Sandlapper Spike
@sandlapperspike.bsky.social
Palmetto State native with a preference for a militant shade of light blue. I like sports unless they don't like me -- which happens sometimes, even when the sport is gardening. I grow tomatoes and crinums. Yes, crinums.
https://thesportsarsenal.com
https://thesportsarsenal.com
SoCon commish on leagues gaming the FCS playoffs selection process: "There are conferences that will not even have their teams play 60% of their membership, so you're manufacturing perceptions of strength and quality...and amazingly, it seems like every year the better teams don't play each other."
July 22, 2025 at 4:10 PM
SoCon commish on leagues gaming the FCS playoffs selection process: "There are conferences that will not even have their teams play 60% of their membership, so you're manufacturing perceptions of strength and quality...and amazingly, it seems like every year the better teams don't play each other."
I wrote about football attendance at Johnson Hagood Stadium, in the SoCon, and a little about FCS as a whole. Check out the not-so-fancy spreadsheets...
thesportsarsenal.com/2025/07/15/f...
thesportsarsenal.com/2025/07/15/f...
Football attendance review: Johnson Hagood Stadium, the SoCon, and FCS in general
This post is primarily about home attendance at The Citadel, which is a subject I’ve written about many, many times over the years. My first post on the subject was in 2009. What can I say, I’…
thesportsarsenal.com
July 15, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I wrote about football attendance at Johnson Hagood Stadium, in the SoCon, and a little about FCS as a whole. Check out the not-so-fancy spreadsheets...
thesportsarsenal.com/2025/07/15/f...
thesportsarsenal.com/2025/07/15/f...
@edsbs.bsky.social Just checking in on behalf of one of the more militant members of the Sinful Seven. As usual, the donation is in honor of my all-time favorite game witnessed in person, The Citadel's 23-22 victory at South Carolina in 2015.
Sometimes, life is good. Very good.
Sometimes, life is good. Very good.
April 18, 2025 at 6:11 PM
@edsbs.bsky.social Just checking in on behalf of one of the more militant members of the Sinful Seven. As usual, the donation is in honor of my all-time favorite game witnessed in person, The Citadel's 23-22 victory at South Carolina in 2015.
Sometimes, life is good. Very good.
Sometimes, life is good. Very good.
Had a little fun with this one...
April 1, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Had a little fun with this one...
Thanks to @ewpod.bsky.social for pointing out the Dodgers' home promotional/giveaway schedule, which includes *21* different bobblehead nights (and four jersey giveaway nights as well).
www.mlb.com/dodgers/tick...
www.mlb.com/dodgers/tick...
2025 Promotions, Giveaways and Special Event Ticket Packages | Los Angeles Dodgers
Check out the calendar of Dodgers promotions and Special Event Ticket Packages!
www.mlb.com
February 8, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Thanks to @ewpod.bsky.social for pointing out the Dodgers' home promotional/giveaway schedule, which includes *21* different bobblehead nights (and four jersey giveaway nights as well).
www.mlb.com/dodgers/tick...
www.mlb.com/dodgers/tick...
This is from back in December, but it is a good primer about those ever-tricky FCS scholarship questions for schools (and conferences) "opting in" to the House settlement, many of which don't have obvious answers.
Then you have potential Title IX ramifications...
herosports.com/fcs-notebook...
Then you have potential Title IX ramifications...
herosports.com/fcs-notebook...
FCS Notebook: How Will The House Settlement Impact FCS Scholarship Limits?
If an FCS-level school opts into the settlement, it could go above 63 scholarships. But each conference can set its own scholarship cap.
herosports.com
February 6, 2025 at 4:06 PM
This is from back in December, but it is a good primer about those ever-tricky FCS scholarship questions for schools (and conferences) "opting in" to the House settlement, many of which don't have obvious answers.
Then you have potential Title IX ramifications...
herosports.com/fcs-notebook...
Then you have potential Title IX ramifications...
herosports.com/fcs-notebook...
A variation of this rule was enforced during a game between The Citadel and South Carolina, played in Orangeburg in 1937. The play in question led to an on-field fracas that included spectators and both teams; the melee only ended when The Citadel's band began playing "The Star-Spangled Banner".
Any time an NFL rule gets cited by a ref for the first time ever, I am going to blog about it.
The Commanders almost got hit with the rarest penalty in football, and even though there is no rule saying a dog can't play in an NFL game, you probably shouldn't try it. open.substack.com/pub/rodgersh...
The Commanders almost got hit with the rarest penalty in football, and even though there is no rule saying a dog can't play in an NFL game, you probably shouldn't try it. open.substack.com/pub/rodgersh...
When can referees award a touchdown as a penalty? A palpably unfair analysis
There are two reasons NFL refs can award touchdowns as penalties. We almost saw one on Sunday.
open.substack.com
January 27, 2025 at 10:46 PM
A variation of this rule was enforced during a game between The Citadel and South Carolina, played in Orangeburg in 1937. The play in question led to an on-field fracas that included spectators and both teams; the melee only ended when The Citadel's band began playing "The Star-Spangled Banner".
"[A South Carolina BOT member wonder[ed] how USC was going to split its $20.5 million revenue-sharing cap 'because I bet our illegitimate cousins in the northwest corner are gonna put $20.5 million towards football and nothing else.'"
www.thestate.com/sports/colle...
www.thestate.com/sports/colle...
January 26, 2025 at 5:20 PM
"[A South Carolina BOT member wonder[ed] how USC was going to split its $20.5 million revenue-sharing cap 'because I bet our illegitimate cousins in the northwest corner are gonna put $20.5 million towards football and nothing else.'"
www.thestate.com/sports/colle...
www.thestate.com/sports/colle...
Missed this bit of news with the SEC schedule release on Thursday, but The Citadel's 2025 game at Mississippi will now be played on November 8.
That game had been slated for September 6 until recently. This is the 2nd time the date has changed (was originally an 8/30 kickoff).
That game had been slated for September 6 until recently. This is the 2nd time the date has changed (was originally an 8/30 kickoff).
December 14, 2024 at 10:18 PM
Missed this bit of news with the SEC schedule release on Thursday, but The Citadel's 2025 game at Mississippi will now be played on November 8.
That game had been slated for September 6 until recently. This is the 2nd time the date has changed (was originally an 8/30 kickoff).
That game had been slated for September 6 until recently. This is the 2nd time the date has changed (was originally an 8/30 kickoff).
Strong argument for the Black Knights, which have a conference title (unlike the Longhorns) and a better overall record. Texas has no ranked wins.
thinking about writing why Army should get in the playoff instead of Texas
December 8, 2024 at 1:06 AM
Strong argument for the Black Knights, which have a conference title (unlike the Longhorns) and a better overall record. Texas has no ranked wins.
CAA Football has been eliminated from the FCS playoffs prior to the quarterfinal round.
Perhaps next year, the FCS selection committee will remember the folly of awarding extra bids to an oversized conference with an unbalanced league schedule. (I'm not holding my breath.)
Perhaps next year, the FCS selection committee will remember the folly of awarding extra bids to an oversized conference with an unbalanced league schedule. (I'm not holding my breath.)
December 7, 2024 at 10:24 PM
CAA Football has been eliminated from the FCS playoffs prior to the quarterfinal round.
Perhaps next year, the FCS selection committee will remember the folly of awarding extra bids to an oversized conference with an unbalanced league schedule. (I'm not holding my breath.)
Perhaps next year, the FCS selection committee will remember the folly of awarding extra bids to an oversized conference with an unbalanced league schedule. (I'm not holding my breath.)
Mercer's coaching staff should buy a dinner or six for offensive lineman Israel Mukwiza, who might have just clinched the game for the Bears by bear-hugging (pun intended) his own player to prevent a retaliation penalty.
It was truly a high-effort play...
It was truly a high-effort play...
December 7, 2024 at 10:24 PM
Mercer's coaching staff should buy a dinner or six for offensive lineman Israel Mukwiza, who might have just clinched the game for the Bears by bear-hugging (pun intended) his own player to prevent a retaliation penalty.
It was truly a high-effort play...
It was truly a high-effort play...
Mercer's coaching staff should buy a dinner or six for offensive lineman Israel Mukwiza, who might have just clinched the game for the Bears by bear-hugging (pun intended) his own player to prevent a retaliation penalty.
It was truly a high-effort play...
It was truly a high-effort play...
December 7, 2024 at 10:01 PM
Mercer's coaching staff should buy a dinner or six for offensive lineman Israel Mukwiza, who might have just clinched the game for the Bears by bear-hugging (pun intended) his own player to prevent a retaliation penalty.
It was truly a high-effort play...
It was truly a high-effort play...
Tessitore should exclusively stick to pro wrestling announcing at this point. That is an arena in which bias is celebrated by fans as well as employers.
Joe Tessitore just couldn't help himself in the transition from #Big12FB Championship to the SEC title game:
"So there's a champion here but we've got the *heavy weight* clash to determine a Champion in the SEC!"
At least sound like you respect the game you're covering. 🙄
"So there's a champion here but we've got the *heavy weight* clash to determine a Champion in the SEC!"
At least sound like you respect the game you're covering. 🙄
December 7, 2024 at 9:20 PM
Tessitore should exclusively stick to pro wrestling announcing at this point. That is an arena in which bias is celebrated by fans as well as employers.
Just a thought:
If Alabama hadn't been a preseason top 5 team in the AP poll, is the 3-loss Tide anywhere near the CFP?
Teams of note that were unranked in the preseason include SMU and Army.
If Alabama hadn't been a preseason top 5 team in the AP poll, is the 3-loss Tide anywhere near the CFP?
Teams of note that were unranked in the preseason include SMU and Army.
December 7, 2024 at 9:20 PM
Just a thought:
If Alabama hadn't been a preseason top 5 team in the AP poll, is the 3-loss Tide anywhere near the CFP?
Teams of note that were unranked in the preseason include SMU and Army.
If Alabama hadn't been a preseason top 5 team in the AP poll, is the 3-loss Tide anywhere near the CFP?
Teams of note that were unranked in the preseason include SMU and Army.
On the one hand, Matt Barrie looked ridiculous as Joey Galloway patiently explained to him (multiple times) why Arizona State shouldn't jump Boise State in the rankings.
On the other, it is quite possible the committee does just that anyway...
On the other, it is quite possible the committee does just that anyway...
December 7, 2024 at 8:29 PM
On the one hand, Matt Barrie looked ridiculous as Joey Galloway patiently explained to him (multiple times) why Arizona State shouldn't jump Boise State in the rankings.
On the other, it is quite possible the committee does just that anyway...
On the other, it is quite possible the committee does just that anyway...
Maybe the most amazing thing about that Cam Skattebo play is no penalty for ineligible man downfield was called.
December 7, 2024 at 5:43 PM
Maybe the most amazing thing about that Cam Skattebo play is no penalty for ineligible man downfield was called.
Just an insane stretch that lasted over a month. Check out the presumed travel schedule.
I'm hearing that Roger Ayers will be resting comfortably at his home tonight so I decided to document his 31-day streak of reffing, the single-greatest travel accomplishment in human history. kenpom.substack.com/p/an-adventu...
December 5, 2024 at 9:30 PM
Just an insane stretch that lasted over a month. Check out the presumed travel schedule.
The constant CFP sniping from all corners, when the thing is more about TV ratings than competitive play anyway, makes me wish even more that the big brands would just immediately break away from the NCAA.
Blow it all up right now. It would be the best thing for most schools.
Blow it all up right now. It would be the best thing for most schools.
December 4, 2024 at 10:41 PM
The constant CFP sniping from all corners, when the thing is more about TV ratings than competitive play anyway, makes me wish even more that the big brands would just immediately break away from the NCAA.
Blow it all up right now. It would be the best thing for most schools.
Blow it all up right now. It would be the best thing for most schools.
History repeating? If Alabama wins the CFP, it would actually be the second time the Tide claimed a national football title in a season in which it lost multiple games, including one to Vanderbilt, and did not win the SEC.
The first instance came in 1941. Time is a flat circle.
The first instance came in 1941. Time is a flat circle.
December 4, 2024 at 1:49 AM
History repeating? If Alabama wins the CFP, it would actually be the second time the Tide claimed a national football title in a season in which it lost multiple games, including one to Vanderbilt, and did not win the SEC.
The first instance came in 1941. Time is a flat circle.
The first instance came in 1941. Time is a flat circle.
Big XII title game is at JerrahWorld with a noon ET kickoff. Will the curtains be used, or will a spot in the CFP be decided when a player is blinded by the sun?
December 4, 2024 at 1:49 AM
Big XII title game is at JerrahWorld with a noon ET kickoff. Will the curtains be used, or will a spot in the CFP be decided when a player is blinded by the sun?
Kalen DeBoer this year was arguably was more successful with Alabama than Nick Saban was last year, because this season the CFP selection committee didn't need to use an injury to a starting quarterback to justify vaulting the Tide ahead of an ACC team with a better record.
December 4, 2024 at 12:30 AM
Kalen DeBoer this year was arguably was more successful with Alabama than Nick Saban was last year, because this season the CFP selection committee didn't need to use an injury to a starting quarterback to justify vaulting the Tide ahead of an ACC team with a better record.
Miami being ranked between Alabama and Mississippi/South Carolina is probably more about brand value than anything else.
December 4, 2024 at 12:27 AM
Miami being ranked between Alabama and Mississippi/South Carolina is probably more about brand value than anything else.
The CFP is a TV show (a mini-series, if you will) more than it is a competition. Of course ESPN wants Alabama (and Ohio State, etc.).
And if SMU loses to Clemson, Alabama will almost certainly be ranked ahead of SMU in the final rankings for just that reason.
And if SMU loses to Clemson, Alabama will almost certainly be ranked ahead of SMU in the final rankings for just that reason.
December 4, 2024 at 12:27 AM
The CFP is a TV show (a mini-series, if you will) more than it is a competition. Of course ESPN wants Alabama (and Ohio State, etc.).
And if SMU loses to Clemson, Alabama will almost certainly be ranked ahead of SMU in the final rankings for just that reason.
And if SMU loses to Clemson, Alabama will almost certainly be ranked ahead of SMU in the final rankings for just that reason.