Well, it doesn't look like Syracuse football and Colorado will get to hold joint practices and a scrimmage together next month, according to media reports and information from the NCAA.
There's always next year.
I was a tad skeptical that such a proposed concept would get approved by the NCAA, given my views on this organization and its incompetence. Then again, the Orange and the Big 12 Conference's Buffaloes were proposing something innovative, and I would understand if NCAA staff members and its FBS oversight committee need more time to weigh on the potential pluses and minuses of college football teams conducting joint practices together and playing a spring game.
The 'Cuse and Colorado had, through their respective compliance offices, filed paperwork with the NCAA to hopefully win approval to hold joint practices and a scrimmage together in Boulder, Colo., in April.
This came about amid an exciting back-and-forth on social media not too long ago between Syracuse football head coach Fran Brown and Colorado's head coach, former Hall of Fame player Deion Sanders, who just received a lucrative contract extension, according to his school.
Brown and Sanders are both tremendous recruiters, each guiding their respective team to a top-25 ranking in the most recent campaign.
Syracuse football wanted to scrimmage with Colorado next month.
In a document that I came across online, the FBS oversight committee said it "advised the NCAA staff that, for the reasons noted above, it opposed the waiver. The committee agreed to discuss, during a future meeting, a concept that could permit joint spring practices in future seasons."
So what are the reasons cited by this committee?
The committee noted the request's timing, potential competitive and recruiting advantages, and the possible "academic impact associated with student-athletes missing class time to participate
in practice activities."
Even though I loathe the NCAA, I get those reasons. I do. To reiterate, perhaps NCAA officials simply need more time to study this concept, and also allow for other teams beyond the Orange and Colorado to potentially participate.
According to reports, the Buffaloes' spring game is set for April 19, while Syracuse football is scheduled to hold its annual spring game on April 12, with a start time of 3:00 pm at the JMA Wireless Dome.
Reports had indicated that Brown and his top-flight staff would have adjusted the team's spring practice schedule to adhere to NCAA regulations and enable the 'Cuse to scrimmage with Colorado.
Alas, it isn't likely to happen this spring. There's always next year.