Good morning, and welcome to the Legacy Library Newsletter.
At the time I’m writing this, it’s shortly before 3:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. I’m walking outside, as I do, and it’s gross enough out that I’m uncharacteristically wearing shorts instead of track pants.
I’m glad to see that Florida Atlantic will be playing quite a few home games at night this year. Lightning delays come with the territory, but I’m strongly opposed to day games at FAU Stadium.
I’ve also been thinking about Power teams potentially playing games at FAU, and this is the most skeptical that I’ve ever been. The Power conferences are trying to expand their conference slate, and there’s even less incentive for an SEC or Big Ten program to play a mid-major.
Assuming that FAU sticks to four non-conference games, I wonder what the long-term strategy for Power foes is. It’s something the new athletic director would be wise to figure out within the next 12 months — and don’t even think of cutting the Shula Bowl.
I went to my first FAU football game in 2015, when Miami made the drive up on a nationally televised Friday night game. The only time that a Power 4 team has visited FAU Stadium since then is for the Boca Raton Bowl, and the Owls weren’t even involved either time they played in the game.
Add this predicament to the long list of storylines that aren’t getting covered from a mid-major perspective. We’re so focused on social media debates about whether the SEC should consider a 10+2 format instead of 9+3.
There’s a great scene in “The Sopranos” where Tony and Uncle Junior are discussing a complicated situation. At one point, Uncle Jun says, “All good questions.” Tony asks, “So what’s the answer?” Junior replies, “Who says there is one?”
I guess that’s more or less mid-major football in a nutshell. There are so many questions about this level of football’s sustainability and viability in the portal and NIL climate. And suppose there are answers. Well, what are they?
I’d rather know the truth, even if it might hurt, than keep thinking about what I could hear or want to hear.
Sticking with FAU, the Owls were involved in quite a few Legacy Library stories last week. Some of our recent works:
- College Football: Georgia Southern Receiver Taylor Bradshaw’s Old-Fashioned Mindset Is Paying Off
- High School Football Recruiting: MiCah McClintock Sees a Bright Future in FAU’s Air Raid Offense
- FAU Football: Devin Singletary, a Movement, and a Bittersweet Hall of Fame Selection
- Gerald Hearns Has Seen the World. Now He’s Home With a New Mission
- High School Football Recruiting: Delaware Went All-In on Austin Farrell, and He’s Ready to Reward Their Faith
I’ve tried paying some attention to the “College Football 27” microtransactions controversy, but I thought the far more intriguing story came over the weekend.
Oklahoma’s Trent Wilson posted a screengrab from the game’s Road to Glory mode, where your playable character can make certain decisions that impact morale, points, etc. The fictional Wilson told the player that Wilson’s girlfriend had broken up with him, and you, as the player, had multiple options, including hanging out with Wilson or even messaging the ex-girlfriend.
Amusing, sure, and arguably harmless. Let’s hope we never see that kind of scenario involving a player who is married in real life.
What I also find interesting is that EA has faced accusations of inflating player and team ratings so that you don’t have a random G6 school with a 65 overall. Only two teams — NIU and UL Monroe — are 70 overall or less, and ULM is last with a 69 at launch.
That’d make sense. We have to keep the schools happy, but we’re not afraid to play with fire when it comes to the players themselves.
(And, no,I did not buy CFB 27. I’m in Year 3 of an FAU dynasty on NCAA 13.)
Thank you to Jake Gibson and the Shula Bowl Pod for having me on to talk about Legacy Library and FAU.
Tune into Ken LaVicka’s FAU Pod Monday (7/13), where we’ll be talking about Devin Singletary’s legacy after he was recently elected to the Conference USA Hall of Fame.
We’ve had some technical difficulties, but the Legacy Library Podcast (Sponsored by Eternal Holdings) should officially debut earlier this week.
The Legacy Library Podcast will feature casual, extended conversations with select guests.
Today’s newsletter is unlocked, but please make sure to subscribe to Legacy Library. You are helping fund the next generation of sports coverage to ensure that these stories get told.
Talk to you all later this week!
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