Tony’s Take | SEC Sankey | Mederos | Deerfield-Windsor | UK & ME | Hacked | Edition 104 

By Tony Duckworth, [email protected]

SEC Sankey.  SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey is out of touch.  I’m confident his views on the current state of college football do not reflect the views of the head coaches in the league.  I’m certain most AD’s agree with their head coaches. 

Sankey reminds me of Clemson Coach Dabo Sweeney.  Their success until several years ago was undeniable.  The luster of the championships and naty appearances are tarnished, dusty, and an afterthought in the world of what have you done for me lately.  Both of their ego’s are the top of their peers, but the fan bases of Clemson and the SEC have grown tired of the spin, subpar performances, and inability to adapt to the current landscape of CFB. 

I watched an SEC media days recap Monday, and observed Sankey make remarks that demonstrate it’s time for the SEC university presidents to move on from the self-appointed czar of CFP.  It is no secret that Sankey doesn’t want expansion of the College Football Playoffs.  No one will argue there are only 7 or 8 teams entering each season who will win the national championship, and early round playoff games are rarely nailbiters. The media wants expansion, players want more teams playing, and the CFB fans want more teams playing in the tournament. 

The other comment Sankey made Monday was his criticism of the fifth year of eligibility.  As I said in a recent column, the only downside to the fifth year is the record books.  Over time, records will be broken as the extra games will pad stats of the superstars in the modern era.   

Mederos.  One criticism I have had for several seasons with the Atlanta Braves is the lack of fire and passion on their roster.   

Mederos earned the save for the opening game of the Padres series on July 20.  His game stats were 2.1 innings pitched | 1 hit allowed | 0 earned runs | 1 strikeout | 1 walk.  Solid. 

There were several moments when Mederos was on the verge of the one-run lead evaporating. Each time Mederos and the Braves defense delivered.  Mederos was visibly emotional and excited about each big out, which makes this Braves fan hopeful that some of that fire will be contagious in the clubhouse. 

My advice to Mederos who was traded to Atlanta from the Angels on April 3 is be you.  “Be who you be” as I heard an opposing basketball coach tell his team during a pre-game speech many years ago.  

The Braves need energy on the roster, and Mederos may be just what the doctor ordered. 

Deerfield-Windsor.  I met the Deerfield-Windsor Cross Country team for an early morning practice at the YMCA Sports Park Tuesday.  I enjoyed my regular 2-mile jog while the competition runners passed me on the left. 

Deerfield is one of 13 high schools registered to compete in the Inaugural Albany Area YMCA Cross Country Invitational.  Coach Jake Clawson has been a great asset in getting this event off the ground. 

The races will begin at 8:00 a.m. on August 29 at the YMCA Sports Park. 

Approximately 400 athletes will participate.  GHSA and GIAA teams will come to Albany to participate from as far as Perry and Valdosta.  

The Albany Area YMCA is committed to community collaboration and youth development. 

UK & ME.  First-time Kentucky head coach boasted the Wildcats “can be successful in the SEC because of me.”  Will Stein said “me” twice when answering the question.  Stein has yet to be a head coach, and he has no coaching experience in the SEC.  Stein will be in for an eye-opening experience. 

UK will start 2 – 2 thanks to Youngstown State and S Alabama cashing in on paydays.  Between those two wins, Bama and A&M will introduce Stein to “toe meets leather’ in the south.   

I can’t be convinced there are three other wins in UK’s remaining contests.  S Carolina, LSU, Oklahoma, Vandy, Tennessee, Florida, Mizzou, and Louisville.   

Buckle up Stein, it is going to take more than “ME” to have high-level success in the SEC.   

Hacked.  Those who know me recognize that I enjoy social media.  X, formerly Twitter, is undefeated and without question my favorite site for sports, politics, and humor.  Sorry Facebook and Instagram.  I haven’t joined the TikTok craze.  

Unfortunately, my X account was hacked a few weeks ago following a run that began in 2011.  By no means am a social media influencer, but I enjoyed interactions with my approximately 3,000 followers.  Those followers were primarily due to my days in college athletics.  While tempted, I rarely comment outside of sports on X, despite politics being low-hanging fruit. 

After three weeks of back-and-forth with Elon’s underperforming X customer service, I opted to move on from my 15-year-old Twitter handle @tonyduckworthsr and I converted to @duckworthtonysr.   

I’m a big fan of X, and following a brief hiatus, it has been good to be scrolling again.   

Follow Tony Duckworth on the X platform at @duckworthtonysr (formerly @tonyduckworthsr) or eMail him at [email protected]. Duckworth is a native of Macon and is the President and CEO of the Albany Area YMCA. Tony worked in intercollegiate athletics for thirty-one years. He was an NCAA Division II Director of Athletics at three universities, including Albany State, following ten years as a head men’s basketball coach at two colleges.