Jumbo Package: Get out the vote...for Tua and DeVonta at the ESPYS

Direct democracy can encourage the worst excesses of the mob. Some of the brightest minds of the Roman Republic feared the destabilizing impact that demagoguery would have on its centuries-old, carefully-laid republic (RIP Cato, Cicero). It turns out, their fears were founded.

But, while Caesar destroyed the Roman constitutional system in favor of a strongman manipulating the masses and ruling through rigged referenda, we at Roll ‘Bama Roll are going to encourage just such an exercise in demokratia today:

This is one of the most important plays in college football history. And, it requires your vote:

Alabama Football: Tua Tagovailoa-to-DeVonta Smith touchdown nominated for Best Play ESPY

Alabama’s now-famous, game-winning touchdown in the College Football Playoff national title game is one of 16 plays eligible for the ESPY for Best Play from the 2017-18 year in sports.

Voting for the first round of the ESPYS started June 20 and the Round 1 Best Play winners will advance to the second round, inching closer to claiming the annual award. The touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa to DeVonta Smith is a No. 4 seed and is matched up against No. 13-seed Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and his dunk on Tim Hardaway Jr.

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Julio Jones highlighted five Alabama players named to the NFL’s top 100 players. Jones dropped to 4th (AB was named second overall, the highest a WR has ever finished.) I’d expect Jones to have even better numbers this year as Calvin Ridley develops and helps Atlanta’s (occasionally) wide open offense turn up the throttle up even more:

NFL players consider Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones among the very best players in the league, although he finished one spot lower in the NFL Network’s “Top 100 Players of 2018” than he did on the 2017 list and he wasn’t the top wide receiver this year, even though he finished fourth overall.

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With Mississippi having nearly finalized its sports gambling regime, soon you can make a short hop over a river of your choice and lay some action on the SEC.

CBS’ Tom Fornelli has done some legwork for you on clear trend lines in God’s Conference.

Finding the trends: Helpful tips to know before betting SEC football during the 2018 season - CBSSports.com

(ALABAMA) 78-60 (.565) -- It’s a testament to how dominant Alabama has been that it’s not only the best team in the SEC but the best team against the spread as well. As dominant as it has been, there’s still one trend worth noticing. Don’t bet on Alabama at home; bet it on the road. The Tide has a record of 43-26 ATS on the road or at neutral sites compared to only 35-34 at home. That includes a mark of 15-6 ATS outside Tuscaloosa in nonconference games.

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Keep an eye on Wilson Furr. As a Freshman, he was a stalwart for the Alabama golf team that nearly brought home a national title. He shows no signs of slowing down over this: He had an outstanding weekend in Starkville, qualifying for a PGA event at Sanderson Farms this fall.

Alabama’s Wilson Furr Wins 2018 Mississippi State Amateur, Qualifies for PGA Tour Event - Alabama Athletics

Rising sophomore Wilson Furr rolled through the Mississippi State Amateur this past weekend, carding an 11-shot margin of victory on his way to a tournament total of 12-under-par 272. With the win, Furr earned a sponsor’s exemption to this year’s PGA Tour Sanderson Farms Championship, which will take place Oct. 25-28.

Furr carded four consecutive rounds in the 60s (68-69-66-69) as he cruised past the 102-man field to claim the trophy. It marked the second time in four years Furr has won the event, having also claimed medalist honors in 2015 when he became the youngest player to ever win the tournament at age 16.

#GolfSchool

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It’s about to get really slow, y’all.

Yesterday, the CFB recruiting dead period began. As Bud explains:

From June 25 to July 24, college football recruiting will be in a “Dead Period,” one of four classifications of the NCAA’s recruiting calendar.

Dead period

The dead period is the most restrictive. No in-person contact is allowed, even if a prospect makes a visit to the college campus. Written and electronic communications are still permitted.

But, hold steady, brave hearts. SEC Media Days fast approaches. And, then two weeks later Freshman report. We’re only 3 weeks away from the media event and 5 short weeks until Fall Camp begins.

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PHIL STEELE PODCAST TEASER:

Author and writer for SEC Country Chris Walsh joined The Game with Ryan Fowler to discuss is this Alabama’s greatest dynasty, most under and over rated teams in college football, and over hyping teams before the season starts.

For Chris Walsh full conversation with Ryan Fowler, make sure you watch the video above the article. Don’t miss The Game with Ryan Fowler weekday afternoons from 2-6 p.m. for the latest news, breakdown and analysis surrounding Alabama Crimson Tide football.

Brad and Wes will be hosting Chris Walsh today on the RBR Podcast, in fact. We hope to have that for you tomorrow. In the meanwhile, you can check out Walsh above.

And, for the huge announcement: We are interviewing VHT Phil Steele this week, with the hope to drop that to you on Friday or Saturday. So, in the spirit of Democracy Day, we’re going to ask you to leave your questions below or topics you’d like us to discuss with Phil about the upcoming Crimson Tide football season.

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Finally, for those of you into commie kickball, “ a Professor of Applied Mathematics at MIT explains the subtle physics behind all those swerving, dipping goals that make you question the nature of the universe.”

OK, but what about those knuckleballs?

JB: If you want to hit a dead ball — like one of these knuckleball-type shots, that’s another which Ronaldo is very good at that — you want to hit the ball as quickly as possible, have minimum contact time because you just want to set them into motion without applying spin. There have been some of these in the World Cup:

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CB will be along shortly with a story on Calvin Ridley. Have a great day.