This NY Times article reports on the latest developments in the Auburn University academic scandal involving the school’s intercollegiate athletic program. The university’s report on its internal probe indicates that at least one scholarship athlete had his grade changed from an incomplete to an “A” in a course without the professor knowing about it in order to allow the athlete to fulfill eligibility requirements. And it’s not as if the course was even a real academic exercise — it was something called a “self-study” course. Earlier posts on the scandal and the tension between academic institutions financing and operating minor league professional sports franchises are here, here and here.
Is there really any question at this point that minor league professional football is more important than academic integrity at Auburn?

Titans 26 Texans 20
Unless you are a hardy soul, it would be a good idea to avoid sports talk radio this week in Houston.
It would have been bad enough given that jilted no. 1 draft choice Reggie Bush had another brilliant game in helping the Saints blast the Cowboys. However, Texas Longhorns hero Vince Young really turned the knife when he transformed a third and long situation in overtime into a 39 yard touchdown run to give the Titans their second win over the Texans this season. The Titans trailed 14-13 in the fourth quarter before Young led a 15-play, 88-yard drive that gave the Titans their first lead of the second half, 20-17. The Texans tied it up on a Kris Brown 36-yard field goal with a little under two minutes ago, and then Young’s TD run occurred on the first possession of the overtime period.
Rookie Young clearly outplayed embattled fifth-year Texans QB David Carr, who could generate only 133 net passing yards on a 17-23 day. Young was 19-28 for a net 200 yards with one interception, but tacked on an additional 86 yards rushing on just 7 carries. Given how close-to-the-vest Texans coach Gary Kubiak played this one on offense, it’s reasonably clear that Kubiak has little confidence in Carr and that the first draft choice in the Texans’ history is probably playing his final few games with the franchise.
The Texans (4-9) now go on the road to face the Patriots (9-4) and then return home to finish the season against the Colts (10-3) and the Browns (4-9). There may be one more win in those three games, but my pre-season prediction of six wins for the Texans now appears to be a pipe dream.