UNLV QB is leaving the program immediately due to the school not withholding NIL commitments

[cykadelic2]

You're not wrong, but I don't understand why anyone expects this industry to be different than any other industry. Carbonated soda is a multi billion dollar industry but nobody complains about Coca-Cola only looking out for their own self interest. What we're seeing with college sports is how our economic system works. It's functioning as expected.

Every other notable sports entity has centralized governance to their distinct advantage. CFB does not and as a result is losing millions of dollars in TV and other revenue sources.

Most glaring example was the "negotiation" of the recent CFP TV extension. The CFP is arguably the 2nd most valuable US TV property behind the NFL and ESPN was the only bidder for the CFP extension. Absolutely ridiculous. Then on top of that, you have the B10 and SEC making threats of exiting the NCAA so that they can get bigger shares of the CFP pie.

A rational CFB entity would aggregate all FBS inventory and bid it out NFL style and the result would be millions of more dollars for the P4 and G5/G6 conferences and that entity would have certainly prevented the recent realignment fiascos including the unnecessary destruction of the Oregon St and Washington St athletic programs.

 

[jsb]

Actually, I'm afraid that's exactly the type of business arrangement soft drink companies have with college campuses.

Many years ago when I was a student at Iowa State, the University switched from being a Pepsi campus to a Coke campus. Having an exclusive contract with Coke was more profitable for Iowa State.

As a Diet Mt Dew drinker, it was pretty traumatic for me.

The posters point is coke and sprite are the same company so it would be stupid for them to fight against their shared interest.

The analogy isn’t coke vs Pepsi—two different companies. It’s coke vs sprite. The same company.

 

[jctisu]

You're not wrong, but I don't understand why anyone expects this industry to be different than any other industry. Carbonated soda is a multi billion dollar industry but nobody complains about Coca-Cola only looking out for their own self interest. What we're seeing with college sports is how our economic system works. It's functioning as expected.

I always appreciate your takes but I will be honest your comparisons and metaphors on this are always red herrings. You need to compare them to other sports leagues. That’s the apples to apples comparison. Either that or the professional leagues, which is what college football and basketball are now, need to adapt the full free market that you are talking about. I’m good either direction but please stop comparing college football business to McDonalds and Coke. It’s not the same thing product wise. The comparison needs to be to other sports leagues.

 

[Mr Janny]

Other industries have government regulations in effect to prevent the destruction of that industry.

Right now, there are no regulations to prevent the demise of college athletics. Greed is ruling the day and, if left unchecked, it will completely destroy college athletics.

You say "destroy college athletics" like it's a fact. It's absolutely not. Opposite even. Ratings are up. People are watching. The consumer is consuming voraciously.
Again, our economic system is based on the idea that competition among businesses is a good thing.

 

[Pope]

The posters point is coke and sprite are the same company so it would be stupid for them to fight against their shared interest.

The analogy isn’t coke vs Pepsi—two different companies. It’s coke vs sprite. The same company.

Thanks for clarifying. I'm a little slow this morning, although some would argue I'm a little slow most mornings.

 

[Pope]

You say "destroy college athletics" like it's a fact. It's absolutely not. Opposite even. Ratings are up. People are watching. The consumer is consuming voraciously.
Again, our economic system is based on the idea that competition among businesses is a good thing.

Competition among businesses is a good thing, provided it is fair competition. College athletics is moving away from fair competition.

 

[SolterraCyclone]

That's exactly what the cola wars of the 80's were about.

No. Coke owns Sprite and Cherry Coke and many other brands. Coke vs Pepsi would be like College Football vs NFL. Those are two separate companies.

 

[SolterraCyclone]

The posters point is coke and sprite are the same company so it would be stupid for them to fight against their shared interest.

The analogy isn’t coke vs Pepsi—two different companies. It’s coke vs sprite. The same company.

You beat me to it. Thanks!

 

[Mr Janny]

No. Coke owns Sprite and Cherry Coke and many other brands. Coke vs Pepsi would be like College Football vs NFL. Those are two separate companies.

The NCAA doesn't own the schools that participate in their events. They are their own separate entities

 

[Mr Janny]

Competition among businesses is a good thing, provided it is fair competition. College athletics is moving away from fair competition.

How is it any more unfair than any other industry?

 

[3TrueFans]

Competition among businesses is a good thing, provided it is fair competition. College athletics is moving away from fair competition.

It could be argued that it's getting more fair compared to the days of boosters just quietly buying players, we certainly weren't competitive back in the old days.

 

[SolterraCyclone]

The NCAA doesn't own the schools that participate in their events. They are their own separate entities

You’re the one who brought in the soft drink industry as a metaphor. College football isn’t a traditional business, but I’m trying to equate it to one since you did.

I think you’d agree college football is a business now, right? The product is college football “games, environment, etc.” Yes the NCAA doesn’t own the schools, but using your soft drink metaphor the teams would be brands.

College football competition shouldn’t (and I know it is now, I’m saying it shouldn’t) be within itself. It’s an entertainment product. Its competitors are the NFL, MLB, WNBA, soccer, other Saturday activities, other TV shows, etc.

 

[ClubCy]

I’m more surprised by the amount of posters who believed in the innocent amateurism of the student athlete. Those days have been long gone. I guess Olympic sports are probably still close to that but in the major sports it’s been a business for as long as I’ve been alive.

College sports aren’t failing. There’s more money than ever, more people watching than ever, the product on the field is just as good if not better, the athletes are bigger, stronger, and faster, ect….

When I’m watching football on Saturdays I don’t think about the portal or NIL or media money one bit. The games are still the games.

 

[cyfan21]

Jamie Pollard deserves a raise at the end of this season for his staffing choices at all collegiate coaching choices and setting up a GREAT culture at Iowa State. I'm so thankful we haven't been bitten by the the infection that a lot of these other programs and schools have.

 

[isufbcurt]

You're not wrong, but I don't understand why anyone expects this industry to be different than any other industry. Carbonated soda is a multi billion dollar industry but nobody complains about Coca-Cola only looking out for their own self interest. What we're seeing with college sports is how our economic system works. It's functioning as expected.

Why shouldn't High School players be paid too? AAU players? Pee Wee football players?

 

[Clonefan32]

How is it any more unfair than any other industry?

I listened to about 10 seconds of KXNO this morning but the younger guy was ranting about how unfair this all was and Travis made the point that this is how pretty much any industry works. Your competitor offers you an extra $50,000/year, you go to your bosses and say either match it or I leave. That's not at all uncommon.

 

[cyfan21]

Why shouldn't High School players be paid too? AAU players? Pee Wee football players?

want a shoe deal???

 

[Mr Janny]

I listened to about 10 seconds of KXNO this morning but the younger guy was ranting about how unfair this all was and Travis made the point that this is how pretty much any industry works. Your competitor offers you an extra $50,000/year, you go to your bosses and say either match it or I leave. That's not at all uncommon.

Yep. If you take the scenario and replace "college football" with most other industries, nobody bats an eye. But a lot of people can't seem to shake the idea that sports are special.

 

[Darius Bieber]

I listened to about 10 seconds of KXNO this morning but the younger guy was ranting about how unfair this all was and Travis made the point that this is how pretty much any industry works. Your competitor offers you an extra $50,000/year, you go to your bosses and say either match it or I leave. That's not at all uncommon.

Couple of things:

1. It isn't really the same, the schools aren't paying the players (yet). So you can't just go to your bosses (your coach) and demand more money.

2. Some employers will require you to repay your tuition reimbursement if you leave quickly after getting your masters paid for by your job (players get scholarships).

 

[Mr Janny]

Why shouldn't High School players be paid too? AAU players? Pee Wee football players?

Why not, indeed? If someone is willing to pay a person for something, and the person is willing to sell it, what's the problem? That's capitalism.