Heretic;1829214 wrote:My perspective is:

Zeke finished out his year and left early. Those guys are essentially leaving before their bowl games, which are as meaningless to the National Championship at Zeke's (although of a lower profile -- that OSU-ND game was essentially this year's USC-PSU game).

On the other hand, while Zeke had moments of being disgruntled with OSU play-calling (the sort of thing that potentially could be a catalyst for a player saying "fuck it"), he was generally healthy (at least as was reported) last year and didn't miss large chunks of the year with one injury or another, as both Fournette and McCafferty did this year, which makes their decision a lot more complicated than "play one more game with the guys!", as their goals involve showing up to combines in good health to show they're elite draft prospects and playing in an overall meaningless game could have major ramifications if they aggravate an injury.

You make great points regarding the injuries. Once you start going through them it is in the forefront of your mind with Fournette. No doubt about that.

Maybe the worst bowl matchup of the year today. Who in their right mind thought putting a 9-3 American team against a 6-6 MAC team needs their head checked. CMU is pulling out every trick play possible to keep it close

Heretic;1829214 wrote:My perspective is:

Zeke finished out his year and left early. Those guys are essentially leaving before their bowl games, which are as meaningless to the National Championship at Zeke's (although of a lower profile -- that OSU-ND game was essentially this year's USC-PSU game).

On the other hand, while Zeke had moments of being disgruntled with OSU play-calling (the sort of thing that potentially could be a catalyst for a player saying "fuck it"), he was generally healthy (at least as was reported) last year and didn't miss large chunks of the year with one injury or another, as both Fournette and McCafferty did this year, which makes their decision a lot more complicated than "play one more game with the guys!", as their goals involve showing up to combines in good health to show they're elite draft prospects and playing in an overall meaningless game could have major ramifications if they aggravate an injury.

Completely understand. Very good points, and overall, I agree with you. I can see both sides of the argument, which is why I also understand where Zeke is coming from too.

Also, Zeke did have a leg injury that ended up being infected, so he was hospitalized the week of the MSU game. No structural damage or anything like that, but he did play the game that week despite the illness/injury. Think he also played a lot of his sophomore season with an injured wrist as well. Anyway, again, risking injury for McCaffrey and Fournette serves no purpose so it's probably a smart decision by them for their future.

Classyposter58;1829226 wrote:Maybe the worst bowl matchup of the year today. Who in their right mind thought putting a 9-3 American team against a 6-6 MAC team needs their head checked. CMU is pulling out every trick play possible to keep it close

Yet you're watching.

Classyposter58;1829226 wrote:Who in their right mind thought putting a 9-3 American team against a 6-6 MAC team needs their head checked.

You go to the store, everything they have is shit. You buy it anyway. It's their fault they carry shit?

SportsAndLady;1829243 wrote:Yet you're watching.

I flipped it on quick while Russillo and Kanell was on a commercial. I watched it a bit because I was so shocked, couldn't believe such a poor matchup would be scheduled.

I thought the point of bowls was to get very even matchups, that's what usually makes them so entertaining. You get two teams with nothing to lose risking it all. There's no way a 6 win MAC team is gonna compete with a 9 win AAC team and looking at the score it went exactly as figured

Why haven't athletes hardly ever sat out the bowl games in the last 20 years? $$$ has been big

Ironman92;1829256 wrote:Why haven't athletes hardly ever sat out the bowl games in the last 20 years? $$$ has been big

As a matter of fact, the money right now is LESS for many incoming players into the NFL with the rookie wage scale.

It just took a few to do it and it will now become a trend.

Ironman92;1829256 wrote:Why haven't athletes hardly ever sat out the bowl games in the last 20 years? $$$ has been big

Because bowls have never mattered less. Who cares about anything really other than the playoff ones

Classyposter58;1829255 wrote:
I thought the point of bowls was to get very even matchups, that's what usually makes them so entertaining. You get two teams with nothing to lose risking it all. There's no way a 6 win MAC team is gonna compete with a 9 win AAC team and looking at the score it went exactly as figured

Why did you think this? I've never seen nor heard anything that would indicate this...just curious

Classyposter58;1829255 wrote:I flipped it on quick while Russillo and Kanell was on a commercial. I watched it a bit because I was so shocked, couldn't believe such a poor matchup would be scheduled.

I thought the point of bowls was to get very even matchups, that's what usually makes them so entertaining. You get two teams with nothing to lose risking it all. There's no way a 6 win MAC team is gonna compete with a 9 win AAC team and looking at the score it went exactly as figured

I can't believe anyone watches that garbage. Clearly, I'm referring to russillo and kanell.

Al Bundy;1829319 wrote:I can't believe anyone watches that garbage. Clearly, I'm referring to russillo and kanell.

I listen to them sometimes but is just because they are head to head with Rich Eisen.

superman;1829320 wrote:I listen to them sometimes but is just because they are head to head with Rich Eisen.

I hear ya'--Eisen is simply the worst

vball10set;1829307 wrote:Why did you think this? I've never seen nor heard anything that would indicate this...just curious

Lol, yeah. Most bowls generally are match-ups between specific conferences and if one conference doesn't have enough eligible teams to fill all its spots, other bowl eligible teams can steal that bid (or 5-7 teams when all the bowl-eligibles have been placed). There's no "match-making" to turn the 80 bowl teams into the best 40 match-ups possible.

And when you consider this particular game was set for 2:30 p.m. on a Monday afternoon, I have no fucking idea why someone would come in expecting some sort of amazing match-up, even if the bowls were set up in a way to facilitate that.

Al Bundy;1829319 wrote:I can't believe anyone watches that garbage. Clearly, I'm referring to russillo and kanell.

Classy jerks off to Russillo.

The point of the Bowls:

1) TV revenue
2) Alumni to visit the Bowl city and spend money.

Classyposter58;1829269 wrote:Because bowls have never mattered less. Who cares about anything really other than the playoff ones

Eh, even back in the day not many bowls meant anything really.

Pre-BCS, maybe 2 bowls meant something. RARELY was it ever a winner-take-all national champion. If the top team won against whomever their conference was slated against, they typically were the champs. MAYBE the bowl game with #2 meant something but only if the top team got beat.

Then in the BCS there was 1 bowl game that really meant something.


Now we have 3 games that mean something.

I'm indifferent to the argument.

I certainly see that these bowl games cut into some off-season preparation time these guys could take. This not only includes the physical part, but meeting with agents, insurance people, family members, etc.

However, if you argue it's okay to sit out of a bowl game, then the same argument applies once your team loses 2 games. If you lose 2 games, you're not winning a national title, and thus, you might as well not play at all. By this logic, Fournette should've stopped playing for LSU within the first month of the season.

Azubuike24;1829346 wrote:I'm indifferent to the argument.

I certainly see that these bowl games cut into some off-season preparation time these guys could take. This not only includes the physical part, but meeting with agents, insurance people, family members, etc.

However, if you argue it's okay to sit out of a bowl game, then the same argument applies once your team loses 2 games. If you lose 2 games, you're not winning a national title, and thus, you might as well not play at all. By this logic, Fournette should've stopped playing for LSU within the first month of the season.

I am a bit indifferent as well, but the one thing to think about is.....what has changed from now and in past years?


It has always taken away time for them to prepare for the draft, and the money is less now than it was back in the day when guys were getting insane deals.

One could say 5-6 years ago when the Sam Bradford's went through the system and he got llike 50 million guaranteed compared to contracts now for rookies that are less than what just his signing bonus was.


IT is a slippery slope that I think many dont really like because of a scenario like you bring up.

For a coach? Eh, just gives him the reason to play the backups who will be there next year

It's a slippery slope that brings into the discussion...why play college at all?

I was related (by marriage) to a certain individual who played in the Big Ten and retired after his rookie year in the NFL due to concussions. He also gave back his signing bonus. My take? That was the absolute dumbest decision ever. Not to retire, but to play for 5 years (in college) for fucking free, and then quit when you started earning big money. If I was so concerned, I would've skipped the work for free and focused more on leveraging that wear and tear on my body to at least get paid for it.

Now, I get it, the majority of guys NEED to play at an amateur level to gain the recognition to earn a viable living and get drafted. However, for the no-brainer guys like the Fournette's and the like, there's zero reason to play at an amateur level at all once you have established your value/demand.

Azubuike24;1829349 wrote:It's a slippery slope that brings into the discussion...why play college at all?

I was related (by marriage) to a certain individual who played in the Big Ten and retired after his rookie year in the NFL due to concussions. He also gave back his signing bonus. My take? That was the absolute dumbest decision ever. Not to retire, but to play for 5 years (in college) for fucking free, and then quit when you started earning big money. If I was so concerned, I would've skipped the work for free and focused more on leveraging that wear and tear on my body to at least get paid for it.

Now, I get it, the majority of guys NEED to play at an amateur level to gain the recognition to earn a viable living and get drafted. However, for the no-brainer guys like the Fournette's and the like, there's zero reason to play at an amateur level at all once you have established your value/demand.

For football, those kids pretty much have to play college.

As for working for free.....eh, they do get their college paid for and also have a pseudo job interview each week when they are playing for all 32 NFL teams to see so it isnt like they get nothing out of the deal...

Kind of off topic, but why isn't it the same across the board in all sports as far as who can go pro when? For example...baseball can be drafted after Sr year, or after Jr year of College. Golf, any age can go pro. Basketball after Fresh year. Football 3 years out of high school. Why all the differences? It's the kids life, if he bets on himself and busts...that's on them.
I 100% think Fournette and Clarett for example would have been drafted high after their freshman years, but had to stay at least 2 more. Just doesn't make sense.

Benny The Jet;1829353 wrote:Kind of off topic, but why isn't it the same across the board in all sports as far as who can go pro when? For example...baseball can be drafted after Sr year, or after Jr year of College. Golf, any age can go pro. Basketball after Fresh year. Football 3 years out of high school. Why all the differences? It's the kids life, if he bets on himself and busts...that's on them.
I 100% think Fournette and Clarett for example would have been drafted high after their freshman years, but had to stay at least 2 more. Just doesn't make sense.

Football, arguably the most important sport where strength development and maturity is needed, has NOTHING in-terms of placement for developing players. The MLB and NHL have extensive farm systems and development opportunities, and the NBA has come a very long way in recent years with the D-League. Most guys who would enter the NFL at 20 or under would never stand a chance.

With that said, the NFL has no incentive to do this. College football is a billion dollar industry and they basically provide the oversight and player development for free. The NFL just sits back and uses the NCAA as their free development system without having to put any overhead into it.

Also, the Fournette's of the world are the exception. In no sport is there a lower percentage of players ready to play at the professional level at 18 or 19 as there is in football.

Azubuike24;1829349 wrote:It's a slippery slope that brings into the discussion...why play college at all?

I was related (by marriage) to a certain individual who played in the Big Ten and retired after his rookie year in the NFL due to concussions. He also gave back his signing bonus. My take? That was the absolute dumbest decision ever. Not to retire, but to play for 5 years (in college) for fucking free, and then quit when you started earning big money. If I was so concerned, I would've skipped the work for free and focused more on leveraging that wear and tear on my body to at least get paid for it.

Now, I get it, the majority of guys NEED to play at an amateur level to gain the recognition to earn a viable living and get drafted. However, for the no-brainer guys like the Fournette's and the like, there's zero reason to play at an amateur level at all once you have established your value/demand.

What's Fournette's demand? A 3rd rounder and out of the league in 3 years?

He's an injury prone RB in a passing league. No thanks.