I've been a fan literally since I was born...I watched my first game at Hayward field, of which my Father was a groundskeeper, in 1961 on my Mom's lap. As a boy I got to watch Bobby Moore and Dan Fouts play on the same offense together. I was there for the 1975 San Jose St. game when the President said he would rather have been "whipped in a public square than watch that game". All that to say I have been a loyal Duck fan for a long time, albeit a blue collar one whose season tickets were the old "family plan" that were less than $200 for season tickets for 2 Adults and 3 kids.
It's harder to invest into individual players. While Oregon has acquired better talent, it's come at a high cost. I don't have the same attachment since many aren't there for very long anymore. Our family doesn't have the money to contribute much, and so we seem to be an after thought to the team and the University. Honestly I really don't care if the NIL money is public or not...it's not just the NIL money anyway, it's the whole machine that College Football has become.
I suppose since I'm writing this I betray the fact that I still do care...but it's not nearly as much fun as it was once.
You reminded me of the late Sai Tanuvasa, who I believe was a back-up FB for Oregon during that era. I had a memorable lunch with him at his favorite locals spot near the Honolulu airport. What a gem of a human!
I watched "It's a Wonderful Life" three times on Christmas Eve and Christmas. The author's book and related papers are in the University of Oregon library's Special Collections.
Ariel, we watch it every year on Christmas Eve. Being a tradionalist I appreciate the original black & white version. This year we watched the colourized version and I have to say, I liked it. Colours were muted and the effect was cool.
If the players want big money to play at certain schools, beyond the free ride that 99+% of students do not get, then they should accept the inevitable criticisms that come with the money.
Dec 27, 2022·edited Dec 27, 2022Liked by John Canzano
Timely and thought provoking subject. IMO, all NIL should be public. Sunshine is the best disinfectant. And yes, if one takes/accepts NIL compensation then heightened criticism for not achieving the perceived value of the investment absolutely comes with that territory. This kind of reciprocity is a truism in all aspects of life. The alternative is to unionize collegiate athletes, with a more equitable $ distribution over greater # of athletes, and criticism over lack of performance results for any one player, becomes more muted
Is this stage 4 before the death of college sports? How long before the supporting cast ie: the big uglies get fed up knowing the prima dona with the ball are getting bank while they are getting JUST a college education. Grace Vanslooten should be in the neighborhood of 5 million for what she brings to the floor but probably just getting free lattes from Dutch Brothers. I don’t know the answer but know the problem is the end
As a senior officer in a public company my total annual compensation was included in the Annual Report. I was fine with this believing our shareholders had the right to this information.
NIL? I don't know whether deals should be reported or not. If (when) the players' are determined to be professional athletes, employees, I say disclosure is warranted.
In general as CFB/CBB turn more and more into NFL-Lite and NBA-Lite, I expect athletes will be subject to more fan 'verbal abuse' and more critical coverage by the media.
You want the dough you have to expect everything that comes with it.
I really think that any player in any sport who receives a scholarship or partial scholarship should be obligated to play in any post season game. Entering the Transfer Portal or leaving for the NFL prior to the end of the year is not right. The idea of being part of a team means part of the team all year, including post season of any type. If you throw in the NIL it even amplifies the reason to stay.
Not only should the deals be made public, the players should be accountable in every sense of their game and behavior both on and off the field. If the player isn’t up for that level of microscopic view, they shouldn’t accept the $$$.
Once we waded into the NIL swamp, and I do liken it to a festering swamp. I feel it needs to be transparent. The effect may not be good but doesn’t the average, non NIL linebacker for What Ever U deserve to know what his roommate is getting. I fear we have awoken a sleeping dragon that cannot be stopped. It is bad wrong.
Is this discussion really about the kids or is it more about us, the fan? Do all of us actually take CFB so seriously we have to criticize 18-22 year olds for not performing well enough for us? Paid or not paid, they play a game. Hear that? A game. What, we own them now because they claim some of the financial benefits they've created for themselves? Haven't they always been paid--some more than others? IDK, the whole discussion feels odd to me.
The fact that it feels odd is exactly why we are having it. It's uncomfortable territory. And you're right, it's much more about who we are as a society and how we look at people and treat people, than it is a college athlete making money. The whole portal and NIL issues definitely feel odd and for a lot of folks it's definitely not as fun or innocent as it used to be.
Why does the "whole portal and NIL issue" definitely feel odd? Transfer portal = free agency. What's not to like? Are these players indentured servants? Besides, transferring is available for every other college student. NIL = monetizing your value. That’s as American as the Macy's Day Parade! Why was it OK for the NCAA to take their money? They didn't steal the coach's money, or the professor's, or the College president's salaries! Yes, it's different than we're all used to but so was the introduction of the automobile! All this aside, if I ever caught myself booing an 18-year old kid for dropping a pass ("He's paid to catch those!"), I'd sign on for a priority check-up.
Hard to "keep the NIL money" private when the players and their families seem to be flaunting it! Appears to me that NCAA Football is heading towards "NCAA/NFL Minor Leagues"
That ship sailed a long time ago, imho, so l advocate separating the word "college" from athletics. These teams haven't really represented a particular school since a kid could transfer from one school to another and maintain full eligibility. That's about as phony as the local NBA team being introduced as "YOUR" Portland Trailblazers." As my father used to say over 50 years ago, "Money talks, BS walks." Only he didn't use the polite abbreviation.
Dec 27, 2022·edited Dec 27, 2022Liked by John Canzano
I don't see why a player should be shielded from the deals being made public. I do think the fans will not refrain from raining boos down on the well compensated semi pro college players. As I have watched this transfer pool season blow up I'm more convinced than ever that the college game has been ruined. When I was a kid there was a guy who owned numerous berry farms in the area. He built a complex and installed a field that was as good as the high school in town had. And he actively recruited kids from the area little league teams. His team had uniforms and gear, the rest of us wore a t-shirt with the team name on it. It was the haves and have nots. His players were actively booed by the crowd when they made a mistake. We never had that happen to us.
These athletes are adult students & private individuals paid by a private corporation to play. for a nonprofit organization that makes millions of dollars off these students. Money in politics sucks, now its in college sports, of course it will rot the sport. Resentment, jealousy, will permeate and smell like a day-old fish market. How will an average player (who gets lunch money) feel after a great block that allows a 3.5 mil QB to make a pass or handoff.
There will need to be a minimum "salary" for the game to succeed. Will we then see a salary cap?
All i can say is Go Lady DUCKS! from Title Nine to the best of college sports.
I've been a fan literally since I was born...I watched my first game at Hayward field, of which my Father was a groundskeeper, in 1961 on my Mom's lap. As a boy I got to watch Bobby Moore and Dan Fouts play on the same offense together. I was there for the 1975 San Jose St. game when the President said he would rather have been "whipped in a public square than watch that game". All that to say I have been a loyal Duck fan for a long time, albeit a blue collar one whose season tickets were the old "family plan" that were less than $200 for season tickets for 2 Adults and 3 kids.
It's harder to invest into individual players. While Oregon has acquired better talent, it's come at a high cost. I don't have the same attachment since many aren't there for very long anymore. Our family doesn't have the money to contribute much, and so we seem to be an after thought to the team and the University. Honestly I really don't care if the NIL money is public or not...it's not just the NIL money anyway, it's the whole machine that College Football has become.
I suppose since I'm writing this I betray the fact that I still do care...but it's not nearly as much fun as it was once.
You reminded me of the late Sai Tanuvasa, who I believe was a back-up FB for Oregon during that era. I had a memorable lunch with him at his favorite locals spot near the Honolulu airport. What a gem of a human!
That’s why I call it UO Corp
Bedford Falls no more. Welcome to Pottersville.
I watched "It's a Wonderful Life" three times on Christmas Eve and Christmas. The author's book and related papers are in the University of Oregon library's Special Collections.
Ariel, we watch it every year on Christmas Eve. Being a tradionalist I appreciate the original black & white version. This year we watched the colourized version and I have to say, I liked it. Colours were muted and the effect was cool.
If the players want big money to play at certain schools, beyond the free ride that 99+% of students do not get, then they should accept the inevitable criticisms that come with the money.
Timely and thought provoking subject. IMO, all NIL should be public. Sunshine is the best disinfectant. And yes, if one takes/accepts NIL compensation then heightened criticism for not achieving the perceived value of the investment absolutely comes with that territory. This kind of reciprocity is a truism in all aspects of life. The alternative is to unionize collegiate athletes, with a more equitable $ distribution over greater # of athletes, and criticism over lack of performance results for any one player, becomes more muted
Is this stage 4 before the death of college sports? How long before the supporting cast ie: the big uglies get fed up knowing the prima dona with the ball are getting bank while they are getting JUST a college education. Grace Vanslooten should be in the neighborhood of 5 million for what she brings to the floor but probably just getting free lattes from Dutch Brothers. I don’t know the answer but know the problem is the end
Thanks John, tricky issue.
As a senior officer in a public company my total annual compensation was included in the Annual Report. I was fine with this believing our shareholders had the right to this information.
NIL? I don't know whether deals should be reported or not. If (when) the players' are determined to be professional athletes, employees, I say disclosure is warranted.
In general as CFB/CBB turn more and more into NFL-Lite and NBA-Lite, I expect athletes will be subject to more fan 'verbal abuse' and more critical coverage by the media.
You want the dough you have to expect everything that comes with it.
I really think that any player in any sport who receives a scholarship or partial scholarship should be obligated to play in any post season game. Entering the Transfer Portal or leaving for the NFL prior to the end of the year is not right. The idea of being part of a team means part of the team all year, including post season of any type. If you throw in the NIL it even amplifies the reason to stay.
Not only should the deals be made public, the players should be accountable in every sense of their game and behavior both on and off the field. If the player isn’t up for that level of microscopic view, they shouldn’t accept the $$$.
Once we waded into the NIL swamp, and I do liken it to a festering swamp. I feel it needs to be transparent. The effect may not be good but doesn’t the average, non NIL linebacker for What Ever U deserve to know what his roommate is getting. I fear we have awoken a sleeping dragon that cannot be stopped. It is bad wrong.
It is indeed a swamp..
NIL for actual on field performance? I have zero problem.
NIL used to recruit HS kids and tamper with and sign existing CFB players bothers the heck out of me.
I say yes.
It will most likely be revealed eventually in some manner, so let's get it out in the open up front. I vote for transparency.
Is this discussion really about the kids or is it more about us, the fan? Do all of us actually take CFB so seriously we have to criticize 18-22 year olds for not performing well enough for us? Paid or not paid, they play a game. Hear that? A game. What, we own them now because they claim some of the financial benefits they've created for themselves? Haven't they always been paid--some more than others? IDK, the whole discussion feels odd to me.
The fact that it feels odd is exactly why we are having it. It's uncomfortable territory. And you're right, it's much more about who we are as a society and how we look at people and treat people, than it is a college athlete making money. The whole portal and NIL issues definitely feel odd and for a lot of folks it's definitely not as fun or innocent as it used to be.
Why does the "whole portal and NIL issue" definitely feel odd? Transfer portal = free agency. What's not to like? Are these players indentured servants? Besides, transferring is available for every other college student. NIL = monetizing your value. That’s as American as the Macy's Day Parade! Why was it OK for the NCAA to take their money? They didn't steal the coach's money, or the professor's, or the College president's salaries! Yes, it's different than we're all used to but so was the introduction of the automobile! All this aside, if I ever caught myself booing an 18-year old kid for dropping a pass ("He's paid to catch those!"), I'd sign on for a priority check-up.
Hard to "keep the NIL money" private when the players and their families seem to be flaunting it! Appears to me that NCAA Football is heading towards "NCAA/NFL Minor Leagues"
That ship sailed a long time ago, imho, so l advocate separating the word "college" from athletics. These teams haven't really represented a particular school since a kid could transfer from one school to another and maintain full eligibility. That's about as phony as the local NBA team being introduced as "YOUR" Portland Trailblazers." As my father used to say over 50 years ago, "Money talks, BS walks." Only he didn't use the polite abbreviation.
"Again, we’re walking on fresh snow here. Everyone is trying to figure out where to step and how to navigate this new world of college athletics."
Great wordsmithing, John! You've got a gift, my friend.
Thank you SS.
I don't see why a player should be shielded from the deals being made public. I do think the fans will not refrain from raining boos down on the well compensated semi pro college players. As I have watched this transfer pool season blow up I'm more convinced than ever that the college game has been ruined. When I was a kid there was a guy who owned numerous berry farms in the area. He built a complex and installed a field that was as good as the high school in town had. And he actively recruited kids from the area little league teams. His team had uniforms and gear, the rest of us wore a t-shirt with the team name on it. It was the haves and have nots. His players were actively booed by the crowd when they made a mistake. We never had that happen to us.
These athletes are adult students & private individuals paid by a private corporation to play. for a nonprofit organization that makes millions of dollars off these students. Money in politics sucks, now its in college sports, of course it will rot the sport. Resentment, jealousy, will permeate and smell like a day-old fish market. How will an average player (who gets lunch money) feel after a great block that allows a 3.5 mil QB to make a pass or handoff.
There will need to be a minimum "salary" for the game to succeed. Will we then see a salary cap?
All i can say is Go Lady DUCKS! from Title Nine to the best of college sports.
By the way, with all these college athletes getting these NIL deals, who is handling their taxes? This ain't free money.
The 'big money' guys all have agents who I am certain are associated with an accountant(s.)