Conferences: The Big Ten paired with Learfield Sports to develop a corporate partner platform for the conference through Big Ten Sports Properties. Learfield will create strategic corporate partnership initiatives for the Big Ten through media, corporate hospitality, sponsorships of select championships, venue exposure and other opportunities. The company will also work with the conference Web site and the Big Ten Network … The Southland Conference honored Sam Houston State’s Ryan Bright and Northwestern State’s Cary Bruno with the Steve McCarty Citizenship Award. The award recognizes a male and female student-athlete who exhibit citizenship, sportsmanship, leadership and community service. Bruno, a softball student-athlete, has participated in numerous fund-raisers to fight domestic violence, hunger, and world poverty. Bright has been involved in similar causes on his campus and also participates in the CHAMPS/Life Skills program as a role model for freshmen student-athletes.

Sport sponsorship: Arizona State announced it would eliminate men’s swimming, men’s tennis and wrestling. The men’s diving team will remain intact. Scholarships will be awarded to affected student-athletes through their senior years. Six full-time coaching positions will be eliminated, though head coaches will remain on contract through November. The school cited budget constraints for the decision. Officials estimated the move would reduce expenses by about $1 million per year.