[BillBradley]

For the paid-college-athlete-bemoaners:  Here's a hypothetical....The year is 2027. Through increased NIL participation and a more supportive administration when it comes to the transfer portal, Stanford has assembled a highly competitive men's basketball team with Coach Smith at the helm. They just wrapped up a nice 20+ win season, finishing 4th in the ACC and winning the first 2 games of the conference tourney. It's a good team and they are very fun to watch. The athletes themselves are incredible young men, just like past Stanford athletes named Collins or Madsen. The Cardboard is alive with posts about the team, how hard they play, how they share the ball, etc. They get a 9 seed in the March Madness bracket. They win their first game easily, then upset #1 seed Kansas in the second round, and then beat #4 seed Michigan in the third round. They are now set to face #1 UCLA to get to the Final Four.  

I understand people's frustrations about the departure of amateurism in college sports. I really do. But I still don't believe any person on this board who says they wouldn't be interested in, let alone excited for, that team. You'll all tune in for that game :>

[BillBradley]

For the paid-college-athlete-bemoaners:  Here's a hypothetical....The year is 2027. Through increased NIL participation and a more supportive administration when it comes to the transfer portal, Stanford has assembled a highly competitive men's basketball team with Coach Smith at the helm. They just wrapped up a nice 20+ win season, finishing 4th in the ACC and winning the first 2 games of the conference tourney. It's a good team and they are very fun to watch. The athletes themselves are incredible young men, just like past Stanford athletes named Collins or Madsen. The Cardboard is alive with posts about the team, how hard they play, how they share the ball, etc. They get a 9 seed in the March Madness bracket. They win their first game easily, then upset #1 seed Kansas in the second round, and then beat #4 seed Michigan in the third round. They are now set to face #1 UCLA to get to the Final Four.  

I understand people's frustrations about the departure of amateurism in college sports. I really do. But I still don't believe any person on this board who says they wouldn't be interested in, let alone excited for, that team. You'll all tune in for that game :>