Ole Miss Football: Grove Grinder, Worry, More Rumors And Less Sankey
Hello Ole Miss football fans, welcome to another edition of Grove Grinder. These are some observations from the past week in and around the SEC.
I’ve noticed Ole Miss football fans fall into two categories when it comes to the NCAA case against Ole Miss. One, they believe the NCAA will hammer Ole Miss football in order to make an example out of us. Or two, they believe a we will ultimately get just what we have self-imposed. I fall among the latter myself however I do understand why some fans feel the way they do and expect the worse.
Regardless of what becomes of the COI’s answers to the responses, the damage has already begun. We already know the self-imposed sanctions will begin this season. After already having the NCAA enforcement ‘presence’ on Manning Way for 4+ years causing irreparable damage to recruiting. Oh yeah, there’s that 7.5 million dollar figure which is also glaring.
Of course, there are glaring issues revolving around the players involved in official NCAA interviews. Also the fact there was at least one NCAA investigator on a personal vendetta to take down Ole Miss. Anybody who takes the time to read the official responses to the NOA knows the extent certain individuals went to in order to burn Ole Miss. There’s no way this ends well for other SEC schools if the NCAA allows this to go beyond what has been self-imposed. Just my take though.
A Rumor Runs Thru It
Ole Miss Rebels Football
Of course, there is no escaping the onslaught of rumors from TSBU and the chimer prophet. We’ve heard word of a huge ‘bombshell’ planned for SEC Media Days so I’m also expecting there to be drama and fireworks this week in Hoover.
There are also rumors of several members of the media which are expected to have some tough questions for a number of coaches which are involved in the NCAA case against Ole Miss. Of course, SEC Media Days will be interesting.
Also there is rumor of the Houston Nutt lawsuit being filed and officially announced at some point in the coming days. This has been a grinder issue with a number of Ole Miss football fans in recent weeks. Actually it should be humorous to see how it pans out for Nutt.
Of course, there have also been rumors about other lawsuits which are going to be filed as a result of the NCAA investigation at Ole Miss. I’m anxious to see where these papers fall myself if the rumors are true. One thing is certain, this is going to get uglier before it gets better.
Tick Tock Sankey
Time is running out for SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. Everybody knows I’m no fan of Sankey, however I would love to be able to respect the man and his position. At this point I haven’t. There is an obvious conflict of interest when the SEC Commissioner fails to step up for a charter school.
Is this simply a conflict which arises as a result of his Chair on the Committee on Infractions? If so then he has not separated himself from the NCAA case against Ole Miss. If it’s because he has an obligation to other schools because of his NCAA and MSU connections then it is even worse.
We wait to see what SEC Media Days has in store for the SEC Commissioner when he is at the podium. However, I can’t imagine him not being asked some tough questions about his positions within the NCAA and the SEC. Of course, it would not surprise me at all to hear him deflect from either issue.
The time has come for Greg Sankey to stand up and be SEC Commissioner and earn his 2+ million dollar salary. Or maybe it’s time to find somebody who will.