IMG College has won the multimedia rights to West Virginia Univ., one of the few remaining schools that had managed and marketed its rights in-house. Terms of the deal were not available. The agency, which owns the rights to more than 80 universities across the country, is working through the final stages of contract talks with WVU AD Oliver Luck, who initiated the idea of outsourcing the rights early last year. A formal announcement on the deal is expected in the coming weeks. Virginia-based Rockbridge Sports Group has been consulting with WVU and helped manage the bid process.

IMG College won the bid over as many as nine contenders, including Learfield Sports, Nelligan Sports, CBS Collegiate Sports Properties, Fox Sports Net, Front Row Marketing, Legends Sales and Marketing, XOS Digital and West Virginia Radio Corp. IMG College’s contract with WVU will kick in July 1, and the agency already has begun a search for a GM.

The family of the late Junior Seau today filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the NFL, claiming his suicide "was the result of brain disease cause by violent hits he sustained while playing football." The suit, filed in California Superior Court in San Diego, "blames the NFL for its 'acts or omissions' that hid the dangers of repetitive blows to the head." It says Seau developed CTE from those hits and "accuses the NFL of deliberately ignoring and concealing evidence of the risks associated with traumatic brain injuries" (AP, 1/23).

The NCAA today announced that it uncovered an issue of improper conduct within its enforcement program that occurred during the Univ. of Miami investigation. Former NCAA enforcement staff members worked with the criminal defense attorney for former UM booster Nevin Shapiro to improperly obtain information. NCAA President Mark Emmert has commissioned an external review of the enforcement program. The NCAA will not move forward with a Notice of Allegations for UM until all the facts surrounding this issue are known (NCAA).

The NCAA drew some sharp criticism on Twitter following the announcement. Bleacher Report's Dan Levy wrote, "It's not surprising that in a case involving the NCAA, Miami and Nevin Shapiro, it's the NCAA that comes off the most unscrupulous." CBSSports.com's Bruce Feldman: "The NCAA isn't just policing amateurs.. apparently it's being run by them too." SI.com's Andy Staples wrote, "It's a good thing no one at the NCAA has ever been sanctimonious or holier-than-thou. Otherwise, they'd really be getting destroyed." ESPN's Jay Bilas: "Still waiting for NCAA to declare itself ineligible, then seek reinstatement after the long, slow investigation."

Early TV and attendance numbers suggest that fans have started returning to the NHL, a development that has caused NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to breathe a sigh of relief. "We could be hopeful all we wanted, but we didn't take anything for granted," Bettman said. "We are grateful and we are excited." NBC saw its highest regular-season TV audiences (excluding the Winter Classic) for its opening games on Saturday, and all local NHL ratings posted a collective 32% increase versus the same number of games at the start of last season.

Bettman, who has been to four games in five nights, credited the league's clubs with effectively reaching out to the fans. "We really thought that it was most important initially that the fans reconnect with their teams," he said. "We took out ads in every market nationally in Canada and the U.S. But we thought it was more important initially that all of our efforts be focused on backstopping the clubs as they reached out." Bettman pointed to clubs' efforts to discount tickets, food and merchandise for helping draw a connection to the fans.

The Cavaliers today announced the launch of "Wine & Gold United," a new membership club that will replace the team's current season-ticket holder program. Fans will be able to select from four customized plans (Cavaliers). Perks will include "invitations to VIP events, participation in conference calls with owner Dan Gilbert, 'chalk talks' with members of the front office and access to members-only food and beverage lanes at concession areas." The team said that current season-ticket holders will be transitioned into the new program via renewals (CRAINSCLEVELAND.com, 1/23).

CONCACAF today revealed the 13 U.S. venues that will host this summer's Gold Cup, with six first-time cities to host matches in the July 7-28 tournament. The event features three of MLS' newer soccer-specific venues: Jeld-Wen Field, BBVA Compass Stadium and Rio Tinto Stadium. Red Bull Arena and CenturyLink Field return as host sites. The Home Depot Center and Sporting Park, which hosted matches in '11, are not on the list this year. A venue for the final has yet to be announced (MLS).

Penske Racing signed Hertz Rent-a-Car as a new associate sponsor. Hertz, which replaces Avis as the team's official rental car partner, has agreed to a multiyear deal that includes a co-primary sponsorship of one NASCAR Sprint Cup race on Joey Logano’s No. 22 car and seven primary sponsorships of Nationwide Series races with Logano, Brad Keselowski or Ryan Blaney. Financial terms of the deal were not available.

Hertz plans to use its Penske Racing sponsorship to promote new initiatives like its keyless car entry system and to highlight its new advertising tagline, “Traveling at the speed of Hertz.” Hertz CEO Mark Frissora said, “NASCAR gives us another way to get out in front of people. We want to be the fastest, easiest, most-value rental car company in the world. The partnership with Penske accentuates that.” Hertz research shows that 20% of NASCAR fans rented a car in the last year.

The deal comes a few months after Roger Penske, who owns the race team, became a Hertz franchisee. He bought 15 locations in Memphis last September. Frissora said the relationship with Penske had no affect on the deal.

Tech-based fitness company FitStar Labs today announced plans for a new app featuring Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez. The product, "due for the iPad this spring," brings Gonzalez "into your living room as your fitness trainer." The customizable program features more than 60 exercises, allowing users to "set their own goals and create workouts." The app is free to download "with additional for-pay content that will cost much less than standard fitness DVDs" (USA TODAY, 1/23).

Sources said that Bucks GM John Hammond today will sign a three-year contract extension with the team. Hammond is in the "last year of his contract" after four-plus years as GM (JSONLINE.com, 1/23).

Live coverage of the Australian Open men's semifinals and both the men's and women's championship matches will now air on ESPN instead of ESPN2. The encore presentations of those matches will remain on ESPN2 (ESPN).

Octagon will represent Gold Medal-winning U.K. distance runner Mo Farah to further develop his commercial brand (Octagon).

A sellout crowd is expected for tonight's Duke-Miami men's basketball game, which would "match the biggest home crowd ever to watch UM play" since the 7,972-seat BankUnited Center opened in '03 (PALM BEACH POST, 1/23).

SI this week features an image of 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and Ravens coach John Harbaugh on the cover of its Super Bowl preview issue with the header, “There Will Be Blood” (THE DAILY).

The Dodgers today named Walton Isaacson as the team's ad/marketing agency of record for the '13 season (Dodgers).

Canadian Tire today announced an eight-year deal to sponsor the Canadian Olympic Team. Also announced were partnerships with the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Canadian Soccer Association, Skate Canada, Hockey Canada, Alpine Canada Alpin and Canada Snowboard (Canadian Tire).

Glenmorangie today announced that golfer Nick Faldo has become a brand ambassador for the Scotch whisky brand. Per the deal, Faldo will make appearances at several events and will represent the brand at this year's British Open. Glenmorangie is the official spirit of the British Open (Glenmorangie).

Former NFLer LaDainian Tomlinson and his wife Torsha have partnered with Kellogg's to endorse several lines of football-themed snacks (Kellogg Company).

The PBR today announced a sponsorship deal with The Brazilian Trade & Investment Promotion Agency. The deal includes in-arena and chute signage, PA announcements and video board spots (PBR).

"It's a trade that had to be made from a business (standpoint) so that we can keep our core together" – Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins, on the team's recent trade with the Cavaliers that sheds payroll and allows the team to move below the NBA's luxury tax threshold (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 1/23).

"Sports is not everyone's cup of tea" – Verizon spokesperson Bill Kula, on the company offering a FiOS TV Select HD package that does not include sports programming (CABLEFAX DAILY, 1/23).

"I'm not going to write tickets at the X Games for anyone caught smoking tobacco or smoking a joint in public" – Pitkin County Sheriff Joe DiSalvo, on security for this week's Winter X Games at Buttermilk Mountain (ASPEN TIMES, 1/23).

“I sleep a lot better. Honestly, I have more of a life, but I do miss being in the mix to a greater degree, and I’ll have to find some balance that way to make sure I don’t drive myself crazy” – White Sox Exec VP Ken Williams, on changes in his life since being elevated from the GM position this offseason (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 1/23).

"The girls they are more unstable emotionally than us. ... It's just about hormones and all this stuff. We don't have all these bad things so we are physically in a good shape every time and you are not" – Tennis player Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, on why he thinks there have been more upsets in this year's Australian Open women's draw as compared to the men's side (THEAGE.com.au, 1/24).

"I think you're looking at the Dallas Cowboys having to make a decision on whether or not they want to keep him on the roster because anybody that does something like this after what this organization has been through doesn't think logically" – ESPN's Adam Schefter, on Cowboys DT Jay Ratliff being arrested for DUI weeks after teammate Jerry Brown was killed in a DUI accident ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 1/23).

SI.com's Andy Glockner: "Who cares about fans emotions in two cities when you can extort hundreds of millions in free money in either situation now? Well done, Stern."

Forbes.com’s Alicia Jessop: "New Era will have brand ambassadors present throughout Super Bowl week and will customize hats for media members."

South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Omar Kelly: "Sun Life Stadium named as a host venue for CONCACAF Gold Cup this summer. We're told this is just the start of Steve Ross' big soccer plans."

SI's Steve Rushin: "Cubs, Pearl Jam announce Wrigley concert. Both groups used to wear flannel."

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

UFC fighter Georges St-Pierre raises the torch at Bell Centre following last night's home game, in which the Canadiens defeated the Panthers 4-1.

A series of Business Of Sports Networking Nights is being held across 16 U.S. cities.

Hockey HOFer Wayne Gretzky has put his 10,815-square-foot home in Thousand Oaks, Calif., on the market for $14.9M. The six-acre property inside Lake Sherwood Country Club includes two guest houses, a gym and a sunken tennis court.

FS Arizona will run a "Ticket Office Takeover" during the 7:30pm MT broadcast of the Kings-Suns game. The net will announce a special Suns ticket offer that will be available only during the broadcast.

Former tennis players Chris Evert, Lindsay Davenport and Justin Gimelstob will make cameo appearances on CBS' "CSI" at 10:00pm ET.

20 – Of the past 25 Super Bowls, the number in which the team from the city with the lower unemployment rate has won the game (UTSANDIEGO.com, 1/22).