[StanfordMatt]

Maybe I’m just a crotchety old curmudgeon, but I think it’s disgraceful and the utmost sign of selfishness when a healthy player sits out of a bowl game. I say this as someone who thinks that college athletes should be paid and are too often exploited by the NCAA and the schools that they work for. To me, it’s not about the commitment that they made to their school, it’s about quitting on the commitment that they made to their teammates. They’re broadcasting loud and clear to their teammates that they believe their personal self-interest is more important than the interests of the other members of the team. I get that some players respect the decisions of teammates who quit before bowl games, but I can guarantee you that those sentiments are never universally shared by all team members.

[StanfordMatt]

Maybe I’m just a crotchety old curmudgeon, but I think it’s disgraceful and the utmost sign of selfishness when a healthy player sits out of a bowl game. I say this as someone who thinks that college athletes should be paid and are too often exploited by the NCAA and the schools that they work for. To me, it’s not about the commitment that they made to their school, it’s about quitting on the commitment that they made to their teammates. They’re broadcasting loud and clear to their teammates that they believe their personal self-interest is more important than the interests of the other members of the team. I get that some players respect the decisions of teammates who quit before bowl games, but I can guarantee you that those sentiments are never universally shared by all team members.