College Football 2020

[Sea Ray]

Here we are on early signing day and USC still has only 11 recruits; no 5 stars and only one 4 star. That's a lost year in recruiting and can't ever happen for a school like that.

UC is doing OK, ranked #51 by 247. They have two 4* guys. Tennessee is at #16 so far. Decent but still below many SEC teams

Big Ten once again lagging behind. Only one team in the top ten. Four teams in the top 25. Tennessee has 6 SEC teams ahead of them. It's awfully tough to climb the latter in the SEC.

https://247sports.com/Season/2020-Football/CompositeTeamRankings/

[Hillsdale87]

Here we are on early signing day and USC still has only 11 recruits; no 5 stars and only one 4 star. That's a lost year in recruiting and can't ever happen for a school like that.

UC is doing OK, ranked #51 by 247. They have two 4* guys. Tennessee is at #16 so far. Decent but still below many SEC teams

Big Ten once again lagging behind. Only one team in the top ten. Four teams in the top 25. Tennessee has 6 SEC teams ahead of them. It's awfully tough to climb the latter in the SEC.

https://247sports.com/Season/2020-Football/CompositeTeamRankings/

It's amazing that they're bringing back Helton. It would be understandable if he at least has a recruiting class coming in that could provide some hope, but this is the type of class that can set the program back for years. Of the 11 recruits, only 1 is a 4 star.

For the Big 10, other schools need to step it up. The gap between OSU and everybody else widens every year. I remember Urban taking some criticism for calling out coaches for not recruiting well enough, but he's right. It's not like the gap between Clemson and the rest of the ACC, but there is nobody in the Big 10 that presents a consistent threat to OSU, and it's hard to see that changing. Penn State probably has the best chance.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[WVRed]

Should speak volumes that USC is recruiting against Kentucky for Michael (Donut) Drennen.


https://247sports.com/Player/Michael-Drennen-II-93981/

[kaldaniels]

Two straight Top-6 classes for TAMU. (Just missed the 2020 Top-5 by a hair)

Will 2020 be the year the Jimbos make a splash on the field? It's been pretty quiet in College Station since Fisher took over. I thought they'd have made a little more noise by now.

[oregonred]

Two straight Top-6 classes for TAMU. (Just missed the 2020 Top-5 by a hair)

Will 2020 be the year the Jimbos make a splash on the field? It's been pretty quiet in College Station since Fisher took over. I thought they'd have made a little more noise by now.

They better hope so. Year 3 for Jimbo sporting his 10/75M deal and Year 2 was a complete dud

[oregonred]

The ACC will continue to be a one team conference until Florida State and Miami become respectable again.

Frankly the U has never recovered from the 2002 National Championship Game

[adkindo]

The ACC will continue to be a one team conference until Florida State and Miami become respectable again.

Frankly the U has never recovered from the 2002 National Championship Game

Ask 10 different people what went wrong at Miami, and you get 10 different answers. I think there is a little truth to many of them....

- leaving the Big East
- poor coaching decisions
- recruiting stars and not football players
- the northeast, rust belt and midwest producing less talent
- UCF and USF......and FIU and FAU

Changing conferences always comes with bumps....it just does. Things are done a little different, venues are different, and you are the outsider for a while. Randy Shannon and Al Golden were just poor choices and probably a result of Miami not holding itself to higher standards.....Mark Richt at least got the program back to being competitive and recruiting a better roster, and the jury is still out on Manny. Miami was recruiting 4 & 5 stars during the good years and the bad years....but it is more complicated than how many stars a player has and Shannon and Golden appeared to not understand the type of players that fit the culture and complimented the roster....Richt began to get that back in the right direction. The collapse of high school football in many regions of the country has caused half of FBS teams to invade Florida in search for talent, which has made it harder for Miami to pick and choose in their own backyard. Finally UCF and USF have been aggressive in growth, and FAU/FIU appear to be in a similar path....which has put pressure on all 3 of the big boys in the state and cut into their depth. The 3 or 4 star kid that was once the backup CB at Miami is now the starting CB at USF.

[GAC]

Miami(FL) has a hard time recruiting local talent when the majority of the state is filled with retirees driving '69 Impalas they bought new with no rust and in mint condition (LOL)

[Assembly Hall]

Ask 10 different people what went wrong at Miami, and you get 10 different answers. I think there is a little truth to many of them....

- leaving the Big East
- poor coaching decisions
- recruiting stars and not football players
- the northeast, rust belt and midwest producing less talent
- UCF and USF......and FIU and FAU

Changing conferences always comes with bumps....it just does. Things are done a little different, venues are different, and you are the outsider for a while. Randy Shannon and Al Golden were just poor choices and probably a result of Miami not holding itself to higher standards.....Mark Richt at least got the program back to being competitive and recruiting a better roster, and the jury is still out on Manny. Miami was recruiting 4 & 5 stars during the good years and the bad years....but it is more complicated than how many stars a player has and Shannon and Golden appeared to not understand the type of players that fit the culture and complimented the roster....Richt began to get that back in the right direction. The collapse of high school football in many regions of the country has caused half of FBS teams to invade Florida in search for talent, which has made it harder for Miami to pick and choose in their own backyard. Finally UCF and USF have been aggressive in growth, and FAU/FIU appear to be in a similar path....which has put pressure on all 3 of the big boys in the state and cut into their depth. The 3 or 4 star kid that was once the backup CB at Miami is now the starting CB at USF.

Interesting thoughts. Although I don't understand what talent outside of their area has anything to do with it. I just think their fanbase needs to come to grips that the Canes are not going to be national title contenders every year.

[adkindo]

Interesting thoughts. Although I don't understand what talent outside of their area has anything to do with it. I just think their fanbase needs to come to grips that the Canes are not going to be national title contenders every year.

maybe I am just missing something that is in front of me....but what do you mean in regards to "talent outside their area"?

[Assembly Hall]

maybe I am just missing something that is in front of me....but what do you mean in regards to "talent outside their area"?

Check your post out...

- the northeast, rust belt and midwest producing less talent

[adkindo]

Check your post out...

- the northeast, rust belt and midwest producing less talent

which pushes those schools into Georgia and Florida in search of talent. It is just more of a challenge to get the lower to mid 4 Star Defensive End @ Miami Southridge when he has offers from all the FL schools, but also has offers from Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Nebraska, Clemson, Georgia, etc. Schools have always came for the elite 5 Star kids, but competition was more limited for that very good but non elite recruit. Now Michigan, Ohio, PA, etc. are just not producing enough of those very good players and are stealing them from Miami's backyard. If you just look at the raw numbers about 50% of high level recruits (4 & 5 Star's) come from 4 states (California, Florida, Texas and Georgia), while the other 50% is split up among the other 46 states.

[Assembly Hall]

which pushes those schools into Georgia and Florida in search of talent. It is just more of a challenge to get the lower to mid 4 Star Defensive End @ Miami Southridge when he has offers from all the FL schools, but also has offers from Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Nebraska, Clemson, Georgia, etc. Schools have always came for the elite 5 Star kids, but competition was more limited for that very good but non elite recruit. Now Michigan, Ohio, PA, etc. are just not producing enough of those very good players and are stealing them from Miami's backyard. If you just look at the raw numbers about 50% of high level recruits (4 & 5 Star's) come from 4 states (California, Florida, Texas and Georgia), while the other 50% is split up among the other 46 states.

Sorry, I don't buy that. Miami, FSU, and Florida are getting more competition from the other in-state schools.

[adkindo]

Sorry, I don't buy that. Miami, FSU, and Florida are getting more competition from the other in-state schools.

what don't you buy?

[WVRed]

Bump

[Assembly Hall]

ND back-up QB enters transfer portal.

[Assembly Hall]

ND back-up QB enters transfer portal.

[Sea Ray]

Everything's coming up roses for Jeremy Pruitt and Tennessee. It was mentioned two yrs ago that the Vols were losing recruits due to the coaching search after Butch Jones and dysfunction in Knoxville. I wrote this at the time:


Forget flipping guys already committed.

I'll be thrilled if the Vols new coach can bring back guys who flipped from UT to undecided in the weeks since Butch was fired. One such example is 5 star offensive tackle Cade Mays who's from Knoxville and whose Dad played for the Vols and was All SEC in 1994 and a team captain.

You're right that this eternal optimism doesn't get you anywhere until we see results from the field. This is akin to getting excited on draft day for Bengal fans, a condition I know all too well...

I do think Pruitt is a far better fit than Schiano. One thing that can't be underestimated is that Pruitt is a southerner. Any of you who went to college in the south will get this. They're not so keen on a guy from Michigan like Butch Jones or a guy like Schiano from Jersey. They want to hear that southern drawl. Here are some comments typical of Vol fans:

"I'm happy we have a good ol' Southern boy coaching the Vols again"

"At least he doesn't have a Yankee accent."

The bottom line is this:

"Homerun hire! Gonna do great! We dodged a bullet. Imagine being saddled with John Currie and GS for the next 3-5 years! Thanks CPF!!!" CFP=Coach Philip Fulmer

I liked Fulmer's comment here about his hire:

"...his energy and personality is infectious"

That would not be said about Greg Schiano. The Vols are in need of some positive energy around there.

The Vols immediate expectations seem reasonable from what I can discern. They just want Pruitt to get them back to being Bowl eligible next yr

Well now there's this:

Sources: Georgia sophomore OL Cade Mays enters transfer portal, will stay in SEC East at Tennessee

https://www.espn.com/college-footbal...east-tennessee

I see Cade Mays had a change of heart and he now feels like life is better in Knoxville. It took him a couple yrs to figure it out but yeah, come back home Cade. His brother is a 4 star lineman and he's coming to UT in the 2020 class.

Jeremy Pruitt must be doing something right if he can pawn talent away from Georgia

[WVRed]

Mike Leach to Mississippi State.

Didn’t see that one coming.

[Sea Ray]

I'm just giddy with how things are going in Knoxville. 5* Jr O-lineman Trey Smith just announced that he's not going pro just yet. He's coming back for his senior yr. Now Trey has quite a history. He's a pancake machine as a guard on that line but he's also struggled with blood clots which has cut short his UT career. He was able to play this entire yr so hopefully this problem is licked, but this is a concern for everyone, including NFL teams.

If Cade Mays gets cleared ( a big if), that can be four 5 star OL and one 4 star OL on one offensive line. Four OL in the top 28 players of their respective classes according to 247. This is the type of line that "all star" rosters are made of. Even if Cade has to sit out a yr it should be a helluva O-line.

https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2020/01/08/tennessee-football-trey-smith-nfl-draft-ut-vols-press-conference/2715077001/

Due to the Vols success, we do have Nick Saban trying to lure away our D coordinator. This wouldn't happen if the Vols were suckin'. I guess it's a good problem to have.

My how things have changed in two yrs. No way we have 5* guys transfering to us and coming back for their senior yrs until Pruitt got here

[cumberlandreds]

Mike Leach to Mississippi State.

Didn’t see that one coming.

The Egg Bowl will be interesting now.

[Sea Ray]

Mike Leach to Mississippi State.

Didn’t see that one coming.

From the sound of it Leach was interviewing with Ole Miss, Ark and MSU so I guess his leaving was bound to happen. Can't believe he was at Pullman for 8 yrs. He had quite the wide open passing game at WSU but he had little running game and the defense was downright putrid. Makes Oklahoma's look stellar

- - - Updated - - -


The Egg Bowl will be interesting now.

It was pretty darn interesting this past yr

[BuckeyeRed27]

I'm just giddy with how things are going in Knoxville. 5* Jr O-lineman Trey Smith just announced that he's not going pro just yet. He's coming back for his senior yr. Now Trey has quite a history. He's a pancake machine as a guard on that line but he's also struggled with blood clots which has cut short his UT career. He was able to play this entire yr so hopefully this problem is licked, but this is a concern for everyone, including NFL teams.

If Cade Mays gets cleared ( a big if), that can be four 5 star OL and one 4 star OL on one offensive line. Four OL in the top 28 players of their respective classes according to 247. This is the type of line that "all star" rosters are made of. Even if Cade has to sit out a yr it should be a helluva O-line.

https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2020/01/08/tennessee-football-trey-smith-nfl-draft-ut-vols-press-conference/2715077001/

Due to the Vols success, we do have Nick Saban trying to lure away our D coordinator. This wouldn't happen if the Vols were suckin'. I guess it's a good problem to have.

My how things have changed in two yrs. No way we have 5* guys transfering to us and coming back for their senior yrs until Pruitt got here

https://247sports.com/Article/Cade-Mays-Georgia-Bulldogs-transfer-portal-lawsuit-Tennessee-Vols-Tom-Mars-141901346/

Mays will certainly have one of the more....interesting transfer cases we’ve seen.

[WVRed]

From the sound of it Leach was interviewing with Ole Miss, Ark and MSU so I guess his leaving was bound to happen. Can't believe he was at Pullman for 8 yrs. He had quite the wide open passing game at WSU but he had little running game and the defense was downright putrid. Makes Oklahoma's look stellar

Think of the SEC West now.

Saban
Coach O
Gus
Jimbo
Leach
Kiffin
Pittman (especially with the story about Mays)

Big names and big headaches.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[cumberlandreds]

From the sound of it Leach was interviewing with Ole Miss, Ark and MSU so I guess his leaving was bound to happen. Can't believe he was at Pullman for 8 yrs. He had quite the wide open passing game at WSU but he had little running game and the defense was downright putrid. Makes Oklahoma's look stellar

- - - Updated - - -



It was pretty darn interesting this past yr

It will be interesting before the game now. Lane vs Leach...........

[Chip R]

Mike Leach to Mississippi State.

Didn’t see that one coming.

Interesting he goes from Pullman to Starkville. Former Washington State, USC and Iowa basketball coach George Raveling once said of Pullman, "It's not the end of the world, but you can see it from there." He also said, “When you’re from Pullman, you look forward to going anywhere.” Meanwhile, former Alabama coach Wimp Sanderson once said of Starkville, "The most exciting thing that goes on in Starkville is when they unload the Kroger trucks at midnight."

[UKFlounder]

StarkVegas, not Starkville...

[bucksfan2]

Couple of things

-Is Tennessee ready to compete? Just a brief check shows me their recruiting hasn't been up to snuff with the contenders in the SEC. Right now, I see them in the middle of the pack in the SEC. Not terrible, but not where they want to be. I think Tennessee needs to pounce because I don't think Florida is headed in the right direction and Georgia looks to have stagnated. The best QB in the SEC will be Bo Nix, but other than him, is there another decent signal caller? Tennessee has been killed recently by being Alabama's crossover game, they just aren't on the same level.

-I think Mike Leach is a good coach, but I think his tenure at Miss St will be disastrous. His pressers and rants are cute and all, especially when you are at WSU, but at Miss St, where you are expected to win, it will wear off quickly.

[Sea Ray]

Couple of things

-Is Tennessee ready to compete? Just a brief check shows me their recruiting hasn't been up to snuff with the contenders in the SEC. Right now, I see them in the middle of the pack in the SEC. Not terrible, but not where they want to be. I think Tennessee needs to pounce because I don't think Florida is headed in the right direction and Georgia looks to have stagnated. The best QB in the SEC will be Bo Nix, but other than him, is there another decent signal caller? Tennessee has been killed recently by being Alabama's crossover game, they just aren't on the same level.

-I think Mike Leach is a good coach, but I think his tenure at Miss St will be disastrous. His pressers and rants are cute and all, especially when you are at WSU, but at Miss St, where you are expected to win, it will wear off quickly.

Time will tell whether Tennessee is ready to compete with Florida and Georgia. Pawning a 5* lineman from them is a step in the right direction. To give you a short answer, a lot of it depends on the QB. Will freshman Harrison Bailey, a talented 6'5" kid from Georgia, be able to help the team this year? I think the team will be a power running team with stellar defense in 2020. Will that be enough? I don't know. It sure is hard to recruit with those boys. Tennessee can be 15th in the country and be 7th in the SEC

[North]

Six Ohio State football players make ESPN’s 150 greatest players list, with more to come
Today 12:36 PM


https://www.cleveland.com/osu/2020/01/six-ohio-state-football-players-make-espns-150-greatest-players-list-with-more-to-come.html

[Assembly Hall]

Time will tell whether Tennessee is ready to compete with Florida and Georgia. Pawning a 5* lineman from them is a step in the right direction. To give you a short answer, a lot of it depends on the QB. Will freshman Harrison Bailey, a talented 6'5" kid from Georgia, be able to help the team this year? I think the team will be a power running team with stellar defense in 2020. Will that be enough? I don't know. It sure is hard to recruit with those boys. Tennessee can be 15th in the country and be 7th in the SEC

One thing is for sure...there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

[WVRed]

Time will tell whether Tennessee is ready to compete with Florida and Georgia. Pawning a 5* lineman from them is a step in the right direction. To give you a short answer, a lot of it depends on the QB. Will freshman Harrison Bailey, a talented 6'5" kid from Georgia, be able to help the team this year? I think the team will be a power running team with stellar defense in 2020. Will that be enough? I don't know. It sure is hard to recruit with those boys. Tennessee can be 15th in the country and be 7th in the SEC

Georgia just added Jamie Newman to replace Jake Fromm State Farm.

The SEC East is so wide open in 2020 though. Tennessee, Florida, or even South Carolina or Kentucky could pose a threat to Georgia next season.

[BuckeyeRed27]

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/01/coach-franklin-several-psu-players-accused-of-hazing-in-just-filed-federal-lawsuit.html

Possible hazing at Penn State. Definitely a wait for more information scenario, but not good if true.

[Boston Red]

Seems like the NCAA deciding to lighten up on the Penn State probation was a mistake.

[Chip R]

It looks like Missouri State is aiming high for their new football coach. Sources say it will either be Art Briles or Bobby Petrino

https://footballscoop.com/news/source-art-briles-to-be-announced-as-new-head-coach-tomorrow/

[Chip R]

It's Petrino. The lesser of two scumbags.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/28488956/ex-louisville-coach-bobby-petrino-missouri-state

[Boston Red]

It's Petrino. The lesser of two scumbags.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/28488956/ex-louisville-coach-bobby-petrino-missouri-state

I'm a Missouri State fan now! I'm the sole member of the Petrino fan club. LOL I just like watching his offense operate when it's right. I figured he would need to drop down to this level if he wanted to coach again. Hopefully he's learned something about humility from the way his last few opportunities have ended (other than Western Kentucky), but I'm not really holding my breath.

[Sea Ray]

Word is Dantonio is retiring at Mich St. That'd be a real nice landing spot for Fickell

[adkindo]

Word is Dantonio is retiring at Mich St. That'd be a real nice landing spot for Fickell

yeah, the Athletic is reporting he has retired.

[Boston Red]

Word is Dantonio is retiring at Mich St. That'd be a real nice landing spot for Fickell

That would kind of suck for UC if Fickell goes there now. On the plus side, it would keep UC from losing a recruiting class having it happen now instead of in December. On the downside, how do you hire a coach now other than one of your assistants? I suppose Missouri State left Art Briles available.....

[Sea Ray]

Butch Jones is looking for work

[Chip R]

Word is Dantonio is retiring at Mich St. That'd be a real nice landing spot for Fickell

This may be a reason Dantonio is resigning. If that's the case, anyone worth their salt would do well to steer clear of MSU.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state-university/2020/02/04/blackwell-lawyers-detail-allegations-msus-mark-dantonio-committed-multiple-ncaa-violations/4655797002/

[Assembly Hall]

This may be a reason Dantonio is resigning. If that's the case, anyone worth their salt would do well to steer clear of MSU.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state-university/2020/02/04/blackwell-lawyers-detail-allegations-msus-mark-dantonio-committed-multiple-ncaa-violations/4655797002/

I seen that...now we know the "weird" timing.

[North]

This may be a reason Dantonio is resigning. If that's the case, anyone worth their salt would do well to steer clear of MSU.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state-university/2020/02/04/blackwell-lawyers-detail-allegations-msus-mark-dantonio-committed-multiple-ncaa-violations/4655797002/

Thanks for the link.

I am a forgiving person, but I can't forgive Dantonio (and Brian Kelly) for walking out on U.C. players a day or so before a bowl game. You don't do that to young people. You just don't.

[Sea Ray]

This may be a reason Dantonio is resigning. If that's the case, anyone worth their salt would do well to steer clear of MSU.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state-university/2020/02/04/blackwell-lawyers-detail-allegations-msus-mark-dantonio-committed-multiple-ncaa-violations/4655797002/

Sounds very complicated. I can't make heads or tails out of that. It'll have to sort out in the courts. It does seem like Dantonio decided this kind of stuff just isn't worth it anymore. Time to go into hiding and enjoy his millions. I wonder if he gets to keep his $4mill retention bonus? Heck of a deal if so

[North]

Source: Cincinnati Bearcats football coach Luke Fickell to interview for Michigan State opening this weekend
DAVID JESSE, CHRIS SOLARI | DETROIT FREE PRESS

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/2020/02/07/michigan-state-football-coaching-search-luke-fickell-mel-tucker-university-of-cincinnati-ohio/4696198002/


Money money money...money.

[Bob Sheed]

Well Tucker said he's not going anywhere.

Fickell has gone dark.

Oh well...

[Sea Ray]

Well Tucker said he's not going anywhere.

Fickell has gone dark.

Oh well...

Who's Tucker?

[Bob Sheed]

Who's Tucker?

Colorado coach Mel Tucker, the other applicant interviewing this weekend. Said he has no intention of leaving Colorado.

Sounds like Fickell is gone. Which is why UC Football can only go so far.

[Sea Ray]

Colorado coach Mel Tucker, the other applicant interviewing this weekend. Said he has no intention of leaving Colorado.

Sounds like Fickell is gone. Which is why UC Football can only go so far.

MSU AD went back to Lansing w/o a deal. I think that bodes well for Fickell staying

[adkindo]

Not sure why Fickell would not take the job without any guarantee that Cincinnati will get into a P5 conference in the near future. It has long been expected he wanted a B10 job, and Ohio State will not likely be open anytime soon. He was interested in the WVU job last year, and likely would have taken it if offered....kind of hard to imagine he would take WVU job and pass on Michigan State.

[Assembly Hall]

MSU AD went back to Lansing w/o a deal. I think that bodes well for Fickell staying

https://247sports.com/LongFormArticle/Luke-Fickell-Michigan-State-Spartans-coaching-search-what-theyre-saying-143603943/#143603943_1

[Sea Ray]

https://247sports.com/LongFormArticle/Luke-Fickell-Michigan-State-Spartans-coaching-search-what-theyre-saying-143603943/#143603943_1

If they're going back to the Board of Trustees it sounds like Fickell made some special demand(s) that they need to clear with the higher ups. We'll see.

[Bob Sheed]

Fickell is staying at UC, per the Enquirer.

[Sea Ray]

Fickell is staying at UC, per the Enquirer.

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/university-of-cincinnati/2020/02/10/luke-fickell-isnt-leaving-cincinnati-football-michigan-state/4707288002/

I think this is a good move on his part, considering the NCAA issues facing MSU and the recruiting class Fickell has coming in to UC.

So much for reading the Twitter tea leaves...:rolleyes:

[Sea Ray]

Not sure why Fickell would not take the job without any guarantee that Cincinnati will get into a P5 conference in the near future. It has long been expected he wanted a B10 job, and Ohio State will not likely be open anytime soon. He was interested in the WVU job last year, and likely would have taken it if offered....kind of hard to imagine he would take WVU job and pass on Michigan State.

UC can't guarantee him something that they don't control

[kaldaniels]

Assuming Fickell isn't going to be a UC lifer, MSU (scandal aside) is a program teetering right on the edge of a program that is capable of turning into an elite powerhouse (year in and out). I just don't think they will get there in our lives. I think it would have been a dead end job for Luke with the ceiling being a Dantonio-like run. I guess what I'm saying is Fickell probably made the right move. Keep churning at UC and wait for the right job.

[bucksfan2]

Assuming Fickell isn't going to be a UC lifer, MSU (scandal aside) is a program teetering right on the edge of a program that is capable of turning into an elite powerhouse (year in and out). I just don't think they will get there in our lives. I think it would have been a dead end job for Luke with the ceiling being a Dantonio-like run. I guess what I'm saying is Fickell probably made the right move. Keep churning at UC and wait for the right job.

MSU is a good job, a much better job than UC. I just don't know if you want to be the coach who has to come in and clean up the mess Dantonio is leaving it with. Their recruiting has been terrible, mostly impacted by the likes of UC and UK. There will be some form of sanctions placed on them, although I don't know how bad they will be. They also play in a division with OSU, PSU, and Michigan, when at their peak they may be able to win the East once in ten years, but it is probably the most difficult division to win in football.

I don't know what Fickell's ultimate end game is. I don't think UC is a job he wants to be a lifer at. I also don't think OSU will come open anytime soon. Day is in a similar situation as Fickell is with a young coach and family. I don't see Day leaving soon, especially when the brink truck backs up and starts to pay him. Basically the best midwest jobs I can see Fickell taking are, OSU, ND, and MSU. Is he staying with UC hoping to get either OSU or ND?

[BuckeyeRed27]

MSU is a good job, a much better job than UC. I just don't know if you want to be the coach who has to come in and clean up the mess Dantonio is leaving it with. Their recruiting has been terrible, mostly impacted by the likes of UC and UK. There will be some form of sanctions placed on them, although I don't know how bad they will be. They also play in a division with OSU, PSU, and Michigan, when at their peak they may be able to win the East once in ten years, but it is probably the most difficult division to win in football.

I don't know what Fickell's ultimate end game is. I don't think UC is a job he wants to be a lifer at. I also don't think OSU will come open anytime soon. Day is in a similar situation as Fickell is with a young coach and family. I don't see Day leaving soon, especially when the brink truck backs up and starts to pay him. Basically the best midwest jobs I can see Fickell taking are, OSU, ND, and MSU. Is he staying with UC hoping to get either OSU or ND?

Yeah if he’s turning down MSU, I think he’s banking that he can keep turning out 10 win seasons at UC and when the next round of consolidation hits (probably 2024 when TV contracts get redone) that the ACC or Big 12 will look at them as a top option.

Also I think Fickell has a bunch of kids, so there is a personal element at play here too where he doesn’t want to uproot his family.

[Assembly Hall]

I don't know what Fickell's ultimate end game is. I don't think UC is a job he wants to be a lifer at. I also don't think OSU will come open anytime soon. Day is in a similar situation as Fickell is with a young coach and family. I don't see Day leaving soon, especially when the brink truck backs up and starts to pay him. Basically the best midwest jobs I can see Fickell taking are, OSU, ND, and MSU. Is he staying with UC hoping to get either OSU or ND?

You left off Michigan...

[kaldaniels]

He is a Midwest Guy right now, but if a big program came calling I think he’d take it. Only Fickell knows however.

Fleck has a leg up on him right now as far as “up and coming” coaches go were an elite job to open up. I suspect Fleck is being very selective as well for his next job so it will be interesting.

I do wonder if Fickell’s ties to “boring” Tressell will restrict the amount of suitors for him. I don’t see him as a guy for the progressive PAC10 and Luke doesn’t scream SEC to me either. I considered Texas as a landing spot as I don’t think Hermann lasts much longer but would the Horns hire another OSU disciple? Michigan is possible but I’m not sure Fick has the stones for the ultimate heel turn.

[Sea Ray]

Would an Ohio State kid like Fickell consider going to the "other side", Ann Arbor? Interesting question.

[Chip R]

There's a report out there that Bret Bielema is interested in the job at MSU.

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2020/02/10/bret-bielema-michigan-state-football-coach-job/4712198002/

[BillDoran]

I think Fickell made the right decision. Hard to say what he'd be walking into. Obviously, the football program is on unstable footing, but the university and athletic department have really been shaken up (probably should have been disbanded) after the Larry Nassar fiasco.

As an Ohio State fan, Fickell is such an easy guy to root for. Seems exceptionally loyal and kinda a throwback. I loved all the winning Ohio State did under Urban Meyer, but I really appreciate coaches like Fickell and Tressel that seem to care about the well-being of players (beyond as a marketing ploy and a recruiting gimmick). I think it's part of what makes college football enjoyable.

Hard to imagine where Fickell goes next. I could see him being content in Cincinnati for a decade or more. That said, his name seems to come up every offseason for positions (beyond typical media speculation). Maybe Illinois or Iowa. He does very much seem like a Midwestern, heartland kinda guy. Either way, glad to see him stick around Cincinnati and hope the Bearcats have a ton of success going forward.

[adkindo]

Would an Ohio State kid like Fickell consider going to the "other side", Ann Arbor? Interesting question.

I think he may....but I would advise against it. Every loss, the loudest voices will take the lazy route about him not being a "Michigan Man".

[bucksfan2]

You left off Michigan...

One OSU podcast I listen to suggested that he would jump in a heartbeat for that job. Thing is, I don't think that would realistically happen. I think Fickell would "have" to take that job, I just think that hurdle is too big to even to get to the point where a contract is extended.

I don't buy the idea that UC will get into a Power 5 conference. The one they seemingly fit into isn't going to happen, the B1G. If another round of conference realignment happens, they may have a shot, but I just don't see it. What make UC enticing for another conference?

[Boston Red]

I think UC would fit into a major conference every bit as well as or better than Baylor, Wake Forest, Iowa State, Kansas State, Oregon State, Washington State, Boston College and probably a few others I'm not thinking of, but unfortunately for UC no one is going to get kicked out of the club for them to get in. Timing was on the side of those others as they did a good job of aligning themselves with stronger programs decades ago. The hurdle is higher for UC: how do they IMPROVE an existing Power 5 conference? Tough case to make.

[Assembly Hall]

how do they IMPROVE an existing Power 5 conference? Tough case to make.

I don't know UC's history as far as academics but I know they have a med school there for under-graduates. That being said Cincinnati has a basketball legacy and ain't too damn bad at football. That brings something to a "Power 5" conference. When it comes to football they could bring a pro stadium into the fold. So exactly what were you saying?

[Boston Red]

So exactly what were you saying?

There's no Power 5 conference that improves itself by adding UC. I don't think that's particularly controversial.

And remember that "improve" in this context means financially more than anything. If a conference is going to split the financial pie to include Cincinnati, does that conference's overall financial pie grow enough by adding UC that everyone gets more money even when dividing by one more?

[Assembly Hall]

There's no Power 5 conference that improves itself by adding UC. I don't think that's particularly controversial.

And remember that "improve" in this context means financially more than anything. If a conference is going to split the financial pie to include Cincinnati, does that conference's overall financial pie grow enough by adding UC that everyone gets more money even when dividing by one more?

So you are talking TV revenue? Hmmmm...interesting.

[bucksfan2]

There's no Power 5 conference that improves itself by adding UC. I don't think that's particularly controversial.

And remember that "improve" in this context means financially more than anything. If a conference is going to split the financial pie to include Cincinnati, does that conference's overall financial pie grow enough by adding UC that everyone gets more money even when dividing by one more?

UC would absolutely be a better fit than some current power 5 school. And yes, UC would be better than Iowa St, Baylor, TCU, or Kansas St in the Big 12. They would be better than Rutgers in the B1G. They would be better than Wake or BC or even Miami in the ACC. But those schools aren't getting kicked out of there conferences. UC and UCONN seemed to get hosed right and left and conference expansion and realignment tore apart the Big East and left those two at the alter.

[Boston Red]

I didn't include Rutgers because of the financial aspects of including the NYC TV market. Same can't be said for Iowa State, K-State, Wake, etc.

And I disagree with you wholeheartedly on TCU.

[bucksfan2]

I didn't include Rutgers because of the financial aspects of including the NYC TV market. Same can't be said for Iowa State, K-State, Wake, etc.

And I disagree with you wholeheartedly on TCU.

What does TCU bring? I get it, they are in Dallas (or close to Dallas) but one would contend that bringing in Houston would bring the larger market. But to further the point, Texas is Texas or A&M, the smaller schools don't really matter unless you get into their local area. I can't really speak to Dallas, but I would imagine during the football season, the TV's are glued to the Longhorns game far more than they are the Horned Frogs game.

[Boston Red]

I think they bring at least as much as UC in terms of viewership. And they've had significantly better football than UC on average (even before joining the Big 12).

[adkindo]

UC would absolutely be a better fit than some current power 5 school. And yes, UC would be better than Iowa St, Baylor, TCU, or Kansas St in the Big 12. They would be better than Rutgers in the B1G. They would be better than Wake or BC or even Miami in the ACC. But those schools aren't getting kicked out of there conferences. UC and UCONN seemed to get hosed right and left and conference expansion and realignment tore apart the Big East and left those two at the alter.

Louisville initially was left behind also. I am not sure Cincy adds more overall to a conference than Iowa State, Baylor, TCU or Kansas State....and I definitely do not think they come close to Miami. Cincy's likely only chance at getting a P5 invitation as the conferences are currently constructed in with the Big12 because of the school and overall academic mission. Likely not a fit for the ACC and I do not see the SEC adding a metropolitan based school above the Mason Dixon line. I would argue UCF should be the next invite for a conference....it is a massive school, football based/focused, and has unlimited upside.

[adkindo]

I think they bring at least as much as UC in terms of viewership. And they've had significantly better football than UC on average (even before joining the Big 12).

Memphis is also trying to be the next school....if their basketball program was as expected this year, they would have had a strong case. UCF and USF are dying to get the call. Houston, Boise State, BYU, Colorado State and others are all positioning.

[Boston Red]

Yeah, the Florida schools to me have a huge leg up just on geography. Cincinnati might be a nice "bridge" to WV for the Big XII.

Things will certainly get interesting in the mid-2020s if Texas gets wanderlust (or Oklahoma gets sick of putting up with Texas).

[bucksfan2]

Louisville initially was left behind also. I am not sure Cincy adds more overall to a conference than Iowa State, Baylor, TCU or Kansas State....and I definitely do not think they come close to Miami. Cincy's likely only chance at getting a P5 invitation as the conferences are currently constructed in with the Big12 because of the school and overall academic mission. Likely not a fit for the ACC and I do not see the SEC adding a metropolitan based school above the Mason Dixon line. I would argue UCF should be the next invite for a conference....it is a massive school, football based/focused, and has unlimited upside.

Really, Iowa St, Baylor, and Kansas St bring little to a conference. I think UC, especially with a power 5 recruiting base, could bring a lot more to the table than those schools.

Miami has been a dumpster fire for a decade now. They are a small school in Miami with a fickle fan base. When they aren't good, the fan support dwindles (there is too much else to do down there.)

UC's biggest problem may have been that OSU wanted nothing to do with UC in the B1G. Granted the B1G has the Cincinnati market with OSU, there was no desire to bring in a competitor to OSU and their brand.

UC did everything they should have, but never got an invite. The Big 12 still makes sense as a bridge to WVU, but I just don't see it happening.

[Boston Red]

UC did everything they should have, but never got an invite.

They did, but they were a bit late to it. Louisville was ten years ahead of UC in getting facilities in order, focusing on the full athletic department, etc., so Louisville was ready when there was actually a spot to be filled. It is a bit backwards sounding, but Louisville was also fortunate to be in a slightly smaller market than UC. Still big enough to be interesting and provide a lot of support to the program, but not so big to have competition for consumers' sports entertainment dollars (Reds, Bengals).

[Reds Freak]

Yeah, the Florida schools to me have a huge leg up just on geography. Cincinnati might be a nice "bridge" to WV for the Big XII.

Things will certainly get interesting in the mid-2020s if Texas gets wanderlust (or Oklahoma gets sick of putting up with Texas).

I really thought the B12 was going to add Cincinnati and Louisville as bridges to WVU before Louisville went the ACC route.

[Boston Red]

I really thought the B12 was going to add Cincinnati and Louisville as bridges to WVU before Louisville went the ACC route.

Speaking as a Louisville fan in Big XII country, that would have been fantastic!

[WVRed]

Fickell turned down Michigan State.

Who takes it?

[North]

Fickell turned down Michigan State.

Who takes it?

15615

[Sea Ray]

Fickell turned down Michigan State.

Who takes it?

Right now the names being thrown around are Bret Bielema and Jim McElwaine.

[Hillsdale87]

Right now the names being thrown around are Bret Bielema and Jim McElwaine.

Those would both be pretty decent hires IMO. Bielema was bad at Arkansas, but that's a tough job, and he obviously had success at Wisconsin. McElwain also had issues, but he brought in a lot of talent, and his recruiting classes have fueled their recent success.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Assembly Hall]

Those would both be pretty decent hires IMO. Bielema was bad at Arkansas, but that's a tough job, and he obviously had success at Wisconsin. McElwain also had issues, but he brought in a lot of talent, and his recruiting classes have fueled their recent success.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I wouldn't trust Bret at all and quite frankly he is despised in B1G country for what he did at Wiscy. Much like Saban is.

[bucksfan2]

I wouldn't trust Bret at all and quite frankly he is despised in B1G country for what he did at Wiscy. Much like Saban is.

Yep, but he would be welcomed with open arms at MSU. McElwain is pretty blah, at MSU you need a coach like Dantonio where you can coach up players and find the underrated players. Its a difficult school to win recruiting battles against OSU, Michigan, and ND.

[Assembly Hall]

Yep, but he would be welcomed with open arms at MSU. McElwain is pretty blah, at MSU you need a coach like Dantonio where you can coach up players and find the underrated players. Its a difficult school to win recruiting battles against OSU, Michigan, and ND.

Well, maybe they deserve each other...

[BuckeyeRed27]

I wouldn't trust Bret at all and quite frankly he is despised in B1G country for what he did at Wiscy. Much like Saban is.

Sign me right up for all the Burt press conferences taking shots at Harbaugh.

[texasdave]

MSU picks someone from the Buckeye State to be its next head football coach. Mel Tucker.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/28684011/colorado-mel-tucker-hired-new-michigan-state-coach

[Bob Sheed]

MSU picks someone from the Buckeye State to be its next head football coach. Mel Tucker.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/28684011/colorado-mel-tucker-hired-new-michigan-state-coach

They guy who swore he wasn't leaving.

[adkindo]

Really, Iowa St, Baylor, and Kansas St bring little to a conference. I think UC, especially with a power 5 recruiting base, could bring a lot more to the table than those schools.

Miami has been a dumpster fire for a decade now. They are a small school in Miami with a fickle fan base. When they aren't good, the fan support dwindles (there is too much else to do down there.)



Baylor is the #1 basketball team in the country....hard to claim they bring nothing. In regards to Miami....it is not about them being a small private school with an iffy local fan base....fair or not, they have been able to transcend the normal requirements and are a national brand. The U may stink recently on the field, but they always represent speed, swagger, the "heel" that does it their way. There are few schools in the country that have a stonger national brand than they do local brand....and Miami is one of them.

[Revering4Blue]

MSU picks someone from the Buckeye State to be its next head football coach. Mel Tucker.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/28684011/colorado-mel-tucker-hired-new-michigan-state-coachThe first call were I Colorado AD.....Eric Bienemy (former Colorado Buffalo), who, frankly, may be a homerun hire and upgrade over Tucker.

Sent from my SM-T560NU using Tapatalk

[WVRed]

MSU picks someone from the Buckeye State to be its next head football coach. Mel Tucker.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/28684011/colorado-mel-tucker-hired-new-michigan-state-coach

Tucker is already trying to make a big splash in bringing Vince Marrow with him. Would be a blow to UK football if it happens.

[WVRed]

The first call were I Colorado AD.....Eric Bienemy (former Colorado Buffalo), who, frankly, may be a homerun hire and upgrade over Tucker.

Sent from my SM-T560NU using Tapatalk

Hate to say this but given the hiring problem with the NFL (Rooney Rule) he may have a better chance at Colorado than any NFL opening.

[adkindo]

East Carolina and Marshall have been granted a waiver by the NCAA to play their season opener on Aug. 29 -- a week earlier than originally scheduled -- at ECU's Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium as a tribute to the 75 people who died almost 50 years ago in the Marshall plane crash.

Jon Gilbert, East Carolina's athletic director, said ESPN has committed to televising the 50th anniversary game on one of its networks.

LINK (https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/28743117/east-carolina-marshall-game-moved-remember-1970-tragedy)

[adkindo]

ESPN's Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 (https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/28726502/way-too-early-college-football-top-25-lsu-loses-ground-clemson-no-1)

6 SEC Teams (all in Top 14)
6 Big10 Teams
5 Big12 Teams
2 ACC Teams (#1 Clemson)
2 PAC12 Teams
1 Independent (Notre Dame)
1 AAC Team (Cincinnati)
1 Mountain West Team (Boise State)
1 Sun Belt Team (Appalachian State)

[Bob Sheed]

The Bearcats REALLY need a power conference.

[Assembly Hall]

ESPN's Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 (https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/28726502/way-too-early-college-football-top-25-lsu-loses-ground-clemson-no-1)

6 SEC Teams (all in Top 14)
6 Big10 Teams
5 Big12 Teams
2 ACC Teams (#1 Clemson)
2 PAC12 Teams
1 Independent (Notre Dame)
1 AAC Team (Cincinnati)
1 Mountain West Team (Boise State)
1 Sun Belt Team (Appalachian State)

#26 Indiana

[Assembly Hall]

'Bama raiding IU?

https://www.si.com/.amp-indiana/college/indiana/football/david-ballou-leaving-indiana-for-alabama?__twitter_impression=true

[adkindo]

Huge commitment for WVU in Wyatt Milum (OT). #1 player in the state of WV and #24 in the country per 247. Brown and staff have always suggested 2021 would be their first real signature class they had the full 2 years to recruit....and off to a good start.

[adkindo]

Since there is no sports, I have tackled some projects around the house. This has involved frequent trips to Home Depot and other places. It seems like every time I get in my car (radio is usually on Sirius Radio ESPNU/College Sports channel) the topic is conference realignment. I know they are desperate for something to talk about, but I guess the USC AD made some recent comments that has sparked discussion of USC (and other PAC12 schools) being unhappy in the PAC12.

[KronoRed]

The Pac 12 network has been sort of a disaster.

Grab USCw, UCLA, 2-4 of the rest, the pac12 is now a minor conference and the big12 will be set for years.

Poor WVU still on its island though.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Poor WVU still on its island though.

Were I WVU, I'd be asking the SEC about availability daily.

[WVRed]

Were I WVU, I'd be asking the SEC about availability daily.

Or the ACC.

If the Big 12 ever falls, WVU will probably be relegated to Group of Five status. They add nothing to the SEC (media market, recruiting) and the ACC is too wine and cheese for them.

[Bourgeois Zee]

They add nothing to the SEC (media market, recruiting)...

I disagree with this.

Huntington Prep is a factory that's produced a ton of guys in basketball.

[WVRed]

I disagree with this.

Huntington Prep is a factory that's produced a ton of guys in basketball.

Basketball. Even then that’s a debatable topic. It’s essentially a school similar to Oak Hill or IMG that churns out recruits from all over but it doesn’t really serve as a pipeline to anywhere.

Football drives the bus in the SEC and West Virginia has to pull recruits from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Florida, etc to be successful. That’s one of the reason Texas A&M was so attractive. Add in that UK already has a presence in the Huntington/Charleston area and WVU is a secondary team in the Pittsburgh markets and outside of fan support what do they offer?

[Bourgeois Zee]

WVU is a secondary team in the Pittsburgh markets and outside of fan support what do they offer?

1. Eyes on televisions. West Virginians watch more football (and more sports) than any other state.
2. Adequacy in basketball and football.
3. Environment and state dominance.

[KronoRed]

WVU would always have made a nice fit with the SEC, the silly "they are hillbillies" excuse doesn't work, look at some of the other schools in the conference, and academics? the SEC is doubled down in the state of Mississippi.

Won't happen now though, unless there is a run to 16 and there is nobody else left.

[Rojo Rijo]

If WVU was a good fit for the SEC it would have happened in 2012.

Just like WVRed said, the TV market isn't strong enough for the SEC.

Geographically and style wise they would fit extremely well but it's not enough to step into the big time SEC. They landed in the Big12 in a domino effect anyways with Nebraska, Colorado, and Texas A&M all leaving.

[WVRed]

If WVU was a good fit for the SEC it would have happened in 2012.

Just like WVRed said, the TV market isn't strong enough for the SEC.

Geographically and style wise they would fit extremely well but it's not enough to step into the big time SEC. They landed in the Big12 in a domino effect anyways with Nebraska, Colorado, and Texas A&M all leaving.

For the record, I think WVU would have been more competitive than what Missouri has been and likely would have been an interesting matchup with some teams in the conference. Missouri brought the St Louis and Kansas City market with them though.

As a UK fan though, I refuse to consider WVU a border rival when the two campuses are a five hour drive. With Marshall being in Huntington and WVU fandom really not starting until you get further away from I-64, the border rivalry really doesn’t exist.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Again, West Virginians watch more sports than any other state (https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article231448763.html).

That's a lot of eyeballs.

As for 16 teams, I can get there rather easily:
South Division
Florida
Alabama
Georgia
Auburn

North Division
Kentucky
West Virginia
Missouri
Arkansas

Central Division
Tennessee
Vandy
Memphis
South Carolina

West Division
Texas A&M
LSU
Ole Miss
Mississippi State

[WVRed]

Again, West Virginians watch more sports than any other state (https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article231448763.html).

That's a lot of eyeballs.

As for 16 teams, I can get there rather easily:
South Division
Florida
Alabama
Georgia
Auburn

North Division
Kentucky
West Virginia
Missouri
Arkansas

Central Division
Tennessee
Vandy
Memphis
South Carolina

West Division
Texas A&M
LSU
Ole Miss
Mississippi State

If the SEC expands, it’ll be because the Big 12 collapses. Here’s my take:

South:
Alabama
Auburn
Ole Miss
Mississippi State

Central:
Kentucky
Missouri
Tennessee
Vanderbilt

East:
Georgia
Florida
South Carolina
West Virginia

West:
LSU
Texas A&M
Oklahoma
Arkansas

[Rojo Rijo]

The only way the SEC expands any time soon is if they can get one of the ACC schools from NC or VA.

Dream scenario would be NC State and UNC leaving the ACC for the SEC. That would acquire the Charlotte and Raleigh markets for the SEC.

[WVRed]

The only way the SEC expands any time soon is if they can get one of the ACC schools from NC or VA.

Dream scenario would be NC State and UNC leaving the ACC for the SEC. That would acquire the Charlotte and Raleigh markets for the SEC.

The payout for leaving the ACC is pretty high IIRC. With the ACC Network in place, it’s more likely they would be looking to expand as well.

[Rojo Rijo]

The payout for leaving the ACC is pretty high IIRC. With the ACC Network in place, it’s more likely they would be looking to expand as well.

I think its a 50 million exit fee. The SEC is distributing around 15 million+ more to schools on average than the ACC. The SEC and Big 10 continue to lead the pack in revenue and the SEC media rights with CBS expire in 2024 ($55 million per year) a bidding war is reported to be in the $300 million per year range (adding around 17.5 million per team per year). If that happens I believe any team would be willing to take a hit if they would earn back the 50 million in 2 years if the gap ends up being in the $30 million per year area.

[Assembly Hall]

Again, West Virginians watch more sports than any other state (https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article231448763.html).

That's a lot of eyeballs.

As for 16 teams, I can get there rather easily:
South Division
Florida
Alabama
Georgia
Auburn

North Division
Kentucky
West Virginia
Missouri
Arkansas

Central Division
Tennessee
Vandy
Memphis
South Carolina

West Division
Texas A&M
LSU
Ole Miss
Mississippi State

Originally, you replaced the Mississippi schools with Rice and Houston?

[Assembly Hall]

I think the ball is in the Big 12's court.

[KronoRed]

If the Big 12 takes the pac12 apart then they will be safe and not be losing anyone.

ACC will pitch ND on coming in for football, be turned down, maybe end up with UC and someone else, maybe UCONN?

Not sure who the SEC would get in that scenario, might be better to just stay at 14.

[adkindo]

If WVU was a good fit for the SEC it would have happened in 2012.

Just like WVRed said, the TV market isn't strong enough for the SEC.

Geographically and style wise they would fit extremely well but it's not enough to step into the big time SEC. They landed in the Big12 in a domino effect anyways with Nebraska, Colorado, and Texas A&M all leaving.

WVU could compete in the SEC, especially the SEC East. Outside of last year, I have little doubt we would have competed for the SEC East more years than Florida in the past decade....hell, we would have busted the Gators a$$ with their former QB....while taking a back seat to no team outside UK in basketball. Also, to WVRed and anyone else that suggests the silly claim that WVU will be relegated to a G5 conference, that is not going to happen.

If you read the Andy Staples article on the Athletic, which has multiple supplemental articles published over the last week by college football guys around the country.....and listened to Andy on the radio over the last week, it pieces together like this (somethings based on tidbit comments and sources, while other parts feel like speculation). The next round of realignment will have far less to do with television markets because of cord cutting & streaming. It will be much more about culture and brand names. The ratings over the last decade have shown that brand name and fit outweigh television market size because with so much movement in the country, teams no longer control many markets like they did just 10-20 years ago. For example, the Florida Gators will always try to claim Orlando as their television market, and while they do rate well in Orlando, so does Ohio State, Alabama, Notre Dame among others. Orlando is a transplant market which many of the Southeast, Texas and West coast markets are also transplant markets. The claims all seem to center around the brand name schools in the PAC12 being upset at the other schools for not investing or really trying to keep up with their football programs. There have been three primary models I have seen....

The first would be The Big12 taking in USC, UCLA, Washington, Oregon and possibly the 2 Arizona schools. The SEC taking in WVU. The Big10 taking in Missouri and Rutgers being relegated to the AAC. The second one I have seen is the Big12 taking in USC, UCLA, Memphis and potentially the 2 Arizona schools. The third model was the most drastic and includes creating a Power 6 with a major regional realignment. Fwiw, I would favor the 3rd model which basically would take the best teams from the AAC, WVU from the Big12, Maryland from the Big10, and a could ACC schools (Syracuse, Pitt?) to create the 6th conference.....but the only way this would happen is if ESPN and Fox got involved to ensure WVU, Maryland, Cuse, etc. that it would be financially worthwhile and stable for at least a decade.

[adkindo]

^^^in general, I favor expanding the P5 to pick up those 5-10 schools that could easily compete at the P5 level that are stuck in G5 conferences. Cincinnati, Memphis, USF, UCF, BYU, Boise State, San Diego State, Houston and maybe a couple more. Get it over with and draw the true line between the P schools and non-P schools in football.

[adkindo]

Again, West Virginians watch more sports than any other state (https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article231448763.html).

That's a lot of eyeballs.

As for 16 teams, I can get there rather easily:
South Division
Florida
Alabama
Georgia
Auburn

North Division
Kentucky
West Virginia
Missouri
Arkansas

Central Division
Tennessee
Vandy
Memphis
South Carolina

West Division
Texas A&M
LSU
Ole Miss
Mississippi State

Sign me up as a WVU fan if that is our football division each year! I think we could take that division championship 2 out of every 3 years.....maybe 3 out of 4.

[Rojo Rijo]

WVU could compete in the SEC, especially the SEC East. Outside of last year, I have little doubt we would have competed for the SEC East more years than Florida in the past decade....hell, we would have busted the Gators a$$ with their former QB....while taking a back seat to no team outside UK in basketball.

This is hilarious.

I said nothing about WV not being able to compete in the SEC but I’ll bite....

You think WV would just waltz into the SEC East and compete, a program that typically gives up a very healthy amount of points is going to just stroll into the premiere defensive conference and what, score 30+ a game, in the SEC? Even if they could, and they might with today’s super charged offensive game, they’re going to stop the other teams from scoring 30+? Please.....

As for hoops, come on man. Are they a good program? Yeah sure, they’re pretty steady too but theyve never even won their conference regular season (Big12 or BigEast) and they’ve won their conference tournament once. So yeah, they’re faaarrrr from a guaranteed annual runner up to UK in basketball. People like to think it’s nobody after UK in the SEC for b-ball but they couldn’t be more wrong.

I respect the WV fandom but don’t be ridiculous


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Assembly Hall]

This is hilarious.

I said nothing about WV not being able to compete in the SEC but I’ll bite....

You think WV would just waltz into the SEC East and compete, a program that typically gives up a very healthy amount of points is going to just stroll into the premiere defensive conference and what, score 30+ a game, in the SEC? Even if they could, and they might with today’s super charged offensive game, they’re going to stop the other teams from scoring 30+? Please.....

As for hoops, come on man. Are they a good program? Yeah sure, they’re pretty steady too but theyve never even won their conference regular season (Big12 or BigEast) and they’ve won their conference tournament once. So yeah, they’re faaarrrr from a guaranteed annual runner up to UK in basketball. People like to think it’s nobody after UK in the SEC for b-ball but they couldn’t be more wrong.

I respect the WV fandom but don’t be ridiculous


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah, you got to love his passion for WV.

All things considered, WV is probably best suited to stay in the Big 12 and wait for expansion in that league to get "dance partners."

[bucksfan2]

This is hilarious.

I said nothing about WV not being able to compete in the SEC but I’ll bite....

You think WV would just waltz into the SEC East and compete, a program that typically gives up a very healthy amount of points is going to just stroll into the premiere defensive conference and what, score 30+ a game, in the SEC? Even if they could, and they might with today’s super charged offensive game, they’re going to stop the other teams from scoring 30+? Please.....

As for hoops, come on man. Are they a good program? Yeah sure, they’re pretty steady too but theyve never even won their conference regular season (Big12 or BigEast) and they’ve won their conference tournament once. So yeah, they’re faaarrrr from a guaranteed annual runner up to UK in basketball. People like to think it’s nobody after UK in the SEC for b-ball but they couldn’t be more wrong.

I respect the WV fandom but don’t be ridiculous


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

VW doesn't recruit well enough to be a player in the SEC.

[Assembly Hall]

VW doesn't recruit well enough to be a player in the SEC.

What you don't know is what their inclusion into the SEC would do to their recruiting.

[adkindo]

This is hilarious.

I said nothing about WV not being able to compete in the SEC but I’ll bite....

You think WV would just waltz into the SEC East and compete, a program that typically gives up a very healthy amount of points is going to just stroll into the premiere defensive conference and what, score 30+ a game, in the SEC? Even if they could, and they might with today’s super charged offensive game, they’re going to stop the other teams from scoring 30+? Please.....

As for hoops, come on man. Are they a good program? Yeah sure, they’re pretty steady too but theyve never even won their conference regular season (Big12 or BigEast) and they’ve won their conference tournament once. So yeah, they’re faaarrrr from a guaranteed annual runner up to UK in basketball. People like to think it’s nobody after UK in the SEC for b-ball but they couldn’t be more wrong.

I respect the WV fandom but don’t be ridiculous


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

first, the Final Four team in 2010 won the Big East tournament, and the Big East was a conference where the tournament champion was considered the conference champion. I get some conferences like the Big12 put more emphasis on the season, but the old Big East and ACC has always considered the tournament championship the real prize. The old Big East was the best and toughest bball conference in the modern history of college basketball and in the Big12, Kansas has won the conference something like 14 out of the last 15 years....so not much shame there. We have never beat Kansas in Phog Allen, but take a look at our record against Kansas in the Coliseum....and you think we would fear the SEC in basketball? Second, we could definitely compete in the SEC East. Outside of Georgia, who was WVU going to take a backseat to during the Will Grier years? SEC East had a little bounce back last year, but had been weak for years. The SEC has been UGA and the SEC West for years....and while teams like UF and UK have had some decent defenses, their offenses have been terrible. The last great QB UF had was.....Will Grier. So I want to be clear....you are suggesting that WVU Football could not compete with Tennessee? Kentucky? Vanderbilt? South Carolina? Missouri? and even Florida in recent years? If that is what you are claiming, you are simply wrong.

In regards to basketball, I did not claim we would be the annual runner up....I said we would would not take a backseat to any program outside UK. I am recognizing that UK is an elite Blue Blood bball program, and the only one in the SEC...just as the only program WVU takes a backseat to in the Big12 is Kansas. Taking a back seat is accepting we simply are not going to be able to recruit at that level or have similar success every season. The Big12 is a far better basketball conference than the SEC most years, and WVU has won more games in the Big12 since joining than any other team outside Kansas. There is no reason to think we would fair any worse in a weaker conference.

For the record, I have little to no interest in joining the SEC. WVU considers itself a football school, and I do not see the point in knowing that Alabama, LSU or Auburn is always going to be waiting in December to prevent any hopes of a magical season. The pinnacle for a SEC East team most years is a New Years day bowl game or the freakin Citrus Bowl (or whatever it is called now) and that is in the best years. That said, if we ended up in the SEC, please show up in Morgantown thinking it will be an easy win.

[adkindo]

Yeah, you got to love his passion for WV.

All things considered, WV is probably best suited to stay in the Big 12 and wait for expansion in that league to get "dance partners."

I am passionate, but not delusional. I know where WVU fits into the overall picture, and you will never hear (or read) statements from me claiming that WVU is a blue blood or elite program in basketball or football. I am also not going to accept silly claims that we could not compete in a conference division with teams like South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Missouri most years. Also, the Big East and Big12 are nearly always superior basketball conferences than the SEC...and WVU does pretty good most years....so again to suggest we would be less in the SEC is illogical. WVU is #15 in all time wins among FBS programs and #22 in all time wins among Division 1 basketball programs (#17 among Power 6 Conference programs).....we have a record of winning against the highest levels of competition....so lets just stop with the debate over where WVU could or could not compete....we can compete in any conference in both revenue sports.

[Rojo Rijo]

first, the Final Four team in 2010 won the Big East tournament, and the Big East was a conference where the tournament champion was considered the conference champion. I get some conferences like the Big12 put more emphasis on the season, but the old Big East and ACC has always considered the tournament championship the real prize. The old Big East was the best and toughest bball conference in the modern history of college basketball and in the Big12, Kansas has won the conference something like 14 out of the last 15 years....so not much shame there. We have never beat Kansas in Phog Allen, but take a look at our record against Kansas in the Coliseum....and you think we would fear the SEC in basketball? Second, we could definitely compete in the SEC East. Outside of Georgia, who was WVU going to take a backseat to during the Will Grier years? SEC East had a little bounce back last year, but had been weak for years. The SEC has been UGA and the SEC West for years....and while teams like UF and UK have had some decent defenses, their offenses have been terrible. The last great QB UF had was.....Will Grier. So I want to be clear....you are suggesting that WVU Football could not compete with Tennessee? Kentucky? Vanderbilt? South Carolina? Missouri? and even Florida in recent years? If that is what you are claiming, you are simply wrong.

In regards to basketball, I did not claim we would be the annual runner up....I said we would would not take a backseat to any program outside UK. I am recognizing that UK is an elite Blue Blood bball program, and the only one in the SEC...just as the only program WVU takes a backseat to in the Big12 is Kansas. Taking a back seat is accepting we simply are not going to be able to recruit at that level or have similar success every season. The Big12 is a far better basketball conference than the SEC most years, and WVU has won more games in the Big12 since joining than any other team outside Kansas. There is no reason to think we would fair any worse in a weaker conference.

For the record, I have little to no interest in joining the SEC. WVU considers itself a football school, and I do not see the point in knowing that Alabama, LSU or Auburn is always going to be waiting in December to prevent any hopes of a magical season. The pinnacle for a SEC East team most years is a New Years day bowl game or the freakin Citrus Bowl (or whatever it is called now) and that is in the best years. That said, if we ended up in the SEC, please show up in Morgantown thinking it will be an easy win.

I lost count of how many times you referred to something I never said.

WVU couldn’t compete in the SEC.
survey says.....nope never said that.

WVU should “fear” the SEC in basketball.
Lol what?? You got that from me calling them a good steady program but the SEC isn’t just UK and nobody else? Wow ok. I mean I could talk about the fact that the last two SEC teams in the F4 were Auburn (2019) and South Carolina (2017) or that the SEC is second to only the ACC in NCAA tournament winning percentage over the past 35 years.

The other thing I’ll address is saying the pinnacle for the SEC East is a New Years Day Bowl game or the Citrus Bowl. Georgia was in the National Title game in 2018 and for the last 3 years they’ve been right on the cusp of a playoff bid but somebody has to lose the SEC championship game. That’s just the reality and Georgia has been on the wrong side of history 2 out of 3 times. In reality they’re usually superior to at least one of the teams in the CFP but the committee wouldnt be able to justify putting them in over a 1 loss team from one of the other P5 conferences despite the clear overall talent imbalance, exhibited annually by recruiting and the NFL draft.

I’ve got no beef with WVU, I actually like the program and was a fan when Grier was there. Jim McElwain was a moron and a prick and Grier should’ve never gotten away from UF but I enjoyed watching him in their high powered offense. Ultimately I think as a sports program WV would fit well in the SEC but as a school/institution I dont see it as a good fit. Again I don’t think it will ever happen because the SEC is looking for bigger markets to conquer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[adkindo]

I lost count of how many times you referred to something I never said.

WVU couldn’t compete in the SEC.
survey says.....nope never said that.

WVU should “fear” the SEC in basketball.
Lol what?? You got that from me calling them a good steady program but the SEC isn’t just UK and nobody else? Wow ok. I mean I could talk about the fact that the last two SEC teams in the F4 were Auburn (2019) and South Carolina (2017) or that the SEC is second to only the ACC in NCAA tournament winning percentage over the past 35 years.

The other thing I’ll address is saying the pinnacle for the SEC East is a New Years Day Bowl game or the Citrus Bowl. Georgia was in the National Title game in 2018 and for the last 3 years they’ve been right on the cusp of a playoff bid but somebody has to lose the SEC championship game. That’s just the reality and Georgia has been on the wrong side of history 2 out of 3 times. In reality they’re usually superior to at least one of the teams in the CFP but the committee wouldnt be able to justify putting them in over a 1 loss team from one of the other P5 conferences despite the clear overall talent imbalance, exhibited annually by recruiting and the NFL draft.

I’ve got no beef with WVU, I actually like the program and was a fan when Grier was there. Jim McElwain was a moron and a prick and Grier should’ve never gotten away from UF but I enjoyed watching him in their high powered offense. Ultimately I think as a sports program WV would fit well in the SEC but as a school/institution I dont see it as a good fit. Again I don’t think it will ever happen because the SEC is looking for bigger markets to conquer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I am not going to go back and read the thread to see which poster said what...so if I assigned statements to you that were stated by someone else, that is on me, and I apologize. Personally, I do not know where WVU ends up, but if they exit the Big12 I think the SEC may be the most logical landing spot. Again, I simply to do believe that in my lifetime the school will be relegated to non P5 status and it is not an academic fit in the Big10 or a cultural fit in the ACC (or at least how the ACC perceives themselves). Beyond location, the Big12 is actually a great fit for WVU, but unless the Big12 expands East it really becomes a difficult fit long term fit. I am not sure I agree, but as I stated previously, the recent analysis/articles suggest "markets" will not drive the next round of expansion/realignment. Instead, it will be driven by "brand" and WVU's brand exceeds it's regional population or even what it "should" be logically. I would speculate that WVU athletics "brand" value is equal to or exceeds half of the SEC?

One more thing....in regards to style of play (or lack of defense in B12), I think the schools usually evolve to the style of play of their conference (although some remain the oddball). When WVU was in the Big East, the football was mostly the spread read option. Pat White had far more 100 yard rushing games than 300 yard passing game....or probably even 200 yard passing games. Then Geno Smith took us into the B12 and WVU became a heavy passing air raid team, and that continued with Sklyer and Will. Currently the B12 is slightly adjusting away from the "air raid" style and WVU is also going in that direction. If WVU or any school joined the SEC East and the SEC East continued to be a "defensive" division/conference, the new school would likely build in that mold over the next 3-5 years.

[adkindo]

Updated Heisman Trophy odds for 2020 season

Justin Fields - 7/2
Trevor Lawrence - 5/1
Jamie Newman - 7/1
D'Eriq King - 9/1
Spencer Rattler - 12/1

https://247sports.com/college/west-virginia/LongFormArticle/Heisman-Trophy-odds-2020-Justin-Fields-Trevor-Lawrence-Jamie-Newman-145617154/#145617154_11

I agree with the Top 2....but Rattler @ 12/1 odds may be a good value play....here the kid is the real deal.

[adkindo]

Want a NFL skilled RB? Head south.....

Map: Where every NFL running back drafted in the past 10 years played high school football (https://www.maxpreps.com/news/RRSiXWsOOEa6_84dzncTlA/map--where-every-nfl-running-back-drafted-in-the-past-10-years-played-high-school-football.htm)

[Chip R]

Want a NFL skilled RB? Head south.....

Map: Where every NFL running back drafted in the past 10 years played high school football (https://www.maxpreps.com/news/RRSiXWsOOEa6_84dzncTlA/map--where-every-nfl-running-back-drafted-in-the-past-10-years-played-high-school-football.htm)

I've heard that before. Running backs that come from northern conferences like the Big 10 don't usually have a lot of success in the NFL. Zeke Elliott seems to be an exception and the jury is still out on Saquon Barkley.

[BuckeyeRed27]

I've heard that before. Running backs that come from northern conferences like the Big 10 don't usually have a lot of success in the NFL. Zeke Elliott seems to be an exception and the jury is still out on Saquon Barkley.

That article is about where they played HS football not college, but even then between Zeke, Melvin Gordon, Barkley and Bell you have at least 4 of the top 8 or 10 Running Backs in the league that all played in the Big 10 right now. Miles Sanders had a pretty solid rookie season and you have Dobbins and Taylor coming in this year as first or second round picks.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Want a NFL skilled RB? Head south.....

Map: Where every NFL running back drafted in the past 10 years played high school football (https://www.maxpreps.com/news/RRSiXWsOOEa6_84dzncTlA/map--where-every-nfl-running-back-drafted-in-the-past-10-years-played-high-school-football.htm)

Interesting thing on this list is that Florida has far and away the most drafted, but only 2 or 3 that have been star backs. Henry broke out last year, Cook has been good when healthy and maybe not a star but Marlon Mack has been solid. Lot of other solid to decent ones on there, but just interesting that with such a huge numbers advantage that there isn't a few more big ones.

[adkindo]

Interesting thing on this list is that Florida has far and away the most drafted, but only 2 or 3 that have been star backs. Henry broke out last year, Cook has been good when healthy and maybe not a star but Marlon Mack has been solid. Lot of other solid to decent ones on there, but just interesting that with such a huge numbers advantage that there isn't a few more big ones.

I mean part of it is there are just less true star RB's now....or pure feature backs that get enough load to be a legit star on a perennial basis. Cook and Henry are two of the best in the game, but there are a ton of guys on that list that have made their mark on the league....Spiller had a Pro Bowl season, Lamar Miller, Alfred Morris, Carlos Hyde, Devonta Freeman and Marlon Mack have had multiple 1,000 yard seasons. Also guys like Giovani Bernard, James White and Duke Johnson have had a significant impact within their roles.....and I would think guys like Sony Michel and Devin Singletary have a bright future.

Overall, I just find those types of things interesting.....they never really prove anything as definitive. Clearly a great RB can come from any state....or even any country these days. European recruiting into college football is on the verge of exploding in my opinion.

[BuckeyeRed27]

I mean part of it is there are just less true star RB's now....or pure feature backs that get enough load to be a legit star on a perennial basis. Cook and Henry are two of the best in the game, but there are a ton of guys on that list that have made their mark on the league....Spiller had a Pro Bowl season, Lamar Miller, Alfred Morris, Carlos Hyde, Devonta Freeman and Marlon Mack have had multiple 1,000 yard seasons. Also guys like Giovani Bernard, James White and Duke Johnson have had a significant impact within their roles.....and I would think guys like Sony Michel and Devin Singletary have a bright future.

Overall, I just find those types of things interesting.....they never really prove anything as definitive. Clearly a great RB can come from any state....or even any country these days. European recruiting into college football is on the verge of exploding in my opinion.

Yeah that's a good point, probably more to do with just the lack of feature backs in the league than anything.

[adkindo]

Looks like Cincy commit TE Treylan Davis has decommitted and signs point to a new commitment to WVU in the near future.

[adkindo]

Why financial fallout from coronavirus will likely lead to College Football Playoff expansion (https://sports.yahoo.com/why-the-fiscal-fallout-from-covid-19-will-lead-to-college-football-playoff-expansion-160851276.html)


After interviews with a dozen officials around college athletics, it’s highly likely we’re amid another pivotal moment in the sport. The inevitable financial strain that will accompany the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to help trigger an expansion of the College Football Playoff.

While momentum had been building toward expansion – a WatchStadium.com poll showed 88 percent of athletic directors were in favor – the ability to create a robust new revenue steam for schools amid tight fiscal times has the sport’s powerbrokers forecasting an expanded playoff as a likely reverberation from COVID-19.

[KronoRed]

Probably see expansion of sorts all over the place, MLB will add teams, playoffs will expand in every sport, a big need to make some cash.

[North]

Major public college football programs could lose billions in revenue if no season is played
Steve Berkowitz, USA TODAY

"Within the college sports industry, the word for now about a 2020-21 football season is optimism amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Somehow, some way, at some point, games will be played.

Right beneath the surface, however, is the knowledge that it might not be normal. Or, that it might not be at all.

At stake is at least $4.1 billion in fiscal-year revenue for the athletics departments at just the 50-plus public schools in the Power Five conferences — an average of more than $78 million per school — a USA TODAY Sports analysis of schools’ financial reports to the NCAA shows.

That’s more than 60% of these schools’ combined total annual operating revenues, based on amounts reported for the 2019 fiscal year. These estimates do not take into account potential impacts on student fees or money from schools’ general funds, both of which likely would be reduced if students cannot return to campus as usual for the fall semester. Even within the Power Five, there are schools that receive significant amounts from those sources."


https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/2020/04/14/college-football-major-programs-could-see-billions-revenue-go-away/2994795001/

This is real bad juju.

[bucksfan2]

The season will be played in some form. I could even see it being played in the winter and early spring if need be. Its too important to the health of the schools in general to not play the season.

[BuckeyeRed27]

The season will be played in some form. I could even see it being played in the winter and early spring if need be. Its too important to the health of the schools in general to not play the season.

The key is when/if the schools start. I think by fall there will be testing capabilities and infrastructure to certainly have football games be played and the NFL will be able to do that. But you can't play college football if you don't have college. I'm fairly optimistic they will be able to figure out some way to do it since in general the population on college campuses have fairly low risk to this thing, but I'm a little worried about it.

Spring football could be interesting though.

[adkindo]

The season will be played in some form. I could even see it being played in the winter and early spring if need be. Its too important to the health of the schools in general to not play the season.

I agree. Also, there is a group online (Twitter) that seem to be taking some pleasure in the fact college football season may not take place. I get it, some people hate football for all types of reasons....the danger, it is males sport, and even they feel the players are being exploited. That is their right to have those opinions, but I get the feeling they do not understand no college football will have massive effects beyond the football program.....likely even sports/programs they find beneficial.

[adkindo]

The key is when/if the schools start. I think by fall there will be testing capabilities and infrastructure to certainly have football games be played and the NFL will be able to do that. But you can't play college football if you don't have college. I'm fairly optimistic they will be able to figure out some way to do it since in general the population on college campuses have fairly low risk to this thing, but I'm a little worried about it.

Spring football could be interesting though.

One reason I think the schools/conferences/NCAA know they must wait until campus is back to operations for everyone is because the minute they try to bring in student athletes when students are not on campus attending classes, they know the trickle down legal ramifications in regards to athletes being students first gets much weaker.

[adkindo]

Have no 1st hand knowledge of this guys credibility, but the person that pointed out the article to me claims the JMA AD is very connected in college football discussions.

Bourne: Realignment Talk 'Ramped Up' Due To COVID-19 (https://www.dnronline.com/coronavirus/bourne-realignment-talk-ramped-up-due-to-covid-19/article_513af7d2-6658-521e-b46c-d9170112b293.html)


“I’ve heard through the grapevine – and this is nothing at a guaranteed level and only among what I will say are [from] some of the more prominent thought minds out in the world in intercollegiate sport – that there’s now a ramped up discussion that’s starting to occur with regard to what this could mean down the road for intercollegiate sports and what it could mean for a various number of leagues if not all of them. So I think it is an astute observation and sounds like to me those wheels are already starting to turn," Bourne added.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Have no 1st hand knowledge of this guys credibility, but the person that pointed out the article to me claims the JMA AD is very connected in college football discussions.

Bourne: Realignment Talk 'Ramped Up' Due To COVID-19 (https://www.dnronline.com/coronavirus/bourne-realignment-talk-ramped-up-due-to-covid-19/article_513af7d2-6658-521e-b46c-d9170112b293.html)

I think we are going to see a lot of consolidation in just normal businesses in the US and college sports are absolutely going to be a part of that. If there is no football or football with no spectators this fall and there is a steep revenue drop, that is a death sentence for most schools athletic departments. I think most conference TV rights deals are still a couple years away, but you have to have the package ready to sell to before that happens and this is going to kick start it.

It'll probably end up being four conferences with 16 teams and everyone else makes another league that they can also package together for TV rights.

[North]

Not a rosy outlook... :(

[adkindo]

WVU picks up another 4 star recruit commitment from the Buckeye State!

https://247sports.com/Player/Jaylen-Anderson-46055933/

Neal Brown hinted when he arrived that after he had a full year of recruiting, he expected to take WVU recruiting to a higher level....and the '21 class is headed in that direction. I will not be shocked if we end up with 4-5 4-Star guys....and that is not common for a program like WVU.

[adkindo]

I think we are going to see a lot of consolidation in just normal businesses in the US and college sports are absolutely going to be a part of that. If there is no football or football with no spectators this fall and there is a steep revenue drop, that is a death sentence for most schools athletic departments. I think most conference TV rights deals are still a couple years away, but you have to have the package ready to sell to before that happens and this is going to kick start it.

It'll probably end up being four conferences with 16 teams and everyone else makes another league that they can also package together for TV rights.

probably something like you suggest, but I would prefer they realign more regionally and actually recreate a 6th power conference. Not the AAC, but take 3-4 of the best AAC schools.....peel back off Louisville, WVU, Pitt, Maryland, Va. Tech, Penn State (I know, it would be nearly impossible for Penn State to exit), force ND into the B10 etc. etc. 6 conferences, regionally aligned would clearly save millions in travel across all sports for many schools.

[BuckeyeRed27]

probably something like you suggest, but I would prefer they realign more regionally and actually recreate a 6th power conference. Not the AAC, but take 3-4 of the best AAC schools.....peel back off Louisville, WVU, Pitt, Maryland, Va. Tech, Penn State (I know, it would be nearly impossible for Penn State to exit), force ND into the B10 etc. etc. 6 conferences, regionally aligned would clearly save millions in travel across all sports for many schools.

The problem always comes down to not having a central body to figure it out, so you get the conferences and their competing interests not necessarily making the best final product, or at least the one that makes the most sense.

I’m a big soccer fan and college football would be ideal from a promotion relegation system, but that is absolutely never going to happen even if there is a big conference realignment, even though the economics of it for all involved would make a ton of sense.

[adkindo]

Great article (https://theathletic.com/1758924/2020/04/20/college-football-recruiting-ppi-recruits-brandon-collier-covid-19-pandemic/) on The Athletic today (subscription required) about the emerging Euro talent market for college football and how COVID-19 is effecting it this year.

I think this market is about to explode over the next decade, and I am very excited that WVU has been out in front of this one. Ohio State, Alabama and other blue blood programs are now mining Europe for talent.

[Sea Ray]

My Tennessee Vols keep adding to their 2021 recruiting haul. Here's another 4 star guy:


Tennessee added another versatile piece to its 2021 recruiting haul Wednesday night with the commitment of four-star athlete Kaemen Marley.

The 6-foot-2, 206-pound Marley, out of Eastern Randolph High School in Ramseur, N.C., is ranked by the industry-generated 247Sports Composite as the No. 5 athlete in the class. He’s No. 146 nationally with a 0.9357 rating and is the No. 8 prospect in the state of North Carolina.

https://247sports.com/college/tennessee/Article/Tennessee-Vols-Football-Recruiting-Analysis-Kaemen-Marley-thicker-skill-athlete-147363360/

[adkindo]

My Tennessee Vols keep adding to their 2021 recruiting haul. Here's another 4 star guy:



https://247sports.com/college/tennessee/Article/Tennessee-Vols-Football-Recruiting-Analysis-Kaemen-Marley-thicker-skill-athlete-147363360/

There has been a lot of discussion about if they will be able to hold this class together....I have read that they have taken commitments from several high end guys that have never visited campus and other schools are thinking (or maybe hoping) several of them can be flipped when they visit other schools. Just seen the discussions, I have no personal opinion or knowledge of the class/recruits.

[adkindo]

Pat Dye, the legendary Auburn football coach (https://www.foxnews.com/sports/pat-dye-auburn-football-coach-coronavirus-and-kidney-issues-report) behind four SEC titles, has reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus and is in the hospital with kidney issues.

[bucksfan2]

There has been a lot of discussion about if they will be able to hold this class together....I have read that they have taken commitments from several high end guys that have never visited campus and other schools are thinking (or maybe hoping) several of them can be flipped when they visit other schools. Just seen the discussions, I have no personal opinion or knowledge of the class/recruits.

There is a lot of speculation that when/if games are played, Tennessee may have a tough time keeping the class together. Its easy when momentum is building, its a little more difficult when you are 4-3 to start the season.

[North]

This is for Sea Ray...

Tennessee nabs another commitment in Alabama’s Class of 2021

https://www.al.com/highschoolsports/2020/05/tennessee-nabs-another-commitment-in-alabamas-class-of-2021.html

[adkindo]

How does Michigan get front page ESPN coverage (https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29216639/espn-300-linebacker-junior-colson-commits-michigan) for signing a player they themselves rank 184th in the country? I get that he is a very good player, but not the kind a program usually gets this level of attention for signing.

[Sea Ray]

There has been a lot of discussion about if they will be able to hold this class together....I have read that they have taken commitments from several high end guys that have never visited campus and other schools are thinking (or maybe hoping) several of them can be flipped when they visit other schools. Just seen the discussions, I have no personal opinion or knowledge of the class/recruits.

That's always a real issue. Time will tell if they can hold onto them

[*BaseClogger*]

How does Michigan get front page ESPN coverage (https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29216639/espn-300-linebacker-junior-colson-commits-michigan) for signing a player they themselves rank 184th in the country? I get that he is a very good player, but not the kind a program usually gets this level of attention for signing.

https://twitter.com/11W/status/1264739079515779073?s=20

[Assembly Hall]

Vol player...

https://247sports.com/Article/tennessee-volunteers-football-player-arrested-tim-jordan-running-back-sec-147683283/

[RedTeamGo!]

There has been a lot of discussion about if they will be able to hold this class together....I have read that they have taken commitments from several high end guys that have never visited campus and other schools are thinking (or maybe hoping) several of them can be flipped when they visit other schools. Just seen the discussions, I have no personal opinion or knowledge of the class/recruits.

Players decommit, but generally once a player commits they are locked in. I can’t remember the exact percentage, but it’s high.

[Sea Ray]

Vol player...

https://247sports.com/Article/tennessee-volunteers-football-player-arrested-tim-jordan-running-back-sec-147683283/

Oh brother. Very poor judgment. These are both misdemeanors in Tennessee but since he wasn't expected to play much anyway, they might send a message and let him go

[adkindo]

Players decommit, but generally once a player commits they are locked in. I can’t remember the exact percentage, but it’s high.

correct in a normal year, when almost every commit has visited campus multiple times.....right now many recruits are just committing without ever even visiting the school they are committing to because they are unable to visit....and some speculate it may be to lock in a safe spot, but it will not prevent them from taking many visits once the rules allow. Some schools like Clemson will not allow a commit to take more visits, which has already caused a couple decommittments this year, but most schools are not in Clemsons position where they can place those types of restrictions on recruits. Only time will tell if this year mirrors a normal year in regards to limited decommittments or will the circumstances result in an outlier year.

[WVRed]

Former Auburn head coach Pat Dye passes away at 80.

[adkindo]

Johnny Majors, a legendary coach for the Tennessee (https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2020/06/03/johnny-majors-dies-tennessee-football-vols-pittsburgh-obituary/3133389001/) football team and member of the College Football Hall of Fame, has died. He was 85.

[Boston Red]

He won his national title at Pitt, so he may be more legendary there.

[adkindo]

He won his national title at Pitt, so he may be more legendary there.

he was a .500 coach in 8 total years (2 four year stints) at Pitt....he was at Tennessee for 15 straight seasons....and Tennessee is where he played.

[Sea Ray]

Johnny Majors is legendary at UT. He was the coach when I was at UT. Frankly Phil Fulmer lifted the program a notch above where Coach Majors had it but he still was a huge part of the football history in Knoxville. He was the star in a wing formation (no QB) so he passed, ran, punted, returned kicks and played defense in the mid 50s. Heisman runner up to Paul Hornung.


Majors ran, passed, punted, returned kicks and played defense. He was named the SEC Player of the Year in 1955 and 1956. He rushed for 1,622 yards and passed for 1,135 during his career.

Majors earned consensus All-America honors in 1956, when he rushed for 549 yards and seven touchdowns and passed for 552 yards and five touchdowns. He finished as the Heisman Trophy runner-up behind Notre Dame's Paul Hornung. Some thought Majors was more deserving of the award. The Irish went 2-8, making Hornung the only Heisman winner from a losing team. Meanwhile, Tennessee went 10-1 in 1956 and won the SEC championship.

https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2020/06/03/johnny-majors-dies-tennessee-football-vols-pittsburgh-obituary/2957824001/

[Sea Ray]

Arch Manning looks like the next stud in the Manning family. He's going into his sophomore yr at his high school in New Orleans. He's already 6'3" and he threw 34 TD passes his freshman year. He's Cooper's son; Peyton and Eli's nephew

https://247sports.com/Article/College-football-recruiting-Arch-Manning-growing-at-alarming-rate-Eli-Manning-Peyton-Manning-147998185/

[Sea Ray]

The beat goes on for coach Pruitt and my Vols. They just landed the #1 TE in the country and the #1 player in the state of Tennessee:

https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2021/hudson-wolfe-231871

Class of 2021 rankings now show my Vols #2 in the country. Ohio State is #1. Those happen to be the two schools I attended

https://n.rivals.com/team_rankings/2021/all-teams/Football

[Chip R]

Iowa just fired their strength coach Chris Doyle after some former players accused him of making racist remarks.

http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29314003/iowa-hawkeyes-part-football-strength-coach-chris-doyle-amid-claims-biased-behavior

[kaldaniels]

Iowa just fired their strength coach Chris Doyle after some former players accused him of making racist remarks.

http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29314003/iowa-hawkeyes-part-football-strength-coach-chris-doyle-amid-claims-biased-behavior

And we have a Mike Gundy-Chuba Hubbard tiff after Gundy spotted wearing an OAN shirt. Amends do seem to have been made. Though in the “makeup” video Gundy never apologized (some will argue he shouldn’t have so let’s accept that) and Hubbard had that “hostage at gunpoint” look.

[15fan]

The beat goes on for coach Pruitt and my Vols.

Speaking of beating Coach Pruitt and the Vols...

My Georgia State Panthers (2 grad degrees) hired former 3 star and 2 year starting QB Dan Ellington as an assistant coach.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29178998/georgia-state-quarterback-dan-ellington-joining-coaching-staff

:thumbup:

[Sea Ray]

Iowa just fired their strength coach Chris Doyle after some former players accused him of making racist remarks.

http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29314003/iowa-hawkeyes-part-football-strength-coach-chris-doyle-amid-claims-biased-behavior

I think Tennessee needs a strength coach. They lost theirs to the NY Giants this Winter. They ought to look this guy up

[Sea Ray]

Speaking of beating Coach Pruitt and the Vols...

My Georgia State Panthers (2 grad degrees) hired former 3 star and 2 year starting QB Dan Ellington as an assistant coach.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29178998/georgia-state-quarterback-dan-ellington-joining-coaching-staff

:thumbup:

Well played...:evil:

If it took Tennessee losing to Ga St to right the ship then it's worth it

[adkindo]

The beat goes on for coach Pruitt and my Vols. They just landed the #1 TE in the country and the #1 player in the state of Tennessee:

https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2021/hudson-wolfe-231871

Class of 2021 rankings now show my Vols #2 in the country. Ohio State is #1. Those happen to be the two schools I attended

https://n.rivals.com/team_rankings/2021/all-teams/Football

I do not want it to appear I am the guy always questioning your Vols....I am not trying to do that because I have no feelings about the Vols outside of I would rather them be relevant than not relevant....kind of in the same way that I prefer Nebraska to be relevant again. That said, I have never seen such a massive difference in the rating of a player by the rating outlets as the TE you reference above. I only looked him up because I follow 247 Composite and did not recognize the name...and that is because 247 Composite ranks him as the 225th player in the nation and the 9th (22nd by 247) best TE in the nation.....while as you said above, Rivals ranks him as the 40th best player in the nation and the #1 TE in the country. I am guessing they will be more similar later....but that is a huge difference....maybe the biggest difference I can recall in recent years.

https://247sports.com/Player/Hudson-Wolfe-46057681/

[bucksfan2]

I do not want it to appear I am the guy always questioning your Vols....I am not trying to do that because I have no feelings about the Vols outside of I would rather them be relevant than not relevant....kind of in the same way that I prefer Nebraska to be relevant again. That said, I have never seen such a massive difference in the rating of a player by the rating outlets as the TE you reference above. I only looked him up because I follow 247 Composite and did not recognize the name...and that is because 247 Composite ranks him as the 225th player in the nation and the 9th (22nd by 247) best TE in the nation.....while as you said above, Rivals ranks him as the 40th best player in the nation and the #1 TE in the country. I am guessing they will be more similar later....but that is a huge difference....maybe the biggest difference I can recall in recent years.

https://247sports.com/Player/Hudson-Wolfe-46057681/

The composite is the best metric to use. That said, TE U, OSU was hard after Wolfe. So yea, nice get for the Vols.

[Sea Ray]

I do not want it to appear I am the guy always questioning your Vols....I am not trying to do that because I have no feelings about the Vols outside of I would rather them be relevant than not relevant....kind of in the same way that I prefer Nebraska to be relevant again. That said, I have never seen such a massive difference in the rating of a player by the rating outlets as the TE you reference above. I only looked him up because I follow 247 Composite and did not recognize the name...and that is because 247 Composite ranks him as the 225th player in the nation and the 9th (22nd by 247) best TE in the nation.....while as you said above, Rivals ranks him as the 40th best player in the nation and the #1 TE in the country. I am guessing they will be more similar later....but that is a huge difference....maybe the biggest difference I can recall in recent years.

https://247sports.com/Player/Hudson-Wolfe-46057681/

To be honest, I'm not sure how much we should put into recruiting numbers because the evaluations do vary. Regardless, it is a good get for the Vols

[adkindo]

To be honest, I'm not sure how much we should put into recruiting numbers because the evaluations do vary. Regardless, it is a good get for the Vols

they are not perfect, but I have seen data charts and graphs that illustrate they are far better in recent years than they were a decade or so ago. I think recent drafts have shown a solid majority of 1st Round picks were high 4 and 5 Star recruits out of high school....and at the same time if you want your team to be a real playoff threat, your team probably needs a couple Top 10 recruiting classes before that is likely.

Personally, I have watched a lot of high school film and I can usually identify a legit 5 Star type player.....but I struggle to often see the difference between a high 3 Star kid and a mid 4 Star recruit. I guess that is where the real difference is between me and someone that gets paid to do it.

[gonelong]

To be honest, I'm not sure how much we should put into recruiting numbers because the evaluations do vary. Regardless, it is a good get for the Vols

Yup, real nice get for the Vols. They are putting together a nice class.

[Boston Red]

Without getting into the politics here....does Mike Gundy survive with his job?

[BuckeyeRed27]

Without getting into the politics here....does Mike Gundy survive with his job?

Like all things in college football it's about recruiting and this is going to kill him in that department.

[bucksfan2]

Like all things in college football it's about recruiting and this is going to kill him in that department.

Will it hurt Dabo?

[Sea Ray]

Without getting into the politics here....does Mike Gundy survive with his job?

Absolutely. He did what the far left wanted. He confessed his white sins and now they're moving on. The fact that he has Ok State winning football games has a little to do with it too

- - - Updated - - -


Will it hurt Dabo?

I hope so

[Boston Red]

Absolutely. He did what the far left wanted. He confessed his white sins and now they're moving on. The fact that he has Ok State winning football games has a little to do with it too


I thought he'd get past the OANN thing. However, the accusations from the 1989 Colorado game aren't going to go away so easily, I don't think.

[Sea Ray]

I thought he'd get past the OANN thing. However, the accusations from the 1989 Colorado game aren't going to go away so easily, I don't think.

To be honest I hadn't heard that. Why is that just coming up now? 30 yrs ago?

[Boston Red]

To be honest I hadn't heard that. Why is that just coming up now? 30 yrs ago?

The why is for another board. The fact is that it HAS come up, and I'm struggling to see how Gundy keeps his job at this point. As pointed out above, just from a recruiting standpoint if nothing else.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Will it hurt Dabo?

The stuff against him and his staff is a little different, so probably not. He's also getting a lot of guys to the league.

[bucksfan2]

The stuff against him and his staff is a little different, so probably not. He's also getting a lot of guys to the league.

There are schools that will look the other way and hope the news cycle latches onto something else. Dabo had a coach confess to using a racial slur, Dabo entered a half hearted non-apology apology, and it seems like we are on to other things. I remember a faulty story about a former OSU recruit and Zach Smith being a racist having more traction than the true Dabo Clemson story.

I think it was DeAndre Hopkins said he doesn't mention Clemson because of some racial things down there.

The thing with Gundy and OAN, if you are wearing an OAN shirt with the kind of players you have on your team and you recruit, you are either oblivious or tone def.

[BuckeyeRed27]

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2020/06/114665/ohio-state-alabama-to-play-home-and-home-series-in-2027-2028

It might by 7 and 8 years from now, but a H/H with Ohio State and Bama is on the books. Yes please!

[Reds Freak]

Absolutely. He did what the far left wanted. He confessed his white sins and now they're moving on. The fact that he has Ok State winning football games has a little to do with it too

- - - Updated - - -



I hope so

I don't really remember what Oklahoma State was before Gundy, but it seems he goes about 8-5 every year with a middle of the pack Big 12 finish and a trip to the Alamo Bowl. I guess they've decided that's worth all the other nonsense.

[bucksfan2]

Thing with the racist comment from 89. This should be a no brainer for him. Apologize, say you were young and immature, say you have changed as you grew older.

[Danny Serafini]

Unless you didn't actually do it

[WVRed]

The why is for another board. The fact is that it HAS come up, and I'm struggling to see how Gundy keeps his job at this point. As pointed out above, just from a recruiting standpoint if nothing else.

Gundy has proven though that he doesn’t need a top recruiting class to win, so I don’t think that’s going to be a factor moving forward. He’s still one of the most forward offensive minds in the game.

What’s sad is something akindo posted in the other thread, but i think Chuba Hubbard likely brought attention to a radical news outlet that a lot of people likely had never heard of.

The news attention is cyclical. People will be pissed off about something else next month. Not to mention canning a head coach for any reason during the summer is suicide especially when players can transfer out with no repercussions. Imagine Chubba Hubbard at Ohio State.

Short term I think he weathers the storm. If the team quits on him then we can talk in December.

[Sea Ray]

I hate Florida Gators but I have no problem with their Gator Bait chant. This is nuts:

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/florida-discontinues-use-of-popular-gator-bait-cheer-at-sporting-events-due-to-racial-imagery/

[Reds Freak]

I hate Florida Gators but I have no problem with their Gator Bait chant. This is nuts:

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/florida-discontinues-use-of-popular-gator-bait-cheer-at-sporting-events-due-to-racial-imagery/

I had no idea the awful origins of that term. During slavery and shockingly into the 20th century, black babies were kidnapped and literally used as alligator bait to lure gators out of the water so they could be killed and skinned. Gator bait was used as a racial slur at least through the 1950s.

Maybe there were no ill-intentions when they created the chant, but seems to me they can come up with a new damn cheer.

https://theundefeated.com/features/the-gut-wrenching-history-of-black-babies-and-alligators/

[dabvu2498]

I had no idea the awful origins of that term. During slavery and shockingly into the 20th century, black babies were kidnapped and literally used as alligator bait to lure gators out of the water so they could be killed and skinned. Gator bait was used as a racial slur at least through the 1950s.

Maybe there were no ill-intentions when they created the chant, but seems to me they can come up with a new damn cheer.

https://theundefeated.com/features/the-gut-wrenching-history-of-black-babies-and-alligators/

https://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/news/jimcrow/question/2013/may.htm

[Sea Ray]

I had no idea the awful origins of that term. During slavery and shockingly into the 20th century, black babies were kidnapped and literally used as alligator bait to lure gators out of the water so they could be killed and skinned. Gator bait was used as a racial slur at least through the 1950s.

Maybe there were no ill-intentions when they created the chant, but seems to me they can come up with a new damn cheer.

https://theundefeated.com/features/the-gut-wrenching-history-of-black-babies-and-alligators/

Since pretty much none of us knew any of that until now, what was the harm? Did the KKK come out this week and explain these origins or something? I think Gator fans had only good intentions in using it

[Sea Ray]

https://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/news/jimcrow/question/2013/may.htm

To be honest, never having been to Gainesville, I didn't even know there were words (chant) to the chopping motion they do with their arms. My opinion is..."whatever."

I agree with this line from a Gator fan:


I’m not saying that this is the right move. I’m saying that I’m willing to accept it even if it’s not. There are frankly bigger things to get emotional about. And Florida football will survive.

https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/florida-football/as-gator-bait-gets-canceled-lets-keep-things-in-perspective/

[Rojo Rijo]

The bigger problem here is not the chant itself, it's that right now anything that is even remotely related to racism is on the chopping block no questions asked and some of these things aren't even linked to racism. This chant clearly has no racial intentions. I'll refrain from going any further on this topic because this is not the political thread but I felt I should state something as a life long Gator fan. It's a free for all right now on any and everything. Racism is a terrible thing of our past and present but I fear a lot of things are going to unjustifiably fall victim to the current movement.

Again I apologize if I'm stepping out of bounds discussing this but felt the need to express my opinion on the subject. I wish racism would disappear from our society though I fear it never will and I feel like a lot of what is happening right now is more appeasement than addressing the real problems.

[Sea Ray]

The bigger problem here is not the chant itself, it's that right now anything that is even remotely related to racism is on the chopping block no questions asked and some of these things aren't even linked to racism. This chant clearly has no racial intentions. I'll refrain from going any further on this topic because this is not the political thread but I felt I should state something as a life long Gator fan. It's a free for all right now on any and everything. Racism is a terrible thing of our past and present but I fear a lot of things are going to unjustifiably fall victim to the current movement.

Again I apologize if I'm stepping out of bounds discussing this but felt the need to express my opinion on the subject. I wish racism would disappear from our society though I fear it never will and I feel like a lot of what is happening right now is more appeasement than addressing the real problems.

I'm glad you chimed in. I was wondering how Gator fans felt about it. So far as I can see, this isn't politics. This doesn't involve government or any politician. This is a school policy. One has to wonder, how long till the Seminole war chant gets axed?

[Reds Freak]

The bigger problem here is not the chant itself, it's that right now anything that is even remotely related to racism is on the chopping block no questions asked and some of these things aren't even linked to racism. This chant clearly has no racial intentions. I'll refrain from going any further on this topic because this is not the political thread but I felt I should state something as a life long Gator fan. It's a free for all right now on any and everything. Racism is a terrible thing of our past and present but I fear a lot of things are going to unjustifiably fall victim to the current movement.

Again I apologize if I'm stepping out of bounds discussing this but felt the need to express my opinion on the subject. I wish racism would disappear from our society though I fear it never will and I feel like a lot of what is happening right now is more appeasement than addressing the real problems.

I agree with you that some of the recent changes are part theater and we need to address the roots of racism in a real way (inequalities in education, housing, job access, and mass incarceration). I think it's necessary though to start chipping away at some of the racist symbolism that is baked in and normalized in our society. It's a start.

I understand the vast majority of UF had no idea the origins of the term when they do that chant. But we know them now. In an extreme analogy, if the n-word suddenly disappeared from the vocabulary somehow, resurfaced 50 years from now in a sports chant, and then we learned more about that word, I'd want that chant stopped. It's certainly a small gesture and a small acknowledgment of an abhorrent practice years ago, but I'm not sure how it diminishes one's enjoyment of college football to say "Let's go Gators" instead.

[adkindo]

I'm glad you chimed in. I was wondering how Gator fans felt about it. So far as I can see, this isn't politics. This doesn't involve government or any politician. This is a school policy. One has to wonder, how long till the Seminole war chant gets axed?

It should not be under any major threat unless leaders of the Seminoles actually spoke out against it....and I think they have solid support from at least most of the Seminoles.

[adkindo]

before yesterday, almost nobody on the planet linked "Gator Bait" to anything related to racism....especially not the African American players. Basically every white and black player for UF has made the claim "if you are not a Gator, then you are Gator Bait" (or something similar). Sooo, the Administration and Academics @ UF decided they must cease an act that unites 80k people of all races and ethnic groups on Fall Saturdays in Gainesville....and literally 100's of thousands of alumni and fans across the globe.....and literally offended no one that I am aware of.....for what? How is that decision beneficial to anyone? How is that decision viewed as anything but a net negative? The administration pretty much took something that is good and uniting....and turned it into something that is bad and divisive. I am confident their attention and efforts towards racial equality could have been much more effective in other areas on campus.

[*BaseClogger*]

I don't know how to discuss this without it belonging on the other board, but I actually generally agree with you guys.

The problem is I don't think any of you support the types of policy changes Reds Freak described in a previous post, so you get stuck absorbing these half-measures because it's the low-hanging fruit people in power can point towards to show they "did something"...

[BuckeyeRed27]

I had no idea the awful origins of that term. During slavery and shockingly into the 20th century, black babies were kidnapped and literally used as alligator bait to lure gators out of the water so they could be killed and skinned. Gator bait was used as a racial slur at least through the 1950s.

Maybe there were no ill-intentions when they created the chant, but seems to me they can come up with a new damn cheer.

https://theundefeated.com/features/the-gut-wrenching-history-of-black-babies-and-alligators/

Yeah it’s a little tough to read that article and still think about it the same way. That was written a few years ago too.

[bucksfan2]

Yeah it’s a little tough to read that article and still think about it the same way. That was written a few years ago too.

When it comes to light, you have to change it. In reality "gator bait" as we know it today has no racial undertones, but with such a sordid past, it has to be changed.

Kinda reminds me of this, as a kid I was taught to sit Indian style, but now it has been changed to "criss-cross applesauce." While there was nothing inherently mean spirited about what we were taught, its current iteration is much better.

[adkindo]

When it comes to light, you have to change it. In reality "gator bait" as we know it today has no racial undertones, but with such a sordid past, it has to be changed.

Kinda reminds me of this, as a kid I was taught to sit Indian style, but now it has been changed to "criss-cross applesauce." While there was nothing inherently mean spirited about what we were taught, its current iteration is much better.

I get the "indian style" because that is a caricature of a culture that could be offensive to Americans today....but much of the things getting focus no longer even are attached to their original meaning. I do not want to go too far down the rabbit hole, but most of what was named after things or people before the mid 20th century, we can find related negatives based on what is acceptable today.....but many of those things do not represent that historical meaning. For example, Yale University is named after it's founder Elihu Yale....a very successful and infamous slave trader....but nobody thinks of Elihu Yale today when they think of Yale University, and it would be far more detrimental to change the name of the University than to acknowledge it is not offensive in 2020 because it no longer represents what it did in 1701. I am not about supporting offending anyone, but we need to be reasonable....and more importantly honest.

Maybe because it is I reside in the land of alligators, but I hear "gator bait" routinely in jokes and comments from white, black and brown Floridians....and it is never said as a reference or with any racial intentions.

[Bob Sheed]

Soon, the only human-like mascots, figureheads, etc... will be white people.

There will be outrage about that too. Probably from the next generation.

Then what?

[Assembly Hall]

Is there going to be a college football season?

[BuckeyeRed27]

Is there going to be a college football season?

I think so. There's just too much money involved and the risk to college aged people is fairly low.

I do think the schedules will probably change. Started to see more rumblings about only having 10 conference games and dropping non conference games this season.

[bucksfan2]

Is there going to be a college football season?

I think we have swung from the very optimistic to very pessimistic over the past few days. I do think there will be a football season, I also think what we are seeing now should have been somewhat expected.

I do worry about some of the southern states who have seen pretty drastic rises in the virus due to some easing of policies. If FL, GA, TX, and AZ can't get things under control, it may get ugly.

On a side note, I do want to see a 10 game conference schedule with everyone telling ND sorry about your luck!

[adkindo]

Is there going to be a college football season?

There almost has to be if college athletics wants to have a chance to continue as it has for the last few decades....as in being able to offer thousands of student athletes free education. Even many P5 schools will have to eliminate many non revenue athletic programs....and it could be a decade before many are considered to be brought back. The NCAA would definitely have to change their current requirements about the # of teams fielded. Many thinks that cancelling football will impact football the most....but the truth is Football will always be the least impacted long term at the P5 level. It will be the last sport to see any reductions in spending or scholarships.

[adkindo]

I think we have swung from the very optimistic to very pessimistic over the past few days. I do think there will be a football season, I also think what we are seeing now should have been somewhat expected.

I do worry about some of the southern states who have seen pretty drastic rises in the virus due to some easing of policies. If FL, GA, TX, and AZ can't get things under control, it may get ugly.

On a side note, I do want to see a 10 game conference schedule with everyone telling ND sorry about your luck!

Not sure about the others, but Florida is fine. The rise in cases is related to the rise in testing much more than easing restrictions....which is illustrated by the correlating drop in deaths which have trended down for almost a month and this week is looking like it will be the lowest number since the beginning. More testing is catching many more asymptomatic positives which has caused a slight increase in the overall positive %. Not suggesting opening back up has not impact, everyone always knew that there will be some increase related to opening back up. The information that would be very beneficial is to "know" the true threat of outside transmission....and I think everyone is still guessing a little at this point.

[Sea Ray]

According to his Dad, five schools are on Arch Manning's list. No surprises here, LSU, GA, Tennessee, Duke and Ole Miss

https://thespun.com/college-football/5-schools-getting-mentioned-for-2023-qb-arch-manning

[adkindo]

According to his Dad, five schools are on Arch Manning's list. No surprises here, LSU, GA, Tennessee, Duke and Ole Miss

https://thespun.com/college-football/5-schools-getting-mentioned-for-2023-qb-arch-manning

unless he truly ends up being a 5 Star cant miss type recruit.....I would choose Duke if I was him. Way too much pressure....or too big of a shadow @ Tennessee, Ole Miss and LSU in my opinion.

[kaldaniels]

unless he truly ends up being a 5 Star cant miss type recruit.....I would choose Duke if I was him. Way too much pressure....or too big of a shadow @ Tennessee, Ole Miss and LSU in my opinion.

Duke would be the fascinating choice but there should be no reason for him to be scared of joining an SEC blue blood.

[Sea Ray]

unless he truly ends up being a 5 Star cant miss type recruit.....I would choose Duke if I was him. Way too much pressure....or too big of a shadow @ Tennessee, Ole Miss and LSU in my opinion.

All indications are that he is going to be a can't miss 5*. Problem with Duke is that he'll likely not have a chance to play for a championship of any kind and the classes are much harder. Who wants to spend time studying and doing papers when you're going to make your living in the NFL?

[adkindo]

All indications are that he is going to be a can't miss 5*. Problem with Duke is that he'll likely not have a chance to play for a championship of any kind and the classes are much harder. Who wants to spend time studying and doing papers when you're going to make your living in the NFL?

Duke is a great school....but I am not really buying that the mostly general classes one takes their first couple years in college are significantly more difficult at Duke than they are at a credible State U.

[Assembly Hall]

All indications are that he is going to be a can't miss 5*. Problem with Duke is that he'll likely not have a chance to play for a championship of any kind and the classes are much harder. Who wants to spend time studying and doing papers when you're going to make your living in the NFL?

Something tells me Duke won't be the selection.

[adkindo]

Something tells me Duke won't be the selection.

that's what many people said about Zion ;)

[Assembly Hall]

that's what many people said about Zion ;)

Manning doesn't need the money...

[kaldaniels]

that's what many people said about Zion ;)

Duke football and Duke basketball are two different animals. C’mon.

[Sea Ray]

Mayor of Tuscaloosa says that cancelling football would cost his city $2 billion

https://fansided.com/2020/06/22/tuscaloosa-walt-maddox-no-alabama-football/

[adkindo]

Duke football and Duke basketball are two different animals. C’mon.

ok...but I am not missing the opportunity to take a cheap shot at Duke Basketball.....

[marcshoe]

Is a Blue Devil an animal?

[Assembly Hall]

Duke football and Duke basketball are two different animals. C’mon.

So are Kansas football and Kansas basketball......never mind.

[Assembly Hall]

Is a Blue Devil an animal?

Actually, it is a barbiturate.

[adkindo]

UK AD tells donors that football and basketball games will be capped At 50%.

https://kentuckysportsradio.com/basketball-2/mitch-barnhart-outlines-plans-for-fans-at-games-this-fall-in-call-with-donors/

[BuckeyeRed27]

Does anyone seriously think college sports are going to have fans?

[Boston Red]

Does anyone seriously think college sports are going to have fans?

Yes, eventually. This fall? There would have to actually be college sports for their to be fans, and there aren't going to be college sports. Maybe cross country or golf or something no one wants to go see anyway, but I'm not seeing how football can possibly happen.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Yes, eventually. This fall? There would have to actually be college sports for their to be fans, and there aren't going to be college sports. Maybe cross country or golf or something no one wants to go see anyway, but I'm not seeing how football can possibly happen.

Ha yes I meant this season.

I still think football is going to happen in some version. It will likely be a very cut down conference only schedule and it might be in the spring, but I still think they’ll play because money.

[Boston Red]

I know they're going to try given the monetary issues. I just don't think they're going to be able to get it done. Someone is going to get really sick, or there's going to be a large outbreak, and that's going to be that. Hope I'm wrong, but with a sport like football I just don't know how it can be avoided. I feel like the Ivy League is doing it right by going ahead and kicking the can to next spring.

[Reds Freak]

I know they're going to try given the monetary issues. I just don't think they're going to be able to get it done. Someone is going to get really sick, or there's going to be a large outbreak, and that's going to be that. Hope I'm wrong, but with a sport like football I just don't know how it can be avoided. I feel like the Ivy League is doing it right by going ahead and kicking the can to next spring.

Word is Ivy League will announce Wednesday that all fall sports will be moved to spring. Will be a logistical challenge, but seems like the right move. Wonder if dominoes will start to fall after this announcement, just like they did when the Ivy was the first to cancel their conference tournament in March?

[Roy Tucker]

I just don’t see how they will be able to let fans into college football games. Lots of fans, particularly 18-22 year old college students, lose their judgement in proportion to the amount of alcohol consumed (yes I know the drinking age is 21 but fake IDs are rampant). There is no way social distancing would make it past the second quarter.

[adkindo]

Does anyone seriously think college sports are going to have fans?

I do....I think they will take some measures to social distance that will mostly be window dressing because lets face it.....they will not be able to enforce masks, and people will be eating and drinking, etc. etc., and you cant put that on the stadium staff. Then you have tailgating, bathrooms, etc. etc.

I would expect some type of explicit or implicit waiver being required when a ticket if purchased.

In my opinion, Football is the one sport that you should not even play without at least 50% of the stadium full....it would just be a horrible environment with no fans.

[bounty37h]

that's what many people said about Zion ;)

Wondering if manning would stay in Zions house if he went to Duke, esp since its next door to Coach Cuts house.

[BuckeyeRed27]

I do....I think they will take some measures to social distance that will mostly be window dressing because lets face it.....they will not be able to enforce masks, and people will be eating and drinking, etc. etc., and you cant put that on the stadium staff. Then you have tailgating, bathrooms, etc. etc.

I would expect some type of explicit or implicit waiver being required when a ticket if purchased.

In my opinion, Football is the one sport that you should not even play without at least 50% of the stadium full....it would just be a horrible environment with no fans.

College football for the most part will certainly suffer without the environment. It's part of what sets the sport apart, but they are going to play the games without fans vs not playing them at all. They have to for the TV money alone.

I don't think it matters for the NFL at all. NFL environments for 80% of games is kinda meh anyways.

[phatknuckle]

I just don’t see how they will be able to let fans into college football games. Lots of fans, particularly 18-22 year old college students, lose their judgement in proportion to the amount of alcohol consumed (yes I know the drinking age is 21 but fake IDs are rampant). There is no way social distancing would make it past the second quarter.

I hate to break it to you, but 18-22 year olds are not socially distancing right now and will certainly not be when they get back to campus. A football game hardly changes the dynamic for college students.

[BuckeyeRed27]

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2020/07/115018/ohio-state-puts-voluntary-workouts-on-pause-due-to-positive-covid-19-tests

Ohio State stopping all work outs for a week due to positive tests.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Big Ten is only playing conference games. That’s been the rumor and will be official this afternoon.

[WVRed]

Big Ten is only playing conference games. That’s been the rumor and will be official this afternoon.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29435295/source-big-ten-moving-conference-only-model-all-sports-fall

I look for other conferences to follow suit.

[BuckeyeRed27]

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29435295/source-big-ten-moving-conference-only-model-all-sports-fall

I look for other conferences to follow suit.

That’s pretty likely. This basically gives everyone 13/14 weeks to play 9/10 games. Those games also don’t have to be on a Saturday since there isn’t going to be any fans. So basically this buys flexibility which if this is going to happen at all is vital.

[WVRed]

That’s pretty likely. This basically gives everyone 13/14 weeks to play 9/10 games. Those games also don’t have to be on a Saturday since there isn’t going to be any fans. So basically this buys flexibility which if this is going to happen at all is vital.

There’s going to be some marquee matchups lost (Ohio St and Oregon I saw).

As a UK fan I would hate it because we lose playing Louisville. KSR was speculating that the out of conference games would be replaced with SEC West opponents (which knowing Kentucky would be Alabama, LSU, and Texas A&M.)

I’m with you my guess is those games aren’t replaced.

[Boston Red]

Who will Notre Dame play? I assume their ACC opponents and Navy (somewhere but not in Ireland). Anyone else?

[WVRed]

Who will Notre Dame play? I assume their ACC opponents and Navy (somewhere but not in Ireland). Anyone else?

ACC just did the same thing and are taking Notre Dame into the conference per report.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200709/6d0d0d0c2a46b0c1ce9eca9b2d8af723.jpg

[Reds Freak]

I mean, I understand it. But kinda silly that it's okay for Ohio State to go play Maryland, but they can't play Bowling Green.

Almost better to blow up the conferences this year and let each team schedule regionally. I know that wouldn't work realistically, but it's going to be a mess anyway.

[BuckeyeRed27]

I mean, I understand it. But kinda silly that it's okay for Ohio State to go play Maryland, but they can't play Bowling Green.

Almost better to blow up the conferences this year and let each team schedule regionally. I know that wouldn't work realistically, but it's going to be a mess anyway.

It’s not about travel, it’s about control. Without a central governing body to line everyone up, each conference is as good as you can do.

[Kingspoint]

There's not going to be any College Football. What fantasy world are you people living in?