Kiffin was also charged with failure to monitor, though the football program itself wasn't.

I guess when you look at the specifics, there's a reason for that. And I don't think Tennessee's going to be punished any worse than Ohio State. But it really sucks that we have a system like this. Tennessee made impermissible phone calls and had impermissible contact with a recruit, and the program faces what are in some ways more serious charges than a program that has multiple players receive improper benefits and tried to cover it up so they could win a national championship with ineligible players...that's fair?

Also, why isn't the NCAA interested in pursuing the other things that have come to light, such as Pryor's improper benefits and all the other players that were allegedly involved in the memorabilia-for-ink scandal?

Btw, you're telling me that a program that committed literally HUNDREDS of secondary recruiting violations under Tressel isn't guilty of failing to monitor? Bullshizzle.

I would bet money that our basketball program gets at least a one year, and probably a two year postseason ban.  It sure doesn't sound like OSU will.  Different sports, I know, but it's still not exactly an apples-oranges comparison.  In our case, no competitive advantage was gained, and no extra benefits given (aside from a couple plates of ribs).  OSU's guys not only received extra benefits, but their coach lied and their institution staged a bogus "internal investigation" to keep them eligible for the postseason.  And the NCAA is really going to let them off the hook?  Seriously?

If OSU skates, this could be a tipping point for change.  And I don't just mean changing the NCAA's enforcement rules- I mean creating an alternative to the NCAA, if not dissolving it altogether.   The NCAA has chance here to change the widespread perception that they play favorites- and instead they appear to just be reinforcing that notion.  I think there are a lot of schools that aren't going to stand for that any longer.

I'm telling you, it's shizzle like this that will make me boycott NCAA sports altogether.  If we get hit harder than OSU, I will never attend another NCAA sporting event.  I'm dead serious.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2011/07/22/ncaa-ohio-state-violations.html?sid=101

I guess we knew this, but somebody turned Pearl in concerning the Craft visit to his home.

Also of note, the response reveals that the NCAA received the infamous photo of Pearl posing with then-high school junior Aaron Craft at his home from an anonymous source via U.S. Mail. Underneath, the caption read: "Question: Is having Aaron Craft a 2010 high school recruit in your home an NCAA violation? I wonder if the NCAA would think so …"

The questions are 1. Who? and more interesting to me is 2. How did they get the photo?

Some of you may know this but I don't. Enlighten me.

Members of the former staff seem convinced it was Thad Matta at OSU- so much so that Tony Jones was openly cheering for UK on Twitter when they beat them in the NCAAT.

I don't really know much about Spotify. What makes it better than some of the music streaming services already out there?

Streaming music is just one more thing that makes Verizon's new limited data plans suck.

Pretty much just because it's free.  And the interface is pretty simple.  The $10/month version untethers the music from your computer and lets you play it on mobile devices.  I'll probably just use the free version to discover new music.  If I find a song I like, there are, uh, other ways to acquire it and take it mobile.

I got my invite earlier today but haven't tried it yet.

I'm thinking about paying for the paid version and canceling my sirius if I like the free version.

I requested an invite over a week ago, and it just arrived in email today.  I'm going to play around with the free version and see if I want the paid, but I probably won't get it. 

Pure awesome.  I don't know if it's worth paying for the premium version, but it may just be the best piece of freeware of all time.

nm

Now, that being said... I wish we were competing with better offer lists when we offer a QB. Most people in the recruiting services think this guy is underrated though. They must because usually that sort of offer list gets you two stars. Of course I trust the coaches at big schools more than the recruiting services too.

"Trust the coach" is an overused cliche when it comes to recruiting, but early returns on the Dooley regime suggest it may carry more weight with him.  A lot of those supposed "space fillers" that committed in the last two weeks after Kiffin left turned out to make some pretty significant contributions last year. 

When it came to getting max output from unheralded recruits, Tommy Tuberville was the best I've ever seen.  If Dooley can approach that level (and his first class is certainly a positive indicator), then we're going to be just fine.

He sure doesn't have a 4 star attitude- he seems like a really nice, humble, grounded kid.  The kind of kid you want to succeed. 

Also, I have that same shirt.  He got it at Costco.

I think it's an interesting strategy, if true.  The most cost-effective delivery system for Netflix is streaming, and it's also the most convenient for their customer.  They've had problems acquiring the streaming rights to first-run movies, and this may be the way to force the studios' hands, especially if their customer base turns to piracy.  It's a big gamble, but may just benefit everyone in the end. 

Personally, I only have the streaming plan anyway, so the increase didn't effect me.  I'm not a big movie renter- if there's a movie that I like well enough to want to see a 2nd time or more (and there aren't many), I'll buy the blu-ray.  I mostly use Netflix to catch up on TV shows I haven't seen (currently watching "Weeds") and for the documentaries.  The selection of docs available for streaming is second to none.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-20080346-261/is-netflix-killing-dvds-like-apple-killed-floppies-q-a/?tag=TOCcarouselMain.0

 

I'm sure he charmed his investors with his delightful personality.

So I've read up on this situation, and apparently GT's AD Radakovich is in hot water with the NCAA because the NCAA told him they were coming to investigate his football program, and he committed the unpardonable sin of warning his coach beforehand.  Supposedly, we were set to hire him at UT before this all went down. 

Now, I'm not saying we should reconsider him as our AD (in fact, there are a LOT of others I like better, including our own David Blackburn), but what the hell did the COI expect him to do?  His paychecks say "Georgia Tech", not "NCAA".  If they didn't want GT to know they were coming, then why the hell did they tell their AD?  Did they really expect him NOT to look out for the best interests of his institution?  If our AD had knowledge of an upcoming investigation and didn't warn the coaches in question, I would want him gone. 

So long, Friday Night Lights.  Another great tv show bites the dust.  There are not many left these days.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20110715/SPORTS04/107150308/Josh-Moon-Dooley-Miles-jolly-SEC-sideshow

Wow.  Just wow.  I think I speak for everyone when I say, "Georgia Tech won an ACC title?"

I eagerly await the first post from Droner's Kidney Stone.

I hope Bochy leaves him in there for 140 pitches or so.

Apparently, it's a Kroger house brand.  FWIW, they also make an Orange flavor.  Might have to pick some up for some future tailgates.

http://www.digitalyukon.com/rocky-top-orange-soda-p59995.html

If I were the coach, I'd sink or swim with Jake Locker this year.  He'll either be a wonderful surprise, or he'll put them in great position in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes.  I think Luck is the next great young NFL QB.

So are they also going to give back their Sugar Bowl payout?  I won't hold my breath.

It would be wonderful and infuse the whole team with a level of confidence they have not had in years.

I can just see it now.......we are up 3 with 4 min to go. The opposing team punts to us with 3 timeouts left playing for a stop and punt with little time elapsing. We run it every play, grinding out 3 first downs and chewing up the clock then take a knee for the win. Did I mention that game sends us to the SECCG?!    

Too much to hope for this year but a fan can dream, because that is what fans do.      

Yeah, but if it's the game that sends us to the SECCG, then it's almost certainly against Kentucky.  And we already do that against Kentucky.

Not just pure 100% hope and blind bravado I hope -- you really think it's realistic?  Hope so!    A great OL is the ENGINE that pulls the rest of the team.  But I believe it'll be awhile before we see those days again.  

I disagree.  We've loaded up on quality and quantity along the OL in the past two classes.  I think this line will be very good this year, and one of the nation's best (and deepest) by 2012.  

I'm thinking we have kissed the valley goodbye.  Heading back up to the mountaintop...

Alright, I wasn't going to say anything, because I didn't want to jinx us.  But since you already have , I'll also add that we haven't had any serious off-field issues this summer, either, for the first time in, oh, ever.