The Blotter for May 10

The Blotter is a daily round-up of news, notes and opinions from around the college football landscape. If there’s a link you think deserves a place on The Blotter, please email kyle@saturdayblitz.com or leave a note in the Comments Section.

Bigger Than Bigotry

Twitter can be a wonderful resource. Before registering, I had no idea how much impact could be made in 140 characters. Had I not known before, I would have learned yesterday when a small-time hockey agent’s tweet caused quite a furor. Todd Reynolds called New York Ranger Sean Avery’s commitment to equal marriage rights “sad.” Reynolds later lamented to Canadian TSN Radio, “I believe in voicing your opinion…If Sean Avery or any other player can comment on one side of the discussion then…why can I not comment on it as well?” He apparently misses the irony of his complaining about others exercising their right to call him out.

Reynolds’ 140 characters and subsequent indignation has overshadowed Avery’s message, one other athletes have championed. Among them is former Richmond wide receiver Kevin Grayson, one of the top performers on the Spiders’ 2008 NCAA Championship team and an all-around class act. I wrote a feature for NCAA.com on Grayson’s efforts to extend equality on UR’s campus in 2009, but the site’s old content did not make the transfer when the NCAA moved from CBS to Turner. With Reynolds’ widely discussed comments garnering so much, today seemed a pertinent time to re-post the Grayson feature, which you can read here.

The Transfer Train Chugs Along

Tyler Gabbert’s shocking departure from Missouri was the first in one of those “things come in threes” bursts. His announcement preceded yesterday’s news that running back Washaun Ealey would be leaving Georgia, which preceded today’s proclamation Florida will no longer have the services of running back Mike Blakely. Then again, Florida *never* had the services of Blakely, who’s gone before ever playing a game or even participating in a practice. Blakely’s situation is a contrast from Ealey, who had seasons of over 700 and 800 yards in 2009 and 2010, but recently landed on the wrong side of Mark Richt’s ire.

The 24-hour trio of transfers are just a single cluster in what has been an offseason epidemic. This tweet puts it in an astounding context.

Northwestern Locks It Up

Pat Fitzgerald has coached up Northwestern to the point it’s a legitimate week-in, week-out threat in the Big Ten. Intent on keeping that success rolling and not watching him walk away as Gary Barnett had, NU athletic director Jim Phillips signed Fitzgerald through 2020. The Wildcats have played some of the conference’s most exciting football and in 2011 returns arguably the premiere Big Ten quarterback in Dan Persa. Fitzgerald’s is a name that was floated in association with some of the offseason’s high profile openings, so locking him up is a tremendous victory of the university’s athletic department.

To Eachus’ Own

Nate Eachus was among the top FCS players in 2010 and figures to be an early frontrunner for the 2011 Walter Payton Award. He will be a focus of SaturdayBlitz.com’s on-going 50(ish) Names in 50 Days feature, but in the meantime Craig Haley of The Sports Network wrote something far more in-depth.

Credit Where It’s Due?

The Big 12’s murky future and PAC-12’s record-setting television contract might seem sufficient enough reasons for Colorado to have switched conferences. Apparently not. CU athletic director Mike Bohn also credited Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon.

Nixon did what politicans are inclined to do and publicly blabbed to generate chatter. Unquestionably, Nixon’s statements, which included digs specifically at Texas Tech and Oklahoma State were meant to get Missouri on the Big Ten radar. Later, Nixon did something else that comes naturally to politicians and completely reversed his position, touting the Big 12 and redirecting his vitriol toward Nebraksa and Colorado — not surprisingly, the universities leaving.

It’s odd given all that has transpired since Colorado’s announced PAC-12 move would allude to Nixon at all. CU has an equal share of a nearly $3 billion pot in its future, while Missouri remains in a conference where Texas commands an even greater revenue share under the guise of “saving” the league.

Kevin Grayson Feature
From Oct. 1, 2009

Kevin Grayson the football player is a winner. A member of Richmond’s 2008 National Championship team, the wide receiver has two touchdown catches this season for the top ranked Spiders.

“He’s meant a great deal in terms of overall athleticism and the catches that he makes. He’s a physical receiver, but he’s also fast,” said Richmond head coach Mike London. “He’s a tremendous advantage for us with what he brings to the field.”

Likewise, Kevin Grayson the student is a winner. Grayson is a member of the University Senate, is spearheading movements for his fellow students and has opened campus-wide discussion for issues of diversity.
“There were a lot of things on campus that needed to change, and I realized I had to take steps to help make those changes,” Grayson said.

Last week, he was recognized for his off-field dedication with a nomination to the 2009 Allstate Good Works Team, an annual honor given to athletes who excel beyond the gridiron.

“He has struck me as someone who reaches out beyond what the normal student-athlete does,” said Dr. Joe Boehman, Dean of Richmond College. “He is a connecter, is the best way to put it.

“He interacts with a wide variety of students on campus and is somebody that really cares about issues. When he gets fired up about something, he’ll come to me and say, `Dean Boehman, what can we do about this?’ That’s the type of person you want in student government.”

Grayson attributes his becoming a part of the Senate to Boehman.

Boehman approached Grayson about running after the wide receiver organized a forum for students to discuss diversity, stemming from an alleged incident in which a fraternity gave its pledges t-shirts with intolerant messages. Boehman said the charges were “unsubstantiated,” but the topic led to debate.

“A student wrote anonymously to the school newspaper he felt the need to stay closeted because of attitudes toward homosexuals,” Grayson said. “The topic came up online and there was so much negativity being posted in the comments section. I posted my support.”

Grayson said a forum had been organized, but “in the middle of the day…when people are busy, at class…I felt that was a bad time,” Grayson said.

So, he took it upon himself to organize a Thursday evening event and promoted it via social networking including Facebook. Turnout surpassed Grayson’s expectations, he said, and set in motion further involvement for him around campus.

“Even before the forum got going, people were showing up. We got talking and I said, `Elections are coming up, the Senate could use someone with your fire and drive.’ One thing led to another, he ran, and won,” Boehman said.

“You talk about `student-athlete,’ that exactly describes Kevin,” London said. “Football player, very popular, but he has views outside of that realm. He has a lot to say and people listen because they value his opinion.”

Among those opinions is new language he is working to enact in the Student Conduct Policy. As a member of the Senate’s Academic Affairs Committee, Grayson is leading a movement for a self-defense clause.
“Richmond has a zero tolerance policy [on physicality],” he explained. “I ran into an incident two years ago, and other students have run into incidents where they’re trying to defend themselves.”

His influence has an impact in the locker room, the community and on campus, both London and Boehman said. But according to Boehman, that goes well beyond Grayson’s status with the team.

“If the Richmond Spiders were 0-12 he would still be somebody the students would connect with,” Boehman said. “He stands out as somebody who is one of the stars on the football field, but he doesn’t walk around like he’s a star – he walks around like he’s Kevin.”

And Grayson is indeed having a star-quality campaign. His 12 receptions are second best on the team, and he’s hauling in catches to the tune of 42 yards per game. London said that a season with the Richmond track team has helped develop Grayson into a speedy threat to opposing defenses.

“He understands he could have a good career in this game,” London said.

No matter where his next phase in life takes him, Grayson said he’ll continue reaching out to others, an ideal he said his parents instilled in him.

It’s also an ideal London embraces as head coach. The Spiders all take part in annual Special Olympics events in and around Richmond.

“It’s good to get out there and give back to the community,” London said.

And that giving back will be recognized for Grayson at this season’s Sugar Bowl. As part of the Allstate Good Works team, he will be presented an award in the New Orleans Superdome with other recipients. And according to those around him, the award is just the beginning.

“The sky’s the limit for Kevin. If he doesn’t have a future in professional football, he could go and do anything he wants to do,” Boehman said. “Kevin’s going to be a guy you hear about no matter where his future takes him. He’s going to be special.”