Lack of Respect

[Dagreek1998]

Watching the Army all American bowl and seeing how some players were acting toward colleges recruiting them, I was left with a certain thought that I would like to share. I saw various players act like they were going to pick a hat up and then threw it down to pick up the real team they were going to. This may be funny to them but in a world where people’s jobs come and go based on results, you really have to feel for these recruiters in big time college football. To me, it is a lack of respect and I believe it really shows a lot about the real issue destroying college football. HYPE. You have a bunch of 18 year olds that have been salivated over by college football coaches, and fans, and ESPN, and rivals, and scout.com before they have even done anything. This basically lets them think that it would be a privilege for any college football program to have them on their team, instead of the real way it should be. If you are offered a football scholarship, it is a privilege for you to attend, not the other way around. Look, I am not saying all big recruits are bad, I just think the system has lead to a horrible fact which has affected a lot of people. I think it is funny how ESPN will air out Marcus Vick’s mis-deeds like they are freaking CNN but they are the same bunch that helped create a hype surrounding him which lead to him thinking he was above the law. I am by no means a Marcus Vick or Maurice Clarrett fan but we have a large part in this issue. We salivate over recruiting rankings and dream of Tim Tebow wearing orange and winning championships but stop and think about it. Is he really going to be that great, I don’t know but my goodness the expectations will be high. Why, because ESPN decided to cover his senior year and rivals have darn near published books on him and why? He is a 18 year old who has not even taken a snap from center yet at the college level. I just believe that if we continue to allow these young men to think that they are the best thing to happen to college football, we will continue to see a lot more Marcus Vick like careers. Look at Maryland, they learned a valuable lesson. Anyone watch the Sugar Bowl and saw WVU’s backfield. Pretty impressive, all three (White, Slaton, and Schmitt) were turned down by Maryland and ended up signing with WVU at the last minute. I will leave you all with a final thought, the next time you look at rivals or scout and look at the team rankings, write them down and see how they match up to that seasons final football rankings. When they match, I’ll shut. Until then, lets play the game on the field, not the film room at ESPN.

Dagreek (ESPN Hater Club Member #00045690090.01) eace2:

 

[jakez4ut]

i hear what your saying, and i don't even disagree with you.....but to play devil's advocate.....

there is an audience out there for this stuff...if there wasn't, you wouldn't have the all star game and all the .com's to go read and keep up with this stuff about....plus you now have tv shows dedicated to recruiting etc......

so, if we are to blame someone, blame the audience....you and me. we watch. we subscribe. we go to the web sites. the folks reporting, producing, writing, ranking etc.....are only doing their jobs, and their jobs exist because we keep going back to it.

 

[kiddiedoc]

People have ALWAYS watched. Even before TV.

If you want to point a finger, point it here: $$$$$$$$$$$$$

We are a nation built on capitalism and opportunity, and the downward spiral of skyrocketing contracts, corporate sponsorship, advertising, boosters, and media has brought us to the point that athletes make more money than any politician, lawyer, doctor, or other "business professional" could ever dream of (with a few, a VERY few, notable exceptions). You can't blame the players, because they are only taking what they can get. If you offerred me a ten- or hundred-fold pay increase (to bring me in line with athlete wages), don't you think I'd jump? You betcha.

Somewhere along the line, the kids have to be taught that money does not a person make.

One of my favorite DMB lines:

"In the end it all piles up so tall to one big nothing. One big nothing at all."

 

[jakez4ut]

for professional atheltes, and college kids that are considering going pro etc...i agree, but the question was about hs players and the attention they get....they're not getting paid, wink, wink, so, i hear what your saying, but technically doesn't apply here.