[winflop]

Are those students receiving a paid-for education? Did they sign a contract stating what their responsibilities were in exchange for their music or other talents? If they did, then my position wouldn't change.

I don't see bowl games as meaningless. I see them as part of the football season, and if a player is medically cleared to play and chooses not to then I think they are breaching that contract and there should be consequences for doing so. I think the scholarship should be revoked for that school year, and the student should no longer be entitled to any benefits afforded a scholarship athlete above and beyond those of any other (paying) student.

What about all of the coaches that leave before bowl games for new jobs? Should they lose their salary for that season, and actually have to pay their own buyout, as opposed to just getting their new school to give them extra money and foot the bill? And unlike student-athletes, coaches are employees with employee contracts.

I have been equally critical of this in the past and think the NCAA should ban interviewing for coaching positions until after the championship game. As far as their contracts, it comes down to the terms. If they breach their contract, then the school should seek remedies they would be entitled to under the contract. If the contract didn't cover these circumstances, then that's a bad agreement.

[winflop]

Are those students receiving a paid-for education? Did they sign a contract stating what their responsibilities were in exchange for their music or other talents? If they did, then my position wouldn't change.

I don't see bowl games as meaningless. I see them as part of the football season, and if a player is medically cleared to play and chooses not to then I think they are breaching that contract and there should be consequences for doing so. I think the scholarship should be revoked for that school year, and the student should no longer be entitled to any benefits afforded a scholarship athlete above and beyond those of any other (paying) student.

What about all of the coaches that leave before bowl games for new jobs? Should they lose their salary for that season, and actually have to pay their own buyout, as opposed to just getting their new school to give them extra money and foot the bill? And unlike student-athletes, coaches are employees with employee contracts.

I have been equally critical of this in the past and think the NCAA should ban interviewing for coaching positions until after the championship game. As far as their contracts, it comes down to the terms. If they breach their contract, then the school should seek remedies they would be entitled to under the contract. If the contract didn't cover these circumstances, then that's a bad agreement.