What's your opinion on bowl opt outs?

[Ocotillo]

Bowl season used to be a good time to watch NFL prospects for the upcoming draft.

Now it seems like any player with NFL prospects doesn't even play, opting out to avoid the risk of an injury.

Do you agree with this practice? It's now commonplace and accepted.

One aspect that isn't publicized enough is an NFL prospect bailing on their teammates. Imagine going through the program for four, five years, being a senior and then your best player bails. You want to finish your college career with a win.

I know college football coaches are scumbags and these colleges make a killing off these players but it just doesn't seem right to me.

These players chose to play a team sport. They decide to be an individual when it's convenient for them. Why bail at the bowl game? Why don't they put four games of tape on film and bail then? If the NFL and their bank account is what matters, what's the purpose of playing the whole regular season and getting an injury?

**** me culture. Does a team even matter anymore?

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Joe

The top 20 college football programs made over 900 million in a year after expenses.

Some kids get a scholarship due to the education, but the real good players get a scholarship for a stepping stone into the NFL so they can get their slice of the pie.

The current odds on favorite to win defensive rookie of the year sat out his senior season waiting to turn pro. Hey, at least he graduated with a degree in 3 years.

What they make is irrelevant. Choice matters. You have a choice to accept a scholarship or not. Why can't we have choices?

I have no issue with kids sitting out a year. I have issues with them quitting on their team in season. And they don't have to listen to me. They can do what they like. It's probably financially a good decision. Still makes them a bad teammate.

[BryanBusby]

Originally Posted by BWillie

This is not on the NCAA at all. The NFL and NBA have the age discrimination rules. The NCAA doesn't have to do a thing. They never should have had the rule in place that disallows student athletes from profiting off of their name and likeness. Now that is is no longer hurdle the NCAA doesn't owe anyone anything. These kids have a choice to come play or not. Nobody is forcing them to do anything. Nobody tricked them. They came to school knowing full well they play football and get a scholarship, free room and board, stipend, free facilities, free training, free publicity, etc.

This was a strong argument until coaches signed contracts for over 100 million guaranteed and facilities started being made out of pure platinum, protected by alligators with very expensive cocaine addictions.

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by BWillie

What they make is irrelevant. Choice matters. You have a choice to accept a scholarship or not. Why can't we have choices?

I have no issue with kids sitting out a year. I have issues with them quitting on their team in season. And they don't have to listen to me. They can do what they like. It's probably financially a good decision. Still makes them a bad teammate.

That’s, like, your opinion, man.

Dan Mullen openly viewed last year’s bowl game as meaningless vs Oklahoma due to the opt outs and said the SEC championship was the actual end of the season.

[CoMoChief]

We have no right to say what others should/shouldn't do.

It's their lives, not ours. These student athletes should do what's best for them.

A lot of you say you wouldn't sit out on your teammates like that, and that's fine...but you would probably change your mind if you're a top10 prospect. It's easy to say "I'd play no matter what" when youre behind a computer and millions of dollars aren't on the line.

Personally I think there are waaaaaay too many bowl games. IMO if you dont have a winning conference record then you shouldn't be bowl eligible.

Doesn't make any sense to have a team schedule 3 cupcakes at the beginning of the yr and then only have to win 3 more games the entire season to be bowl eligible.

[Joe]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Personally I think there are waaaaaay too many bowl games. IMO if you dont have a winning conference record then you shouldn't be bowl eligible.

I graduated from my alma mater in the early 80's. Seemed like the bowl games were on for basically the weekend, then you had to wait for the final game to be played to see who was going to get screwed when they went undefeated by the AP poll LOL

Decades later I'm near Wake Forest. Even go to their games for the scouts from time to time, so I do take a minor interest in them. I couldn't believe that Rutgers, at 5 and 7 got in do to A&M backing out due to covid. Rutgers fans were proud that they were going to a bowl game where I'd be ashamed to go. Heck, fans get excited about going with a .500 record which makes no sense to me at all.

However, the more bowls, the more money. Sooner or later I figure the sky is going to have to fall. When I turned on some games over the holidays, I couldn't believe how empty the stadium was. That said, I'm not spending big bucks to go to a bowl game when you have two .500 teams battling it out LOL

[Garcia Bronco]

Bowls games are really for Students/Faculty and Alumni and the tolerated fans (meaning people that claim affinity for the team or university, otherwise they'd be students or alumni). I've never really thought of bowl games as something for the players. Play/don't...that's their decision, but don't get mad if I think you're a pussy because you opted out. I won't give you shit because you are a kid, but I'll never let you forget as pro when I am shouting at you from the stands.