Catching Up

Well, things have been pretty dead around here the last few months, but now I've got some extra time on my hands, summer workouts are starting, and we're about to go full-tilt preseason. Before we get into any camp reports, conference blasts, or preseason picks, though, I'd like to catch up on a few things.

1. Tressel Out. This has been everywhere the last two days. I wanted to wait until the SI piece hit to do anything with it, but I don't feel there's enough substantiated in the article to really hit the program. 28 players received free tattoos since 2002, a few cars may or may not have been made a little too easily available, weed, and a tattoo parlor owner who just got charged with money laundering and drug trafficking. Oh, and Tyrelle Pryor is the subject of as second, independent NCAA investigation. If any of the big stuff gets confirmed, the program could be hit USC-style, but for now, it might just be the Buckeyes vacating some wins. If anything, the piece was an indictment of Tressel's character. Time and time again, he used ignorance as a defense to avoid any wrong doing in his program, stretching back to his Youngstown State days.
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UPDATE: Apparently, none of this swirling maelstrom of scandal and rumor has hit home with TP, yet. How else do you explain him showing up to a team meeting last night in another new car? Even if it's legit (which, judging by past reports, it's not) why even take the chance and stir the pot even more.
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2. Garcia Back In. I, for one, am shocked by this. /sarcasm.

3. That coach in GA who went 6-7. Paul Johnson has made it clear he does not support oversigning.And why would he? I imagine it's hard to hit that total with quality recruits when you're in direct competition with the SEC. That said, last season's win total isn't the only thing he and Richt have in common. Richt's been cast opposite Nick Saban in the SEC blogosphere lately as an opponent of over signing. But both GA coaches still support gray shirting. 

4. Party in the WVU. Dana Holgorsen likes to party. Everyone thought the drunken casino ejection was bad, but forgivable; especially after the contrition he showed. But now at least six more incidents have been made public. From casinos to golf courses and race tracks, Holgorsen has made the rounds of the wild and wonderful rec spots WV has to offer - and been tossed from all of them. Maybe WVU shouldn't start selling alcohol in the stadium just yet...

5. Academic Progress Rate. This is not quite the same as taking a four year average, instead using year-by-year numbers. But, Richt's numbers for 2009-10 are impressive:

This, and the fact he sold a $2 million lake house so he could donate more to charity really makes you want to pull for the guy.


6. Phil Steele. This year's Phil Steele will be out soon, and rumor is he's picked Auburn last in the SEC West. That seems a bit surprising to me. They did lose the Battering Cam, but does that mean the Tigers should drop from National Champs to last in their own division? I mean, c'mon, they can at least beat Ole Miss...can't they?

7. CWS. Georgia earned an invitation to the Corvallis, OR regional.  They'll be in the pool with Oregon State, Creighton, and Ark-Pine Bluff. The 2,000 mile trip is not the best hand dealt out by the seedings, but Georgia's record isn't exactly great.