In today’s Fact or Fiction, I look at three big recent topics in college football and decide whether the statement is indeed FACT or if it’s FICTION.
1. Utah should have revealed Cam Rising’s true injury.
Farrell’s take: FACT
They aren’t required to, and I think that will soon change, but everyone who thought the Utah QB was just recovering from a torn ACL was wrong. Now it’s been revealed that there was multiple ligament damage, and he may not even play this season after Kyle Whittingham and others made it sound like he could be ready for the opener against Florida. LSU head coach Brian Kelly announced before the season that he’d provide weekly injury updates on his players despite the lack of requirement to do so. Why? He doesn’t want to put his players, coaches, trainers, and personnel in harm’s way as people try to get inside information for gambling purposes. And that’s the right approach. Make the injuries known and public, like the NFL, if sports gambling is legal as it is. This is a business. Utah players are getting cars and money like professionals, so let’s treat this as it is — a business. Hiding the severity of injuries doesn’t fly anymore.
2. Pat Narduzzi waited too long to bench Phil Jurkovec.
Farrell’s take: FACT
It should have been after the West Virginia loss when the Pitt QB completed 8 of 20 passes for 81 yards and 3 picks. It was clear then that he’s not the answer, but losses to UNC and Virginia Tech followed. So, finally, Pat Narduzzi moved him to TE and named a new starter, but it’s pretty late. Pitt is 1-4, and the season is pretty much done. Of all ACC passers with more than 100 attempts, Jurkovec is dead last in the conference in QB rating. He’s been horrible, and it was time to move on a while ago.
3. UNC is the blame for the delayed Tez Walker decision.
Farrell’s take: FICTION
Nope, I’m not buying it. The NCAA granted the UNC WR transfer his eligibility this season and went hard after UNC for being the cause of the delay. In a statement, they said so.
“It is unfortunate that UNC failed to provide this important information previously. While we must be careful not to compromise a student-athlete’s right to privacy when it comes to sensitive issues, we want to assure the Division I membership and everyone watching how the new transfer rules are applied, that this meets the new transfer waiver standards. UNC’s behavior and decision to wage a public relations campaign is inappropriate and outside the bounds of the process, UNC’s own staff supported. Had the UNC staff not behaved in this fashion and submitted this information weeks ago, this entire unfortunate episode could have been avoided.”
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What a bunch of crap. What really happened? The NCAA screwed this up, wouldn’t admit such, and only when a potential anti-trust suit was threatened (restricting NIL earnings) did they cave. And then they blame UNC. And UNC won’t counter heavily because they just wanted Walker to be eligible and don’t want to continue to rock the boat. But let’s be clear — this came down to a legal threat, and the NCAA caved. If they were so certain their original ruling that he wasn’t eligible to transfer again was right, they would have held firm. This is all on the NCAA.
