What’s the buzz from the world of sports? Here are some items that will have people talking:
1
Seven top-flight football recruits for the class of 2013 made commitments last Friday to the University of Washington.
According to Jake Worthen, West recruiting analyst for Fox Sports/Scout.com: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a recruiting day like it. I doubt you would ever see a day like it in the future.”
The Huskies took a recruit away who was headed for Texas.
Worthen also noted a comittment in June is not the same as a signing in February. Cal looked to have a fantastic class a year ago, then it all unraveled late.
On what it means for UW’s recruiting rankings Worthen said: “They were at 38, so they jumped 27 spots in one day, so it is really a game-changing day and you can see now the only Pac-12 school we have them behind now is USC which is at No. 8 and I think Washington fans will always be happy if they are being talked about in recruiting with USC and for now being ahead of Oregon.”
2
The fantasy league blogger for sportingnews.com says he expects to see left-hander Danny Hultzen promoted from Tacoma to Seattle and get perhaps 50 innings in the big leagues in 2012.
Hultzen was moved from Class AA to Tacoma after going 8-3 with a 1.19 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 75 innings.
Writer Bill Bender predicts Hultzen will get four or more starts at Tacoma, then be called up, particularly given the performances of Hector Noesi and Hisashi Iwakuma and groin troubles of Kevin Millwood.
Hultzen was the No. 2 pick in the 2011 draft and a former standout at the University of Virginia.
3
According to the Wisconsin State-Journal, Wisconsin is looking for opportunities to bolster its strength of schedule with an eye toward the upcoming four-team playoff format.
Wisconsin athletic director Barrry Alvarez revealed this week that conversations orchestrated by ESPN were held about a possible game pitting Wisconsin against Alabama at a neutral site.
However, Badgers coach Bret Bielema is interested in a home-and-home series between the two. Alabama coach Nick Saban, however, wants no part of that, the paper reports. Saban declined the home-and-home series.
