Link to some interesting takes on opt-outs by UGA fan and podcaster Uncle Lou.
GBB!
GBB!
“Opting out? Oh you mean quitting!” Link—
- Thread starter NavyCat88
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Yeah. And now they are getting paid and still quitting. **** college football.
I'm a little old school on this. I don't know if WL and CR are still participating in team functions....accessing team facilities, but I think there needs to be a cause-effect in play here.
- My take is if you're drawing food, shelter, medical care, fitness privileges, rehab, and trainer services....you play. The school is holding up its end of your scholarship bargain, so go play.
- If you're uninjured and you choose not to play, you should have enough honor to make your last address to the team, clean out your locker, vacate your dorm, and go your own way.
THE TEAM needs to go on without you...even if you might be able to provide some value in film study or practice evaluation of your replacement.
GBB....BEAT IOWA!
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Again, and i know it doesnt fit your argument, but They're getting paid to endorse products.
Have to agree with the guy in the video and with other posters. If you are getting paid to play ( which IMO is NIL is) and you are not injured you play !
Opting out of a insignificant bowl game to get healthy and make sure they have their best opportunity to get drafted, isn't quitting. I don't are how you spin it. Opting out half way through the season or before a meaningful bowl, you could have an argument.
NIL aside...the University of Kentucky is engaged in a scholarship agreement where the school provides all accoutrements required for the players to play college FB, and the college FB players play FB in return.
If bowl games were insignificant, they wouldn't count in the W/L tally, figure into bonuses and contract extensions for coaches, etc....but they do.
Bottom line for our scholarship FB players: Assuming you're healthy, if the team takes the field and you choose not to join them....you just quit.
GBB...BEAT IOWA!
Ask Mitch or Stoops if this bowl game is insignificant.
FB players play FB.
If you are afraid of a career ending injury you should have never played FB at all.
If you are afraid of a career ending injury you should have never played FB at all.
This reminds me of something Dale Earnhardt once said about some drivers complaining the speeds were getting too high at certain race tracks:
"Don't come here and grumble about going too fast! Stay the hell home. Get out of the race car if you've got feathers on your legs or butt. Put a kerosene soaked rag around your ankles so the ants don't crawl up your legs and eat that candy ass."
This opting out stuff is just a sign of the times. It wasn't too long ago that such a thing was unheard of, unthinkable. Now, I'm not saying I think guys like Levis and CRod are candy asses. But they are just a product of the thinking in what is an ever increasing "me first" society that prioritizes self over team and is overly risk averse.
Well the semester has ended when these kids sit out of the bowl game. If they're leaving they won't be using that scholarship in the Spring, so they will have held up their end of the scholarship as well. So this argument doesn't hold water.
I don't know why this guy can't tell us what he really thinks 😁
I just broke my rule never to listen to advise from a guy with a backwards hat on youtube. But I liked his spiel and he covered all the points and counter points of this.
IMO I don't see why a first or second rounder should play in a Music City or Liberty bowl if they don't want to. I mean these lower tier bowls have lost most of their luster and will continue to be even more insignificant once the 12 team playoff comes around. So I can understand guys passing up what is essentially a meaningless exhibition game. It's just not worth it.
OTOH if you team is in the playoffs you should play, and probably NY6 bowls as well because teams benefit from the national exposure etc. I like the idea of structuring NIL deals to require full participation but that's totally between the sponsor and the player. If the more lucrative deals start requiring full participation then that could help cure the problem. He didn't mention it but there are insurance policies players can take out that they can collect on if injured in a post season game. They may not be nearly what they will make in the NFL but they are typically 7 figure policies.
I just broke my rule never to listen to advise from a guy with a backwards hat on youtube. But I liked his spiel and he covered all the points and counter points of this.
IMO I don't see why a first or second rounder should play in a Music City or Liberty bowl if they don't want to. I mean these lower tier bowls have lost most of their luster and will continue to be even more insignificant once the 12 team playoff comes around. So I can understand guys passing up what is essentially a meaningless exhibition game. It's just not worth it.
OTOH if you team is in the playoffs you should play, and probably NY6 bowls as well because teams benefit from the national exposure etc. I like the idea of structuring NIL deals to require full participation but that's totally between the sponsor and the player. If the more lucrative deals start requiring full participation then that could help cure the problem. He didn't mention it but there are insurance policies players can take out that they can collect on if injured in a post season game. They may not be nearly what they will make in the NFL but they are typically 7 figure policies.
As a fan I want all the players on my team playing. But every week they are getting closer to being employees. In fact many of them are getting paid now. If you have a new job waiting on you, do you have a right to quit your current job and get ready for your new one? I bet everyone here would quit their 1m a year job to make sure they were ready for that 5m a year job.
If they still have lockers, still in athletic dorms, still getting chow, still getting medical treatment, still accessing the trainers & fitness facilities, intend to hold pro days at UK FB facilities....then they're NOT free from their scholarship requirements....so, hit the field men!
GBB!
My thoughts on this topic have changed in last few years. Most bowls (outside the NY6 and CFP) are trivial There's a difference between trivial and meaningless. Also, much of it has to do with where the program is. Just a few years ago the MCB, or any bowl, was a major deal for UK. Fans were pumped, and players wanted to enjoy the "fruit of their labor."
One positive thing about our football improvement is that we're not overly thrilled about playing in MCB. (That's a very good thing.) Expectations were higher this year!
Some fans want players to sacrifice everything just for the sake of the fans. The fact is, the actual game is meaningless in the grand scheme of things. The extra practices leading up to the bowl game are much more beneficial for younger players than the game itself.
Players with NFL potential have given ALOT to the program. Taking care of players and their potential future helps build a good culture around the program.
I feel that most (not all) fans complaining about players not participating in a mid-tier bowl game are old people screaming at kids to get off their grass when they come to sing Christmas carols.
These players were instrumental in helping build a football program that many thought was impossible to do. Show them you care more about them as individuals than you do about yourself as a fan.
One positive thing about our football improvement is that we're not overly thrilled about playing in MCB. (That's a very good thing.) Expectations were higher this year!
Some fans want players to sacrifice everything just for the sake of the fans. The fact is, the actual game is meaningless in the grand scheme of things. The extra practices leading up to the bowl game are much more beneficial for younger players than the game itself.
Players with NFL potential have given ALOT to the program. Taking care of players and their potential future helps build a good culture around the program.
I feel that most (not all) fans complaining about players not participating in a mid-tier bowl game are old people screaming at kids to get off their grass when they come to sing Christmas carols.
These players were instrumental in helping build a football program that many thought was impossible to do. Show them you care more about them as individuals than you do about yourself as a fan.
Why did Stoops 'hope' that Levis plays? Does not sound like a meaningless game to Stoops. How about just a game to check out players for next year? Again, Stoops not worrying so much about that as his first priority. Eight and Five versus Seven and Six and continuing the third longest OOC winning streak in the nation is a pretty big deal to me, sure it is to Stoops also. Figured Levis would not play but really disappointed that CR followed Levis.
So you’d be ok with your company paying you in the services they offer? You’d feel like you owed them something if they did? These guys don’t owe the University anything. Not a damn thing.
People like you should be banned from watching sports. Levis has played injured all season and is projected to be the #1 QB taken. Selfish unathletic loud moths like you who say they “quit” cause you’re “old school”. I bet if you had a son in his position you would be good with it. If you wouldn’t, you would be a horrible father.
Just disgustingly low class comment delete your account and go watch another sport.
Well, that's the agreement with an athletic scholarship for FB. School gives you education and FB opportunity....FB player plays FB.
Why? Because he has a strong opinion that is based around the expectation of people honoring their commitments?
Do coaches get to "opt out" of bowl games?
Your hyperbole is a disgusting embarrassment.
They why even play them if they are insignificant?Any of those guys could get injured in any game and I’m sure most have nagging injuries they’re playing through now.
Why should Ruffolo play? Deandre Square? Once a team is eliminated from the playoff picture, why not just shut the season down?
I'll ignore the insults because that is small-minded behavior, and I'll stick to the debate.
I say opt-outs quit, because they quit while their teammates are still playing. The reasons for the.player may be outweigh the act in his mind, but the facts remain.
As to my son, I raised him to fulfill his obligations. He is a grown man, finished college on time (despite 17 moves my family did in the Navy), is married, has a career, a house, a wife and kids. I make no apologies about how I raised any of my children.
However, if as an adult, he were in college and a projected NFL draft pick.... and he said "I want to skip the bowl game," I would say "You're a grown man.....It's your decision but I recommend you move your gear out of school and athletic spaces and leave campus....you shouldn't expect the school to continue to pay your freight if you're not going to do your job....you don't want to be a distraction to those players who have chosen to remain on the team."
Pretty simple formula....be true to your word....do your job.....pay your just debts.
Like the old Ship's Captain used to say: "Life's a lot easier when everyone does their d@m# job, so do your d@m# job."
GBB!
The question is who decides if the bowl is insignificant? Do the hosts of the bowl think it is insignificant? Do the coaches think it is insignificant? Does the rest of the team? Do all of the fans? Or is it just in your mind that it is insignificant?
Yea. To endorse products BECAUSE they are a UK football player. National brands are one thing but when local businesses are using you it is only bc you play at UK.
.....and the team is still playing football.
Neither Levis and Rodriguez owe this team a damn thing. They both put it on the line and stayed for the past two years, playing through injuries and ignorant Administration decisions.
No UK fan is going to give a second thought to this upcoming underwhelming Music City Bowl game EVER once it is over, regardless of outcome. No reason to take a chance in a game that literally means nothing to anyone.
How mad is everyone going to be once Levis gets to the NFL if becomes a top rated passer? It will be all the indication you need that Stoops handcuffs his offense.
No UK fan is going to give a second thought to this upcoming underwhelming Music City Bowl game EVER once it is over, regardless of outcome. No reason to take a chance in a game that literally means nothing to anyone.
How mad is everyone going to be once Levis gets to the NFL if becomes a top rated passer? It will be all the indication you need that Stoops handcuffs his offense.
nailed it
if we were playing in a bowl that we could get 10-11 wins or higher i would hope they all play
minus extra practice time for returning players this bowl means very little
Do YOU believe this is a significant Bowl game? Lower tier, same opponent?
Insignificant vs significant are like Porn. No one can define it, but they know it when they see it. Having said that, No one mistakes the Music City Bowl as a Significant Bowl.
What exactly would cutting Levis off do for us? It's still in the best interest of both parties for him to be around the program, go through pro day, etc. If Levis excels in the NFL and remains tight with the staff that only brings positive expose to our program. Some of you are so committed to being hard asses you'd rather scare off current and prospective players by being vindictive to our star players on their ways out.
Too late for that. That ship sailed when Cal allowed a non-playing grifter to abuse UK like a cheap whore.
What are you going to do now, discriminate against football players who have ACTUALLY PLAYED for UK??
I agree with 99% of what you say. There are lots to be gained from winning the MCB! I’ll watch the FB game and record BB.
But ... I don’t expect players to risk millions of $ to play. Levis not playing is no brainer to me. CRod is one minor injury away from maybe not even getting drafted. He’s probably mid round draft today.
My comments are not about what can/cannot be gained from winning a mid tier bowl. (I agree there is a lot to help the program.) Rather, it is about fans who think “players owe us as fans or university” to risk their future to make us happy.
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