Own the group chat with The Weekender, highlighting the biggest stories in college sports, standout writing from Eleven Warriors, and a glance at what's next.
Go Big or Go Home
On Saturday, the University of Georgia celebrated its first national championship in football since 1980. To make up for lost time, as many people showed up in Athens for the parade as they do for a normal game day.
One heck of a party.#GoDawgs#NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/ic2jtLp6h0
— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) January 16, 2022
They may be able to use that photo for the overhead stadium shot and no one would know the difference.
From a Lion to a Tiger
Former Penn State running back Noah Cain has found a new destination, heading South to join new coach Brian Kelly's LSU football team for his remaining two years of eligibility.
Say my prayers, so Im protected as soon as I walk in. #GeauxTigers pic.twitter.com/i45uGxInMT
— Noah Cain (@therealnoahcain) January 14, 2022
Cain, a former four-star recruit in the class of 2019, rushed for a school freshman-record eight touchdowns as a true freshman before suffering a season-ending injury on the first drive of the game against Indiana to open the 2020 season. This past season, he was passed up by Keyvone Lee after starting the first four games and rushed for only 350 yards and four touchdowns.
Good Old-Fashioned Beef
Former Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, projected by some NFL draft analysts to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in April's draft, had some choice words on why he chose Oregon over Alabama while participating in a live broadcast with Fox Sports during Monday’s national championship game.
More than an athlete @KayvonT offers perspective as to why choosing @OregonFootball was about more than just what happens on the football field
(Presented by @FTX_Official #CFBPlayoff #FTXChampTailgate) pic.twitter.com/nNcCN6ktGf— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) January 12, 2022
“I already hate the stigmatism of football players being dumb jocks,” Thibodeaux said. “So now, do you know the stigmatism of Alabama education? It ain’t the West Coast. It ain’t Harvard.”
Former Alabama graduate and national championship-winning quarterback Greg McElroy had an equally strong response, challenging Thibodeaux to an IQ test and Wonderlic comparison, a test formerly used by NFL teams when evaluating draft prospects.
”I will put my degree up against his any day of the week,” McElroy said.
Whichever side you're on, disputes like these will have to tide us over until the new college football season kicks off on August 27.
ICYMI
Five Early Thoughts on Ohio State's 2022 Football Schedule
Dan Hope takes a look at Ohio State’s revised schedule as the Bucks now start with five straight home games and again have their bye exactly halfway through the year.
McCall Hopes He Left Legacy at Ohio State
Griffin Strom looks back on Demario McCall's impact at halftime of the Rose Bowl and the gratitude he has despite his sixth-year season not going as well as he planned.
Ohio State No. 2 in Way-Too-Early Rankings
Kevin Harrish reviews the national way-too-early 2022 college football rankings from a variety of news sites, which have the Buckeyes sandwiched between Alabama and Georgia.
