Texas Bowl Dreams Big, Goes Local originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wait, The Texas Bowl Was Tonight? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 28 Dec 2007 23:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Somebody Has To Coach Baylor, After All originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 29 Nov 2007 15:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alabama Barely Survives Houston Scare originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 06 Oct 2007 18:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cuomo is investigating whether athletic departments at these universities agreed to promote SFS loans to students in exchange for kickbacks.

"Students trust their University's athletic departments because so much of campus life at Division I schools centers around supporting the home team," said Cuomo. "To betray this trust by promoting loans in exchange for money is a serious issue, especially when Division I schools already generate tremendous revenue from their student athletes. Today's action is an important new step as we continue to examine the unethical conflicts that pervade the student loan industry.

"The Attorney General's office is specifically investigating whether athletic departments evaluated UFS interest rates before recommending their federal loans, or if their endorsement of UFS was based purely on payments from the lender. Such an arrangement would constitute revenue sharing, which is a violation New York state consumer protection laws, as well as a violation of federal law.

D-IA football schools named (prominent schools in bold): Arkansas State, Auburn, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Colorado State, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Tech, Ohio, Oregon State, Rutgers, TCU, Tulane, Alabama-Birmingham, UCLA, UCF, Houston, Kansas, Louisville, Oregon, Pittsburgh, USF, UTEP. See link for complete list.

It's good that athletic departments have an awareness of and working relationship with loan providers, but obviously there's a problem when that relationship gets too cozy and bad loan options are pressed upon students and student-athletes.

(Via: Yahoo!)

Major College Athletic Departments Issued Subpoenas in Loan Probe originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 01 Aug 2007 22:49:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Javarris James: Good; Miami: Not So Good originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 30 Sep 2006 20:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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During the Houston Cougars' last drive of the first half, a pass to Jeron Harvey turned into a fumble which OSU recovered. While trying to evade a two-man tackle, Harvey spun to his right, only to find a third Cowboy who induced the fumble, which was recovered by a fourth Cowboy. This stopped a steady Cougar march down the field and gave OSU the chance to get the last play of the half.

BUT WAIT, IT DIDN'T END THAT WAY.

Houston head coach, Art Briles contested the call. Briles did not argue the fact that Harvey dropped the ball or that OSU recovered. Instead, Briles' claim was that the first two OSU tacklers had stopped Harvey's forward progress and that a fumble should not be possible if the progress has stopped.

The OSU players, coaches, staff, and fans all agreed that such a claim was insufficient and that the Cowboys would retain the ball. Even the CSTV commentators said that they expected the call to remain unturned. The key issue was that Harvey, while not moving forward was twisting and turning, to evade OSU defense and that the play had not stopped, at this point.

Then, the call came from the field that the instant replay review had overturned the play. As OSU was in awe of the decision, the commentators openly stated their opinion of the error. From this, instead of sending out a Houston offense that wasn't putting significant pressure on Bobby Reid, the Cougars kept their offense on the field. Four plays later, the Cougars scored and were able to go into the locker room with the momentum and a seven-point lead.

To be honest, OSU had two more quarters to overcome that seven-point lead. But the call was unfair and it is easy to argue that it truly shifted the tone of the entire game. In the waning moments of the fourth quarter, OSU was down by nine points. If that bad call had not occurred, it is fully possible that the teams would have been separated by two points. The key to that is that OSU got close enough for field goals, in the fourth quarter - TWICE. But the lack of time and nine point deficit caused the Cowboys to push for the touchdowns that they didn't get. One of those field goals could have given OSU a one-point lead.

Granted, this also points out OSU's own shortcomings. Two red zone possessions could not be turned into touchdowns. So, the OSU faithful cannot fully blame the loss on a single blown call.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE...

After the game, Conference USA came forward with press conference about the blown call. The conference announced that it was suspending the instant replay official, for his mistakes. The key error is that, "a runner's forward progress may only be reviewed to determine whether or not forward progress results in a first down." Because of this, the play should not have even been reviewed, much less overturned the original call of a Houston fumble.

To further redeem the Cowboys, Conference USA stated that the original ruling was correct.

Unfortunately, it doesn't change the results of the game. It merely gives OSU a little more confidence in the knowledge that they were in the right. None of this changes the fact that OSU's defense couldn't find a consistent answer for the Cougars' offense.

THE BEST NEWS FROM THIS...

While another university in Oklahoma was on the wrong end of blown call by the instant replay official, the OSU Cowboys approached the situation with a rational and humble attitude.

OSU didn't look to blame anyone for their loss, and rightfully so. That play MIGHT have changed the outcome of the game, but it would not have changed the fact that, statistically, Houston played a better game than the Cowboys.

OSU understands that bad calls, while unfortunate, are sometimes an unavoidable part of football. For that reason, the Cowboys put the situation behind them and quickly started looking forward to their improvement and preparation for the K-State Wildcats.

The conspiracy theorists will say that there is a coordinated effort to 'stick it' to Oklahoma-based universities, and that Tulsa University might be next.

But the rational OSU fan will finish being upset about such an atrocious call and start getting excited for OSU's first Big XII game, of the 2006 season.

Ordinarily, your thoughts and comments would be requested at this point, but Conference USA has already said that they were wrong in TWO ways. Further input from you is welcomed, but it's tough to be upset any longer, when the mis-deed is openly admitted and apologized for.

Nonetheless, any further thoughts and comments are always encouraged...

GO POKES!!!

OSU Gets Short End Of Stick, But Then Gets An Apology originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 26 Sep 2006 11:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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