You’re taking out of context but don’t act like some of these kids are being saved from a life in a gang. Coach prime talks about it all the time.
Opting out makes even less sense in the expanded CFP
- Thread starter 18IsTheMan
- Start date
Nobody is arguing that football as an activity doesn't have value. Like every other hobby, sport, or pastime, I'm sure it adds purpose and meaning to participants' lives. We're talking about the distinction between "important" regular season games and "meaningless" bowl games. At the end of the day, the ultimate value of any particular game is whatever the fans and viewers say it is. There is no _inherent_ value in a particular game.
So, your not a South Carolina Gamecock fan. Why are you here?
Where have I ever said that. It is possible to have the kids he’s interest at heart and still be a fan no?
I'd be more concerned about my son's integrity to fulfill the commitment he made to his teammates, coaches, fans, and the school giving him a free education than any potential injury.
"Business decision" is code for lack of integrity and a quitter's mindset in the context of a college football team.
"Business decision" is code for lack of integrity and a quitter's mindset in the context of a college football team.
If we want to talk about meaningless games, why don't players with NFL futures sit out games against FCS opponents? For fans who think some games are meaningless, those surely have to be very definition of meaningless, right?
Why would a likely draft pick risk injury in a game against a nobody FCS opponent?
Why would a likely draft pick risk injury in a game against a nobody FCS opponent?
I have actually wondered about this before. A player can be injured playing against Wofford about as easily as he can against Tennessee.
The whole injury avoidance thing is silly. Why a player has a higher risk of injury in a bowl game than in 12 regular season games is lost on me. I think players who sit out are sending a message that they are tired of playing college football.
It's absurd on the face of it. Nobody's gonna get me with any sob stories about how these guys are laying their livelihoods on the line and "easy for you to say, you're not the one risking career-ending injury." There is absolutely zero evidentiary support to suggest that playing in a bowl game has any significant risk to damaging a players NFL future.
It's a patently ludicrous argument. If you follow the "logic" through, then, yes, you HAVE to say these players should not play in the cream puff games AND any likely draft pick should immediately opt out of the rest of the season once it become apparent a team isn't making the playoffs. If midway through the season it's apparent that a team is on track for a 7-8 win type season and not making the playoffs and the team will only be going to a meaningless bowl game, then aren't the regular season games that would only qualify you for a meaningless bowl also meaningless games themselves? Why keep playing if the only goal is a meaningless bowl that you aren't going to play in anyway?
And, again, I come back to the cold, hard, irrefutable fact that suffering career-altering injuries in bowl games is a red herring argument. It's not a thing. It's such a negligible risk as to be non-existent.
Honestly as soon as a guy gets enough game film to show his ability he should probably "opt out." If that's an entire season, or a handful of games, so be it. They're irrelevant in the big scheme of things. All that matters is that player gets what's coming to him.
I wonder, with revenue sharing, shouldn't participation (if eligible based on injury etc) in ALL games, regular and postseason be mandatory? You can't share in the revenue if you're gonna sit out games.
It absolutely should. Same thing for NIL contracts.
No it’s not… he and the team are playing for a national championship not a darn Longhorn 20oz medium rare steak bowl
He gets paid the same to play for the championship or the steak and he will lose many millions in NFL money either way, so, yes, the ramifications are the same.
What about the school, the teammates that won't play in the pros, the fans? You're promoting individuality in a team sport. How many times have you heard a player say, "I'll go to war with my brothers anytime and anywhere."? Then they go AWOL to protect themselves before the draft.
See Deebo.
Football carries inherent risks, including career-ending injuries. Every game played could be the last one. For NFL bound talent, playing in a bowl game could lead to the end of their career ($$$). So, in that aspect, I would disagree—a potential injury playing football is not a red herring. Ask Lattimore his opinion for context.
So, why does a player keep playing throughout the season if he could be hurt at any time? In today’s world, it most likely comes down to wanting exposure and stats. At some point (the end of the season) they must decide if it’s really necessary to continue showing how good they are (through sacks, catches, TD’s, yards, etc). By the time they reach the bowl game, they may have decided “enough is enough.”
IMO, playing in a bowl game comes down to character, as others have suggested. If a player gave his word (signed a scholarship), he should follow through and represent the university, including bowl games. After all, he’s receiving huge benefits in scholarships, room and board, medical, national exposure, etc.
But character doesn’t matter for a lot of players (and fans). It’s all about the money. I think many fans on here would argue pragmatically that if they were in the same situation, they’d opt out. It’s the unfortunate reality of money over character.
Get unlimited access today.