Alabama Coach Nick Saban isn't a big fan of the College Football Playoff. Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long, who also serves as the CFP's selection committee chairman, says that's because Saban may be out of touch.
Saban's Crimson Tide was one of the four teams that qualified for the playoff, but that didn't change his opinion.
"I learned what I feared the most would happen," Saban told AL.com's Michael Casagrande on Wednesday. "All the attention, all the interest would be about the four teams in the playoffs, which is exactly what happened, which was great to be a part of.
"But what I was most fearful of is college football is unique. A lot of young men get a lot of positive self gratification from being able to go to a bowl game and that's always been a special thing. That by having a playoff we would minimize the interest in other bowl games, which I think is sort of what happened and I hate to see that for college football."
On Friday, Long was a guest on Sports Talk with Bo Mattingly and said he doesn't think top-tier coaches like Saban can really judge the interest in lower-level bowls.
"Well, I think sometimes coaches, particularly those at the highest level, I'm not sure how aware they are of what's really going on out there in the real world," Long said. "You know, bowl games, they keep adding bowl games. And I think the television interest for the games is higher than ever before, so I think that's not only the College Football Playoff, but as we've gone through some of those bowl games. So I'm not sure it's having that effect."
In other words, as Casagrande pointed out, "the best games will receive the most attention, no matter how the champion is crowned."
Love me, Tinder
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowsk is no stranger to Tinder.
During a recent interview on ESPN Radio, "Gronk" admitted to trying the dating app (even though he quit using it after a while because no one believed it was really him) and offered a few tips, summed up by CBSSports.com's John Beech:
• Tip 1: Swipe right on everyone. If you've never used Tinder, here's how it works: You swipe right if you like someone and if they also swipe right, then you're a match and you can start communicating with that person. "You got to hit the swipe right button for every single one," Gronk said. "Hit the swipe right, get the ball rolling, you start talking to [to a match]."
• Tip 2: Let Google and Twitter come up with the pickup lines for you. If you're coming up with your own pickup lines every time you use Tinder, then you're doing it wrong. "Type in 'pickup lines on Tinder' and use those lines," Gronk said. "It's Tinder. You got to write something crazy."
Tip 3: Send as many shirtless pictures as possible. "'Hey do you work out? Because I'm ripped, I'm jacked,' and then send them a picture with your shirt off or something like that and they'll be like, 'Whoa, this guy's serious, I like him,' " Gronk said.
That last one may work for Gronk, but for the vast majority of NFL fans? Maybe they should keep their shirts on.
Brady bashing
Brad Dickson of the Omaha World-Herald weighed in on the NFL's decision to suspend New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady:
"After the release of the Wells Report, the NFL suspended Tom Brady four games without pay. The Patriots released a statement that they have full faith in Brady's backup, 'What's-his-face.'
"Forget suspending Brady without pay. To really punish him, make him play in the Pro Bowl."
Sports quiz
Nick Saban never intended to be a coach until he was made a graduate assistant while waiting for his wife to graduate. Who gave him the job?
Answer
Former Kent State Coach Don James
Sports on 05/18/2015