Oklahoma to Erase 2005 Season

West Virginia overcomes coach's departure for 48-28 win

(NEWSER) - University of Phoenix stadium has become a house of horrors for No. 3 Oklahoma, which yesterday lost its second straight Fiesta Bowl there, 48-28, to West Virginia. Pat White rushed for 150 yards and threw for 176 yards and two scores for the Mountaineers, who put aside the distraction surrounding the departure of coach Rich Rodriguez, reports AP. More»

They, plus 4 others, must repay value of illicit benefits

(NEWSER) - In the wake of the University of Miami booster scandal , eight football players have been suspended by the NCAA for accepting illicit benefits from Nevin Shapiro. All of them must also repay the value of those benefits, ranging from $140 for quarterback Jacory Harris to $1,200 for defensive starter Olivier Vernon, who also received the harshest penalty with a six-game suspension. Five other players, including the quarterback, must miss Monday’s opening game before returning, while the remaining two will miss four games. More»

Philosophy professor led sports powerhouse after firing Bob Knight at Indiana U.

(NEWSER) - Myles Brand, the first academic in 50 years to head the National Collegiate Athletic Association and perhaps best known as the man who, as president of Indiana University, fired legendary basketball coach Bob Knight, died today of pancreatic cancer; he was 67, the New York Times reports. The former philosophy professor spearheaded academic reform, instituting a system under which universities are penalized if student-athletes don’t meet certain standards. More»

(NEWSER) - The Ivy League has a reputation for excellence in all things, but the consignment of its sports programs—particularly the more visible ones like football and basketball—to college athletics’ second tier has alumni clamoring for change, the Wall Street Journal reports. Academic standards limit the pool of top student-athletes for the eight Ivy schools; the football teams can’t play in the postseason, nixing their title chances. More»

Sam Bradford picks another year with Sooners over NFL draft

(NEWSER) - Sooner sophomore Sam Bradford is skipping the NFL draft for at least another year of college football, reports the Oklahoman. The Heisman-winning quarterback, expected to have been a first-round pick, said his dream has always been to play for the University of Oklahama, and he sees no reason to cut the experience short—especially without a championship win under his belt. More»