LAWRENCE, Kan. – At a time when four-year college graduation rates are falling, it seems that putting a program in place to expedite high school graduation might be a bit off the mark. But that’s exactly what the National Center on Education and the Economy wants to do. As part of an initiative announced last week, a select group of schools in eight states will begin offering – among other things – an option to take a series of “rigorous” exams that would allow students to graduate high school two years early.

Filed under:
College, Opinion/Editorial by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Today’s “Little Scottie” comic strip touches on University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, the recent lightning rod for all kinds of criticism surrounding his “advocacy ad” on Sunday’s Super Bowl. So far, Tebow hasn’t looked impressive according to many who’ve covered the Senior Bowl and who’ve turned the NFL Draft into a science. But that’s not why I picked on him.

Filed under:
Opinion/Editorial by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. – America loves an underdog, and America loves a comeback. Put those together, as the New Orleans Saints did in Sunday’s Super Bowl, and you get ratings. Big ratings.

CBS’ average overnight rating/share was a 46.4/68. In layman’s terms, an average of 46.4% of U.S. television households watched the game, with 68% of those watching television from 6:30-9:45 p.m. ET tuning in to the Super Bowl. It marks the highest rating since current CBS lead analyst Phil Simms was leading the New York Giants to victory in Super Bowl XXI (47.8/68). Conveniently, that too was a come-from-behind win.

Filed under:
Sports TV, Television by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. – I can sum up Super Bowl XLIV in a phrase: good but not great. Save a commercial here or a play call there, little about either the game or the telecast was particularly noteworthy. As much as the many fans who’ve proclaimed themselves members of the “Who Dat Nation” would like to think that this game will go down “as one of those sports moments,” it won’t.

Filed under:
Sports TV, Television by Scott A. Winer