Links at Lunch: Freeing Bruce, UGa’s Cautious Optimism, UTA Football

Bruce Feldman’s supposed suspension from ESPN caused such a controversy yesterday, his name out-trended Harry Potter on Twitter. To generate more discussion than the highest grossing film series’ final installment is a testament to his stature in the college football world. The only problem is that apparently, he wasn’t suspended. Or at least, that’s how this ESPN press release reads. The terminology is legal’d up enough to make it barely comprehensible, but it would seem a portion of the outrage expressed yesterday was premature.

Emphasis is on a portion. There still needs to be a discussion about how reporting of the Mike Leach firing was handled at ESPN, and specifically Craig James’ use of the network as a personal bullhorn. Hopefully that occurs before the season’s beginning, lest actual football drown out that necessary chatter.

• Georgia players, fans and coaches — especially coaches — are in a tense time. The Dawgs could be really good. They could also be really mediocre. Time will tell, but there’s cautious optimism in Athens (via Barrett Sallee, OnsideKick.com).
• UT-Arlington’s move to the Western Athletic Conference won’t include reinstatement of football in the foreseeable future, per Jerry Hinnen, CBSsports.com. The WAC’s move to becoming another Big West Conference takes a big step forward, as hope UTA would resurrect a program inactive since 1985 had flickered some of the football flame. But it’s back to that drawing board for Karl Benson.
• The ACC has a prime opportunity to make noise on the national stage. The conference has been second tier in terms of the BCS heavyweights since the early 2000s, but with Jimbo Fisher’s rejuvenation of Florida State, Miami welcoming a depleted Ohio State to Coral Gables, and Clemson facing a youthful, defending national champion into Death Valley, September is a big month for the conference (via Bryan Morgan, OnsideKick.com)
• Tennessee’s stuck on a treadmill, clocking in at No. 49 on the extensive countdown at Pre-Snap Read.
• Much has been made of Ohio State’s departures over the last few months, but interim head coach Luke Fickell does have talent. Get to know the crop of Buckeyes that will battle for yet another BCS bowl berth, including dynamic Jordan Hall (via Scott Iantosca, ScarletAndGame.com)