Welcome to another week on this very fast spinning rock. May as well make it delightful.
Word of the Day: Exalt.
GOODBYE, NCAA? The Very Bad Virus probably isn't entirely to blame for changing everything about college sports as we know it, but it's sure as hell been a catalyst.
As if things weren't already wild enough, we've now got the Power Five seriously kicking around the idea of just straight-up leaving the NCAA, especially if the NCAA decides to cancel fall championships and/or continue to do nothing to lead its member institutions through the global pandemic.
In recent days, Power 5 conference officials began seeking feedback from their members about the feasibility of staging their own championships during the fall, sources told SI. When asked if such a move away from the NCAA championship structure could be seen as a precedent-setting rift between the national governing body of college sports and the Power 5, one athletic director said, "If I were (NCAA president Mark) Emmert, I'd be really worried about it. He's got to keep the Power 5 together.
Another Power 5 athletic director said he thinks the chances of breakaway fall championships are remote, but added, "I think this is representative of the poor relationship between the (NCAA) national office and our conferences."
...
One veteran college administrator described the NCAA and Power 5 as having long been embroiled in an "existential crisis," and wondered whether this fall sports gambit could be "the crack in the armor" that leads to an eventual split.
"Is this the final break?" The source asked. "You could have two championships: one from the (Power 5) and potentially some Group of 5s joining them, and a second one for everybody else in the spring. ... It's going to be real strange."
I have no idea if that would be good or bad news, but what I do know is that the Power Five almost certainly does not need the NCAA to function, so the second the taste that sweet freedom, we ain't going back.
Buckle up, folks!
BOOMSHAKALAKA. It's obviously not a rarity for a high school player to get better at basketball as time goes on – in fact, that would be the goal, ideally – but holy hell Meechie Johnson doesn't even look like the same person, and I mean that in the best of ways.
I remember when he committed to Ohio State, I thought he looked pretty good and would be a fine multi-year contributor, then he got injured and I had no idea what to expect. Well folks, we're post-injury and he straight-up looks like an unguardable five-star.
2021 G Meechie Johnson (Garfield Hts) had a strong July for Indy Heat. Used the time off to improve his body and blossom as a playmaker.
— T.J. Peatross (@NEO_Spotlight) August 2, 2020
Made quick decisions in the P&R and was able to advance the ball in transition with the pass.
Check out some of his video breakdown below. pic.twitter.com/u5AiQHVni0
And he's in the same class as the fellow guard Malaki Branham – the No. 27 overall player in the country.
Don't look now, but it looks like Chris Holtmann might just have something cooking...
FUTURE FIVE-TIME PRO BOWLER? Wyatt Davis is all set to be the next highly-coveted Ohio State interior lineman, joining Billy Price and Pat Elflein. Candidly, I pray his NFL career kicks off better than theirs has.
The good news is, Daniel Jeremiah – one of my go-to NFL Draft Knowers (behind Dan Hope, of course) – doesn't think that'll be an issue. He foresee's a long and strong NFL career.
Biggest takeaway: I've talked to many offensive line coaches over the years and they all covet the traits that Davis possesses: strength, toughness and effort. He's an outstanding finisher. However, as I outlined above, he does have areas where he needs to improve. I've heard some folks compare him to Quenton Nelson. In my opinion, he isn't anywhere near that level of player. He lacks Nelson's quickness, knee-bend and change of direction. However, I do believe Davis will be a solid starter as soon as he steps foot on an NFL field.
He reminds me of: I see similarities to David DeCastro when he was coming out of Stanford in 2012. Both guys excel when they can stay on one track, and they collect plenty of knockdowns in every game. DeCastro had better flexibility, but I think they are comparable athletes. DeCastro has enjoyed a tremendous professional career with the Steelers, earning five straight Pro Bowl nods and two All-Pro selections. Davis has the potential to do the same.
I love the extremely decisive language Mr. Jeremiah uses. He's Wavy Dub "isn't anywhere near" one two-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, but then goes on to compare him to a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro.
Hey man, whatever works. As long as I get to see him bully some folks at the next level too, I'm content.
HANDS. In my head, it makes complete sense that a person who is seven feet tall would have hands so large they make common objects look like Barbie toys.
However! That doesn't mean my brain is just going to be okay with it when my eyes send it this image:
BREAKING: Ibrahima Diallos hands are very big
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) August 3, 2020
( via ibrahimaa_diallo on ig) pic.twitter.com/NyOIGVRhYV
iPad = His Hands == iPhone = My Hands.
GET DUMPED THEN, CANCER. Do y'all like giving cancer a solid punch to the chin and getting some one-one-a-kind Buckeye gear all at once?
If so, I've got some good news.
1) Drew's mom is a hero, a fighter and a badass 2) this is a great and important cause 3) Game-Worn Cocaine Whites. https://t.co/YWloqjYOpZ
— Ramzy Nasrallah (@ramzy) August 3, 2020
Fight cancer, have a chance to win game-worn Cocaine Whites. Win-win.
SONG OF THE DAY. "The Greatest Show" from The Greatest Showman.
NOT STICKING TO SPORTS. A con man avoids prison because he's too fat... A tenant decapitated his landlord with a sword due to a rent dispute... How an Atlanta strip club navigates social distancing... A plane overloaded with cocaine crashed on take-off... Museums around the world compete to see who has the best butt art...
