Here’s the news for December 15, 2008 from the Double-A Zone, the official blog of the NCAA:

TOP POST

Economy, BCS generate discussion at intercollegiate athletics forum - Dec 15, 2008 | 14:03:47

posted by: Howard Smith

Last week, I attended the IMG Intercollegiate Athletics Forum in New York, where many of the big issues facing higher education and college sports were discussed. During the two-day conference, some of the most powerful people on college campuses shared their opinions, including college presidents and athletics directors. Frankly, it was fascinating to hear them speak in such an open and candid environment.

While there were numerous issues that deserved the focus of the discussions, the two issues that kept coming up over and over seemed to be the economy and the BCS situation. More>>

Minnesota Duluth wins Division II football title; heartbreak for Northwest Missouri State again - Dec 15, 2008 | 14:38:56

Minnesota Duluth beat Northwest Missouri State 21-14 on Saturday to claim the Division II football national championship. Minnesota Duluth raced out to a 21-0 lead, and was able to hold on for the victory to win its first ever football national title. This culminates a remarkable 15-0 year for Minnesota Duluth, especially when you consider the team's 4-6 record last season. On the flip side, its heartbreak yet again for Northwest Missouri State, which lost its fourth consecutive Division II national championship game.

Woodside's 60 points aren't enough for North Dakota State - Dec 15, 2008 | 14:08:40

North Dakota State's Ben Woodside scored 60 points in Friday night's basketball game against Stephen F. Austin, although his team came up on the wrong end of a 112-111 triple overtime classic. Woodside did much of his work from the free throw line, where he was 30-for-35. His 30 made free throws tied a NCAA-single game record with a Pete Maravich performance during his LSU days in 1969.

Familiar foes to clash for Division III football crown - Dec 15, 2008 | 13:39:13

For the fourth consecutive year, the Division III football playoffs are ending with the same two powerhouse squads squaring off in the Stagg Bowl in Salem, Virginia - Mount Union and Wisconsin-Whitewater. In this weekend's semifinals, Mount Union took care of Wheaton, 45-24, while Whitewater rolled past Mary Hardin-Baylor, 39-13. Whitewater will look to win its second consecutive crown on Saturday after its upset win over Mount Union in last year's title game. Mount Union is seeking its third title in the last four years, and sixth championship since 2000.

Terps defeat ACC rival North Carolina in men's College Cup - Dec 15, 2008 | 13:01:47

Entering the College Cup, men's soccer version of the Final Four, there was a good chance one of the three ACC squads would claim the national title considering three of the four participants were from the conference. After Maryland's victory over St. John's in the semifinals, it setup an all-ACC final between the Terps and Tar Heels (UNC defeated top-ranked Wake Forest in the semis).

The title game was closely contested throughout. A 66th minute goal by Maryland's Graham Zusi gave the Terps the 1-0 advantage and served as the game's only score. This is Maryland's third national championship in program history, and second in the last four seasons.

Underdogs Grizzlies, Spiders reach FCS championship game - Dec 15, 2008 | 11:39:40

Montana and Richmond both went on the road and defeated higher ranked opponents in this weekend's Division I FCS football semifinals. On Friday night, Montana upset No. 1 ranked James Madison, 35-27. Richmond pulled off a similar feat in come-from-behind fashion to stun Northern Iowa, 21-20, on Saturday afternoon. Now the two semifinal underdogs will meet this Friday night on a neutral field in Chattanooga to decide the national champion. If this game is anything like the first three rounds in the 16-team playoff bracket, it will be a thrilling game.

Harrell, Leach tour White House - Dec 15, 2008 | 11:01:32

Graham Harrell and Texas Tech coach Mike Leach got a private tour of the White House on Saturday morning and a 20-minute meeting with President George W. Bush after lunch. Two Tech graduates on the White House staff issued the invitation. Harrell and Leach were in Baltimore, Maryland for the presentation of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award to the nation's top senior quarterback.

Chance of a lifetime for former college goalie - Dec 15, 2008 | 9:33:11

Brett Leonhardt's day job is Web site producer for the Washington Capitals. Friday night, he got the chance of a lifetime. The 6-foot-7 former college goalie dressed as the Capital's backup goalie against the Senators because of an injury to the team's regular backup goalie.

Leonhardt is a former Division III goalie at Oswego State and Neumann College who has worked for the Capitals for about a year. The 26-year-old signed an amateur tryout contract after backup Jose Theodore injured a hip flexor during the morning skate. If Leonhardt had played, he would have tied the St. Louis' Ben Bishop as the tallest goalie ever to see action in an NHL game.

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