Morning 5 For: Calipari gives credit where it’s due, & Bridgewater in Hot Water

Apr 13, 2013; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals Red Team quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) looks to pass during the spring game at Papa Johns Cardinal Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

Speaking of fascinating, it appears Offensive Line Coach and Recruiting Cheat…err..I mean Coordinator Clint Hurtt is back on the field for the Louisville Cardinals after spending some time away while the NCAA “investigates” his role in illegal recruiting practices while at the University of Miami.  He’s been on paid, administrative leave for a while (how long I’m not sure because I don’t care) but now he’s back.  Fortunately for him, the NCAA is in such disarray with all the bad PR they’ve gotten handling this case, I don’t expect Louisville to be Hurtt at all.

Keeping with the Louisville Cardinals, apparently Teddy Bridgewater’s John Hancock has found its way onto Ebay.  For those who don’t know what that means, it means someone is selling his signature.  As Johnny Manziel could be finding out very soon, that’s not good.  Below is a series of tweets re: Teddy Bridgewater Autographs

Recently Emory University did a study to determine the top fanbases in the SEC for Football.  Now there can’t be much argument where the Big Blue Nation ranks in this study because, admit it, we jump on and off the bandwagon more than an outlaw on a stage coach.  Many of us are sad when it comes to standing behind our football program regardless of the circumstance, so let’s be realistic going in to these results.  Let’s also remember that this is a nerd study.

"Alabama and Auburn were both in the top three of a recent study by Emory Universityof the best fan bases in SEC football — but neither was No. 1. According to the study, which bases its findings on each school’s “Revenue Premium Brand Equity” over the last 10 years, the best fan base in the SEC belongs to the Georgia Bulldogs. The study’s explanation of how Georgia edged No. 2 Alabama: Over the period of our study, both Georgia and Alabama averaged between 9 and 10 wins a season.  However, Georgia averaged 12% more in revenues per year than Alabama.  Alabama also had a couple of years in the beginning of our sample (2002 & 2004) where the home games were not all filled to capacity.  Thus, over the period of our study, when we control for team performance and other institutional factors, the Georgia fan base is just a bit more loyal and devoted. Auburn was third, as the study found that Alabama “generated slightly more revenue per year on average than the Tigers, despite averaging almost the identical number of wins.  Also, while Alabama’s revenues are growing, Auburn has been facing decline.” The rest of the SEC were ranked as follows: 4. Florida, 5. Texas A&M,6.  LSU, 7. Tennessee, 8. Arkansas, 9. South Carolina, 10. Kentucky, 11. Vanderbilt, 12. Missouri, 13. Ole Miss, 14. Mississippi State. According to the study, determining Revenue Premium Brand Equity involves a “statistical model that predicts team revenues as a function of metrics related to team performance such as winning percentage and bowl participation.  We then compare actual revenues to what is predicted based purely on team performance (and other factors such as number of students, capacity, etc…).” Using team performance as a variable resulted in Auburn placing one spot higher than Florida, which averaged 6.9% more revenue per year than the Tigers, and with Ole Miss ranked below Vanderbilt despite generating “roughly the same amount of revenue.” The study also placed the SEC first in its conference brand rankings, which were based on Return on Investment — factoring in the difference between actual revenues and revenues predicted based on expenditures."

Now to be fair, these allegations have yet to be proven as to whether or not any of the named signatures were part of a plan to profit off their signatures, but it’s added stress for a Louisville team whose expectations far outweigh their ability.

For the record, I hate the rule but if they broke it they should be punished.