Players skipping bowl games

[oldhorn2]

seriously...I am rethinking my position on this. I think this is only a factor for the teams that are essentially playing for nothing. When a guy sits out for one of the playoff teams I will start to pay attention.

The fact is that the schools have been making MILLIONS on these players that are being paid a full ride Scholly. That isnt peanuts but it aint quid pro quo either. If the players feel obligated to play, then good for them. If they dont, then...good luck, hope you dont get hurt early in your career and have to retire or get cut.

 

[ryan_sublett]

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.

Let’s not act like though the school is giving away charity to these players. The coaches are making millions, the AD is making millions, and these blue blood schools are billion dollar enterprises now. Giving these players a “free ride” isnt out of the goodness of their heart. They make an investment. And in most cases they get quite the ROI... I get not liking it from a team perspective, but to act like the school is a victim in all this. Can’t do that either.

 

[LonghornMM]

Let’s not act like though the school is giving away charity to these players. The coaches are making millions, the AD is making millions, and these blue blood schools are billion dollar enterprises now. Giving these players a “free ride” isnt out of the goodness of their heart. They make an investment. And in most cases they get quite the ROI... I get not liking it from a team perspective, but to act like the school is a victim in all this. Can’t do that either.

Where do you get that the school is the "victim"? They're not. IMO it is the moral, fair and responsible thing to do on the players part to fulfill their obligation to the school, based on the scholarship they signed. Players bailing on their team for their own personal interest is the definition of "me first" and is an insult to the school and their teammates.

 

[ryan_sublett]

Let’s also remember schools are using these guys during their NFL careers to fit recruiting, fundraising and marketing.

 

[LonghornMM]

Let’s also remember schools are using these guys during their NFL careers to fit recruiting, fundraising and marketing.

Come on, Ryan. The school isn't "using" the players. These kids are getting a free education, free room and board and free food the entire time they're on campus. That whole package is worth at least $400K, and that figure varies depending on where they attend. The player is getting a lot with a free scholarship ride. Hell, probably only 5% or less make it to the NFL, so if they take advantage of what is there for them, they're set up nicely with a quality education, which will help them land a good paying job in the real world for those that don't make it to the NFL. These players aren't victims nor are they being used by the school.

 

[ryan_sublett]

Where do you get that the school is the "victim"? They're not. IMO it is the moral, fair and responsible thing to do on the players part to fulfill their obligation to the school, based on the scholarship they signed. Players bailing on their team for their own personal interest is the definition of "me first" and is an insult to the school and their teammates.

Ok but if your going to make that argument why is it the players that are the only ones that have to live up to a moral standard? No one was saying or at least very few people were saying that Herman had a moral responsibility to coach Houston in their bowl game before coming to UT...it’s become a foregone conclusion that if a coach leaves he’s not coaching the bowl game and it’s largely been an accepted practice..Chris Del Conte no one was arguing he had a responsibility to TCU to finish the academic year at TCU before coming to Austin...

I don’t necessarily disagree with you on the moral responsibility, but the players aren’t the only ones with it, and somif your not going to hold their leaders accountable why hold them accountable?

 

[LonghornMM]

When a coach leaves one school for another, it is always a difficult and touchy situation. The most critical thing is recruiting and the timing of signing day closing fast. Also, assembling a coaching staff ASAP to have them help with recruiting. Its a difficult deal both with players and coaches leaving early. Morally, I think the coach should stay and finish coaching the team through the bowl game when they are leaving. It is difficult to balance their remaining responsibility to their old team and all of the requirements that come with their new gig, but its the right thing to do.

 

[ryan_sublett]

Come on, Ryan. The school isn't "using" the players. These kids are getting a free education, free room and board and free food the entire time they're on campus. That whole package is worth at least $400K, and that figure varies depending on where they attend. The player is getting a lot with a free scholarship ride. Hell, probably only 5% or less make it to the NFL, so if they take advantage of what is there for them, they're set up nicely with a quality education, which will help them land a good paying job in the real world for those that don't make it to the NFL. These players aren't victims nor are they being used by the school.

Using may be the wrong word, but come on.... let’s also not act like it’s an equal arrangement.

I’ll give you an example.

Let’s say for the sake or argument a 4 year education at Alabama cost 200k. Might be a bit high but it doesn’t matter.

In those 4 years Nick Saban will make over 44 million in salary... his coaches will make sevreal hundred thousand to a couple million.. the AD will make sevreal million in that time as well

After you leave, and have a great NFL career Saban is gonna use you in recruiting pitches about how great Saban is developing NFL talent... the school will ask you to come help raise money for new facilities... you see where I’m going

The point being the scholarship is drop in the bucket for the school considering whst everyone else makes and whst they use you for after your career is over. I might feel differently if everyone assosated with college sports at the D1 level wasn’t making so much money.

 

[ryan_sublett]

seriously...I am rethinking my position on this. I think this is only a factor for the teams that are essentially playing for nothing. When a guy sits out for one of the playoff teams I will start to pay attention.

The fact is that the schools have been making MILLIONS on these players that are being paid a full ride Scholly. That isnt peanuts but it aint quid pro quo either. If the players feel obligated to play, then good for them. If they dont, then...good luck, hope you dont get hurt early in your career and have to retire or get cut.

Right, that’s why I say you have to expand the playoff and dump the current system. You won’t see players skip the bowl game then. Look at the basketball tournament. You never see the 1 and dones sit out tournament games, or coaches from the mid major schools in the tournament leave in the middle.

 

[4MNChampsHorn]

Using may be the wrong word, but come on.... let’s also not act like it’s an equal arrangement.

I’ll give you an example.

Let’s say for the sake or argument a 4 year education at Alabama cost 200k. Might be a bit high but it doesn’t matter.

In those 4 years Nick Saban will make over 44 million in salary... his coaches will make sevreal hundred thousand to a couple million.. the AD will make sevreal million in that time as well

After you leave, and have a great NFL career Saban is gonna use you in recruiting pitches about how great Saban is developing NFL talent... the school will ask you to come help raise money for new facilities... you see where I’m going

The point being the scholarship is drop in the bucket for the school considering whst everyone else makes and whst they use you for after your career is over. I might feel differently if everyone assosated with college sports at the D1 level wasn’t making so much money.

Without the scholarship/ opportunity to play D1 football, these kids would never sniff the NFL roster.

They aren’t being used. It’s mutally beneficial to everyone. They all get paid, except the kids that don’t make it to the NFL. Perhaps, you could make the case they are the ones being used.

However, I would argue that everyone involved are legal, consenting adults, entering into a scholarship/contract with the School of choice. Therefore, it doesn’t sound reasonable that anyone is being used.

 

[ryan_sublett]

[QUOTE="4MNChampsHorn, post: 9883992, member: 20344"]Without the scholarship/ opportunity to play D1 football, these kids would never sniff the NFL roster.

They aren’t being used. It’s mutally beneficial to everyone. They all get paid, except the kids that don’t make it to the NFL. Perhaps, you could make the case they are the ones being used.

However, I would argue that everyone involved are legal, consenting adults, entering into a scholarship/contract with the School of choice. Therefore, it doesn’t sound reasonable that anyone is being used.[/QUOTE]
only because of the current NFL rules of 3 years removed from high school and no other developmental options. If college football ended tomorrow the NFL or some rich dude would come up with a league for these guys to go... As a matter of fact there have been rumors of Vince McMahon bringing the XFL back... not sure what his plan is, but giving guys a league that isn’t college with the opportunity to work toward the NFL is an interesting concept. Which also begs the question how many kids have no interest in school but are signing only because it’s the only way to the league.

I’m not arguing that the player doesn’t benefit, but if we’re arguing hey it’s mutrually benefiting both parties because the school makes money, and the players get education and work toward the league. Then we can’t begrdge a player when he says “hey time for me to protect whst I’ve earned, or on the verge of earning which is all they are doing.