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$20 Million Question
Pete Thamel on the irreparable damage Lynn Swann caused to his alma mater:
"The more than $20 million cost represents both what it would take to buy out Helton’s contract and the rest of the Trojan staff. The Helton contract was one of the worst administrative decisions in modern college athletics, as former athletic director Lynn Swann bid against himself to keep Helton and guarantee a large swath of that contract through 2023. None of the USC athletic department lifers were savvy enough to stop him, as they’ve been around for USC hiring three straight lemons – Helton, Steve Sarkisian and Lane Kiffin – and have watched a Cadillac job turn into a Corolla."
Even if USC commits to the $20-million buyout, they still have to pay Helton's replacement. And there are reports it might not be Urban Meyer:
"There is at least one other report that new USC president Carol Folt is against Meyer's hiring," wrote Dennis Dodd this week. "The addition of Mike Bohn as new USC athletic director is seen by some as a sign that it won't be Meyer. The only tie between the two is that Meyer played baseball at Cincinnati, Bohn's old school. One high-ranking college football source close to the coach told CBS Sports they firmly believe that Meyer is done. Maybe. Meyer was done twice at Florida before coming back to Ohio State."
If they can't land Urban Meyer or another high-level coach like James Franklin or Kyle Whittingham, the list of potential candidates is suddenly small.
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Ain't Played Nobody
More often than not, playoff teams didn't run through gauntlets. In fact, most playoff teams navigated strong but not eye-poppingly tough schedules. Sure, they have other strong metrics (e.g. strength of record, game control, etc.) but rarely do they boast a strong SOS.
Only one of the 20 playoff teams, Alabama (2015), had the top-ranked SOS, and only four were in the top 16. Meanwhile, seven teams ranked 40th or worse, including two 50th or worse. Average SOS of playoff teams: 29.4.
Entering Week 13, Clemson's SOS is 68th, or in the bottom half of college football. The Tigers haven't played — not defeated; they haven't even played — another current top-25 team. And unless the ACC Coastal champ is gifted an undeserved spot prior to the ACC Championship, Clemson could be 13-0 with 13 wins against unranked opponents.
Even if things fall perfectly for their final two opponents, South Carolina and the Coastal champ, it's highly unlikely Clemson will enter the playoff with a SOS higher than Washington's 55 from 2016.
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Renaissance
"Florida State officials have defended coach Willie Taggart after reports the school is asking boosters to help fund his buyout," wrote Iliana Limón Romero of the Orlando Sentinel in October. Two weeks later, Taggart was fired and owed a buyout of nearly $20 million (full buyout details here).
Now, Florida State is pleading with donors for even more money, this time to fund a "renaissance of FSU football." FSU's president John Thrasher sent a letter to top boosters requesting a one-time 20-percent increase in their annual donations. Seriously, he sent a letter. To their top boosters. Asking for more money. After wasting $20 million on the last guy.
I have no faith in this Florida State coaching search.
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The Big Dump
Is this the worst call in basketball history? . . . The NCAA botched Micah Potter's transfer case . . . The best college football betting column out there . . . Bob Bowlsby says he's not panicking over CFP Rankings (liar) . . . Eight current top-25 playoff teams don't have a top-25 win . . . Predictions for college basketball's early-season tournaments . . . This is unbelievable . . . CBS' college football ratings are WAY up . . . College basketball has too many timeouts . . . ICYMI on Wednesday night: New Vandy coach Jerry Stackhouse had a heated exchange with an Austin Peay assistant.
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Remember When…
All hell broke looses at the UCLA-Arizona game in 2011:
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High Motor
If you're interested in recent episodes of the High Motor podcast:
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