Video: 'We're modern day gladiators, playing football in Death Valley'
Very well done video here on the game day environment and "The Hill" entrance at Clemson, regarded as one of the top entrances in all of college football.
Dabo Swinney weighs in on the overall atmosphere and traditions on game day, and current and former players talk about what it's like to play in Death Valley. Star quarterback Tahj Boyd puts it all in perspective for recruits by saying, "I look at it as if we're almost modern day gladiators, playing football in Death Valley."
That quote, along with the way the cameras capture players getting off the bus and walking down the hill to enter the field is going to really impress recruits.
It's no wonder Brent Musberger called the entrance "the most exciting 25 seconds in college football".
This is another well done video by the people at Bluechip Media Group.
Video: Indiana's got a surprise up their sleeve
We're not quite sure what Indiana is keeping under wraps, but it looks like they may be taking a page out of Arizona and Cal's book of uniform teasers.
Take a look at the video below and judge for yourself. Is Indiana using their football legends in this video to tease a new uniform combination or maybe an alternate uni? We'll keep you posted.
Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Tulsa band together for tornado relief
The terrible devestation brought by Monday's tornado has brought three long-time competitors on to the same team. To raise money for the state's relief effort, the Sooners, Cowboys and Golden Hurricane have partnered to create an "OK Together" t-shirt. The short sleeve version sells for $19.95, and the long sleeve goes for $24.95, with proceeds going to the United Way. Shirts may be purchased at any of the schools' online stores; here's a link to the Tulsa store.
The Big 12 Conference has also provided a $200,000 donation to the relief efforts.
Southern Miss wants you to choose their gold helmets
Southern Miss needs your help. The Golden Eagles know they're going to add a gold helmet to their traditional black lids this season, but they're not sure which one. This is where you come in.
Beginning yesterday and running through next Friday, May 31, Southern Miss is offering up four options and asking the Internet to pick which one they like best. The school isn't offering details about when the winning helmet will be worn just yet, only that it will be used in addition to the black helmets.
So, which one will it be?
Option 1:
Option 2:
Option 3:
Option 4:
Check out Oklahoma State's 2013 hype video
This video from Oklahoma State, hyping up the start of the 2013 season needs no spoken words to portray the excitement in Stillwater.
Instead, the lyrics to the Oklahoma State alma mater flash across the screen and get mixed in with some highlights that will get your blood pumping.
Toledo is looking to tap kegs for games in 2013
Toledo is the latest school to explore the sale of beer and wine at home football and basketball games, according to the Toledo Blade.
School officials will meet over the next few weeks to discuss the new revenue stream, and weigh all the options. If approved, alcohol sales would be ready for their September 14th home opener against Eastern Washington.
While 22 other stadiums currently sell beer and wine to their general admission fan base, Toledo would be the just the 12th on campus FBS stadium to do so. Conference foes Bowling Green, Akron, and Kent State already sell alcohol at home games. In fact, Kent State charges just $2 a beer in an effort to pack the stands.
Making the decision to actually sell beer at games means a lot of logistics have to be ironed out, such as increased security and what point to cut off sales during the tail end of a game. However, more and more schools are willing to explore the idea in an effort to get fans out from in from in front of their HDTV's and into the stands.
A final decision is expected to be made within the next two weeks.
Extreme Makeover: Football Edition - Take a tour of Arizona's new facility
Earlier this week we wrote about how beneficial a good commissioner can be to a conference, and specifically the positive effect Larry Scott has had on Pac-12 football. Case in point: the new Lowell-Stevens Football Facility, currently under construction at Arizona.
The $72 million facility is scheduled for a July move-in date, and Arizona athletic director Greg Byrne and head coach Rich Rodriguez on Wednesday provided a tour of the Wildcats' new den. With the skills these two show as tour guides, we're seeing the potential for the next great home improvement reality show. Extreme Makover: Football Edition, anyone?
Rutgers AD: 'If you've never coached, you set yourself up to not understand what your coaches do for a living'
You have to feel for Kyle Flood a little bit. While the Mike Rice imbroglio caught fire nationally, Flood sat quietly inside inside the Hale Center, looking to build upon his 9-4 debut season. And when athletic director Tim Pernetti ultimately followed Rice out the door, Flood lost an otherwise respected voice inside the athletic department and, most importantly, the boss who hired him.
Pernetti's replacement was finally hired last week - Julie Hermann, a long-time lieutenant under athletic director Tom Jurich at Big East bunk-mate Louisville. Though it's never ideal for a coach to work under a boss that wasn't around when he got the job, especially entering year two of his tenure, Hermann has said the right things so far. Though, with only one week on the job, she's hardly had the chance to do otherwise.
“My entire focus is on surrounding him [with what he needs] and making sure he doesn’t feel like everything is strapped on his back," Hermann told ESPN.com. "I think a lot of football coaches feel like the entire athletic department is strapped on their backs, and that’s not fair. So wherever he needs me to focus, that goes to the top of my list.”
A former coach herself, Hermann thinks her experience on the sidelines will help her relate with all whistle-wearers at Rutgers.
"While every sport is very different -- that's one of first things you learn -- managing coaches is pretty consistent," Hermann said. "I'm very thankful to have been a head coach at the Division I level, because that actually helps me speak coach. I would never consider doing this job had I not been a Division I head coach, because I think it's really easy to say the wrong things to your coaches. I see a lot of guys who played college football, but they never coached it. And I think if you've never coached, you set yourself up to not understand what your coaches do for a living. ... And that's what I'll take to Rutgers for all of my coaches including Kyle Flood, whom I think is fantastic."
Read Hermann's full Q&A here.
