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.”
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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
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By RALPH D. RUSSO
bowl experience, 48 percent were very satis-
Associated Press
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In 2013, only 19 percent of respondents said
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Thanks to the College Football Playoff,
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bowl games paid more than a half billion dol-
Leech said it was that feedback more than
lars to conferences and schools last season,
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the largest payout ever and an increase of al-
healthy.
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“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
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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
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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-
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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
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“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
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The announcement came less
than a week after the same decision
from teammate Jahlil Okafor, the
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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:
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beaten Dortmund over his swift,
smooth-striding stablemate Amer-
ican Pharoah.
Dortmund is No. 1 in the AP’s
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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
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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.”
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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-
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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
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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,
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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
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start. ... Next start: Kentucky Der-
by. ... Odds: 5-1.
3. Carpe Diem (Todd Pletcher,
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ner is Pletcher’s top contender. ...
Previously won Tampa Bay Derby
and brings 4 for 5 mark to Derby.
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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
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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.
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Jose Ortiz): Florida Derby run-
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tain of Youth and being DQ’d to
second for questionable interfer-
ence. ... Next start: Kentucky Der-
by. ... Odds: 18-1.