#10: Former Florida A&M Assoc. AD for Administration & Operations Johnson has sued the university on allegations “he was wrongfully terminated after reporting misdeeds within the athletics department and subjected to whistle-blower retaliation and gender and disability discrimination.” Johnson specifically points to former state Rep. Alexander, a former FAMU student body president & former university employee, for sending him “explicit sexual messages and videos [...] On multiple occasions, plaintiff told Ramon Alexander that his sexual advances were unwelcomed.” There’s also claims of “unwelcome and offensive” touching. Additionally from the Tallahassee Democrat: “On Jan. 14, 2022, (Johnson) complained in writing about Alexander to Kortne Gosha, who resigned as athletic director in April, and a university vice president. Gosha reported Johnson’s allegations against Alexander to (FAMU President) Robinson on the same day, according to the lawsuit. Johnson was fired five days later.” More. (link)
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#9: New Mexico State MBB HC Heiar told police officer Esquibel hours after Aggies junior forward Peake shot and killed a New Mexico student that he was concerned for the safety of his players and family: “I mean, [Peake] is going to have a long road ahead of him no matter what. He may never play a second of basketball for me ever again. That's just the reality, so I need to protect the rest of my team and the rest of my people while you guys are doing the investigation. … I'm worried about my wife and daughter just being at the game. A student shot ... people say, a New Mexico State basketball player shot a student. That's not going to go over well in front of 15,000 people. This is about the safety of everybody. That's where I'm at.” (link)
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#8: ESPN MBB analyst & former multi-stop HC Fraschilla via Twitter: “I am hearing that some talented college teams are starting to crack because of NIL payments not being made on time, NIL promises not kept or jealousy among teammates. Not a value judgement on NIL. It’s just human nature. The ‘new normal.’” (link)
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#7: In a game that featured 129 total points as Incarnate Word won 66-63, Sacramento State RB Fulcher scored a 35-yard TD to put the Hornets up 14-7 in last night’s FCS Playoffs quarterfinal, then ran to the stands and took a sip of a fan’s beer. Can’t make this stuff up. (link)
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#6: Stanford AD Muir goes with Sacramento State FB HC Taylor as the next HC of the Cardinal program. (link) |
#5: Body cam footage shows police going into the Pan Am Center the morning of last week’s New Mexico State vs. UTEP MBB game to give search warrants to members of the Aggies program as part of the ongoing investigation into the shooting case involving MBB student-athlete Peake. NMSU HC Heiar was handed a document and asked if he had a way to get a hold of some of the players, to which he responded “I don’t, no.” (link)
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#4: Florida has 68 full-time support-staff personnel for its football program, while LSU has 61, and Georgia has 56. USA Today’s Pugmire and Berkowitz take it a step further, “But the SEC leads with 21 million-dollar assistants (nearly double the number in the Big Ten), and a more focused look at the football-fervent conference via data compiled from open-records requests to its 13 public schools shows they are spending a total of $55.5 million on support staff this year. That's an average of $4.3 million per school.” Georgia specifically is paying its 10 ACs a combined $8.4M plus another $4.8M to support staffers who “provide depth and counsel” for HC Smart. The Bulldgos have three chefs, with UGA AD Brooks commenting: “[Smart’s] record speaks for itself. At those moments when you win a championship, you realize the work and all the resources we put into it has paid off. And when that season’s over, you know you can’t go back in time and retro-add resources. So, it keeps our focus on the mission and makes us want to keep giving our coaches the resources they need.” More, including the list of top-paid assistants at each SEC school and each public school paying at least $1.5M to an AC. (link)
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#3: Maine formally announces Miami (OH) Deputy AD/Chief of Staff Killy as its new AD, starting January 30. UMaine President Ferrini-Mundy. "This is such an extraordinary time for UMaine Athletics and the state of Maine. The $90 million challenge grant from the Harold Alfond Foundation, the high-caliber coaches and support staff, and the tremendous roster of talented student-athlete leaders are just a few of the many reasons we are excited for the future of UMaine Athletics. We look forward to Jude's leadership in Division I athletics and in fundraising as the athletics master plan at Maine's flagship R1 university advances our institutional commitment to inclusion, community-building and serving the state of Maine." Killy will earn $250K annually over the five-year contract. Collegiate Sports Associates assisted with the search. (link)
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#2: Navy fans have launched a petition calling for the removal of Midshipmen AD Gladchuk in connection to his decision to make a football leadership change. From the petition: “The handling of the firing of Coach Ken Niumatalolo by the Naval Academy Athletic Association has been unanimously received by fans, donors, alumni, former players and former staff as unequivocally inappropriate and not in keeping with the long standing traditions of the storied Naval Academy Football program.” Up to 1,352 signatures as of this morning’s D1.ticker publication time, against a goal of 1,500. (link)
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#1: We’ve all seen plenty of coaches cheering alongside the student section, but have you ever seen a HC hold up a sign directly antagonizing the opponent/rival? That’s what Missouri FB HC Drinkwitz did during Saturday's MBB matchup with rival Kansas as he held up a sign that read: “Five Level One Violations.” (link)
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