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.
Brad Stevens Declines Indiana's Upcoming Head Coaching Vacancy
With Mike Woodson stepping down following this season, the Hoosiers will search for a new head coach to lead their men's basketball program. While Indiana has long been considered one of the top jobs in the sport, they have struggled throughout much of the last 20-30 years, especially in terms of the standards set for the Hoosiers.
With that, plenty of names have been discussed, both by college basketball fans and analysts. One of those names was Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens. On Friday, he told Field of 68's Jeff Goodman that he is not a candidate.
BREAKING: Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens told @TheFieldOf68 that he is not a candidate for the Indiana University job.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) February 14, 2025
I thoroughly appreciate being a Celtic and love the people I get to work with every day, Stevens told @TheFieldOf68.
An Indiana native, Stevens led Butler to back-to-back national championship game appearances in 2010 and 2011. After a very successful six seasons leading the Bulldogs, he was hired by the Celtics to be their head coach in 2013. He transitioned to a front office role in Boston in 2021, where he has been since.
Six Former "Last Chance U" Football Players Sue
Nearly nine years after "Last Chance U" debuted, former East Mississippi Community College players Tim Bonner, John Franklin III, Deandre Johnson, Ronald Ollie, C.J. Reavis and Isaiah Wright have sued the school, Netflix, the National Junior College Athletic Association and the program's director over their portrayals in the show.
The lawsuit is for $30 million after receiving no compensation for their contributions to the project. The former players are holding the defendants accountable "for the wrongful misappropriation of their likeness and to ensure fair compensation for their work."
"The most coercive tactic defendants used upon the plaintiffs was telling them if they did not sign the contracts, they were not eligible to practice," John Pierce, the lawyer representing the players, said in a complaint filed last week at Los Angeles County superior court. "In turn, they would not be eligible to play games, and their football skills would deteriorate. Inability to practice meant closing the door on what they committed their whole life towards, eventually playing professional football. Plaintiffs had no real negotiation or any meaningful choice except signing what was presented to them without ever being instructed of the purpose of filming or being advised to read through the contract in its entirety."
Greg Sharpe, Longtime Nebraska Football Play-by-Play Voice, Dies of Pancreatic Cancer
After a 10-month battle with pancreatic cancer, longtime Nebraska football play-by-play voice, Greg Sharpe, died at the age of 61 on Friday.
For 17 years, Greg Sharpe spoke past the microphone and into our hearts.
— Nebraska Huskers (@Huskers) February 15, 2025
His legacy will be woven into the moments he narrated and carried on through the relationships he built.
We are deeply saddened by Gregs passing and send our deepest condolences to the Sharpe family. pic.twitter.com/AlSMYL6R0K
"While his passion and energy on the call of Husker football and baseball brought joy to so many for the past 17 seasons, it comforts us to know that his legacy will live on through these same moments that he narrated and through the relationships that he built," the Sharpe family's statement said. "While the public knew him for his booming voice and infectious personality, those closest to him knew him for his loyalty and dedication to them."
The voice of Kansas State football and basketball from 1996-2002, the Cornhuskers hired him for the final three games of the 2007 season and gave him the permanent announcer job the following season. He even announced several games this past season during his courageous battle with cancer.
Sharpe was named the Nebraska Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association In December and Nebraska's athletic department named his workspace in the pressbox the "Greg Sharpe Radio Booth" in January.
Dedicated to the ultimate Husker and the voice that will forever be synonymous with Nebraska Athletics.
— Nebraska Huskers (@Huskers) January 29, 2025
Introducing the Greg Sharpe Radio Booth. pic.twitter.com/Oeey2SUsb3
ICYMI
Ohio State’s Top 10 NFL Players of 2024-25
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Brian Hartline “Very Humbled” to Be Ohio State’s New Offensive Coordinator
Brian Hartline called it a “great honor” to be Ohio State’s new offensive coordinator, and he’s already thinking beyond winning just one national championship with the Buckeyes.
Ranking the Most Fun College Football Playoff Games En Route to Ohio State's National Championship
With the first 12-team College Football Playoff in the books, we rank all 11 CFP games this past season from least fun to most fun en route to Ohio State's national championship.
What's Next
- Women's Basketball: vs. Iowa, Monday, 7 p.m. on FOX; at Indiana, Thursday, 7 p.m. Peacock
- Men's Basketball: vs. Northwestern, Thursday, 6:30 p.m. on FS1
- 55 Days: Ohio State Football Spring Showcase
- 195 Days: Ohio State Football season opener vs. Texas
- 258 Days: Jim Knowles returns to Columbus
- 286 Days: The Game
