Kirby Smart said at SEC Media day that Georgia is over 85% vaccinated but that they are shooting for more.
Dabo not excited about the playoff expansion. Fears that with the 12 teams, that there aren't really 12 teams worthy and that some who are pretty much locked into the playoff might rest players in that last game like the NFL teams do at the end of the season. That hadn't occured to me that teams might choose to rest players at the end of the season if they feel they are locked into the playoff, unless of course they have a shot at a 1st round bye. "I knew when it went to four, it was going to become all about the playoff, and when it goes to 12, it's going to become more about the playoff, but it's inevitable," Swinney said. "Some people will say, 'Well you've been in the playoff. If we can get in with four, we're going to get in with 12.' Our odds aren't going to go down, so it's not about that. "Our team isn't for it. They don't want to play more games. And to be honest with you, I don't know if there's 12 teams good enough. So you're going to play more games just to play more games. And I think the more you expand it, the less important the season becomes and the more you become the NFL, as far as all right, you're in the playoffs? Well, you know, why play Trevor [Lawrence] in this game if you're already in? All of a sudden you're not in the top 12 and kids just aren't playing."
So a kid who hasn't played yet is a millionaire. Do the schools still have to play the charade of offering these young professionals a scholarship? Those scholarships should maybe go to regular kids . Saban made a comment that was very telling. It's the "brand", perhaps much more than the kid. If he's correct, the future has never looked brighter for the Big Three.
Nick Saban is up today in the SEC Media days. I wonder what reporter will ask the wrong question and get the look! On the NIL money whether it's the insane amount that some players will be getting or some pocket change that most will be getting, I hope they all get good advice. I am sure that we'll hear some sad story about a kid who got a lot of money and spent it all not thinking of taxes, or whose advisor steals his money, or encourages him to make risky investments. It happens to NFL players. I imagine there will be a few kids who loan some money to teammates and don't get paid back and something bad happens. I'm sure there will be at least one incidence where a player who is getting a good payday, goes south either with discipline problems or doesn't have the kind of season and gets benched and loses the endorsement. I don't see Deshaun Watson commercials anymore!
Or someone decides not to play because they might get hurt and it would cost them money. I am pessimistic about the future of college sports.
I'm sure most of the problems that the NFL has will start to surface in college football as well. Biggest difference will be that colleges aren't directly paying the players like NFL teams do, so there won't be holdouts. But just like kids bolt now because they thought they were going to be starters or play a lot of minutes right away, I can see where a kid bolts because when recruited he was told he'd likely make X dollars in NIL money and it didn't happen....will claim he was lied to by coaches. But right now it's all just speculation and we'll all have to just wait and see how this all plays out.
I wonder how the inequity of NIL will affect team cohesiveness and morale? There's no I in team... except when I'm up shilling for someone so I can get $100K, and most of you get squat...
Yeah it has to be a concern. Several BBQ chains have taken up sponsoring an OL (Wisconsin, ND, Ark) I like that, the whole line gets paid. I do think though that inequality of pay is a fact of life in the Pro's. You could be the greatest Guard in NFL history and you aren't making the same money as the QB if he's a franchise QB. They all seem to understand that, and accept that you get paid as much by your position as you do your talent. So hopefully players in college will accept that Spencer Rattler is getting paid (for example) but that Chris Murray ( OU center) is getting pocket change.
I read an interesting article about the imbalance in recruiting for Big 10 teams. The article pointed out that the top recruiting teams are all in the Big 10 East. Ohio State of course, but also Michigan and Penn State. That even Rutgers currently is out recruiting the teams in the Big 10 West. Said that Geography works against the Big 10 West teams. Article seems to suggest that the Big 10 needs to rebalance the divisions so the top recruiting teams aren't all in the same division.
Yes the numbers certainly favor the East Division and I do see that changing in the near future. I am not sure realigning the conference teams is the answer either?
Current B10 recruiting rankings... of the 7 teams in the top 30 of the 247Composite, only Big 10 E team not in that ranking is Maryland. Northwestern is the only Big 10 West team in the top 30. I'm a bit amazed at how well Rutgers is doing in recruiting, currently ranked right there with Michigan just outside the top 10.
Big 10 Media Poll predicts Wisconsin v Ohio State in the B10 Championship game with Ohio State the winner. They also predict Mich 4th in the Big 10 East, behind OSU, Penn State, and Indiana. Big Ten football predicted order of finish for 2021: Ohio State picked to win title over Wisconsin
Bobby Bowden and his family have announced that he has a terminal medical condition. No specifics. He said he's at peace. He was and probably still is quite the character, I wasn't a big fan of his for the most part, but he was definitely one of a kind. Probably a good guy to sit down and have a beer with or go fishing.
He was. My Dad played football with him in college and stayed in touch with him over the years. He was/is a really engaging and.funny guy.
Sad to read that. Remember going to AA to watch FSU the week after M beat ND with the Grbac to Howard TD pass sealing the victory. M fans were already talking national championship. Bowden put on a coaching clinic that afternoon and the Seminoles blew us out of the big house. Told my friend sitting next to me that we were watching the modern version of Robert E Lee running tactical circles around an overmatched Union general.