NEVER expected that out of him.
Didn't expect it out of Pickens either.
Our CB situation doesn't look good for this game at all.
Didn't expect it out of Pickens either.
Our CB situation doesn't look good for this game at all.
Damnit! Now it appears Darius Rush might quit & not play the bowl.
- Thread starter Dod Rangerfield
- Start date
If losing players you didnt think you'd lose doesnt call for drastic measures, I dont know what will. If nothing is done by the end of next year, I'd like to see multiple teams start turning down bowl bids and claim they wont commit to playing if they dont know they will have enough players.
No they'll never turn it down unless the cost to go is greater than the payout. Money is the only thing that matters.
Maybe its changed, but I always thought is was pretty much a wash for most teams. Now maybe not so much for the SEC because of the number of teams in and multiple teams in premier bowl payouts to make up for the lesser ones, but for everyone else the profit margins arent all that. Anyway, even if only a handful of teams declined, maybe it would get some attention on the issue. Still tho, messaging aside, if you dont have enough players to play, you dont have enough players to play. Hard to say we are not headed there
Going to the NFL draft is the same as it has always been, so tell me why players up until Christian McCaffrey became the first to demonstrate selfishness back a number of years ago never quit on their teams. Clowney didn't & he was the #1 overall draft pick. So was George Rogers. Sterling Sharpe was a top 10 pick.....played in his bowl game. Why didn't those guys quit on their teams? The risk was the same.
Simple. Lack of character and integrity.
Those players werent as soft as the players of today. And all the high tech conditioning facilities we have today arent gonna help.
Darius has been here FIVE years. He has earned his shot at the NFL. He missed time due to injury this year, and there are questions about his speed. Would you give up that potential payday for a diluted bowl game with little meaning? I'd probably do it, but I'm old school- and bowl games used to mean something. They no longer do in today's game. I don't like it, it is what it is, but to say a guy who stuck it out through a position change, a coaching change, and five years dedicated to the USC lacks character or is a quitter? FIND SOME JOY.
He could, but why? A significant number of his teammates are not. He didn't bail. He stuck it out. Pros draft on potential. He's playing in the Senior bowl already, which is also an honor. How many scouts at the Senior Bowl vs. a Gator bowl with half of the potential NFL caliber players sitting it out? Again, I'm not for sitting it out, but I can understand why in this climate, he would. What I can't understand is the BS "what have you done for me lately" attitude towards a kid who gave it his all for five years. I understand the reactions at kids Like Bell who bail early or Lloyd who does a 180 in two days, but not Rush.
Gator Bowl advertisement:
Some of the Irish vs. Some of the Gamecocks
Friday, December 30, 2022 at 3:30 pm EST
Some of the Irish vs. Some of the Gamecocks
Friday, December 30, 2022 at 3:30 pm EST
Smith on playing in the bowl game: "That was my decision, and I love it. And I wouldn't change it. If I knew that I was going to get hurt and wasn't going to be a top-five pick again, I would have literally played in that game again because of my teammates and how much Notre Dame means to me."
Butt on playing in the bowl game: "I would make the same exact choice again."
He quit with 1 game left to play. Had he decided to no longer play for Carolina after the bowl game, fine & well wishes. He still has that covid year available to him if he wanted it, but I would not begrudge a player for finishing the season & playing the bowl game then forgoing their final season of eligibility IF they are all but certain they'll get drafted. There are now fringe players doing this. It screams about how selfish our society has become & really sends a horrible message.
Precisely.
Some would claim that Clowney basically checked out at the beginning of his Senior year, so there is that.
I would agree.............especially since his senior year was spent in a Houston Texans uniform.
I've heard the effort arguments but I've also heard the "he was double-teamed all season" arguments to explain his Junior season.
I hope CSB is allowed to do exit interviews. Need to at least understand what prompted them to make these decisions.
It was brought up that Clowney could skip the entire season, yet he played. Apparently he played with an abdominal issue if I remember correctly.
Coaches seemed to indicate that Clowney’s presence took away half the field to defend. Did he go 100% with the ball going the opposite way 90% of the time? Who knows? But he suited up 11 games. Even the bowl game. To put Clowney’s name in the same discussion as what they are doing is disrespectful. Dude dressed and played. Was named All-SEC 1st Team. Coaches selected him to an All-American Team. Why would we buy the National media dumping on the kid when he’s one of our own?
Last edited:
You mean the Jaylon Smith who dropped from a projected top 10 pick to actually being picked #34? That one? The one who had a 5 million dollar policy for just such an occurrence and is still in the NFL today?
I am starting to gather even though it’s possible, it doesn’t happen very often since everyone can only bring up an example from 5-6 years ago. Anything is possible, like a lightening strike or winning the lottery….but not probable based on the hundreds of thousands of players in bowls over the last 80 years and we can only name one or two.
With that said, I do think the bowl is a great chance to play new people to gain experience for next year.
Geez, Rush is projected as a 7th rounder or as an UDFA. I mean, a big bowl game against Notre Dame could only help his chances, right?
Good grief. This guy very well might be skipping the last football game he could ever play in. Hope I’m wrong, but he wouldn’t be the first Undeafted player to not play in the NFL.
Good grief. This guy very well might be skipping the last football game he could ever play in. Hope I’m wrong, but he wouldn’t be the first Undeafted player to not play in the NFL.
Yep. Idiotic move. He honestly should be coming back to Carolina for another season to try to better himself.
Is all this NIL stuff going to threaten the Instagram influencer industry?
Ok, I did make that mistake, However that is not the take away, and you do know that.
He checked out his last year.
Great statement. Rush is the type of player you want. Has done all asked of him for 5 years. Glade he is getting chance to go pro. Missing bowl game not a big deal. Best of luck to him
Ok, but I did not say he did, I stated others were saying he bailed on his last season, if you have an issue with that, then take it up with the Clowney distractors.