4 thoughts as Ken Schreiber waits too long for CFP Championship Game
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First, let it be said again that waiting another 10 days for the National Championship game is ridiculous. This is not the Super Bowl and these kids need to get back to class. Speaking of which, how many of these student-athletes actually attend a class in person. The college experience? Forgeddabouddit!
Oregon disappointed its fans once again losing in blowout fashion to Indiana, 56-22, by showing an inability to play error-free football and an undisciplined defense. Taking nothing away from Indiana, who have displayed a penchant all season for jumping ahead and running away with a victory. Contrast that with Miami, who plays a “West Coast” style offense which relies on their running game and YAC (yards after catch). The Canes never panicked against a game Ole Miss team. They drove 75 yards in 15 plays in less than three minutes for the clinching TD with 18 seconds left, winning 31-27. The point here is you have to beat the Canes because they won’t beat themselves.
The championship is set for Monday, Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
'Report' filed against Notre Dame coach
Why is it news when a college football coach has a report filed against him alleging a battery? Because that coach is Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman. The incident evidently involved his son at a wrestling match and between the opponent’s coach and Freeman. No charges were filed, police were not called and Freeman left with his family voluntarily. But because of who he is, this story may have legs.
NCAA says no to Chambliss
Newsflash. Ole Miss' storybook quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was denied his request for a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. Chambliss did not play in 2022 for Ferris State due to “chronic tonsillitis, heart and respiratory problems.” Yet the NCAA denied his waiver request because the medical documentation provided stated he was “doing very well”. What does that even mean? It’s a subjective term used by doctors to indicate improvement but not being “cured.” This is why the public’s perception of the NCAA is so negative. If the records reflect the diagnosis Chambliss states, it’s a no brainer since he never played. He stands to lose $6 million, which is why Ole Miss is taking the NCAA to court where the league will either lose or hopefully capitulate.
Tampering rampant in NIL era
It’s a dirty word and generally speaking, you won’t see many statements about this subject matter but we cover it here. In the NIL and transfer portal era, tampering with other players is the rule, not the exception. Think of every player being an annual free agent and having a “team” of agents communicating with boosters and the like of other schools negotiating deals. There are no limitations or regulations, many describing it as the wild west. Rules? The only rules are there are no rules, meaning anything goes. It’s become analogous to a professional team starting over every year. It’s even worse in basketball where entire teams have left for the portal.
Even a player's commitment doesn’t end the solicitations (see Kenny Minchey) or an actual contract (see Washington’s Demond Williams, who entered the portal after signing with the Huskies only to change his mind and then stay with the Huskies). The point is it’s not a deal until the compensation is paid. Recruiting is no longer the lifeline of any program as everything can be remedied through the transfer portal. College football in its current form is a “professional league” with no salary cap.
There’s actually a conflict of interest here with players performing for their current team, yet knowing the agent has already secured a contract for more money to play elsewhere next season. Don’t call them players – call them civil mercenaries or better yet, vagabonds. It’s so out of control why not allow trades in midseason? The absurdity is no longer easily identified. Nobody, and I mean nobody, cares about a scholarship anymore. The game on the field is the same but everything else is corrupt and upside down. To think Southern Methodist University got the death penalty in 1987 for a fraction of what is permitted now just shows how far we’ve digressed. It’s easy to blame the NCAA or Congress but don’t forget about our distinguished U.S. Supreme Court.
Only the NCAA has the ability to identify the tampering and pass legislation to address its horrific effect on the game. Penalties could be imposed immediately against the guilty and their “agents” for immoral and unsavory conduct. To say that would be difficult to monitor is an understatement but it’s the only option and may very well save college football. I understand the “system” is what's causing the chaos but character comes before talent in every dictionary and I’d rather lose with integrity than win by tampering. Even a young player can distinguish the difference.
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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: 4 thoughts as Ken Schreiber waits too long for CFP championship game
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