[Goose]

It’s not the move to the ACC that has me less interested in college sports - it’s the whole set-up with the NIL and lack of transfer rules. 

The news of NiJaree Canady going into the portal was the last straw for me. The fact that these are now semi-pro athletes really doesn’t interest me. In the past, you could watch athletes have great four-year careers as star freshmen, or root for the juniors or seniors who worked hard to earn their spot in the starting line-up. Those days are few and far between. If someone has a great year, there is always that thought of will they be back? Or will they be bought off to the highest bidder? I have to believe, three years ago, if Kiki Iriafen is done with school, she’s still be at Stanford to play her fourth year rather than being bought off by USC.

I don’t harbor any ill will towards the student athletes - if someone is throwing me a bunch of money at that age, of course I would take it. It’s the smart financial decision that can set you up for the rest of your life. It’s just the system is so broken and that fault lies entirely with the NCAA. What they are selling does not hold true anymore so that’s why I just don’t have a of immense proportions interest anymore in college sports.

 +1

I agree that the climate in college athletics today greatly discourages any enthusiasm for the sports. That alone is enough to make being a fan much less enjoyable. Yes, part of it was illusions. But it was at least somewhat possible to entertain those illusions. Today, that is impossible. Actions and events daily remind us all that it isn't what we thought it was. What it is unfortunately much less attractive.

However, IMO the above is all true whether the PAC-12 survived or not. The fact we are now in the ACC add a whole additional layer of reasons to be less interested.

[Goose]

It’s not the move to the ACC that has me less interested in college sports - it’s the whole set-up with the NIL and lack of transfer rules. 

The news of NiJaree Canady going into the portal was the last straw for me. The fact that these are now semi-pro athletes really doesn’t interest me. In the past, you could watch athletes have great four-year careers as star freshmen, or root for the juniors or seniors who worked hard to earn their spot in the starting line-up. Those days are few and far between. If someone has a great year, there is always that thought of will they be back? Or will they be bought off to the highest bidder? I have to believe, three years ago, if Kiki Iriafen is done with school, she’s still be at Stanford to play her fourth year rather than being bought off by USC.

I don’t harbor any ill will towards the student athletes - if someone is throwing me a bunch of money at that age, of course I would take it. It’s the smart financial decision that can set you up for the rest of your life. It’s just the system is so broken and that fault lies entirely with the NCAA. What they are selling does not hold true anymore so that’s why I just don’t have a of immense proportions interest anymore in college sports.

 +1

I agree that the climate in college athletics today greatly discourages any enthusiasm for the sports. That alone is enough to make being a fan much less enjoyable. Yes, part of it was illusions. But it was at least somewhat possible to entertain those illusions. Today, that is impossible. Actions and events daily remind us all that it isn't what we thought it was. What it is unfortunately much less attractive.

However, IMO the above is all true whether the PAC-12 survived or not. The fact we are now in the ACC add a whole additional layer of reasons to be less interested.