Ballers

The details on James Cook’s arrest are… um, arresting.

Georgia sophomore running back James Cook was arrested for having an open container of alcohol early Saturday after police found an unsealed 1.75 liter glass bottle of Hennessy Cognac behind the driver’s seat of the 2017 Dodge Charger he was driving.

A Bulldog offensive lineman was in the passenger seat next to Cook when the vehicle was pulled over at about 12:45 a.m. Saturday, according to an Athens Clarke-County police incident report obtained on Monday.

Police patrolling on East Clayton Street downtown observed the vehicle’s dealer tag, but could not see the expiration date. When the police moved behind the vehicle, Cook’s car switched lanes, alerting the officer that “the driver was attempting to evade me checking the temporary tag,” the report said. The car pulled into a handicapped space and police noticed that the temporary tag number indicated an unknown insurance status.

When police turned on their emergency lights, Cook and the other player exited the vehicle but were told to get back in the car.

Cook told the officer he did not have his driver’s license and he was a Georgia football player.

The officer smelled burned marijuana, the report said. Cook said there wasn’t any more marijuana because he smoked it.

Another unit was sent to the scene. Marijuana “shake” was seen on the center console and Cook admitted to smoking marijuana, according to the report.

The players and vehicle were searched. The offensive lineman—who is not being named by the Banner-Herald because he was not charged—told police he placed a Glock Model 19 pistol in the glove compartment.

Let me see if I’ve got this straight.  We’ve got:

• an open bottle of cognac
• a dealer tag w/o proof of insurance
• parking in a handicapped space
• invalid driver’s license
• marijuana smell/admission of marijuana use
• pistol in the glove compartment

All that, and the only charges Cook was arrested for were misdemeanor charges of having an open container of alcohol in a vehicle and driving while unlicensed.  The unnamed offensive lineman got off scot-free.

Jimmy Williamson would have sought the death penalty.  If that ain’t proof of a new sheriff in town, I don’t know what is.

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Welcome back, Junior.

LOL.  Apparently the Laner’s return to the SEC has made Dan Mullen momentarily forget where he’s coaching now.

Gators coach Dan Mullen mentions "Joey Freshwater" when asked about Lane Kiffin being back in the SEC. Awesome

— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) December 16, 2019

It’s gonna be a fun SEC Media Days this year.

And, a pony

The athletic director at UC Davis thinks it would be a swell idea if Congress, at the same time it looks into regulating the NIL rights of college athletes, would go ahead and tackle legislation that would limit “excessive spending on salaries and facilities”.

This is needed — I know you’ll be shocked, shocked to hear it — because college athletic directors are inept at negotiations.

Salary market inefficiency is especially apparent when athletics directors and presidents find themselves renegotiating contracts to retain successful coaches. The non-profit structure creates an odd principal-agent dilemma: It is almost always in the personal job-security interest of athletics directors to pay highly popular coaches whatever it takes to retain them, lest they be blamed by influential constituents for allowing a beloved coach to get away. Agents representing coaches understand this negotiating dynamic, and are thus able to extract exceptional value for their clients. Negotiating circumstances are different in professional sports, where management is closely supported by an owner with a personal incentive to optimize financial efficiency and maximize return on investment.

Apparently it’s impossible to say no to Charlie Weis.

But listen to the brave new world that would be ushered in if Congress gave those ADs a backbone!

… it suggests that limits on spending would increase competitive balance in college athletics, thereby protecting long-term fan interest and commercial value. Spending limits (structured appropriately for each level of DI competition) would be in the competitive interest of all schools except the small minority who currently generate the most revenue, and thus ought to be supported by a majority of institutions and their fan bases.

A small minority might object?  Ya’ think?

I can’t come up with anything that would be guaranteed to blow up the current structure of college athletics than putting limits on what P5 schools could spend on staff and infrastructure.

The problem here is the underlying rationale.

The unique non-profit economic system of college sports creates an inefficient salary market, systematically inflating salaries beyond what would reasonably constitute market value in a for-profit environment.

The economic system of college athletics (which can be read about in more detail here) is unique because it consists of non-profit organizations that, unlike in any other American non-profit sector, compete fiercely in a zero-sum game. In other words, a college athletics program can only succeed at its competitive mission (win) if another fails (lose). Non-profit organizations in other sectors – for example, religious organizations, hospitals, and food banks – do not encounter a similar competitive dynamic. The zero-sum nature of competition in college athletics creates an enduring incentive for athletics departments to make investments that drive winning.

Accordingly, rather than seeking profitable operating margins, non-profit athletics departments reinvest all available revenue in priorities that maximize the chance of competitive success – such as attracting and retaining the best coaches. So, when athletics-related revenue grows significantly, as has been the case in major college sports over the past decade, the non-profit nature of its economic system drives corresponding growth in salaries and other competitive spending.

These aren’t non-profit organizations because theirs is a noble calling.  They are the way they are because by being that way, they avoid the tax man.

If you want to remedy the dilemma you’ve constructed, it’s just as easy… hell, it’s easier just to do away with their non-profit status.

That’s not even the most detached from reality part of the piece.  This is:

Nationally enforced limits on competitive spending could help to resolve some of these problems. They would reduce the urgency to generate maximum revenue, since income above the spending limit couldn’t be used for competitive purposes, and thus enable schools to cut back on the number of revenue-maximizing tradeoffs that impact student-athletes and local fans.

Tell you what — write that into your proposed legislation and we can talk.  I won’t be holding my breath, though.

Help them help themselves, Congress.  After all, it takes real courage to create a framework for schools to deny coaches what they’re worth on a free market.

(h/t)

 

“You want to go to the pros, play well against Georgia.”

Because I know you care deeply, here’s the first bit of Baylor news I have to share.

Baylor starting quarterback Charlie Brewer remains in concussion protocol more than a week after being injured in the Big 12 Championship Game.

Coach Matt Rhule gave his first update on Brewer to reporters Sunday ahead of the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl meeting with Georgia.

“Just step by step,” Rhule said, declining to say whether Brewer would play in the bowl. “I have no idea. It’s really all up to the doctors. They kind of monitor every step.”

Brewer left the Big 12 title game in the first half after official Mike Defee noticed something off after he had taken a couple of hard hits, including one where his head struck the turf.

Brewer ranks third in the Big 12 in passing efficiency, completing 65.2% of his passes for 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran for 337 yards and 10 TDs this season.

I’d say that’s kind of a big deal.

Will this be the offseason of our discontent?

Sounds like there are some cranky Georgia fans out there, alright.

Dawgs fans weren’t in a very good mood after another loss in the SEC Championship Game, this time a blowout, and a season that saw continued offensive struggles.

As reflected heavily in the Junkyard Mail, fan talk this week was full of discussion over what Kirby Smart needs to do about the offense (and whether he’ll do it), and what happened to Jake Fromm in his junior season.

In a way, it seems a little out of context.  After all, the Dawgs are in the midst of their third straight 11-win season.  They’ve made three straight appearances in the SECCG.  Both are first time accomplishments for the program.  They’re still sitting in the top five of the selection committee’s rankings, as well as the AP and Coaches Polls.  Wins over Tennessee, Florida and Auburn don’t suck.  Neither doesn’t the most lopsided Georgia win in the series with Georgia Tech.

And yet the angst in these parts is almost palpable.  Losing to a shitty South Carolina team at home certainly didn’t help and seeing an LSU team demonstrate the gap between the two programs was just as bad.

Maybe even more worrisome to the folks in Butts-Mehre is apathy (assuming there is some basic awareness of fan attitudes these days).  What does it say about us that a Sugar Bowl ticket can be had for considerably less money than a Sugar Bowl parking pass?

Not good, Bob.

So, even if it’s not as if the program is on the cusp of mediocrity again, there’s probably a need for a little short-term pizzazz to generate some enthusiasm from the fan base.

Fortunately, the early signing date is just around the corner.  If there’s something that’s perfectly within Kirby Smart’s wheelhouse, it’s recruiting… or is it?  Here’s how Seth Emerson ($$) sets the table for this week:

Whatever else you wanted to argue about Kirby Smart, no one has ever doubted his recruiting chops. Three full recruiting cycles at Georgia, three classes ranked in the top 3 nationally. One class the consensus No. 1. Another ranked No. 2. In short order, Smart made Georgia a recruiting powerhouse.

And yet when this past weekend began one would look at the national recruiting rankings for this cycle and think that Georgia was slipping: No. 8, per the 247SportsComposite. Only the fifth-best SEC class, even behind arch-rival Florida. Is the powerhouse showing wear and tear from a couple non-championship seasons?

Let’s see how things go this week.

Those of you who follow recruiting more closely than I do, what’s your take after last weekend?  Is Smart about to crush it again, or are we about to see a little slippage from the previous two classes?

If it’s the latter, expect the background chatter about Georgia having already peaked a season or two ago to increase.  If it’s the former, then at least we can move on to where Georgia’s offense is going next season.

How discontent-ish are y’all feeling today?

Wish you were here.

Agree or disagree?

The transfer portal is working … and is a great addition to college athletics. Three straight transfer quarterbacks with the Heisman and three transfer quarterbacks in New York this year as finalists

Call 888-573-5335 to join me and @TomLuginbill on First Team on @SXMCollege 84

— Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) December 16, 2019

Routine transfers have certainly made things more interesting.  Who’s to say LSU and Ohio State would be having the same kind of year without their new QBs?

Laying your money down?

Looking for a betting guide for bowl season?  This may not be definitive, but at least it’s lengthy.  Here’s their Sugar Bowl take:

Sugar Bowl: Georgia (-7½) vs. Baylor

8:45 p.m., ESPN

Last year, the Bulldogs lost in the SEC championship game, earned a spot in the Sugar Bowl and lost outright to Texas as a 12.5-point favorite. This year, Georgia lost in the SEC championship game, earned a spot in the Sugar Bowl and once again is a favorite over a team from Texas. Will the Bulldogs discover a sense of motivation?  [Emphasis added.]

Winner: Georgia, 59 percent

Neil’s pick: Georgia -7½

Matt’s pick: Georgia -7½

That question is worth $64000.

His work there is done.

Shot.

“When I decided to go back and call plays, that’s really who I am. I’m an offensive guy,” Malzahn said at SEC Football Media Days. “When I’m back in the swing of things, the day-in and day-out coaching on the field, what happens is the whole team takes on my personality. It just feels natural. I wasn’t really good at standing back and watching you.”

Chaser.

Gus Malzahn wouldn't say tonight whether Chad Morris will call plays for Auburn next season. We were told by insiders — and shared with VIP members Wednesday — Morris will call plays. We'll see if Gus follows through, but that's the expectation shared with Morris and others.

— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) December 16, 2019