Three Up, Three Down: Full Capacity Stadiums, Jamie Pollard and Expansion Talk

Posted on May 22, 2021

NCAA Football: Pac-12 Conference Championship-Oregon vs Utah

Every single week there are plenty of different sports discussions going on in the world of social media. Whether it is Facebook or Twitter, you can guarantee that as you are reading this, some people at this very moment are arguing over sports.

Whether it be comments, tweets, radio or television, there is always something buzzing in the sports world. Sometimes for better or worse but I thought it would be fun to capture the week with a three up and three down series to show you what I saw that caught my eye this past week.

Three Up

Getting Back to Normal

This past week several schools announced their plans on getting back to full capacity. Also, the Big 12 announced that Big 12 Media Days will be held in Jerry World on July 14th and 15th and will be in person! I know we are still making our way through COVID, but it appears that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and I cannot wait to hear the roar of the stadiums again.

Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard

I normally don’t mention Athletic Director’s much, but I applaud what Jamie Pollard did this week. Iowa State softball clinched an NCAA Regional berth for the first time in 31 years and Wesley Kiptoo became the first male in Big 12 track history to ever win three individual events at a single outdoor championship. While those were quite an accomplishment, it appears that the Des Moines Register (Newspaper) didn’t think it was an interesting story enough to make the front page of the sports section. Jamie Pollard called them out on Twitter to voice his displeasure.

Online ⁦@DMRegister⁩ sports this AM. No mention of ⁦@CycloneSB⁩ (or UNI) or ISU track – instead Iowa track, baseball & softball plus ISU dropping baseball 20 years ago. Confirms why I cancelled the Register. Insulting to ISU and UNI softball players. pic.twitter.com/DlnEQEZlQ8
— Jamie Pollard (@IASTATEAD) May 17, 2021

Normally, an AD would be hesitant to call out a big local newspaper but not Pollard. He has every right to be upset and to be honest, I had no idea people were still reading newspapers anymore. I forget but do newspapers still cover stuff that happens after 10 p.m. or do you have to wait until the following day to get the coverage?

Baseball Bat Beers

I don’t keep up with minor league baseball much, but it looks like I need to make a trip out to Myrtle Beach and catch a Pelicans game. These things are awesome, and I think every minor league stadium should take notes.

Minor League Baseball, a doubleheader and $1 beer day.
It’s a great evening for a @Pelicanbaseball twin bill in Myrtle Beach!
(The “Beer Bat” is pretty cool too.) pic.twitter.com/lSOH0VTbIj
— Bryan Kurp (@bryan_kurp) May 15, 2021

Three Down

Matt Campbell

Everyone knows I am a big believer and fan of Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell. He is a great man and an excellent football coach who has done wonders in Ames. However, it came out that he reportedly turned down an 8-year $68.5 million dollar contract from the Detroit Lions. What? Matt, TAKE THE MONEY!!! It just goes to show how happy he is at Iowa State to turn down an offer like that. Hell, I will take that job and even if I run that franchise into the ground even further, I will be a rich man.

Expansion Talk

I swear I have seen many talking heads in college football talking about the Pac-12 like their crap don’t stink. However they are dead wrong because not only does the Pac-12 make less money than the Big 12 does on a per team basis, but they also are a dead conference who is by far the worst football conference in the power five. Stop thinking Oklahoma or Texas is coming to save that joke of a conference out on the west coast where nobody cares to show up to football games.