Impact Report: Atlantic Coast Conference

Who Is “Miss Kathy?” The Memphis Deputy AD at the Center of the Tigers’ Rise

Commercial Appeal

"Who is “Miss Kathy?” Memphis AD Ed Scott calls her “a unicorn” and Tigers Football HC Charles Huff awarded her his game ball after UM’s recent win over UNLV, a moment from a raucous postgame locker room celebration immortalized in a viral video. ESPN College GameDay analyst Pat McAfee even gave her a shutout on the August 31 episode of the show. Miss Kathy is Deputy AD for Regulatory Affairs/SWA Kathy Sulentic, who’s been “thrust into the spotlight, hers one of many wagons hitched to Memphis football’s fast-rising star.” Here’s more on Sulentic…

➤ As football administrator, Sulentic oversees the day-to-day operation of the program on behalf of Scott. Huff calls her “the conduit” between him and the athletic department’s administration, adding that there hasn’t been a single fire Sulentic hasn’t been able to help him extinguish.

➤ Explaining his reasoning for presenting Sulentic with a game ball, Huff said her response every time he calls, no matter how upset he is, has been, “‘Coach, I’m on it.’” Huff adds: “She’s a godsend. She’s got the right demeanor. She understands football. She understands a locker room environment. She understands these kids.”

➤ Sulentic says she tries her best not to concern herself with the significance of her status, instead preferring to focus on the work. “I feel like the best advertisement for women in sports is to just go out and do your job and kick ass. And then, when there are women around who need a hand up, you grab it and help them up.” More."

Inside Texas’ New $80M Denius Football Training Complex

Instagram & Houston Chronicle · both source links below were carried in this single newsletter item

"More from Austin as Texas unveiled its new $80M football practice facility, the Frank and Wofford Denius Football Training Complex, to the media. Check it out."

Nebraska-Missouri Volleyball at Wrigley Suspended Over Court Moisture

WOWT & X · both source links below were carried in this single newsletter item

"Well it was an amazing idea and scene as one of the Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge contests was completed successfully with Kentucky defeating Penn State in the first outdoor volleyball match at Wrigley Field, but the second tilt, between Nebraska and Missouri, was suspended after just 18 points due to humidity on the court. Nebraska Volleyball HC Dani Busboom Kelly: “This was amazing. I applaud the effort. But there’s a reason why our sport is indoor. … There’s a lot of amazing indoor arenas or football fields indoor or baseball fields that have domes. I think there’s some opportunities to do some incredible things for volleyball. I do not think outdoor is what we should be doing.” Take a look at the moisture visible on the court."

Who Is “Miss Kathy?” The Memphis Deputy AD at the Center of the Tigers’ Rise

Commercial Appeal

"Who is “Miss Kathy?” Memphis AD Ed Scott calls her “a unicorn” and Tigers Football HC Charles Huff awarded her his game ball after UM’s recent win over UNLV, a moment from a raucous postgame locker room celebration immortalized in a viral video. ESPN College GameDay analyst Pat McAfee even gave her a shutout on the August 31 episode of the show. Miss Kathy is Deputy AD for Regulatory Affairs/SWA Kathy Sulentic, who’s been “thrust into the spotlight, hers one of many wagons hitched to Memphis football’s fast-rising star.” Here’s more on Sulentic…

➤ As football administrator, Sulentic oversees the day-to-day operation of the program on behalf of Scott. Huff calls her “the conduit” between him and the athletic department’s administration, adding that there hasn’t been a single fire Sulentic hasn’t been able to help him extinguish.

➤ Explaining his reasoning for presenting Sulentic with a game ball, Huff said her response every time he calls, no matter how upset he is, has been, “‘Coach, I’m on it.’” Huff adds: “She’s a godsend. She’s got the right demeanor. She understands football. She understands a locker room environment. She understands these kids.”

➤ Sulentic says she tries her best not to concern herself with the significance of her status, instead preferring to focus on the work. “I feel like the best advertisement for women in sports is to just go out and do your job and kick ass. And then, when there are women around who need a hand up, you grab it and help them up.” More."

Parents Are Buying Themselves a Second Shot at Southern College Football

Esquire

"Citing data from The Wall Street Journal showing the enrollment of Northern students at Southern public institutions has nearly doubled since the early 2000s, Esquire’s Paul Pabst explores a trend where parents are steering their high schoolers toward Southern sports-heavy universities and willingly absorbing tuition costs—often pulling from savings or retirement funds—to secure a personal "Do-Over" experience centered around SEC football, warm climates and real estate purchases near campus. The cultural migration underscores a growing divide between traditional Northern private institutions and prominent Southern brand-name programs, with parents prioritizing lifestyle amenities and athletics culture alongside affordability. "This may all sound like a bit much, but as long as you’re going to drain half your retirement account to pay for your kid’s college, why not get yourself a second shot? After all, that is the reality. ... To be fair, most families are genuinely trying to find the best educational fit for their kids. Lifestyle has just become a more important factor. That’s not crazy: The fact that education isn’t just about class is one of college’s greatest revelations, right? Which is another reason the bougie schools up north are getting challenged hard by the Red Solo Cup–and–Visor colleges down south.”"

Duke AD Nina King Floated as a Candidate to Replace the WNBA Commissioner

USA Today (via X)

"USA Today’s Mitchell Northam suggests Duke AD Nina King could be in the mix to replace WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who is retiring at the end of the calendar year."

CFP Triggers 30-Day Negotiating Window with ESPN on a 24-Team Playoff

Yahoo Sports & ESPN (via X) · both source links below were carried in this single newsletter item

"College Football Playoff leaders have triggered the 30-day negotiating window with ESPN as the CFP continues to explore the value of a 24-team playoff, per Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, who adds: “ESPN now has 30 days to present an offer. CFP executives can either accept, or reject and move to the open market. The move must come with an increase in revenue - at least $250M - to compensate for the cancellation of the four conference championship games.” ESPN Senior Writer Heather Dinich: “If the CFP opens the window, it doesn’t guarantee a 24-team field next season, but it begins a discussion with the sole rights holder to determine what the value of it would be.”"

ESPN Extends “Women’s Sports Sundays” Into the Fall

Sports Business Journal

"ESPN plans to extend its “Women’s Sports Sundays” initiative into the fall by adding college volleyball (10 matches), college basketball, WTGL [the new tech driven women’s golf league] and MVPW boxing. The 11-week slate kicks off this Sunday with a volleyball doubleheader, including the championship round of the Paradise Invitational and a UCLA-Utah match. While the summer series’ goal wasn’t to reach ESPN’s 2025 “Sunday Night Baseball” average viewership mark of 1.83M, some WNBA games within “Women’s Sports Sunday” approached that figure with a July 5 Indiana Fever-Las Vegas Aces matchup and an August 16 Portland Fire-Phoenix Mercury contest drawing 1.6M and 1.4M viewers, respectively. The four NWSL matches shown over the summer through the initiative averaged 255K viewers, which was 106% better than the league’s 2025 regular-season average on ESPN. More, including the fall lineup."

Colorado Debuts “Ralphie Road” and New Folsom Field Fan Amenities

Daily Camera

"Colorado football’s upcoming home opener against Weber State will mark the debut of several fan-friendly gameday amenities, per the Daily Camera’s Pat Rooney, who notes much of the effort has been spurred by Buffs AD Fernando Lovo as he attempts to maximize new angles of revenue generation. Outside Folsom Field, CU will be launching “Ralphie Road,” a new mini-entertainment district that’s set to include food trucks, beverage vendors, games, a DJ providing music and big screen video boards tuned to the day’s college football action. Inside, CU is unveiling “Bands in the Stands,” which will feature various Colorado bands belting out tunes from the sixth floor of the Champions Center, and a “Flatirons 5” deal at concession stands, which includes a hot dog, popcorn, candy, soda and bottled water for only $5. Lovo: “We have to keep our fans engaged. We have to do everything in our power to keep our fans and our donors engaged, because this is a new world of college athletics. … So (we’re) making sure our fans stay connected and committed to this brand, and then by extension come out and support our programs.” More."