Fact or Fiction

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4034″ img_size=”large”][vc_column_text]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.

Dabo Swinney gets too much grief

Farrell’s take: FACT

When Dabo complains about the professionalization of college football and the transfer portal, people call him a whiner. They say he’s out of touch and resistant to change. Heck, even I’ve said these things. But when Nick Saban or Kirby Smart speak of NIL or even of the portal, we seem to think it’s okay. Why is this? Is it that Dabo Swinney appears holier than thou? Is it because he’s in the ACC and not the beloved SEC? Whatever the reason I think it’s clear he gets a bit more grief than the others who have won national titles and it’s still kind of unclear to me why. But yet I still do it. Someone explain that to me.

Notre Dame’s recruiting start is the best I’ve seen

Farrell’s take: FACT

The addition of WR Braylon Jones gives Notre Dame the top recruiting class in the country for 2023. And the last time this happened in April? I can’t remember it happening — ever. Why? Notre Dame has to be selective with offers based on academics and often can’t make them as quickly as others. They also can’t take commitments as easily as some other schools because of academic standards and being unable to drop kids as easily. If ND drops a player it’s national news and they don’t like that negative publicity. They are, after all, Ivy Academics with college playoff football, at least in their minds. But we’ve seen plenty of teams No. 1 in April so it shouldn’t matter much right? I mean Texas Tech was just No. 1 and we’ve seen Miami, Kentucky, and others on top this early with classes that finished barely inside the top 25. Here’s the difference. This class of nine players is loaded, and I mean loaded, with elite talent. All nine are four stars or above in my book and DE Keon Keeley and Brenon Vernon are 5 stars to me. Marcus Freeman is doing an amazing job. Can he finish No. 1? Not likely with the academics and all, but now I believe this could be a top-five class which is rare for ND these days.

Agiye Hall will pan out at Texas

Farrell’s take: FACT

This is a toss-up and we all know it. The Hall we saw last spring in the Alabama spring game is amazing. The guy we saw on Fridays nights in high school was amazing. But he can also disappear at times and is, let’s say, a character. He’s funny as can be to me and has that combination of cocky and smart you love, but he can also drive coaches crazy. But I think in this offense as the No. 2 to Xavier Worthy and with the offensive mind of Steve Sarkisian he can excel. I see great things ahead.