Links: Alabama, Auburn crack down on students to save semester, and football
Monday links:
Alabama president issues stern warning. Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News reports that Alabama President Stuart Bell issued a letter to UA students warning of enhanced monitoring of student activities both on and off campus. Bell said the semester is in peril. UK plays at Alabama on Nov. 21.
Auburn is also investigating students packing bars. Giana Han of AL.com reports that thousands of unmasked students partied in downtown Auburn, forcing the university to investigate. Kentucky opens the season at Auburn on Sept. 26.
Doctors are now the big players in college football. Billy Witz of the New York Times reports that it might be just for show, however. One such doctor, Michael J. Ackerman, characterized the evidence the Big Ten and Pac-12 used not to play as “wimpy, wobbly, weak.”
Mississippi State will allow alcohol sales in stadium. Tyler Horka of the Clarion-Ledger reports on “Beer for the Bulldogs.” Davis Wade Stadium won’t be full of fans, but those who get to go through the gates will be able to buy alcohol for the first time. Anything to get through a pandemic, right.
A.W. Hamilton hopes he has beaten cancer. Mark Story of the Herald-Leader writes on the Eastern Kentucky University basketball coach who says an unlikely event set in motion the process that might have saved his life. Now Hamilton wants to save the lives of others.
Point guard Nolan Hickman is UK’s first commitment. Ben Roberts of the Herald-Leader reports on the 6-foot-2 guard from Seattle who became the Cats’ first commitment for the class of 2021.
Resetting Kentucky basketball’s recruiting board. Ben writes, “It was a busy weekend for Kentucky basketball recruiting. The Wildcats not only landed their first commitment for the class of 2021 — four-star point guard Nolan Hickman — but UK Coach John Calipari extended new scholarship offers to a couple of promising players from that group. More commitments could be coming soon, and other names are emerging for Kentucky’s 2021 recruiting board.”
John Calipari is being proactive about a 2020-21 season. Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader reports that the Kentucky coach has been part of daily Zoom meetings with other coaches around the country, including Michigan State’s Tom Izzo. “We can control their athletic bubble,” Izzo said of players. “We’ve all proven it over the summer. It’s their personal bubble that is the problem.”
What if Kentucky can’t have fans at Kroger Field? Josh Moore of the Herald-Leader reports on what Mark Stoops had to say about the subject during his Saturday video conference call over the weekend. UK football finished its first week of fall practice.
Next two weeks will tell us a lot about the season. So says my column. Stoops said his Wildcats have made good decisions so far, but must continue to do so with students back on campus. (See above links about Alabama and Auburn.)
Calipari’s coaching cupboard far from bare. Chris Fisher of the Cats’ Pause writes, “Much of last season’s SEC regular season championship squad was recruited by assistants Joel Justus and Tony Barbee: Ashton Hagans (Justus), Kahlil Whitney (Barbee), Tyrese Maxey (Barbee), Nick Richards (Barbee), Immanuel Quickley (Justus), Johnny Juzang (Justus), Dontaie Allen (Justus) and Keion Brooks Jr. (Barbee).”
Damien Harris has been impressive in Patriots’ camp. Stephen M. Smith of Touchdown Alabama reports that the former Madison Southern star, who played his college football for Bama, has been “the best back” in New England’s training camp, according to reports.
COVID-19 is the Florida Gators’ biggest obstacle. Gene Frenette of the Florida Times Union writes, “While many people have serious doubts about whether a full college football season will be played, the newly revamped 10-game Southeastern Conference schedule doesn’t change my perspective on Florida being able to end Georgia’s three-year reign atop the SEC East Division.”
Cincinnati coach says there are going to be cases. Keith Jenkins of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Luke Fickell knows there will be COVID-19 flare-ups among his Bearcats. “The next challenge we had is going back onto campus and doing the things we needed to do to continue to keep ourselves in good standings, meaning limiting our issues of COVID and the spread of COVID.”
Matthew Stafford and wife Kelly pledge $1.5 million to Georgia. The Detroit Lions quarterback and Georgia alumnus wants to start a new social justice program with a $350,000 gift as part of the pledge, reports the Athens Banner-Herald.
Tennessee AD requested 15 percent pay cut. Mike Wilson of the Knoxville News Sentiel reports that Phillip Fulmer requested the cut as part of the school’s reductions in its athletics budget. Fulmer signed a four-year deal worth more than $1 million annually in April 2018.
This story was originally published August 24, 2020 at 7:03 AM.
