The Morning Dish – Tuesday, September 14th
No Go for Hargrow: Minnesota learned yesterday that they won’t be with the services of transfer-comebacker Moe Hargrow this season. Hargrow, who transferred to Arkansas last January, never played a game with the Razorbacks, and returned to Minnesota this summer and was awarded a scholarship last week by head coach Don Monson. The NCAA ruled that Hargrow will still need to sit out an entire season, and will have one season of eligibility remaining for the 2005-06 season. Minnesota could have used Hargrow, a 6-4 guard, as Big Ten freshman of the year Kris Humphries declared for the NBA Draft, leaving the 12-18 Gophers without a scoring presence.
I Want My MWC TV: College Sports Television (CSTV) and the Mountain West Conference have announced the first-ever College Conference Regional Sports Network, to be called Mountain West TV, launching in the fall of 2006. The Mountain West, who recently got out of a deal with ESPN as part of their Big Monday package, will incorporate all conference-related media, and will also feature MWC-sponsored educational programming. The deal was made in part by CSTV’s acquisition of Dave Checketts’ Sportswest Communications, based in Salt Lake City. Sportswest owns broadcast rights to six of the eight MWC member institutions. TCU joins the Mountain West effective July 1, 2005. Additionally, Soros Private Equity recently invested $25 million in CSTV, which comes on the heels of a $37 million investment from JPMorgan Partners.
New Jasper: Manhattan has announced the hiring of Dan McHale as administrative assistant on Bobby Gonzalez’s Jasper coaching staff. McHale enters his first full time coaching position with great experience under his belt, having spent two seasons as grad assistant on Rick Pitino’s Louisville staff, and was a student manager on Tubby Smith’s Kentucky squad from 1997-2001. Last season, McHale worked in the private sector.
Shocker: Wichita State head coach Mark Turgeon will use any method to recruit potential players, even offering a hamburger to a 4-year-old. Turgeon, who appears in a Spangles Hamburger commercial using Spangles fare to woo a child recruit, is aiming for Clara Peller’s spot in the burger spot pantheon. It all started at Turgeon’s summer golf tournament, which featured a silent auction to appear in a commercial with Turgeon. Booster Wendell Smith paid $2,800 and gave the opportunity to his grandson, Luke. Because of the popularity, two additional spots are slated, with matching donations of $2,800. The funds will be incorporated into Wichita State’s recruiting and travel budget.
