NIL

Nebraska GM Pat Stewart offers another reminder how much the college game has changed

LINCOLN, Neb. — Pat Stewart, the new general manager of the Nebraska football program, counted one visit to Memorial Stadium in his nearly two decades as a scout in the NFL. The Huskers hosted Oklahoma State, and he saw Ndamukong Suh and Dez Bryant, future first-round draft picks and NFL All-Pros. Stewart doesn’t recall the […]

Published

1 week ago

April 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LINCOLN, Neb. — Pat Stewart, the new general manager of the Nebraska football program, counted one visit to Memorial Stadium in his nearly two decades as a scout in the NFL.

The Huskers hosted Oklahoma State, and he saw Ndamukong Suh and Dez Bryant, future first-round draft picks and NFL All-Pros. Stewart doesn’t recall the year of that matchup.

But there was only one such game — in 2007, the first year of his initial stint of 11 seasons with the New England Patriots. It also happened to rate as one of the darkest days in Nebraska football history. The Cowboys led 38-0 at halftime en route to a 45-14 win. Two days later, Nebraska fired its athletic director. A coaching change came six weeks later.

Here’s hoping that Stewart’s return to the stadium in September unfolds more smoothly for Nebraska.

His introduction Thursday went well, albeit in a kind of morbidly fascinating way. In a 20-minute interview session, Stewart’s first since leaving the NFL last month after two seasons as the Patriots director of pro personnel, one Stewart answer after another seemed to eradicate the innocence of college football.

Of course, the innocence died long ago, even before the end of so-called amateurism.

Never until Thursday, though, has an administrator or coach at Nebraska spoken so plainly about the high-stakes business that is college football. Stewart addressed the football salary cap in the era of revenue sharing — a figure unreleased, for now, but expected to land in the range of $14 million — player acquisition, evaluation, valuation and the untethered landscape on which the sport is conducting business.

“I don’t have a lot of college football experience,” Stewart said, “but I could have been in this business for 15 years, and I’d probably still be on the same plane as everyone else. Because everything’s changing.”

Much like Bill Belichick, the NFL coach under whom Stewart worked longest, he talks about football in unemotional tones. It’s a contrast to Matt Rhule, who worked alongside Stewart from 2020 to 2022 when Rhule coached the Carolina Panthers.

Stewart received a three-year, $2.55 million contract from Nebraska to oversee the acquisition, retention and finance aspects of the Huskers roster. He reports to Rhule, different from some coach-GM dynamics in the NFL.

“I brought Pat in because I think he’s an absolute difference maker,” Rhule said.

Stewart said that he and Rhule see football in a similar light. “What it’s about,” Stewart said, “what kind of players we want, the type of people we want to build a team around.”

Their strengths seemingly complement each other. In assessing a player in this salary-cap system, Rhule said, personal value does not equal player value.

Rhule’s nature is to focus on personal value. The third-year coach doesn’t engage in financial conversations with his players or their families. That’s the job of Stewart.

“Those discussions can get pretty personal,” Stewart said. “When you hear where somebody values your child and it doesn’t match up with what your opinion of it is, there are going to be some feelings. So it’s kind of trying to thread that needle of being considerate to people’s emotions and feelings about how much they’re valued, where we see them falling on the roster as far as role and what we’re going to ask of them. And just trying to balance that out.”

With limited data in college to create a valuation system, Stewart said, he finds that the ask is always going to be higher than the offer.

“Sometimes, exponentially higher,” he said.

The best practice in communication is honesty.

“Tell people exactly where they stand,” Stewart said, “so nothing’s a surprise.”

An Ohio State graduate and former student manager under Jim Tressel, Stewart said he arrives daily at the Osborne Complex prepared to adjust. On Wednesday, for instance, a curveball in the House settlement case prompted Nebraska leaders to consider the likelihood that the 105-player roster limit will not go into effect in 2025.

Stewart took the news in stride. The Huskers will adjust as needed, he said.

Other nuggets from the GM on Thursday:

• Stewart’s work in the NFL exposed him often to the college game. He arrived at Nebraska with a baseline expectation. And the Huskers’ development surprised him.

“A lot of guys on defense playing with their hands at levels I wouldn’t expect,” Stewart said. “Quarterbacks who know how to go through progressions. Receivers who know how to run routes. I’ve been surprised more on the positive side of things, trying to adjust my eyes to watching a different type of football.”

He likes the talent that he saw in 14 spring practices. And that’s not all.

“The effort, the grind, the grit, the toughness of this team has been really impressive,” Stewart said.

College football remains on track to institute some version of a salary cap. Observers often compare the transfer portal in college to free agency in the NFL. But Stewart is quick to note the differences between the college and pro systems.

NFL contracts allow for incentives and deferred payment schedules that generate room for general managers to work creatively. “You really can’t do that under this setup,” he said.

Similarly, in NFL free agency, executives know for months who’s about to come on the market.

“Here, guys become available and you have to pivot right away,” Stewart said.

Transfer portal activity more resembles cutdown periods in NFL training camps when rosters shrink from 90 to 53 in one day, flooding the market with available talent.

Responsibility falls on the general manager and his staff — Stewart wants to hire several scouts — to anticipate who might enter the portal and understand their value to Nebraska in advance.

“You can look around the country every week,” Stewart said, “college and the NFL, and most (games) are decided in a five-play stretch, where a decision has to be made and you have to perform at high speeds and make decisions at a high level.”

Stewart’s job, he said, is to identify, acquire, retain and compensate players with the experience to win those five plays.

“Find good football players,” he said. “That’s pretty much the secret sauce.”

(Photo: Mitch Sherman / The Athletic)

NIL

Softball Seeded 4th For Big South Championship

Story Links Rock Hill, S.C. – Winthrop softball is seeded fourth for the 2025 Big South Conference Softball Championship, which will be held on the campus of Presbyterian College May 7-10. The Eagles will open up tournament play on Wednesday, May 7 at 5 p.m. as they’ll face fifth-seeded Charleston […]

Published

14 minutes ago

May 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Rock Hill, S.C. – Winthrop softball is seeded fourth for the 2025 Big South Conference Softball Championship, which will be held on the campus of Presbyterian College May 7-10.

The Eagles will open up tournament play on Wednesday, May 7 at 5 p.m. as they’ll face fifth-seeded Charleston Southern.

This is the first time the Eagles have been the fourth seed since 2019 in which that year the Eagles opened up against 5^th-seeded Charleston Southern, earning a 6-3 win. It is the 5^th time in program history the Eagles are the 4^th seed for the conference tournament.

Radford took the outright regular season championship and earned the number one overall seed. Longwood is seeded second followed by USC Upstate (3^rd).

Every game will be broadcast on ESPN+ as well as on various Nexstar television affiliates in the conference’s footprint. The Big South’s Tournament champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Softball Regionals. The Conference Championship schedule is below and is subject to change due to weather.

Wednesday, May 7 (Game 1); TV: ESPN+, Nexstar

Game 1 – (4) Winthrop vs. (5) Charleston Southern, 5:00pm

Thursday, May 8 (Games 2-4); TV: ESPN+, Nexstar

Game 2 – (2) Longwood vs. (3) USC Upstate, 12:00pm

Game 3 – (1) Radford vs. Winner Game 1, 2:30pm

Game 4 – Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 5:00pm (elimination)

Friday, May 9 (Games 5-7) ; TV: ESPN+, Nexstar

Game 5 – Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 12:00pm

Game 6 – Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 2:30pm (elimination)

Game 7 – Loser Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 5:00pm (elimination)

Saturday, May 10 – Championship Day (Games 8-9); TV: ESPN+, Nexstar

Game 8 – Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7, 12:00pm

** Game 9 – If Necessary, same two teams from Game 8, 2:30pm

Link

NIL

Transfer Portal and Recruiting Non Stop – Is There an Answer in Our Future?

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy will tell you that he is as tired as he can ever remember this time of year. Good reason. In this new age of college football with players getting compensation no matter what you want to call it, NIL, pay-for-play, or eventually if the House vs. NCAA […]

Published

43 minutes ago

May 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy will tell you that he is as tired as he can ever remember this time of year. Good reason. In this new age of college football with players getting compensation no matter what you want to call it, NIL, pay-for-play, or eventually if the House vs. NCAA lawsuit is settled, revenue sharing and the free movement of the transfer portal and in recruiting, the unlimited official visits for prospects. The calendar is non stop.

To continue reading, you must be a Pokes Report Premium subscriber.

Link

NIL

Nick Saban turns heads by asking Trump to fix NIL, but progress needs to happen

For years, college sports has been the headliner of the fall season. The loud crowds chant for their team while the school band blasts the school anthem during crucial moments in the game. Institutions are given tons of money to fund various sports programs and give their teams the best facilities possible to maximize their […]

Published

45 minutes ago

May 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

With all this going on and the players not seeing a dime of the profits, something had to change and it did. There has been no secret about players wanting to be compensated for all the work they’ve done to make their respective school profitable. The NCAA made it illegal to accept any benefit as a student-athlete until 2021 when NIL deals became legal to obtain. The Name, Image, and Likeness payout have given players a clear avenue to make money. They can promote products for various companies.

The issue with all this now is that players are entering the transfer portal for a chance to earn a bigger paycheck. This has become a growing problem since the idea was passed. Some players have become check collectors by staying at a school for a short period before heading to a new stop. There are very little regulations behind any of the movements.

Back in 2021-22 the number of transfer players reached 1,907 and grew to over 2,500 this year. This has become an issue for college coaches. There are certain schools who can’t keep up with payment demands. Ten college basketball schools are preparing to spend a reported $10 million to keep a top roster in 2025.

Related: BYU Basketball on NIL elites list going into next season

Former Alabama coach Nick Saban has an immense disdain for NIL deals.

“”I think all the things that I believed in for all these years no longer exist in college athletics. It’s always been about developing players, it was always about helping people be successful in life.” Saban said. He met with President Trump this week to talk about federal regulations with NIL.

Related: Livvy Dunne turns heads by crushing retirement life

While there are other coaches who share the same sentiment, there are a few who believe this is a great opportunity for young kids to learn about finances and how to protect your money. Arkansas basketball coach John Calapari believes this is the kind of responsibility they need for the real world. “I think it’s really good for our student-athletes. I mean, it’s finally allowing them to earn what they are worth,” said Calapari.

Related: South Carolina QB turns heads with latest NIL deal

Calapari has a valid point to say the least. These young men go through life with very little understanding of how the world works with money and how easily it can be manipulated, especially in the NFL. Those contracts have loopholes that many don’t understand until something occurs. You go from having nothing to having the world in a few short years.

However, that’s often the argument people try to make. Players can’t handle such a large amount of money at a young age. Isn’t part of growing up allowing yourself to make mistakes so you can learn how to be smarter for the future? Now that’s not saying go blow through your money, but learn how to navigate through the world of finance. That’s what makes these NIL deals intriguing.

Still, the dialogue surrounding NIL deals has had its impact in the collegiate world. No matter how you look at this mixed noise, we’ll see players move about at their own leisure. Let’s just hope we grow, not regress to where future generations can profit too.

Link

NIL

Mississippi State – Official Athletics Website

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State’s Sierra Sacco and Raelin Chaffin’s time as teammates is not over. The pair were both selected by the Talons in Saturday night’s AUSL College Draft. They are the 14th and 15th Bulldogs drafted to play professional softball and the program’s total of professional players to 28. Of those 28 professionals, […]

Published

48 minutes ago

May 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State’s Sierra Sacco and Raelin Chaffin’s time as teammates is not over. The pair were both selected by the Talons in Saturday night’s AUSL College Draft. They are the 14th and 15th Bulldogs drafted to play professional softball and the program’s total of professional players to 28.

Of those 28 professionals, 16 were coached by Ricketts for at least one season at MSU. Nine Bulldogs have gone on to pro careers in the six years since she was named the program’s head coach, and at least one player has signed a professional contract in each of the last five seasons.

Sacco came off the board first as the first selection of the second round (No. 5 overall). Chaffin followed with the fourth pick of the third round (No. 12 overall). Mississippi State and Virginia Tech are the only two programs in the country to receive multiple Golden Tickets.

Sacco finished the regular season with a .466 batting average that currently ranks fourth in program history. Her .557 on-base percentage is third, and her .791 slugging percentage ranks sixth. She is among the top 10 in the nation with 61 runs scored, which is fourth in program history. The Bulldogs are 62-12 when she scores a run over the last two years.

Chaffin meanwhile, has broken the program record with 10 wins in SEC play, and her 21 wins this season lead the SEC. She was the first Bulldog to win 20 games since 2015, and her 180 strikeouts this year rank sixth in program history. The Bulldog ace has thrown 17 complete games, which is second in the SEC.

The AUSL is a professional women’s softball league featuring four teams playing in a traditional format. Former Bulldog catcher and All-American Mia Davidson was already selected in the league’s inaugural draft in January during which each of the four teams selected its first 12 players. Davidson will play with the Bandits this summer. All three pro Bulldogs will open the AUSL season on June 7 with the Bandits and Talons meeting in Chicago, Illinois.

For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching “HailStateSB.”

Link

NIL

Blue Raiders complete sweep of UTEP

Next Game: vs. Conference USA Championship 5/7/2025 | May. 07 (Wed) vs. Conference USA Championship History MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee softball finished off a sweep of the UTEP Miners, allowing just one run across the three-game series. The Blue Raiders (26-27, 13-14 CUSA) jumped out to an early […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee softball finished off a sweep of the UTEP Miners, allowing just one run across the three-game series.

The Blue Raiders (26-27, 13-14 CUSA) jumped out to an early lead against the Miners (22-28, 10-17 CUSA) and never looked back. Ansley Blevins ripped an RBI double in the first inning to score Jana Want, setting the tone before the offense exploded for seven runs in the second.

In her final game at Blue Raider Softball Field, Ava Brooks smashed a home run over the right-field wall to open the scoring in the second. Just a few batters later, Addy Edgmon hit an RBI single to score Leila Ammon, and Macie Harter followed with a two-run single to bring the score to 6-0. Blevins then crushed her second extra-base hit of the game — a home run to right-center field.

UTEP got on the board with a run in the fourth inning, but Edgmon walked off the game in the fifth with another RBI single, securing the run-rule victory.

In the circle, Leila Ammon went the distance, tossing all five innings while striking out seven and allowing just one run. The freshman surrendered only four hits and didn’t issue a walk.

By the Numbers

2: When allowing two runs or less, the Blue Raiders improve to a 15-1 record.

0.58: Leila Ammon finishes the series with a 0.58 ERA across 12.0 innings pitched.

2: The sweep vs. UTEP marks the second Conference USA sweep for MTSU this season.

17-5: The Blue Raiders finish the 2025 season with a home record of 17-5.

FOLLOW THE BLUE RAIDERS
Follow Middle Tennessee Softball on social media on Facebook (Blue Raider Softball), Twitter (MT_Softball) and Instagram (@mt_softball).

Link

NIL

College Football Powerhouse Lands Top 10 WR Over Four Major Programs

Class of 2026 four-star wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt is off the board after making his highly-anticipated commitment on Sunday. Dixon-Wyatt (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) racked up 1,260 receiving yards on 87 catches with 11 touchdowns through three seasons at high school powerhouse Mater Dei in Santa Ana, California. Advertisement Dixon-Wyatt is rated as the No. 6 wide receiver, the […]

Published

2 hours ago

May 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Class of 2026 four-star wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt is off the board after making his highly-anticipated commitment on Sunday.

Dixon-Wyatt (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) racked up 1,260 receiving yards on 87 catches with 11 touchdowns through three seasons at high school powerhouse Mater Dei in Santa Ana, California.

Dixon-Wyatt is rated as the No. 6 wide receiver, the No. 10 player in the state and the No. 59 recruit overall in his class, per 247Sports.

Some of college football’s top programs were in the running for a commitment from Dixon-Wyatt, who was considering Alabama, Texas, Oregon, USC and Ohio State.

And it’s head coach Ryan Day’s Buckeyes that have logged another key recruiting win, adding Dixon-Wyatt to one of the most talented classes in the country.

Ohio State Buckeyes recruits Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (left) and Chris Henry Jr. (right)Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Defending national champion Ohio State now sits third in the nation in the 2026 cycle with 12 commitments, including two five-star and eight four-star recruits.

Dixon-Wyatt responded to the news by posting a picture of new offensive coordinator Brian Hartline, a longtime wide receivers coach that was recently promoted following the departure of Chip Kelly.

Hartline has been one of the top recruiters in the country and played a key role in landing Ohio State standouts Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka, Marvin Harrison Jr. and others.

Dixon-Wyatt is the third four-star receiver to commit to the Buckeyes in the class of 2026.

Link