College Football

As you may or may not have seen by now, Lion's Pride is now selling a new style of Penn State football jerseys. Before you all start freaking out, it's just a tiny little change. And it's just the logo! No big deal! We like that logo, remember? Just be happy that we didn't go to something like this, or this, or this, or even this. There haven't even been any official announcements, so these may not even be our real uniforms. We could end up with these for all we know. In the end, this is still our wonderful football team, and we're only 99 days away from seeing them play. Before you start flipping out in the comments section, donate to the Kickstarter. It's so easy, and it's right there! Plus you get free stuff if you do it, so win-win! Follow @BSDtweet on TwitterAnd join us on FacebookAll BSD community members should review our current Posting & Commenting Policies before creating any posts or commenting.

Hightower picks Houston after Boise suspension

Five-star athlete Peppers to announce choice Sun.

Last year Brian Kelly had a 12-0 regular season for Notre Dame. Charlie Weis, exiled from Notre Dame, went 1-11 with Kansas. And in 2011 Weis made almost twice as much money as Kelly ... from Notre Dame. This is why you shouldn't rush into silly contract extensions, kids. According to the Chicago Tribune, which cited federal tax documents, Weis received another buyout payment of $2,054,744 from Notre Dame in 2011. During the same reporting period, Kelly got $1,088,179, although the Tribune points out that probably doesn't represent Kelly's total earnings that include external sources. No matter, the story points out the absurdity of Weis' contract with Notre Dame. The Tribune reports that Weis is scheduled to keep getting buyout payments until Dec. of 2015, and that the total buyout should end up totaling $18,966,867 (and yes, Dr. Saturday is already preparing to copy and paste this post when we're writing about Iowa and Kirk Ferentz in a couple years). Not sure about Weis, but his agent surely had a decided schematic advantage. Weis, who received an initial payment of $6,638,403 after his firing according to the Tribune, serves as a cautionary tale. Weis had five years remaining on his contract in 2005, when the school decided to renegotiate those five and add five more. That was during Weis' first season with the Irish. The 10-year extension turned out terribly for Notre Dame but pretty well for Weis, whose final three years with the Irish included a 3-9 season in 2007. The next time a school thinks about renegotiating a coach's contract less than a full season into a six-year deal, it should think about Weis and just let it play out a little longer. - - - Want to join the conversation? Hit us up on Twitter @YahooDrSaturday and be sure to "Like" Dr. Saturday on Facebook for football conversations and stuff you won't see on the blog.

Ray Small, an infamous name to Ohio State fans, sat in a chair being recorded on a cell-phone video and apologized repeatedly to everyone, especially those involved with Buckeyes football. It's hard to imagine Ohio State fans will just forgive and forget Small being a big part of a scandal that led to Jim Tressel resigning and a bowl ban for the Buckeyes in 2012, but the video obviously showed Small is regretful for what he has done. Small, a Buckeyes receiver from 2006-09, admitted in 2011 to The Lantern student newspaper that he sold memorabilia including Big Ten championship rings, and identified a car dealership as giving Buckeyes players special deals. That story intensified a growing scandal in which other players had been suspended for selling memorabilia to a local tattoo parlor. Tressel would resign a week later. As a result of NCAA sanctions from that scandal, a 12-0 Ohio State team was ineligible to play for a conference title or in a bowl game last season. And Small is sorry for all of it. In a rambling two-part video posted to YouTube (h/t to Eleven Warriors for pointing it out), Small sits in an office chair and continually apologizes. At one point he apologizes to his peers, his elders and young people, which should cover everyone. He talks about his upbringing, saying his father sold drugs, his mother worked three jobs and he was raised by his sister so he had no discipline in his life, and how he didn't understand how to conduct himself as a college athlete. In 2012, Small was arrested and charged with drug possession, accused of having more than 200 oxycodone pills. He repeatedly directs his message to kids, saying he wants them to learn from his mistakes. "This is coming from the heart, honestly," Small said. "I’m just really appreciative and blessed the fact that I can catch on to this situation in my life, because it’s not going too well. The decisions that I made – I've never been a good decision maker, I haven’t, and I probably have a couple people that can vouch for that – and with that said, I want to give out my condolences and my heart to a lot of people, like my former teammates. My former teammates were like the world to me, and I treated them like nothing. To Buckeye Nation, I sorely apologize to the Buckeye Nation, because I’m a Buckeye for life, regardless of how people like it. I kind of got 'X’ed out from being a Buckeye, and that kind of hurt my heart." Small also apologized to Tressel and then-Ohio State receivers coach Darrell Hazell, who is now the head coach at Purdue. "I am truly sorry for my actions," Small said. "My life did a complete 360 on me, and I just want to talk to Coach Hazell. That was like my favorite guy because he always kept it strictly real with me. I want to apologize to Coach Tressel because he told me, he tried, he gave me many chances and many chances. I’m here today to speak up on my behalf and say I’m a man and I understand the things I have done wrong." Small, who said in the video that he has three kids of his own, said his trial on the drug possession charge will be in July. He said he is writing a book, which could be fascinating. The story he tells over about 19 minutes in the videos is of a young man from a troubled background, who failed the seventh grade because he barely went to school, but overcame it to get a scholarship to Ohio State. Then he didn't handle that opportunity well, burned bridges at Ohio State, got arrested and seems to realize that he needs to turn his life around, saying, "I was the guy that didn’t get it." He repeatedly talks about hoping kids learn from his mistakes, and perhaps he can have a future speaking to youth groups. Although it's hard to imagine Buckeyes fans embracing him again, he says in the video it isn't too late for him to change his direction in life. "At the end of the day it’s about what do you do, and what have you learned," Small said. "You can’t keep doing the same things over and over, speaking as far as mistakes

Houston running back Charles Sims, arguably the team’s best offensive weapon, announced Thursday he was departing Houston, leaving his football future up in the air. “It is with regret and deep humbling, that I am ending my playing career at the University of Houston," Sims said in a statement. "I have a lot of great memories that I will carry with me forever. I want to thank the University of Houston for allowing the opportunity to be a part of its football program. "I don't know what my next step will be. I have one more year of eligibility, therefore I may look to play one more year of college football or I may enter the NFL Supplemental Draft later this year." In January, Sims said he would return for his senior season, but after receiving his degree this spring, Sims started having second thoughts. Since he has graduated, Sims could transfer to another school and be eligible to play immediately. Sims struggled with injuries last season, but was the Cougars’ leading receiver with 851 yards and 11 touchdowns. He averaged six yards per carry. There’s no doubt Houston isn’t the team it was under former coach Kevin Sumlin. It was 5-7 in 2012 and lost to Texas State to start the season. That’s a far cry from the 13-1 record in Sumlin’s final year before moving to Texas A&M. Even if you’re not familiar with Sims’ work on the field, you might remember that he was the subject of an April Fools’ prank coach Tony Levine played on Houston fans just a few months into his tenure. Levine issued a press release and did an in-house interview announcing Sims' move from offense to cornerback and that Houston was going to play a new 3-1-7 (three defensive linemen, one linebacker and seven defensive backs) scheme. At the time, Levine hadn’t coached a game and earned a lot of flak for moving an All-Conference USA rusher to defense. Unfortunately for Houston fans, this is not another hoax and the Cougars will be losing one of its best players making Levine's second season another challenging one. - - - Want to join the conversation? Hit us up on Twitter @YahooDrSaturday and be sure to "Like" Dr. Saturday on Facebook for football conversations and stuff you won't see on the blog.

Will McGloin make the Raiders' roster? -chicken cosmoA year ago the notion of Matt McGloin making an active NFL roster seemed beyond ridiculous. Even after a spectacular senior season, it still seems hard to believe since McGloin doesn't have the size and arm strength that NFL teams desire. If you examine the roster, it may be best not to doubt McGloin this time around. The Raiders recently acquired Matt Flynn, last year's free agent QB of the moment who didn't even start a game after being beat out by Russell Wilson. They used a fourth-round pick on Arkansas QB Tyler Wilson, who has reportedly been stellar so far in mini-camp. Those two are all but guaranteed a roster spot, leaving the third-string battle between McGloin and our good friend Terelle Pryor. If Pryor is moved to another position, as many believe he eventually will, McGloin may just inherit that third spot on the roster if he continues to impress Oakland's coaching staff. Even if Pryor wins out and remains at QB, McGloin could be a likely candidate for the practice squad to give the Raiders a year to develop him as a legitimate NFL quarterback. What's scarier, an angry JoePa or an angry BO'B? -Success With Honor AlwaysThis may be the greatest question question in the short history of the BSD Mailbag, and it's a tough one. I never had the pleasure of meeting JoePa, but have been in the same room and corresponded with Bill O'Brien. Let me tell you, that man just exudes intensity. Even when he's calmly chatting about football and discussing games that are still several months away, you get the feeling that at any moment he's going to stand up, rip his shirt off and throw a trident directly at your soul. I would hate to be anywhere in his proximity on a bad day. With that being said, an angry JoePa is still more frightening than about anything I can imagine. If you don't agree, go back and watch the end of the 2002 Iowa game when he chased the refs into the locker room. He had a look in his eyes that I've never quite seen before, and I'm pretty sure smoke came out of his ears at one point. Those refs barely made it safely into the locker room, and probably stayed locked inside for about two weeks before they felt safe enough to come outside. Do you believe the man you love is overfeeding you and making you fat in order to control you? -WorldBFatI thought it was due to all of the stuffed-crust pizzas, KFC and Krispie Kreme, but now that I think of it, it probably is "the man" trying to control me. Thank you WorldBFat for empowering me to take control. You're the next Tony Robbins. Or Tony Shaloub. Or one of my 17 Uncle Tonys. If a tree falls and no one is around to hear it, does Ohio State still suck? -PSUbaltimoreOf course. Always and forever. How is Gilliam doing, injury-wise and with his conversion from tight end to tackle? -NittanySeaLionGilliam was overshadowed by Kyle Carter, Jesse James and Matt Lehman last season as they played a larger role in the passing game. But Gilliam was a key part of the offense and really excelled as an extra lineman, for all intents and purposes. He has spent the offseason bulking up and is now hovering around 300 pounds. Gilliam may not be a starter this fall, but will see plenty of playing time and will be depended on as a leader. Gilliam has unfortunately had to battle a few injuries during his time at Penn State, but has always been known as a very high-character student-athlete. Can I give you my phone number? -ReadingRamblerSure, but I will also need your social security and credit card numbers, along with your date of birth. Where do you draw the line between tasteful and tasteless nudity, and how does that relate to Casual Fridays at the office? -MainLionIf you got it, flaunt it. It's always better than being an amorphous blob of khaki. Have you ever seen a grown man naked? Full_DerpYes. I almost always look down in the shower. Follow @BSDtweet on TwitterAnd join us on FacebookAll BSD community members should review

Well, looky here – Kevin Scarbinsky and Andy Staples follow in Matt Hayes’ footsteps and come out in favor of Les Miles’ campaign to end the SEC’s permanent cross-division rivalries.  It’s a veritable media groundswell.  It’s kind of funny watching the same institution that’s routinely mocked Miles for some of his less than brilliant game management at times find wisdom in the man’s judgment now.  (If Chris Huston is the next to chime in favorably, I quit.) The funny thing about all this is that Miles has said embarrassing stuff about scheduling for years.  But now he’s being taken seriously.  I don’t get it. Scarbinsky’s piece is easy to dismiss.  It’s more of a giant “boy, do Auburn and Tennessee really suck these days” wankfest than anything else.  Staples takes a more thoughtful approach, although in the end, it doesn’t get him to a different destination. The SEC has tossed tradition before, and sometimes with happy consequences. Florida and Tennessee played quite irregularly before the divisional split. From 1992-2006, theirs was the league’s most exciting rivalry. South Carolina and Georgia, who played some fun games when South Carolina was an independent, have become excellent border-state rivals. Besides, the Iron Bowl, the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party and the Egg Bowl remain untouchable thanks to divisional alignments. So the league can still cling to some traditions while also ushering in a bright — and lucrative — future with a scheduling philosophy that gives teams a more even road to the SEC and national titles. If you’re Mike Slive, “bright” and “lucrative” are redundant terms. I know Andy’s a Florida guy so ignoring pre-1990 SEC history is wired into his DNA, but that Florida-Tennessee reference is too brief.  In the old days before divisions, conference teams never played round robin schedules, so yes, some matchups were infrequent.  But others were forged over a long period to become part and parcel of the SEC’s identity.  And even though the ’92 expansion was a money grab at its heart, Roy Kramer was smart enough to know that it was important to preserve the legacy of games like Alabama-Tennessee and Auburn-Georgia because they helped define the conference even as it changed. The essence of Miles’ complaint is a pernicious attitude that winning the SEC should be viewed as little more than a means to an end and that the only goal of scheduling should be as a useful tool to help the powerhouse schools find their way into the national postseason picture.  Now he’s a coach, so I get where he’s coming from.  But as a fan and as someone who appreciates the history behind the Oldest Rivalry in the South, that doesn’t mean I have to like it. And Staples is kidding himself with his “cling to some traditions” silver lining.  Because if there’s one thing we know, it’s that we all know what the SEC will do with its scheduling in the end – carefully weigh all of its options and choose the one that makes the most money, history be damned.  As I’ve said before, that’s the only tradition the SEC believes in these days. Filed under: Media Punditry/Foibles, SEC Football

What can you say about a guy who managed to parlay the greatest loss in college football history into a deal that’s still paying him more money from Notre Dame than Brian Kelly received from the school after taking the team to the national title game? Well, all I can say is that’s it’s a long way down from touting yourself as Mr. Decided Schematic Advantage to picking up flotsam and jetsam from the MAC. Sadly, however things play out at Kansas, there’s likely another sucker waiting to take a shot with Weis. Filed under: Charlie Weis Is A Big Fat...

You gotta love the semantics of recruiting.  An offer by a school isn’t binding.  A verbal commitment by a kid isn’t binding.  So I’m not exactly sure what is gained by this wrinkle: Alabama’s scholarship offers at some positions, most notably quarterback, are non-committable and pending an evaluation at summer camp, reported al.com’s Mike Herndon. Alabama has non-committable “offers” out to two Georgia high school quarterbacks, Gainesville’s Deshaun Watson (committed to Clemson) and Pierce County’s Tyler Harris. “It is our philosophy at certain positions that we really like to learn a lot about players and one of the best ways to learn about a player is when they come and visit you, because you’re limited in terms of the contact you can have with them off-campus,” Saban told the website. So a high schooler gets an “offer”, but it’s an offer he can’t accept when it’s made.  That’s not an offer; it’s an invitation to come visit. It’s common for colleges make non-committable scholarship “offers” to rising seniors that are pending an evaluation at summer camp – especially at the quarterback position. It’s just rare for a college coach, especially Saban, to publicly admit it because then it may cause confusion for other kids at other positions offered by the same college on whether or not they have a “true” or committable offer. Jeez, ‘ya think? But let’s not forget the real problem with recruiting is high school seniors who can’t make up their minds. Filed under: Recruiting