College football broke yesterday. There is no other way to put it. Coaches were fired, a coach is about to retire, and a quarterback from Florida got suspended for taking some fancy drugs. All of that was on a Monday. A MONDAY. There is still the rest of the week for craziness to come out, but let us hope it slows down for the sake of humanity.
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College Football
Speaking of new jobs in college football and whatnot, our own Bart Doan asks if Maryland is as good a job as some say it is. By some, we mean Maryland-specific blogs. Bart also hurls out some possible candidates for the gig.
Will Grier is suspended. The Florida Gators happen to be one of the more pleasant surprises in all of college football, but this will certainly put a damper on their season. However, before Grier was named their starter, Treon Harris was to take the helm for the Gators. He’s going to start for them going forward now. Maybe everything will be okay anyway?
Steve Sarkisian is out at USC. He has, reportedly, also entered rehab. This topic is complicated, no matter how simplistic people want to make it, but let us hope Sark gets the help he needs. Now, there is a part of this story that isn’t being as talked about as it should be. Like, you know, why isn’t Pat Haden coming more under fired? Not merely for the handling of Sark, but for the continued horribleness he has done at bringing in head coaches.
I don’t have words. I seriously don’t. Steve Spurrier is retiring. This is sad. It is tragic. It is, well, the opposite of fun. Over the next 24 hours expect tremendous columns about Spurrier being published. I can’t wait for them, although, I could have waited a few more games until Spurrier retired. Sad face emoji.
Another “years removed from high school to declare for the NFL draft” piece has been written. The exception to the rule (Leonard Fournette) is what everyone focuses on, and I am not against people getting theirs, but there isn’t any actual insight in this column other than pointing out very recent injuries in college football as “proof” as to why the best in the sport should be allowed to declare early. Personal aside: Guys, I am with you on this. At least for the most part. Let’s start making better arguments.
I am going to leave this — like, right here — with no comment.
Extra Point
The democratic debate is happening or something. I have no idea who most of these people are, which qualifies me as a true American.
College Basketball
Matt Norlander ranks the top 100 (and one!) players in college basketball. Norlander is great, and his stuff is always well researched, so he probably doesn’t have Kobe Bryant ranked 93rd here. Wait… what?
A column briefly looking at the new rules in college basketball and if it will help the game. I have written on this to the point of nausea in the past. The underlying issue with college basketball actually happens to be that people want the players to be as good as NBA guys, which isn’t humanly possible, and with over 100 Division I programs in the nation it is unrealistic to expect quality play in every game. Our expectations need to be lowered. We, along with the lack of talent, happen to be the real issue.
Andy Katz has some media day takes. The actual headline of the post is “Hot Topics”, which also happens to be a very shitty store in my local mall.
Horizon League preview by CBT. Read it. Love it. Drink it in. You will never guess who is going to win the entire league! Oh, that last line was sarcasm. You know the answer.
I assumed Kris Dunn didn’t declare for the NBA Draft for different reasons, but here are other reasons why he is returning to school.
And One
Flinder Boyd continues to be an American treasure. His long form work is the stuff of legend. Here he is with an article on an ex-porn star’s rise to fantasy football dominance. No, really, I mean it. It is a real piece. As usual, per rules of Flinder Boyd, it is a must-read.
