Signing Day Lite has come and gone and either BGA Daily and its eagle-eyed readers couldn't ferret out any of the names to fill out the three, four or five openings in the class, or those spots are yet to be filled.
Then again, I suppose there's also the possibility that with a yet-to-be revealed number of this year's seniors returning next fall there's a chance coaches are holding those spots over for another year. Time will tell, but if you hear anything or stumble across Signing Day pictures that I might want to post, send 'em along.
To send along picture(s) – which I noted yesterday is absolutely OK with the NCAA – CLICK HERE to address an email to BGA with the subject line, SigningDay. Then just attach the shot and I'll try to get it up later today or later in the week.
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A couple of Signing Day videos out of Colorado. First, corner Ahmir Braxton:
If they would enter the playoffs it completely re-energizes it due to the public's and media's curiosity with the Ancient 8. Their inclusion would immediately drive up the value of the playoff broadcasting and rights and help FCS maintain attention during early and mid December. NDSU vs Montana State on ESPN2 is still MUCH better theater than Temple vs Georgia Southern in the Boca Bowl. A Harvard or Yale or Princeton vs Delaware semifinal would result in a giddy ESPN. ESPN has proven they're willing to give FCS some exposure via Game Day's, August kick-off games, playoff games etc. Add the Ivies in the playoffs and those bones tossed FCS's way come with more meat on 'em.
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STATS Perform has a story under the headline FCS 'spring' season a challenge at northern schools that opens with the difficulty faced in New Hampshire. Not by Dartmouth, which of course is not playing this spring, but across the state at UNH. (LINK)
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It's not official as of this morning but the latest school expected to punt spring football is Alcorn State, which has conquered its division rivals for the last six years and its SWAC opponents last fall but can't overcome COVID. (LINK)
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Back on the subject of recruiting, it is being reported that Deion Sanders' first recruiting class at FCS Jackson State has the Tigers ranked 85th nationally, with no fewer than 45 FBS schools trailing them. And that's not to mention the 14 FBS transfers "Coach Prime" has brought in, including nine who first signed with Power 5 programs. Any question why Jackson State will be the subject of a documentary series this year? (LINK)
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Craig Haley at STATS points out that yesterday marked the fourth National Signing Day/Period since the last football game for most FCS programs. There was the December 2019 early signing, then last February, another December this year and finally yesterday's festivities.
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The MVP tackling robot developed at Dartmouth has gone Down Under. (LINK)
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EXTRA POINT
Mrs. BGA and I streamed the movie Rocketman over the weekend and while some of it was a little odd – it is about Elton John, after all – the music was great. I'd give it a qualified thumbs up.
Having just seen the movie I asked Mrs. BGA last evening if she had the opportunity to see either Elton John or Billy Joel in concert, which one she would choose. She never hesitated in picking Billy Joel. I thought about it for a little bit and went with Elton John, perhaps in part because I've already seen Joel. That was when I was an undergrad, and he was great.
Thinking about seeing the Piano Man when I was in school reminded me That Certain Nittany Lion '16 also saw Billy Joel when he was at Penn State. And he saw Bruce Springsteen. And he saw Paul McCartney. And that, my friends, is not too shabby.
