Gene Wojciechowski
@genowoj
I'm choosing some combination of Opinion No. 2 and No. 3. It isn't broken, but there are a handful of significant issues that need more than the usual duct-tape fix---and soon (NIL, portal, a selection and playoff system that has CFB's best interests in mind).
Differing opinions on state of college athletics Rutgers' Greg Schiano: "I think college football is in a great place" SEC's Greg Sankey: "College athletics is not broken, it's under stress" West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez: "It's a cluster"
Thanks to @joerexrode and @TheAthletic for celebrating our show and the amazing callers and loyal audience. nytimes.com/athletic/64880…
This idea keeps getting proposed by private capital people, and even some reporters, and it keeps glossing over the fact that the idea is currently illegal. It requires a *different* antitrust exemption from Congress to survive legal challenges.
American Commissioner Tim Pernetti throws out an idea: Bring all college sports media rights deals together like pro leagues. He says revenue could triple. "I've seen the potential upside of consolidation."
Convenient approach...
QB Nico Iamaleava, who left Tennessee for UCLA: "I don't speak on money matters. I'm just here for ball & school"
Aaron Rodgers has a lot more to lose with the Steelers than he did with the Jets - The Athletic nytimes.com/athletic/65144…
IOC already killing it at The Athletic. This piece is spot on.
Nobody in sports needs to be protected more than a professional football player. That's why the next head of the NFLPA needs to be the toughest person in the NFL. tinyurl.com/3uu483aw
Dan Lanning has an idea: turn Week Zero into Week 1, shift up the season, end the postseason earlier and…. eliminate all month-long playoff byes. “Play these games faster and sooner. College football belongs on Saturday, not the NFL.” yhoo.it/3TVAehS
Thanks, Chicago, Northwestern and the North Shore for selling out my ON HER GAME book event tomorrow (Thursday) night at The Book Stall. Looking forward to it!
As always, follow the money. And that’s exactly what @ByPatForde did…
New story: What is driving Tony Petitti's push for the 4-4-2-2-1 playoff format? Assurances to TV partners and league members, multiple sources say. A Big Ten spokesperson denied it. bit.ly/40v6mfZ
Admittedly, the selection process has its issues and adjustments need to be made. But I'll take the credibility and integrity of the people serving on that selection committee over the previous alternatives.
Big Ten's Tony Petitti: "To be clear, any college football playoff format that increases the discretion and role of the CFP selection committee will have a difficult time getting support from the Big Ten"
Locksley isn't the only coach who lost a locker room because of NIL in-fighting. He's just the only who publicly admitted it. It was inevitable that NIL player & allocation could/would create those type of in-house issues. Gotta respect Locks' honesty, tho.
Maryland's Mike Locksley: "A year ago, Coach Locks lost his locker room. ... We had haves and have-nots for the first time in our locker room, and the landscape of college football taught me a valuable lesson. If I have to put my desk in the locker room, I will."
Well said, by @ByPatForde. Worth a watch. And always nice to see another ESPN alum, @megrobs11.
Big thanks to @ByPatForde for joining us in Spokane for the Kickoff this weekend 🤝 #ExperienceElevated
Sunday Read: With one question, Deion Sanders gave a student reporter a ‘life-changing moment’ @Andrew_Cherico is one of the most amazing people I've met in 25-plus years of covering sports. His story will lift your spirits: nytimes.com/athletic/64881…
Indiana Athletics mourns the loss of Bob Hammel, legendary journalist & member of the IU Athletics Hall of Fame.
Well said by @JordanSpieth. Accurate. Fair. Insightful.
🚨🗣️⛳️ #NEW — Spieth on Scheffler: “He doesn't care to be a superstar. He's not transcending the game like Tiger did. He's not bringing it to a non-golf audience necessarily… doesn't want to go do the stuff that a lot of us go do…” (Via @GOLF_com)
Can't wait to watch @UTJEM @tennalum and assistant professor of practice Brittany Tarwater and @tennvoice on Volunteer Gameday this fall! This is amazing news for @Vol_Sports and @UTCCI. wvlt.tv/2025/07/18/ten…
The best of the best…
Happy 85th, "Uncle Verne"! 🎉 To use one of his more memorable calls, you've "got to be the sickest man in America" if you don't love Verne Lundquist. Legend.
I have such great respect for @MicheleSteele on so many levels. An inexhaustible work ethic...A commitment to journalism and professionalism...A Swiss Army knife array of skills...And just a good person. All the best moving forward.
I'm turning the page... After a 14-year journey at ESPN, spanning assignments in Bristol, Boston, and Chicago, this chapter as a bureau reporter concludes on Aug. 1. My Day 1 assignment in the Boston bureau was the day Aaron Hernandez was arrested - fulfilling my dad’s…
Congratulations to the 3 nominees for the BBWAA Career Excellence Award: Tom Verducci Paul Hoynes And the late, great Scott Miller All so deserving of being honored in the writers' wing of the Hall of Fame
Congrats, @Ian_OConnor
I am thrilled to join the team of tremendous sports journalists at @TheAthletic, the best of the best. First day, first column on my 40-year adventure in the biz: tinyurl.com/52f9dkk9