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Comments
Does anyone think Herschel, David Greene, David Pollack, Champ Bailey and many of the other former Georgia greats would have “quit” on their teammates and not play in a bowl game?
I was thinking same. The problem is, with the current NCAA rules regarding professional athletes, you cannot project what the market will bear for a particular athlete's salary. For example, Fromm was a good qb, but was drafted much lower than projected. If an insurance policy for, say, ten million dollars had been bound, and he was injured in the bowl game, the insurance company would have lost a fortune. There is no good way for the company to determine their exposure, given we have no idea what the player will earn until AFTER they have played all the games. I think it should be legal for college players to sign NFL contracts while in school, for future play. If college players could sign an NFL contract while still in school, then an insurance policy would be doable and paid for by the NFL team with whom the player has signed. But the NCAA says once you hire an agent, that's it. It is time for NCAA to catch up with the times. Signing a contract for the following year no more makes someone a professional player than signing a letter of intent makes a high school kid an NCAA player.
That idea would also help kids make the decision to stay or go to the draft. If they are drafted and offered a crappy contract, then they might say "no way" and stay in school a year longer to improve their stock.
I'm kinda 50-50 on this trend. Personally, I don't think it has much to do with character. It's just the way the game has evolved. You can't blame the players for looking out for #1. And I certainly understand guys opting out that have been dealing with nagging injuries and such. Obviously, if you're in the playoffs then guys aren't opting out. This is a wierd year where many players who experienced disappointing seasons (the Dawgs being one team) would rather just end it now. Some bowls won't even be allowed to have any fans unlike the SEC regular season. And if your team isn't in the playoffs and you are a higher draft pick then maybe it makes more sense to just pack your bags instead of risking injury. It's also kinda like the transfer portal or coming back to play as a senior where the coach and team bond can make the difference.
If Clemson loses then expect guys to opt out for Clemson too. I hope Clemson wins, because we already play them in early September. No sense in possibly losing twice to the same team in back-to-back games! HA!
GO DAWGS!
I hope that CKM learned from the debacle he caused at the Sugar Bowl 2 years ago that you don't let these ex-bulldogs anywhere near the team members between now and the bowl game, because they are poison.
I don't know what the rolls are now, but if you quit the team are you off scholarship? You sure should be. I'm disappointed in Monty Rice, I thought he had more character than this.
Good points David. You have to go and sit in a room by yourself, til game time I guess. LOL! Although I do hear that Florida is open for business. Hello Orange Bowl. I hope Clemson loses to Notre Dame(as much as I can't stand the Irish) so we would play Clemson in the Orange Bowl it is being bantered about. That would be a game to watch.
That's an interesting idea but as you sort of point out in the end, it would be specific to guys who end up getting drafted lower than they thought they would. Might benefit a handful of players each year, but I'm not sure it would be the catalyst for any sweeping modernization. I do like it though.
Back to the original topic, I'm about 80/20 opposed. I get the whole injury avoidance aspect, but how often do career-ending injuries actually occur? More to the point, how many times has a would-be pro career been erased by an injury in the player's final game? They've made it 3,4,5 years, but they can't go one more game?
I believe they are getting counseled by mom and dad, whomever, "you don't wont to risk getting an injury and losing hundreds of thousands of dollars do you? What are they going to say? Sc#w it? I'm playing, in a game no one will remember much 10 years from now. Then if you do play you're tippy toeing around, and tha'ts when you do get hurt.
I know, I hate it, I remember when winning your bowl game was a huge deal, the passion involved was palpable. . Like everything else though things change, and not necessarily for the better. Get ready for even more junk made in China.
I don't like the opt-out because it makes it out that the player feels another game isn't worth his time. The fact is, football is a team sport and without that team, he wouldn't be the star he is, hoping for a higher draft slot.
You are afraid of getting hurt in a game? Tell that to Richard "Evel Knievel" LeCounte. The fact is, there are very few career ending injuries in football. Heck, statistically, there are very few season ending injuries. Tua Tagovailoa is starting in the NFL, was taken fifth overall and I would have sworn he would never play again.
You owe your team that game. It is important to these guys and no way I think any one of those returning next year feel that an extra game is a waste of their time and a "practice game". It is a game and an opportunity to play one more down in a sad year.
Many will hate this, and I understand, and respect your right to disagree. But here is my message to Monty (and, by extension, the rest of them), which I delivered personally:
"Character is a tricky thing; either you have it or you don't. And we only find out at mileposts in life. We (UGA) now have the answer. You're welcome, for all UGA has done for you. Giving back? Yah, you probably figure you'll send them a check and all will be 100%. Wrong."
And, to continue: You're on the team but you decide to quit? Fine. Kirby isn't going to take you to the bowl game? Gee, are you kidding me? Duh. You quit on the team, you're NOT ON the team. Move out of the dorm (if you live there), stop eating free food, stop using the facilities, hand in your key card, and your DAWG card, and GO.
Any SEALs, Rangers, SOFs out there? Do you bail on your team on the last mission because you've got a promotion coming up and you might stub your toe?
And again, only one opinion. Understanding there are others just as strongly-held on the other side.
But this, "All about ME" mentality is corrosive, in my opinion.
Y’all wanna know what fixes the opt out bug?
32 team playoff brought up by Mark Richt.
kids opt out when nothings on the line. One thing that’s driven this is the ease of getting in a bowl. When everyone is eligible, no one noncfp bowl is more special than the next.
Was taught that if you don't have anything nice to say.. Don't say anything........ Silence
I really don't understand the outrage from some of you. Let's be clear, a majority of the kids feel they should be paid to play the college game. 24/7 sports did an anymomus poll 2 years ago when the lawsuit was in full swing and they poised the questions for the athlete to receive financial payment they would have to forego almost all of the entitlements they receive today. 86% said yes and switch them having to pay for school, books and food.
So, if that is true and I tend to believe it, a majority of the players are not "all in" on the "Ole College Spirit" that we assume drives them to be great! We Love the DAWGS and they want to get paid now or for a very few lucky ones, in the NFL. I would love for there not to be an "Opt Out" of anything, but until there are consequences for their actions, it is not worth the risk of one more game!
They do keep the scholarship and all that comes with it if they opt out and I don't feel too strongly about that one way or the other. What I do feel strongly about, don't let them go to the game.....seeing Baker and all the others on the sidelines was too much for me, let them stay at home and get ready for the NFL, obviously that is more important than a silly bowl game. Even if they get a boat load of free stuff, that is the only reason they are there in the first place. How does the adage go "BIG ME, little team", kids these days with their rock and roll music SMH.
As much as I hate it, I can't blame these young men for protecting their own interests. It's a "million dollar decision", or more, and I just won't criticize them.
That said, the combination of the 4-team playoff and the opting out of prime players has made bowl games (even more) irrelevant. It especially hits better teams, who are likely to have more NFL-ready players.
My two-cents worth is this: (a) go to an 8 team playoff - 5 major conference champs and 3 wild cards; and (b) don't count the bowl games (except playoffs) toward final season rankings. Acknowledge them for what they are: exhibitions that prove nothing about who's the best team.
If the team is not in the playoffs these bowl games mean nothing and the players who feel they will get to the next level shouldn't play in That bowl. This is a business. They don't the school or fans nothing. It's just not smart to play and take that chance. Some people hate change and they hate that these players are doing more for their own self-interest