Thanks to NCAA Boneheads, College Football as we knew it, is Doomed.

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Steveo’s Salvos: Firing a broadside at NCAA “Boneheads”

Lebanon, TN- The more reports coming out of meetings the NCAA boneheads, as described accurately by Charles Barkley, NBA and college basketball broadcaster and Hall of Famer, the more the great traditions of college football seem on their way out for good.  Read Jame Parks’ online report of February 19, “Charles Barkley calls out NIL in college football: ‘We screwed up’.” I, like many fans, enjoyed the opportunities of surprise and upsets over the years.  There definitely were not enough.  However, the alignments that continue to take place by putting more money into the elite programs just decimate the competition among 134 teams at the Football Bowl Subdivisions (FBS) even further.

NCAA Boneheads:  Maybe there is a Strategy after all

Already, the desire of expanded playoffs many fans looked forward to is becoming another tool for the “rich” to get richer.”  Look no further than the “Power Five” of college football. As written in Ross Dellenger’s article on Yahoosports.com, “Change is coming to CFP.  What will it look like?” on February 21, already the SEC and Big Ten are positioning themselves to monopolize eight of twelve automatic seeds in the College Football Playoffs (CFP) starting in 2026.  Where’s the Federal Trade Commission with the anti-trust suits? Lack of competition will probably knock about 75% of FBS college football programs right out of the ranks of the “competitive.”

 The NCAA boneheads just don’t “react” as Charles Barkley assesses.  More importantly, they don’t, can’t and won’t plan effectively to make this sport more competitive for all 134 teams involved.  And these people pride themselves on representing so-called “institutions of higher learning?”  Is this what and how they teach college students today?  Let’s come up with some ideas, see how they work, and try to fix them later if they don’t. “Oops!”  In reality, the boneheads are feeding only to an elite group of NCAA members who see beneficial opportunities unfolding before them.

How about fair-shares?

As recorded in my book, Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales, the Good, the Fun and the Ugly, I have no contentions with players sharing in the vast revenues of the sport being made.  On the other “Oops” hand, however, I can’t see giving 18-year-olds enough money to buy a house before they’ve played a down or attended a class. Or buying a Lamborghini before even earning a college degree and getting a good job and starting a career in football or any other profession. Something for nothing? Handouts?  And if this money is only for name, image and likeness (NIL), don’t all 10,000 FBS players deserve the same amount of money? Their images can all be seen on the TV screen during a game.

 If football focuses not on “pay for play,” why do some players get offered significant sums higher than their teammates or the guys across the line of scrimmage?  Fans wouldn’t watch if one can’t win and the other can’t lose.  Don’t both sides have names, images and likenesses?  Why are some compensated more than the others? They can’t claim it’s for being better football players.  Schools don’t pay students for that in college.  That’s supposedly not what they’re being paid for.

And NILs possibly exist beyond the playing field

The original intent of this sport for the players good enough to earn came with the chance to reap the benefit of a free college scholarship.   All of a sudden, these scholarships aren’t worth anything?  Ask the millions of families whose kids don’t play a major college sport. Many have to go into debt for tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars if they aren’t.  If their kids could all only be about 6’ 5” tall and weigh close to 300 lbs. or run a 4.0 in a 40-yard dash.  Why does that matter? If they can’t, they’ve all got names, likenesses and images.  Multitudes of fans see them on the dance cams, kiss cams, smile cams, on-field award ceremonies and in the stands during breaks in the action or cheering their team on.

Wait for some disgruntled parents of college-age kids coming forth with some class action. Why can’t their kids don’t get paid the same NIL money.  Supposedly that’s the reason these other students playing football earn money.  We’re told it’s not for their athletic prowess. If this is the case, who believes this?  However, football coaches at lower levels among the Group of Five teams beg to differ, to say the least. Their best football players transfer to play for richer programs (Power Five or P5s). They offer more money for their name, image and likeness – not for playing football which they just happen to do.

NCAA Boneheads’ biggest blunder?

It’s over.  The Power Five’s look out for themselves.  For more money, they close ranks among themselves as to who will be in this circle. As I indicate in Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales, in the end there will be 40-48 schools leveraging ESPN or other networks for all the football money.  Will they have the audacity to schedule the have-nots left behind to throw them a bone once in a while?  Probably, but only to keep them alive to develop and eventually take their best players. They have through the more dangerous creation of the NCAA boneheads. That is the unlimited opportunity to leave after being recruited by the collectives of the 40-48 programs through a wide-open transfer portal.  The current P5s entice to attract talent among what’s referred to among the lower as the Group of Five (G5s) conferences. 

Smoke and Mirrors.

To keep some hopes up for the lesser schools, they allow them one slot among the 12 for the College Football Playoff (CFP).  And if 85 scholarship players aren’t enough for P5 programs, the system exists already rigged to add more players without scholarships.  One of the directors of a collective points this out in Ross Dellenger’s Yahoosports.com piece of February 19, “As college football’s elite is engulfed in a power struggle, G5 left just trying to survive: ‘We are a farm system,’ “P5s can fill 30 available openings that the NCAA boneheads currently allow for “walk-ons.” They now raise money just for this.

Every now and then you will see a player at some program awarded a full ride. They serve the program as a non-scholarship walk-on and eventually earn that money.  However, in the article, the collectives raise more money now to induce talented walk-ons with money through the transfer portal to their new team.  Good for the walk-ons, but supposedly inducements are illegal.

P5 Power play

Though Barkley refers to the NCAA boneheads as being totally reactive, I pointed out in my article on February 2, “Who is the NCAA? Answer: 134 members with Football Programs who approved NIL policy.” These NCAA boneheads come from among the 134 football playing member schools and more. And from among these programs, because of television money, SEC and Big Ten members are strong voices that influence such decisions. 

I have a hard time believing that these two conferences aren’t manipulating the NCAA boneheads as ignorantly as considered.  They seem to be positioning themselves right where they want to be.  If they don’t get things their way, they have the power, the money, and the media right where they need them. They can take all the money and run.  They will have their Super Conference(s) and everything else they need to reorganize themselves without the NCAA.  Other schools will fend for themselves.

G5 Power play

The best leverage the remnants will have among themselves is Basketball.  The 40-48 alone may not be as attractive media-wise as the 351 teams competing for the NCAA tournament at that level.  And in recent seasons, more of the lesser football and non-football playing members have made inroads deep into the Final Four. Last year, UConn, San Diego State, and Florida Atlantic made up three of the Four.  In recent years, Gonzaga, St Peter’s, Florida Gulf Coast and Loyola-Chicago have made deep runs. Most of football’s Power Fives haven’t approached that yet. A game with primarily ten players on the court at one time becomes more competitive with equivalent talent than with a game needing 22 players on the field at one time. Hopefully, they will let that basketball tradition to remain intact.

What NCAA boneheads lack: Foresight

I fear the outcome of what the NCAA boneheads have allowed to destroy the competitiveness of college football.  If the future of college football results as I reported in the first of my two essays at the end of my book, “Vision of the Future,” I will probably care less about The Super Conference or whatever it will become or its championship outcome.  Like many, I’ve already lost most of my interest in pro football. For me, that was mostly because of my attachment to the college game. Other fans indicate other reasons. Domination by few of many doesn’t bode well for fans who favor fair competition.

If the 40-48 move on to the professional route as I envision in this chapter, my focus will fall on what, if any competitive college football remains.  Meaning I will follow the possibility of FCS, D2 and D3 remaining.  Although they too will become minor leagues now to the highest levels.  I like my football competitive no matter what the level.  I just see the FBS becoming a bore, repetitive, predictable and another NFL. Best players no doubt, but they won’t be student-athletes attending classes. The game will only be driven financially in every aspect.

Plans? Solutions?

My second and final essay in the book is entitled, “For the Love of the Game.”  In it, I offer plans and solutions to make the game more competitive. Making it better for more players and fans of their favorite teams comprise my objective.  I offer some controls that the NCAA boneheads could have and should have considered. At least they should have analyzed before they decided and implemented these changes. Instead, they took a weak approach – let’s do this and see what happens.

Of course, as I mentioned, a core group of this membership probably whole-heartedly agreed with the changes.  They sat back and saw the financial benefits they were hoping for all along.  After that, they picked up the phone and called their state legislature, probably an alumnus. They informed them what the despicable NCAA was going to do to thwart the improvement of their beloved football program.  Their plans seem to be working perfectly for what they want.

Steve Koreivo, ed. Member of Football Writer’s Association of America

In a colorful tribute by the Cyclone Marching Band to their fellow Big XII members, next year two will be gone, and four more will be added. Good signs or bad signs for the future of college football and the Big XII brought on by the NCAA Boneheads?
In a colorful tribute by the Iowa State Cyclone Marching Band to their fellow Big XII members, next season two will be gone, and four more will be added. Good signs or bad signs for the future of college football and the Big XII brought on by the NCAA Boneheads?

 [SK1]

NIL Deals analyzed: more Evidence College Football is going Pro.

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Lebanon, TN – Several articles came out this past week glorifying the development of NIL deals.  Outside of a few “student-athletes” making the big bucks on for their names, images and likenesses, only certain schools will profit even more.  That seems to be the intent. As more money pours in from many sources, especially for new monies earmarked for NIL deals, schools benefit. They will avoid ever having to actually pay their intended future college football playing employees.

NIL deals will transcend scholarships

Those who believe these highly-paid, “pretty” people should be paying their own way through college, will get their wish.  Schools will no longer offer football scholarships.  Players will become employees eventually, instead of “student- athletes.”   It sounds like the plan is already underway. Everything colleges want to do is going as planned as predicted in my book, Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly. A great thing occurring for the anticipated 40-48 schools who will break away from the NCAA to form a new college football association, their employees will now pay them for the education while working for them.  Contract money will be paid by collectives. The question arises though, will player contracts then be initiated to slow down the transfer portal?

In Sam Neumann’s story online in Awful Announcing on February 15, 2024, “College athletes to receive NIL money for documentary appearance,” a new documentary called Money Game. It will be released soon depicting the LSU athletic program and the NIL deals that benefit their athletic program. The Prime Video release refers to this documentary as “a historic turning point in the NCAA upon policy changes on name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights—guaranteed to shape the trajectory of college sports forever.” It highlights four NIL deals. They include three for elite LSU woman athletes and for outgoing Heisman Trophy winner, quarterback Jayden Daniels.  Daniels ranked fourth among college football players with value from NIL deals.

A degree of discomfort with NIL deals

Produced by Campfire Studios, Axios Entertainment, and Jersey Legends, a production company founded by Shaquille O’Neal, well-known LSU basketball alumnus, the article goes on to say that the athletes featured in Money Game “will receive payment under the guise of ‘NIL compensation.’” Employees featured on it, such as coaches of each of the players, will not.  The word “guise” here almost makes it seem like there is a concern that these appearances could construe potential NIL violations. Arrangements here can be totally legal. However, perceptions may challenge some views. NIL deals are not only new, but possibly still unclear to the general public.  Rules vary by state making NIL deals inconsistent from school to school.  How fair is this?

More money, more money

On the same day of Neumann’s story above, InsideHook released this article by Michael Stahl, “University of Michigan Unveils Major NIL Expansion.”  On February 14, U of M’s athletics department invested in a strategic formula for “the growth of its in-house NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) program.” They created two new positions dedicated to strengthening the school’s marketability. They offer NIL deals with the respective assistance of Altius Sports Partners, an advisory firm focused on NIL deals, and Learfield, a sports marketing company.

The new positions of executive general manager and senior manager of business development will “empower its student-athletes” and provide “forward-thinking initiative.”  The report goes on to say this strategic move will offer “specialized expertise, enabling them (student athletes) to navigate and maximize NIL opportunities skillfully.”  Stahl concludes that this means,” they’ll have a better chance to make more money at Michigan.”

What is the Law?

What statement other than that last one cannot be clearer that college football is on its way to becoming a professional football league?  “Pay for play” is supposedly not what college football is about, but the momentum is certainly taking it in that direction.  What this article does not explain is what current Michigan laws are in place regarding NIL deals.  Again, these laws vary from state to state.  There still exists many uneven playing fields when it comes to college football recruiting.

ESPN Staff Writer Dan Murphy wrote an article online on January 10 entitled, “NCAA approves new NIL rules to help athletes ‘protect themselves.‘” Very interesting and well transcribed scenario. The NCAA makes a proposition to continue the implementation of NIL deals for the good of the players to share the wealth. It also proposes to make changes to level the playing field as prescribed here for all college football programs.  Two days after this proposal was made, Marc Edelman, Senior Legal contributor for  FORBESBUSINESSSPORTSMONEY, published an article online, “New Challenge To NCAA NIL Rules Is ‘Engineered’ On Firm Legal Ground.” Edelman specializes in legal issues regarding sports, fantasy sports and online gaming.

Anti-trust precedence

In it, he highlights a precedence presented by the National Society of Professional Engineers that had “attempted to defend their competitive bidding restraints by arguing that an important social policy goal—promoting customer focus on the safety of engineering—needed to supersede free market forces.”  They tried to use this argument to have their customers select engineering sources based on safety before finalizing a price.  This move undermines price competition, exactly what the Sheman anti-trust laws prevent. Being a Purchasing Professional for 42 years, I never would have agreed to this. We would always consider the entire value of the package including price quotes along with other pre-determined parameters like quality, service, and payment terms.  An engineering firm could present safety parameters along with a pricing proposal simultaneously.

Edelman links his article to his previous Case Western Reserve Law Review, Vol. 64, No. 1, 2013 (41 Pages Posted: 1 Mar 2013 Last revised: 3 Dec 2013), “A Short Treatise on Amateurism and Antitrust Law: Why the NCAA’s ‘No Pay’ Rules Violate Section One of the Sherman Act.” Date Written: February 28, 2013.  He points out that in recent years, “some NCAA members have become increasingly wealthy – grossing annual revenues upwards of $100 million per year. “In the case of the University of Texas, they gross over $200 million.  He clarifies that by resisting the “opportunity to share their wealth with student-athletes,” the NCAA violates basic anti-trust laws.

College Football Reformation

Interestingly to me, he confirms what I surmised in my book. He states in his treatise, “Finally, Part VI concludes that even if a court were to find that competitive balance is a reasonable basis for upholding certain “no pay” rules, such rules still should not come from the NCAA, but rather from the individual conference level.”  This justifies my premise that 40-48 “power” football programs, based on the higher revenues that they make and seek, will terminate their memberships with the NCAA.

The remaining Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams basically in the Group of Five conferences will be on their own.  The new Super Conference of 40-48 will establish their media contracts, their recruiting rules, post-season competition and their future independently of the NCAA membership, if the organization still oversees any football.  The remaining teams may stay as full members of the NCAA.  They can then abide by whatever rules they come up within each conference if they agree to equalize the level of playing competitively. 

READ ALL ABOUT IT!

The next challenge legally, however, will be how and if the players from within both organizations will be allowed to move from one to the other through current transfer portals. That will most likely still become another anti-trust issue.  To read more about how and why this is happening, purchase my book, Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly.  The last two essays presented lay out what to expect, but definitely sooner than I expected.

Steve Koreivo, ed.  Member of Football Writes Association of America

Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs (1) on the run versus Utah State. When the Power Five leaves the NCAA with more lucrative NIL deals, these two should not meet again. The two separate divisions should play under different rules for separate championships.
Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs (1) on the run versus Utah State. When the Power Five leaves the NCAA with more lucrative NIL deals, these two should not meet again. The two separate divisions should play under different rules for separate championships.

Unionizing, investing and buying a Lamborghini: College football?

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Lebanon, TN- The hits on college football just keep on coming.  Will the game played for, by and with student-athletes survive?  I mean in popularity among fans?  In the direction the game is heading in, it looks like it will eventually battle the NFL for all the big bucks it currently makes.  I analyzed this possible move in my book, Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly.  I envisioned a plan where ten things need to happen for the top 40-48 Football Bowl Subdivision programs to form a professional football league.  However, I didn’t anticipate how quickly this could happen.

 With what’s happened within this past month since Michigan defeated Washington on January 8, unless the seemingly powerless NCAA can institute some strong controls, move over NFL.  As things roll along as they are, maybe the major college football members of the NCAA did have a plan all along.

College football priorities changing with a purpose

For sure, no incentive exists to maintain an organization dedicated to educating student-athletes anymore.  The priority now seems to be to let student-athletes transfer at lightning speed just for the sake of playing the sport at another school.  Non-student athletes can also transfer, but at the speed and with the ease of college football players?  Realize there used to be transcripts, applications to fill, financial reviews and possible interviews for transfers’ acceptances. A decision process used to take some time.  However, once players decide to transfer or even before, it only takes a day or two before these guys know where they’re going.

In Bill Bender’s article in The Sporting News on January 30, 2024’ “Ohio State’s Caleb Downs, Will Howard, Quinshon Judkins talk ‘recruiting on steroids’, title shot,” Downs stated he received 102 phone calls within eight hours from other schools to transfer.  A day or so later, the entire world knew he was leaving Alabama to enroll at Ohio State. That was quick! He knew he already had a scholarship at the next stop before he even got his final grades. 

Do grades even matter anymore?

Believe me, I know in many cases this hasn’t been the priority for student athletes in the past, but with thousands of college football players now entering the portals?  I find it hard to believe that during the holiday break season that many of the people in the admission offices are in the office to review the required documentation.   It’s as if the members of the NCAA, so-called “institutions of higher learning,” are blatantly accepting that grades no longer matter now.  Not all courses can be transferred from one school to another, and only passing grades are accepted. Not that Downs’ grades are public information, but doesn’t this have to be known by the accepting school?  I’m sure these students have become priorities now based on the financial gains ahead for the top FBS college football programs.

New priorities at the collegiate level

That’s because the move is taking place to eradicate the student athletes and make them employees to drive up school revenues where they see easy money from their perspective once again.  We’re seeing them testing this new opportunity in several ways.  A sixth year of football eligibility was bestowed on every player due to Covid in 2020.  Schools found they could afford that.  Now, little by little, some players have attained seven, eight and now even nine years of playing eligibility – even after attaining degrees.  The education is complete.  So how can they and why do schools keep players even longer to play “college football?”

 I’ll show you the money.

Colleges have always been great marketers.  They already convince families to go into high debt to finance their sons’ and daughters’ educations for degrees where they will take years to pay off. Even if the government defers the loans, the colleges will still get the money from the government.  Now, schools take the Name, Image and Likenesses of college football players and sell them out on the open markets through entities called “collectives.” These collectives are not part of the university. Basically, they are third party contractors. Rules and regulations avoiding “pay for play,” not allowed within the NCAA. They only have to be abided by the institutions of higher learning and the “student-athletes” they recruit. 

However, nothing in the NIL regulations say anything about these contracted collectives. This arrangement mitigates any contact between schools and college football recruits to play for the school. In the meantime, schools with major college football programs simultaneously lobby members of state governments to draft laws to protect them from any NCAA violations brought against them should they occur. The governor of Tennessee is fending off the NCAA tenaciously regarding violations brought regarding the recruitment of QB Nicholaus Iamaleava.

Collectively speaking

Now, the collectives contact alumni, boosters, local and national businesses to donate money to fund coffers to make offers to high schoolers for sell their Name, Image and Likenesses (NIL) – supposedly.   Before the 2023 season began, reports by coaches of college football programs stated collectives were also approaching their existing college football players to entice them to transfer. Players can now enter these transfer portals that open twice a year – once after the regular season ends, and once after the end of the spring football practice which generally coincides with the end of the spring semester. The air waves are full of conversations between collective representatives and players looking for better opportunities including NIL money.  Surely, even parents encourage their sons to seek such opportunities for the good of every family.

In essence, the schools don’t even have to offer these players a free education. They can pay for it themselves with the NIL money available to them. However, schools may just offer these students tuition for free as part of a benefit package.  They will probably need to do this because they have to offer some compensation directly to hire players as employees of the university.  Funny thing is that the major money will still be coming through these collectives.  Schools won’t have to pay the athletes directly, their contactors will.

Another litmus test being conducted by college football

Matt Johnson of Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports© Provided by Sportsnaut wrote this article on February 6, 2024: “National Labor Relations Board delivers potential fatal blow to NCAA with landmark Dartmouth ruling.” In the article, the NLRB states,” I find that because Dartmouth has the right to control the work performed by the men’s varsity basketball team, and because the players perform that work in exchange for compensation, the petitioned-for basketball players are employees within the meaning of the Act.“ Of course, the NCAA and Dartmouth College will appeal.

I refer to this as a litmus test because I find this hard to uphold.  The Ivy league doesn’t award athletic scholarships.  I always understood student-athletes among the Ancient Eight applied for financial assistance like every other student applicant. So, what compensation do Dartmouth basketball players get that other non-athletic students don’t get?  In this case, if basketball players unionize, do students working part-time on campus in labs, the library, as part of some research project, (I doubt Ivy League students would work in the cafeteria, but…) or some other paid position, can they also join a union?  Now all college students working a job while receiving an education can join a “student union?”   The Northwestern football team’s effort fell apart in 2015.  At least they were “compensated” by athletic scholarships.  A big question is if schools will still dole out athletic scholarships once players are contracted by money paid by collectives. All I can say is, what a mess.

Got money? Invest in the future professional football league while you can.

Great news for Missouri Tiger football.” College Football Program Hits Jackpot With Massive Donation From Anonymous Giver” reported Joe Vitale online through Athlon Sports on February 5.  An anonymous donor gifted the Missouri Tiger football program $62 million. The donation directs $50 million for improvements to Memorial Stadium and the balance of $12 million will go toward the school’s collective, the Tiger Fund.  The article refers to it as a “charitable program through the Tiger Scholarship Fund that benefits Mizzou student-athletes.”  To think, this is Missouri, an SEC member who currently plays Georgia in the SEC East and looks to challenge to beat them and Alabama for the overall SEC title.

This is just the start.  With 32 NFL teams already owned by individuals with lots of money, if anybody wants to get in on the ground floor of a new professional football league get in on it now!  With contracts for Saturday football viewing on TV and stadiums already packed by captive students, alumni and devout fans of their universities, eventually there could be a return on your investment.

The potential future of professional football

Now realizing they have everything in place to grow a professional league from the bottom-up, all colleges need to do is hold on to the players for five or more years starting right out of high school.  They’ll hold on to the best talent they can with NILs being funded by thousands of alumni through collectives in most cases. How can the NFL compete for new talent then?  Draft players right out of high school? The product they will present on the playing will be far from what they’ve got now.  And to develop players at a minor league level would be near impossible.   Colleges already have the infrastructure, fan base, media exposure, traditions and outpouring of money from alumni and corporations through collectives to” hire” and keep the best of the best football talent for as long as they want. 

Go to college, play football, buy a Lamborghini

Here’s another tidbit: why go into the NFL draft while you can make so much playing college football. And if you can learn how to invest wisely while in college, maybe you can just retire and enjoy the “good life.” Read Criss Floyd’s article here from February 6, 2024: Georgia QB Carson Beck purchases Lamborghini as NIL value reportedly tops $1 million.” Throw for 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns and lead your team to a 13-1 record and an Orange Bowl victory over a portal-decimated Florida State program, 66-3, and your $1.1 million year can escalate to $3 million the following year. If the “other” pro league approaches beyond that in a draft, use it to leverage your future.  Especially if you can get a waiver to play a few more years, or even sign a long-term contract as an employee of the institution of higher learning who will continue pay you to play a game.  

The NFL has to be looking at this because college football is their player development league. Unlike Major League Baseball or the National Hockey League, the NFL didn’t have to invest anything in minor league franchises.  Tax dollars, student revenues and alumni financial support took care of all that player development at the collegiate level. Players get a big hug from the commissioner on draft day, but that’s about it. The football world is about to change.  Read how this is all falling into place in my book, Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly now available on Amazon.com.

Stephen Koreivo -ed. Member of Football Writers Association of America

To keep up with the Joneses of college football, Missouri will invest $50 million to upgrade their Memorial Stadium to catch up with Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium.
To keep up with the Joneses of college football, Missouri will invest $50 million to upgrade their Memorial Stadium to catch up with Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Super Memories, 2024

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Lebanon, TN – As traditionally reported prior annually before every Super Bowl contest, we celebrate the collegiate careers of participants in games we refer to as “Super Memories.” We hold on to a vast number of photos from games attended. They depict live game action, catching glimpses of key plays or just accumulating file photos to assure we capture some of the hidden gems we see play in college.

Photographing line play and action at some smaller schools help us capture players we never knew would make it to this level. The practice is “hit or miss,” but fun when we find that we witnessed a player before he became a “household name.” Enjoy the action of players we saw who made it to the biggest stage in all of football when they provided us with super memories during their college football careers.

Super Memories of Kansas City Chiefs

Saw KC RB Isaiah Pacheco in action several times for Rutgers. Here, we saw him in 2019 against Boston College.
Saw KC RB Isaiah Pacheco (1) in action several times for Rutgers. Here, we saw him in 2019 against Boston College.
In 2015, we watched a very super memory as Georgia Tech's Harrison Butker converted a 35-yard FG with 54 seconds left to tie No. 9 Florida State, 16-16. Tech defeated FSU on a blocked FG to win as time expired.
In 2015, we recorded a very super memory. Georgia Tech’s Harrison Butker converted a 35-yard FG here with 54 seconds left to tie No. 9 Florida State, 16-16. Tech defeated FSU on a blocked FG to win this game as time expired.
Stanford Soph Safety Justin Reid (8) on right, takes an angle to make a stop against Cal Bears in their 2016 win in The Big Game.
Stanford Soph Safety Justin Reid (8) takes an angle to make a stop. The Cardinal defeated the Cal in their 2016 edition of The Big Game.
In his sixth season in the pros, WR Marquez Valdes-Scathing (11) provided blocking for Marion Mack here for South Florida against Temple in 2016.
In his sixth season in the pros, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) provided blocking for RB Marion Mack. Here, South Florida faced Temple at Lincoln Financial Field in 2016. The No. 19 USF Bulls fell to the Owls this evening, 46-30.
As a redshirt freshman, KC Center Creed Humphrey (56) can be seen here blocking for Kyler Murray here in the 2017 CFP semi-finals against Alabama. On Sunday he will be blocking for Patrick Mahomes once again in the Super Bowl.
As a redshirt freshman, Oklahoma C Creed Humphrey (56) can be seen here blocking for Kyler Murray. Here, his Sooners fell in the 2018 CFP semi-finals against Alabama. On Sunday, he will be blocking for Patrick Mahomes once again in the Super Bowl.
Never envisioned this one. Army LB Cole Christiansen (54) and fellow Cadets put a stop here against Navy in 2018. He's now on the Chiefs active roster in the Super Bowl.
Army LB Cole Christiansen (54) and fellow Cadets put a stop here against Navy in 2018. Army prevailed, 17-10. He’s now on the Chiefs’ active roster for his second Super Bowl as of January 17. Begs the question from him, what’s bigger – beating Navy or winning Super Bowl?

Super Memories of San Francisco 49ers

Stanford RB Christian McCaffrey (5) added his 90-yard touchdown explosion here against Cal in 2016. He made up for his earlier absence during this particular season when he missed the Notre Dame game his team also won in South Bend.
Stanford RB Christian McCaffrey (5) added this 90-yard touchdown explosion here against Cal in 2016. He made up for his earlier absence during this particular season when he missed the Notre Dame game we attended due to injury. His team also won that one in South Bend.
Gamecock WR Deebo Samuel (1), seen here against Vandy in 2018, is heralded now as the 49ers primary offensive weapon this season.
South Carolina Gamecock WR Deebo Samuel (1), here against Vandy in 2018, is heralded now as a primary offensive weapon in the NFL.
Gamecock DT Javon Kinlaw (3) who also saw action versus Vandy that day will be right in the middle of things on Super Bowl Sunday.
Gamecock DT Javon Kinlaw (3) also saw action versus Vandy that day. He will be right in the middle of things on Super Bowl Sunday.
CB Chardinius Ward (2) steps in as one of four former Middle Tennessee players in this year's Super Bowl. He's the only one on the 49ers. Two years ago, he won playing for KC. Here we saw him in action against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2017.
CB Charvarius Ward (2) steps in as one of four former Middle Tennessee players in this year’s Super Bowl. He’s the only one on the 49ers. Two years ago, he won it playing for KC. Here we saw him in action against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2017.
Clemson WR Ray-Ray McCloud after a catch in the 2017 upset to Syracuse. He went pro after his Junior season with 49 catches, 505 yards, and one TD. He's catching passes from Patrick Mahomes now.
Clemson WR Ray-Ray McCloud after a catch in the 2017 upset loss to Syracuse. Super Memory for us, not him. He went pro after his junior season with 49 catches, 505 yards, and one TD. He’s catching passes from Brock Purdy now.
Penn State Kevin Givens (30) zeros in on Maryland QB in 2018 in PSU win over Terps. In his fourth year for the 49ers, he'll need to apply pressure on Patrick Mahomes this Sunday, a much tougher chore.
Penn State DE Kevin Givens (30) zeros in on Maryland QB in 2018 in PSU win. In his fourth year for the 49ers, he’ll need to apply pressure on Patrick Mahomes this Sunday, a much tougher chore.

All photos by Steve Koreivo, ed. Member of Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).

Who is the NCAA? Answer: 134 members with Football Programs who approved NIL policy

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Lebanon, TN – Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY Network’s SEC Columnist, delivered an informative column regarding the current angst between the NCAA and the University of Tennessee regarding alleged violations of NIL Policy.  His January 31 article, “I have no sympathy for NCAA, but not much for Tennessee Vols, either. Both asked for this.” We agree. And this is most likely a testing ground for the NCAA before it starts to consider violations among other members. 

There’s an irritating aspect of this entire, pre-fabricated witch hunt and why it’s a waste of time.  The NCAA consists of all the members of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).  They not only abide by the current terms, but they formulated and approved the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) policy. In the meantime, the membership also started lobbying their local state governments. They wanted to protect their fiefdoms from any possible NCAA violations.  States arbitrarily passed new laws to eventually do so.

NIL? Collectives? News to me

In doing research for my book released last October, Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly, the ugliness of college football truly exposed itself to me. My curiosity piqued when I conversed with some fans of a major powerhouse on a shuttle bus back to the parking lot after a game.  In nonchalant conversation, they said how the school administration invited season ticket holders/boosters to on-campus presentations.  The admin proposed that they each donate $25,000 to the NIL fund being run by their “collective.” If they met a designated financial goal, two Fortune 500 companies would each donate one million dollars to the collective’s NIL fund.

Right to my sources

I approached several collectives and athletic departments of institutions of higher learning directly about explaining how this NIL policy could not violate “pay for play” violations. They basically crawled into their shells.  All are FBS members or affiliated with them. One private school collective rep was very open about the policies. With minimal direct state government ties, the former player discussed the policy as openly as I could respect. I sent him my final notes, and he was fine about what I had written. We discussed basically how their collective would operate. After results of further analysis, I determined to keep him and his school anonymous in Fifty Years along with the others I approached.

Narrower collective focus

My second discussion with a collective from a Group of Five school went differently. I could tell my questioning didn’t go well with him.  Like the first contact, I sent him my proposed verbiage to use in the book.  After his review, he insisted not to use his name.  As a former player, he felt I was anti-player. He surmised I was totally against players not making any income off their Names, Images and Likenesses.  It was a tough line of questioning I admit.  I derived that skill from my career as a Purchasing Manager. However, I was seeing the perspective better from the players’ side. 

On the other hand, my further research indicated an excess of what he talked about and what I thought it would be. I agreed to abide by with his wish. However, in my parting email, I asked if he felt Power Five teams with more money in their NILs would poach his school’s players.  I never got a response to that.

Who’s keeping an eye on NIL compliance?

I realized my most pressing question still needed to be answered. I targeted to interview an NIL compliance officer at some school, any school. Another program with which I have some pretty good ties to just avoided me after I spoke to my primary contact.  At another, a terse and telling message came from the compliance officer. Through my contact there, I was told the manager refused to talk to me.  I was told that their job regarding compliance meant being sure that the collectives were “in compliance with their state laws.”  That said everything to me. The NIL policy released by the NCAA triggered all the state schools to start enlisting their lobbyists to protect them from any future infractions.  Through third parties known as collectives, states started buffering legal protection against NCAA violations. Recruiting was about to become a free-for-all.  

Built-in Loopholes

As researched online and reported in my book, the “Do’s and Don’ts of NILs” stipulate rules to be followed by schools, members of the NCAA, and potential student athletes. I assumed high school recruits only. Who is not specifically mentioned among these creative rules and regulations are specifically “collectives.” Such third parties strategically formed outside the jurisdictions of the schools themselves. Evidently, the limitation for them to offer such opportunities to potential student-athletes left the door wide open for the new transfer portal policy.  If that was intentionally done or just an oversight, it doesn’t matter anymore.  It’s happening, and no one is stopping it. Last summer, some coaches made statements that their current players were approached. Nobody, however, named the accused.

 As addressed in one of my book’s closing essays, “Vision of the Future,” I venture why the NCAA membership wants to do this. In my final essay, “For the Love of the Game,” I offer some solutions. My objective is to find happy mediums among schools, players and fans.  If there is no turning back these policies with such little thought regarding implications or necessary controls (here, I interject,” supposedly”) to build more fairness rather than less for 134 FBS members, we could lose our great, national pastime.

NIL – only the beginning of losing legal battles for the NCAA

As Toppmeyer summarizes at the end of his article, “(University of Tennessee Chancellor Donde) Plowman wrote to (NCAA President Charlie) Baker, the NCAA lacks credibility. The association’s pleas for congressional help in the areas of antitrust and NIL fell on deaf ears, and the courts stand ready to hand a toothless NCAA its next crippling defeat.” The University of Tennessee and 133 other FBS members make up the NCAA. The schools put the NCAA exactly where they wanted them.  More steps yet to come for what the major universities want.  It falls in line with the entire scheme I propose in Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly. Emphasis on the word “ugly” here, of course.

-Steve Koreivo, ed.  Member of the Football Writers Association of America

Tennessee races into Nissan Stadium for the Music City Bowl of 2021. Last season we saw them open their season here again against Virginia.
Tennessee races into Nissan Stadium for the 2021 Music City Bowl. Last season, we saw them open their season here again against Virginia.

Ohio State loading up at quarterback in transfer portal: Where do they go from here?

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Columbus, Ohio – According to Colin Gay’s online article in the Columbus Dispatch on January 21, 2024, “Ohio State adds 2024 5-star quarterback Julian Sayin through transfer portal from Alabama,” Sayin becomes at least the fifth quarterback on the Buckeye roster. What the article fails to address, however, are guesses as to which among them will still be around after the next opening of the transfer portal following spring practice sessions. Check out the credentials among these potential Buckeye QBs:

  • Sayin arrives as a former five-star QB who signed with Bama and left after Nick Saban’s retirement. Four-star Washington QB Austin Mack followed coach Kalen DeBoer to roll The Tide.
  • Former Kansas State starting quarterback Will Howard already transferred to Columbus after the 2023 season. He only has one year of eligibility remaining.
  • Redshirt sophomore Devin Brown has been waiting in the wings after Kyle McCord transferred and an injury removed him at the start of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at the end of 2023.
  • Redshirt freshman Lincoln Kienholz played quarterback in the Cotton Bowl to replace Brown in the loss to Missouri.
  • Freshman Air Noland landed at Ohio State ranked as the No. 4 high school quarterback in the 2024 class per 247Sports’ composite rankings.

QB coach moving in; quarterback moving out.

Surely to attain such talent, on January 19, OSU Head Coach Ryan Day announced the hiring of former Alabama offensive coordinator and the former New England quarterback mentor of Tom Brady, Bill O’Brien. However, there’s a fine line when it comes to starting at quarterback at Ohio State. Last year’s starter, Kyle McCord threw for 3,776 yards, 24 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. The 30-24 loss to Michigan in the traditional, annual rivalry probably sealed McCord’s career in Columbus as they fell from College Football Playoff contention. On a potential scoring drive, McCord threw an interception with seconds left.  With one year of eligibility remaining, he took the portal to Syracuse. Good luck to him.

All for one? One for all?

Lots of quarterback talent at Ohio State, but do any have the patience to sit the bench in 2024 if not beyond? With more NIL money than the national defense budget being thrown around and the transfer portal enticing players, especially quarterbacks, from among top Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs, does Ohio State figure all this talent will stick around?  Who would wait for an injury or a transfer by the quarterback who stands atop the depth chart at the end of spring camp? No one! Commitment, loyalty and teamwork were written off by all members of the NCAA membership. There’s no more of giving “the old college try.” Ha! No such thing anymore.  The new message is if you can’t start, feel free to play for someone else. And if things don’t work out the first time, go play somewhere else.

If your coach leaves, quit and follow him, if he’ll have you. Leave all the teammates behind who relied on you.  Of course, they’re also planning on leaving to join this new wide-open world of free agency. Not that there’s any guarantee that another FBS program is interested.  And does anybody care, even the NCAA, if the players get college educations anymore?  Why should they? With all this NIL money, they’re probably all set for life doing television commercials, right?  Hopefully, they make the big bucks quickly because there will certainly be some other fresh, pretty images entering the market right behind them. Without that old “sheepskin,” it’s unsure what the name, image or likeness will be worth without it.

Spring fling?

Look for the real quarterback bidding war to start after spring football camp breaks in Columbus, Ohio. Five QBs will eyeball the final depth chart. Figure three of them probably seek playing time elsewhere.

Steve Koreivo, ed. – Member of Football Writers Association of America

In 2016 in a much simpler time, JT Barrett played quarterback for Ohio State when others like Joe Burrow rode the bench. That won't be happening anymore.
In 2016 during a much simpler time, junior JT Barrett played quarterback for Ohio State when others like freshman Dwayne Haskins and redshirt freshman Joe Burrow both rode the bench. With NILs and the current transfer portal, that won’t be happening any longer.

  

Sign of college football future: NCAA gives player ninth year of eligibility

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Miami, Florida – The NCAA granted Miami Hurricane TE Cam McCormick a ninth year of eligibility to play football in 2024. We admire Cam’s fortitude and persistence. Austin Cartwright reports about this initially in his January 18 article in USA Today Network. Please read his article by clicking here. This writer of “Steveo’s Salvos” can identify with the player’s feelings. Having sat out after a transfer (for struggling with calculus at my first school, a D1 for which I did not play), practicing a season while ineligible to play at the DIII level, and suffering an ACL/meniscus injury in spring club lacrosse in the mid-’70s to give me one season left to play football, I can relate to his desire to continue to play.

However, with no scholarships at that level and no more extended waivers, there was no option for me to stay just to play football. I can understand his feelings. I still wanted to play on the team if I could. However, questions remain here primarily regarding NCAA policy today affecting playing eligibility.

Oregon Duck

McCormick was a three-star pick back in 2016 selecting to start at the University of Oregon. He red-shirted for 2016 season for contracting rhabdomyolysis after a strenuous offseason workout. This occurs when “damaged muscle tissue releases its proteins and electrolytes into the blood.” It can be fatal. According to USA Today Network’s article, he broke his left ankle in 2018. The severity of the injury put him out of action through the 2020 season. Upon return for the Ducks in 2021, he tore his right Achilles tendon in the second game. With Oregon Head Coach Mario Cristobal moving on to Miami, McCormick followed him. He played for the Hurricanes in 2022, and caught ten passes for 66 yards and three TDs. In 2023, he caught eight passes for 62 yards. He applied for two more seasons of eligibility even before he transferred to Miami. The NCAA granted him both.

Last time we attended a Miami Hurricane football game. They fell to Boston College 27-14. The good old days when players eligibility maxed out at five years and a new class of high school recruits came on board - not a slew of transfers.
Last time we attended a Miami Hurricane football game, they fell to Boston College, 27-14. The good old days when players’ eligibility maxed out at five years and a new class of high school recruits came on board – not a slew of transfers.

Upon further review of eligibility

To Cam McCormick’s credit, despite his injury and sitting out more two seasons as a result, he got his bachelor’s degree at Oregon. In addition, he not only got is bachelor’s in advertising, he got his Master’s degree at Oregon in June 2022 as shown here on X, formerly known as Twitter. Now this is what college football is supposed to be about. As a student-athlete took advantage of his football ability to get not only one degree, but two! He achieved thus despite his football injuries. Cam will turn 26 in April. In 2023, the Miami roster indicates that he is a redshirt senior. Academically, he’s beyond a graduate student.

With his personal stats and physical history, it seems likely that pro football is not where he’s headed. Is he at risk re-injuring himself? And if he does, will he be granted a tenth year? At some point, Cam’s going to have to move on to a new career he’s qualified for. If he’s as dedicated and persistent to his career as he’s demonstrated for football, he’ll go places however he decides to build on his studies.

Time to move on?

He’s got two degrees after eight years of college. At this point, how can anyone justify a ninth year of college football playing eligibility. Is he getting a ninth season of scholarship money for playing football? If so, is what degree is he currently studying for? Shouldn’t he, the school and the NCAA decide it’s time to give some other deserving student-athlete coming out of high school to start working on his future? Cam McCormick has made great decisions to get to where he is today. However, I have bigger concern regarding the NCAA’s waiver decision in this matter. You can read it about it in my recently released book, Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly, now available through my Author page on Amazon.com.

Alternative NCAA motive?

The NCAA seems to be testing the waters to see how long they can offer waivers to athletes in order to retain them for a longer-term goal. Can they possibly be looking to employ recruited student-athletes as full-time employees after eligibility just to play football? In particular, do they desire to compete financially with the NFL? They seem close to getting there any time now. They possibly desire to retain such employees will help them maintain the success of their product on the field. Why? Possibly, to raise more money, but not just to fund their athletic departments. NCAA members and colleges in general now seem to seek to fund other agendas, some worthwhile and some for very political objectives.

Hidden Eligibility Agenda

You can read more about this in my book. It’s an agenda that is already well underway. This seems like an ongoing a move in testing the waters – first a sixth year of eligibility for Covid. Now, can they get seven, eight and nine years based on waivers to retain more talent? Evidently, yes. If they can keep the talent recruited beyond four or five years and eventually to employ them, there’s no turning back. A good number of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools in newly aligned super conferences will build on their Saturday TV monopolization. The NFL now owns Sundays to the tune of $18 billion annually.

A certain faction of Institutions of Higher Learning is already testing the waters for a comparable benefit. They already have a solid infrastructure through the media contracts, large stadiums, and major alumni funding (de facto ownership) in place. Be ready for super conference members to leave the NCAA sooner than anyone could imagine. Get Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales for more details. The plan is already in place.

Steve Koreivo- ed.

“Steveo’s Salvos,” Jan. 8, 2023: Our CFP pick is in

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Before the start of Bowl season, we picked Michigan to defeat Washington in tonight’s game. However, after much reflection since, we’ve reversed our decision. We are going with Washington primarily because of QB Michael Penix, Jr. He just has a knack to win. He’s done it for UW, and we’ve seen him do it before.

Still questionable to this date, he broke our hearts in the opener of the Covid-limited 2020 season playing for Indiana. He officially scored past the left pylon on a dive to defeat Penn State, 36-35. IU finished the abbreviated season, 5-2. They defeated Michigan, but lost to Ohio State State, 42-25, and to Ole Miss in The Outback Bowl, 26-20. For Indiana, consider the result a great season. With Penix at QB, the averaged 28.9 points per game. From 2018-2021, in 16 games started for the Hoosiers, they won 11 of those games. Injuries shortened those seasons for him. In games not started by him, IU finished 5-12.

Penix in action

Indiana visited Western Kentucky in 2021. They came in at 1-2 against the Hilltoppers (1-1) who featured QB Bailey Zappe at QB who set and NCAA passing yard mark that season. WKU finished 9-5 that season and Zappe got drafted by the New England Patriots. We attended this rarity at Houchen-Smith LTD Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky. A Power Five visited a Group of Five. Penix got the Hoosiers off to a fast 14-0 lead. He completed 34 of 53 passes for 373 yards and two TDs. He snuck in for another. WKU mounted a comeback , but in the end, the visitors triumphed, 33-31.

Michael Penix Jr. (9) seen in action for Indiana in 33-31 win over Western Kentucky in 2021.
Michael Penix Jr. (9) seen in action for Indiana in 33-31 win over Western Kentucky in 2021.

Husky musher

A week later Penix got injured against Penn State and missed the rest of the 2021 season. In December, he transferred to Washington. In 2021, the Huskies had finished 4-8. After Penix arrived, he led them to an 11-2 record. The Huskies averaged 38.7 a game offensively compared to 21.5 the season before. Two losses came at UCLA and Arizona State respectively by eight and seven points. UW defeated strong Oregon on the road, 37-34, and defeated Texas in the Alamo Bowl, 27-20.

Penix has a knack for winning

In 2023, Washington has never looked back since the previous season finishing at No, 2 with a 14-0 record. Averaging 37.6 ppg, they defeated ranked teams along the way including Arizona, Oregon (twice) and Texas in the CFP Sugar Bowl. Seven games were won by one touchdown or less. Michigan has a tough defense allowing just over ten points per game. They held nine opponents to 10 points or less. In the last three of four starts against the likes of Maryland, Ohio State and Alabama, the Wolverines gave up 22 ppg. The Huskies have a good offensive line, good receivers in Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk. In our view, Penix gives Washington the edge. In a close one, he’ll find a way to win it. He always has.

Michigan RB Blake Corum (2) will be the key offensive weapon for the No. ! Wolverines this evening.
Michigan RB Blake Corum (2) will be the key offensive weapon for the No. 1 Wolverines this evening.

“Steveo’s Salvos,” January 3, 2024: Nick Saban may be a G.O.A.T., but as something other than “Coach”

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Among social media sites since the 27-20 Alabama OT loss to Michigan in the CFP on Monday night, many fans question the final play call by Nick Saban of Alabama following a time-out before Jalen Milroe took a header into the teeth of Michigan’s strong defense to end the game. 

Many consider Saban the G.O.A.T, that is greatest college football coach of all time. In Saban’s 16 years as Head Coach at Alabama, his record overall is an outstanding 201-29. Overall, his record as a head coach now stands at 292-71-1. Also, he’s won six NCAA Division 1 National Championships.  Impressive for sure. However, for the final games among all those seasons, his stands at 9-7.  What does that indicate?

Saban career in review

Consider this:  Saban coached successful programs as head coach at Michigan State and LSU before he took the helm at Alabama.  After coaching those two programs, he spent eight seasons in the NFL. The first six as an assistant before becoming head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2005-2006.   He absorbed great experience. He learned a lot both with college programs and in the pros before joining Alabama. However, at Miami, he recorded a record of only 15-17 with the NFL Dolphins.  There were some issues with personnel supposedly. He denied to the press that he was going to leave the Dolphins and go to Alabama.  However, shortly after denial, he signed on with the Crimson Tide.

Nick Saban right in his "comfort zone" surrounded by players and admirere at bryant -denny before bfacing teh Utah State Aggies in their 55-0 slaughter. The Roman Coliseum of the millenium.
Nick Saban right in his “comfort zone” surrounded by players and admirers at Bryant-Denny before facing the Utah State Aggies in their 55-0 slaughter. Emporers in the Roman Coliseum must have felt the same way.

Multi-tasking required

Coaching football requires many skills at both the collegiate and pro levels.  Common ones are building a team, hiring good assistant coaches, developing player skills, formulating game plans, and executing an effective strategy for 60 minutes in every contest.  The major differences at the collegiate level: a coach can determine some of the level of competition one can schedule to play.  Of course, this includes playing against conference foes obligated to play within a particular season. The other one – how you select the talent to make your team successful.

Pro slates

In the NFL, based on where teams finish in the final standings, schedules for all teams become pre-determined. Schedules are prioritized based on where a team finishes. Balanced schedules are assigned based on where other teams finish, from top to bottom, outside the division.  Basically, to make it possible for every team to compete as equally as possible, each team gets a slate fairly equivalent to meet teams close in recent past success. Also every season, half of the games are scheduled on the road and half are at home. Makes it fair to all competing organizations and their fans.

Talent allocation

The biggest difference between collegiate and professional talent dispersion, however, is how coaches acquire their talent.  In the pros, each starts with a draft based on the order how all 32 teams finished the previous season.  Teams draft in a pre-determined order, make trades, and sign free agents after the draft and during the course of the season if and when necessary.  By the start of every season, each team selects 53 active players to be on their roster. Again, everything is done to equalize every team’s chance every season for possible success – truly leveling the playing field as much as possible.  Of course, this doesn’t work out this way.  Some organizations with their coaches’ inputs are better than others at evaluating, developing and coaching talent than are others. That’s business.

Saban: Greatest what?

The point here is, when coaching in the pros, where the playing field is virtually level, Nick Saban’s coaching skills didn’t result in positive results. Greatest “coach?”  Sounds more like, “when the going gets tough – quit!” Bad message.  When it comes to building a college football team, recruiting players is a free-for-all. How can each program attract the best talent? Saban ranks right at the top when it comes to doing this.  This talent recruited begats success.

Saban has talent. Devonta Smith (6) on the end of a 50-yard reception from Tua Taglivailoa on their first drive against Oklahoma in The Orange Bowl.
Saban always has talent. Devonta Smith (6) shown on the end of a 50-yard reception from Tua Tagovailoa (13) on their first drive against Oklahoma in The 2018 Orange Bowl. The previous season, QB Jalen Hurts led his team to the championship game. Thereafter, Tagovailoa led the team in a win over Georgia in the CFP title game, 26-23. Hurts stayed on the bench this season as the back-up.

Have money, will travel

In college, football programs scour the country for the best high school talent available. It’s a crapshoot. Some programs offer better opportunities than others. Some offer a chance to play in major games on TV every weekend, win championships, display skills and establish reputations to possibly make this a very high-financed career in the future. Currently, universities can now have “collectives” contact players even from other collegiate programs to transfer.

Collectives now represent football programs outside of NCAA jurisdiction. Reports indicate Saban disapproves of such pratices. A new coaching skill, however, now also includes keeping the best players happy and satisfied to stay and play for the school that offers them a scholarship to pay for their education.  Not easy any more with Name, Image, Likeness (NILs) incentives floating around.   Teams can have up to 85 players on scholarships in their FBS program.  Non-scholarship players sign as walk-ons can become available too.

Figure strengths among priorities to meet the challenges

So, college coaching requires: talents such as salesmanship to get players; player development done at practice and physical training during the course of a year; a strategic game plan to defeat the upcoming opponent; and an effective tactical plan to have your team ready to execute at game time.  None of this is easy. Not all coaches among 134 Football Bowl Subdivision teams possess all the required skills to be successful.  As in any profession, some have good skill sets in most requirements However, others are better or worse for whatever reason.  In the end, every head coach and their staff strive to win more games than they lose. Otherwise they’re looking for another coaching position or an entirely different profession. The heat is always on.  The media always likes to stir things up in a pressure cooker when a coach is “on the hot seat!”

Coaching skills: Pros vs college

Nick Saban evidently has the skills, and the smarts, to take advantage of the options college football allows him to do that the pros wouldn’t. That’s probably the real reason he left the Dolphins. No doubt, he has a reputation and skill sets to attract the best talent with relatively minimal effort to come play for his team in Tuscaloosa.  His great success starts here.  The best players want to go to Alabama to play for him, and he picks and chooses who he wants.  Times are changing however; these players are no longer going to sit the bench a few years and wait for an opportunity to play. 

Caveat: coaching success doesn’t guarantee player commitment

Saban is somewhat to blame for this attitude.  Look how he won the 2018 national championship with Jalen Hurts as quarterback. Then, he sat him down for a year behind Tua Tagovailoa to give him impetus to transfer to Oklahoma. Great for Saban’s status, but what about for his dedicated player? Aren’t the games supposed to be for the players?  Too much talent waiting in the wings is no longer a viable coaching strategy in the college ranks.  Even Alabama’s success does not guarantee any player’s staying to play at one school for four years anymore.

Back to the Future

Look back on Sunday night and Nick Saban’s 9-7 record in season-ending games that Paul Finebaum must not remember.  The coach’s recruiting prowess and reputation started most of his seasons off with the best talent.  Foes in his conference and those he scheduled outside the SEC slate don’t have the same aura to attract as much talent to compete with the Alabama Crimson Tide under Saban.  He developed his most talented recruits to play better.  He hired experienced assistant coaches like Bill O’Brien, Steve Sarkasian, and Lane Kiffin, all former head coaches, to be his primary assistants.

Check out Bamas’s football budget compared to the teams he plays against.  His team could generally dominate their way with his resources to the top every season. No doubt, he’s a smart man who understands his strengths and other teams’ weaknesses.  Let’s look at 2023 as a microcosm for Saban’s success over 16 years at Alabama.  Harbaugh was not the only mentor he faced who outcoached him.

Other coaches learn from the best, Nick Saban

Harbaugh, like Saban, went on a crusade to compete for the best talent wherever available.  Both recruit nation-wide. They even take trips to Hawaii and Australia to bring the greatest talents they can find to their campuses. If there was word of some behemoth teenager roaming the Himalayas, these guys would go recruit him.  Peruse their current rosters. The longevity of their coaching careers depends on such talent bringing them wins, prestige and a lot of money. Not to say that’s wrong, but that’s just reality. In our society, to the victors go the spoils!

And in previous seasons prior to 2023, other football programs matched Alabama’s talent level as well.  In the end many resulted in great battles. Programs under head coaches who recruited similar talent to Saban started on a more equal talent level than most teams The Tide faced during regular seasons. Consider Urban Meyer at Utah in 2008 and at Ohio State in 2014; Bob Stoops at Oklahoma in 2013; Dabo Swinney at Clemson in 2016 and 2018; Kirby Smart at UGA in 2021; and now Jim Harbaugh in 2023.  With equal talent, how else do you explain losses in these match-ups other than Saban got out-coached?

Alabama’s 2023 season in review

In their 2023 opener, the Tide massacred eventual 4-8 Middle Tennessee, 56-7. The Blue Raiders never attracted the volume of talent nor level of talent to Murfreesboro to match The Crimson Tide.  Usually, Saban opens at a neutral site (Atlanta or Arlington, TX) against a program whose successful QB moved on to the pros since the previous season. Check out games in 2018 after Lamar Jackson left Louisville and in 2019 after Daniel Jones left Duke. This smoke and mirrors tactic seemed to always get by his supporters in the media.    A week later at Alabama, his team fell to improving Texas, 34-24, with QB Quin Ewers remaining healthy throughout the entire contest.  In 2022, things took a turn for the worse for Texas. Ewers went out injured with a lead to eventually lose to Bama. 

Shockingly difficult win

A week later, the media including Paul Finebaum, went into a panic. The Tide went to Tampa and only beat South Florida, 17-3.  Questions arose regarding Saban’s coaching capabilities. I questioned why Saban even scheduled an actual road game against USF.  I figured maybe he considered Raymond James Stadium as a neutral site like many other non-conference games he’s scheduled over the years.  Last time his team actually played a non-conf on a campus was at Penn State in 2011. So much for his early season non-conference scheduling prowess.  Like stated previously, he’s a smart man, no doubt.

Looking at Austin Peay's football facility here, the difference compared to Bryant-Denny Stadium is remarkable!
Looking at Austin Peay’s football facility here, the difference compared to Bryant-Denny Stadium is remarkable! Bama defeated UT Chattanooga in 2023, but in 2022, Austin Peay played in the FCS victim at Tuscaloosa in 2022.

Annual Alabama SEC wins as usual

Despite these early shortcomings in 2023, wins over the two Mississippi schools in the SEC West seemed to put him back on the right track with Paul Finebaum and the rest of the media. A six-point win over eventual 6-6 Texas A&M and a three-point win over eventual 4-8 Arkansas didn’t lend much cause for concern later in the season.  The Tide handled Tennessee of the east SEC as they traditionally do the following week.  After that, reports in the media prior to the Michigan game started to note that the next five games really showed improvement to boost Bama into the CFP mix. They did defeat always tough and talented SEC West foe LSU the following week, always a significant challenge annually. However, they annihilated 7-5 and suspect Kentucky the following week, 49-21, par for the traditional course over the dominant SEC basketball school.

Saban’s team improving?

The next two wins present major questions pertaining to the supposed improvement of Bama over the last five weeks of the season.  They thrashed FCS UT Chattanooga, 66-10. The media insinuated that the Tide improved greatly since that loss to Texas earlier in the season.  Really?  Would the result of these two games been any different had UTC been the second game on Alabama’s schedule and Texas as the tenth team instead?  Bama playing FCS schools annually to benefit the lower program’s finances is a farce.

These issues need to be addressed – pronto!

I have a better idea of how FBS programs can support FCS programs financially in my book, Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly. As a matter of fact, I dissect scheduling solutions, transfer portals, NILs, and other factors used in manipulating ratings with solutions to level the playing fields among FBS programs. The details are in my analysis of how college football can be improved to make more programs more competitive.  Please check out reviews on the book page and link to buy my book on Amazon.com.

Under the rug

The next game won irked me even more though because the media just shoved this one under the rug.  In their traditional Iron Bowl rivalry, Saban’s Tide defeated archrival Auburn on the road, 27-24.  His QB Jalen Milroe pulled this off with a fourth and goal TD pass from the 31 to win with 32 seconds remaining.  Ok, great win over their big in-state rival.  Prior to Michigan game, I heard no one in the media refer to 6-6 Auburns’ loss the previous week at home to New Mexico State, 31-10.  SEC schools schedule games like that to pad records.  The media hyped Alabama’s improvement over the last five games based on wins over FCS UTC and downtrodden Auburn?

Auburn, Schmauburn

And based on my long-term connections, Auburn is my favorite SEC team. Florida State defeated more power five programs than NMSU did.  To add fuel to my fire, I attended the Music City Bowl here in Nashville. Maryland QB Talia Tagovailoa opted out for the game.  The Terps had two inexperienced QBs play against Auburn.  At the end of the first period, they lead Auburn, 21-0, on their way to a 31-13 win.  Bama’s victory over Auburn was a struggle against a very mediocre team in 2023. Yet, the media includes this among proof of Alabama’s improvement late in the season.  Talk about “smoke and mirrors.” The media is not smart, just deceitful.   

Maryland QB Billy Edwards (9) take ball over against Auburn on the first drive for a 7-0 lead.
Maryland QB Billy Edwards (9) takes ball over against Auburn on the first drive for a 7-0 lead in this year’s Music City Bowl.

Smart learned well under Saban

In the SEC Championship, The Tide defeated East Division champ Georgia, 27-24.  Great win. The Tide did what they had to do.  What I will say about UGA, however, as an assistant under Nick Saban at Alabama, Kirby Smart was smart enough to learn under Saban. He definitely recruits at as high a level. He also schedules non-conference games in a similar manner: FCS UT Martin, Ball State, and UAB. Whacked most of SEC East with Mizzou giving them the toughest conference this season. Georgia Tech of the much-maligned ACC in 2023 even played them closer. Bama’s win put them ahead of Georgia and rightfully so.

Makes sense. Otherwise, why play the games?  Why don’t polls just rate teams after recruiting season based on potential to determine who plays for the CFP? Just joking, of course. However, many “experts” seem to put more credence into this than actual game results on the playing fields.  Reputations boost rankings.

A lesson in the new ways of college football

Don’t even tell me about that unwatchable Georgia-Florida State Orange Bowl. What a waste of time and money.  That “contest” epitomized what’s now wrong with college football.  Bowls aren’t what they used to be – rewards for stellar regular seasons. They’re now exhibition games consisting of inexperienced players replacing selfish quitters who opted out or jumped into the transfer portal after regular season ended.  In bowls, little used players now audition for next year’s squads before all the transfers come to campus lured by NIL money to take their positions. NIL money and self-preservation rank as priorities among today’s players.

Saban is the G.O.A.T. in this respect

In summary, based on Saban’s record at the pro level where he won less than 50% of his games and decided to dwell in his comfort zone where he knows how to outmaneuver his primary and selected competitors on the field, but where he gets to games where the talent level matches, his 9-7 record doesn’t exude dominance. He’s a Greatest of All-Time (G.O.A.T.) no doubt – not in gameday coaching per se, but definitely when it comes to evaluating, recruiting and attracting superior football talent.  It gets him to the top level over so many others, but when the field is leveled at the top, he shows a lesser result when it comes to game day coaching superiority.  When everything else is level in terms of his team’s talent, his coaching capability has been exposed.

As stated, he’s a smart man. Knows where he can gain advantages and that has put him at the top of college football history.  He knows how to play the pre-game process of college football more than anyone else.  That’s where he reins as G.O.A.T. Being outcoached is not new for him. That’s how this “Ant-Finebaum” sees it. If the playing field can become more level for more FBS teams during the regular season as I prescribe in my new book, maybe fewer programs would dominate like Alabama under Nick Saban, all-time recruiting leader, does today. 

Next!

We attended three bowl games this season which brought us up to 49! Will we ever plan to see a 50th? Things are up in the air. Having watched many bowl games on TV this season, are they really worth watching or even playing any more in this culture or quitters the NCAA is perpetuating? Look for more of my insight on this by Thursday morning.

Saban at a happier game when his Tide defeated Oklahoma in the CFP in 2018.
Saban at a happier semi-final game game when his Tide defeated Oklahoma in the CFP Orange Bowl in 2018.

Game 681:  Fast start by Maryland gives Auburn the blues in Music City

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Nashville, TN – The Maryland Terrapins didn’t miss starting QB TauliaTagovailoa who opted out for the Music City Bowl.  With Sophomore Billy Edwards and Freshman Cameron Edge sharing duties under center, the Terps took a 21-0 lead over Auburn in the first period.  The Maryland defense forced four turnovers, and they held the Tigers to 76 rushing yards to dominate in a 31-13 Music City victory.

Maryland (8-5) with Edwards at QB drove 75 yards on its first possession. The Sophomore led them to score in five plays taking it over himself from the two for a 7-0 lead 1:49 into the game.  Next possession, Maryland drove the same distance with Edwards tossing a five-yard TD pass to TE Preston Howard.  On the final drive of the period, Edge got into the act finishing a 76-yard drive with a three-yard TD pass to Dylan Wade.  The big play came on his 57-yard bomb to Kaden Prather to set it up to go up, 21-0.

Maryland QB Billy Edwards (9) take ball over against Auburn on the first drive for a 7-0 lead.
Maryland QB Billy Edwards (9) take ball over against Auburn on the first drive for a 7-0 lead.

Auburn breaks the ice

Heading into the second period, Auburn drove 42 yards, but turned the ball over on downs at Maryland’s 48.  The Tigers finally forced the Terps to punt and took over from their 20.  The drive finally resulted in an AU score when Payton Thorne connected with TE Brandon Frazier for a three-yard score.  The Terps retaliated. Edwards passed and ran for all the Maryland yardage to get to the Auburn 31.  With eight seconds remaining in the half, Jack Howes nailed a 44-yard field goal to give the Terps a 24-7 lead at the half.

Auburn's TE Brandon Frazier (87) sores against Maryland in the second period.
Auburn’s TE Brandon Frazier (87) scores against Maryland in the second period.

Shooting the breeze during a blow-out

My first time Guest Game Analyst, John Fanelli and I spent a lot of time during the game trading sports anecdotes from games we attended when we both lived in the New York metropolitan area.  Both retired now, we compared notes regarding our impressions with both now living in the Nashville area.  We met at the Knights of Columbus Council in Lebanon at St. Frances Cabrini Church.  As I watched the half time show, he stretched his legs under the upper deck where we sat two rows up at the 50-yard line.

I also met a woman from Nebraska sitting next to me who is a die-hard Cornhusker fan. We struck up a conversation since we found that we both have sons in the Navy.  She and her husband and friends were in town for the game and New Year’s celebrations. She looks forward to the Huskers turning the program around soon under Matt Rhule and getting back to a bowl game.  A game at Lincoln sits on of my Bucket List included in my book Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly.

I stuck around for halftime to enjoy the Maryland halftime show since this would be the final one of my season!
I stuck around for halftime to enjoy the Maryland halftime show since this would be the final one of my season!

Maryland puts Auburn away

We watched Maryland extend its lead in the third when DB Glendon Miller scored on a 44-yard pick six.  Early in the fourth, neither offense did anything.  John and I decided it was time to cross back over the Cumberland River walkway to get beers and burgers. On our way out, several loud cheers came out of Nissan Stadium.  Auburn had replaced Thorne at QB with Freshman Hank Brown from right here in Nashville.  He completed seven of nine passes for 132 yards outperforming starter Payton Thorne who tallied only 84 yards on 13 completions with one TD and one INT.

 The second loud roar came for a one-yard TD run by Jeremiah Cobb of Auburn at the end of a 66-yard drive led by Brown.  Maryland took home the Music City title, 31-13.  John and I had our burgers and beers at the Acme Feed and Seed.  We found many Auburn fans there already as well as revelers in town visiting for the New Year’s Eve celebration.

DB Glendon Mills returns interception 44 yards for a Maryland score in the third.
DB Glendon Miller returns interception 44 yards for a Maryland score in the third.

Next!

Maryland, Auburn (6-7) and Collegefootballfan.com have all completed our 2023 seasons.  For Collegefootballfan.com, we attended 26 games this season. We’ve totaled the same twice before, and exceeded it only with 27 games in 2017. Check all our records on our Milestones Page.  Starting Wednesday this week, we will publish “Steveo’s Salvos” daily here each day leading up to the CFP Championship game next Monday night between No. 1 Michigan (13-0) and No. 2 Washington (13-0).  Reports will include some 2023 season summaries; our take regarding impending changes (which we cover in the new book); offer different impressions and analysis of this season; our very early plans for next season; and our predictions leading up to the Michigan vs Washington battle.  Check us out right here! And please feel free to leave any comments or questions.

WR Kaden Prather on the end of a 57-yard pass from Edge to set up the third Maryland TD of the first quarter.
WR Kaden Prather on the end of a 57-yard pass from Cameron Edge to set up the third Maryland TD of the first quarter.