From The Whiteboard: Week 1

Hi friends, and welcome to the first edition of my personal column: “From the Whiteboard.” I am going to have a lot of fun with this column, and my hope is that you will laugh with me, but laughing at me is okay too.  

In case the pink graphics weren’t a giveaway enough, yes, I am a woman in sports. Sports is a diverse world, full of die-hard fans as well as casual enjoyers, and this is a column to bring together both ends of the spectrum. While I cannot tell you who the No. 1 draft pick was in 2018, I can tell you which team had the cutest jerseys at the Super Bowl that year (spoiler alert, it was not the Patriots).  

This will be a column where I share my opinions on all things sports. Keep in mind, everything is from the perspective of a 20-something girl who is trying to find her way in the world of sports media. I like to think of myself as Elle Woods, except instead of getting into Harvard, I know ball.  

But enough small talk, let’s get into it. 

 

So long Kaidon Salter 

With one year of eligibility left, Kaidon Salter entered the transfer portal, opting out of the Bahamas Bowl. About two weeks later, the news broke that he had committed to the University of Colorado Boulder, shedding his red and blue for black and gold.  

Head Coach Deion Sanders, aka “Coach Prime,” has made the headlines in recent years after transforming the football program at Colorado. You cannot diminish his success as this year’s Heisman winner, Travis Hunter, was signed and coached by Sanders. The Buffalos are a program that has been spearheaded by Christian values at a secular school, and Sanders makes it clear that he holds his players to a higher standard.  

This is an interesting move for Salter as Colorado had already signed Juju Lewis, a true freshman and top prospect. There will no doubt be competition for starter next season, but that could be the exact challenge Salter needs to push himself to his full potential.  

It looks like the roads in Boulder are about to get salted! 

 

Bahamas beat down by Buffalo  

With Salter now under the wings of “Coach Prime,” Quinton Cooley opting out to focus on the NFL draft and a myriad of other starters missing from the roster, the Flames were left in the Bahamas looking like the “Bad News Bears.”   

Ryan Burger made his first start as a Flame, but the Flames offense just could not seem to find their groove. By the second half Nate Hampton was put in for quarterback. Despite already committing to Gardner-Webb, he ended his time as a Flame with a 36-yard touchdown pass. The game was not pretty in the slightest, but after this season, Flames fans were not surprised. 

Despite the unfortunate way this game played out, Head Coach Chadwell made major headlines due to his game day apparel choice. His red T-shirt saying “Jesus won” quickly sparked conversation. Though the game didn’t go in the Flames’ favor, the opportunity to share a message like that is far more important. 

The Flames may have lost, but Jesus won. Enough said. 

 

The future of Flames Football 

It appears we have a quarterback problem. From what we saw during the bowl game, I do not anticipate Burger will be filling Salter’s shoes immediately, and with Hampton’s transfer, our depth chart has some major holes.  

With that said, my eyes are on two people, one being a true freshman, Ethan Houck, who signed early on in December. Though I do not anticipate him being a starter anytime soon, I can see his potential to become a key player if he stays for the long haul. 

The other new player is Coastal Carolina transfer Ethan Vasko. Vasko brings what Burger and Houck lack, and that is substantial starter experience in the FBS. That is why my money is on him to earn the coveted role of QB 1. 

Maybe fresh faces are exactly what this team needs. Either way, I’m excited to see what the Ethans have in store. 

This season was a reminder that we can never stop proving ourselves. The 2023-24 season was great, but pride cometh before the fall, and I think that lesson was well learned this season. I hope to see a brand-new team next season, a team with a hunger so bad that their stomach’s growling can be heard from the top of the stands.   

I am intrigued to see what is cooked up by Chadwell & Co. next season. Is a new era of Flames Football on the horizon? I suppose only time will tell.  

White is the sports editor for the Liberty Champion.