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Can USF’s all-sports excellence survive the era of salary caps and cash‑chasing?

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5 months ago

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USF rightly celebrated its accomplishment of finishing first among American Athletic Conference teams in the 2024–25 Learfield Directors’ Cup standings.

The Cup identifies the most successful collegiate athletics programs in the country based on NCAA postseason performance across all sports.

Note those last two words: “all sports.”

Now, think about the new financial reality that athletic departments across the country face. While they could they start directly pay their athletes on July 1, they basically face a $20.5 million salary cap.

NIL deals are subject to NCAA approval to ensure programs stay within the financial parameters.

During Michael Kelly’s time as USF’s Vice President for Athletics, one of his most significant accomplishments was providing the school’s 21 athletic teams the resources they needed to succeed.

We saw how that paid off in the 2024-25 athletic calendar.

The Bulls won American Athletic Conference championships in volleyball, women’s basketball, softball, and men’s indoor and outdoor track and field.

Going forward, though, whoever USF’s new athletic director turns out to be could find overall excellence like that challenging to achieve.

USF has about 500 student-athletes. Nearly one-fifth of those are football players. How will all that be divided?

Will each head coach receive a set amount of money that he or she can divide among their players?

The Bulls have an outstanding track and field program, but can USF afford to allocate the necessary funds to remain nationally competitive in the salary cap world if that possibly costs them a four-star football player?

Do sports like golf and tennis become collateral damage?

Will top athletes in all sports be strictly interested in a cash grab from the highest bidder, or will relationships with their coaches and teammates matter more?

Looking strictly at the rulebook, USF is equal to Power 4 programs in the amount of money the Bulls can spend. But even though the NCAA vows to enforce the rules, there are possibilities for abuse.

Does a major booster offer Daddy or Mommy a high-paying new work-at-home job as a back-channel way around the cap?

If they did, how would we know?

Another “what if” possibility: The power conferences tell the NCAA to take a flying leap and form their alliance, spending whatever they want to spend. Does the NCAA, essentially toothless now, still believe it can tell the SEC and Big Ten what to do?

I have said before and will repeat here: For decades, the NCAA had a monopoly on college athletics. Top executives earned handsome salaries primarily from the labor of 18- to 22-year-olds, who were locked into the sham of amateurism.

When the winds of change began to blow and antitrust action loomed, the NCAA fought it tooth and nail to avoid losing its indentured labor source..

Yes, those players received college educations – that’s a significant benefit. But even then, athletes in the so-called “minor sports” – translation, those sports don’t generate revenue – usually received a pittance, if that much.

I’m for all of the athletes receiving what they can.

However, I would also recommend that the person chosen to succeed Michael Kelly stock up on remedies for the headaches that are sure to come.





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Loyola Chicago Leads MIVA in Preseason Poll

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11 minutes ago

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December 16, 2025

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CHICAGO – The Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) named Loyola Chicago as the No. 1 favorite in the league’s preseason poll, announced on Monday. Ryan McElligott, Daniel Fabikovic and Aleksandar Sosa tabbed spots on the Preseason All-MIVA Team.  

The MIVA Preseason Poll and All-MIVA Team are voted on by the nine MIVA head coaches. 

After finishing the 2025 season as the MIVA regular season and tournament champions, the Ramblers claim the top spot with 75 points and five first place votes. MIVA Tournament runner-up Ohio State ranks second and Ball State rounds out the top three.   

Senior setter McElligott led both the NCAA and the MIVA in assists in 2025, totaling 1,1016, earning him All-MIVA First Team and All-Tournament Team, and an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention. He added 75 kills, 69 total blocks and 32 service aces.  

Fabikovic was a menace on the court last season, starting all 29 matches and seeing action in 105 sets where he contributed 343 kills, the most amongst returning Ramblers. The junior outside hitter tallied 403.5 points during his sophomore campaign which earned him All-MIVA First Team and All-Tournament Team as well as a back-to-back AVCA Second Team All-American nod.  

Sosa, a junior transfer from Quincy, was named to the 2025 All-MIVA Second Team after leading the Hawks in points, kills and aces. The opposite finished fifth in the MIVA in kills per set and fourth in points per set and posted double-digit kills in 18 matches, including 15 straight to cap the season.  

2026 MIVA Preseason Poll 

1. Loyola Chicago – 73 (5) 

2. Ohio State – 68 (2) 

3. Ball State – 63 (1) 

4. Lewis – 57 (1) 

5. McKendree – 52 

6. Lindenwood – 33 

7. Purdue Fort Wayne – 24 

8. Northern Kentucky – 19 

9. Queens – 16 

2026 Preseason All-MIVA Team (alphabetical by team) 

Lucas Machado – Ball State 

*Patrick Rogers – Ball State 

Oguzhan Oguz – Lewis 

Nico Paula – Lewis 

Ryan McElligott – Loyola Chicago 

Daniel Fabikovic – Loyola Chicago 

Aleksander Sosa – Loyola Chicago 

Yadiel Diaz – McKendree 

Nate Flayter – McKendree 

Stanislaw Chacinski – Ohio State 

Shane Wetzel – Ohio State 

Logan Muir – Purdue Fort Wayne 

*Preseason Player of the Year 



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Assistant Athletic Trainer in Salem, WV for Salem University

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27 minutes ago

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December 16, 2025

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Details

Posted: 15-Dec-25

Location: Salem, West Virginia

Type: Full-time

Categories:

Sports Medicine

Sports Medicine – Athletic Training

Sector:

Collegiate Sports

The Assistant Athletic Trainer is responsible for assisting the Head Athletic Trainer in maintaining and representing a NCAA Division II athletic program that supports student recruitment and enhances the educational experience and personal growth of the student-athletes. Will cooperate with the Head Athletic Trainer to manage assigned teams and all aspects based on strict adherence to the University’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics Policies and Procedures. Equally responsible for conducting all activities in accordance with all state and federal regulations, accreditation standards and the University’s policies and procedures, all conference and NCAA regulations consistent with the highest ethical standards.


Position Requirements: The role includes providing coverage for assigned teams during practices and games, as well as overseeing regular treatment and rehabilitation sessions. It also involves assisting other personnel and departments with data collection and problem solving, and participating in departmental activities such as staff meetings, training sessions, orientations, and campus or community events, while being available for representational and public relations duties. Additional responsibilities include supporting the planning and administration of practices and contests to promote successful seasons, assisting with team travel, and facilitating player interactions with Athletic Training, Sports Information, and Compliance staff. The position also requires counseling student-athletes on academic success and responsible citizenship, upholding the highest ethical standards, and adhering to all relevant state and federal regulations, accreditation requirements, and University, conference, and NCAA policies. Other duties may be assigned as needed.

  • Bachelor’s degree in athletic training or related field
  • BOC Certified/WV Licensed or eligible to apply
  • Valid Driver’s license/qualified to operate a passenger vehicle up to 12 or 15 passenger van consistent with university insurance regulations.
  • Excellent oral and written communication and computer skills required
  • Outstanding time-management skills with ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment
  • Excellent communications and interpersonal skills. Able to work effectively with people from global, diverse cultures and different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds
  • Commitment to the balance of academic and athletic achievement and integration in a small university setting is essential.
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About Salem University

The Mission of Salem University is to prepare global citizens with broad knowledge, marketable professional skills, and the ability to make decisions with integrity.


Connections working at Salem University

https://ncaamarket.ncaa.org/jobs/21896714/assistant-athletic-trainer



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Texas volleyball loses middle blocker Ayden Ames

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43 minutes ago

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December 16, 2025

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Less than 24 hours after Texas volleyball’s season ended with a loss to Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament regional finals, middle blocker Ayden Ames reportedly intends to enter the transfer portal.

Ames becomes the first Longhorn to announce her intention to enter the portal, and she’ll be just the second regular member of the rotation not returning next season. Libero Emma Halter, the lone senior starter for a Texas team that went 26-4 this season, will next play for the Indy Ignite of Major League Volleyball.

Ames’ exit was first reported by On3.

A 6-foot-4 blue-chip recruit from the Dallas suburb of Prosper who once competed for the under-19 U.S. national team, Ames became a regular part of the lineup over the past two seasons after flipping from Nebraska to join Texas late in the 2024 recruiting cycle.

She enrolled in the spring of 2024 and immediately established herself as a key component of the Longhorns’ lineup. Texas coach Jerritt Elliott even called her “the most complete middle I’ve ever had as a freshman,” a powerful statement from a coach who has worked with All-Americans such as Asjia O’Neal, Molly McCage and Chiaka Ogbogu.

As a freshman, Ames started all 27 games and 96 sets for the season and finished second on the team with 88 blocks and was fifth on team with 150 kills and 1.56 kills per set average. She played in 29 of Texas’ 30 matches this season, but her numbers dipped slightly to 149 kills and 1.52 kills per set with a team-high 109 blocks.

In Sunday’s loss to Wisconsin, Elliott replaced Ames with freshman middle blocker Taylor Harvey after Texas dropped the first two sets. Ames didn’t have a kill or a block against the Badgers.

Pending any more portal exits for Texas, Harvey and redshirt sophomore Nya Bunton will enter the offseason as the only middle blockers on the Longhorns’ roster. Both saw extensive action this season, with Bunton ranking second on the team with 61 blocks.

Texas didn’t sign any middle blockers in its touted 2026 recruiting class, which means the position will likely be a top portal target for Elliott and his staff.



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Badgers news: Inside a magical Wisconsin Volleyball evening vs. Texas

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59 minutes ago

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December 16, 2025

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When I saw that Kelly Sheffield’s Wisconsin Badgers had been stuck with a 3-seed, I was justifiably irritated. It seemed as if the NCAA Committee was not properly considering just how strong the Badgers had looked down the stretch. Drawing the No. 1 Texas Longhorns in one of the toughest places to play in college volleyball was also far from ideal.

But I eventually found a silver lining, at least for me: I’d be able to attend a Badger Volleyball match in Austin. Suddenly, I didn’t hate Wisconsin’s draw nearly as much.

There were several moments that made this night special, not the least of which was that I was able to experience it with my son. Another massive part of the amazing vibes was the incredible atmosphere at Gregory Gymnasium, an ancient 4,000-seat sardine can of noise and manic energy, where the fans are almost as close to the action as in Cameron Indoor at Duke.

A DJ kept up a steady mix of dance club jams, while two dueling bands–Wisconsin’s and Texas’s–were each trying to outdo the other (along with the cheerleaders and mascot, which was Bucky with no Bevo in sight). And make no mistake, the Horns fans came to play. They were as loud and engaged as anything I’ve seen at the Field House, right down to the National Champion Texas Men’s Swim Team disrobing one new layer the better Texas did in a given game, until it was a full-on, PG-13 Speedo show.

While Texas always felt like they were prowling and just about to steal things back–most notably by taking a 4-0 lead at the beginning of the fourth set after having won the third–Sheffield’s crew, led by stalwarts Mimi Colyer (23 kills), Charlie Fuerbringer (57 assists), and Carter Booth (11 kills, two blocks), stayed calm and collected, always had an answer, and were simply the better volleyball team on this magical night 1,183 miles from the Kohl Center.

After the furious final point sealed the deal for Bucky, I hightailed down a level to where a wild Badger celebration was unfurling. Getting the chance to sing Varsity and polka joyfully to The Bud Song on the floor of an SEC team’s barn was incredible and I will never forget it, even if me yelling to Coach that he’s ‘the best Sheffield ever in Wisconsin’ (in hindsight, an overly arcane Wisconsin sports reference involving a long ago Brewer) was a middling riff at best.

Yes, a horrifying Packers loss had ruined my day, but the Wisconsin Volleyball team soon sent my beaten-down sports fan soul soaring again on a cold but perfect night in the capital of Texas.

The Wisconsin Badgers were headed back to the Final Four. And everything in the world, for just a brief moment, felt right.



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Nebraska volleyball’s perfect season ends in Elite Eight heartbreaker

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1 hour ago

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December 16, 2025

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Badgers news: Wisconsin upsets Texas, to play Kentucky in Final Four

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2 hours ago

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December 16, 2025

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The Wisconsin Badgers wore black for a reason on Sunday: they went to a Texas Funeral.

The No. 3 Badgers upset the No. 1 Texas Longhorns 3-1 on Sunday, sending them to the Final Four against the No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats in an impressive win.

Wisconsin, facing the team that swept them earlier in the season, came ready to play. Falling behind 10-7 in the first set, the Badgers went on a four-point run before the two sides engaged in a back-and-forth battle, with neither side leading by more than two before Wisconsin had a monster end to the set.

Leading 18-17, the Badgers had an impressive 6-0 run thanks to a trio of Texas attack errors, a Mimi Colyer kill, a Kristen Simon service ace, and a Carter Booth kill. The Longhorns tried to mount a comeback, scoring five straight points, but Colyer got the set-winning kill, and Wisconsin started up 1-0.

The Badgers got off to a good start in the second half, starting off with a 10-6 lead. After the Longhorns went on a 4-1 run to cut the lead to one, the Badgers controlled the remainder of the set, starting with a 3-0 run of their own. From there, Wisconsin led by at least three for the rest of the set, with Carter Booth and Mimi Colyer having a flurry of kills, and they ultimately took the second set 25-21 to go up 2-0.

But, the work wasn’t done just there. The Longhorns were still a big threat, and they showed that in the third set, taking an early 8-6 lead after going on a 4-1 run. Wisconsin fought back with a 4-1 run of their own moments later, retaking the lead 12-11, with Colyer recording four straight kills.

However, a five-point Texas run right after proved to be the difference in the set, as the Longhorns took a 16-12 lead and never relinquished it, despite Wisconsin fighting to cut the deficit to one at 20-19. Texas closed out the set on a 5-1 run, taking the third set and we had a ballgame.

Things did not look good at the start of the fourth set, as the Longhorns started the set on a 4-0 run, picking up where they left off in the third set. That’s when the tables turned. Wisconsin completely flipped the script on a 13-4 run to take a five-point lead, with reserve Trinity Shadd-Ceres having two clutch back-to-back kills.

Moments later, that lead was extended to 18-11, thanks to a Colyer kill and two more attack errors from Texas. The Longhorns had a four-point run, but the deficit was too much to overcome, as the Badgers closed the set on a 6-3 run to win the fourth set 25-19 and take the match.

Colyer had another impressive game, following her 27-kill performance against Stanford with a 23-kill performance on Sunday. Una Vajagic came up huge in the end, getting 15 kills while hitting .458, while Booth had 11 kills of her own.

Elsewhere, Charlie Fuerbringer followed her 61-assist game on Friday with 57 assists on Sunday, while Alicia Andrew had a team-high five blocks. Wisconsin had 25 attack errors and 10 service errors, but they were still too much for Texas to handle.

Now, they’re heading back to the Final Four, with the Kentucky Wildcats up next on Thursday.



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