Ole Miss QB injured in meaningless Bowl Game ….. what say you Kirk and Desmond?

Football
102

If they’re seniors/not coming back the next season then it’s completely fine with me if they opt out to go on a trip or whatever. I don’t really care. Just because they don’t eliminate ALL risk doesn’t mean they can’t eliminate some risk. What you or I would decide if presented with same decision isn’t necessarily what they would do or what’s best for them. And that’s ok. It doesn’t make them wrong. You’ll live.

Physical health and financial health are the same to me in this situation. If a player hanging it up for their future physical health is ok but not for their future financial health then that strikes me as somewhat inconsistent.

103

Good point but you also have to remember that at the time very few thought Mr. Montana could make it in the NFL. The same was said about Tom Brady.

104

Care to apply numbers to this instead of speaking in generalizations?

105

austin-powers-dr-evil

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106

Agree that financial or physical health are both important. The difference is one is quitting the sport for all playing options, the other is just quitting that team for their next team.

As to saying they are not playing a game to stay healthy and then moving on to a dangerous activity just means they are lying about trying to stay healthy.

They can do what they want. It is also why I have not gone to bowl games in awhile. They can choose not to play and I have the choice not to spend the money. Differing value systems. I am having a hard time thinking of another career path where you get rewarded for not working or skipping out on part of a job. I’m sure there probably are some, just can’t think of any off the top of my head.

107

Doesn’t have to be if someone would try to answer some questions posed instead of “I’m right”, “no, I’m right”, no I’m right" Setting some discussion could actually make it interesting and beneficial.

When is it not ok to opt out of a game?

Can you opt out earlier than a bowl, say when your team is eliminated from conference championship?

What if you are trying to safe, but have a ski trip planned?

What if it is half time of a game, and you had enough plays and decide you don’t need more that week for your resume?

or is it always ok to opt out of a game?

108

Whenever a player wants. Its players right to stop , resign, have change of heart, quit a sport, etc
People have that right. If you think players are breaking a “contract” , take legal action, and see how that goes.

Can you opt out earlier than a bowl, say when your team is eliminated from conference championship?

Sure, but coach may pull your scholarship or kick you off the team

What if you are trying to safe, but have a ski trip planned?

What someone does with their personal time is none of my business. Go sking , free style
rock climbing, etc…it’s irrelevant.

What if it is half time of a game, and you had enough plays and decide you don’t need more that week for your resume?

Sure , take your jersey off and walk out if you like. Just remember you may not have a place to come back to.

or is it always ok to opt out of a game?

Sure, but there may be consequences depending on personal circumstances.

It’s a good discussion, and in some ways is like what D’Erik King did. He decided to take a redshirt
when the team was tanking 2 years ago. But I still get the feeling that it’s mostly the older fans
that have a problem with the players opting out because “ they used to not do it”. Old Grumpy Man
Syndrome.

109

You (and others) may like to call it grumpy old man syndrome, but there is something to be said for responsibility and obligations. It goes beyond the football field but is more of a generational impact on society. I have seen many college students fail out until they learned to take responsibility for their work, and then come back and realize why. It also impacts job readiness in the workforce.

FYI, All questions asked were based off of real examples from other message boards of players over the past year or two. None lost their scholarship or were not welcomed back because of it. (Though the ski one was leaving for the draft so not returning anyway) (edit to add: Interestingly enough, one is roughly rumored to be transferring to Ole Miss - fits this thread)

I also find it interesting to read about how the players can opt out all they like and have no loyalty to the school, then there are numerous threads that discuss lack of attendance and needing to increase season ticket sales. Isn’t that also about loyalty to a team?

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110

I’m probably not going to suffer a life altering writers cramp by writing out a check or
two over the course of a year. The loyalty I have to the school is my free choice. Most
UH Alums have no loyalty to the academic or athletic side of the school. Their choice. It’s a Houston thing to some degree, that I attribute to who we are/were.

We have been making progress on all fronts: attendance , academic giving, and cougar pride,
but we have a LONG way to go to reach the level of atm or ut. I like the challenge even if the
state makes the playing field uneven.

111

Correct loyalty is not compulsory. If it was… Is it really loyalty?

But once again I here this (serious voice) “Responsibilities and Obligations” business. And I just don’t hear enough from that group about their generation’s ie the coaches “Responsibilities and Obligations” as they go full mercenary all about me every chance they get.

112

I think the perception of the bowl games has changed drastically over the years, increasing the percentage of players who opt out of playing. Prior to this 4 team playoff bowl, games were perceived as a reward for the team and the players.

Since its creation the the goal for every football team is to make the playoff, anything less than that is a consolation price. So sure that bowl game is meaningless when you would much rather be playing in the playoffs.

Fans value the bowl game completely differently than the athletes do. As a fan there is no choice, your teams bowl game is a prize.

For a player, it is the choice of your future or the chance to win against a random team. That win is not more valuable than your future.

113

Those insurance policies are not great. Mainly for huge injuries (like Jaylon Smith) and it has to be clear as day value was lost. Then guys will get paid a fraction of that lost value. For a player like Marcus Jones who was dealing with injuries all year, if he got a high ankle sprain or pulled hamstring that kept him out of the senior bowl and caused his combine/pro day workout to not be as good as he is capable of, that insurance policy isn’t paying a penny. In that scenario his NFL stock would surely drop.

114

Since 1969 our Cougars have played in 27 Bowl Games.

I have watched on TV, or personally attended each game.

27 games x 85 players per game = 2,295 player possibilities of career-ending injuries.

I cannot recall one. But it could have occurred. If so others will remember and post it here.

If we have, in fact, gone 0 for 2295 in suffering a severe Bowl Game injury that says something about the statistical odds.

So far we seem to have one case, The Ole Miss QB, out of 7,100 Bowl participants. Any more?

Insurance Actuaries could easily study this, over many years, and create Premiums for Major Injury Policies. That cost can actually be paid by a University, The NFL, Donors, etc. A real policy. Worth $millions.

Houston, Baylor, Texas Tech, UTEP, etc. all just played a bowl game and have no major injuries. Further proof that this may not be much of an issue.

Our All-American player was banged up by season’s end. Perhaps our Medical Staff gave him some advice to take it easy. If so, fine. The truly injured should not play.

Do not be surprised to see NIL deals that require the player to appear in every single game unless a team Doctor holds him out. The advertising value increases with National Bowl Game exposure.

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115

Outdated mindsets like honoring a commitment? All of these kids have received a free education, room and board and campus privileges during the time they have been in school, and, in my opinion, as part of the scholarship agreement, they should be required to agree to play in all games they are eligible for, including bowl games. They should be required to fulfill their commitment.

Would they still opt out if playing for the national championship?

These student-athletes owe one more game to the school, coaches and fans. Where would they be if not for these mentors? The NFL gold would never come about if they had not been recruited, educated and nurtured by their college and all that comes with it.

I for one am thankful for those “mindsets” that my father and my grandfather set as examples for me. If it wasn’t for those beliefs, a commitment in something greater then individual materialistic interests , your kids and your grand children would be speaking either German or Japanese.
Flame away youngins.
And oh by the way, do you really believe that any player who has decided to play in a ball game and risk injury did so at the goadind of a TV announcer? Please.

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116

I’ve yet to see a “bad” argument for either side of this issue honestly. The problem is there doesn’t seem to be a great solution to the problem.

Mine would be that players who have declared for the draft or NFL be given an incentive bonus to play a bowl game. Maybe something like $500,000 provided by the bowls sponsors with the requirement they play 3 full quarters and 7:30 of the 4th unless a team lead by 20 points or more going into the 4th.

117

My guess is the stick is probably going to start coming from the NIL sponsors who are going to expect the players receiving money to pay in all games where healthy since it’s chest most of this isn’t going to be endorsing products restaurants, etc. But essentially paychecks especially at the high levels.

118

Would it made you happier if Marcus Jones suited up but didn’t play? Dana, who understands reality and respects freedom, just didn’t put him in.

119

Haha. What is Dana going to do? Pull his Scholly? Dude is about to be a millionaire.

120

I completely understand your argument of a commitment here. I am not disagreeing with the philosophy of honoring your commitments. But there is another side to this card.

Think about all the employees who leave their employer high and dry in the work force for a new job. Who quit their job, don’t perform their duties, or leave for an opportunity elsewhere that fits them better. Just because you take a job does make you beholden to your employer. You have a right to leave or move on when you deem fit.

It shouldn’t make a student athlete held to a team or university either.

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121

I can see your point.But most persons of character give their employer two weeks notice. That has been the professional practice and expectation for as long as I am aware. This phenomena of players deciding to bolt during the bowl game is relatively new. Maybe There should be some type of protocol set for not playing in the bowl and not to follow the protocol would result in financial penalty.?