And no, Shane and I aren’t just talking about Notre Dame. The first week of bowl games have been…well, not great for the most part. We found ourselves tuning out more than tuning in to most of the games this week. However, there were a couple of gems which we made sure to highlight on this week’s show.
The original plan this episode was to have a large discussion topic around the skipping of bowl games by NFL-bound players, namely Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffery. As we are want to do, much of the news pushed the episode into several bursts of extended discussion. Have no fear we have reactions to the many, many scorching hot takes about college players making decisions about their personal futures.
The #HAILGAMBLOR Bowl Pick ‘Em is well underway and Eddie and I make our selections for the next 18 (!) games on the slate until the next episode. Spoiler alert: thus far, #FadeEddieMac is a wise strategy.
It’s the penultimate episode of 2016, get on it!
The Roundup
The most entertaining postseason games were outside the FBS. The HBCU National Title aka, the Celebration Bowl, was decided on…well, a celebration penalty. James Madison dethroned the defending five-time champion North Dakota state. In the other FCS semifinal, Bo Pelini saw his Youngstown Penguins win on one of the sickest catches you will ever see.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAhsJJLfUWs
The potential Minnesota Holiday Bowl boycott came to an abrupt end. After reading the university’s 80+ page report, the decision became rather easy. As far as what’s in that report…well, if you can manage to stomach it (I couldn’t), you can read some of the details as to why 10 players found themselves suspended.
I failed to put Kiffykins on the outline last week. He has a new gig over at FAU and was quickly replaced at Alabama and Nick Saban continues to run his dynasty with a collection of Southern Cal misfit toys.
This should stop the Jimbo Fisher leaving rumors for at least a couple years. FSU inked Jimbo to a deal through 2024. Yes, that’s not a typo.
“POLITICS” WARNING. Yes, we are going to mention Trump, but only because Barry Switzer decided to screw with the media. This gem of a story is buried midway through a Politco article, but thankfully the AP focused on what really mattered here.
You suck at cheating, Rutgers. Also, ND fans will all be watching with interest to see how a potential “failure to monitor” a whole host of violations goes. Because, ya know, self-reporting is bad so this should clearly be worse, right?
What was known two years ago is still true today. Joe Mixon punched a woman when he should have walked away. If there was somehow any doubt that what he did deserved more punishment than a redshirt year, the video of the incident was released this past week. How does Bob Stoops defend having such a player on his team? Well, by saying that so much has changed in two years and he’d clearly kick him off the team if he punched a woman this year. By the way, Mixon will play in the Sugar Bowl because TWO YEARS AGO, PEOPLE!
Justin Utupo has landed himself a high school head coaching gig. One of the people he credits for learning how to run a program? Brian Kelly. /hears head explosions everywhere
Brian Polian is home again. Well, reportedly.
Longo has a new job as well. “Reassigned” is the official term, although “demotion” would certainly apply here. I’m wondering if we have a Milton/Office Space situation developing.
Irish basketball helped host quite a surprise for Matt Farrell. Just watch:
Grab some tissues.
A message from Matt Farrell's deployed brother turns into the most amazing surprise at the @NDmbb game
What a moment. pic.twitter.com/VMftOIYtbT
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) December 20, 2016
Texan by birth, Irish by choice.
First-generation Domer and a former student manager, HLS podcast host, HLS Sim creator, Extra Life streamer, and technical problem haver. You can find more non-Notre Dame related writing on his Patreon.
- Epilogue - January 3, 2022
- HLS Podcast Finale - January 2, 2022
- The Final Fiesta: Notre Dame vs Oklahoma State NCAA ’14 Sim - December 31, 2021
