As we close the book on another year, let’s look back on some of 2015’s most popular stories. From new stadiums to athlete safety, 2015 provided a wide range of stories from across the athletics, fitness and recreation industry.
BONUS ITEM: Texas HS Football Players Suspended After Decking Ref
One of the more bizarre cases we’ve seen recently featured two high school football players blindsiding a referee. As the case evolved, details emerged that an assistant coach had instructed the players to level the ref. The coach recently got 18-months of probation.
10. Here’s How a $985M Rams Stadium Looks – in St. Louis
The NFL owners are poised to vote in January and put an end to an almost yearlong discussion of which NFL team will be moving to LA. If St. Louis ultimately loses the Rams to Los Angeles, it won’t have been without a fight. Renderings of a new riverfront stadium for the Rams were released in hopes of enticing team owner Stan Kroenke to stay in St. Louis.
9. Texas Fires Athletic Director Steve Patterson
After just 22 months on the job – and two major coaching hires -- Steve Patterson was let go by the University of Texas.
8. With Two Games Remaining, HS Football Coaching Staff Quits
Following an unpopular decision to discipline a player, a first-year head football coach and his entire staff quit with two games left on the team’s schedule. School officials were left to scramble to find replacements.
7. Inside the Modern Team Locker Room
We looked at the technology, size, configuration and presentation that team locker rooms are impressing recruits and driving the changing room arms race.
6. Daryl Gross Out as Syracuse AD, Boeheim to Retire
Just weeks after the NCAA hammered Syracuse with scholarship reductions and forced them to vacate wins, Syracuse Daryl Gross resigned from his position, and coach Jim Boeheim announced his plans to retire in three years.
5. Parent Strikes Coach Over Away-Game Bus Policy
Some rules are frustrating, and some are infuriating. A policy requiring high school athletes to ride team provided transportation home from away games made one mother so mad she struck a coach. This item just happened in December, but quickly jumped up our rankings.
4. Duke Accused of Mishandling Sexual Assault Allegations
When Duke dismissed guard Rasheed Sulaimon from the basketball team, it seemed to come out of nowhere. Once details emerged, it appeared that Duke may have mishandled his case, by failing to report allegations of sexual assault. The University of Minnesota encountered sexual harassment issues within their athletic department this year as well.
3. Little League Champs Stripped of National Title
After Jackie Robinson West, a team that drew attention for being made up of all black players, won the U.S. national title, the governing board of Little League Baseball stripped them of the championship for violating residency rules.
2. Concussion Lawsuit Examines School Nurse’s Duty of Care
When a high school football player sustained a concussion and visited the school nurse, the nurse’s failure to report his symptoms to coaches or guardians landed her in a courtroom. Read more about the case by clicking the link.
1. Understanding the Role of Athletic Trainers in High Schools
Athlete health and safety were big topics online this year, and no article captured how that relates directly to you better than this one. Check it out for a full picture of how athletic trainers serve athletic programs.
We look forward to bringing you more of the most up-to-date and relevant news items in 2016!
