Parts of me wish the NCAA would forbid sideline passes to be issued to those choosing not to play in their team's bowl games. I acknowledge all the counterpoints, but excusing oneself when medically fit to play continues to rub me the wrong way. The decision to sit out seems to be too easy. What say you?
Players sitting out of Bowl games
- Thread starter woody6
- Start date
I’m happy it’s happening there is a lot of terrible football being played and it will just speed up the race to an 8 then eventually 16 team playoff in the next 20 years.
The playoff games have made the rest of the bowl games meaningless. I have no problem with the kids sitting out the games being with their teammates on the sidelines. I think it’s insane for a possibly high draft choice to risk millions of dollars playing in an exhibition game.
Totally agree eireog! Would be a real shame if a kid has a chance to increase his families wealth and status if he got hurt in a meaningless game. Part of me wants to see him continue to play with the team but the common sense part of me say no way should he risk a life altering injury. Most of these players opting out hopefully have good advice from people who know pro football and where they will end up in the NFL draft.
True, but coaches are not likely to appear on the field or even at the game, which appears like a very different situation compared to players on the sideline.
I am in total agreement with these guys who sit out. Who wants to risk a potential NFL career on a meaningless Bowl game in which you aren't getting a dime, but the school is making millions?
The playoffs have not made the other games meaningless! All the bowl games (except a BCS title game or bowl with a number 1 or 2 team during the mythical title days) have always been “meaningless.” The concept of sitting out is new but would have made just as much sense 10 years ago as today if people would have done it. Using your logic every bowl game was meaningless during the BCS era also except the BCS title game with 1vs 2.
The games are meaningless. Before the BCS and the National Championship game the bowl games meant something. There was actually some fun in watching all the games in hopes different teams might spring an upset to spark debate as to who was number one. The current system is better, I’d just like to see it expanded.
I like all the Bowl games.You sit out you shouldn’t be allowed to be on the sidelines.No swag,no ring,no nothing
Christian McCaffrey hasn't been an issue for Carolina.
Nope. They completely understand the concept. They are making these business decisions themselves every game. No different than them shutting down their star QB or RB the last 2 weeks of the regular season when they know they are out of playoff contention.
So you're telling me the Liberty Bowl mattered back in the 80s? Come on man!
More the New Years Day bowls. I didn’t mean to imply that all the bowls back then mattered. One exception to the New Years Day bowls I can remember was an undefeated BYU played in the Holiday Bowl I believe.
Agree the bowls mean nothing unless your one of the top four teams in the playoff contention for national championship game.
Games other than the final four are a means to recruit for the Universities to make even more money from the athlete/scholars. Allowing sideline rites to a player excussing himself to better his post college earnings is also another way for the University to advertise the program for future recruits. You know the individual will garner television time with commentators mention as well, to enhance all involved to benefit. All part of the great world of the NCAA. Now, if anyone thinks the NCAA is not dollar driven, just study the mess with recruitment violations regarding the current basketball lawsuits and the delay in any action for those findings. There will be no decisions made pre-March Madness for those fine institutions involved.
Well yeah they mean nothing for the standings, but
they do draw fans and air time so yes they mean money.
When I was a kid, only conference champions went to bowl games. Bowl games meant something to represent your school, your conference, your state to the bowl extravaganza...but now, 6-6 gets you into an ESPN programming slot. As recently as 25 years ago, the Big Ten only had 4 Bowl eligible teams. But by entering into bowl agreements with 10 games, the Big Ten pretty much guarantees that the bottom tier of the conference will play cruddy MAC, CUSA and Sun Belt teams in order to get three wins in the hopes that there will be enough teams to fill the bowl slots. As a result, they are trading ticket sales for bowl game revenue. I look back at my college days and Illinois having non-conference schedules with USC, Colorado & Arizona State, or Nebraska, or Louisville, instead of two MAC's & a Sun Belt school as the good old days, lets sell tickets rather than hope for 6 wins....
That said, unless you are in the playoff, bowl games are just ESPN programming and contract requirements for the conference TV money. If the stud QB or RB wants to sit out and protect his knees for the combine, so be it. I look back and can see No. 1 draft pick Jeff George sitting out the Citrus Bowl in today's world instead of risking his health (and still stunned that pro scouts couldn't figure out that he had a Billion dollar arm operated by a two dollar mindset).
That said, unless you are in the playoff, bowl games are just ESPN programming and contract requirements for the conference TV money. If the stud QB or RB wants to sit out and protect his knees for the combine, so be it. I look back and can see No. 1 draft pick Jeff George sitting out the Citrus Bowl in today's world instead of risking his health (and still stunned that pro scouts couldn't figure out that he had a Billion dollar arm operated by a two dollar mindset).
I"m 73 and when growing up there were 4 bowl games,Sugar,Rose,Orange and Cotton Bowl. We watched all 4 on New Years Day. I wouldn't watch a 7-5 or 6-6 team during the year let alone in a bowl game.
The Sun Bowl, Gator Bowl, and Citrus Bowl have all been around your whole life. And, I bet there were others that were played back in the 40s, 50s, and 60s that aren't around anymore. There are a lot of games now, true, but the past wasn't quite as exclusive as many people think.
If I were a coach I would throw any player refusing to play in a bowl game right off the team.
And I am sure they wouldn't care if they were going to enter the NFL draft.
This might make sense, but some teams sign guys who have had run ins with the law and guys with serious character flaws that make doing something like this child's play.
Yes but for the rest of their life they would also be remembered for getting tossed from the team for refusing to play. A good athlete and competitor isn't a quitter and a great competitor doesn't quit on his teammates.
That all sounds nice...but it doesn't pay the mortgage. You throw millions of dollars at these guys and they are walking....and I would too.
You build your top level programs by making it possible to play at the next $$$$$$$ level. This is not high school where a lesson needs to be taught. Heck..have the NFL prospect stand next to the head coach with a headset for the publicity. You used the kid to get where you are and by their senior year the cupboard should have another in the wings.
I don't care what it sounds like and we arent talking about a mortgage. If a kid on my team refused to play I would throw him right off the team. Pretty crappy way to end a college career.
Football after high school is business - a financial transaction and one which is unfair to the players.
That's why I like high school ball. It remains mostly pure.
That's why I like high school ball. It remains mostly pure.
I am not going to disagree totally with you. The problem really isn't the kids. It's the scumbag agents. Wait, let me stop there. Let's call these guys what they really are. Scumbag attorneys.
Some of these kids come from very poor neighborhoods. Scumbag attorneys take advantage of that and give a pitch to some of these kids to let them know there is a way out for their whole family and ask them, "why risk your career and your future money on a meaningless game?"
But to get back to the mortgage...yes really we are talking about that. You and I don't walk in the shoes of these kids. We don't live their lives.
I totally understand why some of these kids do it. In a roundabout way, that was what I was trying to say.
I'm 73, as well, and I remember them adding the Tangerine Bowl.
On the same note, college players are in college to get educations. So, as I read in Under the Golden Dome, players should not be forced to miss classes to make practice instead - with the penalty of being held out of games if they miss practice to go to class, or lab, or other academic reasons. Heaven forbid, a player have a major with the one mandatory attendance Saturday morning lab from 8-noon (Illinois had a major like that, mandatory class only offered fall semester Saturday morning). I assume a player like that doesn't get his scholarship renewed and is allowed to transfer rather than take his mandatory class...
but, then in reality, isn't playing your jr or sr years just as harmful??? I mean if you are playing not to get hurt(you get hurt), if you are playing hard you usually do not get hurt. I know there may be a few out there.
but, name a few players that played got hurt and did not get drafted(if they were to be drafted high)
Depending on a person's skill level and the position that he plays as well as the frequency he is utilized I can definitely see where a player may opt out of his last college game. If he is the stud player on the team with multiple game opportunties, if he is in a conference that routinely has high draft picks, etc., what benefit is it to him other than having long forgotten memories when he gets older if he is injured and his draft potential is significantly lowered. Eddie Jackson from the Bears got injured in his last game at Alabama and fell to the 3rd or 4th round where he most likely would have been a first round pick. Big dollar difference between 1st round and the others.
If you are a 1st rd pick you absolutely sit out a meaningless bowl game. The financial risk is not worth winning the Alamo Bowl.
If you are projected as a first round pick, you are a senior, NOT in the final four, have remained injury free your last college season why in hell would you play a bowl game? The financial reward could set you up for life...playing a couple of years in the NFL. There may be some exception where that bowl ring and your academic pursuits could meld into a career. Any coach in college sports, especially basketball knows the importance of high level exposure of athletes they have coached. Of course we are talking a small fraction of NCAA athletes here.
I do not think eddie jackson was going anywhere near the top 10picks or first round for that matter.( but just look at what happened, injured could not play in a high profile game) sometimes that injury bug just follows you around. so are you saying now that everytime before a big game in his career(he should be rested, so not to get injured)
Jackson started his career at Alabama as a cornerback. As a true freshman in 2013, he played in seven games with four starts and had 19 tackles and one interception. Jackson tore his ACL prior to this sophomore season in April 2014 but returned that year to play in 11 games with 10 starts. He recorded 41 tackles, one sack and one interception. Prior to his junior year in 2015, Jackson switched from cornerback to safety. He played in all 15 games, recording 46 tackles and six interceptions. He was named the Defensive MVP of the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship after recording three tackles and an interception against Clemson in a 45-40 victory.
Jackson broke his left leg against Texas A&M in the eighth week of the 2016 season, ending his year. He finished his injury-shortened senior season with two punt returns and one interception returned for touchdowns, and was named second team all-conference despite only playing eight games.
look at todd gurly, knee injury, the kid from nd major injuries. still drafted high.
if you are good for some stupid reason, gm's will spend money on broke players, and a very high percentage of the times it bites them in the asses.
sometimes they turn out to be a gem(todd gurly).
I think what they should be looking at is a players career(how many times has this player been hurt) because a lot of these players have been hurt multiple times in college and now include high school. and are just going to continue to get hurt(see: kevin white, alshon Jefferies now high dollar players that have not completed one full season)
the problem is putting a price tag on any first round player/Heisman/ etc. typical first rounders are garbage players and not worth the money. most have not lived up to the hype. look at all of the qb, rb that have gone high. even can look at the linemen it still takes 90% a good 3years to develop and become usable every down players..
and your better players(diamonds in the rough) come in rounds 2&3
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Why stop at sitting out meaningless bowl games? Why not sit out non conference games earlier in the season. They won't impact your conference championship aspirations, especially if it's against weaker class teams. Your performance in those games won't mean much because you are playing against inferior competition. You are expected to dominate. All that can happen is someone rolls up your leg and you are done. Better to save yourself and energy for those bigger conference opponents and better competition where a dominating performance will lead to more recognition.
Yep sitting out early season non conference games makes a lot of financial sense. I mean what can someone learn, except bad habits, playing against Citadel at home.
Yep sitting out early season non conference games makes a lot of financial sense. I mean what can someone learn, except bad habits, playing against Citadel at home.