This Offseason Has Sucked: 2016 Edition

[WestEndVol]

Shaq Davidson goes from FBS Gamecocks to FCS Gamecocks

Davidson first hinted on Twitter then confirmed to 247Sports.com that he has decided to continue his collegiate playing career at Jacksonville State. A member of the JSU coaching staff also confirmed the move in a tweet.

 

[Texas Jefe]

Former A&M All American Linebacker Antonio Armstrong and his wife shot dead.

Former A&M football player, wife killed by teen son, according to police

Community remembers couple allegedly shot by son

That's just terribly sad.

 

[Texas Jefe]

thank goodness we didnt do a slide show

 

[Wild Turkey]

I can't wait for Texas fans to brag about how they don't play FCS teams and how tough Memphis and Cincy are to play. The season ticket packages should be outstanding.

 

[Texas Jefe]

I can't wait for Texas fans to brag about how they don't play FCS teams and how tough Memphis and Cincy are to play. The season ticket packages should be outstanding.

I cant wait until Auburn fans say something original.

Of course, then the real fun will come, as the Bama fans will jump in and claim Auburn fans plagiarized said statement.

 

[WestEndVol]

After leaving Louisville, OL Skylar Lacy lands at San Jose State

As a graduate transfer, Lacy will be eligible to play immediately in 2016. In fact, he’ll have two seasons of eligibility with the Spartans.

The addition of Lacy will certainly bolster the Spartans’ offensive line in terms of both talent and experience.

 

[WestEndVol]

Memphis transfer Jamarius Henderson moves on to Troy

A week ago, Memphis announced that it had granted a release to Jamarius Henderson so that he could transfer “in order to be closer to his son” in Alabama. And, according to the Dothan Eagle, Henderson has done just that, with the running back confirming to the paper that he will be transferring to Troy and continuing his collegiate playing career with the Trojans.

 

[WestEndVol]

As of today, college football coaches can now retweet recruits

As of 12:01 a.m. Monday morning, coaches can like, favorite, retweet or otherwise publicly “click” social media posts sent by recruits. They can’t comment on them or contact recruits directly, but the allowance of that sort of indirect communication does loosen things up for coaches on Twitter and other social media platforms.

 

[WestEndVol]

Troy adds North Carolina DL Junior Gnonkonde as grad transfer

Monday afternoon, the Trojans announced that Junior Gnonkonde has joined the squad as a graduate transfer. Gnonkonde graduated from North Carolina in May and opted to transfer from the Tar Heels for unknown reasons.

 

[WestEndVol]

Ex-Clemson WR Kyrin Prister leaving Wazzu, too

First reported by CougFan.com, Priester (pictured, No. 1) has decided to transfer out of the Washington State football program and continue his playing career elsewhere. TheSpokesman-Review subsequently confirmed the initial report.

 

[WestEndVol]

Sports Business Journal: Big 12 expansion not sitting well with Fox, ESPN

Ourand reports ESPN and Fox are non-plussed with the thought of the 10-team conference adding the likes of BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, Memphis and/or UConn, programs which would “water down the Big 12 and make it less valuable.”

ESPN and Fox would owe the Big 12 a combined $20 million per team added to the conference — so $40 million for two teams or $80 million for four teams. The Big 12’s TV deal with both networks runs through 2024-2025.

Read Ourand’s full story here.

The question now becomes for the Big 12: Is the short-term financial windfall worth damaging its relationship with ESPN and Fox?

Both networks easily could walk away from renewing with the conference — or put in a lowball offer — after 2025 if they feel the quality of play decreased because of, for example, Houston and Cincinnati’s presence. That’s a significant risk for Bob Bowlsby and the Big 12 to take, especially without the safety net of a conference network (as the ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC will all have by 2019).

But nine years is a long time in today’s media landscape. If the TV rights bubble is already beginning to burst, what will rights payouts look like in 2025? Will cable TV still hold a certain level of importance with alternative offerings proliferating over the the last few years? Will ESPN and Fox even be the best destinations for distributing the Big 12’s product?

In a sense, it’s a risk either way. The Big 12 may very well damage beyond repair its relationship with ESPN and Fox over expansion, but it also may not matter when those networks’ contracts are up. But in the short term, it’ll be fascinating to see how — or if — ESPN and Fox are able to influence the Big 12’s expansion efforts, given that, to paraphrase the Wu-Tang Clan, C.R.E.A.C.F. (Cash Rules Everything Around College Football).

 

[Bamabino]

BREAKING: Cam Newton to miss pre-season and the 1st 2 games due to his upcoming hysterectomy.

 

[WestEndVol]

Baylor suspends OL Rami Hammad, charged with felony stalking

According to the Waco Tribune-Herald, offensive lineman Rami Hammad was arrested Monday on a felony charge of stalking. Hammad was allegedly stalking an ex-girlfriend on campus, following her around to classes multiple times.

 

[RegentDenali]

Baylor suspends OL Rami Hammad, charged with felony stalking

I guess by Baylor standards, that's an improvement.

 

[rfjeff9]

 

[WestEndVol]

Auburn dismisses Jovon Robinson, Tigers’ leading returning rusher

Earlier today it was reported that Robinson was nowhere to be seen as the Tigers’ kicked off summer camp with their first practice in preparation for the start of the 2016 season. After that practice, head coach Gus Malzahn dropped the bombshell: Robinson has been dismissed from the football program.

The running back was informed of the coach’s decision this morning.

 

[WestEndVol]

Academics to sideline talented Irish TE Alize Jones for all of 2016

Head coach Brian Kelly confirmed earlier Wednesday that Jones “will not play for the Fighting Irish this fall.” The tight end will, however, be permitted to practice with his teammates throughout the 2016 season.

 

[WestEndVol]

Texas indefinitely suspends four-star 2015 WR DeAndre McNeal

UT officials confirmed Wednesday that DeAndre McNeal has been suspended by head coach Charlie Strong. The only reason given was a violation of unspecified team rules.

 

[WestEndVol]

Freshman All-American one of two D-lineman no longer with Mizzou

Mizzou confirmed Wednesday that defensive end Walter Brady (pictured, middle) and defensive tackle Harold Brantley are no longer on the team. Brady has been dismissed from the football program for violating unspecified team rules while Brantley’s departure is related to academics.

 

[WestEndVol]

Little-used WR Daylon Charlot announces transfer from Alabama

On his personal Twitter account Wednesday, Daylon Charlot announced that, after “a lot of thoughts and prayers,” he has decided to transfer out of Nick Saban‘s Alabama football program. The wide receiver gave no reason for his decision.