🏈 Players forgoing bowl games

[planomateo]

She's kinda right though. I mean, this is a college football board... Without looking it up I bet less than 5% of posters could tell you who won bowl those games last year.

Meaningless to who...honestly, I don't watch all the bowl games, never have.

I wouldn't be able to tell you who played last year because I personally don't care who Iowa State, TCU, Baylor, or many of the other teams in the bowl games play. I only care about maybe 10 bowl games a year. Obviously, I'm not a gambler either

 

[JoshB]

She's kinda right though. I mean, this is a college football board... Without looking it up I bet less than 5% of posters could tell you who won bowl those games last year.

See this perception is exactly the problem and now its starting to seep down into the players. At one point Bowl Games were looked at as a reward for a hard fought, successful season. Now its looked at as a hassle for stars unless they're playing in the playoffs. Even BCS games are being devalued by people, I heard someone the other day refer to the Rose Bowl as "meaningless." You know how many LEGENDS are rolling over in their grave at a comment like that? It all starts with perception and it starts with certain people in the media that treat bowl games that aren't Playoff games and even now some BCS/NY6 games as meaningless permeates into the fans and now even into the players.

One way to knock this off and cut back some of the bowl games, we dont need 80+ bowl games. Its too much and it helps devalue the bowl games as an actual reward. But people like Holly Rowe and Adam Schefter need to shut their mouths too. They work for networks that want to draw in ratings, calling bowl games "meaningless" doesn't draw in ratings. And I'm sure the bowl games/sponsors really appreciate it too considering the millions of dollars they fork out for these games every year.

And because I know my solution of cutting the bowl games wont happen, at least not anytime soon, I wonder if McAffrey or Fournette are going to be "foregoing" their bowl gifts and money they get from the bowl trip? Or will they gladly be taking home those laptops, beats by dre headphones, Ipads, "gas money", iphones, etc.? They want to sit out the game, well go "prepare for the draft" at home because I damn sure wouldn't let them on the flight to the game let alone be able to accept the gifts that come along with those games.

 

[planomateo]

Honestly, this whole thing makes me even happier that neither won the Heisman last year and Henry did.

They shouldn't be allowed to participate in the bowl game activities, travel, gifts, etc. Let someone else go that wants to be part of the team.

 

[rick4bama]

Holly Rowe was on twitter saying it was ok to sit a meaningless bowl...remind me again what she does for a living and doesn't she work at some of these "meaniningless" events. Hope a player calls her ass out on it.

If these bowls games are meaniningless, Then why have them!!!

 

[TheChief]

Who benefits from bowl games? The university - in a big way - conferences, and the individuals who stage the bowl game. All but three of the bowl games are meaningless. Why risk getting injured when you are literally going to be a millionaire in a few weeks? Who cares if you won the GoDaddy bowl and got a pair of Ray Bans and a watch?

And really, does anyone think LF cares if they leave him home or cut his scholly? He's going to be a rich man and soon.

I've sort of come full circle on the whole "student athlete" thing. These universities are making a killing off football. Coaches are making a killing. The networks are making a bounty. Yet, we want a player to play an extra game so that our team can claim some win in a bowl and be ranked 13th instead of 17th?

Suggestion, have a playoff and see how many stay home.

 

[BamaFan334]

Who benefits from bowl games? The university - in a big way - conferences, and the individuals who stage the bowl game. All but three of the bowl games are meaningless. Why risk getting injured when you are literally going to be a millionaire in a few weeks? Who cares if you won the GoDaddy bowl and got a pair of Ray Bans and a watch?

And really, does anyone think LF cares if they leave him home or cut his scholly? He's going to be a rich man and soon.

I've sort of come full circle on the whole "student athlete" thing. These universities are making a killing off football. Coaches are making a killing. The networks are making a bounty. Yet, we want a player to play an extra game so that our team can claim some win in a bowl and be ranked 13th instead of 17th?

Suggestion, have a playoff and see how many stay home.

Without the risk of those before them, their asses may not have a full scholarship giving them a free ride. Look how much Alabama has brought to the school since Saban. Those bowl dollars were seen in the business building, I can promise you that much. Maybe schools should be forced to put insurance policies on every athlete so injuries in the postseason won't discourage kids. I'm willing to bet a Stanford education will make him more money than the NFL in a lifetime if we use averages.

 

[JoshB]

Suggestion, have a playoff and see how many stay home.

We have a playoff... I swear this bullshit is going to result in eventually a 16-team playoff and then some dipshit team like Western Michigan is going to end up jerking themselves off into a championship game because WE JUST HAD TO MAKE IT LIKE THE FREAKIN NCAA BBALL TOURNAMENT. Asking teams in conferences like the SEC, Big XII, ACC, Big Ten to play 12 games (and then possibly conference championship) and then another FOUR games to get a championship is not only stupid but it will GUARANTEED result in a team that is damn sure not the best overall team in the country winning the title more times than not.

 

[planomateo]

The playoff is going to expand to more teams, just a matter of time. Younger generation will demand it.

 

[OldPlayer]

Not all schools are Alabama. Many of the schools in the "meaningless" bowl are programs trying to move their way up. It's helps to sell the program in recruiting. Wasn't Saban's first bowl at Alabama the Weedeater Bowl or something similar? Players want to go to bowl games. This year the Weedeater, next year the Sugar. Bottom line, the bowls are important to the schools, the conferences and the players.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Playoffs will expand and soon. It has changed the landscape already with the tolerance we are seeing with the coaches and programs. People don't want no stinkin consolation prize, they want to dance.

 

[TheChief]

We have a playoff... I swear this bullshit is going to result in eventually a 16-team playoff and then some dipshit team like Western Michigan is going to end up jerking themselves off into a championship game because WE JUST HAD TO MAKE IT LIKE THE FREAKIN NCAA BBALL TOURNAMENT. Asking teams in conferences like the SEC, Big XII, ACC, Big Ten to play 12 games (and then possibly conference championship) and then another FOUR games to get a championship is not only stupid but it will GUARANTEED result in a team that is damn sure not the best overall team in the country winning the title more times than not.

Agreed in that asking the teams to play a 12 game regular season is not right - especially if conference championships are included on top of that. If Western Michigan can win all the games in a real playoff, more power to them. Is the team that wins the Super Bowl the best team? Or should they just vote who are considered the four best and shorten the window for the "championship game"?

I find it amusing that the FCS can play a true playoff, and they are college, yet we have so many hurdles to surpass when allowing the other colleges to have a true playoff.

Just my two cents in trying to see this from the perspective of the student athlete who it seems in the case of football and basketball is being exploited. But hey, you get a college education out of the deal. From the perspective of a former minor sport athlete, that's pretty good.

 

[Tidestalker]

One way to knock this off and cut back some of the bowl games, we dont need 80+ bowl games. Its too much and it helps devalue the bowl games as an actual reward.

Absolutely.

This would put some value and pride into actually making a bowl game.

Not sure it would fix kids like LSU or Stanford RB's sitting out, maybe it would, but in general the amount of bowl games devalues games this time of year.

 

[Tidestalker]

Without the risk of those before them, their asses may not have a full scholarship giving them a free ride. Look how much Alabama has brought to the school since Saban. Those bowl dollars were seen in the business building, I can promise you that much. Maybe schools should be forced to put insurance policies on every athlete so injuries in the postseason won't discourage kids. I'm willing to bet a Stanford education will make him more money than the NFL in a lifetime if we use averages.

I don't understand what this sentiment has to do with Christian McCaffrey doing what's best for himself. Should he pass on his big chance because the people before him were more taken advantage of?

He's made more income for that University in his Heisman run than he would ever get back with his Stanford degree. Regardless, for these kids it's more about giving themselves the best chance to be successful in the NFL than anywhere else. Making more money as a broker wouldn't be as valuable as playing football to a football player. Lots of people want to do what they love. He's an injury away from seriously jeopardizing that dream.

 

[JoshB]

Agreed in that asking the teams to play a 12 game regular season is not right - especially if conference championships are included on top of that. If Western Michigan can win all the games in a real playoff, more power to them. Is the team that wins the Super Bowl the best team? Or should they just vote who are considered the four best and shorten the window for the "championship game"?

I find it amusing that the FCS can play a true playoff, and they are college, yet we have so many hurdles to surpass when allowing the other colleges to have a true playoff.

Just my two cents in trying to see this from the perspective of the student athlete who it seems in the case of football and basketball is being exploited. But hey, you get a college education out of the deal. From the perspective of a former minor sport athlete, that's pretty good.

#1 the player-quality gap in the NFL is a hell of slot slimmer than in college football. #2 every football team in the NFL is a college All America team (or at least all conference), even the Browns.

Comparing the FCS is about as pointless as comparing FBS to the NFL too...

I think you're stretching it by saying they are being "exploited." They receive a free education plus living expenses and other freebies that no other students receive. BUT with that said the major universities are making millions upon millions of dollars so I see where you are coming from. The problem is if you open that can of worms that talent disparity that I mentioned grows a million times bigger because Baylor and Houston cant even imagine to compete with the Alabama's, Texas', Florida's, etc. monetarily. Though I do think there is a happy medium where athletes are allowed to make money off of merchandise (jerseys, t-shirts, autographs, etc.) and allow the universities to put it into an account that the player can draw a certain amount from each month (living expenses) and then the entire amount after they leave school.

 

[EasyTider]

At least they gave their team plenty of time to prepare for the absence. I'm talking to you Andre Smith.

 

[BamaFan334]

I don't understand what this sentiment has to do with Christian McCaffrey doing what's best for himself. Should he pass on his big chance because the people before him were more taken advantage of?

He's made more income for that University in his Heisman run than he would ever get back with his Stanford degree. Regardless, for these kids it's more about giving themselves the best chance to be successful in the NFL than anywhere else. Making more money as a broker wouldn't be as valuable as playing football to a football player. Lots of people want to do what they love. He's an injury away from seriously jeopardizing that dream.

You'd feel the same if Coker, Henry, A'Shawn, Jarran Reed all did the same last year?

Andrew Luck made Stanford waaaaaaay more money than Christian McCaffrey could sniff, he stayed five years and got a degree as well. That wasn't my point at all though. My point was that money these teams get from bowl appearances and bowl wins are reinvested to their future after football and others they walk the halls with. You don't have to look far to hear yet another story of an athlete going broke and not having a degree or skill to fall back on. I just think it's bullshit that Stanford gave him a free education at more than $50,000 a year to play football and he quit. They held up their end and gave him an outlet, and he pulls up lame on hus commitment to finishing a season. If I pay you to do a job, I want it finished, not 3/4 finished, and if you think the last part is dangerous you just walk off the job. Well you signed up to play, so finish it if you're healthy. Not really sure what else I can say other than live up to your commitment. Don't have to stay four years, but finish your three.

 

[Tidestalker]

You'd feel the same if Coker, Henry, A'Shawn, Jarran Reed all did the same last year?

Andrew Luck made Stanford waaaaaaay more money than Christian McCaffrey could sniff, he stayed five years and got a degree as well. That wasn't my point at all though. My point was that money these teams get from bowl appearances and bowl wins are reinvested to their future after football and others they walk the halls with. You don't have to look far to hear yet another story of an athlete going broke and not having a degree or skill to fall back on. I just think it's bullshit that Stanford gave him a free education at more than $50,000 a year to play football and he quit. They held up their end and gave him an outlet, and he pulls up lame on hus commitment to finishing a season. If I pay you to do a job, I want it finished, not 3/4 finished, and if you think the last part is dangerous you just walk off the job. Well you signed up to play, so finish it if you're healthy. Not really sure what else I can say other than live up to your commitment. Don't have to stay four years, but finish your three.

We completely agree in terms of morality... It's not the right thing to do. Yes the school gives you an education, you agree to play, and don't finish. It's not a good look.

But ultimately it's about supply and demand. No school is going to pass on Christian McCaffrey and take a 2 star guy because he's going to finish the season... So until it gets addressed either by the NFL or CF, this will start happening at an alarming rate.

Regarding Coker, Henry, A'Shawn, and Reed - Coker couldn't do it because he was not in a position to be drafted. If Henry/A'Shawn/Reed would have done it, I would have completely understood it. But again, we are talking about bowl games and a potential championship that are meaningful and the players are motivated to play in. Once that short term motivation goes, your long term future becomes the focus.

I'm just telling you all that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Agents are coming at these kids and their parents in all kinds of ways behind the scenes. Parents, more than kids, see $$$$. Once the kid decides to quit, he can hire an agent. At that point an agentcan legally give advances, pay for training, pay bills, etc. The positive will outweigh the negative when it comes to a potential small slide in draft status.

Hypothetically, I can see some type of specialized training center funded by agencies for athletes who decide to sit out and prepare for the combine/draft. Nothing will stop NFL scouts from watching these kids work out. If they're all in one place, scouts will be there. When I follow the $ it doesn't lead to playing out the string in college football... JMO

 

[OldPlayer]

The playoff is going to expand to more teams, just a matter of time. Younger generation will demand it.

We are only in year 3 of a 12-year contract for a 4-team playoff.

 

[Tidestalker]

If I pay you to do a job, I want it finished, not 3/4 finished, and if you think the last part is dangerous you just walk off the job. Well you signed up to play, so finish it if you're healthy. Not really sure what else I can say other than live up to your commitment. Don't have to stay four years, but finish your three.

And BTW thats an interesting statement when you apply it to the Coaches... Whom a good % of which leave right before the Bowl game for a better opportunity.

 

[BamaFan334]

And BTW thats an interesting statement when you apply it to the Coaches... Whom a good % of which leave right before the Bowl game for a better opportunity.

Yeah, I've never been ok with that. I understand the recruiting aspect, and maybe Coach Saban was on to something with that as well when talking about dead periods while his teams play weeks after some, especially with this playoff deal making it a week or so longer. Coaches should stick it out till the end. It's morphed into an imperfect system the more human nature got involved and the money, "in the end, it's all about the dollars" (Nicki Santoro)