[d4cohn]

My feeling on Herbig, Irwin, Love et al is that I am not going to hold players to a standard that wouldn't also apply for the fans (i.e. if certain Stanford fans feel the Sun Bowl isn't a significant enough game to attend, then how can I get upset at the players, who would potentially be risking their health, future career prospects and earnings for them and their families, for not playing in that very game.)

What a ridiculous comparison.

I'm not taking the same risks they are, but I'm also not receiving a $300,000+ education at one of the nation's premier universities in exchange for being a fan. I'm also not getting free airfare, hotel, meals, admission to the game, etc. Going to the Sun Bowl by myself would cost me about as much as my four season tickets + parking, maybe more.

The $300,000+ education was earned through early morning to late evening winter workouts, spring ball, summer practice (all while balancing a Stanford academic workload, when we as Stanford fans are likely focused on either other Stanford sports or other things in our lives), playing through aches and pains throughout the season (definitely in Love's case, but also probably in Herbig and others' cases too). The education was earned by being successful students in the classroom, making contributions to the team for 3-4 years athletically, and by being good citizens by not breaking team or other rules. 

I also feel, in terms of recruiting the next generation of great Stanford players, it is in the program's best interest to wish the players well, and not begrudge them for their decision, particularly when we are talking about an end-of-season non-conference game (not a rivalry or conference game) that, for the BC-Boise State bowl game, was canceled with no makeup midway through the first quarter. If that doesn't highlight the insignificance of these games in the grand scheme of things, I don't know what does.

Sure, there is a financial cost to attending these games. But there is a financial cost for Herbig, Love and Irwin (a cost that could even outweigh the combined four year scholarship amount in Love's case) in a potential drop on the draftboard, to say nothing of the health risks. IMO, the health of the players alone will always supersede all else, all day every day and twice on Sunday, to say nothing of the other considerations.

[d4cohn]

My feeling on Herbig, Irwin, Love et al is that I am not going to hold players to a standard that wouldn't also apply for the fans (i.e. if certain Stanford fans feel the Sun Bowl isn't a significant enough game to attend, then how can I get upset at the players, who would potentially be risking their health, future career prospects and earnings for them and their families, for not playing in that very game.)

What a ridiculous comparison.

I'm not taking the same risks they are, but I'm also not receiving a $300,000+ education at one of the nation's premier universities in exchange for being a fan. I'm also not getting free airfare, hotel, meals, admission to the game, etc. Going to the Sun Bowl by myself would cost me about as much as my four season tickets + parking, maybe more.

The $300,000+ education was earned through early morning to late evening winter workouts, spring ball, summer practice (all while balancing a Stanford academic workload, when we as Stanford fans are likely focused on either other Stanford sports or other things in our lives), playing through aches and pains throughout the season (definitely in Love's case, but also probably in Herbig and others' cases too). The education was earned by being successful students in the classroom, making contributions to the team for 3-4 years athletically, and by being good citizens by not breaking team or other rules. 

I also feel, in terms of recruiting the next generation of great Stanford players, it is in the program's best interest to wish the players well, and not begrudge them for their decision, particularly when we are talking about an end-of-season non-conference game (not a rivalry or conference game) that, for the BC-Boise State bowl game, was canceled with no makeup midway through the first quarter. If that doesn't highlight the insignificance of these games in the grand scheme of things, I don't know what does.

Sure, there is a financial cost to attending these games. But there is a financial cost for Herbig, Love and Irwin (a cost that could even outweigh the combined four year scholarship amount in Love's case) in a potential drop on the draftboard, to say nothing of the health risks. IMO, the health of the players alone will always supersede all else, all day every day and twice on Sunday, to say nothing of the other considerations.