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SPORTS Wednesday, April 15, 2015 East Oregonian Page 3B College Football Top football programs and conferences cash in College bowl game payouts surpass $500 million in first year of restructure gives our athletic directors some breathing rooms with business decisions they need to make.” 7KH1&$$SRVWVHDVRQERZOFHUWL¿FDWLRQ report also includes a survey of 243 players, 23 head coaches and 40 athletic administra- tors to gauge level of satisfaction with the bowls. The report said 34 percent of those UHVSRQGLQJZHUHH[WUHPHO\VDWLV¿HGZLWKWKH By RALPH D. RUSSO bowl experience, 48 percent were very satis- Associated Press ¿HGDQGSHUFHQWZHUHPRGHUDWHO\VDWLV¿HG In 2013, only 19 percent of respondents said WKH\ZHUHH[WUHPHO\VDWLV¿HGDQGSHUFHQW Thanks to the College Football Playoff, WKH\ZHUHPRGHUDWHO\VDWLV¿HG bowl games paid more than a half billion dol- Leech said it was that feedback more than lars to conferences and schools last season, WKH¿QDQFHVWKDWVXJJHVWWKHERZOV\VWHPLV the largest payout ever and an increase of al- healthy. PRVWPLOOLRQIURPWKH¿QDOVHDVRQRIWKH “Here’s what the student-athletes and the Bowl Championship Series. coaches and administrators are saying about According to an NCAA report released their experience and it is by and large posi- Tuesday, the 39 postseason FBS games tive,” Leech said. “That to me is probably the distributed $505.9 million to the participat- most salient point.” ing conferences and schools. The schools The report says to expect more bowls next spent $100.2 million to take part in bowl season. The Cure Bowl in Orlando was ap- games. proved last season but delayed its starting 7KHUHYHQXH¿JXUHVZHUHUHSRUWHGE\WKH AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File bowls and the College Football Playoff to the FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2015, file photo, Ohio State, right, and Oregon play during date. Little Rock, Arkansas, Tucson, Arizona, NCAA and the schools supplied expense re- the first half of the NCAA college football playoff championship game in Arlington, and Austin, Texas, are also hoping to be certi- ports for participation, said Damani Leech, Texas. According to an NCAA report to be released Tuesday, April 14, 2015, the 39 ¿HGZKLFKFRXOGPDNHSRVWVHDVRQJDPHV the NCAA’s managing director, champion- postseason FBS games distributed $505.9 million to the participating conferences that need 84 teams — eight more than last and schools. The schools spent $100.2 million to take part in bowl games. season. ships and alliances. Five teams that were bowl eligible last Total payouts from 35 postseason games The BCS paired the top two teams in country 7KH¿QDO%&679GHDOZDVZRUWKDERXW season didn’t play in the postseason, which from the 2013-14 season were $309.9 million as chosen by polls and computer rating in a $180 million per year to the conferences. while schools spent $97.8 million to partici- national championship game. The increase in revenue comes at a time doesn’t include Georgia Southern. The Eagles pate. For the 2012-13 season, payouts were ESPN pays the College Football Play- when running a major college athletic pro- ZRQQLQHJDPHVLQWKHLU¿UVWVHDVRQSOD\LQJ $300.8 million and expenses were $90.3 mil- off about $470 million a year for the media gram is becoming more costly. All FBS con- in FBS, but were not eligible for postseason lion. rights to the three playoff games and four ferences are planning to raise the value of an play due to NCAA rules regarding transition “The largest portion of that increase in other bowls and most of the money is distrib- athletic scholarship by several thousand dol- years. Appalachian State and Old Dominion revenue distribution in year over year can uted to the 10 FBS conferences and schools. lars to cover the full cost of attendance. The also become postseason eligible this season. FBS members need to adopt new legisla- be directly attributed to the College Football The conference commissioners who creat- NCAA also now allows schools to pay for Playoff,” Leech said. “While there were four ed the College Football Playoff considered meals for athletes, and more costly reforms WLRQWKLVVXPPHUVHWWLQJXSVDIHW\QHWVWR¿OO bowl spots if not enough teams reach eligi- additional postseason bowl games last year KROGLQJWKHVHPL¿QDOVDWFDPSXVYHQXHVEXW are in the works. versus the previous year that’s, relatively ultimately decided to work within the bowl “It couldn’t have come at a better time,” bility, which generally means at least a .500 speaking, immaterial.” system. Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson said of record. The current NCAA safety-net bylaw runs The College Football Playoff replaced the “The overall health of the bowl systems the 63 percent increase in postseason reve- BCS last season. The playoff matched the is so important to our game because of the nue. “Every athletic department is being chal- out in August and includes provisions for al- four top teams in the nation, as selected by a opportunities it creates for student-athletes,” lenged with a cost of attendance issue. For lowing teams to participate in bowls games VHOHFWLRQFRPPLWWHHLQWZRERZOVHPL¿QDOV College Football Playoff Executive Director WKHUHWREHDVLJQL¿FDQWVSLNHLQIRRWEDOOERZO with two victories against FCS teams and with the winners playing for the national title. Bill Hancock said. and College Football Playoff money at least during transition years. College Football Horse Racing Ducks’ Elijah George Derby Top 10: A photo! Dortmund recovered from injury, over American Pharoah playing catch-up By RICHARD ROSENBLATT Associated Press you are going ‘Let’s taper off here, let’s not do this’, so from that stand- point it has been good. The pace EUGENE — Elijah George is has been good. It’s funny, the other HDJHUWR¿QDOO\JHWKLVFROOHJHIRRW- day we were running around trying to amp it up and get things going. ball career started. Like many true freshmen, the It felt slow, but we had more plays offensive lineman redshirted during than we had in any third spring KLV¿UVW\HDUDW2UHJRQLQDIWHU practice for the last six years. That DUULYLQJ IURP /DV 9HJDV 7KHQ DV is a good sign when it seems slow, George was preparing to make his but it is fast.” The Ducks conducted a scrim- debut last fall, he suffered a knee in- jury that required surgery and kept mage on Friday. “The offense came out with the him out for the year. “That’s pretty tough, watching right frame of mind and the defense on the sidelines for two years,” didn’t get off to as good of a start, George said after Oregon’s practice but they battled back,” Helfrich on Monday. “Being injured, I tried said. “That is the thing in spring to turn it into a positive and that ball, you say this guy made a great drove me to get back. When I am play but realize that it was against tired, I don’t let it affect me because somebody on your own team, so I know how I felt when I couldn’t you have to evaluate all that to- play. I feed off of it. It was tough the gether. The physicality picked up, ¿UVW FRXSOH PRQWKV EXW LW JRW EHW- the offense got the better of it at the beginning but it was very physical ter.” George said he is able to practice by the end, which is good. We have with the team this spring and should not been a great scrimmage team, be full strength for the fall. Like we joked about that ever since I most Oregon offensive linemen, the have been back here, and it was one 6-foot-5, 290-pound sophomore is of the best we had from a straight pads-popping scenario.” trying out different positions. Royce rolls on “I am at tackle now and learning Helfrich was asked which player guard,” George said. “I try to learn it all because I don’t want to be set has impressed him the most since with one position. So I am tackle the end of last season through off- VHDVRQZRUNRXWVDQGWKH¿UVWKDOIRI one day and guard the next.” *HRUJHVSHQWKLV¿UVWWZR\HDUV spring drills. His pick was the running back at the school watching and learning who led the team with 1,365 yards ZKLOHGUHDPLQJRIWDNLQJWKH¿HOG “I am always with Jake Pisarcik and 18 touchdowns last year as a and Cam (Hunt), they are helping true freshman. “The guy that popped into my me,” he said. “I always like to ask questions, that is what I do, so the mind, which is weird, encouraging, and scary, is Royce Freeman,” Hel- transition is going pretty well.” frich said. “Royce Freeman is pretty Halfway home Oregon hit the midway point of JRRGQHZVÀDVK7KDWJX\MXVWGRHV spring practices with its seventh everything right. I’ve challenged workout on Monday. The Ducks him to become more vocal. He’s will practice seven more times be- in a long line of guys like Marcus (Mariota) and Hroniss (Grasu), un- fore the spring game on May 2. “Installation has been good in believable guys but too quiet for the every phase,” Oregon coach Mark overall greater good. Initiating more Helfrich said. “We have gotten ev- vocal leadership is something I have erything we planned for in at this challenged him to do. He’s been point. A lot of times at this stage, phenomenal in practice.” By STEVE MIMS The Register-Guard Duke freshman Justise Winslow to enter NBA draft DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Justise Winslow is entering the NBA draft after one season at Duke, coach Mike Krzyzewski said Tuesday. The forward said in a state- ment issued by the school that “my dreams and aspirations have liter- ally come true” while winning the national title in his only season in college. He says he believes “it is time to take the next step on my career path and play at the highest level.” Winslow averaged 12.5 points and 6.5 rebounds while helping 'XNHZLQLWV¿IWKQDWLRQDOWLWOH The announcement came less than a week after the same decision from teammate Jahlil Okafor, the ¿UVWIUHVKPDQVHOHFWHGDVWKH$WODQ- tic Coast Conference’s player of the year. And just as Okafor’s was, Winslow’s choice wasn’t much of a surprise. “He had a sensational year, both on and off the court,” Krzyzewski said. “He was an amazing factor for our success in winning the national championship.” Too close to call? Take your pick: Dortmund, American Pharoah or American Pharoah, Dortmund. Both are beyond worthy favor- ites for the Kentucky Derby in less than three weeks. And who knows? By post time they could wind up as co-favorites. For now, the here’s the verdict: ,QDSKRWR¿QLVKLW¶VELJEROGXQ- beaten Dortmund over his swift, smooth-striding stablemate Amer- ican Pharoah. Dortmund is No. 1 in the AP’s ¿QDO 5XQ WR WKH 5RVHV 7RS Derby contenders, and ends up going wire to wire in the weekly rankings. He’s 6 for 6, and the fact he’s battle tested bodes well for his chances in a 20-horse cavalry charge in the Derby. Of course, since American Pharoah has won so easily — without breaking a sweat, really — there’s no telling what he’s capable of if seriously challenged. Then again, he could simply blow away WKHFRPSHWLWLRQRQWKH¿UVW6DWXU- day in May. Either way, Hall of Famer Bob Baffert is delighted because he trains both standout 3-year-old colts. It’s a pretty strong arsenal for a guy seeking his fourth Derby win. He last won with War Em- blem in 2002. He’ll also send out Santa Anita Derby runner-up One Lucky Dane. Dortmund has done everything right in winning the Robert B. Lewis, San Felipe and Santa Ani- ta Derby. He arrived at Churchill Downs on Monday, and will have one timed workout before the big race. American Pharoah, meanwhile, has excelled in his two races this year after being voted 2-year-old champion despite missing the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with an in- jury. He won the Rebel at Oaklawn Park by 6 1/4 lengths even after stumbling at the start and losing a shoe in the slop, and was breath- taking in an eight-length romp in the Arkansas Derby over the week- end. So impressed after the race, Baffert said this of American Pharoah: “I’ve had a lot of nice horses. I think he’s the most excep- tional 3-year-old.” :H¶OO¿QGRXW0D\ Carpe Diem, the Blue Grass winner, slipped to No. 3 with American Pharoah’s move to No. 2. There were no other changes in the Top 10, although No. 10 Up- start missed a workout last week with a fever. The 35-race Derby-prep season ended with the Arkansas Derby and Lexington Stakes. A maxi- mum of 20 horses run in the Der- E\ DQG WKH ¿HOG LV VHOHFWHG IURP Benoit Photo via AP, File FILE - In this April 4, 2015, file photo, provided by Benoit Pho- to, Dortmund, ridden by jockey Martin Garcia, wins the Grade I $1,000,000 Santa Anita Derby horse race, at Santa Anita Park, in Arcadia, Calif. Too close to call? Dortmund, American Pharoah; American Pharoah, Dortmund. Both are worthy Kentucky Derby favorites but only one can finish No. 1 in the AP’s final Run for the Rose Top 10 rankings. point totals earned for designated races. Louisiana Derby winner Inter- national Star has leads the qual- ifying system with 171 points. Dortmund has 170, Carpe Diem 164 and American Pharoah 160. Madefromlucky, fourth in the Arkansas Derby, is 21st with 30 SRLQWV)RUKLPWRJHWLQWKH¿HOG a horse ranked higher would have to drop out. ——— Here’s our Top 10: 1. Dortmund (Bob Baffert, trainer; Martin Garcia, jockey): Unbeaten colt arrived at Chur- chill Downs on Monday, with one pre-Derby workout scheduled. ... His 6 for 6 record matches marks of Seattle Slew and Smarty Jones before their Derby wins in 1977, 2004. ... Next start: Kentucky Der- by, Churchill Downs (May 2). ... Final Derby future odds (pool 4): 6-1. 2. American Pharoah (Baffert, 9LFWRU (VSLQR]D %UHDWKWDNLQJ performance to win Arkansas Der- by by eight lengths. ... Two over- powering wins at 3 after 2-year-old championship season followed by an injury. ... . Has won 4 in a row DIWHU ¿QLVKLQJ ¿IWK LQ ¿UVW FDUHHU start. ... Next start: Kentucky Der- by. ... Odds: 5-1. 3. Carpe Diem (Todd Pletcher, -RKQ9HOD]TXH]%OXH*UDVVZLQ- ner is Pletcher’s top contender. ... Previously won Tampa Bay Derby and brings 4 for 5 mark to Derby. 2QO\ ORVV ZDV UXQQHUXS ¿QLVK LQ Breeders’ Cup Juvenile ... Next start: Kentucky Derby. ... Odds: 10-1. 4. Firing Line (Simon Cal- laghan, Gary Stevens): Sunland Derby winner worked 5 furlongs in 59.20 at Santa Anita on April 11. ... Two more workouts planned at Santa Anita before trip to Louis- ville on April 26. ... Comes in with WZR ZLQV LQ ¿YH VWDUWV LQFOXGHV two close seconds to Dortmund). ... Next start: Kentucky Derby. ... Odds: 13-1. 5. Frosted (Kiaran McLaughlin, Joel Rosario): Wood winner back in Florida to continue training be- fore shipping to Louisville. ... Was 0 for 3 before winning New York’s major Derby prep. ... Next start: Kentucky Derby. ... Odds: 40-1. 6. Materiality (Pletcher, 9HOD]TXH] )ORULGD 'HUE\ ZLQ- ner worked 4 furlongs in 48.41 at Palm Beach Downs on April 11. .... Bound for Churchill Downs on April 21. ... Comes into Derby undefeated in three races. ... Next start: Kentucky Derby. ... Odds: 12-1. 7. International Star (Mike Maker, Miguel Mena): Resume is strong: Lecomte, Risen Star, Louisiana Derby wins. ... Can he pull it off in Louisville? ... Next start: Kentucky Derby. ... Odds: 17-1. 8. Far Right (Ron Moquett, Mike Smith): Finished strong to gain distant second in Arkansas Derby and earn needed points. ... Previously won Smarty Jones and Southwest. ... Next start: Kentucky Derby. ... Odds: 39-1. 9. Mubtaahij (Mike De Kock, Christophe Soumillon): After the results of the preps in Arkansas and California, tough to see UAE Der- by winner as factor in big race. .... Nonetheless, won his prep impres- sively, too. ... Next start: Kentucky Derby. ... Odds: 8-1. 8SVWDUW 5LFN 9LROHWWH -U Jose Ortiz): Florida Derby run- QHUXSDIWHU¿QLVKLQJ¿UVWLQ)RXQ- tain of Youth and being DQ’d to second for questionable interfer- ence. ... Next start: Kentucky Der- by. ... Odds: 18-1.
