Gang, we're getting close. Really close.
From the "Talks too much" studios, don't forget the mailbag.
Game-changer
The TSSAA finally took meaningful action as TFP sports editor Stephen Hargis reports here.
No school - public or private - offering financial aid to student-athletes will be allowed to compete in Div. I. That aid now includes work-study programs and potential aid to siblings or family members.
This will force the private schools in Div. I to decide their mission as the CCS president Chad Derske told Hargis.
Boyd-Buchanan quarterback Cooper Hodge (21) tries to get around the corner against Central. Boyd-Buchanan is one of the private schools that have been competing in Tennessee's public school division.After close to two decades this is the biggest ruling since Div. II was established. It also puts some limitations on coaching contact with potential transfers
There are two things to consider:
First, public schools need to be careful what they wish for. If you think there was recruiting happening before, if all the private schools go Div. II - something that would likely cause the TSSAA to create yet another classification - then the gloves will completely come off in terms of trying to lure the best students. Not only the athletes, too.
Secondly, the biggest question mark now will be how hard will the TSSAA come down on a school if/when they discover a school is in Div. I and giving financial aid?
So there's that.
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DeflateGate
We are awaiting the decision from Judge Robert Berman on the NFL's ruling about Tom Brady and DeflateGate.
There are a slew of varying opinions, but the universal view shared by everyone breathing is we are ready for this to be done.
Please, for the love of everything just and everything unjust (with the exception of Caddyshack II, which will never be forgiven) can we please just end this thing.
FILE - In this Jan. 18, 2015, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) passes against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half of the NFL football AFC Championship game in Foxborough, Mass. Roger Goodell will hear Tom Brady's appeal of his four-game suspension for his role in the deflated footballs scandal, people with knowledge of the decision tell The Associated Press, Friday, May 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) In an interesting public-relations volley, we could not help but notice Houston Texans owner Bob McNair piling on the New England Patriots and Brady.
We're a little curious why the P.R. machine of the NFL has been rather motionless for so long, especially since there are several other owners who were reportedly very pleased with commissioner Roger Goodell's hard-line stance in the matter.
Either way this goes, the NFL loses.
And it's hard to believe how low Goodell's public approval rating has fallen. In fact, he's down in the A-Rod, Lance Armstrong neighborhood. (And that's not a very pleasant neighborhood.)
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What we think SEC version
Yesterday we bounced around some things that we think about UTC.
Today we will do the SEC. Hey it's game week, right.
We think that this study by the folks at SaturdayDownSouth.com was very interesting. Using a grammar website and checking the comments under the team blogs, they re-ranked the teams in the AP top 25 for best grammar. Auburn finished No. 1; Alabama finished last. There's a joke in there somewhere.
We think that Alabama stomps Wisconsin on Saturday, and the Tide would do it with a modern-day Joe Namath behind center.
Running back Nick Chubb during Georgia's game against Kentucky on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2013, in Lexington, Ky.
Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson (6) looks to pass during the first half during their spring NCAA college football game, Saturday, April 18, 2015, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)We think there will be two SEC players invited to New York for the Heisman ceremony - Georgia running back Nick Chubb and Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson.
We think LSU has the biggest season arc of any team in the country. Seriously. If Brandon Harris delivers at quarterback, LSU has some potential All-American playmakers and potentially the best secondary in the country when everyone is healthy. That said, Harris is shaky, and will the defense respond under new DC Kevin Steele. LSU could be in the college football playoff. LSU could finish last in the West. We think it will be closer to the latter.
We think the Iron Bowl will decide the SEC West. Again.
We think South Carolina is going to struggle, and the whispers will get loud this will be the final fall for Steve Spurrier.
We think Georgia wins the East, and Auburn wins the SEC.
We think the death march for Derek Mason begins with an ugly, close win this week against Western Kentucky and Mason will be a great defensive coordinator somewhere out west next fall.
We think we will do a Tennessee version of this tomorrow.
What do you think?
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This and that
- CBS lost a valuable chip in its golf coverage as they refused to extend David Feherty's contract. Feherty is easily the funniest commentator on the channel. He will continue to work with the Golf Channel and a move to NBC would make a lot of sense.
- Class move here by the Dodgers, who sent some dirt and the pitching rubber to Jake Arrieta after his no-hitter Sunday night in L.A.
- In the news of the weird, the Kansas City Royals are fighting a chicken pox outbreak in the clubhouse. Scratch-tastic.
- Weeds laments the stinkitude of the Atlanta Braves here.
- ESPN polled 70 NFL folks (reporters, scouts, stat guys, etc.) and released its top 100 players in regard to greatness (defined by the voter). J.J. Watt finished first, and Aaron Rodgers finished second. For what it's worth, Andrew Luck finished 12th (and we believe every team in the league would give up any player on their roster to trade for Luck).
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FILE - In this Jan. 23, 2015 file photo, Robert Redford attends the premiere of "A Walk In The Woods" during the 2015 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced Wednesday, March 11, Redford will be the recipient of the 42nd Chaplin Award at Lincoln Center on Monday, April 27. (Photo by Arthur Mola/Invision/AP, File) Today's questions
We have two.
First we saw this awesome clip with Robert Redford, who is one of the 5-at-10's favorites.
What's your Rushmore of Redford movies?
Secondly, Adolph Rupp would be celebrating his 114th birthday if he had not died in 1977. If there's an all-sport SEC Rushmore and we started with Bryant, Rupp, Spurrier and Summitt, could anyone crack it?
Go. And remember the mailbag.