[DC 86]

If you don't like that balance - if the athlete feels THAT oppressed and deprived from the college rules - then go play pro ball.  This is already happening in men's hoops with kids passing on college in favor of G-League and Europe. Good for them.  Reserve those precious scholies for kids who actually WANT to attend college.  The Big Fly in the proverbial ointment is the NFL and its use of college as its D-League.  THAT's what needs to be remedied.  Do that, and all the other things can fall into place into a more workable, and student-benefitting model.  You know, what you call archaic.

In principle I completely agree with you, Teejers, but the creation of professional alternatives doesn't necessarily solve the problem.

As you mentioned, G-League Ignite (which pays $500,000 per season) and Overtime Elite exist - yet most one-and-dones still go to college for the marketing exposure. Zion Williamson scored a $75 million shoe contract based on his Duke superstardom. Shoe companies encourage (and pay under the table) promising players to go to college knowing that having every game televised and then being part of March Madness will make some players household names before they reach the NBA in a way that the G-League cannot. Some elite players will go to college for non-financial reasons but offering a professional alternative doesn't necessarily eliminate players choosing a year of college for non-academic/social reasons.

The bigger problem as you noted is that the NFL has no interest in creating a minor league since college football provides ready-made stars, and it's hard to imagine that a separate organization can entice elite players to forgo the exposure that they receive by playing for the biggest college football brands.

[DC 86]

If you don't like that balance - if the athlete feels THAT oppressed and deprived from the college rules - then go play pro ball.  This is already happening in men's hoops with kids passing on college in favor of G-League and Europe. Good for them.  Reserve those precious scholies for kids who actually WANT to attend college.  The Big Fly in the proverbial ointment is the NFL and its use of college as its D-League.  THAT's what needs to be remedied.  Do that, and all the other things can fall into place into a more workable, and student-benefitting model.  You know, what you call archaic.

In principle I completely agree with you, Teejers, but the creation of professional alternatives doesn't necessarily solve the problem.

As you mentioned, G-League Ignite (which pays $500,000 per season) and Overtime Elite exist - yet most one-and-dones still go to college for the marketing exposure. Zion Williamson scored a $75 million shoe contract based on his Duke superstardom. Shoe companies encourage (and pay under the table) promising players to go to college knowing that having every game televised and then being part of March Madness will make some players household names before they reach the NBA in a way that the G-League cannot. Some elite players will go to college for non-financial reasons but offering a professional alternative doesn't necessarily eliminate players choosing a year of college for non-academic/social reasons.

The bigger problem as you noted is that the NFL has no interest in creating a minor league since college football provides ready-made stars, and it's hard to imagine that a separate organization can entice elite players to forgo the exposure that they receive by playing for the biggest college football brands.