Western Washington drops football program

Division II received some bad news Thursday from the West Coast, where Western Washington announced that it has dropped its football program.

The university's statement cited expenses and a lack of revenue as the primary factors behind the decision. "Athletics expenditures have grown more rapidly than revenues over recent years, due in part to increased travel costs, field rentals and a relatively flat growth in gift and donation dollars," the statement said. "This has been compounded by additional budget reductions and the more recent substantial cuts facing the university. Among all the options considered, the only way to ensure Western can maintain a strong program of intercollegiate athletics is to eliminate football."

On a broader level, it remains to be seen what the ultimate effect of this action will be. Division II has resourceful leadership, and they solve most of the problems that come their way. This one could be especially challenging.

Say it ain't so, Chicago

I thought it was a typo when I first read it. But, sure enough, University of Chicago's men's basketball team is 0-11. Most people who don't follow Division III basketball closely wouldn't think twice about it.

Must be a bad team having a bad season.

But let me tell you. This Chicago Maroons squad isn't your ordinary 0-11 team.

Over the last decade, Chicago has been a solid and consistent Division III program. Going into this season, Head Coach Mike McGrath had a career record of 152-80 in nine years with the school. He has won four University Athletic Association titles, and has guided the Maroons into the NCAA Tournament's sweet 16 twice, including an elite eight appearance in 2001.

Can you imagine the media attention this story would generate if it was occurring to a similar caliber program on the Division I level?

Showdown at Boston College

Boston College Athletic Director Gene DeFilippo and Eagles' football coach Jeff Jagodzinski squared off Tuesday, and neither person blinked.

The Eagles fired Jagodzinski on Wednesday, after he was warned he would be dismissed if he interviewed for the coaching job with the New York Jets. Athletic director Gene DeFilippo said he fired Jagodzinski over a "difference of vision for the future." He said he wanted a coach who would stay at the school long term. Jagodzinski has been coach for two years and had three years left on his contract.

We can debate who's right and who's wrong, but the overriding theme taking center stage is how enforceable is a contract between a coach and institution?

Add Boise State and give Mountain West an automatic BCS bid

The success of Utah and other Mountain West Conference football programs over the last couple of seasons got me thinking about whether the conference deserves to be considered for a seventh automatic BCS bid.

Under the current BCS system, six conferences (ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10, SEC) get automatic bids to fill the 10 BCS game slots, with the other four teams as at-large selections.

Does the Mountain West have a legitimate argument to be included with the automatic qualifiers especially if it added football power-Boise State as the tenth team in the conference?

What does Utah do now?

The Utes are the only team in college football that doesn't have to explain away a loss.

No. 7 Utah completed a perfect season by routing No. 4 Alabama on Friday night in the Sugar Bowl (which was practically a home game for Alabama), 31-17.

Kurt Kragthorpe of The Salt Lake Tribune says "this Utah team delivered the biggest victory in school history and the most meaningful performance ever by a team outside the six power conferences in the Bowl Championship Series."

After an undefeated season and a dominating performance, don't they have a stake in the National Championship title?