If the sponsor cancels a bowl game, does a player who skipped it to prepare for the NFL draft still disappoint his teammates, coaches and fans?
Daily Archives: December 26, 2018
“. . . Jim’s very well-compensated, yes, but he’s worth every penny.”
In my next life, if I can’t come back as an athletic director at a P5 program, I think I can settle for being the guy who runs “… a second-tier college football postseason game featuring third-place teams”.
The hefty paychecks enjoyed by bowl bosses long have been viewed by economists as a sign of exploitation in a sport played by amateurs. But even among this coterie of well-paid executives, McVay’s compensation — $1,045,000 in 2017, according to the bowl’s most recent tax filing — ranks as extreme, according to a review of bowl financial records and interviews with industry experts.
McVay, a former Buccaneers marketing executive and uncle to Los Angeles Rams Coach Sean McVay, was the highest-paid bowl executive in the country in 2017, the most recent year financial records are available, even though his organization’s revenue that year — $11.9 million — ranked 10th among bowl organizations. While several bowl bosses manage other games or major events, McVay’s core duties remain as focused as they were when he took the job in 1988: negotiate contracts and sell sponsorships and tickets for one football game each year.
Not bad work if you can get it.
Filed under It's Just Bidness
“Come on. Get it right!”
Gus Malzahn is calling plays for Auburn now and that means everything is better.
“It’s different,” Martin said. “Yeah, he’s about business, man. That’s what it’s all about. That’s how I feel like we’re going to be a good offense.”
If that’s all it took, makes you wonder why a guy making all that money didn’t bother to fix things before the season.
Filed under Auburn's Cast of Thousands
“You want to get back to this point and win it.”
Just curious what you think of the job Tray Scott did this season with the defensive line. On the one hand, the d-line took a step back statistically, which isn’t totally surprising given the personnel losses.
Georgia dropped more significantly in lost-yardage stops, with last year’s team averaging 6.2 tackles for loss and 2.27 sacks per game compared to this season’s averages of 4.5 and 1.69.
On the other hand, Scott signed and developed Jordan Davis, who’s been something of a revelation in the second half of the season at a critical position.
So, what say you guys?
Filed under Georgia Football
Being there
Thought it was interesting to see these news bits hit almost right on top of each other over the Christmas break:
- “Clemson coach Dabo Swinney revealed on Monday during a press conference ahead of the team’s College Football Playoff date with Notre Dame in the 2018 Cotton Bowl that three Tigers had failed NCAA-administered drug testing. Standout defensive tackle and potential first-round NFL Draft pick Dexter Lawrence, offensive lineman Zach Giella and tight end Braden Galloway are the three members of the Clemson team that tested positive.
Swinney said that Lawrence, Giella and Galloway all failed an NCAA drug test that produced a “sliver of ostarine” in the results. Ostarine is a performance-enhancing substance used for muscle-building and is currently on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list. .
For the time being, Swinney said he’s holding out hope that the “B” samples (which will immediately be tested before a suspension is handed down) will clear all three, noting that the players were stunned to hear the news and even “thought it was a joke.” An appeal of the tests would not be heard until after the semifinal, meaning the players will be suspended by the NCAA for the Cotton Bowl if the B samples also test positive for the substance.”
- “Alabama announced on Monday that three players — junior offensive lineman Elliot Baker, sophomore offensive lineman Deonte Brown and sophomore tight end Kedrick James — did not make the trip to South Florida for the College Football Playoff semifinal and are suspended for the Orange Bowl due to a violation of team rules and policies.”
Hey, it could be worse. At least none of the six were skipping the semis to get ready for the NFL draft, amirite?
Filed under Alabama, Clemson: Auburn With A Lake
The early bird catches the two-deep spot.
With the news that quarterback signee Dwan Mathis completed his online coursework to become eligible for the spring semester, Georgia expects to have somewhere in the range of 11-13 early enrollees out of this year’s signing class, including four who participated in bowl practices.
A good start, in other words. Lots of fresh faces for G-Day.
Filed under Georgia Football, Recruiting
“On the outside, people just think he’s mean as hell.”
So, as the AJ-C reminisces about how Georgia Tech players will remember the genius, I thought I’d give y’all a similar opportunity.
Personally speaking, I’m particularly fond of the way Johnson threw his defensive coordinators under the bus. I’ll always remember how he was critical of Ted Roof after the last Georgia loss in historic BDS — and never forget that Johnson was unable to win a single game against the Dawgs there — despite the fact that Tech’s offense completely sputtered against Georgia’s defense all game long.
As he heads off into the sunset, it’s with the absolute certainty that the triple option can never fail; it can only be failed.
Now, please, dry your eyes and share a few of your fonder memories in the comments.
Filed under Georgia Tech Football
Taking meaning from meaninglessness
It seems to me that this is a very good way for Georgia to approach the Sugar Bowl.
But Ledbetter is also fired up about another opportunity to play for the program he loves and the momentum it can provide heading into 2019.
“They’re really big, man,” Ledbetter said. “I know I’m going to get in the game and play a lot, but it’s really the start to a new season. You get the younger guys you’ve been developing into the games to see how they act in in-game situations. You put them in crunch- time situations just to see how they react and how they go. That’s what it’s about. You want to win the game and you want to be physical and execute the same way but you also want to see what you have for the years to come.”
It’s the first game of 2019. Sure, guys like Deandre Baker may be leaving, but it’s time for the next group of Dawgs to step up and show what they’ve got. Opportunity is knocking for plenty of guys and the staff will be watching and evaluating.
Filed under Georgia Football
“I am incredibly humbled by this opportunity…”
Shot.
Former Houston offensive coordinator Kendal Briles has accepted the same position at Florida State, the school announced Sunday…
“I’m excited about the addition of Kendal to our staff,” Florida State coach Willie Taggart said. “He brings play-calling experience and familiarity with the type of scheme and tempo we will run, which is similar to the offenses he has coordinated. His ability to recruit, manage an offensive staff, develop quarterbacks and make in-game adjustments will be beneficial to us as we evolve in our offense. Kendal has success at the Power 5 level and has also shown his adaptability to personnel and situations that occur during a season. He had multiple opportunities following the 2018 season and we feel the fit here will be a good one.”
Chaser.
Somewhere out there, Zach Smith wonders if he should be angry about a double standard, or if he should submit his resume to Willie Taggart.
Filed under ACC Football, Baylor Is Sensitive To Women's Issues
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