4 Hard Downs: Clemson, Colorado, Conference Expectations & Swim

Seriously, how do we expect expansion + new coaches to make intelligent forecasting a thing in portal world? Oh and swim meets are done

Two teams, in a vacuum, who is better off? Clemson or Alabama? Bama’s recruited better, Clemson is invested in development and then we get to Colorado…

You know what, that’s a down, I’m starting this after my wife said, “two hours at the pool,” and I had to ride home with my neighbor as her and my kid are on hour five and change.

Let’s go ahead and get to our all questions post, just 4 questions that I have, so let’s do it…SPOT THE BALL!!!

1st Down: How Do You Win the Portal?

Is it quality or quantity. Is it instant starters? Is it big impact guys? Does it matter that they weren’t that good at previous school but you think you can turn them into something?

Doing this show for Bleacher Report, people got upset that I called Clemson a winner of the portal. The Tigers had 12 guys leave, no one come in and 22 recruits coming to the rescue. This is a team that is built on culture and wanting to make sure guys stay and it isn’t just a stop, it is a life-choice.

I chose, No, My family and I chose to go to Clemson and we are Tigers for life. We don’t leave.

That’s a win in the portal, for me.

Jordan Addison left Pitt after being the best WR in the ACC, didn’t want to stay, was searching for more. DJ Uiagalelei, a rare Clemson transfer finished, an 8 win season at Oregon State and left to go to FSU (yes, I know the league completely changed so it does make sense). Dillon Gabriel, presumably because of Jackson Arnold and a vacancy at Oregon, took off.

Clemson with very few exceptions compared to most teams, doesn’t have that. I think that makes them a winner. It is going to be interesting because you flip it over and look at Colorado.

42 kids brought in through the portal.

Are they going to be better than Clemson?

No.

The dirty little secret is bringing in 42, with 0 NFL Draft picks, means you need a lot of work.

2nd Down: What Do You All Want For CFB Preseason Preview Content?

This is a multi-platform question. Between B/R, Substack, IG Live and Learfield’s CSN what do you y’all want?

-Team previews
-Conference predictions
-New playoff predictions
-Deep dives into new portal acquisitions
-Best freshman to watch
-League expansion and how newcomers fare
-Coaching changes

There’s a lot to unpack so let me and my colleagues know because this is maybe the wildest year of my time in this space.

3rd Down: What Do We Expect Out Of These Conferences?

Big changes. Big travel. Unprecedented situation in CFB. This isn’t teams knowing for a few years they’re moving. This is, “hey change your signage, get your ass up earlier because you’re going across the country, one way or the other, and playing teams you barely knew existed,” type shit.

Then you factor in recruiting classes, which no one seems to care about anymore thanks to the 1st down portal talk. Freshman are still going to play, for two reasons:

1-These kids are coming into school better than ever
2-You don’t want to lose them to the portal

I think one of the things that sucks about the portal (and make no mistake I don’t feel bad for the coaches and think it is good for the kids), is that it is like if you bake a pie from scratch and someone just takes it off your windowsill while it is cooling but already made.

But coaches gotta do a better job of watching that sill, pies go where they are wanted playboi.

4th Down: Swim Is Done, Now What?

Just had our final swim meet last night and I am very proud of my kid and how she was stood up to the task. She is 6, she swam up to the 7-8 level. We have the awards dinner tonight.

So what does summer look like from here on out?

Obviously, they will keep going to the pool. I’ve been at the pool two days a week for this entire month, minimum. And honestly, that is mostly 4 days a week because 2 for meets and 2 at my kid’s request just for fun.

I do not like to be there.

The pool is nice. The people are nice. It is also 95 degrees. Know where I’d like to be doing the socializing?

At my house.

Which we are having a “Movie Day” this weekend where we get the same people together and it is in the A/C and they can watch a movie.

I think I get back to once a week, but what is anyone’s confidence level that I can get it to the once a week? That’s my biggest question.

We’ll see the poll and also, my kid is all in on the Olympics. If you have a swimmer, check out Peacock or NBC on demand, they have the events broken into individual videos so you can just watch the 200 free or the 400 relay or the 200 IM. I did that with my kid today and she absolutely loved watching the women swim and realizing all of the work that goes into it and how critical technique is every race.

She also loved the underwater camera, the sliding camera that shows the World Record pace and if they are close or passing it. Just a great job by Universal to create a more immersive viewing experience; not just with the cameras but with the ability to not have to sit through all the commercials and side discussion.

Perfect for the youtube generation, basically. My kid is ready for the Olympics, so here we go!!!

Cheers