The ideal solution would be if there was a "G league" for young people who wanted to go pro but didn't want to go play college football. It would be a great solution to this problem. The kids who want paydays can go get paid, and the rest can resume college athletics. What's that you say? You say it isn't actually about the players, but about the historic rivalries and college traditions and the schools? You mean to tell me the kids wouldn't be making a dime if they didn't have the exposure brought on by their respective programs and the large TV contracts negotiated by the conferences!? Get out of here with that. That can't be true. ESPN said the players are worth a fortune, I heard them say it. ESPN is always right -- they told me so last week. And the week before. And the week before ...
Seriously though, G-league, young players who want to get paid can go get paid, done. Done deal. Sign on the dotted line. People talk about seeing "the best players" as a draw, and that college football would suffer if the best players played in a developmental league -- whatever. What I want is to watch Tennessee football (and by extension SEC football). I don't care if there's a G-league out there taking the top 2-3% of the college talent. Fine. Go. I wasn't watching for you anyway. I was watching to root for Tennessee and the kids who want to play for Tennessee. That's what most college fans are in it for, in my opinion. Meanwhile, how about someone goes and casts a spotlight on the NFL and their restrictive hiring policies?
I'm kidding of course, this entire system is voluntary and if people don't want to participate then they SHOULDN'T SIGN and shouldn't attend the schools. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.