David Hale
@adavidhalejoint
ESPN college sports reporter. Raconteur, gadfly, man about town. David.Hale@espn.com // Links:
ICYMI: I wrote an oral history of Larry Fitzgerald's incredible 2-year run at Pitt ahea of his induction to Canton over the weekend. Wrote at length on "the best catch I've ever seen" per @CoachBabers_ that wasn't called a catch. Here's another view... www.espn.com/college-foot...
Preseason ACC media picks for order of finish… can’t believe we got ‘em all exactly right.
Pete Golding said yesterday he think Lane Kiffin didn't handle allowing assistants to coach in the playoff at Ole Miss well. I asked Lane if there was another way he could've handled it. "I could have not let anyone go."
Which cultural icon has the better pic at Thirsty Beaver — Mick Jagger or Andrea?
This is BS. “IKEAing” (verb): The act of attempting to buy a cheap bookshelf and instead getting lost in a maze of halogen lamps while your wife vows to murder you in your sleep and your stomach revolts against an onslaught of Swedish meatballs.
At Jays game and it’s good to see the Canadians know how to honor one of the greats, @fansince09.bsky.social #ShouldOfKept
SEC pretty emphatically restated its opposition to pooled media rights today. I asked Sankey if he thought that meant there was real $ being left on the table... He thinks it's more schools with less wanting to draft off the SEC.
I assumed beating Andrea by so much in this year’s picks contest was enough victory for me. But I have to say, the look of sheer panic as she jumped out of a plane in payment for losing is exceeded wild wildest hopes and dreams.
Inside ACCess is back tonight (5 pm/ACCN) from the ACC spring meetings with… Jim Phillips! Rhett Lashlee! Manny Diaz! Dan Radakovich! And best of all, Andrea jumping out of an airplane! Also available in pod form: linktr.ee/InsideACCess?u…
ICYMI: the great Mike Tannenbaum joined us to breakdown the new NFL homes for Carson Beck and Cade Klubnik. Listen to the whole show in pod form: linktr.ee/InsideACCess?u…
Today marks the 1-year anniversary of what Neil Armstrong* once called “the most significant achievement in human history”… my 24 hours at Buc-ee’s. To celebrate, here FBS stadiums closest to a Buc-ee’s location. (*not the astronaut one. Just a guy who hangs around the 7/11 by my house)
If you want a visualization of how the Power Five became the Power Two, here it is. Rolling 3-year average NFL draft picks by conference over the past 20 years. In 2007-09, the SEC out-paced the ACC by about 6 players. Now, by about 35. In 2007-09, the ACC=B1G. Now, not close.
Tonight on Inside ACCess (10 pm/ACCN)… - It’s draft week… and it’s a very good one for the ACC - Pat Narduzzi on Mason Heintschel’s growth - Virginia’s Chase Morrison is eating up calories and QBs - Breaking down the ACC QB depth charts + lots more fun. Join us won’t you?
Also i typed it in 3 times before acknowledging i don’t know how to spell “diorama.” Could’ve sworn it was with an A.
I’ve never seen Anything, Anything this stupid, @nytimes.com (also I’m very old)
Points Per Drive vs. Explosive Play Rates on offense & defense for every Big 12 team... Credit to Oklahoma State. Just dreadful on both sides of the ball. Also, why'd Texas Tech invest so heavily in Sorsby? The Cincy offense was very good.
ICYMI: I asked former Clemson LB Wade Woodaz about Tom Allen’s comments that last year’s team was, perhaps, entitled. And what really led to the 7-6 disappointment? Inside ACCess airs Wednesdays at 4 on ACCN… or follow the pod! linktr.ee/InsideACCess
ICYMI: We talked to the great @brucefeldmancfb.bsky.social about how Miami replaces so much veteran talent after last year’s playoff run. He’s an optimist here… Inside ACCess airs Wednesdays at 4 on ACCN or follow the pod: linktr.ee/InsideACCess
Explosive Play Rate vs. Points/Drive on offense and defense for every Big Ten team... So strange not seeing Iowa as a complete outlier. Would be amazing to pair Wisconsin's O with Rutgers' D.
Explosive Play% vs. Points/Drive on offense & defense for every ACC team... FSU is a perfect example of averages being deceptive. Wake's D was quietly elite. If Duke's gonna win w/o Mensah, that D needs A LOT of work.
SEC points/drive and explosive play rates on offense and defense... Poor Arkansas. Elite offense, unbelievably awful defense. Also really shows how much of a defense-led league the SEC was last year.