Here are some random thoughts in the changes going around in the world of college sports
1.) Conference changes
A few months ago, the 2 major LA universities, University of Southern California and the University of California at Los Angeles announced they were leaving the Pac-12 to join the mostly midwestern Big 10.
It was all about the money from the TV deals.
A part of me was hoping that my alma mater University of Hawaii would join the Pac-12 so they could play USC and UCLA (as well as Oregon, Washington, Stanford, Cal, etc) every year. So much for that now.
After the announcement, all the coaches at USC and UCLA said they're excited to join the Big 10. I have my doubts. In many organizations, the employees are expected to express love for the imposed changes ...... or else.
After all, the thing that makes college sports exciting is regional rivalries.
USC and UCLA had a long history of regional rivalries with Oregon, Washington, Stanford, Cal, etc.
I doubt anyone at USC and UCLA would be excited to play (or watch their teams play) Rutgers or Purdue! But saying so could possibly get you fired at those universities.
2.) Deion Sanders at Colorado
Deion Sanders was one of the most exciting players in football history. No one can make the pick-6's and then do the touchdown dances like he could!
watch his pick-6 highlights here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8CiNSiSd9A
In the last few years, Deion Sanders has coached Jackson State from an underdog to an up-and-coming team. He has been able to compete with the more high-profile teams for the top recruits.
His time there was a sign that the HBCU's (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) could rise again and be competitive with the big-name PWI's (Predominantly White Institutions) like Alabama and Georgia!
But the man long nicknamed "Prime Time" wanted to move on to a location with prime time facilities and prime time money. But while none of the prime-time programs in the SEC or ACC was calling him, he did find himself a landing spot at the University of Colorado! Prime time facilities but a very not-ready-for-prime-team that went 1-11!
His introduction to the Colorado players has been very controversial. He basically told them that they have been too complacent and that they might as well transfer as he's bringing his own players with him.
His defenders on various podcasts said, "yeah, kick all the players from the 1-11 out, kick them out, the kids are too soft!"
But what if there's a better way? There is one!
Back in 1998, the University of Hawaii football team went 0-12!
The following year, Hawaii had a new coach June Jones, who went 9-4 and won a bowl game with mostly the same players that was on the 0-12 team.
And some of those players that were on both the 0-12 team and the 9-4 team went on play in the NFL. (ie Jeff Ulbrich, Kaulana Noa, Adrian Klemm).
June Jones proved that you don't need to chase away players that were on a losing team, you can improve the players that were on a losing team and make them winners.
