Three days of increasingly consequential coaching stories reached their peak Monday, when longtime South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier's immediate retirement was reported. South Carolina will announce an interim coach Tuesday morning, expected to be an offensive assistant.
South Carolina fans -- and college football fans in general -- are coming to terms with the Spurrier announcement in their own ways, but there's no doubt that the HBC's departure leaves a hole in the entire sport.
There are all sorts of Spurrier items, from his final SEC Media Days performance to his advocacy for player payments to his legendary one-liners, and we'll have more today.
Sarkisian out at (the other) USC. Before Spurrier's surprise announcement, the day's biggest story had been USC athletic director Pat Haden's decision to fire coach Steve Sarkisian, one day after putting him on an indefinite leave of absence. Sarkisian checked himself into a rehab facility on Monday, a source told SB Nation. He was 12-6 in less than two seasons with the Trojans. Our USC blog has five names the Trojans should pursue.
Will Grier suspended for the season. There hasn't been much on Spurrier's retirement from his alma mater yet, but the Gators have been dealing with their own problem. Quarterback Will Grier was suspended for the remainder of the season on Monday for failing a drug test. Grier says the failed test was due to an over-the-counter supplement he took without getting assurances from Florida's staff.
Tunsil's almost back, and you're gonna be in trouble. Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil has received a seven-game suspension from the NCAA for receiving improper benefits. With time served so far this season, it means he'll miss Saturday's game against Memphis and return on Oct. 17 for Texas A&M.
WOO BIG HOOEY. Video surfaced Monday morning showing Arkansas coach Bret Bielema jumping into the middle of a scrum near his sideline and flailing backwards to draw a penalty. Usually, if something under Bielema's control is flailing backwards, it's his offense.
Why don't they build the whole defense out of the Heisman? Michigan has pitched three consecutive shutouts, but does that mean that the entire defense should win the Heisman Trophy?
I thought we were done with this. Ohio State is going to stay with a two-quarterback system, with J.T. Barrett handling the ball inside the red zone. Yeah, that always works.
Just do it. Quickly. Texas interim AD Mike Perrin might renew the Longhorns' Nike contract without even hearing from anyone else. Somewhere, Steve Patterson is signing a $5 million per year deal to put his kid's little league team in velcro.
Admissions against interest. The NCAA let Leonard Fournette auction off his jersey for charity, but did it just concede the basic point of the pending player likeness litigation in doing so?
'Clemson' is an anagram for 'One Smlc' or something. The Tigers are still No. 1 in the new composite ratings, with TCU jumping to No. 2. Clemson deserves that vote, too.
WHAT ARE THOSE no seriously how did they do that? Kansas State goes quick change between plays.
Nothing stands in the way of tradition. It's Minnesota-Nebraska week, which means only one thing: Two middling Big Ten West programs playing for $5 worth of broken chair parts.