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Roy Kramer, SEC commish and BCS architect, dies

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Roy Kramer, SEC commish and BCS architect, dies


Roy Kramer, who served as SEC commissioner for 12 years and was the force behind the creation of the Bowl Championship Series, has died at the age of 96, the SEC announced Friday.

Kramer became one of the most powerful officials in college football, overseeing SEC sports during a period in which the conference became the most financially successful in the nation.

“Roy Kramer will be remembered for his resolve through challenging times, his willingness to innovate in an industry driven by tradition, and his unwavering belief in the value of student-athletes and education,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement. “His legacy is not merely in championships or commissioner’s decisions, but in a lifetime devoted to lifting student-athletes and believing in the power of sport to shape the lives of young people. Though he stepped away from formal roles years ago, the foundations he built, on campuses within the SEC and across college sports, will resonate for generations to come.”

Kramer worked out lucrative TV deals for the SEC and instituted an annual conference championship game — the first conference championship game in NCAA Division I-A history — after the SEC expanded to 12 teams in 1992.

The BCS — using a complex formula to place teams in the Sugar, Fiesta, Orange and Rose bowls — may be considered Kramer’s most notable and controversial endeavor. Kramer became head of the BCS committee in 1995.

He also served 12 years as athletic director at Vanderbilt, beginning in 1978 until he was named SEC commissioner in 1990.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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Michigan St. receives $390M donation for athletics

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Michigan St. receives 0M donation for athletics


EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State has received a $401 million gift from Greg and Dawn Williams, supporting the university’s and athletic department’s fundraising initiatives with the largest donation to the school and one of the richest in college sports history.

“Their investment in both the university and the future of Spartan Athletics reflects a bold, shared vision for excellence and innovation,” university president Kevin M. Guskiewicz said Friday. “This moment will have a profound impact on generations of Spartans, and we are honored by their confidence in MSU.”

The gift includes $390 million for the athletic department’s $1 billion fundraising campaign that was launched this week and promoted by former Spartans star and Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. The Williams’ gift also includes $100 million for Spartan Ventures, a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation set up to raise funds for the athletic department.

The donation gives Michigan State’s teams a boost in the new era of college athletics, particularly its struggling football program.

Athletic director J Batt fired coach Jonathan Smith with a buyout of $33 million Sunday and hired former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald to an incentive-laden, five-year, $30 million contract earlier this week.

“In today’s evolving college athletics landscape, this is a monumental day in the history of Michigan State Athletics,” Batt said. “Greg and Dawn’s commitment will provide the resources required for new levels of competitive excellence and student-athlete opportunities, while charting a new path for the Spartan Athletics enterprise.”

Greg Williams is the co-founder and CEO of Acrisure, a financial technology company that bought the naming rights to the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ stadium that was formerly known as Heinz Field.

“This commitment reflects our belief that we should give back to our community … and to the place we call home,” Greg and Dawn Williams said in a statement. “MSU is not only the face of our community, but the health and well-being of East Lansing depend on a thriving and successful MSU.”



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NCAA men’s water polo championship: All-time winners list

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NCAA men’s water polo championship: All-time winners list


The 2025 NCAA men’s water polo championship runs from Friday through Sunday at Stanford’s Avery Aquatic Center. This year’s contenders include Southern California, Concordia University Irvine, Fordham, San Jose State, UCLA, Princeton, Stanford and UC Davis.

California has won more championships than any other team, with 17 titles to its name. UCLA is in second place with 13 titles, followed by Stanford with 11 titles. The Bruins won the 2024 championship after defeating the USC Trojans in the final.

Check out all-time winners below:

2024: UCLA

2023: California

2022: California

2021: California

2020: UCLA

2019: Stanford

2018: Southern California

2017: UCLA

2016: California

2015: UCLA

2014: UCLA

2013: Southern California

2012: Southern California

2011: Southern California

2010: Southern California

2009: Southern California

2008: Southern California

2007: California

2006: California

2005: Southern California

2004: UCLA

2003: Southern California

2002: Stanford

2001: Stanford

2000: UCLA

1999: UCLA

1998: Southern California

1997: Pepperdine

1996: UCLA

1995: UCLA

1994: Stanford

1993: Stanford

1992: California

1991: California

1990: California

1989: UC Irvine

1988: California

1987: California

1986: Stanford

1985: Stanford

1984: California

1983: California

1982: UC Irvine

1981: Stanford

1980: Stanford

1979: UC Santa Barbara

1978: Stanford

1977: California

1976: Stanford

1975: California

1974: California

1973: California

1972: UCLA

1971: UCLA

1970: UC Irvine

1969: UCLA

For NCAA updates, check out the ESPN hub page with scores, rankings and more.



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Fakhar Zaman fined for breaching ICC Code of Conduct

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Fakhar Zaman fined for breaching ICC Code of Conduct


Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman celebrates after reaching his century against New Zealand during ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, in M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, India on November 4, 2023. — Reuters

Pakistan’s batter Fakhar Zaman has been fined 10% of his match fee after he was found guilty of breaching the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Code of Conduct during the Tri-Series final against Sri Lanka on November 29.

Zaman was found in violation of Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which pertains to “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during an international match,” said ICC in a press release issued on Friday.

One demerit point has been added to his disciplinary record, marking his first offence in a 24-month period.

The incident occurred in the 19th over of Pakistan’s innings, when the left-handed batter engaged in a prolonged argument with the on-field umpires following a dismissal.

The sanction was proposed by Reon King of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees.

On-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Asif Yaqoob, along with third umpire Rashid Riaz and fourth umpire Faisal Afridi, levied the charge. Zaman admitted the offence and accepted the sanction, eliminating the need for a formal hearing.

Level 1 breaches carry penalties ranging from an official reprimand to a maximum fine of 50% of the player’s match fee, along with one or two demerit points.

Pakistan went on to win the tri-series, defeating Sri Lanka by six wickets in the final.

Batting first at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, the Lankan Lions were bundled out for 114 in 19.1 overs, with opening batter Kamil Mishara the only prominent performer, scoring 59 off 47 deliveries, including two fours and four sixes.

For the Green Shirts, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Nawaz were the standout bowlers, taking three wickets each, followed by Abrar Ahmed with two, while Salman Mirza and Saim Ayub chipped in with one wicket apiece.

In reply, the hosts chased down the total, losing four wickets in 18.4 overs.

Babar Azam played an unbeaten innings of 37 off 34 deliveries, including two fours and one six, while openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan contributed 36 and 23 runs respectively.





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