Can Clemson save cratering ACC?
Clemson was sluggish at times on the road but still looks like the country’s No. 1 team. That’s the good news for the Atlantic Coast Conference, because otherwise the league was embarrassed repeatedly this weekend. Still, Clemson’s place in the College Football Playoff – and thus the ACC’s – should be secure … right?
Other highlights from college football’s Week 3:
TEBOW’S RIDICULOUS ARGUMENT
Former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow doesn’t believe college athletes should be compensated because … well, his reasoning doesn’t make much sense. A sampling: “Now we’re changing it from ‘us’ from ‘we’ from ‘my university,’ being an alumni where I care, which makes college sports special, to ‘OK, it’s not about us, it’s not about we, it’s about me.’ “
OK. Anyway, USA TODAY Sports’ Dan Wolken thinks Tebow’s argument is laughable.
30-SECOND TIMEOUT
- FIBA FAIL: Team USA had a poor showing at the FIBA World Cup. Kobe wasn’t surprised. Jeff Zillgitt on what’s next for the Americans as the Olympics approach.
- THE AIR CONDITIONING FIGHT YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU NEEDED: LSU beat Texas last week in a football game, but that was just the beginning. The Tigers claimed their locker room was HOT, HOT, HOT. Texas responded sanely by releasing the locker room’s temperature data.
- TENNESSEE DOES GOOD: A fourth-grader in Florida was bullied over his homemade UT shirt. Tennessee sent the kid a bunch of swag, then put the design on an official T-shirt. Oh, then UT offered him a full ride.
- HOUSTON, YOU ARE A PROBLEM: Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole have been nearly unhittable for the Astros. Bob Nightengale on how the duo is keeping it old-school.
- SO HE *IS* HUMAN: Well, maybe. At least Bill Belichick proved his face can contort into a smile during a news conference. A step in the right direction!
- JUSTIFY UNJUST?: Justify, last year’s Triple Crown winner, may have taken some shortcuts. Dan Wolken found his trainer Bob Baffert’s response pretty weak. Tim Sullivan calls the cover-up “shameful,” regardless of framing.
THE SAGA CONTINUES
The week began on a high note for Antonio Brown. The receiver had been released by the Raiders and landed with the Patriots. Then things took a much darker turn when he was accused of rape in a civil lawsuit. Here’s our coverage of the aftermath:
SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports’ Nancy Armour gives her take on the latest drama surrounding Antonio Brown and why it’s casting a shadow on what should be a celebratory year for the NFL.
USA TODAY
WEIRD WEEK FOR OBJ
In lighter and somewhat more confusing NFL wide receiver news, Odell Beckham Jr. is insisting on wearing a crazy-expensive watch during games. Hall of Famer Warren Sapp isn’t a fan of the practice.
In other OBJ news, the receiver claims Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams once instructed players to take him out. Jonathan Vilma, who played for Williams, responded to the claim.
Williams had an interesting reaction: “Odell who?”
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