Report: Texas A&M informs Big 12 it's leaving

The New York Times is reporting Texas A&M has notified the Big 12 it will withdraw from the conference.
 The newspaper reported on its website Monday night that Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin sent a letter to Missouri Chancellor and Big 12 board chairman Brady Deaton to inform the league it was leaving.
The New York Times story cited two unidentified college officials with direct knowledge of the decision.
Texas A&M's departure would cast doubt on the future of the Big 12 and could lead to more major changes to college athletics.
Earlier in the day, Texas A&M received a letter from Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe outlining the withdrawal procedure should the Aggies decide to leave the league.
University spokesman Jason Cook Wholesale nfl jerseys said the letter "outlines the withdrawal procedures according to the financial provisions of the Big 12 bylaws and mutual waivers of legal claims."
Cook wouldn't provide any other details of the letter or comment on what A&M's next step might be.
The Aggies are interested in joining the Southeastern Conference and the letter comes less than a week after they formally told Beebe they are exploring their options and asked for the conference to outline the process if they decide to leave. The league's board of directors addressed the possible departure of the Aggies this weekend.
"I certainly appreciate the discussion among the Big 12 presidents/chancellors and the expression of their desire for Texas A&M to remain in the conference," Loftin said in a statement. "We all agree that Texas A&M is an extremely valuable institution; thus, it is incumbent upon me, as the president of the university, to ensure that we are in a position to enhance our national visibility and future financial opportunity."
Loftin added this is a "complex and long-term decision," but "it is not our intent to prolong our conference exploration for an extended period of time."
The SEC said earlier this month it was happy with its current 12-school membership but left the door open to expansion. Loftin then received authority from the board of regents to take any action he deems necessary in terms of realignment.
There is concern that a departure by the Aggies could jeopardize the future of the Big 12, which is down to 10 teams after Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-12) left the league last July. Loftin has said the Aggies would consider nfl jerseys wholesale how their departure would impact the future of Big 12 before any decision is made.
The Big 12 would need to find a team to replace the Aggies if they exit the conference and there has been a lot of speculation about possible schools. So far, the only school to publicly express interest in moving to the Big 12 is SMU. Athletics director Steve Orsini said he's had informal talks with Big 12 officials for some time to inform them of the school's improvements and growth.
In the letter Loftin sent to the Big 12 last week, he said if the Aggies leave, they would want to do it in a manner that complies with league bylaws. He also has said financial concerns will factor into any decision to leave; the school likely would face an exit fee.
The Big 12, including Texas A&M, agreed to a 13-year television deal with Fox Sports in April worth more than $1 billion. There is a chance the contract could be voided if the Aggies leave the conference, which could lead to legal issues for Texas A&M and its new league.
The Big 12 declined to comment on Monday's letter.

Miami president says 15 Hurricanes players are being investigated

The probe into Miami athletics is growing, with the university looking into the eligibility of 15 athletes who may have accepted improper benefits from a rogue booster.

Miami President Donna Shalala did not reveal any names of the players under investigation as she released a video statement Monday. The booster, convicted Ponzi scheme architect Nevin Shapiro, told Yahoo Sports for an article published last week that 12 current football players and one men's basketball player got money, gifts and other items from him.

“We cannot let the actions of some define the many,” Shalala said.

The football players who were named by Shapiro in interviews with Yahoo Sports are Jacory Harris, Vaughn Telemaque, Ray Ray Armstrong, Travis Benjamin, Aldarius Johnson, Marcus Forston, Olivier Vernon, Marcus Robinson, Adewale Ojomo, Dyron Dye, JoJo Nicholas and Sean Spence. Shapiro also alleged to Yahoo Sports that he paid US$10,000 to ensure that basketball player DeQuan Jones signed with the Hurricanes.

Most, if not all, the current football players Shapiro named would likely be major contributors if they get to take the field.

Citing the ongoing investigation, school officials would not say Monday if any of those players have been cleared to play, or who the additional names linked to the investigation are.

“The Miami athletic compliance staff, in a joint effort with the NCAA, is now beginning the process of reviewing the eligibility of 15 current student-athletes,” Shalala said. “With the season fast approaching I know our players, coaches and fans are eager to know the results. The process, however, must be deliberate and thorough to ensure its integrity.”

The university wants to decide the status of the football players by the end of this week. Football coach Al Golden is planning to release a depth chart in the coming days for the Sept. 5 opener at Maryland, a process that would become very difficult if players like Harris, Spence, Forston, Telemaque, Armstrong and Benjamin — some of the team's on-field leaders — are ineligible.

“We will move forward,” Golden said Saturday.

If Miami uses any player later deemed ineligible by the NCAA, then the Hurricanes run the risk of having to retroactively vacate games. If the Hurricanes sit the players implicated in the scandal, then their chances of winning now figure to take a serious hit.

Miami's football team held a closed scrimmage Monday, which Golden said would be the final audition of sorts for players trying to make the 60-person travel roster to Maryland.

Golden and other members of the football NFL Jerseys Cheap program will be unavailable for comment until Thursday, school officials said.

For much of the past few days, Shalala has tried to keep some sense of normalcy.

Miami's freshman class arrived on campus last week, and Shalala mingled with many of them at a women's soccer game Friday night. On Sunday, she hosted a picnic at her home for new students, although she also met with senior staff throughout the weekend about the status of the investigation. Some football players popped into another women's soccer game Sunday night, getting words of encouragement from some longtime Miami supporters.

“The past eight days have been difficult. ... However, I'm heartened by the kind of displays of support in recent days, phone calls, text messages, emails and letters from so many of you,” Shalala said. “When our values are called into question, as they have been this past week, we have only one option: Do what is right and have the confidence in tomorrow. We will not let others define us.”

Five months ago, NCAA officials began investigating claims that Shapiro, who is now serving a 20-year prison sentence for masterminding a $930 million scam, provided 72 football players — 65 of whom suited up for the Hurricanes — with cars, money, gifts and even prostitutes between 2002 and 2010. Shapiro's claims also implicate 10 Miami football and basketball coaches, none of whom are still employed by the university.

Shalala says Miami has retained attorneys who specialize in NCAA investigations to assist with the process.

“We have been open and co-operative with investigators,” Shalala said.

Shalala has not been available for interviews, outside of one given last week to Miami's student newspaper. Her video message lasted just a bit under six minutes.

“The NCAA has instructed us not to comment on specific details of the investigation,” Shalala said. “It's frustrating for us — for me — to be unable to speak more freely or to answer questions. However we must protect the integrity of the investigation and have patience as the work proceeds.”

Miami has joined a growing list of schools with major football programs to be investigated by the NCAA for rule-breaking in the past 18 months. Others include Southern California, Ohio State, Auburn, Oregon, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia Tech and LSU.

Federal officials said Shapiro, 42, remained imprisoned Monday at a facility in Tallahassee, Fla. His attorney has said Shapiro is in the process of being transferred to another prison, possibly one in South Florida, and that his transit is expected to be completed within days.

Rodman always on the rebound

The numerous tattoos, piercings and entourage were expected. What else to expect from Dennis Rodman’s trip to the Naismith Hall of Fame? Flamboyance is normal for Rodman.

Perhaps his goal was to overshadow his career accomplishments, or obscure the insecurities of the poor kid from Dallas who turned himself into one of sports biggest personalities, setting a trail for professional athletes who determine their own brand.

Last night, donning a black-glittered sweatsuit with Pistons and Bulls spelled on the back, Rodman held back tears during his 11-minute acceptance speech, finally attempting to make amends with his estranged mother, Shirley, who was in the audience.

It was a brilliant admission by someone who became a trailblazer in determining his fate, however adversely it affected his career. Although his appearance, off-the-court antics, and bizarre on-court behavior often blurred his impact as a remarkable rebounder and team player, Rodman did not apologize for his actions until last night.

What he proved during his 14-year NBA career with the Pistons, Spurs, Bulls, Lakers, and Mavericks was that an athlete could seize control of his image. While Michael Jordan cherished and protected his image almost obsessively, Rodman was a champion for self-expression, regardless of how it tarnished his public persona.

So why should he care now? Because deliberation and contemplation are the themes for every Hall of Famer this weekend in Springfield. The great ones consider what they could have done better, and Rodman is a great one. He outworked his opponents on the boards, leading the league in rebounding a whopping seven times, including three seasons of averaging 17 or more.

Rodman averaged in double figures in scoring just once in his career - his second season with Detroit - but he’s in Springfield because of hustle and sacrifice.

At 50, Rodman realizes his impact on the game, but he also understands how his selfishness and self-indulgence affected his family. The exhibitionism came at a cost. The expression was painful and has lasted into life after basketball, where he has endured troubles and demons.

But he seems willing to accept his detractors, because basketball, in the end, was his focus.

“I never imagined to be here,’’ Rodman said. “If you would have told me this 15 years ago, I would have told you I never knew what this was. It’s hard to be an entertainer and athlete and be a smart basketball player at the same time. As you can see, some guys try to do it but they don’t know how to put the game of basketball first. That’s one thing I did. Entertainment could come at any time of the ballgame.

“Thankful for me I went to Chicago, and they let me be the person I wanted to be. Everywhere I go around the world, you catch 8-, 9-year-old kids saying ‘Oh my God, I love you, I love you’ and [they’ve] never seen me play. You don’t know who I am. I haven’t had a job in 15 years, but I am relevant around the world. And I’m still being an integral part of people’s lives. I respected the game of basketball and that’s why I think I am here.’’

And NBA observers who judged Rodman’s every drop of dye, every ink of tattoo, and every marriage ceremony, acknowledged his greatness in spite of his strangeness. So that’s why he is here. He has spent the weekend respecting the Hall, mostly avoiding his brutal and sometimes painful honesty.

“I have one regret about playing basketball and being an athlete,’’ said Rodman, who has three children. “Being a father, a regret. That’s about it. Basketball, I would never change anything but off the court, it’s a whole different ballgame, bro. I would be there [with my kids] instead of being selfish. Instead of being the clown, the jester, the look-at-me-now type of person. If I would have took a few more days to understand what it was like to be a well-grounded and great human being instead of a great athlete, I think I would probably be a better person.’’

Rodman said he wanted his 10-year-old son D.J. to present him last night, and his second choice was Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder, but he accepted Phil Jackson after the Hall of Fame committee made the decision. D.J. and Rodman’s daughter Trinity walked with their father down the aisle as he was introduced, and D.J. sported dad’s cowboy hat.

“I’m not going to live forever, I need to decide if I need to balance my life out with the party life or the scene or the other stuff in my life, or live my life and try to keep my family together and look at my kids be happy and grow up,’’ Rodman said.

“I don’t need the Hall of Fame to hold a major press conference to tell people how [bad off] I was. I don’t need this. This is to let people know I’m not just an entertainer. But to let people know I do have a family. I do have some cool kids. I do have a wife that’s living. I do have a mother that’s living. I have good, caring people that’s been through thick and thin with me and had my back.’’

Rodman seemingly had gotten so much out of this trip to Springfield.