Follow the Money - The Big Business of College Football

[Huntr]

Bert realizing in real time he'll never coach in the Super League.

 

[IrishLax]

The funny thing is they are going to take what was a fun product and burn it to the ground just because they are dumbasses.

The whole thing is absurd to me because the Big Ten and SEC started this arms race (it really traces all the way back to the Big Ten Network) with media $$. And the SEC started the "competitiveness" arms race by brazenly breaking some rules and bending some other rules (JUCOs, gray shirts). Now they are the ones crying about $$$ and "fairness."

Any bill that doesn't also limit conference size and encourage regionality is missing the mark on what is actually required to "save" college football. Instead, the bills are all focused on making it cheaper for the less wealthy schools.

 

[KMac151993]

The whole thing is absurd to me because the Big Ten and SEC started this arms race (it really traces all the way back to the Big Ten Network) with media $$. And the SEC started the "competitiveness" arms race by brazenly breaking some rules and bending some other rules (JUCOs, gray shirts). Now they are the ones crying about $$$ and "fairness."

Any bill that doesn't also limit conference size and encourage regionality is missing the mark on what is actually required to "save" college football. Instead, the bills are all focused on making it cheaper for the less wealthy schools.

It really goes back to ND and the SEC...ND getting the TV deal and all the revenue and the SEC starting a championship game.

 

[Huntr]

College football has been rife with cheating and paying players to get an advantage since its inception. Literally, the entirety of its existence.

 

[burmafrd1944]

It really goes back to ND and the SEC...ND getting the TV deal and all the revenue and the SEC starting a championship game.

it all goes back to money.

 

[irish2104]

The SEC wants to limit other schools spending so they can start cheating again... simply has that

 

[MeanGreenBeans]

EXACTLY.

 

[burmafrd1944]

The SEC wants to limit other schools spending so they can start cheating again... simply has that

SEC had been funneling money to players for decades and while some of that was done elsewhere no one did it as much. Though I guess the old Southwest Conference was probably up there pretty good as well.

Now that NIL is evening the playing field so much, they want to get their edge back

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I said it from day one: you start giving these kids money above board, that they 100% deserve, and give them the freedom to move via transfer without restriction, it's going to hold up a mirror to our society and sports culture. Mission Accomplished. Let's see a Venn Diagram of the small government freedom fighters that are cheering on Federal legislation to stop all of the madness.

If some kid wants to play ball at four schools in four years to get paid that's between him, his parents and or handlers and the programs that are willing to take him. For years we looked down from our ivory tower as ND fans scoffing at schools for their low graduation rates, so what difference does it make if a kid stays in the same place for 3-5 years or keeping hopping around. I don't give a shit.

For somebody like Nick Saban who made millions upon millions of dollars at Michigan State, LSU, the Miami Dolphins and Alabama to sanctimoniously shout from the rooftops how all of this is now bad and needs "fixing" rings very very hollow. Dog with fleas that won't hunt. College Football has always been the NFL minor league and it's lacked parity for a very long time. All that's changed is who is now allowed to cash in and move without restriction.

 

[burmafrd1944]

I said it from day one: you start giving these kids money above board, that they 100% deserve, and give them the freedom to move via transfer without restriction, it's going to hold up a mirror to our society and sports culture. Mission Accomplished. Let's see a Venn Diagram of the small government freedom fighters that are cheering on Federal legislation to stop all of the madness.

If some kid wants to play ball at four schools in four years to get paid that's between him, his parents and or handlers and the programs that are willing to take him. For years we looked down from our ivory tower as ND fans scoffing at schools for their low graduation rates, so what difference does it make if a kid stays in the same place for 3-5 years or keeping hopping around. I don't give a shit.

For somebody like Nick Saban who made millions upon millions of dollars at Michigan State, LSU, the Miami Dolphins and Alabama to sanctimoniously shout from the rooftops how all of this is now bad and needs "fixing" rings very very hollow. Dog with fleas that won't hunt. College Football has always been the NFL minor league and it's lacked parity for a very long time. All that's changed is who is now allowed to cash in and move without restriction.

Let the MARKET DECIDE!

 

[KMac151993]

I said it from day one: you start giving these kids money above board, that they 100% deserve, and give them the freedom to move via transfer without restriction, it's going to hold up a mirror to our society and sports culture. Mission Accomplished. Let's see a Venn Diagram of the small government freedom fighters that are cheering on Federal legislation to stop all of the madness.

If some kid wants to play ball at four schools in four years to get paid that's between him, his parents and or handlers and the programs that are willing to take him. For years we looked down from our ivory tower as ND fans scoffing at schools for their low graduation rates, so what difference does it make if a kid stays in the same place for 3-5 years or keeping hopping around. I don't give a shit.

For somebody like Nick Saban who made millions upon millions of dollars at Michigan State, LSU, the Miami Dolphins and Alabama to sanctimoniously shout from the rooftops how all of this is now bad and needs "fixing" rings very very hollow. Dog with fleas that won't hunt. College Football has always been the NFL minor league and it's lacked parity for a very long time. All that's changed is who is now allowed to cash in and move without restriction.

Would you be ok if a player say played for Kent State...dominated all year and then transferred to say Georgia for the playoffs? So, a player that just signs or changes teams for a playoff run?

 

[burmafrd1944]

There has to be some rules; some limitations.

 

[T Town Tommy]

The B1G and the SEC will never agree to media rights revenue sharing for the P4. Neither will ND for that fact. As much as all three say they care about the future of CFB, they don’t care about the ACC or Big 12. What’s left will be what all three are currently denying… one super conference comprised of the two big dogs and ND, or two super conferences and ND - which is how I think it ends up and models the NFL model to a degree. The best bet moving forward for the Irish is to somehow remain independent but have agreements and the ability to participate in scheduling super conference teams and in whatever playoff format that will ultimately be decided.

While everyone wants to pile on St. Nick, he still sees the current model as unsustainable and he is correct. If changes don’t happen then the super conference(s) only speed up into existence. What those changes are is obviously up for debate. The courts have already shown that they won’t inhibit player rights so those solutions offered up become more difficult to navigate. The endgame will ultimately be what everyone is denying today… the only real question to settle is where and how ND fits in to it and what teams get absorbed into the super conference(s).

 

[IRISHDODGER]

The B1G and the SEC will never agree to media rights revenue sharing for the P4. Neither will ND for that fact. As much as all three say they care about the future of CFB, they don’t care about the ACC or Big 12. What’s left will be what all three are currently denying… one super conference comprised of the two big dogs and ND, or two super conferences and ND - which is how I think it ends up and models the NFL model to a degree. The best bet moving forward for the Irish is to somehow remain independent but have agreements and the ability to participate in scheduling super conference teams and in whatever playoff format that will ultimately be decided.

While everyone wants to pile on St. Nick, he still sees the current model as unsustainable and he is correct. If changes don’t happen then the super conference(s) only speed up into existence. What those changes are is obviously up for debate. The courts have already shown that they won’t inhibit player rights so those solutions offered up become more difficult to navigate. The endgame will ultimately be what everyone is denying today… the only real question to settle is where and how ND fits in to it and what teams get absorbed into the super conference(s).

I feel similarly. Folks (including ND’s AD) that feign concern over smaller programs competing is about as sincere as fans justifying their school scheduling FCS schools b/c they need the subsidy. I, too; believe the Super Conference(s) is inevitable. But in the meantime, I think their goal is to bloat the CFP as large as possible b/c that’s the fuel for more TV inventory and that’s what drives the train. It’s tv revenue that exploded the coaches’ salaries & conference TV deals. When fans say “no one wants to watch NC State play Minnesota in an opening round game”, they forget one fairly new but important factor: gambling. As popular as the NFL is, no one argues that fantasy football & gambling play a role as well.

 

[stlnd01]

I feel similarly. Folks (including ND’s AD) that feign concern over smaller programs competing is about as sincere as fans justifying their school scheduling FCS schools b/c they need the subsidy. I, too; believe the Super Conference(s) is inevitable. But in the meantime, I think their goal is to bloat the CFP as large as possible b/c that’s the fuel for more TV inventory and that’s what drives the train.

I think they are also counting eyeballs and fan bases.

There aren’t enough fans of solely the top 24 or 36 programs to support the sport on their own in a super league setting. College football needs the fans/alums of midmajor schools, too. Minnesota has almost 60,000 students. NC State has almost 40,000. That’s a ton of alums, parents, whatnot. You want them to feel like they have a chance, so they watch the games too.

Few people know that better than a TV executive, which I think is why Bevaqua has said some of the things he said. It’s not about concern for those programs per se but about maintaining broader interest in the sport.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Would you be ok if a player say played for Kent State...dominated all year and then transferred to say Georgia for the playoffs? So, a player that just signs or changes teams for a playoff run?

It's hypothetical and unlikely, but I'd consider that a bridge too far. The player should be able to transfer but not play or practice until the season is over. Then he can start playing spring ball and working out with the team. Changing teams for the playoffs seems a little off.

If that's allowed, I don't even know if I'd encourage that. Integrating a guy into your locker room, meeting rooms, playbook, etc. while you're chasing a championship. Sends the wrong message culturally. There would be guys at his position who have been grinding with the team all year and you bump them out?

 

[SeekNDestroy]

It's hypothetical and unlikely, but I'd consider that a bridge too far. The player should be able to transfer but not play or practice until the season is over. Then he can start playing spring ball and working out with the team. Changing teams for the playoffs seems a little off.

If that's allowed, I don't even know if I'd encourage that. Integrating a guy into your locker room, meeting rooms, playbook, etc. while you're chasing a championship. Sends the wrong message culturally. There would be guys at his position who have been grinding with the team all year and you bump them out?

It would be the perfect time to add a kicker if your kicker sucks or is injured.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

It would be the perfect time to add a kicker if your kicker sucks or is injured.

Whispering to your MAC transfer kicker as he heads onto the field in the National Semifinal.

 

[burmafrd1944]

It is probably going to take something really outrageous to force some kind of system or rules

 

[jerseyborn1971]

I'm not smart enough to figure it out. And I'm also selfish enough at this point to not care. The current system heavily favors Notre Dame. Although, it probably destroys my school, UCF.

 

[Huntr]

Rick Mirer's kid is a plaintiff.

 

[jerseyborn1971]

Everyone that ever set foot on any college practice field in any sport is going to sue the NCAA into oblivion.

 

[KMac151993]

It's hypothetical and unlikely, but I'd consider that a bridge too far. The player should be able to transfer but not play or practice until the season is over. Then he can start playing spring ball and working out with the team. Changing teams for the playoffs seems a little off.

If that's allowed, I don't even know if I'd encourage that. Integrating a guy into your locker room, meeting rooms, playbook, etc. while you're chasing a championship. Sends the wrong message culturally. There would be guys at his position who have been grinding with the team all year and you bump them out?

I guess one of the comments that many have made is that "regular" students can do this or that and one of the things they can do is transfer after the semester has ended. Semester ends in mid December and the playoffs don't even begin until many schools are already done...no less the spring semester actually begins before the playoffs even end. Isn't this a restriction on them?

 

[KMac151993]

Everyone that ever set foot on any college practice field in any sport is going to sue the NCAA into oblivion.

NCAA should just say fuck it and fold and go home and let all these schools and programs figure it out. I mean other than the name and symbol and money that is essentially what they are doing right now...they are no longer a governing body or rule setter - they have 0 power.

 

[burmafrd1944]

I guess one of the comments that many have made is that "regular" students can do this or that and one of the things they can do is transfer after the semester has ended. Semester ends in mid December and the playoffs don't even begin until many schools are already done...no less the spring semester actually begins before the playoffs even end. Isn't this a restriction on them?

no money involved there.

 

[Irish#1]

I feel similarly. Folks (including ND’s AD) that feign concern over smaller programs competing is about as sincere as fans justifying their school scheduling FCS schools b/c they need the subsidy. I, too; believe the Super Conference(s) is inevitable. But in the meantime, I think their goal is to bloat the CFP as large as possible b/c that’s the fuel for more TV inventory and that’s what drives the train. It’s tv revenue that exploded the coaches’ salaries & conference TV deals. When fans say “no one wants to watch NC State play Minnesota in an opening round game”, they forget one fairly new but important factor: gambling. As popular as the NFL is, no one argues that fantasy football & gambling play a role as well.

I think they are also counting eyeballs and fan bases.

There aren’t enough fans of solely the top 24 or 36 programs to support the sport on their own in a super league setting. College football needs the fans/alums of midmajor schools, too. Minnesota has almost 60,000 students. NC State has almost 40,000. That’s a ton of alums, parents, whatnot. You want them to feel like they have a chance, so they watch the games too.

Few people know that better than a TV executive, which I think is why Bevaqua has said some of the things he said. It’s not about concern for those programs per se but about maintaining broader interest in the sport.

CFB needs the smaller schools. IMO, there will be super conferences, then within the conferences you'll see "mini" conferences, divisions or whatever you want to call them. I think they'll end up similar to the older conferences. The defining difference will be the revenue and how it gets distributed.

 

[stlnd01]

I still don't really understand how/why the NCAA is different than any other membership-based organization. If you want to join, you have to agree to their rules. If you don't want to agree to their rules, that's fine, but then you're not eligible to compete for their championships.

Obviously the NCAA has done a very poor job of enforcing their rules - first by going too far and later by ignoring them selectively and then altogether - but I don't fully get how the rules themselves are legally unenforceable. People do not have some constitutional right to get paid lots of money to play college sports.

 

[Huntr]

Cruz and Cantwell are hosting a roundtable to discuss college athletics issues with "stakeholders."

The only athletes are a women's soccer player from Akron and men's swimmer from Boston University.

What a fuckin joke.

 

[KMac151993]

no money involved there.

What do you mean? ND could have really used a reliable kicker in the playoffs last year if they had made it...why not just sign the best available out there and pay them for that run?

 

[burmafrd1944]

What do you mean? ND could have really used a reliable kicker in the playoffs last year if they had made it...why not just sign the best available out there and pay them for that run?

the post was about regular students transferring and the poster was wondering why that was different then players
I kind of thought that was obvious