16 should be it. That’s half of the teams actually trying and takes the same amount of weeks as what we are going to next year.
NIL and paying players are 2 separate things. Paying players will have to come from the schools themselves. Name, Image and Likeness is paid by 3rd parties and will continue to be paid by them. There is no getting around that. Unless it's negotiated between both the players and schools in a collective bargaining agreement.
Currently a bowl isn't much of a benefit. Bowls evolved in the days when mass transit to get across the county took more than a few hours (more like a few days). The ability to travel at all along with getting getting wined and dined by bowl committees with your buddies was actually a real treat for the players. Now its not really much of a draw.
I don't think the bowl games are the problem. Outside of the top 6-10 bowl games, they've always been pretty meaningless. I think it's the rules regarding players transferring and opting out were the the big problem this year. NIL money is also a big part of the problem because kids are entertaining offers right after the end of the regular season, if not during the season. In may opinion, players shouldn't be able to even discuss NIL or enter the transfer portal until after bowl games are completed. No opting out for players who what to transfer. In recent years, kids opting out for the NFL draft and coaches opting out after changing jobs have also been a big problem. This issue is a little tougher. I know coaches and pressured to start their new jobs immediately for recruiting, but that sometimes isn't fair to the kids in major bowl games/playoffs. Maybe they can push the final signing day back a month and make coached complete the season once it starts. Players opting out for the NFL is a little bit tougher. I don't blame a kid who's a projected first day draft pick for not wanting to take the change on a major injury for a meaningless game, especially after Marcus Lattimore. I sure would like to see more of these kids want to play, especially a playoff game, but I think they have to look out for themselves too.
It could be if one could distinguish between true NIL (Arch Manning) and faux NIL (virtually every other contract). Unfortunately it would require asking Solomon to split the baby.
You should add this to a cut and paste template so you don't have to keep typing it every other thread for those who can't grasp this concept.
One more thing. It may have already ben mentioned, but while the extra bowl games may be meaningless to fans, they are a big help to the programs. There's some revenue, but the bigger thing is that they get several extra practices, which teams without bowl games don't get. But they could remedy that by allowing ALL teams to have those extra practices.
Can’t really move the portal window until after all the bowl games because of when they need to get enrolled at their new school. No sense in making guys who are transferring out play one more time for you anyway. Both sides can move on. I have more of a problem with true opt outs, those leaving for the draft refusing to play. Yes that’s mostly selfish.
Extra practices LOL The players couldn't care less about the practices. They have been practicing for the past 4 months. They are tired and banged up. There is nothing a few extra practices will teach them that they haven't already been through the previous 4 months. Winning bowl games has nothing to do with practice. It's all gutting through it so they can take time off.
Fix the bowl system? Under the current conditions? Sure, fix the Titanic and motor her on in while you are at it.
If my teammate was about to go pro and was considering playing in a non-playoff bowl game, I’d give my best effort to talk him out of it.
As long as they’re doing something for the money, you’ll never really be able to say it’s not NIL. Can’t help it if some guy wants to pay some kid nobody has ever heard of 100k to make an appearance at some event. It’s not worth it to me, but I can’t really argue with whether it’s worth it to someone else. I agree that giving Arch or the boulder kids money seems to make more sense because of their family name recognition, but if you put the same or similar value on Cormani Mcclain attending your daughter’s birthday, I can’t argue with that. I may think you’re an idiot, but you can spend your money however you want. Most people I know spend their money in ways I consider foolish. That’s why I was debt free at 40 and others are in mountains of debt they may never see their way out of even though a lot of them are in much higher tax brackets.
From what I have been told from my NIL guy is nothing is being required from the players but what his group has found, that the players will do whatever is asked. Be it an autograph, interview personal messages or appearances, hospital visit etc. they have never had a player say no to anything.
They are required to do something to qualify as NIL. I know the collective requires all kinds of engagements. The local businesses I know of have all required engagements as well. Signings, commercials, etc.
Requirements and follow through are two different things. The contract may say you are required to do X but if the collective never asks or sets it up, it's not the players fault. That's what I got from my discussions.
