2. NCAA Investigations: As the Dez Bryant situation has taught us, lying to NCAA investigators, even without an actual rule violation, can lead to a suspension. A student-athlete would reasonably expect that his or her school’s compliance officer would provide counsel should NCAA investigators seek an interview. But remember, the compliance officer’s allegiance is ultimately to the university. A player should be provided the opportunity to seek counsel if faced with an investigation that could lead to a suspension.
3. Coaching Contracts: Inequities in contractual negotiations should always be avoided. Yet the lack of counsel in contract negotiations often create problems for coaches and universities alike. At smaller Division I schools, a negotiation might take place between an athletic director and the agent for a coaching candidate. The agent and coach are at a significant advantage if the athletic director does not use an attorney to negotiate the terms of the contract. There’s simply no one to play bad cop to the athletic director’s good cop. On the other hand, smaller Division II and III schools may essentially force form contracts upon coaching candidates. In this situation, the compensation may be considered too small for either side to retain an attorney. But form contracts do nothing to enhance the goals of either party - a key objective in any contract – regardless of how small the monetary value of the contract.
There is some talent in Big East football. The perception nationally is much worse than the reality. Cincinnati is a legitimate Top 10 team. Pittsburgh has some great young talent. Noel Devine is a great running back for West Virginia.
The Conference needs a 9th team, if for no other reason than to balance out the uneven scheduling which has some teams playing 3 home games and others playing 4. East Carolina may be the best candidate.
The Conference also needs to showcase rivalries like Rutgers-UConn. The schools are less than 200 miles apart. Their fans hate each other. At least that is what the message boards reflect. 7 of the last 8 games have been decided by less than 10 points.
It is clearly the biggest game of the year for both teams. UConn quarterback Zach Frazier has already said that he has circled next year’s game in Piscataway.
The teams should either play the day after Thanksgiving on national television or play the last game of the season in the Big East in December.
Pittsburgh-West Virginia is a great rivalry. Rutgers-UConn is approaching that level. Let’s let the country know about it.
Although UConn lost Saturday’s game against Rutgers in heart-breaking fashion, the game will be remembered for much more than the final score of 28-24. UConn and its fans paid tribute to Jasper Howard. Howard’s number 6 was displayed throughout the stadium, on t-shirts, buttons, wristbands and signs. An image of Howard graced the game program. A touching pregame ceremony left some fans in our section in tears. Near the close of the ceremony the sun broke through a grey sky and shined brightly. Perhaps fittingly, Tim Brown, the Rutgers player that scored the game-winning touchdown for the Scarlet Knights was Howard’s best friend from Miami.
Connecticut Sports Law is pleased to announce that attorney and veteran sports writer Richard Kent will be sharing his writing and expertise on UConn and Big East sports, particularly football and men’s and women’s basketball. Kent has authored a number of sports books, including Lady Vols and UConn: The Greatest Rivalry, Inside Women’s College Basketball: Anatomy of a Season, and Inside the US Open. Most recently, Kent released a novel entitled The Racket, which tells the story of a African-American tennis player in Hartford, Connecticut. In addition to his prodigious writing, Kent is a matrimonial lawyer in Fairfield, Connecticut.
By Richard Kent
AP Photo / Bill Kostroun
1. UConn: Looks like another undefeated season and National Championship in Storrs. Maya Moore may be the best female player ever when it is all said and done. Geno Auriemma is certainly the best coach.
2. Notre Dame: The beat keeps rolling for Muffet McGraw. She has one of the best freshman in the country in Skylar Diggins.
3. Rutgers: Loads of talent but they will disappoint at some point because of a lack of scoring. Khadijah Rushdan may be the best scorer.
4. South Florida: They are a veteran team led by Janae Stokes.
5. Louisville: Chauntise Wright can play.
6. Villanova: Young, but one of the best shooting teams playing for a veteran coach.
7. DePaul: Doug Bruno is one of the best coaches around.
8. Pittsburgh: They will be big inside and also are veteran.
9. West Virginia: Liz Repella can play and Mike Carey can coach.
10. Marquette: Not big but talented.
11. St. John’s: Brings back a lot from a team that disappointed last year.
12. Syracuse: They are athletic. Nicole Michael is one of the best guards in the League.
13. Georgetown: Getting much better talent.
14. Seton Hall: When will the Phyllis Mangina era finally be over?
15. Providence: Better than a few years back but still not a contender.
16. Cincinnati: The big disappointment last year remains so this year.
Compare this to the Browns, where the trademarks were held in trust during the hiatus. From the trademark records, it looks like the Hurricanes just own whatever rights are left in the Whalers name and mark and it’s just a routine jersey licensing deal.
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today demanded that a Pennsylvania website immediately stop selling T-shirts and towels memorializing recently murdered University of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard or face legal action.
Blumenthal said that Gamedaytease.com claims proceeds will benefit Howard’s unborn child, but has failed to demonstrate authorization or permission. The website violated state law by failing to register with his office’s Public Charities Unit. The site’s merchandise is also breaking the law by using, without UConn’s permission, copyrighted images of Howard as well as the university’s logo, he said.
Blumenthal said that he will sue Gamedaytease.com, based in Presto, Penn., if it does not immediately stop its illegal sales, as well as seek forfeiture of proceeds from any unauthorized sales, if appropriate.
Blumenthal added that Bob’s Stores, Huskyware and UConn Co-op have agreed to sell Howard memorial T-Shirts with all profits to benefit two legitimate charities in Howard’s name. He urged consumers to shun all other vendors and stores that may try to sell Howard merchandise.
“I am demanding that Gamedaytease.com immediately cease selling Jasper Howard merchandise in violation of state charity and copyright laws,” Blumenthal said. “The site claims all proceeds will support Howard’s unborn child, but has failed to demonstrate any permission or authorization from the family or UConn. They have also failed to register as a charity. Their unauthorized actions are illegal, breaking state statutes. Its products use Howard’s name and image, and UConn logos, violating federal and state laws.
“Any attempt to exploit Howard’s tragic death is despicable and unconscionable. I will fight anyone seeking to exploit Howard’s heartrending tragedy, as well as pursue civil penalties and forfeitures.”
Blumenthal said that UConn and the Howard family have established the Jasper T. Howard Endowed Scholarship and the Jasper Howard Fund to assist his family with funeral and other expenses and to benefit his unborn child.
Those wishing to donate to the Jasper Howard scholarship fund should make checks payable to “UConn Foundation UCADF” and indicate “Jasper T. Howard Scholarship” in the memo line, sending them to:
Jasper T. Howard Scholarship
C/O UConn Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 150430
Hartford, Ct. 06115-0430
Donors wishing to benefit Howard’s unborn child and his family are asked to make checks payable to “The Jasper Howard Fund” and mail them to:
UConn and Jasper Howard figured significantly in the past weekend of college football action. West Virginia’s classy ovation for the UConn team, pre-game moment of silence and “We are all Huskies” sign together made for a fitting tribute to UConn’s fallen star, Jasper Howard.
Howard and Huskies also figured prominently in an interesting business and legal situation. After the UConn Co-op quickly sold out of Howard’s #6 T-shirts, UConn moved quickly to satisfy demand for the shirts. Although UConn athletics is in the midst of a $45.5 million exclusive sponsorship contract with Nike (Big Money Heading to Storrs: UConn Athletics and Nike Agree on $45.5 Million Contract), Nike apparently could not produce #6 shirts and deliver them to UConn quickly enough.
“I am demanding that Gamedaytease.com immediately cease selling Jasper Howard merchandise in violation of state charity and copyright laws,” Blumenthal said in a written statement.
Blumenthal wrote in a Friday letter to Gamedaytease.com that its actions violated a Connecticut state law that requires all “commercial co-ventures be registered with the Public Charities Unit” and that all advertisements for a charitable sales promotion disclose “the amount per unit of goods or services purchased or used that is to benefit the charitable organization or purpose.”
Byler, a former soccer player at the State University of New York at Buffalo, said the business is removing UConn’s “C” logo from the Game Day Tease products to satisfy copyright rules and is taking other steps to comply with state and federal laws.
“We’re trying to do the right thing and trying to go about it the right way,” said Byler, whose company is based in Presto, Penn., near Pittsburgh. “If they want to twist and turn it around and try to make us look like bad guys for trying to help, that’s not right.”
Tully Banta-Cain (TBC) was playing under a minimum salary benefit (MSB) contract, a tool that allows for older veteran players to make the appropriate minimum salaries with a lower cap charge…MSB contracts, however, cannot be renegotiated during their one-year term, requiring the team to wait until they expire to renegotiate. This frustrated me as a contract negotiator since many of these players proved their worth beyond the MSB and we were unable to reward them until they hit the open market.
"As I stand here this evening, I can see that smile...I can see his face and know that he thanks everybody for being out here this evening." -UConn's Randy Edsall at the candlelight vigil in memory of Jasper Howard
By Richard Kent
8. Cincinnati: They return the most of anyone in Conference.
Veteran sports writer Richard Kent has authored a number of sports books, including Lady Vols and UConn: The Greatest Rivalry, Inside Women’s College Basketball: Anatomy of a Season, and Inside the US Open. Most recently, Kent released a novel entitled The Racket, which tells the story of a African-American tennis player in Hartford, Connecticut. In addition to his prodigious writing, Kent is a matrimonial lawyer in Fairfield, Connecticut.
Posted by Dan Fitzgerald 
Posted by Dan Fitzgerald 
Posted by Dan Fitzgerald 
