Aaron Rodgers: “I know I’m not an epidemiologist. I’m not a doctor. I’m not an immunologist. Whatever the f**k, I can read though. I can learn and look things up like any person. I can do my own research… but that was the game plan back then.”
TRANSLATION:
"I admit to not being an expert or even being close to understanding science. However, I have the freedom to selectively search for debunked pseudo-science and conspiracy theory articles written by nutjobs...and take that as truth. I don't care about the spread of mis-information either."
I remain dumbfounded by the amount of money being thrown around to these kids. To think that a young 20 ish old college (in name only) athlete deserves $400 k on top of the huge amount of money that is poured into each player for coaching snd development, scholarships, room and board, tutoring, medical care, and counseling is so far beyond reasonable it defies explanation. The inmates are now running the asylum, buttressed by sleazy agents and rival school poaching. This unregulated free for all has destroyed amateur college athletics as we knew them. I’m waiting for a shoe to drop, when some courageous university stands up and says NO MORE. To
Put this in perspective, how many hard working, law abiding and productively employed friends and family members do you know that have received such a windfall? An amount of income that exceeds that of the vast majority of people. Until the system is reeled in and fairly regulated, it will destroy itself.
Hi J C and all. It is a sad situation these young players are facing today with so “many” people telling them what to do and some of them are not financial people or Attorneys, such as the “jerk” that Martinez has.
They are only looking out for themselves and the “BIG $$$” .
This NIL, portal, and all of the other BS that is being given out to these young people will ruin them in the future.
When it is time to get a real job, some of them will be hit “between the eyes” that all of the “big” $$$ are not what you get when you start to “earn” a TRUE living.
Some will believe they should start at the TOP of the profession,(because of what happened and was caused by the NIL, etc.)
Only to find out, you start at the lower ring of the ladder and you must earn a promotion to get to the top.
We had that experience in our family with a former son-in law. He could not handle not being at the top to start with. Resulted in a divorce with our daughter and a baby child.
She has landed on her feet (with financial help from us) remarried, two great children and a great husband and father.
I was really put off by the picture of the OSU running back standing on the hood of his new car - not exactly the pose struck by a team mate and team leader at least from my day. I wonder...what would happen if OSU took a real leadership position and used its NIL Collective to say, "We will pay every single player on the team the same $x.xx dollars per month (or year) - it doesn't matter if you're an offensive lineman, a long-snapper, a tight end, or THE quarterback of the century. A fair paycheck, plus a college education, room and board, for being a member of the team." You'd likely not get guys like Martinez, but maybe you'd end up with a better overall, deeper team?
Randy Bennett rarely — I mean, VERY rarely — has had players transfer out. That Mahaney is likely leaving speaks volumes about the disruptive impact of NIL.
I’m entirely supportive of players being compensated — scholarship recipients in revenue sports are, effectively, full-time employees — but this “here they come, there they go” thing is ridiculous. Just nuts.
There’s got to be a better way to fairly compensate players without continuously rewarding those schools with the most $.
Lotta cool ditties here, John. Appreciate all of them.
You have to give Tinkle credit for trying to restore a decent roster after last year and the realignment. Hope Dam Nation is helpful for this. And I am seeing a lot of quietness from Scott Rueck. I have no idea, but I hope and expect he is working hard to replace and move on from the mass bail. He did it once after Wagner left and he arrived….he can do it again albeit it a different landscape.
It would be interesting to hear his thoughts on athletes forming unions. Will it add more structure to transferring, NIL or payment from schools. Could it lead to an NFL like contract structure between Universities and a college football player union, where all transfer and payments are agreed and structured?
John, I’d love to have you ask Lanning about why the Ducks first two possessions during the PAC12 championship game were pass, pass, pass…
It seemed like the Ducks strayed from who they are which is a running team with a balanced passing attack. Did they head into the game with pass, pass, pass as a stated strategy? Or did they see something at the line of scrimmage? Maybe Lanning knew they needed to jump out to a quick lead to go toe to toe with Washington?
In hind sight (which us armchair coaches love to use) it gave the Ducks two quick and out possessions and the feeling of a huge momentum shift.
Mahaney's a heck of a talent, but his departure coincides with one of his coaches - Justin Joyner - leaving to go to Michigan. Doubt Madsen has a chance, nor do I think it had anything to do with NIL. I've heard he's really only interested in 2 programs - Michigan, to join Joyner, and SDSU, where 1 of his best friends plays and where he spent part of his spring break hanging out & playing ball with Aztec players.
Before SMC turned it around early in the year he'd hinted he wouldn't mind playing at SDSU, so it didn't surprise me to see him in the portal. The timing with the Joyner hire though, rather than entering the portal earlier, makes me think that's where he ends up.
Oklahoma and Texas left the Big 12. USC, Oregon, Washington and little brother UCLA have distanced themselves from the Four Corners schools. Are there ANY attractive games in the Big 12 this season? Utah will still probably sell out every game, but their schedule is quite a comedown from the Pac-12.
I have a fraternity brother who is friends with the Mahaney kid's family. Apparently, he loves SMC but the money is too good to turn down. Welcome to loyalty in the 21st century NIL era.
Aaron Rodgers is a fool and an embarrassment to the University of California.
So, Jonathan Smith says it was "culture" that kept his players out of the portal? Apparently, that culture mattered not a wit to the coach himself, who hopped the earliest bus out of town at the first sign of trouble. And, if culture is indeed what keeps players at home and teams together, what does that say about the OSU women's basketball program?
Aaron Rodgers: “I know I’m not an epidemiologist. I’m not a doctor. I’m not an immunologist. Whatever the f**k, I can read though. I can learn and look things up like any person. I can do my own research… but that was the game plan back then.”
TRANSLATION:
"I admit to not being an expert or even being close to understanding science. However, I have the freedom to selectively search for debunked pseudo-science and conspiracy theory articles written by nutjobs...and take that as truth. I don't care about the spread of mis-information either."
I remain dumbfounded by the amount of money being thrown around to these kids. To think that a young 20 ish old college (in name only) athlete deserves $400 k on top of the huge amount of money that is poured into each player for coaching snd development, scholarships, room and board, tutoring, medical care, and counseling is so far beyond reasonable it defies explanation. The inmates are now running the asylum, buttressed by sleazy agents and rival school poaching. This unregulated free for all has destroyed amateur college athletics as we knew them. I’m waiting for a shoe to drop, when some courageous university stands up and says NO MORE. To
Put this in perspective, how many hard working, law abiding and productively employed friends and family members do you know that have received such a windfall? An amount of income that exceeds that of the vast majority of people. Until the system is reeled in and fairly regulated, it will destroy itself.
Hi J C and all. It is a sad situation these young players are facing today with so “many” people telling them what to do and some of them are not financial people or Attorneys, such as the “jerk” that Martinez has.
They are only looking out for themselves and the “BIG $$$” .
This NIL, portal, and all of the other BS that is being given out to these young people will ruin them in the future.
When it is time to get a real job, some of them will be hit “between the eyes” that all of the “big” $$$ are not what you get when you start to “earn” a TRUE living.
Some will believe they should start at the TOP of the profession,(because of what happened and was caused by the NIL, etc.)
Only to find out, you start at the lower ring of the ladder and you must earn a promotion to get to the top.
We had that experience in our family with a former son-in law. He could not handle not being at the top to start with. Resulted in a divorce with our daughter and a baby child.
She has landed on her feet (with financial help from us) remarried, two great children and a great husband and father.
....Steven Jackson will be speaking at OSU's commencement June 15
I was really put off by the picture of the OSU running back standing on the hood of his new car - not exactly the pose struck by a team mate and team leader at least from my day. I wonder...what would happen if OSU took a real leadership position and used its NIL Collective to say, "We will pay every single player on the team the same $x.xx dollars per month (or year) - it doesn't matter if you're an offensive lineman, a long-snapper, a tight end, or THE quarterback of the century. A fair paycheck, plus a college education, room and board, for being a member of the team." You'd likely not get guys like Martinez, but maybe you'd end up with a better overall, deeper team?
Great stuff in a Crazy time!
Randy Bennett rarely — I mean, VERY rarely — has had players transfer out. That Mahaney is likely leaving speaks volumes about the disruptive impact of NIL.
I’m entirely supportive of players being compensated — scholarship recipients in revenue sports are, effectively, full-time employees — but this “here they come, there they go” thing is ridiculous. Just nuts.
There’s got to be a better way to fairly compensate players without continuously rewarding those schools with the most $.
Lotta cool ditties here, John. Appreciate all of them.
You have to give Tinkle credit for trying to restore a decent roster after last year and the realignment. Hope Dam Nation is helpful for this. And I am seeing a lot of quietness from Scott Rueck. I have no idea, but I hope and expect he is working hard to replace and move on from the mass bail. He did it once after Wagner left and he arrived….he can do it again albeit it a different landscape.
Re: Interview with Mr. Lanning.
It would be interesting to hear his thoughts on athletes forming unions. Will it add more structure to transferring, NIL or payment from schools. Could it lead to an NFL like contract structure between Universities and a college football player union, where all transfer and payments are agreed and structured?
John, I’d love to have you ask Lanning about why the Ducks first two possessions during the PAC12 championship game were pass, pass, pass…
It seemed like the Ducks strayed from who they are which is a running team with a balanced passing attack. Did they head into the game with pass, pass, pass as a stated strategy? Or did they see something at the line of scrimmage? Maybe Lanning knew they needed to jump out to a quick lead to go toe to toe with Washington?
In hind sight (which us armchair coaches love to use) it gave the Ducks two quick and out possessions and the feeling of a huge momentum shift.
What did Lanning learn?
Mahaney's a heck of a talent, but his departure coincides with one of his coaches - Justin Joyner - leaving to go to Michigan. Doubt Madsen has a chance, nor do I think it had anything to do with NIL. I've heard he's really only interested in 2 programs - Michigan, to join Joyner, and SDSU, where 1 of his best friends plays and where he spent part of his spring break hanging out & playing ball with Aztec players.
Before SMC turned it around early in the year he'd hinted he wouldn't mind playing at SDSU, so it didn't surprise me to see him in the portal. The timing with the Joyner hire though, rather than entering the portal earlier, makes me think that's where he ends up.
You have a smart 9 year old! I noticed the same thing about Cardoso and Reese both being drafted by Chicago. Very interesting…
Oklahoma and Texas left the Big 12. USC, Oregon, Washington and little brother UCLA have distanced themselves from the Four Corners schools. Are there ANY attractive games in the Big 12 this season? Utah will still probably sell out every game, but their schedule is quite a comedown from the Pac-12.
I have a fraternity brother who is friends with the Mahaney kid's family. Apparently, he loves SMC but the money is too good to turn down. Welcome to loyalty in the 21st century NIL era.
Aaron Rodgers is a fool and an embarrassment to the University of California.
Aaron Rodgers and I are fellow Counting Crows FANATICS. This makes me question where I went wrong in life. Sheesh..
So, Jonathan Smith says it was "culture" that kept his players out of the portal? Apparently, that culture mattered not a wit to the coach himself, who hopped the earliest bus out of town at the first sign of trouble. And, if culture is indeed what keeps players at home and teams together, what does that say about the OSU women's basketball program?
Dang, I sure enjoyed this week’s edition.
Thanks