So now that the cat is out of the bag and the SEC and the Big 10 seem to be heading into creating their "own" league, what teams, currently "outside" of the two conferences join the party? BTW I predicted as much about 3 years ago. Not that I am particularly smart but I do know water (and greed) flow toward the path of least resistance. I suggested the ultimate shake out of what was billed as "allowing some players to sell tee-shirts and hoodies" to become an NFL model, with College's "hiring" / "paying" players, probably hiring corporate "management teams" to run the football business for them, hiring a commissioner, collective bargaining, the formation of a players Union, and probably some form of marketing affiliation with the National Football League. I also suggested that "Power Five" teams under the new format would result in a massive consolidation of teams into two categories - The winners (SEC and Big Ten) teams and those programs these conferences will absorb and let in, and the losers, which amounts to everybody else. I predicted the shake out would probably result in around 36 to 48 teams left standing to play "Big Boy" football. I have no clue what happens to the "everybody else", they either drop football or perhaps they return to the old model and amateur status. For those of you with a better understanding of the complexities and legalities involved, I acknowledge this is a rather simplistic conclusion, will take time, and countless law-suits, particularly with State, Federal and Supreme Court involvement. But.......It's all a matter of time IMO. Just my opinion(s) but I don't think I have been that far off with my original considerations of the matter. Each of us will decide if it's for the betterment of the sport and if we will continue to support it with our entertainment dollars. * * * * * Edit: Here's a link to some of Sankey's comments (I don't like linking to Off3 but dislike Pat Forde even more -- LOL!). Future of CFP Play-Off Hinges On Touchy Matter: Automatic Qualifiers https://toxigon.com/secs-greg-sanke...e-discussing-cfps-future-i-dont-need-lectures Greg Sankey reveals dire question being posed by SEC teams about NCAA future /ET
The toothpaste is out of the tube now....it ain't going back. Might as well rip off the bandage and go full-on professional now. That is where it's going to end up, so why not just cut to the chase? Once the courts laugh the NCAA, SEC, BIG, or whoever out of the courts when they try to restrict NIL, we'll be right back to the old system: Biggest paycheck wins. It's past time to just stop pretending that these sports have anything to do with college.
After the BS that Sankey put us through with the additions of Texas and Oklahoma? He was less than honest about the scheduling among other things. I do NOT trust that man. And we do NOT need the B1G Conference to figure out a way for other conferences to follow our lead. Getting one other conference to tag along looks silly...
I think this entire, greed motivation scam, and the destruction of amateurism in Collegiate Sports is asinine Rick.
I realize most folks here do not think this will happen, but if you think the Big 2, AAA level minor league team is a bad concept and the remainder becoming A and AA ball, I believe the next two steps will be a players union and...some teams who are in the "inside" will be moved to a AA ball league in order to allow other non-Big 2 teams to be brought in because they are better equipped to bring eyeballs and therefore more TV revenue. Teams like Vanderbilt, Northwestern, Auburn (one Bama team only), Michigan State (same thing), Miss State (ibid), USCe (maybe Clemson is better, but not likely), Rutgers, Iowa, Nebraska are in the crosshairs so that the UNCs, UVAs, et al can be included. It isn't fun but it all seems natural in the new landscape. The real question is, will the fans allow it or will they walk away en mass? Stayed tuned, girls and boys!
It is all about the money to him. No matter how badly he ruins the SEC and all college football in the process, it matters not to him. He needs to drop his B1G conference commissioner pal ASAP.
It's really disturbing what is happening. I suspect more so for "older" persons that have enjoyed collegiate sports over their lifetime. Think about it, the people pushing these changes and narratives KNOW that the "Consumer", the "Fans" of Collegiate sports are very tied to it emotionally. I certainly am. Do any of you feel like me? That we are being completely manipulated? By interests that wish to take advantage of our passions and enjoyment of something for maximum financial and social leverage to enhance "their" stock and prestige with literally no respect for the sport(s) themselves, the traditions, the rivalries, the feeling of "place" with our universities? I may only speak for myself but I am not ashamed to admit that I found following UF athletics as a "stress reliever", a form of entertainment and enjoyment from the struggles of everyday life. Something I took pride in and immense satisfaction. I will never forget when SOS / UF won it's first SEC championship and then the National Championship, or what Billy D did, or the baseball team, and the many other Gator Champions. What great emotional releases these events were for me. I can't help but feel that what is happening now, is I have a pair of sharp cattle tongs, stuck through my nose by As@h@les that are leading me around to their preferred destination and all the while telling me "You will like it", all in the name of "profit". I was never against the players making some money, they deserve it - but like this? I feel betrayed, screwed and abused. Perhaps it's my age, or I am just naive and stupid. OK, I will whine no more, I've had my say.
Not trying to be an ass (maybe) but it's not that deep. Watch or don't watch. It really is just entertainment.
It’s pretty deep for some of us older folks. Vacations, weddings, even funerals were scheduled around college football games. So, as much as I dislike what is happening in college sports, I’ll very likely watch my Gators every Saturday they take the field for as many Saturdays as I have left. I’ll grieve when they lose and celebrate when they win.
All good man. I'm just not one of those people that really cares what direction things are going. I try and watch when they play but the older I get other things have more significance (travel, kids sporting events, a hike with the wife are just a few of things I'll happily miss a game to do).
Nothing wrong with your take. Just realize the obvious setup will allow gambling and if "your team" does not meet your expectation, you - and others - have a right to voice your opinion, also known as loudly booing the bums. I mean, since they are strictly young but professional entertainers who are essentially mercenaries, and if they decide to coast rather than embrace the opportunity for even bigger paychecks, then you HAVE to teach them they are wrong, correct? If you aren't going to vote with your pocketbook because..., then this IS the natural lay of the future landscape. Are we having fun yet?
That's fair and I was like that when I was a student there, but the older I've gotten I've gone in the opposite direction. Family and friends are more important. If I'm open on Saturday I'll watch but I never schedule things around it, it's just not that important to me.
Your reply and tegator80’s are well said and respectful of my feelings. I appreciate that. I’m aware that my loyalty to Gator sports was nurtured and developed during a different time. I don’t think anyone, or at most only a few, growing up in todays world feel the same as I did.
Theres not much i chiose to do besides watching a premier gator game but fishing the rigs or a panic show comes first. Ill be in Memphis watching Panic Saturday in October .
It's all about greed and money to all of the college presidents that have major college sports. I don't like Sankey (never have), but he's employed by the SEC Presidents to maximize revenue regardless of the damage to the SEC and the sports it hosts, and that is what he is doing. Personally, I think it is past time for Universities to jettison all intercollegiate sports and just sponsor intramurals. Because of money, intercollegiate sports have in part contributed to the corruption of our system of higher education.
I agree with everything except the above. The players deserve to be compensated in the current system, because they are nothing more that tools to generate revenue. However, if the Universities had true amateur sports in which they may or may not participate in at will, then they deserve nothing more than any other regular student.
I sometimes wonder about this. Following traditions are a learned behavior. Will the current generation of students follow a professional league like a lot of us follow our college sports teams?
