Random news we used to care about: McNamara returning for 2024, Mel violated MSU policy

Submitted by Hensons Mobile… on October 26th, 2023 at 10:25 AM

In case you only get your news from MGoBlog's message board.

Cade coming back next year.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/38746512/iowa-qb-cade-mcnamara-confirms-plans-return-2024

McNamara, a senior who sustained a torn ACL in his left knee Sept. 30 against Michigan Statewrote on X that there is "still a lot I want to accomplish in the Black and Gold and look forward to bringing it to life in the 2024 season."

Mel violated the policy, per MSU. He has 10 days to appeal, which he said he will.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/38744691/mel-tucker-violated-sexual-misconduct-policy-says-michigan-state

 

S.G. Rice

October 26th, 2023 at 10:28 AM ^

This appears to be well-verified voracity, thanks for the links.

Mel news is no surprise, all the remaining drama is going to be in his lawsuit against MSU.

FauxMo

October 26th, 2023 at 10:30 AM ^

I wish Cade well and hope he makes it back. Mel's lawsuit is now much weaker and they will settle soon. 

Now, with that out of the way, what does everyone think the "MAJOR BREAKING NEWS" vis-a-vis StalionsGate will be about today? I am guessing it has something to do with Stalions using UNDERAGE GIRLS to do his dirty work. And soon after, Jay Harbaugh sent him a Venmo for $50 with the peach emoji, the eggplant emoji and the "laughing so hard I'm crying" emoji. 

FauxMo

October 26th, 2023 at 12:37 PM ^

NCAA Judge: "Mr. Warde, on behalf of the defendant, UM Athletics, how do you plead?"

Warde: "We plead not guilty on the basis of mental disease or defect."

NCAA Judge: "Plea accepted. UM Athletics will be sentenced to 1 year in the Barton Hills Hospital for the Treatment of Sports-Related Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (SCROD), at which time they will be reevaluated for their fitness to return to college athletics." 

Amazinblu

October 26th, 2023 at 10:34 AM ^

I wish Cade well.  I hope he finished his undergrad at Michigan and will complete his Masters at Iowa.

Regarding the drama in EL.. it is what it is, I’ll read about the settlement when it’s done.

Hail-Storm

October 26th, 2023 at 10:46 AM ^

If Cade and All both come back and Brian Ferentz is gone, they could make for a solid offense to go with the Iowa defense.  Especially if they can grab a running back.  The BIG has shown it does not have a huge amount of great or even good QBs.  Cade could easily be one of the top 6 QBs in the league, especially with All as a target. Game manage an actual functioning offense would make a perfect fit at Iowa. 

J. Redux

October 26th, 2023 at 12:05 PM ^

If ... Brian Ferentz is gone

hahaha, thank you; I needed a laugh after this past week.

Iowa is likely to win the West.  Brian Ferentz is not getting fired unless Kirk does.  The "Drive to 325" just means that he won't make all of his incentives and that his contract won't be auto-renewed.  It'll still be renewed, just not automatically -- the way that Kirk's is each year that they win 7 games.  (Yes, really).

AZBlue

October 26th, 2023 at 2:17 PM ^

Also always thought Cade never had "it" as a teammate.  In 2021, even before JJ made a push for PT you saw Detroit News puff-pieces talking up how Cade was taking his OL out for steaks etc. but it always seemed forced to me.  This contrasts starkly to JJ - you do hear he is doing some stuff for his guys i.e. sharing NIL but it never seems to be driven by PR.  

On a plus note - great news for Don Thomas' second favorite team and #1 favorite 2024 B1G QB (if JJ goes pro)

The Fugitive

October 26th, 2023 at 10:38 AM ^

what is Cade going to do if he's thrust into another QB competition?  did he look any better than Deacon Hill before the injury?  he should go somewhere that actually cares about offense 

PopeLando

October 26th, 2023 at 12:02 PM ^

You’re not wrong. Cade looked MILES better than Hill has. In fact, Cade is still Iowa’s passing leader despite not having played for 4 weeks. By, like, a LOT.

There is zero doubt about him starting when he’s healthy. The questions are:

1) will he have any receivers who can catch the ball?

2) will he have a functional OL

3) will he listen to his coaches when they tell him “don’t try to score a TD every play”?

JBLPSYCHED

October 26th, 2023 at 1:43 PM ^

Cade was better than Hill bc, as you said, almost anyone would be. But bc of #'s 1 and 2 on your list he looked much worse than he did at Michigan in 2021. He really looked fragile (yes, injured quad in fall camp) but he was a STATUE back there, just waiting to get trounced. And he still can't adjust to post-snap changes by the opposing defense.

I was shocked at how lame he was behind an OL that still has not improved from the past two years and given the terrible offensive scheme and lack of receivers who can get separation or catching the f-ing ball.

So I guess I'm agreeing with your post but simply emphasizing: Cade at Iowa is NOT Cade at Michigan in 2021. If you didn't know any different and watched the two different versions you would literally think it's two different QBs.

AlbanyBlue

October 26th, 2023 at 12:37 PM ^

Good point.....I would think with (at least) two lower-body injuries, Iowa has to cover themselves and at least explore the portal for a QB. But what QB would go there with BF as OC? I can't imagine anyone of any quality would be willing....

IIRC, Cade went to Iowa because they said they were going to improve/modernize the offense, which didn't really happen.

Qmatic

October 26th, 2023 at 10:54 AM ^

I still think Cade should have gone back home and played at Nevada. He could have been the guy there and probably could have parlayed that into possibly a late day-3 NFL pick. 

With the way things have unfolded, he probably is going to have to go pro in something other than sports.

NeverPunt

October 26th, 2023 at 11:17 AM ^

No Cade hate, but I think the move to Iowa has shown he's not an NFL talent.  He's a competent QB who can execute an offense with talent all around him, but stepping into the Iowa cesspool, it's not like his talent showed out and changed Iowa. He's looked more or less like Spencer Petras did last year. If you're an NFL talent, you should at least make a dent in their terrible offensive numbers.

Cade was 46/90 for 51% completion rate 4TDs and 3 INTs and 106.2 QB Rtg to ESPN

Petras finished last year at 157/281 for a 55.9% completion rate 5 TDs and 5 INTs and a 109.8 QB Rtg to ESPN.

Cade didnt get a full season so his overall TDs and such probably would have been better but....YEESH. Petras isn't an NFL draftable QB and I'm afraid neither is Cade. Add in back to back season ending injuries and....yeah..

MgoBlueprint

October 26th, 2023 at 11:38 AM ^

The thing about cade’s numbers is that they were against Utah St. (3-5), Iowa St (4-3), and Western (2-6). Petras played a full B1G slate. Cade’s 2022 numbers against UConn, Hawaii, and Colorado st. were 14-25 (56%) for 180 a td and int.

He put up poor numbers against poor teams in his 6 games over the past two seasons. The numbers indicate that he’s in the same category as Petras

AlbanyBlue

October 26th, 2023 at 12:47 PM ^

Perhaps competent when measured against the roster of mostly awful Big Ten QBs, but definitely not competent even when compared to the full complement of Power-5 QBs.

Put another way, not only does Cade need talent around him to be functional, but he needs a *superior* running game and OL so that the defense is basically not focusing on him at all. For 2021 Michigan, he was enough, but that was more due to his game-manager qualities (i.e. few mistakes), superior running game, and excellent defense.