Own the group chat with The Weekender, highlighting the biggest stories in college sports, standout writing from Eleven Warriors, and a glance at what's next.
Scott Frost Gets Dragged
Nebraska coach Scott Frost is squarely on the hot seat as he enters the 2022 season with a 15–29 record with the Cornhuskers, highlighted by winning just three games in each of the last two seasons.
Frost has a new offensive line coach and he's eager to prove his team is putting in the work this season to return Nebraska to the standard set in the past.
Scott Frost estimates there are 15-20 total vomits per practice from offensive linemen under new position coach Donovan Raiola.
— Sam McKewon (@swmckewonOWH) August 19, 2022
“It’s not because they’re not in shape – he’s just working them hard.”
More from @EvanBlandOWH: https://t.co/aHiY6mAI3O
Awesome, right? Guys are puking! That must mean they're going to be beasts this season! What's that? Puking isn't a great look?
Ive been in 13 training camps between college and the NFL. Half of those were 2 a days. I dont believe Ive seen 15 total times an OL puked at practice. So either hes lying about this number or its extremely unhealthy. https://t.co/gqkh0pKsQF
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) August 19, 2022
Yeah, maybe Frost should pump the brakes a little bit (or stop stretching the truth, whatever the case may be). After all, he did say that “anything that happens in our program is ultimately my responsibility” after two players were hospitalized for Rhabdomyolysis in 2018.
There's a reason you don't see Nick Saban and Ryan Day bragging to the press about players vomiting.
Ewers Named QB1 for Texas
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian named Quinn Ewers the starter for the Longhorns this season and there was nothing drama-free about the decision.
Let's start with the announcement:
How this came down today was odd. Texas brought three players to interviews. Then, just out of the blue, Texas SID John Bianco said he had a message from Sark. Quinn Ewers is the starter. You couldve hear a pin drop. Wow.
— Brian Davis (@BDavisAAS) August 19, 2022
Yeah, that's kind of weird!
Then there were reports leading up to the announcement that redshirt sophomore Hudson Card would be named the starter, which had Longhorn fans distraught because Card was the guy who couldn't beat out Casey Thompson for the job last season, but then Thompson transferred out when Ewers arrived, so it was a big short term mess in Austin.
Texas insiders reported that Card looked better than Ewers in fall camp and one even went so far as to report that Card had been named the starter earlier Friday, but Ewers is the big name that Sarkisian is staking his reputation on. Lane Kiffin once mentioned something about NIL deals forcing coach's hands when it came to picking starters. Maybe that's not the case here, but we'll be tuning in when Ewers and the Longhorns face No. 1 Alabama in Week 2.
The Hit Heard 'round the World
West Chester Lakota West safety Malik Hartford, a four-star prospect committed to Ohio State, laid the wood Friday night in his team's win over Cincinnati St. Xavier.
Clean hit too, shoulder to clavicle, Dolla Dame wave off, I NEED HIM IN SCARLET AND GREY BY NOVEMBER @MalikHartford @Zone6_OSU @BarstoolOSU pic.twitter.com/aSKopo4kME
— SamBo11AH (@JayBeeYNO) August 20, 2022
That's worth another look.
What. A. Hit. @MalikHartford @gmcsports @westfirebirds @LWHSRedSea @LakotaWestAD @CoachTomBolden pic.twitter.com/KW5bx2z5rn
— Chatterbox Sports (@CBoxSports) August 20, 2022
Four flags quickly found their way onto the field and Hartford was called for targeting, giving St. X 15 yards and a chance for a tying 47-yard field goal as time expired, but the kick was no good.
Hartford, for his part, felt some remorse for the de-cleater:
prayers out tho fr hope he ok
— Malik Hartford (@MalikHartford) August 20, 2022
ICYMI
Big Ten Announces $8 Billion Deal with FOX, CBS, NBC
Dan Hope on the Big Ten's massive new television rights deal, the first to top $1 billion annually for a conference, and what that means for fans.
“He did everything to become captain.”
Griffin Strom on the work and leadership that defensive lineman Tyler Friday showed amid an ACL injury that cost him his season last year.
Larry Johnson's Alpha Dog
Some good news: Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson says he's not even thinking about retiring. Now for some more good news: Johnson says he's got an “alpha dog” on his defensive line, though he's not telling us who it is yet.
Up Next
We're now just 12 days away from Marcus Freeman and his No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish running into the Shoe to get dogwalked by the Buckeyes. Eleven Warriors is hosting a 20th Reunion Celebration for the 2002 National Championship team at Land-Grant Brewing the night before that game. It's going to be an incredible night, so grab one of the single-seat tickets while they're still available!
Single seat tickets are now on sale for the 20th reunion of the '02 National Championship team Sept. 2 at @LandGrantBeer Grab yours today!
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 15, 2022
https://t.co/yMJIiErBI7
Join Tressel, Doss, Clarett, Krenzel, Jenkins, Dantonio, Allen, Nugent, Nickey, and more for a special night! pic.twitter.com/GGvadqyC92
