By Chris Gibson staff reporter Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson announced a plan Tuesday that will guarantee three teams from the conference postseason action in 2000. The WAC currently has one-year agreements with three bowl games: the Humanitarian Bowl, the inaugural Silicon Valley Football Classic and the Mobile Alabama Bowl. Hawaii will also keep its current agreement with the Aloha Bowl and the Oahu Bowl. That agreement guarantees the Rainbows a place in one of those bowls as long as they are bowl-eligible. To be bowl-eligible, teams must have a minimum of six wins against Division-I opponents. The one-year bowl agreements come just six months after TCU announced plans to join Conference USA beginning with the 2001 academic year. Benson said while he would have preferred multiyear deals, he doesn't think that TCU's departure had any affect on the agreements. With TCU preparing for its final season as a member of the WAC, head football coach Dennis Franchione said the deal is a good one for the Frogs. "It looks like it is a good situation," Franchione said. "If we are fortunate enough to be bowl-eligible next year, then it virtually guarantees us a trip to one of the bowls." The bowl agreement is unique throughout college football because each bowl must select teams located in the bowls' specific geographical region. This means that the Mobile Alabama Bowl is entitled to the WAC champion should that team come from the Eastern geographical portion of the conference. If that requirement is not fulfilled, then the Mobile Alabama Bowl has its pick of the remaining bowl-eligible teams. On the other side of the map is the Silicon Valley Football Classic played in San Jose, Calif. This bowl is entitled to the WAC champion should that team come from the Western portion of the conference. If that condition is not met, then bowl officials would have their choice of remaining bowl-eligible teams from the WAC. The deal also involves the Humanitarian Bowl. That bowl gets the remaining bowl-eligible team from the WAC after the other two bowls have chosen their participants. "I think this deal is unique throughout college football because the WAC is a unique conference," Benson said. "We tried to structure the bowl agreement to where teams would be able to play in bowls closer to home. This makes it possible for teams to play in areas where they are known, and it also makes it easier for the fans to see the teams play." For the Frogs, the deal means they have no chance to play in the Silicon Valley Football Classic, which Benson anticipates to be a million-dollar bowl game. The Mobile Alabama Bowl, which TCU won last season, and the Humanitarian Bowl are both minimum payout bowls, meaning they are currently worth $750,000. "The money is not the most critical factor of the deal," Benson said. "The bowl structure that we're in doesn't necessarily provide a large payout. The most important thing is the exposure that the teams and the conference receive." Franchione said while there is no chance for TCU to play in the Silicon game, the increased revenue that the bowls will bring is good for the league and its teams. The new deal does provide TCU a chance to compete against future C-USA foes. Last season, the Frogs defeated current C-USA member East Carolina in the Mobile Alabama Bowl. Franchione said playing against future teams is good for the players and the fans because it creates rivalries.
Chris Gibson
By Rusty Simmons staff reporter Although Lance Brown has never won fewer than 24 games as the head coach of the TCU baseball team, he said he is not giving up on his current squad (18-27 overall). Instead, Brown has switched the pitching rotation, platooned players in the lineup and changed his jersey number in hopes of turning the season around. With 10 games left, Brown said time is running out to make a run at the Western Athletic Conference title. The Frogs have finished second in the WAC the past three seasons but are currently tied for fourth place with the Hawaii Rainbows. Hawaii (9-11 in WAC play) faces off with TCU for a three-game series beginning Thursday at the TCU Diamond. Hawaii swept the Frogs over Spring Break in Honolulu. The Frogs will play seven of their final 10 games at home. "The fact that we play so many of the games down the stretch at home could give us some sort of edge," Brown said. TCU will also have to rely on the other teams in the conference to move its position up in the WAC standings. The Fresno State Bulldogs and the San Jose State Spartans are currently sharing the top spot, both 14-7 in WAC play. The teams play each other six times before the end of the season. TCU players and coaches said the top teams beating up on each other would help the Frogs' status. "We're trying to win as many games as we can," Brown said. "But we are going to need some help from the other teams." The Rice Owls, who have won the conference title the past three seasons, are 2 1/2 games behind the conference leaders. TCU closes out the season playing host to Rice (12-10 in WAC play) for a three-game series. "We want to put as much pressure on the top teams as possible," Brown said. "We'll see where that puts us, but I imagine that final series will be a big one." The Frogs have started to put pressure on the top teams in recent weeks. TCU swept a series from Hawaii-Hilo last weekend and beat the Spartans once in a three-game series in San Jose this weekend. To go along with the recent WAC wins as a team, some individual TCU players have made some noise in conference play lately. Over the past month, a Frog has been named either player or pitcher of the week four times. Senior first baseman Mark Hamilton has garnered player of the week honors twice, and senior Shawn Thompson and junior Chris Bradshaw have each collected pitcher of the week recognition.
Rusty Simmons
The NBA postseason is under way and with it comes success stories and heartbreaks. Here is an alphabetical guide to this year's playoffs and what it all means: The Answer - Allen Iverson can single-handedly lead the Philadelphia 76ers to the second round, but after that the rest of the team will have to start producing points. Bird - Larry Bird, the coach for the Indiana Pacers, provides the aging team with the most motivation in the final year of his short coaching stint. Camby and Carter - Marcus Camby and Toronto Raptors head coach Butch Carter provide the first off-court drama of the playoffs. Camby called his former coach a liar, and Carter quickly countered with a ridiculous defamation suit. Duncan - The question of San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan's health remains the most pressing issue of the playoffs. The Spurs pose the greatest challenge to the Los Angeles Lakers, but San Antonio may not get past the depleted Phoenix Suns without their star player. Eddie Jones - He is one of the most underrated players in the NBA, playing on the hottest team right now, the Charlotte Hornets. However, their lack of a solid point guard will stop them from reaching the second round. Free throws - There's a reason they are called free. Clutch free-throw shooting will make or break a team, no matter how much talent it may have. The Garden - How much of an impact will Spike Lee and the Madison Square Garden faithful have on Reggie Miller and the Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals? And how much can they affect Vince Carter in his playoff debut? Enough for the Knicks to win. Hardaway - Without a healthy Tim Hardaway, the Miami Heat won't have a chance at the NBA Finals. And the prognosis on Timmy isn't very good. Intangibles - The X-factor of each series, which defines a team's motivation and desire to keep its season alive. Jackson, Phil - The Zen Master and Lakers' coach wins championships wherever he coaches. Kidd - When the Spurs and Suns play, we'll see whether Jason Kidd or Duncan is most vital to his team's success. Lottery - The upcoming draft (a.k.a. the Kenyon Martin sweepstakes) - That's all the 13 non-playoff teams have to look forward to. Mailman - Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone refuses to show any effects of aging, as evidenced by his 50-point performance in Game One against the Sonics. Nielsen - As in the low TV ratings the playoffs will get in the post-Michael Jordan era. O'Neal - Shaq will win this year's Most Valuable Player award by a wider margin than Jordan won any of his. Portland - If the Trail Blazers couldn't fulfill their limitless potential in the regular season, don't count on it happening now. Quickness - The age-old question of size versus speed again rears its ugly head. Shaq and Kobe Bryant make a perfect combo. Rose - Without any fanfare, Jalen Rose has become the best player for the top-seeded Pacers in the Eastern Conference. Stockton - Jazz point guard John Stockton continues to produce as he nears the end of his career, but I don't think he's capable of performing at a championship caliber anymore. Triangle - The offensive set that led the Bulls through their dynasty and is now the guiding force behind the Lakers. Ugly - The way that the majority of the defensive-minded games will be played, especially in the East. Vin-sanity - The craze that Vince Carter has started as he was deemed the most recent heir to Jordan's throne. Carter will prove he is for real, but he doesn't have the talent around him. West - Whoever wins the West Conference will win it all. X - Come on, there aren't even 10 words that start with the letter. Youth - Will young guys like Jason Williams and Kevin Garnett lead their teams to playoff success? Zo - The NBA's top defensive player hopes to lead the Heat to their first Finals appearance (see Hardaway). In the Finals, expect the Lakers to pummel the Knicks in five games, with Shaq manhandling the playoff-weary Patrick Ewing and Glen Rice gunning down Allan Houston as the top sniper from behind the arc. Also, Kobe will outplay Latrell Sprewell, who will learn to keep his hands and his chokes to himself.
Jordan Blum is a freshman broadcast major
from New Orleans, La. |
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