiche is a projected top pick if he leaves Ole Miss for the NFL Draft this year.

According to the police report, cops responding found his room “in complete disarray,” along with “seven rolled marijuana cigarettes.”

Nkemdiche was conscious and stable when police and paramedics arrived, and was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, but then was released and taken into police custody.

Darin Gantt/Pro Football Talk

Tags: Draft, Draft Misc, NCAA

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BYU Interested In Seahawks' OC Darrell Bevell

Dec 7, 2015 4:02 PM

Darrell Bevell is a candidate for the head coaching vacancy at BYU.

Bevell is currently offensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks.

Bevell attended Wisconsin and has no ties to the BYU program. But he is Mormon and took a two-year mission while in college.

After Sunday’s 38-point outburst, Pete Carroll praised the job performance of Bevell this year.

“I think he’s doing what he’s always done,” Carroll said. “I know at times there’s been this talk about him, but he’s a great play caller and he’s a great play designer. He and [Tom] Cable put together game plans every week. I think everybody is feeling what’s best for us, we’re getting to it, we’re practicing it well and then carrying it to games. Those guys are really responsible for that. They’re doing a great job.”

Bob Condotta/Seattle Times

Tags: Seattle Seahawks, Misc Rumor, NCAA

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Chip Kelly: I'm Seeing Through Commitment To Eagles

Dec 7, 2015 1:24 PM

Chip Kelly insists he's entrenched as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.

“I made a commitment to this organization when they hired me, and I will see it through,” said Kelly.

The Eagles beat the Patriots on the road on Sunday.

Some have felt Kelly will leave the Eagles for a college football job in the offseason.

“I don’t have to convince people I’m staying,” he said. “I can’t. Everyone says, ‘He’s a college guy.’ It’s going to take a while for people to look at the ticker across the bottom of the screen without my name on it for people to understand.”

Peter King/Sports Illustrated

Tags: Philadelphia Eagles, Misc Rumor, NCAA

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Urban Meyer Remains Uninterested In Move To NFL

Dec 6, 2015 6:04 PM

Urban Meyer confirmed he has no interest in leaving Ohio State for the NFL.

There had been reports of the Cleveland Browns preparing to offer Meyer a deal to make him the highest paid coach in the NFL.

"I am proud and honored to be the head football coach at The Ohio State University," Meyer stated, per the Dispatch. "I have no interest whatsoever in any other position outside of my job coaching the Buckeyes."

Meyer is the third highest-paid coach in college football, according to USA Today, with a base salary of $5.86 million this year.

Dan Parr/NFL.com

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Misc Rumor, NCAA

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