A CFP snub, Pop-Tarts 'n' Mayo and Hallmark movie ideas in the sports moments of the week
Posted December 5, 2023 3:39 p.m. EST
Updated December 6, 2023 5:34 p.m. EST
The internet is a big place. Unless you're 100% plugged in all the time (and let's be clear, that is NOT recommended), you're going to miss some stuff.
Let us do that work. You can be a well-adjusted human being and still catch all the best sports moments of the week, with a quick review ...
1. Boo this man!
The College Football Playoff committee was forced to make its most controversial decision ever on Sunday, and NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan was right in the center of it.
Corrigan drew the (in this case) unfortunate assignment of being the CFP chair this year, meaning he had to be the face of the committee's decision to exclude 13-0 Florida State from the four-team field.
The Seminoles slogged their way to an ACC Championship after losing star quarterback Jordan Travis a couple weeks ago. His absence led directly to Texas and Alabama getting in over FSU, a fact that Corrigan willingly admitted on live TV.
Corrigan went on to say that most coaches would consider a short-handed Florida State to be an easier matchup, which was another factor in them getting left out.
The Seminoles were rightfully furious. No undefeated Power Five team has ever been left out of the College Football Playoff, and using injury as a primary excuse just doesn't seem fair at all.
FSU head coach Mike Norvell blasted the committee's decision in a statement on Sunday afternoon, and it's hard to argue with him.
"What is the point of playing games?" Norvell said. "Do you tell players it is okay to quit when someone goes down?"
Don't forget, Ohio State lost its star quarterback late in the 2014 season. They got into the playoff and won a national championship. Who's to say Florida State couldn't do the same thing, however unlikely it may seem?
That's why you play the games, all of which the Seminoles won this season!
It's unjust. It's gross ... and with all of that said, Corrigan was probably right in his analysis, based on Michigan's reaction to having to play the Crimson Tide.
That sounds like a scared bunch of Wolverines.
What a mess. Thank goodness for expansion next season.
2. Appetite for Bowl Season
Last week in this space, we told you about the world's first edible mascot, to be featured in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Dec. 28.
Well, as luck would have it, NC State has selected to take part in this year's matchup against Kansas State.
That means head coach Dave Doeren could make history by being the first to take a bite of the Pop-Tarts mascot, a potential responsibility that he is not taking lightly.
Doeren was later asked about his favorite flavor of Pop-Tarts. He answered brown sugar and says his wife, Sara, prefers strawberry.
Both good choices. Respect, coach.
The Wolfpack won't be the only ones participating in a food-themed bowl game.
North Carolina will be staying in-state for the Duke's Mayo Bowl, in Charlotte, against West Virginia.
The Mayo Bowl really took things up a notch a couple years ago when they announced a "mayo bath" (in lieu of a Gatorade bath) for the winning coach.
South Carolina's Shane Beamer and Maryland's Mike Locksley are the only two coaches to take part so far, and it has been wonderful ... although it seems like cheating to wear a hat.
Now for the real question -- Would you rather see Mack Brown drenched in mayo? Or Dave Doeren with a face-full of Pop-Tarts mascot?
For me, the answer would normally be a mayo bath, but this is history we're talking about with the Pop-Tarts thing. There's only one first time for everything.
3. Portal-verse madness
The college football transfer portal opened on Monday and there are already several big names on the move, especially at quarterback and especially, it seems, in North Carolina.
All three Triangle ACC schools have seen movement at the game's most important position, starting at Duke, where star quarterback Riley Leonard announced he is moving on.
Leonard was outstanding in 2022 and had the Blue Devils rolling this season until he got hurt.
His decision to transfer, given head coach Mike Elko's departure for Texas A&M, shouldn't come as much of a surprise, but is still a big blow to the Duke program.
Most experts believe Leonard will commit to Notre Dame in the coming days.
NC State also lost a quarterback to the portal this week, when MJ Morris decided to transfer (despite previously saying he wouldn't).
Morris said he did not want to leave the Wolfpack, but coaches wanted to go in a different direction.
Morris says there's no bad blood between him and the staff.
Early prognostications have listed Baylor, LSU and Maryland as potential landing spots.
Then there's UNC, who will almost surely lose Drake Maye to the NFL Draft once the season is over.
The Tar Heels have already brought in reinforcements for next season, signing former Texas A&M (and LSU) quarterback Max Johnson.
In four years of action, Johnson has amassed 47 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions, but has also been injured quite a bit.
He will have two years of eligibility remaining.
4. Panthers playoff dreams officially end
This just in -- the Carolina Panthers will not be making the playoffs this season.
I know, shocker, right?
Well, after Sunday's 21-18 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it became officially official. With more than a month to go in the regular season. Ouch.
Carolina actually had a second half lead on the road for the first time since Week 3 ... but it lasted just 11 seconds of game time after Mike Evans went 75 yards to give Tampa the lead for good.
The way things are looking right now, it could be a long time before the Panthers return to the postseason.
Click here for a flashback to happier times. You're welcome.
5. Is UNC hoops back?
North Carolina was perhaps the most disappointing team in college basketball last season.
The Tar Heels went from preseason No. 1 to missing the NCAA tournament altogether ... but Hubert Davis' bunch might be all the way back this year.
UNC picked up a pair of big-time home wins last week over ACC foe Florida State and then-No. 10 Tennessee.
North Carolina (7-2) is ranked No. 9, but we'll see how fall after Tuesday night's loss to UConn.
Their next two games are No. 16 Kentucky and No. 19 Oklahoma.
If they can continue to get dominant performances from R.J. Davis and Armando Bacot -- and bring the pressure that sparked a 21-0 run against Florida State -- UNC could find themselves right back among the nation's elite teams.
6. Eagles security guard becomes a celebrity
If you were among the millions of football fans who watched the 49ers-Eagles game on Sunday, you likely bore witness to one of the more legendary sideline interactions in recent memory ... and saw an absolute star being born.
Dom DiSandro, who is the Eagles' Senior Adviser to the General Manager/ Chief Security Officer (no, seriously... that's his real title), got into it with 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw in the second half.
Greenlaw had suplexed receiver DeVonta Smith on the Philly sideline, when DiSandro (who goes by "Big Dom" because of course he does) stepped in to try to create a buffer between Greenlaw and the rest of the Eagles players, who were not happy.
Greenlaw took exception, took a swing at "Big Dom," and both guys ended up getting ejected.
DiSandro was already something of a local legend (one fan even made him his own highlight reel before the incident), but after this, he went main stream. The people couldn't get enough Big Dom!
(Warning: NSFW lyrics in the video below)
If the Eagles make a deep playoff run, which is pretty likely despite Sunday's blowout loss, you can bet you'll be seeing more of DiSandro.
He's already got his own merchandise for Pete's sake!
This makes me feel like we should be learning all we can about other teams' chief security officers. Put them on a reality show a la "Survivor" or "The Challenge" in the offseason.
You're telling me you wouldn't watch that? Of course you would.
TAYLOR SWIFT WATCH
Our Queen Taylor Swift is back in the United States and made the trek to watch boyfriend Travis Kelce play Sunday night in Lambeau Field against the Packers.
The game didn't go great for Travis and the Chiefs, who suffered an upset loss, but Taylor's outfit did spark a new, delightful trend just in time for the holiday season -- re-imagining the Swift/Kelce relationship in Hallmark movie form!
Again, you would absolutely watch this and so would I. In fact, I'm predicting we do get some sort of Swift/Kelce Hallmark movie in the next five years.
And if it's Christmas themed, even better!
We'll see you next week.
