Jumbo Package: Marlon Humphrey, Greg Byrne, and Collin Sexton all drawing rave reviews

Despite having perhaps the worst roster in the NBA, Collin Sexton still managed to shine this season — particular down the stretch, where he accomplished a feat only 9 others in history had achieved. Last night, he was duly recognized at the NBA Awards ceremony, where he finished 5th in Rookie of the Year Voting.

Congrats, Young Bull.

Ed. Note: For whatever reason, I typed Trae Young above. Yikes. This is why you do not type at 3 o’clock in the morning.

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Christopher Walsh has an excellent piece on the linebacking corps, focusing on the outside depth and the ongoing battle on the interior:

Alabama arguably had four candidates for the other spot during the spring, but only one played next to Moses every day, Josh McMillon. The senior played in 10 games, with 14 tackles and one for a loss last season, but will go into the fall as the starter.

“He does his job and leads,” Moses said. “Kind of like me, he’s not really that talkative. I could say we have a lot in common. For me and him to be in the same room now and leading it, I feel comfortable being beside him and going out on the field and doing it.”

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California is about to cut off their nose to spite their face:

NCAA president Mark Emmert suggested that if a California bill allowing in-state college athletes to be compensated passes, schools could potentially be barred from competing in NCAA championships, a letter sent to the chair of two State Assembly committees last week said.

A bill asserting that athletes at California schools could earn compensation for use of their own name, image or likeness, beginning in 2023, easily passed in the state Senate last month, 31–4.

A hearing and vote by the Assembly’s Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media Committee focused on the bill will be conducted on Tuesday. The bill could next be reviewed by the Higher Education Committee and would need to be approved by July 11 in order to remain alive this year.

While I’m a longtime advocate of NLI rights for student-athletes, this is very much something that needs to be administratively addressed within the broader scope of NCAA regs. Hamfisted legislative attempts on a state-by-state basis are going to lead to a few responses; the least of which are the immediate effects of disassociation from championship events, tons of litigation, and ultimately bad law or even worse legislation.

But, it doesn’t really further a 2020 push for young voters to say, “Hey, this stuff takes some time, especially with pending litigation, and the NCAA is working on a comprehensive system that is more equitable, where tab-A-slides-into-slot-b.”

If we’re being honest, the practical effects in football may prove to be negligible — football in California has been relevant for about five years total in the past two decades. And the state of PAC 12 basketball is even worse. But, it’s the other sports — the water polos and field hockeys — where the impact is most likely to be felt immediately.

My guess, even if it passes the Arts and Entertainment Committee today? The Higher Education Committee kills it quickly — the Cal system is simply too powerful, and their voice too loud, to let this get out of committee and to a general floor vote.

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BOL continues its 25 Players series. Today, is No. 12 — Patrick Surtain II

SNIP:

2019 OUTLOOK

Surtain started his freshman campaign as a top reserve in Alabama’s secondary but stepped into a starting role at cornerback on the second series of the Ole Miss game after Saivion Smith gave up a touchdown on the first offensive snap. From there, Surtain started the next 12 games and totaled 37 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, seven pass breakups, one interception and one forced fumble. At season’s end, he garnered SEC All-Freshman Team honors from the league coaches.

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Nice interviews here with Amari Cooper by AT&T Audience Network.

On getting paid:

On Nick Saban being a really funny guy

On Dak and contract negotiations

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Speaking of videos, Tony Brown has another one of his Year Two Journey pieces up — this time, doing OTAs with another former Tide player, Rashaan Evans.

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The Ravens are leaning on Marlon Humphrey a lot this year, both in the secondary and as a returner.

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Greg Byrne, our T-Town Ninja, has received an outstanding honor, being named the big cheese of the nation’s athletic directors:

The members of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) have selected Greg Byrne, director of athletics at The University of Alabama, to lead the Association as President in 2019-20. The passing of the gavel took place in conjunction with the 54th Annual NACDA Convention, June 10-12 at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Can we keep him forever?

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Unrelated to Alabama, one of the classiest guys in all of college athletics has some bad news to report: former Mizzou FB great Gary Pinkel put out a statement yesterday announcing that the cancer which forced him into retirement has returned.

Send some good vibes his way.

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Snazzy new miniplans in football are available — seriously, that’s the front page of the Athletics site.

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Dave Bartoo from the excellent CFBMatrix site dropped by Fowler’s The Game yesterday. Among topics of discussion were Saban’s recruiting success, his early pick for the 2019 National Champion, what he expects from Georgia in 2019, and Alabama’s toughest 2019 opponent.

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Oh, god. Not conference realignment again. This time, it’s precipitated by UConn, who wants out of the AAC and back into the Big East — at least for basketball. But, the AAC is having none of it. Either UConn is in, or it is out.

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You can change CFB history by changing just one touchdown. What do you do?

Me? I take 2013 Iron Bowl — Alabama would have smashed Mizzou and then Florida State that season, cemented a three-peat, kept some present contenders off the map, and spared us all a thousand tired memes and Gary Danielson references. But it also may have delayed the modernizing of Alabama football and hastened Nick Saban to Texas. The law of unintended consequences, and whatnot.

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That’s about it for today. Have a great one...And be sure to answer the “change a touchdown” counterfactual, including any negative side effects you can foresee.