Ditto. '72 this July... Not sure how I made it through college using typewriters and white out!! I guess that was a step up from clay tablets. I can also say I suffered through the Doug Dickey era. So, relatively speaking, things are looking up. I bow in reverence to change and progress... But weren't the Who and Zeppelin better than Taylor Swift? Go Gators!
If it were't for my wife, who loves watching football, I would just stop watching and following it. This is the most discouraging couple of years to me as I had hoped that big money would be "outed" from the game (I know, crazy, right) but it is now just another professional league and money is bigger then ever. Maybe watch divisions 2 or 3?
It's worse as the money knows another professional league would fail on its own, so instead they hollowed out college football to give you a facade of supporting the school. You're not, you're supporting a group of professional athletes who have an unlimited license to use university logos. Maybe the next step can be big spenders just buy trophies that say national champions a la UCF when their team isn't invited to the playoffs.
With the money that is being thrown around, a football “league” and an everything else league feels inevitable. No more than 40ish schools can afford to play these games. And why would a big school be willing to split any money with a small school if they don’t have to? I agree, a couple super conferences and nothing else. They will write the rules how they see fit.
Especially when those grunt players are outperforming the well-payed players. You best believe when the season is over they are walking if someone doesn't ante up.
The college football world has endured a wave of change in the past two years, but this could be just the beginning, according to an ESPN survey of more than 200 coaches, players and administrators. Respondents told ESPN that big issues such as realignment, name, image and likeness and the transfer portal are likely just precursors to more seismic shifts in the sport's landscape. Among the significant changes expected in the coming years are a diminished role for the NCAA, an expansion of the College Football Playoff, continued realignment and, ultimately, a pay-for-play model that would treat players as employees. Among the major topics were the NCAA and governance, NIL, the transfer portal, recruiting, the College Football Playoff, athlete empowerment and compensation, and realignment. While few questions yielded a unanimous opinion, the results show a clear belief that the sport is heading toward a more professional, more autonomous future. Nearly 60% of respondents agreed that college football should break away from the NCAA and form its own system of governance and oversight. Where to draw the lines of demarcation is far less clear, with some voices suggesting a breakaway of just FBS football (14%) -- leaving the NCAA to manage other sports and host championship events -- and others debating whether the departure should include all FBS schools or just those from Power 5 conferences (16%). Then there were those who think the NCAA is good for hosting championship events but not regulating any sports (18%). Nearly 12% of respondents said there was no need for the NCAA at all. What is the future of college football? Over 200 coaches, players and administrators respond The NCAA NIL and the transfer portal On-field rules Recruiting Bowl games and the CFP Athlete empowerment Realignment Conclusions
Excellent leadoff, fellow Gator! All that money breeds corruption. I think most universities are way behind, but Napier appears promising!
For your discernment (SIAP): NIL collectives: The other side of college football’s game changer - Sports Illustrated H2 For You: Europe's Soccer Model is Halfway Across the Pond - Sports Illustrated Alabama Crimson Tide News, Analysis and More It isn't pretty, but it IS real.
I haven't heard of this young lady, but she is obviously an athlete who has learned how to market herself. Although this story is in gymnastics, probably Gator football players will eventually figure out how to do something similar. CAVEAT: this lady is disliked by more than a few, and I don't know enough about her situation. Maybe the dislike is legitimate or perhaps it's merely petty jealousy. LSU's Olivia Dunne ends NIL drama once and for all: 'Only taking steps forward'
She is disliked by feminists because she is using her looks as well as talent to make money. Many are saying it is setting back women's sports. Also because she is white. No one said a thing when the top women athletes ( Serena, Niomi Osoka, Simone Biles) all did bikini and painted body layouts for SI and got paid millions That was empowered.
I’d actually love to see two super conferences and get rid of all the games that are meaningless and free wins. Play 10 or 11 real football games every year against teams were actually trying to compete.
Yes sir, I don’t see how anyone could see it any other way. It’s the model that all professional sports go by. The NFL is the best as far as making it an even playing field for everyone unlike major league baseball where one team can just buy all the better players. The top the schools have been buying all the best players for the last several decades and now everybody is allowed to play the same game but the only problem is there’s no cap.
It is interesting to me that despite the lack of real cap (baseball just has a luxury tax and not a real salary cap), baseball has still produced the exact same amount of parity as the NFL (at least on some metrics). I chose 20 years arbitrarily. Teams that have made the WS: 19 different teams Teams that have won the WS: 13 Teams that have made the SB: 20 Teams that have won the SB: 13 CFB’s biggest problem as you mention is 4-5 teams dominating the landscape. To have a healthy sport, CFB needs less dynasties.
Agree - Since Peter Carroll left USC what has the Pac 10 (or whatever it is called now) done? College football fans back east literally mock that conference now.
Texas has been buying players for years and can’t win on the field. It takes more than that. And we can’t have a cap on NIL as these are third party companies. There aren’t any caps on an NFL player’s endorsement deals.
