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.
Unlimited Official Visits for High School Football and Men's Basketball Players
You know that Oprah meme where she hands out free gifts to everyone in attendance? That seems to be the case going forward for high school prospects and their respective official visits.
Starting July 1, football and men's basketball players will be allowed to take as many official visits as they want, the NCAA announced Thursday.
"For young people considering where to go to college, visits to campus—both official and unofficial—are an integral part of the decision-making process," said Lynda Tealer, executive associate athletics director, University of Florida, and Chair, NCAA Division I Council. "This was an opportunity to modernize NCAA rules in a way that provides greater and more meaningful opportunities for prospects going through the process."
Football players will be able to take as many official visits as they want (the previous limit was five per athlete). While there is no longer a limit as to how many official visits a prospect takes, each player will be limited to one official visit per school unless there is a head coaching change after an official visit. If that occurs, the prospect will be able to take a second official visit.
In men's basketball, a player can still take two official visits to a school as long as the visits do not take place during the same academic year (the same rule as before).
Tony Petitti is the Right Man for the Job as Big Ten Commissioner
When the Big Ten hired Tony Petitti as its next commissioner last Wednesday, replacing Kevin Warren, some people had plenty of questions. With previous experience at CBS, ABC and the MLB, among others, he has no prior college administrative experience. Then again, Petitti is the fourth consecutive Power Five commissioner to not have any experience in the field. There's a reason for that. CBS' Dennis Dodd did some digging and interviewed some of Petitti's former coworkers.
"Obviously, [the Big Ten's] biggest investment is television, and he knows it better than any of the other commissioners," said former Big Eight/Big 12 commissioner Chuck Neinas, who worked with Petitti 30 years ago as head of the College Football Association. "Look at his background."
That background for the 14-time National Sports Emmy Award winner includes helping launch the BCS and its first national championship game in the history of college football, the MLB Network and the Field of Dreams Game. He also played a key role in CBS reacquiring rights to have NFL games in 1998.
"Don't be surprised if Tony comes up with new events, new approaches, new schedules, just as he did when he joined me in 1997," said CBS Sports president Sean McManus. "He's going to dive into this. Nobody will ever outwork him or have more of a commitment."
With college athletics facing plenty of unknowns – both good and bad – with NIL, the Big Ten soon going coast to coast, conference realignment and so much more, having an innovative leader like Pettiti at the top of the Big Ten does, in fact, seem like a great fit.
Kliff Kingsbury joins USC as Offensive Analyst
From Texas Tech head coach to Arizona Cardinals head coach to...USC senior offensive analyst? Kliff Kingsbury has joined Lincoln Riley's coaching staff at USC three months after being fired by the Cardinals.
Its official.
— USC Football (@uscfb) April 11, 2023
Welcome @KliffKingsbury pic.twitter.com/GbhQQoQPNE
After spending his last four seasons in Arizona, Kingsbury returns to Southern California, where he was the Trojans' offensive coordinator for a month before resigning and taking the Cardinals' head coaching job in 2019.
Considered to be a quarterback guru, Kingsbury has coached Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield, Johnny Manziel, Josh Rosen, and Kyler Murray throughout his time at Texas Tech and in Arizona. Considering Riley is also considered to be one of the best developers of quarterbacks, USC's offense could be a really good one this fall, with 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams leading the way.
ICYMI
More Snaps in the Slot Can Make Marvin Harrison Jr. A More Complete Receiver and Add Another Dimension to Ohio State’s Offense
Making opposing defensive coordinators do more work in pre-game prep all while making it easier to get the ball to the best wide receiver in the country this fall? Sounds like a good recipe for success.
Introducing The 1870 Society
Introducing The 1870 Society, a collective dedicated to creating a standard of excellence in Name, Image, and Likeness.
Ryan Day, Urban Meyer, Jim Tressel And John Cooper Reflect on Their Careers, Share Fondest Ohio State Memories During Roundtable At Coaches Clinic
Talk about a legendary night to begin Ohio State's coaches clinic. Every living Buckeyes full-time head football coach opened up on their fondest OSU memories, the most talented players they’ve coached and more this past Thursday night.
What's Next?
- Women's Lacrosse: at Rutgers, 6 p.m. Thursday (BTN)
- Women's Golf: Big Ten Championship, TBA Friday
- Men's Golf: Robert Kepler Intercollegiate, Friday through Sunday
- Men's Lacrosse: at Michigan, 8 p.m. Friday (BTN)
- Men's and Women's Track and Field: Jesse Owens Classic, TBA Friday and Saturday
- Women's Golf: Big Ten Championship, TBA Saturday
- Men's Volleyball: MIVA Finals, TBA Saturday
