Fact or Fiction: Cade Mays deserved his transfer waiver
National recruiting director Mike Farrell and national recruiting analyst Adam Gorney tackle three topics daily and determine whether they believe the statements or not.
MORE: Five SEC teams with the most to gain on recruiting trail
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1. Cade Mays deserved his transfer waiver
Farrell’s take: FACT. This is a polarizing situation as Georgia fans want Mays to sit and Vols fans wanted him suited up immediately. And with SEC rivals involved, it becomes messy.
So when Mays was granted his waiver this week to play immediately this weekend, there was a divided front. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said the rule needs to be reviewed when it comes to SEC to SEC transfers but the waiver was granted despite objections within the conference. And I’m glad.
I don’t care what the reason is as it’s become clear this is no longer a “hardship waiver” and we are in a time where one immediate transfer needs to be approved — no questions asked. What good would it do for a healthy Mays to sit? For what reason? Just let the kid play.
Gorney’s take: FACT. I absolutely support the decision to grant Mays his transfer request. College football - and college in general - should serve the student-athletes’ best interests and if Mays feels he has a better opportunity for success at Tennessee than Georgia, then he should be able to play immediately without penalty.
I don’t think this will spark some sort of transfer flood as most players are happy with their situations. Those who aren’t - and feel they will be better off somewhere else - should not be penalized for it. Coaches switch schools all the time for numerous reasons and it’s not seen as a big problem or negative in any way. The players should have the same opportunity.
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2. There should be an eight-team playoff this season.
Farrell’s take: FACT. Many are against the eight-team playoff, but I’ve always been for it as the more teams competing for a national title the better. And this year, with conferences like the Big Ten and Pac-12 starting late and chaos all over the place, why not? Let’s throw a 7-0 Oregon into the mix as a No. 7 seed and see what they can do. Why not? It’s all about changing with the times and this year is a year of change and being nimble in decision-making.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. I have no problem expanding the playoff to eight teams for good because then it can represent all five Power Five conferences and those fringe schools that get left out because they weren’t conference champs or play in those leagues. But not this year. Let’s just get through the season, let’s crown a champion and let’s pray we get back to some sense of normalcy by next fall.
I’m sorry but the Pac-12 playing seven games gives those teams an unfair advantage if they’re let in the playoff. It’s a good idea long term but this is not the year to monkey around with stuff.
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3. Mississippi State is a top 10 team.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. The Bulldogs are the talk of the college football after week one of SEC football and some are saying they are a legit Top 10 team. I don’t see it. Yes Mike Leach has brought excitement already and they beat the defending champs, but they still look suspect on defense and got hurt by a very average Myles Brennan at quarterback. I’m not ready to crown them as an elite team just yet.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. To argue that Mississippi State is a top-10 team is tough because which school would be eliminated from this list: Clemson, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Auburn, Miami, Texas, Penn State.
Maybe some of those schools are a touch overrated - and I think UCF could argue to be in the top-10 along with possibly Oregon - but the Bulldogs are right on the fringe. Not only did Mississippi State throw for 623 yards against LSU which is still unbelievable but its defense held the Tigers to 80 rushing yards on 38 attempts. Mississippi State is very good but top-10 is a stretch.