How Does Your Favorite Team Rank?

The release of the 2010 college football preseason rankings can only mean one thing; college football is right around the corner! You’ve waited since the end of last season for college football to take over your Saturdays, and now it’s almost here.

Here’s a look at the USA TODAY Top 25 Coaches Poll.

Where does your favorite team rank?!

Title IX Affects Collegiate Competitive Cheerleading

Since 1972, Title IX of the Education Amendments has banned exclusion from participation and subjection to discrimination on the basis of sex from any educational activity that receives Federal financial assistance. Although the original amendment never explicitly mentioned sports as an educational activity, sports has become one of the main topics of debate under Title IX in recent decades.

Most recently, a U.S. District court in Connecticut has ruled that the competitive cheerleading squad at Quinnipiac does not qualify under Title IX requirements. Heavy debate has been made as to whether this decision could possibly affect other institutions that choose to sponsor cheerleading as a varsity sport.

The ruling was issued by a U.S. District judge because competitive cheerleaders as varsity student-athletes went against gender-equity law, as the sport did not comply with U.S. Department of Education standards.

To qualify as a varsity sport under Title IX, a team must adhere to the following:

Be administered by the athletics department in a manner consistent with established varsity sports.

Offer athletics scholarships and recruit participants.

Have practice opportunities and regular-season competitive opportunities similar to established varsity sports (including a season length, schedule and length of play determined by a governing athletics organization).

Conduct state, conference or national championships.

Exist for the purpose of athletics competition, not to support or promote other athletics activities (including a specific set of rules with objective and standardized criteria, a progressive postseason and selection of participants based primarily on athletics ability).

According to U.S. District Judge Stefan Underhill, Quinnipiac contributed to forming a cheerleading governing body with seven other institutions, but that body did not create a consistent scoring system or set of opponents for Quinnipiac’s most recent competitive cheer season.

Click here for more details on the Title IX case.

The Kansas Football Kickoff Rally Is This Weekend

If you're a football fan, then we're sure you're anticipating the start to the 2010-2011 college football season. To kickoff this season, the KU football team will be hosting their annual Kansas Football Kickoff Rally in Prairie Village this weekend.

The event begins today, Friday, August 20th at 6:30 pm in the Corinth Square parking lot.

Today's rally will include fun for the entire family, with inflatables for the kids, food and drink specials and 2010 commemorative football items. There will be special appearances by the KU Spirit Squad and the Pep Band. Also making appearances will be Head Women's Basketball Coach Bonnie Henrickson, Assistant Basketball Coach Kurtis Townsend and former KU Quarterback Todd Reesing.

On Sunday, August 22nd, the KU football team will hold their Fan Appreciation Day in which fans will be able to watch the team's open practice for free. The practice will begin at 5:00 pm at Memorial Stadium, followed by an autograph session.

For more details on this weekend's events, visit the KU web site.

Vote For Kansas City To Host The 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup

With the 2010 FIFA World Cup ending just last month bids for the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup have already began. With hopes of bringing the FIFA World Cup to the United States, 37 U.S. cities are being considered to host the large event. Kansas City is amongst the list of cities bidding for a chance to host the 2018/2022 World Cup.

Kansas City is a familiar place for soccer, as the 1969  NASL Championship was won by the Spurs and the Kansas City Wizards won the MLS Cup and Supporters Shield in 2000 and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Championship in 2004. The city has also been home to indoor soccer teams such as the Comets and the Attack.

Click the image below to cast your vote for Kansas City to host the 2018/2022 World Cup.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Comes To Kansas Speedway Twice in 2011

On Tuesday, August 10, 2010, Kansas Speedway and International Speedway Corporation announced approval from NASCAR on the ISC's request for the Sprint Cup Series to come to Kansas Speedway for two weekends in 2011.

The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend will take place June 4-5, 2011 and the second race weekend will occur October 8-9.

This is what Kansas Speedway President Pat Warren had to say about next year's events:

This is an exciting announcement for Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Kansas, and the state of Kansas. Our fan support for the past 10 years has been tremendous and as a result of that support and the new Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway, we are fortunate enough to gain an additional NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race starting in 2011. We will continue to offer our fans the best guest experience in motorsports.

Tickets for the June 2011 Sprint Cup Series Weekend will go on sale after this year's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend at Kansas Speedway this October.

Visit Kansas Speedway for more details on next year's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekends.

The NFL Season Is Officially Underway

The 2010 NFL season officially kicked off this past Sunday, August 8, 2010. In celebration of the NFL Hall of Fame Week, the Dallas Cowboys took on the Cincinnati Bengals in the first preseason battle. The Cowboys came out victorious with a 16-7 win against the Bengals.

The Kansas City Chiefs are scheduled to play their first 2010 preseason game this Friday, August 13, 2010 against the Atlanta Falcons. The game is slated to begin at 7:00 pm at the Georgia Dome.

Here's the preseason schedule for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Nill Bros offers Xenith X1 Football Helmet

Football season is right around the corner, and its time to get geared up! We're excited to offer the Xenith X1 helmet for this year's football season.

The Xenith X1 offers Fit Seeker® technology that adapts to the head and creates a custom fit for each player. The helmet does not require any pumps and stays secure during impact. The chin straps on the X1 Football Helmet are connected to the Fit Seeker cable, which is woven throughout the flexible Shock Bonnet inside the helmet. Adjusting the chin straps makes the Shock Bonnet fit more snug to the player's head.

The X1 Football helmet's Shock Bonnet absorbs all of the impact upon the hit. Because the Shock Bonnet absorbs the impact, it reduces the sudden movement of the head, which reduces head injuries.

We are the exclusive dealer of Xenith helmets in Kansas City and the surrounding areas. So, come in to Nill Bros Sporting Goods to purchase the Xenith X1 helmet. Contact us for more details on our team specials.

Boy Scouts are "A Shining Light Across America"

On July 31, 2010, the Boy Scouts of America made history with their nationwide broadcast of "A Shining Light Across America." The broadcast was in commemoration of the organization's 100th Anniversary National Jamboree in Fort AP Hill, Virginia.

If you missed the live broadcast, visit the Boy Scouts of America for archived video.