Conference Notes

Morning Dish



The Morning Dish – Friday, October 10th

No Thanks: Todd Turner, seven-year AD at Vanderbilt before school chancellor Gordon Gee eliminated the athletic department, has said ‘no thanks’ to a new position serving under Gee as the schools special assistant for athletic and academic reforms. Gee had absorbed the athletic department into the schools’ department that handles intramural athletics, placing the varsity sports program under direct control of the university administration, and was hoping for Turner’s support in the endeavor. Turner stated that the program would be hurt by being isolated administratively from its D-1 peers.

Howell Pleads: South Carolina senior center Rolando Howell pleaded no contest to domestic violence charges yesterday and faces 30-days in jail after an August arrest for battery against his live-in girlfriend at their apartment. Howell, who averaged 10 points and 6 rebounds per game last season, is still suspended, pending a review by head coach Dave Odom and school officials. Howell was ordered to pay a fine and complete a 26-week counseling program, after which his 30-day sentence will be suspended.

Bulldog Suspended: Fresno State sophomore guard Terry Pettis has been sentenced to three-years’ probation after pleading no contest to vandalism and battery charges in an attack on his girlfriend. Pettis, who averaged 8 points and 2 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs last season, will also be required to attend an anger management program for batterers after an incident two weeks ago where hit his girlfriend and damaged her apartment to the tune of $4,500. Pettis for now is still suspended indefinitely, and has a court date November 19th to prove that he attended the program. Fresno State opens the season November 21st.

Titan Sentenced: Cal State Fullerton’s junior guard Ralphy Holmes has been sentenced to 60 days in jail next summer. Holmes, the Titans’ leading scorer last season with almost 17 points and 6 rebounds per contest, pleaded guilty to auto theft, a charge that could have resulted in 16 months jail time. Last May, Holmes was charged with felony auto theft for taking a friend’s car and getting into an accident. Holmes will also have to pay for damages. Holmes already was suspended from the Titans for the first 18 games of the season, and may face expulsion from a university appeals board.

Bedden Out: South Alabama has announced that senior forward Malerick Bedden has been ruled academically ineligible for the first four games of the season. Bedden, a starter last season who averaged over 13 points and almost 5 rebounds per game, will miss games against Jackson State, Mississippi State, Alabama State, and West Alabama. He could return, assuming his grades are up, after the semester in time for the December 12th game at Georgia State.

Ol’ Reb Stays: Citing a lack of interest, Mississippi officials have aabandoned their search for a new mascot to replace the old Colonel Rebel. The Colonel Sanders sibling will continue to be the official logo on licensed merchandise, but the school will not have an on-field or on-court mascot. Only 2,400 students voted in the measure, which ended early due to lack of participation. The two school-proposed mascots were “Rebel Bruiser”, a younger, strapping version of the Colonel, and “Rowdy Rebel”, similar to Mr. Clean.

Hoosier Perks No More: Indiana has announced that athletic department employees will no longer receive free basketball tickets due to budget overruns. The perks, given to the 190 full-time employees annually, are valued at almost $800 for each ticket pair. The university said that the measure will add at least $120,000 in revenue to the department, whose employees can still purchase tickets at a discounted staff rate of $630 – 20% off. This year the Indiana athletic department ran nearly $1.6 million in the red.

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