Why Can't Non-Bowl Eligible Teams Practice?
Of course this has not been an issue for Michigan until last year so it's probably a question that most of us have not really thought about. Why aren't non-bowl eligible teams allowed the 20 practices?
I understand that the NCAA's stance is that since there isn't another game there is no reason to practice. But I think everyone knows that those practices are just as much about next fall as they are one more game this year. The NCAA may also lean on the "academic" crutch but everyone knows that's complete BS.
What a fucking huge disadvantage it is for a 5-7 team like Michigan as opposed to some 6-6 team that happened to win one more game. You would think that it would be in the NCAA's best interest to help lesser teams rise. This is clearly a rich getting richer scenario.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:29 PM ^
just win six games and don't worry about it. The players can still workout, get together for seven on sevens, study the playbook, and watch film it's just voluntary and the coaches can't be involved.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:35 PM ^
"just win six games and don't worry about it."
Original.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:50 PM ^
Ever hear of the term student/athlete. Why not just let them practice all off season to prepare for next year? The bowl game and extra practice is a reward for winning six games. Did you feel sorry for all those other teams who didn't win six previously or is this a new ethical urge that has struck you since we haven't been bowling the past two years.
Stop whining we didn't accomplish what the NCAA deems necessary to have the extra practices. I suspect next year after we do become bowl eligible to read this sort of post from you again except it will be OT for all those other teams that didn't win 6.
December 7th, 2009 at 1:50 PM ^
nope, not whining at all. Just stating that every team in the country should have the option to practice in December regardless of their record.
I always enjoy tough guy/default responses like, "just win 6 games" etc. Those take a lot of thought.
December 7th, 2009 at 3:07 PM ^
It wasn't an issue until Michigan started sucking. Look at how much this past two years has reduced our fan base--to wallowing around wondering why we can't practice AFTER the fucking season is over.
Holy shit. This stuff just keeps getting worse and worse. Do the Lions practice after another playoff-less season? No. It's over.
You make a bowl, you get extra practices. It's also, like one other guy said, at least supposed to have the appearance of being a student-athlete.
You'd probably get more traction by suggesting that spring practice be extended to 20-25 sessions.
December 7th, 2009 at 3:28 PM ^
I enjoy crybabies who whine over spilt milk. We started 4-0 and had DState on the schedule for win 5. We didn't get the sixth and don't deserve the extra practice awarded to those who earned it by winning six games.
Most of the players have busted their butts since late June and you want them to have another 15-20 practices with absolutely nothing on the line except a possible injury. Let them refresh their mind and bodies and take care of their academic responsibilities. I'm sure most of them will be doing whatever they can to make sure next year is a better season and they are rewarded with a bowl game and those extra practices.
This also gives the coaches an opportunity to put a full court press on some recruits. They seem to have some highly rated guys coming in on visits and they leave talking highly of the university and RichRod and his staff.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:24 PM ^
Because it's one more Draconian rule for the NCAA to have schools under its thumb. The NCAA is all about its own power--period.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:25 PM ^
You wrote:
What a fucking huge disadvantage it is for a 5-7 team like Michigan as opposed to some 6-6 team that happened to win one more game.
I respond:
Do you really think that if Michigan, with the 10 or so guys coming off redshirts and the 25 more coming in this year in a class that will end up rated about #10 nationally, were to play Minnesota, Iowa State, Army or Marshall next year, that Michigan would lose to either of those teams because they got 15 additional practices in winter 2009?
The bowl practices are highly overrated. For a guy like Tate, having the next month off will be crucial for healing his shoulder which would not have happened until after the bowl game. Everyone can refresh, those who want to lift, can lift, those who want to study the playbook, can study the playbook, and those players who will remain for 2010 can prepare for offseason practices in January.
I realize this is half glass full. Sue me.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:26 PM ^
I'd be pretty happy if this class ended up at #10. That would mean we dumped a couple of 3* for higher rated players.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:34 PM ^
I'll pull the 'ole "agree to disagree" lever with you on this one. Yes, with my post as evidence I actually do think the 15-20 December practices for those returning is very advantageous and would indirectly help our chances against the coin flip teams next fall.
That said maybe I'm not taking the returning players' psyche into account enough in that maybe they feel burned out and just want to get away from football for a month or two.
I just think that every team in the country should have the same opportunity to practice in December.
December 7th, 2009 at 2:17 PM ^
think you'll ever hear any coach say their "highly overrated." Fans may attach more importance than they should, but clearly coaches think they have a lot of value (your point about Tate's shoulder notwithstanding)
December 7th, 2009 at 3:31 PM ^
There are difinitely positives and negatives to no practices. I don't think the players are going to be as motivated with the season being over, also. The players should be able to focus on their studies for the rest of the year. It also helps some guys recover from injuries and relax. They can still talk with coaches about plays and techniques in the playbook, etc. That's the stuff I think they need to be worried about more than anything, although I'm sure they don't do this too much. This also gives our coaches some time to work on some players considering some schools that are in bowl games. RR has plenty of time to "steal" some recruits.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:35 PM ^
You nailed it. That's what the NCAA and especially college football and the bowl system is all about.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:38 PM ^
Yep, the NCAA and NFL cannot be on more opposite ends of the spectrum from that standpoint.
If the NCAA had a player draft they would let the #1 team pick first, #2 second, etc., which effectively is how it works at this point already I guess.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:39 PM ^
we have reaped great benefits from this in the past, and we certainly will again in the near future. can't say the "rich get richer" thing works against a program like UM's.
December 7th, 2009 at 1:53 PM ^
Absolutely agree. But how much more fun is it when perennial doormats like Ole Miss or Texas Tech rise up to give the big boys a run for their money?
December 7th, 2009 at 12:42 PM ^
but can we really complain about something that we've benefitted from consistently over the years? Its only been these past two years that we have not been able to have these practices. I guess this has opened our eyes to how strange of a rule that it is, but we have no need to complain about the rich getting richer when we historically have been the rich and soon will be again.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:56 PM ^
The 15 extra practices are what as know as a reward. You get said reward by doing something better than someone else does it, i.e. winning 6 games. Bottom line is if these kids play better we get the 15 extra practices, and a bowl game to boot. If they play like they did the last two years, they dont.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:57 PM ^
It can't help much. It would be really lousy for player morale to be practicing for nothing. Sure, you say they're practicing for next fall, but the only thing they'll have in their mind is that they're workin' on the field but NOT going to a bowl game. It could feel more like punishment to them.
December 7th, 2009 at 1:09 PM ^
Players sometimes get injured in practice; makes no sense to practice without an upcoming game. NFL teams which don't make the playoffs don't practice; an NFL team which loses a playoff game doesn't practice.
December 7th, 2009 at 1:31 PM ^
The NCAA allows basketball teams to practice right up to the final day of the NCAA Tournament, even if they went 6-23 and the NIT chortled at their mere mention. Bob Knight famously made his teams practice even after being knocked out of the tournament, because he could.
Just sayin'...
December 7th, 2009 at 1:41 PM ^
Wow, I was not aware of this. This is a huge discrepancy that needs to be address by the NCAA.
December 7th, 2009 at 1:57 PM ^
Shhhh, there is no need for that type of rational thought in a discussion like this. Just blindly say, "If you win 6 games you don't have to worry about it" and ignore the inconsistencies.
Great point by the way.
December 7th, 2009 at 3:12 PM ^
C'mon, it really isn't rational to suggest people practice after their season is over! As for the inconsistency, basketball should stop the practice of, er, practicing after the season ends.
Stuff like this is always easy to suggest for those who don't play. Fans need to stop thinking like fans sometimes.
December 7th, 2009 at 3:13 PM ^
Regardless of the actual NCAA motivation, academics are a pretty good reason to not let teams practice unless they make it to a bowl game. Do you really want teams like directional Kentucky using their athletes time for practice instead of studying for finals, which is incidentally the most efficient use of time during the entire semester? Quite a lot of football programs are not competitive and will be sending approximately zero players to the draft; it's much better for the athlete's future to focus on academics, since that's supposedly the benefit of going to college anyways.
The basketball loophole should be closed, but that doesn't justify sacrificing additional education for football student-athletes who should really be focusing more on the student part, now that the season is over.