GatOrlando

All sports require $$$$. Without football, and men's basketball to a smaller degree. You'll lose the money needed to keep all those scholarship sports. It's not hating on the other sports, but it's just basic economics. It's what WNBA players fail to realize when they think they are being cheated in pay, when in reality the NBA helps keep the WNBA afloat. There's no such thing as a free lunch kiddos. Sometime, someplace, someone is working to put together the ingredients for your sandwich. I miss the old conferences as well. But the Big East, and Pac 12 are gone as we know it. The Big East is now a great basketball league with small private schools, but with rich histories. The Pac 12 is a bunch of Mountain West, WAC, and the two programs from the old Pac 12 that nobody wanted. Memphis was willing to pay a hundred million dollars, and forgo any revenue shares to get into the Big 12. This was after the Pac 12 had tried to get Memphis, UNLV, and USF to join. So don't give me the whole Pac 12 is staying true to it's geographical footprint. Memphis and USF elected to stay in the American. If they hadn't, you'd have all these lower revenue earning schools in the west, having to travel to Memphis and Tampa. Is it any wonder that Memphis would rather pay through the nose to get into the lowest P4 conference, than join whatever the Pac 12 is? Anybody foolish enough to believe a member of the most powerful league would leave for a league that Memphis and USF turned down,should probably stop staring at the sun all day.

Would an ACC title equal Brady's seventh ring? 🤣

Duke won the ACC last year. How many playoff games have they won this decade? I think it's three, and they all came this past year by one team. The ACC is more likely to become the next league to crumble, rather than to win a National Title.

I heard Benedict Arnold saw George in the Colonial changing cabins and realized that he would never become a varsity athlete. So he switched sides.

Football fitness compared to soccer fitness is like comparing a sprinter to a marathon runner. One thing the USA, and Mexico have over every other country right now is the ability to play in the heat. I heard people asking why there are water breaks being used in this world cup, those questions stopped after many soccer stars had to stop practicing due to heat related issues. They haven't even been playing outdoors in Texas, Arizona, or Florida in the summertime. It's just now getting hot, they were complaining back in April-May in places like Virginia, Maryland and New York.

For the first time in seventy years the US has won it's first two games in the World Cup ,to make it to the knockout round. They actually won Group D and will play the third place team from another group on July 1st in Santa Clara. We saw the hockey team win the gold for the first time since 'The Miracle on Ice". Could we see an even more improbable victory on home turf this year? I don't follow European Futball ,or what we call Soccer, but it's been interesting to see them bring their unique sports culture here. It's been awesome seeing them experience our country. It's too bad FIFA didn't allow tailgating, it's what makes our sporting events really stand out. People can celebrate sports and not be jerks about it. Just like all the great folks on this board(unless you are a Beaver fan🤣) . But, maybe one day one will cross the line and have a civil discussion here, instead of a civil war of words elsewhere.

How about we start holding people accountable for their actions? Sorsby isn't a victim, he is an addict that broke the rules a hundred times over. He sued his old school when they told him he had to pay out the one million dollar NIL to take a five million dollar NIL at another program. I'm all for player rights, but with those rights come responsibilities.

I remember hearing some members of the golf team discussing the difference in athletic prowess between those down south, and those in the north. I wouldn't put it past ol Greg to really think that's a worthwhile argument. As far as ESPN covering niche events, well....

It's that oil money Jon. The whole athletic department is being funded to a point where it doesn't matter if it's Lubbock Texas, there's gonna be a championship for every sport. Makes you question what the going rate for a top softball athlete is these days. When is badminton going to be on an ESPN affiliate?

Well there's always the supplemental draft for Mr. Sorsby. Unlike Pete Rose, who got a lifetime ban, and still hasn't gotten into the baseball hall of fame.

It's June!!! That means in just a little over fifty plus days we will be getting Summer camps. But at Big Twelve media days, Texas Tech coach Joey Maguire publicly said Texas Tech would buy out of their week one game vs Cheerios University, to play Texas in a week one showcase. Apparently this is a response to some leaked meetings where Texas officials were denigrating the Big 12 prior to the CFP selection show. Of course this isn't going to happen. But it's good drama during sleepy season. Texas has a nine game SEC season and Ohio State. I wouldn't call that an easy slate, but it's always good to see Texas get some jabs thrown at them. Oh, and don't let the fact that each SEC program will get an additional five million dollars for playing an extra conference game get swept under the rug.

Well if the playoff expands, I'll pick Ohio State to win the first year of expansion. Past that? I'll say Vanderbilt, Texas Tech, North Dakota State, and finally the biggest shocker of the bunch outside Ohio State.......Oregon.

What frustrates me with Sankey is his seemingly blind statements that make the SEC look stupid. As a fan of an SEC program, I get lumped in with all the 'SEC, SEC!!" crowd. No other league has that tribal type mentality. It's like I should be wanting to see Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, or Texas win because they have the SEC patch on. Do Oregon fans ever want to see Washington or USC win playoff games? Do Ohio State fans rejoice that Michigan and Indiana have sandwiched their National Title? I kind of get Mississippi State, South Carolina, or Arkansas. They are similar to Oregon State, and Washington State in the old Pac Twelve days. Just happy to get a revenue check, and wear the patch of something that has won. But it's foolish for any Gator fan to be wanting Georgia to win anything, just because they wear the same patch. Ya hoo, now they can come get more recruits from Florida. Sankey is the commissioner, not a fan. He represents the league. But the basic facts are that in two years, you've had four different B1G programs make the semifinals. You've had two teams win the whole thing. The SEC has had two participants, one lost to a B1G team in their own backyard. The other got there by beating a G5 team, and a fellow SEC team. The SEC has had two members get blown out by two B1G members. The SEC has five total playoff wins the past two years. Two are against fellow SEC programs. One is against a G5 program, one is against a three loss ACC team, and the other is against a two loss Big Twelve program. Can we just admit the results? Three separate B1G programs have won National Titles. One is an anomaly, two is a possible hiccup in the hierarchy, but three is a trend you can't ignore. It's also not like Clemson winning two, and the rest of the ACC not even coming close. We all were loud after Florida, LSU, Alabama, and Auburn all won consecutive titles.' Look at that depth of dominance '. Nobody was saying the B1G might be better because Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska Michigan State, or Illinois were showing out in the Outback or Holiday Bowls. I was proud of being a fan of a program that started the run of SEC dominance. But I'm embarrassed about the thin skin of the league now that the tide has shifted.

When one attempts to use a straw man argument, your point fails faster than an Alabama claim of 18 legitimate titles.

I think the state of Oregon wants this game to help Oregon State financially. We all know who benefits most from this, and it's not the program in the B1G. I remember the foolish anger from Oregon State and Washington State fans saying they didn't want to ever play another road game against their traitorous in State rivals. They were saying the schools should only do a renewal if it was a 3 for 1 in their favor. It's like FSU fans complaining about Florida blocking them from SEC membership. I won't get into that whole mess, but FSU turned down the SEC four times under Bowden, and now they want in because their boat is sinking. Oregon State was content being bottom feeders, while Oregon became a national brand. Yet the lazy little brother who slept in every Saturday while big brother hit the weights, went running and built themselves up got the scholarship. Now little brother is crying how it's not fair, when they decided to just sleep in and watch Spongebob, and eat hohos.Completely irrational.

Just like Oregon State and Washington State leveling claims of traitors to their more successful in state rivals. Iowa State would jump at an invite to the SEC or B1G. This AD would jump to Penn State or dare I say Iowa.. because you know the money. There's a saying about casting stones when you live in a glass house. Hurt people, hurt people. It sucks to get dumped or not get invited to the party. But what a healthy and self assured individual does, is say nothing. You move on, keep improving yourself. Iowa State has had a very good football program under Campbell, but they were atrocious before. They have had a decent basketball program since the early 2000's. But football drives expansion, and Iowa State just didn't do enough to make them attractive enough. There are certain things they can't help, it's geography and having an instate college already in one of the big two, while residing in a State with a small populace just sucks. But they are incredibly lucky to still be in a P4 league, and it's much more regional friendly league to a smaller athletic department like them.

Remember all the hoopla just two years ago with Ohio State having a reported 20 million dollar roster? I remember some burnt orange individuals crying foul, well until it came out they had spent 26 million. Last year there was chatter about the bake sales in Tuscaloosa, and NIL shifting the balance of power to the north..I was in the minority when I said it wasn't that the SEC programs couldn't muster the funds, but rather the fact that everyone was going to be able to do what many SEC programs had been doing with creative "scholarship incentives". Alabama, Georgia, and that ridiculously stacked 2019 LSU had five stars three deep. You can't do that anymore. It's been an adjustment for guys like Kirby and Dabo(much more so). Saban retired because he knew that even he wasn't going to be able to keep up with the changing rules. High end players now have the same options as high end coaches. Now you can just transfer out, even if you signed an NIL deal. As long as the team you are going to can buy out your contract (Miami).Something that college football is going to have to fix. The whole Lane Kiffin drama is such a dark cloud. I don't like the NFL nearly as much as college football, but they do know how to run a calendar. Contracts and commitments hold firm. If you play or coach for team x for set amount of years, you can't jump to team z without both sides agreeing to letting you out of your contract. You certainly can't leave for a divisional foe(LSU) a few weeks before your current team is getting ready for a playoff game.

Why does the NCAA even exist at this point? At least over college football. It's clear and simple that college football pays the bills for everyone outside of men's college basketball. Let's separate the ones that pay players from the ones that have no hope of staying afloat with this current conference affiliation of women's college basketball,lacrosse,softball,volleyball,baseball,soccer,gymnastics,golf, tennis,water polo, and track, with the one sport that pays the bills. Having these non revenue sports assigned to these nationwide leagues are insane. Arkansas just recently brought back their tennis program after finding some donors to keep it afloat for a couple years. They are a top 25 athletic department revenue earner in the SEC. How in the world can Cal hope to keep all their Olympic programs afloat with the coast to coast travel on the ACC revenue sharing platform? I think the 24 team playoff is gaining steam because the added revenue is needed in the Big 12 with 35 million dollars a year, and the ACC with around 50 for full share members a year are getting. SMU isn't getting anything for another year, and CAL and Stanford are at a reduced rate for one more year. I'd say the ACC and Big 12 should do an annual scheduling agreement. While the B1G and SEC could do the same. The G6 and lower division programs would suffer without those two million dollar payouts to get trounced, but they could have their own little playoff to offset that. Uploading Attachment...

There's money to be made in a scheduling alliance imo. But there's one thing getting in the way that even is more powerful than greed.

At least according to this guy. Florida and Oregon are seen as the disruptors of the status quo. Florida with Steve Spurrier and his refusal to avoid southern gentleman behavior, and up tempo play style in the traditional SEC in the early 90's. Oregon took that formula and added the uniforms to match in the 2000's. I guess that's the connection I feel with all my feathered friends here. Oh and Georgia is matched with Michigan, and Alabama is paired with Ohio State.

We have enough villains. Texas, Alabama, Miami, USC, Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon, Florida,Georgia, LSU and now Indiana are well hated for various reasons. Notre Dame is loved by many, hated by most like all those other teams. But they aren't a pillar, without them the game feels a little less meaningful. But you can say that about any of the teams I mentioned, especially the old school powers. Notre Dame has been largely a big game no show up until Marcus Freeman showed up. If the B1G and SEC made it a mandate for their football team to join a league like all their other sports programs if they wanted entry to the playoff, the unicorn would turn in it's horn and become a pony. Still a villainous pony to many. But they would give in, after all they have their other sports teams in leagues because it's mandated.

It's all good to realize the deadbeat brother in-law of the house. But it's really about what you are going to do about it. Nobody else would put up with it, but you've enabled him ACC. You got used in 2020, when you had all the leverage in the world. But you let the deadbeat in and even allowed him into the master bedroom so he could play for a conference title. I bet he didn't even give you any of the revenue from that year's playoff appearance. It sucks to get used. But everyone was telling you what was happening, but you decided to ignore it. I'm not mad at Notre Dame for taking the free room and board. I'm mad that the ACC has enabled them to continue thinking they are a unicorn. Who cares if Notre Dame gives Wake Forest a home game. They don't add anything to your potential television deals because they have their own deal. Stop letting that brother in-law in the house. Otherwise you won't have a P4 house for much longer. Clemson, North Carolina, Miami, FSU, Virginia, and maybe Georgia Tech will soon just move out. Your property value is going to drop to Pac Who levels if that happens.

The ACC just came out in support. They've also seemingly grown tired of Notre Dame using them as a doormat. Since Notre Dame is assured of always making the twelve team, I'm guessing the other programs want to make their special privileges just a little less special. Sure Notre Dame, you can get in a 24 team playoff if you are top 12.

Great info as always Jon. As far as my hopes for the upcoming season, I'm kind of looking at this year as hopefully similar to 2005 under Urban. Eight wins and breaking the streak vs Georgia, although the game will be played in Atlanta for a few years while Jacksonville is renovating their stadium. As for insulting Kiffin, there's always material readily available. The guy can't help but make himself just look like a bad wrestling character, that you just want to see get humbled. Short term, he's going to be better with all those transfers. Long term, I like Sumrall building a culture of accountability. Let the actions speak louder than the words.

Has there been a guy with more controversial exits in the game of football? First you had the whole Oakland Raiders strange press conference with Al Davis in 2008. Old Al had his dry erase board and receipts on Mr. Kiffin and his "lies". I just thought Al was being Al...... Fast forward just over 14 months. Lane Kiffin gets another opportunity to coach the Tennessee Vols. He made a strange comment leading up to the game against the defending National Champions, the FLORIDA GATORS🙂. "We'll be playing Rocky Top all night after we beat them in the Swamp!!!!" Well that didn't happen, and Urban called him out for playing not to lose, and a few other things we've seen old Lane do like faking injuries to get extra timeouts. Mr. Kiffin looked to actually have Tennessee headed in the right direction by years end. But then the USC job came open, and Lane left in the middle of the night. He didn't tell anyone, no meeting with the team. Okay, maybe Al wasn't so crazy. Let's fast forward a few years, and Lane isn't doing so hot in Los Angeles. So in a odd twist, USC fires him on the tarmac, no meeting. Makes you question why, but let's move on. Lane gets hired by Nick Saban, and he helps modernize the Tide. They start throwing the ball and landing first round talent to merge with that dominant defense. Lane gets an offer to become a head coach again, and he accepts it while Alabama is prepping to play in the CFP. Nick Saban doesn't let his offensive coordinator finish the year, he forces him out after Lane accepts the FAU job...Hmmmmmm, foreshadowing? Let's fast forward to the invention of the Lane Train at FAU. Two double digit win seasons, and National rankings for FAU. A program that has a campus that looks more like a resort than a academic campus. Perhaps this guy Kiffin has gotten it together. He's due a shot at a bigger job. Not Nebraska, Florida, Texas, Oregon, or LSU(yet). Let's see what he can do at Ole Miss. Well he builds a freaking ten win machine at Oxford. Not through recruiting traditionally, their classes never reach higher than low twenties. But he aces the transfer portal, and Ole Miss becomes playoff contenders. Lane is doing hot yoga, he is praising how Oxford treats him and his family. Just last year he speaks about the love he was shown by that town after losing his parents. Sounds like redemption? Nah, the snake just learned a trick from the chameleon. Lane was actively campaigning to get the Florida job in 2021, and last year when old sleepy Napier was thought to be fired before stupidly being given another off-season and four games. In 2025, Ole Miss is looking like a title contender. Florida, and LSU fall on their faces early and fire their coaches. Instead of shutting down the talk until the season is over. Kiffin plays LSU and Florida against each other for his services, while coaching an Ole Miss squad capable of winning it all. He finally gets an ultimatum to sign an extension or leave. He pouts and drags everything out; not the open. He takes the LSU job, but threatens Ole Miss if he isn't allowed to coach in the playoffs. He'll take his whole staff and might take some players. He then lies and says he was almost run off the road on the way to the tarmac,despite his police escort debunking this. Kiffin finally relents and moves on,no not really. He does an interview with Vanity Fair last week where he lays some really unkindly words on why he couldn't succeed in Oxford to the level he can at LSU. He says this about a program that gave him everything he asked for, and went to the CFP semis. Is there a more controversial coach in the game today? Will Lane do this again if the NFL comes calling? How about Alabama, Texas, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, or Miami?