Jonah Elliss declares for the draft

[SkinyUte]

@GhostofBarrySwitzer

…etc. Some have entered the portal or declared for the professional level opportunities, leaving the sponsors high and dry. I’ve pessimistically concluded that a large portion of these “student athletes” never held a job when they were in high school. Instead they were excelling in their sport instead of flipping burgers etc. I need to remind myself they’re also 18-23 years old and still developing maturity too. Yes I support athletes’ rights to earn the compensation but they damn well better follow through on their end of earning the money. You want big money? Great! Then read your signed contract and follow through with your responsibilities. We’ve now moved to a split initial payment and a final retainer/post performance payment but now it’s a headache tracking down everything. Rant over….

Thanks for the insight.

It’s insane to me that it has all progressed to this point without any guard rails whatsoever that protect all parties involved: the players, the investors, and the schools

[HoopUte]

@Greginslc

…All the money aside, I am more worried about all this creating a generation of Todd Marinovich’s.More than some of these kids, for our entertainment pleasure, aren’t getting to be kids and we are already seeing the results out there. It’s a game, nothing more. Almost all of them will see their dream end sooner than later, and having them ready and well adjusted for the next chapter matters. I would hope as fans this is something that could be agreed.Honestly I hope those who choose to chase the dream the best of success; but as the equivalent of modern day gladiators, that success is going to have a cost on the back end. Ok, it has a cost in the during, too. I hope we aren’t wrecking their minds at the same time we are damaging their bodies.

Hearing of the “should I or shoudn’t I continue” debate that goes on with my friend’s son who’s been a walk-on at Utah while trying to get a degree in Computer Science, you have nailed the primary issue. He works just as hard as the rest of them, maybe harder on the scout team what with having to learn the next opponent’s plays plus trying to impress enough to get to dress for the game, but what he gets is a schedule that barely leaves him time to breathe.

[HoopUte]

@GhostofBarrySwitzer

I wouldn’t want to be the litigant being portrayed as the big rich company suing a 19 year old kid because he/she didn’t make a social media post. Most (wise) companies would simply cut their losses and find a new sponsorship opportunity.

I can sure see that, and then something like the Crimson Collective pays the price by losing sponsorships. I just wish there were a way to instill some level of ethical behavior as part of this. Getting away with it is not going to be a good long-term life skill.

[justaute]

Ethical? Does that exist? It should. Just not sure that it does.

[NewbombTurk]

@HoopUte

Getting away with it is not going to be a good long-term life skill.

It’s worked so far for a certain person. But I digress.

[HoopUte]

Wrong thread.

[LAUte]

@GhostofBarrySwitzer

Yes I support athletes’ rights to earn the compensation but they damn well better follow through on their end of earning the money.

Thank you for posting this. It’s a great example of the need for basic rules, oversight, and accountability. The idea of the bureaucracy that would be necessary to enforce such rules is a little nauseating, but something needs to be done.

[DataUte]

@SkinyUte

That sort of opportunity can potentially lift entire families out of really difficult situations and can change the trajectory of their entire lives

I just don’t think there are that many hitting life-changing, cash-in-hand, type of money. Those actually banking 500k are maybe a few per team. Maybe I’m wrong. It is a lot of money, but maybe can impact the next several years of lifestyle and maybe jump start some stability. Maybe it’s a consolation if they don’t make the league, but they still need a degree and earnings from post-athletic life to alter the course of their and other’s lives. I agree in some sense, but this crazy wild west will soon stabilize if donors don’t see a payoff to their investment. Or other rules get put into place.

[mUUser]

@Diehard_Ute

The hostility and judgement in this thread is over the top

Maybe he’s republican. Nothing will set off this crowd more than that.

[HoopUte]

@DataUte

. Those actually banking 500k are maybe a few per team

That’s the biggest issue. When will the 80 scholarship players, plus the 20 or so non-scholarship players, decide this is all BS and quit working just as hard as the few who get rich and tell the system to stick it?

[SkinyUte]

@mUUser

Maybe he’s republican. Nothing will set off this crowd more than that.

[LAUte]

@mUUser

Maybe he’s republican. Nothing will set off this crowd more than that.

Be careful. Don’t trigger anybody here. We’re having a nice conversation.

[LAUte]

@DataUte

Maybe it’s a consolation if they don’t make the league, but they still need a degree and earnings from post-athletic life to alter the course of their and other’s lives.

I hope the money that JJ is getting to move to the SEC is a great blessing in his life and maybe even a turning point. I hope he uses it wisely. I also hope that along with all the college football experience, and the money, and the possible notoriety he’ll gain from being at Arkansas, he gets his degree.

A college degree prepares you, both intellectually and socially, for your career and your adult life . The benefits of a college education include career opportunities like better paying and higher skilled jobs, but studies have shown that it also leads to overall happiness and stability.

Benefits of Earning a College Degree - Education Corner.

[Diehard_Ute]

Perhaps we all need to take a step back and realize we’re all assuming a lot.

Could guys like JJ be getting a lot of money? Yes.

Could he also just want a change for himself? Yes.

These assumptions about what guys are doing can be a bit dangerous.

It’s well documented that much of the NIL stuff we see online isn’t accurate.

We’re often taking the “NIL Valuation” and using that as some sort of paystub, but that’s just not accurate. A valuation is far different than what someone is actually paying.

NIL has certainly changed the game, but so has the ability to transfer without penalty.

It may not always be about money.

[DataUte]

Good points. Also, I have a high schooler who can’t stick to a decision for a week or wanta to drop, add classes several times a semester (and we have to point out how to finish something). There isn’t as much stick-to-itiveness these days. Usually everything is figure-outable, but also sometimes it’s an easier path for change. JJ had a difficult year with playing with an injury, various cosching decisions about various things dueing this challenging year were likely perceived differently by different players, and there was certainly some level of burden losing 2 friends and carrying that named TJAL scholarship.

I don’t fault JJ for a new start. Good luck - hope he gets healthy. I don’t fault any of the NFL guys - hope they represent in the League. I don’t fault NJ - he deserves to try to develop and have the chance to start and come what may.

The system is broken though. NIL is one thing. It’ll level out in the short term. The free transferring (and timing) is probably the bigger issue. No friction, like having to sit out a year. Movement too easy for anyone trying to find ‘stardom’ in the form of more playing time or $ or both. Sometimes taking that path to being told they are awesome rsther than being told they need to work on some things.