PRESS PICKS (Week 5): Selfishness overtakes classic battle as lead story of the weekend
STAFF REPORT
One of the biggest games on the 2024 college football docket is on tap this weekend.
Georgia-Bama. Big game. Big stakes.
Instead, we are talking about a brash, selfish, immature brat.
The news hit midweek that UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka was leaving the program after "certain representations" were not being upheld by the program.
Read that as “I didnt’ get my money, so I’m leaving.”
The amount of money is unknown but a few outlets have published that it was $100,000. Rumors are that another school has gotten involved and offered him more.
Welcome to College Football - the Game Show!
Are we surprised? Chances are this has already happened with other teams but didn’t make headlines. It remains to be seen how this plays out but this will be settled in court and the adolescent disrupter will find happiness somewhere else. (And yes, another player pulled the same stunt at USC on Thursday.)
Rumors are what they are… But at this point, who cares?
It’s becoming obvious college football fans are weary of the NIL controversy. It is slowly pushing all of us away. Soon than later, a college athlete will go crying to a media member and no one will be interested.
It’s somewhat odd this story got so much press until you realize that Sluka’s behavior went well beyond obnoxious and consequently has many pulling against him.
This all happens after he had led the Runnin’ Rebels to their first-ever national ranking and a 3-0 record.
Now the team is looking for a new quarterback as the former Holy Cross signal caller heads to another “needy” program. He’ll have his hands wide open when he arrives.
The rest of the CFB world will probably be pulling for UNLV to make it without the brat in tow. There is a good chance they will play better without him.
2024 Standings (Last Week)
1. Michael Butler 56-19 (11-4) .747
2. Tim Gayle 52-23 (9-6) .693
Wesley Lyle 52-23 (9-6) .693
Doug Amos 52-23 (11-4) .693
5. Rosie Langello 50-25 (7-8) .667
6. Graham Dunn 49-26 (9-6) .653
7. Mike Peacock 48-27 (8-7) .640
8. Lindsey Bonner 37-23 (9-6) .616
9. Barry McKnight 46-29 (8-7) .613
10. Rick Hendrick 43-32 (8-7) .573
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.9&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
56-19 (11-4) .747
Opelika at Pike Road - Opelika
Catholic at Saraland (game canceled)- Saraland
St. James at Trinity - St. James
Eufaula at Wetumpka (site change) - Wetumpka
Montgomery Aca at Luverne - Montgomery Aca
Georgia at Alabama - Alabama
Oklahoma at Auburn - Auburn
Arkansas vs Texas A&M (Arlington) - Arkansas
Kentucky at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Louisville at Notre Dame - Louisville
Oklahoma St at Kansas St. - Kansas St
Wisconsin at USC - USC
Florida St at SMU - SMU
TCU at Kansas - TCU
Illinois at Penn St - Penn St
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports/Montgomery Independent)
52-23 (9-6) .693
Opelika at Pike Road - Pike Road
Catholic at Saraland (game canceled) - Saraland
St. James at Trinity - Trinity
Eufaula at Wetumpka (site change) - Wetumpka
Montgomery Aca at Luverne - Montgomery Aca
Georgia at Alabama - Alabama
Oklahoma at Auburn - Auburn
Arkansas vs Texas A&M (Arlington) - Arkansas
Kentucky at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Louisville at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Oklahoma St at Kansas St. - Kansas St
Wisconsin at USC - USC
Florida St at SMU - SMU
TCU at Kansas - Kansas
Illinois at Penn St - Penn St
Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports & al.com)
52-23 (9-6) .693
Opelika at Pike Road - Opelika
Catholic at Saraland (game canceled) - Saraland
St. James at Trinity - Trinity
Eufaula at Wetumpka (site change) - Eufaula
Montgomery Aca at Luverne - Montgomery Aca
Georgia at Alabama - Alabama
Oklahoma at Auburn - Oklahoma
Arkansas vs Texas A&M (Arlington) - Texas A&M
Kentucky at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Louisville at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Oklahoma St at Kansas St. - Kansas St
Wisconsin at USC - USC
Florida St at SMU - SMU
TCU at Kansas - Kansas
Illinois at Penn St - Penn St
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket)
41-19 (13-2) .683
Opelika at Pike Road - Opelika
Catholic at Saraland (game canceled) - Saraland
St. James at Trinity - Trinity
Eufaula at Wetumpka (site change) - Wetumpka
Montgomery Aca at Luverne - Montgomery Aca
Georgia at Alabama - Alabama
Oklahoma at Auburn - Auburn
Arkansas vs Texas A&M (Arlington) - Texas A&M
Kentucky at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Louisville at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Oklahoma St at Kansas St. - Kansas St
Wisconsin at USC - USC
Florida St at SMU - SMU
TCU at Kansas - Kansas
Illinois at Penn St - Penn St
Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12)
50-25 (7-8) .667
Opelika at Pike Road - Opelika
Catholic at Saraland (game canceled) - Catholic
St. James at Trinity - Trinity
Eufaula at Wetumpka (site change) - Eufaula
Montgomery Aca at Luverne - Montgomery Aca
Georgia at Alabama - Alabama
Oklahoma at Auburn - Oklahoma
Arkansas vs Texas A&M (Arlington) - Texas A&M
Kentucky at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Louisville at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Oklahoma St at Kansas St. - Kansas St
Wisconsin at USC - USC
Florida St at SMU - SMU
TCU at Kansas - TCU
Illinois at Penn St - Penn St
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports/WTLS/Voice of Alabama State Hornets)
49-26 (9-6) .653
Opelika at Pike Road - Opelika
Catholic at Saraland (game canceled) - Saraland
St. James at Trinity -Trinity
Eufaula at Wetumpka (site change) - Wetumpka
Montgomery Aca at Luverne - Montgomery Aca
Georgia at Alabama - Georgia
Oklahoma at Auburn - Auburn
Arkansas vs Texas A&M (Arlington) - Texas A&M
Kentucky at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Louisville at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Oklahoma St at Kansas St. - Kansas St
Wisconsin at USC - USC
Florida St at SMU - SMU
TCU at Kansas - Kansas
Illinois at Penn St - Penn St
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
48-27 (8-7) .640
Opelika at Pike Road - Opelika
Catholic at Saraland (game canceled) - Saraland
St. James at Trinity - St. James
Eufaula at Wetumpka (site change) - Eufaula
Montgomery Aca at Luverne - Montgomery Aca
Georgia at Alabama - Georgia
Oklahoma at Auburn - Auburn
Arkansas vs Texas A&M (Arlington) - Texas A&M
Kentucky at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Louisville at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Oklahoma St at Kansas St. - Kansas St
Wisconsin at USC - USC
Florida St at SMU - Florida St
TCU at Kansas - TCU
Illinois at Penn St - Penn St
Lindsey Bonner (Sports Director - WAKA Ch. 8)
37-23 (9-6) .616
Opelika at Pike Road - Opelika
Catholic at Saraland (game canceled) - Saraland
St. James at Trinity - Trinity
Eufaula at Wetumpka (site change) - Eufaula
Montgomery Aca at Luverne - Montgomery Aca
Georgia at Alabama - Georgia
Oklahoma at Auburn - Oklahoma
Arkansas vs Texas A&M (Arlington) - Texas A&M
Kentucky at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Louisville at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Oklahoma St at Kansas St. - Oklahoma St
Wisconsin at USC - USC
Florida St at SMU - SMU
TCU at Kansas - Kansas
Illinois at Penn St - Penn St
Barry McKnight (Voice of Troy Trojans)
43-32 (8-7) .573
Opelika at Pike Road - Opelika
Catholic at Saraland (game canceled) - Saraland
St. James at Trinity - St. James
Eufaula at Wetumpka (site change) - Eufaula
Montgomery Aca at Luverne - Luverne
Georgia at Alabama - Georgia
Oklahoma at Auburn - Oklahoma
Arkansas vs Texas A&M (Arlington) - Texas A&M
Kentucky at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Louisville at Notre Dame - Louisville
Oklahoma St at Kansas St. - Kansas St
Wisconsin at USC - USC
Florida St at SMU - Florida St
TCU at Kansas - Kansas
Illinois at Penn St -Illinois
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA Montgomery Biscuits)
35-25 (8-7) .583
Opelika at Pike Road - Opelika
Catholic at Saraland (game canceled) - Catholic
St. James at Trinity - Trinity
Eufaula at Wetumpka (site change) - Wetumpka
Montgomery Aca at Luverne - Montgomery Aca
Georgia at Alabama - Alabama
Oklahoma at Auburn - Auburn
Arkansas vs Texas A&M (Arlington) - Arkansas
Kentucky at Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Louisville at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Oklahoma St at Kansas St. - Kansas St
Wisconsin at USC - USC
Florida St at SMU - Florida St
TCU at Kansas - TCU
Illinois at Penn St - Penn St