When you are eliminated from the playoffs the rest of your games are meaningless, so why not opt out mid season?
Last I checked a bowl game wasn’t a regular season game. There is a difference
Any game that awards a Championship trophy to the winner is not a meaningless game. But of course I understand the mentality of those who see meaningless in many areas in team life. I washed many of them out of the Air Force Officer Training School (OTS) when I was an instructor there.
If you're IN the PORTAL then you are NOT ON the TEAM! Simple as that! One way those guys could have improved their "value" to other teams would have been to PLAY and BEAT ND!! I'm like the others who said if it was Conn or other lesser programs then the prestige of a win might not be that great, but COME ON!!! We had a legitimate chance to beat ND in the same year that they thrashed the Tiggers!! I'm not sure who would USUALLY make a tackle or two in the MIDDLE of the line, but evidently they were MISSING yesterday!
I said the same thing. Why bother playing vs Clemson? Its a “meaningless” game just as much as the bowl, both count as 1 win. Why play vs any non conference opponents? All count as 1 loss or win, nothing more.
You said it perfectly. This mentality some people and players have reaches far beyond football. And athletes are influential, so celebrating the quitters decisions only makes it more acceptable to society as a whole. So when all of us see young employees who wont commit to anything, quit before a job is finished, or see everything they dont enjoy as meaningless, we shouldnt be surprised how that became part of our culture
How so? Both count as 1 win or loss. Both dont count in conference standings.
So abandon your teammates for something thats maybe a 0.01% risk at most?
Some Alabama players went into the portal. Read what Saban said about them in the SI article. They are “energy vampires.”
A 9 win season with a win over Tennessee, Clemson and ND would have meant a lot to the current and future players for SC. The ND win could have catapulted SC into something special in the eyes of recruits and improve our reputation in the college football world. This game was an opportunity for our future. So, I disagree with you; this was one of the most important games in our program’s history!
While I concede the ranking would be nicer, I don’t think this game has as much emphasis as you are making it.
Easy it’s for all the marbles. They are competitors. If they sit that out, that would change my opinion.
As someone older, I played in a "meaningless" all star game. Got hurt in the old Blue-Gray Game and I still got drafted but much later than I would have had I not gotten hurt. Would do it all over again!
Are they competitors? Competitors want to compete. They chose not to. Takes some of the energy out of the team for selfish motive.
This is a tough issue. I think the deadline to get in the portal and be eligible for next season was before the bowl games. Some players may want to finish out the season, but they have to declare their transfer if that is what they want to do. Players have the right to make their own personal decisions. Fans have the right to be upset, but what does it change? I just don’t see the point in getting so worked up over decisions that we have no control in what happens.
I completely agree with you here. Some people lose sight of the fact that the transfer portal was a big part of the reason we were even improved enough to be in the Gator Bowl.
Some of these young men spent 4 to 5 yrs busting their tails and some of you wish ill on them because they opted out of 1 game?? You guys are pathetic.
A bunch of 40 plus yr old men calling 21 and 22 yr olds names because they opted out of 1 game after busting their tails for 4 and 5 years for USC you guys are sad.
Nope, no one is wishing ill on anyone. Im just saying I think that quitting on your team before its final game is in fact being a quitter and its shameful. I’ll always and only really remember them as that. But I hope at their next destination they thrive, I dont wish anyone ill
Any football player who considers himself a true competitor would NEVER choose the couch over taking the field vs certain teams. Notre Dame, Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Georgia, there are only a few brand names that are that big and Notre Dame is one of them. Skipping a game vs UConn or Iowa State is one thing. This was different it was a program changing opportunity
They risk the same in every game they play. Why should a bowl game be any different?
The only difference is in name only... if you're out of making the playoffs, what's the reason for playing? The games are no more important than a meaningless bowl game.
Evidently there are several schools who have the kind of atmosphere where their top player want to stay and play. And not all of them are the top programs. What we need to find out is how they develop that kind of atmosphere and why dont we have it. I would have thought someone like Beamer could make that happen but it certainly isnt looking that way.
Same here Bucs90! Our generation will never understand how teammates could walk away. Unfortunately, it's the call of the younger generation..."Me First", and it goes against what we all learned from athletics...Never leave your teammates. Fight together until the last snap!
So after the first few games, the teams that know they are not going to be in the playoffs should just pack it in and quit. No use going out there. Future opponents are just out of luck. Same got fans. We could narrow this thing down to just a few games a week by late October.
