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Monday, December 31, 2012

Cheap Wholesale Clothing as well as your Local Schools. - Shopping

For those who have school age children at home, chances are you will have to purchase uniforms or other types of garments that are mandated for specified purposes. On the other hand, if you ever purchase these items through the school, the markup on each item may effectively press your budget beyond the breaking limit. Rather than have your children do without clothing they need, you can rely on cheap wholesale clothing instead. As you learn a lot more about these venues, you may even want to see if you can find others in your neighborhood that can assist you drive the price of acquiring these clothes to an even lower level.

Uniforms to get Daily Wear:

No matter whether your child goes to a public or personal school, you may wind up having to adhere to a dress code that includes some type of uniform. As may be expected, if your child is going to attend classes five days per week, it will be necessary to have at least five different outfits. Depending for the situation, you may be able to find the uniforms that you need on the net via a wholesale outlet.

If you know other parents with children in a similar school that take the same size, you may also find it worthwhile to combine your orders to enable you to get an even larger discount. As may be expected, if the school administrators have a challenge with where you purchased the uniforms, you can always get as many parents together and complain via the perfect channels. This is especially important to consider if the school wants you to purchase uniforms exclusively through them. Once you begin talking about the markup and revenue made on these uniforms, you may have a better chance of convincing other parents to consider up your cause. Without a question, if you are already paying high taxes in your school system, the added burden of profiteering on uniforms is sure to be a topic of interest.

Sport Uniforms:

If your child plays soccer, football, tennis, or some other hobby, you will most likely need a number of uniforms to get through 1 season. Invariably, this will entail purchasing uniforms in bulk quantity for as low a price as possible. As with uniforms that are worn in the classroom, you should always network with other parents so as to achieve the highest level of savings as well as do what you can to follow dress code conformity issues.

Creating Custom Elements:

As a general rule of thumb, when you purchase uniforms for a school or sport venue, these items will more than likely need certain decals attached to them. In some cases, you may want to incorporate custom markings after you receive the garments. Depending on the distributor, they will also be willing to add them for an additional fee. If you are going to share the expense of cheap wholesale clothing with others in your community, you can arrive at a choice about this matter together. Chances are, you might be surprised at the availablility of different opinions on this matter, as well as the final outcome of the particular question.

When you are looking for ways to take advantage of cheap general clothing, uniforms for various school functions should come to mind. If you want to meet the criteria for a dress code or a sport team, these garments can make it easier that you should fit these costs into your budget. As an added bonus, buying wholesale will also give you a chance to network with other parents and community members that may have common interests.





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Sunday, December 30, 2012

Best International School in Ahmedabad- A Premium School Providing World Class Education - Business - Sales

An international school in Ahmedabad city is considered as a best option for fulfilling a child's dreams and goals of receiving the best in schooling right from the start of their career. Some of the best international schools in Ahmedabad city are the ones that consider all these aspects and provide platform for an all round development of a child. They are just the kind of training grounds that parents had been looking for since a long time now. With a vast international infrastructure and environment where learning is made simpler and better, these schools have sure made an indelible mark on the minds of most parents. Children learn to grow in a fine environment and develop a keen interest in reading on subjects that matter the most in modern day life.What's more, they learn to appreciate nature and grow in an environment where they are encouraged to nurture the trees and shrubs around them. Kids School Ahmedabad- Providing World Class Education Education in a good kids school is the next talking point among all parents who wish to enroll their children in the best of pre primary schools in Ahmedabad. The article below explains how. Maxfort School Dwarka - Few Things About School Dwarka is the most planned sub city of Delhi NCR region, which provides the best services in the town including educational services also. There are number of schools and other educational bodies in the sub city which are providing world class educational services to the city. One such school which provides educational services of international standard is Maxfort School, located in Sector 7 of Dwarka. Maxfort School Dwarka "?" Few Things About School Dwarka is the most planned sub city of Delhi NCR region, which provides the best services in the town including educational services also. There are number of schools and other educational bodies in the sub city which are providing world class educational services to the city. One such school which provides education al services of international standard is Maxfort School, located in Sector 7 of Dwarka. Finding the Best Schools Sought for qualities include opportunities for parental involvement; personalised learning; and strategies for pupil achievement, with a study support system in place. Educational work should provide an efficient and effective service focusing on the interests and needs of the student while providing value for money in the process. Specifically, solid policies, records, and procedures should be in place on an administrative and educational level, which review, monitor and improve student performance. Interestingly, also reflected in the Ofsted school review was a high number of single sex schools.Right from an early age, these schools strictly follow the policy of instilling values that benefit children in the different stages of their life. Much care is also taken by these best international schools in Ahmedabad to ensure that an equal balance of classroom learni ng and on field learning is maintained so that students may benefit by understanding through group discussions and experiments. It is said that when students are exposed to practical learning they are able to memorize and reason out things well.Most of the best international schools in Ahmedabad thus help develop a strong foundation for their students so that they may excel in every field with flying colors.Moreover, the dedicated team of teachers at the int'l schools always shows their support and concern to students in matters relevant to academics and extra curricular activities. Most best international schools in Ahmedabad city are a combination of international practices and local culture and traditions, so that students may take a keen interest in their surroundings and imbibe what is important and necessary. These schools are home to the latest high tech equipments with which teaching is made easier right from the kindergarten years to the higher secondary level. Rose tta Stone Outlet The management of most of the international schools provides laptops to the teachers along with comprehensive libraries for students to study and discuss on subjects related to course studies. Students are advised not to carry heavy bags to the school as relevant books for learning are provided by the school authorities on most occasions. Advanced computer labs and scientific laboratories, music studios and a dedicated auditorium for fun and cultural activities are something most international schools boast of. In addition, vast acres of land for the benefit of various sports activities such as football, basketball, cricket, table tennis and field games are also accommodated in more ways than one. Owing to all these exemplary features, these int'l schools are the best thing to happen to children today.





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Saturday, December 29, 2012

Summer camps Europe: treasure the moments with ESL-school summer camps - Education - Languages

There was a time when people used to join language courses just as a hobby and spending time during summer vacations. Nowadays, it is rising as a prospective career opportunity for many youngsters. Those who want to join these language courses will be pleased to know that ESL group organizes many summer camps Europe. These language camps are organized in France, Germany and Switzerland and in many other places also. There is no eligibility criterion of age. Juniors, teens and people above fifty are already taking benefit of these courses. The quality of study provided defines the skills and several years of experience of the organization.

Switzerland is a country located in the heart of Europe. Its beauty is that it is surrounded by a marvelous view of hills and lakes. The summer camps Switzerland are organized to provide courses for different languages such as French, German, Italian and English. Classes are conducted in the morning time for a small group of students. Teachers are young and highly educated who know very well how to retain the interest of the students in study. There is provided full security for twenty-four hours. ESL- schools also offer pocket money service. With the help of this service, students withdraw and deposit money on regular basis. Accommodations, leisure activities and free internet connection all are offered to the students.

Summer camps in Germany, means learning a language in one of the most exciting parts of the world. The country provides learning for German and English. Situated at the most beautiful location, the schools are perfect place for the summer camps for teens and juniors. Wi-Fi connection, restaurants and encouragement of sports like tennis, swimming, football, bowling alley and ping pong table are there. Supervision for the whole time until the last day of the stay and banking facility to make transactions every day is provided. Learning in small groups is fun. Teaching staff is helpful and encourages everyone to participate to overcome any hesitation.

In short, there are classes for all levels of students and for every age. Accommodation includes single or double bed with private bathroom for every room. Calm environment and friendly atmosphere inspires the students to practice more and also students find time to make new friends. Moreover, one is not going to miss family and friends because every student always remains in touch through emails and excellent network for mobile phones. Leisure activities that cover sports, excursions, adventure trips and evening parties along with some additional packages for the students are there. Summer camps Europe would provide some unforgettable memories. At the end of stay, one would feel like staying here for life time.





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Friday, December 28, 2012

A Woman's True Confession: I Finally Understand the Male Obsession with Football... - Sports

Football season is here, which means that for the next several weeks - 90% of the male population of the US will spend an enormous amount of their "free time" watching games on TV (the bigger the screen, the better), attending football games (Friday=high school, Saturday= college, Sunday & Monday=Pro), and of course every day of the week they will be moaning,groaning or crowing about their Fantasy League, uh, excuse me, in most cases - make that Fantasy Leagues... because it seems you can't join just one.

Now, I grew up in a female dominated home - 3 women (mom, myself and my sister) and one male (dad, unless you count the dog...but he tended to be loyal to the person with the food in hand), and I have to admit, we did tend to make Dad as miserable as possible about his "obsession" with football. We whined and fussed every time he tried to watch a game, and sooner or later he would usually give up and let us watch "girl stuff".

My first husband was never much of a sports fan, so for most of my adulthood, my exposure to football was minimal, but fast forward a few decades - new husband, new life...new lifestyle.

And suddenly I find myself in the midst of a VERY sports oriented family - with a particular emphasis on football. So, for the first time in my life, I found myself attending Friday night high school games, rooting for my stepson as he ran up and down the field, screaming at the refs even though I wasn't always quite sure WHY I was screaming but hey! you do get caught up in the enthusiasm of the moment.

For 3 years, I never missed a game, through rain and snow, I bundled up and cheered the team on, sometimes to victory and sometimes to defeat. I grew to understand the game, and enjoyed being a fan more with every game. I clapped along as the team came to the home side after every victory and sang their fight song, and endured long, quiet rides home when they lost.

But - I never truly understood the "obsession" until my stepson's last game in high school.

The game was over, the weather was cold and drizzly, the song was done, and the seniors walked back out on the field one last time, helmets in hand. They stood there, silently, exchanging hugs and pats on the back, and one by one, they knelt to one knee and just looked around, as the lights blinked out around the stadium.

The silence was deafening - and the emotion overpowering.

Most of these boys had played football together since the age of 9, practicing and playing as a team for long months every year, sharing bumps and bruises and injuries, big wins and bigger losses, developing a camaraderie that few women will ever experience.

And now suddenly - it was over. Most of the boys would never again don the pads and the uniform, never again be part of that team spirit. If you play baseball - you can play some form of it for the rest of your life, but football is over for most men with that last Friday night game in high school.

And so is born the obsession with all things football - it's an ongoing quest to recapture even just a small piece of that team experience in high school, the closeness, the camaraderie that made it worth all the work.

In just a few brief moments that night, I suddenly understand the deep chasm left in these young men's lives, the sudden emptiness in their hearts, and I felt sadness for a loss that I could never truly comprehend.

My stepson was fortunate - he now plays college ball on Saturday so the "last game" has been delayed a bit. I still don't share the same enthusiasm for weekend football marathons as my husband and his two sons - but at least I find it easier to understand their passion/obsession, and that goes a long ways towards a peaceful, happy weekend at home.

Of course, having more than one TV has also helped....





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Thursday, December 27, 2012

Officially Licensed Products Give a Kick to Your Youth or School Fundraiser - Sports

Fundraisers have changed somewhat from when I was a kid. We sold one thing and one thing only, candy. Candy for the school basketball team, candy for the local baseball league and yes, candy for the football team too. Don't get me wrong, it was good candy, but we didn't have the choices today's organizations do.

Everything imaginable is generating funds for our children's sports these days. The local or school leagues genuinely need this money too. Many struggling families in today's economy would be unable to enroll their children in some of the wonderful programs out there. Programs like Pop Warner that emphasize scholastics as well as sports. In many cases these programs would be doomed even though they are adequately priced.

One great fundraising campaign I recently became aware of was the Spirit Cup program offered by BRAX Fundraising. This program distributes Officially Licensed NFL, MLB and Collegiate drinking cups to youth and school fundraisers across the country. These amazing 3D cups have a version for every NFL and MLB team as well as some specialty versions. Their unique design, and BRAX's no upfront cost program, has enabled skyrocketing earnings for youth and school fundraisers across the country.

For over 20 years the principals of the BRAX team have been actively involved in sports marketing on a national scope. Through BRAX's various license affiliations, they have gained a clear understanding of the power of collegiate and professional sports merchandise when aligned with fundraising.

The BRAX partners have coached at the high school and collegiate levels. And their sales associates have backgrounds in youth, high school, college, and even professional sports, as participants and/or coaches.

"We believe strongly that our sales associates will provide the best customer support and care to your organization because we are aware of the many challenges your organization faces," states Pete Hexter, one of BRAX's principals.

"We want to keep our approach simple, and appeal to the passion of the American sports fan by offering these team related products. In turn, the sports fans are happy knowing they are supporting their local youth sports organizations."

The BRAX goal is to always provide the best possible pricing, customer care, and ongoing support to all of their fundraising partners. They do not develop relationships anticipating that this is a one time opportunity rather the beginning of a long term partnership. It is this foundation that has maintained their outstanding reputation as leaders in the sport marketing business.

Come to think of it, that candy wasn't so good after all...

-Dave





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Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Football Display Cases For The Ages - Sports

There are many avid fans of the game that has made Monday night something to look forward to, and these people have made the Super Bowl something of a holiday in itself. A lot of people collect the celebrated items when their team wins at the Big Dance and these items are commonly left on the mantle or somewhere on a shelf, the problem is that doing that doesn't do them any justice at all. The football collectibles should be in a case, like the football display cases found at SportsDisplayCases.net. These have been selling off the shelves for many years. They have also been setting a standard that will make the sports items seem that much more precious to the person displaying them in these display cases.

Many of the football display cases that are on the market are good, but the ones that are among the best have a sturdy and finished wooden base and a solid glass cover that will show the beauty of the items while still keeping them clean. Many of the glass cases are even sturdy enough to handle a good amount of abuse; this means that the items within the display cases will be safe through most events that happen around them. This is a great selling point if you have children. These cases can hold the football jerseys and even the footballs from the Super Bowl or your kid's high school game. Some of the local leagues are also something that could warrant the attention that a good case can give. These games are always grand battles and it is nice to be able to keep the memories of those days safe and clean.

There have been numerous uses for these cases and many of the people that have gotten one of the football display cases have designed them to be more personal and unique with not just the items that they house, but also the layout that is used in displaying the items that are within each case. There have been many techniques that people have used to light the contents and most of the display cases are set up to make this easy to do. That means that you may show off the contents even when the lights are out. Many of the cases can also be set up so that the items are protected not only from outside elements like dirt and dust but also the heat from the lights themselves. This is a must if the items have been autographed and authenticated. The last thing that someone wants is to have the items washed and have the signed item not longer signed.

Among the many things that a sports fan can have there just are so few that can compare to football display cases to show the rare sports collectibles that the person has acquired over time. Sharing the collectibles is half of the fun in owning them, so appreciate what you have and get some great display cases to help you show them off right. Look at it this way, you get to share the glories of your collection, you get to keep them safe from moisture and dirt as well as safe from any sticky hands that may come near them. It is the perfect solution to an age old problem. You will find that your collection will last generations longer when taken care of in this way.





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Tuesday, December 25, 2012

USC Football Tickets - The Tradition Will Continue - Sports

After the run of success USC has had in recent years with multiple national championships, Heisman Trophy winners and first-round picks in the NFL, one could conclude that their run is almost over, and that USC football tickets aren't the draw they were a year ago. After all, what team could possibly replace the likes of Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, Winston Justice and Darnell Bing, just to name a few, all at once?

The answer, of course, is that USC can be that team, and there are two prominent reasons that the Trojans are beginning to look like the next long-term juggernaut of college football, a spot that has been occupied in recent years by Nebraska, Miami and Oklahoma, if you go a bit further back. A few of these reasons are laid out below.

Coaching

Who would've thought that Pete Carroll would do what he's done since coming to USC in 2001? By many accounts, Carroll wasn't the administration's first choice. In fact, he wasn't the second, third or fourth either. Carroll was a lightly-regarded NFL coach who had experienced limited success with the New York Jets and New England Patriots, and in four seasons he finished with an overall record of 34-33 and one appearance in the playoffs.

Rumors swirled that USC pursued such coaching "names" as Dennis Erickson, Mike Belotti and Mike Reilly. When none of them wanted the job, it fell into Carroll's lap, so the new-found legend goes. What a fortuitous turn of events it turned out to be for everyone involved.

Carroll walked into a program that many felt was on the decline. Paul Hackett, his predecessor, had only a 19-18 record in three seasons. Fans were losing interest, and USC football tickets were readily available for most of their games. Carroll started by changing the culture surrounding the high-strung program, and his laid-back personality was a perfect fit for both the program and the area.

Carroll does not need to take a back seat to anyone in terms of X's and O's, either. His defenses may not have gotten as much publicity as his high-powered offensive units, but USC has become a strong defensive team as well under Carroll. He changed the entire outlook for his players, the alumni and fans in general, and he doesn't appear to be ready to leave anytime soon. The program is in good hands.

Talent

There is no substitute for talent. USC may have lost a ton of great players recently, but that doesn't mean that the cupboard is bare. Carroll's personality is also a great fit with recruiting, and players often talk about how they "identify" with the coach. The new starters this year consist of several high school All Americans and other highly-recruited athletes.

John David Booty is poised to take over the reigns at QB, and ultra-talented RB's Chauncey Washington, Emmanuel Moody and C.J. Gable are not only talented, but fast and physical.

In short, USC is loaded, and they're ready to keep the ball rolling. Remember, everyone fretted when Carson Palmer, et al graduated a few years ago, but then some no-name players like Leinart and Bush stepped in and did just fine. When you're three deep at every position with talented players, you don't rebuild, you reload.

That's why USC football tickets will remain a hot item, and also why the Trojans have the look of a long-term dynasty.





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Monday, December 24, 2012

Recommendations for Football Players to Get Enrolled in College Football Recruit - Sports

Do appears play college football games? It is often a dream of hundreds and hundreds of high dojo players yearly to get too to the next stage. There could be over 306, 000 high school graduation football players on a yearly basis. Of beach locations only seventeen, 500 may causes it to soul NCAA. All of them prefer to wear cheap Baseball jerseys in their training drills. Time includes all are freshman and at DI, DII as well as DIII. Pursuant to 6% make step and also play while attending school. That number can happen low and it's really.

The purpose high graduating high school players would not have played in class is merely because doesnt would like. If you need to play took action today, enjoy your social interaction and have a superior overall feels, DIII is when for an individual. Those soccer teams who want to play in class and develop a scholarship features serious game title. There any 85 scholarships or grants in NCAA DI, 63 when it's in I-AA easier 36 in existence DII organizations .

To compete impeccable premier and play college pigskin you will have a supporting system perhaps willing get hold of effort and time into. Not often covered easy strategy to play college pigskin, you be required to work. Those soccer teams who this same effort in recruiting in your do around the field, as individuals get asked to group.

You can certainly walk-on whatsoever NCAA baseball programs. What will you be is named a "preferred walk-on. To ensure you go from the recruiting process just like you may perhaps well when you really need a baseball scholarship. If he doesn't offer an organization scholarship with all the college that you picked, you could ask becoming a preferred walk-on and find yourself at camp. More and more football fans choose to wear wholesale football jerseys to support their favorite teams and players. You'll need all comparable privileges and let access to become scholarship sportsperson does, but not be amount 100% you decide to become a personal game contributing youngster.

Here could have been 5 a quick guide to play college football games:

Start all recruiting applying early: Though it may be never far too late to start up technically, those soccer teams who start up before each of their Senior year have a higher rate of success.

Get ads and bys: Even although the NCAA Reference minimum would certainly be a met by everyone high college diploma, 50% with regards to DI arrangements can't present to you past admissions an additional source 3. 0.

Get bigger film: Enable you to get a copy of each game rob. Even that the coach video clips the replications, give a person a clear tape to generate a copy. You desire to these when producing your personalized recruiting box.

Take the steps: Will you be lifting extra through the off-season and also in-season? Will you be doing extremely hard conditioning together with the speed work above practice? Millions of football fans put on their wholesale reebok jerseys to watch live football games in stadium. Putting utilizing some extra hours a month will expand during games. It is what stands between scholarships off from walk-on.

Have interaction: Tell your senior high school coach you are interested in play in class. Calls grounds coaches and describe you are interested in play because of the program. If secondary school coaches haven't heard of you not know you're player, they cannot recruit this person.





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Sunday, December 23, 2012

Get More Information on New York Summer High Schools - Education

Getting an internship while in high school is not common practice, but it can pave the way for the student's future career. High school work experience in an area of career interest will provide the student with valuable skills and experience. Very few high school state champions or NCAA champions wrestle only during the regular scholastic season. Most elite wrestlers do not simply wrestle three or four months out of the year. Per iodization is simply the planning of your training for a specific period of time. Different types of Periodization exist including linear, undulating, concurrent, and conjugate. Periodization consists primarily of three phases: the preparatory, competitive, and transition phases.

Whether looking for a Christian academy, Jewish academy, private high schools or private elementary schools, taking a school tour is usually the first step in the application process. Tours, or open houses, are done differently in each school. Therefore, touring with a purpose is important in finding and getting into the private school of your choice. Touring a private school is much more than seeing if you get that "good" feeling about the place. Going on a tour is like looking for a job. You want a place where you can grow, be challenged and that will be fun. To do that you need to... rock your private school tours!

Free New York online high schools are becoming increasingly common. Less than three years ago, a student would have to look far and wide to find a program that was not either a commercial school or a university-based school. There are three basic kinds of free online high schools. They are: Charter schools, Department of Education-sponsored or school-district-sponsored schools, Corporate-sponsored, but state-approved schools. It's no surprise that New York high-school football is a dangerous sport. Permission for child to play means accepting the increased risk of torn ligaments, broken bones, and head injuries. But most recently, child safety experts have suggested that the risk of head injuries could be much higher than originally thought. But High School Football was the greatest preparation for the challenges that life could deliver. Participating in high school football sports is important for motor skill development, maintaining a healthy exercise program and provide s for a release of anger when the academic stressors become overwhelming.

If you are serious about making college coaches aware of you and your basketball abilities and skills, attend a fall NCAA-certified event. An NCAA-Certified event is a basketball tournament or camp that college coaches attend to see play of girls basketball high school. The NCAA has to approve the event in order for it to be considered certified. Once your basketball season is over don't sit down and do nothing. This creates stagnation in your performance and development. If possible, find a team to play with. Playing with a team during the summer months in New York provides great benefits for a player.

The point is that New York junior Middle Schools recognize younger kids shouldn't be treated like older kids. Many of the original concepts have fallen by the way side, but much of the core, like interdisciplinary courses, Connections courses, common planning time, and the team centered scheduling approach remain an active part of schools today. Before summer truly begins a special occasion must take place for it to really be summer vacation, and that's graduation. A graduation gift for a Middle School/Junior High Grad has to be something that your pre-teen or new teen will enjoy.





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Saturday, December 22, 2012

Football Gear - Sports

Football is a rough and tumble sport that requires a lot of protective equipment. Even the staff wears football gear, although it isn't necessarily protective equipment.

Football staff is the coaching team. This group of individuals wears specialized football gear to help them communicated with the other coaches. That is why so many coaches wear headsets. The main coach also carries a playbook or something to write down the plays. The playbook is an essential piece of football gear, as coaches need to adapt to every scene and situation. During practice, coaches use whistles to begin and end drills and plays. Football staff usually wears shirts or uniforms to make them easily distinguished.

The players' football gear is much more involved. Their personal equipment consists of many different things, beginning with uniform pants and shirt. Players are provided with helmets to provide essential head protection. Under the uniform, each player is layered in protective padding. Shoulder and kneepads are just two areas that need to be protected by football gear during a game. Unless it is a small high school or community team, the players will usually be supplied with cleats. If the team does not supply cleats, the individual players will have to purchase them.

Training equipment is another area of football gear that must be worn. Both offense and defense players wear practicing equipment as they perform their drills. The entire team uses dummies to practice tackles, and pads to practice pushes.

Football coaches make up their own patterns of drills; the necessary football gear is determined by which drills will be performed. Most coaches, whether high school, college, or pro, will require their players to build strength by lifting weights. In addition to building muscle mass, weight training helps the players become more disciplined.

A fully equipped gym is usually supplied to schools to help students and players stay fit and get in shape for the next season. All students in the school typically share these gyms, but some have special gym rooms used exclusively by football players. These gym rooms are located near the football locker room or in the field house.

Football gear is essential equipment for all athletes of every skill level. It protects the players from injury, and helps them to develop their skills and become better, more disciplined athletes.





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Friday, December 21, 2012

How Rachel McAdams and Jessica Alba Relate To College Football - Sports

Here are some random thoughts on last weekend's college football action:

- My favorite fan poster of the weekend was one I saw at Iowa behind the College Gameday set. The sign read: "I skipped my sister's wedding to come to the Game of the Year! Sorry Jill." That's classic. But it was another sign in that same crowd that really peaked my interest. A kid in Florida Gators colors held one and it read: "Give Tebow The Heisman!"

Senior starter Chris Leak is, to some, a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate. Yet, he can't even get respect from his own fans. What gives?

In a way, I understand how Gators fans can be torn. Freshman Tim Tebow had to bail Leak out in Tennessee on a critical fourth-and-one, and it wasn't until Tebow made an appearance in the second half that the Gators got it going against Alabama. He's feisty, he's the spark off the bench, and he's the most popular guy on the team - the backup QB. Also, Tebow is a freshman so he's soaked that magic word: Potential. And that can be as intoxicating as jungle juice at a frat house.

But Leak is the one who makes the machine work in Florida. The Gators aren't going to run the table in the SEC, but that doesn't mean they can't have a fantastic season and possibly make a national title run. But after they lose to either LSU or Auburn - no chance they win both - the only thing that could derail their year is if Urban Meyer gets an itchy trigger finger with Leak.

- I still don't think anyone is ready to embrace Ohio State as a classic, elite, juggernaut, unanimous national title shoo-in. The Buckeyes are like a Rachel McAdams - better looking than you think, and solid in everything they do. But college fans and writers are still seduced by teams like Florida or USC, which are like a Jessica Alba - incredibly hot, but not much substance when it comes to taking care of business.

Even Vegas oddsmakers appear to be seduced by the Alba ass, because they are still undervaluing Ohio State. The Buckeyes have been an ATM machine, posting 12 straight against the spread victories dating back to last year. That's unheard of for a team with such national exposure.

The reason is partially their outstanding play, but partially soft lines. During that 12-game run the Buckeyes have faced only two spreads of more than 20 points. Comparatively, Texas saw seven spreads of more than 20 points last year during its 10-2 ATS season. The Longhorns saw only two single-digit lines - against Ohio State and Southern Cal.

- In the third quarter of its game at South Carolina the Auburn Tigers horded the ball like Iranian royalty hording their country's oil fortune. The Tigers offense had possession for the entire - I mean ENTIRE - third quarter and put the squeeze on the Cocks en route to a 24-10 lead. My bet at Auburn (-13.5) was looking smooth.

But then at the most critical junction of that game the Tigers looked tentative. I was expecting to see the killer instinct of a national championship contender. Instead I saw hesitancy.

South Carolina's first second-half possession didn't take place until there was just 14:11 left in the game. If Auburn had attacked S. Carolina and forced a three-and-out it could've gotten ugly. Instead, their scheme was passive. They only rushed three defenders and fell back into a soft zone. Naturally, the Cocks got in a rhythm offensively and scored a touchdown. After Auburn got shut down, it was then back in the hands of USC and Auburn avoided overtime only because of dropped passes.

- Who is the best receiver in college football? And before you automatically say "Mario Manningham", the Heisman candidate from Michigan, I have another name for you to consider: Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson.

Here are the numbers, and you decide:Manningham - 21 catches, 452 yards, 21.5 average and 7 touchdowns. Johnson - 25 catches, 426 yards, 17.0 average and 7 touchdowns.

Remember, Manningham has Steve Breaston (19 catches) on the other side, while Johnson has no one with more than 12 catches.

- What in good God's name was going on with that Virginia-Duke line last week? The Cavaliers began as more than a touchdown favorite but the line kept trickling down to a close of just -4. I loved this game, but got scared off the line by the movement. Paranoia crept in during the dark of night, seizing my senses and overwhelming reason. The result: no play.

Yeah, so Virginia kicked the crap out of the Blue Devils 37-0. And the only thing I was surprised by was my own stupidity. What can you do? And I still, for the life of me, can't figure out how Duke covered against Wake Forest in week two. I'm still bitter.

- Looking at the AP Polls, two things jump out at me. First, there's no way Georgia should be No. 10. They're juggling high school quarterbacks, and the regular "starter" Joe Tereshinski has about 15 seconds of actual experience. They're receivers drop almost as many passes as the Falcons, and though the defense is first-rate they've still had to come from behind to beat Colorado and Ole Miss.

On the flip side, Clemson should be ranked higher than 15. Their one loss was in overtime at Boston College when their extra point was blocked. The Tigers are second in the nation in scoring and are the least shaky team in a very suspect ACC. I'll be surprised if they don't win the league title, and think after they railroad Wake Forest this week they'll find their way into the Top 10.

- Here are some quick-hit thoughts for you: TCU looked extremely flat for a team trying to extend the nation's longest winning streak.

Boise State looked like a team on a mission against Utah, but it will be interesting to see if they can bring that intensity on the road for a second week in a row. The same thing goes for Oregon.

South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe will be a solid NFL quarterback someday. That kid makes all the throws, and has a lot of moxie for a freshman.

I agree that Northern Illinois running back Garrett Wolfe should be in the Heisman discussion but there's no way he wins it.

Washington State showed a lot of heart last weekend, and if NT Sedrick Ellis and WR Dwayne Jarrett don't play this weekend then Washington could hang around with USC.

Tebow's late fumble against Alabama showed why it's so important to bet a favorite that you like early in the week.

How is Illinois celebrating on anyone's home field? And how hilarious was that John L. Williams meltdown. PLAYOFFS!?!?

- So, you think Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter is second-guessing the way he dealt with his preseason quarterback situation? Essentially it was a lose-lose-lose situation. Koettner's Sun Devils are going down in flames. Rudy Carpenter is completing just 54 percent of his passes and has nine interceptions in his five games. Sam Keller is on his way to Nebraska, where he will have to sit out a year for transferring. What a mess.

- Here's your weekly update on nonconference records by BCS schools:

ACC: 3-0 straight-up, 1-1 against the spread (20-10 SU, 7-17 ATS for the season)Big East: 4-1 SU, 3-1 ATS (25-8 SU, 20-6 ATS)Big 10: 0-1 SU, 1-0 ATS (28-9 SU, 17-14 ATS)Big 12: 2-0 SU, 0-0 ATS (33-14 SU, 19-13 ATS)Pac 10: 0-0 SU, 0-0 ATS (20-7 SU, 10-14 ATS)SEC: 3-0 SU, 1-2 ATS (25-7 SU, 15-14 ATS)

Questions or comments for Robert? E-mail him at





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Thursday, December 20, 2012

No Running in School? - Health - Fitness

Copyright (c) 2006 The Brain Code LLC

Dodge ball was out years ago because of it's dangerous nature. Now some schools in Wyoming, Washington, Oregon, California and South Carolina have banned tag, soccer and touch football. Just this week some Massachusetts schools added themselves to the game-banning list, citing a broader rule against "hitting and inappropriate touching" - WHAT???

A recent article published in USA Today explains how a trend is developing across the country limiting kid's physical activity in schools. Many districts are banning more and more games in PE and on recess.

Another class bites the dust

To make matters worse many middle schools and high schools are cutting PE from the full year curriculum. 'The Shape of the Nation' report, released about a month ago, concluded that most states are failing to provide student's with adequate physical education. The report showed that the number of students attending a daily PE class is down to 28%! Does this have anything to do with the fact the 1 out of 5 school age kids today are overweight? Along with horrible diets of most kids, the lack of sufficient physical activity is a huge part of the problem.

Many schools cite the need for more academic class time in order to meet the requirements of national testing standards. The irony of it is that cutting PE programs is actually making our student's test performance worse. A large Canadian study looked at the academic performance of kids split into two groups. One group received one hour of PE class with moderate physical activity during the course of the day, while the other group had academic instruction for that hour.

At the end of the year, the group of kids that had PE outperformed the other group in academic classes for every grade tested. This was true even though the non-PE group received about 15% more classroom instruction time. So does it make sense to cut PE from our schools?

Physical activity is proven to increase attention, improve learning and improve memory. These are all attributes that help kids become better students. Yet our schools continue to cut PE from their curriculum. We must put greater value on physical activity in the school system and find a way to support it.

Sweat or Stress

As the Canadian study suggests, physical activity can actually make you smarter. Not only that, but exercise can help prevent disorders like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and depression. It can even increase your chances of recovering from a stroke or traumatic brain injury.

Exercise causes a rise in several growth factors in the brain that are responsible for helping brain cells survive and divide into new brain cells, or neurons. One of the brain areas producing new neurons is the hippocampus. The hippocampus plays a critical role in learning, memory and attention. Exercise helps new neurons grow in the hippocampus, which helps improve performance on several types of cognitive tasks.

Another important role of the hippocampus is in the response to stress. In fact, studies show that a smaller hippocampus is associated with anxiety disorders and depression. Stress can damage the hippocampus and cause neurons to die, the opposite of what happens when you exercise.

Folks that exercise regularly know that they are much more capable of handling stress throughout their day than they are when they don't exercise. This is, in part, because exercise and stress have opposite effects on the hippocampus and exercise improves your 'buffer' to handle the stress.

Interestingly, anti-depressants work in a similar way. Although, we don't completely understand the exact mechanism of anti-depressant action, we do know that several classes of anti-depressants increase new neurons in the hippocampus. They do the same thing that exercise does!

Like exercise, anti-depressants also induce new neuron growth in the hippocampus. Psychiatrists have known for a long time that patients experiencing depression respond much better to therapy if they combine it with regular exercise. In some cases, exercise alone is sufficient to alleviate depressive symptoms. Personally, I'd rather see doctors try a prescription for more physical activity and a better diet before they send you to the pharmacist.

How fast is your Brain Aging?

Studies also show that exercise protects the brain from aging and injury. Older adults that regularly exercise perform better in cognitive tasks and have lower rates of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. They also recover stronger from strokes and from accidental brain injury.

One can argue that people who exercise have many factors in their lives that can contribute to these findings. For example, they smoke less, eat better, etc. However, studies in laboratory animals support the idea that exercise alone is protective. Animals that are exercised are protected against traumatic brain injury in laboratory tests and don't develop the extent of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease in model systems.

Studies also show that in addition to exercise's protective role, it is a valuable therapeutic tool for brain function. Fitness training improves cognitive functions relative to planning, scheduling, task coordination and attention. Adults that exercise have more grey matter, representing more brain cells, than adults that don't exercise.

We know that on average, adults tend to maintain the lifestyle values that they had as kids. So does it make sense to stand bye and watch schools cut PE and heart-pumping recess activities?





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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

College Football Week 9: Rooting For Goliath - Sports

It's no fun rooting for Goliath.

I mean, yeah, sure, it's always fun if you win. But especially when you're betting college football, there's a guilt associated with sitting down in front of your television, flicking on the remote, and hoping that one set of 20-year-olds, who have been privileged and praised as the best athletes in the world their entire lives, will pound the living hell out of another set of 20-year-olds, who've shown pluck and determination just to get where they are today.

Think about it. Do you really want to be that guy? The sycophantic little weasel in high school who trailed after the ever-popular, ultra-advantaged jock? The stiff who does the jock's homework, who polishes the jock's car, who hopes the jock will discard one of the B-list coeds in time for you to pick up some sloppy seconds? I mean, when you think about it, rooting for college football studs is like rooting for Microsoft to devour another mom-and-pop software company. It's like rooting for the Yankees.

But sometimes, we've got no choice.

Ohio State is big, brawny, powerful and on a collision course with Michigan in three weeks. There's little chance either team will lose between now and then, at which point it will likely be #1 against #2 in the Horseshoe in Columbus, the Game of the Year, between two sets of spoiled kids you wouldn't want anywhere near your daughter. The only question now is whether these titans of the Big 10 will cover what will be no-doubt-immense point spreads over the next few games. For instance, this week the Buckeyes host the 3-5 Minnesota Golden Gophers, a team that hasn't won a Big Ten game (they're 0-4), and who last week struggled to beat I-AA North Dakota State at home, 10-9 (and had to block a 42-yard field-goal attempt at the gun to do so). These are not the Gophers of Marion Barber and Laurence Maroney; those backs' early departures left the extremely cool-named Amir Pinnix as the primary guy, and he's having a fine season (93.4 yards per game, 5.2 yards per carry, six TDs) . But he's not Barber, and he's definitely not Maroney. Note that many of Minnesota's team and individual stats were padded by 44-0 and 62-0 wins against Kent State and Temple, respectively; this is a team that got torched by California, 42-17, and lost at Wisconsin last week, 48-12.

Into the breach step the Buckeyes, with a national-best 15-game winning streak, an obvious Heisman frontrunner in QB Troy Smith, and a home-field advantage like almost none other. Ohio State is very good on offense; they score nearly 35 points a game, rack up more than 410 yards a game, and can rush or pass, whichever you please. Defense (and particularly linebacking) was where the Buckeyes were supposed to struggle, because of the departures of A.J. Hawk and Bobby Carpenter, but Ohio State is a top-20 defensive team nationally stopping the run, and they're top-40 stopping the pass. They allowed only seven points to then-#2 Texas in Austin, and haven't given up more than 17 points to anyone. Skill guys like WRs Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez make headlines, but LBs James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman and CB Malcolm Jenkins are as responsible for this Ohio State run as anyone.

Most problematic in this trip to Columbus for the Gophers is their defense. They're giving up 167 yards per game on the ground, and 4.3 yards per carry, which is sweet music to OSU RB Antonio Pittman's ears. Frankly, Minnesota hasn't been that much better against the pass, allowing a whopping 223 yards per game via the air. That's a lot of yards. Let's see: OSU averages 410 yards per game on offense, Minnesota allows 390 yards per game on defense. Yeah, that doesn't sound so good for David against Goliath.

Are 27 points a lot to give? You betcha. But Ohio State has made mincemeat of Big 10 opponents over the past couple seasons: they're 15-2 against the spread in their last 17 conference games. They're 21-5 ATS overall. They're 13-3 ATS at home. They're 8-1 ATS in games as a double-digit favorite. Minnesota is 1-4-1 ATS in their last six overall, 1-4 ATS on the road, 0-5-1 ATS as an underdog, and 0-5 ATS as a double-digit underdog. Minnesota coach Glen Mason is an OSU alum, and he loves getting his troops motivated for this game; as recently as 2000, the Gophers went into Columbus and shocked the Buckeyes, 29-17. (That was the year that got John Cooper fired.) Still, the last time Minnesota came to the Horseshoe, they lost 34-3. That sounds about right this time, too; the Gophers simply don't have enough on defense. I'm taking Ohio State (-27) against Minnesota, and I'll grit my teeth rooting for Goliath.

Last Week: It was close, but Texas A&M went into Stillwater and did what we needed them to do. Down seven with 3:24 left, the Aggies drove the length of the field and scored on a two-yard pass with three seconds left in regulation to tie the game, scored in overtime, then blocked an Oklahoma State extra point to win by one. A&M was a 3.5-point underdog, so that couldn't have worked out much better. That last-minute drive in regulation and brilliant special-teams maneuver created a precarious cover that puts us at 5-3 against the spread so far this season.





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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

College Football - Sports

North America is crazy about football. From community teams and high school teams, right up to the NFL, football fans are among the most loyal fans of any sport. Fans especially love college football.

The College football season usually begins at the start of the fall semester. Colleges take their football team success very seriously, and work their players as hard as possible. In U.S. college football, the goal is to reach one of the bowls, with the main focus being the Rose Bowl. This is a showdown of the two best college teams battling for the championship title. Many college football teams dream of winning the Rose Bowl title, but there are other bowls to strive for as well. The Orange Bowl, one step down from the Rose Bowl, is played in Florida; hence the name. The Sugar Bowl is another important college football event.

Students play college football with hopes of taking their talents all the way to the top. Talented players make a name for themselves and for their schools. College coaches visit high school teams to scout new talent. They try to recruit the best players, because at the college level, football is a very serious sport. All college coaches want to ensure winning lineups for their schools. Students wanting to further their football careers should be careful to choose a school that will provide a good education, while also earning the attention of professional teams. Many professional coaches scout college players in their junior and senior years, and try to recruit them for the NFL. It takes real talent to make it to the big leagues. Some college students are able to make a successful adjustment, while others may not even make it through training.

College football is huge, with both fans and entire communities taking pride in their local teams. Games are played to capacity crowds. Unless it's a bowl, colleges allow people to come the day of the game and purchase their tickets. When purchasing bowl tickets, it's important that they are reserved early in the season so that you are able to get a good seat. Students supporting their home school are usually offered game tickets at discount prices, because colleges want the students to provide a big showing of school pride.

Football fans looking for an intense game played by talented athletes choose college football. It's fun to follow the college teams, because you never know whether your campus star may become the next big thing in the NFL.





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Monday, December 17, 2012

GM CEO Rick Wagoner Attends Urban Youth Racing School's Annual Dinner - Autos

The Philly-based Urban Youth Racing School that promotes careers in motorsports for city kids through the school's board chairman James Farmer has invited General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner for its 8th annual dinner last night.

Anthony Martin, the founder of the Urban Youth Racing School was so thrilled to know that Rick Wagoner would join their 8th annual dinner celebration and even narrated the time when he saw GM's CEO. It was last January at Detroit while accepting a diversity-in-motor-sports award he spotted a famous face, "Rick Wagoner, the Chairman and CEO of General Motors, was sitting in the crowd. I don't think that he knew that he supported our program. When I accepted the award, 'I said, I'd like to thank General Motors for their support' and then I saw him smile. He was stunned."

Wagoner speak before a crowd comprising of more than 500 students and famous racers at a 'Build a Dream' awards dinner at the Sheraton Society Hill in which he encouraged students to pursue their dreams.

Joining Wagoner at the dinner was NASCAR president Mike Helton. According to Martin having both Helton and Wagoner at the dinner "will open a lot of eyes around the country about how big our organization really is and how much support we get."

Even Mike Helton, NASCAR President has praised Rick Wagoner for attending the dinner. He said, "For Rick Wagoner to take time to come here speaks volumes...this is a great model for other urban markets to look at." The presence of the General Motors at the 8th annual dinner provided by the Urban Youth Racing School signifies the humility that the world's largest automaker possesses despite its global standing. General Motors is renowned worldwide for its line of auto brands (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall) and quality auto parts like GM tail light.

The first branch of the Urban Youth Racing School opened last year in Washington D.C. Although there are still no Urban Youth drivers who are skilled enough to race in any of the NASCAR's top three series namely: Nextel Cup, Bush and Craftsman Truck but the school serves as a training ground for those aspiring youngsters who would one day wants to be able to race on the professional league.

Martin said, "The NASCAR teams have embraced us. Our kids have had internships. It's feasible that some of them will get to NASCAR."

Mike Helton has also given some inspirational speech to boost the spirit of young aspiring NASCAR drivers, "Our effort is to tell the NASCAR story wherever we can tell it. You don't drive by schools and see racetracks. You see soccer, baseball, and football fields and gymnasiums. We have to be about creating more opportunity. If NASCAR has interest to someone and they say, 'That's neat; I'd like to do that,' that next step is a big step."

But of course aside from racing the Urban Youth Drivers are also encouraged to finish college. As a fact, one of the Urban Youth drivers Lamott Ebron, 19, a Simon Gratz High School senior, plans to attend Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C. Ebron said, "My goal is to get into fabrication or building cars. Last summer, I interned at Hendrick Motorsports. I started at the very bottom, cleaning the haulers that carry the race cars and dry cleaning. I worked my way up."

There are students also at the Urban Youth Racing School who are focused on racing just like Kyle Baker, age 16, who is thinking Formula One. He is currently a student at Philadelphia Electrical & Technology Charter High School. He was also given the opportunity to drive a Formula 3 race car in Monterey California.

Likewise, brothers Johnny and Jeremy Ortiz are also thinking Formula One or Nextel Cup. Jeremy is a student at Carver High School of Engineering and Science while his brother Johnny is a student at Abraham Lincoln High.

To grace the 8th annual dinner of the Urban Youth Racing School were Cup drivers Kyle Busch and Casey Mears, together with Oakland Raiders receiver Randy Moss who Martin said is getting involved in racing.





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Sunday, December 16, 2012

Premiership Football Draws Fans and Players from Around the World - Sports

Soccer, better known as football in Europe (except for Italy where it's called "calcio"), has become the world's most popular sport. From China to Mexico and everywhere in between, professional soccer draws crazed crowds, amazing athletes and big business.

Soccer madness overseas

While soccer enjoys a devoted fan base around the globe, none love the so-called "Beautiful Game" with as much ferocity as fans in the England. In fact, footie enthusiasts in England may qualify as fanatics, rather than fans. If you think the crowds at American gridiron football games are passionate, you'd likely describe English soccer spectators as raving lunatics. This reverence explains why 80 percent of the money made from professional soccer is made in England alone.

Americans are finally catching soccer fever

Despite European fervor for the game Americans call soccer, professional soccer is a relatively new venture in the United States. Somehow professional soccer has yet to emerge from the shadows of basketball, baseball and gridiron football here. North American soccer fans will certainly hope the success of Major League Soccer will eventually make soccer the national sport. In fact, in the past twenty years, soccer has become the most popular participatory youth sport in North America.

Youth players from the U.S. head to England for training and pro careers

Inevitably, young players raised in the U.S. and Canada are growing up with a thirst for pro soccer splendor. With pro soccer still in its infancy in their own country, many are turning to study abroad soccer boarding school programs and international soccer training camps. Drawn to the sharp competitive edge of English teams and the unmatched keenness of English fans, most players will prefer to train in England.

Premiership football, the heart of soccer in England

The top teams in Europe play under the English Premiership Professional Football Club. The Premiership, as it is often referred to, is the world's most profitable football (soccer) league, not to mention the most-watched sporting league in the history of professional sports. Aspiring pro soccer players the world over dream of playing in their midst.

The Premiership takes young international players under its wing

English soccer camps and schools mentored by Premiership teams, such as Blackburn Rovers FC and Bolton Wanderers FC, make this dream a reality for many players. The best of these programs, like those sponsored by EduKick, provide intense pro soccer development courses, as well as cultural exposure and strong high school or university level academics. In addition, soccer students training in England have an excellent chance to be noticed and recruited by The Premiership's leading teams.

Get in the game!

If you're a young soccer player, ready to take on the world of professional soccer, England is the place to be. You'll broaden your cultural horizons, get the world's finest soccer training, and have a shot at professional soccer glory. You've got to admit, that's a hat trick of epic proportions.

Learn more about English soccer schools and enroll for the upcoming school year at the Edukick Web site.





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Saturday, December 15, 2012

Schools And Services In Dallas Schools - Education

Perhaps one of the most famous cities in the state of Texas, Dallas has many things to recommend it. From the beautiful downtown architecture to the Dallas Cowboys football team, it seems that everything Dallas is wonderful. This includes the Dallas Schools.

Dallas Schools honored 13 schools as "exemplary" and 67 as "recognized" this past February, at an IBM Corporation-sponsored dinner. No other urban school district in Texas had a larger number of exemplary and recognized schools in 2006. In order to be rated exemplary, 90% of all students in Dallas Schools must pass all subject areas of the TAKS, officially known as the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test. To earn a "recognized" status, 70% of all students in Dallas Schools must pass all subject areas. "The students, teachers, administrators, and parents who worked hard to achieve these high Texas Education Agency rankings deserve applause and congratulations," said Dallas Schools' General Superintendent Michael Hinojosa. "They are an inspiration to all of us."

Improvements continue to multiply throughout Dallas Schools. This past February, additional funding was received from a new arts coalition that will allow for 140 new certified music and art teachers. These teachers will be hired by the Dallas Schools' district over the next 6 years, including 60 who have already been hired. And by 2009 the district plans to have all Elementary Dallas Schools offering 45 minutes of art and music each week. The Wallace Foundation, one of the members of this arts coalition, will give $8 million during the next three years to Big Thought. Big Thought is a Dallas-based nonprofit arts group, which will help establish the Dallas Arts Learning Initiative. This initiative seeks to increase the amount and quality of arts education students in Dallas Schools will receive.

In addition, the Dallas Schools' Talented and Gifted magnet and the School of Science and Engineering have been named the two top high schools in the country by Newsweek Magazine. It is the second straight year that the Talented and Gifted magnet (TAG) has earned the honor. "This is a credit to everyone involved with both schools," said Hinojosa. "These schools are setting the example for others in both the district and the rest of the nation." The Science and Engineering magnet (SEM) moved from 8th on the list last year to 2nd in 2006. Also, during the last five years, the Dallas Schools' Science and Engineering magnet has been the number one in the nation for minorities passing Calculus AB and BC exams regardless of size, and the number one school in the world for students passing Calculus AB. "This is the accumulation of several years of extraordinary work by the students and staff affiliated with the school," said SEM principal Richard White. "We have had a healthy com petition for years with the TAG Magnet, and now that both schools are named the best in the county, everyone has benefited, especially the students."

Indeed, Dallas Schools are something to get excited about. From efforts to expand services at the elementary level, to nationally and globally recognized schools, the opportunities abound for the students of Dallas Schools. In an era of budget cuts and high-stakes testing, Dallas Schools show some remarkable successes.





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Friday, December 14, 2012

Hobbies Arts And Crafts Use Of Arts And Crafts Projects In Schools - Internet

The training provided by teachers in the use of arts and crafts projects in schools might begin at the Kindergarten level. The arts and crafts projects are basically simple but serve to teach youngsters how to expand on the knowledge they learned in class. Some of these arts and crafts projects will use pictures to help children learn to count.

The use of arts and crafts projects in schools will also teach children to perform mathematical equations. While in the First Grade, students learn to color and paste clever characters together so that the numbers equal the proper amount of the math problem put before them. Students can correct their answers by re-pasting the picture to another location, or adding another to get the correct sum.

There are many ways to expand knowledge in the use of arts and crafts projects in schools. One of the favorite arts and crafts projects that is used at the Sixth Grade level of schooling is the construction of a volcano. This arts and crafts project will require a great deal of creativity and will allow the student to combine art and Science in a very realistic form.

The use of Arts and Crafts projects in schools may sometimes require a waiver from the parent. The volcano project is one arts and crafts project that requires students to mix chemical compounds that would normally be found in any home. School policies, however, dictate that the students submit a waiver for damages in case some of the baking soda used in the eruption of the volcano makes its way into the eyes of students during the school day.

The use of Arts and Crafts Projects in schools can be extended to the High School level when the Arts and Crafts projects are used as decorations for proms or other class parties. Students can get very creative with their Arts and Crafts projects when they are allowed to create hearts and flowers and any other shape to reflect a festive glint on any type of school celebration.

The sports events at school will give students the chance to show team spirit and learn to express themselves with color and graphic art. The use of Arts and Crafts projects in schools can be elaborate banners that show how tough their football team is, and can serve a dual role of exhibiting the school colors and motto to the fans that come to the various sports events such as football, baseball and basketball. There are many ways that schools can reduce the cost of educating by allowing the students to provide artwork for the walls in the classroom.





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Thursday, December 13, 2012

Shifting in Youth Football - Sports

The Rules on Shifting and Motion in Youth FootballShifting and Using Motion in Youth Football:

Youth football coaches often have questions pertaining to the legalities of shifts or motion. While I'm not a huge believer in shifts for teams aged 9 and under, we have used motion with these groups all the way down to age 6. We have successfully used both shifts and motion from age 10 on up and with teams of 8-9s where at least half the kids have at least 1 year of tackle experience under their belts.. These tactics often put your team at a huge numbers advantage pre-snap.

Here are a few simple guidelines to remember:

You have to have a minimum of 7 players on the Line of Scrimmage. You can legally have all 10 on the line, but you have to have at least 7 on the line for the formation to be legal.

When shifting, all your players must come to a complete stop for at least one second before a player can go into motion.

Motion is legal as long as the player motioning is running parallel to or away from the line of scrimmage. No player is allowed to motion in a direction towards the line of scrimmage.

It is perfectly legal to shift more than one player as long as your team is not trying to "simulate the snap" to draw the other team off-sides. In other words as long as the shift movements are fluid and deliberate and are not designed to draw the defense off-sides, shifting is legal with multiple players. Again the shifting players must be set for a full second before they are allowed to shift or motion.

Once your player goes into motion you can legally snap the ball. Many youth football coaches mistakenly feel your motion player has to be in motion for one second prior to your team snapping the football. That is incorrect, as long as that motion player is motioning parallel to or away from the line of scrimmage, you can snap the ball at any time. Again, this player must be set for one second before he is allowed to go into motion.

In youth football motion and shifts can be important weapons in your offensive arsenal. However, don't put motion and shifts in until your base plays are perfected, don't try to run before your kids learn to walk or crawl so to speak.

If you feel your motion or shift is a bit out of the ordinary, don't hesitate to show it to the officials before the game to familiarize them with it. Many High School teams even have their motioning players take a slow deliberate drop step to insure that there is no obvious intent to "simulate the snap". I've seen that quite a bit from High Schools that run Jet type motion.

If you are going to shift and or motion, make sure it's fluid and make sure your players have landmarks and cadence landmarks. In other words make sure the motioning player has something he can look at to determine how deep and how far he is motioning. For his timing landmark, he needs to know at what exact point in the snap count cadence he is to start his motion on. If your cadence is "Shift-Down-Ready-Set-Go", your instruction to the motioning player might be; "Start your motion on the "S" of Set". This like anything else will require lots of reps and practice to make it work, but for most youth football teams, it is worth the effort.

For 150 free youth football practice tips and tricks: Youth Football

Copyright 2007 Cisar Management and republishing this article are parts of it without including this paragraph and the links is copyright infringement. Please republish, just include the links.





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Wednesday, December 12, 2012

College Sports Recruiting Opportunities Help Girls Through Bad Economy - Sports

When contemplating strategies for getting financial help with colleges in such a dire economy, getting recruited to play college sports should be at the top of any student-athlete's list. Given that premise, in the environment that men's college football recruiting has created, girls rule, and mens football recruiting may be the best thing that ever happened to womens college recruiting.

How does mens football recruiting fit into the equation? A disproportionately large number of mens scholarships go to football (up to 85 per school). To equalize sports opportunities across both genders, colleges support a broad range of womens sports via scholarships. In fact, female athletes who start planning very early in high school may even be able to pick up a sport they have never competed in before, and find great athletic scholarship opportunities through the college recruiting process. And for those who worry that athletics will take the focus off of academics, fear not, as female athletes have even higher college graduation rates than female college students who dont compet e (Division 1 -71% vs. 64%, and Division 2 -64% vs. 51%--compiled from NCAA sources).

By the time girls get to high school, most know if they're athletically inclined, and they have usually narrowed in on one or two sports of choice. But reality sometimes intervenes. A female student-athlete may have picked a sport that is highly competitive and she doesnt make the team. She may not like the coaching staff or they may not like her. She may have an injury that prevents her from pursuing her sport of choice. She may be interested in other things like student government or theatre, which conflict with the timing of the sport season. Or she may just get burned out or bored with her sport. What should a committed student-athlete do if she can't pursue her favorite sport?

There are all kinds of interesting sports opportunities available to girls who are willing to learn about them. Scholarships are offered for women in 24 sports in Division 1 and Division 2. If these sports are not offered at the high school level, there are probably club or recreational teams available somewhere nearby. It may be fairly easy to establish oneself as a player because many of these sports don't necessarily get the press that more high profile sports like women's basketball or volleyball get, so it may be more of a struggle for college programs to recruit players.

Here's what the landscape looks like. For girls, the sports that are offered at a large percentage of colleges and offer a fair number of scholarships per school are:

Basketball Volleyball Cross country/track and field Soccer Tennis Softball Golf Swimming/Diving

Here are some sports that arent available in as many schools, but have plenty of scholarships to give at the schools that have programs:

Field Hockey Gymnastics Lacrosse Rowing Equestrian Ice Hockey

And here's a fairly long list of sports that are offered in fewer schools and with less scholarships per school but they still have scholarships to give. Coaches in these programs may have a harder time filling these spots so they might offer great opportunities as well:

Bowling Fencing Skiing Synchronized swim Water Polo Archery Badminton Rugby Squash Team Handball

I am the mother of boys, not girls, but I know a good sale when I see one. Colleges are serving up a double whammy right nowvery difficult to get accepted, even more difficult to figure out how to pay for it. Participating in college athletics may make a student-athlete more attractive to an admissions committee, and may result in a scholarship that will cover a large part of the cost. If I was the mother of a female student-athlete and my daughter were even moderately inclined toward athletics, but hadn't settled on one sport yet, or was shut out from the sport she loved for some reason, I would encourage her to expand her athletic horizons a little.

So go ahead, girls -- pick up a hockey stick (field or ice, any kind will do), a bow and arrow, a fencing foil, a bowling ball, or another sporting implement you haven't experienced before. Do a little research to see what schools offer scholarship programs for women in these sports. If these schools match your general criteria for a good college fit, you should pursue them. A few years of training and the world is wide open to you, if youre a dedicated female athlete.





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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

College Sports Recruiting Opportunities Help Girls Through Bad Economy - Sports

When contemplating strategies for getting financial help with colleges in such a dire economy, getting recruited to play college sports should be at the top of any student-athlete's list. Given that premise, in the environment that men's college football recruiting has created, girls rule, and mens football recruiting may be the best thing that ever happened to womens college recruiting.

How does mens football recruiting fit into the equation? A disproportionately large number of mens scholarships go to football (up to 85 per school). To equalize sports opportunities across both genders, colleges support a broad range of womens sports via scholarships. In fact, female athletes who start planning very early in high school may even be able to pick up a sport they have never competed in before, and find great athletic scholarship opportunities through the college recruiting process. And for those who worry that athletics will take the focus off of academics, fear not, as female athletes have even higher college graduation rates than female college students who dont compet e (Division 1 -71% vs. 64%, and Division 2 -64% vs. 51%--compiled from NCAA sources).

By the time girls get to high school, most know if they're athletically inclined, and they have usually narrowed in on one or two sports of choice. But reality sometimes intervenes. A female student-athlete may have picked a sport that is highly competitive and she doesnt make the team. She may not like the coaching staff or they may not like her. She may have an injury that prevents her from pursuing her sport of choice. She may be interested in other things like student government or theatre, which conflict with the timing of the sport season. Or she may just get burned out or bored with her sport. What should a committed student-athlete do if she can't pursue her favorite sport?

There are all kinds of interesting sports opportunities available to girls who are willing to learn about them. Scholarships are offered for women in 24 sports in Division 1 and Division 2. If these sports are not offered at the high school level, there are probably club or recreational teams available somewhere nearby. It may be fairly easy to establish oneself as a player because many of these sports don't necessarily get the press that more high profile sports like women's basketball or volleyball get, so it may be more of a struggle for college programs to recruit players.

Here's what the landscape looks like. For girls, the sports that are offered at a large percentage of colleges and offer a fair number of scholarships per school are:

Basketball Volleyball Cross country/track and field Soccer Tennis Softball Golf Swimming/Diving

Here are some sports that arent available in as many schools, but have plenty of scholarships to give at the schools that have programs:

Field Hockey Gymnastics Lacrosse Rowing Equestrian Ice Hockey

And here's a fairly long list of sports that are offered in fewer schools and with less scholarships per school but they still have scholarships to give. Coaches in these programs may have a harder time filling these spots so they might offer great opportunities as well:

Bowling Fencing Skiing Synchronized swim Water Polo Archery Badminton Rugby Squash Team Handball

I am the mother of boys, not girls, but I know a good sale when I see one. Colleges are serving up a double whammy right nowvery difficult to get accepted, even more difficult to figure out how to pay for it. Participating in college athletics may make a student-athlete more attractive to an admissions committee, and may result in a scholarship that will cover a large part of the cost. If I was the mother of a female student-athlete and my daughter were even moderately inclined toward athletics, but hadn't settled on one sport yet, or was shut out from the sport she loved for some reason, I would encourage her to expand her athletic horizons a little.

So go ahead, girls -- pick up a hockey stick (field or ice, any kind will do), a bow and arrow, a fencing foil, a bowling ball, or another sporting implement you haven't experienced before. Do a little research to see what schools offer scholarship programs for women in these sports. If these schools match your general criteria for a good college fit, you should pursue them. A few years of training and the world is wide open to you, if youre a dedicated female athlete.





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Monday, December 10, 2012

Recommendations for Football Players to Get Enrolled in College Football Recruit - Sports

Do appears play college football games? It is often a dream of hundreds and hundreds of high dojo players yearly to get too to the next stage. There could be over 306, 000 high school graduation football players on a yearly basis. Of beach locations only seventeen, 500 may causes it to soul NCAA. All of them prefer to wear cheap Baseball jerseys in their training drills. Time includes all are freshman and at DI, DII as well as DIII. Pursuant to 6% make step and also play while attending school. That number can happen low and it's really.

The purpose high graduating high school players would not have played in class is merely because doesnt would like. If you need to play took action today, enjoy your social interaction and have a superior overall feels, DIII is when for an individual. Those soccer teams who want to play in class and develop a scholarship features serious game title. There any 85 scholarships or grants in NCAA DI, 63 when it's in I-AA easier 36 in existence DII organizations .

To compete impeccable premier and play college pigskin you will have a supporting system perhaps willing get hold of effort and time into. Not often covered easy strategy to play college pigskin, you be required to work. Those soccer teams who this same effort in recruiting in your do around the field, as individuals get asked to group.

You can certainly walk-on whatsoever NCAA baseball programs. What will you be is named a "preferred walk-on. To ensure you go from the recruiting process just like you may perhaps well when you really need a baseball scholarship. If he doesn't offer an organization scholarship with all the college that you picked, you could ask becoming a preferred walk-on and find yourself at camp. More and more football fans choose to wear wholesale football jerseys to support their favorite teams and players. You'll need all comparable privileges and let access to become scholarship sportsperson does, but not be amount 100% you decide to become a personal game contributing youngster.

Here could have been 5 a quick guide to play college football games:

Start all recruiting applying early: Though it may be never far too late to start up technically, those soccer teams who start up before each of their Senior year have a higher rate of success.

Get ads and bys: Even although the NCAA Reference minimum would certainly be a met by everyone high college diploma, 50% with regards to DI arrangements can't present to you past admissions an additional source 3. 0.

Get bigger film: Enable you to get a copy of each game rob. Even that the coach video clips the replications, give a person a clear tape to generate a copy. You desire to these when producing your personalized recruiting box.

Take the steps: Will you be lifting extra through the off-season and also in-season? Will you be doing extremely hard conditioning together with the speed work above practice? Millions of football fans put on their wholesale reebok jerseys to watch live football games in stadium. Putting utilizing some extra hours a month will expand during games. It is what stands between scholarships off from walk-on.

Have interaction: Tell your senior high school coach you are interested in play in class. Calls grounds coaches and describe you are interested in play because of the program. If secondary school coaches haven't heard of you not know you're player, they cannot recruit this person.





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Sunday, December 9, 2012

College Sports Recruiting Opportunities Help Girls Through Bad Economy - Sports

When contemplating strategies for getting financial help with colleges in such a dire economy, getting recruited to play college sports should be at the top of any student-athlete's list. Given that premise, in the environment that men's college football recruiting has created, girls rule, and mens football recruiting may be the best thing that ever happened to womens college recruiting.

How does mens football recruiting fit into the equation? A disproportionately large number of mens scholarships go to football (up to 85 per school). To equalize sports opportunities across both genders, colleges support a broad range of womens sports via scholarships. In fact, female athletes who start planning very early in high school may even be able to pick up a sport they have never competed in before, and find great athletic scholarship opportunities through the college recruiting process. And for those who worry that athletics will take the focus off of academics, fear not, as female athletes have even higher college graduation rates than female college students who dont compet e (Division 1 -71% vs. 64%, and Division 2 -64% vs. 51%--compiled from NCAA sources).

By the time girls get to high school, most know if they're athletically inclined, and they have usually narrowed in on one or two sports of choice. But reality sometimes intervenes. A female student-athlete may have picked a sport that is highly competitive and she doesnt make the team. She may not like the coaching staff or they may not like her. She may have an injury that prevents her from pursuing her sport of choice. She may be interested in other things like student government or theatre, which conflict with the timing of the sport season. Or she may just get burned out or bored with her sport. What should a committed student-athlete do if she can't pursue her favorite sport?

There are all kinds of interesting sports opportunities available to girls who are willing to learn about them. Scholarships are offered for women in 24 sports in Division 1 and Division 2. If these sports are not offered at the high school level, there are probably club or recreational teams available somewhere nearby. It may be fairly easy to establish oneself as a player because many of these sports don't necessarily get the press that more high profile sports like women's basketball or volleyball get, so it may be more of a struggle for college programs to recruit players.

Here's what the landscape looks like. For girls, the sports that are offered at a large percentage of colleges and offer a fair number of scholarships per school are:

Basketball Volleyball Cross country/track and field Soccer Tennis Softball Golf Swimming/Diving

Here are some sports that arent available in as many schools, but have plenty of scholarships to give at the schools that have programs:

Field Hockey Gymnastics Lacrosse Rowing Equestrian Ice Hockey

And here's a fairly long list of sports that are offered in fewer schools and with less scholarships per school but they still have scholarships to give. Coaches in these programs may have a harder time filling these spots so they might offer great opportunities as well:

Bowling Fencing Skiing Synchronized swim Water Polo Archery Badminton Rugby Squash Team Handball

I am the mother of boys, not girls, but I know a good sale when I see one. Colleges are serving up a double whammy right nowvery difficult to get accepted, even more difficult to figure out how to pay for it. Participating in college athletics may make a student-athlete more attractive to an admissions committee, and may result in a scholarship that will cover a large part of the cost. If I was the mother of a female student-athlete and my daughter were even moderately inclined toward athletics, but hadn't settled on one sport yet, or was shut out from the sport she loved for some reason, I would encourage her to expand her athletic horizons a little.

So go ahead, girls -- pick up a hockey stick (field or ice, any kind will do), a bow and arrow, a fencing foil, a bowling ball, or another sporting implement you haven't experienced before. Do a little research to see what schools offer scholarship programs for women in these sports. If these schools match your general criteria for a good college fit, you should pursue them. A few years of training and the world is wide open to you, if youre a dedicated female athlete.





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Saturday, December 8, 2012

Football - College Football, Part 1 - Sports

If you are interested in football, especially in college football, read on to learn some interesting insight into the roots of the game.

In the 1890s college football had already created strong emotions of love and hate. Big-time eastern football had demonstrated that it could draw large crowds, create alumni support, and build an identity that would attract new students. The fact that it had little to do with classical education bothered only the traditionalists on campus and a handful of crotchety purists elsewhere who wrote critically of football in magazines, newspaper articles, and official college reports.

Outward appearances may have changed, but the gridiron problems in that era appear remarkably similar to the present. In the 1890s big-time recruiters and alumni contacts scoured the eastern prep schools for talented juniors and seniors ready to entice them to Harvard, Yale, or Princeton. Occasionally, unscrupulous alumni convinced students to quit high school before they graduated in order to enroll at an institution with a big-time team. Boosters funneled tuition money to poor but athletically talented boys from the coal fields of Pennsylvania and the industrial towns of the Northeast to preparatory schools in order to prepare them for big-time college athletics. Some of these young men were in their mid-twenties when they finally entered college. Other athletes went from school to school selling their services, phantom players who had no academic ties with the institution.

Big-time alumni football entrepreneurs--the counterpart of today's athletic directors--arranged a schedule of games which began with weak teams and worked up to big money games held in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. Gridiron profits supported stadium building, sumptuous living quarters and training tables for players, as well as Pullman cars for retinues of trainers, massagers, alumni coaches, and other hangers-on who followed the team to the big games. What was left over went to support an array of lesser sports that big-time football had eclipsed.

At the major football schools critics complained that football players became the campus elite, admired by their fellow students and regarded skeptically by many faculty. In the absence of professional football, players basked in the attention of the media, and the names of the gridiron stars appeared regularly in the sports pages of big city newspapers. Even college faculty and presidents had to be properly worshipful of football and its elite because they knew that football advertised their schools and helped to retain the loyalty of alumni. As a result, they often ignored or remained blissfully unaware of scams to admit unqualified students, play athletes who never enrolled, or resort to stratagems to keep weak players eligible.

Though booster organizations did not exist outside of alumni groups, booster alumni and townspeople, student managers, and even faculty engaged in unethical acts. A Princeton alumnus named Patterson entertained football players and made every effort to entice them to his alma mater. Authorities at Swarthmore lured the huge lineman, Bob ("Tiny") Maxwell, from the University of Chicago and arranged for the president of the college to pass his bills to a prominent alumnus. Professor Woodrow Wilson, a fanatic Princeton enthusiast, shamelessly used football when he spoke to alumni organizations and vigorously opposed football reform in the 1890s and early 1900s. In contrast, Theodore Roosevelt, a Harvard graduate, who gloried in the strenuous life and strongly supported Harvard football, turned against football brutality in 1905 and initiated the first efforts in his capacity as president to reform the spirit in which big-time football teams competed.

We know that the prototype for athletic organization began at eastern institutions in the 1880s and 1890s. Yale's Walter Camp, "the father of American football," became the model for the coach and athletic director. While pursuing a business career, he also acted as Yale's de facto vice president for athletic operations, who dominated the rules committees and ceaselessly publicized the game. From the profits of big games in Boston and New York, Camp created an ample reserve fund that supported lesser sports, afforded lush treatment for athletes, and provided the money that eventually went toward building Yale Bowl, the first of the modern football stadiums. By making Yale into an athletic powerhouse, Camp built the school's reputation, making it second only to Harvard. Because he succeeded so well, Camp became the first big-name foe of sweeping football reforms--and an especially hard-core opponent of the forward pass.

By the turn of century the deaths of players in football led state legislators to introduce laws banning the gridiron game. Players for big-time teams, critics charged, were coached to injure their opponents or "put them out of business." The nature of the game, with its mass formations and momentum plays, made football less an athletic contest than a collegiate version of warlike combat. Eventually the violence in football led to attempts to reduce its brutality through reforms. New rules put a strong emphasis on better officiating and on less dangerous formations, but they did not necessarily improve the athletic environment.

The deaths and brutality presented an excellent opportunity to root out the worst excesses of the runaway football culture. In the 1890s and early 1900s, responding to public opinion, professors and presidents spent a great deal of time talking about the overemphasis of intercollegiate athletics--and, in some cases, passing rules at the conference and institutional level to regulate college sports. Why, then, did college presidents and faculty, who had far more authority over their students than their modern counterparts, fail to control the gridiron beast? Put differently, why did school presidents and faculty often themselves become part of the athletic problem?

. One problem might be that faculty members played major roles in introducing early football. In addition to Woodrow Wilson, who served as a part-time coach at Wesleyan, an English instructor at Oklahoma who had recently come from Harvard, Vernon Parrington, taught the fundamentals of football on the windswept practice field in Oklahoma. At Miami University of Ohio the president called upon all able-bodied members of the faculty to go out for football. In a game between North Carolina and Virginia a member of the North Carolina faculty scored the winning touchdown. Often the faculty proved helpful to the budding football programs in other ways such as giving athletes passing grades or writing articles arguing that football built intellect. Only a handful, like Wisconsin's Frederick Jackson Turner, made a determined effort to root out the abuses in the culture of college football such as the intense media attention given to the sport and its tendency to cushion star athlete s from academic requirements. That was more than a century ago. When we turn to the 1980s and 1990s what do we encounter? Outward appearances of football may have changed, but the problems appear hauntingly similar. Big-time football teams induce players to attend their institution with offers of cars and money as well as running booster operations to funnel cash to blue-chip players. Players who obtain special admission or enter the institution fraudulently do so only to play football and often leave without graduating. Schools manage to keep their players eligible by manufacturing credits or by easing them into simple courses in which they are assured of receiving passing grades. Some coaches engage in violence toward players in practice and even try to drive them out of school so that they can use their scholarship slot.

Athletic departments and institutional officials have become obsessed with the potential for profits from televised big games or bowl games. Big-time teams in the NCAA try to manipulate the organization so that they will be able to have more coaches, scholarships, and only minimal academic requirements. Players commit acts of violence and brutality, then manage to avoid the consequences. College presidents whose salaries and prominence fall far short of the head football coaches dutifully show up at football games and related alumni events, treading cautiously around the mire of big-time college athletics.

All of this has added up to major athletic scandals, most of them involving big-time football. Scandals such as the pay-for-play violations at Southern Methodist and Auburn from the late 1970s to the early 1990s man-aged to create internal disruptions and negative publicity at numbers of big-name institutions. Yet, in spite of the obvious flaws in college football, it continues to enlarge its grip on the major universities. The athletic foundations persist in enlarging their massive gridiron complexes, selling the rights to buy tickets for upscale luxury boxes and suites, and then collecting additional revenues for the sale of high-priced tickets. The major teams have created indoor facilities out of donations that might have gone to deserving but impoverished non-athletes for scholarships. While quasi-professional student-athletes play the game, ordinary students have little to do with the sport. In an atmosphere of highly specialized career coaches, publicists, trainers, and tutors, college football reflects more than ever the professionalism that reformers long ago set out to de-emphasize.

No one would deny that football constitutes one of the most entertaining and enjoyable spectator sports. In the early days some faculty believed that the student enthusiasm for football would enable the institutions to alleviate the pervasive antisocial behavior of undergraduates. Being aware of its appeal, most athletic critics and reformers attempted to change football rather than to abolish it. The few colleges that dropped football did so it because the school had no choice or, occasionally, because a college president happened to wield unusual power at a critical moment in football's history. Far and away the largest group of thoughtful gridiron critics have attempted to reform football and to reshape it in such a way that it fit more reasonably and appropriately into the spirit and life of the university. Why have they not succeeded?

Beginning in the 1890s and continuing into the 1990s, reformers have spent tens of thousands of hours attending meetings and conferences, devising new rules to solve the latest problems that have cropped up, and generally trying to work out better systems for their own institutions; in the early 1900s moderate reformers founded the NCAA to deal with deaths and brutality and to put football securely under the thumb of the faculty and college presidents. Again in the early 1950s, in a groundswell of outrage against cheating, gambling, and subsidies for athletes, college presidents and faculty members tried to create stricter standards to reduce the greed and professionalism in football rather than to drop it altogether. In the 1980s and early 1990s an outbreak of scandal in big-time football resulted the same response of temporary uneasiness and halting reforms which had become by then a pattern in the history of college football.

The outbreak in the 1980s once again clearly emphasized the failure of reform to bring about real change. In three major periods of gridiron upheaval the colleges have been unable or unwilling to eliminate the causes of chronic cheating. While political reforms by Congress and the states have achieved some enduring success, football and big-time athletics generally have had to face the same issues again and again--much like Sisyphus repeatedly pushing the stone uphill. Why does big-time football manage to be almost constantly in a state of crisis? Is there some quality about football, or college sports generally, or a flaw in higher education which causes this turmoil? If the Greek ideal of education stands for the training of body, spirit, and mind, why have the colleges failed so abysmally at their mission?

Good question, isn't it? But the answer is beyond the subject of this article - and, unfortunately, beyond the expertise of the college football experts.





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