1/26 Digest!

Welcome to the first digest of the new year!

We had quite the comeback! 30 participants, over 200 tweets and a brand new guest moderator in Mr. Matt LaCasse. 🙂

So I think we solved all the NCAA’s problems this week. Ways to solve disciplinary issues, how to fix the bowl system and more. They should pay us to figure this stuff out.

On to the digest!

Question 1: Should the Hawkeyes face sanctions for overworking their players? http://bit.ly/g5Vewm

@chrispalm: My question would be how more intense were these workouts then those done by other schools? Maybe it really was a fluke

@PitchersDuel: Also wonder if more comes of this. wonder if this means they could have been breaking rules in terms of time with the players

@vandalute: When you join a program, and as long as it is within some of the stupid rules that the NCAA sets, you figure you have to work out.

Question 2: How does the NCAA recover it?s image as far as disciplinary issues go? (e.g. Cam Newton, the OSU 5 aka Tattoogate)

@chrispalm: Excuse me while I lol for a moment. But seriously, besides actually handing down meaningful penalties? seems key first step.

@massivelyadam: If I’m the NCAA I could care less what people think as long as Bowl System/March Madness are flourishing

@pretzel_logic: That one’s easy. Enforce the rules on the superstars as much as they do everyone else.

@vandalute: whoa whoa whoa lets stop this crazy talk, Terelle Prior deserves special treatment

Question 3: The establishment wants nothing but the bowl system. The audience wants nothing but a playoff. Which one should it be?

@MattLaCasse: We’re ALL going to say playoffs, the question is should our desire or the players desire matter most?

@chrispalm: Wonder what the % of players would be on not wanting a playoff. Better to decide it on a field v. computer

@mwmiller20: Problem with long playoff at neutral sites is getting fans to travel week after week. Better to use home sites.

Question 4: Do the sheer number of bowl games dilute the luster of postseason play for college football?

@PitchersDuel: I think the big games still draw ratings/fans, but all the games and then the week off before the ship you get burnt out

@vandalute: Games  like the “Humanitarian Bowl” and the Kraft “Fight Hunger Bowl” celebrate medocrity as opposed to success.

@mwmiller20: I mean, it’s nice for a school like Mid. Tenn. St. to get a week in Mobile, but for top teams, let them fight for #1

Question 5: What constitutes “excessive celebration” And should there be different standards between the NCAA and NFL?

@pretzel_logic: I would penalize throat-slashing, but not smart/creative stuff. Including salutes.

@chrispalm: I’ve got nothing with creative group things. Agree that props may go too far and that the NFL should be more lenient.

@mwmiller20: I think excessive probably has more to do with length of celebration than nature. If it holds up the game, it’s excessive.

Thanks so much for another amazing chat! See y’all in February!

Jessica & Julia

P.S. Let us know if there are any people out there you would like to see as future guest moderators. 🙂

#NCAAChat Is Back!

New night, new time, and a whole bunch of brand-new awesome college sports topics.

Instead of a weekly chat, we will be hosting a chat on the last Wednesday of every month at 8 p.m. EST. Each chat will be moderated by myself, Julia Prior and a special guest moderator.

This month’s guest moderator will be Matt LaCasse. Matt works in PR and marketing by day and is an avid Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs fan. He’ll be spearheading the hour chat with topics relating to ethics and how the NCAA maintains its public image.

So, please stop by for our chat on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. Check back on this blog and our new Facebook fan page for new and exciting additions!

Another digest! (Chat date: 11/11!)

Hey folks! Sorry for the delay. This week we learned a lot about objectivity in sports media and officiating. We had some great conversations, and even learned about Julia’s love for Gus Johnson.

Without further ado…here we go!

Question 1: Is there any way to be completely objective when covering college sports?

@MattLaCasse: As long as you as a reporter aren’t passing out kool-aid cups to your audience and call it as you see it, I’m good with that.

@PitchersDuel: Gus Johnson is the greatest commentator in sports today. he just wears his emotions on his sleeve its great

@jtannenwald: There’s a difference between bias and passion for the sport. Gus Johnson has the latter.

@thrashsoundly: I think the accumulation of information generally leads to bias.

Question 2: Have you seen any prime examples of biases in college sports reporting (other than hometown papers)?

@doughauschild: Dicky V hands down … if I hear duke one more time i’ll scream

@thrashsoundly: Bias comes from emotion which all sports writer have unless they are a robot or maybe Dexter

@jtannenwald: Well there was a well-known incident with Pat Forde, but he’s been forgiven by and large.

@Andrew_ShipPR: Lou Holtz on ESPN is slightly biased to Notre Dame LOL

Question 3: Is there a perfect way to make sure that referees are not biased either way? What is it?

@jtannenwald: That’s easy. Make them full-time professionals and pay them.

@jonlustig: I think all you can do is the obvious, making sure neutral teams or conferences. Sometimes reffing is unbelievably hard.

@doughauschild: Separation from the game is important it makes decisions less likely to come down to the home crowd, but getting rid of bias? Not sure if that is ever possible completely

@thrashsoundly:The best way would be to centralize training and paychecks. But that wouldn’t completely eliminate bias.

Follow up question (3.5) Do you think it’s easier to ref college football or college basketball? And, why?

@doughauschild: football hands down, they have instant replay, but then again there is more money in football so I guess that makes it harder

@jonlustig: I think basketball is harder, moves much faster. Football has more officials and plays usually develop more predictably.

And there it is! Sorry again for the delay, and remember to keep the community going! Who’s staying up tonight with me to watch the ESPN 24 Hour College Hoops Marathon?

See y’all on Thursday!

Jessica & Julia

Week 3: Chat Digest

It was another great NCAAChat Chat. It was another college football specific chat. We covered everything from #Iowa football and the BCS rankings to the #BigEast, #SEC and #Baylor.

Thanks to everyone, who participated in our third chat. A special thanks to @ASCasson, @PitchersDuel and @jonlustig for being our top three chat rockstars!

Q1. Considering Baylor’s ranking (21st) along with others, added with Butler’s bball success, is 2010 the year of the underdog?#NCAAchat

PitchersDuel:

baylor is considered an underdog? they play in a major conference. not sure i’m buying that. but every year canb the underdog year #NCAAchat

PuraVidaChris:

Q1: The smaller and less traditional schools have definitely had a banner year. Butler, Baylor, Boise, TCU, Utah, etc #NCAAChat

ASCasson:

@NCAAchat with an Alabama win in football, I think that cancels it. Baylor’s success comes courtesy, mostly, of Griffin #NCAAchat

Q2: Should a team like #Florida or #Georgia be able to play in the#SEC champ-ship for the SEC East, considering how much weaker it is? #NCAAchat

ASCasson:

Yes, it’s important to maintain fair representation. Having two same-division squads would be a TERRIBLE mistake. #NCAAchat

jonlustig:

Q2 If what SEC fans say is true, about the schedule making you a stronger team, SEC West champ should be fine. #NCAAchat

julia_prior:

I think it would be awesome if a Florida or Georgia got the chance to beat Auburn or Alabama, great opp for the programs. #NCAAchat

Q3: Is it fair to keep Boise State, TCU and Utah out of that No. 1 ranking just because they aren’t part of a BCS conference?#NCAAchat

ASCasson:

I’m a fan of the BCS (it does need to evolve), but I wouldn’t like to see BSU out of the NC, at this point. #NCAAchat

BH_Orange44:

Q3: No it isn’t fair. But it is the way it is, hence why the conference shift on their parts. #NCAAChat

PitchersDuel:

just watch this to know what the BCS is all about http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6hja5g5Txg #NCAAchat

Q4: Is it fair that the Big East teams should be allowed into the BCS bowls when they are a far weaker conference compared to others? #NCAAchat

BH_Orange44:

The BE is having a down year, but just like during expansion they will bounce back. ACC is weaker than MWC now. Do they lose too? #NCAAChat

jonlustig:

Q4 It’s the system. Is it fair that more outside schools are shut-out of the bonus they could use to help their programs? no. #NCAAchat

ASCasson:

The BCS isn’t that old. It needs to keep growing. Change in sports, at least on this level, takes time. #NCAAchat

Q5: What do you think about Iowa self-reporting a huge recruiting violation to the NCAA? http://es.pn/c9DFBQ#NCAAchat

BH_Orange44:

That’s how it’s supposed to work. Self reporting. Despite that entire system being flawed, it worked in this case. #NCAAChat

PuraVidaChris:

Q4ish: FAR from a huge violation, very minor. And self-reporting is smart way to go about reporting violations #NCAAChat

julia_prior:

@PitchersDuel True, but the Iowa set the right example. Other programs should emulate. #NCAAchat

Here’s a link to the full NCAAchat Transcript.

Week Two: NCAAChat Topic

Thanks to everyone who participated in our first #NCAAChat last Thursday. We hope to see all of you and even more people tomorrow.

Our topic this week will be about hard helmet-to-helmet hits in college football and the NFL. We will also preview the week’s big games.

First Chat Digest!!

Hey y’all!

Wow, what a first chat! We came in at just under 300 tweets and over 30 contributors according to wthashtag.com/NCAAchat!

We talked about the legitimacy of Boise State as a national title contender, and if that didn’t get people ready to discuss, we moved onto the BCS Bowl system and the idea of a college football playoff. It could happen, really!! Maybe, hopefully.

We quickly (but not too quickly) moved onto talking college basketball! Yes, it’s on its way here and we talked about the first USA Today Top 25 Poll of the season.

Rounding out the hour was a discussion about games to watch this weekend. There are a number of really great matchups, and I personally can’t wait to see all of them. I also watch a lot of football, and tv in general.

Well, enjoy! A link to the full transcript can be found after the digest. 🙂

 

@NCAAchat: First Q1: Is Boise State a legitimate national title contender?

@PuraVidaChris:  towards the end of the year the polls might be inclined to move them down depending on how other “brand” teams finish

@BH_Orange44: That’s why I said 1/2. But I think it’s BS some SEC team with 2 loses could get in over Boise.

@jonlustig: Q1 I say yes. I don’t think their schedule should disqualify them. I think there’s a lot of elitism at work in the media.

@thrashsoundly: Boise can beat anyone, but they don’t pay any BCS union member dues, so I don’t have high hopes for a title game invite.

@NCAAchat: Time for Q2: Do you like the BCS ranking system or would prefer a playoff system for college football?

@damon_lewis: The BCS is the equivalent of FOX choosing the Yankees and Phillies to play for the World Series, from a group almost 4x as large.

@PuraVidaChris: The $ from a TV rights deal with a playoff would be HUGE too. March Madness is currently 14 years, $11 billion

@jonlustig: Q2 Argument that a playoff will blunt the regular season is silly. It’s still 12 weeks and every loss is still huge.

@NCAAchat: Q3: What’s your take on the preseason men’s basketball top 25 rankings? http://usat.ly/3qpVkK

@damon_lewis: Re Q3: The preseason polls mean nothing. Hate to give such a dry answer, but it’s true.

@BH_Orange44: Preseason rankings are just supposed to create discussion like this one. That’s it and that’s all.

@PitchersDuel: tying the two together CFB and CBB, how can CFB not look at MM and go wow, look what kind of buzz and attention a tournament gets?

@NCAAchat: Q4: Big games this weekend: Mizzou v. Oklahoma, Auburn v. LSU, & Wisconsin v. Iowa, what do you think will be the best matchup?

@BH_Orange44: Auburn v. LSU is pretty intriguing, but Wisconsin v. Iowa might be more of a classic type match.

@chrispalm: LSU v. Auburn if only to see how Les Miles continues to find ways to pull w’s out of his behind

@PitchersDuel: auburn/lsu probably, thought i could see that being a blowout. did you see the points auburn put up against arkansas? crazy.

 

And that’s the digest!

If any of you folks have interest in guest moderating, have a topic idea or anything, feel free to let us know at ncaachat@gmail.com !

Click here for the full transcript!

See you next week! And keep an eye on the #NCAAchat hashtag for more news, announcements and blog posts we’ll find during the week!

Your faithful co-mod’s,

Jessica & Julia

Topics For The Inaugural NCAAchat

Do you love college sports? Join all the fun on Thursday, October 21 at 9:30 p.m. EST/8:30 p.m. CST). Here are some of the topics we will be discussing on Thursday night. We’re talking about the first BCS rankings, the big games to watch this week and the #MizzouGameDay hashtag.

 

A Twitter Chat Crash Course

For those of you who don’t know, I’m a big fan of college sports, especially football and basketball. I’m starting a new Twitter chat with Julia Prior (@julia_prior) called #NCAAchat. The inaugural #NCAAChat is Thursday night at 9:30 p.m. EST. I invite all of you to come on out!

In light of the new chat, I wanted to provide a crash course about Twitter chats. In my opinion, Twitter chats may be one of the best ways to start networking on Twitter. It allows you to chat with people who are in similar industries and/or have similar hobbies. But, for many, it can be a bit overwhelming. I’ve put together some advice to make the learning curve just a bit easier.

Use Tweetchat or Tweetgrid To Follow Chats

Twitter.com, smartphone apps and Tweetdeck might be good for the casual twitterer. But, Twitter chats are more fast-paced and it can be hard to keep up with the conversation. Tweetchat and Tweetgrid make it easier to follow along.

Favorite Tweets During The Chat

Twitter chats are fast-paced and there are many tweets that can get lost in the conversation. During the chat, make sure to favorite tweets to read later. I usually do this with article and blog post links. And, it also works to save useful nuggets of information and advice.

Start Small

It’s okay to be overwhelmed at first. Some people just dive into chats, and that’s great and commendable. Others need to take it more slowly. In that case, pinpoint a few chat users and then reply and retweet what they have to say. It goes along way in building meaningful online relationships. Plus, it helps you get more comfortable with the chat environment.

Follow along with NCAAchat all week long on this blog and on our Facebook fan page.