Michael DeCourcy
tsnmike.bsky.social
Michael DeCourcy
@tsnmike.bsky.social
Sporting News college hoops columns, Big Ten Network studio analyst, NCAA brackets for FoxSports. NFL, soccer http://sportingnews.com Sometimes can be found talking Steelers, Liverpool, Steely Dan.
Now that Penn State has made the decision to move on from James Franklin, there's one clear way they can turn that move into a genuinely brighter future.
Can the Nittany Lions, though, convince Jeff Brohm to leave his Louisville home?

www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-foot...
Jeff Brohm would be a home run hire for Penn State -- but getting him to leave home would be tricky | Sporting News
There's one way for Penn State to make the decision to fire James Franklin a smart one: Hire Jeff Brohm away from Louisville.
www.sportingnews.com
October 21, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Reposted by Michael DeCourcy
Longtime friend + @sportingnews.com coworker @tsnmike.bsky.social, on Cody Campbell, yet another in the long line of billionaires who are frequently wrong but never in doubt. www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-foot...
Cody Campbell wants to end the NCAA, and if he does, that may finish college sports as well | Sporting News
Billionaire Cody Campbell has helped make Texas Tech sports better because of his donations. Now campaigning to "save" college sports, but his ideas are misguided.
www.sportingnews.com
October 7, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Billionaire @ttu.edu booster Cody Campbell is spending a lot of money on TV ads to convince you -- and Congress -- college sports needs to replace @ncaa.bsky.social to survive.
It's preposterous.
And self-serving.
I'm happy to show where his arguments are wrong:
www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-foot...
Cody Campbell wants to end the NCAA, and if he does, that may finish college sports as well | Sporting News
Billionaire Cody Campbell has helped make Texas Tech sports better because of his donations. Now campaigning to "save" college sports, but his ideas are misguided.
www.sportingnews.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Reposted by Michael DeCourcy
"Simply pose the question of what James Franklin’s record is against top 10 teams, and not only is (Google AI's) response an injurious '4-20,' but the phrase 'resulting in a 20 percent win rate' is added as an insult." Read @tsnmike.bsky.social on PSU's HC. www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-foot...
Is James Franklin the guy who made Penn State great again or the one who loses big games? Well, yeah | Sporting News
This is the season Penn State and James Franklin have been building toward: the chance to go from great to elite. Has his coaching been holding them back, or did just need a superior roster?
www.sportingnews.com
September 25, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Coach James Franklin said in 2018 @pennstatefball.bsky.social had gone from average to good and good to great, but the next step was to become "elite".
They covered the first steps in 3 years.
Here we are, 8 years later, and they've not taken the next. Why?
www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-foot...
Is James Franklin the guy who made Penn State great again or the one who loses big games? Well, yeah | Sporting News
This is the season Penn State and James Franklin have been building toward: the chance to go from great to elite. Has his coaching been holding them back, or did just need a superior roster?
www.sportingnews.com
September 25, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Reposted by Michael DeCourcy
Way back in the day, when the boy was in the recruiting mill, these were two programs he visited (Mizzou won out). I've always maintained a warm spot in my heart for them — as well as longtime friend and @sportingnews.com coworker @tsnmike.bsky.social. 😉 www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-foot...
Illinois vs. Indiana: The primetime showdown college football didn't know it needed | Sporting News
There was a time when college sports fans would get excited about Illinois vs. Indiana only if there were a basketball hoop involved. Now, maybe the biggest game of college football's week 4 is Illini...
www.sportingnews.com
September 19, 2025 at 5:59 PM
It is common among college fans to disparage NIL, transfer portal, expansion of @cfbplayoff.bsky.social But the change in the landscape that makes @illinifball.bsky.social v @indianafootball.bsky.social a must-watch showdown …
It’s all worth it.
Here’s why:
www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-foot...
Illinois vs. Indiana: The primetime showdown college football didn't know it needed | Sporting News
There was a time when college sports fans would get excited about Illinois vs. Indiana only if there were a basketball hoop involved. Now, maybe the biggest game of college football's week 4 is Illini...
www.sportingnews.com
September 19, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Coach Dabo Swinney of Clemson spent 15 minutes of his weekly press conference defending his record.
Is there a reason those who follow college football -- and those who cover it -- can't find better discussions than placing a legend on the "hot seat"?

www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-foot...
Clemson's Dabo Swinney is wrong about a lot, but he is right it's ridiculous to put him on the 'hot seat' | Sporting News
College football is a compelling enough sport that it doesn't need to stoop to ridiculous "hot seat" conversation about those as talented and accomplished as Clemson's Dabo Swinney.
www.sportingnews.com
September 18, 2025 at 6:28 PM
With @usmnt.ussoccer.com on a losing streak against top-30 opponents, and with Japan coming Tuesday as prep for World Cup, it felt like Coach Mauricio Pochettino was bound to drop a “trust the process” on us.
Monday, he did.
But he also explained why we should: 👇
www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/ne...
Trust the process: USMNT boss Pochettino, defender Richards stay focused on prep for World Cup as results lag | Sporting News
Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT have lost their past seven games against FIFA top 30 opponents. He insists that however much he wants to win now, it's more important to prepare for what's to come at FIFA ...
www.sportingnews.com
September 8, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Reposted by Michael DeCourcy
Carmelo Anthony on Syracuse’s 2003 NCAA title: ‘That changed everything’ www.syracuse.com/orangebasket...
Carmelo Anthony on Syracuse’s 2003 NCAA title: ‘That changed everything’
Former Syracuse star Carmelo Anthony will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., on Saturday.
www.syracuse.com
September 6, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Reposted by Michael DeCourcy
Reposted by Michael DeCourcy
What happens when the top two teams in a MLS conference meet with six games to go in the season, but none of Lionel Messi, Thomas Müller, or Son Heung-Min are involved?

Does it count as a big game?

We'll see tomorrow in Cincinnati:

www.inquirer.com/soccer/phila... via @phillysport.bsky.social
The Union’s game at Cincinnati is a big one, even if MLS’s big stars aren’t in it
In a league where Lionel Messi, Thomas Müller, and Son Heung-Min are given almost all the spotlight, the top two teams in the Eastern Conference go head-to-head in Saturday night.
www.inquirer.com
August 29, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Brian Kelly has been with @lsu.bsky.social through three seasons… and hasn’t yet been involved in the @cfbplayoff.bsky.social race.
Is that bad?
Probably not as bad as many try to make you believe 👇

www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-foot...
Has Brian Kelly been a success or failure at LSU? Apparently there's no room for anything in between | Sporting News
If Brian Kelly manages at least eight wins in the 2025 season, he'll reach the 300-career wins mark only five other major-college coaches achieved. If he wins only eight games, he'll be hearing even m...
www.sportingnews.com
August 29, 2025 at 11:08 AM
There was so much apoplexy in the media about the USMNT Gold Cup effort, specifically as a way to prepare for @fifawc26.bsky.social
But the roster for two exhibitions in September suggests coach Mauricio Pochettino still doesn’t share that urgency.

www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/ne...
As prep time for 2026 World Cup dwindles, USMNT coach Pochettino still not focused on establishing a core lineup | Sporting News
With eight more exhibitions max remaining before true World Cup preparation begins in June, Mauricio Pochettino is using the September break to look at a host of fringe players rather than focus on po...
www.sportingnews.com
August 27, 2025 at 1:24 AM
The @colts.bsky.social revealed Daniel Jones beat out former top-5 NFLDraft pick Anthony Richardson as starting QB.
Yeah, so what’s new?
Teams have spent the past decade botching top QB picks. Are they picking the wrong guys, or blowing the development process?

www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/...
Colts bench Anthony Richardson in latest example of a team botching quarterback draft | Sporting News
Anthony Richardson was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but the Colts already are moving in another direction at quarterback. Even though it's not the most inviting direction. But they're...
www.sportingnews.com
August 19, 2025 at 10:13 PM
There’s no acceptable reason for the NFL to delay six weeks before holding a disciplinary hearing for Rashee Rice of the Chiefs — and the league will have to deal with the consequences 👇

www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/kansa...
NFL's inexcusable delay in Rashee Rice disciplinary hearing leads to more 'Chiefs favoritism' charges | Sporting News
It shouldn't take six weeks to get Rashee Rice a disciplinary hearing in regards to his guilty plea on multiple felony counts related to a 2024 automobile collision. The NFL deserves whatever harangue...
www.sportingnews.com
August 15, 2025 at 1:38 AM
The first Associated Press college football poll of 2025 is released today. There are coaches who will tell you the preseason poll is an ABOMINATION and needs to be stopped.
Not sure how that would work -- but why would anyone bring it up in the first place? 👇

www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-foot...
Abolish the AP preseason poll? It is an absurd concept that a team's final CFP rankings are affected | Sporting News
A Division I football coach taking the AP college football poll so seriously he's working to abolish its preseason rankings -- like Kansas State's Chris Klieman -- is taking polls way too seriously.
www.sportingnews.com
August 11, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Reposted by Michael DeCourcy
Paul Skenes reflected on the Pirates’ trade deadline activity and the organization’s plans for the future with our @jnegronpgh.bsky.social this morning in Denver.

Read for FREE in our #Pirates feed: dkpittsburghsports.com/team/pirates...

#DKPS #PittsburghPirates #LetsGoBucs
August 3, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Got blocked this morning because I was embarrassing someone in a sports argument.
I thought this site was supposed to be an improvement?
🤷‍♂️
August 2, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Reposted by Michael DeCourcy
BACK HOME: USMNT GK Turner returns to the Revs on loan from Lyon - frontrow.soccer/pcout
BACK HOME: USMNT GK Turner returns to the Revs on loan from Lyon - Front Row Soccer
Goalkeeper Matt Turner has returned to the New England Revolution on loan from French Ligue 1 club Lyon, it was announced on Friday.
frontrow.soccer
August 1, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Reposted by Michael DeCourcy
The Union will offer a free live stream of tomorrow's friendly vs. Eintracht Frankfurt on their website: www.philadelphiaunion.com/watch-frankf...
STREAM | PHI Union vs. Eintracht Frankfurt | PhiladelphiaUnion.com
All the latest Philadelphia Union news, photos, highlights, stats and tickets.
www.philadelphiaunion.com
August 1, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Different rich teams winning is not parity, it’s big-market dominance.
MLB: 3 champions outside top 15 markets, 22 inside top 15.
NFL: 13 champions outside top 15 markets, 12 inside top 15.
NFL is what parity looks like.
Okay we can play the championship parity game
Championships:
MLB 17 different teams 2000-24
NFL 13 diferent teams 2000-24
NBA 12 different teams 2000-24
Man, you can torture the numbers to make them say anything.
Are you trying to win 90 games or a championship?
21st century: 3 champs from outside top-15 markets. That’s 12 percent of titles from 40 percent of teams. That’s not balance.
August 1, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Man, you can torture the numbers to make them say anything.
Are you trying to win 90 games or a championship?
21st century: 3 champs from outside top-15 markets. That’s 12 percent of titles from 40 percent of teams. That’s not balance.
The largest US TV markets are NY, LA, CHI, DFW, PHL, HOU, ATL, DC. TOR has nationwide market.

Considering the success of CLE, STL, TB, MIL, BAL, ATH & the relative lack of success of LAA, CWS, NYM, PHL, TOR, & CHC, baseball has tremendous competitive balance. It just doesn't have revenue balance.
90+ WIN SEASONS (2011-2024):

11 LAD
10
9
8 NYY
7 CLE STL TB
6 ATL BOS HOU
5 MIL TEX WSH
4 BAL CHC ATH
3 DET PHI TOR
2 ARI CIN NYM PIT SEA SF
1 CWS COL KC LAA MIN SD
0 MIA
August 1, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Emmanuel Clase of @cleguardians.com is on non-disciplinary leave as @mlb.com
continues what it calls a “sports betting investigation”.
Too many are calling this hypocritical given league’s embrace of gambling sponsorship.
Here’s why that’s ridiculous: 👇

www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/cleve...
The Emmanuel Clase sports betting investigation is not the result of MLB's partnerships with gambling sites | Sporting News
We don't know precisely why Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase is suspended. We do know that those trying to place blame on the league or media outlets for creating any of this is a wild pitch.
www.sportingnews.com
July 31, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Reposted by Michael DeCourcy
100%
July 23, 2025 at 2:53 PM