I posted this on a prior thread but thought it might be interesting to see other people’s thoughts and ideas on the subject. This was posted in response to the Rashada debacle, but I feel it applies to other players, teams, etc. This likely won’t be the last time we see this or one thing similar. I believe there needs to be a complete overhaul o. How the system is run. The crux of this centers around the guys who are deemed NFL caliber athletes or prospects out of high school. This may seem unpopular, but the only way I see college football being saved is by allowing these guys to enter a prospect or developmental league out of high school, much like the NBA has. Just stop pretending they have any interest in getting an education from a college. Once those guys are removed from the college equation, focus on getting athletes that aren’t quite at that level who may see value in playing football and hedging their future prospects by getting an education. I just don’t see this current situation of NIL, transfer portal and me-first athletesbeing sustainable over the long term any longer. College football is dying. It’s offthe rails and it’s time to start looking at realistic solutions.
Well almost every pod, sports show is now sponsored by a sports betting site….. it is going to a future scifi model where we see the betting and payments in real time on the chyron
As bad as it looks for the gators right now with this JR issue. Another school will soon have something similar happen. Then another etc…
This is way outside the box thinking, but do away with conferences. Totally. Hold refs ACCOUNTABLE Make incoming freshman ineligible for NIL until they're enrolled. I've had more but I'll remember later.
Good luck with that. Denying players the ability to make money is what got us here in the first place. How do you control someone that's not officially a student? Lawsuits will be flying.
Like we haven't seen the best players going to the same top 5-8 teams for the last 20 yrs? Just look a the list of national champions. Not a lot of parity there. Since 1920, 102 years, there have been 33 different national champions. That includes years where multiple champions were named. https://www.ncaa.com/history/football/fbs
Yes because in the last 100 yrs there has been some great football played. Blow outs, upsets, nail biters...
First, you have to define "college football." If you mean "students who also play a sport", that died 40+ years ago. The NCAA and conferences abandoned enforcement of academic requirements (see UNC and all the other academic scandals) in light of receiving billions in revenue. Coaches paid millions. Fans became machiavellian, including UF, where a title with Winston, Hernandez, or Lawrence Phillips, kids who had no business being on a college campus, were recruited and retained for their athletic ability and despite being dangers to the community. "College football" has been a money making endeavor and little else for decades. Now it is fully in the open - kids going to schools for money has existed, but never so boldly. Plus, the NCAA fought athletes being labelled employees so they were entitled to share in the lucre (money, insurance, ability to transfer like coaches/ADs), and they succeeded. How? Are schools paying kids? No. Conferences or the NCAA? No. They have successfully kept all the revenue while pushing the cost onto third parties (alumni). I do not think it will be saved b/c of this last point. If you can keep all the revenue but push costs to third parties, why change? I predict a continued spiral for those of us who associate college football with students or love of a University. Rather, it is pure entertainment, abstracted from the universities. Will it work commercially? Probably. They are talented athletes with brands so there is a built in fan base. Will I care as much? No. I do not watch pro sports now and as college football became a pro sport, I watched less, and that will likely continue. I'm ok with it b/c in the end my true love is the University as an educational/research institution. I am likely in the minority. I get that those who see UF as football first feel differently, but they then should not complain about the commercialization of this business. It is possible that some schools will reject the paradigm of maximizing revenue and revert to sports being played by "student" athletes. It would take a commitment to principles above money. It is terribly unlikely at most power 5 universities. To answer the OP - college football was lost decades ago. "Saving" it now is just closing the barn door behind the horses (yeah, I'm old. And maybe that too is an issue?).
You have to make them employees. Then you are able to make rules around everything like pro sports do. The collegiate amateur sports model is dead. The UAA’s become separate entities affiliated with the colleges. Allow the athletes (employees) to take classes for free at the university if they choose to.
Very well said SeaBud. Basically my same feelings but never been able to put it together this well. And like you I gave up on pro sports long ago.
Well the real solution would be a modification of the old rules, where deals are checked for legitimacy. Paying a guy 3 million to do nothing is nothing more than pay for play. Dr Pepper paying Bryce young to do national spots is legitimate. Emma Weyant if UF swimming starting her own swim suit line is legit. Ruiz paying guys millions to do nothing isn’t.
You are right about the collegiate amateur sports model being dead. Going down this route, however, why make them be students at all? That isn't what they are there for. Split the organizations completely, license the Gators marks and symbols and move on. If they want a UF degree they can apply and pay just like a normal student would.
Stop investing so much of our heart, soul, money and happiness in it and just enjoy it for the entertainment that it is. Perhaps this is more a recipe to save ourselves.....
