If they cared about the fans they would expand the playoff and get rid of these meaningless bowl games. Then guys would play in them and you’d solve a lot of issues.
Players skipping bowl games
- Thread starter hillcountryhorn63697005
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It is. I don’t care if a player leaves at the end of the season, spring, or during the season. If they don’t want to be there they shouldn’t be there. As a fan does it suck? Sure but the program was here before them and it will be here after them.
The point is, when a player signs a scholarship, he gets a free ride (tuition, books, rooming, meals, tutoring, etc.). The university commits to them, and they should be committed to the university. To bail on the team and the university and put yourself first is BS and the definition of selfishness. There is nothing wrong with an athlete turning pro and making money, but to use the school to the athlete's advantage and then quit on your school and team and not play in the final game is just wrong.
You gotta let the scholarship and free education go. You might be right, but college sports stopped being about education a long time ago. We can debate if that is good or not but that’s the way it is.
The bottom line is guys like Conner Williams have millions of dollars in front of them, and have made the judgement that playing in a bowl game that if were being honest means nothing isn’t worth risking that money. When faced with that type of decssion most of us would make the same choice.
I mean look at Jaylon Smith. He lost a ton of money in a bowl game. Millions he will never get back. Luckily he was able to recover and it looks like he’s going to have a fine NFL career and make lots of money, but he still lost millions going in the 3rd round instead of the top 10-15 and was damn close to never playing again, and losing money even a ND degree wouldn’t of made up for him.
So I get why guys are making these decisions. We talk about how they signed a contract with the school. Tom Herman signed a contract with Houston. One year in he got a raise and an extension. 2 years in he bolts for Texas(didn’t coach the bowl game btw). Very few people say “hey you have a contract live up to it!” We go yeah that’s a better job he’s gonna make more money. And you know what Herman would do the same thing to Texas if 2 years from now Bama came at him with 100 mill, and I wouldn’t blame him.
Big time college sports isn’t about education anymore at least not primarily. It’s big buisness. Coaches and admins have been treating it like that for years, coaches going to the highest bidder every year. Players are now doing the same and treating it like a buisness.
These kids that we all talk about in recruiting and will be signing with Herman and Texas tomorrow are all planning to spend 3 years at Texas and go to the NFL. Some of them may not make it but that is what they are thinking right now. Time were all honest about what’s going on here.
Fans hold sentimental feelings toward their school/team. These players don't or at least don't as much as the fan. That makes the fans angry. Commitments/contracts/agreements are broken every single day in the real world and have been since the dawn of time.
Why? I feel strongly that players who quit on their team before the season is over are selfish by putting themselves and their own interest ahead of the team. The university committed to them when they signed their scholarship. They should own up to their responsibility and honor their commitment to the university.
The players are selfish, the school is selfish, the fans are selfish, you are selfish, I am selfish. Selfishness on display is hardly something worthy to feel strongly about. Unless you want to be worked up over something that exists in every facet of life.
Honor their commitments? That's a doozie. I guess no one should ever leave a job or move on from a relationship because hey honor those commitments, right?
Tom Herman is making 25k + an additional 50k if he wins it. I am pretty sure other members of the coaching staff are getting some kind of bonus for the bowl. The players are getting a gift bag, Academy gift card, belt buckle, and an Adidas duffel bag. After Jaylon Smith went down in the fiesta bowl players started to realize that maybe risking my career for a gift card and a duffel bag isn't worth it.
Most people don't stop showing up for work and expect that they should still be paid. Now if they decide that they want to drop out of school at semester, then skip the bowl game if you want.
" I guess no one should ever leave a job or move on from a relationship because hey honor those commitments, right?"
Yeah when I usually leave a company and give my 2 weeks I work through my commitment shoot even train the next person. I don't start working at my new job and forget about my old job. I mean everyone does things different but usually I do the honorable thing and work for the current employer until my time is up. That's usually real life. Now if you just straight out quit and never show up then I'd suspect you probably won't receive a check or even have to pay back something like vacation, possibly won't receive a yearly bonus you know everyday life. This has been my experience in life though so.
Yeah when I usually leave a company and give my 2 weeks I work through my commitment shoot even train the next person. I don't start working at my new job and forget about my old job. I mean everyone does things different but usually I do the honorable thing and work for the current employer until my time is up. That's usually real life. Now if you just straight out quit and never show up then I'd suspect you probably won't receive a check or even have to pay back something like vacation, possibly won't receive a yearly bonus you know everyday life. This has been my experience in life though so.
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If they don't go to the bowl game, but continue to receive scholarship and stipend in the 2nd semester they are accepting monetary value after essentially quitting what they were paid for.
There is probably an argument on the player side about how to prorate it since they play 12/13 of the games in this scenario. And the counter argument would have to consider damage to the brand from having watered-down bowl games.
So we are circling back to scholarship benefits? These players don't expect anything. They are training for the NFL. Take back the benefits that aren't yours to give on behalf of the school if that makes you feel better. I am sure the school and program appreciate the fans attempts to alienate the few NFL caliber players on the team. But by all means commitments and all. You guys sound like a bunch of aggys.
For something better but I just don't quit and move on from one place to another. Usually you burn bridges that way now we're talking about real life as you said. I mean you may just go into your employers office and say hey I'm quitting see ya. I usually don't do that unless I have an extremely crappy job and hate everyone in that place which again I've never done.
Most of their contracts have a buyout clause, so either they or the school that hires them settle the tab.
The parties involved agree on what happens. If they want to settle or if one party wants to demand full payment of what is owed. Either way it's up to the parties involved and not fans. For good reason. Just like the doling out of scholarship benefits isn't crowd sourced to message boards.
Do you make all of your decisions in black and white?
When you get married you promise to be with your wife "forever". What happens if she stabs you and tries to leave with her lover, the pool boy, but you don't die? Are you still bound by your commitment? I hope you are a light sleeper. Circumstances can change things. Some things constitute a breech of contract.
I agree. I don't think that was the spirit of the discussion. Ultimately the program has to decide if having a future NFLer around compensates for the lost time on the field. Personally I would like to see all schools allowed to pay insurance for seniors who get a draft grade above some agreed point. Then there is little reason not to play.
I hadn't considered that failure to die would be on the husband in that scenario. There would probably be an attorney out there who would take this line.
What if your boss didn't care and said I understand, don't worry about us. What if he said you've done enough here and good luck, take two weeks off paid because you've earned it. Which one of you would be dishonorable in that hypothetical?
Everyone's seems to be hung up on someone getting shorted in this situation. Whether it's an employee/employer relationship or scholarship athlete / program. The two parties have come to an agreement and are fine with the decisions. The outside party (the fans) are the only ones upset and they are upset because their team sucks, but these players and their scholarship benefits and honoring commitments aren't going to change that.
Rationalizing leaving because someone else does it is different than attempted murder.
Would you attempt murder because someone else does. Kinda weak position to defend.
My thoughts are it just doesn't matter what we think. Players are going to continue to sit out these worthless bowl games, coaches are going to continue to chase the money and leave schools and break contracts. All of you who are complaining about not finishing your commitment sound like grumpy old men yelling at the neighbor boy to get off your lawn.
And one thing that hasn't been said (or at least I don't think it has) in regards to scholarships and when it is cut off for a player leaving. I would think that it would be in the school's best interest to continue to let these players have access to the program so that when they make the NFL and become starters, pro bowlers, etc that they will continue to rep the university that sent them there. How bad would it look, if UT cut off Connor after the TT game. He becomes the Joe Thomas of this generation and never says one good thing about UT. Could cost UT way more in terms of recruits that what it is going to cost them for him to use the facilities for another semester
And one thing that hasn't been said (or at least I don't think it has) in regards to scholarships and when it is cut off for a player leaving. I would think that it would be in the school's best interest to continue to let these players have access to the program so that when they make the NFL and become starters, pro bowlers, etc that they will continue to rep the university that sent them there. How bad would it look, if UT cut off Connor after the TT game. He becomes the Joe Thomas of this generation and never says one good thing about UT. Could cost UT way more in terms of recruits that what it is going to cost them for him to use the facilities for another semester
@bubba2023 simple question because it seems we’re both not in agreement. Would you feel the same way if we were in a playoff game? Because I would.
Y'all a bunch of grown ass men crying over the Astro bowl game. These dudes are gonna get paid and represent the university to future recruits. They put in 3 to 4 years of work. Get a grip.
Yes. I think the NFL would to. And as far as I know our situation is kind of unique unless other teams have multiple players skipping bowl games. So I don't know if this is a sign of times to come or just a weird situation of really talented guys just tired of losing. These guys do have a losing record for their career. Most situations like that aren't going to have NFL talent.
I want them to play, I just don't have any ill will for their decision not to. It doesn't anger me and I don't think the University is owed anything. It's selfish by definition, but I can't get on a high horse and claim I don't selfishly put myself and/or my family ahead of a lot of things. Selfish behavior is accepted fact of life in the real world, there too many Captain America's out there.
SMU had a GA calling plays tonight due to Morris and intern coach Traylor both left for Arkansas. Can we stop acting like these bowl games matter now? If players want to protect their upcoming paydays more power to them.
I have a new rule proposal for the NCAA:
If a healthy player sits out the teams bowl game for the NFL draft, that player has to reimburse the college for that year's full benefits. In essence, the act forfeits that year's scholarship. These are athletes on scholarship which includes housing, meals and training facilities. They have been given this tremendous benefit and then pay them back by sitting out a game for selfish reasons. It is also a slap in the face to their teammates. Lets not even mention the fact that these players have already dropped out of school. I hate this trend for many reasons and it just furthers the hypocrisy of the NCAA.
If a healthy player sits out the teams bowl game for the NFL draft, that player has to reimburse the college for that year's full benefits. In essence, the act forfeits that year's scholarship. These are athletes on scholarship which includes housing, meals and training facilities. They have been given this tremendous benefit and then pay them back by sitting out a game for selfish reasons. It is also a slap in the face to their teammates. Lets not even mention the fact that these players have already dropped out of school. I hate this trend for many reasons and it just furthers the hypocrisy of the NCAA.
I don’t have any real issue with it. I get why there doing it, and honestly we’d all probably do the same thing in the same situation. I will say I didn’t like whst the Ohio Stste kid did last night where it sounded like he decided yesterday he was entering the draft and not playing in the bowl game. Be up front from the get go if your gonna do it
@LonghornMM your proposal wouldn’t stop them from doing it. They’d be fronted the money by an agent, or break off a piece of their 25 million dollar contract. They’ll gladly pay 75k or whatever it to the school to protect their earning potential. If your goal is to stop the trend of skipping bowl games that won’t do it.
The only way to stop players skipping bowl games is dump the system as we know it, expand the playoff, and make the games mean something. These bowl games have become jokes in a lot of ways. Most of the teams are missing coaches I’ve seen 2 games where GA’s were calling the offense and defense. UCLA had to dump 2 coaches in the middle of bowl practice. Because Chip Kelly made 2 coaching hires
These games just arent taken that seriously by the NCAA, ADs, or Coaches. Its been that way for a long time. Players have just figured it out.
@LonghornMM your proposal wouldn’t stop them from doing it. They’d be fronted the money by an agent, or break off a piece of their 25 million dollar contract. They’ll gladly pay 75k or whatever it to the school to protect their earning potential. If your goal is to stop the trend of skipping bowl games that won’t do it.
The only way to stop players skipping bowl games is dump the system as we know it, expand the playoff, and make the games mean something. These bowl games have become jokes in a lot of ways. Most of the teams are missing coaches I’ve seen 2 games where GA’s were calling the offense and defense. UCLA had to dump 2 coaches in the middle of bowl practice. Because Chip Kelly made 2 coaching hires
These games just arent taken that seriously by the NCAA, ADs, or Coaches. Its been that way for a long time. Players have just figured it out.
The other bowl games importance diminished when the playoff system started. IMO it needs to be expanded to 8 teams. 4 is too few and 16 is too many.
I don't care if the players have their agent front the money or not. There should be some accountability for a player selfishly putting his own personal interests ahead of the team's. The point is, the school is giving them a free ride on everything, which the player gladly accepts when he signs his scholarship, and benefits them greatly, only to have them thumb their nose at the school and walk out without fulfilling their obligation to the team when they don't need the school anymore, which is BS.
I don't care if the players have their agent front the money or not. There should be some accountability for a player selfishly putting his own personal interests ahead of the team's. The point is, the school is giving them a free ride on everything, which the player gladly accepts when he signs his scholarship, and benefits them greatly, only to have them thumb their nose at the school and walk out without fulfilling their obligation to the team when they don't need the school anymore, which is BS.
