#SMPASocial Final Assignment: School of Small Fish

Let’s face it: not every blog gets to be the biggest fish in the ocean. For every larger blog that dominates the discussion in certain topics, there are thousands of smaller blogs run by individuals. My blog, Tailgate Party of 1, is just one of the thousands of blogs and web pages devoted to covering college football. Especially given the fact that college football is in the middle of its off season, there are very original story lines to write about. As much as I would love to talk about Johnny Manziel or the current unionization efforts underway at Northwestern all day, the fact is that a majority of the other college football blogs are currently writing on the exact same topics. With the NFL Draft a mere two days away, all eyes and fingers will turn to ESPN to write about the proceedings. To some, this school of small fish in a big ocean scenario is frightening and disheartening. For myself, I know that even though I am a small fish, I have my place in the web. By actively participating in a distributed network and allowing other members of the public sphere to contribute to my work, I add to the spreadability of ideas and media across the Internet.

But Casey, you may ask: how can one student make an impact on the spreadability of information and media on the Internet?  The first step in this process is to join in what Henry Jenkins called “the Participatory Culture.” This culture of active participation in media creation has long “occurred just below the radar of the media industry” and is now “more open-ended, less under the control of media producers, and more under the control of media consumers.” Speaking beyond the lingo of academia, the Participatory Culture has allowed normal, every day users and citizens of the Internet to become content creators. For example, throughout my posts, I have attempted to include .gif files into a number of them. Should the file not currently exist, I would be required to create the .gif file myself, therefore turning myself into a content creator. Even the blog posts themselves are content that I, a media consumer, have generated and have the ability to spread. By making myself an active participant, I have only added to the spreadability of ideas and media.

Johnny Football always a fan of some .gif love

Step one down, now moving onto phase two: how my generated content spreads. If I wish to be an active member of the Internet, it isn’t enough to simply create content. I must also share my work. However, in the vast space of the web, one may think that a short post from a small blog would instant vanish, unnoticed and unheard. This is where the work of Yochai Benkler comes in. Benkler believes that there has been a drastic shift over the past century in regards the network architectures and how information is consumed. Before, information was passed along through a centralized network, meaning that one central hub fed distributed information to other hubs, which in turn past it along to other connected hubs. This model is often called the “Hub and Spoke” model and made it very difficult to become a speaker or within this system. However, Benkler believes that with the creation of the Internet, the architecture of the network has drastically shifted, adopting a more decentralized network. Using this architecture, information can more readily pass from hub to hub in multi-directional paths, greatly lowering the cost to become a speaker. In the case of my blog, this networked connection gives me a number of different avenues to send my content through. For example, after uploading my post, my blog is updated on the SMPA Social Tumblr blog list, giving all of the students in the class access to view my recent post. In turn, a number of my classmates may enjoy reading my post and share the link on their Twitter, giving all of their followers access to my blog. The cycle continues as the number of potential viewers accessing my blog grows exponentially, all due to my own personal connections and not a large media distributor. Thanks to a decentralized network, my little blog post can now swim with the larger posts in the web.

Handy-dandy infographic to help explain this blog's decentralized network

Moving onto the final act: what happens once my content has spread. Now that I have created meaningful content and have a means to distribute it, I need people other than myself to interact with it. There isn’t much point to sharing one’s ideas and creations if the only person listen is oneself. The point of sharing these posts is to give others insight and hopefully elicit a reaction on their part. It is in these actions that we discover Richard Butsch and his theories on society as an audience. According to Butsch, a fundamental part of society is how people come together and interact with one another, with different means of participation and interaction resulting in different behavioral classifications. One such classification is what Butsch calls a “Public,” a behavioral group made up of rational, bourgeois individuals willing to participate in meaningful discussion of a common concern. This group of individuals constitutes the rational contributors within the Internet. In the case of my blog, the Public can be found in the comments section. At the end of each post, there is a space for any of the readers to leave a comment on the post. In the case of the comments on my blog, my classmates, rational, sophisticated members of the Public, contributed to the topic of college football in a meaningful way. It is with the help of the Public that the ideas and content that I have created is discussed, shared, and spread across the web.

I chose the nicer comments 

In the end, even my tiny blog on college football, which only draws a few hundred views per month, can make a meaningful impact on the Internet. Sure, it may be a small fish in a large ocean, but when enough small fish come together to form a school, a network if one will, great things can happen.

Sums it up perfectly 

http://imagecache5d.allposters.com/watermarker/61-6148-DGEG100Z.jpg?ch=774&cw=774

The Rules They Are A-Changin'

Change is a necessary part of athletics. Players change equipment or motions to give themselves an edge over the competition. Coaches can their strategy to beat the opponent. General managers change players in an attempt to put the best product on the field as possible. Leagues change the rule of the game to enhance the product for its athletes and fans. This past week, the NCAA made two major changes to the rules of it's athletic programs, changes that will greatly affect the lives of young student-athletes.

This past week, the NCAA voted to changes the rules regarding athlete meals and penalties for drug use, allowing unlimited meals for all Division 1 athletes and reducing the suspension to a half season penalty for positive tests for "non-performance enhancing drugs." Prior to this change in meals, the NCAA regulated all athletes to "3 meals a day or a food stipend." In addition, there were often confusing distinctions between what constituted a meal vs. a snack, such as a bagel with or without cream cheese. Many of these restrictions led to ridiculous sanction scenarios for athletes, such as Oklahoma University self-reporting $5 worth of overeating by some of its players at a banquet. In regards to the drug changes, the NCAA is looking to differentiate penalties for performance enhancing drugs vs. street drugs whose used would not positively affect athlete performance. By reducing the suspension from a full-season to a half season, the NCAA looks to shift its attention to some of the more harmful drugs that affect its product.

A bagel a day keeps the NCAA at bay

In my eyes, this relaxing by the NCAA on some of its more ridiculous and outdated rules displays that the organization is ready to change its image into one more attuned to the needs of its student-athletes. Instead of punishing these young men and women with restrictions and overly harsh penalties, the NCAA now seems to be looking out for the well being and safety of its participants, whether that is by providing them the means to the right nutrition or by putting the focusing on rehabilitation vs. punishment when it comes to drug use. I hope to see more of these changes over the next few years, beyond just drug use and the resulting munchies.

New NCAA sport: Competitive Post Game Eating

It's Springtime for Football

Maybe it is the fact that the weather is finally starting to get better, but it truly feels like Spring in D.C. right now. We can all finally venture out without having to put on about four layers or wonder if it could just randomly snow for no good reason and shut down school (more specifically, cancel SMPA Social for what seems like the 10th time). It's the perfect pick-me-up from a long winter, coming along to revitalize everyone and motivate everyone. It is also the start of a new beginning, a time to rebuild and start a new year off right. The same applies to college football, where Spring practices mark the beginning of a new season and a means for young players to get noticed. One of the best things about these practices, however, is that every once and a while, the coaches and players let loose.

Over the past few weeks, videos of hilarious team wide events have flooded the Internet. From a team wide dance off to a kick return drill featuring linemen and coaches, videos of coaches and players making fools of themselves on the field are a great way to break the tension of a long day of practices. It allows the players to have a good laugh and grow closer to their teammates, while also giving fans a quick glimpse into the lives of some of their favorite players. As many of the Spring training games rapidly approach, it is nice as a fan to see that these young players are not only highly skilled athletes, but truly a family who have an unbreakable bond.

I need that shirt #ttu: Too Turnt Up

What I see as the most important takeaway from these videos: they remind the fans that this is a game. Too often, we become caught up in the intensity of this sport, pushing our teams to be the best, destroying the opponent, and earning bragging rights. We ask young men, some still only children, to carry the burden of the entire university and fans on their backs. We are quick to blame when things don't go as planned, building up the season as the be all, end all for these young men. What we all seem to forget is that football is a game, that it's sole purpose is to entertain. Young children want to play this game because it is fun to run around with their friends on the schoolyard to haul in the winning touchdown during lunch. College players continue to play the game for the same reasons. The fans, the players, and the coaches need to remember to not take this game too seriously and to have fun while they are still able to play.

I love these videos and hope that more show up soon. Only makes me more excited to see how much fun these teams will have each Saturday afternoon.

Hopefully Spring practice is a little more fun for Brutus this year

State of the College Union

Last week, I talked about the NLRB ruling that gave the football players of Northwestern the right to unionize as employees of the university. It is a landmark ruling, one that will challenge the NCAA and it's ever growing revenue streams. Along with the Kessler and O'Bannon cases, the rights of players is the biggest story of the off season.

Two days ago, I had the opportunity to hear Kain Colter speak at the Aspen Institute in D.C. Colter was the Senior Quarterback of the Wildcats this past season and is the leader of the current unionization efforts of the players. During this meeting, he talked about the reasoning behind his decision to unionize. What makes his efforts different that the O'Bannon or Kessler cases is that Colter is not calling for player salaries or marketing rights. Colter's goal is to improve both the physical and mental health of college players, with calls to improve health benefits for athletes as well as improved educational benefits. Part of his goals include having the university pay for sports-related injures rather than have the financial burden fall solely on the young athletes. In addition, Colter hopes to improve the educational resources available to students, citing the recent accusations of UNC athletes as embarrassing for the entire athletic community.

Colter has become the face of the unionization efforts

What struck me most about this meeting was Colter's understanding of the gravity of his decision to move forward with the unionization efforts. He realizes that there will be a long battle with the NCAA over these issues, one that will not be resolved within the next few years. Even in the face of this long uphill battle, he remains confident that he and his fellow players will prevail, helping the athletes of the next generation receive the benefits that they deserve. I, too, believe that they will eventually succeed. The young men are not asking for salaries or marketing rights, but asking to receive benefits for their safety and to have access to a better education, the main reason for going to college. Everyone is entitled to safety and an education. This young men are simply attempting to access those rights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0OoHDjhh-0

Link to a video interview with Kain Colter

A More Perfect Union

In the 1950's, the term "Student-Athlete" was coined by the NCAA. In the public eye, this was a move to promote the value of academia. Behind closed doors, this term was a means of relieving the NCAA of responsibility. This term meant that any college athlete was not an employee of the school, meaning that the schools were free from normal payment practices, workman's compensation for athletes, and the threat of student athlete unionization. For over 60 years, this has been a key staple of the NCAA and a means for the organization to generate billions of dollars in revenue each year.

This week, a major court ruling by the National Labor Relations Board looks to jeopardize the standing of the NCAA. On Wednesday, the NLRB ruled that Northwestern University football players could unionize and collectively bargain with the university. Key topics for discussion would focus on workman's compensation for injured players, according to representatives of the team. This decision goes directly against the loopholes that have allowed the NCAA to blossom in the money making juggernaut that it has become. For now, this ruling only applies to private college teams, meaning that the larger public university, including powerful programs like Alabama and Ohio State, can still ban player unionization. Regardless, it is a landmark ruling and is sure to shake the foundation of the NCAA.

We may be seeing this image more often in the next few years

Like most cases involving the NCAA, this decision comes with a great deal of controversy. The ability for college football players to unionize has consequences that extend well beyond the football field. One controversial aspect of the ruling means that private colleges now have an advantage in terms of recruiting. Should the players choose to unionize, new recruits may be enticed to forgo playing for a traditionally powerful program in favor of the ability to bargain for workman's comp. this is dangerous scenario for these larger public schools and one that could change the landscape of college football. Another controversial aspect of this decision comes in relation to Title IX, which regulates gender equality within the schools. The current ruling only applies to football, which is an all-male sport. Should the football players be given the opportunity to bargain for health care related expenses and larger scholarships, there would be a difference in benefits between male and female athletes, an act which is illegal under Title IX. This may be a large sticking point for many of the schools and could hinder negotiations between the two sides.

This is a landmark ruling, one that has the potential to change the landscape of college football. The Northwestern players have a month to decide whether to unionize, a decision which could open the floodgates. It will be interesting to see what repercussions occur within the next few weeks and will be something that I will be following closely.

A look into the money that flows through NCAA, but not for the players

Dual Threat in Dual Sports

To all the athletes out there: remember the days when you were a jack of all trades? When the words "off season" were not a part of your vocabulary. When you were not the star of one team, but played on multiple teams in multiple sports? Nowadays, athlete specialization is occurring at younger ages, with children as young as the 6th grade beginning to specialize in one sport. According to the study, specialization at such a young age can lead to greater possibilities of injury, stress, and burnout. Young athletes strive to develop elite level skills so quickly that they often neglect the development inherent in participating in a variety of activities and engaging with different personalities. It's a race to be the best, even if it means making sacrifices.

At what age should he give up the diamond to focus on the court?

Does this mean that multi-sport athletes are a dying breed? According to Jameis Winston, this may not be the case. Just months after leading the Florida State Semionles to a BCS National Championship in football, Winston has announced that he plans on playing baseball this spring for the university. For Winston, baseball has always been a love of his and he is not willing to give up on that love quite yet. Playing both outfield and pitching, Winston must not only find time to work on his pitching mechanics, but also work on his throwing motion on the football field during spring practices. Right now, Winston says that be balance has not been too difficult, as he has been able to participate actively in both sports without too much overlap. It definitely helps that head football coach Jimbo Fisher fully supports Winston in his decision to be a dual sport athlete, as long as he keeps his arm healthy. Until he is forced to choose one sport, Winston hopes to continue playing both sports throughout his time as FSU.

Jameis Winston is not the first dual-sport athlete. Sport legends such as Deion Sanders, Bo Jackson, and Michael Jordon have all played professionally in two sports. Hell, even Russell Wilson, just days after winning a Superbowl, reported to Rangers camp to participate in Spring Training. Jameis Winston is just the newest addition to a list a high profile athletes who love playing sports and can't choose just one. Is Winston the best dual sport athlete we have ever seen? I doubt it, especially given his recent outing in an exhibition with the New York Yankees. However, it will certainly be fun to watch a young athlete do what he loves without sacrifice. I applaud Jameis Winston and hope more collegiate athletes follow his lead.

Just hope he brings the right gear to the right practice

Playing Outside D1

There are many iconic images that come to mind when thinking about college football. Thousands of screaming young fans packed shoulder to shoulder, chanting and cheering their team onto victory. A tower stadium, taller and mightier than any of the other buildings on campus. A team full of players who are gifted with the right abilities and characteristic to make them a future player in the NFL. These are the images of big time football. This is what people pay to see, what television networks want to cover, and what people want to write about. But what happens when you take away some of the larger aspects of this style of game? What happens when 100,000 fans turns into 1,000? What happens when the stadium is only slightly larger than a high school field? What happens when the players realistically aren't going to be playing in the NFL? Does the game itself change? These are just a few of the characteristics that make up Division II and III football programs in the NCAA.

Just a little bit smaller than the Coliseum

The sad truth about college football is that size matters. When a team only has 36 scholarships to give out each year (or in the case of Division III, there are no scholarships), it is hard to fill a team with deep talent. Pair that with the fact that the most highly touted athletes are being recruited to play at bigger Division I schools. Many top prospects don't even consider Division II or III schools when looking at schools to attend.  The players that do end up attending Division II or III schools may not be the best athletes, but they have the heart and skill to continue to play the game that they love competitively. Unfortunately, heart and desire don't drive television ratings. Television networks unfortunately aren't interested in producing content around schools where there are only a few hundred fans in the seats. There were a few games televised this past year, yet these are only a handful of games out of thousands played each year. With everyone watching the bigger programs with the better players, it is hard for the players on Division II and III teams to get noticed by fans and scouts. 

So, what happens to these players after college? Chances are that they will not be drafted by an NFL team in the months leading up to graduation, yet many of them still want to play football competitively. They still have the dream to play football at a professional level, yet the NFL is not in the cards at the moment. That is where some of the smaller professional leagues come in. Leagues such as the Canadian Football League and the Arena Football League give players the opportunity to continue to play the game that they love and develop their skills. Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to attend a CFL combine hosted by the company that I work for and see first hand a group of Division II and Division III athletes showcase themselves in front of scouts. I am not sure if any of the players present will be signed, but there was at least some interest from the scouts in certain players. 

Leagues like the CFL are a great opportunity for these young players to continue to develop their skills and play the game of football. And who knows, some of the players at the combine may end up succeeding in the smaller leagues and could move onto the NFL. What I do know is that Division II and III players are finally getting the recognition that they deserve. 

Good luck boys

Slow Down for Saban

Football is a naturally fast game. Grown men hurtle full speed at each other, colliding with each other and crashing to the ground with the force of a car crash.  Passes fly 40 yards for a touchdown in the blink of an eye, the celebrations starting before you even start cheering. In recent years, the game has continued to speed up, with up-tempo, no-huddle offenses becoming the popular new trend in college football. Teams like Oregon, Auburn, and Baylor have used this high-tempo scheme to wear down the opposing defense and put up massive amount of points. For some of the more old-school coaches such as Nick Saban, this faster style of play is not a great fit for the college game. It only makes sense that Saban would be one of the largest supporters of a proposed rule change that would limit the ability for an offense to run at a high-tempo.

Come on guys! Slow it down a bit

This new rule, rightly nicknamed "the Saban Rule" would force an offense to wait until 10 seconds have run off the play clock before snapping the ball. Under the current rules, teams are allowed to snap the ball as soon as the players become set. With the proposed new rule, the defense could would be able to substitute players more easily, taking away the advantage that the offense had by playing quickly. The main argument for this proposed rule change is that it would improve player safety. Saban and other argue that this up-tempo style of play increases the risk of fatigue-related injuries for the defensive players who can't get off of the field in time. The proposed rule will be presented to the Playing Rules Oversight panel on March 6th, so until then, both sides of the argument will be voicing their opinions. The debate as already become heated, as both sides have gone public on their opinions of the opposing arguments and supporters. 

It only makes sense that this rule has been nicknamed "the Saban Rule" as he has been pushing for limits to no-huddle offenses for years. It is a well known fact that Saban prefers the old-school "grind it out on the ground" style of offense, one that is slow and methodical. He claims that it is for player safety, but many say these claims are baseless. Many more believe that his motivations for passing this new rule is to help his defense, which has consistently struggled against no-huddle offenses. While the Alabama offense will consistently win them games, their defense has been known for its let downs. If Saban was able to slow down the game, he would give the edge back to his defense, making Alabama a seemingly unbeatable team. 

One of the best things about college football is how even the most heavily favored team can be beaten by the underdog on any given Saturday. The high-tempo offense gives a smaller team the ability to play the role of David in taking down Goliath. It would be a great shame to limit the speed of the game. I say let the boys play, even if it is a bit too fast for Saban.

Speed beats strength

Standing Strong

What does it mean to be strong? Does it mean that you are the best athlete, in peak physical condition? Does it mean that you are mentally tough, able to overcome any roadblock with ease? Does it mean that you are a leader, willing to take things head on and help others succeed with you? Does it mean that you are morally strong, always standing up for what he or she believes is just and right? There are only a select few people who embody multiple meanings of strength and this week, the world was introduced to one such person. Late last Sunday, a college football player named Michael Sam came out about his sexuality on national television. This act in itself takes strength, but the fact that Sam could potentially be first current NFL player to be openly gay shows us just how strong of a man he really is.

One of Sam's interviews with the New York Times

This is not the first time that Sam has been in the national spotlight for his football career. Last season at the University of Missouri, Sam was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the SEC for his outstanding play that lead the Tigers to a 12-2 season and a Cotton Bowl Victory. It was at the beginning of that fantastic season that Sam decided to come out to his coaches and teammates. According to Sam, his teammates rallied around and supported him, making him feel like he was truly part of a family. This news, coupled with his stellar college career, has made him a potential target for a number of NFL teams in the upcoming draft. Slated to go somewhere in the middle rounds of the draft, Sam would be able to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL and should make an impact no matter where he goes.

However, as is the case with most stories that break on ESPN, there is a good deal of controversy surrounding Sam's future in the NFL. While the NFL as a whole has backed Sam's decision to come out, there are a number of players who say that they would not be comfortable with having an openly gay teammate. Some argue that the "locker room mentality" that many of the current NFL players have would have to be drastically changed should Sam step become a member of the team, making some players uneasy. Adding fuel to the fire are recent reports about Sam's family life, which is strained to say the least. While he is not the first openly gay athlete in sports, as both NBA free agent Jason Collins and MLS player Robbie Rogers have come out as gay in the past year, it is potentially the first time that a current NFL player has come out. The media spotlight will not only be on Sam, but the team that drafts him as well, with some fearing that it could serve as a distraction.

The NFL has and always will be a sport dominated by male bravado and strength. In this league, only the strongest survive and prosper. For the longest time, being an openly gay man in the locker room would have been seen as weakness. This is no longer the case. From now on, Michael Sam is the strongest man in any locker room. He is physically, mentally, and morally strong, a true leader willing to put the team first. There has already been an outpouring of support for Sam and there are a great number of people who want to see him succeed. Not only will he be a great player, but he will be a fantastic role model, seen as a game changer on and off the field. The road to change is full of adversity and scrutiny. Michael Sam must now travel this path, as strong as ever. 

Not the last time we will see Michael Sam's name on the football field

2014 National Signing Day Drama

I'm going to be honest here: the off season for college football is an incredibly boring one. Following the Championship Game, there is usually a few days of excitement, with coaches being fired and hired, players transferring schools, and announcements of going pro. Problem is, once you hit the middle part of January, all that news and excitement begins to die down. The focus shifts away from the results of the last season to the preparation for next year. However, there is one day in the cold, dreary month of February where the teams come out from hibernation and put college football back onto the front page of the news. Every first Wednesday of February, thousands of young men and women sign National Letters of Intents to play sports at the collegiate level. For college football, this means an 11 hour televised event of all the major college announcements from the top recruits.

Oh look, 4 more weeks without football

Due to a favorable class schedule and desire to sit aimlessly on my couch for hours on end, I decided to spend my day watching kids decide where the are going to spend the next few years of their lives (read: becoming jealous of the fact that they have accomplished more in their life in 17 or 18 years than I have in 21). So, here are my winners and losers of National Signing Day:

Winners:

1) Alabama

Say what you want about Nick Saban, the man knows how to recruit. For the third year in a row, Alabama has had the top recruiting class in college football, bringing 27 stellar athletes into the program. Of those 27, 19 are in ESPN 300 rankings, which ranks the 300 best high school football players in the current graduating class. What really sets this recruiting class apart is the fact that Alabama was able to strengthen areas that had been weaker last season (read: the secondary and the offensive line). Recruits such as Cameron Robinson and Da'Shawn Hand will make immediate impacts for this Crimson Tide team that ended the 2013 campaign on a sour note. To make things even sweeter, Saban was able to steal a top recruit from a rival (see "Losers" below) Roll Tide!

Some say the Devil wears Crimson

2) USC

Shout out to my professor, Dr. Usher, on this one. This was one of the bigger surprises of signing day, as the Trojans were able to secure 19 recruits on Signing Day, putting them in 14th place in terms of their recruiting class. Hands down the biggest splash of the day came when highly touted Cornerback Adoree' Jackson decided to forgo Alabama and rival UCLA and decided to attend USC next fall. In one of the more bizarre announcements I have ever seen, Jackson surprised the nation and decided join new coach Steve Sarkisian in rebuilding a proud USC program. Other big signings include Damien Mama, the #4 Offensive Guard in the nation, who will help add girth and strength to the line. Even with the scholarship restrictions, USC looks poised to rebuild and reclaim its spot as a dominant program in college football.

Losers: 

1) Auburn

While rival Alabama had a field day on Signing Day, Auburn looked as if it never got an invitation. As a whole, the Auburn recruiting class is a solid one, ranked number 8 in the nation. However, the big story of the day was Rashaan Evans' decision to attend rival Alabama. Evans lives in the town of Auburn, Alabama and was widely believed to stay local for the next four years of college. Instead, he jumped ship and left a lot of Auburn fans with a sour taste in their mouths. To make matters worse, it was discovered that prior to Evans' announcement, Auburn had placed him on their athletics page as the poster child of their recruiting class. To make matters even worse, one of their 4-Star recruits was arrested over the weekend for marijuana possession with the intent to sell. Not the best PR for the team. In the end, the 2014 Signing Day will remembered more for what Auburn lost over what they gained.

I would put this down as a social media blunder

2) Oregon

Oh how the mighty have fallen. Over the past few seasons, the Oregon Ducks have been at the peak of college football standings, constantly winning and bringing explosive young talent to Eugene, Oregon. This year however, the Ducks didn't make quite the slash that they were hoping for (see what I did there?). The Ducks came in at 27th place in terms of their recruiting class, with only 2 recruits in the ESPN 300 rankings. With USC making big splash moves, I worry about Oregon's ability to compete at a higher level in the coming seasons. 

Conference which had the best day: SEC

7 of the Top 10 recruiting classes are teams within the SEC.  Look forward to continued dominance by the SEC.

Conference which had the worst day: Big 12

For a conference that is looking to rebuild, the Big 12 did not do a great job of recruiting top talent this year. No teams in the top 10 recruiting classes and no big name players were signed with Big 12 teams. Sorry Coach Strong, looks like your rebuilding may start next year.


With Signing Day over, we can now all go back to our quiet off season, quietly waiting until spring practice begins. Damn you Punxsutawney Phil.  

Learning to Play Together

Let's face it, college football and academics have never seemed to really see eye to eye. Bring up a player's GPA and you will generally get more eye rolls than applause. It is a large generalization and one the is unfair, but it has unfortunately became part of the public's perception of the football player, seeing him as a dumb jock who has an aversion to attending class or doing homework. The media plays the stereotype up as well, with shows such as Blue Mountain State, which is described as "Animal House meets college football" (to be fair, it is a totally accurate description and is hands down one of my favorite shows of all time). With this unflattering image firmly ingrained into the media and public's mind, how can college football promote itself as leaders on the field and in the classroom?

Seriously, I love this show

Earlier this week, Norte Dame took a major step towards creating a happy marriage of football and school with the announcement that it would building a $400 million expansion to its football stadium.  What makes this expansion different and interesting is that the expansion includes building 3 academic buildings into the existing stadium. Yes, you heard me right, no need to pinch yourself. Academia and college football will be sharing the same space in one of the most iconic stadiums in the country. These buildings will house classrooms, a career center, a dinning hall, and a new digital media center among other things. Since space is limited at the university, the stadium was determined to be the best location. In return, the new buildings will bring stadium capacity up to 84,000 and will be used as a fan hospitality area during the games. Construction on the new buildings is set to begin within the next two years and should be completed in a little less than three years after that.

Now students can go directly to their classes after the game

Overall, I think that this is not only a great PR move for the university but also is a great decision. Not only does this show Norte Dame's commitment to academics, but it also connects it to its storied football program. Whenever games will be shown on television, the viewers will also see the new classrooms and space devoted to improving student life. Its also a victory for the football program with the additional seating and hospitality center. Best of all, it also the stadium to be used by students and faculty year-round rather than exclusively during home games. Plus, it actually looks better than I imagined. Imagine the views from some of the classrooms on the upper floors (and the students who will be caught staring at said view). I hope this trend catches on at other schools and that football and academics can finally work together. Or, at the very least, they can learn to play well together. 

Now, if you don't mind, I'm gonna take off. I have a Super Bowl to watch.

5 Star Recruit, 5 Star PR Problems

This past week, I was asked to answer a simple question in my Social Media course at GW. The question: what is social media? Among some of the answers offered by myself and my classmates, one posted by Michelle Edelman stood out in particular. "Social media gives voice to everyone with access to the internet. This allows us to gain exposure to an abundance of information but also gives those, with not such great things to say, a voice as well." It is the last part of that answer that has stuck with me. We all have that friend who posts things online that should never see the light of day, things that would make any parent or potential future employer squirm in their chairs. Thankfully, these messages are usually limited to the few amount of followers or friends they have online. However, there are a select few who are graced with not only a large online audience, but a lack of a filter as well. Prime example of this group: college football players.

Don't post that photo from Friday night!

Now, I am not saying that all college football players are dangerous on social media. I am currently friends with a number of college athletes via Facebook and Twitter and have never seen a truly cringe worthy post. However, when it comes to social media gaffs, it seems that a few rotten apples (in this case, young men who are oblivious to how their words and actions will affect others) have spoiled social media for the group as a whole. Even worse, when these gems catch the eye of a reader, 11 times out a 10, the post will end up making its way into a sports news report in front of a national audience. 

Here is a recent example: Jayru Campbell is a 4-star recruit who had recently received a scholarship to play at Michigan State next year. Michigan State is coming off one of its best seasons in school history, going 13-1 and winning the Rose Bowl. With that success comes intense media focus on the team, including its new recruits. So, when a video of Jayru throwing a school security officer to the floor surfaced earlier this week, the video quickly went viral and made its way onto national newswires. For all we know, this could have been sparked by a set of freak circumstances and we may not be able to see all sides of the story. Maybe Jayru is not completely at fault for the incident. Regardless, in the eyes of the viewers, Jayru comes off as a unstable, emotional young man, one who may not be able to handle all of the pressures of being a starting quarterback and leader of a prominent football program.  Comments across the Internet call for Michigan State to revoke Jayru's scholarship. Just goes to show you how quickly one post online, even if you are not the one who posted, can ruin a life. 

Unfortunately, Jayru is not the only one who has generated a bad image for himself via social media. As I have mentioned in previous posts, Johnny Manziel has made himself "the bad boy of college football" with his off field antics. Photos of Manziel at a Texas fraternity party or drinking at the bar with his mom have been mercilessly dissected on national news programs including ESPN. While this may look like harmless college fun to some, others have taken note of Manziel's actions. There are some executives in the NFL that have some reservations about adding Manziel to their team this year due in large part to his off field issues. Regardless of his talent, Manziel can't outrun, out pass, or out perform his negative social media image.

So what can we do to help these young men clean up their social media lives? Do we limit their social media use, potentially banning it altogether? While that has been done by other teams, it does seem a little bit Orwellian. One remedy is the growing trend of introducing a "Process" into the lifestyle of the team, one that holds the players accountable for their actions with a zero-tolerance party. It seems that new Texas coach Charlie Strong has begun to install his own version of the Process into the Texas football community. Included in this new vision for the Longhorns includes a list of rules and expectations for all of the players. Included are rules forcing the players to live in athletic dorms, stricter requirements on class participation, and a stronger policy against drugs and alcohol. All of this comes with a zero-tolerance policy. The goal of this program is to not only bring the focus of the team back on playing and winning football games, but to also make the players more well rounded individuals. I can only imagine that as part of this new code of conduct, the social media presence of each player is a keystone issue that needs to be addressed. I am excited to see how well this program functions, both on and offline. I believe that Coach Strong has the ability to bring a well rounded and winning football team to Texas, one that makes noise on the field, but remains silent off the field. 

Like I said, not all college football players have this problem with social media. Unfortunately, it is the vocal minority that becomes the face of the majority. So, regardless of whether you are an athlete or just a spectator like myself, be mindful of what you post. And please, don't post those pictures of me taking down the school security officer. I can't afford to let the NFL scouts see that. 

Goodbye NFL dreams

A Little College Football In-between Playoff Games

Sorry for the long delay between posts, real life has gotten in the way of me posting my offseason football thoughts here. Even though it was only Syllabus Week, aka: the spring break of the classes, I have been swamped with both classwork and work for my new internship. Here I was thinking that second semester of senior year was supposed to be easy....


Well, enough about my life struggles, lets move back onto the field for college football news. I guess I chose the right week to take some time away from here, as there was very little news to report this week. In fact, the only real story in the world of college football left me with more questions than answers. The first question:

1) Who the hell is James Franklin?

A face to a name

After the departure of Bill O'Brien, Penn State tapped Franklin to lead a team that is still attempting to rebuild itself in the post-Paterno era. While O'Brien did lead the team to a 15-9 record over his two year span, there are still a good of amount of rebuilding to be done. This is where James Franklin steps in. After stints at Vanderbilt and Maryland, Franklin steps in to lead a Nittany Lions team that is eager to leave the past behind. The only thing is: no one outside of the SEC really knew Franklin's name prior to his nomination, myself included. This lead me to my second question:

2) How is he qualified to lead this Nittany Lions team?

It is interesting to see such a high profile program hire such a seemingly under the radar coach. They must have had a good reason to look his way. After a quick trip to ESPN, I found two good reasons for Franklin's hire. First, he is a proven winner. In his 3 seasons with Vanderbilt, his teams went a combined 24-15. What makes that stat line even more impressive is that these wins came in the powerhouse that is the SEC. An 11-13 conference record sounds less than fabulous, but when you have to play teams like Alabama, LSU, Georgia, and South Carolina every single year, it makes sense that your win percentage may be a bit low. This year, Franklin inherits a team that was 2nd and 3rd in the Big 10 over the past two years respectively, meaning that he now has a chance. In addition to his ability to win, Franklin is a world-class recruiter. As an assistant coach at Maryland, Franklin was given control of the recruiting process for the entire team. He had the ability to get recruits away from the bigger schools in the SEC and bring them to Vandy during his tenure. His strength in getting young men to buy into his style and the program will be of immense value to Penn State, as the program will still be missing some scholarships as part of the NCAA punishments two years ago. Each recruit becomes that much more valuable and Franklin will have his work cut out for him. With two questions down, the only question I have left in regards to this story is:

3) Is Franklin the right fit?

This one is tricky. While Franklin can win and recruits well, he is not without his fair share of controversy. During his time at Vanderbilt, there were some off field  legal issues regarding his players, including to five players being charged with rape last year. While they were dismissed from the team and Franklin was never connected, he was the head coach at the time and has a responsibility to the program to bring in the right kind of people to represent the program and to hold them to a certain standard. This is incredibly important at a school like Penn State, where the program still lives in the shadows of controversy. If Franklin can't control his players, his tenure will be short.

Overall, I don't see Franklin as the future of Penn State. I feel that he will only last three seasons, with at least one major controversy taking place in his time there.

Thanks again for the read. I promise to be better about posting in a more timely manner (aka not a week after the story was first announced). Special shoutout to my new readers from my #SMPASocial class at GWU. Go Colonials!

Happy "Rebecca Black" Day #1

Welcome to the first edition of Rebecca Black Day, a tradition I am "borrowing" from my previous internship with D.C. United. Nothing makes you feel more alive than listening to a wonderful rendition of her timeless classic when you first wake up on the last day of the work week (read: I just flew in on a red-eye flight from SF and am rather delirious at the moment). To start it off, we are going to go with the original, in all of its glory!

Hmm, why did I suddenly just lose a few readers?

Now that we are ready to either a) get down on Friday or b) find a remedy for the ringing in your ears, it's time to move onto the news coming out of college football this week. Three major stories broke in the days following the end of the BCS (and SEC domination) Era. Our first story takes us down to the heart of Texas, in College Station where....

1) Johnny Manziel announced that he would enter the NFL Draft

In a move that was shocking to absolutely no one, Johnny Football declared that he was done with the whole "college thing" at Texas A&M and was taking his talents down to South Beach the Radio City Music Hall for April's draft. This move comes as no surprise given his off season tensions with the city and the fact that he is consistently ranked as the #2 Quarterback in the draft and slated to go in the Top 10 picks. Guess that means his side market autograph days are truly over now that he will be swimming in money.

What he will be doing as he walks up to the podium

So, what does this mean for college football? Well besides his almost infinite off field antics, Manziel leaves behind a legacy as one of the most entertaining players to watch on the field. Over 7,800 passing yards, 93 combined touchdowns, and and average Adjusted QBR of 88.4. Oh and just a few important awards like the Heisman. His plays will run as highlights on SportsCenter for years. Congrats on your decision, Johnny. The NFL just got an upgrade. I feel for the young Quarterback who has to fill his shoes next year (although he looks like he will fit right in). Speaking off filling shoes in Texas, the new coach of the University of Texas is....

2) Charlie Strong

The search for Mack Brown's replacement is over! And Charlie Strong is just the man to turn the program around. Although "turn around" is a bit of exaggeration. Last year, the Longhorns went 8-5, including an Alamo Bowl lose to a high powered and vastly superior Oregon team. However, for the Longhorns and their fans, its is BCS or bust (well, for next year its College Football Playoffs or bust).  In addition, they are losing the recruiting battle in the state of Texas to A&M and TCU, a battle that the University of Texas has always dominated. This is where Charlie Strong come in.

Already in good form with the hand signal

Strong has a proven track record of taking programs from .500 to winning conferences in a short span. When he took over the reigns at Louisville in 2010, he took a team that had been 4-8 in the previous year to 7-6 and a bowl victory. He went out and actively recruited players to come build his program into a national contender at a school known more for its basketball program. With the help of a couple key signings (looking at you Teddy Bridgewater), Strong was able to build up his initial success with an 11-2 and Sugar Bowl winning 2012 season and a 12-1 record this past season. In his four years at Louisville, Strong was 37-15, with a winning record in each season. Even more impressive was the fact that during his tenure, there was an absence of off field issues with his players (the exact opposite Manziel). With his ability to win early, recruit well, and hold his players to a higher standard, Strong is the perfect fit for a young Texas team looking to reclaim the glory days of 2005. Speaking of glory days, the AD of Louisville was probably feeling a bit blue and nostalgic following Strong's departure, so he decided to bring in....

3) Bobby Petrino

You may be asking yourself, "Wait, Bobby Petrino is still coaching college football?" Trust me, this was the first thought that popped into my head when Louisville announced that Petrino would be returning to coach the team. Most people these days seem to forget that Petrino coached the Louisville team from 2003-2006, where he went 41-9 during his first tenure, giving him the best winning percentage of any coaching in Louisville football history. Similar to Strong, he led his team to both and 11 and 12 win season as well as an Orange Bowl victory before heading to the NFL to coach the Falcons. Unfortunately, Petrino is known more for his final days at Arkansas, where he was involved in a horrific motorcycle accident which revealed is extramarital affair with a female staffer. This discovery led the university to fire Petrino, who then went on to coach a forgettable season at Western Kentucky University, going 8-4 and missing out on a bowl game bid.

Hopefully people will remember this Petrino when he begins coaching

So, where does this leave Louisville after they brought Petrino back as their coach? All bad PR aside, they bring back a coach who has not only had a great deal of success, both at Louisville and elsewhere, but a man who has been humbled by his mistakes. Yes, there will be some initial recruiting backlash, as prospects will begin to move away from the program. However, that issue will remedy itself after Petrino leads the Cardinals to another set of successful seasons. For know, Louisville and Petrino must focus their efforts on a young squad who lost Teddy Bridgewater to the draft, a daunting task on its own.

That wraps it up for the major college football news of this week. I'll be taking the weekend off to enjoy my first week back in D.C. (read: sleep the entire weekend as my internal clock is so messed up, I don't even know what year it is). I'll be back on Monday with any breaking news and remember: Don't Rebecca Blackout too hard this weekend.

I'm with ya there Robin

College Football Viewing Guide

Since it is a bit hard to tailgate for a team that doesn't exist, I present to you the step by step guide to spending your Saturday in front of the TV watching college football.

Step 1) Wake up with a pounding headache, the terrible result of a rowdy Friday night.

Step 2) Create a mental pros/cons list of staying in bed all day for a lazy Saturday.

Step 3) Spend the next 15 minutes building up the will to exit the comfort and security of your bed.

Step 4) Slowly roll out of bed, the exact opposite of the band-aid method.

Step 5) Struggle to get your legs into both legs of your sweatpants.

Step 6) Breathe a sigh of relief as you see the "care package" your alter ego left you on kitchen counter: a bottle of Blue PowerAde, Advil, and your coffee mug waiting to be filled with black gold that you programmed to be brewed an hour before you got up. Also remember to thank your alter ego.

Step 7) Bring care package contents over to couch and begin self medication of coffee and PowerAde (repeat as needed).

Step 8) Grab the remote and turn on the TV, making sure to turn up the volume for your sleeping roommates.

Steps 9) Change the channel to ESPN just in time to see Lee Corso put on his headgear.

Step 10) Hmmm, didn't see that choice coming Lee.

Step 11) Begin channel surfing between the different games as you have access to only so many (and lets be honest, some of these early games aren't gems).

Step 12) Go back to your room to grab your laptop to begin the streaming of games that you can't find on your basic cable package (read: ANY. PAC 12. GAME).

Step 13) Realize that two screens is not nearly enough and as a result return to your room to turn on your Xbox to stream another game.

Step 14) Begin ordering Chinese food because you realize that you haven't had a substantial meal in nearly 24 hours (hooray college diets).

Step 15) Begin loudly reacting to each decision made on the field until your roommates are up.

Step 16) As the first round of games ends, you hear the glorious knock on the door signifying that your orange chicken has arrived.

Step 17) Discuss the merits of your Fantasy College Football idea (seriously, it would be fantastic and a great way to get more people to watch more games....just saying).

Step 18) Continue to rotate your attention between the three screens that you have playing college football as the day continues.

Step 19) Decide that the halftime show is the perfect time to bathe.

Step 20) Comment on the amazingly creative names of the players on the teams (looking at you Cincinnati Bearcats).

Step 21) Repeat Step 18 until all college football games have ended.

Step 22) Discuss the plays of the day with your roommates as if you were on SportsCenter.

Step 23) Realize that bed sounds like a fantastic idea and begin to crawl back into bed.

Step 24) Just as you are about to fall asleep, you realize that you have yet to set your Fantasy Football lineup (well, I guess sleep can wait).

What do you mean we don't have a football team?

There are many things that I love about GW. The classes that I have taken are great, where class projects that I have worked on have actually landed me jobs. The friends that I have made here will be a large part of my life well after I graduate. And who could ever complain about living in D.C.? All college ranking jokes aside, GW has a lot going for it and I have a lot to be thankful for.

However, there was always something that bugged me when I set foot on campus. It felt as if something was missing, that something seemed out of place. I first attributed this to our campus' lack of anything close to a shade of green save U Yard and that patch of grass behind South Hall. Maybe the lack of oxygen given off by the 4 trees on our campus was finally getting to me? After careful thought, I realized this emptiness was much deeper than the shallow, dead roots of the grass around Foggy Bottom. I realized that GW was missing a key ingredient of the college experience.

Foreign countries don't count as GW green space

We were missing a college football team.

Arguably the most visible (and largest revenue producing) facet of college life, the one most cliched in every college movie ever made, was absent from GW.

My mind began to race. What is a college without a Saturday morning filled with drunken co-eds, helmet-to-helmet contact, and ridiculous traditions? How could I have overlooked such a glaring fact in all of my college reference books? Who can I blame for such an egregious offense?

After an extensive Internet search (read: 5 minutes on wikipedia), I discovered to my dismay that at one time, GW did have a football team. Back in the 1960's. A combination of low attendance, lack of an on campus stadium, and lack of wins (6-20 over 3 years is still better than Kansas, just saying) led to the decision to terminate the football program in January of 1967. In a related side note, the termination of the football program allowed the university to focus its attention on the men's basketball program and pump in money to build a new field house.

Extra points for the Coach wearing a bowler cap

Thanks a lot basketball! Ruining all of our fun with your flopping and 3 point shots. It is however much harder to be mad at them now that they are actually winning games (congrats on the 12-2 boys).

So what is a man supposed to do when the thing he wants most is taken from him? Wallow in self-pity? Angrily destroy half of his belongings in a frenzied rage? Drink himself into a stupor until he can't even remember what a football looks like? A healthy combo of all three?

I don't want your football-less life, GW!

No, in a situation like this, a man must take back what is rightfully his. And I did just that...by parking my ass on the nearest couch every Saturday morning to watch all the games that I can't actually attend. If I can't be a part of the drunken co-ed tailgating experience here at GW, I'll do the next best thing and watch other people actively participate on TV. Since I don't have a team to watch, I'll just have to watch everybody else's.

This is where this blog comes into play. Since I am a highly opinionated and vocal person, this blog will be my voice after  I lose mine shouting at the QB for making the wrong read during the option and turning a 5 yard gain into a 3 yard loss. However, since the college football season ended two days ago with FSU beating Auburn 34-31 in the BCS National Championship, my focus will now turn to commenting on the off season moves of each team. That means all coaching changes, transfers, recruiting classes, draft announcements, spring practices, tweets, and endless reruns of this season highlights. Well maybe not all bits of news (sorry Kansas, you are going to have to do a lot better to impress me).

THE DEFENSIVE END STAYED HOME! HAND IT OFF!

Welcome to the show everyone. It's a one man tailgate, but it is sure to get rowdy.

And remember: Go Colonials Football! Undefeated since 1966.