Day 2 news!
-- Manziel's phone died. No, really. And the dog ate his homework. And he left his ID in his other pants. The worst of it for an Alabama fan is that now McCarron will have to spend part of his time tomorrow talking about the Manziel situation and why he didn't wake him up, or, more to the point, which one of them wasn't in the room that morning.
-- Speaking of McCarron, his tweet regarding the ESPYs highlights the difference between him and Manziel.
McCarron said:
You're right I'm not at the espy's! I don't have to be at a award show to know what my team did. I'm back at school working to get another
Now, my understanding about most of these award shows is that the nominees are informed ahead of time whether they're going to win so only the winners need to actually show up. Manziel won something and McCarron didn't so McCarron didn't need to be there. But it was still smart of him to use the opportunity to create that public message.
McCarron and Manziel are buds. I'm sure McCarron's doing a lot of the same crap that Manziel is doing, and I'm sure it has impacted his focus or preparation at some point. But because he is more mature or savvy about the face he shows publicly, he can get away with it while Manziel gets hounded.
When asked by reporters at the Manning camp what he wanted to learn or take away from the experience, McCarron's answer was that he wanted to learn from the Mannings how to deal with public perception when all eyes are on you. Manziel doesn't seem interested in that. And McCarron gave that answer before the Manziel incident arose.
-- The NCAA will no longer license a video game. EA will continue to make the college football series, but they will have to contract with individual schools for licensing rights if the schools are willing.
-- The playoff committee will consist of some or all of 'Big Five' ADs, former players, former coaches and media members. Commissioners will not be eligible. Seems odd to me to allow ADs but not Commissioners, but whatever. The current thinking is that the committee will meet maybe three to five times, and may or may not release 'standings' after each of those meetings. Everything's still pretty much up in the air
EDIT:
-- Manziel on Clowney: "I think I could get away from him"
-- Manziel said Texas A&M brought in two counselors to help him identify stress triggers. I remember during the Franchione years there was a D-lineman at Alabama who was missing classes, late for practice, locker room problem, etc., and it turned out to be sleep apnea. He had surgery on his soft palate and did a 180º. The level of pressure these guys are under is incredible, but so is the level of care they receive . . .
-- Miss State ends the season with SCAR, A&M, Alabama, Arky and Ole Miss. No bye week.
-- Of everybody I've heard talking about the playoff format, Dan Mullen is the best at rationally pointing out the foibles. It's not better, just different
-- Tennessee's Tiny Richardson on the odds of a UT resurgence: "Before Bama turned it around they were terrible. ... I mean dead terrible. So why can't we be the next team that blows up?" I mention this because people frequently seem to forget how bad we were pre-Saban. Lost to La-Monroe in Saban's first year . . .
-- Malzahn on the player safety issues on the defensive side of the ball that may arise from up tempo offenses: "When I first heard that I thought it was a joke." I have to agree. Up tempo offenses are bad for college football, but only because they marginalize the mental side of the game. The safety issue that Saban and Bielema have concocted is pure fabrication . . .
-- Bielema on recruiting and off-field issues: "You recruit the problems you have." Brilliant.
-- McCarron is scheduled to show up in eight hours. Hopefully he's not counting on Manziel to wake him up . . .
