Thee University said:
90sBear said:
Thee University said:
90sBear said:
Thee University said:
90sBear said:
Thee University said:
That sound you hear is the inevitable change in college football as players decide that their long term future and their family's future is more important than a single bowl game. The trend won't be changing any time soon.
That sound I hear is a *****y, whining and ungrateful prima donna.
The sound I hear from you is a *****y, whining, and ungrateful fan who thinks his years as a fan mean he deserves to see a 22 year old kid risk his future livelihood for personal enjoyment.
We are talking about 1.6% of college players that even make the leap into the NFL. The sure-fire, 1st rounders are even less.
Is it too much to ask that these "team" players pay back what they are stealing by not upholding their end of the "contract"?
You guys act like you might be on welfare. You want something for nothing. I'm not giving you a participation trophy. You only get a ribbon.
Sure, the coach and school can ask. They can put it into a contract that the players have to sign before the season begins. "You as the committed scholarship player agree to play every game this season. For every game that you refuse to play not due to injury, you will reimburse the school the percentage of games you missed of your tuition for the semester."
Then they can sit back and get ready for the media onslaught that will come from it. And then prepare themselves for the negative recruiting that other schools will use against them.
As I said before, very few coaches could withstand the pressure that would bring and I still say there are probably many coaches out there who, depending on the circumstances, give their blessing to the player because they want him drafted highly as well.
I'm not advocating that Baylor go lone wolf on this. I'm saying all of college football, outside the bluebloods, are going to be hard pressed to keep up with the big boys.
I personally think the liberal media, outside of ESPN, will support what I advocate.
College football is changing and you can't let 18-22 year old kids run the programs. The parts (players) are interchangeable.
How many of our recent high draft choices have panned out? Should any of them skipped their bowl games?
Baylor is different. As a private school we can manage and run our athletic departments a bit differently and still be an attractive choice for a kid who values his education and REAL future.
You think the "liberal media" will support the big rich private Christian school attempting to be reimbursed from the poor single parent black kid who can finally buy his mom that house she could never afford as long as he doesn't get hurt in the Poulan Weed Eater Bowl? OK. Good luck with that. Even if those aren't the facts, that is the way it will be spun.
I agree that college football is changing and I understand wanting to retain control over the program and the players. But students have freedom of choice and schools have to decide which battles are worth fighting over. So far I would say schools have decided it's not worth fighting for yet.
The more you make players look like employees, and that's exactly what you are making them look like with the scenario you are describing, the more ammunition the "pay the players" crowd will have. What you are describing sounds most like the service academies (Army, Navy, Air Force) where if the students quit after the second year they are required to pay back the school. I'm not sure that's the image college football wants to move in as service academy students are paid to attend school.
I think this trend will continue to grow until it reaches a point where either schools give up, or so many players start doing it that almost every coach nation wide agrees that a change needs to be made. Perhaps a high enough profile coach like Saban says "no more" when one of his players skips a playoff game.
The problem is, as I've said before, I don't think every coach agrees with your idea. I think there are coaches out there that say they completely understand the player's position and support their decision. Sure, some may just be paying lip service to avoid being portrayed badly. But I think some genuinely feel that way.
We will see how this develops over the next few years as more and more players choose not to play. You just better be hoping that no draft worthy players get a significant injury during the bowl season. Because the next time it happens the flood gates will really open.
EDIT: To be clear, I understand your position and don't necessarily think you are wrong in theory. Players choose to use up a scholarship that lasts the entire season, they should play for the entire season including the bowl game. I just think this is one where the image of the poor student athlete wins out vs the greedy rich school.
