[CTcard]

the companion article

A mismatch for money: College football should be ashamed of ‘revenue games’

That article would have a lot more impact if the author would actually substantiate the claim that players on the losing end actually get more injured in these games than others. It seems it might be true, but I have never seen any real evidence on the matter. 

Otherwise, it is merely a matter of taste (these games are boring, oh the poor guys on the losing team). 

It would also help if the author defined the level of cupcake he objects to. He gives examples that are both FCS teams versus FBS, but also all-FBS games that are Power 5 schools versus non-Power 5. So, what does he actually want to get rid of? No FCS opponents might be reasonable. No non-Power 5 opponents for Power 5 schools would outrage everybody and destroy any concept they are in the same division.  

Finally, simply saying it's icky because it is about money is ridiculous. In fact, these schools need money to keep their athletics programs going - in fact a lot more than they are getting from these games. So, if you outlaw the body bag games, where does the money come from? 
Who comes out ahead if all these schools simply drop their intercollegiate athletics? 

By the way, I don't like the body bag games either and I am not particularly excited for Stanford's game this coming Saturday. But I don't quite dislike them to the point of simply telling UC Davis, SJSU, App State, and Idaho State to drop dead. I would probably prefer a system where the Power 5 schools simply tax themselves and hand over the money to non-Power 5 and FCS schools; but I won't be holding my breath til that happens.

[CTcard]

the companion article

A mismatch for money: College football should be ashamed of ‘revenue games’

That article would have a lot more impact if the author would actually substantiate the claim that players on the losing end actually get more injured in these games than others. It seems it might be true, but I have never seen any real evidence on the matter. 

Otherwise, it is merely a matter of taste (these games are boring, oh the poor guys on the losing team). 

It would also help if the author defined the level of cupcake he objects to. He gives examples that are both FCS teams versus FBS, but also all-FBS games that are Power 5 schools versus non-Power 5. So, what does he actually want to get rid of? No FCS opponents might be reasonable. No non-Power 5 opponents for Power 5 schools would outrage everybody and destroy any concept they are in the same division.  

Finally, simply saying it's icky because it is about money is ridiculous. In fact, these schools need money to keep their athletics programs going - in fact a lot more than they are getting from these games. So, if you outlaw the body bag games, where does the money come from? 
Who comes out ahead if all these schools simply drop their intercollegiate athletics? 

By the way, I don't like the body bag games either and I am not particularly excited for Stanford's game this coming Saturday. But I don't quite dislike them to the point of simply telling UC Davis, SJSU, App State, and Idaho State to drop dead. I would probably prefer a system where the Power 5 schools simply tax themselves and hand over the money to non-Power 5 and FCS schools; but I won't be holding my breath til that happens.