I take back everything I said...

[banmate6]

Exactlly. IMO, it's totally out of hand. No limit on what one player can be paid nor a max on the team overall as I understand the NIL program.

I live in North Carolina. When they hired Bill Belichick the President of NC said they would provide him with "Tens of millions of dollars" to get players from the Portal. Now Belichick said "Everyone is calling me. Agents, players, etc. all want to be a part of this". Translation: All they're seeing is green.

To me, if a player is negotiating with different teams simply to get the most money, that's probably not the type of player you want. Next year, he'll do it again and the year after that and on and on.

True to a good extent. But maybe teams like ND can leverage the brand to get more stability. Rounding the roster with key transfers with disproportionate NIL money?

I bet Riley Leonard is having the time of his life. And ND is an NFL path. Getting some solid degree too. He will be an advocate...telling players: stick it out, ND is the real deal, make some $$$ and give yourself many life options.

The key is if ND can keep up with what Ohio State is becoming: all the depth that NIL, brand, transfers, academic accommodation, and coaching can produce...with NFL coaching coming if Day doesn't get it done, ala Belichick, a move more significant that some realize.

I think ND can keep up on the stability and brand factor, with a coach like MF who has the charisma to convince great players to come and stay. There are enough good ones who can pass ND academics to put together an elite team.

 

[deadirishpoet]

You literally now have players, playing for the school but not tied to the school.
You have people who live at the university. They can go to class if the want, they don't really have to go to class. They are playing for the university, but not because they are students

 

[Harpo Marxist]

You literally now have players, playing for the school but not tied to the school.
You have people who live at the university. They can honor class if the want, they don't really have to go to class. They are playing for the university, but not because they are students

I question whether they are even playing for the university at this point...Looks more like they are playing for the power brokers....the special interests. The university is a byproduct.

 

[banmate6]

You literally now have players, playing for the school but not tied to the school.
You have people who live at the university. They can honor class if the want, they don't really have to go to class. They are playing for the university, but not because they are students

True.

We will see if ND can still compete with this...I'm obviously detailing how it might and why I am hopeful.

But 1 point stands: the people are still coming. I didn't go to the playoffs because of the $$$. I can pay, but won't on principle. Yet I know many who shouldn't spend big $$$ doing so.

I do spend big $$$ on the Croatia and USA soccer national teams when needed. Believe me: many fans are there for social media stuff, knowing very little about the game and teams. Grand entertainment, FIFA doesn't care about quality, just quantity...now there will be 48 teams in the World Cup, many pure garbage.

They will still come. My only fear is this for the NCAA, if it becomes an expanded playoff...so far so good.

 

[banmate6]

I question whether they are even playing for the university at this point...Looks more like they are playing for the power brokers....the special interests. The university is a byproduct.

Same usual interconnected money machine. The media. Corporations selling kit. Obviously the colleges. NCAA. The kids and their agents now.

As Joe Pesci said in the film Casino: always the dollahs...the ****ing dollahs.

 

[HDK]

And yet the people come. I admit I was riveted last night watching Ohio State. Their fans are genuine. Many graduates behind a culture of winning. And former players. Deep coaching DNA.

I have to confess my interest is waning. I used to find myself in a legitimate funk when we lost a big game. Now, I shrug it off. This season, I only watched the A&M, Purdue, Louisville, G Tech, FSU, USC, and Indiana games in anything that could be described as close to entirety. Most of the others, I taped and zipped through midweek. I'm not about to waste my time watching ND beat up on a hapless soup can like NIU in a glorified scrimmage. (Whoops.) I'm resigned to the fact that players will come and players will go. I read that the academic difference between football players and normal students is wider than it has ever been at Notre Dame, yet I hear about athletes somehow graduating in three years, thanks to the wonders of summer school. I think there's a lot more paper shuffling in that regard than we think.

 

[deadirishpoet]

Same usual interconnected money machine. The media. Corporations selling kit. Obviously the colleges. NCAA. The kids and their agents now.

As Joe Pesci said in the film Casino: always the dollahs...the ****ing dollahs.

And billable hours are undefeated

 

[Patrish]

You want more teams to get in after the drubbings this weekend? Disagree on the neutral sites, should be played on colle campuses until the final 4.

Notre Dame's frenzied home win proves what college football's brass doesn't want to hear: The postseason belongs on campus

In a world with so many opt-outs and coaching changes, the future of the bowl structure remains a murky and uncertain topic. But the future sites of playoff games? This weekend may show us that they belong on campus.

sports.yahoo.com

Playing on a home field is an unfair advantage

Games should be scheduled just like they are for March Madness

 

[PHJIndy]

I can't wait for Paul Finebaum's excuses for the Tennessee performance, or lack thereof! He's the chief SEC cheerleader and it will be interesting to see how he handles this debacle. IU played a much better game against tOSU, despite many negative plays.
Hopefully Georgia will be another SEC team to bite the dust on New Year's Day!

 

[kev2225]

Playing on a home field is an unfair advantage

Games should be scheduled just like they are for March Madness

The NFL plays all their playoff games at a teams home field except the Super Bowl. Why should college be any different?

 

[4-4-3]

I know.

I've been saying for a while there is no standout team. But I may be wrong. We all might have been...as college football is emotional as well as analytical, where even stacked teams don't get it all right.

Like I keep saying, Ohio State might just in time be getting it all right...looked scary last night. Against a solid Volunteers team too. I looked at the Tennessee message board...and most acknowledged the talent gap.

Ohio State is pushing the next level in this evolutionary arms race. It dawned on me that the Belichick move is giving them ideas if Day doesn't come through. They will find a pro young coach to take this to the next level.

OSU did look SPECIAL. The game was about 85% NON-COMPETITIVE.

 

[Patrish]

The NFL plays all their playoff games at a teams home field except the Super Bowl. Why should college be any different?

Your statement is inaccurate

And For a number of reasons.

NFL rules differ from NCAA rules

The NFL is INTENTIONALLY structured for parity

The NFL has a completely different regular season schedule giving each team six home and away games in their own division

NFL players are paid millions and from a practical perspective have a longer playing career than a college player

14 of 32 NFL teams make the playoffs
But ONLY 12 of 128 D1 teams make the playoffs which places a greater emphasis on making and playing in the playoffs

Only the 4 NFL Division winners are guaranteed a home field advantage

 

[tkirish]

OSU did look SPECIAL. The game was about 85% NON-COMPETITIVE.

Ohio state is the most talented team in the country. When they are clicking, look out.

 

[deadirishpoet]

Ohio state is the most talented team in the country. When they are clicking, look out.

The best money can buy.
Who needs college football huh?

 

[BGI User 1596]

Ohio state is the most talented team in the country. When they are clicking, look out.

Michigan didn’t think so.

 

[deadirishpoet]

Ohio state is the most talented team in the country. When they are clicking, look out.

Isn't that true when any team is clicking ?

 

[tkirish]

I’m not trying to “ stir the pot “ or anything. I’m just saying Ohio State has most talented team. Yes Michigan beat them as did Oregon. Kudos to them. Tennessee was no slouch. They beat them vey convincingly.

 

[BGI User 756]

I too lamented the demise of at least a nominal student-athlete ideal. I think we discussed in the past how giving false grades was rampant once even at ND. Then it came under more scrutiny, with some but not all colleges clamping down. But even with this, the athletes were part of the college and student body.

They're now fully going semipro.

And yet the people come. I admit I was riveted last night watching Ohio State. Their fans are genuine. Many graduates behind a culture of winning. And former players. Deep coaching DNA.

I wonder if their players take harder degrees? Grades? Again, maybe some of these easy degrees can be a remedial academic path? At least with money management & personal finance? Securing that NIL with ROI?

ND can take charge here. As a social and Catholic mission. Yes, I'm fantasizing a bit...because I believe in the ND brand, Catholic mission, and winning.

🙏

It sure is changing. Maybe, just maybe, glimmer of hope for not the worst.

What is the “false grades were rampant, even at ND” period you refer above?

 

[deadirishpoet]

I’m not trying to “ stir the pot “ or anything. I’m just saying Ohio State has most talented team. Yes Michigan beat them as did Oregon. Kudos to them. Tennessee was no slouch. They beat them vey convincingly.

Your point was well taken brother and aside from ND that fits OSU better than the other teams

 

[Patrish]

The NCAA HAS TO CHANGE THE TRANSFER RULES

College football is now in the free agency phase

 

[deadirishpoet]

The NCAA HAS TO CHANGE THE TRANSFER RULES

College football is now in the free agency phase

I think it's worse than that