1. I told you earlier this week that the over/under on Saturday's Iowa-Northwestern game opened at 29.5 points. It was the lowest over/under in FBS history.
The total crept up to 30.5 as the week went on, but 30.5 tells you all you need to know about the two offenses. Iowa’s offense is particularly pathetic.
The Hawkeyes are last in the country in total yards per game, at 232.4. They’re also near the bottom of points per game, at 17.7.
Iowa’s offensive ineptitude is so dire that the family of Dr. B. Eleanor Anstey is asking for help.
Anstey, a social worker and teacher, among many other things, died Oct. 25 at the age of 97.
In her obituary, her family pointed out that Anstey was “an avid Iowa Hawkeyes fan.”
“In lieu of flowers please make a donation to a charity of your choice or simply say a prayer for the Iowa Hawkeyes offense on her behalf.”
2. If the NFL was into having fun, the league would absolutely let players take off their helmets for celebrations. How cool was this moment from T.J. Watt last night?
TJ Watt is a menace. No helmet, who cares. pic.twitter.com/OnRBWxhtNv
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 3, 2023
3. Sports Business Journal reports that YouTube said it has fixed the technical problems it had last week, which caused havoc for NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers.
As I said on this week’s SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast during the “Traina Thoughts” segment, I’ll give YouTube a pass for last week’s issues. But they better not happen again.
NEWS: YouTube says Sunday Ticket woes fixed, won’t happen again.
— Ben Fischer (@BenFischerSBJ) November 2, 2023
Also in this week’s SBJ Football:
🏈 @richeisen on 20th anniversary of NFL Network
🏈the @HoustonTexans influencer suite
🏈Raiders COO out https://t.co/bxAOK5Xlla
4. Victor Wembanyama had his breakout NBA game Thursday night, scoring 38 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Here are the highlights.
5. The NFL Network turns 20 years old Saturday. Here’s a look at how the network kicked off its existence, featuring a very youthful-looking Rich Eisen.
6. A brand-new episode of SI Media With Jimmy Traina dropped Thursday, and it features two interviews.
First up is Robert Griffin III, who is a college football color commentator for ESPN, one of the analysts of ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown and the host of a new podcast, RG3 and the Ones.
Griffin discusses his various roles in broadcasting, how and why he decided to get into sports media after having no interest in it during his playing days, and what the ultimate goal is for his media career. He also talks about navigating social media and handling all his own social media, finding himself in the middle of a controversy, what NFL players are saying about the league’s officiating problem, a surreal Halloween moment and much more.
Following RGIII, Peter Schrager from Good Morning Football and Fox joins the podcast to talk about his recent appearance on Celebrity Jeopardy!
Was he nervous? Did he practice? How did he stick to his NDA? Was the experience everything he hoped it would be? He also discusses how Jeopardy! led to a connection with Debbie Gibson.
Following Schrager, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins me for our weekly “Traina Thoughts” segment. This week, we discuss my day at Sal’s house for an NFL Sunday that was filled with Sunday Ticket glitches on YouTube, the terrible World Series ratings and the death of Matthew Perry.
You can listen to the podcast below or download it on Apple, Spotify and Google.
You can also watch SI Media With Jimmy Traina on YouTube.
