Breaking: Ricky Gibson to the portal

[CAVPUT]

The shame of this whole Gibson thing for me is that it pulled a lot of my good feelings about UT sports from me at a time when it was sky high.
Basketball with chance at first ever 1 seed.
Lady Vols are fun to watch again and should host first round.
Baseball on track for another trip to Omaha.
And I was feeling pretty good about football that we had a very good shot at playoffs again. Which we still may get.
But Gibson pulling this makes me that they don’t believe McCoy will be ready at start of season.
I was already a little concerned that we still need a playmaker at WR and a replacement for Karic. Now the secondary may be our bigger concern. Sigh.

Agreed. Crazy to count on McCoy being back quickly, in shape and up to speed by the start of the season. Just can't take that chance IMO.

 

[screenthis]

this crap has ruined college sports for me

It hasn't ruined it for me, yet. But the more College Football becomes Professional Sports (lite), it becomes less interesting to me. Players constantly moving (like in the pros) makes it a worse product. And will this only exacerbate the divide between a few teams that have a real chance to win a championship and everyone else?

 

[RDU VOL#14]

Isn't that what Gibson has announced? He's going to be looking elsewhere. UT doesn't HAVE to try to keep him. He's assuming all the risk that UT won't pull his scholarship and cut ties in April.

It's not as though he's FORCING UT to renegotiate. They have choices.

You know exactly what he’s doing and why he’s doing it . He wouldn’t be doing anything if McCoy didn’t tear his ACL and if he didn’t think he had UT in a predicament where he could attempt to dictate terms. If he’s only out for himself that’s his prerogative, but to shortchange teammates and coaches who have helped him get into a position to better himself on the football field and financially is a bad look.

 

[HARTUPM]

2024 we signed 4* CB Beasley, and three 3* Stewart, Mccoy, and Mcmurray
2025 we signed three 3*s Poteat, Lewis and Redmond. And lost Konanbanny to UF

Hopefully Beasley and one or two will rise to the top.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

You know exactly what he’s doing and why he’s doing it . He wouldn’t be doing anything if McCoy didn’t tear his ACL and if he didn’t think he had UT in a predicament where he could attempt to dictate terms. If he’s only out for himself that’s his prerogative, but to shortchange teammates and coaches who have helped him get into a position to better himself on the football field and financially is a bad look.

If Gibson feels that he, like most college players, will never make the NFL and college is his best chance to maximize his earnings from football, he's taking the risk to try to do that.

There's nothing wrong with that. Most of his teammates would likely try to maximize their earnings from football also because VERY few people actually get to the NFL and massive money.

Hating on the guy for playing it smart, realizing an NFL career is most likely not in the cards, trying to get the most value out of his "15 minutes" of football value seems petty to me. He's making moves to maximize his interests, hopefully.

He's making the best move, most likely, for his future but it's not without the risk that UT will not respond with a better offer. It's not a sure thing and I can't hate the guy's guts for risking it.

 

[Doctor Bart]

As an employer, I have a saying. Somebody who will leave over money will eventually leave over money. I pay well, but they will eventually find someone who pays more.
If a player’s main goal is to get paid as much as possible, and he doesn’t value the education, culture, and team, they are
As good as gone

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

As an employer, I have a saying. Somebody who will leave over money will eventually leave over money. I pay well, but they will eventually find someone who pays more.
If a player’s main goal is to get paid as much as possible, and he doesn’t value the education, culture, and team, they are
As good as gone

And as an employer, if you have a key employee go down with a health issue and need a similarly skilled employee in that same area to step it up and maintain your business, aren't you inclined to increase that employee's pay because their value to your company production has increased?

If the value of an employee to your company increases, don't you increase their pay? Are they wrong for asking you to increase their pay if they realize their value to your business has increased when a fellow employee goes down, retires, etc?

 

[Voltopia]

I have to say, I am fascinated by the number of people applauding Gibson for using the McCoy situation to extort more money from Tennessee.

I don't know when the University of Tennessee became the "enemy" for so many, but there's just something very interesting in that. I can't quite comprehend siding with the mercenaries who will drop your team at a moment's notice for a bigger check.

 

[lilesrt]

You mean like how they did with Nico, Matthews, McCoy, and Boo Carter? Tennessee is really good at retaining their most talented players.

Let’s hope Gibson gets a piece of the pie.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

I have to say, I am fascinated by the number of people applauding Gibson for using the McCoy situation to extort more money from Tennessee.

I don't know when the University of Tennessee became the "enemy" for so many, but there's just something very interesting in that. I can't quite comprehend siding with the mercenaries who will drop your team at a moment's notice for a bigger check.

Extort? So Gibson can MAKE UT pay him?

It's not extortion if UT has a reasonable choice. It's an employee who is undervalued asking for a raise and it happens every single day in businesses around the country.

UT can take it or let him walk. Extortion? Hardly. It's negotiating your value to the business.

 

[Peradox1K]

It's just shameful that collegiate atheletes are becoming more and more selfish. How are you guys gonna applaud a man who's threating to put a whole team in a bad position for some more money? They need to change portal and NIL rules. I'd be happy if they got rid of this new system of NIL completely, it just teaches young men to be wanting more and more. You can't have your cake AND eat it too.

 

[Voltopia]

Extort? So Gibson can MAKE UT pay him?

It's not extortion if UT has a reasonable choice. It's an employee who is undervalued asking for a raise and it happens every single day in businesses around the country.

UT can take it or let him walk. Extortion? Hardly. It's negotiating your value to the business.

Oh come on, I'm using a loose attachment of the word "threat" - there's no threat of violence but there is a threat - he'll walk from the deal he agreed to in December and leave if UT doesn't pay up, leaving UT with a depleted secondary. That is a threat. "I'll break this deal and walk." It isn't violent but it is a threat. A statement to intent to cause harm unless certain actions are taken.

Or don't call it a threat. Call it an ultimatum. A warning. I don't care what. Whatever word you want to use for it, he is absolutely using the McCoy injury as leverage for more money than a deal he made two months ago.

 

[volanatic]

And as an employer, if you have a key employee go down with a health issue and need a similarly skilled employee in that same area to step it up and maintain your business, aren't you inclined to increase that employee's pay because their value to your company production has increased?

If the value of an employee to your company increases, don't you increase their pay? Are they wrong for asking you to increase their pay if they realize their value to your business has increased when a fellow employee goes down, retires, etc?

Not exactly. The poster is correct. In his illustration, Ricky Gibson is properly evaluated and properly paid, but wants to be paid more without having shown he has that extra value. If my employees come to me and want more money without showing me why they deserve it, then they do not get a raise. Pretty simple. Now if I ask them to do more, yes, I might come in and offer an incentive. But what is Ricky doing more of? There will be other DB’s on the field correct? Is he going to cover two receivers at the same time? I think you see my point?

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Oh come on, I'm using a loose attachment of the word "threat" - there's no threat of violence but there is a threat - he'll walk from the deal he agreed to in December and leave if UT doesn't pay up, leaving UT with a depleted secondary. That is a threat. "I'll break this deal and walk." It isn't violent but it is a threat. A statement to intent to cause harm unless certain actions are taken.

Or don't call it a threat. Call it an ultimatum. A warning. I don't care what. Whatever word you want to use for it, he is absolutely using the McCoy injury as leverage for more money than a deal he made two months ago.

Likely, yes. It's leverage. And it happens every single day in the corporate world when an employee realizes that "Jim in my department is out with his heart issues and they REALLY need me now, I'm going into Mr Big's office and ask for a raise and tell him I think I can do better elsewhere. They need me. Now is my shot."

It's business.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Not exactly. The poster is correct. In his illustration, Ricky Gibson is properly evaluated and properly paid, but wants to be paid more without having shown he has that extra value. If my employees come to me and want more money without showing me why they deserve it, then they do not get a raise. Pretty simple. Now if I ask them to do more, yes, I might come in and offer an incentive. But what is Ricky doing more of? There will be other DB’s on the field correct? Is he going to cover two receivers at the same time? I think you see my point?

If he's properly paid, then don't pay him more and it's his loss. That's perfectly fair.

However, everyone seems to think we'll renegotiate and by definition, he's worth more.

Your job value is based not only on what you do but how much your employer NEEDS you to do what you do.

 

[Voltopia]

Likely, yes. It's leverage. And it happens every single day in the corporate world when an employee realizes that "Jim in my department is out with his heart issues and they REALLY need me now, I'm going into Mr Big's office and ask for a raise and tell him I think I can do better elsewhere. They need me. Now is my shot."

It's business.

Yes I know that. I said I'm surprised by the people cheering that on. "Yay, squeeze them harder!" Like Tennessee is the enemy. That surprises me.

Well, no, actually, it doesn't surprise me, now that I think about it, but whatever.

 

[volanatic]

Not to mention, he just got a “raise” right? If I give my employee a raise and he comes back a few weeks later and wants another raise. He’s probably going to get pointed to the front door. There is an absolute element of entitlement that has been pulled into this whole NIL situation, although not necessarily for every individual situation. But overall, it is a big issue. Anyone who does not see that, I don’t think you can properly evaluate these types of situations until you can accept that reality.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Yes I know that. I said I'm surprised by the people cheering that on. "Yay, squeeze them harder!" Like Tennessee is the enemy. That surprises me.

Well, no, actually, it doesn't surprise me, now that I think about it, but whatever.

Cheering that business works in America is a bad thing? The schools decided years ago to turn college football into a multi-billion dollar industry and now you're surprised the players are treating their jobs like they're part of a multi-billion dollar industry?

Okay, but what did you expect?

 

[volanatic]

If he's properly paid, then don't pay him more and it's his loss. That's perfectly fair.

However, everyone seems to think we'll renegotiate and by definition, he's worth more.

Your job value is based not only on what you do but how much your employer NEEDS you to do what you do.

I 100% agree with what you just said.

The point I’m making is that you are not asking Ricky Gibson to do more. You’re asking him to do his job well. He’s not playing multiple positions. It is the University of Tennessee coach’s responsibility to find someone to fill the other role if McCoy is a no go at any point. It is not Ricky Gibson’s job to do that or pick up any slack I mean. It is his job to play on one side and lock that side down just as it was when McCoy was in. You gave the illustration of him picking up the slack, so more possible value then. You mentioned an employee’s value going up. Why did Ricky‘s value go up? I would argue that it did not because he still only plays one position. The defense has a hole may have to pick up the slack if a key player goes out, so should everyone get paid a little more because Ricky Gibson went down? That’s the point I’m trying to make.

 

[Voltopia]

Cheering that business works in America is a bad thing? The schools decided years ago to turn college football into a multi-billion dollar industry and now you're surprised the players are treating their jobs like they're part of a multi-billion dollar industry?

Okay, but what did you expect?

Oh I expected it to be the burning trash pile that it is now. That doesn't mean I'm going to either embrace or approve of it.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Not to mention, he just got a “raise” right? If I give my employee a raise and he comes back a few weeks later and wants another raise. He’s probably going to get pointed to the front door. There is an absolute element of entitlement that has been pulled into this whole NIL situation, although not necessarily for every individual situation. But overall, it is a big issue. Anyone who does not see that, I don’t think you can properly evaluate these types of situations until you can accept that reality.

UT has EVERY opportunity to show Gibson the door. He's taking the big risk here because if he hits the portal MOST guys never see a better situation.

The school has every right to let him walk
Gibson has every right to take the risk that they won't let him walk or he'll find a better deal for his services.

This isn't anything abnormal. It's a negotiation of value for services.

 

[volanatic]

I have employees and I pay them well. But if I give one of my employees a raise and then he comes to me shortly after asking for more money, I will then politely show him the door. At that point, it would become clear to me that he has an inflated understanding of his value to my business. And just like you said, I have no obligation to pay. And he can go where he chooses and seek more money. I love capitalism by the way, but these young men are not employees. But they want to be treated like them.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

I 100% agree with what you just said.

The point I’m making is that you are not asking Ricky Gibson to do more. You’re asking him to do his job well. He’s not playing multiple positions. It is the University of Tennessee coach’s responsibility to find someone to fill the other role if McCoy is a no go at any point. It is not Ricky Gibson’s job to do that or pick up any slack I mean. It is his job to play on one side and lock that side down just as it was when McCoy was in. You gave the illustration of him picking up the slack, so more possible value then. You mentioned an employee’s value going up. Why did Ricky‘s value go up? I would argue that it did not because he still only plays one position. The defense has a hole may have to pick up the slack if a key player goes out, so should everyone get paid a little more because Ricky Gibson went down? That’s the point I’m trying to make.

If his value didn't go up, then let him walk. If UT thinks they can get the same value out of someone else, let him walk.

He's taking the risk that he's actually underpaid.

If UT pays him, he was right. If they don't, he was wrong. That's how employee value works. The employee asks for more sometimes and the employer either says "I agree, you are worth more than you're currently paid" or they let them leave.

It's not weird. It's not evil. It's business. An employee can ask for a raise any time they want and their employer can say no.

Gibson isn't directly asking for a raise, he's taking a big risk that he IS worth more to someone in the industry. If not UT, someone else. It takes guts.

 

[volanatic]

UT has EVERY opportunity to show Gibson the door. He's taking the big risk here because if he hits the portal MOST guys never see a better situation.

The school has every right to let him walk
Gibson has every right to take the risk that they won't let him walk or he'll find a better deal for his services.

This isn't anything abnormal. It's a negotiation of value for services.

If he was an employee, then I would agree with you about it being a negotiation of value for services. We seem to forget that this young man gets a free education along with help from tutors and things that non-student athletes do not have access to. NIL has seemed to be likened to “salary” but Tennessee was never personally selling Ricky Gibson jerseys until NIL came along.

And I would definitely show him the door if it was me. Especially because I just gave him a raise, and now he has spit in my face. I wouldn’t be rude about it, just very matter of fact. And hopefully he would grow from this situation so that one day when he gets out into the real world, he could mature and understand the proper way to negotiate.

By the way, I hope I’m not coming across rudely. Love the conversation!

 

[volanatic]

If his value didn't go up, then let him walk. If UT thinks they can get the same value out of someone else, let him walk.

He's taking the risk that he's actually underpaid.

If UT pays him, he was right. If they don't, he was wrong. That's how employee value works. The employee asks for more sometimes and the employer either says "I agree, you are worth more than you're currently paid" or they let them leave.

It's not weird. It's not evil. It's business. An employee can ask for a raise any time they want and their employer can say no.

Gibson isn't directly asking for a raise, he's taking a big risk that he IS worth more to someone in the industry. If not UT, someone else. It takes guts.

Again, just to reiterate, I’m an employer so all of this is ground level knowledge. No one said anything about it being weird or evil. But it’s not business because he’s not an employee.