I wonder how many coaches agree with this sentiment.
Perhaps if players had the same degree of contractual freedom that coaches do, you might see transfers moving for the same reason.
Daily Archives: April 17, 2017
The SEC and “it just means more”
Filed under SEC Football
Sit down.
Bill King does some digging on the new seat cushion policy at Sanford Stadium — you didn’t know there was one, did you? — and discovers that what used to work don’t work no more.
… the policy also includes new rules about what sort of seat cushion you can carry into the stadium. Unfortunately, information emanating from the athletic department had been a bit unclear on just what that means.
On the official website, the initial announcement said: “Seat cushions — without arms or pockets — will still be permitted into the venues.” And, in the downloadable PDF linked to on the official site, it said the banned attributes included “arm rests and any large traditional seat cushions that have pockets, zippers, compartments or covers.”
However, in the latest Bulldog Monthly fan email, it said seat cushions must be “without arms, backs, or pockets.
So, are seat cushions with backs no longer allowed?
I put that question this week to Matt Brachowski, associate athletic director for event management, who clarified: “Seats with backs are no longer permitted.”
Sucks for those of you who have those nice Bulldog emblazoned seats with backs you’ve been bringing to the games for years. I’m sure you can find another use for them.
Bill goes on to note that “some cynical folks might see that as an attempt to push more fans into paying for the installation of those official seat backs that the athletic department peddles”, but since I’m trying to present a happier face for some of you who’ve been complaining about my negativity in the comments section of late, I’ll just say that thought never crossed my mind.
Besides, real Dawg fans don’t need seat backs, anyway, amirite?
Filed under Georgia Football
Sometimes, playing to a draw is okay.
If you’re looking for straws to grasp/tea leaves to read from Georgia’s spring, then this comment from Smart about what he observed in the last scrimmage should be food for thought:
Smart said he was “pleased” overall with the scrimmage. He indicated it was a split between the offense and defense: “It was the first scrimmage since I’ve been there that I thought both sides of the ball did some things well. … Neither side really dominated. I can honestly say that. It was a very competitive battle.”
If that’s because the defense is improving, that’s a good sign. Maybe that’s the case, judging from this.
Regarding the defense, he remained happier than he had been the first 3-plus weeks of the spring. Not ecstatic, but things are moving in a better direction. “Thursday was much better. And today, I can’t say that we dominated defensively out there. We certainly made some good plays. There were a lot of good hits, spirits, run to the ball. I mean when you’ve got good backs there’s going to be missed tackles. When you’ve got a quarterback that can make some throws, there are going to be some 1-on-1 battles outside that you just don’t win. But I was just very encouraged how hard they played.”
He’s got first team going against first team, which is my preference, both in the scrimmage and on G-Day. I’d rather see the competition between the two than watch the first stringers beat up on the backups, not to mention it’s got to be a better way to evaluate player improvement.
Filed under Georgia Football
They got everything they need, almost…
Generally when you hear that the NCAA is trying to block a request to depose school officials, it’s likely it’s from a fear that amusement will ensue, and that appears to be the case with the Alston litigation that Berman and Kessler are directing.
Friday’s filing pertains to a dispute over the plaintiffs’ request to depose five university officials, including Burke, who were interviewed by a defense expert as part the expert’s compilation of a report in the case. The NCAA and the conferences maintain that the plaintiffs are entitled to notes of the expert’s interviews with the five officials and a deposition of the expert, but they should not be allowed to depose the officials.
The expert, Kenneth Elzinga, covered a wide range of topics with Burke, according to the seven pages of notes from that interview, which say it was conducted Feb. 22 at Purdue in the presence of two attorneys from the law firm representing the Big Ten Conference in the case and an attorney from Purdue’s office of legal counsel.
Among them:
“ … MB said that one can already see what the effect of changing the current model of student-athletics would be on this group. If the model were changed to a more professionalized version, the members of the John Purdue Club [the athletics department’s fundraising arm] would cut back in their giving and their level of interest in intercollegiate sports. ‘They see how much we’re getting from our media contracts and that the university is taking a cut,’ MB said. They ask him, ‘why are you asking us? You’ve got money.’
“Member [sic] of the John Purdue Club would not like the money going into athletes’ pockets beyond the cost of their attendance at Purdue. Some donors already are concerned about the level of services Purdue provides its student-athletes. MB and his colleagues have to explain why the services are appropriate. He believes that if he didn’t have those conversations, donors might act unilaterally and reduce the amount of money they give.”
This is, to put a word on it, hilarious. Fat cat donors who are already reluctant to give to the athletic department because it’s pulling in lots of Big Ten Network money are grumbling about what the school is currently shelling out to make student-athletes consider enrolling there and the school’s athletic director thinks that if those resources are redirected in the form of direct payments to the kids as opposed to the current direction of spending on staffing and infrastructure, it’s going to lead to a donor revolt.
I mean, let’s face it — when has a booster ever wanted to put money directly in a kid’s pocket? That’s unheard of.
He should be a real blast under oath.
Comments Off on They got everything they need, almost…
Filed under It's Just Bidness, See You In Court, The NCAA
“We didn’t come to paint.”® It just turned out that way.
I’ve got no idea why Bobby Petrino banned media coverage of Louisville’s spring game (paranoia? general dickishness? — you got me), but one local station had a good time mocking him for it.
Petrino will get back at them, no doubt. Next year, you’ll be able to attend the spring game. You just won’t be able to watch it from the stands.
(h/t)
Filed under Fall and Rise of Bobby Petrino
Get The Picture 