By Adam Roberts – 10/21/2020

From a young age, many of us are taught not to talk about money, politics, or religion in the company of strangers.

In the sports realm, my three equivalents would be: you don’t talk about steroid use in all sports, you don’t talk about how the NFL screwed the Pottsville Maroons out of the 1925 league championship, and you don’t talk about student athletics getting paid if you want to avoid a shouting match.

In that last realm, at least, the conversation has been more civil in recent years than most of the past, and today the NCAA is taking another step forward.

According to a report from the Associated Press, the mammoth organization is moving forward with legislation to allow student athletes to profit off their name, image and likeness. The Division I Council met this week to discuss the changes and says the move is just pending a final vote in January, which will take place during the NCAA Convention. They also introduced a measure that would make it easier for athletes to transfer to other schools, eliminating a lot of the current restrictions.

This would seem to contradict the near constant stance on amateurism the NCAA has held throughout its history. And it would also be in contrast to a report in the USA Today last week that said the organization was trying to petition the U.S. Supreme Court to save amateurism as a concept and keep the payment to just the cost of attending school. It also seems odd given the news today that Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr has been banned from Louisiana State facilities for two years after he gave players cash on the field after the Tigers won the College Football Playoff last January.

In my three and a half years working in this position, I’ve heard talking heads on the national talk shows go back and forth for a whole show on this subject, both sides have been discussed at length during many episodes of The Sports Lead on ESPN La Crosse 105.5, and people both in and outside of sports are keen to share their thoughts on this topic. For now at least, it appears the next few months could provide some big leaps forward, or backwards if that’s your stance, on pay for play.

By Adam Roberts – 10/20/2020

In our High School Football Preview, I noted that last Friday’s Blair/Taylor-Pepin/Alma game would probably be a pick ’em that could go either way, and would probably be the game of the week as far as how close the final would be. You might also recall I took P/A to top B/T by a lone point.

I don’t like to think these posts are read by a ton of people, but if anyone at the Blair-Taylor athletic department saw it and posted it in the locker room as bulletin board material, it must’ve worked.

Despite trailing 19-8 early in the fourth quarter, quarterback Cain Fremstad was solid in the pocket for the Wildcats, completing a touchdown pass to Kyle Steien  before running in for his own score to send Blair-Taylor to a 22-19 win that could define the Dairyland Conference this season.

His 215 yards of total offense are the reason that Wissports.net has nominated Blair-Taylor for their Team of the Week honor for Week Four of the season. The Wildcats are up against some tough competition this week, with regular powerhouses Amherst and Catholic Memorial on the list along with Baraboo and Highland.

Vote for the Wildcats here: https://www.wissports.net/news_article/show/1128570

By Adam Roberts – 10/20/2020

Viterbo volleyball was ready to go back on September 26th against Mayville State, but COVID-19 concerns forced their home opener against the Comets to be pushed back. That was one day after their original home opener against Presentation had been postponed for the same reason.

Almost one month later, the V-Hawks were finally able to take to the R.W. Beggs Senior Gym floor.

The result, however, was not the desired one; a three sets to one loss for the third straight V-Hawk defeat. In front of a limited-attendance crowd of 50 individuals, Viterbo committed 31 attack errors to just 12 for the Comets, and had 10 service errors despite six aces. Lily Pyle led the V-Hawks with 25 total attacks and nine kills.

Viterbo is next scheduled to take the floor against Dickinson State on March 12th of next year.

By Adam Roberts – 10/19/2020

Driving into work this morning, the guys on Keyshawn, JWill, and Zubin were discussing the worst teams in the NFL, and after the obvious first of the worst in the New York Jets, the conversation went to who would be right behind them or closest to tying them. I can’t remember who said it, but the Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons were both brought up. Atlanta shouldn’t surprise many, with their 0-5 start and the firing of both their head coach and GM as sure a sign as any that they could compete for the title of worst in the league.

But Minnesota being included in that conversation likely raised many eyebrows. After all, this is a Minnesota team that is only three years removed from the “Minneapolis Miracle” and being a game away from the Super Bowl in their home stadium, and just last year, they went into New Orleans and got an overtime playoff win in the Superdome.

But fast forward to 2020, and the Vikings have too many problems to list. They were without their leading rusher this week, and the play of Dalvin Cook’s backup left plenty to be desired. Quarterback Kirk Cousins finished 24 of 36 for 343 yards with a pair of touchdowns to rookie Justin Jefferson, but had three interceptions as well in the 40-23 loss that drops Minnesota to a head scratching 1-5 going into the bye.

After the loss, Cousins said he’s aware that he won’t be the quarterback to finish the season if he keeps throwing interceptions the way he has been, and head coach Mike Zimmer did not comment on whether he would consider replacing Cousins due to his inaccuracy. It stands to reason Cousins won’t be benched just yet; placing backup Sean Mannion into the starting role with a November 1st game against the currently 4-1 Green Bay Packers would be a ruthless move. However, it’s safe to say defenses aren’t exactly shaking in their boots when they see the Vikings on their schedule at the moment.

Referring back to the original point of the article, I think there are some other teams we need to consider for second worst in the NFL. The Football Team comes to mind, along with the team that “beat” them this week in the Giants; even the Jaguars could fill that role, having lost five straight following a Week One win and looking like they have no idea with what to do at the quarterback position. However, should Minnesota, and Cousins in particular, look as hapless in the Packer-Viking game November 1st, maybe they DO start #TankingforTrevor. Me personally, I wouldn’t go that far just yet.

By Adam Roberts – 10/16/2020

Fantasy football players, you might want to check your lineups.

One of the more productive running backs in the NFL, both from a fantasy and real-life perspective, is out this week.

Vikings back Dalvin Cook suffered an injury in the second half of the team’s loss at Seattle, and will not play this Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. Head coach Mike Zimmer said Cook’s groin injury has kept Cook from performing at the necessary level to compete, and so the Viking offense will now turn to Alexander Mattison to pick up the slack.

Mattison had plenty of touches filling in for Cook last weekend, rushing 20 times for 112 yards. Minnesota has high expectations at the position for good reason; Cook currently leads the league with 489 yards.

It also figures to be a big day for Mattison, as the Falcons’ defensive line, and pretty much the entire team for that matter, has been much maligned so far in 2020. The defense has allowed 551 rushing yards and gives up an average of 32.3 points per game. Throw in the fact that this will be the team’s first game since firing head coach Dan Quinn and GM Thomas Dimitroff. Former defensive coordinator Raheem Morris takes over as head coach this week, and Jeff Ulbrich takes over as DC.

Mattison figures to be a popular running back selection this week across fantasy leagues, and Vikings’ fans can only hope he can play the stopgap role well with all the uncertainty surrounding Cook.