Mark Emmert thinks the NCAA and five power conferences are close to a solution. (Tyler Kaufman-USA TODAY Sports)
NCAA president Mark Emmert said Wednesday he remains confident that the NCAA and the five power conferences are not that far apart in what they want to get accomplished in a new governance structure.
Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive recently talked about the possibility of the five power conferences (the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC and Pac-12) and Notre Dame essentially breaking off from the rest of Division I to form their own Division 4.
But Emmert told USA Today Sports that he doesn’t think that will be necessary, following a meeting with more than 100 athletic directors Wednesday at the National Association of College Directors of Athletics convention in Orlando, Fla.
The NCAA is trying to focus on an autonomous structure for the power five conferences that would give them voting independence on specific issues.
— LSU junior defensive back Jalen Mills was suspended from the team after he was arrested and charged with second-degree battery.
The Baton Rouge Police confirmed that Mills allegedly punched a woman in the mouth at the door of his apartment on May 4. The victim told police she was briefly unconscious and required several stitches on her lip and later identified Mills in a police lineup. LSU sports information director Michael Bonnette said Mills has been indefinitely suspended from the team.
Mills is a two-year starter who earned freshman All-American honors as a cornerback in 2012 before moving to safety late in the 2013 season. He was the Tigers’ third-leading tackler in 2013 with 67 stops and had a team-leading three interceptions.
—Joker Phillips resigned as Florida’s wide receivers coach on Wednesday and was replaced by former Gators quarterback Chris Leak.
Phillips spent one year on the job after he stepped aside as Kentucky’s head coach in 2012. He took the position at Florida after Aubrey Hill resigned.
Leak joined the program as a graduate assistant coach in 2013, returning after a record-setting career at Florida as a quarterback who led the Gators to the 2006 national title.
—Quarterback Tre Roberson, a starter off and on during his three seasons at Indiana, is transferring, the school announced Wednesday.
Roberson is the second quarterback to leave the Hoosiers since the end of last season. Cameron Coffman departed during the winter and transferred to Wyoming. There was no indication where Roberson might land next.
Roberson started nine games as a true freshman in 2011, was sidelined for most of the 2012 season with a broken leg and returned in 2013 to start four games and split duties with Nate Sudfeld, who is the 2014 starter coming out of spring practice. Roberson departs Indiana with 2,433 yards, 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions through the air and 10 rushing touchdowns.
