OT: Pretty good article on Ole Miss scandal
I just came across a new article over at SB Nation that gives a pretty good look into the Ole Miss football scandal. Not really too much new information for those of us who have been following it for the past few years, but it's a very well-written, engaging read. In the end, it's good to know that Ole Miss' lack of integrity (along with its stealing Laquon Treadwell from U of M) might actually benefit Michigan by helping us land a gifted QB right when we need him the most.
https://www.sbnation.com/a/ole-miss-leo-lewis-ncaa-enforcement-recruitment-violations
EDIT: Changed title from "Excellent" to "Pretty good" article. There's a definite Ole Miss slant to it (I wasn't aware the author was an Ole Miss alum), but I still liked the criticisms he throws at the NCAA and the way it operates throughout the piece, which I thought were pretty on-point.
Yes, that's the guy. I believe when the violations started getting reported, Godfrey basically parroted the Ole Miss coaching staff in some articles/interivews and 'reported' that the vioaltions and such didn't concern football and weren't a big deal and nothing would happen. Basically didn't do any due diligence in his reporting. Contributed to why guys like Patterson even went there in the first place because Ole Miss convinced a lot of people there were no real violations and it was all nothing. Godfrey contributed to that. Pretty sure Brian calls him out on that and Godfrey doesn't like to be reminded about it.
He is part of an on-line video documentary that is coming out soon so I am sure he/they are trying to promote interest however they can.
it's amazing how he glosses over much of the facts that would put Ole Miss in a bad light and keeps up the talk of everyone else does it and basically Tunsill's step dad is the reason anyone found something wrong with Ole Miss.....
He HATES Brian/MGoBlog and their twitter spats are hilarious because Brian knows exactly how to piss him off and he falls for it every time.
This has led to Godfrey having an obvious bias against Michigan and the Michigan fanbase, but he's not an important enough reporter for it to matter whatsoever. Unfortunately he makes Podcast Ain't Played Nobody essentially unlistenable, even though Bill Connelly is one of the best in the business.
Yes and then Brian and Godfrey trade insults. Unfortunately for Godfrey, he is the Drake to Brian's Pusha T when in comes to disses.
WTF is a Pusha T? I don't know what this reference means. I'm either too old, or not involved in the right genre. Probably both...
PS - I don’t dislike Hoke, but whatever bump M would have gotten from a talent like Treadwell would have still left us the cliff that was potentially Morris/Speight QB lineup in 2015 and I doubt Hoke would have been able to grab Rudddddddddddock.
What are you talking about? Speight was a diamond in the rough!
I just love the drumbeat in this article about the "market value" of foorball players. There is a market, and the value of the players is nowehere near what Godfrey believes. That's why the players think the coaching, facilities, and exposure of college football is such a good deal that virtually every one of them that can, takes it.
It is scam for the top 2% - they are forced to play college football because there is no other realistic route to the NFL. For the guys that sign big contracts, it all works out. The others - the ones that get hurt or have short NFL careers are screwed.
There is a market value for these players and that is why bagmen exist. They are filling in the gaps for the top 2% but have to do it in the black market because of outdated NCAA regs. If I was a business owner that depended on a college team's success to drive my business (bars, restaurants, apparel, real estate, etc...); I would have no problem giving money to a kid's family if there were struggling and needed the help.
There are two fixes - (1) start a minor league so kids have the option to do college or minor leagues; and/or (2) allow players to sell their NIL on the open market. This will reward the top athletes without impacting univeristy budgets or non-revenue student athletes.
Bagmen don't exist because there is some mysterious market that no one can describe that is available to the football or basketball players, could they only not be sheeple! bagmen exist because schools compete with each other. They do it for "Ol' State U" or whatever, not because they think a given player is worth supporting.
The NFL ban on a minor league is an NFL issue. There are already "minor leagues" for football, but they pay so little because of market forces that college football is the better "free market" choice.
That's not to say that I am opposed to paying players for the full cost of attendance, or even that I oppose a NIL payment (though the latter seems rife for corruption). I will say, though, that I'd prefer most of the "excess money" of the paying sports be used for full scholarships in the other sports, before it is used to professionalize the money sports.
college basketball. I doubt that Adidas gave $100k to Brian Bowen because they really care about Ol' State U. And believe me, that is just the tip of the iceberg.
And I disagree about the bagmen, I am sure there are some that are rich alumni with money to burn but I bet you a lot of them are local businessmen that need a good team to drive business. The fact that they are also alum / boosters comes second to their own pocketbook.
As far as NIL rights leading to corruption, that is impossible because NIL rights are already legal for every American other than college athletes. It can't be corrupt if they are getting paid above board in legally binding contracts and paying their taxes.
In fact, it would end the current corruption because they would no longer need to take money in the black market. Also, how many players are declaring the money from bag men on their tax returns? And don't say those are "gifts", if so, then the bag men need to be declaring on their tax returns. Trying to fight players getting their market value is about as worthwhile a venture as the war on drugs.
I don't think this is an excellent article. It basically states over and over that everyone else cheats but Ain't University got busted because free merchandise from a store was involved. It has a very heavy "LEAVE OLE MISS ALONE" tone to it. Also LOL at "Treadwell wasn't that much of a head scratcher because he knew a dude on the team at Ole Miss". Sure dude. Insert treadwellmoneyzgirlzandringz.jpg.
That's my takeaway. too.