What is college football anymore (and what should it be)?
I'll try to keep this brief (but likely fail) and prefer to let the board do the talking (and if people don't want to get into a philosophical/existential discussion or a sports blog, that's fine too):
Is anyone else bothered by what college football (at the D1 level at least) is becoming? The board is all aflutter about the Ole Miss transfers and other impending commits (which is great for the team), but it seems like people are too concerned about roster management and making the playoffs above all else (or most else). It seems people are concerned about having "the right guys" in place and those who aren't should be given a firm handshake or feel compelled to go elsewhere for playing time. Shouldn't college (I.e. school) sports be about doing the most with the guys that are there now - making as much improvement to their lives as possible and helping to develop a sense of camaraderie and community? So a kid doesn't make 1st team - he shouldn't be ignored or made to feel that he needs to leave (or God forbid driven off like at some schools), but encouraged, supported and challenged to work harder and do his best.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I get the impression that it's (all major CFB) becoming all about just wins and losses and money (and "playoffs or nothing") - only concerned with immediate on field success and no longer about developing upstanding young men to do good in the world. I don't believe UM is as far gone as other programs around the nation (including in our conference), but I see it going that way. And in that case it just becomes NFL-lite; corporate and without any real personal connection or loyalty.
This is not against any current/former players or staff and I know that many of these guys are doing great work out there in the real world (really admire what Vincent Smith has done, just as one example). But am I the only one getting this impression?
Mods delete if this is a waste of time, or let the board neg away, but I am curious how other UM fans/alum/players/family/friends feel about this.
December 11th, 2017 at 9:52 PM ^
December 11th, 2017 at 10:00 PM ^
December 11th, 2017 at 10:04 PM ^
I hate that the playoff (or even the previous attempts to crown a "true" national champion) has de-valued conference championships. I would prefer that when a kid commits to a team that the school commits to the kid regardless of how he pans out. I grow weary of the coaching carousel.
I also realize that this idealized version never completely existed. Kids were "run off" in the past to clear space. It's easy to absorb some recruiting misses when you have 125 scholarships as opposed to 85.
Increased money has not improved things in my opinion. The have and have not divide only gets wider. Coaches get paid more and more, there is a constant arms race IRT facilities but we wring our hands about providing compensation for players. (You may have noticed, that paid college education is not worth what it used to be.)
My "good old days" used to involve beating up 9 or 10 teams, having a better than 50-50 chance of beating OSU and going to the Rose Bowl. I realize those younger will have a completely different perspective of the current landscape.
December 11th, 2017 at 10:33 PM ^
It's all about the MONEY, even in college ball.
W Bo it was loyalty, Integrity and character. Yes, it was about winning too. And with 125 scholarships you could stack the depth chart. I think Coach Harbaugh has those ideals firmly implanted at M. However, Nowadays, you have to WIN it ALL. Thus, the transfers,
I for one, am rooting like hell for Peters to take over this team and make it his. And I hope Shea is a fine backup and grows into a fine Michigan man, learn and contribute to THE TEAM.
December 11th, 2017 at 11:36 PM ^
College football is fine. It is the greatest sport on the planet right now and has been for a while. If you want feel-good stories and participation trophies, look elsewhere.
Sporting events should never end in a tie. Sporting events shoud be decided on the field of play.
December 11th, 2017 at 11:39 PM ^
December 11th, 2017 at 11:55 PM ^
OP, you might get something out of this article by Christopher Lasch on the degradation of sport: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/1977/04/28/the-corruption-of-sports/
It's an interesting topic and I think this development (players transferring a la free agents) in cfb is relevant to it.
There is definitely an argument that this is not good for the sport, and I think that this argument ought to be considered alongside arguments for empowering players.
December 12th, 2017 at 12:35 AM ^
I think that the money of football has killed the ideal of "The Team, The Team, The Team."
While this QB battle has the potential to really help Michigan, I absolutely feel for whichever of Peters or Patterson loses out. Both have legit NFL aspirations, and it is very unlikely that both will be able to fulfill those at Michigan. This is their future at stake, and there are millions of dollars on the balance. It's easy for us fans to say, "if Peters isn't up to another fierce QB competition, then I don't want him here in the first place." But that is so unfair given the enormity of the stakes these kids play for these days. And if Patterson loses out, then he just made an incredibly big mistake in deciding to come here.
I just think that the money of football has changd things.
December 12th, 2017 at 10:03 AM ^
http://www.nytimes.com/1982/01/29/sports/average-nfl-salary-is-90102-su…
Absolutely agree that times have changed since Bo coached. Something that is hard for many Michigan fans to understand.
When Bo gave his famous speech the NFL average salary was about $90,000 ($235,000 with inflation). Today the Refs make $120,000 and the average player salary is about $2,750,000.
December 12th, 2017 at 1:18 AM ^
December 12th, 2017 at 9:05 AM ^
Great Led Zeppelin song
December 12th, 2017 at 9:36 AM ^
College Football is a minor league system for the NFL where Colleges and Universities (both public and private) act as the franchise owners.
Between the ages of 18-21 there is literally no competition for football players so the colleges and universities hold a monopoly over these players.
I would love if somebody created a USFL reboot or a new pro league that went after 18-21 year olds and then had an age cap at ~25.
December 12th, 2017 at 11:01 AM ^
You really shoulda put OT in the title.