Empty the Call Sheet (Jan. 7)
Yogi's weekly newsletter, this time written flying from the West Coast to the game (Cotton Bowl)
Over the past week, I’ve seen a few social media videos pop up that reminded the college football world of the anniversary of the legendary 2006 BCS National Championship Game at the Rose Bowl between USC and Texas.
As I fly out to the Cotton Bowl and the CFP semifinals to cover Ohio State & Texas, my mind immediately races back to that night in Pasadena.
It helps that this past week I was at my 18th “Granddaddy of Them All”. My first was as a fan back in January 2004. Sitting in the stands with a pretzel in one hand and a beverage in another, I cheered as Keary Colbert, Mike Williams and Matt Leinart put on a show against Michigan. That night, I celebrated until the sun came up and found myself on a plane the following morning to Australia. My playing career had just ended and I was on a sojourn of sorts to begin my transition to the next phase of life.
As luck would have it, 2 years later I was back in that very stadium, on the staff with #1 USC to face Vince Young and the #2 ranked Longhorns. When the game ended with Young racing to the corner of the end zone amid fireworks and confetti, I found myself sprinting down to the locker room, desperate to hear what Pete Carroll was going to say to our team.
“26 seconds will never define us,” was the first thing out of the legendary coach’s mouth. It was poignant, it was direct, it was a life lesson. That USC team would not be defined by 1 play, but rather by a collection of plays, games, seasons. It was a dynasty that was a snap away from a 3rd national title.
Since then, I coached in 3 more Rose Bowls and covered another 13 as an analyst. From Christian McCaffrey to Chris Petersen to this past week’s Oregon and Ohio State game, the Rose Bowl never disappointed. The best part over the last decade or so has been post-television show, as I get to run on the field with my two sons. The gratitude for that field, that game, those moments are at a premium level in my soul.
Flying out to the Cotton Bowl I echo the obvious, the Rose Bowl should be the national title game and we should find a way to end college football around New Years. It makes sense, it maintains the pageantry, and when it’s 75 degrees without a cloud in the sky, it’s picturesque!
Other Musings around College Football:
Penn State and Texas will each play their 16th game of the season this week. That’s an NFL schedule folks. How do they hold up? Does anyone care that college football has so many games? I’m torn. The expanded CFP has been incredible and it’s proven to be an inexact science when it comes to crowning a champion. None of the semifinal teams would have been in the old 4-team format and Oregon likely would have won in that regard. But 16-17 games, that’s wild. Oh, school also started this week for these athletes.
The QB movement and rumor mill. I’ve been asked on a few radio shows what I’d recommend Quinn Ewers doing. Return to college football with a 3rd team or take the leap to the NFL? He’s reportedly making more than some NFL starters currently and would only gain more in this NIL world if he returned to college. I’d say what I say to every family and QB when we discuss this type of decision: ask yourself - ‘What Matters Most?’ Is it money? Is it playing in front of 100,000 fans in college? Is it achieving a childhood dream in the NFL? There is no wrong answer, but you must find clarity around that single question, then be confident in it and be disciplined as you navigate it. Often times the third part is the most challenging.
The QB Portal. We can all agree the calendar is insane. We may also agree that having free agency every year is also inappropriate. How can a QB develop? Jaden Rashada is reportedly back in the transfer portal, in search of his third school. I’m all for QBs finding the right place to play, but development at the most challenging position in sports is real. If you don’t develop, you don’t improve. If you don’t improve, you likely don’t play. I’d like to see QBs have to sign a 2-year deal once they transfer the second time. This position is why we wrote 5-Star QB, to provide QBs with advice from a Tribe of Mentors. More on this topic later this week on Y-Option’s podcast.
General Mangers. I’ve talked to head coaches, athletic directors and various staffers in the NFL about the GM role in college football. First off, it’s a real role getting paid real dollars. I met with a Power 4 head coach this past week and he told me that his recruiting staff is built like the NFL and that he rarely interacts with them. It’s almost as if they are on their own side of the building, which is exactly how an NFL franchise operates. Over the past month I also went through the process of how I would build out a program if I was a GM, something we will share on Y-Option’s podcast once we hit the true offseason. It was fascinating talking to dozens of people in the industry, as I learned that there are a variety of ways to build this part of a college football program. One fact is true – if you don’t have one, you’re falling behind. Keep an eye on USC, my sources are telling me they are getting close to locking in their GM alongside Lincoln Riley.
Cam Skattebo in the Peach Bowl (Photo by Bruce Yeung/Getty Images) Arizona State. We need to give them their flowers and we will continue to celebrate them this offseason. The CFB world knows they were picked to finish last in the new-look Big 12 but what doesn't get enough play is the substance in Tempe. Take a listen to an interview we did with Athletic Director Graham Rossini in July - everything he discussed showed up and this team continues to pour resources into the football program. It’s a model that represents what we love about college athletics and has also met the times in the business model that is college football, giving extensions to both coordinators and Kenny Dillingham.
Private Equity? Ownership? I think it’s only a matter of time before we see big money ownership enter college football. Imagine a group of billionaires buying a major college football team, hiring the President, GM and Head Coach and then navigating a salary cap while building a roster? It might sound crazy but we are getting closer and closer in my eyes. The President is the AD, the GM role is becoming legit and the salary cap is basically revenue sharing. Who tries this first?
NIL: This one has been fun to talk to programs about. I think a lot of teams are front-loading big time payments right now to players and trying to get ahead of anticipated legislation that will force schools to have above board NIL deals that are vetted once we get to the 2025 season. Something to keep an eye on.
Y-Option: We thank you for the continued support and are stoked to finish the season strong and share bespoke content this coming offseason. Let us know what sparks your interest as we explore college football through the lens of the West Coast.
About to land, navigate some snow and celebrate the game we all love with two massive brands in college football.
Much love and Happy New Year!
Yogi
+1 for the idea of the Rose Bowl being the site for the Natty every year. It's just such a great showcase for college football.
What else would I like to see on Y-Option? More interviews with players on the podcast. Show us their human side. It makes following them and cheering them on all the better.
Thanks for the work this season!
I still think oregon was short changed. Or at least not given the cushion a number one seed should have; the easiest path in the post season toward the championship. That should be gospel for any sport.
Really, the game that should have been the aim of the selection of the comity is Oregon and Ohio state in the national championship. That’s the game the fans wanted..Hard to not be jaded. Ahh fuck you sports! Haha