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What do you want discussed in part seven/ Notre Dame episode?

I’m recording part seven of my Clemson Football preview series tomorrow, featuring Notre Dame Rivals writer Tyler James. I thought I’d ask you guys if there’s anything you want brought up or asked for the episode.

Thanks for all the support on the series! I’ve managed to bring in 1,000 new listeners across all platforms to the show!
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OT: Disney today acknowledges ESPN sucking wind

Few things from the Disney/ESPN Bob Iger interview earlier today:
  1. Disney is looking to get a strategic partner, a tech company (Apple, Google, Facebook, Amazon) to buy a stake in ESPN. Business deteriorating faster than they expected.
  2. Disney is also open to outright selling ABC and a bunch of cable networks they currently own. The whole business is in a downward spiral. Yeah, no $hit.
Now what does it mean for Clemson? Unfortunately, they don't ask those questions at CNBC. We will see how this plays out but we all know this is HUGELY important to Clemson football. Few thoughts.
  • ESPN has to find a way to create better value and they better do it fast.
  • ESPN needs more Bama-Georgia, Texas-Bama, LSU-Texas, A&M-Georgia, etc and a whole lot less Kentucky-Vandy and Miss State-Mizzou.
  • I'm sure there are bean counters over at ESPN wondering why they are paying some brands - Vandy, Wake, BC as much as they do today. They really aren't pleased to think they will pay Vandy even more in the future!
  • I think this continues shifting the calculus going forward from territory and cable/sat subscribers (North Carolina, Virginia) to brands (Clemson, FSU, Miami) which can draw viewers/subscribers.
  • Disney/ESPN sucking wind today makes the Clemson football brand - as far as future matchups and bringing eyeballs - more valuable, not less.
  • Disney/ESPN are in over their heads as far as what they owe the leagues and what they are going to be able to pay in the coming years. They know it. In so many words they are saying it.
  • Disney/ESPN business must change soon or they won't be in business. It's why they are looking for a "strategic partner." A less optimistic term for strategic partner would be "lifeline."
  • If that ESPN strategic partner, with deep pockets is not found, all the conferences and teams are going to be where a lot of MLB is today - a world of hurt. Everyone will be looking at less money.
  • If I were an AD, I wouldn't be spending all these riches from the new TV contracts just yet.
  • If we do have realignment Clemson needs to be super careful about what we agree to pay to leave.
  • Clemson/FSU/others could leave, agree to pay full freight, few hundred million $$$$ to get out the ACC, then walk into a reduced contract in a new conference. Given these are university eggheads who previously signed a 20+ year TV deal, I'm not sure that is not a totally realistic scenario.
Anyway, it's super interesting to me when what happens on Wall Street intersects with college football and sports in general. Looking like it's going to be a rocky ride the next few years.

NCAA Tournament expansion not imminent

NCAA Tournament expansion not imminent
By: Jeff Borzello - ESPN.com

The NCAA acknowledged Thursday that it discussed possible expansion of the NCAA tournament at the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee meeting this week, but the organization also said expanding the field is "not imminent."

In January, the NCAA Division I transformation committee released a report recommending several changes to college sports, including allowing 25% of teams in sports sponsored by at least 200 schools to compete in annual championship events. For men's and women's college basketball, that could potentially mean a move from 68 teams to as many as 90 teams.

The Division I board of directors approved the recommendation later that month.

"The committee must be good stewards for the Division I Men's Basketball Championship," said Dan Gavitt, NCAA senior vice president of basketball. "They are committed to doing their due diligence looking at a few different models to make an informed decision that's in the best interests of the championship, and that may very well include deciding against expansion."

"The committee and staff will continue studying options and gathering feedback from various constituents," Gavitt said. "Whether the tournament expands or not remains to be seen."

The men's NCAA tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, later going to 65 teams in 2001 and 68 teams in 2011.

SWAC commissioner Charles McClelland will chair the committee beginning in September, and North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham was selected as vice chair and will then chair the committee in 2024-25.

Tennessee infractions ruling

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Per Ross Dellanger this morning:

Tennessee infractions ruling, expected today, will not include a postseason ban, sources tell me. The university took swift action and conducted its own investigation when allegations surfaced two years ago. UT self imposed scholarship reductions and recruiting sanctions. Former Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt is expected to receive a 6-year showcause, sources tell me.

HVAC Saga - need advice

Ok, will try and keep this as short as possible. Bought a new AC unit this year, cost about 13k. This purchase was made in april. Since then the AC has worked for maybe a total of 2 months. We've had multiple folks come out to try and solve the problem to no avail. The air coming out of the vents is almost like falling out, and its not that cold. The unit is running but cant get the temperature in the house below 75, even at night or this morning when it was colder than that outside. Its 94 in denver today and 83 in my house right now. I dont really know how to evaluate what is going on and why this company cant solve this problem. Is there any reading I can do to figure this out and check their work? They have been a disaster, but I can't go to a new company as they will end up charging me for repairs on a system that we just had installed.

Best-case scenario 2024 recruiting class

QB - N/A
RB - Eziomume (commit)
WR - Wesco (UPDATE: commit)
WR - Moore (UPDATE: commit)
WR - Matthews
TE - Betancur (commit)
OL - O’Connel (UPDATE: commit)
OL - Thurmon?
OL - Uter?
OL - Edwin / later emerging OL prospect?
DE - Kissayi (UPDATE: projection)
DE - Mayo (UPDATE: commit)
DE - Nichols
DT - Brown-Shuler (commit)
DT - Thompson (commit)
LB - Brown (UPDATE: commit)
LB - Woodaz (commit)
CB - Feagin (commit)
CB - Gipson
S - Dixon (commit)
S - Jones (UPDATE: commit)
DB - Hampton (UPDATE: commit)
K - Hauser (commit)

That gets us to 22

Hopefully the numbers work out in a way that allows for a couple more takes beyond 20 if any of those additional WR’s/DB’s/OL want on board…

Thoughts?

Additional thoughts on Clemson's offensive line recruiting ...

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Clemson's offensive line recruiting was highlighted in today's Fact Or Fiction feature by Rivals.com national analyst Adam Friedman. Our Paul Strelow participated in the feature.

Clemson fans should be worried about offensive line recruiting

Friedman's take: FACT. Clemson is going to sign talented prospects but it's not inspiring to see the offensive line targets they haven't closed on. Fletcher Westphal committed to Florida on Monday. William Satterwhite committed to Tennessee last week. Alabama looks like the favorite for Casey Poe's upcoming announcement and Clemson is trailing for Jameson Riggs.

This isn't encouraging but, historically, Clemson wasn't known for signing top-ranked offensive linemen. They've developed low four-star and three-star offensive line prospects for years and turned them into reliable contributors. Missing on these highly ranked recruits in an area of need like the offensive line can sting for years.

Strelow's take: FICTION. Disappointed? Frustrated? Sure. Those are all logical reactions to Clemson missing out on a pair of targets this past week, and having all three offered in-state options fall for its rival earlier in the cycle. The Tigers have a good one in four-star Ronan O'Connell, but it's reasonable to have hoped for more at this juncture.

Far be it from us to tell customers how they should think, full disclosure. But it's not as if Clemson fans haven't seen this before. And then the Tigers either score a big name late, or they work around the shortfall. Offensive lines don't live or die with one recruiting cycle, and Clemson had some banner triumphs the previous two classes.

You can justifiably argue they need to win more battles to take the next step or get where they want the position to go. But every outcome appears magnified and a referendum when you keep such a small board as Clemson, and precedent cautions us against overreacting to a string of defeats.

Full Fact Or Fiction article from Friedman

Duke

Not reading much about this matchup on here other than lack of concern. I’m seeing more on here about UNC’s opener.

I realize that by consensus there is little concern. But I would like to see an eval of the Blue Devils from the knowledgeable on TI. By position.

Are they due for a fall off? How do they stand among our ACC opponents?

We would benefit if they won 9 again. Looking at the 2022 game by game they seem legit.

New UGA lawsuit, she’s got receipts

The staffer who survived the crash that killed Devin Willock and Chandler LeCroy is suing the school and says staffers had permission to take rental cars home at night.

From AJC (yes, Judd): “ “At the time of the crash,” the lawsuit also says, “LeCroy was operating the subject rental SUV with the permission of the UGA Athletic Association.” “

The association of course denies this.

Rest of this post again is from the story: “But Bowles’ civil complaint, filed late Wednesday in Gwinnett County State Court by her lawyers, Rob Buck and Phil Boston, includes screenshots of text messages in which athletic association officials gave Bowles and others permission to keep the rented vehicles even after their assigned duties concluded. In December 2019, for instance, Logen Reed, an associate director of recruiting operations, told Bowles in a text message that “you can take your car home if you need to.” “Wait,” Bowles responded, “just making sure you mean I can take the SUV with me.” “Yes!” Reed replied. “Take it home.”
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