Something has changed…

[D-rock]

The game doesn’t feel authentic to me anymore. I am becoming more of an NFL fan because of it.

I used to like college football so much more than I do now. I used to feel the game was more passionate and the players play harder because they are trying to get to the league. I have always loved the pageantry and traditions of each school. It makes it special.

That has changed now with the portal and NIL. There are still student athletes but they share the field with professionals now. Once you get money that is what you are. Not every school has the same access to capital. The haves and have nots are even further solidified. The spectacle that is signing day, the selfish entitled behaviors, no loyalty, skipping bowls, using the portal as leverage to get a payout, it sucks.

I know the coaches leave, position for money all the time. It is their profession and they are paid to do it. That’s why it is different in my eyes. I am talking about the players right now.
stop giving kids scholarships. They get money, let them pay for it. It isn’t that big of a deal anyway is what they claim.

 

[Iam4utalways]

Now is not the time to quit on the Vols. We have an opportunity to see tremendous improvement next year. When that happens it will be thrilling again.

 

[overseasorange2]

You got that right D-rock!

 

[Mtnvol80]

Not pointing this directly at you but geez there's been a lot of these posts. The whining is getting nauseating . If a game made me this miserable I'd quit watching. No its not ending for the millionth time. Schools will adapt or get left behind.

 

[Majors]

Going to be interesting when player of sufficient amount gets homesick and starts to second guess their decision and wants to go back home. Like Butch McCrae in Blue Chips…..will my mom lose her house, you need to be at practice tomorrow

 

[VolPack22]

How about just watch the games for what they are: entertainment. Stop getting attached to the kids and support the Vols. Whoever is here, is here. Whoever is not, then that’s their loss. Root for the team of the Tennessee Volunteers and whenever kids decide to leave you won’t feel some type of way about it.

 

[CAVPUT]

The game doesn’t feel authentic to me anymore. I am becoming more of an NFL fan because of it.

I used to like college football so much more than I do now. I used to feel the game was more passionate and the players play harder because they are trying to get to the league. I have always loved the pageantry and traditions of each school. It makes it special.

That has changed now with the portal and NIL. There are still student athletes but they share the field with professionals now. Once you get money that is what you are. Not every school has the same access to capital. The haves and have nots are even further solidified. The spectacle that is signing day, the selfish entitled behaviors, no loyalty, skipping bowls, using the portal as leverage to get a payout, it sucks.

I know the coaches leave, position for money all the time. It is their profession and they are paid to do it. That’s why it is different in my eyes. I am talking about the players right now.
stop giving kids scholarships. They get money, let them pay for it. It isn’t that big of a deal anyway is what they claim.

I'll drop down a level and find a team to follow before I support the NFL in any capacity.

 

[GVol1966]

The game doesn’t feel authentic to me anymore. I am becoming more of an NFL fan because of it.

I used to like college football so much more than I do now. I used to feel the game was more passionate and the players play harder because they are trying to get to the league. I have always loved the pageantry and traditions of each school. It makes it special.

That has changed now with the portal and NIL. There are still student athletes but they share the field with professionals now. Once you get money that is what you are. Not every school has the same access to capital. The haves and have nots are even further solidified. The spectacle that is signing day, the selfish entitled behaviors, no loyalty, skipping bowls, using the portal as leverage to get a payout, it sucks.

I know the coaches leave, position for money all the time. It is their profession and they are paid to do it. That’s why it is different in my eyes. I am talking about the players right now.
stop giving kids scholarships. They get money, let them pay for it. It isn’t that big of a deal anyway is what they claim.

It’s not any different, when they put on the pads and step on the field they play to win.
All y’all worrying about NIL need to quit, it don’t effect you, just watch the damn games and enjoy them, they are a hell of a lot more entertaining than the “3 yards and a cloud of dust “ type they played when bowl games were more than pre-season games played after the season is over. Portal? Players have transferred for years, just don’t have to sit out now.

 

[malibuvol]

Now is not the time to quit on the Vols. We have an opportunity to see tremendous improvement next year. When that happens it will be thrilling again.

IF that is going to happen, then we need to get some significant defensive help via the portal...

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Not pointing this directly at you but geez there's been a lot of these posts. The whining is getting nauseating . If a game made me this miserable I'd quit watching. No its not ending for the millionth time. Schools will adapt or get left behind.

I like college football and I intend to keep watching it. I am not sure I want to watch Pro or College Football every day or night of the season. I also enjoy high school game now and then. Ny problem with college football is that it take so long to go to a football game, the games are getting longer and longer because of all the replays to see if the ball is placed 6 inches correctly , the never ending TV timeouts, the fake injuries, the traffic to and from th games and everyone thinking they are better coaches than the ones hire to coach the teams. That is a lot of crap to absorb to watch a game in person, but I still try to do it when possible because I love the game.

 

[Iam4utalways]

IF that is going to happen, then we need to get some significant defensive help via the portal...

Until that happens I like the idea of scoring more. We got plenty of stops in all our losses to have won them all. Our problem was our offense would sputter giving the competition the opportunity to score unanswered points. When you’re in a shootout keep shooting.

I expect to see improvement on defense due to experience and development.

I’d like to see this staff stick it out for another couple of year to see what they are capable of achieving. With the improvements I expect on both sides of the ball, some may be up for promotion.

 

[OrangeTsar]

The game doesn’t feel authentic to me anymore. I am becoming more of an NFL fan because of it.

I used to like college football so much more than I do now. I used to feel the game was more passionate and the players play harder because they are trying to get to the league. I have always loved the pageantry and traditions of each school. It makes it special.

That has changed now with the portal and NIL. There are still student athletes but they share the field with professionals now. Once you get money that is what you are. Not every school has the same access to capital. The haves and have nots are even further solidified. The spectacle that is signing day, the selfish entitled behaviors, no loyalty, skipping bowls, using the portal as leverage to get a payout, it sucks.

I know the coaches leave, position for money all the time. It is their profession and they are paid to do it. That’s why it is different in my eyes. I am talking about the players right now.
stop giving kids scholarships. They get money, let them pay for it. It isn’t that big of a deal anyway is what they claim.

The only thing NIL changes is that it puts the buying of players out in the open. If you really thought pre NIL student athletes at the Bamas of the world were pure Snow White amateurs, you were kidding yourselves

 

[OrangeTsar]

I'll drop down a level and find a team to follow before I support the NFL in any capacity.

AMEN to that!!!!

 

[D-rock]

Not pointing this directly at you but geez there's been a lot of these posts. The whining is getting nauseating . If a game made me this miserable I'd quit watching. No its not ending for the millionth time. Schools will adapt or get left behind.

It is a message board…
No one said it was ending
I do appreciate your attempt to say that wasn’t directed at me.
An observation is not whining.

 

[YankeeVol]

The game doesn’t feel authentic to me anymore. I am becoming more of an NFL fan because of it.

I used to like college football so much more than I do now. I used to feel the game was more passionate and the players play harder because they are trying to get to the league. I have always loved the pageantry and traditions of each school. It makes it special.

That has changed now with the portal and NIL. There are still student athletes but they share the field with professionals now. Once you get money that is what you are. Not every school has the same access to capital. The haves and have nots are even further solidified. The spectacle that is signing day, the selfish entitled behaviors, no loyalty, skipping bowls, using the portal as leverage to get a payout, it sucks.

I know the coaches leave, position for money all the time. It is their profession and they are paid to do it. That’s why it is different in my eyes. I am talking about the players right now.
stop giving kids scholarships. They get money, let them pay for it. It isn’t that big of a deal anyway is what they claim.

I'm all for that

 

[D-rock]

The only thing NIL changes is that it puts the buying of players out in the open. If you really thought pre NIL student athletes at the Bamas of the world were pure Snow White amateurs, you were kidding yourselves

I agree with some of that for sure. It has been happening under the table. The difference is who you are will depend if anyone investigates.

 

[D-rock]

It’s not any different, when they put on the pads and step on the field they play to win.
All y’all worrying about NIL need to quit, it don’t effect you, just watch the damn games and enjoy them, they are a hell of a lot more entertaining than the “3 yards and a cloud of dust “ type they played when bowl games were more than pre-season games played after the season is over. Portal? Players have transferred for years, just don’t have to sit out now.

The portal has some good things to it. It needs some criteria. Quit trying to tell people what they need to worry about, this is a message board. It is changing the game and all of the effects of this are not yet known.

 

[Firebirdparts]

There is always a risk that people will lose interest, for sure. I have no idea what people will think when the game changes, but they’ll certainly think something. “Fan delight” is where all the money comes from.

all this jibber jabber about “you should feel like this” won’t really determine that.

 

[garbear]

Don’t watch??

 

[Voltopia]

Yeah, if they get to a place where the players are just employees at a job and it's entirely a business enterprise, I think they should considering divorcing the football programs from the schools and leaving the names and imagery behind. The "Tennessee Volunteers" for example was the football program for the University of Tennessee, made up of students who attended the school. If it's not about school anymore, then decouple the program and let it work as a business. Maybe start over at the schools. Go back to square one and build varsity sports teams that aren't having their traditions and character crushed beneath ESPN's heel.

Supporting young men and women who are playing their way through college and representing their school is not at all like supporting professional athletes earning salaries. People can bemoan or handwave that all they want, but it's the truth. The brands built up by the college experience were fashioned on a framework of school pride, local and regional identity, the journey of student athletes from rookie freshman to senior leaders. It took them a hundred years to build that into what it became, and then ESPN sweet talked them all into selling out for dollars. If college football becomes professional then it's no longer college football. It doesn't have to go away, but it shouldn't stay here.

 

[YankeeVol]

It’s not any different, when they put on the pads and step on the field they play to win.
All y’all worrying about NIL need to quit, it don’t effect you, just watch the damn games and enjoy them, they are a hell of a lot more entertaining than the “3 yards and a cloud of dust “ type they played when bowl games were more than pre-season games played after the season is over. Portal? Players have transferred for years, just don’t have to sit out now.

Nowhere near the degree now

 

[The Original Fade]

How about just watch the games for what they are: entertainment. Stop getting attached to the kids and support the Vols. Whoever is here, is here. Whoever is not, then that’s their loss. Root for the team of the Tennessee Volunteers and whenever kids decide to leave you won’t feel some type of way about it.

No one would try to convince you that your daughter’s wedding is no big deal and to just take it for what it is - a bunch of people dressed up to eat free food. So why judge or lecture another fan for what college football means to used to mean to them?

 

[YankeeVol]

How about just watch the games for what they are: entertainment. Stop getting attached to the kids and support the Vols. Whoever is here, is here. Whoever is not, then that’s their loss. Root for the team of the Tennessee Volunteers and whenever kids decide to leave you won’t feel some type of way about it.

Bless your heart

 

[onevol74]

Yeah, if they get to a place where the players are just employees at a job and it's entirely a business enterprise, I think they should considering divorcing the football programs from the schools and leaving the names and imagery behind. The "Tennessee Volunteers" for example was the football program for the University of Tennessee, made up of students who attended the school. If it's not about school anymore, then decouple the program and let it work as a business. Maybe start over at the schools. Go back to square one and build varsity sports teams that aren't having their traditions and character crushed beneath ESPN's heel.

Supporting young men and women who are playing their way through college and representing their school is not at all like supporting professional athletes earning salaries. People can bemoan or handwave that all they want, but it's the truth. The brands built up by the college experience were fashioned on a framework of school pride, local and regional identity, the journey of student athletes from rookie freshman to senior leaders. It took them a hundred years to build that into what it became, and then ESPN sweet talked them all into selling out for dollars. If college football becomes professional then it's no longer college football. It doesn't have to go away, but it shouldn't stay here.

Have to agree. It is not enjoyable anymore. Time to move to a different model. Education is insignificant to the system now and it would benefit these professionals in a farm system so they can develop their skills. I really hate seeing the colleges and universities prostitute the academic systems for athletics. Especially when the academic systems are not appreciated. Academic students are required to meet requirements and exit college with outstanding debt. Athletes are privileged.

With the neutering of the NCAA this will get worse in the future. With as much money as ESPN is making on these games they should be able to directly pay the players along with a NFL stipend. Minor league baseball can do it then why can't football?

 

[LittleVol]

The game doesn’t feel authentic to me anymore. I am becoming more of an NFL fan because of it.

I used to like college football so much more than I do now. I used to feel the game was more passionate and the players play harder because they are trying to get to the league. I have always loved the pageantry and traditions of each school. It makes it special.

That has changed now with the portal and NIL. There are still student athletes but they share the field with professionals now. Once you get money that is what you are. Not every school has the same access to capital. The haves and have nots are even further solidified. The spectacle that is signing day, the selfish entitled behaviors, no loyalty, skipping bowls, using the portal as leverage to get a payout, it sucks.

I know the coaches leave, position for money all the time. It is their profession and they are paid to do it. That’s why it is different in my eyes. I am talking about the players right now.
stop giving kids scholarships. They get money, let them pay for it. It isn’t that big of a deal anyway is what they claim.

It's changed FOR YOU, because you haven't cared about the student-athlete as much as the College football itself. Firstly ACCEPT THAT.

Nothing has changed for me. Kids needed to have more opportunity years ago. BECAUSE of the MONEY THEY GENERATE. Talk about loyalty??

This culture of leaving for Greener($) pastures started with coaches and their outrageous salaries and leaving with no real regard of the legacy they inherited when they decided to.
They were the spark.

Nothing else you said mattered once you cited being paid for a job as reason to exempt them. Coaching and players don't live in separate vacuums from one another.
They absolutely are the MAIN REASON for the current climate of college sports.