THOUGHTS WHILE THINKING

Big-time college football has become more professional than the NFL. Think about it: With few 

exceptions, ALL players are free agents … and can go to the highest bidder … with no salary cap 

impeding deep-pocket alumni and other … uh, friends of the university from signing whoever they 

want. Louisville of your ACC landed 25 newcomers via the transfer portal this year. I dare say no 

NFL team signed as many free agents … not even close. ….

 I know, I know … Deion Sanders brought in what had to be a record-number of new faces to 

Colorado including Shedeur Sanders, the quarterback, who threw for 510 yards in the father-son 

debut, a 45-42 victory over 21-point-favorite TCU. Pretty impressive, right? Before you get too 

carried away … understand the Horned Frogs had a total of three starters from last year’s national 

runnerup team … and Colorado still needed a short-pitch-then-run of 49 yards for a late touchdown 

to pull this one out.

Clearly, the Buffaloes were built for speed and ran by and around TCU all afternoon. It says 

hereeasily the most impressive thing about the game was watching the Buffaloes’ No. 12 excel on 

both sides of the ball. On offense, Travis Hunter was among four Colorado receivers with more than 

100 yards. In all, he was on the field for 129 snaps, catching 11 balls good for 119 yards and 

finishing with three tackles and an interception on defense. 

In case you missed it … Hunter was rated the top recruit in the country three years ago when he first 

committed to Florida State then followed D. Sanders to Jackson State. Hunter was among 10 players 

(including Shedeur) who came to Colorado with self-styled “Coach Prime” this year. “I went out 

there [against TCU] and dominated,” Hunter said. “Maybe people will begin to believe when I put 

myself at the head of the Heisman list.” 

 Sanders, the coach, noted they twice failed to connect with a wide- open Hunter deep. If they had … 

“he’d have the Heisman on ice in his crib.”

 While he was at it, “Coach Prime [Time]” lashed out at a reporter: “I read all that bull junk you 

wrote … Do you believe now?” 

 By the way: The Buffaloes’ roster for the next game lists 113 players – 37 freshmen plus 61 

transfers in addition to 15 holdovers (among them two long snappers and, at 6-10, 310, an offensive 

lineman listed as the tallest football player in Colorado history).

 ….. Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman for Heisman … He’s cool, calm … seldom (if ever) rattled. The 

Wake Forest transfer is tough. He’ll take a hit if it means waiting an extra second for potential 

receivers to get open … Hartman anticipates well. His arm is strong (enough).

 Also impressive: He acts like he’s done it before and refuses to indulge himself in the meaningless – 

OK, foolish – hey, everyone, look at me celebrations.

 ….. Words to live by: “Winners know why they win. Losers don’t know why they lose.” (From 

ACC Network’s “All Access” on North Carolina football … where coach Mack Brown stays ahead 

of the pack with Propaganda 101.) 

Of course, it helps to have a QB like Drake Maye, a redshirt sophomore who had to wait a year for 

NFL Washington starter Sam Howell to complete his eligibility.

 ….. More Atlantic Coast Conference: Best summation of subtraction by addition of California, 

Stanford and Southern Methodist which, from every indication, will lead to exodus of Florida State, 

Clemson and UNC: “Ensuring the inevitable departure of its three most valuable schools, adding 

three athletically irrelevant ones while oozing across two more time zones like spilled milk, and 

getting a relatively insignificant financial boost for doing it, the panicking presidents turned the ACC 

into the All Coast Conference.” … Courtesy of Raleigh News & Observer. ….. Talk about 

disrespecting an opponent … and living to rub it in even more: On its second series – already leading  

underdog Virginia 7-0 – 12th-ranked Tennessee went for it on fourth-and-short from its 30 yard line 

and failed. Not to worry, Volunteer fans. The Cavaliers missed a short field goal wide right. Final: 

UT 49, Hoos 13.

 ….. Good to see Eli Gold, 69, back calling play by play for Alabama football after 

missing 2022 while overcoming a near- death experience that, as it turned out, was caused by cancer 

of the throat. In the process he lost more than 140 pounds … down to 180. Long-time hockey fans 

will recall Gold as voice of the Hampton Aces of the long-since forgotten Southern Hockey League 

that included your Richmond Wildcats. Four-time Alabama Sportscaster of the Year, he was well-

known in NASCAR for his work with the Motor Racing Network and likewise made his mark 

calling NFL games as well. 

From Brooklyn, N.Y., the likable Gold has been radio Voice of the Crimson Tide since 1988 and was 

pronounced cancer-free earlier this year. 

 ….. Finally … best thing about Richmond’s season-opening loss to visiting Morgan State was … I 

thinking, I’m thinking!! OK … hardly anyone saw it, at least in-person. Attendance couldn’t have 

been more than 3,000 at Robins Stadium for the game that kicked off at 6 p.m. UR coach Russ 

Huesman called it “embarrassing.” He meant the Spiders’ performance … but lack of interest in his 

program also applied. For sure, the expanded Colonial Athletic Association has little to offer the 

potential ticket-buying public. Or MEAC-member Morgan State, for that matter. 

.... Until next time … when we recall D. Sanders’ memorable visit to Parker Field as a member of the 

AAA Columbus Clippers.