The unEDUCATED DC Boards Lounge

[BlackLantern]

Seems like a big deal over nothing

on the surface, not really....but when kids start throwing games/shaving points because a booster or an agent is paying them to shave points or offering to get their mom out the projects, it becomes an issue

 

[Hound55]

It's because of the effort that goes in to try and maintain the collegiate level as amateur as possible... and good luck on that front because there's a lot of money splashing around over college sports even if the kids themselves can't openly cash in...

The image of the academics being seen as less of a priority than the athletic acheivement worries them...

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I gotta say, as someone who doesn't give a s*** about sports at all, the politics of it is pretty entertaining. It'd probably be annoying if I had any vested interest whatsoever in the players or teams, but since I don't, it's all just one big, glorious train wreck to me. I always look forward to the next national hero who's revealed to have been on steroids or taking bribes or sponsoring private dogfighting matches in his mansion. It's like my version of tabloid schlock.

 

[BlackLantern]

a lot of that depends on the school

 

[BlackLantern]

I gotta say, as someone who doesn't give a s*** about sports at all, the politics of it is pretty entertaining. It'd probably be annoying if I had any vested interest whatsoever in the players or teams, but since I don't, it's all just one big, glorious train wreck to me. I always look forward to the next national hero who's revealed to have been on steroids or taking bribes or sponsoring private dogfighting matches in his mansion. It's like my version of tabloid schlock.

Im a sports fan myself, but I find it terribly interesting....right beneath the veneer of "college athletics" is this whole mess of under the table payoffs and all sorts of shady dealings

 

[Darthphere]

Boise State will go undefeated again this season and still not get a shot at National Championship, because it's all politics.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Yeah, it's especially fun if you're already cynical. College (and pro, for that matter) sports will feed your cynicism endlessly.

 

[BlackLantern]

Boise State will go undefeated again this season and still not get a shot at National Championship, because it's all politics.

sadly yes, of course this might be the year that just enough people get behind them to push them into the championship game

but they need to smash all their conference opponents

 

[Hound55]

a lot of that depends on the school

This is true. My comment was being made more as a general comment about the association itself, though... They know full well that the big schools are inon this stuff and that it gets A LOT of money changing hands... they also know they have bugger all hope of policing it and largely wind up the stupidest, most high-profile percentage which just falls right in their lap...

Its hard to blame the kids and families of the kids as well for wanting to take these opportunities too...

 

[Darthphere]

sadly yes, of course this might be the year that just enough people get behind them to push them into the championship game

but they need to smash all their conference opponents

Yeah I changed the channel last night because I was like "Wow, Boise is whoopin' that trick" and then when I put it back on they were down I was like "What? It must be those V-Tech uniforms". But yeah, they need to destroy everyone and hope Oregon State is still ranked.

 

[Hound55]

sadly yes, of course this might be the year that just enough people get behind them to push them into the championship game

but they need to smash all their conference opponents

That all works on the index though, doesn't it? They need to hook up for some big opponents and perform well against them (and they in turn perform well) to have a shot...

 

[BlackLantern]

This is true. My comment was being made more as a general comment about the association itself, though... They know full well that the big schools are inon this stuff and that it gets A LOT of money changing hands... they also know they have bugger all hope of policing it and largely wind up the stupidest, most high-profile percentage which just falls right in their lap...

Its hard to blame the kids and families of the kids as well for wanting to take these opportunities too...

a lot of these kids come from nothing, I certainly don't blame them....but on the other hand, if they are an athlete for a school, they need to understand that there are things you can and cannot do

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Eh, everyone involved comes off as a greedy *****ebag to me, so I don't have much sympathy for any of 'em. Sports are a big business and everyone knows it. There's only one reason to get involved with a big business and that's to profit as much as humanly possible.

 

[BlackLantern]

That all works on the index though, doesn't it? They need to hook up for some big opponents and perform well against them (and they in turn perform well) to have a shot...

they took out one big opponent last night (Virginia Tech), and have another big one in a few weeks in Oregon State

 

[Mystirious]

I gotta say, as someone who doesn't give a s*** about sports at all, the politics of it is pretty entertaining. It'd probably be annoying if I had any vested interest whatsoever in the players or teams, but since I don't, it's all just one big, glorious train wreck to me. I always look forward to the next national hero who's revealed to have been on steroids or taking bribes or sponsoring private dogfighting matches in his mansion. It's like my version of tabloid schlock.

Im a sports fan myself, but I find it terribly interesting....right beneath the veneer of "college athletics" is this whole mess of under the table payoffs and all sorts of shady dealings

Sounds like college athletics are a big deal in America

 

[Hound55]

Yes, and the schools themselves hardly do poorly by throwing free education at these kids and then receiving free nationally televised publicity and merch sales...

I know it's the law but the schools are well aware of how well they do in the system... its why so many through these shady deals directly at the kids in the first place. Its why capitalism (and for that matter communism) doesn't work... people are crooked bastards and will take any edge they can see.

 

[BlackLantern]

Sounds like college athletics are a big deal in America

Yes, indeed

Yes, and the schools themselves hardly do poorly by throwing free education at these kids and then receiving free nationally televised publicity and merch sales...

I know it's the law but the schools are well aware of how well they do in the system... its why so many through these shady deals directly at the kids in the first place. Its why capitalism (and for that matter communism) doesn't work... people are crooked bastards and will take any edge they can see.

yea....the schools make a ton of money on ticket sales, merch sales, tv rights and there is very little overhead because they aren't paying the players...just coaches and team staff and they are all university employees anyway, so they aren't making much

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Well, don't coaches tend to make pretty solid money? They're not gonna be millionaires or anything, but they draw a good salary if their teams are doing well.

 

[Mystirious]

yea....the schools make a ton of money on ticket sales, merch sales, tv rights and there is very little overhead because they aren't paying the players...just coaches and team staff and they are all university employees anyway, so they aren't making much

Does not seem fair

 

[BlackLantern]

Well, don't coaches tend to make pretty solid money? They're not gonna be millionaires or anything, but they draw a good salary if their teams are doing well.

decent money, unless you're Nick Saban or Mack Brown and you can command a ****load of money

 

[TheCorpulent1]

It's perfectly fair. They're getting an education: someday, the NFL will ultimately screw them over just as much as their college does.

 

[BlackLantern]

It's perfectly fair. They're getting an education: someday, the NFL will ultimately screw them over just as much as their college does.

depending on the school, a good chunk of athlete are there on scholarship...they have a full ride education "in exchange" for playing for the school

plus college athletics are voluntary programs....no one is being "forced" to participate

 

[Hound55]

Well, don't coaches tend to make pretty solid money? They're not gonna be millionaires or anything, but they draw a good salary if their teams are doing well.

Indeed, to the extent that you get some coaches (Coach K and Calipari to name a few in ball circles in recent years - which I'd be more familiar with than football) turn down significant offers from pro teams...

Does not seem fair

The kids get free education... providing they can hit the minimum GPA...

 

[Hound55]

depending on the school, a good chunk of athlete are there on scholarship...they have a full ride education "in exchange" for playing for the school

plus college athletics are voluntary programs....no one is being "forced" to participate

Hahahaha yeah... Good luck keeping that athletic scholarship if you tell them you've decided to give up the game...

It's not fair but most things when you're young are not fair. If you work in an office they pay you less, if you learn a trade there's a whole other set of rules for first year apprentice and even though it's changed a lot from the dark ages you're still practically an endentured slave...

 

[TheCorpulent1]

depending on the school, a good chunk of athlete are there on scholarship...they have a full ride education "in exchange" for playing for the school

plus college athletics are voluntary programs....no one is being "forced" to participate

True, but college sports programs are literally the only way a lot of these kids have into their dream jobs in the pro leagues. I can't really fault them for attempting to follow their dreams, even if it does lead to some pretty blatant exploitation and will probably cost them their souls at some point.