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- Please no inappropriate usernames (remember that there may be youngsters in the room)
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- Use common sense and respect personal differences in the community: sexual and other inappropriate language or imagery, political rants and belittling the opinions of others will get your posts deleted and result in warnings and/ or banning from the forum
- 3/17/19 UPDATE -- We've updated the permissions for our "Football" and "Commit to the G" recruiting message boards. We aim to be the best free board out there and that has not changed. We do now ask that all of you good people register as a member of our forum in order to see the sugar that is falling from our skies, so to speak.
Comments
Not saying that I think this is about being called a quitter. I was responding to someone who was making it about that. To answer your questions below in italics;
Would I be proud of the protagonist? Yes, I did what I thought was best at the time. That doesn't mean I won't miss playing with my teammates.
What was my true motive? Securing mine and my family's financial independence , or possibly fulfilling a life-long dream of playing in the NFL, or both
Was their a coach or teammate having a positive or negative influence on my life? Does a coach or a teammate have to stop being a positive influence if I opt-out? If they do, are they really a positive influence or using me for my talents?
Was I a positive influence for a specific person? You can still be a positive influence after opting out.
How will it affect my friends/ family? Getting into the NFL helps them by providing opportunities I never dreamed of
If money is my primary motive, should it be? It doesn't have to be, but are players supposed to ignore life-changing money?
"It doesn't have to be, but are players supposed to ignore life-changing money?"
No they shouldn't ignore life changing money. But they should make that decision in the off season. Rather than let someone think they can count on you in the heat of battle only to drop them because you're not winning any more. That's not someone I'd want to be in a foxhole with.
It's difficult to comprehend.....but the world is changing.....certain things just don't seem important any longer.
I believe young people that are still taught the values of perseverance and overcoming adversity will have a huge advantage in this culture. Especially as they start careers or start new businesses.
I realize many don't agree with us.....and that's OK.
The university has made a commitment to you. It has spent money and provided resources.
If they do opt out, then they should have to repay what they were given. That would be the only fair way to handle this stuff. Basically pay tuition for the years they opted out.
It's not the military. They are free to leave any time. What, are they going to FORCE him play? He should have some penalty like repaying partial scholarship or something...but if a player wants to leave, it's still a free country.
Right and to think that the narrator is more important than the person. People make decisions based on information they think is true. If later that information is not true and you want to make a change. Then go do it. A coach sure doesn’t think about the recruits he fished in when taking another head coaching job
When people make everything about “me” while selling out the”us” they seriously damage what makes a team (and a community) strong.
When I was in the Marines, everything was about "us". Loyalty was a priority. Wherever the Corps sent you, you had loyalty to that unit, and your leadership had loyalty to you. Since retiring and starting my civilian career, it's been the opposite. A company will let you go in a heartbeat to save a nickel. It happened to me in 2018. You have to take care of yourself first, because your company will not. The easiest way to save money is to let people go. If something better pops up, you better go for it. My most trusted mentors said "you have to always be looking for another job because the one you have right now isn't guaranteed". The bigger, better deal (the BBD) might be right there if you are looking.
Elite football players are in it to make money in the NFL. That's the system that has been established. NCAA is just a long job interview. If this guy things he has enough equity built up to make a run at the NFL, hey, good for him. MSU is hot garbage right now. That's on the coach. The coach failed to provide an environment of success. Don't blame upperclassmen for wanting to bail on a sinking ship. That next play could be your last.
A society cannot survive without “us” and the more people act selfishly—the more likely it is that things we love like football will cease being an opportunity for financial gain.
Not sure how watching out for yourself is considered selfish. Football has turned into big business. Players make million dollar business decisions all the time. If this kid destroys his knee in some meaningless game, is the university going to make sure he is adequately compensated? No. He is SOL. It's just sports. Some of you take it way too seriously. The kid isn't abandoning his child or his wife....he's opting out of a sports entertainment season to seek a better deal. So what?
So, what about the teammates he leaves behind? Any considerations to your "brothers" there?
What about the 90% of the roster who have zero chance of going pro, and whose athletic career is just college? Any consideration to trying to win for them?
I am sorry you are in a professional that is so cutthroat. I know you say it's that way everywhere. I would disagree.
I have no say in what anyone chooses to do. I’m simply pointing out that Football is a microcosm for our society. How each of chooses to live either weakens the society or strengthens it. Weaken it and you won’t have opportunities like football. Just my opinion.
im willing to bet his “brothers” understand where he’s coming from and are wholly supportive.
It's still just a sport. He's not leaving brothers dying on the battlefield. It's a game. I'm sure his teammates are hoping he succeeds with his NFL dreams.
Sure. We will just disagree I guess on whether this is right as far as football, and most likely if it's just the right way attitude to live by.
By the way, looking out for yourself is the definition of being selfish. The debate is whether or not selfish is still considered a negative thing.
I believe your life is supposed to be about doing as much for others as you can, putting them before you...