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As much as I hate it, I am hanging by a thread on being a college sports fan...sad days indeed for this old man

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UncleAdolph

Senior
Aug 9, 2019
284
683
93
Times change and you have to change with the times they say and there is truth in that.
But I am just sick of the drama, court cases tec
This is the first time I have said this on this board and I take no pleasure in saying it, I have been a hold out on MP but I just don't think he is the guy for this job
I will gladly eat crow if we have a big season and I am wrong. Gladly eat crow.
MP seems like a wonderful human being but he was hired to win BB games
I am just so down on the whole shooting match
Hate to be such a downer but am just being honest...
 
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ORCAT

Heisman
Jan 6, 2003
24,746
12,149
113
Getting close to that too, UncleAdolph. I actually enjoy some of the minor sports like volleyball better Tha football or basketball these days and I've been a long time UK basketball follower. Thinking my days of season tickets at Rupp may be coming to an end soon. They keep upping the price while lowering the product.
 
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S

Smeegs

All-Conference
Nov 19, 2025
1,192
3,366
113
I still enjoy college sports, but had to TOTALLY change my mindset to get there.

I now accept that this is just pro sports, and no longer has anything to do with academics or amateurism. And I no longer have an emotional connection to college sports like I once did …it’s kinda hard to feel that when you know these are just mercenaries passing through for the paycheck.

It ain’t at all the same, but if you can adjust to that more cynical view, I find it’s still fun to cheer for the guys wearing blue.
 
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will1976

will1976

All-Conference
Dec 10, 2003
3,379
2,811
113
UncleAdolph said:
Times change and you have to change with the times they say and there is truth in that.
But I am just sick of the drama, court cases tec
This is the first time I have said this on this board and I take no pleasure in saying it, I have been a hold out on MP but I just don't think he is the guy for this job
I will gladly eat crow if we have a big season and I am wrong. Gladly eat crow.
MP seems like a wonderful human being but he was hired to win BB games
I am just so down on the whole shooting match
Hate to be such a downer but am just being honest...
Click to expand...
Not a spring chicken myself. Since Covid its been painful. 🫩
 
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BookofMormon

BookofMormon

All-Conference
Mar 27, 2026
882
1,162
93
The flipside - ratings are better than ever and it keeps the sport relevant year round, instead of going dormant for 6-7 months.

The way I always look at this is that the powers that be have so many resources, they know what they're doing to some extent. They could have Bain or BCG in to help guide them. They may not be attracting the old gen, but they're doing something right with the new.
 
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U

Ukbrassowtipin

Heisman
Aug 12, 2011
82,289
90,256
113
The basketball product nationally is better because more guys are coming back...overall its better basketball being played ...thats a reality.

Its also why teams like Georgia arent just taking everything now that Sabans gone, it was even harder in his last year...bevause thdy dont have 3 deep at each position that could start every where.

If youre mad guys arent fans of the team like you are....so youre saying you want mark popes? Trent Noah is still on the team for you to cheer for.

Also pope has to get somewhere this year, particularly defensively...but ppl forget that first year was very fun even tho it was also injury plagued
 
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RobEStacy

RobEStacy

Senior
May 21, 2007
883
863
93
One and Done started my dislike.. Having to pray for that next AD in each class to carry you. And those are few and far between. Then NIL and Transfer portal.. No longer are you building a team, or devolpong talent.. Lesser players go to lesser schools.... Build up... Then you take a chance to see if they can make the switch to power conferences.. Then revenue share, collectives, kids making millions of dollars..Players jumping every year, chasing the biggest bag. Teams can't gel or grow.. I know times change... And 20 years ago I was the guy telling the old heads times change deal with it... Now I'm the old head, being told to deal with it. Intrest in basketball, has just dwindled... Between Cals later years, his apathy toward coaching and to the fans... The high for pope's first year to a string of PR blunders and bad luck, bad coaching and an incompetent AD. I'm looking forward to football now... In the 80s,90s...football was just something to fill in.... Brooks changed that..... Stoops changed it.. Now excited about the new era... And while NIL and transfer is an issue in football.... It's spread out over 80ish players... And they have to stay 3 years.. All in all.... My want, need and desire to plan my. Life around UK basketball is at an all time low.... DVR, ESPN app... All has contributed to not having to schedule my time around the schedule.... And.... As it's been last many years.... When they lose.... I do t bother even watching the replay.... No need to get my blood pressure up... Wife, taxes and work does a good enough job of it that adding one more thing to the mix is not worth it.
 
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K

kyhankypanky

All-American
Mar 21, 2004
4,547
7,932
113
UncleAdolph said:
Times change and you have to change with the times they say and there is truth in that.
But I am just sick of the drama, court cases tec
This is the first time I have said this on this board and I take no pleasure in saying it, I have been a hold out on MP but I just don't think he is the guy for this job
I will gladly eat crow if we have a big season and I am wrong. Gladly eat crow.
MP seems like a wonderful human being but he was hired to win BB games
I am just so down on the whole shooting match
Hate to be such a downer but am just being honest...
Click to expand...
Right there with you, old man. UK baseball is my #1 college sport at the moment. Seems less influenced by big $ although the portal noise gets louder and louder. I don’t think there’s any doubt that when player empowerment goes to a certain extreme, fan interest and loyalty will suffer.
 
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OGtruebluewildcat

Senior
Aug 4, 2025
477
639
93
I would agree with all the OAD stuff. Mostly because it was unnecessary. The 15-20 kids in the country who are talented enough to play should go.

Also didn’t like the fact that the NBA via the age rule basically used CBB, specifically about 8-10 programs, to potty train a dozen kids a year.

At least in football CFB gets 4 years out of a guy before NFL gets theirs.

As for all the change, mobility, pay, player empowerment etc…no problem. College sports got to the point where strength coaches, team sports psychologists, and nutritionists are all making insane money.

The only issue is the fact the NCAA, conferences, and athletic departments like most bloated bureaucratic institutions full of “credentialed, educated, professional…” people didn’t know how to handle it.

They knew how to get paid. They knew how to rule and come up with more rules. They really don’t know how to change, lean out, get rid of old, improve.

They’re stuck in a world where Alabama and Furman are the same thing. D1 schools. So they have to govern to try and make that as equal as possible.

The mental gymnastics of clumping 360ish schools all together is insane.

No pay, benefits, etc because a Bama booster/car dealer can provide more than Furman. Every one has to be equal. Yet Bama has to pay Furman a million dollars to play…even though they’re equal. However, Bama cannot pay their players. It makes no sense.

50 give or take programs evolved into something totally different and greater than the other 300 programs a long time ago and everyone tried to pretend like upper echelon P4 now P2 ball is the same and OVC ball.

Not knowing how to handle that schism is the issue.
 
*Fox2Monk*

*Fox2Monk*

Heisman
Jun 10, 2009
47,513
87,028
113
UncleAdolph said:
Times change and you have to change with the times they say and there is truth in that.
But I am just sick of the drama, court cases tec
This is the first time I have said this on this board and I take no pleasure in saying it, I have been a hold out on MP but I just don't think he is the guy for this job
I will gladly eat crow if we have a big season and I am wrong. Gladly eat crow.
MP seems like a wonderful human being but he was hired to win BB games
I am just so down on the whole shooting match
Hate to be such a downer but am just being honest...
Click to expand...
Truth, until Congress acts and tries to at least get a set of rules for the game to play by it’s getting old.
 
M

megablue

Heisman
Oct 2, 2012
16,501
17,188
113
I struggle trying to figure out who I'm rooting for ... the University (my alma mater), the Basketball Program, the kids ... ???
It has become more difficult, realizing they are practically ALL one-and-dones now ... only here for the money. They are primarily employees, not students.
If they do not meet the staff's expectations, they are probably due for a pay cut, and will probably seek other situations for more money and minutes.
It is all about the Money & Minutes now ... the M&Ms. I understand it, accept it, but am struggling to continue to emotionally invest in KY sports.
Will I watch the games ?? SURE ... that is, unless I have something better to do. Games can be recorded and watched at later times.
It is sad to see what collegiate sports have become ... but, as they say, it is what it is.
 
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GoneFishin916

Junior
Oct 30, 2025
257
369
63
ORCAT said:
Getting close to that too, UncleAdolph. I actually enjoy some of the minor sports like volleyball better Tha football or basketball these days and I've been a long time UK basketball follower. Thinking my days of season tickets at Rupp may be coming to an end soon. They keep upping the price while lowering the product.
Click to expand...
I go to volleyball, soccer and baseball now. I used to go to 3-4 football and 3-4 basketball games a year. Now, you could not pay me to go; the experience is trash. I cannot stand Rupp anymore; with all the garbage music being blared at 120 Decibels and the pep band playing like absolute garbage (the drummer can never keep time). Add that to a mediocre to garbage product, and it's a hard "no" for me.
 
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GoneFishin916

Junior
Oct 30, 2025
257
369
63
Smeegs said:
“Something” = Gambling

Legalized betting is what’s now filling fan interest void that would’ve otherwise been left by the diminution of emotional/sentimental attachment to sports.
Click to expand...

Which is why the product has become hot garbage.
 
U

UKWildcats1987

Heisman
Sep 9, 2021
20,430
36,311
113
Well the good news is sports have and always will be mindless entertainment and a passionate hobby for most of us. And none of it matters n the end.

Its just entertainment so if it has people that down now that its semi pro life is short so other cool hobbies out there.
 
NociHTTP

NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
13,135
20,522
113
GoneFishin916 said:
I go to volleyball, soccer and baseball now. I used to go to 3-4 football and 3-4 basketball games a year. Now, you could not pay me to go; the experience is trash. I cannot stand Rupp anymore; with all the garbage music being blared at 120 Decibels and the pep band playing like absolute garbage (the drummer can never keep time). Add that to a mediocre to garbage product, and it's a hard "no" for me.
Click to expand...
drummer muppets GIF
 
H

howitis_rivals115807

All-Conference
Aug 28, 2001
4,885
1,274
113
Phil_The_Music2 said:
Kinda weird that you would compare college athletes who receive a free education, room and board, food and access to top not training facilities to people who were slaves. But you do you I guess.
Click to expand...

the major college conferences make over 4.6 billion a year broadcasting their games not counting ticket sells, corporate donations, and other donations bought through sports. and you think the 50k worth of schooling is sufficient? until half of this goes to the people who are actually playing this will not stop. it's inevitable, college sports became pro in the 80s and we've been moving here ever since. no amount of wishing and hoping is going to allow these billion dollar professional leagues get the players to play for a scholarship, pretending to be students with made up classes. ITS OVER and its accelerating. people need to stop pretending they are students. give them contracts, 2-3 years. make them employees. let them organize and do revenue sharing.
 
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paulcalhoun_rivals397471

paulcalhoun_rivals397471

All-American
Aug 23, 2024
3,054
6,532
113
howitis_rivals115807 said:
the major college conferences make over 4.6 billion a year broadcasting their games not counting ticket sells, corporate donations, and other donations bought through sports. and you think the 50k worth of schooling is sufficient? until half of this goes to the people who are actually playing this will not stop. it's inevitable, college sports became pro in the 80s and we've been moving here ever since. no amount of wishing and hoping is going to allow these billion dollar professional leagues get the players to play for a scholarship, pretending to be students with made up classes. ITS OVER and its accelerating. people need to stop pretending they are students. give them contracts, 2-3 years. make them employees. let them organize and do revenue sharing.
Click to expand...
It was an outrageous trash comparison. Was anybody being forced to do anything against their will or were they playing a game they love? Nobody was owned by another human and they were free to walk away at anytime.
 
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fisherscatfan

fisherscatfan

All-Conference
Jan 17, 2010
1,187
2,599
113
UKgrad22 said:
College sports? Could’ve sworn this was just semi pro with college logos now
Click to expand...
Exactly. I’m beginning to temper my concerns with Pope. Pope is not that different from many of us “oldtimers”. He believes is a UK brand and a college athletics world that just doesn’t exist anymore. Will he adjust to the new world. Don’t know anddont blame him if he doesn‘t.

It shouldn’t be identified as college athletics anymore because any charade of amateurism, academics etc is gone. What was college athletics is now in large part, glorified minor leagues. Whether that is good or bad for the sport will be determined. I know my thoughts but I’m really not the target audience any longer.
 
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U

UncleAdolph

Senior
Aug 9, 2019
284
683
93
The LSU ruling that they can bring back and play kids cut from NFL training camps is just about the last nail in the coffin.
Different world and I am an old man. It's tough for me.
 
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Goingfor9

All-Conference
Jan 27, 2003
16,471
3,511
113
UncleAdolph said:
Times change and you have to change with the times they say and there is truth in that.
But I am just sick of the drama, court cases tec
This is the first time I have said this on this board and I take no pleasure in saying it, I have been a hold out on MP but I just don't think he is the guy for this job
I will gladly eat crow if we have a big season and I am wrong. Gladly eat crow.
MP seems like a wonderful human being but he was hired to win BB games
I am just so down on the whole shooting match
Hate to be such a downer but am just being honest...
Click to expand...
Be patient. College sports generate too much money as the perfect developmental league for football and basketball. They just have to figure out how to govern and it’s gonna be in some new fashion with a 32 team league or something like that I don’t know but because we’re a charter member the SEC will be part of whatever is developed. Best thing though are the players I mean the product is gonna be as good as ever. They just have to dial in some tweaks and we’ll see. Maybe the SEC will merge with the ACC and the Big Ten and big 12 I guess or some variation of teams maybe they can do like developmental leagues in Europe and just have a first division second division third division type deal we’d probably be second division in football first division in basketball at the end of the day it doesn’t matter it’s gonna be university of Kentucky playing Duke University or University of Tennessee and it’s gonna be all about the coaches because college is where you want the best coaches. I mean, don’t get me wrong like the youth the U12 type stuff the coaches really need to know their stuff. That’s where you need. The best coaches. But from the standpoint of like personality and all that college.

Fret naught
 
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