Spinning the spin

If you’re FSU, it seems it’s not enough to justify a ginormous settlement by claiming it was done out of a concern to be fiscally prudent.

Nah, you’ve got to puff that up further by conjuring the amount you’re paying in plaintiff’s attorney’s fee out of thin air.

In announcing its settlement with Erica Kinsman, a former student who alleged quarterback Jameis Winston raped her in 2012, Florida State gave a breakdown of the total financial amount.

Of the $950,000 sum, $250,000 would go to Kinsman and $700,000 to her attorneys. But that’s in dispute.

According to Kinsman’s attorneys, that breakdown represents public relations spin.

“If they’re saying, and I think they are, that the lawyers are going to get $700,000, that’s simply false,” said Baine Kerr, who represents Kinsman.

According to the settlement agreement, that breakdown of the $950,000 sum is based upon FSU’s assessment of what the amount represents.

The next line in the agreement states, “The Parties understand and agree that the foregoing representation does not necessarily reflect the actual allocation between Kinsman and her counsel.”

That is all sorts of awesome.  Anyway, why should any of us believe it’s bullshit?  After all, FSU’s been totally above board throughout this, right?

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UPDATE:  And just when I think there’s nothing left to mock, comes this:

Florida State University’s booster organization will pay most of the defense fees from a lawsuit brought by a former student who said the school failed to adequately investigate allegations that she was raped by quarterback Jameis Winston.

Seminole Boosters Chairman David Rancourt said in an email to members that the organization will pay about $1.3 million of the university’s $1.7 million legal fees. The state’s Risk Management Fund will pay the remainder and the $950,000 settlement to Erica Kinsman and her attorneys.

Sweet!

 

A little recruiting angst?

It was nice that Georgia landed a commitment from Jaden Hunter yesterday, but from reading message boards and blogs, it seems like losing Tre Nixon to Ole Miss has really shaken some fans’ confidence that Kirby Smart’s first class is going to finish, say, top three nationally.

Quality-wise, it’s a very good class right now.  But the numbers are low, at least in comparison to a lot of other highly ranked programs’.  I’ve already suggested that I expect Smart would rather leave slots on the 2016 table to have for 2017 early enrollees than fill them with reaches from this year’s class, but I’m wondering – what would the collective freak out be like if Georgia only signed 20 or 21 kids next month?

Not for love or money… well, maybe money

Phillip Fulmer, on Mark Richt’s dismissal:

“I was disappointed that he left Georgia, but at the same time this world has changed a lot. We basically have corporatized college football, which whether you want it there or not that’s where it is. The amount of dollars that are being paid to coaches, and the expectations that are out there, and the truth of it is they just get tired of you after a while.”  [Emphasis added.]

We’re at a point where a comment like that doesn’t shock the conscience.  Hell, it’s not even worthy of a halfhearted rebuttal.  Of course the bastards running college football have corporatized it.  That’s where the money is.

What’s another $200 million between friends?

With a lede like “The facilities race in college athletics shows no sign of slowing, and athletics director Jay Jacobs proposes that Auburn pick up the pace in a major way”, do you really need to read any more to know what’s coming?

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UPDATE:  Arkansas is prepared to spend $160 million on stadium renovation.

“But it’s okay it’s all Business.”

I mentioned the other day that Jim Harbaugh cut loose a commit, a move straight out of the SEC’s recruiting playbook.  Evidently, that’s just the start.

Decommit…. pic.twitter.com/lQAKijMzyW

— Rashad Weaver (@RashadWeaver) January 26, 2016

Again, how familiar sounding is that to us down here in the ruthless South?

My point here isn’t to condemn Harbaugh.  He’s simply following a path that is well trod, mainly because it’s effective.  And based on current national recruiting rankings, it’s clearly paying off.

No, I’m just amused at the silence emanating from the Big Ten, which routinely used to pat itself on the back for its superior, nobler approach to recruiting, compared with those lowlifes in the SEC.  My guess is that Ohio State’s success in recruiting and its rapid return to national prominence under Meyer quieted the critics.  All Harbaugh’s done is open his own sausage factory.  I doubt Michigan fans are going to turn their noses up at the final product.

Welcome, guys.

It’s a shame I’ve lost control of the “Mark Richt has lost control” meme.

Because Maty Mauk is tailor made for it.

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UPDATE:  Per a teammate,

The video released Monday showing Missouri’s Maty Mauk appearing to snort a line of white powder was taken two years ago and the quarterback has since addressed his drug problem…

So I guess that means Richt lost control retroactively.  Neat trick.