What a sweet deal for the SEC...the rich schools get richer....forget about the fact that most of the states in the SEC are the country's poorest...

Here's the link....(you can read the rest of the article by clicking here)

Sorry, Big Ten fans, but the SEC has trumped your conference yet again. This time, though, it didn't happen at a BCS bowl game. This time, SEC teams are invading the Big Ten's own turf -- and storming Big 12, Pac-10 and ACC country while they're at it.

This fall, the conference that's captured the past three national championships will begin an unprecedented assault on our nation's television sets. The 2009 season marks the beginning of a new 15-year, $2.25 billion contract with ESPN, which coincides with a 15-year, $825 million deal with CBS. At the SEC's preseason Media Days in Hoover, Ala., this week, league and ESPN officials unveiled the details of their new arrangement, and this much is clear: Whether you're in Alabama or Arizona, Michigan or Mississippi, you're about experience a deluge of SEC football.

Over the first four days of the season alone (Thursday-Monday, Sept. 3-6), seven games featuring SEC teams will air on either ABC (Alabama-Virginia Tech and Georgia-Oklahoma State), ESPN (LSU-Washington and Ole Miss-Memphis) or ESPNU (Kentucky-Miami Ohio, Mississippi State-Jackson State and Auburn-Louisiana Tech). In most cases, a customized "SEC ESPN" on-screen logo will not so subtly remind fans which conference they're watching.

But that's just the start. As part of the deal, ESPN also picked up rights to the syndicated league games previously held by Raycom, most notably the old Jefferson Pilot Game of the Week that traditionally aired at 12:30 p.m. ET on local affiliates across the South. In the past, SEC alums living outside the region needed a satellite package to view those games.
MANDEL: TV deal details, by conference

However, ESPN Regional Television has launched a new syndicated package that will place those games in a reported 58 percent of homes across the country, including major markets such as Los Angeles, Washington, Dallas, Detroit and Philadelphia. Even Columbus, Ohio, signed on. The first such contest, Tennessee versus Western Kentucky on Sept. 5, will be available in nearly twice as many homes nationally (66 million) as the Penn State-Akron game being aired in the same noon ET time slot on the Big Ten Network (35 million). The ESPNU games will reach 45 million homes.

Do you guys think the SEC has too much of a competitive advantage when it comes to TV deals and distribution?

Typical BN..."Hey, cal is good because they lowered they standards, and we have sucked the last 10 years because we are 2nd to Stanford academically"  According to who (Nestor?)....BNers are in so much denial....If UCLA keeps it up...they might win an Emerald Bowl in say 2020...'cause they haven't done anything this millenium.

They went after DeSean, they went after Beast...don't blame other schools for your lack of achievement...blame yourself.  I love Neweisel complaining about high standards...he's making excuses after only one year!  Watching a game with a Bruin is like getting teeth pulled without the fun gas...the "full UCLA experience"...westwoodhaters.

http://www.bruinsnation.com/2009/4/9/827568/bruinsnation-sits-down-with-coach

BN:  UCLA is clearly an elite academic institution, but one of the draw-backs of that is the standards for admittance here for recruits are a little bit higher than you would have at the NCAA minimum.  In comparison to some of the other Pac-10 schools, whether they be SC or Cal, how difficult is it to get recruits into UCLA academically?

CRN:  It’s difficult.  The whole theory behind admissions at UCLA is they don’t want to bring kids in here that don’t have a chance to succeed.  There are 60,000 applicants to UCLA on an annual basis, more than any other school in the country.  As we look outside here [gesturing towards office window], it’s absolutely pristine.  It’s a wonderful place to go to school.  So, while we aren’t able to go and offer everybody that we would like to based on their ability to play the game, there are enough kids out there that can come and do both, compete in both arenas and, at the end of the day, really benefit from that competition in both arenas.  Our admissions people have been willing to allow us to tab kids that are special, that can really add to our program, as long as we and they believe that they’ll come in here and really work at the academic side.  Not just come in there and give it that cursory treatment.  Because, that ends up in failure for all.  So, it’s fine line, it’s a working relationships, but it’s one that I’m comfortable with because here in the City of Los Angeles, where there’s a huge population base, we can still find the best and brightest and find ways to compete against the teams in this league. 

BN:  Do you know where the standards for admission are here compared to a place like Cal up in Berkeley? 

CRN:   Well, Cal has some advantages over us in that there are other majors that kids can get into at the University of California.  I’m not sure I have all of it correctly down to give you more detail, but I do know that they are allowed to take a few more players than we are.  And that always raises the hair on the back the necks of Bruin football fans because [they ask] "why, if we’re in the same system, can they get more players than we can?"  "Why can..."; who was the great wide receiver from Long Beach Poly that was…?
    
BN:  DeSean Jackson?
    
CRN:  Yeah, "why can DeSean Jackson get into Cal, and not UCLA?"  "Why can Marshawn Lynch get into Cal, and not UCLA?"  Those are great questions [from Bruin fans].  But, I trust that we’re working towards having equality with Cal, and I want the admissions people at UCLA to trust that we understand our mission is not just to win football games, but to make sure the kids get the full UCLA experience.

check this out.  The usual suspects (USC, Florida,) are swimming in football talent.  Nothing new there...but check out some of the numbers.  Cal obviously doesn't have to go around as much as say, WSU, to get talent.  But look how many live within 200 miles of campus, how many are in-state.  And how UCLA is so close to all the great players but they still stuck...etc.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/andy_staples/01/20/recruiting/index.html?eref=T1

I love this.  UCLA is trying to make excuses for their suckiness by comparing their 'standards' to Stanford and Notre Dame.  They might be on to something though, because Stanford, Nortre Dame, and UCLA all suck in football....

Flagged an interesting article in the OC Register from yesterday re. academic requirements for Stanford and UCLA football programs:

Stanford has the highest academic standards for athletes of any major school in the nation, but few people realize that UCLA just might rank in the top three most stringent, along with Notre Dame.

"I think it's probably a little under the radar for most folks," UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel said. "What's unique is that even within the UC system, there are different standards."

Neuheisel, of course, is referring to Cal, which has admitted far more academically marginal players in recent seasons than UCLA has. Tailback Marshawn Lynch and receiver DeSean Jackson, now both NFL starters, expressed interest in playing for the Bruins, but couldn't qualify.

Cal isn't the only school that has absorbed players who couldn't cut it at UCLA. The nation's No. 1 prep tailback last February, Darrell Scott, wanted to be a Bruin, but didn't have the scores. He now plays for Colorado.

"I talk to a lot of guys who are like, 'Oh man, I want to be a Bruin, but I can't get in,'" said UCLA defensive tackle Brigham Harwell, who had to retake the SAT in order to qualify despite a 3.1 grade-point average. "I'm talking about big-time players. I can give you a whole list, but I don't want to put that in the paper. Getting in here is hard, really hard."

The challenge for UCLA is doubled. Not only does it have a smaller recruiting pool than most Pac-10 schools, but most weeks it has to line up against players who wanted to be on their side.

Neuheisel now has to figure out a way to overcome a major recruiting disadvantage, something Karl Dorrell couldn't quite master.

"It's a challenge, because it diminishes the pool, but it's not a deal breaker," Neuheisel said. "First, UCLA has always given opportunities to the hard-working kids, so there will be some guys we can get into school that maybe otherwise wouldn't be eligible. No. 2, we've just got to do a great job of recruiting those kids who have the resumes to be excellent in both."

We're big on recycling here.  No throwing out of FanPosts, just reuse them for DBDs.

But more importantly than that, TEDFORD SPEAKS:

July 29, 2008
Welcome back to my blog; I apologize for taking some time to make an update since I last wrote in June. However, it has been a good summer that has given me a chance to recharge and get ready to go for an exciting 2008 season.

While I never strayed far from football, the highlight of my summer was my first trip to Europe with my family. We took a 10-day cruise to many different places and in addition to it being a very relaxing trip, it was very educational. I think a cruise is definitely the way to go. My wife, Donna, sons, Taylor and Quinn, and I flew from here to New York and then on to Barcelona. From there, we were on a cruise ship, visiting different cities every day. We took a tour with an excellent and knowledgeable guide during the day, re-boarded the ship, and when we woke up in the morning, we were in the next city. We spent time in Barcelona, France and Italy. We saw the Roman Colosseum, the Vatican, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and so many other amazing sites. The guide was able to inform us and give us of all the information about the history of these places. The Colosseum, St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel were probably the most memorable stops for me, but the best thing was being able to spend time with my family.

Before and after my trip, I have spent plenty of time here in the office, working with my staff to get ready for this season as well as talking with our players. From all indications, as they wind down the summer program, there has been a strong investment through quality work and building camaraderie. Each season brings new challenges and new opportunities, and everyone is very excited about the upcoming season. I'm really looking forward to the team reporting to camp - the guys come back on Sunday, Aug. 3, and we have our first practice on Monday. Everybody associated with this program is looking forward to returning to the field and back to football. This is my favorite time of year; the time when I can get reacquainted with the players and get back to coaching football.

The event that really seems to kick off the new football season every year is Pac-10 Media Day, which was last week in Los Angeles. It's the event that gets the excitement and the anxiety flowing as everybody comes together to talk about the upcoming season. All of the coaches from the league gather to talk about new rules and to conduct interviews with reporters from around the country, including print, radio and television reporters. Alex Mack was our representative and did a great job with everything. Most people don't understand what a grueling event this can be for a young man - Alex handled over four hours of non-stop interviews, talking on the phone live to radio shows, meeting with newspaper reporters, doing interviews with ESPN and Versus for this year's TV broadcasts and on and on. He was a tremendous representative of not just his teammates and Cal Football but the entire University of California.

After Pac-10 Media Day, we were off to the Bay Area Media Luncheon this week in San Francisco. The event was a little different this year with the Emerald Bowl putting on a luncheon in addition to the media interviews, which added to the excitement. We took Worrell Williams, Zack Follett and Alex to that event and again, all three did a great job representing our program.

It's been interesting this year as I could predict the three main questions from nearly every reporter: What happened last year? Who's going to be our quarterback? And what's happening with the people in the trees?

We are in great shape at quarterback; we feel very fortunate to have two very quality guys in Nate Longshore and Kevin Riley who have both proven they can win. And Brock Mansion is a freshman who gives us depth as good as anyone's in the country. It will be very competitive throughout camp and we feel very good about the situation, but who will take the first step is still undetermined. One reporter at media day pointed out that only two quarterbacks in the Pac-10 started every game last year, so you can see how valuable depth is at that position.

As far as the people in the trees, we are very encouraged by the recent news and recent rulings. I am really looking forward to a new facility that will benefit our entire athletic department and the student-athletes, both men and women, in the program. The light at the end of the tunnel has become brighter as we move forward, and it will be great to get past the distraction and nuisance that as been caused by the people in the trees.

Our staff and players have all analyzed last year over and over, and I know everybody has searched to put their arms around the disappointment of 2007. But it's time to focus on 2008 so this is the last time I'm going to touch on last year's experience; our focus is this year's team. There is no definitive answer for what happened. Football is a team game and everybody that is part of this program, coaches and players, has shouldered responsibility. There are so many variables involved, they can be statistical, mental, emotional or physical, but the fact is, lessons are learned from each one of those factors. We are very excited to use these lessons to move forward and we feel great about our progress, our vision and the new season which is upon us.

I want all of our fans to be part of this new season and I hope we create the same environment for Michigan State that we had last year against Tennessee. So make your plans now to come to Berkeley on Aug. 30 and support the Bears. And don't forget the entire schedule; we have three of the top four teams in the Pac-10 preseason poll coming to town along with Michigan State, Colorado State and a couple of teams against whom we'll be looking for revenge - Stanford and Washington. So call 1-800-GO-BEARS or visit www.CalBears.com and buy your season tickets now. Don't forget, Every Game Counts! See you on Aug. 30 and Go Bears!

 

I wonder which intern has this job and if I can apply for it??????

Okanes has a bunch more updates on:

SAHPC 20 day stay

Ted Miller's rankings of Pac10 LBs

Donovan Edwards, the new OL recruit that was the original focus of this FanPost.

Impressions on the 3-4 changeover. 

Merc Article on opening of camp.  And more quick hitter info on camp from Wilner. 

Here's a photo of Ryan Anderson I found on an European website:

via d.yimg.com

The bitter ones at BN are claiming it must've been grades...no talk of that here in the CC Times:

Cal has added to its offensive line depth for the upcoming season by securing an oral commitment from Diablo Valley College product Donovan Edwards.
Edwards, who played at Pinole Valley High School, committed to UCLA last month. But he took a recruiting trip to Cal last weekend, was offered a scholarship and he changed his mind.

Ok, there you go.  Saving the planet one Daily Bear Dump at a time!  Dump away!  GO BEARS!