4 Hard Downs: UNC, Marshall, Playoff Games as TV & More

I went to a recital, got exhausted from Belichick, We Got A Playoff & Other Stuff

The recital, shout out to my kid’s music school realizing no one wants a 3 hour recital on a Saturday in December. There were 5 kids and each did two songs, that were short and we were out of there in 28 minutes.

I truly was expecting it to be super long and when I talked to the guy he laughed and goes, “no, you’ll be out of here in under an hour.”

It was very cool seeing the parents be so super proud of their kids, including my wife. Seeing grandparents and aunts or uncles or whatever just be so proud of their kids. As someone who knows nothing about music, it was very cool to look at my mom, dad, brother and the other parents there to see that my kid was doing a good job.

She entered the arena and took care of business and I made sure to give her the orange flowers I knew she wanted.

Little blurry but she’s in the middle and she’s my Kiss From A Rose on the ORANGE

Those are her cousins. We are about to spend a lot of time together because Christmas break is starting up and we have gingerbread houses, Christmas Day, probably some sort of fish fry or boil.

So, we got through the recital, so now we have to turn eyes forward and let’s go ahead and SPOT THE BALL!!!

1st Down: Your Boy Put In Work On Belichick

I forgot to put in the links because I was exhausted. However, check out Split Zone Duo with Richard Johnson on the path because we was with me every step of the way.

Belichick to Carolina, Explained by UNC Football Alum Michael Felder

Also Stephen Hartzell over at Friends of the Program and College Sports Now. Plus my guy Kyle Bailey who had me on on Charlotte.

I talked to many other folks off the record, but those are three great listens that plug folks into how it happened and what happened.

Sometimes I be knowing haha.

2nd Down: Marshall vs Arizona State On Handling The Portal

There’s this way:

Then, there is this way:

Obviously being in the playoff is a difference. However the reality is one team is disgruntled yet still looking for opportunity and the other team is just looking for opportunity. Nothing bad to be said about Marshall’s players. Charles Huff left those dudes and whether they follow him to Southern Miss or go elsewhere, not having enough guys to play a bowl game is not great.

Kenny Dillingham at Arizona State is willing to help his kids find new opportunities, which is what Huff did for himself, and allowing them to continue within the program. That’s a rudder. Steers the ship. Marshall, with their coach leaving is rudderless and, now, bowl-less.

Completely disparate situations in the same sport. That’s where we are.

3rd Down: Playoff Games As A TV Show

We’ve talked about no Alabama so we don’t need to waste time on that. The real story is how you line up the DMAs for the first round:

This is a thing we had to learn about during conference re-alignment (Rutgers, Maryland etc).

While they lose out in theory on New York and LA (which doesn’t account for a very healthy transplant marketplace) they get Chicago, Indianapolis, ATL, Nashville, Dallas-Fort-Worth, Philly, Pittsburgh, Austin, Charlotte and Columbus.

So let’s expand…

Folks don’t know this but Charlotte is a Clemson town. Penn State is going to grab both Philly and Pittsburgh (plus NYC and NJ). Texas seals Austin and good Houston but SMU probably helps a little Dallas. Ohio State gives you Cincinnati plus Columbus and Cleveland. Vols will get you ATL and Nashville (Clemson also will get you some of the ATL in addition to CLT).

Indiana and Notre Dame is Chicago and Indianapolis but also the “nationwide brand” of the Fighting Irish AND people hoping they lose because they’re not in a conference.

The only bases not covered in the FIRST ROUND are in the west coast. Guess what Oregon and Arizona State, check the list Phoenix and Portland will be watching to see their next opponent. So box is checked. Talked to an Oregon guy who works here in Charlotte about the bye and said it is making him anxious but also he’s waiting to see who they play.

That’s eyeballs folks. That’s giving good face. That’s TV.

4th Down: Hitting The Jumpman Invitational

Shout out to Miller Yoho who gifted me some tickets. I went last year with my wife, this year I am going with my dad because my wife has her work Christmas Party where she is the coveted trivia teammate.

I get to hang out with my dad on a Tuesday before things get really wild as kids get to break. Love the Jumpman Invitational and if you have a shot to go, I highly support going to it and supporting a joint venture with men’s and women’s hoops. Make a night of it. My dad’s gonna come over and we’ll have a drink, take an Uber together, get to Uptown, have some dinner and walk to the game. Gonna get the steps in and spend some good father-son time together.

Cheers!!!