Texas U to Launch Own 24/7 Sports Network

Critics say investing in flashy, athletes-only centers is unfair to other students

(NEWSER) - Resentment is building as college athletic tutoring centers nationwide get bigger and flashier, the Chicago Tribune reports. Critics say that the multi-million-dollar, athletes-only centers should be open to all. Some suggest that, since the centers are generally funded and run by the athletic department, they create a conflict of interest; a number have been accused of giving athletes a bit too much of a helping hand with homework. More»

Fuzzy aesthetics gone awry, coming to a field near you this weekend

(NEWSER) - Granted, managing to create a college mascot whose gigantic foam appendages perfectly straddle the line between ridiculous and comically appropriate is no easy task. That said, the folks at Radar magazine didn't have to dig too deep to discover a batch who utterly obliterate the line. The worst offenders:

• Evergreen State's Geoduck: Essentially a Pavarotti-esque taco sandwiched around a green glob with human arms.

Programs with poor graduation rates face sanctions

(NEWSER) - The NCAA has handed out sanctions to more than 200 college teams for poor academic performance, USA Today reports. More than a third of the 329 Division I schools had teams with subpar Academic Progress Rates, which means their players' graduation rate was lower than 60%. Twenty-six teams deemed chronic underperformers still face reductions in practice time and scholarship awards. More»

Big winners in college sports see increased applicants, study finds

(NEWSER) - The admissions office at Davidson may be a bit busier in the coming year if a new study to be published in Southern Economic Journal holds true. Researchers found that the biggest champs in football and basketball were also the biggest winners in terms of student applications the next year, writes LiveScience. More»

Tigers had chip on their shoulder after BCS snub

(NEWSER) - The Missouri Tigers, ranked No. 1 at one point this season, were left out of the BCS bowl picture altogether and didn't forget it Tuesday, posting a 38-7 Cotton Bowl win over Arkansas, reports the Kansas City Star. Missouri's Tony Temple had records of 281 yards rushing and four touchdowns. "Games like this...you can't dream about it," he said. More»