I've heard a few things today and verified there is smoke.

In late May, Ohio State announced the dismissal of longtime baseball coach Greg Beals. They had a nice run pre-COVID, making NCAA Regionals in 2016, 2018, and 2019, but were just barely above .500 last season and struggled to a 20-30 record this past season, including an 8-14 mark in the Big Ten. Beals only had one year left on his contract.

At that time, I wondered if Greg Lovelady could be in the mix. While he's a Florida native and played at Miami, he spent 12 years at Wright State (2005-16) in Dayton, Ohio. The first nine years as an assistant coach (2005-13) and then three seasons as the head coach (2014-16). He was very successful there and already has a lot of ties within the state.

What I've heard: Ohio State is interviewing candidates this week and Greg Lovelady is somebody they're very interested in. I also heard the name of Liberty coach Scott Jackson in relation to the job. It's believed they are evaluating 4-5 candidates.

The former Buckeye coach was making around $350K. I think Lovelady is making around $250K at UCF, though it could be higher by now. Not sure what changed with some of the extensions.

I'm not sure where Lovelady stands, just that there is definite OSU interest.

Below 40% now. Maybe the incoherent Jimmy Kimmel interview will save him.

For everyone to contemplate.*

I need to get Deejay a profile pic. I think he was at Hometown Hero. Keyon Cox got offered in May.

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Eddy Pierre-Louis had a fantastic time visiting UCF for Bounce House Weekend.

The four-star offensive lineman from Tampa Catholic was among the top Class of 2024 prospects who made it over to Orlando last Saturday. It was his second visit in recent months as Pierre-Louis had also attended the Knights' spring game.

"It was great," Pierre-Louis said. "I met a couple of UCF commits. They were really cool. We were vibing and everything. It went smooth.

"We did a lot of fun stuff, like a pie eating contest. I won the watermelon contest, got first place for the o-linemen. We did trivia and music battles."

As for that music battle, UCF offensive line coach Herb Hand owned the competition with his rendition of Eminem.

"It was really cool seeing him rap like that," Pierre-Louis said.

Pierre-Louis said he and Hand actually go back a long way.

"I've known Coach Hand for a minute now because he was recruiting my brother (Richard Gouraige) who goes to UF. So did Coach Gus (Malzahn) when he was at Auburn. So I've known them for a minute. We've been building a connection for the last six years."

Pierre-Louis said it was also great reacquainting with Malzahn.

"He was just asking how I was doing and talking to my mom and asking her how she was," Pierre-Louis said. "We talked about recruiting and stuff like that."

He also bonded with some of the other recruits in attendance.

"I knew Jamal (Meriweather) because I met him at the spring game when he committed," Pierre-Louis said. "I met Jayvontay (Conner). He's really cool. Also Adarius (Hayes). He's cool too. Also Gabriel (Fortson)."

What does he like about UCF?

"The coaching staff and players just always seem so happy and ready to work," Pierre-Louis said. "All the coaches are always so positive. It's a great school. A big state school, which I really like. All the players say they love it there. I also like how UCF is going to the Big 12. They're stepping their game up and will be playing better schools."

Pierre-Louis has a full month of unofficial visits with planned trips to see Alabama (June 18), Auburn (June 19), Clemson (June 20) and Georgia Tech (June 21). He will also participate in the Rivals 5-Star Challenge in Atlanta on June 17.

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🙄

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Screenshot:

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Notable:

Cure Bowl Friday December 16 3PM
Cotton Bowl (only NY6 at-large non-semifinal) Monday, Jan. 2 1 PM
Peach Bowl and Fiesta Bowl (semifinals) Saturday Dec. 31 4/8 PM (which game kicks when is TBD)
Citrus Bowl Monday Jan 2 1 PM (same time as Cotton)
Sugar Bowl gets moved to Noon Dec. 31 instead of primetime
Orange Bowl strangely gets moved to Friday Dec. 30
41 FBS bowls - one fewer than last year.

I think I see a shacket!

Fanatics Collectibles and Topps Announce Comprehensive College Trading Cards Program with More Than 100 New University Partnerships​

Today, Fanatics Collectibles, the trading cards and collectibles division of Fanatics, and Topps, its cornerstone sports trading card brand, announced new broad-scale college physical and digital trading cards deals with more than 100 of the top universities nationwide. These agreements will include both exclusive and non-exclusive co-branded trading card products, incorporating official university trademarks and featuring current student-athletes and former athletes playing in the NFL, NBA, and MLB.

Topps has secured multi-year, exclusive rights with more than 35 institutions and a majority of the Power 5 Conference schools - including Alabama, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Oregon, Penn State, Texas A&M, and others - to create official trading cards products combining official university trademarks with name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights from both current student-athletes and former players. These agreements will take effect between 2023 and 2025.

Additionally, later this year, Topps will kick off a scaled, non-exclusive program to design, manufacture and distribute trading cards showcasing current college football and basketball student-athletes for the above schools and more than 100 additional institutions, including Oklahoma, Duke, North Carolina, Iowa and Syracuse.

“Fanatics has been closely monitoring the ever-evolving NIL landscape, and we felt this was the perfect time to launch multiple, strategic college trading card programs that will allow schools and current student-athletes to create new levels of direct engagement with fans across hundreds of the top programs nationwide,” said Derek Eiler, Executive Vice President, Fanatics College.

“There are tremendous opportunities for this untapped area of the hobby and to expand further across the collegiate sports landscape.”

As part of the expanded offering, Topps has separately secured NIL trading cards rights with nearly 200 student athletes across college football and basketball, including 2021 Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young (Alabama), CFP National Champion winning QB Stetson Bennett (Georgia), Bo Nix (Oregon), Caleb Williams (USC) and highly touted incoming men’s basketball players Dereck Lively II (Duke) and Nick Smith Jr. (Arkansas). Topps has also signed several premier women’s college basketball stars, including the 2022 NCAA Women’s Basketball National Champion and Tournament Most Outstanding Player Aliyah Boston (South Carolina).

These trading cards will be released under Topps’ BowmanU brand beginning this fall.

“This collection is the first offering of officially licensed collegiate cards featuring current athlete NIL rights. We’re thrilled at the opportunity to launch these comprehensive programs that combine premier student-athletes and elite institutions to create a best-in-class collegiate trading card product for fans and collectors,” said Dave Leiner, Topps Global Vice President and General Manager.

Fanatics Collectibles was launched in 2021, after securing exclusive, long-term trading cards rights from several leading players associations and professional sports leagues. In January, Fanatics acquired Topps, the iconic trading cards brand that has serviced fans, collectors, and retailers for over 70 years.

“I’m so excited to team up with Fanatics and Topps on this new trading card partnership, which will allow me to create an even deeper level of engagement with fans and collectors everywhere,” said USC Quarterback Caleb Williams.

Leading college licensing agency CLC arranged the trading card licensing elements on behalf of most of the participating universities.

Taking two teams of my HS boys to the PBC in Jupiter this weekend. Anyone have a recommendation where to take the boys to eat as a group? Price isn’t really an issue, just needs to accommodate about 30 HS baseball players.

https://www.espn.com/college-footba...college-football-quarterback-situations-tiers

Had to scroll down pretty far to find UCF. Not sure how much they researched us since they put Gatewood in the group.

https://www.espn.com/college-sports...-team-reach-women-college-world-series-finals

"And that's why they play the games." - Chris Berman

Login to view embedded media BIG time talent on campus this weekend!!

Crazyhole is back to trolling the WC

Quality individual

Beavishusker1978​

High School Harry​

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This thread reminds me that I need to go and buy a couple of new cartridges for my AR-10.

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Hopefully that brings him some super powers tonight lol game is on NFL Network at 7:30

Ex-UCF, Florida State QB McKenzie Milton retires, ends career marred by devastating knee injury

Milton completed an inspiring comeback from a devastating leg injury to play for the Seminoles in 2021

www.cbssports.com

Good Luck with future endeavors..would.like to see him as a grad assistant or coach for UCF.

BOOM! Only on the Sons of UCF LIVE: Maddie Berajano BREAKS some BIG news that impacts UCF Softball. QB legend McKenzie Milton reflects on his UCF Football career,
fatherhood and a Knight to Remember from Mission Control. The Sons of UCF - where the newsmakers hang out!

Click here to watch.

Login to view embedded media We don’t have anyone left to transfer out so I figured a new thread was in order.