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Fighting influence

Could the Irish's booster rules fix college sports?

Originally Published: December 28, 2012
By Darren Rovell | ESPN The Magazine

T. Boone Pickens won't wait in line for a ticket to the Heart of Dallas Bowl when his beloved Oklahoma State Cowboys play there Jan. 1. Nor will Phil Knight have trouble getting through to Oregon AD Rob Mullens the next time he wants to talk football. College sports feed off big boosters, so programs allow influence in exchange. "Someone might say, 'If I'm going to donate a certain amount of money, I expect to have some power. I expect to get what I want,'" says former Big ...

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ESPN The Magazine: January 7, 2013

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