[needle]

Enjoying the discussion (if not the circumstance).

1. We do not know what went into this decision. On face value, no injury. But after Rice the statement implied he was going to play. Maybe something changed. Maybe it was an injury but feel free to let your imagination run wild. I choose to believe he was encouraged by someone (likely an agent) to sit out the bowl game.

2. His teammates are publicly supporting him. No, we will never know for sure how each player/coach feels, but if the decision was widely unpopular I think teammates would be silent.

3. I have zero doubt that C-Mac played at less than 100% in games between USC and Notre Dame. All players with NFL dreams put their livelihood on the line for their university when they suit up, and Christian proved he was willing to do so even at less than full strength. Please remember this.

4. I conclude that the Sun Bowl does not matter much to the players. There are many factors that go into this decision, some perhaps unrevealed at this time  but I believe one of them is the relative importance of the game. With no player backlash that I see, I think it's obvious that the team does not see this as that big of a game.

5. College football is unique. The risk of injury is so great. If that's the major factor in this decision, how can any fan justifiably criticize C-Mac for taking control of his own welfare and putting himself in optimal position for the next stage of his life?

[needle]

Enjoying the discussion (if not the circumstance).

1. We do not know what went into this decision. On face value, no injury. But after Rice the statement implied he was going to play. Maybe something changed. Maybe it was an injury but feel free to let your imagination run wild. I choose to believe he was encouraged by someone (likely an agent) to sit out the bowl game.

2. His teammates are publicly supporting him. No, we will never know for sure how each player/coach feels, but if the decision was widely unpopular I think teammates would be silent.

3. I have zero doubt that C-Mac played at less than 100% in games between USC and Notre Dame. All players with NFL dreams put their livelihood on the line for their university when they suit up, and Christian proved he was willing to do so even at less than full strength. Please remember this.

4. I conclude that the Sun Bowl does not matter much to the players. There are many factors that go into this decision, some perhaps unrevealed at this time  but I believe one of them is the relative importance of the game. With no player backlash that I see, I think it's obvious that the team does not see this as that big of a game.

5. College football is unique. The risk of injury is so great. If that's the major factor in this decision, how can any fan justifiably criticize C-Mac for taking control of his own welfare and putting himself in optimal position for the next stage of his life?