This isn't a I hate Linda, or CDA, or Mack thing. It's observing what CFB has become and where we are in it.

When ou and ut bolted, the B12 lost a lot of revenue. Even when they were here, there was a growing gap between us and the b10/sec (which is why they bolted).

I've finally concluded that due to financial constraints or perhaps even jurisprudence, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, Baylor will almost always be at a competitive disadvantage to those conferences.

There is huge revenue disparity between the B12 and the b10 and sec and it's not our job as fans to bridge the $40,000,000.00 gap. We aren't Tech, we don't have a fiscally irresponsible billionaire who is just gonna shovel us money. If we had the money, we would be signing much better players and/or dumped CDA years ago. The reality is, we aren't gonna compete for players, nor coaches that the sec or b10 is targeting.

You can argue that we compete in the B12 and that's our benchmark. Great - but there is still an arms race if only within the B12 and paying player salaries isn't fan responsibility. Plus, if you make the CFP, you are playing against programs with a 300% larger budget.

It's taken me a long time to get there, probably because I am stubborn, but I have emotionally separated my feelings for the school from the business - and football is a business. I have to admit, I am much happier having done so. If the Texans or Cowboys called you to donate money so they can sign better players, you'd tell them to kick rocks. That's where I'm at.

I'll continue to donate to academics because I feel the money is much better served there. I'll support athletics in other ways (attending games, buying the occasional shirt or hat) but athletics isn't getting another donation from me. I'm done pissing in the wind.

morethanhecouldbear said:

---

This isn't a I hate Linda, or Baylor will almost always be at a competitive disadvantage to those conferences..

---

I'm not sure Rutgers would agree with you. They had a great fan experience going on in the Big East and would have almost assuredly had a more clear path to the CFP had the conference not folded. Same with Maryland, they were a once somewhat proud program at the turn of the millennium. And now?

We need to complete with our peers in the XII. Don't worry about the SEC or B1G....I don't.

I also think some of your money that you think is going to academics can end up filing in deficits in the athletic department.

Is the OP stopping his donations because pennies are being discontinued?

Asking for a friend.

BearlyBeloved said:

---

Is the OP stopping his donations because pennies are being discontinued?

Asking for a friend.

---

badda bing..........

- el uncle fred

D!

Go Bears!!

Designated giving cannot be transferred to another entity without the express permission of the donor. Academic donations cannot be used for football.

I stopped donating when they fired Art Briles.

I reckon a lot of other people did to.

Don't much care for folks taking my money and lighting it on fire.

Realitybites said:

---

I stopped donating when they fired Art Briles.

I reckon a lot of other people did to.

Don't much care for folks taking my money and lighting it on fire.

---

Absolutely truth. Let Prestonwood support the program they ruined.

morethanhecouldbear said:

---

This isn't a I hate Linda, or CDA, or Mack thing. It's observing what CFB has become and where we are in it.

When ou and ut bolted, the B12 lost a lot of revenue. Even when they were here, there was a growing gap between us and the b10/sec (which is why they bolted).

I've finally concluded that due to financial constraints or perhaps even jurisprudence, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, Baylor will almost always be at a competitive disadvantage to those conferences.

There is huge revenue disparity between the B12 and the b10 and sec and it's not our job as fans to bridge the $40,000,000.00 gap. We aren't Tech, we don't have a fiscally irresponsible billionaire who is just gonna shovel us money. If we had the money, we would be signing much better players and/or dumped CDA years ago. The reality is, we aren't gonna compete for players, nor coaches that the sec or b10 is targeting.

It's taken me a long time to get there, probably because I am stubborn, but I have emotionally separated my feelings for the school from the business - and football is a business. I have to admit, I am much happier having done so. If the Texans or Cowboys called you to donate money so they can sign better players, you'd tell them to kick rocks. That's where I'm at.

I'll continue to donate to academics because I feel the money is much better served there. I'll support athletics in other ways (attending games, buying the occasional shirt or hat) but athletics isn't getting another donation from me. I'm done pissing in the wind.

---

So, so agree. Give to the Law School, Art School, Bear Pit, band, your high school, animal shelter, PBS, whatever. Someone that will appreciate it and not set in on fire and make you watch it burn. College football (now) sucks. Why throw good money at it when no one appreciates it anyway?

Realitybites said:

---

I stopped donating when they fired Art Briles.

I reckon a lot of other people did to.

Don't much care for folks taking my money and lighting it on fire.

---

Same

I give only the minimum to keep my seats and parking. Scaled back considerably when they scapegoated Art.

Realitybites said:

---

I stopped donating when they fired Art Briles.

I reckon a lot of other people did to.

Don't much care for folks taking my money and lighting it on fire.

---

same here

If Baylor athletics was a stock, I wouldn't touch it. It's a terribly managed organization, mired in high minded buffoonery that has been left miles behind in terms of the quality of its products.

This isn't a "buy low" scenario. This is a stay away because this stock may go to 0 scenario.

You are all dramatic. There's always Stanford, Boston College, Syracuse and Nkrthwestern to look down upon. And usually Wake Forest. And always Rice…yes always Rice!

Realitybites said:

---

I stopped donating when they fired Art Briles.

I reckon a lot of other people did to.

Don't much care for folks taking my money and lighting it on fire.

---

Amen Brother. Me too. I was a season ticket holder for 21 years.

Realitybites said:

---

I stopped donating when they fired Art Briles.

I reckon a lot of other people did to.

Don't much care for folks taking my money and lighting it on fire.

---

Thee will be along in 3.....2.....1......

johnnychimpo said:

---

You are all dramatic. There's always Stanford, Boston College, Syracuse and Nkrthwestern to look down upon. And usually Wake Forest. And always Rice…yes always Rice!

---

It appears you are talking academics, not athletics. None of those you mention have the enormous amount of academic inbreeding we do. It looks like we are applying that factor to athletics now as graduates are "safe hires".

morethanhecouldbear said:

---

This isn't a I hate Linda, or CDA, or Mack thing. It's observing what CFB has become and where we are in it.

When ou and ut bolted, the B12 lost a lot of revenue. Even when they were here, there was a growing gap between us and the b10/sec (which is why they bolted).

I've finally concluded that due to financial constraints or perhaps even jurisprudence, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, Baylor will almost always be at a competitive disadvantage to those conferences.

There is huge revenue disparity between the B12 and the b10 and sec and it's not our job as fans to bridge the $40,000,000.00 gap. We aren't Tech, we don't have a fiscally irresponsible billionaire who is just gonna shovel us money. If we had the money, we would be signing much better players and/or dumped CDA years ago. The reality is, we aren't gonna compete for players, nor coaches that the sec or b10 is targeting.

It's taken me a long time to get there, probably because I am stubborn, but I have emotionally separated my feelings for the school from the business - and football is a business. I have to admit, I am much happier having done so. If the Texans or Cowboys called you to donate money so they can sign better players, you'd tell them to kick rocks. That's where I'm at.

I'll continue to donate to academics because I feel the money is much better served there. I'll support athletics in other ways (attending games, buying the occasional shirt or hat) but athletics isn't getting another donation from me. I'm done pissing in the wind.

---

On one hand, this is completely understandable, however, on the other hand, anyone can look back at all of college football teams that have won a national title since 1975 (50 years!) and see that, with only a couple of exceptions (BYU and Colorado once each, and certainly before a champion was centralized via BCS/CFP), only a small part of FBS has had a real shot at a national title despite all of the narratives to the contrary. Maybe that changes this year with Indiana or even Texas Tech due to the portal; maybe not. What is clear is that FBS still exists in an environment where a program as relatively consistent as Oregon - with all of its resources, commitment, and conference affiliation - winning the national title is an upset to the existing structure.

If the above is accurate, and it is, it leaves open what the best-case scenario is for programs without (almost) limitless resources in a 9-conference game and 1 P5 out of conference opponent FBS environment (all conferences moving to that structure next season). Maybe a conference title game appearance every so often if the stars align? One could argue that that's what happened to Duke this season, but we have to remember that Duke is, among other things, paying its QB $4M/yr - so it would likely fall closer to Texas Tech than a run of the mill ACC/Big 12 team in terms of spending.

My support has never been based on the possibility of a natty in any sport but especially football. It was due mostly to my experience with BU and at BU. Briles' and Rhule's success might have been an historical anomaly but not an impossible one, and high quality of play can and should be expected. The past few years are inexcusable in that regard. The Baylor I experienced is no more due to time's changes and different philosophical goals of administrations. That's to be expected and has much good and much not-so-good. On the other hand, the admin, including the athletic dept and Foundation cannot legitimately expect continued blind loyalty and support without meriting that support. Frankly, I've just not experienced that nor seen that from outside the "bubble".
Being an "old guy" allows me to say that my family's ties to BU go back to its time in Independence, friendships with A J Armstrong, the Tidwells, Pres and Mrs Brooks, the J M Dawsons. Dad is in the athletic HOF for two sport career, and schollie supports dating to 1950 ( incl season tix). I picked up their tix and schollie donation in 1986 when BU would allow that. That doesn't mean much if anything in today's "what have you done for me today" world. But it is telling on what is emphasized and what that is good has been sacrificed, and to what gain? Remove the "personal history", and there is little to justify expensive support.

Quote:

---

On one hand, this is completely understandable, however, on the other hand, anyone can look back at all of college football teams that have won a national title since 1975 (50 years!) and see that, with only a couple of exceptions (BYU and Colorado once each, and certainly before a champion was centralized via BCS/CFP), only a small part of FBS has had a real shot at a national title despite all of the narratives to the contrary.

---

Colorado should have been stripped of that "title". They were losing to Mizzou after failure on 4th down. Dumb officials gave Colorado a fifth down to get that first down that led to their undeserved "win". This was before instant replay.

I'm with OP 100%.

When the idea of starting to legally pay players started looking like it would become a reality I had no issue with it. It only seemed fair.

My assumption was players would start getting their cut of all the billions of revenue that were already flowing through college football. I had no idea that NIL would morph into asking fans to help foot the bill.

I think OPs comparison of directly giving money to an NFL team is apt. No one would ever consider doing that.

It's got nothing to do with BU...just the whole college football landscape.

For now I'll continue watching college football because I'm a junkie...but my passion/love for it is not what it used to be.

Can we go back to the good old days of paying players under the table?

SEC dominance was just the entire conference breaking rules for 30 years.

“There was a bag man at LSU. There was a bag man at Bama. There was a bag man at every school in the SEC.” https://t.co/yeJdCWkJs3

— BoozeCougs (@BoozeCougs) December 12, 2025

I agree with the initial post. I remember the time when big schools could offer as many scholarships as desired to corner all the talent. The NCAA issued a rule to limit scholarships per school to make an attempt at providing parity for the sport. I think the NCAA needs to issue a rule limiting how much an athlete can receive to provide parity for all schools. However the NCAA seems to have abdicated their responsibilities due to legal issues.

Of course I do not think there can be any controls on the "under the table" payments, unless caught. The sport has gone to the dogs.

Not trying to make this political...but it's relevant to the topic...though not sure government will have the answer either.

Donald Trump on the state of college sports on Friday: “Colleges cannot afford to be paying the kind of salaries you’re hearing about. You’re going to have these colleges wipe themselves out. Something oughta been done and I’m willing to put the federal government behind it.”

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 13, 2025

Trump: “The NIL is a disaster for sports, horrible for the Olympics and actually horrible for the players.”

Full video here - https://t.co/7oulweUXD9 https://t.co/AxDwXBTrVk

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 13, 2025

Wasn't Trump the owner of the New Jersey Generals of the USFL and was largely responsible for the implosion of the Spring League. Trump wanted to immediately go head to head with the NFL by playing a fall schedule.

What did it yield?

$3.00.

However, his comment above is correct. College sports is slowly dying and has been for several years. It has picked up speed though on the road to the dumpster fire.

Baylor Football will survive in some form whether you boys support it or not. Frankly the majority of you don't deserve to support or tear down BU football.

Aliceinbubbleland said:

---

Quote:

---

On one hand, this is completely understandable, however, on the other hand, anyone can look back at all of college football teams that have won a national title since 1975 (50 years!) and see that, with only a couple of exceptions (BYU and Colorado once each, and certainly before a champion was centralized via BCS/CFP), only a small part of FBS has had a real shot at a national title despite all of the narratives to the contrary.

---

Colorado should have been stripped of that "title". They were losing to Mizzou after failure on 4th down. Dumb officials gave Colorado a fifth down to get that first down that led to their undeserved "win". This was before instant replay.

---

I was randomly at that game…crazy.

Guy Noir said:

---

I agree with the initial post. I remember the time when big schools could offer as many scholarships as desired to corner all the talent. The NCAA issued a rule to limit scholarships per school to make an attempt at providing parity for the sport. I think the NCAA needs to issue a rule limiting how much an athlete can receive to provide parity for all schools. However the NCAA seems to have abdicated their responsibilities due to legal issues.

Of course I do not think there can be any controls on the "under the table" payments, unless caught. The sport has gone to the dogs.

---

The second the NCAA made that rule, they would be in violation of a standing SCOTUS unanimous decision.

ImABearToo said:

---

I give only the minimum to keep my seats and parking. Scaled back considerably when they scapegoated Art.

---

I let my seats go when the BOR decided to blast us in the WSJ.

morethanhecouldbear said:

---

ImABearToo said:

---

I give only the minimum to keep my seats and parking. Scaled back considerably when they scapegoated Art.

---

I let my seats go when the BOR decided to blast us in the WSJ.

---

That was low. Lower than low. Maybe the worst example of failed leadership and breach of fiduciary duty that I've ever seen.

morethanhecouldbear said:

---

When ou and ut bolted, the B12 lost a lot of revenue. Even when they were here, there was a growing gap between us and the b10/sec (which is why they bolted).

---

No warm and fuzzies from me for your 17 star post. Little Bible beating Baylor defeating Texas and Oklahoma consistently was not acceptable. Never gonna be allowed for that to happen. They/ we blew up our program and we have been reduced to paying unproven little boys to come play football for us for seven figures. We are pathetic. And everything that is wrong with college football

RD2WINAGNBEAR86 said:

---

morethanhecouldbear said:

---

When ou and ut bolted, the B12 lost a lot of revenue. Even when they were here, there was a growing gap between us and the b10/sec (which is why they bolted).

---

No warm and fuzzies from me for your 17 star post. Little Bible beating Baylor defeating Texas and Oklahoma consistently was not acceptable. Never gonna be allowed for that to happen. They/ we blew up our program and we have been reduced to paying unproven little boys to come play football for us for seven figures. We are pathetic. And everything that is wrong with college football

---

Consistently?

As usual I have to ride in from the sunset retirement ranch and correct those of you who STILL, 10 frigging years later, just can't see straight.

Art went 4-4 versus UT.

Art went 3-5 versus OU.

Baylor is and always has been a .500 program. We have always tripped over our cranks when on the national stage. Arguably our biggest win in the history of the university was the 1957 Sugar bowl win over #2 Tennessee.

Our best season ever was 2021 under Dave Aranda. 12-2 & Sugar Bowl Champs.

You boys are still sucking on that plastic teat drunk on Mountain Dew.

Baylor never was and never will be a football factory as you boys so pitifuly long for. College football is dying on the vine and Baylor never was outfitted to survive in what college football is today. I for one hope that I live long enough to see Baylor play college football as it was intended to be played. A return to its roots.

What made you boys think BU was going to magically evolve into your "institution of football" ya'll so lovingly long for?

Did you honestly choose Baylor for your collegiate education because of its football program?

You all knew what you were signing up for when you stepped foot on campus. Why the self-flagellation, moaning, revisionist day-dreaming?

Thee University said:

---

RD2WINAGNBEAR86 said:

---

morethanhecouldbear said:

---

When ou and ut bolted, the B12 lost a lot of revenue. Even when they were here, there was a growing gap between us and the b10/sec (which is why they bolted).

---

No warm and fuzzies from me for your 17 star post. Little Bible beating Baylor defeating Texas and Oklahoma consistently was not acceptable. Never gonna be allowed for that to happen. They/ we blew up our program and we have been reduced to paying unproven little boys to come play football for us for seven figures. We are pathetic. And everything that is wrong with college football

---

Consistently?

As usual I have to ride in from the sunset retirement ranch and correct those of you who STILL, 10 frigging years later, just can't see straight.

Art went 4-4 versus UT.

Art went 3-5 versus OU.

Baylor is and always has been a .500 program. We have always tripped over our cranks when on the national stage. Arguably our biggest win in the history of the university was the 1957 Sugar bowl win over #2 Tennessee.

Our best season ever was 2021 under Dave Aranda. 12-2 & Sugar Bowl Champs.

You boys are still sucking on that plastic teat drunk on Mountain Dew.

Baylor never was and never will be a football factory as you boys so pitifuly long for. College football is dying on the vine and Baylor never was outfitted to survive in what college football is today. I for one hope that I live long enough to see Baylor play college football as it was intended to be played. A return to its roots.

What made you boys think BU was going to magically evolve into your "institution of football" ya'll so lovingly long for?

Did you honestly choose Baylor for your collegiate education because of its football program?

You all knew what you were signing up for when you stepped foot on campus. Why the self-flagellation, moaning, revisionist day-dreaming?

---

All of this is why I think, wisthin 5 years, Baylor will be playing in a league like Conference USA.

ScottS said:

---

Realitybites said:

---

I stopped donating when they fired Art Briles.

I reckon a lot of other people did to.

Don't much care for folks taking my money and lighting it on fire.

---

Thee will be along in 3.....2.....1......

---

Yep, like a moth to a flame.

Quote:

---

All of this is why I think, within 5 years, Baylor will be playing in a league like Conference USA.

---

Didn't TCU make it to the Rose Bowl playing in Mountain West or some such.? Not sure how they funded those good teams back in the day but they enjoy championship s. Dropping down won't be horrific if we support at the equal or above level of competition

boognish_bear said:

---

I'm with OP 100%.

When the idea of starting to legally pay players started looking like it would become a reality I had no issue with it. It only seemed fair.

My assumption was players would start getting their cut of all the billions of revenue that were already flowing through college football. I had no idea that NIL would morph into asking fans to help foot the bill.

I think OPs comparison of directly giving money to an NFL team is apt. No one would ever consider doing that.

It's got nothing to do with BU...just the whole college football landscape.

For now I'll continue watching college football because I'm a junkie...but my passion/love for it is not what it used to be.

---

Name and Likeness made some good sense. But it was never really that.

Remember when 365 was selling autographed prints of players? That was a good example of what should be totally cool. Even then it couldn't show official team logos in the image, because colleges have their own licenses. That's why I can't legally sell prints of the many photos I have taken of college and pro games over the years.

But now it's just paying players to play, and not even stay at the school for more than a season.

Getting paid for a school job is fine. I had a gig like that briefly. But it wasn't much. Players should probably get some decent per diem and maybe insurance to cover serious injuries, and a little sweetner for their hard work.

Nobody should be getting ludicrous money after being in bidding wars between schools for occupying a roster spot while pretending to be college students.