The SEC "expressed 'satisfaction' with the current 12 schools" after a meeting of school presidents in Atlanta regarding Texas A&M possibly joining the conference, but said that "future conditions could force expansion" (DALLASNEWS.com, 8/15). However, a source said that A&M "within 21 days" will be announced as the newest member of the SEC "beginning in 2012." University President R. Bowen Loftin today is "expected to receive the ability to make all decisions with regard to 'conference alignment' at a meeting of A&M's board of regents." A source said that Loftin "will not talk about the Aggies' dissatisfaction with Texas and the ESPN-run Longhorn Network at the committee hearing" (ORANGEBLOODS.com, 8/14).

Meanwhile, Florida State would have to inform the ACC by today "if it intends to withdraw from the conference and join the SEC, according to the ACC manual." Both school President Eric Barron and AD Randy Spetman on Saturday said that "they have had no talks with the SEC about switching conferences" (PALM BEACH POST, 8/14). 

The ACC and Thought Equity Motion (TEM) today announced a deal for the conference to begin using TEM's T3 Library Manager to provide media outlets with online access to ACC sports content. The new digital workflow will replace traditional satellite and physical workflows typically used to distribute interviews and other video content (ACC).

ACC Assistant Commissioner of Advanced Media Scott McBurney said that TV stations in the conference's footprint "don't travel to events as frequently as they used to," but it is "vitally important for the conference" to have content on nightly sportscasts (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 8/15 issue).

Dick's Sporting Goods today will launch a new initiative "aimed at preventing concussions in student athletes and, when they occur, treating them properly." One TV ad features former NFLer Jerome Bettis holding a helmet and saying, "You wouldn't get on the field without this – and you shouldn't get on the field without a baseline concussion test either." The effort was produced in-house and also includes "digital advertising, online-only videos and social-network marketing" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/15).

There was "angry reaction up and down pit road" at New Hampshire Motor Speedway after Sunday's Izod IndyCar Series MoveThatBlock.com Indy 225 was "called five laps from the finish" due to rain. The race drew an estimated crowd of 30,000 (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/15). IndyCar President of Competition & Racing Operations Brian Barnhart said that he "made the wrong decision" to restart the race on a wet race track with eight laps remaining. This year's race, the first for IndyCar at the track in 13 years, was "part of a one-year contract." IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard said that "discussions would be held about whether to return next year" (AP, 8/14).

Izod IndyCar driver Will Power, who was involved in a crash following the restart, said of Barnhart, “They cannot have this guy running the show because that was (a) decision to put a lot of drivers in danger. You saw how many people crashed on the front straight. It was no condition to race in. Shame on him. … It was disgraceful” (ABC, 8/14).

Meanwhile, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen is scheduled to begin at 10:00am ET today following a rain delay yesterday. However, "the forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of rain" (ESPN.com, 8/14).

There were "no problems" with the field conditions at Soldier Field for Saturday's Bills-Bears preseason game, despite the Bears a week earlier having to cancel their Fan Fest "because of the playing surface" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 8/14). Bears WR Roy Williams said the field "wasn't bad at all." Bears QB Jay Cutler said of the surface, "I don't think it is going to change, so we just have to play on it" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/14). The CHICAGO TRIBUNE's David Haugh writes, "A serviceable field was the game's biggest star."

AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes is "poised to take majority control" of EPL club Queens Park Rangers as early as today, according to sources. Fernandes is "close to finalising a deal" in which he would buy a 51% stake from Bernie Ecclestone, with the balance of Ecclestone's 62% holding to be acquired by U.K. steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, who currently owns a 33% stake (FT.com, 8/14). Fernandes has been in negotiations with Ecclestone and team investor Flavio Briatore for "several weeks" (LONDON TIMES, 8/15).

A "fired-up" crowd of 6,751 "filled most of the lower bowl" at Bradley Center for yesterday's UFC event, which marked the promotion's Milwaukee debut (AP, 8/15). Trainer Duke Roufus, a key advocate for Wisconsin sanctioning MMA, said Milwaukee is "a very blue-collar, sports-junkie type of town and MMA is right up their alley. They love the Green Bay Packers and they're beginning to love the sport of MMA" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/12).

MLB's signing deadline for '11 draft picks is at midnight ET tonight, and the day began "with 23 of the 33 first-round picks still negotiating rather than playing." Also, 11 of 27 supplemental first-round picks have yet to sign. Commissioner Bud Selig's office this year has "asked clubs to refrain from offering more" than the recommended bonuses "for as long as possible." Sources confirmed that "some first-rounders had yet to be offered more than slot money before deadline day" (BASEBALLAMERICA.com, 8/15).

ESPN Int'l has acquired ExtraCorp Pty. Ltd., the owner/operator of Australia-based fantasy games platform Footytips.com.au. The site, the largest of its kind in Australia, offers social "tipping" competitions across 20 sports. Tipping games are similar to pick 'em or bracket predictor games. ExtraCorp has 15 staff members in Australia who will join ESPN and continue to manage the site, while also contributing to ESPN's digital business in Australia and New Zealand (ESPN).

The Browns have launched their official mobile app that includes team news, information, live and archived video and audio streams. The app is available for iPhone and Android devices (Browns).

Vikings flagship station KFAN-AM today will swap signals with KTLK-FM, which has a conservative politics format. KFAN will also begin "carrying Minnesota Wild and Minnesota Gophers football games this coming season" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 8/10).

Callaway Golf said in a recent regulatory filing that the company "could lay off up to 247 workers through September" (NORTH COUNTY TIMES, 8/13).

Watkins Glen Int'l has reached a deal for 3 Amigos Tequila to become the track's official tequila (Watkins Glen Int'l).

A crowd of 14,320 attended the AFL's ArenaBowl XXIV at US Airways Center on Friday night (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 8/14).

Credit Suisse is running a full-page ad featuring Roger Federer in today's N.Y. Times that features the copy, "Helping Roger Federer Relax Since 1981" (THE DAILY).

"You are looking at a billion dollar stadium, and two teams with two of the oldest stadiums and they're saying it makes sense to look at it and evaluate it. That's what we've done. We've looked at it and we've evaluated it, but you have to make sure it's the right fit for everybody" – 49ers President Jed York, on the NFL asking the team to evaulate sharing a stadium with the Raiders ("Saints-49ers," 8/13).

"Yes, we are getting them fixed. ... I think" – Knicks Owner James Dolan's band, following a performance of the song "Fix The Knicks" by his band, JD & the Straight Shot, at the Brooklyn Bowl on Sunday (NYTIMES.com, 8/14).
 
"You know, I'm going to rewrite Jimmy Dolan's song, 'Fix the Knicks.' I think he needs a better lyricist or a better musician" – Former NBA coach Phil Jackson (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 8/13).

"I think it's the excitement the team has come back because I'm not selling stuff just to people from Winnipeg, I'm also selling to people who are just excited that they're back" – Ashley Proulx, manager of Jersey City in Calgary's Crossiron Mills, on the interest in Winnipeg Jets merchandise (WINNIPEG SUN, 8/13).

"Dead serious. 'Who is Mayor Bloomberg?'" – Jets WR Plaxico Burress, saying he did not know who N.Y. Mayor Michael Bloomberg was until the mayor spoke out against Burress following his '08 gun incident (NEWSDAY, 8/13).

Golfer Keegan Bradley: "If anyone is wondering what u do after u win a major. 3 bud lights in the fridge cereal and ppj's. #goingwild!! yfrog.com/hs16287253j"

Heat F LeBron James: "Wow what an amazing crowd in Xian!! Love the passion these people have."

USA Today's Nate Ryan: "CNN Headline News' morning show ran the Will Power double-bird salute in slow motion ... four times. The anchors kept giggling."

Sochi 2014 President & CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko: "View of the #Sochi2014 Olympic Park really impressive! Only best emotions http://t.co/QBhJ1BL #olympics"

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

Rockies CF Aaron Rowand reveals who won the first pick in a fantasy football league made up of MLB players.

The farm in Iowa "made famous by the movie 'Field of Dreams' is still on the market over a year" after it was put up for sale at $5.4M. The 193-acre tract of land includes a two-bedroom house, baseball diamond and six outbuildings (AP, 8/14).

Brewers P Zack Greinke pinch hit in Saturday's game against the Pirates "wearing the wrong uniform top." Greinke came to the plate with a jersey that read "Bierbrauer" instead of the usual "Brewers" top. The "Bierbrauer" jersey was slated to be worn Sunday "as a nod to southeastern Wisconsin's rich Deutschland heritage" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/14).

Nielsen today will "roll out a new approach to measuring online display advertising across the US using Facebook data and TV-style reporting." The Nielsen Online Campaign Ratings will give advertisers "daily reports on campaigns running on Facebook and the wider web in one place, using the 'gross ratings points' data they use to track TV ads" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 8/8).

Visitation for late broadcaster Ernie Johnson Sr. will be held at the Roswell Funeral Home in Atlanta. The funeral service will be held at 11:00am ET tomorrow at St. Jude of the Apostle Catholic Church in Sandy Springs, Ga.

The UFL will hold its allocation draft to disperse players from the Hartford Colonials.

The BYU basketball team will depart for a 10-day, five-game tour of Europe that will include games against professional teams in Athens and Platanias.

See a full list of events in THE DAILY’s week ahead.

Friday’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Our Living Planet.”

“Several species appear in the logo of the U.N.’s International Year of this 12-letter word, vital to the health of ‘life’ on Earth.”

CBS' "Late Show" aired a rerun on Friday night.

NBC’s Jay Leno: “Next week, President Obama gets on his bus and begins his three-state tour. I believe these states are confusion, delusion and desperation, if I'm not mistaken. … According to TMZ, President Obama is a pretty good tipper. They said the other day he took some friends to lunch and left a 35% tip. See, apparently he knew the waiter. Turns out it was his old former top economic adviser. … I tell you something, I turned on ‘America’s Got Talent’ last night, and I said to myself, ‘Boy, these -- the contestants -- really sucked.’ Then I realized I was watching the Republican presidential debate. … Last night the Republicans had their big debate in Iowa. You know who the winner was? Anyone who didn't watch. … Actually, Newt Gingrich made a surprise announcement: He's still in the race. I had no idea. … Last night during the debate, Michele Bachmann was asked if she was a submissive wife. She said, ‘No, but my husband is.’ … This weekend is the 76th anniversary of Social Security. I mention it because there's no guarantee there will be a 77th, so I'll just mention it now in case it's the last one. … The economy is so bad, during the coin toss for last night's Cowboys-Broncos game, the teams were fighting over the coin. That's how bad. … The economy is so bad, my cat sold my dog to a North Korean restaurant. That's how bad. … You know what the big treat at the Iowa State Fair this year? Deep fried butter on a stick. It's a stick of butter that's deep fried. Now, this snack is relatively new to state fairs, although it's been used for years to fatten up hogs. But now people are eating it too” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 8/12).

“What is biodiversity?”