Happy Hump Day, Belters. Yes, rumors of Fearless Leader’s demise were greatly exaggerated. But now that the Ball State football search is complete and I wasn’t selected (still a sterling record on NCAA Football on XBOX), we can again press on with the MACtion Belt-ness you’ve come to know and expect from me.
Going forward you’ll be seeing a fair bit of me on the writing side instead of just behind the scenes things. We have an exceptionally talented staff here at HB and more than a large kudos to James for running the day-to-day. He is simply the best in the business and this place wouldn’t function without him. But once a writer, always a writer, and I do miss the routine and regularity of it. So, you’re stuck with me for a while.
On to the Hump Day Quick Hits for this December 4…
The Ball State Cardinals have their new man in Muncie. In a somewhat not surprising move given the whispers around the program, current Butler head coach Mike Uremovich has been named to the top job. I’ll have some deeper thoughts on this hire this Sunday in my new weekly missive, but for now, the Cardinals have a guy in place before signing day. And that’s a good thing. You can get to know the new head man in Muncie via the Ball State sports produced welcome vid/interview here.
Transfer season is upon us. Look at any national recruiting or roster site and you’ll see the beginning stages of the mass exodus of players from their current P4 program. This of course means you should ready yourself for your favorite MAC programs’ and players’ dominos to subsequently fall. It’s hard to argue against the whole transfer portal/NIL era almost solely because of the players’ rights and considerations and the unbelievable parity we are now enjoying in college football. But this musical chairs at the end of the season has got to get reigned in before it’s too late.
Ryan Day has got to be fired, right? I’m not one for rash decisions or wildly fanatical kinds of decision-making. But losing to your rivals four years in a row and him standing there like a deer in the headlights has to be a deal, right? Most of my Ohio State fans are tepid on letting him go, but as a fellow fan of a rabid program (Kentucky basketball), at some point you have to just say “Enough!” a la John Calipari’s exit last spring. If Ohio State makes the playoffs it may be National Championship or bust for Ryan Day, and I can’t say I would disagree.
Ben Herbstreit’s passing is still weighing heavily. I’m sure I’m in the minority (and Peter’s unveiling has helped) but the loss of Kirk Herbstreit’s dog Ben is still rattling around my heart. Perhaps it’s the fact that I have my own golden retriever that’s brought so much joy to our family, maybe it was the way Lee Corso consoled Kirk on Gameday when he broke down, or perhaps it was the one time in the last, hell, 10 years or so that everyone just seemed to come together and be decent human beings pouring out sympathy and sorrow together. If you don’t have a dog, it’s hard to understand. I get it, I was there once. I distinctly remember my mom telling me the dog my parents had gotten after I had went to college had passed. She was sobbing, my dad was upset, and I wondered why… after all, it was just a dog. After having my fuzzy best pal by my side (or more appropriately curled up at my feet under my desk as he is now) for over three years, I totally get it. If you haven’t seen the Gameday tribute, you can check it out here. Get your Kleenex ready. Kirk takes a lot of heat for his opinions and hot takes. But how a person treats their animals, loves their animals, and grieves their animals says an awful lot about their quality of character. Rest in peace Ben, and may your memory be a blessing.
Lots happening in the sports world with college basketball kicking up, the NFL hitting fever pitch, the NBA in full swing, and the inaugural college football playoff right around the corner. It’s a wonderful time to be a sports fan.