Two Air Force players face courts-martial in steroids case July 16, 2004 SportsLine.com wire reports AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Two Air Force football players accused of using steroids will be court-martialed, the military said. Junior running back Matthew Ward, charged with wrongful use and possession of the anabolic steroid methandrostenolone, will be court-martialed Aug. 18, the academy said Thursday. A date has not been set for the court-martial for junior linebacker Overton Spence Jr. on charges of wrongful use, distribution and possession of methandrostenolone. Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. John Rosa Jr. referred both cases to courts-martial earlier this week. Both cadets had waived their right to an Article 32 evidentiary hearing, which is similar to civilian grand jury sessions. "After (Rosa) reviewed the evidence in the case and consulted with the Air Force judge advocate, he decided there was enough evidence to take the case forward," academy spokesman Lt. Col. Laurent Fox said. If convicted, Ward faces 10 years of confinement while Spence could receive 25 years. Both face dismissal from the Air Force and forfeiture of pay and allowances. The school has begun random testing of cadets and some employees for steroids in what experts say is an unusual step for a college of any kind. Both players have been suspended from the football team. "This is a military justice proceeding, and we'll deal with whatever the outcome is when it's complete," coach Fisher DeBerry said. "I hurt for our guys that they are going through this, and I'm disappointed about it." Military lawyers representing the cadets did not return phone calls. Two other cadets also face steroids charges. An evidence hearing for Eric Swartz is scheduled for July 28. Rosa is deciding whether a court-martial is in order for Jonathan Belkowitz. Earlier this week, senior cadet Shane Thomas was convicted of wrongful use and possession of ketamine, an anesthetic for humans and animals. He was also convicted of threatening to hurt a female cadet if she reported his drug use. He faces dismissal from the Air Force but no jail time.
Some more College Football news: Strength of schedule, quality wins eliminated from BCS formula SportsLine.com wire reports The Associated Press poll will count for one-third of each team's ranking under the new formula Bowl Championship Series officials unveiled Thursday in their latest attempt to find a simpler, more equitable way to determine a national champion. Under the new formula, which begins this season, the AP writers' poll, the coaches' poll and a combination of computer rankings will each count for one-third of a team's overall BCS ranking. Strength of schedule, team record and quality wins, three components used under the old system, have all been eliminated. "In analyzing the BCS standings, we wanted to develop a ranking formula that would be simpler and more precise," said BCS chairman Kevin Weiberg, the commissioner of the Big 12 Conference. In three of the last four seasons, there have been at least three teams with legitimate claims for a spot in the BCS title game. Last year resulted in a split national championship, with LSU winning the BCS title game over Oklahoma and Southern California protecting its top ranking in the AP poll by defeating Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Those who vote in the coaches' poll are obligated to name the winner of the BCS title game the national champion. Writers in the AP poll are under no such obligation. If the new formula had been used last season, USC would have met LSU in the Sugar Bowl.(Getty Images) BCS officials consulted mathematicians to help come up with a new formula that would give them a better chance at ensuring the top two teams in both polls meet in their title game. "This formula goes a long way to eliminate some of the controversy surrounding previous matchups as we continue to improve upon the system," Weiberg said. The new formula will no longer average the weekly rank of each team. Instead, teams will be evaluated on the number of voting points they receive in each poll. A team's score in the AP poll will be divided by 1,625, which is the maximum any team can receive. A team's score in the coaches' poll will be divided by 1,500. The final component will come from six computer rankings. A team's highest and lowest computer ranking will be thrown out and the other four will be used to determine a figure to add to those from the two polls. Had the new system been in place last year, it would have pitted USC and LSU in the title game. In 2001, Miami would have played Oregon instead of Nebraska, which made it over the Ducks despite a late-season 62-36 loss to Colorado that knocked the Cornhuskers out of the Big 12 title picture. In 2000, the game would have pitted Oklahoma and Florida State -- the two teams that made it -- with Miami being left out despite having one loss, and having handed the Seminoles their only loss of the season.
while i actually like the changes to the BCS, again they change the formula to give them the national title game they wanted from the previous year. almost inevitably, we will soon have a problem with this formula giving us the wrong MNC game* and they'll change it again. i like the changes because voters and computers already factor in SOS and losses somewhat so there's no need to put them in again, and quality wins was just stupid. *it's funny, everyone usually knows what the mnc game should be but we wait for some formula to certify it for us. i suppose there's no way around it sans a playoff as a "what do you think the title game should be" poll probably would piss off just as many people.
