College Football: End of an Era

[Irish#1]

S E C! S E C!

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

The majority of P4 head coaching negotiations start like this:

What you get when they fire you comes first. Then they start doing years, numbers, country club memberships and all the other perk ad ons. Then they finalize. Then your players find out you're leaving via social media, you call a team meeting that lasts 90 seconds and your wife starts packing.

So the players start asking about what's in it for them and want certain considerations like reps and money, and that means the world is coming to an end. The truth of the matter is adults fucked this all up a long time ago and now that the players are finally able to get the cut they deserve, adult fans of college football who have somehow been convinced this is all the end are losing their shit. Guys like Saban and Dabo need to take a good long look in the mirror, but so do a lot of college football fans doing their chicken little act. Ask themselves what's it all really about.

I don't blame Nick Saban one bit for missing the good old days when he ran roughshod over everyone and held Alabama's feet to the fire to get a raise every time Texas fired a head coach because he lost so much money in the Great Recession due to failed investments. The guy is human. He cares about what's best for him. When what's best for him came into conflict with how college football began to operate, he retired with absolutely nothing left to prove. Plenty of all time greats didn't get to go out that way.

Just don't piss on my head and tell me it's raining. Might work with his kiss ass chorus worshipping his every word, but not here.

 

[forkbeard3777]

You act like playing college football is some form of indentured servitude though. The players, whether paid or not, are receiving some benefit and services not afforded to others.

College football is a big money business, and currently, there is little to no protections for the school (“employer”).

And Saban, out of all people, deserved those “multiple bonuses of $100K plus.”

 

[forkbeard3777]

Says the guy who received multiple bonuses of $100K plus for having graduation rates that didn't even touch 90% when he was at Alabama.

Give me a fucking break already.

First article I found (from 2020):

Study: Graduation gap widens between white, Black athletes

Of the four teams in this year College Football Playoff competing for the national championship, the survey found that Alabama, Clemson and Notre Dame had strong academic standing “while Ohio State lagged behind,” Lapchick said.

Notre Dame graduated 91% of its football players, Alabama 88% and Clemson 83%. Ohio State graduated just 69% of its football players.

Among Black football players, Alabama graduated 84%, Notre Dame 82% and Clemson 77%. Ohio State graduated 60% of its Black players.

Alabama and Clemson graduated 100% of their white football players, Notre Dame 96% and Ohio State 90%.

 

[TorontoGold]

You act like playing college football is some form of indentured servitude though. The players, whether paid or not, are receiving some benefit and services not afforded to others.

College football is a big money business, and currently, there is little to no protections for the school (“employer”).

And Saban, out of all people, deserved those “multiple bonuses of $100K plus.”

No protections? My guy, the school can pull the scholarship of the players.

Seriously, what kind of protections should a school have that they don't currently have?

Most schools get public funding as well. Maybe bring the same smoke for the schools that take state funds? Surely you have an issue with them running at losses yet are spending more on expanding facilities? Or, is it easier to grind the athlete down because you can put a name to a face and well, kids these days are just so damn entitled! (insert old man yelling at the clouds . jpeg)

 

[forkbeard3777]

Sure, scholarships may be pulled, but the overwhelming majority are not - absent exigent circumstances. They are typically always renewed, even if the player isn’t a producer.

In terms of school protection, they’re in a tough spot with the current system, which is an unrestricted, free agency “pay for play” with no cap.

Don’t get me wrong, the school and the athletic departments aren’t hurting, monetarily, but imagine trying to coach and build and maintain rosters with the system in place. They already have such short leashes as is …

 

[stlnd01]

First article I found (from 2020):

Study: Graduation gap widens between white, Black athletes

Alabama definitely upped its graduation rates under Saban. This is true.

 

[Irish#1]

With free agency and NIL I understand why the older coaches are getting out. They want to know the player is going to be there and not ask, what's in it for me" after being told they have to get so many lifts in that week.

More power to the kids for getting money, but something needs to be done to restore some type of structure that benefits the players and the schools.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

You act like playing college football is some form of indentured servitude though. The players, whether paid or not, are receiving some benefit and services not afforded to others.

College football is a big money business, and currently, there is little to no protections for the school (“employer”).

And Saban, out of all people, deserved those “multiple bonuses of $100K plus.”

No, I do not.

And, no, he did not.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Sure, scholarships may be pulled, but the overwhelming majority are not - absent exigent circumstances. They are typically always renewed, even if the player isn’t a producer.

In terms of school protection, they’re in a tough spot with the current system, which is an unrestricted, free agency “pay for play” with no cap.

Don’t get me wrong, the school and the athletic departments aren’t hurting, monetarily, but imagine trying to coach and build and maintain rosters with the system in place. They already have such short leashes as is …

Evidenced by how much buyout money paid to fired head coaches this past winter?

Even if you factor out Jimbo's Texas freedom sized number, it was still a lot.

 

[NDohio]

It's an interesting time. College athletes are now being fairly well compensated and have way more freedoms than professional athletes. Something is going to give at some point. College athletes currently have the best of both worlds and it isn't sustainable.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

The game has changed, and coaching it will have to change. That's life. Everything changes. You either accept it or you don't. Change is inevitable and resistance is futile. I've been with my current company for ten years. They change so much it's almost like they're doing it for the sake of doing it. Like changing socks.

When I was 13, we had a rotary phone on our wall. Now my oldest is 13 and she carries a phone in her pocket. It's fine. Really.

Saban is a coach. He's going to lean to what is best for coaches, and most of them were all chasing him for a long time because he set a ridiculous standard with his success. When all of this first began, didn't a lot of us just assume that The Portal and NIL was going to make Alabama even stronger than they already were prior to it? I know I thought it would be a strong possibility. That didn't really happen though. UGA stepped over them and became a bit better. Players have stopped going pro early and are staying in college football. That causes parity even if they are not transferring and just staying put. It all ended up being bad for Nick in the end, and it showed. He went a miserable 36-6 in his last three seasons after covid.

The "end of an era" stuff probably isn't going to play out in TV ratings and attendance. The schools that always sell out are going to continue to do so. People are still going to tune in, and with expanded playoffs we get more options. The "game is gone" people are going to be just fine. They're still going to watch, and even if they don't, they'll somehow find a way to have commentary about what is going on. Everyone who stopped watching the NFL can't wait to tell people they stopped watching. Do what you've gotta do, but nobody cares.

 

[KMac151993]

Can't wait to watch it implode.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Can't wait to watch it implode.

How exactly is this going to happen?

 

[KMac151993]

How exactly is this going to happen?

Wait till the first group of kids realizes you have to pay taxes on all this NIL money....or as we are seeing them unionize in the Ivy, wait till the first player is fired mid-season for sub-par play.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Wait till the first group of kids realizes you have to pay taxes on all this NIL money....or as we are seeing them unionize in the Ivy, wait till the first player is fired mid-season for sub-par play.

And this will cause the sport to implode?

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

College Football Playoff, ESPN finalize exclusive rights agreement through '31-32

The $1.3 billion annual average marks an increase from the $608 million average in ESPN’s original seven-game deal that began in 2014-15.

theathletic.com

Commence your pearl clutching.

Wait, this isn't players getting money, it's business as usual. As you were.

 

[Irish#1]

Clemson suing ACC over exit fees. Looks like it's just a matter of time before they leave.

Clemson joins Florida State, becomes second school to sue ACC as it seeks to exit conference

Clemson has filed a lawsuit against the Atlantic Coast Conference in a South Carolina court. It joins Florida State to become the second member school to challenge the league's right to charge hundreds of millions of dollars to leave.

apnews.com

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/03/19/clemson-sues-acc-exit-fees-florida-state/

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

cOlLeGe fOoTbAlL iS gOiNg tO iMpLoDe

 

[zelezo vlk]

Not sure where else to put this, but on today's Irish Illustrated Overtime, John Brice said that multiple teams caught their opponents tampering during post-game handshakes in both football and basketball. There's at least one basketball program considering ending post-game handshakes apparently.

 

[GrangerIrish24]

Not sure where else to put this, but on today's Irish Illustrated Overtime, John Brice said that multiple teams caught their opponents tampering during post-game handshakes in both football and basketball. There's at least one basketball program considering ending post-game handshakes apparently.

Thats pretty much what USC did with Benjamin Morrison 2 years ago

 

[IA4irish]

Not sure where else to put this, but on today's Irish Illustrated Overtime, John Brice said that multiple teams caught their opponents tampering during post-game handshakes in both football and basketball. There's at least one basketball program considering ending post-game handshakes apparently.

It was hard to listen to that podcast and sound optimistic about anything in college football in the future. What a nightmare. No oversight. Teams doing whatever they want. Blatant tampering everywhere

 

[Irish#1]

It was hard to listen to that podcast and sound optimistic about anything in college football in the future. What a nightmare. No oversight. Teams doing whatever they want. Blatant tampering everywhere

It's been going on forever. They were just more discreet until the last couple of years.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

It's been going on forever. They were just more discreet until the last couple of years.

I agree with this. Just feels like in the last ten years or so our society in general is nowhere near as discreet as it used to be. The Pandemic didn't help matters at all because behaviors were already deteriorating and 2020-2021 only accelerated that. Like gas on a fire. Where there are large sums of money and profit involved, the matter becomes far worse.

Do or say whatever you want in plain sight, however heinous, with no regard for anyone else around you. Especially when there isn't any accountability or consequences to face. Individuals as well as collective groups are very over brazen because they know no one is going to stop them from doing what they're doing, so just keep going with it.

This spilled over into most aspects of life, including sports, and look no further than Michigan. They'll get a slap on the wrist....maybe? You can also point back to Miami, UNC, Penn State....all over them should have been put to the sword to some degree. There should have been consequences (or more severe longer lasting ones in the case of Penn State). We're about half way into 2024 and I think the world needs a hard post Pandemic reset in various areas, many of them serious ones, but on a less important scale sports needs to pump the brakes a bit as well.

Post game handshakes are something I think should be optional at the college level and beyond. The tradition of doing them at the end of a Stanley Cup playoff series is pretty cool and I think it's fine for scholastic sports, but apart from that, it's a sentimental gesture that isn't entirely necessary if not outdated.

 

[INLaw]

I agree with this. Just feels like in the last ten years or so our society in general is nowhere near as discreet as it used to be. The Pandemic didn't help matters at all because behaviors were already deteriorating and 2020-2021 only accelerated that. Like gas on a fire. Where there are large sums of money and profit involved, the matter becomes far worse.

Do or say whatever you want in plain sight, however heinous, with no regard for anyone else around you. Especially when there isn't any accountability or consequences to face. Individuals as well as collective groups are very over brazen because they know no one is going to stop them from doing what they're doing, so just keep going with it.

This spilled over into most aspects of life, including sports, and look no further than Michigan. They'll get a slap on the wrist....maybe? You can also point back to Miami, UNC, Penn State....all over them should have been put to the sword to some degree. There should have been consequences (or more severe longer lasting ones in the case of Penn State). We're about half way into 2024 and I think the world needs a hard post Pandemic reset in various areas, many of them serious ones, but on a less important scale sports needs to pump the brakes a bit as well.

Post game handshakes are something I think should be optional at the college level and beyond. The tradition of doing them at the end of a Stanley Cup playoff series is pretty cool and I think it's fine for scholastic sports, but apart from that, it's a sentimental gesture that isn't entirely necessary if not outdated.

⬆️ this

 

[IrishLax]

Not sure where else to put this, but on today's Irish Illustrated Overtime, John Brice said that multiple teams caught their opponents tampering during post-game handshakes in both football and basketball. There's at least one basketball program considering ending post-game handshakes apparently.

Some of this to me seems a little "over cooked"... anything you could do in a handshake line you could do via text, via an agent, etc. These college coaches and college players can get to anyone they want at any time and keep their hands clean in doing so... and many of them have pre-existing relationships with players on other teams.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Some of this to me seems a little "over cooked"... anything you could do in a handshake line you could do via text, via an agent, etc. These college coaches and college players can get to anyone they want at any time and keep their hands clean in doing so... and many of them have pre-existing relationships with players on other teams.

That was something John Brice and Tim O'Malley were saying, that there are smart ways to reach out to players but that teams don't even bother pretending anymore and are blatantly tampering right after games.

Another thing John Brice brought up is many new NIL deals include buyout clauses where players would have to pay back some of the deal if they transfer

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

That was something John Brice and Tim O'Malley were saying, that there are smart ways to reach out to players but that teams don't even bother pretending anymore and are blatantly tampering right after games.

Another thing John Brice brought up is many new NIL deals include buyout clauses where players would have to pay back some of the deal if they transfer

Which is wild considering one of the few clear-cut rules for NIL deals is they cannot be directly dependent on attending a particular school. Now, there are ways to craft them to get the result you want and avoid a blatant conflict with that rule; but those sorts of clauses don't even have a fig leaf of cover. There is no attempt at compliance.

 

[stlnd01]

Some of this to me seems a little "over cooked"... anything you could do in a handshake line you could do via text, via an agent, etc. These college coaches and college players can get to anyone they want at any time and keep their hands clean in doing so... and many of them have pre-existing relationships with players on other teams.

Probably more effectively.
But, what, you're going to tell guys after a football game they can't mill around on the field for a few minutes and say hi to their pals from high school? Or coaches they got to know during recruiting? They have to march straight back to the locker room so no one tries to make them sign an NIL deal on the 40 yard line?

 

[KMac151993]

Which is wild considering one of the few clear-cut rules for NIL deals is they cannot be directly dependent on attending a particular school. Now, there are ways to craft them to get the result you want and avoid a blatant conflict with that rule; but those sorts of clauses don't even have a fig leaf of cover. There is no attempt at compliance.

Who is enforcing compliance!? Who cares at this point, it is the wild west. There are 0 rules. scUM just cheated their way to a title and so what. We have gone backwards 100 years and have semi pro teams again.