Tag: Richard Johnson

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Johnson: Notre Dame ‘not an independent’

Keep telling yourself that, Richard.

With college football almost here, old issues are starting to be debated again. Notre Dame’s independence is about as old a debate topic as it gets, but with major conference realignment coming in 2024, it feels like a hotter issue than ever. Richard Johnson of Sports Illustrated disputed the very idea of the Irish being independent on his podcast. Specifically, he cited the university being a partial ACC member:

There shouldn’t be any middle ground discussed here. Either you’re in with a conference all the way, or you’re not. Notre Dame is not a full-fledged ACC member, so it’s no use debating this particular point. Until an ACC logo permanently is painted onto the Notre Dame Stadium surface, we can’t call the football program part of it.

Notre Dame’s other athletic programs are in conferences out of necessity more than anything else. They can’t sustain themselves the way the football program can. And until the college football powers-that-be decide that independence is bad for the game, the Irish are staying independent.

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Titans’ NFL draft history with the No. 11 overall pick

With the Titans owning the No. 11 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, we take a look back at the franchise’s history in that spot.

The Tennessee Titans have a grand total of six selections in the 2023 NFL draft, with one in each round but the fourth. Tennessee’s first-round pick comes at No. 11 overall.

With that in mind, we’re taking a trip down memory lane to see the team’s history with that particular selection.

Previously, we’ve gone over every pick made in each of Tennessee’s six 2023 spots since 2000. I’ve provided links to all of those articles at the end of this one just in case you’re interested.

Of course, we know Tennessee drafted a franchise left tackle in Taylor Lewan in their current first-round spot back in 2014, but the Titans have made two other selections at No. 11 overall in franchise history.

The two previous times came while the franchise was the Houston Oilers, but neither was more impactful than Lewan. Let’s take a look at all three picks and a little information on each one.