Some leagues are no fun; others are historic
No Fun League Strikes Again
I have never been a rub-some-dirt-on-it kind of “football guy,” but even I have some serious objections to the latest agenda for the NFL Health and Safety meeting.
I will acknowledge all this with the caveat that these are discussion items. There is not a scenario in which these plays are banned tomorrow.
Eliminating the Tush Push, the Brotherly Shove, the (Jordan) Love Shove is a cowardly overreaction. It is nothing more than NFL defenses saying, “this works too good” and trying any way to legislate it out of the game. Doing it under the guise of “health and safety” is obnoxiously lame.
Not only is it lame, but it is also absurdly ironic! As the rules have been changed/enforced to benefit offense, defenses have consistently lamented that they are not allowed to hit hard, breathe on the quarterback, or get within arm’s length of receivers. Now that NFL offenses are playing the hard-hitting smash-mouth style that defensive coordinators yearn for, is it really a “health and safety” issue?
I struggle to understand the “health and safety” concern. To my understanding, there is no data to suggest this play is more unsafe than any other. My gut says it is likely safer than an average play because there is less chance of a high-speed collision.
Arguably, there is no more iconic play in the league right now. Philly Special has been run to its death. Now, Philadelphia has graced us again with another instantly recognizable play. It would be a shame to see it eliminated from the game.
Quick hits on the other two agenda items (this is harder to understand if you aren’t a football nerd, so you can skip it):
I understand the concern with hip-drop tackles. I struggle to understand how to legislate them out of the game.
Re: split-flow blocks - I have the same complaint as with the Tush Push. Do defenses suddenly have a problem with blocking? Emphasize limiting cut blocks on split-flow plays, but do not eliminate split-flow.
At a certain point, football is a physical and violent game. You assume the risk by playing. It is impossible to eliminate all risk of injury.
Wisconsin Football Has its New Starting Quarterback
Wisconsin football made a splash in the transfer portal on Tuesday. The Badgers added Tyler Van Dyke, a grad transfer out of Miami, who I assume will be UW’s starter in 2024. Van Dyke was a top-10ish to top-15 transfer portal QB depending on your evaluator of choice.
Wisconsin offensive coordinator Phil Longo has a type, apparently. Van Dyke, similar to outgoing Badgers QB Tanner Mordecai, played one season under then-Miami offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee in 2021. Lashlee got the SMU head coaching gig in November of 2021 and led the Mustangs during Mordecai’s final season there in 2022.
I have feelings about this. Not all positive feelings. Listen to them on the ‘Sconnie Six Pack podcast on YouTube or your podcast platform of choice.
16 Badgers Make Roster for Inaugural PWHL Season
Something unprecedented is happening in women’s hockey. Never before has there been one united North American professional league. This summer, it finally happened. Now, 16 former Wisconsin Badgers will partake in the league’s debut.
Even if this story or sport does not float your boat, this is a fascinating sports business story. The Athletic is doing an incredible job covering it as well. I highly recommend this story about how the league came to be.
In an unprecedented move for professional sports, the PWHL is starting operations with a collective bargaining agreement already ratified by the players’ union.
The owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Billie Jean King top the list of power players behind this league. They’re trying to reset the standard for up-and-coming professional sports markets.
Come for the Badgers. Stay for the potential shake-up to how professional sports leagues come to be.
Wisconsin Basketball Unveils *Icy* Uniforms
Continuing an annual tradition, the Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team unveiled an alternate uniform designed by the players. Surprise: I actually like them!
Am I lame? Probably! The black alternates from last year weren’t for me. These, however, I mostly enjoy.
It’s a bit gaudy, but I enjoy the contrast of the silver block lettering spelling out “Wisconsin.” The silver outline on the numbers was maybe unnecessary, but it gets a pass.
I do not enjoy the horrible placement of the Under Armor logo on the collar. It looks like it was copy-pasted onto the jersey by someone who doesn’t know how to use Photoshop. It is reminiscent of the awful NHL shield emblem cutout on the collar of hockey jerseys. Yuck.
Wisconsin Football Losing Another Offensive Lineman to the NFL Draft - What’s Next?
It is not officially official, but it is about as close as it gets. Wisconsin Badgers starting offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini accepted an invite to the Senior Bowl today - all but sealing his fate for his final year of college eligibility.
Bortolini is an above-average interior offensive lineman. He played both guard positions before spending this season as UW’s starting center. As a center, Bortolini left some ability to snap the ball quickly to be desired, but he was serviceable.
The Kewaunee native was not supposed to be the starting center this season. That job was supposed to belong to Jake Renfro. Renfro followed head coach Luke Fickell from the University of Cincinnati, but an injury suffered in spring ball kept him off the field in 2023.
Oh, and did I mention that Renfro also missed all of 2022 due to injury?
Yes, he was an all-conference performer in the American Athletic Conference in 2021, but Renfro is a long way removed from that. Center is a huge question mark for the Badgers heading into 2024.
Going to a game?
Hey, the Bucks play the Pacers again tonight! Surely this cannot end worse than the in-season tournament semis did! Right?
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