I love when people throw out the “free college education “. My opinion is not going to be popular with most on here, but I don’t believe we have any right to judge. Ask any Coog player on this team and they all supported Logan and Marcus in their decision, so why shouldn’t we? Seems that’s what matters more, the team and coach’s response more than ours. Put yourself in their shoes, with a possibility to play at the next level for quite a bit of money and your dream coming true…what would you do, honestly?
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Matt Corral’s injury turned out to just be a rolled ankle. Nothing is broken or anything serious, so his draft stock wont drop.
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Twin mom don’t forget many on this board have given thousands of dollars over the years to the athletic department and made donations for these new facilities these players are enjoying. And don’t act like free tuition is nothing, I’ll tell you what I have had two daughters graduate college in the last few years. I paid all their college expenses over a nine year period and it was over $200,000 out of my pocket. I did that while having season tickets for football and basketball since 1981 and traveling all over the country supporting these “student” athletes . I still have money going to the FC that I pledged.
But I still will receive calls and emails wanting me to give more and now these players all want money , more and better amenities for themselves, and will decide not to play for their own reasons. These schools, coaches, and players will eventually kill the golden goose with all their greed because eventually we who continue to shell out will eventually say enough.
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I don’t have a child or grand child participating in athletics at the collegiate level and I also donate thousands of dollars every year. I fully support athletes making a decision whether to play in a bowl game or not based on their own circumstances. It was apparent that Marcus was playing hurt the last part of the season and I fully support him sitting out while he heals. I don’t know why Logan Hall made the choice he made but I fully support him. Having Coogs in the pros is great promotion for our athletics.
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I’ve been thinking about this…
I think each player should decide what’s best for himself. In this case, Corral understood the risk and accepted it. Other players chose not to accept the risk. It reminds me of the Death Star conversation in Clerks.
Sure, as a fan, I want the best matchups, but the only thing that matters to me is a few hours of entertainment. Even as a moderate donor, it’s not my choice.
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Are we playing intergalactic teams in football and basketball?
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This shows why there will be eventually an employer/employee relationship and eventually unionization of the players labor. It’s coming just matter of when, not if.
I think every player should be able to leave the game when they think its become meaningless. 3rd quarter, 4th…Hell, the first quarter if you’re up by 24.
Coach: “Where you think you’re goin’, Smith?”
Smith: “Sorry, Coach but I ain’t risking a torn mini so you can put 70 on McNeese. I’m out for the evening.
I’ll stay on the sidelines in one of the warm-up jackets to keep morale up though.”
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Obvious “typo’s”. Even I could figure that out . . . . .
“meaningless” is very subjective. Matt Corrall was playing because he wanted to. It wasn’t a meaningless game to him.
The number of players that lost a bunch of money is really small IIRC. Two of the worst injuries in a bowl that I recall were Willis McGahee and Jaylon Smith. And both were still drafted high (1st and 2nd rounds respectively).
Maybe you fall a little but the NFL has shown if you’re talented, you’ll still be drafted high.
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So first I think it’s funny that once the players get even a little greedy it’s a whole lot of pearl clutching. No one likes greedy labor, greed is for management.
But I also think we look at this from the wrong perspective by using 1st rounders. Let’s look at it from Grant Stuard’s perspective he was Mr. Irrelevant. If he pays in the bowl game and gets hurt. So no Senior Bowl camp and interviews. No notice from the Bucs. There’s a great change he’s taking the road of an UDFA. Which means it’s an even tougher road to pros. And Mr. Irrelevant is hard enough. But all those back end guys if they get hurt they don’t get a spot on the draft boards. Most dreams end, that is life but why put your dream at risk for a have that doesn’t mean as much as even a regular season game? Coaches and teammates get it it’s a business and there is only so much window to make it to the NFL.
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If Dell had decided to forego the Auburn game does anyone here think we would have won?
Not a great Tiger team but a huge win for the program and future recruiting.
Dell said after the game he would be making a decision on whether to turn pro.
Not against players opting out but jus pointing out how bad it can hurt their school
I never, ever said free tuition was nothing and I never said those that generously give year in and year out were not appreciated. We have also paid tuition for Derek’s twin, so I fully understand how much college costs. Players and families don’t like it constantly thrown in their face. Student athletes generate millions of dollars for their university. Now because of NIL they are greedy and entitled? You can’t group a percentage of players all together.if you actually spoke to a student athlete, they will tell you they are blessed be in their situation. Don’t assume they are all spoiled.
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Yes Stuard could get injured and have to go the UDFA route. Or he could also ball out and improve his stock.
It goes both ways.
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Come on Boss, you know the jackets are only for those participating in the game.
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I agree that generalizing about all athletes is the wrong way to go. However, I don’t agree that student athletes generate millions of dollars. On the whole, athletics are a money loser, and it’s certainly not the case that ALL student athletes generate any revenues. That’s kind of beside the point with respect to players opting out. Certainly, none of those players would have had the stage on which to showcase their talents without literal billions of dollars in investments that came well before they set foot on campus.
Players certainly have the right to choose to sit out games if they determine that it’s in their own personal best interests. Fans, teammates, coaches, and others also have the right to voice their opinions on the matter. Each side may not like what the other has to say, but that’s the cost of doing business.
There are a lot of people who have many years, tears, and dollars invested in the schools they support long before and after each new class arrives, and it’s unreasonable to expect them to just kind of shrug when important players “opt out” of high-visibility games.
I’m glad the Ole Miss QB didn’t suffer a significant injury, but I wish we didn’t have to listen to all the drama about players leaving before the bowl games. It takes away from the players who did play, and it shifts the focus to the wrong things, in my opinion.
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But it doesn’t, otherwise there would be no opt outs anywhere. The draft processes are way more important than a single bowl game. The teams already have literally all your tape since pee wee one more have against reddish competition isn’t going to say anyone. Blowing a scout or executive away in an interview or at a workout will.
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I agree students making millions is ridiculous, and of course everyone has a right to voice their opinions on opt outs and so forth.
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The problem is that college football has become big business and now we have investors (those donating) and customers (those that show up to games for the entertainment).
The investors want to have a say and want a nice ROI (championships, bowl wins, trophies). The employees (players) and management (AD / coaches) want better comp, facilities, etc.
Employees have a right to look out for their careers sometimes at the expense of investors and their current management.
And, unfortunately, college football is the Russell 2000 for non-CFP bowl games and the NFL teams are the DOW.
Most don’t just walk away from a coveted spot on the DOW…well unless you are Antonio Brown😃
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