Texas coach Steve Sarkisian brought in the No. 3-ranked transfer portal class in the country after the Longhorns narrowly missed out on the College Football Playoff last season. After their stellar recruitment, Sarkisian’s Longhorns are expected to be one of the dark horses for the SEC championship and national title next season.
Tim Brando Blasts Steve Sarkisian for Calling Out Ole Miss
During an interview with USA Today on Tuesday, Sarkisian kicked off the intrigue in the SEC before the season started when he lambasted the Ole Miss Rebels for their lax academic standards that give them a leg up during their recruitment of prospects.
“At Texas, we will only take 50% of a player’s academic credit hours. You may be a semester from graduating, but you’re going all the way back to 50% if you play here and want a degree.
“But at Ole Miss, they can take you. All you have to do is take basket weaving, and you can get an Ole Miss degree. It’s like we’ve forgotten about academics, yet less than 5% of these guys will play in the NFL.”
Sarkisian’s comments divided college football fans, and Fox Sports commentator Tim Brando called out the Texas coach’s controversial comments directed at Ole Miss in a post on X.
“Beneath ya Sark. You’re too good a guy and have far too much wealth to make such statements. Just because the decimal points on your check are where they are doesn’t give you license for this,” Brando tweeted.
New Ole Miss coach Pete Golding, who succeeded the charismatic Lane Kiffin at the helm of the Rebels team, was publicly called out by Clemson coach Dabo Swinney for tampering with linebacker Luke Ferrelli during the winter transfer portal.
Ferrelli committed to the Tigers from California before quickly being lured to Oxford via the transfer portal by Golding’s Rebels, who reportedly offered a substantial sum of money to entice him away from Clemson. In addition, the Fresno State Bulldogs also reported Ole Miss to the NCAA for reportedly tampering with wide receiver Josiah Freeman.
Despite the NCAA opening an investigation into the Rebels’ purported tampering with Ferrelli, Ole Miss still managed to bring in the No. 2-ranked transfer portal class in the country.
Swinney’s callout of the Rebels caused widespread discourse in college football over the role of the NCAA in the new era of the free transfer portal colliding with the NIL environment and the enforcement of academic standards in college sports.
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