Exactly.
Many companies that pay for college tuition have requirements that the employee must stay at that company for a certain amount of time AFTER the tuition has been paid. Leave early and you must pay the company back.
Michael Mayer Declares For NFL Draft.
- Thread starter sjb75
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Many companies that pay for college tuition have requirements that the employee must stay at that company for a certain amount of time AFTER the tuition has been paid. Leave early and you must pay the company back.
What would you say about the “ character“ and “integrity” of those players who will be drafted by the NFL who don’t abandon their team and play in the bowl games ?
A
Again, one could argue that every game after the Marshall game meant absolutely nothing. What would be said if he quit the team then?
Obviously high-character players are valued in the NFL because they’ll fit into certain cultures, etc., and playing all the way through would probably be seen as a high-character marker. But when everyone expects a player to do something, and it’s considered normal, then is it really less of a “character” and “integrity” issue if a player sits out a bowl game? I can’t see any NFL team downgrading any player for doing so when it’s entirely common and expected.
In ND’s case, we have a lot of young players who need reps and plays, so even if Mayer and Foskey wanted to play, I’d rather have the young players in there to see what they can do and give them experience. Winning or losing this bowl game has virtually no effect on any future prospects or team trajectory; for example, if we won with Mayer being our best offensive player and Foskey our best defensive player (pretty good chance both would be true vs. South Carolina), whst would it mean for next year?
Mayer or Foskey not playing vs. South Carolina has no effect on future team trajectory, minimal on team perception, and an adverse effect on young players’ playing time and reps. Internally, do you think any of the teammates feel “abandoned“ by these two or do they wholly understand and also see it as opportunities for themselves to make a difference? That just leaves people on the outside, many of whom have zero ties to ND, feeling somehow that a player is not living up to his commitment when doing so or not doing so really has no effect on anything other than taking reps and PT from younger players.
No, think about where we are right now. After the Marshall and Stanford games, the Freeman era was looking dicey at best, but with happened and the transformation of this team, we are on an upward trajectory, gained respect from the general viewership and analysts as seen in betting lines, and have kept a solid recruiting class that has grown since these two games. All of these games that have been played since those losses have added to the current upper trajectory of this program so those games did mean something.
This specific game against South Carolina does not mean as much because our overall program trajectory is set regardless of what happens. if we win with the Mayer and Foskey being contributing players as they surely would, well, that doesn't mean much as they are not goin to be here next year. Mayer has added to our “Tight End U“ perception anyway, and nothing he would do in this game would change that.
So long as all the people on this board agree with star players sitting out, I don’t want to hear shit from them about coach Freeman should we loss the bowl game. I'm sure he'd very much like to dance with those who brought him here, but he can't now. We are a diminished team. So yes, next man in, sure, but if you're expecting those next men in to be as good as those who are sitting out, then you're delusional. I've made my thoughts know that you finish what you start, if not, you're quitting on your team, your teammates. Others disagree, so be it. But this sitting out BS is a new custom that has unfortunately grown over the past 10 - 15 years, and it stinks. I can't speak for the NFL, but my level of admiration for these players is certainly deminished. I admire and appreciate what they've done, but not what they are doing. Quitting on your team is unacceptable in my mind
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But as I said before. Different times. Right or wrong, in our minds, we have no power to change it. Just gotta be glass half full and roll with it or find something else to watch.
Let's hope they do not feel do badly about hurting your feelings.
Well there is an adult response to message board opinion. Perhaps it would serve you well to GTFU.
Imagine Joe Montana had your train of thought. Would of never had that Houston comeback
This doesn't change my desire to watch ND football. I agree with you, right or wrong, it is what it is and we have to roll with it.
You have been respectful and thoughtful in your posts and answers, so the question was mostly posed to others who are taking the position that players are doing the right thing or have no business playing in the bowl game because it is meaningless. IF THAT IS THE LOGIC, then why not quit after the 2nd loss of the season when the rest of the season becomes, "meaningless?" For that matter, why keep practicing since the risk of injury during practice is also elevated relative to not practicing for meaningless games?
Teammates might well understand (as I do) while at the same time feel like the players are turning their backs on the team that got them to where they are.
It's interesting that the argument here is the trajectory of the program/team... but not of the players that are making these decisions to leave the team. Certainly the team has benefitted from how the season turned out, but since there's no chance of national championship, to the individual players, the season had become meaningless (in the logic of others... not me).
Agreed.
And again, it goes beyond general respect. They've been paid to play through free high level education, room, board, food, and medical treatment. In short, they signed a contract and they are not honoring their end of the contract.
If I’m a stud D lineman. I’m not playing against the Naval Academy. Why risk the cut blocks? I believe the late big chocolate Louie Nix sat out. Coach Freeman shouldn’t hear anything win or lose. Not his fault if players sit out.
Why would they? They have a free minor league system with cfb
The NFL is the biggest beneficiary of all these changes. College football is essentially their farm system... except they don't have to pay a penny for it. Win-win for them.
Which brings up a tangential issue.
If a player is being paid millions under a NIL arrangement would they be obligated to play in a bowl game ?
1. I'm not sure NIL agreements have reached the level of millions for an individual player (yet).
2. If such a player DID get that kind of money (through some kind of endorsements, action figures, etc.) I don't think missing a bowl game would decrease their NIL demand.
3. I'm not really clear on what the current NIL environment is like and what kind of money and arrangements are involved in their contracts. I would think that if it's not spelled out in their contact what would happen if they skip a bowl game or part of a meaningless season, then they could be held in breach of contract and lose part of their money.
I would guess that they’re being paid to perform/play and that a bowl game gives them and their sponsor greater visibility, ergo they would have to play except if they’re injured.
Time will tell
I think Nix was injured prior to the Navy game and might have been out for two games..
If I’m a coach and a non-injured player says that he’s going to sit out the next game, he’s going to sit out the remaining games !
If I’m a coach and a non-injured player says that he’s going to sit out the next game, he’s going to sit out the remaining games !
Sorry buddy, no such luck. MF will be shit all over from head to toe if we get embarrassed in this bowl game. In fact probably three times worse, now that you brought it up. So thank you for the heads up. And hater fans, myself not included, will now be poised to bash MF even more gleefully and spitefully should we lose to South Carolina, and their spoiled-brat Gen Z QB Spencer Rattler, than they would have otherwise.
Also, I think most high-level athletes hate fans, or at least regard them with a very wary eye. So the fact that you've lost respect for them now, on account of them sitting out of bowl games, probably wouldn't even register with them at all. And rather than being chagrined or humbled or feeling some other meek emotion, they'll simply be even more generally untrusting of you as a fan, as a potential nuisance to have to deal with and really nothing more than that.....
You’d be dumb enough to embrace his decision, setting a horrible and damaging precedent for the other players.
I’m in the Lou Holtz school on this one.
P.S. I’m really good at my day and night jobs
This is why you're not making 7-million a year doing what major CFB head coaches do. Until you are in their shoes, why judge?
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Then I'm glad we weren't and aren't teammates. I can't think of a more "me first" sentiment
I support Michael Mayer and Isaiah Foskey's decisions to not play in the bowl game 100%.
