Personally, I don't hate that Idea. It would be even better for the folks that didn't make the bowls. Everybody gets to practice more! And, they really need the practice. (like we don't) Geeze. Anyway, hope the pairing is decent. It would be cool if most all of the kids play. Go Gators. Beat the opponent.
Of course he isn’t wrong. I’ve written 2 responses to this and deleted them both. SMH at our lack of values today
It bothers me when players opt out of major bowls (like if you just miss the playoffs but are in a NY6 bowl). It bothered me watching our high powered offense in Trasks last year stumble in the bowl, because basically the entire WR corps opted out. When you are in whatever bowl 6-6 gets you, it’s probably better to let as many freshmen as possible get more practice reps and game snaps. So it’s really on the player to finish. Of course you want players to care and finish the deal, but even for those that sit out it creates opportunity for someone else to build momentum for next year.
I like the thought of a game with another school at the end of spring practice. Would be as mean as a bowl . Maybe
I doubt that’ll be the reason. I expect many to be in the portal and a few to the draft but the guys that expect to play next year will play.
It sucks but I understand the few with lifechanging money already on the table protecting it. Some may sit because of self importance and wanting to be in tgat elite crowd. There are others that wouldn’t ever let their teammates take the field without them and those are the guys you want on your team if you want to win championships.
"First and foremost its about being committed to something and finishing what you started." From a coach who didn't finish last season with Clemson and skipped his team's bowl game.
Getting NIL $ and opting out is kind of creepy. Not as bad as Mark Zuckerberg creepy, but not too far off either! I wonder if there are any rules around that. Now that everyone is semi-pro, should they stipulate something in those arrangements? Not to get all nuts about this but...opting out of something that you committed to (your team, your teammates, your school, your NIL deal) just seems wrong. It's so 'all about me' thinking. They should all have insurance policies now with all the NIL $. This is one area I don't talk about much because it makes me crazy. It's a sell-out feeling for us fans. It's very complicated, I'll agree. But that doesn't mean I have to like it. Go Gators.
This made me nauseated. How can those guys look their teammates in the face and say “I’m not playing, good luck”, especially WR’s to their QB who is directly responsible for getting them the ball all season and helping them earn a shot at the NFL? Seems like such a betrayal. I get the idea that a guy doesn’t want to get injured and diminish his draft value, but he could get hurt working out or preparing for the combine too. Baring injury, maybe NIL money should be prorated or setup where some percentage is paid as a bonus after playing in the bowl game, otherwise it’s not hard to imagine a scenario where eventually most starters sit out unless they’re in the playoffs.
NIL is a business contract and can be set up any way that is negotiated between the two entities involved. The university isn't one of them. A good agent would never agree to a prorated payout. Now enticement with a large bonus on top of agreed terms for playing in a bowl game would be the route to go.
Lots of hate on bowl games in this thread. That's crazy. I love watching our bowl game and I'm stoked about the guys getting more practice in. Hope they are too. I'm good with opt outs in games like this, though. Get to see fresh faces get some more game time Pt.
I agree with you. We’re talking about players opting out who aren’t going to be playing on the team next year, right? Did any Gator opt out last year that returned to be on the team this year? I’d have a huge problem with that as a coach (and fan)
That's an idea that should happen....just like baseball has done in the fall. Heck, I miss the old baby gator games on Friday nights where the freshmen would play auburn or uga, etc. Those were a blast. Let's bring back jv games
How about a pre-season warm up game with another team that doesn’t count as a win or a loss on the upcoming season. I’d rather have a pre-season game that helps define what we currently need to fix to start the season. Just a thought.
You are soooo correct and this is my strong theory as to why: Since NIL has come out AND since the poaching and therefore, the buying of players has come out, the attitude of all college players has changed. It's now all about the $$... very few players feel that connectivity to their school, school colors, hometown, etc. Forget State Pride... school history...etc. It is sad... the pageantry that was once there that may college sports DIFFERENT from the NFL... is gone.
You mean the indentured servitude. For a long time it was severally tilted toward the schools. Now the players have more say and people are losing their minds.
He’s not wrong but coaches (like Venables himself) never “finish what they started” when they jump to new jobs and leave the players they recruited at their old program high and dry. These “do as a I say, not as I do” hypocrite coaches always make me laugh.
