8th Gator in 7 Months Runs Afoul of Law

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»

Coaches Meyer, Saban have deep ties to Patriots guru

(NEWSER) - Though he won’t be on the sidelines again until tomorrow, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick holds the common thread in today’s matchup between college football’s top-ranked. Urban Meyer and No. 1 Florida meet Nick Saban and No. 2 Alabama—both unbeaten—for the Southeastern Conference title and a spot in the national championship game, and the men share not only Belichick’s genius tag, but also deep personal and professional relationships. 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»

(AP) - Tim Tebow gave Florida the second-half jolt it needed, and the Gators toughed out a second BCS title in three years. Their 24-14 win over No. 2 Oklahoma in a choppy, sloppy affair made them national champions. The high-scoring shootout between Heisman Trophy winners never materialized. Oklahoma's Sam Bradford couldn't score from in close and Tebow threw two interceptions, as many as he had all season. More»