Shocker – Bama rocks recruiting
So signing day came and went.
Here are the headlines: Alabama dominated. Here’s Paschall on that, and know this friends, the folks that know are saying that Lord Saban’s latest haul is not only the best class in this cycle.
It may be the best class of all-time.In fact, here were the links on the recruiting related stories on AL.com:
> Alabama inks record recruiting class.
> Auburn flips South Alabama commit.
Oy vey. That sums up the difference, huh? As for the story in which I saw the above links, it was a scathing column about the situation Tennessee found itself in with the four-star tight end we referenced around these parts earlier this week.
Yes, the back-and-forth of recruiting is a seedy BID-ness, with the word commitment being as hollow as the Tin Man’s torso.
But if the actual details in this column are factual – that UT pulled the offer and then tried to get former tight end commit Roc Taylor to say he decommitted to save face – well, that’s hardly the start across the South in the ultra competitive recruiting sphere the new staff would envision.
Egad.
Back swing
After the proposed rules changes from the USGA and the R&A earlier this week designed to limit distance off the tee for the elite golfers, the blowback Wednesday was loud.
And as focused as a Woods wedge, circa 2002.
Justin Thomas called the suggestions “extremely selfish” by the organizations that run golf in America and Europe.
The players’ reactions were pretty universal. And understandable, considering these guys make six- and seven-figures in endorsements from club makers and ball manufacturers and a lot of that marketability is based on how far they can blast it.
It’s also of note that Thomas mentioned something I have believed since the days golf tried to ‘Tiger proof’ its courses.
When you make it harder and more challenging in terms of distance, it only aids the advantages of the guys who generate distance.
If the equipment is changed, Rory McIlory is still going to hit the ball 50 yards farther than Zach Johnson, it will just be 285-235 rather than 335-285.
McIlroy also noted that the elite players – and those that are affected by the changes – are such a small percentage of those that play that he believes this is a waste of money and the powers that be should be finding ways to grow the game among the general public.
Still, both governing bodies do have some allies from some recognizable names, including one Jack Nicklaus, who has long been supportive of limiting the explosive growth in distance today’s players have reached.
Super surprise
So predictions who you got?
Well, we ended our football season with a mark just short of .500 in college football. (We were one game under at 67-68-1 after the bowls.)
We ended the NFL season, including the payoffs at 51-49-1.
It was a forgettable year. But, if sports wagering had been, you know legal, (Cough, cough) back in September when we projected the season, well, those picks could have been salvaged a bit with some season-long bets.
Sure, I had a couple of misses, including the Cardinals and the Cowboys in the NFC dance as well as the Pats in the AFC bracket.
But we picked the Chiefs to represent the AFC all the way back when Pruitt was loved and we believed Malzahn hated four-loss seasons as much as the rest of us.
And our winner in the season preview: “And yep, we’re in – Brady and the Bucs winning the whole thing. Why not right?”
As for the contest, remember, you can put your picks in the comments or email me at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com. Let’s do this, most correct answers wins some stuff.
> Primary color of Jim Nantz tie (Blue is the favorite);
> Length of the national anthem, over/under 120.5 seconds;
> Head or tails;
> Player to score the first TD;
> Longest play over/under 44.5 yards;
> MVP;
> Spread, Chiefs minus-3.5;
> Total yards combined, over/under 765.5:
> Total points scored, over/under 56.5:
This and that
– Well, this is interesting. Remember last week when Mr. “Rules Schmules” Patrick Reed had the embedded ball that bounced and the best thing any of his defenders could say about his loosey-goosey decision to pick up his ball was that the same thing happened to Rory McIlroy? Yeah we do too. Well, it’s even more eye-raising now that a volunteer at the event admitted to stepping on McIlroy’s ball by accident. Hmmmmmmmm.
– Hard to know what to think these days when a report released this week in the Geophysical Research Letters claimed that global warming increased in 2020 because there was less pollution in the atmosphere. Seriously.
– This sounds, well, simply put, quite Trumpian to be honest. According to reports, the White House wants to screen some reporters questions. No es bueno.
– I am on-board with this line of thinking. McDonald’s is paying employees to have the vaccine.
– Wow, the reports that a couple of Chiefs players have been quarantined after being exposed to a barber who tested positive for COVID is a scary reminder how fragile even something as big as the Super Bowl is these days.
– Mattress Mack is at it again. The guy who bet millions on his hometown Astros has wagered $.46 million on Tampa Bay getting 3.5. My.
Today’s questions
Just some shotgun stuff that’s rolling around in my melon.
Pro or con, golf bigwigs cutting back the distance on balls and clubs? (Head out of the gutter, Spy.)
If Brady or Mahomes gets COVID today, do they postpone the Super Bowl?
Are you in the contest? If not, why not? Like the brews at the Delta House, don’t cost nothin’ anyway.
Largest wager you’ve ever made?
As for today, Feb. 4, let’s review.
We’re have way to the first part of the most famous cheer ever. “Two, 4, 6, 8, who do we appreciate?”
Rosa Parks would have been 108 today
Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook on this day in 2004.
Patton was released on this day in 1970. Rumours by Fleetwood Mac was released on this day in 1977.
Today is national soup day.
Rushmore of soup. Go and remember the contest and the mailbag.