December 15th, 2018 at 6:14 PM ^
Although impacting playoff chances, many of the teams we play are a joke. I watched Peppers get taken out by what I thought was a cheap shot when we were playing App. State a few years ago. It largely ruined his season. With his abilities, why play in cream puff games?
December 15th, 2018 at 5:25 PM ^
How dare these young men protect their futures and bodies (and wallets) by sitting out of this non-playoff Bowl Game! It's not like they've given it all they had for 3-4 years! They should risk their safety for our viewing pleasure one last time!!
December 15th, 2018 at 5:45 PM ^
These players are part of a team, and as part of the team you play the game or don't sign on the dotted line in the first place. Find some other way to see if you will have a sports career after your college days are through. No one is saying the players haven't worked hard, but they have received benefits in exchange for that hard work. I also suspect that most players enjoy what they do.
Tens of millions are donated to the athletic department of this University to support our teams and our "viewing pleasure." At some point, people are going to say enough is enough and I think that day is getting close.
December 15th, 2018 at 5:48 PM ^
It’s more about leaving their team-mates in the lurch, that’s the aspect I can’t quite get out of my head. Just makes it seem like there’s something...off in the program, as if that Penn St. game burned everything out of them almost.
Feel how you want about it, but I get the feeling you are framing this in terms of the argument you want to have rather than the one people are actually having.
December 15th, 2018 at 5:29 PM ^
So its official, those are the underclassmen leaving?
December 15th, 2018 at 5:30 PM ^
Bush probably shouldn’t have said anything during the BTN segment where he got defensive player of the year.
December 15th, 2018 at 5:31 PM ^
what will this evolve to? i mean, if a freshmen has a really good year, why play anymore? don't you risk injury? so if you prove yourself as a frosh or soph, just sit out and work on combine stuff until draft eligible.
hopefully, the nfl changes their minimum age rule; like maybe one and done like basketball. imo, this would put a big time hurt on the likes of alabama and osu.
December 15th, 2018 at 5:33 PM ^
Just so we’re clear...
When a guy whose team is in the playoffs skips that bowl game, then it’s a thing.
No player is going to sit out a regular season game like a bowl game. That will get a guy benched and that sort of thing WOULD be frowned upon by the NFL.
You turn heads in the Senior Bowl workouts and practices, not so much the game.
December 15th, 2018 at 5:52 PM ^
Why would a "workout" be more impressive than a big-stage game?
December 15th, 2018 at 5:56 PM ^
Scouts attend every Senior Bowl practice and watch every rep.
December 15th, 2018 at 6:01 PM ^
Your opinion is quite clear indeed.
December 15th, 2018 at 5:34 PM ^
Shameful.
December 15th, 2018 at 5:41 PM ^
To whom? Just the fans? I’m sure most of the other players don’t care. I bet the backup RB’s are really bummed they’re going to get more PT. Fans need to get over it. The players don’t owe us anything by this point (non-playoff bowl game at the end of their careers).
December 15th, 2018 at 5:53 PM ^
So if the team losses, knowing that their best players chose to sit out when they were needed, the others would not care? I somewhat doubt that.
December 15th, 2018 at 5:38 PM ^
I get it and I respect their decision, especially with what happened with Jake Butt two years ago at the Orange Bowl but as a fan, I'm still really disappointed.
December 15th, 2018 at 5:39 PM ^
How about if EspNcaa is going to have 5 million bowls that no one wants play in except the 4 teams in 3 playoff & champ bowls, then the same pockets funding the bowls must pony up lifetime-income insurance for athletes who play. It’d take time for market to develop, but they already sell such insurance on handfuls of individuals basis, so it can be done
December 15th, 2018 at 5:54 PM ^
So you're saying 39 = 5,000,000?
Sounds about right.
December 15th, 2018 at 5:39 PM ^
So are these guys no longer with the program?
No sense keeping them around if they’re effectively done with the University, right?
December 15th, 2018 at 5:39 PM ^
I understand Gary and Bush not playing. But the others makes no sense. Especially Higdon. He is skipping the bowl game but playing in the senior bowl. Sounds to me he is quitting on the team. Hill and long could help themselves by playing. The last game they played they got torched for 62 points. I would want to redeem myself. So let’s play all the freshman and get blown out and get ready for next year.
December 15th, 2018 at 5:50 PM ^
Higdon will be playing and practicing in front of all kinds of scouts for a week at the senior bowl. He will be playing in front of 174 people that actually care about the Peach bowl at the Peach bowl. He isn’t quitting on anyone.
December 15th, 2018 at 5:56 PM ^
higdon is absolutely quitting on his team, coaches and university. that said, i get the decision.
December 15th, 2018 at 5:45 PM ^
How long until they start skipping Regular season games. I mean, where does it end?
December 15th, 2018 at 5:48 PM ^
It ends when the NFL declines in popularity. It is somewhat but it's still very profitable.
December 15th, 2018 at 6:22 PM ^
That won't happen. One of the things that makes college football great is it's the only sport where the regular season means more than the postseason (except for the CFP). The Peach Bowl is, at best, the 4th most important game on Michigan's schedule. And possibly the 6th.
Also best to keep in mind that there is no good source saying that anyone outside of Gary is not playing in the bowl game. Bush, Hill, Long, and Higdon could be playing for all we know.
December 15th, 2018 at 5:47 PM ^
Looking forward to seeing the next guys up and hopefully more offense. Don’t blame the guys sitting out one bit. I’ll watch either way and care about a Peach Bowl win or loss the same as if they all did play. Not at all.
December 15th, 2018 at 6:11 PM ^
They are playing in the Chuck-E-Cheese All Star 7 on 7 game, one side coached by Jake Butt, the other by Willis McGahee.
December 16th, 2018 at 9:37 AM ^
Remember those two guys out of 10,000? If guys are going pro, they should be able to get an agent who would pay for an insurance policy and still be able to play in the bowl game.
December 15th, 2018 at 6:19 PM ^
I'll comment.
Anybody who skips this game is a pussy.
No bullshit excuses. 1st day draftable players have been playing in these games since bowl games and the draft existed.
What next? If you're team is out of the NC hunt and its midway through the season, just stop playing?
Injuries are always a risk when you step on the field. You never stop playing until the season is over.
And I sincerely hope that anyone who makes the decision to sit out the bowl game, is sent home immediately and not allowed to be around the program or reap any more benefits of their scholarship.
I'd like to see one of these prima donnas tell Bo they weren't going to play.
December 15th, 2018 at 6:26 PM ^
I'm not going to insult the players... but I think a relevant question is what would the former players, those who played for Bump/Bo/Gary/Lloyd (both those who went pro and did not) think of this new trend? I would be very curious to know some of the response.
December 15th, 2018 at 7:07 PM ^
You will never know because we live in a PC world where everyone falls in line and virtue signals. If one of the former players chose to speak out about how they feel, the NPC parrots would attack and turn them into the bad guys.
December 15th, 2018 at 8:05 PM ^
[ Acknowledge Nice reference to NPC. ]
[ Duck]
December 15th, 2018 at 10:31 PM ^
Jon Jansen is not a fan and said as much while filling in for the Gator on WXYT's Karsch and Anderson show last week. Said he would give anything to play one more game for the Maize and Blue.
December 15th, 2018 at 6:29 PM ^
Maybe the prima donna is the message board guy who gets so worked up over a player for a team he has nothing to do with.
Geeze, these guys might be hurting physically already, we just don't know it. Half the team seemed to get injured in the OSU game.
Besides--I'm sure their team mates support their decisions, you know, since they're on the team and THEY KNOW each other and would probly do the same thing???
December 15th, 2018 at 6:20 PM ^
I heard the exact same thing this week, was hoping for a change of heart. Higdons appear to be having a falling out of sorts.
December 15th, 2018 at 6:43 PM ^
a NY6 bowl game
Let's be honest here, this is not Pasadena. The Peach Bowl historically has not been much of a bowl game. Yes, it's been officially upgraded in status but I don't think most people think of it as a big deal.
December 15th, 2018 at 6:52 PM ^
Folks, if you're going to emote over what a crappy bowl matchup this is (something a large proportion of the board has been doing for two weeks now), don't then bitch about a guy on the team drawing the exact same conclusion you did, and deciding the game isn't worth it.
December 15th, 2018 at 6:53 PM ^
If true, I get it and wish the players well. Still- those players legacies will always be a little tarnished from my perspective as a fan. These 2 thoughts are not mutually exclusive. Just the truth for I bet the majority of fans.
December 15th, 2018 at 7:12 PM ^
I don,t see any news backing this up. I of course hope the poster is wrong.
bush said he wants to play and hasn,t publicly said otherwise.
higdon playing in senior bowl. So, logically should want a major bowl game over that.
Other guys might benefit from more chance to show their stuff.
Before folks disparage anyone, let,s see what really happens.
December 15th, 2018 at 8:08 PM ^
This is what I’ve heard from someone close to the program too. And the fact that thread has been allowed to stay up this long is confirmation too.
My source also told me Shea is returning and not going to the NFL too.
December 16th, 2018 at 12:55 PM ^
Maybe we’re speaking to same person. I was at WMU hoops game yesterday with source who works in Ath Dept. As of yesterday at 5pm, these 5 guys I mentioned in initial post aren’t playing and Jim isn’t happy about it - no matter what he says publicly.
December 15th, 2018 at 7:29 PM ^
This sucks. I'll root for them wherever they go, but all these star players sitting out (for a bunch of teams, not just us) sure does make bowl season a lot less exciting.
December 15th, 2018 at 7:54 PM ^
The only one that would surprise me to sit out is Higdon. I think he could only help his draft status. Don't think he is a day one or two draft pick. Time to start working on next year. If they are going to be gone, might as start the next man up. It is the new college football trend. Can't blame the players.
December 15th, 2018 at 7:59 PM ^
Who said that?
I thought Bush said he was gonna play? But he did get hurt in the OSU game.
And honestly, guys that plan on leaving for the MFL should sit out so their backups can get live game reps for next year.
December 15th, 2018 at 8:42 PM ^
Do I totally disagree with the idea of sitting out? Yes, but we are all just gonna have to deal with it. It’s just gonna get worse before it gets better. Make it to the CFP and it won’t be an issue.
December 15th, 2018 at 8:59 PM ^
When did Hill and long day they weren’t coming back?
December 15th, 2018 at 9:02 PM ^
...and again, the playoff has ruined college football. I could give a shit about Bama and Clemson. I want to watch Michigan play a tough game. Now this bowl game is shit. Fuck the CFP.
December 15th, 2018 at 9:04 PM ^
They never officially said that, both are at least considering it. I say Hill 100% gone, Long 90%.
December 16th, 2018 at 5:23 PM ^
Just because Hill and Long aren’t playing in bowl game, doesn’t necessarily mean they’re gone next year. They’d be evaluated by NFL Advisory committee and may decide not to enter draft.
December 15th, 2018 at 9:16 PM ^
For guys who do sit out, they should have the courtesy of informing the team early enough for the team to adjust for it.
Also, for any player going into the Senior Bowl or the like, I don't understand not playing in a major bowl game with your team, where you will showcase your talent way more than a crappy Senior Bowl, where you get four snaps and how you look is just random chance because the guys never played together.
December 15th, 2018 at 9:29 PM ^
Go ahead and call the Peach Bowl a "NY6" game all you want. It won't make it mean a damn thing. It's still a crap bowl on a crap day vs. a team no one wants to see us play.