Campus Clips: Johnny Maziel Probe Puts Amatuerism In The Spotlight Again; NCAA Stops Selling Jerseys

Compiled by Brandon Costa, Senior Editor, Sports Video Group

The major story in college sports this week has been the reported NCAA investigation surrounding Texas A&M quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel. Yahoo! Sports’ Pat Forde writes that abandoning NCAA amateurism rules could create more issues in the wake of the Manziel probe into whether he accepted cash for signing autographs as alleged…

…The NCAA is stopping sales of athletic jerseys, saying such business “could be seen as hypocritical.” NCAA President Mark Emmert said the practice, which passes no money on to the athletes, was a mistake. He gave no estimate on revenue from the sales and said the governing body for U.S. college sports might not have received any revenue from the practice. “I can’t speak to why we entered into that business,” Emmert said on a conference call with reporters. “It’s not appropriate for us. There’s no particularly compelling reason why the NCAA ought to be reselling jerseys from institutions.” This comes as yet another response to the looming O’Bannon ruling…

…Southern Methodist University Athletics have agreed to a seven-year athletic multimedia rights agreement with Plano-based Learfield Sports. The exclusive partnership is effective immediately and will officially commence with the start of football and the 2013-14 athletic season. Learfield Sports will establish “Mustang Sports Properties” as the local entity to work directly with Hart and SMU athletics administration. In addition, the SMU in-house staff, which has been handling the university’s athletic rights, will be transitioning to the Learfield team and Mustang Sports Properties. Learfield Sports’ Mustang Sports Properties will manage every aspect of the comprehensive rights relationship that includes signage, sponsorships, corporate hospitality, event marketing, play-by-play radio, television and radio coaches’ shows, and official athletic website advertising…

…ESPN and the Big 12 Conference announced its 2014 men’s college basketball television schedule for ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN Regional Television produced games on the regionally syndicated Big 12 Network. ESPN3 will offer coverage of every Big 12 Network game. On average, ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to televise three Big 12 games a week, highlighted by the popular weekly Big Monday series beginning Jan. 13. Overall, the networks will combine to televise 83 conference games in addition to an extensive schedule of non-conference action (schedule to be determined). Over the course of the 2013-14 season, every school in the conference will be showcased multiple times on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU. The games are being carried as part of a multi-year agreement between ESPN and the Big 12 that runs through the 2024-25 season…

…University of New Hampshire athletics and its multimedia rights partner, Wildcat Sports Properties, announced that long-time corporate partner Service Credit Union has extended its commitment to the Wildcats for another five years…

…With a significant gift, PPI (Precision Pulley & Idler, Inc.) of Pella, Iowa is fully funding a new Daktronics video display scoreboard at Central College’s Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium.