College football notes: Louisville and Kentucky both in CBS Sports revised Top 25
As practices start, even more college football notes:
▪ Louisville is No. 19 and Kentucky No. 21 in CBS Sports revised pre-season rankings. Chip Patterson limited the rankings to conferences that say they are planning to play in the fall. That leaves out the Big 10, Pac-12, Mountain West and Mac. So Clemson is No. 1, followed by Alabama, Oklahoma, Georgia and Florida.
▪ Kentucky opens the season Sept. 26 at Auburn, where players have taken to social media to complain about the regular student population not following protocols. From AL.com, “That includes at Auburn, where multiple players have expressed frustration on social media in recent days over their fellow classmates and others around town not adhering to public safety guidelines. Images have surfaced of local establishments, including Sky Bar and Southeastern in downtown Auburn, with packed crowds and patrons not practicing social distancing or wearing face coverings. Junior receiver Anthony Schwartz over the weekend tweeted about seeing crowds of maskless people around campus and while driving through downtown—while at the same time praising the efforts of Auburn’s athletics staff to adhere to protocols and maintain a safe environment—and offensive lineman Kam Stutts expressed similar disbelief while tweeting about the lack of masks seen around campus and a screenshot of a Snapchat image of large crowds at Southeastern.”
▪ Alabama says it will limit seating capacity to 20 percent at Bryant-Denny Stadium. That would limit attendance to 20,364 seats. The school says it plans to ban tailgating this season.
▪ Tennessee reportedly is aiming for 25 percent capacity at Neyland Stadium. UT AD Phillip Fulmer says that the Vol Walk tradition will probably not happen this season.
▪ Texas A&M says its initial attendance will be restricted to 30 percent at Kyle Field.
▪ Meanwhile, both Michigan State and Notre Dame announced Tuesday they are switching to on-line classes, at least temporarily. Notre Dame had 80 students test positive for COVID-19. Most were linked to off-campus parties in South Bend.
▪ North Carolina coach Mack Brown says his school going to remote learning probably helps the Tar Heels football bubble. “Even with not going to classrooms, that helps us create a better seal around our program and a better bubble,” he said. “The NBA model’s working. They’ve had very few distractions and that’s what we’re trying to do is make sure that our players and our staff understand that we’ve got three months here where we cannot go outside for social reasons or to eat or anything else if we want to have our season.”
▪ Luke DeCock of the Raleigh News and Observer says North Carolina is sending a clear message that student-athletes don’t exist. “If you’ve been living under a rock with the UNC System’s Board of Governors, this will come as shocking news: After North Carolina had to take all of its classes online and send all of its students home on Monday amid a blossoming COVID-19 outbreak on campus — fallout from the UNC governors’ reckless reopening mandate — it still plans to proceed with fall sports. And with that, North Carolina, the ACC and all of college athletics have now painted themselves into an existential corner.”
▪ Zach Barnett of Football Scoop wonders if the NCAA is trying to guilt schools into not playing football. “Judging from the recent communications out of the organization’s Indianapolis headquarters, one could definitely make the case that they are. The campaign began Thursday with a conversation between the NCAA’s chief medical officer, Dr. Brian Hainline, and a panel representing the Infectious Diseases Society of America.”
▪ LSU defensive back Kary Vincent, Jr. is opting out of the 2020 season. And defensive end Justin Thomas has left the Tigers for the second time.
▪ Michigan offensive lineman Jalen Mayfield has declared for the NFL Draft and will not participate in a spring season.
▪ Kentucky football has not had any opt-outs to this point, says coach Mark Stoops.
▪ Colorado State tight end Trey McBride has entered the transfer portal. McBride caught 45 passes last season.
▪ Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz says he will not name a starting quarterback before Mizzou’s ultra-challenging opener against Alabama.
▪ Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun thinks the SEC East race may be decided early. “Like by Week 4. The Gators have to go to Texas A&M and then face LSU the following week. Georgia has Auburn, Tennessee and Alabama in the second-through-fourth weeks.”
▪ Trey Scott of 247Sports says losing Kennedy Brooks will be a big blow to Oklahoma. “Consider Oklahoma’s rushing leaders in 2019: Quarterback Jalen Hurts — gone. Brooks, up next, with 1,011 yards and six touchdowns — opting out. Rhamondre Stevenson (515 yards) — currently suspended. Trey Sermon (385 yards) — transferred to Ohio State. The job might now belong to redshirt freshman Marcus Major, a former four-star recruit.”
▪ Doug Lesmerises of Cleveland.com asks why Ohio high schools can play football when the Buckeyes can’t. “In high school, it’s kids and families listening to schools and coaches. No one is getting rich -- it’s all about the experience and the love for the game. The testing in high school isn’t as comprehensive as at Ohio State’s football program, for sure. But the motivations are clear. This isn’t a multi-million dollar enterprise, it’s an extracurricular activity.”
