I'll still take the college game

I went to Thursday night's Dolphins-Panthers game, probably my first NFL game in 25 years.

For all of the hypocrisy of the NCAA, I'll still take the college game -- and especially the smoke-free concourses after dealing with the Panthers crowd. If you think no one smokes anymore, go to Bank of America Stadium.

What NCAA hypocrisy, you ask? Well, I'll start with the NCAA's policy on alcohol.

Understand, I wish the Volstead Act had never been repealed -- and would like to see it reinstated.

It's my understanding that the NCAA doesn't allow any alcohol sales in school-owned on-campus facilities.

That's a policy that teetotalers such as myself appreciate. But why does the NCAA take in (and allow its schools to, also) millions of dollars in advertising from beer companies if it feels alcohol sales don't fit the atmosphere it wants at a college game?

There were actually fewer drunks around me at the Panthers game than I anticipated. There were, however, plenty of security/law enforcement folks to take care of the problems. I've had more obnoxious drunks sitting around me at college games, where they got lubricated before coming into the stadium.

Another point of hypocrisy is the NCAA's willingness allow its "student-athletes" (their term) to be prostituted so ESPN can have a 24-hour marathon of live basketball games. What's the benefit of having a game at 6 a.m. on a weekday morning?

I mention basketball, but football is guilty, too. As a couch potato, I enjoy a good Tuesday night MAC game as much as anyone. But what about the missed class time? Do the football players make up their missed Tuesday or Wednesday classes on Saturday or Sunday? I didn't think so.

Of course, my two favorite bits of NCAA hypocrisy remain -- nicknames/mascots and the Confederate flag.

1. Newberry, Northeast Louisiana, Arkansas State and others have been bullied into changing their nickname from "Indians" for the sake of political correctness. But, Florida State, with its lucrative apparel sales (of which I'm sure the NCAA gets a cut) doesn't have to change its "Seminoles" nickname because it got approval from the Seminole tribe.

Do they think I believe that no Seminoles are offended? What other group is in 100 percent lockstep on a controversial issue?

I'm an ordained deacon. Can I get Wake Forest to change its mascot because it dresses in stereotypical depiction of a deacon? I've e-mailed the NCAA and gotten nowhere.

Would Bulldogs, Tigers, Gamecocks and other animals be offended if they had the mental capacity to know they are being used as mascots?

Is it a silly argument? Of course. Why do only certain people/groups have a right to be offended to the point of the NCAA taking action.

2. The Confederate flag was removed from a place of sovereignty on the S.C. State House to a monument on the grounds. It was a compromise that neither side particularly liked, but that's the definition of a compromise.

Still the NCAA punishes its member schools from South Carolina with its ban of pre-awarding championship events to the state. Colleges don't make legislation.

Are they hoping for a groundswell of fans to badger their legislators into moving the flag so an NCAA Regional can be held in Columbia or Greenville? The way tickets are distributed, only a handful of locals would have a shot at getting tickets anyway.

Let's see ... surrender my heritage for a (miniscule) chance to see a basketball regional every four or five years involving teams I may not care about? I'll pass.

Southerners don't like being told what they have to do or can't do. That's what started the unpleasantness more than 140 years ago.

What's up with the TV networks

I am mystified that the TCU/Clemson football game Sept. 26 was not picked for network TV. I have ESPN360, so I will be able to watch it. This just seems like one of those intersectional games that would be ideal for national broadcast.

College football radio information for S.C. schools, 2009

BENEDICT
Columbia, WLXC-FM, 103.1

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN
Charleston area, WJNI, FM-106.3
Internet: Teamline

CLEMSON
Augusta/Aiken, WGUS-AM, 1480
Barnwell, WDOG-AM, 1460
Camden, WCAM-AM, 1590, WPUB-FM, 102.7
Charleston, WQSC-AM, 1340
Clemson, WCCP-FM, 104.9
Clinton, WPCC-AM, 1410
Columbia, WZMJ-FM, 93.1; WOIC-AM, 1230 (partial schedule)
Georgetown, WGTN-AM, 1400
Greenville, WTPT-FM, 93.3
Hampton, WBHC-FM, 92.1
Hilton Head, WFXH-AM, 1130
Lincolnton, NC, WLON-AM, 1050
Myrtle Beach, WVCO-FM, 94.9
Newberry, WKDK-AM, 1240
Orangeburg, WWBD-FM, 95.7; WQKI-FM, 102.9
Rock Hill, WRHI-AM, 1340; WRHI-FM, 94.3
Sumter/Florence, WICI-FM, 94.7
Union, WBCU-AM, 1460
Internet: wccpfm.com
Satellite: XM/Sirius

COASTAL CAROLINA
Anderson, WANS-AM 1280
Anderson/Greenville, WRIX-FM, 103.1 (partial schedule)
Cheraw, WCRE-AM, 1420
Conway, WIQB-AM, 1050; W241AE-FM, 96.1
Georgetown/ Mt. Pleasant, WXJY-FM, 93.7
Myrtle Beach area, WJXY-FM, 93.9
Rock Hill, WHRM-FM 107.1 (partial schedule)

FURMAN
Greenville, WOLT-FM, 103.3
Walhalla, WGOG-FM, 96.3
Internet: Stretch Audio

NEWBERRY
Newberry, WKDK-AM, 1240
Internet: Red Zone Media

NORTH GREENVILLE
WNGC-FM, 95.5, Tigerville
Internet: NGCrusaders.com

PRESBYTERIAN
WLBG-AM, 860, Laurens
Internet: WLBG

SOUTH CAROLINA
Abbeville, WZLA-FM, 92.9
Aiken/Edgefield, WKSX-FM, 92.7
Allendale, WDOG-FM, 93.5
Anderson, WRIX-FM, 103.1
Camden, WPUB-FM, 102.7
Charleston, WTMA-AM, 1250
Chesterfield, WVSZ-FM, 107.3
Clinton, WPCC-AM, 1410
Columbia, WISW-AM, 1320; WNKT-FM, 107.5
Florence, WWFN-FM, 100.1
Gaffney, WEAC-AM, 1500; WEAC-FM, 104.3
Greenville, WBZT-FM, 96.7
Greenwood, WLMA-AM, 1350
Hilton Head, WFXH-AM, 1130
Kershaw, WKSC-AM, 1300
Myrtle Beach, WRNN-FM, 107.1; WRNN-AM 1450
Newberry, WKDK-AM, 1240
Orangeburg, WGFG-FM, 105.1
Rock Hill/Lancaster, WRHM-FM, 107.1
Seneca, WSNW-AM, 1150; WSNW-FM, 103.5
Spartanburg, WSPG-AM, 1400
Sumter, WIBZ-FM, 95.5
Union, WBCU-AM, 1460
Walterboro, WALI-FM, 93.7
Satellite: XM/Sirius
Internet USCAll-Access

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE
WAAW-FM, 94.7, Augusta/Aiken
WQNT-AM, 1450, Charleston
WGIV-AM, 1370, Charlotte/Rock Hill
WOIC-AM, 1230, Columbia
WZMJ-FM, 93.1, Columbia/Midlands
WQKI-FM, 102.9, Orangeburg
Internet: Teamline, TBA

THE CITADEL
Berkeley County, WJKB-AM, 950
Charleston, WTMZ-AM, 910
Columbia, WQLX-AM, 1470; WQXL-FM, 95.9
Conway, WXJY, AM-1050
Florence, WLOS-AM, 1230
Greenville/Spartanburg, WLFJ-AM, 660
Lake City, WHYM-AM, 1260
Myrtle Beach, WXJY-FM, 95.9
Sumter, WDXY-AM, 1240
Internet: CitadelSports.com

WOFFORD
Greer, WPJM-AM, 800
Spartanburg, WSPG-AM, 1400
Internet: espn1400am.com

2009 football schedule for S.C. colleges

Aug. 22
Tuskegee at Benedict, 6 p.m.

Aug. 29
Benedict at Morehouse, 7 p.m.
Mars Hill at North Greenville, 7 p.m.
Newberry at Valdosta State, 7 p.m.

Sept. 3
Coastal Carolina at Kent State, 7 p.m.
South Carolina at N.C. State, 7 p.m.

Sept. 5
North Greenville at Wingate, 1:30 p.m.
West Virginia State at Benedict, 4 p.m.
Presbyterian at Furman, 5 p.m.
Middle Tennessee State at Clemson, 6 p.m.
The Citadel at North Carolina, 6 p.m.
Charleston Southern at Florida, 7 p.m.
Newberry at Austin Peay, 7 p.m.
Wofford at South Florida, 7 p.m.

Sept. 6
S.C. State vs. Grambling, at Orlando, 2 p.m.

Sept. 10
Clemson at Georgia Tech, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 12
Elon at Presbyterian, 1:30 p.m.
S.C. State at Bethune-Cookman, 4 p.m.
Furman at Chattanooga. 6 p.m.
Miles at Benedict, 6 p.m.
Charleston Southern at Wofford, 7 p.m.
Monmouth at Coastal Carolina, 7 p.m.
South Carolina at Georgia, 7 p.m.
Wesley at North Greenville, 7 p.m.

Sept. 19
Boston College at Clemson, noon
Wofford at Wisconsin, noon
Chattanooga at Presbyterian, 1:30 p.m.
The Citadel at Princeton, 3 p.m.
Benedict vs. Concordia, at Miami, 5 p.m.
Coastal Carolina at Towson, 6 p.m.
Cumberland (Tenn.) at Newberry, 7 p.m.
Florida Atlantic at South Carolina, 7 p.m.
North Greenville at Lenoir-Rhyne, 7 p.m.
Charleston Southern at South Florida, TBA
Furman at Missouri, TBA

Sept. 24
Mississippi at South Carolina, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 26
Newberry at Carson-Newman, 1 p.m.
North Greenville at Charleston Southern, 1:30 p.m.
Benedict at Albany State, 2 p.m.
Furman at Western Carolina, 6 p.m.
Winston-Salem State at S.C. State, 6 p.m.
Wofford at Chattanooga, 6 p.m.
North Carolina A&T at Coastal Carolina, 7 p.m.
Presbyterian at The Citadel, 7 p.m.
TCU at Clemson, TBA

Oct. 3
Appalachian State at The Citadel, 1 p.m.
Newberry at Catawba, 1:30 p.m.
Georgia Southern at Wofford, 1:30 p.m.
Savannah State at Charleston Southern, 1:30 p.m.
Elon at Furman, 3 p.m.
North Greenville at Edward Waters, 3 p.m.
Presbyterian at Stony Brook, 3 p.m.
Clemson at Maryland, TBA
S.C. State at South Carolina, TBA

Oct. 8
North Greenville at North Alabama, 7 p.m.

Oct. 10
S.C. State at Norfolk State, 1 p.m.
The Citadel at Elon, 1:30 p.m.
Lane at Benedict, 2 p.m.
Presbyterian at Old Dominion, 6 p.m.
Mars Hill at Newberry, 7 p.m.
VMI at Coastal Carolina, 7 p.m.
Kentucky at South Carolina, TBA

Oct. 17
The Citadel at Western Carolina, 1 p.m.
Newberry at Wingate, 1:30 p.m.
Florida A&M at S.C. State, 2 p.m.
Samford at Furman, 2 p.m.
U. of Charleston at North Greenville, 2 p.m.
Appalachian State at Wofford, 3 p.m.
Benedict at Kentucky State, 3 p.m.
Coastal Carolina at Liberty, 3:30 p.m.
Charleston Southern at Gardner-Webb, 6 p.m.
South Carolina at Alabama, TBA
Wake Forest at Clemson, TBA

Oct. 24
Wofford at Western Carolina, 1 p.m.
Liberty at Charleston Southern, 1:30 p.m.
Fort Valley State at Benedict, 2 p.m.
Furman at The Citadel, 2 p.m.
S.C. State at Hampton, 2 p.m.
VMI at Presbyterian, 2 p.m.
Coastal Carolina at Stony Brook, 6 p.m.
Tusculum at Newberry, 7 p.m.
Clemson at Miami, TBA
Vanderbilt at South Carolina, TBA

Oct. 31
Appalachian State at Furman, noon
Samford at The Citadel 1 p.m.
Charleston Southern at VMI, 1:30 p.m.
Delaware State at S.C. State, 1:30 p.m.
Elon at Wofford, 1:30 p.m.
Newberry at Lenoir-Rhyne, 2 p.m.
North Greenville at Clark Atlanta, 2 p.m.
Benedict at Stillman, 3 p.m.
Presbyterian at Liberty, 3:30 p.m.
Coastal Carolina at Clemson, TBA
South Carolina at Tennessee, TBA

Nov. 7
Gardner-Webb at Coastal Carolina, 12:30 p.m.
S.C. State at Howard, 1 p.m.
UNC Pembroke at North Greenville, 1 p.m.
Charleston Southern at Presbyterian, 1:30 p.m.
Benedict vs. Clark Atlanta, at Augusta, 2 p.m.
Wofford at The Citadel 3 p.m.
Brevard at Newberry, 7 p.m.
Florida State at Clemson, TBA
Furman at Auburn, TBA
South Carolina at Arkansas, TBA

Nov. 14
Presbyterian at Coastal Carolina, 12:30 p.m.
Morgan State at S.C. State, 1:30 p.m.
Samford at Wofford, 1:30 p.m.
Stony Brook at Charleston Southern, 1:30 p.m.
Furman at Georgia Southern, 2 p.m.
The Citadel at Chattanooga, 2 p.m.
Clemson at N.C. State, TBA
Florida at South Carolina, TBA

Nov. 21
Gardner-Webb at Presbyterian, 1 p.m.
Coastal Carolina at Charleston Southern, 1:30 p.m.
N.C. A&T at S.C. State, 1:30 p.m.
The Citadel at Georgia Southern, 2 p.m.
Wofford at Furman, 3 p.m.
Virginia at Clemson, TBA

Nov. 28
Clemson at South Carolina, TBA

Schedules are taken from school Web sites.
Times and dates are subject to change.
TBA - kickoff has not been announced yet

Furman's Athletic Department must be rolling in money

For the first time in years, Furman has sold all available tickets to a home basketball game.

Well, at least all the school is willing to make available.

The capacity of Timmons Arena is listed as 5,000, but the school sold less than 3,000 tickets for Saturday's home game against Davidson and declared a sellout.

That's because about 2,000 seats are blocked off by curtains and unavailable.

Timmons Arena was a White Elephant for basketball the day it opened. Terrible sight lines and seats at long distances from the court are common.

When South Carolina came to play Furman several years back, I paid $17 apiece for three seats. Once I got there, I found out they were bleacher seats -- no backs, the kind that can be pushed back against a wall -- and we had to watch the game from a terrible angle through railings with people constantly walking in front of us.

I vowed never to buy another ticket to a basketball game at Timmons, and I've held true to that pledge.

I was considering breaking over and going to see Davidson and Stephen Curry play, but my work schedule won't permit it.

I know Furman did some remodeling to try to make the arena more palatable, so maybe things aren't quite as bad as they may have been.

There's obviously some demand for additional seats for the Davidson game. Why doesn't Furman remove the curtain for this game to get some more revenue?

According to Furman's Web site, single-game basketball ticket prices range from $3 to $11, based on age and seat location. If Furman were to sell 2,000 more tickets at an average of $5, that's an additional $10,000 in revenue -- plus concession sales to the additional fans.

Is Furman's athletic program in good enough shape financially that it can ignore the prospect of an additional $10,000 to $15,000? If I were a moneyed Furman booster, I'd remind the school of that the next time it came calling with its hand out.

Politics as usual

I've tried to avoid the coverage of the inauguration of President Obama as much as possible. Before someone shouts racism or sour grapes, I can't ever remember a time I've made it a point to watch any inauguration -- even that of President Reagan, the greatest President of my lifetime.

I've always found more constructive ways to use my time. I believe I'm primarily responsible for what goes on in my life, regardless of the party in control.

I don't see a White House shift from one party to another as making much difference in my life, because -- despite the political posturing -- there's not much difference between the Democrats and Republicans in Washington. The bottom line for all of them seems to be being in position to win the next re-election bid, principles be damned.

That said, I'm a bit ticked off by what I've been hearing. President Bush, booed and serenaded with the "Nah-nah-nah-nah, nah-nah-nah-nah, hey, hey, hey, good-bye" song from the crowd?

Then, the Rev. Lowery praying for the time when "white will embrace what is right." Uh, Rev. Lowery, EVERY race needs to embrace what is right.

This, from the crowd claiming to want to end the partisanship in politics, but has spent the last eight years attacking the Bush administration at every opportunity.

Nice start.

When Sens. Kennedy and Byrd had to leave the luncheon with medical issues, one of the stories reporting it had a long list of comments, some critical of the senators' histories, some critical of those criticizing the senators.

In some folks' eyes, Republicans are fair game and any criticism of Democrats is unfair.

I consider myself a conservative, not a Republican or Democrat, and vote on issues, not party affiliation.

I didn't vote for him, still I hope President Obama is the best president we've ever had. But with his planned policies and some of the folks he associates with, I don't see it happening.

Does that make me a racist or mean-spirited?