Every Wednesday from 2pm – 3pm EST, former Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner, former Michigan point guard Daniel Horton, and I come together on Steady Droppin’ Dimes, a sports show featuring real talk, and real views, from three real dudes. College football, college basketball, NFL, and NBA topics drive much of the debate, but discussion of other sports will enter the fray some days as well. Non-sports topics aren’t off limits, and neither are celebrity guests.

This week on Steady Droppin’ Dimes, Sam Webb and Daniel Horton discuss the proposed two-game suspension for Michigan assistant coach Sherrone Moore due to deleted text messages during an NCAA investigation into Connor Stallions. Webb clarified that the suspension is not final and is part of a self-imposed punishment process. But the episode begins with and interview with Erika Morgan, mother of Michigan wideout Semaj Morgan, and Jillian Blackwell, mother of Wisconsin combo guard John Blackwell, about their new podcast, “Mom’s in the Huddle with Jillian and Erika.” It focuses on parental support for student-athletes in the age of NIL. The conversation also touched on the impact of NIL on college sports, and specifically the long-term outlook for the smaller programs currently being ravaged for talent. Additionally, Webb highlighted the Ann Arbor Sports Commission’s initiative to allow kids 13 and under to participate in all Epic Races events in the Ann Arbor area for free this year. The episode concludes with a chat with the president and CEO Golden Limousine Sean Duval about the deep-rooted relationship between his company and the University of Michigan, including his ongoing support of athletes through NIL, and extending beyond athletics with his various partnerships with Michigan medicine.

The contents and full episode notes appear below.

For more, watch the full video on The Michigan Insider’s YouTube channel: CLICK HERE

Contents and episode notes:

00:00 – Start of Show

• Host Sam Webb introduces the episode with guest Daniel Horton (former Michigan PG).
• DG’s flight delay prevents his appearance; rescheduled for next week.
• Sponsor shoutout: Ann Arbor Sports Commission (free Epic Races for kids 13 & under).

03:15 – Moms in the Huddle Podcast Launch

• Erica Morgan (mother of Michigan WR Semaj Morgan) and Jillian Blackwell (mother of Wisconsin combo guard Jonathan Blackwell) discuss their new podcast:
• Purpose: Guide parents navigating NIL, transfer portal, and mental health for student-athletes.
• Key episodes:
• Stuck on Stars: High school rankings vs. college success.
• Parents Stay Out of the Locker Room: Boundaries for parental involvement.
• Whose Money Is It Anyway? NIL earnings and family dynamics.
• Format: Weekly episodes, live sessions, and campus visits.
• Goal: “No parent stands alone” in navigating collegiate athletics.

14:29 – Community Spotlight: Semaj Morgan’s Event

• Honors mothers who lost children to gun violence/illness.
• Features karaoke, comedian Mike Bonner, and Jamaican food.

22:48 – NCAA Investigation Update

• ESPN report: 2-game suspension for deleting texts during sign-stealing investigation.
• Sam’s sources: No final decision; Michigan is in dialogue with NCAA about self-imposed penalties.
• Key context:

• Moore’s deleted texts were recovered, no evidence of involvement in Stallions’ scheme.
• NCAA may push for harsher penalties; Michigan could contest.

• Daniel’s take: “Don’t self-impose—force the NCAA to prove their case.”

30:30 – NIL & Transfer Portal Realities

• Small programs hemorrhaging talent to wealthier schools (e.g., Auburn, Florida).
• Potential solutions: Revenue sharing (pending NCAA settlement) or tiered conferences.
• Trajan Langdon’s insight: NIL money keeps fringe NBA prospects in college longer.

39:41 – Coaching Carousel & Salaries

• Jim Harbaugh’s departure: Doubled salary with Chargers; no ill will from Michigan.
• Dusty May’s future: NBA interest likely if success continues.
• Eric Bakich (baseball): Big Ten can’t compete with SEC/ACC coaching salaries.

41:14 – Michigan’s proposed self-imposed two-game suspension of Sherrone Moore

• Sam Webb criticizes social media narratives and uninformed speculation, arguing the NCAA is attempting to enforce penalties without precedent or proper evidence.
• Ward Manuel’s statement explicitly denies any postseason bans or major punishments despite rumors.
• Deductive reasoning suggests Michigan’s proposed two-game suspension contradicts notions of severe penalties, indicating NCAA threats are exaggerated.
• Sam emphasizes the importance of fact-checking and not relying on rumors or social media buzz.

44:57 – Perceptions of the punishment

• Daniel Horton remarks that the idea of “nuking the program” with severe sanctions is exaggerated.
• Sam Webb criticizes the media’s embrace of the narrative, calling it irrational.
• Horton contrasts Michigan’s stance with how NCAA infractions are handled at other institutions, recalling his own experience turning down money offers.
• Sam notes how media narratives can magnify the situation, leading to misinformed public opinion.

47:22 – Strategy: Fight vs Compromise – Two-Game Suspension Discussion

• Sam Webb proposes that if a two-game suspension settles the issue and allows Michigan to move forward, it could be a practical choice.
• Daniel Horton agrees but emphasizes that it should close the matter permanently; otherwise, it prolongs controversy.
• Both stress the need for finality to prevent ongoing distractions.
• Sam believes that settling the issue expedites Michigan’s focus on the upcoming season.

49:00 – Text Messages and Investigation Tactics

• Sam Webb clarifies that Sherrone Moore did not delete “Connor Stallions” text messages, he’d deleted all the text messages from his phone, before later recovering the Connor Stallions text messages, refuting claims that the NCAA had to recover them.
• Horton notes that deleted text messages are easily recoverable, countering narratives of hidden information.
• Both assert that the NCAA’s motives seem more about optics than actual evidence.
• Sam emphasizes that the recovery of evidence is a standard practice and should not be sensationalized.

51:31 – NCAA Motivation and Investigation Leaks

• Daniel Horton compares the situation to personal trust violations, suggesting the NCAA might feel “played,” which drives its aggressiveness.
• They theorize that leaks could be coming from either the NCAA or Michigan but agree this particular leak could’ve been more gossip-driven than strategic.
• Both note that leaks may damage Michigan’s reputation, irrespective of the investigation’s outcome.

57:44 – Leadership Changes and Athletic Implications

• Sam Webb clarifies that Santa Ono’s departure from Michigan had no ties to the NCAA situation—purely political and salary-driven.
• Horton reflects on the challenge of keeping high-profile coaches when NFL teams offer significantly more money and resources.
• Sam praises Harbaugh’s transparency with players about his career intentions, setting realistic expectations.
• Both discuss the importance of clear communication in leadership transitions.

1:02:30 – Closing Notes

• Sam and Daniel wrap up the discussion, emphasizing that the NCAA’s approach may be more theatrical than substantive.
• Both agree that Michigan’s ability to move forward depends on how quickly the issue is resolved.
• Sam reiterates that the NCAA’s tactics are often driven by optics and media pressure.
• Horton suggests Michigan’s response could ultimately strengthen the program.

1:10:03 – Golden Limo Spotlight

• Sean Duvall (CEO) interview highlights:
• Michigan Medicine partnership: 24/7 shuttle services for patients/staff.
• NIL expansion: New deals with Zeke Berry (football) and Michigan basketball.
• Community impact: Safe rides for students, ADA transport, caregiver support.

1:34:09 – Closing Notes

• Next episode: Michigan football’s $230M economic impact (with Ann Arbor Sports Commission).

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When Rich Rodriguez wrapped up his first stint at West Virginia, NIL was 14 years away. Now, he’s back in Morgantown – and he’s adapting to the new landscape.

Rodriguez spent the last three years at Jacksonville State, including the last two at the FBS level in Conference USA. That gave him a taste of what it’s like navigating the intersection of NIL and the transfer portal.

Now, he’s back in a power conference at his alma mater. Rodriguez noted the amount of changes since he last roamed the sidelines at WVU, particularly the “open free agency” of the transfer portal every offseason.

“The goalposts have certainly moved a long way, and you have to adapt to it,” Rodriguez said on the College GameDay podcast. “You just throw your hands up. … This is really hard to build a program when you have open free agency every year.

“The NIL and paying them is one part. It’s like the NFL on steroids. But the biggest part is the open free agency. There’s no rookie salary cap, there’s no three-year contracts. That makes it really, really difficult. But that is what it is.”

However, Rich Rodriguez also stressed the importance of sticking to a plan to create a “culture” within a program. With so much roster movement during the transfer windows, he noted the need to stay transparent with players about their development and not getting too far away from the process in place.

“You have to [say], okay, how do I adjust to this new thing and still have the right culture?” Rodriguez said. “Everybody uses that word, ‘culture,’ but do they live it every day? Do they adhere to it in the way they go acquire players, develop players, build their roster. And that’s one thing I said from the start. We’re going to be okay [in] the rev-share world. We’re not going to have in the pre-rev share all the money – maybe somebody else does – but we can still have the best culture. And you have to adhere to that and you have to be disciplined enough that this is how you’re going to pay your guys, this is how you’re going to run your team, this is your salary cap and everybody’s got to understand that.

“You’ve got to be open and honest with your players. We’ve done that – we’ve tried to do that in the last four or five months – and that way, our culture’s going to be set for not just now, but next year and the year after that.”

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The Auburn legend feels his investments are well spent in other areas.

NBA Hall-of-Famer Charles Barkley is one of the more vocal Auburn supporters in the national spotlight. However, his support does have boundaries.

In a recent episode of “Don’t @ Me” with Dan Dakich from Outkick.com, Charles Barkley discussed the current landscape of the NCAA and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). In today’s game, it is common for collegiate programs to spend over $1 million per year to build a roster that will compete for national championships. Barkley quickly shut down the idea of contributing to Auburn’s NIL fund, citing that would not help his life in any way.

“I’d do anything for Auburn, within reason. But I’m not gonna give Auburn millions of dollars, so we can be good in football or basketball. That doesn’t help my life in any capacity,” Barkley said.

Barkley went on to say that he has donated to HBCU’s and charities in and around his hometown of Leeds, Alabama, once of which being “Blight”, an organization that renovates homes in the Birmingham-metro area. He places those entities higher than college athletics, which he labels a “cesspool,” due to the return on investment.

“This notion that you have to come up with tens of millions of dollars to pay kids to play basketball, and have them be free agents every year and transfer to another school and get more money every year. Like, we don’t even get to do that in the NBA. Can you imagine if players in the NBA got to be a free agent every year?” Barkley said. “I’m not opposed to players getting paid. I want to make that clear. But, this notion we got to give college kids tens of millions of dollars a year, and basketball is the worst because you’re only gonna get a great player for six months. I don’t even see how you’re gonna get the return on investment.”

Check out Barkley’s full interview with Outkick below.

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WACO, Texas – A dominant pitching performance by Mario Pesca carried Oklahoma State to its sixth-straight win Saturday at Baylor Ballpark as the Cowboys knocked off Baylor, 4-0.
 
In extending its longest win streak of the season, OSU improved to 24-21 overall and 12-11 in Big 12 play, while BU fell to 30-20 and 10-16 in the league.
 
Pesca tossed eight shutout innings in improving to 5-2, marking his career-long outing. He allowed just four hits while walking four and posting five strikeouts in the 116-pitch effort.
 
The right-hander got stronger as the game went on as he did not allow a hit over his final 4 2/3 innings following a one-out single in the third. He was also aided by an OSU infield that turned three double plays, tying for its most this season.
 
Pesca got all the run support he needed from a pair of home runs as Nolan Schubart and Kollin Ritchie both went deep for the Pokes.
 
The Cowboys jumped out to an early lead in the first inning thanks to Schubart’s team-leading 14^th home run of the season, a two-run shot over the wall in right field. The homer was the 54^th of Schubart’s career, moving him into a tie for sixth place on OSU’s all-time list with Jimmy Barragan.
 
Pesca induced double play groundouts in the fifth and sixth innings, retired the side in order in the seventh and then got a strikeout to end the eighth and strand a runner on second base.
 
OSU added a pair of insurance runs in the ninth, getting a solo homer from Ritchie and plating a run when Ian Daugherty, who singled and stole second, scored on a throwing error.
 
Ryan Ure came out of the bullpen to open the ninth and retired all three batters he faced, two via strikeout, to secure the shutout. It marked OSU’s fifth shutout of the season, with three of those coming in Big 12 play.
 
The Cowboys will go for a second-straight series sweep Sunday at 1 p.m.
 

Businessman and philanthropist Adam Weitsman, who has done some name, image and likeness deals with Syracuse Orange student-athletes in the past, says that he would like to come back.

Weitsman, who this summer is serving as the chairman of Boeheim’s Army in the $1 million winner-take-all The Basketball Tournament, conducted an interview with former Syracuse basketball player Etan Thomas in recent days.

You can check out the full interview via YouTube.

Weitsman tells Thomas that he would love to come back and work with ‘Cuse student-athletes, but that he would want to do it with Syracuse University’s blessing. As I and others have reported in the past, Weitsman has shared his thoughts on why he decided, in April of 2023, to no longer do NIL deals with Syracuse Orange players.

Click link below for full interview with Former Syracuse Booster Adam Weitsman on #TheRematch https://t.co/eJCmpUhKDF pic.twitter.com/XOlUG9CaQ3

— Etan Thomas (@etanthomas36) May 9, 2025

On the other hand, the university and SU Athletics have not commented on Weitsman. Whether that’s the right approach by SU officials is a topic hotly debated by Syracuse Orange fans on social media and in chat rooms.

Adam Weitsman says he would like to return and be involved with Syracuse Orange NIL initiatives.

In recent months, particularly amid the spring transfer portal windows in college basketball and college football, many ‘Cuse fans have also voiced their opinions on Weitsman. Some want him back in the fold. Some don’t.

Some SU fans say that if Weitsman wants to provide dollars to Syracuse Orange players for NIL purposes, he can donate to one of the three collectives affiliated with the ‘Cuse. Whether it’s that simple or not, I don’t know.

Currently, those collectives are Orange United, SU Football NIL and Athletes Who Care. In early March, ‘Cuse athletics director John Wildhack said that come July 1, all three of those organizations will not exist as things will be streamlined.

In February of this year, SU Athletics announced a three-year, $50 million fundraising effort that will focus on attracting and retaining top-flight student-athletes.

Regarding Weitsman, if he’s able to have conversations with SU officials and get back into the NIL game with the ‘Cuse, that would be great. The Syracuse Orange, from what I gather, is doing okay in NIL as compared to its peers in the Atlantic Coast Conference, but particularly as revenue-sharing could arrive in the 2025-26 sports season, the ‘Cuse will need all the help that it can get from third-party NIL entities and donors.

Now if Adam is able to simply donate to a collective now and has chosen not to, that’s on him. But if a convo or convos with university leaders would help smooth all of this over and result in Weitsman providing ample NIL dollars for Syracuse Orange players, via a collective and not on his own independently, I’d love to see it happen.