What If: Discuss Amongst Yourselves

[Snaggletiger]

Great discussion on Mike & Mike this morning that got me to thinking.  Tom Herman was giving an interview the other morning, saying he's happy at Houston...not going anywhere...no discussions, blah blah, coachspeak blah... Three hours later, he's named as the new HC at Texas.  No big news there concerning his or any other corch's denials.  We all know how it works. The point of the discussion though, was that Tom Herman won't be coaching Houston in their bowl game.  Why?  Because he did what's best for Tom Herman.  Again, that's the way things are.

But what if more players began doing what's best for them?  A couple of weeks back, Oklahoma DT, Charles Walker, left the team to focus on getting ready for the combine.  Granted, he had some concussion issues and may have been limited in his playing time anyway.  But here we are at the point in the season when a week from now, we'll pretty much know who the last 4 standing are.  Which means that about 120 other teams in college football have little or nothing to play for except bragging rights in a meaningless bowl game.  What if, Carl Lawson and Montravelocity Adams and maybe Alex Kozan or Rudy Ford etc. decided, "You know what?  Why would I risk ripping a knee up or tearing up my shoulder while playing in a meaningless bowl game?  I think I'll sit this one out and get ready for my future."

Think about it.  Most of the guys who have a legit shot (Not saying all those above do) at going in the 3rd round or higher, are looking at a one year paycheck that could set them up for life.  Charles Walker just said, screw it, I'm walking.  We've all seen several examples of players pretty much tanking it to avoid career threatening injuries right here at our beloved Auburn and at numerous other places.  Clowney anyone?  I see more of this coming.

Would you rather a player be skrate up and announce he's not risking it?  Or, would you rather watch our bowl game wondering why Lawson has only been in for 3 total plays?  Not singling out CL or even saying he would. But did you wonder just how nicked up Sammie Coates was against Wisconsin a couple of years ago? 

[Kaos]

Great discussion on Mike & Mike this morning that got me to thinking.  Tom Herman was giving an interview the other morning, saying he's happy at Houston...not going anywhere...no discussions, blah blah, coachspeak blah... Three hours later, he's named as the new HC at Texas.  No big news there concerning his or any other corch's denials.  We all know how it works. The point of the discussion though, was that Tom Herman won't be coaching Houston in their bowl game.  Why?  Because he did what's best for Tom Herman.  Again, that's the way things are.

But what if more players began doing what's best for them?  A couple of weeks back, Oklahoma DT, Charles Walker, left the team to focus on getting ready for the combine.  Granted, he had some concussion issues and may have been limited in his playing time anyway.  But here we are at the point in the season when a week from now, we'll pretty much know who the last 4 standing are.  Which means that about 120 other teams in college football have little or nothing to play for except bragging rights in a meaningless bowl game.  What if, Carl Lawson and Montravelocity Adams and maybe Alex Kozan or Rudy Ford etc. decided, "You know what?  Why would I risk ripping a knee up or tearing up my shoulder while playing in a meaningless bowl game?  I think I'll sit this one out and get ready for my future."

Think about it.  Most of the guys who have a legit shot (Not saying all those above do) at going in the 3rd round or higher, are looking at a one year paycheck that could set them up for life.  Charles Walker just said, screw it, I'm walking.  We've all seen several examples of players pretty much tanking it to avoid career threatening injuries right here at our beloved Auburn and at numerous other places.  Clowney anyone?  I see more of this coming.

Would you rather a player be skrate up and announce he's not risking it?  Or, would you rather watch our bowl game wondering why Lawson has only been in for 3 total plays?  Not singling out CL or even saying he would. But did you wonder just how nicked up Sammie Coates was against Wisconsin a couple of years ago?

I'd just as soon let them all skip the games if they want.  See who's up next.

The "playoff" bullshit has rendered the bowl season pointless anyway. 

[GH2001]

I get what you're saying and like K, have no issue with it but at the same time it's a bad comparison.

Grant in aid to attend college vs employee. It is a little different.

[The Six]

The "playoff" bullshoot has rendered the bowl season pointless anyway.

Truth

[Buzz Killington]

I get what you're saying and like K, have no issue with it but at the same time it's a bad comparison.

Grant in aid to attend college vs employee. It is a little different.

Let's leave bammer out of this discussion.

[Snaggletiger]

I get what you're saying and like K, have no issue with it but at the same time it's a bad comparison.

Grant in aid to attend college vs employee. It is a little different.

Doesn't matter.  The comparison is only concerning an individual doing what they feel is in their personal best interest.  In one scenario, a coach is walking away from one commitment and opting to take more money. In the other, the player is walking away from his commitment in order to preserve the possibility of securing his financial future.   

[Townhallsavoy]

Considering how much money is on the line, I wouldn't blame the Bama defense for sitting out the SECCG and all of the CFP.

There's a lot of pride in playing for your university. But school has been rooted in capitalism. Everyone evaluates their education based on the financial ROI.

If you're a 6'3 275 DE with 1st round talent and it's your time to declare, you skip it all. Why does it matter?

[The Six]

There's a lot of pride in playing for your university. But school has been rooted in capitalism. Everyone evaluates their education based on the financial ROI.

If you're a 6'3 275 DE with 1st round talent and it's your time to declare, you skip it all. Why does it matter?

EVERYTHING wrong with modern American sensibilities in relation to Higher Education in four sentences.

[War Eagle!!!]

EVERYTHING wrong with modern American sensibilities in relation to Higher Education in four sentences.

What is the purpose of "Higher Education"?

[Townhallsavoy]

What is the purpose of "Higher Education"?

What is it now or what should it be? 

[War Eagle!!!]

What is it now or what should it be?

I just want to know Six' definition. He thinks what you said is wrong, and I want to know why.

Players skipping the final games of college, especially after they have already graduated or taken their semester exams, shouldn't matter if college is supposed to take you to the next step in life. Someone going in to medical school doesn't have to take some obligatory marketing class. Why should athletes play some obligatory bowl game when their financial path is already laid out for them?

[Snaggletiger]

I just want to know Six' definition. He thinks what you said is wrong, and I want to know why.

Players skipping the final games of college, especially after they have already graduated or taken their semester exams, shouldn't matter if college is supposed to take you to the next step in life. Someone going in to medical school doesn't have to take some obligatory marketing class. Why should athletes play some obligatory bowl game when their financial path is already laid out for them?

One of the reasons I asked the question. In a perfect world, we want all our guys ready to fight to the end for good ole State U.  But that's not reality. In a way, I know this may come across as stereotyping.  But, I don't think I'm going out on a limb to say a significant percentage of the players on our team and across this conference, wouldn't otherwise be enrolled if it wasn't for their ability on the football field. While the numbers say that the overwhelming majority of them will never play on Sundays, I imagine that's the #1 thing, after pussy, on their minds when they start their college careers.

This is just my guess, but I would think that many look at football/school as a means to an end  That end being a spot on an NFL roster. Ear-regardless of how they think, at this time of year, there are a select few that either know or are being told they have what it takes.  Well, dreaming big or not, the NFL is the profession they've been working towards.  It's what they've been using college football to prepare them for.  So now, when everything they can accomplish at this level is done and the only thing left is a meaningless game to play, no way I could fault them for passing on that.   

[Godfather]

One of the reasons I asked the question. In a perfect world, we want all our guys ready to fight to the end for good ole State U.  But that's not reality. In a way, I know this may come across as stereotyping.  But, I don't think I'm going out on a limb to say a significant percentage of the players on our team and across this conference, wouldn't otherwise be enrolled if it wasn't for their ability on the football field. While the numbers say that the overwhelming majority of them will never play on Sundays, I imagine that's the #1 thing, after pussy, on their minds when they start their college careers.

This is just my guess, but I would think that many look at football/school as a means to an end  That end being a spot on an NFL roster. Ear-regardless of how they think, at this time of year, there are a select few that either know or are being told they have what it takes.  Well, dreaming big or not, the NFL is the profession they've been working towards.  It's what they've been using college football to prepare them for.  So now, when everything they can accomplish at this level is done and the only thing left is a meaningless game to play, no way I could fault them for passing on that.

You used Clowney as an example, the reason he was even rated as high as he was ...was because of a bowl game.  That hit he put on Michigan vaulted him up his senior season and high on draft boards.

[Godfather]

What is the purpose of "Higher Education"?

What's the purpose of anything? I think it was Jean Paul Sarte that said....how do you spell Sarte?

[Kaos]

What's the purpose of anything? I think it was Jean Paul Sarte that said....how do you spell Sarte?

What difference, at this point, does it make?

[Snaggletiger]

You used Clowney as an example, the reason he was even rated as high as he was ...was because of a bowl game.  That hit he put on Michigan vaulted him up his senior season and high on draft boards.

Agreed.  But it's still a damn fine example if I do say so myself. 

[Buzz Killington]

What is the purpose of "Higher Education"?