CFW Preseason 2024 – The past seven months had its share of surprises
Harbaugh exits west, DeBoer exits east,
amateurism dies in college sports, while
Paul Finebaum disses the coaches; never
a boring moment during the offseason
There’s no better time than now to get caught up on the past seven months. So, let’s get started. The offseason began in January with a surprising retirement. It ended late this summer with a surprising NIL deal.
Just two days following Michigan’s win over Washington for the national championship, the college football world was shocked with surprising news out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban announced his retirement. On January 10, the 72-year-old Saban said he was hanging it up for good, after coaching Alabama for 17 seasons. Prior to those 17 years, Saban was a head coach for 13 seasons at Toledo (1), Michigan State (5), LSU (5) and the Miami Dolphins (2). Prior to that, Saban was a defensive coordinator, defensive backs and linebackers coach at a number of schools and teams for 21 seasons.
Little did Nick Saban know, or could we imagine the ripple effects his retirement would cause. Ultimately, the tremors from Saban’s announcement would be felt by five schools – Washington, Arizona, San Jose State, South Alabama and Buffalo.
Only two days after Saban’s retirement, Alabama announced on January 12 that Washington coach Kalen DeBoer would be the new coach of the Crimson Tide. You definitely got the impression that Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne had advance knowledge of Saban’s retirement. Two days is a pretty quick turnaround for finding, securing and announcing a new coach. So, after two seasons at Washington, with a 25-3 record, DeBoer exited east for Alabama.
Like Greg Byrne, Washington athletic director Troy Dannen must have known something too. Just two days after the Kalen DeBoer announcement, Dannen named Arizona coach Jedd Fisch the new coach at Washington on January 14. The tremors continued. Two days following the Fisch announcement, Arizona athletic director Dave Heeke announced on January 16 that San Jose State coach Brent Brennan would be the new coach at Arizona. Ironically, six days after the Brennan announcement, Arizona fired Heeke.
The direct Saban, DeBoer, Fisch, Brennan ripple effect ended at San Jose State. Instead of hiring an existing coach, San Jose State hired former Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo. However, the tremors that began at Alabama continued to spread beyond San Jose State. On January 16, new Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer hired two existing head coaches to be his co-defensive coordinators – South Alabama’s Kane Wommack and Buffalo’s Maurice Linguist. The tremors came to an end with South Alabama and Buffalo, as those two schools hired assistant coaches to become their head coach. And DeBoer didn’t hire anymore head coaches for his staff.
Yes, Nick Saban’s retirement announcement resulted in five schools losing their head coaches, and all within six days. Little did Saban know the disruption his retirement would cause.
Meantime, while all the above was going on, a former quarterback died, Jim Harbaugh began interviewing in the NFL and Ohio State hired a new athletic director.
On January 14, former NFL quarterback Norm Snead died. From 1961 to 1975, Snead played for the Washington Redskins, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Minnesota Vikings, the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers. He played college football for Wake Forest. A native of Halifax County, Virginia, Norman Bailey Snead was 84.
The next two days, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh interviewed with the Los Angeles Chargers and the Atlanta Falcons. Two days after the first interview, the Chargers said they weren’t interested in Harbaugh. Meanwhile, back in Ann Arbor, Harbaugh and Michigan were in discussions over a new contract. Harbaugh demanded wording in his contract that would keep him from being fired as a result of any charges, sanctions or punishment that may come down from the NCAA.
Ohio State hired Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork to be the Buckeyes new athletic director. At Ohio State, Bjork replaced Gene Smith who was retiring. Prior to Texas A&M, Bjork was previously an athletic director at Western Kentucky and Ole Miss.
Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers announced he was returning to Texas for the 2024 season. That means five-star recruit Arch Manning will be a backup quarterback at Texas for the second-straight season. But when you are making $3.2 million in NIL money to be a backup quarterback, you can’t complain.
In the on-going battle between Florida State and the ACC, the ACC filed a complaint seeking damages from Florida State for “serial breaches of critical legal promises and obligations” and questioned FSU’s right to have leadership in ACC positions. The complaint asked for a “permanent injunction, barring Florida State from participating in the management of the affairs of the conference,” while FSU has a material conflict of interest with the ACC’s objectives.
Harvard coach Tim Murphy, the winningest coach in Ivy League history, retired on January 17 after 30 years at the school. Murphy was the head coach at Maine and Cincinnati before he took over at Harvard in 1994. He was 200-89 with the Crimson, including a record 141 wins in Ivy League play. He won 10 Ivy League titles.
Two days after South Alabama lost its coach to Kalen DeBoer and Alabama, the Jaguars promoted offensive coordinator Major Applewhite to head coach. Applewhite spent the last three seasons as the Jaguars offensive coordinator. Before that he was the head coach at Houston for two seasons. The former Texas quarterback spent three seasons as the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, where he was on the staff from 2008 to 2013. Applewhite was Alabama’s offensive coordinator during Nick Saban’s first season in 2007. From 2014 to 2018, he had stints at Syracuse and Rice and returned to Saban’s staff as an analyst for two seasons.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day hired Bill O’Brien to be his new offensive coordinator. O’Brien most recently was the OC for the New England Patriots. O’Brien was a former head coach of the Houston Texans and Penn State. He was a former offensive coordinator at Alabama, Duke and Georgia Tech. Current Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline was demoted to assistant OC. Sounds a bit strange to me. But I guess that’s better than getting fired.
Rebounding from its Alabama fall-out wounds, Buffalo hired South Carolina special teams coach Pete Lembo as its new head coach. Lembo is a former head coach at Elon, Lehigh and Ball State. He joined Shane Beamer’s staff at South Carolina in 2021.
On January 22, and as mentioned above, former Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo was named the new head coach at San Jose State. Niumatalolo was fired by Navy in the locker room following the Army-Navy game in 2022. He was a consultant on Brian Kelly’s staff at UCLA during the 2023 season.
The same day, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh renewed communications with both the Los Angeles Chargers and the Atlanta Falcons. This after initial talks between Harbaugh and the two NFL teams had fallen through.
Award winning journalist Charles Osgood, who anchored “CBS Sunday Morning” for 22 years and was the host of the long-running radio show “The Osgood File,” died on January 23. Osgood, a gifted news writer and poet, spent 45 years at CBS News before retiring in September 2016 at age 84. He began anchoring “CBS Sunday Morning” in 1994. During his run on the show, it reached its highest ratings levels. A native of New York City who grew up in Baltimore, Charles Osgood Wood was 91.
“I rode my bicycle past your window last night. I roller skated to your door at daylight….” Singer-songwriter Melanie, who performed at Woodstock, died on January 23. Melanie’s biggest hit was “Brand New Key,” which peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. The song was on the chart for 18 weeks in the late fall and winter of 1971-72. Her other big hit was her introductory release “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain).” It peaked at No. 6 and was on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for 17 weeks in the late spring and summer of 1970. Melanie also wrote the song “Look What They’ve Done To My Song Ma,” a hit by The New Seekers in the winter of 1971. A native of New York City, Melanie Anne Safka was 76. “….Well, I’ve got a brand-new pair of roller skates. You’ve got a brand-new key. I think that we should get together and try them on to see.”
On January 24, Jim Harbaugh’s fate was finally determined. We learned that he was leaving Michigan for the West Coast. Harbaugh exited the Ann Arbor stage to become the head coach of the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers. He agreed to a five-year contract with the Chargers.
Two days later, Michigan offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Sherrone Moore was named the Wolverines new head coach, replacing Jim Harbaugh. Hiring a new coach in two days has become contagious.
Actress, singer and dancer Chita Rivera died on January 30. Rivera was a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She also won two Tony Awards. A native of Washington, DC, Delores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero was 91.
On the last day of January, Boston College head coach Jeff Hadley announced he was leaving the Eagles to become the defensive coordinator for the NFL’s Green Bay Packers. Hadley spent four seasons at BC, posting a 22-26 record.
Also, on the final day of January, former Auburn and San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Terry Beasley died. At Auburn, Beasley was a unanimous first-team All-American in 1971 and unanimous first-team All-SEC in 1970 and 1971. A native of Montgomery, Alabama, Terry Paul Beasley was 73.
Actor and former football player Carl Weathers died on February 1. Weathers is famous for his role of Apollo Creed in the first four “Rocky” films. Weathers played college football for San Diego State and pro football for the Oakland Raiders in 1970 and 1971. He also played two years for the British Columbia Lions in the Canadian Football League (1972-73). A native of New Orleans, Carl Weathers was 76.
The SEC and the Big Ten announced they had united to form an advisory group aimed at tackling the issues in the changing landscape of college sports. Basically, the two most powerful conferences in college sports are banding together to chart the future of college sports. They aren’t going to wait any longer for the NCAA or Congress to make decisions. “The SEC and the Big Ten delivered a coded, read-between-the-lines message to college sports – ‘we got this,’” CBS sportswriter Dennis Dodd said. Paul Finebaum added, “I think this is an inflection point in the history of college sports where the two leagues that have most of the power, almost all of the power, have decided to join hands and start collectively making important decisions.
Actor Don Murray, best-known for his breakout performance in the film “Bus Stop” (1956) with Marilyn Monroe, died on February 2. That performance got Murray an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. For the next 60-plus years, he appeared in numerous movies and television shows. A native of Los Angeles, Donald Patrick Murray was 94.
Former Florida athletic director Bill Carr died on February 3. Carr was the AD at Florida from 1979 to 1986. He played center on the Gators football team in the mid-1960s. He was later the athletic director at Houston from 1993 to 1997. A native of Gainesville, Florida, Carr grew up in Vero Beach and Pensacola. William Curtis Carr was 78.
Steve Belichick, the son of former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, was named the defensive coordinator of the Washington Huskies. Belichick spent the previous 12 seasons with the Patriots, working under his father.
“I should’ve been a cowboy. I should’ve learned to rope and ride, wearin’ my six-shooter, ridin’ my pony on a cattle drive….” Country music singer Toby Keith died on February 5. Keith played defensive end on his high school football team. Later, he played football for the Oklahoma City Drillers, a semi-pro football team. A native of Clinton, Oklahoma, Toby Keith was 62. “….Stealin’ the young girls’ hearts. Just like Gene and Roy, singin’ those campfire songs. Woah, I should’ve been a cowboy.”
ESPN announced that former Alabama coach Nick Saban will join the crew of the network’s College GameDay show for the 2024 season. Saban will primarily serve as an analyst on the show.
Nothing like that NIL money. Georgia quarterback Carson Beck purchased a $300K Lamborghini Urus Performante. After Kentucky lost to Georgia last year, it’s no wonder Wildcats coach Mark Stoops said, “UK fans need to cough up some cash if they want to beat Georgia.”
Bill O’Brien resigned from his recently acquired offensive coordinator position at Ohio State to become the head coach at Boston College. O’Brien spent all of 22 days as the OC at Ohio State.
A couple days later, UCLA coach Chip Kelly announced he was leaving the Bruins to become the offensive coordinator at Ohio State. Brian Hartline still remains demoted to the assistant OC spot with the Buckeyes.
Several of my Navy buddies visited Swamp Mama and me in early February for our second annual Super Bowl Week get together – Joe Gannon (Connecticut), John Ross (Ohio) and Ron Hoke (Florida). Joe’s lovely wife Lynne was with him. Joe and I went bass fishing again this year on Headwaters Lake, west of Fellsmere, Florida. We missed Randy Rollman, who was with us last year.
UCLA named DeShaun Foster as its new head coach, replacing Chip Kelly. Foster, a former Bruins running back, has been UCLA’s running backs coach since 2017. Earlier, Foster had been hired by the Los Vegas Raiders as an assistant coach, but he changed his mind when he got the offer from UCLA.
Georgia State coach Shawn Elliott resigned to become the tight ends coach at South Carolina. His resignation disrupted Georgia State’s spring practice and caused the cancellation of the school’s spring game. A week later, Georgia State hired Georgia running backs coach Dell McGee as the Panthers new coach.
He coached college basketball for 41 years. During those 41 years, he had 786 wins. Lefty Driesell died on February 17. Driesell was the head coach of four colleges – Davidson, Maryland, James Madison and Georgia State. He was the first coach to win more than 100 games at four different NCAA Division I schools. Driesell played college basketball at Duke. When his Maryland Terrapins played at Duke, the Duke students would bring combs to the game. During timeouts and on other breaks in the game, the Duke students would break-out the combs and begin combing their hair. Lefty was bald as an eagle. A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Charles Grice Driesell was 92.
Eli Gold, the Voice of Alabama Football, was fired on February 21. Gold had broadcast Crimson Tide football for 36 years. Alabama gave no explanation for his firing.
We no sooner expanded to a 12-team playoff beginning this season, and the CFP committee is already talking about expanding the playoff to 14 teams, starting in the 2026 season. Under the 14-team playoff, 12 teams would play a first-round game. The two highest-ranked conference champions would draw a bye. The six winners of the first-round games would join the two highest-ranked conference champions in the second round. Believe me, it will be a 16-team playoff before long.
Massachusetts announced it is joining the Mid -American Conference, starting in the 2025-26 academic year. UMass will be a MAC member in all sports. This is the Minutemen’s second venture in the MAC. For four seasons from 2012 to 2015, UMass competed in the MAC as a football only member. Currently, UMass is an Independent in football and a member of the Atlantic 10 in all other sports.
“Thought I was in love before. And then you moved in next door. Pretty blue eyes, pretty blue eyes….” Singer, actor and the male half of “Steve and Eydie” Steve Lawrence died on March 7. In the 1950s and 1960s, Lawrence had five Top 10 songs – “Party Doll” (peaked at No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in the spring of 1957), “Pretty Blue Eyes” (No. 9 in the winter of 1960), “Footsteps” (No. 7 in the spring of 1960), “Portrait of My Love” (No. 9 in the spring of 1961) and “Go Away Little Girl” (No. 1 in the winter of 1963). In all, Lawarence had 11 songs make Billboard’s Top 40. After the 1960s, he and wife Eydie Gorme sang and performed together until 2009. Lawrence also appeared in several TV shows and films. A native of New York City, Steve Lawrence, born Stanley Liebowitz, was 88. “….All the guys from the neighborhood keep sayin’ you look good, with your blue eyes – pretty blue eyes.”
“Jennifer’s singin’ ‘Stand By Me,’ and she knows every single word by heart. Was love always this good, or could this be just the start….” Singer-songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist Eric Carmen died on March 11. From 1970 to 1974, Carmen was the frontman and lead singer of the Raspberries. They had hits with “Go All The Way,” “I Wanna Be With You” and “Overnight Sensation (Hit Record).” “Go All The Way” peaked at No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in the summer and fall of 1972. Then from 1975 to 1988, Carmen had several hits as a solo artist. They included “All By Myself” in the winter of 1976, “Never Gonna Fall In Love Again” in the summer of 1976, “Hungry Eyes” in the winter of 1988 and “Make Me Lose Control” in the summer of 1988. “All By Myself,” “Hungry Eyes” and “Make Me Lose Control” were all Top 5 hits. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Eric Howard Carmen was 74. “….My darlin’, turn the radio up for that sweet sound. Hold me close, never let me go. Keep this feelin’ alive, make me lose control.”
Nebraska athletic director Trev Alberts announced he was leaving to become the athletic director at Texas A&M. Just four months earlier, Alberts, a former Nebraska football player, had signed a contract extension to 2031. Nebraska governor Jim Pillen, also a former Nebraska football player, said the failures of leadership at the University of Nebraska was responsible for Alberts departure. Alberts annual salary at Nebraska was $1.7 million. At Texas A&M, Alberts replaces Ross Bjork, who left the Aggies to become the athletic director at Ohio State.
Clemson joined Florida State, filing suit against the ACC over the league’s withdrawal fee and grant of rights contract.
The next day, the ACC filed suit against Clemson, saying the school is breaking its agreements. The ACC had already filed a similar suit against Florida State. Stay tuned!
A week after Trev Alberts announced he was leaving Nebraska for Texas A&M, Nebraska hired Washington athletic director Troy Dannen to become Nebraska’s new AD.
March Madness began with five first-round surprises. They were Duquesne over BYU, 71-67; Oakland over Kentucky, 80-76, Yale over Auburn 78-76, James Madison over Wisconsin, 72-61 and Grand Canyon over St. Mary’s 75-66. However, all five of those teams lost in the second round. FAU, a Final Four participant in last year’s March Madness, had its entire team back this year. However, the Owls, with their veteran players, lost their first-round game to Northwestern, 77-65 in overtime.
After the first two rounds of March Madness, the only surprise team in the Sweet 16 was NC State, an 11 seed. The Wolfpack continued to surprise, as NC State upset its way into the Elite Eight and on to the Final Four.
“In every class, there’s always one joker who thinks he is smarter than me. In this class, that happens to be you. Isn’t it Mayonnaise?” Academy Award winning actor Louis Gossett Jr. died on March 29. For his performance in “An Officer and a Gentleman,” Gossett won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1982. He acted in several Broadway plays, including “A Raisin in the Sun” in 1959, several television shows, including “Roots” in 1977, as well as movies. A native of New York City, Louis Cameron Gossett Jr. was 87. “Get into your fatigues, Mayo. By the end of this weekend, you’ll quit,”
Several college presidents and top executives in football joined forces in an effort to completely transform college football. The group is promoting a new “Super League” format that would replace both the NCAA and the College Football Playoff. The 20-member group believes that college football, as it currently exists, is in serious danger. The new league would include all FBS programs. It would have 70 members divided into seven divisions, with the top level designated as the premier division. The other 60-plus members would have the opportunity to play up to the premier division similar to European soccer’s relegation system. An eighth 10-team division would include teams that were promoted from the second tier. Each of the eight division winners and eight wild-card teams would participate in a new 16-team playoff format. All non-football sports would continue to compete in their current conference structure. I’ve been proposing this for several years. I’m a relegation man! I say what I think that the NCAA stinks. Yes, I’m a relegation man! (Apologies to The Strawbs)
March Madness was down to the Final Four. The four teams consisted of two No. 1 seeds – Connecticut and Purdue; one No. 4 seed – Alabama, and one No. 11 seed NC State. It was the first time Alabama was in the Final Four.
Meanwhile, UConn and NC State were also represented in the women’s Final Four, along with Iowa and South Carolina.
In the women’s championship game, South Carolina beat Iowa. In the men’s championship game, Connecticut beat Purdue.
“Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man. Tryin’ to make a livin’ and doin’ the best I can….” Guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer Dickey Betts died on April 18. Betts was a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band. He was the writer and singer of the Allmans’ hit single “Ramblin’ Man.” Forrest Richard Betts , a native of West Palm Beach, Florida, was 80. “….And when it’s time for leavin’, I hope you’ll understand that I was born a ramblin’ man.”
The NCAA approved two rules changes for the 2024 college football season – the two-minute warning and helmet communications between coach and player. Like in the NFL, the two-minute warning will stop the clock at the end of the second and fourth quarters. Also like the NFL, the helmet of one player on offense (the quarterback) and one player on defense will be equipped to receive communications from a coach. The quarterback and defensive player will be identified with a green dot on the back of their helmet. Communication will be shut off with 15 seconds left on the play clock or when the ball is snapped.
Former NC State and NFL quarterback Roman Gabriel died on April 20. He was the first NFL player of Filipino-American descent. Gabriel was named the NFL’s most valuable player (MVP) in 1969. In college, he was a two-time All-American at NC State. After football, Gabriel had a career as a broadcast color commentator – calling games on CBS television, CBS radio and on the Carolina Panthers radio. A native of Wilmington, North Carolina, Roman Ildonzo Gabriel was 83.
Jim Harbaugh returned to Ann Arbor for Michigan’s spring game. During his visit, Harbaugh collected his championship rings (Big Ten and National), and he made good on a promise to his players. Harbaugh got a tattoo on his right arm. The tattoo consisted of a block M above the numbers 15-0.
During the NFL draft in late April, Nick Saban made his debut on ESPN’s College GameDay. The show aired during the draft. Saban’s reviews were all positive, as the fans gave him a thumbs up. He will be a regular participant on College GameDay in the fall.
Rock guitarist Duane Eddy, “The King of Twang,” died on April 30. Known for the twangy sound from his guitar, Eddy had several hits in the 1950s and 1960s, all produced by Lee Hazelwood. They included “Rebel Rouser” in the summer of 1958, “Forty Miles Of Bad Road” in the summer of 1959, and his biggest hit “Because They’re Young” in the summer of 1960. “Because They’re Young” peaked at No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Other hits included “Cannonball” (1958), “Pepe” (1961) and “(Dance With The) Guitar Man” (1962). In all, Eddy placed 28 songs on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. He was married to singer Jessi Colter for seven years from 1961 to 1968. A native of Corning, New York, Duane Eddy grew up in Tucson and Coolidge, Arizona. He was 86.
In early May, Missouri State announced it is moving up from FCS to FBS and will officially join Conference USA on July 1, 2025. As an FCS team, the Bears currently are members of the Missouri Valley Conference. Missouri State is the second school that will move up from FCS to FBS and join C-USA on July 1, 2025. The other is Delaware.
CBS Sports released its predictions for the 12 best Group of Five teams in 2024. They (and their respective conferences) are 1. Boise State (MWC), 2. Liberty (C-USA), 3. Memphis (AAC), 4. Appalachian State (Sun Belt), 5. Tulane (AAC), 6. UTSA (AAC), 7. Miami (Ohio) (MAC), 8. Toledo (MAC), 9. South Florida (AAC), 10. UNLV (MWC), 11. Fresno State (MWC), and 12. Texas State (Sun Belt).
Former Florida and Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said that NIL had evolved into legalized cheating.
Still in the month of May, and speaking of NIL and legalized cheating, remember recruit Jaden Rashada from last year? Rashada was a hotshot quarterback out of California. He committed to Miami (Florida), after the Canes offered him a $9.5 million NIL package. However, before signing day came along, Rashada reneged on Miami and committed to Florida. It seems the Gators offered him a $13.85 million NIL deal. Rashada then proceeded to sign with Florida on signing day. However, it wasn’t long after signing day that he wanted out of his contract to play for Florida. Rashada said the Gators were reneging on the $13.85 million deal. Florida released him from his signing contract.
Well, guess what? This past May, Rashada sued Florida coach Billy Napier. Not only did he sue Napier, but also, he sued Gators booster Hugh Hathcock and former Florida staff member Marcus Castro-Walker. The suit claims that Napier, Hathcock and Castro-Walker failed to live up to their commitment to pay Rashada $13.85 million in NIL money.
After Florida released Rashada from his contract last year, the quarterback signed with Arizona State. He spent last season playing for the Sun Devils, starting three games. After the 2023 season ended, Rashada entered the transfer portal. He eventually transferred to Georgia earlier this year. So, you now have an active SEC quarterback suing a rival coach. The suit claims Napier, Hathcock and Marcus-Castro fraudulently induced Rashada to sign with Florida. It claims the fraudulent inducement of $13.85 million caused Rashada to suffer the loss of the $9.5 million he would have received from Miami had he not signed with Florida. Stay tuned!
The Power Five conferences released their gross revenue for the 2022-2023 academic year along with the distribution to their members. The Big Ten led all conferences with a revenue of $880 million. The Big Ten distributed roughly $60.5 million to each of its 14 members. The SEC, in turn, made $852.6 million in revenue, distributing about $51.3 million to each of its 14 members. The ACC brought in $706 million and gave approximately $44.8 million to each of its 14 members. The Pac-12 garnered $603.9 million, with a distribution of $33.6 million to its member institutions. And finally, the Big 12 made $510.7 million, distributing roughly $44.2 million to its schools. With the recent signing of new television contracts, the Big Ten, SEC and Big 12 should show significant increases next year (2023-2024 academic year), whereas the ACC should remain stagnant.
Let’s hear it for the stadiums. The Penn State Board of Trustees approved, by a 26-2 vote (with three abstaining), a $700 million renovation for Penn State’s Beaver Stadium. The renovation will allow year-round use of the stadium and improve the fan experience. The Beaver Stadium renovations will be implemented in three distinct phases over the course of the next three years, with the work being done during football’s offseason. A few months earlier, Florida announced it was spending $400 million on the renovation of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, and UCF announced it was spending $88 million to expand and make improvements to its stadium.
On May 21, Swamp Mama and I drove to St. Augustine, Florida, where we had dinner that evening at our favorite restaurant – the St. Augustine Fish Camp. The next day, we continued on to our destination in the Florida Panhandle. We were visiting with Princess Gator, Gator Gabe and Gator Babe. The purpose of our visit was to attend Gator Gabe’s high school graduation ceremony. We were proud of our grandson. He graduated Summa Cum Laude.
The St. Augustine Fish Camp may have competition. Following our visit to north Florida, my neighbor Sara Schenk shared info with me about a new restaurant in St. Augustine. It’s called Caps On the Water. We need to give it a try.
A few days before Memorial Day, the world of college sports, as we have known it, experienced a revolutionary change. And did it ever! On May 23, the NCAA and the Power Five conferences agreed to directly pay college athletes for the first time in the 100-plus-year history of college sports. The NCAA and the five conferences agreed to a revenue sharing plan, allowing each school to share up to $20 million per year with its athletes in all sports.
All Division I athletes, dating back to 2016, are eligible to receive a share of the revenue as part of the agreement. In exchange, the athletes cannot sue the NCAA for potential antitrust violations and must drop their complaints in three open cases. The NCAA will pay more than $2.7 billion to past and current athletes. Schools will likely begin sharing revenues in the fall of 2025. The NCAA’s board of governors and the leaders of the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC voted to accept the terms. Notre Dame also agreed to the deal.
Athletes are still fighting to become employees of their respective schools or find other ways to collectively bargain in the future. If they succeed, that could reshape the recently approved revenue-sharing agreement.
The revenue-sharing agreement has no impact on Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) deals. NIL contracts will continue. It is not too far-fetched to imagine a top athlete not only cashing in on a big-money NIL deal, but also, being paid $100,000 a year by the university under the revenue-sharing plan. Congress, the NCAA and the universities have to establish a national standard for NIL. Currently, NIL is chaotic and unfair with each state having its own NIL rules.
So, just as February 3, 1959, was the day the music died, May 23, 2024, is the day amateurism in college sports died. “Something touched me deep inside. Bye-bye Miss American pie.”
I have to laugh when I hear commentators on television use the term “student-athlete.” Student-athlete is an oxymoron. We used to have student athletes, but we no longer have them.
The impact and fallout of the revenue-sharing plan could be immense and detrimental. In order to provide the revenue, schools may have to drop some or many Olympic sports – gymnastics, wrestling, cross country, golf, tennis, etc. On the positive side, schools may have to cut coaches’ salaries. That would be a good thing.
To help generate revenue, the NCAA voted in June to allow schools to put sponsor logos on the football playing field. Previously, sponsor logos were not allowed to appear on the playing field. The next thing you know, a sponsor name will be embedded across the front of a team’s jersey, just like the jerseys of the European soccer league teams. The Texas Longhorns jerseys could say BUC-EE’S. The Tennessee Volunteers jerseys could say CRACKER BARREL. The Arkansas Razorbacks jerseys could say WAL-MART. When Texas plays Arkansas, it would be BUC-EE’S vs. WAL-MART. Going to have to make money somehow to pay the players.
All-American and All-NBA basketball player and television sportscaster Bill Walton died on May 27. Walton played college basketball for UCLA from 1971 to 1974. UCLA won the national championship in 1973 and 1974. Walton was the college basketball player of the year in 1972, 1973 and 1974. At UCLA, he played for coach John Wooden. Walton played NBA basketball from 1974 to 1988 for the Portland Trail Blazers (1974-1979), San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers (1979-1985) and the Boston Celtics (1985 to 1988). The Trail Blazers won the NBA championship in 1979. The Celtics won the NBA title in 1986. He was the NBA’s most valuable player in 1978. After his basketball career, Walton became a basketball color commentator for CBS, NBC, the Los Angeles Clippers and ABC/ESPN for 19 years – 1990 to 2009. Walton was a big fan of the Grateful Dead. He began attending the Dead’s concerts in 1967. Walton attended more than 850 Grateful Dead concerts, sometimes joining the band on stage. He was known as the “Grateful Red,” the “Big Red Deadhead” and the “World’s Tallest Deadhead.” Walton once said, “Music is critical in our lives and culture. It’s the inspiration that drives us. It’s the window to our souls. It’s a reflection of who we are, what we stand for and where we’re going,” A native of La Mesa, California, William Theodore Walton was 71.
Once it begins, nobody knows where it will end. On June 4, the Florida High School Athletic Association voted to allow high school athletes in Florida to receive NIL payments. Is Little League Baseball next? It turns out, Florida is the 30th state to approve NIL payments to high school athletes.
Have I ever told you that my four all-time favorite western movies are “High Noon” (1952), “The Big Country” (1955), “Magnificent Seven” (1960) and “Dances With Wolves” (1990). The original “Magnificent Seven,” not the remake. And I love the music from all four of them. “Do not forsake me, oh my darlin’.” But I digress.
The college softball world series was a four-peat for Oklahoma. The Sooners won their fourth-straight women’s softball title on June 6. Oklahoma beat Texas 2-games-to-0 (8-3, 8-4) to win the championship.
He had many nicknames – “Mr. Clutch,” “Logo,” “Mr. Outside” and “Zeke from Cabin Creek.” All-American and All-NBA basketball player and NBA basketball executive Jerry West died on June 12. He was “Mr. Clutch” for his ability to make a big play at a crucial time in the game. He was “Logo” in reference to his silhouette being the basis for the NBA logo. He was “Mr. Outside” in reference to his perimeter play, and he was “Zeke from Cabin Creek” for the creek located near his birthplace in rural West Virginia. In college, West played three seasons for West Virginia University. In 1959, he led WVU to the NCAA championship game, where the Mountaineers lost to California by one point. In spite of the loss, West was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. A co-captain of the 1960 U.S. Olympic basketball team, the squad was undefeated and won the Gold Medal. In the NBA, he played 14 seasons (1960 to 1974) for the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers won the NBA championship in 1972. After basketball, West became an executive for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Memphis Grizzlies, the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers. A native of Chelyan, West Virginia, Jerome Alan West was 86.
Big 12 commissioner Bill Yormark revealed on July 13 he is exploring the possibility of selling the naming rights of the conference to a corporate sponsor. The potential revenue is expected to be hundreds of millions of dollars over the course of the deal. The corporate sponsor would potentially take the name Big out of the Big 12 and replace it with the sponsor’s name followed by 12. Social media immediately lit up with possibilities such as the State Farm 12, the Microsoft 12, the Apple 12, the Pfizer 12, etc.
Meanwhile, in Omaha, the College Baseball World Series was an all ACC-SEC affair – four teams from the ACC and four from the SEC. Three ACC teams were the first eliminated from the World Series – Virginia, NC State and North Carolina.
“Talkin’ baseball, it was Willie, Mickey and the Duke. Say hey, say hey, say hey.” He was “the Say Hey Kid.” Major league baseball player Willie Mays died on June 18. Mays played 23 seasons in major league baseball – all but two with the New York/San Francisco Giants. He played center field. Mays is regarded as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, players of all time. He made his debut for the New York Giants on May 25, 1951. Mays played his last two seasons (1972-1973) with the New York Mets – making his final baseball appearance on September 9, 1973. During his 23-year career, he had 3,293 hits, 660 home runs and 1,909 runs batted in, all while maintaining a .301 batting average. A native of Westfield, Alabama, Willie Howard Mays was 93. “I’m talkin’ Willie, Mickey and the Duke. Say hey, say hey, say hey. Talkin’ baseball.”
All State appears to be the leading contender to get the naming rights of the Big 12 Conference. It would be the All State 12 Conference. Meanwhile, other conferences are getting in on the act – the ACC, AAC, MWC and Conference USA. The ACC could become the Wayfair Conference, the Aflac Conference, the Mariott Conference, the Red Lobster Conference or the Liberty Mutual Conference. How about the Liquid Plumber Conference? Stay tuned!
Just like that, all in one day, Kentucky, Florida State and Florida were eliminated from the College Baseball World Series. Then there were two – Tennessee and Texas A&M. The Vols and the Aggis were set to play for the championship in a best two-out-of-three playoff.
Speaking of championships, the NCAA proposed to the Division I conference commissioners the option of expanding the men’s and women’s basketball tournament to 72 or 76 teams. Currently, 68 teams are selected to play in the men’s and women’s tournaments. If one of the options is approved, the expanded tournaments would begin in the 2025-26 season. Stay tuned!
Actor Donald Sutherland died on June 20. Sutherland is cited as one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination. He rose to fame after starring in such films as “The Dirty Dozen” (1967), “M*A*S*H” (1970) and “Kelly’s Heroes” (1970). He went on to star in such films as “Klute” (1971), “Don’t Look Now” (1973), “The Eagle Has Landed” (1976), “Animal House (1978), “Eye Of The Needle” (1981), “Space Cowboys” (2000), “Cold Mountain” (2003) and many others. A native of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, Donald McNichol Sutherland was 88.
On June 24, Tennessee won the College Baseball World Series. In the final round, the Vols beat Texas A&M 2-games-to-1 (5-9, 4-1, 6-5) to win the Series. The SEC has now won six of the last seven College World Series – Tennessee in 2024, LSU in 2023, Ole Miss in 2022, Mississippi State in 2021, Vanderbilt in 2019 and Florida in 2017. Oregon State broke the streak in 2018. There was no World Series in 2020 due to COVID.
This year’s CWS set an attendance record. The action in Omaha drew an average of 24,788 fans per game at Charles Schwab Field – “The Chuck.” ESPN reported that TV ratings for the championship round were strong but fell short of the record set in last year’s championship between LSU and Florida. The College World Series has become known as “The Greatest Show on Dirt.”
At the end of June, entertainer Kinky Friedman, actor Martin Mull and baseball player Orlando Cepeda all died. A native of Chicago, Richard Samet Friedman was 79. Also, a native of Chicago, Martin Eugene Mull was 80. A native of Ponce, Puerto Rico, Orlando Manuel Cepeda Pennes was 86.
Remember the “head coach in waiting” concept. An assistant coach was officially designated as the next head coach when the current head coach retired. Penn State coach James Franklin was once the head coach in waiting at Maryland. But Franklin got tired of waiting for Ralph Friedgen to retire, so he left to become the coach of Vanderbilt. Will Muschamp was once the head coach in waiting at Texas. But Muschamp got tired of waiting for Mack Brown to retire, so he left to become the coach of Florida. Jimbo Fisher was the head coach in waiting at Florida State. Fisher became the head coach of the Seminoles when Bobby Bowden stepped down. The concept seemed to die out. However, in early July, Utah designated its defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley the head coach in waiting for the Utes. Scalley will take over when current Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham retires.
And speaking of Utah, Utah State placed head football coach Blake Andersen on administrative leave. The school said it intends to terminate Anderson’s employment due to noncompliance with Utah State’s Title IX policies. Defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling was named the interim coach. The decision to terminate Anderson is a result of a thorough investigation conducted by the school. Among other things, Anderson is accused of making disparaging comments about female victims of sexual assault in a team meeting.
A few days after July 4, several college football bloggers and sports talk show hosts, Paul Finebaum, Andrew Hughes and Greg Swaim among them, hinted that Florida State and Clemson have been rejected by the Big Ten and SEC. Supposedly, the Big Ten and SEC are both coveting North Carolina and Virginia.
Monte Kiffin, the father of Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, died on July 11. Kiffin is widely considered to have been one of the best defensive minds and coaches in football – college and pro. In college football, he was a defensive coordinator at Nebraska, Arkansas and Tennessee. He was a head coach at NC State. In the NFL, Kiffin was a linebackers coach for the Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets. He was a defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys. Kiffin played offensive and defensive tackle for the University of Nebraska from 1959 to 1962. A native of Lexington, Nebraska, Monte George Kiffin was 84.
Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford stepped down due to health reasons. This is the second time in five years that health issues have forced Tedford to step down from the head coach position at Fresno State. Following his third season with the Bulldogs in 2019, he resigned because of health problems. Tedford was rehired as the head coach in 2022 and coached Fresno State the past two seasons. Linebackers coach Tim Skipper was named the school’s interim coach for the 2024 season. Fresno State became the second Mountain West Conference school to lose its coach in July. Several days earlier, Utah State fired head coach Blake Andersen.
The SEC Media Days are generally one of the highlights of the offseason. When they take place, you know that the start of the college football season can’t be far behind. This year, the SEC Media Days took place July 15-18 in Dallas, Texas.
As you might expect, Texas, as in the Longhorns, was the primary focus of attention during this year’s media days. The Longhorns are not only about to start their first season in the SEC, but also, Texas is picked to be a strong challenger to Georgia for the conference championship. Oklahoma, the other new member of the SEC this year, also got a fair amount of attention. But unlike Texas, most feel the Sooners will have a rough go of it.
Injecting some pride and humor in the proceedings, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey noted that three of last season’s four playoff coaches – Kalen DeBoer (Washington), Steve Sarkisian (Texas) and Nick Saban (Alabama) – were in attendance at the media days. Sankey added that Jim Harbaugh (Michigan) was missing in action.
DeBoer is now the coach at Alabama. Texas (Sarkisian) is now a member of the SEC. Saban is now an ESPN college football analyst, while Harbaugh is now the coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.
The SEC Media Days is a four-day affair, with four of the 16 coaches speaking each day. Sankey introduces each of the coaches prior to their presentation. In turn, prior to their talk, each of the coaches thank Sankey for his introduction. All, that is, except one coach. Auburn’s Hugh Freeze was the only one of the 16 coaches who didn’t thank Sankey. As I recall, Sankey wasn’t keen on Freeze returning to the SEC last year.
Comedian and actor Bob Newhart died on July 18. Newhart appeared in a number of television shows and movies. His two most popular TV shows were “The Bob Newhart Show” (1972-1978) where he played Chicago psychologist Robert Hartley, and “Newhart” (1982-1990) where he played Vermont innkeeper Dick Loudon. Through the years, he won three Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. He was a 1952 graduate of Loyola University in Chicago and was in the U.S. Army from 1952-1954. A native of Oak Park, Illinois, George Robert Newhart was 94.
The ACC and Big Ten held their media days July 22-25. In spite of threats to leave, it appears that Florida State and Clemson will be hanging around in the ACC for a while – at least for the next two seasons. The Big Ten and the SEC showed no interest in the two schools.
So, what got into Paul Finebaum? During the summer, Finebaum fell into a habit of verbally trashing football coaches – a different one each week.
His criticism began with Colorado coach Deion Sanders. Finebaum had this to say about Sanders: “He’s a Hollywood created celebrity. Quite frankly, his performance as a coach has been less than spectacular. I’m just not impressed with anything he has done. Deion doesn’t have the patience to stay at Colorado. Shedeur hasn’t done anything but crash and burn.” Finebaum not only got in his knocks on Deion, but also the coach’s son – quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
USC coach Lincoln Riley was the next coach in Finebaum’s line of fire. About Riley, he said, “The one thing LA hates is a loser, and right now, I think Lincoln Riley is a loser. I think it’s over for Lincoln Riley. To me, he has lost control, and once you’ve lost control, you’re in the middle of quicksand.”
The following week, Finebaum continued his ongoing feud with Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin. Finebaum said, “I would say that Ole Miss won’t make the college football playoff this season. Everyone in the media is in love with Lane Kiffin. They think he’s hilarious. I don’t think he’s that funny. I don’t think his tweets are that interesting, and his coaching has been underwhelming at times.”
Perhaps, Finebaum’s biggest bomb was his criticizing of Nebraska coach Matt Ruhle. After Ruhle spoke at the Big Ten Media Days, Finebaum unleased his venom yet again – this time at the Nebraska coach. Finebaum said, “Man, stay in your lane. Job one: win enough games to get to some stupid bowl game. Don’t worry about the big boys because you’re not one of them. We saw what you did in the NFL. You were a complete disaster at Carolina. You somehow got this job in Nebraska, and you’re talking like you belong at the table with Ohio State and Georgia. You don’t! Just try to win maybe six games. Quit choking big games on the final play and leave the punditry to the professionals. Thank you.”
And last but not least, Finebaum had this to say about Clemson coach Dabo Swinney. “They are going to get run out of the building by Georgia. I forgot Clemson still played football. Is Dabo Swiney in a missing persons bulletin right now? They had the ACC Media Days and usually Dabo controls the theater. I don’t remember a single thing he said. He’s still complaining about everything that’s wrong with college football while his program slips into mediocrity.”
Of the five coaches who came under attack from Finebaum, only Lane Kiffin found an opportunity to get paybacks. And it was a good opportunity – at the SEC Media Days. On the fourth and final day of what had been a rather dull SEC Media Days, Kiffin put some spice into the event. While being interviewed by the ESPN analyst, Kiffin took the opportunity to roast Finebaum, saying “Paul, why are you so irate? I find you to be humorous. Really, I don’t know what you are good at. You predicted that Coach Saban was done. That didn’t happen. You basically said Miley Cyrus stinks, and she is still around.”
In what is known as the House vs. NCAA Agreement and as a follow up to their initial announcement in May, the NCAA and the Power Five conferences moved one step closer in July to a major change in college sports. The agreement paves the way for revenue sharing for the athletes, increases roster sizes and attempts to provide transparency and control of NIL. The agreement sets a blueprint for the future in major college sports. Up to 22% of a school’s revenue generated from sports will be shared with the athletes. In addition to the revenue sharing, schools now will have the flexibility of sharing scholarships with all sports allowing for partial scholarships to be distributed in football and basketball. Previously, schools were required to have football and basketball players on full scholarship, whereas baseball, softball, soccer, tennis, etc. players could be on partial scholarships. Football rosters will be increased from 85 (full scholarship) players to 105 (full and partial scholarship) players. Baseball teams will be able to provide as many as 34 scholarships. Currently, baseball is limited to 11.7 scholarships per team. Softball will jump from 12 to 25 scholarships. The increase in scholarships is expected to add $5 million to $10 million in expenses for each school. Some are predicting that Olympic sports are going to get massacred. This agreement also includes stricter rules on NIL, though how the rules will be enforced remains unanswered.
Speaking of softball and NIL, does the name NiJaree Canady ring a bell? If not, it will after you read this. Canady is a softball pitcher. Last season, she pitched for Stanford and led the Trees to the college softball world series. In June, Canady entered the transfer portal. She signed with Texas Tech in late July. Not only will Canady be pitching for the Red Raiders softball team next season, but also, she will be making $1.1 million in NIL money from Texas Tech. Yes, $1.1 million. Softball, not football or basketball, but softball. The previous high for NIL money to a college softball player was $175,000.
And speaking of deals, international singing star Pitbull purchased the naming rights for FIU’s football stadium in Miami. The stadium will be known as Pitbull Stadium. In a five-year contract, Pitbull will pay FIU $1.2 million a year for the next five years. The contract provides Pitbull with the option of renewing the naming rights for another five years at the same cost. As part of the deal, Pitbull will promote FIU athletics.
Isn’t this like a dollar short and a day late? More like a dollar short and a few years late. Last week the NCAA penalized Jim Harbaugh with a one-year suspension from coaching. He also received a four-year show-cause order that will run to August 2028. The penalties are not for Michigan’s sign-stealing, but for illegal recruiting activities by Harbaugh during the COVID-19 recruiting dead period. Maybe someone should notify the NCAA that Harbaugh is no longer coaching at Michigan. And, somehow, I don’t think NCAA penalties cross over to the NFL. Harbaugh’s punishment basically prevents him from coaching in the college ranks for four years. Harbaugh must be laughing his head off while he prepares the Los Angeles Chargers for the upcoming season.
Meanwhile, current Michigan coach Sherrone Moore is being investigated by the NCAA for his role in the illegal scouting and sign-stealing activities. Stay tuned! But don’t hold your breath.
Although he is coaching the Los Angeles Chargers now, Harbaugh will be back in Ann Arbor on August 31 for the Wolverines opener against Fresno State. Harbaugh has been named the honorary captain of the Michigan football team for the game. I guess you can’t suspend him from being an honorary captain.
For two weeks in August, I was an Olympics couch potato. If it wasn’t for some occasional visits to the fitness center and walks through the neighborhood, I would have gained 50 pounds. I’ve always been an Olympics junkie. Paris did an outstanding job hosting the games. The sporting event venues were spectacular. Merci beaucoup, Paris!
Perhaps the wildest story out of the Olympics came from French pole vaulter Anthony Ammirati. Ammirati said his manhood cost him a medal. According to Ammirati, his penis kept him from vaulting over the bar at 5.70 meters. He said he cleared the bar but the bulge in his pants scraped the top of the bar and knocked it off. Now, was Anthony complaining or bragging? Oh well.
Did I ever tell you about the time Rockledge Gator and I went bar hopping around Brussels, Belgium, one night? At some point, during the wee hours of the morning, we managed to meet up with a bag lady. And for some crazy reason, we began singing the French national anthem – “La Marseillaise.” Well, the bag lady sang the lyrics in French. Rockledge Gator and I just hummed along. We knew the tune. The three of us ended up having beer and spaghetti for breakfast at 6:00 in the morning. Actually, I think the bag lady had wine. But the spaghetti was good. It was years later when we shared this event with Bootsie and Swamp Mama.
That’s a wrap of the offseason. From Nick Saban’s retirement to Carson Beck’s $300K Lamborghini, to Eli Gold’s firing, to Jim Harbaugh’s tattoo, to the death of amateur sports, to NiJaree Canady’s NIL deal to Anthony Ammirati’s penis, it’s been a wild and crazy seven months.
Can you believe it? Next week is Week 0.
“In Dublin’s fair city
Where the girls are so pretty
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone
As she wheeled her wheelbarrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying, ‘Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!’”
Florida State and Georgia Tech will be looking to stay alive, alive, oh.
Thirty teams will have new head coaches this season. And in a couple of late offseason moves, two teams found out they will have interim head coaches in 2024. Tomorrow, I will review the new coaches, providing a background on each of them.
“I do not know what fate awaits me
I only know I must be brave
And I must face a man who hates me
Or lie a coward, a craven coward
Or lie a coward in my grave
Do not forsake me, oh my darlin’
On this, our weddin’ day”
But I digress.
Touchdown Tom
August 12, 2024
https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com
Quotes of the Offseason
“I had an inkling around Thanksgiving. I just didn’t foresee it being Alabama,” Washington athletic director Troy Dannen, on Kalen DeBoer’s departure.
“I think right now 8-4 is probably most likely for Tennessee in 2024. I think 9-3 is well within reach. But at 8-4 I think the percentage chance they make the 12-team playoff is about 15%. If they get to 9-3, I would say that increases things significantly, but I’m kind of leaning a little bit more towards 8-4,” ESPN’s Greg McElroy, on Tennessee in 2024.
“He’ll always be remembered as a damn good Dawg,” a spokesperson from the Georgia athletic department said, on the death of Uga X, Georgia’s English bulldog mascot. (Uga X, whose name was Que, spent eight seasons on the sideline at Georgia football games. He was 10.)
“Jim Harbaugh is football personified, and I can think of no one better to lead the Chargers forward,” Los Angeles Chargers team owner Dean Spanos, on the hiring of Harbaugh.
“If I saw myself coming to your conference, I’d also find a soft excuse to leave for elsewhere,” USC coach Lincoln Riley, on Jim Harbaugh’s departure from Michigan to the Los Angeles Chargers.
“I don’t think it takes any imagination to say that Ohio State should be the preseason No. 1. I know everybody looks for someone. That’s mine,” ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum.
“They wanted me to say I’m retiring, that I’m stepping down. This wasn’t my decision. It was strictly their decision,” The Voice of Alabama football Eli Gold, on being fired.
“I love the players and I love college football, but what we have now is not college football. You hear somebody use the word ‘student-athlete.’ That doesn’t exist,” former Alabama football coach Nick Saban.
“The ACC and Big 12 schools are becoming glorified junior colleges,” former Florida State and Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher.
“For the first time in my life, I don’t know what’s next. I’m dying to get back into coaching,” former UCF and Nebraska coach Scott Frost.
“I’m a good coach. I belong doing it. I just don’t know for sure where that’s going to be right now. If the right head coach job comes along, I’d take it. If the right coordinator job comes along, I’d take it, former UCF and Nebraska coach Scott Frost.
“He was someone who was made for the game, and the game was made for him,” Kareem Abdul Jabbar, on Jerry West.
“It’s going to be, top to bottom, the best league in the country. But they need somebody to get some big wins in the non-conference early,” FOX Sports college football analyst Tim Brando, on the Big 12 Conference.
“I know Florida State thinks they’re heavily in demand, but there are some questions about what exactly they bring to the Big Ten. Florida State doesn’t fit the Big Ten model. The Big Ten, I believe, other than Nebraska, has highly accredited schools, and I don’t think Florida State really qualifies for that,” ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum, on Florida State’s chances of getting into the Big Ten.
“He’s been great, learning under him, just the way he goes about his business and attacks his preparation. I’m thrilled that I’ve been learning from such a good guy. He carries himself in such a good manner and we’re good friends. So, it’s been awesome,” Texas quarterback Arch Manning on Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers.
“I don’t know who’s advising Florida State right now, but they’re doing them a disservice. I’ve seen enough from the Noles to know they might be more trouble than they are worth. Florida State appears to be a disruptive partner,” Action Network’s Brett McMurphy and Saturday Down South’s Matt Hayes, quoting a Big Ten Conference official.
“I sweat a lot more. It’s hot,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer, on moving to Tuscaloosa from Seattle.
“They hate Texas more than they like themselves,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian, on Arkansas fans.
“You’ve got to get consumed with the process, not the outcome,” Florida coach Billy Napier, at the SEC Media Days.
“Don’t blame Kirby Smart for repeatedly poor decisions from the Georgia players. Blame Kirby for the way he reacts. Blame him for not taking a serious and significant public stand against his roster and demanding better. Another arrest, another slap on the wrist response from Kirby. Kirby Smart is starting to look like another ‘win at all costs’ coach. It’s past time to get tough, Kirby,” Saturday Down South’s Matt Hayes, on Georgia coach Kirby Smart’s failure to discipline his players.
“Jim Harbaugh deserves an Oscar for his response to the NCAA’s sign-stealing allegations,” ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum. Harbaugh denied any involvement in or knowledge of the sign-stealing accusations.
“Deion Sanders is softer than baby poop. I watched all 24 minutes of Deion’s press conference. No command of the English language. Wearing sunglasses. Snorting through his nose every 45 seconds. Combative and defensive for no reason. It’s like Bubbles is coaching a Power Five team. Deion Sanders needs help,” sports personality Jason Whitlock.
“Deion is clearly not cut out to be a college football coach. He cuts corners, takes things personally and can’t hide his favoritism for his sons. He knows football, but he is not a hard worker. Deion throws players under the bus and he’s getting worse and worse with the media. He should get out of college football if he doesn’t like the heat,” sports personality Mike Farrell, on Colorado coach Deion Sanders.
Touchdown Tom
https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com
P.S.
Not exactly college football related, but as summer was winding down and college football fans were anticipating the start of another season, the number one song in the country…
…80 years ago, this week in 1944, was “Swinging On A Star” by Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter and his Orchestra
…75 years ago, this week in 1949, was “Some Enchanted Evening” by Perry Como
…70 years ago, this week in 1954, was “Little Things Mean A Lot” by Kay Kallen
…65 years ago, this week in 1959, was “Lonely Boy” by Paul Anka
…60 years ago, this week in 1964, was “A Hard Day’s Night” by The Beatles
…55 years ago, this week in 1969, was “In The Year 2525” by Zager and Evans
…50 years ago, this week in 1974, was “Annie’s Song” by John Denver
…45 years ago, this week in 1979, was “Bad Girls” by Donna Summer
…40 years ago, this week in 1984, was “When Doves Cry” by Prince
…35 years ago, this week in 1989, was “Batdance” by Prince
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