Making the morning rounds.
? Fetch Monster over there doesn't seem to be having any trouble. San Diego State coach Rocky Long welcomed Boise State to the Mountain West Tuesday by suggesting Boise rip up the famous blue field in Bronco Stadium, because players "track the ball differently" than they do on a typical green field. "I think they ought to get rid of that blue turf. I think it's unfair," Long told reporters on an MWC teleconference, echoing hundreds of thousands of frustrated viewers who have unsuccessfully attempted to adjust their sets during BSU games over the last five years. Thankfully, no one told him what's going down at Central Arkansas. [Idaho Statesman]
? Meanwhile, back at the ranch. Boise State athletic director (and frequent BCS critic) Gene Bleymaier launched another salvo at the BCS during a Monday appearance at the City Club of Boise — and at university presidents for letting the Series exist in the first place. "It's truly amazing. The sport where the NCAA can generate the biggest revenue and they end up giving it away for free," Bleymaier said. "If the university presidents ever really truly understood what is happening, they would be in disbelief. The NCAA leadership over the past 30 years has been lulled to sleep while this transformation took place." For the record, the Supreme Court might have had a little something to do with the NCAA's hands-off approach, but the postseason certainly is the presidents' to give away. [Idaho Statesman]
? Make sure this man is protected. Harvey Updyke, aka "Al From Dadeville," the hardcore Alabama fan charged with poisoning Auburn's famous oak trees at Toomer's Corner earlier this year, is scheduled to appear in person in Lee County District Court today for his first public hearing after his "optimistic" attempts at a plea bargain were rejected by prosecutors. Updyke's attorney, Glennon Threat, said he expects "very little" to happen as the case is (almost certainly) bound over to a grand jury, and is contemplating filing a request for a new venue if it makes it to trial. "If we call 100 people [in Lee County] and ask how many attended Auburn, work at Auburn or have a close relative at Auburn, a lot of hands are going to go up," he said. [al.com]
? The NCAA once proposed allowing top players to take a $20,000 loan. Seriously. Among the Bylaw Blog's top 10 list of defeated NCAA legislation over the last decade is a 2003 proposal to allow elite athletes —i.e.� players with an obvious professional future who already qualify for the NCAA's disability insurance — to take out a loan up to $20,000 from a real bank. The legislation was never defeated by vote, but tabled and forgotten until a change in the governmental structure in 2008 effectively killed it. [Bylaw Blog]
? Paul Rhoades punches a giant cartoon moose. There's nothing really original here, but each and every one of the performances by Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoades, his wife Vicki and Cyclones Leonard Johnson and Ter'ran Benton deserves some kind of award:
Let's see that punch again … and again … and again … [Via Black Heart Gold Pants]
? And now, a final word from Bryant Gumbel. From the closing segment of last night's episode HBO's real sports:
"Finally tonight a few words about statutes and statues.� The fact that so many sports figures these days are running afoul of the former has me wondering why some are in such a hurry to erect the latter.
In case you've missed it, it seems southerners, in particular, have gone bronze bonkers of late.� In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, they've unveiled a statue of Nick Saban, after just 43 wins there.� In Gainesville, Florida they've unveiled a statue of their 23-year-old hero Tim Tebow and in Auburn there's one now planned for 21-year-old Cam Newton - even though he played all of one controversial and highly suspect season at their school.
It used to be you had to serve a lifetime and die for your country or some noble cause to be immortalized.� Now, it seems, all you have to do is generate some cheers and win a few football games for those who live and breathe for such things.� If nothing else, you'd think they'd wait at least awhile to see how events play out because recent sports history has taught us that yesterday's hero might quickly become tomorrow's outcast.
You'll recall that it wasn't that long ago that the trusting citizens of Cleveland might have considered a LeBron James statue, or those in the Bay Area were eager to immortalize Barry Bonds.� How stupid would a Roger Clemens monument look outside Fenway Park look right about now?� And how many Tiger Woods likenesses will ever see the light of day, even though they once seemed certain to dot golf's varied landscape?
Look, everyone's got the right to honor who they wish and how they want.� But as with everything else in these days of instant gratification, perspective and timing should count for something, shouldn't it?� I mean if someone's truly deserving of a lasting monument, what's the rush?
And that's our show for this evening.� For all the good folks here at Real Sports, I'm Bryant Gumbel, thanks so very much for being with us and good night."
Thank you, Bryant. [HBO Real Sports via press release]
Quickly… Lane Kiffin on why USC's spring game isn't on TV. (It won't be on the web, either.) … Someone associated with the NFL actually thinks Terrelle Pryor has a shot at quarterback. ... Lots of small rays of hope at Washington State's spring game, and one big one at wide receiver. … An in-depth Big Ten fashion report. … An Alabama beat writer takes his turn as an SEC ref, and vows to never yell at his television again. … The most interesting news in Tuesday's teleconference with Big 12 coaches is that Mack Brown wasn't there. … Finally, things are coming up Ramsen Golpashin. … No, Isaiah Crowell isn't on Twitter. … And Matt Barkley is getting a little tired of amateur hour out here.
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Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.
Bridget Moynahan Noureen DeWulf Nicollette Sheridan Amber Heard Veronica Kay
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