College Football: End of an Era

[forkbeard3777]

Unlike Claudine Gay, I don't want to take credit for another's work. The quotation below was a topic taken from another message board. Regretfully, it really resonated with me, and I wanted to copy it here to gather your thoughts and input as fans of Notre Dame and college football in general.

Personally, I'm not at the point where I'm "throwing in the towel" for my love of college football, but the poster's last sentence really was a punch in the gut to me as I can partially relate.

What do you think? What are your thoughts on the game and its evolution?

College football has been on a path to self destruction for the last 3-4 years, and I don’t see how that gets fixed now.

The economics of coaching contracts are insane and irreversible. Guys like Billy Napier who are completely unproven are getting north of $7M, and then tens of millions when they’re fired. Conversely, the minute a coach has a good season his contract is ripped and his pay escalates even further (that used to be what bonuses are for but okay). Some of these coaching contracts are setting back programs several years when they go sideways, and in some cases the coach is unfireable simply because it’s too expensive, which puts the program even further in a hole.

There’s zero governance of player pay, so kids who are barely of voting age are effectively now professional athletes. And there’s no way to collectively bargain and implement some guardrails or limitations due to the size and scope of college athletics as well as the implications of the O’Bannon and Alston rulings. There’s no contractual tie-ins, so there’s nothing tying to the player to a school.

Almost zero restrictions on transfers (limitless transfers are coming) and no oversight or penalties for tampering have effectively made players mercenaries and eroded continuity and program loyalty. Not having a great season? Forget working harder, just quit and go elsewhere.

Conference realignment has killed any sense of regionalism that made the sport what it was, bulldozed historical rivalries in favor of ESPN-pushed matchups to bolster TV ratings(Oregon-Ohio State?), and it’s eroded program identity. It’s absolutely absurd to me that programs like Washington and UCLA will be traveling to places like Piscataway and College Park for conference matchups in all sports.

Bowl season, which was once upon a time the unique crown jewel of college football, has devolved into a watered down, shittier version of the NFL preseason. The games are rendered completely moot by opt outs and transfers, leading to many games featuring mostly 2nd and 3rd string players being starters, and played in completely empty stadiums.

Let’s face it, college football has effectively devolved into a semi-pro league with better branding. Maybe that’s what people want, but not me, and all of the above erodes forever what made college football unique and special.

Maybe it’s just me, but over the last few years my interest in a sport I used to obsessively love has significantly waned to the point where I don’t really care anymore.

 

[BeauBenken]

I think it's sadly remarkable how so many people feel this way, yet we continue to drudge along to the sport's inevitable doom.

 

[HouseofPain]

100% agree. Sadly, Pro football is terrible as well which leaves us as fans, very little choice. However, I feel the worst for the fans forking out serious clams for season tickets for a watered down schedule filled with ho-hum games.

The portal is seriously just the next terrible step in a series of terrible steps. At this point, you just cheer for a team in name and memories you had. With the ability to buy players off rosters with zero ramifications to the players except changing their mailing address (Lord knows the majority doesnt really do a lot as far as classwork to begin with anyway), why wouldnt they?

As a result, signing day means very little because odds are the kid wont be there in a year anyway if he isnt starting right away. There will always be need for talented players off other teams roster as long as the school has deep pockets or at least, idiots willing to dig into their own for what amounts to children mercenaries.

Michigan for example: there was talk about restricting scholarships. Okay that means they recruit less and buy more later. Have a hole in your recruiting year for WRs? No biggie, just pay for developed ones.

CFB is dead. There is no going back. Much like many of the good things we enjoyed in the past that are not coming back.

 

[Irish4life]

The doom soothsayers of college football are massively overreacting IMO. CFB has been a semi-pro league since Oklahoma board of regents v NCAA, which allowed colleges and conferences to individually go after their own TV deals. The players being paid has done nothing to hinder my enjoyment of the sport, at all. Realignment will take some getting used to, but it's been a part of the sport since it's existence, it happens at every level of football. If the Pac-12 didn't dissolve because they overestimated their TV rights without USC and UCLA, the Big 12 would be collapsing this year, and Big 12 teams would be headed for the Pac/American/Mountain West/Etc. Bowls are meaningless exhibitions, but they're still fun! The 12 team CFP is gonna be weird but I think it's going to do wonders for the sport, along with the portal and NIL. I think the super teams of the 2010s are dead, and that we're entering a new world where there are a bunch of teams that can win the title every year. Ultimately, we'll see what happens.

 

[TorontoGold]

The economics of coaching contracts are insane and irreversible. Guys like Billy Napier who are completely unproven are getting north of $7M, and then tens of millions when they’re fired. Conversely, the minute a coach has a good season his contract is ripped and his pay escalates even further (that used to be what bonuses are for but okay). Some of these coaching contracts are setting back programs several years when they go sideways, and in some cases the coach is unfireable simply because it’s too expensive, which puts the program even further in a hole.

Coaches should just.....get paid less cuz I said so lol. I wonder if this writer has heard of a novel concept "market value", you can't exist in an environment where the schools/conference can shop their product for TV/branding deals and the coaches can't do the same.

There’s zero governance of player pay, so kids who are barely of voting age are effectively now professional athletes. And there’s no way to collectively bargain and implement some guardrails or limitations due to the size and scope of college athletics as well as the implications of the O’Bannon and Alston rulings. There’s no contractual tie-ins, so there’s nothing tying to the player to a school.

Has this writer heard of paid internships? You know, the ones where students can work a summer job and get paid slightly less than what graduates would get paid for completing similar work? Does the writer think that NFL players get paid the same amount as CFB players?
L O L

Almost zero restrictions on transfers (limitless transfers are coming) and no oversight or penalties for tampering have effectively made players mercenaries and eroded continuity and program loyalty. Not having a great season? Forget working harder, just quit and go elsewhere.

Freedom of movement for people oh no! Regular students don't like the program they're in can transfer to another school *gasp* as long as that school accepts them. Not to mention, coaching staff have a bad year and want to move schools they can resign, players? Nah stay.

Conference realignment has killed any sense of regionalism that made the sport what it was, bulldozed historical rivalries in favor of ESPN-pushed matchups to bolster TV ratings(Oregon-Ohio State?), and it’s eroded program identity. It’s absolutely absurd to me that programs like Washington and UCLA will be traveling to places like Piscataway and College Park for conference matchups in all sports.

So, did this writer hear about the protected matchups in the SEC/Big10? I think most CFB fans would be ok trading the yearly Michigan/Maryland game for a UW matchup again.

Bowl season, which was once upon a time the unique crown jewel of college football, has devolved into a watered down, shittier version of the NFL preseason. The games are rendered completely moot by opt outs and transfers, leading to many games featuring mostly 2nd and 3rd string players being starters, and played in completely empty stadiums.

This one is fair, but there is still value for fans that like to get a glimpse at the future.

Let’s face it, college football has effectively devolved into a semi-pro league with better branding. Maybe that’s what people want, but not me, and all of the above erodes forever what made college football unique and special.

Maybe it’s just me, but over the last few years my interest in a sport I used to obsessively love has significantly waned to the point where I don’t really care anymore.

Huge reply-guy-on-twitter-announcing-they're-unfollowing energy. Ok? Go watch the NHL if want to watch restrictive labor rights sports with a draft.

 

[fightingirish26]

Been hearing this doomsday stuff about CFB since I was born, everyone still watches. Literally think ACamp makes a big point to announce his apathy multiple times a season.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

The fact that people are moaning about how this is just now become a semi pro league are really only mad about the leverage the players now have. Suddenly the help gets opportunities and everything is coming to an end. It's always been a semi pro league for football. There is no minor league like baseball or hockey. No developmental league, CBA, Israel or Turkey like basketball. No academies like European Football. College football supplied assets to the NFL in the form of players. There was no other outlet. The old men yelling at clouds are plenty old enough to remember SMU.

The players have leverage now and suddenly the pearls are being clutched. Really sucks to be these folks who are just now getting woke to what this has already all been about for frigging decades.

 

[notredomer23]

I don't love the shady way in which payments are being made, but I've never understood why people have a problem with "kids who are barely voting age" making money when they'd be able to make money at the same age for any other profession or literally any other sport for that matter. There's about 35 Americans in Major League Soccer under the age of 20 who make between $85K-$150K, and a fraction of the people watch that. Form a competent governing organization and let these players make their money.

 

[IrishLax]

Kylie Jenner was a billionaire at age 21. Billionaire, not millionaire. With no discernible skills… certainly none with the finite window of peak athleticism.

College athletes absolutely deserve to be compensated and I’d argue that the issues we’re seeing have more to do with an antiquated and inequitable model for organizing the sport than anything else.

I would argue that things are getting better - not worse - but we are stuck in a weird, messy transition period. The ONLY clearly bad thing that is happening is conference consolidation for media $$. This would be solved simply by decoupling football from other collegiate sports… but that’s easier said than done.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

It feels like most of the angst is directed at football and basketball, which are the revenue sports in college for the vast majority of schools. I honestly can't figure it out. MLB drafts players directly out of high school. They go to the minor leagues and skip college. Hockey drafts teenagers every year. The Chicago Blackhawks selected Connor Bedard this past summer and he starts now in the NHL.

That Logan Paul goof made millions by the time they were 18 for acting like a jagwad on YouTube. Rarely a pearl clutched there.

The free room and board counter point is null and void at this point. If you play that card, you're just an idiot. Sorry, not sorry. We're far past that point and it isn't even relevant to discuss further. This is the hand we're dealt.

Gridiron and Hoops are a problem for people. I have a hard time getting it. Freedom, opportunity and pursuit of happiness really should apply to athletics.

 

[NDohio]

Kylie Jenner was a billionaire at age 21. Billionaire, not millionaire. With no discernible skills… certainly none with the finite window of peak athleticism.

College athletes absolutely deserve to be compensated and I’d argue that the issues we’re seeing have more to do with an antiquated and inequitable model for organizing the sport than anything else.

I would argue that things are getting better - not worse - but we are stuck in a weird, messy transition period. The ONLY clearly bad thing that is happening is conference consolidation for media $$. This would be solved simply by decoupling football from other collegiate sports… but that’s easier said than done.

There is going to be some transition to whatever it is that college football will look like in the future, but overall I am pretty excited by it. As NIL gets sorted out I do believe that there will be more balance in college football. Missouri is a great example of a team that is pulling a few top rated players each season away from the traditional powers. As more and more schools begin to do that, the big boys will have less and less capability to hoard talent.

Even though the Bowls are going to be lessened in their importance, the college football playoffs are going to be off the chain. Late November through early January next year is going to be phenomenal. Playoff games on campuses!!! I can't wait for that.

 

[Katzenboyer]

The same things were written when the NCAA's broadcast rights plan was deemed to violate federal antitrust laws.

For every person bemoaning the "loss of what makes college football great," there are 5 others who continue to love it in the same way they've always had. But the players deserve to collect off their name, image, and likeness, and that won't change anything about the sport beyond esoteric "well, it wasn't always like this!" arguments that really don't make much sense when you boil things down.

The name on the front of the jersey is, and always has been, more important than the one on the back.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

These 6-6 teams that go to bowls, what do they really get out of it other than the extra practices? It's sponsorship and TV in the end who benefit. Over the years it has been shown that these teams going to these games maybe break even and don't actually get any profit from going to these games.

Why not have post season practices for all programs or add extra practices in the spring? We went from 20 bowls in 1997 to over 40 in 2023. Even with a 12 team playoff, there are still way too many games that nobody really gives a damn about. Even the most ardent college football fans have multiple streaming options to watch things besides sports.

The value is in the practices in getting to 6-6 and being in a bowl.

 

[stlnd01]

IMO the only major problem w/college football right now is how the combo of the instant portal + NIL allow the top teams to basically buy off the best players from middle-class teams.

The middle-class teams - I’m talking bottom half of the P5 - have, themselves, a lot of fans and often a proud history. If those fans come to see their teams as, effectively, farm systems for their wealthier rivals, and thus tune out, the sport has a major problem.

A lesser problem is the decline of regional rivalries due to conference consolidation.

Most of the rest of it is just noise.

 

[Irish#1]

I'm not so sure CFB has ever been all that "pure & innocent" going back to the 60's when I started watching. One difference today is there was no digital media and internet back then which helped keep many of these actions and transactions hush hush all the way up to the last 20 years.

I think it's going to take a couple more years of NIL and donators getting burned before we see that settle into something more normal. I don't begrudge any kid getting the money if they can, but I'm not of fan of these kids becoming mercenaries and shopping their skills via the portal every year.

Coaches salaries have gotten out of hand, but if the kids can get theirs, why not the coaches? Whatever the market will bear.

Most bowl games are a joke today. I'm not going to watch a 7-5 team play a 6-6 team. I probably watched fewer bowl games this year than ever. The playoff will help renew interest.

 

[KMac151993]

Lots of problems on all sides and at this point everyone is a bad guy in the destruction of a once great thing.

 

[forkbeard3777]

Kylie Jenner was a billionaire at age 21. Billionaire, not millionaire. With no discernible skills… certainly none with the finite window of peak athleticism.

College athletes absolutely deserve to be compensated and I’d argue that the issues we’re seeing have more to do with an antiquated and inequitable model for organizing the sport than anything else.

I would argue that things are getting better - not worse - but we are stuck in a weird, messy transition period. The ONLY clearly bad thing that is happening is conference consolidation for media $$. This would be solved simply by decoupling football from other collegiate sports… but that’s easier said than done.

Possibly. Possibly not. I guess it depends on how you look at it.

College football is deeply rooted on tradition. Some longstanding rivalries were effectively "killed off" (albeit, some are coming back) - Nebraska vs. Oklahoma, Texas vs. Texas A&M, Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State, Washington vs. Washington State, Oregon vs. Oregon State, etc.

Also, the new format will be better for some and undoubtedly worse for others. Meaning, I’d hate to be a fan of Oregon State, Washington State, and plenty of others ... even Clemson and FSU are in a tough, uncomfortable spot.

Maybe it'll settle itself out. As mentioned, we're still stuck in this transitional period. I do think the product will be greatly whittled down - if you aren't in the Big Ten, SEC, Notre Dame, or an extremely small handful of other teams, you'll be shown no deference. That said, the Playoffs should be great, assuming they do a home-campus format and not neutral sites.

 

[irishff1014]

It feels like most of the angst is directed at football and basketball, which are the revenue sports in college for the vast majority of schools. I honestly can't figure it out. MLB drafts players directly out of high school. They go to the minor leagues and skip college. Hockey drafts teenagers every year. The Chicago Blackhawks selected Connor Bedard this past summer and he starts now in the NHL.

That Logan Paul goof made millions by the time they were 18 for acting like a jagwad on YouTube. Rarely a pearl clutched there.

The free room and board counter point is null and void at this point. If you play that card, you're just an idiot. Sorry, not sorry. We're far past that point and it isn't even relevant to discuss further. This is the hand we're dealt.

Gridiron and Hoops are a problem for people. I have a hard time getting it. Freedom, opportunity and pursuit of happiness really should apply to athletics.

I won’t disagree but they aren’t worth 250k a year either.

 

[forkbeard3777]

IMO the only major problem w/college football right now is how the combo of the instant portal + NIL allow the top teams to basically buy off the best players from middle-class teams.

The middle-class teams - I’m talking bottom half of the P5 - have, themselves, a lot of fans and often a proud history. If those fans come to see their teams as, effectively, farm systems for their wealthier rivals, and thus tune out, the sport has a major problem.

A lesser problem is the decline of regional rivalries due to conference consolidation.

Most of the rest of it is just noise.

Imagine being a fun of Purdue, Indiana, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Kansas, Oregon State, West Virginia...your top talent is about to be raided.

 

[forkbeard3777]

I won’t disagree but they aren’t worth 250k a year either.

Agreed.

Just for shits and giggles, prior to the 2023 season, what dollar figure would you have assigned to the following:

Hartman
Estime
Love
Alt
Merriweather
Faison
Bertrand
Morrison
Liufau
Watts

 

[MacIrish75]

I imagine people said the same thing about the MLB and Curt Flood back in the 1970s. Free agency didn’t kill baseball—lots of other factors did.

Same thing applies here. NIL and the portal aren’t inherently bad, they just need some regulation.

 

[Armyirish47]

I love football...when it's pure.

 

[tussin]

Good things:

• Players getting paid
• Freedom of movement
• More long-term parity within the top 25 teams

Bad things:

• Conference consolidation and the disappearance of regional schedules
• Death of some great traditional rivalries
• Bowl season generally blows
• Impassable barriers between haves and have-nots -- why even bother following Pitt, Utah, Syracuse, Oregon State, Washington State, BYU, WVU?

After typing that out, it's clear that I have little issue with NIL and the Transfer Portal and all my frustrations are with the suits at ESPN and Fox. The sport would be awesome if conferences were exactly as they were in 2000. The only clear negative of NIL and Transfer Portal is more bowl opt-outs, but I am hopeful that bowl guarantees / bonuses begin to make their way into NIL contracts.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I love football...when it's pure.

Well done.

Jonathan Moxon is just one man.

 

[HouseofPain]

I just dont see why players should get paid. I mean, you are talking about a 18 year old kid that has zero skills except for catching a football. Give them a great college education, give them some play money to take some ladies out on dates and that's it! If that isnt acceptable, then form a semi pro team and let them go to the hamburger grinder to see if they can make it to the pros. College should be about college, not the pros. Semi pro would prepare them more for a future in the pros anyway since it would be all day football without any distraction of classes (not that they go to classes anyway).

So what the talent at the college level decreases? So a kid running 4.8 instead of 4.3 is still moving pretty dang fast and if the elite isnt there anymore, everyone moves slower. Check out the football players back in the days. You had a white running back running a 5.2 yet people sat in the seats to cheer them on.

And the reference to Kylie Jenner is just icing on the cake. 0% talent with money backing her.

Sadly, we are in a time of zero character and flash in the pans.

 

[Irish4life]

The best thing possible for the sport is having the big name teams from each region compete for and win championships. The worst thing for the sport is/was the champions consolidating into one region/conference.

 

[stlnd01]

I just dont see why players should get paid. I mean, you are talking about a 18 year old kid that has zero skills except for catching a football. Give them a great college education, give them some play money to take some ladies out on dates and that's it! If that isnt acceptable, then form a semi pro team and let them go to the hamburger grinder to see if they can make it to the pros. College should be about college, not the pros. Semi pro would prepare them more for a future in the pros anyway since it would be all day football without any distraction of classes (not that they go to classes anyway).

So what the talent at the college level decreases? So a kid running 4.8 instead of 4.3 is still moving pretty dang fast and if the elite isnt there anymore, everyone moves slower. Check out the football players back in the days. You had a white running back running a 5.2 yet people sat in the seats to cheer them on.

And the reference to Kylie Jenner is just icing on the cake. 0% talent with money backing her.

Sadly, we are in a time of zero character and flash in the pans.

What if they want to take dudes out on dates? Is that OK? Or is the play money just for ladies?

 

[HouseofPain]

What if they want to take dudes out on dates? Is that OK? Or is the play money just for ladies?

If they want to take dudes out, they got a lot more problems to worry about than carrying a football my friend...

 

[FDNYIrish1]

The world evolves. I’m completely cool with kids being compensated for their skills. Let the market dictate their worth. I’m not as thrilled with paying huge cash for the HS kids, but I suspect that will sort itself out in the future. People have been getting rich for a long time off these athletes. College football hasn’t been ‘amateur’ in a long time.

 

[MacIrish75]

I just dont see why players should get paid. I mean, you are talking about a 18 year old kid that has zero skills except for catching a football. Give them a great college education, give them some play money to take some ladies out on dates and that's it! If that isnt acceptable, then form a semi pro team and let them go to the hamburger grinder to see if they can make it to the pros. College should be about college, not the pros. Semi pro would prepare them more for a future in the pros anyway since it would be all day football without any distraction of classes (not that they go to classes anyway).

So what the talent at the college level decreases? So a kid running 4.8 instead of 4.3 is still moving pretty dang fast and if the elite isnt there anymore, everyone moves slower. Check out the football players back in the days. You had a white running back running a 5.2 yet people sat in the seats to cheer them on.

And the reference to Kylie Jenner is just icing on the cake. 0% talent with money backing her.

Sadly, we are in a time of zero character and flash in the pans.

You should be able to profit off of your abilities, period. Being a college athlete shouldn’t preclude you from doing so. If kids can rake millions for unboxing toys on YouTube, then so should Sam Hartman. If some college kid can make millions streaming himself playing video games on Twitch, then so should Audric be able to.

The “they get a full ride” argument is so tired. Look, I fully value education—especially a college education. I had a full academic ride that paid for just as much of my schools as any athlete at Indiana State. And what did I bring to the table for the university? An uncanny ability to miss way too many of my 8am classes after consuming a few dozen too many Busch Lattes.

Let the kids make scratch off their abilities and their willingness to put their bodies on the line to make literal billions for the university. The education just isn’t an equitable ROI in the year of our lord 2023.