07-31-2014, 04:39 PM
1. I can't believe people pay any attention to +/- votes or up/downs or whatever they're called. Let me just say that I hate all you guys and think you're idiots, so go bugger yourself!
2. I don't have energy to rehash all the reasons why the "pay the players what they're worth as reflected in TV revenues" is just SUCH A CROCK OF $Hit! So I'll go back to my oft-used example: if Johnny Manziel were tearing it up with the College Station Cougars of the NFL D-League, no one would give a crap about him or pay for any of his time or autographs. The value proposition is generated BECAUSE THE ATHLETES ARE PLAYING AT UNIVERSITIES THAT HAVE PASSIONATE FAN BASES. Once you realize/appreciate that, then it is perfectly acceptable for those universities to "set the rules" for athletes who choose to play in that arena (no one is forcing them to do so, btw). Doesn't mean the rules can't be tweaked (I'd cap coaching salaries, probably give athletes a nominal stipend for spending money, and distribute TV $$ to universities as a whole and not just ADs).
3. CTC, generally agree with your thoughtful posts; however, I completely DO NOT BUY that "college sports would suffer" if the best football players eschewed college and went to NFL D League. To use the hoops example: if every one-and-doner (i.e., Kentucky's starting five) on every college team this past season instead went to the NBA D-League, do you think the NCAA tournament would be any less popular? Of course not! That's because the value proposition is in the college system. That's what drives the passion/support/$$, not the individuals wearing the unis. To be sure, better players are more appreciated by the fan bases, but if the better players all bolted for the professional developmental ranks, college sports would be just fine. And you know what, it might even be better.
4. The key is to get the Universities across the land to recognize this and put the pressure on NFL to establish its own developmental league. We know this won't happen - but it would be so awesome if it did - even if it meant shutting down college football nationwide for a season or two. And THAT's why we are stuck with a broken system.
2. I don't have energy to rehash all the reasons why the "pay the players what they're worth as reflected in TV revenues" is just SUCH A CROCK OF $Hit! So I'll go back to my oft-used example: if Johnny Manziel were tearing it up with the College Station Cougars of the NFL D-League, no one would give a crap about him or pay for any of his time or autographs. The value proposition is generated BECAUSE THE ATHLETES ARE PLAYING AT UNIVERSITIES THAT HAVE PASSIONATE FAN BASES. Once you realize/appreciate that, then it is perfectly acceptable for those universities to "set the rules" for athletes who choose to play in that arena (no one is forcing them to do so, btw). Doesn't mean the rules can't be tweaked (I'd cap coaching salaries, probably give athletes a nominal stipend for spending money, and distribute TV $$ to universities as a whole and not just ADs).
3. CTC, generally agree with your thoughtful posts; however, I completely DO NOT BUY that "college sports would suffer" if the best football players eschewed college and went to NFL D League. To use the hoops example: if every one-and-doner (i.e., Kentucky's starting five) on every college team this past season instead went to the NBA D-League, do you think the NCAA tournament would be any less popular? Of course not! That's because the value proposition is in the college system. That's what drives the passion/support/$$, not the individuals wearing the unis. To be sure, better players are more appreciated by the fan bases, but if the better players all bolted for the professional developmental ranks, college sports would be just fine. And you know what, it might even be better.
4. The key is to get the Universities across the land to recognize this and put the pressure on NFL to establish its own developmental league. We know this won't happen - but it would be so awesome if it did - even if it meant shutting down college football nationwide for a season or two. And THAT's why we are stuck with a broken system.