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.
Smart responds to Georgia schedule critics
The dust had hardly settled from Georgia's second consecutive national championship win this past January before fans and pundits began anointing the program for a potential three-peat. That's because one look at the Bulldogs' 2023 schedule suggests there'll be little resistance in the way of a 12-0 start to the season.
Georgia's non-conference schedule isn't exactly stacked with threats, given that three of its first four opponents to open the season consist of UT Martin, Ball State and UAB. The Bulldogs' only Power-5 foe in non-conference play is Georgia Tech, which hasn't had a winning season since 2018 and has failed to beat its in-state rival in each of the past five meetings.
In terms of conference opponents, Georgia won't have to play Alabama or LSU, and aside from a matchup with Tennessee, the Bulldogs don't have any other SEC adversary scheduled that won more than eight games in 2022. ESPN's Football Power Index lists Georgia's schedule as just the 31st most difficult slate in the country
When asked about the perception that Georgia has a cake-walk schedule in 2023, however, Smart responded with three words at SEC Media Days.
"Come play it," he said.
Well, nobody can. But there are sure to be plenty of teams that wish they were playing Georgia's schedule this season, and none of them are two-time defending national champions.
Another lawsuit at Northwestern
Lawsuits and allegations keep on piling up in Evanston in the wake of the Northwestern football program's hazing scandal.
According to a Washington Post report, a third unnamed former Wildcat football player – who was on the team from 2018 to 2022 – filed a lawsuit on Thursday that claims that "the player was subjected to hazing and harassment that included sexualized acts and racial discrimination, that (Pat) Fitzgerald took part in the hazing and harassment as other players watched, and that school leaders were negligent in allowing those incidents to occur."
Fitzgerald was fired on July 10 after 17 years as head coach of the Northwestern football program. Fitzgerald was ousted just three days after receiving a two-week suspension from the program following a university investigation into incidents of hazing. Fitzgerald said in a statement to ESPN that he had “no knowledge whatsoever of any form of hazing”
Along with Fitzgerald, the other defendants in the lawsuit are former Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips – now the commissioner of the ACC – school president Michael Schill, former president Morton Shapiro and Northwestern board of trustees and athletic director Derrick Gragg.
“We have learned through our investigation thus far that those who have expressed concern were subjected to being benched, retaliated against and suppressed,” said attorney Patrick A. Salvi II, who is representing all three former Wildcats that have filed lawsuits, in a statement on Friday. “Our clients are coming forward with their stories now because they want to see institutional change so future generations don’t have to suffer what they experienced. We are likely just scratching the surface as to how widespread this misconduct was throughout Northwestern’s athletic department.”
Tennessee coach takes shot at Texas
At least one SEC team is already sparking up some hostility toward one of the schools that is set to join the conference in 2024.
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel took a couple of tongue-in-cheek shots at Texas during SEC Media Days when asked about the conference newcomers, saying, "There’s only one real UT.”
A university abbreviation isn't the only thing the two programs share. Both teams also wear shades of orange, which prompted Heupel to double down with the following comment: "Only one right shade of orange."
The Volunteers and Longhorns haven't squared off on the gridiron since 1969, and they've only played two other times before that. Texas holds a 2-1 edge in the all-time series, which began in 1951. Tennessee isn't scheduled to play Texas in 2024, either, given that SEC schedules have already been released for next season.
However, the two teams may have a chance to settle their differences on abbreviations, color schemes and SEC supremacy come 2025.
ICYMI
Tressel Took "High Road" After OSU Split
Griffin Strom details how Jim Tressel went through hard times at the end of his OSU career, but took the high road and found collegiate administration to be just as rewarding as coaching.
Inniss Believes He Can Make Early Impact
Dan Hope writes that Brandon Inniss is still acclimating to Ohio State workouts and learning the playbook but believes his versatility will enable him to earn playing time as a freshman.
Threads of Tradition
Johnny Ginter explains that Ohio State has had a lot of fun with alternate uniforms in the past, but there's one extra step that the university can take to make them a tradition.
What's Next?
- 11 Days: Until Ohio State opens preseason camp at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center
- 41 Days: Until the Buckeyes officially kick off the 2023 season against Indiana
- 125 days: Until Ohio State takes care of business against its arch rival in Ann Arbor
