Corn Flakes: College Football = Big Business! Who Knew?

AP: Alabama athletic revenues more than any NHL team's - CBSSports.com

Here's some context for the claim that NCAA athletics is big business. (It is.)

Check this out for context:

Revenues derived from college athletics is greater than the aggregate revenues of the NBA and the NHL," said Marc Edelman, an associate professor at City University of New York who specializes in sports and antitrust law. He also noted that Alabama's athletic revenues last year, which totaled $143 million, exceeded those of all 30 NHL teams and 25 of the 30 NBA teams.

Perhaps that's not as surprising as it sounds. I don't pay much attention to pro sports anymore (unless you consider college "pro"), so maybe the NHL and NBA aren't all that hot an asset.

The idea that college football is a business has been around for years. People typically don't have a problem with economics until it becomes so lopsided that it's clear there's a problem. That time is now.

Ohio legislators seek to assert that college athletes aren't employees | cleveland.com
The proposal, which still faces a number of legislative hurdles before passage, comes after a recent National Labor Relations Board ruling that Northwestern University football players can unionize.

Is the fight to change the NCAA and college sports coming to Ohio? | cleveland.com
"I think we have to find more ways to serve student-athletes and I think what Kain Colter and others are trying to do is a good thing," Ohio State AD Gene Smith said. "But I think there are better ways to do it. I just don't think unions are the right way to go."

Another Illinois School in the Big Ten? Not Feasible, but the State Needs a Better #2 Public University | FRANK THE TANK'S SLANT
I've been getting a lot of requests for comment on some proposed legislation by an Illinois state representative from Naperville to have a feasibility study performed on whether another Illinois public university can be added to the Big Ten. Here is the full text of the proposed bill. Note that I actually live in Naperville,…

2014 spring game attendance rankings: LSU takes early lead, Michigan right behind - SBNation.com
The Big 12 has not fared quite so well in the early spring season.

Michigan 2014 spring practice: Doug Nussmeier's offense must improve - College Football - Andy Staples - SI.com
Michigan 2014 spring practice: Doug Nussmeier's offense is in need of major improvement entering the Wolverines' fourth campaign under head coach Brady Hoke.

Rutgers AD Julie Hermann's collected wit and wisdom - SBNation.com
Julie Hermann has been no stranger to controversy in her year in charge of the Rutgers athletic department.

Rutgers AD Julie Hermann foolish with comments after Star-Ledger - College Football - Brian Hamilton - SI.com
Give Julie Hermann this: She fully understands that the less people know about her, the better off they are. The Rutgers athletic director stood before a journalism class a few weeks ago and declared that it would be great" if the state's largest newspaper, The Star-Ledger, went ahead and died.

U-M to Host its First-Ever B1G Night Game on Oct. 11 vs. Penn State - MGOBLUE.COM - University of Michigan Official Athletic Site
Michigan will play a night game against Penn State. It's not November, but it's a start.

Did The Big Ten Underachieve In The NCAA Tournament? - BT Powerhouse
The Big Ten basketball season wrapped up last night when Wisconsin went down to Kentucky. It was certainly a disappointing loss for the Badgers and ended the Big Ten's title hopes.

Last But Not Least:

McKewon: Tweaks to Husker offense appear to favor QB Armstrong - Omaha.com
Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said Saturday little has changed with coordinator Tim Beck's offense this spring. Mostly, it's simpler terminology, Pelini said. But as I've watched spring camp, I've seen a few tweaks that better match quarterback Tommy Armstrong than the offense did last year.

Gregory says intense spring paying dividends for NU defensive line : Latest Husker News

Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory wasn’t certain what to expect when spring football practice began in early March since he wasn't here for it last year.