Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast!

Episode 67 - “The Taj Gibson Episode” includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics:

- "The College Football Head Coaching Carousel" - Chapel Bill, North Carolina? Rich Rod Returning to West Virginia?

- The O.H.I.O Sportsmanship Act: flag-planting in Ohio, a felony offense?

- MLB: Superstar Outfielder Juan Soto agreed to a record deal on Sunday with the New York Mets - contract agreement is a 15-year, $765M deal, which is the largest deal in professional sports history. . . Soto, age 26, is already a pretty accomplished guy - 4-time All Star, 4-time Silver Slugger, a batting champion, a HR Derby champion & World Series champion. . . The size of this contract is astronomical, but how long will it be before we see or hear of a player in a major sport (i.e., NBA, MLB, etc.) that is offered a "Billion" dollar contract? (Share your thoughts with us by sending a message to Traditions.Finest@gmail.com!)

- NBA: Reports have begun to swirl that the Miami Heat are now "open" to the possibility of trading All-Star SG Jimmy Butler. . . Is the "Jimmy Buckets" era officially over in Miami?. . . Jimmy Butler's agent Bernard Lee & ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania in a social-media feud?? At the ripe age of 35, What should the Miami Heat demand/expect in return for trading Jimmy Butler?. . .

- NCAA CFB: News & Storylines: Oklahoma State University requested for HC Mike Gundy to take a "significant pay cut," as well as a "significant drop in his buyout," and early reports indicated that Gundy's future with the program was in flux. . . Update: Mike Gundy & Oklahoma State have agreed to a restructured deal, and Gundy will remain the Cowboys' HC - the restructured deal includes a reduction in both Gundy's annual salary which will, in turn, be redistributed as part of revenue sharing with players - as well as his overall buyout from the program. . . Sources have indicated that the two days of uncertainty concerning Gundy's future with the program was in relation to the two sides' differences on the amount of the salary reduction. . . Mike Gundy is a "national treasure" to the world of College Football, and he is as unique as he is a 'solid' HC - Are you happy to hear that Gundy is returning as the HC for OK State next season, or do you feel as though his 'glory days' of success, are long gone? (Let us know what you think - Tweet us on Twitter/X - @TraditionFinest)

- Sources confirmed to ESPN's Chris Low on Saturday that UCF has hired Scott Frost as it's College Football HC, a move that reunites the Knights with one of their most successful coaches in program history - Frost led UCF from 2016 to 2017, guiding the Knights to a perfect 13-0 season & a No. 6 finish in the AP Poll & was awarded as the CFB National Coach of the Year, before departing to become the HC at his alma mater, Nebraska, in 2018. . . What are your thoughts on UCF re-hiring Scott Frost as the program's new HC?

- I'll Take "Things I Would Have Never Guessed," for $1,000, Alex: American & French Actor Timothee Chalamat knows ball. . . Chalamat was the guest picker for this week's run of 'College Gameday' on ESPN. . . and he was the only one on the Gameday panel who correctly predicted Ohio's 38-3 routing over Miami (OH) in the MAC Championship Game. . . even with his extensive knowledge of CFB, Chalamat would finish 4-of-7 in his game picks for Conference Championship Week (or was 57% accurate) - he did not predict Louisiana, Clemson, Georgia to pull out the wins in their respective Conf. Championship game(s). . . Should Timothee Chalamat be a regular guest on ESPN's College Gameday?

- On Monday evening, the NCAA announced the four finalists for the Heisman trophy which included - Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel, Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter, Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty & Miami QB Cam Ward. . . four finalists were listed. . . but it's safe to say that this is a "two-man" race between Hunter & Jeanty. . .Which finalist do you predict to win this year's Heisman trophy? Do you believe your prediction is the most deserving player to hoist the Heisman trophy?

- It was announced on Wednesday that former Auburn Tigers HC Bryan Harsin is the new Offensive Coordinator for the California Golden Bears. . .Do you believe Bryan Harsin will over- or underachieve as the OC for Cal?. . .

- Kyle Whittingham recently announced his decision this past weekend regarding his future as the HC at the University of Utah. . . Whittingham would announce his decision via social media with a seamlessly direct post: "I'm Back" (Such a Boomer!)

- It was announced on Tuesday that University of South Carolina star freshman EDGE Dylan Stewart has agreed to a new deal to stay with the Gamecocks through next season. . . Stewart's new deal has a guaranteed yearly salary between $1M and $1.5M. . . NIL is ruining collegiate sports. . .Is this the "new normal" for college athletes? a program's fanbase? Are the 'old days' of witnessing a player on your favorite CFB team grow & develop over four years - gone with the wind?. . . Some additional news out of the University of South Carolina, they have hired former Alabama HC Mike Shula as its new Offensive Coordinator - according to Gamecocks' coaching staff, Shula played a pivotal role in the development of redshirt freshman QB LaNorris Sellers over the 2024 CFB season. . .

- "Carolina This, Carolina That!" - Former NFL & New England Patriots HC Bill Belichick, age 72, has agreed to become the next HC at the University of North Carolina - a 3-year, $30M deal. . . Can 'Chapel Bill' lead the Tar Heels to the 'promised land?

- The University of Michigan targeted & has officially hired UNC's Chip Lindsey to be the Wolverines' new Offensive Coordinator. . .Lindsey, once the OC for the Hoover High School team (Alabama) that was featured on MTV's 'Two-A-Days' in 2006. . .& also has coordinator experience with brief stints at UCF, Auburn, Southern Miss, etc. . .

- Quite possibly the most entertaining CFB news, believe it or not, is not related to the NCAA transfer portal, the NIL or the College Football Playoff. . . but instead involves a player commitment: Class of 2025 QB Chase Herbstreit announced via social media that he has committed to the University of Michigan. . . Chase is the son of College Gameday analyst/CFB commentator AND former Ohio State QB Kirk Herbstreit. . .Is this not the highest form of ultimate betrayal? - Just a Reminder: The week leading up to "The Game" Ohio State players/coaches & fans will not mention, acknowledge, or use words that begin with the letter "M" & refer to Michigan as "that team up North!". . . Is JD overreacting or is this actually a big deal?!

- Following the College Football Playoff Bracket reveal on Sunday, and learning which twelve teams made it into the playoff, and which team(s) were on the 'outside looking in,' - Fans, AD's & Analysts alike, have all discussed & pondered the CFB Playoff Committee's decision to leave one particular CFB team out, who had a much stronger "Strength of Schedule," in contrast to the team that was selected for an 'at-large' bid - and this has led a discussion and/or debate regarding the following topic of consideration: Should College Football programs arrange for a "soft non-conference" schedule in order to improve their odds of receiving an 'at-large' bid into the CFB Playoff? (Please let us know your thoughts!!)

- NCAA CFB Week 15 or "Conference Championship Week:" Review & Recap: JD & Spencer provide in-depth game breakdowns, player analysis, & discuss the playoff implications for each of the following Week 15 or "Conference Championship Game(s):"

Mountain West Conf. Championship Game: Boise State - 21 UNLV - 7 American Athletic Conf. Championship Game: Tulane - 14 Army - 35 Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conf. Championship Game: Arizona State - 45 Iowa State - 19 SEC Conf. Championship Game: Georgia - 22 Texas - 19 ACC Conf. Championship Game: Clemson - 34 SMU - 31 Big Ten Conf. Championship Game: Oregon - 45 Penn State - 37 - On last Sunday - and following a wildly entertaining Conference Championship Week - the College Football Playoff Committee completed their assigned task(s): (1) to unbiasedly rank the top 25 CFB teams; and (2) determine the seeding for the team(s) selected for the 12-team expanded playoff. . . ESPN revealed the 2024 College Football Playoff Bracket in a special on Sunday. . . and in case you were wondering - YES! The controversy is once again "juicy!" - the BIG news: SMU is "in" while Alabama & Miami were left "out" of the CFB Playoff field. . . - The 2024 CFB Playoff Rankings & Bracket includes the following teams - that include five Conference Champions as well as seven teams with an "at-large" big: Teams with a First-Round Bye: 1. Oregon (13-0, Big Ten Champion) - Rose Bowl 2. Georgia (11-2, SEC Champion) - Allstate Sugar Bowl 3. Boise State (12-1, MWC Champion) - VRBO Fiesta Bowl 4. Arizona State (11-2, Big 12 Champion) - Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl First-Round Matchups: No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State No. 10 Indiana at. No. 7 Notre Dame No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State - Former Alabama HC Nick Saban criticizes the CFB Playoff Committee ...