College or pro?

[ShivaIrish]

I'm going to jump of the espn bandwagon here (big college v. pro debate going on if you don't know) and ask a similar question. I assume most here actually do prefer college football over pro, but why? Is it just ND allegiance?

Personally, Football Saturday is close to a holiday for me. I watch all my favorite teams with ND taking precedence, and all the other big and important games. The NFL just seems too sterile and business-like. I do like the Bears, but every other game I usually skip. There's just something about that Saturday morning, waking up, not having to worry about being nagged....

 

[nayers]

I’ll be the first to make this argument. The college game is full of so many intangibles that simply do not exist in the NFL. The NFL has the edge obviously when it comes to talent,(duh) but the college game has more passion per school, and more hatred towards that teams rivals. There are 117 Division 1A teams, compared to the 32 team setup in the NFL. The tradition that follows individual programs is far greater than that of the pro game.

 

[BGIF]

I'll echo the first two posts, perhaps even stronger. I used to watch college and NFL. Never used to miss MNF. Came the strike and I lost interest completely in the NFL. (Pretty much MLB as well) If I'm gonna spend time watching millionaires compete I'd rather watch Warren Buffet.

I can't stand T.O., Bonds, or Spreewell. I like the kids that put it on the line without an agent or a gold plated shoe contract. I like Shark one handing a Quinn pass for 6 but get just as much joy over Mooney completing his career pass, O'Neill busting up the middle for 8 yards, or the much maligned Ivory Covington making a season saving stick on a guy that outweighs him by 70 pounds.

The talent is definitely superior in the pros but I don't see the passion. I don't see the risk taking like the college game. "Rudy" is college football. The NFL has all the excitement of the two computers squaring off. The Cowboys versus the Redskins or whoever the top matchup is these days doesn't compare with Alabama/Auburn, OSU v UM, The Red River Shootout, or ND v USC. I'd rather watch Army and Navy than the Stupid Bowl.

I'm a longtime ND fan but now every Saturday is New Year's day now. I turn the sets on and watch college ball from 10:00 am to the PAC10 or MWC closes down. I usually watch the ND game a second time with lots of replays and slo mo.

 

[NDAlumSon]

I usually watch the ND game a second time with lots of replays and slo mo.

Thank God for TiVo, huh? Me too.

 

[Dannyboy Ayers]

at the college level it seems to be more about the name on the front of the jersey versus the name on the back like the pro's, granted you have special cases like the leader of a team but for the most part it is more pure and about the team and the game not the money and the fame.

 

[nayers]

free agency and the salary cap has ruined the purity, passion, and loyalty of the pro game

 

[The Chosen One]

I'm going to jump of the espn bandwagon here (big college v. pro debate going on if you don't know) and ask a similar question. I assume most here actually do prefer college football over pro, but why? Is it just ND allegiance?

Personally, Football Saturday is close to a holiday for me. I watch all my favorite teams with ND taking precedence, and all the other big and important games. The NFL just seems too sterile and business-like. I do like the Bears, but every other game I usually skip. There's just something about that Saturday morning, waking up, not having to worry about being nagged....

i agree. when you wake up on saturday morning i cant really describe it but it feel good. it must be the fall air or something? then you go to the kitchen and grab a bite and sit ur but down and watch college gameday as u cound down the seconds until kickoff.

 

[BGIF]

free agency and the salary cap has ruined the purity, passion, and loyalty of the pro game

Good points, Dan!

 

[onenybrother]

Like asking me which son do I like the best. They both bring me much joy. Let go Giants.

 

[iloveirish_12]

I like college way better. It has more to the game than the NFL. Also, you can watch college all day, unlike the NFL where you can only watch like 3 games.

 

[lattedatte]

free agency and the salary cap has ruined the purity, passion, and loyalty of the pro game

True, but parity has been assured by the salary cap and that, along with an actual playoff system, are the only two things that the NFL has over NCAA. Every other aspect, and I mean EVERY one, NCAA is king.

I'm a huge fan of the salary cap, but consider the source, I live in Pittsburgh.

 

[scooper]

I like the parity of the NFL. And free agency and the salary cap. It makes every offseason exciting for everybody. However, I much prefer college football overall.

 

[jiggafini19]

The Cowboys versus the Redskins or whoever the top matchup is these days doesn't compare with Alabama/Auburn, OSU v UM, The Red River Shootout, or ND v USC.

BGIF nails it here. This is why I like College Football so much more.

Free agency does not really allow for rivalries in pro sports. The fans care more about Bears vs. Packers, Redskins vs. Cowboys, Steelers vs. Browns.

I remember the Bulls used to square off against the Pistons and Knicks in some very competitive basketball games. The Heat and Pacers later became rivals. Now, I can't honestly name a rival the Bulls have.

MLB is pretty much Yankees and Red Sox, two spoiled brats of the block that throw tantrums at each other every winter in free agency. Yawn, yawn, boring.

In college football, the game's best rivalry is usually between two schools that aren't even powerhouses anymore in Army and Navy. I think they met recently and they had maybe 2 or 3 wins combined. Auburn vs. Bama, Michigan vs. Ohio State, Texas vs. Oklahoma are great games and great rivalries regardless of record.

 

[lattedatte]

I'm just wondering though, who on this board really truly prefers the way NCAA settles it's champion over the NFL and why?

My thoughts, NCAA Football is the best sport in the world and it has the worst way of settling the champion. It's BS, a playoff is the only way to settle a true champion.

 

[Irish Legend]

free agency and the salary cap has ruined the purity, passion, and loyalty of the pro game

That applies to most pro sports!