• With the cost of running an athletics department rising, many schools are turning to their student body for extra revenue. San Diego State, for instance, has proposed an activities fee increase from $190 to $350 a year for every student. This $160 annual increase would generate an extra $4.5 million for the athletics department, which it plans to use to add women’s lacrosse and sand volleyball. At Western Kentucky, the football team moved from Division I FCS to FBS this year, which requires a football budget increase from $2 million to $4.6 million. To help pay for this jump, the school added a $70 student athletic fee.

Should students be forced to pay fee increases to help fund the athletics department?

• College basketball historians will tell you the introductions of the shot clock in 1985-86 and three-point line a year later have revolutionized the game. No longer do we see final scores like Tennessee defeating Temple, 11-6, which actually occurred in 1973. There’s little question that a faster-paced, more long distance-focused sport has evolved since these rules were implemented. This season, all divisions of men’s college basketball have moved the three-point line back a full foot to 20 feet, nine inches.

What will be the lasting impact of the new, longer three-point distance?

• The Graduation Success Rate  for Division I student-athletes and the Academic Success Rate  for Division II student-athletes were released this week by the NCAA. According to the numbers, student-athletes are graduating at increasingly higher percentages and are more likely to graduate than their non-athlete peers. The rates highlight academic success, but they also bring to light areas where improvement is necessary. In particular, male graduation rates for Division I basketball and FCS football remain low.

What do you think of this year’s GSR and ASR numbers?

• College football fans usually get to know their favorite student-athletes strictly based on their jersey number and on-the-field performance. Last weekend, NCAA intern Howard Smith had the unique opportunity to meet a group of student-athletes based on their individual personalities away from football. Thanks to South Carolina State head football coach Buddy Pough, Smith was allowed full-access to live blog and videotape the team for 24 straight hours leading to the October 11 homecoming game versus Norfolk State.

Read and watch Smith’s unique experience and see what it’s like for student-athletes before a big game.