Do academics mean anything anymore at college

[Vespidae]

Heck yes today is better. At least now we know the going rate to buy a player and the champion actually earns it on the field. In other words - today everything is above board. You may not like it but at least everything is out in the open.

Compare that to the old days where sports writers were told how to vote by AD’s or their access would be cut off. Or when guys like Herschel were bought on the black market. Or when bowl invites were given out quietly in October (see ND 1990).

I simply can’t understand how any GT fan can long for the past 60 years where our program fell from a top 10 program to an afterthought today because of the underhanded and uneven system, let alone the inconsistent investigative portion of the NCAA. We finally have a system that can benefit our team and you guys are bashing it. Key’s use of the portal and NIL has us poised to finally be a consistently winning team and you guys are whining.

And all the proof you need is that guys like Saban and Kirby hate the portal and NIL because now they can’t lie to high school kids and own them for 4 years and stack 4 stars on the depth chart and their use of the under the table NIL they’ve had going for 50 years is now void. I love this new era. And I didn’t even address how much I love the expanded playoff where a school like GT has a much higher chance to get in than they ever did previously.

Better? Meh.

Tech 60 years ago was 1964. Still a great program but … withdrawing from the SEC. And before integration which dramatically changed college football. Was Tech ready for that? No.

Almost every player and team captain I’ve spoken to HATES the new system. Why? Nobody plays for school, tradition or development anymore. No playing time? Just transfer. It’s hard to build a team today. My neighbor played for a national championship team in the 80’s and loves football but wouldn’t want to play in today’s system.

I don’t think today is better. Its ok. But what we need is a tiered system. That will equalize competition. I rea like the Premier League approach.

 

[SOWEGA Jacket]

Of course asking old guys about the old days is gonna get the answer you got. But you know darn well if these same guys were 18 today they’d be taking whatever NIL they could get. And our starting QB who has led us back to respectability transferred for playing time and all I heard were cheers in Orlando. I have no problem with a tiered system. I’m down with that.

I also see no one ever addresses how horrible the previous system was for schools that tried to be honest and do the right thing. GT tried to admit players who had a brain. We also tried to not give away BK bags full of Benjamins. And what did we get for it under that old system? We dropped from a top 10 program to a nobody. We also got put on probation several times and were stripped of a title. What has Bama, ND, UGA, FSU, Ohio St, Mich, ever been stripped off? Nothing.

 

[4shotB]

Of course asking old guys about the old days is gonna get the answer you got. But you know darn well if these same guys were 18 today they’d be taking whatever NIL they could get. And our starting QB who has led us back to respectability transferred for playing time and all I heard were cheers in Orlando. I have no problem with a tiered system. I’m down with that.

I also see no one ever addresses how horrible the previous system was for schools that tried to be honest and do the right thing. GT tried to admit players who had a brain. We also tried to not give away BK bags full of Benjamins. And what did we get for it under that old system? We dropped from a top 10 program to a nobody. We also got put on probation several times and were stripped of a title. What has Bama, ND, UGA, FSU, Ohio St, Mich, ever been stripped off? Nothing.

You have an optimism about things under the new system that I can't quite muster. Maybe it's bc I am aware of history. There have been so many changes in the past that we all rationalized were going to help Tech. Leaving the SEC. integration. Scholarship limits. Academic requirements. Joining the ACC. At the end of the day, GT has treaded water (excluding the lightning in a bottle CBR era) while the teams you mentioned in your last statement have remained at the top. In other words, the more things have changed, the more they have stayed the same.

If there is one thing that does give me optimism, it's not NIL and the portal - it's that for the first time in my lifetime, it appears we have commitment at the very top (President) to pursue excellence. We have had those who have neglected the AA, those who were indifferent. and those who supported the AA but with a hands off approach. If there is ever going to be step change in our program's status, I believe it will come from this and not externalities.

 

[Southern psu fan]

This article just depresses me and further pushes me away from following college sports.
As every year goes by I am becoming less interested. I watched less college sports this year than I have ever done before. I contribute less than I used to. I probably watched more women's college basketball this year than men's. I certainly watch alot less college football and basketball than I used to.
I don't really follow recruiting that closely anymore because most of the young people are going to be gone in 2 years or less, so why bother getting invested in any of them.

I feel like I am maybe a year or two from just not following college sports anymore. Somewhere along the way we lost the thread. What is the point of following college sports if they really have nothing to do with college? I'd be all for college football being completely removed from colleges at this point. Just go make it a minor league professional sport.

As college football transfer portal becomes more chaotic, focus on educational values continues to dwindle

With the relaxation or elimination of NCAA transfer rules, there will be more chaos than ever as more players jump to new schools

www.cbssports.com

As the enterprise moves away from the educational component of college athletics, the question must be asked: What thread of academics tied to athletics will be left? Are players moving closer to majoring in football? We're not necessarily talking about a degree program -- although, who knows, maybe that's in the cards -- but eroding academic integrity in this transfer climate.

Athletes will continue to play. They will go to classes. But does it even matter anymore if they graduate?

"Quite frankly, they don't care," one Power Four AD said non-specifically. "They care, but [athlete] mobility and money is more important than graduation right now."

It's a long-proven fact that the more a student transfers, the less likely that person is to graduate.

"When we look back five years from now, what will our graduation rates be?" wondered one member of an NCAA committee dealing with the eligibility component.

It has now become much easier to assemble and retain a roster in professional sports than in college athletics. In the pros, there are salary caps and team budgets.

In major college sports, pure chaos continues to reign.

The NIL and transfer portal has a bad ending imo unless somebody steps up and puts strict restrictions on both. We can have them but we need strict rules. I don’t know how to fix it but I’m sure somebody in high places does.

 

[stinger78]

The NIL and transfer portal has a bad ending imo unless somebody steps up and puts strict restrictions on both. We can have them but we need strict rules. I don’t know how to fix it but I’m sure somebody in high places does.

I agree with you about the rules but am less hopeful than you about someone knowing how.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

Heck yes today is better. At least now we know the going rate to buy a player and the champion actually earns it on the field. In other words - today everything is above board. You may not like it but at least everything is out in the open.

Compare that to the old days where sports writers were told how to vote by AD’s or their access would be cut off. Or when guys like Herschel were bought on the black market. Or when bowl invites were given out quietly in October (see ND 1990).

I simply can’t understand how any GT fan can long for the past 60 years where our program fell from a top 10 program to an afterthought today because of the underhanded and uneven system, let alone the inconsistent investigative portion of the NCAA. We finally have a system that can benefit our team and you guys are bashing it. Key’s use of the portal and NIL has us poised to finally be a consistently winning team and you guys are whining.

And all the proof you need is that guys like Saban and Kirby hate the portal and NIL because now they can’t lie to high school kids and own them for 4 years and stack 4 stars on the depth chart and their use of the under the table NIL they’ve had going for 50 years is now void. I love this new era. And I didn’t even address how much I love the expanded playoff where a school like GT has a much higher chance to get in than they ever did previously.

Again, you put a lot on the table to contemplate.

I certainly can agree that if Tech becomes a top 10 team much of our bellyaching will vanish. We have no solid proof yet that NIL and the portal are going to catapult us into the elites of college ball.

I still actually want my athletes to actually have to go to actual classes. Yeah, I’m a dinosaur.

I see no evidence that Kirby Smart is at all bothered by the new landscape. I think, if anything, it solidifies his place at uga for years to come and guarantees them a national championship run every year. Be happy for you to explain to me however how this is the beginning of the end for uga.

Part of me is encouraged by your optimism. And I would rejoice if you are right. But you seem to be extrapolating an entire picture of where this is going based on things I’m not seeing.

Yes, college football was less corrupt 60 years ago. That’s not the same as saying it was perfect or without flaws.

 

[SOWEGA Jacket]

You have an optimism about things under the new system that I can't quite muster. Maybe it's bc I am aware of history. There have been so many changes in the past that we all rationalized were going to help Tech. Leaving the SEC. integration. Scholarship limits. Academic requirements. Joining the ACC. At the end of the day, GT has treaded water (excluding the lightning in a bottle CBR era) while the teams you mentioned in your last statement have remained at the top. In other words, the more things have changed, the more they have stayed the same.

If there is one thing that does give me optimism, it's not NIL and the portal - it's that for the first time in my lifetime, it appears we have commitment at the very top (President) to pursue excellence. We have had those who have neglected the AA, those who were indifferent. and those who supported the AA but with a hands off approach. If there is ever going to be step change in our program's status, I believe it will come from this and not externalities.

I hear you. But the reason GT has fallen behind is because of GT. We could have offered Herschel two cars. We could have given Cam a million in Wendy’s bags. We could have admitted illiterates who would have bolstered our lines. We could have done a number of things that everyone else was doing to win games, but we didn’t. And we have suffered for 60 years.

I agree that a commitment from the top is important because at least now we won’t have administrators calling the NCAA to turn our coaches in for giving a kid money or taking a kid to the movies - because it’s legal now. That’s my entire point - the playing field is now level where any school can do what was illegal and done by many just a few years ago. Now, do I expect GT to properly utilize it? Heck no. As you pointed out, GT has made consistently poor decisions throughout its history so it is consistent to believe that GT will not use NIL like others will which means we will continue to be in the mediocre level of the sport.

It appears that many here liked the old ways where UGA, Auburn, Bama, Clemson, FSU, and others could buy players under the table and GT would not which cause us to lose. I just don’t understand those of you who loved that system. The entire system was broken and unfair but because it wasn’t done in the open you guys were fine with it. I’m from south Georgia. I’ve seen the number of high quality players who could have gone to GT and helped win games instead get bought and sold on the black market while the NCAA let it happen. I will take us getting outbid in an above board system every day over the old way. I could tell you stories of how Auburn would come into this area and buy players because I was friends with the Auburn families who funneled the money. They had an incredible bag man system down here for decades.

 

[SOWEGA Jacket]

You have an optimism about things under the new system that I can't quite muster. Maybe it's bc I am aware of history. There have been so many changes in the past that we all rationalized were going to help Tech. Leaving the SEC. integration. Scholarship limits. Academic requirements. Joining the ACC. At the end of the day, GT has treaded water (excluding the lightning in a bottle CBR era) while the teams you mentioned in your last statement have remained at the top. In other words, the more things have changed, the more they have stayed the same.

If there is one thing that does give me optimism, it's not NIL and the portal - it's that for the first time in my lifetime, it appears we have commitment at the very top (President) to pursue excellence. We have had those who have neglected the AA, those who were indifferent. and those who supported the AA but with a hands off approach. If there is ever going to be step change in our program's status, I believe it will come from this and not externalities.

I hear you. But the reason GT has fallen behind is because of GT. We could have offered Herschel two cars. We could have given Cam a million in Wendy’s bags. We could have admitted illiterates who would have bolstered our lines. We could have done a number of things that everyone else was doing to win games, but we didn’t. And we have suffered for 60 years.

I agree that a commitment from the top is important because at least now we won’t have administrators calling the NCAA to turn our coaches in for giving a kid money or taking a kid to the movies - because it’s legal now. That’s my entire point - the playing field is now level where any school can do what was illegal and done by many just a few years ago. Now, do I expect GT to properly utilize it? Heck no. As you pointed out, GT has made consistently poor decisions throughout its history so it is consistent to believe that GT will not use NIL like others will which means we will continue to be in the mediocre level of the sport.

It appears that many here liked the old ways where UGA, Auburn, Bama, Clemson, FSU, and others could buy players under the table and GT would not which cause us to lose. I just don’t understand those of you who loved that system. The entire system was broken and unfair but because it wasn’t done in the open you guys were fine with it. I’m from south Georgia. I’ve seen the number of high quality players who could have gone to GT and helped win games instead get bought and sold on the black market while the NCAA let it happen. I will take us getting outbid in an above board system every day over the old way. I could tell you stories of how Auburn would come into this area and buy players because I was friends with the Auburn families who funneled the money. They had an incredible bag man system down here for decades.

 

[SOWEGA Jacket]

Sorry, repost

 

[Northeast Stinger]

Sorry, repost

People from South Georgia do that.

Joking

 

[alagold]

Of course asking old guys about the old days is gonna get the answer you got. But you know darn well if these same guys were 18 today they’d be taking whatever NIL they could get. And our starting QB who has led us back to respectability transferred for playing time and all I heard were cheers in Orlando. I have no problem with a tiered system. I’m down with that.

I also see no one ever addresses how horrible the previous system was for schools that tried to be honest and do the right thing. GT tried to admit players who had a brain. We also tried to not give away BK bags full of Benjamins. And what did we get for it under that old system? We dropped from a top 10 program to a nobody. We also got put on probation several times and were stripped of a title. What has Bama, ND, UGA, FSU, Ohio St, Mich, ever been stripped off? Nothing.

don't get me started on unCheat--borders on the unbelievable with no punishment

 

[GoldZ]

Of course asking old guys about the old days is gonna get the answer you got. But you know darn well if these same guys were 18 today they’d be taking whatever NIL they could get. And our starting QB who has led us back to respectability transferred for playing time and all I heard were cheers in Orlando. I have no problem with a tiered system. I’m down with that.

I also see no one ever addresses how horrible the previous system was for schools that tried to be honest and do the right thing. GT tried to admit players who had a brain. We also tried to not give away BK bags full of Benjamins. And what did we get for it under that old system? We dropped from a top 10 program to a nobody. We also got put on probation several times and were stripped of a title. What has Bama, ND, UGA, FSU, Ohio St, Mich, ever been stripped off? Nothing.

Old guys have lived during both periods. The young guys haven't. Old guys rule in this instance. Everything is relative, and sure the old days had problems, but those same problems are much much worse now, as in the almost forgotten purpose of COLLEGE football (hint: academics), payola (hint:NIL), and put me in coach or I'll pull the TP card on ya (never mind that almost all players wanting more PT in college will never see an NFL field, like 98% of all players.

 

[SOWEGA Jacket]

Old guys have lived during both periods. The young guys haven't. Old guys rule in this instance. Everything is relative, and sure the old days had problems, but those same problems are much much worse now, as in the almost forgotten purpose of COLLEGE football (hint: academics), payola (hint:NIL), and put me in coach or I'll pull the TP card on ya (never mind that almost all players wanting more PT in college will never see an NFL field, like 98% of all players.

So you prefer a system where the same things happening today were just done under the table (no academics, payola, and transfers). I like today better where it’s done in the open and GT can actually benefit- example: Haynes King.

Think about it this way- has anything changed for UGA? They didn’t care about academics 50 years and they don’t today. They paid Herschel and Lindsay 44 years ago and are still paying players today. And the transfer portal has hurt UGA way more than it’s helped them. Same for Bama.

This idealistic belief that D1 football and basketball players are real students wasn’t true 40 years and it’s not true today. Just because that notion is in your head doesn’t make it so. I was in many management classes with many players on the 1990 football team and the Final Four hoops team and they were not real students. They were there to sleep thru class and play ball.

 

[Tommy_Taylor_1972]

So you prefer a system where the same things happening today were just done under the table (no academics, payola, and transfers). I like today better where it’s done in the open and GT can actually benefit- example: Haynes King.

Think about it this way- has anything changed for UGA? They didn’t care about academics 50 years and they don’t today. They paid Herschel and Lindsay 44 years ago and are still paying players today. And the transfer portal has hurt UGA way more than it’s helped them. Same for Bama.

This idealistic belief that D1 football and basketball players are real students wasn’t true 40 years and it’s not true today. Just because that notion is in your head doesn’t make it so. I was in many management classes with many players on the 1990 football team and the Final Four hoops team and they were not real students. They were there to sleep thru class and play ball.

Not so idealistic a belief for many of us old timers. Go back 50 years years and you will find it was true that athletes graduated. Coach Hyder had only one scholarship basketball player not graduate in his 22 years as head coach. The football team was similar. Yes, we were real students, even me from southwest Georgia. And we went to national post season tournaments and won the majority of our games. You are right about things gradually getting worse over the generations.

 

[SOWEGA Jacket]

Not so idealistic a belief for many of us old timers. Go back 50 years years and you will find it was true that athletes graduated. Coach Hyder had only one scholarship basketball player not graduate in his 22 years as head coach. The football team was similar. Yes, we were real students, even me from southwest Georgia. And we went to national post season tournaments and won the majority of our games. You are right about things gradually getting worse over the generations.

I wish it was still that way. But I’m done beating my head against the wall for decades. Those days are NEVER returning. So the only question is do we want a closed system where only a few benefit by buying players or an open system where everyone could benefit if they take part. I know GT will not pony up and buy a national championship team. But the point is we could if we wanted.

Everyone laments the players we have lost in the portal. That was on us. We could have paid them enough to keep them. We chose not to. It’s not the portal’s fault that GT didn‘t offer enough. The portal is nothing but a tool. It’s not good or bad. It’s just a tool. I like tools because they help you in those situations you need help. We need DLinemen, bang, we paid several players using this tool to attend GT. We need end rusher, bang, welcome Romello. We need linebackers, bang, we have linebackers. As for losing players via the portal, that’s like not locking your door at night. That’s on you. I don’t admire the job coaches have to do but that’s the new era for coaches. They have to get over it and handle their business like every business person has to do when systems change. I actually like all this because GT sucked at the old system so I’m hoping we can not suck in this new era. We have more 4 star players today due to the portal than we had under the old system so I’m not whining.

 

[BurdellJacket]

So you prefer a system where the same things happening today were just done under the table (no academics, payola, and transfers). I like today better where it’s done in the open and GT can actually benefit- example: Haynes King.

Think about it this way- has anything changed for UGA? They didn’t care about academics 50 years and they don’t today. They paid Herschel and Lindsay 44 years ago and are still paying players today. And the transfer portal has hurt UGA way more than it’s helped them. Same for Bama.

This idealistic belief that D1 football and basketball players are real students wasn’t true 40 years and it’s not true today. Just because that notion is in your head doesn’t make it so. I was in many management classes with many players on the 1990 football team and the Final Four hoops team and they were not real students. They were there to sleep thru class and play ball.

IMO the problem now is that the NIL in concert with the Portal has set the scene for professional minor league sports fielding teams of a different group of athletes every year who don't give a ratsh*t about the college they may be currently attending.

 

[SOWEGA Jacket]

IMO the problem now is that the NIL in concert with the Portal has set the scene for professional minor league sports fielding teams of a different group of athletes every year who don't give a ratsh*t about the college they may be currently attending.

But that was happening anyway under the old system. Sure, transfers weren’t as common but they happened especially if you simply mentioned a sick grandma or said a fan called you a mean name. See: Cam Newton. You think guys like Garrison Hearst or Moreno gave a rats care about school? And UGA paid them handsomely just like Auburn paid Cam. College football has been a professional minor league for the top 15 or so teams for at least 30 years even though Herschel’s camaro was 44 years ago. That’s why schools like GT dropped levels. Even Notre Dame has fallen because they tried to stay pure while the redneck schools paid non college players to play.

I get a lot of fans are finally waking up and seeing what this sport is. Welcome to the party of watching your team lose because it’s not a fair fight. Imagine being me and seeing it 30 plus years ago. Every time we lost to UGA it wasn’t because we were a worse program, it was because we didn’t pay illiterate players to win. Imagine what George O’Leary could have done with paid players. I sure wish we had been paying because decades of losing and having it rubbed in your face stinks. At least now we can compete if we simply choose to pay. If fans want to leave because they’ve finally woken up then fine. I like the sport to much to leave.

 

[RamblinRed]

current UGA backup QB Jaden Rashada is suing FL HC Billy Napier, Fl booster Hugh Hathcock and former FL staffer Marcus Castro-Walker for reneging on a $13.95M NIL contract.

Georgia QB Jaden Rashada sues Florida coach Billy Napier, among others, over botched $13.85M NIL deal

Also named in the bombshell suit are a former Gators football staffer as well as a prominent booster

www.cbssports.com

If you are going to offer kids money, you better be willing to pay up.

 

[Tommy_Taylor_1972]

current UGA backup QB Jaden Rashada is suing FL HC Billy Napier, Fl booster Hugh Hathcock and former FL staffer Marcus Castro-Walker for reneging on a $13.95M NIL contract.

Georgia QB Jaden Rashada sues Florida coach Billy Napier, among others, over botched $13.85M NIL deal

Also named in the bombshell suit are a former Gators football staffer as well as a prominent booster

www.cbssports.com

If you are going to offer kids money, you better be willing to pay up.

A lots will come out in this lawsuit, such as the truth with college recruiting and NIL and the transfer portal. As usual the lawyers and agents will win.

 

[stinger78]

College athletics now just stinks to high heaven. Almost done with it.