While the event is intended to increase dialogue of the subject on campus, there are a number of services offered that already help foster diversity, such as the Rainbow Resource Center, located on the main floor of the Union.

Emily Hart, a senior in the Division of Social Work and head coordinator of the center, said that the center has a number of programs, one of the key features being the opportunity to meet other like-minded students.

“The biggest thing we offer students, both GLBTQ and non[- GLBTQ], is the social networking opportunities here at the center,” she said.

Hart added that giving students a positive, safe environment to interact is central to the center’s mission.

“We are in a very typically conservative area, which means that more help and support can be given, the better,” she said. “It’s a safe environment for everyone really. Anyone can come in as long as they are respectful.”

One feature of the center is its expansive library of GLBTQ-related books and media.

According to Hart, the center has the largest GLBTQ library in the state (980 titles in all) that they work to keep updated. The center recently received a $500 donation from TriO and is using the money to update their library.

TriO Programs is based out of the office of Student Educational Opportunity and is designed to help individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Along with being a safe environment and having the library, the center also offers academic support.

“We can also help students academically through assisting students with making schedules or working with the registrar’s office,” Hart said.

This support is extended by the center’s mentoring program, which helps incoming GLBTQ students adjust to college life.

“We have a peer mentoring program now that will take students who have been down here a year or longer, and they can mentor incoming students, to help start a relationship with campus and better integrate into Laramie’s community,” Hart said. “This is a program we piloted in the fall, and it is run specifically out of our office.”

There are, however, a number of challenges associated with running the resource center, Hart said.

“On average, we have close to 3,600 [students], who are members of the GLBTQ community, who go to school at UW. We are also the only hub in the state, so we try and network with GLBTQ students throughout the state,” she said.

Hart added that another challenge associated with the GLBTQ community in Laramie is the political climate that causes many students to be hesitant to be open about their sexual orientation.

“It’s really difficult to get solid statistics on how many GLBTQ students are currently enrolled at UW, because many students don’t want to come out,” she said.

In the future, Hart said she hopes to continue to expand the services the resource center can provide students both GLBTQ and non-GLBTQ.

“I think the work we do here, and the services we provide, are important—not just to the GLBTQ community on campus—but to the state as a whole,” she said.

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The Branding Iron is a Student Media project. Student Media gives University of Wyoming students valuable experience in writing, editing, advertising, sales, graphic design, photography and production through its publications with the guidance of professional staff members. If you find a mistake in an article, e-mail us at bi@uwyo.edu. We will make sure to torture the poor soul until it's corrected. Just kidding. We probably won't do anything, since we're busy studying for finals.

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From Wednesday to next Monday, the group will perform in Glenrock, Afton, Lander and Cody in front of the towns’ high school students.

The Singing Statesmen will be finishing their tour in Cody, where the Wyoming All-State Music Groups will be meeting.

“We will perform for all of the students who auditioned into the Wyoming All-State Band, Orchestra and Choir, as well as music educators from across the state, and family of the All-State students,” said Lamartine.

The group was chosen based on their involvement and dedication to UW’s fine arts program, specifically the local musical scene.

“The UW Singing Statesmen are a high-profile men’s choir that focuses on fine choral literature representative of various style periods and vocal traditions from the western choral tradition, specifically cowboy and western songs associated with the state of Wyoming,” Nicole Lamartine, director of choral activities for UW and conductor of The Singing Statesmen, said.

This group is comprised of 50 to 60 male students from UW and is a non-audition choir. All students interested are excepted.

“This ensemble is available to both music majors and non- music majors and represents a community of musically interested students from across campus,” Lamartine said.

In 2008, Lamartine came into the position of choral activities director.

Along with teaching music education curriculum, conducting and applied voice, Lamartine conducts the Singing Statesmen, the Collegiate Chorale and advises the male the a capella group, Happy Jacks.

The Singing Statesmen’s tour of Wyoming specific goal is to address and encourage singing potential in Wyoming.

“The ensemble has toured Wyoming with the objective to promote male singing to students at the high school and community college level,” Lamartine said.

Email: Davis Bonner

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The Branding Iron is a Student Media project. Student Media gives University of Wyoming students valuable experience in writing, editing, advertising, sales, graphic design, photography and production through its publications with the guidance of professional staff members. If you find a mistake in an article, e-mail us at bi@uwyo.edu. We will make sure to torture the poor soul until it's corrected. Just kidding. We probably won't do anything, since we're busy studying for finals.

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Gov. Matt Mead spoke to the 61st Legislative session about jobs and economy, connectivity, infrastructure, assisting communities, streamlining government, education and dealing with federal issues.

Jobs and economy

Regarding jobs and economy, Mead said Wyoming needed to diversify its economy and focus its efforts toward Wyoming’s “natural advantages,” such as energy and tourism.

Mead also encouraged the manufacturing of wind turbines in Wyoming to promote job growth. Mead promoted “natural gas-fired turbines.” These turbines use natural gas to provide power when wind is not optimal.

“I am skeptical about man-made global warming without more and better science.”

However, he said he supported carbon injection technology and enhanced oil recovery.

Connectivity

Mead addressed increasing technology improvements to enrich personal lives and improve state government as well as other aspects of technology improvements. He proposed enhancing and adding more fiber optics to Wyoming rural communities.

Infrastructure

Mead called for improvements to be made toward the state’s infrastructure to enhance tourism and business. He said he supported additional supplemental appropriations for highways.

He said, “the recommended $52 million in supplemental funding this year makes reasonable progress on highway construction.”

Assisting communities

Mead emphasized the importance of financially supporting local communities.

Mead said, “specifically, I support diverting one half of one percent of the statutory severance tax on minerals and splitting it into thirds—one-third to local governments, one-third to highways and one-third to the state’s rainy day fund.”

Streamlining government

Mead addressed streamlining state government by reiterating his support for legislation that would consolidate the Department of Workforce Services and the Department of Employment.

Mead asked for the authority to allow him to appoint the head of the Health Care Financing Unit.

Education

Mead described the Wyoming education funding as “spending on a Cadillac education plan and not getting Cadillac results.”

Mead called for more rigorous testing to measure both student and teacher progress. Mead said he was interested in having charter schools move forward in Wyoming. He said he felt they could provide new ideas toward education.

Dealing with federal issues

Speaking about federal issues concerning Wyoming, Mead said the federal health care bill was bad policy and costly. He said he felt the law would significantly raise Medicaid rolls.

Mead said the cost of the lawsuit would be approximately $1,000.

However, the state Senate Minority Floor Leader John Hastert and House Minority Whip Mary Throne said the litigation fund created would be around $2 million dollars in a press release after the address.

Mead said he did support state healthcare solutions such as the expansion of healthcare. He added he felt the expansion of the program would allow for more data to develop more effective and less costly healthcare options.

Additionally, Mead also said he wanted a “balanced approach” when dealing with Wyoming minerals.

After the main points, Mead said misuse of prescription drug use was an issue as it exceeded “all other illegal drug and drunk-driving deaths combined.”

The state democratic response to the address said Mead addressed vital issues to Wyoming. However, the democrats felt Mead called for legislation that gave Wyoming contractors preference over state workers.

The state democrats also endorsed funding the Healthy Frontiers program.

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The Branding Iron is a Student Media project. Student Media gives University of Wyoming students valuable experience in writing, editing, advertising, sales, graphic design, photography and production through its publications with the guidance of professional staff members. If you find a mistake in an article, e-mail us at bi@uwyo.edu. We will make sure to torture the poor soul until it's corrected. Just kidding. We probably won't do anything, since we're busy studying for finals.

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Their other five victories were against Westminster (Utah), Washington State, Montana, Utah State, and New Mexico. They also beat Montana-Western in an exhibition matchup. The Cowgirls’ record currently stands at 11-3 overall and 2-0 in the Mountain West conference.

With momentum on their side, the Cowgirls continue conference play tonight against the Texas Christian Horned Frogs (10-6, 2-0) in the Arena-Auditorium at 7 p.m.

The Cowgirls and Horned Frogs are two of the best teams in the Mountain West Conference so far this season. TCU currently sits at third in MWC standings while Wyoming boasts the top spot. So far TCU has the highest scoring offense in the MWC with 71.1 points per game while Wyoming possesses the best scoring defense allowing only 54.7 points per game. Additionally, both teams rank in the top five in the MWC in most major statistical categories.

Wyoming is led by senior forward Hillary Carlson, who was recently named the MWC Co-Player of the Week and averages 18.5 points per game. Senior guard Aubrey Vandiver leads the team with 9.9 rebounds a game and is second on the team with 17.7 points a game, according to Wyoming Athletics.

Senior guard Emily Carter leads TCU with 19.7 points per game and senior guard Helena Sverrisdottir is tops on the team with 4.3 assists per game while adding 17.3 points per game, according to TCU Athletics.

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The Branding Iron is a Student Media project. Student Media gives University of Wyoming students valuable experience in writing, editing, advertising, sales, graphic design, photography and production through its publications with the guidance of professional staff members. If you find a mistake in an article, e-mail us at bi@uwyo.edu. We will make sure to torture the poor soul until it's corrected. Just kidding. We probably won't do anything, since we're busy studying for finals.

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42 percent of the state’s 2007-08 high school graduates who attended a Wyoming college needed remedial help in college math in 2008-09, and 24 percent needed help in reading, according to the Wyoming Department of Education.   The scarier news is that most of these students earned at least a 3.0 in high school.  Luckily, educators across the state agree that the Wyoming education system needs to improve, but how do we fix the problem?

The newly elected school superintendent Cindy Hill advocates for more teacher accountability, local control, personal commitment, and test reorganization.

I agree with all of these goals.  Yes, if a teacher cannot teach, fire him.  If a test is flawed, restructure it.  If local control works, keep it.  But, these goals seem too evident.  These are the changes we are seeing throughout the country in education reform.  These are not new ideas thought up by Cindy Hill in response to an education crisis in Wyoming; these are suggestions by national policy makers in response to a national decline in education.

I am asking how we fix this problem in Wyoming. This state is unique because of its large size and secularity.  Those born in Wyoming most often stay in Wyoming, and that creates an education circle.  A voluntary survey conducted in 2007 showed that 80% of UW Education graduates stay and teach in Wyoming.

I heard recently from a friend that if a student can’t cut it as an engineer, he moves to a business major.  If he can’t hack it in the business department, he becomes a political science major, and, finally, if he fails political science, he becomes a teacher.  If this is true, we can assume that our teachers are not the best and the brightest of the state, but, instead, the slackers, idiots, crazies, and those “nice” students who generally can’t figure out what they want to do.

This is also a national phenomenon.  According to  a best jobs of 2010 survey published in the Wall Street Journal, “teacher” was placed right above “sewage plant operator” and right below “appliance repairer.”  This shows, pretty decisively, that a student needs to be either highly committed to becoming a teacher or simply has no other options.  Nobody wants to graduate from college and have the same public image as a handyman.

According to CBS’s moneywatch.com, education majors across the nation graduate with the highest GPAs of any other major.  I don’t think that this is because education majors are so much smarter than the math, chemistry, and physics majors, but, instead, the education classes are much easier.  Many students take education courses to boost their GPAs in order to be accepted into more difficult programs, such as business.

Wyoming teachers with whom I have spoken hope to continue on to become principals and administrators in Wyoming.  Many of them will do online graduate programs from some unheard of college.  These “graduate” programs are geared for teachers who need something cheap and easy and, consequently, offer quick degrees that carry little in terms of real academia.  So, we are left with the worst students becoming education majors; education majors becoming teachers in Wyoming; teachers participating in easy graduate programs and becoming administrators and principals.

This has wide reaching implications for the state and for Cindy Hill’s theory of teacher accountability.  Teacher accountability only works if those who are evaluating the teachers are better learned than the teachers.  However, administrators, principals, and even State superintendent Cindy Hill were all educated by the University of Wyoming’s education department.  Does this mean that we have not, in fact, put our children’s future in the hands of the best qualified for the job, but instead those people who couldn’t make it in any other field?

I say yes.  We have, unwittingly, failed as a state and as a nation.  Teaching is one of the hardest jobs in this country.  Yet, we make our education program the joke of the university.  Change the program and make it more difficult.  We need to see students that can’t cut it in the education department become business majors, instead of the other way around.

This is easiest in a state like Wyoming.  I mean, 80% of education graduates go on to teach in the state. This means that if we make a conscious effort to be the best, most highly educated state in the nation, we could go a long way by simply changing the education department.  Require an entrance exam, a year of residency, tough classes and even tougher professors.  Bring in the best teachers and administrators from across the nation to show that teaching is not about curriculums, rubrics or lesson plans.  

If our teachers are the best writers, readers, mathematicians in the state, high schools will improve.  In time, the state will improve as more businesses are started or come to Wyoming in response to the better education and smarter graduates.

Until we change the program, Wyoming high school students will be taught by mediocre and unmotivated teachers.  Students will then enter college with little preparation in math and writing and will take remedial courses.  The brightest, most hardworking students will become lawyers, doctors, accountants, and scientists.  The worst students…well… they will become teachers.

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The Branding Iron is a Student Media project. Student Media gives University of Wyoming students valuable experience in writing, editing, advertising, sales, graphic design, photography and production through its publications with the guidance of professional staff members. If you find a mistake in an article, e-mail us at bi@uwyo.edu. We will make sure to torture the poor soul until it's corrected. Just kidding. We probably won't do anything, since we're busy studying for finals.

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Mike Morris:

The Cowboys picked up their most significant win of the season – and perhaps in recent program history – on Saturday when junior guard Paco Cruz hit a desperation shot at the buzzer to give Wyoming a 67-66 win over a good New Mexico team.

Wyoming had been shakier than a first-time snowboarder on a double black diamond in its first 15 contests, but against New Mexico, the Cowboys finally, finally played to their potential and put together a complete 40 minutes. It was the type of performance which – if the Cowboys can find a way to replicate it – gives reason to believe Wyoming can truly be competitive throughout the remainder of the MWC conference schedule. The intensity and toughness of a returning Adam Waddell was especially reassuring, as Waddell put up 16 and 8 against the Lobos in just 23 minutes, and New Mexico simply had no one who could match up with the 6’10 big man on Saturday.

If Waddell’s health continues to improve and the Cowboys continue to develop chemistry and depth – Daylen Harrison had 17 points off the bench against the Lobos – Wyoming men’s basketball will experience a truly exciting spring for the first time in years.

The status of Afam Muojeke’s injured knee still presides over the team’s post-season aspirations, and Muojeke is still nowhere near being able to channel his capability to be one of the most dominant scorers in the entire conference.

The Cowboys will need to continue to improve and develop over the remainder of the conference schedule and try to lock up a five or a six seed for the conference tournament in March.

If by then Muojeke’s knee has healed enough for him to be an effective scorer, Wyoming will be very much capable of putting together a magical 3-game run in the MWC tourney and, yes, dancing with a little March Madness.

As for the Cowgirls, a stellar 11-3 start – by an experienced squad which seems to improve with each game – has expectations soaring in Laramie.

A conference title, 22 or more wins, and an appearance in the NCAA tournament all seem more and more possible with each passing victory by the Cowgirls.

Zach Greubel:

After the men’s basketball team’s embarrassing loss to Colorado State and before their thrilling victory over New Mexico I thought conference play might be the same as it was last season- atrocious. However, the win against the Lobos may spark new life. Granted, they beat San Diego State at this point last season and still had a miserable season in conference play. On the bright side, junior center Adam Waddell is back from injury, hopefully for good, and gives the Cowboys some leadership on the court. Plus, they did just beat one of the best teams in the conference. We’ll see if the win against New Mexico maintains momentum through their conference season.

The Cowgirl basketball team looks primed for another promising season in conference play.  They’ve already beat Colorado State, by 40 points, and New Mexico but have their first big conference test against Texas Christian on Wednesday night. They’re the best team in the conference right now and shouldn’t stray too far from the top of the conference standings throughout the season.

Brad Estes:

The men’s loss to CSU was not encouraging. It reminds me of a team that came up short and couldn’t finish games so many times last year. The buzzer beater New Mexico win is a good win, any win is a good win for the Cowboys. After a non-conference schedule that wouldn’t have scared a high school team, its hard to make predictions for the rest of the year. Losses to teams like South Dakota, North Florida and Green Bay make it difficult to believe that the team can win consistently.

San Diego State and BYU are both impressive teams and ranked in the top 10, and those games might be worth going to see just for that fact. It all depends on how many times the Cowboys decide to show up and play like they did against New Mexico. The losses are more telling than the wins so far, and until the wins start to add up a little more, I will wait to call them even a fifth place finish in the conference.

The Cowgirls are playing well and are coached well, so they will be at the top of the conference all year. Forty point victories over conference opponents are always encouraging. A win against TCU at home tomorrow night would also be big. As a young team, the only thing to be worried about would be consistency late in the year, but so far the Cowgirls have been just that.

Tom Hesse:

I usually peg the Cowgirls for a team that comes on late in the season but they’ve looked like world beaters in their first two conference games. They should have beaten CSU without question but I didn’t see an 83-43 dismantling in them and their ten-point win in Albuquerque showed a convincing road win that I wouldn’t have looked for in a team that is a little on the young side. The Cowgirls haven’t lost in nearly a month and if they take care of the home court this Wednesday, I think they have a real shot at one of those top three spots in the conference.

I was critical of the Cowboys early in the season and I’m still not sure to make of them. All I know is that Francisco Cruz’s intangibles made him a favorite of mine early in the season and his shot to bury the Lobos has made Cruz my favorite player to watch. If the Cowboys can play half as scrappy as they did against New Mexico for the rest of the season then They have a legitimate claim to the upper half of this conference.  That CSU loss still hurts and the MWC is incredibly tough this year but I’m very excited to see this team against UNLV, BYU and SDSU. There are a lot of things to like about this team and they’re still evolving. I’ll optimistically stick them at fifth in the conference with a shot at fourth.

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The Branding Iron is a Student Media project. Student Media gives University of Wyoming students valuable experience in writing, editing, advertising, sales, graphic design, photography and production through its publications with the guidance of professional staff members. If you find a mistake in an article, e-mail us at bi@uwyo.edu. We will make sure to torture the poor soul until it's corrected. Just kidding. We probably won't do anything, since we're busy studying for finals.

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Their home slate begins Saturday, when they will host the University of Idaho Vandals at 12 p.m. in the Arena-Auditorium. They host three more games, Westminster (Utah) on Dec. 11, Wisconsin on Dec. 15 and Washington State on Dec. 18 before taking a two-game road trip.  The Dec. 15 tilt between the Badgers and Cowgirls will be a televised on the The Mtn. Sports Network—a rematch of the 2007 WNIT championship game played at the Arena-Auditorium in front of a sold-out crowd, which the Cowgirls won convincingly, 72-56.

The Cowgirls will then head to Missoula, Montana on Dec. 21, to face off against the Montana Grizzlies and will continue on to Logan, Utah to play the Utah State Aggies Dec. 23 before taking a week off, when players will head home for the holiday.

An exhibition in Rock Springs, head coach Joe Legerski’s hometown, against Montana-Western will mark the post-Christmas return of the Cowgirls Dec. 30.

The New Year brings the beginning of conference play for the Cowgirls, as they will host CSU on Jan. 5 and travel to New Mexico on Jan. 8.

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The Branding Iron is a Student Media project. Student Media gives University of Wyoming students valuable experience in writing, editing, advertising, sales, graphic design, photography and production through its publications with the guidance of professional staff members. If you find a mistake in an article, e-mail us at bi@uwyo.edu. We will make sure to torture the poor soul until it's corrected. Just kidding. We probably won't do anything, since we're busy studying for finals.

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Their home slate begins Saturday, when they will host the University of Idaho Vandals at 12 p.m. in the Arena-Auditorium. They host three more games, Westminster (Utah) on Dec. 11, Wisconsin on Dec. 15 and Washington State on Dec. 18 before taking a two-game road trip.  The Dec. 15 tilt between the Badgers and Cowgirls will be a televised on the The Mtn. Sports Network—a rematch of the 2007 WNIT championship game played at the Arena-Auditorium in front of a sold-out crowd, which the Cowgirls won convincingly, 72-56.

The Cowgirls will then head to Missoula, Montana on Dec. 21, to face off against the Montana Grizzlies and will continue on to Logan, Utah to play the Utah State Aggies Dec. 23 before taking a week off, when players will head home for the holiday.  

An exhibition in Rock Springs, head coach Joe Legerski’s hometown, against Montana-Western will mark the post-Christmas return of the Cowgirls Dec. 30.

The New Year brings the beginning of conference play for the Cowgirls, as they will host CSU on Jan. 5 and travel to New Mexico on Jan. 8. 

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A year and a half after cutting $18.3 million dollars from its budget, UW sees strong financial times on the horizon.

The first sign of a positive trend is that its plan to implement the budget cuts in three years has already been completed in half the time, with no additional cuts.

“It is good news, because it means we got through all the actions that had to be implemented more than a full year ahead of the budget plan,” Doug Vinzant, vice president for administration, said.

Gov. Freudenthal’s full endorsement of UW’s supplemental budget request, except for one item, has also attributed to the positive outlook of the school’s administration.

“On the horizon, the university is stabilized,” Vinzant said.

Items on the request include increased spending for libraries, equipment for the new BioSaftey Laboratory 3 lab and planned renovation of the existing fine arts facility.

Freudenthal is recommending directing $50 million from Abandoned Mine Land funds for the construction of a new science, technology, and engineering mathematics buildings, in combination of additional support for other science and energy related programs. 

“All of those things point to the university not just stabilizing, but taking a step forward; if all those recommendations are enacted by the legislature,” Vinzant said. “That is pretty remarkable [to go] from a year and a half ago to were we are right now.”

Freudenthal has also recommended compensation adjustment, or a salary program for state employees to make up for actions taken during the budget reductions, which would affect UW employees.

All actions still must be passed by the Wyoming legislature in their upcoming session next year.

The reason for the improvement in the revenue picture for the university comes from the estimation-exceeding revenue increase for the state.

Vinzant also said that a reason for UW’s strong recovery stems from strong support that Freudenthal has given to the university. Which included his work to strengthen academics programs, specifically energy related programs. 

Looking towards the future, Vinzant said that the university has every reason to believe that governor-elect Matt Mead is going to be supportive of the university as well.

“We are going to work with him and do our best to make sure that he is aware of what our needs are,” Vinzant said. “We are looking forward to working for him.”

He said no actions taken from the budget reductions have had any unexpected consequences for the university.

“I don’t think that there is anything out of the list of actions, that were put into place, where the consequences, or impacts, were fundamentally different from what was anticipated,” Vinzant said. “But when you have to make reductions of that magnitude, it does have adverse impacts. But that set of actions was very thoughtfully, and very deliberately, crafted to minimize the impact.”

Vinzant said that the budget cuts of 2009 are permanent.  

“As difficult as budget reductions are, I will also say it’s a situation where they force you to think very carefully about institutional priorities, and to examine things very carefully, and that was done here very thoughtfully and in a very deliberate manner,” he said.

Email: Max D’Onofrio 

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Now the Mountain West is hemorrhaging talent and making the Big 12’s debacle from this summer look like a misunderstanding. Unlike the Big 12, the Mountain West has no way of holding onto their teams. The tradition in the Mountain West was not as strong as that in the Big 12. Furthermore, the geography of the Mountain West did not lend itself to a logical conference as the Big 12’s did.  

The Mountain West Conference is now headlined by Boise State, Nevada, SDSU and Air Force. That’s the optimistic view. 

The pessimistic view is that Boise State will find a way into the Big 12 or the Pac 10 and Nevada and Fresno State will abandon their plans to leave the Western Athletic Conference, which could mean the death of the Mountain West Conference. 

Somewhere in the middle lies a conference that won’t compete nationally but will be very competitive within itself.  

What has happened to the Mountain West is not a good thing…unless you play sports at UNLV, New Mexico, CSU or Wyoming. 

What has killed our conference, just might save our program. If you thought Wyoming was in trouble this season, imagine if they played in a conference that could conceivably contain seven nationally-ranked teams—eight if Fresno State was on an upswing. 

If Wyoming is lucky enough to be in a conference in three years, then they might be lucky enough to be in a conference that they can actually win in. Addition by subtraction you might say. 

For the Mountain West in general though, it is the greatest “what if” in the history of the conference. The memory of Utah beating Alabama is a memory of a team that couldn’t leave fast enough.  

The “mid-major” teams, for lack of a better term, had a chance to build a conference that could compete with the Southeastern Conference. Instead they opted to join those conferences. It is the most frustrating example of “if you can’t beat them, join them”. 

The success of building a Mountain West super conference was entirely dependent on cooperation. Cooperation is something college football, the NCAA and the human race in general is uncomfortable with. Building a super conference is not as safe as joining one.  

It’s hard to blame those teams. It would be hard to blame Boise State if they decided to back out of joining the Mountain West. 

College football is perhaps the most corrupt sport in America and you can’t blame the teams for chasing the money any more than you can blame politicians for mud-slinging. Everyone does it and to not do so is to be left behind. Schools need money and the BCS has it. You can’t blame the teams for chasing it. As Omar from “The Wire” would remind us, “It’s all in the game, baby, it’s all in the game”. 

Email: Tom Hesse 

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