“I don’t know what I would do if I was in that (AD) chair.”

Which is not to say UCF’s Danny White doesn’t have some advice for his South Florida counterpart, after the Bulls scheduled a two-for-one series with Miama.

“(USF AD) Michael Kelly and I talk about a lot of different things … I’m sure that gate is meaningful for them for that single-game sale for those games. It’s a precedent I don’t like being set in our conference for schools to start doing a lot higher volume of 2-for-1s. We haven’t as a conference been that kind of place. We’ve been successful, historically, of getting home-and-homes with Power 6 opponents, and I’d like to see our conference peers continue to do that as we intend to do.”

White is so full of shit with that, mainly because he feels like it undercuts his attempt to push Florida into scheduling a straight home-and-home deal with UCF.  The idea that his conference has been successful at cutting those kind of deals with P5 schools is as in touch with reality as his insistence that UCF won a national championship.

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When he moves his lips

Hey, remember when Jim Delany threatened to take his football and go home?

“… it has been my longstanding belief that The Big Ten’s schools would forgo the revenues in those circumstances and instead take steps to downsize the scope, breadth and activity of their athletic programs,” Delany wrote. “Several alternatives to a ‘pay for play’ model exist, such as the Division III model, which does not offer any athletics-based grants-in-aid, and, among others, a need-based financial model. These alternatives would, in my view, be more consistent with The Big Ten’s philosophy that the educational and lifetime economic benefits associated with a university education are the appropriate quid pro quo for its student athletes.”

Good times.  How’s that whole threat thing going, anyway?

The Big Ten Conference has established a new benchmark in the how-high-is-up world of college sports finance: It recorded nearly $759 million in revenue during its 2018 fiscal year.

The figure, which far exceeds any comparable annual figure for a college sports conference, was revealed in a new federal tax return that the conference provided Wednesday in response to a request from USA TODAY. It is a year-over-year revenue increase of 48 percent, with the conference reaching $512.9 million in fiscal 2017.

The return also showed that commissioner Jim Delany was credited was just over $5.5 million in total compensation for the 2017 calendar year. That, too, is a single-year record for a conference.

I had no idea DIII administrators made that kind of jack.  Well played, Jimbo.

Why anyone has ever taken a single word this asshole says about compensation seriously escapes me.

The dream is over, Dan.

Shot.

Just in case anyone was unaware, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and Florida head coach Dan Mullen are not the best of friends. That puts an added layer to one of college football’s best rivalries. And looks as if Mullen threw some more kerosene on the fire Monday when he was discussing transfers.

While talking to reporters, Mullen appears to take a shot at Georgia, more specifically how everything unfolded regarding quarterback Justin Fields, who one of the most high profile players to enter the new college football transfer portal following the 2018 regular season.

“I’d think we did a poor job recruiting if guys were coming in and then immediately walking out the door because it was something different than what they thought it would be and we lied to them during recruiting, or we sold them on a dream that wasn’t true,” Mullen said, according to Thomas Goldkamp of Swamp247.

Chaser.

Florida freshman defensive back Chris Steele has entered the NCAA transfer portal, per source.

Was a top-50 recruit and the top-ranked member of Florida's 2019 recruiting class.

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) May 9, 2019

Is there such a thing as self-snarkery?  If not, there should be.

The perfect ending here would be for Georgia to sign Steele.  Don’t laugh, Warren recruited him when he was still at UF.  Listening, football gods?

************************************************************************

UPDATE:  Well, this isn’t good.

Florida freshman cornerback Chris Steele is transferring from the school.

The former five-star recruit has entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal. Steele met with UF coach Dan Mullen on Wednesday night and informed him, a source close to the situation told The Sun.

The decision stems from a request Steele made to the staff during his first month on campus, the source said. He asked to be moved to a different dorm because he was uncomfortable rooming with quarterback Jalon Jones, his classmate.

The staff did not plan to move Steele until the summer, which upset Steele and his parents, according to the source.

Then two female students accused Jones of sexual assault in the players’ dorm rooms on April 6. That prompted Steele to seek a transfer.

Jones has not been charged but has left the school.

Regarding Steele’s decision to transfer, the Florida football program had no official comment on Thursday.

That’s funny.  Mullen’s usually not at a loss for words.

Sounds like a slam dunk transfer waiver request, too.

************************************************************************

UPDATE #2:  Jesus, there are some morons on the Florida staff (Assistant Director of Player Personnel and Development).

Dude.  Dude.  Wish the kid well and STFU.

Aging well, like fine wine

A tale of two reports, first, on April 2nd, from Seth Emerson ($$):

There should be another big series announced soon: Georgia is deep in talks with Oklahoma about a home-and-home series, The Athletic has learned. Georgia was seeking a Big 12 opponent and Oklahoma, which Georgia played in the memorable 2018 Rose Bowl, has an open spot in 2023.

Shortly thereafter, from Mike Griffith, at DawgNation:

Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said Thursday the Bulldogs are talking to “a number of schools” right now about future scheduling, but no deals are imminent.

When pressed about reports that a deal with Oklahoma could be close, McGarity said “none of our conversations would be considered deep talks.”

“We’re in conversation with a lot of schools,” McGarity reiterated when pressed on potential home-and-home opponents. “There are two other schools we are having more aggressive talks with than Oklahoma at this time.”

Hmmm… note Greg’s use of the specific phrase “deep talks” there.  Pure coincidence, surely.

You know what’s coming next, right?

🌹: The Sequels

Coming 2023 & 2031.#GoDawgs #ATD pic.twitter.com/G27lmkq6xq

— Georgia Football (@FootballUGA) May 6, 2019

From Seth ($$) again:

Georgia and Oklahoma have finalized a home-and-home series, as The Athletic reported was likely a month ago. The two games will be separated by eight seasons: Oklahoma will host the Bulldogs in 2023 and then the Sooners will make a return trip in 2031.

Connor Riley does the announcement honors at DawgNation, sans any reference to deep talks, or, indeed, Greg McGarity at all.

I know some folks have an agenda, but this is getting a little ridiculous.

TFW nobody’s buying what you’re selling

The NCAA’s day in the life of a student-athlete video isn’t exactly getting boffo reviews from student-athletes.

A sampling of the reviews:

“Completely inaccurate, honestly,” said Tyler Cook, an Iowa forward.

“It’s not true,” said his teammate, Jordan Bohannon.

“I’m a current NCAA athlete, I don’t want to say anything to get in trouble, but that’s not accurate,” said Ryan Kriener, another Iowa player.

“We kind of work a little bit harder than that,” said Grant Williams, the Tennessee forward, who spoke with a touch of modesty.

“I feel like they left out a few things,” said David Crisp, a Washington guard.

Then again, they’re not the target audience.

The kids are alright.

Shot.

Student and athlete: a day in the life. pic.twitter.com/KLarfCQivv

— Inside the NCAA (@InsidetheNCAA) March 17, 2019

Chaser.

Y’all paid the actors in this more than the real Student Athletes https://t.co/DfhJUCQFfz

— Alex Caruso (@ACFresh21) March 19, 2019

Just leave the rest of the bottle on the table.

Athlete and student — a REAL day in the life @NCAA. pic.twitter.com/KcWj1JyoHn

— Emmanuel Acho (@thEMANacho) March 20, 2019

In defense of Jim Delany

This appears to be the best anyone has to offer.

“People will talk about Rutgers’ competitive performance,” Smith told me. “However, when you think about our presence on the East Coast, it’s significant. Whether Ohio State goes to play at Rutgers or Michigan plays at Rutgers, the revenue generated significantly impacts our young people. I hope that people will pause and just think about the great things that [Delany’s] done to help our young people and institutions.”

He added: “Here’s one thing that people seem to forget about our move with Rutgers and Maryland. At the time, the ACC was looking to expand. Part of our move was to protect Penn State. Everyone forgets we had a teammate and partner institution that was on a [geographic] island, so what we did, beyond gaining exposure, is we further brought in a valued partner in Penn State. Had Penn State defected to the ACC, what would the conversation have been then?”

Let me see if I’ve got this straight.  The Big Ten was worried about losing a team to the same conference that lost Maryland to the Big Ten over financial concerns.  Does that bullshit actually fly with anybody?

Smith does get bonus points for wedging some sweet doing-it-for-the-kids phony justification in there.

With regard to that whole “What profiteth a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?” premise to the linked piece, the author makes the mistake of ascribing a soul to a college athletic conference.  Those people would happily gain the whole world with no regrets over whatever path led them to Rutgers.  That’s what cutting edge college football management is all about these days.

Enjoy your retirement, Jim.  You’ve earned it.