Tag: Bruce Feldman

Big Ten may be struggling with consensus according to Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports

According to FOX College Football’s Bruce Feldman, the Big Ten could be struggling with getting a consensus on returning to play in fall.

We’re now going on two weeks of reports that the Big Ten is close to reversing the decision to wipe out the fall football season amid concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, we can’t seem to get the leaders of the conference to bring the thing over the goal line and get moving.

It makes you think something is going on behind the scenes. But what is it? Are there one or two schools still digging their heels in? Does the league not have enough votes to overturn the decision that was voted on back on August 11? Or, does the league want a complete consensus so that it is united and can all sing the same tune?

Nobody knows for sure, but based on what people familiar with the situation told FOX Sports’ Bruce Feldman, he believes the Big Ten may be struggling with getting a consensus on moving ahead at a time when there are still students on campus.

If you remember, the initial “new” timeline that was discussed in the fall was around Thanksgiving. Much of that had to do with students being away from campus and being able to create as close to a bubble situation as possible.

Some of the most recent struggles with positive tests coming back across the country recently are thought to be a result of the student-athletes have been intermingling with other students in class and around campus.

You can hear Feldman’s complete update in the below video shared by FOX College Football’s Twitter account.

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All we can do is to tell you to keep hanging in there. It seems like the information coming in is changing by the hour and at some point, there’s going to be a resolution to all the speculation and reporting that’s going on.

As always, we’ll keep you up to date the best we can.

 

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FOX’s Bruce Feldman on Big Ten return to play: ‘There’s more optimism now’

According to FOX Sports’ Bruce Feldman, sources close to what’s going on with the Big Ten are more optimistic about fall football.

It has been widely reported by national media outlets that the Big Ten steering committee and medical subcommittee are meeting Saturday to discuss new testing protocols and safety measures that could pave the way to a start to the B1G football season sometime this fall. Some are even pointing to mid-October to get back on the field.

And it doesn’t appear to be just a check-the-box exercise to appease some of the criticism and infighting that has gone on since the decision to postpone the season occurred back on August 11.

According to FOX’s Bruce Feldman, the emergence of new rapid testing could be a game-changer and has led to a more optimistic outlook on a viable return to play sooner rather than later.

“I’m told their (Big Ten) medical committee has a better handle on the cardiac issue — the myocarditis,” Feldman told FOX College Football host Rob Stone. “They feel like they have some testing protocols in place. They have worked through what they think they have learned in the last six weeks since the vote (to postpone), but also some of the issues that may have changed or come to light. There have been breakthroughs on the testing front, and so, they have to feel confident in these new rapid, daily tests.”

When Feldman was asked about a potential start date, he said he’s been told that things could move pretty quickly if everyone likes where all of this stands after the discussion and presentation today.

“If things go well on this Zoom call today, there could be a President’s meeting with all fourteen Presidents for a potential vote as early as tomorrow (Sunday) I’m told,” Feldman said … “I think there’s more optimism now on the Big Ten front than there’s been in a long time.”

You can watch all of Feldman’s comments for yourself in the below video tweet shared by the FOX College Football Twitter profile.

This is again some extremely positive news. However, we must caution that it only takes a handful of university Presidents to stall this thing out if they feel that safety measures, testing, and protocols are still not where they believe things should be.

Hopefully, we’ll get some even more encouraging news about allowing the student-athletes to safely return to football soon in the Big Ten footprint.

 

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.

We have a forum and message board now. Get in on the conversation about Ohio State athletics by joining the Buckeyes Wire Forum.

 

The Athletic ranks CFB’s best coaches – Is Kirby Smart too low?

The Athletic ranked the best coaches in college football, but did they rank Georgia football’s Kirby Smart too low?

This week, Stewart Mandel and Bruce Feldman of The Athletic ranked college football’s top coaches.

Kirby Smart checked in relatively high on both lists, but is he high enough?

Here are the two lists.

Stewart Mandel:

1. Nick Saban (Alabama) and Dabo Swinney (Clemson)

3. Ed Orgeron, LSU

4. Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma

5. Kirby Smart, Georgia

6. Brian Kelly, Notre Dame

7. James Franklin, Penn State

8. Dan Mullen, Florida

9. Paul Chryst, Wisconsin

10. Bill Clark, UAB

Bruce Feldman:

1. Nick Saban, Alabama

2. Dabo Swinney, Clemson

3. James Franklin, Penn State

4. Ed Orgeron, LSU

5. Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma

6. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M

7. Kirby Smart, Georgia

8. Brian Kelly, Notre Dame

9. Kyle Whittingham, Utah

10. Scott Satterfield, Louisville

Let’s discuss:

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Notre Dame Football: Tight End U Finds New Tight Ends Coach

former Rutgers offensive coordinator at Penn State analyst, John McNulty is expected to be named Brian Kelly’s new tight ends coach

Notre Dame has had a ridiculous run of talent for decades and decades at tight end and with a loaded class at the position in the 2020 recruiting class, that doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Now, the Fighting Irish appear to have a new tight end coach to lead the traditionally loaded position.

Bruce Feldman of The Athletic and Fox Sports reported Saturday morning that former Rutgers offensive coordinator at Penn State analyst, John McNulty is expected to be named Brian Kelly’s new tight ends coach.

McNulty is a football-lifer. He was a safety at Penn State from 1988-1990 before beginning a coaching career as a graduate assistant at Michigan. Since then his stops have included Connecticut, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, Rutgers, Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers and again at Rutgers before joining James Franklin’s staff at Penn State as an analyst late in 2019.

247Sports & Irish Illustrated reported last week that McNulty was highly recommended by Nick Saban who once pursued him as an assistant.

I won’t pretend to know anything about him besides what his resume says but the fact Saban and Franklin speak highly of him, not just in words but in pursuing him speaks highly to me.

I doubt this hire makes or breaks the future of the position but I have trouble thinking the traditionally loaded position for Notre Dame doesn’t continue to produce at an extremely high level.

Where is Ohio State ranked in FOX analyst’s way-too-early Top 25?

The Ohio State football program is expected to be a team to reckon with again according to Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports.

It’s been time to move on from 2019 for two weeks now. Are you there yet?

However, the Ohio State Buckeyes won’t get the sting of that crushing College Football Playoff semifinal defeat out of their mouths until the 2020 season is upon us. Thankfully, they’ll likely be competing at the highest level next year as well.

Bruce Feldman, a FOX Sports’ analyst, ranked his way-too-early top-25 for 2020. Ohio State, who will be returning Heisman finalist Justin Fields, came in at No. 2.

Clemson took the top spot while LSU, Alabama, and Oregon rounded out the top five. Penn State was the only other Big Ten team in the top-ten aside from OSU.

The Buckeyes will be losing J.K. Dobbins, Chase Young, Jeff Okudah and an array of talented receivers. But, they will be bringing in the nation’s best offensive lineman, Paris Johnson Jr., and wide receiver, Julian Fleming along with other highly skilled pass catchers.

They’ve tag-teamed to help Ohio State boast the fourth-best recruiting class according to 247 Sports. That’s why the Buckeyes will be able to reload so easily and why Feldman believes they could compete for really big things again in 2020.

That said, while 2019 may still be rough for fans to take in, 2020 should help give hope that this program will stay among the top tier in college football.

Notre Dame Football: A Twitter Check-In at USC

Let’s take a look at how USC fans reacted to their athletic director on twitter after news came down that Clay Helton was being kept as head football coach.

Last night we got word late from Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports/The Athletic that USC appeared to be keeping head coach Clay Helton.

Helton started strong with the Trojans, winning 27 of his first 37 contests.

He’s however fallen on hard-times, winning just 13 of his last 24 and entered this season very much on the hot seat after failing to go to a bowl game a season ago.

Official word did come down Wednesday afternoon that USC wasn’t in fact making a head coaching change at all and instead, Helton would remain in charge.

As you can probably guess, plenty of USC faithful were none too pleased.

Here’s what new USC Athletic Director Mike Bohn tweeted Wednesday afternoon.  Take a look and then we’ll check in on his mentions and see how USC fans are handling the news.

This should go over well – let’s check it out…

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