Preseason AP Poll, USC Disrespect, Offensive Breakout Players, Most Important Players in 2019, Coaching Hot Seats

The preseason AP Poll came out and it featured five Pac-12 teams but there was still massive disrespect for the conference in the mainstream sports media. USC only got 1 vote while Appalachian State, and Army got more votes. Fans don’t realize how big of an affect the preseason polls have on the College Football Playoff rankings. There were countless cases in 2018. Eleven of the top 25 teams in the 2018-19 Preseason AP Poll didn’t even finish ranked. In 2017, nine didn’t finish ranked. In 2016, 13 didn’t finish ranked. Commonly, those early season matchups that were so hyped up turned out to be nothing burgers, but they did affect the CFB Playoff committee rankings.

Jeremy McCarthy wrote an article on Unafraid Show about the 12 breakout Pac-12 Players and the Apostles discuss where he got it right and where he went wrong.

THE 12: There are many players that are crucial to their team and entire Pac-12’s success. We rank them from 1-12. There are defensive lineman, offensive lineman, running backs, a wide receiver, quarterbacks on the list.

CASTING STONES: When will media members stop asking about what coaches are on the hot seat and how many wins it will take for a coach to keep his job. USC’s Athletic Director Lynn Swann was asked that about Clay Helton recently and of course he gave a nothing answer.

Send us an email with your thoughts: immad@unafraidshow.com

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Don’t Let the Jay-Z and NFL Partnership Co-opt Kaepernick’s Movement

Jay-Z and NFL Partnership RocNation

What a week it has been for the NFL and hip-hop mogul Jay-Z. Last Tuesday, it was leaked that the newly minted billionaire entered into a partnership with the NFL. The following day, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Jay-Z held a press conference at the Roc Nation New York office to formally announce their partnership.

Roc Nation will now serve as the NFL’s official Live Music Entertainment Strategists. As a part of the partnership, Roc Nation and the NFL has committed to nurturing and strengthening the community through music and the NFL’s Inspire Change initiative. Upon the initial announcement and after the press conference, the sports and hip-hop community went into a frenzy. Critics immediately began calling Jay-Z a sell-out, leading to days of debate about Jay-Z’s handling of the deal. Here we are yet again focusing on the wrong issue in regards to Colin Kaepernick’s protest.

Every season, Kaepernick’s message and general-purpose gets co-opted by something. In 2016-2017 it was overtaken by those who wanted to make his protest about the United States flag and military and use it for political capital. Last year, it was the rift between Eric Reid, Malcolm Jenkins, and the Players Coalition. This year it is Jay-Z’s partnership with the NFL. While Jay-Z may deserve some criticism, calling him a sellout is going a bit far. People should not rush to judge this partnership, let’s see how it plays out. There is likely to be a lot of good that comes out it. Most importantly, people should not allow Kaepernick’s message to get lost in the noise over this partnership.

Colin Kaepernick’s Sacrifice

Three years ago, Colin Kaepernick began protesting police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem. Kaepernick began his protest in the wake of the brutal deaths of Philando Castile, Alton Sterling, and countless others who lost their lives at the hands of law enforcement. Kaepernick stated clearly that his protest was about police brutality. However, many viewed his protest as disrespectful to the United States flag and military. As a result, the country became very divided on the issue. Kaepernick was subsequently blackballed from the league. Kaepernick still does not have a job with the NFL.

Why Some Are Calling Jay-Z a Sellout for Entering into the Partnership

As a result of Kaepernick’s protest and some other issues, the NFL’s image has been suffering. The NFL is fighting concussion cases in court. The league continuously has to address its poor and inconsistent handling of domestic violence cases. Perhaps the thorniest thorn in the NFL’s side is Colin Kaepernick. Although the NFL settled the collusion grievance with Kaepernick, the NFL still cannot shake the effects of his protest. Players are still kneeling, which angers a certain demographic of the NFL’s fan base. Countless artists turned down the invitation to perform during the Super Bowl half-time show in solidarity with Kaepernick. One of those artists was Jay-Z.

Jay-Z was one of the Loudest Critics of the NFL

Jay-Z has been one of the most vocal critics of the NFL for their blackballing of Colin Kaepernick. He wore a Kaepernick jersey on Saturday Night Live in 2017. Last summer, Jay-Z famously criticized the NFL in the Carters hit single ApeShit. Jay-Z stated, “I said no the Super Bowl, You need me, I don’t need you. Every night we in the end zone, Tell the NFL we in stadiums too.”  Jay-Z also reportedly encouraged other artists to “say no” to the Super Bowl. It is for these reasons that some have called Jay-Z is a sellout for creating this partnership. It is for these reasons that many were baffled by the partnership and wondered how it came to be.

Labeling Jay-Z a Sellout is Going a bit Far and the Debate Runs of the Risk of Co-Opting Kaepernick’s Movement

While Jay-Z may deserve some criticism for this deal, labeling him as a sell-out is going a bit far. He has done a lot for the black community. Jay-Z has been a major proponent of criminal justice reform. He created a platform for the Trayvon Martin docu-series. Jay-Z tried to help Kalief Browder, a teen who was incarcerated in Rikers Island for three years after being wrongfully accused of robbery. Browder spent a great amount of his imprisonment in solitary confinement. He ultimately committed suicide after he was released. Jay-Z made sure everyone knew his story. He has demonstrated a commitment to social justice and criminal justice reform. Jay-Z should have to answer questions about the deal, particularly what changed his mind about working with the NFL. However, labeling him as a sell-out is going a bit far.

It is true that Jay-Z should have handled the optics surrounding the announcement of the partnership better. He certainly should have found a better way to answer the question about if he would kneel. He should not have said that “we are past kneeling.” Doing that only fed into the narrative that the NFL wants to create. That narrative is that players should be past kneeling. Look we have this deal with Jay-Z to promote social justice, so there is no need to kneel. However, that view is wrong and should be dismissed.

Police brutality is still an issue. There is certainly still a reason to kneel for any player who chooses to protest in that way. Jay-Z also stated in the press conference that he supports any protest that is effective. There is no question that Kaepernick’s kneeling has been effective. It certainly has. However, the media did not focus on that. Again taking the focus from why Kaepernick kneeled in the first place. Focusing on Jay-Z’s words has allowed the message of the movement to be co-opted yet again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upTgCskHvi0

Let’s Refocus on the Issues Kaepernick Gave his Career for

Focusing on whether Jay-Z is a sellout is giving the NFL what they want. Instead of talking about police brutality and other issues that plague minority communities, everyone is debating if Jay-Z is a sell-out. These are the wrong questions to focus on. The focus should be on police brutality and what this partnership is going to do to combat the issue. This partnership should be held to a high standard. The partnership must produce tangible outcomes for the betterment of dealing with police brutality and other social causes. In the end, that is what Jay-Z stated he wants with this partnership to do in the press conference.

Jay-Z had to know that this deal was going to be met with the exact criticism that it has received. With that knowledge, it is likely that he is working towards something greater that has yet to reveal itself. Perhaps his greater plan could be in the reports that he may acquire an ownership interest in an NFL team. Having minority ownership could go a long way in the NFL. If that happens, perhaps Jay-Z could help Kaepernick get on a team.

At the very least, Jay-Z could bring a perspective to NFL ownership that has never been there. He could tell them that it is not tolerable to refer to NFL players as inmates. Perhaps as an owner Jay-Z can help make sure that the next player who takes a stand like Kaepernick does not lose his career for it. Let’s not rush to judgment. Let’s see how this partnership plays out.

No Time To Die: Everything You Need To Know About Bond 25

Daniel Craig as James Bond

Bond 25 finally has a title. The 25th installment in the James Bond series will be titled, No Time To Die. The announcement was made official by the film’s producers on the James Bond Twitter page.

Up to this point, between director changes, writer additions, and production issues, Bond 25 has been far from smooth sailing. This past May, star Daniel Craig had a minor ankle injury that required surgery. In June, there was a controlled explosion Pinewood Studios that left one crew member outside the set injured.

Let’s take a look at everything we know about Bond 25 up to this point.

Everything We Know About No Time To Die

Cast: Bond 25 marks the fifth and final film for star Daniel Craig, who has played the iconic character since 2006’s Casino Royale. Returning to the franchise will be Naomi Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, Jeffrey Wright, Rory Kinnear, and Lea Seydoux. Rami Malek is set to be the primary villain, which will be his first high profile role since winning Best Actor for Bohemian Rhapsody. Also joining the film are newcomers are Billy Magnussen, Ana De Armas, and Lashana Lynch.

Director And Writers: Cary Joji Fukunaga will direct No Time To Die. Danny Boyle was the film’s first director but left after creative differences in August 2018. Fukunaga, who is known for directing the first season of True Detective and Maniac, signed on to direct and write Bond 25. In addition to Fukunaga, Scott Z. Burns, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and Phoebe-Waller Bridge will all receive a writing credit for the screenplay. Waller-Bridge, who is having a career year with both Killing Eve and Fleabag, was brought in to sharpen the script’s dialogue and add a much-needed female presence to the iconic series.

Release Date: No Time To Die will be out in the UK on April 3, 2020, and in the US on April 8, 2020. The film was originally scheduled for November 8, 2019. After Boyle left, the film was pushed to February 2020, but then with production delays, it found its current home on April 8, 2020.

Plot: The official synopsis reads: “James Bond has left active service when his friend Felix Leiter enlists his help in the search for a missing scientist. When it becomes apparent that the scientist was abducted, Bond must confront a danger the likes of which the world has never seen before.”

Other than that, when it comes to the plot, your guess is as good as mine. Rumors continually flood the Internet almost every week as to how Craig’s version of Bond will conclude. Will he die? Will he not die? Does he have no time to die? The biggest rumor to date is that newcomer Lashana Lynch will play 007 after Bond leaves MI6. She’s not replacing the character of James Bond, but she’ll add a new wrinkle to the franchise.

The only guarantee I can give is that I will see be seeing No Time To Die in April 2020.

Are you excited for Bond 25? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

The 12 Offensive Pac-12 Breakout Players You’ll Know By Season’s End

Pac-12 breakout players Offensive 2019

Pac-12 Breakout Players

Each season, college athletes “come out of nowhere” to impress fans, coaches, scouts and media alike. In 2019, there are a large number of Pac-12 breakout players on offense. The conference is loaded with talent and opportunity. Get ready to watch these players turn heads and find the pay-dirt in 2019.

University of Arizona: Cedric Peterson

WR, Redshirt Senior

https://twitter.com/AZAuthority/status/1161656456283770883

In 2018, the University of Arizona’s top-four receivers in receptions and yards were Shawn Poindexter, Tony Ellison, Shun Brown and Devaughn Cooper. Now, the team is without each of them. Cooper was dismissed for violating athletic-department policy and the other three were redshirt seniors in 2018. Clearly, the University of Arizona football needs someone to step up.

To fill the void, Cedric Peterson will likely step up in 2019.

“Now I’m the head guy in the room, now I’m the leader for the first time,” he said to the assembled media. “It’s a little nerve wracking but I’m ready for anything. I’ve been preparing for this my whole life.”

Cedrick Peterson

Peterson is one of two returning receivers with at least one career reception for the University of Arizona. He is the only scholarship receiver with at least one game started for the Wildcats. Additionally, outside receivers coach Taylor Mazzone believes that Peterson will replace Poindexter. As an outside receiver in 2018, Peterson gathered multiple receptions in 7 of 12 games, was praised for his “sturdy” blocking (which helped the Pac-12’s best rushing team). All in all, he’s the guy with the most experience and the clearest opportunity to step up.

Arizona State University: Jayden Daniels

QB, Freshman

Jayden Daniels has already broken a record for Arizona State University. At the start of the season, he will be ASU’s first true freshman to open the season at quarterback.

“I think he manages the game really well,” Edwards said. “He doesn’t make a lot of bad throws, to be quite honest. He doesn’t turn the ball over. He’s got a lot of poise.”

ASU Coach Herm Edwards

In high school, Daniels was impressive. For Cajon High School, he had 1,389 pass attempts for 14,007 yards, 170 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions. Additionally, he added 562 carries for 3,645 yards and 41 touchdowns. Because of his excellence, he is Southern California’s high school career holder for passing yards and passing touchdowns (he’s second in California state history to Jake Browning). He’s also the state record holder for total offensive yards in a single season. As far as high school careers go, he was an all-star quarterback.

Now, as the starter of a Pac-12 collegiate team, he has to grow, learn and improve to the speed of the game. Because he’s already impressing coaches with his decision making, look for him instantly join other Pac-12 breakout players and remain relevant for his collegiate career.

Cal: Christopher Brown Jr.

RB, Sophomore

Cal’s lead back, Patrick Laird, left for the NFL. He vacates 223 carries and 51 receptions from 2018. Now Christopher Brown Jr. has the chance to take over the lead-back role. At 6-foot-1, 230lbs, Brown has feature-back size. Additionally, he showed that he can carry the load for Cal when Laird exited in the Cheez-It Bowl against TCU. In that game, Brown rushed for 57 yards, while adding 3 receptions for 14 yards.

Also, Brown is known for breaking through arm-tackles and avoiding contact for long gains. Because of his powerful and elusive skill set, he’s a threat to take any rush to the house. Look for Brown to take over and become the feature of Cal’s offense in 2019.

UCLA: Chase Cota

WR, Sophomore

Chase Cota, didn’t hesitate to start producing for UCLA football. As a true freshman, he instantly made a splash. The 4-star recruit played in all 12 games and showed versatility as both a receiver and on special teams. He earned 13 catches for 168 yards and was 5th in team targets. On the field, Cota gained praise for his speed, intelligence, route running, and hands. What more could you want from a receiver?

In high school, he gathered experience on both sides of the ball, playing as receiver and defensive back. Additionally, his father is Chad Cota, former Oregon star and an 8-year retiree of the NFL. In 2019, Cota should be inserted into a starting rotation and will quickly gain trust from Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Colorado: Jaren Mangham

RB, Sophomore

Another 4-star recruit, Jaren Mangham is set for big opportunities in 2019. Colorado football lost Travon McMillian and Kyle Evans. As a recruit, ESPN ranked Mangham as the No. 37 athlete in the nation and Rivals ranked him as the No. 14 running back. Mangham is 6-foot-2, 215lbs. At Cass Tech High School, he notched 31 touchdowns in his senior season. 26 rushing, 2 receiving and 3 kickoff returns. He has excellent talent, size, and versatility.

Currently, he is the third running back behind Alex Fontenot and Deion Smith. However, Mangham is sparking interest in fans and coaches alike. In an April spring game, Mangham added three touchdowns and 149 yards with his rushing prowess. Without major talent or experience ahead of him, Mangham will set himself apart by season’s end.

University of Oregon: Sean Dollars

RB, Freshman

Yet again, the University of Oregon recruited top talent. This time, the Ducks signed the Nation’s No. 1 All-Purpose back recruit, Sean Dollars. Dollars is fast and elusive. Though he is 5-foot-10, 185lbs, his versatility in the running and receiving game will earn him precious snaps in Oregon’s high-octane offense. Dollars already impressed at spring and fall camps.

With highlights like those, it’s clear why Dollars made it on our Pac-12 breakout players list. With his diverse skillset and natural athletic talent, Sean Dollars will make an immediate impact with Oregon’s offense.

Oregon State University: Jesiah Irish

WR, Redshirt Freshman

When it comes to speed, Jesiah Irish has it. At Oregon State University’s pre-camp “combine in March, Irish unofficially ran a 4.26 40-yard dash. Also, as a top-baseball prospect, Irish recorded the fastest time running from second base to home for his age group. He has blazing speed. Downfield or after the catch, Irish is a danger to opposing defenses.

“He can take the top off the coverage,” Smith said. “It helps everything. In the run game, if you can put a guy out there who can roll, the safety better back up. You take a couple guys out of there, that’s a few less guys to tackle the running back.”

Jonathan Smith

Though his role still might go under-appreciated in 2019, Irish should still make enough plays to become a well-known name for Oregon State University football. Blazing speed makes for impressive plays and highlights, which is why he earned his spot on our Pac-12 breakout players set.

USC: Markese Stepp

RB, Redshirt Freshman

Ahead of Stepp are two solid talents: Vavae Malepeai and Stephen Carr. Malepeai, a former 4-star recruit and currently a redshirt junior, led the team with 8 rushing touchdowns last season. He is Hawaii’s high school leader for both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. The 6-foot, 200lb back is known for strength and power. Additionally, Stephen Carr is the talent that has yet to hit. The former 5-star recruit and current junior battled injuries in both of his first seasons. Now, supposedly healthy, Carr has his chance to shine.

But, with Carr’s injury history and Malepeai’s current knee injury from an early-August practice, opportunity is there for the taking. Leaving behind recency bias, Markese Stepp will be the go-to power-back for this offense. He’s got a smash-mouth running style and has health on his side. Sometimes, all a player needs is a healthy body in order to earn snaps and glory. His big deficiency is in his receiving skills. He lacks experience and stats to show that he is versatile enough to be a bell-cow in Graham Harrell’s Air Raid offense. Nonetheless, Stepp has a big chance to slip ahead of the oft-injured Carr and currently injured Malepeai.

Stanford: Colby Parkinson

TE, Junior

Colby Parkinson is a big boy. At 6-foot-7, 250lbs, he’s all the tight end a team needs. But, in addition to his size, Parkinson was an excellent deep threat for Stanford football. In 2018, he recorded 29 receptions for 485 yards and 7 touchdowns. His 16.7 yards per reception average displays his big-play ability. He’s not just a big body. Parkinson showed that he is a quality downfield option.

Additionally, it is important to remember that Stanford lost JJ Arcega Whiteside, Trenton Irwin, and Kaden Smith. Parkinson is their leading, returning receiver. With rapport, experience, size and big-play ability on his side, Parkinson is going to turn NFL scout heads in 2019.

Utah: Jaylen Dixon

WR, Redshirt Sophomore

Redshirt sophomore Jaylen Dixon is ready to build on his redshirt freshman campaign. Last season, he garnered 32 receptions for 589 yards and 18.4 yards per catch. Like Jesiah Irish, Dixon makes his money (even though college athletes aren’t actually paid) with his speed. He is an explosive playmaker that the Utes will definitely utilize going forward.

Most impressive was that Dixon posted a near 75% catch rate last season. With his large depth of target, displaying a catch rate that high is an exceptional talent. Get ready for big plays and a big-time breakout into the Pac-12.

University of Washington: Sean McGrew

RB, Junior

Myles Gaskin, the most productive running back in University of Washington football history, is gone. He leaves behind 259 carries and 21 receptions. Behind him are capable backs that spelled Gaskins in 2018. Salvon Ahmed is the early leader to take over the feature-back role for UW. However, McGrew showed excellent efficiency in 2018 and is poised for a breakout season. His 50 carries for 226 yards and 1 touchdown show good running. But his 6 receptions for 110 yards display an elusive, satellite-back.

Recall that McGrew had 10.56 100-meter-dash speed out of high school. He was a 4-star recruit for good reason. The 5-foot-7 back is quick. When it comes to football, McGrew is explosive. Elite offenses need explosive playmakers. Look for McGrew to compliment Ahmed’s power-back role with his own explosive, satellite-back role. The duo will turn heads in 2018 and McGrew will transform into UW’s version of Tarik Cohen.

Washington State: Max Borghi

RB, Sophomore

Washington State University football’s Max Borghi rounds out the breakout candidates for 2019. WSU lost James Williams to the NFL Draft. He left behind 122 rush attempts and 83 receptions. Williams was utilized in all situations for WSU football.

Last season, Borghi already showed excellent skills when spelling Williams. He tied WSU’s freshman touchdowns record. Last season, he had 72 carries for 366 yards (5.1 YPC) and 8 rushing touchdowns. Borghi also had 53 receptions for 374 yards (7.1 YPR) and 4 touchdowns. He is just finding his form and Williams leaves behind ample opportunity.

At 5-foot10, 197lbs, Borghi isn’t a diminutive satellite-back. He has feature-back size for a collegiate football team. Borghi is powerful with excellent hands. His versatile skill set will impress Pac-12 viewers and earn him a spot in the 2020 draft.

Follow Jeremy McCarthy on Twitter to see how the Pac-12 Breakout Players do this season.

Watch 1 Movie At The Theater For Rest Of Your Life. What’s Your Pick?

Although streaming is taking over the universe, I’m still an old soul and enjoy going to the movie theater. While scrolling through Twitter, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer posed this question on Twitter. One movie at the theater for the rest of your life. What movie are you choosing?

So what’s your pick? Here are some of my suggestions,

Contenders

Interstellar

KOC made a great choice with Interstellar. Christopher Nolan’s time travel epic is one of the coolest depictions of space travel I’ve ever seen on the big screen. I saw Interstellar by myself and was instantly blown away. I rank Interstellar higher than other space films like Gravity because of its mysterious plot and the ensemble cast. Sandra was tremendous in Gravity, but give me Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, and black holes every day of the week.

Saving Private Ryan

The greatest war movie of all time with one of the greatest opening scenes of all time. The storming of Omaha Beach as part of the Normandy Invasion is worth the price of admission alone. It’s 25 minutes of pure carnage and chaos as Tom Hanks and company navigate their way to safety. Good luck trying to keep your heart rate down with bombs and explosions constantly going off in the background.

Avengers: Infinity War OR Avengers: Endgame

Avengers: Endgame / Marvel Studios

Take your pick. Do you want the War in Wakanda or the War at Avengers HQ? Both are legendary battles with unforgettable finishes. If I chose Endgame as my theater movie for the rest of my life, I would die on the third viewing once Captain America says, “Avengers, assemble.”

Get Out

Get Out holds a special place in my heart because my theater included the most lively and engaged audience I’ve ever been apart of. At times, it felt like I was at a Yankee Stadium because of the screaming and cheering. Get Out was a roller coaster of emotions and I’m happy I didn’t have to go through them alone. Now, sink into the floor.

Any Star Wars Film

https://youtu.be/fyIPvIjVMYo

I’m being nice when I say “any.” If you pick The Phantom Menace or Attack of the Clones, consider us enemies. That being said, Star Wars are entertaining popcorn flicks with great action sequences and stellar visuals. You can’t go wrong! (Unless you pick The Phantom Menace or Attack of the Clones. Then, you’re wrong.)

If I could only watch one movie at the theater for the rest of my life, I’m choosing The Dark Knight.

If you’re sick of me discussing The Dark Knight, well, prepare to feel ill once again! For me, it’s the most rewatchable movie of all time. If I flip through the channels and land on The Dark Knight, it’s an instant “stop what you’re doing and watch this movie.” The opening bank robbery, the introduction of the Joker, the Hong Kong kidnapping, etc. You name it and I love it. If you don’t hear from me soon, it’s because I’m watching the greatest chase scene of the 21st century.

What movie would you choose to watch in theaters for the rest of your life? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

NCAA Changes Agent Rule Hours After Rich Paul’s Op-Ed was Released (UPDATE)

Rich Paul Rule Overturned NCAA Agent Rule

If anyone ever doubted the influence of LeBron James and his team, that doubt should be put to rest. Yesterday the NCAA announced that they were removing the controversial bachelor’s degree requirement from their agent certification requirements. This announcement came just hours after Rich Paul, LeBron James’ longtime friend and agent, released an op-Ed in the Athletic criticizing the bachelor’s degree requirement. If that is not a demonstration of insurmountable influence, then what is? 

The NCAA’s Agent Certification Process did not Last a Week Before it saw Sweeping Change

Last week, the NCAA revealed their new agent certification process. The certification process is for agents who wish to represent college basketball players looking to test the NBA Draft waters while maintaining collegiate eligibility. When the NCAA revealed that completion of a bachelor’s degree was one of the requirements, the sports world went into a criticizing frenzy. King James led the charge, dubbing the rule the “Rich Paul” rule, as he saw it as a snub at the success of Paul. 

Rich Paul has Evolved into a Super Agent

Paul has experienced unprecedented success as an NBA agent. Moreover, he disrupted college basketball when he represented Darius Bazley. Bazley was a top high school basketball recruit. However, he opted out of playing for Syracuse to workout on his own. During this time he interned for New Balance. As a part of the internship, Paul helped Bazely receive $1 million guaranteed and a shoe deal. Bazley has the potential to earn up to $14 million on the deal and was drafted in the first round of the 2019 NBA draft.

Bazley’s New Balance deal speaks to Paul’s abilities. More impressive is that Paul has done all of this without a bachelor’s degree. The NCAA’s initial rule was seen as a slight at the success of Paul. It was also viewed as yet another barrier to future agents like Rich Paul, limiting abilities to break into the sports agent business.

With Pressure from James, Paul, and Others in the Sports Industry the NCAA had no Choice but Give In

Many in the sports industry called the rule out for what it was. It was an attempt to keep those at the top of the sports industry in power. There would be no real challenges to the power structure. The Rich Paul rule would have disproportionately negatively affected minorities and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds. 

As Paul mentioned in his op-Ed, the rule as it was would have ultimately prohibited those who do not have the resources, opportunity, or desire to get a four-year degree from entering the agent business. From all of the criticism and pressure, the NCAA was forced to get rid of the bachelor’s degree requirement.

If this is not a testament to LeBron James’ and Rich Paul’s influence, the what is? 

Ep #3 Colson Yankoff vs Washington, Pac-12 Stadiums Ranked, Recruits Leaving Pac-12 Country

In Episode 3, the Pac-12 Apostles deal with George Wrighster’s tweet about Colson Yankoff that sent Washington Huskies fans into a tailspin. Yankoff is a former QB for Washington who transfered to UCLA. Huskies coach Chris Petersen refused to grant a waiver allowing Yankoff to appeal to the NCAA for immediate eligibility at UCLA. Both Ralph and George hate the hypocrisy in the NCAA system. The NCAA claims the players are student athletes who need to be protected, but regularly treats them like employees. It is ridiculous that coaches can move as they please from school to school, but the players have restrictions. (0:00 – 11:59)

Recruiting matters in college football. The teams with the most talent have the best chance to win the CFB Playoff and National Championship. There are 64 recruits in the 2020 class with either 4-5 stars who live in Pac-12 states or neighboring states. With the exception of the Oregon Ducks and Washington Huskies, the conference is falling behind in the recruiting rankings for the class of 2020. The early signing period is not until December, but the USC Trojans are ranked between 60th and 68th depending on which recruiting site you like. (12:00- 23:41)

George and Ralph rank the Pac-12 stadiums from #12 to #1.(23:42-End)

Send us an email with your thoughts: immad@unafraidshow.com

Visit: https://unafraidshow.com

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Your Brain on Football: Physical and Psychological Effects of Sports Fandom

physical and psychological effects of sports college football

A year ago, I wrote a post about how and why absurdly addicted I, and most of the world, am to sports. Here are the physical and psychological effects of sports fandom, with a few updates…

Football Fandom Runs Deep and Affects the Brain

My Texas A&M football fandom began at a young age, and it’s progressively worsened into a serious condition. Symptoms include irrational beliefs that “this season will be different” (every season); uncontrollable emotion anytime my team scores, recovers a fumble, or intercepts a pass; low-key stalking high school players to learn where they’ll commit; and owning enough maroon clothing to outfit a small village.

Though my addiction might seem absurd to some, I know I’m in good company. Across the globe, sports enthusiasts do seemingly crazy things in the name of fandom every day. It’s as if our critical thinking skills are hindered by an addiction to our team.

And, that’s it. We’re addicts- looking for our next high. We sacrifice reason and logic for a chance to feel that flood of dopamine when A&M beats Clemson (hey, it could happen; we’re only 11 point underdogs).*

*Update: remember how I said it could happen? Well it basically did, but it’s part of the tragic hero nature of Aggie football to get screwed by refs:

https://youtu.be/FOQIe5g18lI

Your Sports Addiction is Scientific: Physical and Psychological Effects are Real

There’s science to support the potentially addictive nature of fandom. We have very measurable physical effects when watching, or even discussing, our team. Elevated blood pressure, increased adrenaline, and changes in posture or speech are just a few of physical characteristics that accompany game time behavior.

If you listen to a die-hard sports fan, you’ll notice the abundance of the word “we.” In this, the fan is grouping himself with the players, coaches, and fellow fans. It’s our mirror neurons that give us the ability to place ourselves in the shoes of the actual players. Though we’re not in the game, we still feel like we have a part in the outcome. Our addiction is both physical and psychological.

Personally, I think this addiction to sports is both wonderful and terrible.

Humans crave connection. We’re built for community. For many, sports offer the chance to be a part of something. For me, being an Aggie is belonging to a cult community of individuals who share a passion for something bigger than any one of us. But, it’s not just an Aggie thing.

For a large portion of the world, soccer is an integral part of culture. The passion and community of soccer fans is an incredible sight to behold. For millions of children and adults, soccer isn’t just a sport, but it’s the escape from an often challenging life. Watching a game offers a momentary reprieve from the stresses of life.*

*Update: this year’s Women’s World Cup was massively controversial for Americans. Political speech from players dominated and divided the country. As a result, some Americans rooted for England to win the title…before the game began. But, fandom and patriotism took effect shortly after the first kick, and by the end, most Americans were proud to once again beat the British.

Athletes and Coaches Can Do No Wrong

The dark side of fandom is our ability to rationalize away sins for the players, coaches, and schools we love. I’m going to call out Ohio State University here because it’s the most recent, most egregious example of ignoring blatant misconduct for the sake of winning. When we let our addiction to the game supersede our morality, we set a dangerous precedent. Sure, Urban Meyer is a phenomenal coach, but he’s also a jerk. And, what are we saying to the up and coming generation about accountability when we let Coach Meyer off the hook because he wins games? I don’t think these are the values we should be teaching. Our addiction has clouded our judgement.

OSU isn’t the only administration to permit poor conduct. Every fan base has moments in its history we’d like to hide. We’ve all justified bad behavior from our favorite players and swore, “he’s really not a bad guy… he just made a mistake.”

From the outsider’s perspective, the amount of energy and emotion we dedicate to teams and players almost seems like lunacy. It’s just a game, right? They may just be games, but for many, they’re also community. They’re part of our identity. We feel successful when our team wins- a sense of failure when they lose. When our coach receives criticism for misconduct, we feel personally attacked.

For me, the addiction is well worth it. I’ve made some of my best friends at those games. I’ve cried tears of joy and frustration at those games (if you’re an Aggie and didn’t cry when we beat Alabama in 2012 and when we lost to UCLA in 2017, you’re a monster). The community and connection I find as a fan is unbeatable… even though my team is usually very beatable.

I have no doubt I will continue to do ridiculous things in the name of fandom; and I know I’m surrounded by good people who’ll be doing the same.*

*Update: this is a personal note, but the last few dates I had were with guys who didn’t know or enjoy football. As a football addict, I wondered if this meant my life would be spent pining for an Aggie natty alone. But this article’s posting last year convinced another Ag that there are women who might be as obsessed about recruiting as he is. And I hear wedding bells set to the tune of the Aggie War Hymn.

2019 College Football is Almost Here

Here’s to another season of turbulence- high highs and low lows. God bless Jimbo Fisher, Aggie football, and the community we sports fans need to survive the physical and psychological effects of sports.

Episode #2: State of the Pac-12 Conference, North and South Division Prediction Preview

George Wrighster and Ralph Amsden return for the second installment of UnafraidShow.com’s Pac-12 Apostles Podcast. In this episode, the guys discuss the critical nature of the 2019 season for the Pac-12 conference, as well as the responsibility of the fans to help keep the conference from becoming irrelevant before the tv deal is up in 2024. The conference is falling financially behind the other power 5 conferences. So, winning a national championship or two before 2024 is paramount to the future of the Pac-12.

One of the biggest potential changes for the upcoming season in the Pac-12 is the proposed 9 am kickoff times for a small selection of games meant to air on Fox. George and Ralph discuss the pros and cons of early kickoffs and debate whether or not there will ultimately benefit from the change (14:00-31:38).

Pac-12 Apostles Podcast North and South Predictions

George and Ralph revealed their preseason predictions for where the Pac-12 North teams will finish. Oregon, Washington, and Stanford have been the class of the Pac-12 for the last decade. But, both of the apostles believe Cal is a well-coached team on the rise. (31:39-1:01:11).,

The media picked Utah to win the conference at Pac-12 Media Day. However, neither George or Ralph picked them to win the south division. The apostles’ predictions for the Pac-12 South teams caused a big disagreement. They could not be further apart on the predictions for the UCLA Bruins, USC Trojans, and Arizona QB Khalil Tate. (1:01:12-End).

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