Yesterday’s four-hour, OT, very enjoyable Rose Bowl game and the well-into-last evening’s Sugar Bowl thriller gave most NCAA College Football fans what they want and need. An escape.
But, make no mistake about it. The toothpaste is out of the tube and, as you know, it’s awfully hard to put it back in.
Conference realignments, opt-outs, transfer portal entries, expanded playoffs soon, TV money, coaching carousels, coaching buyouts, more opt-outs, and maybe most of all NIL money have transformed the game at a dizzying pace.
Three unnamed Athletic Directors in a sit-down round table interview offered some quick takes recently. One said, “Be careful what you wish for.” A second followed, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The third one uttered, ” The only thing constant in the game is change. Embrace it. Adapt to it. Or, die from not.”
Is it possible that they are all right at the same time? Is it probable?
Is the third one ahead of the others? Yes.
It’s likely the new normal will be like a fine wine- an acquired taste.
Unlimited transfers through the portal are the college’s equivalent to free agency. There’s one big difference though.
In the pros, you sign a binding contract for a specified period of years. You give, you get. In college you only get. And, if the grass(read as money) looks greener at the next U, you go get it.
There’s nothing wrong with capitalism, it just reminds us that there never has been and will never be an “I” in “team.” The reasons for that truism have multiplied.
So who’s on your team next year? There is no static answer to that question. It’s who’s on your team at this minute to buckle up a chin strap. Tomorrow is a ways off, we’ll have to see. It makes games like Army v Navy even more appealing to purists.
So, who wins? When it comes to money, seemingly everyone does. TV charges more to advertisers. Then it doles out more money for big conference alignments. Schools make more that are a part of the mega conferences. Coaches make more. And, with NIL the kids now get a legal bag, too.
But who consistently wins on the field? Perhaps it will be the programs that offer the best chance at future development and convince the kids and their entourage that a long-term plan beats a short-term dash for cash. A bunch of good 21-year-olds usually beat a bunch of good 18-year-olds.
Recruiting great players is still the path to success, but now the above-the-table cash has to be there as well.
Maybe the NCAA will strengthen the transfer rules a bit too. How? That’s the difficult part. Lawsuits will challenge any restrictions from where we are today.
it’s doubtful that TV ratings will suffer. It’s doubtful that in-person attendance will either.
But.
Fans are the one who pays for all of this(NIL indirectly as well) by watching at home or in person.
Doesn’t it feel like everyone involved wins, but the fan loses?
“I think Pete will make a fine Nice Residential running mate. Also, his husband will be a great second in a row First Gentleman.” Heisman winner Jayden Daniels reports to training camp for the Arizona Cardinals. The 2024 Democratic National Convention opens with fireworks inside Chicago’s United Center and gunfire outside during mostly peaceful protests by Palestinian supporters, BLM, Antifa, LGBTQ+, and women’s reproductive rights groups.
Hillary Rodham Clinton emails all of the mainstream media that the election was rigged and rife with Russian collusion. The Dow Jones crosses 40,000. The illegal immigrants crossing the southern border slow to a Biden-like walk pace. Moderna recommends two boosters per year to halt rare breakthrough gas emissions. Florida St misses the 12-team NCAA football playoff by one vote finishing 13th.
Super Bowl LVIII in Vegas is all Baltimore as the Ravens bounce the Cinderella Rams 33-17. California is hit by a climate change-driven mega bomb cyclone event. But, the “toilet to tap” water regulation previously approved makes boiling the water unnecessary as it already tastes like $hit.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu must not have Patriots season tickets. She drew criticism Wednesday after her aide sent a holiday party invite to all members of the Boston City Council for an “Electeds of Color Holiday Party,” even though seven of the officials are white.
But, it was later, much later on September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the United States proposed 12 amendments to the Constitution. The first one protected freedom of speech and expression.
LSU QB Jayden Daniels (nicknamed JD5) made a nice move up the oddsboard Saturday night, passing up Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. Daniels is now the new co-favorite with Nix to win college football’s most prestigious award.
Five fine folks took the stage last evening named DeSantis, Haley, Ramaswamy, Christie, and Scott. They all trail former President Trump in the polls by roughly 40 gazillion percentage points.
Eventually, there will be one standing, and there’ll be one or two debates against the Democratic nominee. That assumes that Fauci’s lab bats don’t escape and COVID-24 keeps us all indoors wearing masks.
