McCready: 10 Weekend Thoughts, presented by Harry Alexander
I don't know.
Before we go further today, remember those words: I don't know.
You have lots of questions. I do, too. I'll do my best to answer them, but be forewarned: I don't know.
Before you go further, I can tell you this: This isn't going to be a sunny read. It's going to be a very bad week.
1. This isn't going to be your standard 10 Weekend Thoughts. I don't have it in me today. I've got a lot on my mind and I'm bracing for what I anticipate will be a devastating week of news ahead.
As of this moment, I don't believe we will have a college football season. We are essentially out of time. The season is less than seven weeks away, and every sign is pointing in the wrong direction.
On Saturday, the MAC shut it down. The Big Ten dialed things down, telling programs not to proceed to the phase of preparation that includes contact.
"Wouldn't be surprised if they push our season way back," one Big Ten assistant told me over the weekend. "Maybe even spring."
The protocols regarding testing and quarantines make playing a season almost impossible.
"If your center touches my (defensive tackle) and turns up positive, they both are out," the Big Ten coach said. "Can't play with that protocol in place."
My guess is the season gets canned in the next 48-96 hours. I expect a very difficult week. You should too.
2. The Pac-12 presidents/chancellors meet on Tuesday, and no one believes the outcome is going to include a ringing endorsement for the 2020 football season.
The Pac-12 players have organized and released a set of demands that are, frankly, laughable. Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott met with the players, but they subsequently told the media they don't feel he's taking their concerns seriously enough.
Whoever is advising the players is a fool. There's a list of demands players could easily get right now. For example, NIL rights, a one-time, no-penalty transfer clause and a cost-of-living stipend could all be bargained for without much work. Asking for 50 percent of the revenues, world peace, the eradication of racism and the Hope Diamond is a bit unrealistic.
One can't completely blame any of the college leaders who are wondering if, just perhaps, this is a time to hit the reset button on the entire formula.
3. Yes, some college football players have exercised their right to opt out of the 2020 season. The overwhelming majority, however, want to play.
That has always seemed significant to me. Some fans have criticized players who have opted out, but I think that's ridiculous. If you don't feel safe playing, don't play.
However, all signs point toward players having no choice at all. I have so many thoughts about that, and I'm having a hard time processing them in a way in which I can make them easily communicated.
4. There is a question everyone in journalism should be asking of the subjects we cover: How much risk is acceptable?
Is one positive test enough to shut down a team or cancel a game? If that's the case, it's over. How much of a concern is liability? If attorneys are telling chancellors and presidents that liability is a real issue, it's over.
And then, you wonder if it's even practical. Look at the St. Louis Cardinals. They've played just five games due to two COVID breakouts. Their season is on hold to the point that the St. Louis Post-Dispatch openly wondered Sunday if Major League Baseball should excuse the Cardinals from the remainder of the season.
Of course, there's this story, which, as Ross Dellenger wrote in SI, could be a game-changer.
5. So, what happened?
Like I said at the beginning, we're running out of time. Camp must begin in about two weeks if a team is going to be adequately prepared for a Sept. 26 starting date. College programs likely look at the problems the Cardinals are having in Major League Baseball and wonder how in the world they'll ever get to through a season, knowing a two-week quarantine would throw everything off. Two such delays would make finishing on time impossible.
Throw in the likelihood of spikes when students return to campus, the expense of testing, the reality of games without fans and the cautious advice chancellors/presidents are receiving from health officials and it just seems to be overwhelming.
I hope I'm wrong. However, I'm bracing for very bad news.
Is it possible the SEC goes it alone? I mean, I guess, but I don't see that happening. Could the SEC, Big 12 and ACC play if the Big Ten and the Pac-12 didn't? Sure, but again, if you play when no one else does, it creates another set of issues that will have to be addressed.
I just don't see it happening. There's no way.
6. So, to your questions.
Neal, if there's no football in the fall, will they try to play in the spring?
Me: I guess so, but two season in one calendar year is too much, and everyone knows it. Top players will opt out, and they should. An injury in April could cost a player two years of eligibility. Players would push bask. Would TV pay premium prices for an inferior product in the spring and then dish out the same coin a few months later? Would fans be allowed in the stands in the spring? See what happens? You ask one question and I answer with 10 of my own.
In my opinion, if there's no football in the fall, there won't be football again until September 2021.
Neal, if there's no football, will there be a basketball season?
Me: Great question. I don't know. The NCAA needs the NCAA Tournament. It needs it bad. However, if schools can't play football, they're going to be really, really reluctant to start any other sport unless they know it can make money. We all know women's basketball is the equivalent of setting cash on fire, and I doubt a school could play men's hoops without letting the women's program resume as well. Also, if it's not safe to play sports outdoors, is it safe to do so indoors? Does college basketball make money if fans aren't allowed? Frankly, I think if there's no football, there are no college sports until next fall. I pray I'm wrong.
What happens to seniors? Do they get another year?
Me: I don't know. I doubt it. That would create so much roster clutter.
What happens with recruiting? Does the dead period extend through the calendar year in this scenario?
Me: I don't know. I can't imagine official visits in 2020 at this point, and with no games to attend and a dead period ongoing, unofficial visits aren't happening either. My guess is coaches lobby for the early signing period to be pushed back this year.
So what happens to athletics departments?
Me: Pain. Layoffs, furloughs, shuttered programs, massive payouts. Everything would be on the table.
What does this mean for towns like Oxford?
Me: It's awful. Businesses won't make it. People will lose their livelihoods. It's the worst possible scenario.
7. What role has the media played in this?
Here's reality: People don't trust media right now, and I don't blame you. However, if the season is canceled, it's not the media that did it. We don't have that type of power. We don't have that type of influence.
I completely understand and relate to the angst directed at much of the national media these days. For example, in the story linked above, let's break that down. There are 1,827 students at that school. In other words, 0.3 percent of students at the school tested positive.
I could say so much more, but it's not worth the trouble at this point.
That kind of thing is infuriating to people. This thing is impacting lives. People are losing jobs and livelihoods. I'll guess suicides have increased. I'd bet substance abuse has as well. Many want to figure out a way to live with the virus, and in fairness, it often seems many in the media aren't on that page.
However, if college football gets shut down this week, it wasn't the media that did it. Don't fall for that narrative. It's bogus.
8. So what does this mean for us?
Honestly, I don't know.
In March, I got myself geared up mentally to get to August, and I think we did a hell of a good job.
Now, I've got to get myself geared up to get to next August, and if I'm honest, I'm intimidated at the prospect. I'm hopeful Rivals does something(s) that rewards loyal subscribers. Some of us have pushed for that, and our bosses at Rivals are solid people who understand our jobs.
I expect trying times. We had plans for a 2020 season. Those are obviously by the wayside now. Maybe we'll cover some NFL stuff. We'll still have recruiting and we'll cover COVID-related developments.
But I'm not going to lie. This hurts and I'm going to need some time to process it before moving forward.
9. My appetite has been shot for days, but if you're hungry, here's Burton Webb with Taste of the Place, Lesson 48 -- Carolina Crab Cake.
When it comes to recipe books in your home, you will of course have all the books that you bought or were given to you. Then in the corner, usually, you will find the recipe book that you have compiled over the years that includes the recipes that you love and want to share with others.
I first began my career at a restaurant called 208. I had eaten crab cakes before this time, yet the ones that I had there were outstanding. I needed the recipe and it wasn’t easy to get because of the secrecy that surrounded it. Luckily, over time I built trust with the kitchen staff and I was able to then make the cakes and taste them with each different variation that I made to the recipe. Without further ado, here you are for you and yours.
Tidbit #1: You need both claw crabmeat and jumbo lump crabmeat to make the best crab cakes because you get a texture imbalance when you eat them. This leads to a nice pop of crab flavor throughout the entire crab cake.
Tidbit #2: When you do cook the crab cakes, it is best to pan fry them. Only put just enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan, you don’t want to go more than this.
Tidbit #3: With vegetable oil in your pan, increase your heat on your oven eye to medium-high. As the oil begins to slightly smoke, add your crab cakes to the pan. You will need to cook them for 2 minutes on one side and then flip it over for the other 2 minutes.
Tidbit #4 (Last one): Make sure to use a fish spatula to help flip the crab cakes over. If you do not have one, use a metal spatula. It is easier to work with when cooking any fish product.
Things you will need:
4-6 People
1 Hour preparation time
A Pilsner beer with citrus zest of orange and lemon
Equipment needed:
1 Work surface with a chef’s knife
1 Digital scale
Measuring cups of 1 cup and 1 tbsp
1 Large mixing bowl
1 Small casserole pan
1 Baking tray
Parchment Paper
1 Large Sauté Pan
1 Fish spatula
1 Stovetop eye
1 Refrigerator
Ingredients needed:
1 Stalks of Celery, diced medium
1/2 Red bell pepper, diced medium
1/2 Yellow bell pepper, diced medium
1/2 Green bell pepper, diced medium
1 lb of claw crabmeat
1 lb of jumbo lump crabmeat
1 Tbsp ground mustard
1 Tbsp cajun seasoning
1/2 Tbsp dried basil
1/2 Cup of mayonnaise
Juice of 1/2 lemon and slices of 2 lemons
1/2 Cup of crushed saltine crackers
Panko bread crumbs
Vegetable oil
Directions:
Step 1: Add the claw meat with the diced celery and peppers into your large mixing bowl. Then add your mayo and mix with your hands until homogenous.
Step 2: Add your crushed saltine crackers to the mixing bowl. Mix again.
Step 3: Add the spices to the bowl along with the lemon juice. Mix with your hands. Now add your jumbo lump crabmeat and mix lightly so as not to break up the lump crabmeat.
Step 4: Ball your crab cakes into 2-ounce portions and place on your baking tray lined with parchment paper.
Step 5: Pour the panko bread crumbs into the casserole dish and then roll your crab cakes into the panko. Now, with your hands form these balls into the shape of a hockey puck, and place them back on your baking tray with parchment paper. Set in your fridge until you are ready to cook.
Step 6 (Last one): Place your sauté pan on the oven eye and set to medium-high heat. Add your vegetable oil to the pan. Place your crab cakes into the pan once the oil is smoking. Pan fry on each side for 2 minutes, then place on your serving plate. Serve with your favorite sauce and slices of lemon. With a great recipe, from the Mississippian in Paris, Bon Appétit!
10. We'll have coverage of college football's funeral this week on RebelGrove.com. Until then, here are some links of interest to me -- and hopefully, to you -- for your reading pleasure:
Feldman: An FCS coach laments and vents about a season and sport in flux – The Athletic
Vardon: For Gregg Popovich and Ja Morant, it’s been tough in the bubble – The Athletic
Liberty University poured millions into sports. Now its Black athletes are leaving.
Road trip: Teams like Yankees, Cubs search for this season’s competitive advantage – The Athletic
How Anthony Rizzo has stepped up behind the scenes for the Cubs
The dramatic change that would save baseball: 7-inning games
Good friends, great rivals: The tale of Trev & Clev – The Athletic
What makes Alabama’s Charles Huff the No. 1 recruiter in college football – The Athletic
Everything you think you know about the Robin Ventura-Nolan Ryan brawl is wrong
High school football: Several players transferring out of state to play in fall - Chicago Sun-Times