After a scandal, lessons are taken away, but in some instances, are seldom used. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is shrouded in disgrace, yet instead of righting the ship, they are shunning correct ideas and slapping themselves on the ass with them.

Any casual viewer of ESPN knows about the intense scandals occurring at numerous universities around the U.S.; Oregon, Miami (FL), Ohio State, and Boise State head the list that includes at least a dozen universities who have been accused of supplying improper benefits to student athletes. Improper benefits include, but are not limited to: free tattoos, expensive vehicles (Cadillac, Mercedes, etc.), free taxi services, private yachts, and the ability to sell game jerseys. This is all done in the name of attracting the best players to the aforementioned schools to play on the athletic teams which in turn, brings in more revenue to that specific school. And anyone who pays attention to college athletics knows that revenue is far and away the most important aspect of the business. Entertaining the masses is an afterthought (of course, this does not apply to all schools, just the sleazy ones).

The NCAA looks into all the allegations, and sends punishment where it sees due. Suspensions, coach resignations, and fining university boosters are typical punishment. I personally hope the college sports landscape will be rid of these scandals soon. However, I’d be lying if I said we were close. Many sports analysts believe well over half of the universities (mainly Division I schools) are receiving and doling out improper benefits, but they also think that number is slowly shrinking.

So, the NCAA could look at this and fix it. For starters, they could continue suspending, and even expelling, student athletes for accepting these benefits. And maybe, offer rewards to those exposing those guilty of such crimes. When dealing with the integrity and honesty of college sports, at this point, the NCAA needs to have a one-strike policy. You muck up the system; you’re out.

Instead, mumbles have surfaced among those close to the situation that students athletes should be paid, or at least receive royalties for jersey sales and autographs. Literally, these student-athletes could receive a check in the mail to use at their leisure. That’s absurd. You can’t make that kind of stuff up.

Unfortunately, it’s a fact that college athletes are already paid; they earn scholarships, some of which are full-ride. And that’s perfectly fine; their abilities are fine-tuned, and they deserve financial assistance for their hard work. However, these scholarships seem to be forgotten, and it makes me shudder to think college athletes are getting a free or discounted education, while potentially receiving money for their participation in sports as well.

It really puts into perspective how valuable a college education is. These athletes will pathetically and selfishly take advantage of their abilities in order to reap benefits. And in doing that, they’re taking advantage of a privilege, and a gift: the ability to attend a college or university and attain a degree. The potential outcome of this NCAA decision is huge, not unlike the tuition for four years of college. The sheer amount of money in question should be enough of a deterrent for stepping toes out of line, and skipping class. These athletes don’t understand their privileges. They’re breaking rules, when already, their tuition is significantly reduced.

The NCAA should be ashamed; to offer scholarships is one thing, but to entertain the possibility of paying players who clearly are not responsible enough to follow rules, like not accepting brand-spanking-new Cadillac Escalades, is ludicrous.

According to a poll conducted by Baylor University last weekend, of 1,500 college graduates within Big-12 conference states, 76 percent of fans said they would be disappointed by the creation of super-conferences.

So it appears that 24 percent of fans are really excited about the future of college football, I happen to be one of those in the minority.

The reason I find myself on that side is probably because this is what our generation has grown up with in the sports world. Seeing the possibility of there being four ‘super’ conferences in the NCAA when it comes to college football does not surprise me at all, but it is entertaining to watch this spiral out of control.

Compared to this season, last season was just a glimpse of what was going to come when the University of Nebraska officially joined the Big-10, giving it 12 teams, University of Colorado left the Big-12 and joined what used to be known as the Pac-10, before it added Colorado as the twelfth.

The University of Texas was deemed the savior of the Big-12 last season, but as we sit here today they could be the sole reason we never talk about the Big-12 again as a conference to be reckoned with in sports.

This situation comes down to money, and that is why every team is trying to find the best place they can earn top dollar.

Texas decided to team up with ESPN for a modest 20-year contract that would inject $300 million into the school throughout the contract, and that was when we saw red flags being thrown up by the nine other schools in the Big-12.

To add fuel to the smoldering fire, The Longhorn Network announced that they would be showing high school games on their network. Nothing like young high school players being able to say they are playing on the Texas Longhorn’s network this Friday, seems harmless right?

Well that idea lasted about as long as Jay Cutler in the Bears backfield, and also led Texas A&M to start looking for a new residency in the NCAA, the SEC wasted no time secretly showing high interest in the school and once all the legal jargon clears up we will see Texas A&M reign high in its new conference.

That brings us up to about now.

The Big-12 shot themselves in the foot by letting Texas have free reign of what they wanted to do because the Longhorns were the glue that held the conference together.

Now Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, and, of course, Texas see a fluttering Big-12 conference and are close to joining the Pac-12, which remember was the Pac-10 last season, and now might be the Pac-16 next season. Being the graphic designer can’t be a leisure job for the powers that make up those on the West Coast.

So who are the eventual losers of all this mess?

Well we have seen Baylor come out aggressively against Texas A&M moving, so it would be hard to see them much happier now that the teams that make the rest of the conference’s money are halfway out the door as well.

With the demise of the Big-12, the winners are easily the Pac-12; the SEC will accept runner-up status of Texas A&M and maybe grab some second-tier schools along the way.

The ACC, who added Syracuse and Pittsburgh earlier this week from the Big East, will enjoy the view from their comfy throne at the top when it comes to the basketball season, and that leaves the losers, as of right now, our conference in the Mid-west, the Big-10.

Standing at twelve teams right now, the conference could have the ability to add four more teams to really vault their position to the number two spot of top super-conferences if they could add Kansas and Kansas State, two teams that would help their weakness when it comes to basketball.

Missouri already said no to the Big-10 so it might be difficult to try and add them again, but nothing would really surprise me at this point.

The Big-10 would just have to find two other teams in the area to fill out its 16-team super-conference and it would be no easy task, but maybe with the demise of the Big East in basketball, the “golden-domers” in South Bend would finally be willing to listen.

Four wrestlers fought their way to third-place finishes in the ultra-competitive Iowa Conference Championships last weekend, earning invitations to the NCAA Division III National Championships.

Sophomore 133-pounder Matt Holmes, senior 157-pounder Erik Hansen, first-year 174-pounder Stephan Birt, and senior 285-pounder Jeremy Klein were the men who qualified. All four of them finished third at the Iowa
Conference Tournament in Indianola, IA. First-year 149-pounder Barney Wood and junior 165-pounder Mitch Gansen finished just shy of a national berth.

It was an exciting weekend for the wrestlers as they took fifth place in the tournament — placing near or above some nationally ranked teams. The Duhawks’ performances must have made an impression, as Coach Steward, who was awarded his third Iowa Conference Coach of the Year honor. Steward also won the award in 1995 and again in 2001.

“We wrestled pretty well as a team,” Steward said. “We went 6-for-6 six in the consolation semifinal round and won 10 of our final 12 matches.”

“It is indeed an honor to be voted Coach of the Year in one of the best Division III conferences in the United States,” said Steward. “And to be voted that by your peers is humbling.”

Using the success as a building  block, Loras looks to have a healthy batch of recruits next season. Two things that may entice future wrestlers to come to Loras:  Stewards award and the amazing success achieved by the first-years this year. 174-pounder Stephan Birt is a testimony to this, as he is one of those going to Nationals.

Now, the four Duhawks must work their way up the National ranks. Steward cannot stress enough, that at this point in the season, winning matches comes down to the basics.

“Strategies for the NCAA’s are very similar to the Iowa Conference Tournament,” he said. “Pound into them basic positions and techniques which are the things that win matches at this level.”

Although this is an end to the career of seniors Mike Calafiore, Sean Jarvis, Tiegan Podliska and Willie Slayden, they have acted as strong team leaders, and helped their younger teammates throughout the season. Steward is proud of all of his wrestlers and excited to have four of them going to the NCAA’s.

“I feel that we turned a corner with our program and hope it is an impetus to a brighter future for Loras Wrestling,” he said.

The Duhawks will spend the next week preparing for the national tournament, which will take place in La Crosse, WI, on March 11 and 12.

ST. LOUIS – The Duhawks came out firing in the first half of the Second Round NCAA Tournament Matchup on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis. Lately, Loras has been attributed as a slow-starter, after giving up the first goal to Dubuque, Wartburg, and Greenville. It looked as though the Duhawks would turn the table, as they came out and fired off 7 shots in the first 10 minutes, but the Bears would have none of that.

The first half would be made up of offensive drives from both the Duhawks and the Bears, but neither team was able to put the ball in the back of the net, resulting in a 0-0 tie at the half.

Loras felt proud of the effort that they put in during the first half due to the pressure they were able to apply and the number of shots they recorded. As well as the fact that they didn’t give up the typical first half goal.

Washington came out in the second half, and before you could find your seat after the intermission, they had scored following a free kick that Loras could not clear from the box. Sophomore Kenji Kobiyashi was credited with the goal, and the Bears were in the position that they wanted. All they had to do was set up a solid wall of defense, and they would be on their way to the ‘Sweet 16′, but Loras had other plans to attend to.

“For us seniors this was our last game of our careers. We had too much heart on this team, and too much fight to go out that way,” said senior goalkeeper Dan Wickman.

After numerous close opportunities, Loras heard the announcing of the final minute of play, and knew that they had to step up and put a goal in, otherwise, the Duhawks’ season would be over, as well as the careers of nine seniors who have had one of the most successful careers in Loras Soccer history.

“With one minute left youre seeing the curtain close, not only on the season but for the seniors’ careers. Thats when it hits home,” Senior captain Tom Strumpf said.

After multiple corner kicks and sideline throw-ins, junior Chris Comstock took control of the ball and crossed it over to the middle, where senior Tom Jennings was waiting. Jennings took a leap of faith, connected with the ball, and sent it to the back of the net. The Duhawks were 38 seconds away from having their season being ended at the hand of the Bears, but instead, Jennings was able to keep the season and his career alive.

“I saw Flip (Andy Filipiak) go down, then saw (Chris) Comstock with the ball. I told (Tom) Strumpf that if Comstock got the cross, I was gonna put it in,” said Jennings.

The final 38 seconds ticked off the clock and no real scoring attempts were made in the remaining regular time.

All Coach Dan Rothert wanted was one more chance, “One more chance. Give me one more chance. We get one more chance maybe it would go.”

Going into overtime, the Duhawks were feeling momentum. They controlled the tempo of both overtime periods, even though once again, they were unable to score. Washington spent more time clearing the ball from their end than putting shots on goal, and at the end of both 10 minute overtimes, no team had scored.

Rothert put the game in the hands of his team leaders, as Miguel Bonilla, Tom Jennings, Andy Filipiak, and Tom Strumpf stepped up to take the penalty kicks, with Wickman standing tall in the net.

As he has grown accustomed to, Bonilla blasted his shot into the back of the net, followed by a miss from Washington’s Nik Patel.

Jennings would have his shot blocked, and Strumpf drilled his off the crossbar, while Filipiak would make his count after suffering a significant cut to his head on the game-tying goal.

Washington would only be able to put one of their penalty kick shots on goal, from the foot of the goalscorer Kobiyashi, but was stopped by Wickman in true diving fashion.

Following the final Washington penalty kick which sailed high, the Duhawks swarmed Wickman and began the celebration.

For the fourth season in a row, the Men’s Soccer team will be heading to the ‘Sweet 16′, with the location, dates, and times still to be determined.

DUBUQUE, IOWA – The women’s soccer team faced Wartburg College in a second round matchup of the NCAA tournament, one week after squeaking by with a 1-0 victory in the Iowa Conference Tournament Final last week. The #4 ranked Duhawks were able to come away with yet another victory against the conference foes winning 2-0 last night.

Coach Dan Rothert expressed some keys to success before the game stating, “We hope to score through more conventional methods rather than our goalkeeper, but if that is how it comes, we’ll take it.” Take it they would as the first goal of the game once again came off the head of Katie Chambers in the 29th minute, her third goal in the first two games of the tournament and her fourth on the year, courtesy of a corner kick assist from Jessica Kern. This sent the Duhawks to the locker room with a 1-0 lead.

The women came out strong in the second half by creating scoring chances and playing sound defensively and were able to net an insurance goal late in the 73rd minute to close out the game. Kate Young lofted a shot from 35 yards out and sent it over the goalkeeper for her 12th goal of the year. The Duhawks were able to hold Wartburg to only one shot on goal and advanced to the semifinals with a 2-0 victory. “We seemed to have more energy than them tonight. Katie Chambers and Kate Young proved to me why they are not just two of the best players in the conference, but nationally,” said Rothert.

The Duhawks hope to continue to build and play well as they head deeper into the tournament on the coat-tails of a 15 game winning streak. “We are striking fear in our opponents on our set plays in addition to our normal, strong play. We need to stay strong and keep it going,” said Rothert.

The women’s soccer team defeated the Aurora University Spartans tonight by a score of 3-1. This now brings the Duhawks to a record of 21-1 and sends them into the next round of the NCAA Tournament.

A lot of anticipation was in the air for the game as the Loras Duhawks (21-1) faced off against the Aurora University Spartans (16-5-1).A windy, cold night swept through the Rock Bowl for the first round game for the Duhawks but that didn’t slow down the momentum. In the first half strong performances were brought on by Kinsey Campbell, Madeline Tennant and Kate Young, but failed to produce a goal in the first half. The Spartans were the same with strong performances especially by goal keeper Nicky Cardon, who made some jumping and diving saves for Aurora.

Into the second half, the Duhawks earned a free kick, which was taken by junior forward Jess Kern to kick for the Duhawks. Kern kicked a laser shot, and junior goalkeeper Katie Chambers used her head to put the ball into the back of the net, breaking the scoreless tie in favor of the Duhawks. The lead fell short though as less than 3 minutes later when Aurora midfielder Christine Kwilosz sent a skipping shot towards the goal to bring the score to 1-1. With 25 minutes left in the second half, Kern took the corner kick for the Duhawks, and would connect once again with goalkeeper Katie Chambers to bring the score to 2-1 in Loras’ favor. The goal was Chambers’ third on the year. “A keeper getting a goal and two on the year is almost unheard of,” said Coach Dan Rohert, “she’s big, strong and athletic and play out there. She was mad about giving up a goal and went out there and put one right back on them.”

Later in the half freshmen Sarah Trump booted the ball from 50 yards out to bring the score to 3-1. The Duhawks would go on to win and end the Spartans season, and advancing the Duhawks to the next round of the NCAA Women’s Soccer D-III Tournament. With the win, the Duhawks will have a rematch of last week’s IIAC Tournament Championship. “[Wartburg is a] tough team and we’re going to need to step it up,” says Coach Rothert “we’re going to utilize our speed and defense. It should be interesting.”

DUBUQUE, IOWA – The Greenville Cougars traveled to Dubuque to partake in their second ever NCAA Tournament. An early goal by Greenville would give them the 1-0 lead going into the locker room at the half. However, history would repeat itself for the third game in a row, as the Duhawks came back with a fiery aggression, and would erupt for a huge second half.

“I got on some of the guys cases. I told them it wasn’t good enough, and they get on each others case a little bit. They knew they had to step up and take care of business,” said Coach Dan Rothert.

Senior Miguel Bonilla would carry the Duhawks into the scoring column in the 47th minute, following a Greenville penalty from 25 yards out. The junior goalkeeper for the Cougars, Nathan Haas, could not reach the shot, and the Duhawks were able to tie the game up.

Rothert commented before the game that they wanted to come out strong and get the first goal so they could control the tempo and set the tone of the game. But the fact that the Duhawks have played well with their backs against the wall. “I give them a lot of credit. They’re a resilient bunch, in terms of coming from behind.”

Just 8 minutes later, in the 55th minute, the Duhawks added to their total courtesy of a Malcolm Calbert header off of a free kick. The Duhawks would control the tempo of the rest of the game, getting opportunities here and there and finally connecting one last time with four minutes remaining, courtesy of sophomore Sean Lewis.

“We came out a little sluggish today, just like in the Wartburg game. We have to come out harder against ‘Wash U’; they’re nationally ranked. We can’t let them score early. We’re looking for redemption.”, said Lewis, “We know that we’re coming in as the underdog. We can’t be lackadaisical, one chance could be game over, so we have to come out hard and fast.”

The Duhawks will travel to St. Louis to take on the Washington University in St. Louis Bears in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament.

Rothert’s hoping to reverse the result of the matchup that the two teams had earlier in the season.

“We changed our strategy 9 games ago, and since then, we have won 9 games in a row. The way we defend is different, the way we attack is different. We really use our speed to our advantage, and we’re going to come at them really hard”, said Rothert.