Coaches have new concerns
We begin today with congratulations to Chattanooga.
This fine city, according to Nielsen research, ranks among the top 10 college football markets nationally based on the percentage of the adult population that follows the sport. Knoxville also ranks among the top 10, as does the Alabama duo of Birmingham and Mobile.
The other markets, which Nielsen listed alphabetically: Columbus, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; Jacksonville, Florida; Little Rock, Arkansas; Toledo, Ohio; and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Many Chattanoogans admit to having a college football thirst, which takes us to this week’s subject matter — the new NCAA rule allowing players to enter up to four games and still maintain a redshirt year. This rule was designed to benefit younger players, but through four weeks of the season we are starting to witness amateur free agency.
Clemson senior quarterback Kelly Bryant improved to 16-2 as his team’s starter with last Saturday’s 49-21 win at Georgia Tech, but Tigers coach Dabo Swinney elected Sunday to move forward with heralded freshman Trevor Lawrence. An emotional Bryant did not practice Monday or Tuesday and announced Wednesday he is transferring to another program to play in 2019, when he will be a fifth-year senior.
“It’s a pretty slippery slope, and not just for seniors but for all players on a team,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said on Wednesday’s SEC teleconference. “We have a responsibility and an obligation as coaches that we support players and that we help them be successful personally, academically and athletically, and then they have an obligation on their side to play. It’s a slippery slope when the players start to decide whether they are going to play or not, and I’m not saying that there are not some circumstances out there where it’s not beneficial to the player to save a year so that he can play in another circumstance.
“Those things should probably be mutually agreed upon, but it is what it is. The intent of the rule was to help the development of young players, and this is sort of an unintended consequence.”
Bryant is the most prominent name to use this new NCAA rule, topping Oklahoma State senior receiver Jalen McClesky, who has 167 receptions for 1,865 yards and 17 touchdowns in his collegiate career. Cowboys coach Mike Gundy said Monday that McClesky will redshirt the rest of this season because he felt like he wasn’t getting the ball enough.
McClesky had 15 catches for 155 yards and two scores through four games.
“This is something that I don’t know that there was much discussion about from coaches,” South Carolina’s Will Muschamp said. “It was more about the younger players and the underclassmen and being able to put them in a situation to be successful. It’s the rule. It’s going to be here, and you’ve got to prepare for it.”
Said Vanderbilt’s Derek Mason: “I think it’s been a surprise, to be honest. The rule was old and outdated, and what we’re doing is giving young people a chance to figure out exactly where they belong. It’s always about fit, and if there is the unintended consequence that some older guys transfer, then it is what it is.”
Pasquali’s Pix
Louisiana at Alabama: Louisiana has been known through the years as Southwestern Louisiana, Louisiana-Lafayette, ULL and now as Louisiana. Alabama has been known as Alabama. Crimson Tide 45, Ragin’ Cajuns 6.
Bowling Green at Georgia Tech: Since winning the Orange Bowl after the 2014 season, Paul Johnson’s Yellow Jackets are a tepid 18-22. Yellow Jackets 42, Falcons 19.
Tennessee at Georgia: Sure hope CBS announcers Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson are working on some jokes and riddles to entertain their second-half viewers. Bulldogs 44, Volunteers 7.
Florida at Mississippi State: Joe Moorhead needs to win the “Dan Mullen Bowl” more than Dan Mullen. Bulldogs 24, Gators 20.
UTC at ETSU: The Mocs are 30-10 in Southern Conference games since the start of the 2013 season. Mocs 27, Buccaneers 25.
Ohio State at Penn State: Urban Meyer returning to guide the Buckeyes is not college football’s feel-good story of the year. Buckeyes 31, Nittany Lions 24.
Stanford at Notre Dame: It’s hard to find a better coaching matchup than the first meeting between these two, when Knute Rockne got the better of Pop Warner in the Rose Bowl after the 1924 season. Fighting Irish 24, Cardinal 17.
South Carolina at Kentucky: The Wildcats are 2-0 in Southeastern Conference play for the first time since 1977, and junior running back Benny Snell is just 36 yards from reaching 3,000 in his collegiate career. Wildcats 27, Gamecocks 24.
Last week:
Winners ……………… 21 Fuentes ……………… ..4
Pasquali is now 87-13 overall (87.0 percent) this season.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-7576524.