PODCAST · sports
Ballfields & Blackboards
by Brian Goff
Where fan and academic perspectives meet with a lighthearted touch. We are professors in economics and marketing in the Gordon College of Business at Western Kentucky University with extensive study of sports, and we are also lifelong sports fans.
Episodes
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September 2026 -- NFL in Australia, Back-up QBs, & Overlooking Trinidad Chambliss
This month we discuss whether it makes sense for the NFL to play games all over the globe, how much teams should invest in backup quarterbacks and other backups, and how players with the ability of Trinidad Chambliss or Brock Purdy continue to be overlooked in this era of intensive scouting.
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August 2026 -- NFL & College Football Preview
This month we try to make sense of the championship prediction markets for the NFL and College Football. In addition, we discuss why so few coaches and general managers in sports are drawn from the pool of great players and the current state of NCAA NIL legislation.
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July 2026 -- World Cup Review & Evaluating American Youth Sports
This month, we look back at the big off-the-field impacts of the FIFA World Cup as well as critique the on-the-field action. We also discuss the success of the young 800-meter phenom from the U.S., Cooper Lutkenhaus, and his interview with David Epstein on the pros and cons of…
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June 2026 -- MLB First Half, Broncos Salary Cap Relief, and More
This month we look back at the first half of the MLB season to highlight the underachievers and overachievers as well as proposed changes to the draft that would restrict entry to those 20 or over. In addition, we talk about how the Broncos managed their salary cap purgatory and how other teams…
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May 2026 -- 24-Team College Football Playoff, MLB Franchise Values & Strikes
We dig into the 24-team college football playoff idea, the connection between MLB franchise values and the likelihood of a strike, the renewed interest in the Indianapolis 500, and more.
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April 2026 -- NFL Draft, MLB First Month, and More
We dive into the NFL draft and ask whether it makes sense to draft a running back as high as Jeremiyah Love, and why Ty Simpson went so high. We also look back on the first month of MLB, trends in MLS popularity, the standoff between the BIG 10 and SEC on composition of the football playoff, and...
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March 2026 -- Ending the College Sports Turmoil & MLB Automated Strike Zone Strategies
We dive into a proposal from Senator Tommy Tubberville for ending the turmoil in college athletics along with a conversation about best strategies for the automated strike zone in MLB and other stuff.
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January 2026 -- College Football Playoff, Cignetti Success, and More
This month we discuss the topsy turvey world of the College Football Playoff and why a coach like Curt Cignetti succeeds while others fail.
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December 2025 -- College Football Playoffs, Kiffin, NASCAR Lawsuit
This month, we dive into the college football playoff setup, the Lane Kiffin drama, disappointment for NCAA with no Congressional intervention, the Big Ten's private investment strategy, and the trial for the lawsuit against NASCAR by Michael Jordan's 23XI.
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November 2025 -- Sports & Gambling Problems, Football Coach Firings, & More
This month we discuss the influences on the criminal indictments and investigations of athletes regarding sports gambling. We also examine why so many college football coaches are losing their jobs in October and November along with the YoutubeTV and Disney Settlement, and on-the-field action in...
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October 2025 -- James Franklin Firing & Lots More
This month we engage in a lively debate about the firing of James Franklin by Penn State along with other college coaching ups and downs and a boost to MLB viewership.
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September 2025 -- Micah Parsons Trade & More
This month, we offer a counterpoint to most media analysis of the Micah Parsons trade along with a conversation about skill versus luck in sports, and whether Alabama football has lost its advantage in the NIL era.
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August 2025 -- ESPN & NFL Deal, Micah Parson, & More
This month we take a look at the deal struck between ESPN and the NFL, whether teams should just shut up and pay up to players like Micah Parsons, and the influences behind MLB trade deadline deals and whether they make sense
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July 2025 -- NCAA Football Playoff & More
We dive into the proposals and discussions about expanding the NCAA football playoff from 12 to 16 teams. Additionally, we discuss the emerging story of the $350 million deficit at USC and what it may indicate, as well as the positives and negatives of the MLB All-Star Game's "Swing Off" in place...
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June 2025 -- Pittsburgh Steelers & Manchester United
This month we explore the factors behind the dramatic decline of Manchester United and possible lessons for other elite sports teams as well asking whether the Pittsburgh Steelers and Mike Tomlin should be praised for their consistency or questioned for their inability to advance in the playoffs…
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May 2025 -- MLB Injuries, TV Deals, & Quick Hits
We dive into Major League Baseball to consider ways to curb the rash of pitcher injuries, the breakup of ESPN and MLB, Hall of Fame considerations for Pete Rose and Joe Jackson, the Rockies dismal performance, and other stuff.
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April 2025--NBA Chaos, NCAA Basketball Physicality, Masters Tournament
This month we tackle the coach firings in the lead-up to the NBA playoffs, the wrestling match known as the NCAA basketball final, and the roller-coaster, emotional win of Rory McIlroy at the Masters Tournament.
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March 2025 -- Tampa Bay Rays Relocate, MLB on TV, ACC Settlement
Where will the Rays relocate? Is the break-up of MLB and ESPN good or bad for MLB? Why did the ACC settle with Clemson and FSU and does the SEC want them? Will the PGA Tour and LIV ever reach a deal? We tackle all these questions this month
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February 2025 -- Doncic, Dodgers, & Super Bowl
This month we consider the blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, the Dodgers hoarding most of the MLB free agents by paying Ohtani practically nothing over the next decade, and Super Bowl stuff.
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January 2025 -- College Football & NFL Playoffs
This month we discuss the outcomes for and tweaks to the College Football Playoffs, the emerging NFL playoff scenarios, whether any NBA stars will arise, and the UCLA basketball coach's media meltdowns.
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December 2024 -- College Football Playoff Brackets & More
This month we examine how the college football playoff selection and seeding panned out along with adjustments likely to occur down the line. Also, we discuss Juan Soto's new contract with the Mets and how much advantage the big money clubs have in MLB along with the most positive sports stories…
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November 2024 -- Jordan & NASCAR, Pressure, CFB & NFL Outlook
This month we talk about Michael Jordan's suit against NASCAR, why and how different athletes perform better or worse under pressure, and college and NFL playoff projections.
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October 2024 -- The Dilemma of Paying Average NFL QBs & Much More
This month we tackle the dilemma that some NFL teams face of paying their "average" QB a big percentage of their salary cap space or risking falling off a cliff. We also think about ways to stem the tide of MLB pitcher injuries, Formula 1 hype versus reality, and the ongoing NCAA payer player...
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September 2024 -- PAC 12, Coach Prime, Gators & Billy Napier
This month we consider where the PAC 12 is headed, if anywhere, Deion Sanders' present and future in Colorado, and why so many coaches like Billy Napier at Florida can't transfer their lower-level coaching success to the bigger stage.
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August 2024 -- Olympics + NBA Mega Deal
We recap the fun, amazing, and weird from the Paris Olympic Games along with questions about the new $7 billion per year TV deal that the NBA signed with various networks and streaming services.
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July 2024--College Football Win Predictions & MLB 2-Way Players
We examine Vegas college football win totals betting lines, the MLB aversion to developing 2-way players like Paul Skenes, and more.
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May 2024 -- We're Back with Michael Penix & The NFL Draft
After a year off we're back at it and looking at the media consensus condemned the Falcons for selecting Michael Penix in the first round. Crazy or clever? Why trade up in the draft? Why take so many quarterbacks early when history says that most of them won't pan out? Plus, will the Caitlin…
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June 2023 -- Last Episode
In this final installment of Ballfields & Blackboards we talk about bad behavior by parents & fans, the LIV merger with the PGA Tour, and the SEC's wrongheaded choice of an 8-game conference schedule.
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April 2023 -- NCAA Basketball, MLB & More
We discuss the growth of "mid-majors" in the Final Four in 2023 and since 2005 and whether that trend is likely to continue. Also, we look at the early results of the new MLB rules, LIV golf, and more.
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March 2023 -- NCAA Basketball Tournament
We dive into a variety of topics related to the men's NCAA basketball tournament. Why is parity increasing? Why are some of the big-name programs struggling? Why is the Big 12 the new ACC? What has happened to John Calipari's magic touch? Why does the selection committee hate Texas A&M? Who are…
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February 2023 -- MLB Rules Changes & NBA Viewer Losses
This month we consider a variety of topics including the new MLB rules, sinking NBA viewership, and a few other topics.
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January 2023 -- MLB Free Agency & Future of Bowl Games
This month we examine the sense or nonsense of the long and large free-agent contracts in MLB along with how college football bowl games may fare with an expansion of the CFB playoffs and a bit on the Brett Maher extra points drama.
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December 2022 -- College Playoff Expansion & World Cup
This month we dig into the expansion of the College Football Playoff to 12 teams along with discussing the pros and cons of the World Cup tournament and NFL games in Europe.
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October 2022 -- MLB Playoffs & Jimbo Fisher
In this episode, we consider the structure of the MLB playoffs and how teams like the Braves last year and Phillies this year are excelling after fairly average seasons. We also discuss the dilemma of the $95 million guaranteed contract to Texas A&M's Jimbo Fisher along with other coach...
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August 2022 -- Unique Sports Venues, LIV-PGA Merger, and More
This month we consider places where various sports might play a one-off game like the Iowa "Field of Dreams" game. We also delve into possible incentives and the shape of a LIV and PGA Tour merger down the line, big-name free agents in MLB, John Calipari, and Manchester United's struggles.
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July 2022 -- Is Big Ten Expansion Good, Is LIV Golf Bad?
This month we dive into possible implications of the Big Ten's adding USC and UCLA along with looking at LIV Golf from more angles than just the Saudi financial sponsorship.
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June 2022 -- Positive Trends for MLB
We try to find some of the positive things going on in Major League Baseball as well as exploring a few other topics such as politics in sports and Dusty Baker's managing decisions.
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May 2022 -- Streaming Creating Sports Chaos
We focus on the trend for MLB and other sports to move more content to exclusive streaming platforms. It may well drive existing viewers away and also fail to attract the younger demographic that they seek.
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March 2022 -- Little Guy Success in NCAA Tourney
What's going on over the past few years with the big names of college basketball like Kentucky, Duke, Carolina, and Kansas struggling to make the Final Four and more little guys making noise? We talk about the influences and why schools like Vanderbilt aren't joining in. Also, we get into a...
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February 2022 -- Player Salaries & Revenue Sharing Schemes
We engage in a lively discussion of ways that MLB and other leagues might better set up their revenue sharing to allow younger players to make more when most productive, reduce incentives for losing games and still maintain a reasonable competitive balance.
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January 2022 -- College Football + Rugby
This month we dig transfer issues in college football along with the ACC's opposition to current playoff expansion after first covering some rugby questions
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December 2021 -- Coaches Behaving Badly + CFB Playoff
It isn't just Urban Meyer. Bad behavior of some form by coaches seems the norm more than the exception. This month we discuss why that is the case along with the college football playoffs and MLB's collective bargaining issues.
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November 2021 -- Regional Sports Networks
This month we discuss the tenuous status of regional sports networks in the era of growing streaming services and declining cable subscriptions. We consider the fallout for revenue in MLB, NBA, and NHL along with implications for collective bargaining problems. We also follow up on the college...
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October 2021 -- NCAA Football Realignments
We look at the domino effect of the shifts in NCAA football conferences from the SEC and Big 12 down through the American, CUSA, and Sun Belt conferences.
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Sept 21 -- Best & Worst Stadiums & Atmosphere
This month we discuss the best and worst sports stadiums and atmospheres. Beware if you are a Red Sox fan! Also, we dig deeper into the impact of NCAA realignments.
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August 2021 -- MLB Trends & Favorite MLB Announcers
This month we discuss which teams are rising and falling in MLB along with our favorite and not-so-favorite MLB announcers. We also ponder the attendance questions for the NFL.
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July 2021 -- SEC Expanding, Olympics, Aaron Rodgers
We discuss the implications of the SEC admitting OU and Texas, perspectives on the Olympics, and the Aaron Rodgers diva show.
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June 2021 -- NCAA's Bad Day In Court + Silliest Stuff in Sports
We talk about the NCAA's hammering by the Supreme Court, silly rules or structures within sports, MLB's crackdown on doctoring baseballs, and NBA & NHL playoffs.
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May 2021 -- MLB, NHL, NBA, Olympics
We go less scripted and talk about MLB injuries, lack of NHL viewers, the NBA playoff structure, the Olympics, and other stuff.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Where fan and academic perspectives meet with a lighthearted touch. We are professors in economics and marketing in the Gordon College of Business at Western Kentucky University with extensive study of sports, and we are also lifelong sports fans.
HOSTED BY
Brian Goff
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Ballfields & Blackboards have?
Ballfields & Blackboards currently has 78 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Ballfields & Blackboards about?
Where fan and academic perspectives meet with a lighthearted touch. We are professors in economics and marketing in the Gordon College of Business at Western Kentucky University with extensive study of sports, and we are also lifelong sports fans.
How often does Ballfields & Blackboards release new episodes?
Ballfields & Blackboards has 78 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Ballfields & Blackboards?
You can listen to Ballfields & Blackboards on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Ballfields & Blackboards?
Ballfields & Blackboards is created and hosted by Brian Goff.
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