I don’t want to spoil the introduction to Wednesday’s Pigskin Pregnostications, the first of the season with a full schedule of games.
As always, this will be a great read and a lot of fun to write.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention in this first Pigskin Prattler how deafening the silence was on Saturday.
My phone didn’t ring.
Which meant that my arch-nemesis, the one and only Sultan of Schadenfreude, Bookstore Billy, didn’t call.
I knew he was as fixated on the first pigskin attack as I was. I guess he wasn’t happy with the way the games were going. Which I actually was.
Anyway, more on Wednesday.
* * * * *
Jack Plummer, once the second-best plumber in this city, threw a pair of touchdown passes for the Panthers in their final preseason game. 29.21., 278 yards, 125.4 QBR.
Hmmmm.
I suspect, contrary to my assumption, he will make the roster and possibly overtake Andy Dalton as Bryce Young’s replacement. On the taxi squad, anyway.
* * * * *
The NCAA, in its infinite wisdom that only comes along once in a millennium, is eliminating the portal for transferring pigskin games in the spring.
The coaches will know their lineups after the spring.
One must assume that the wealthy class is extremely pleased.
It seems to me that some kid will want to move if they fall in the rankings in March, and they will find a smart lawyer who will file a lawsuit for non-compete violation or some such reason.
Which he will win.
We’ll see.
One thing that the umbrella organization could consider and that would actually make sense for everyone: the institutions, the coaches and the players.
Change the winter portal dates until after the bowl season.
Apparently makes too much sense.
I mean, what could be more fun than training for the postseason, building an appetite for winning the Pop Tarts Bowl, and recruiting new players at the same time?
Speaking of portals: 15 starting quarterbacks from the Big Ten began their training at other schools.
* * * * *
My JM Atherton HS Rebels won their opening game.
20:7 against Country Day.
* * * * *
My two favorite media moments of the weekend.
I’m watching Ryan McGee’s wonderfully funny and insightful video on ESPN Bottom 10 showing off his hip-hop mashup to the tune of “We Didn’t Start the Fire.”
And the clip that Jesse Palmer passed around during the Dublin game.
Apparently he and Katie George of Louisville had been at one of those Irish links courses a day or two before the match. After the round, when they asked one of the caddies what they owed him, he replied with a serious expression: “An apology.”
* * * * *
One of the leading sports websites – I forget which one – has listed their experts’ picks for the top 5 players/groups at each position in the ACC.
U of L was unheard of in any of these categories. QB. RB. Wideouts. TE. OL. Interior DL. LB. Safety.
But at number 1 on the edge rusher list: Ashton Gillotte.
No. 1 on the CB list: Quincy Riley.
On the other hand, while Tyler Shough may not have made it into the top ranks of signal givers – or so it is said – the constantly overrated DJ Uiagalelei did.
Yo, bookstore, how did DJU do on Saturday?
I’m asking for a friend.
* * * * *
Things really get going on Thursday. The Tar Heels visit Gopherland. The predictions will be made in the usual time frame the day before.
We Bronconagurskians will no longer be stuck in tabula rasa mode. (I mention this because I saw this phrase in an article the other day and realized I never used it.) Everyone feigns scholarship.
— CD Kaplan
