"They gave their all" but what was the return?

[teeball]

This may not be a popular post but ...

Yes ... they gave their "all" but what did they get in return? According to my google search earlier today the average "salary" paid to a Tennessee football player was just over $40,000 this year. This does not include room, board, tuition, books, tutoring, free medical care and probably a host of other benefits we're unaware of. Of course, the "stars" of the team receive far greater salaries. Once again, according to another google search top QB's earn just under $1 million, top WR's $600,000, OL's $500,000, DL's $470,000, LB's $440,000, DB's $410,000 and so on. I did not find specific salaries for Nico, Braswell, Mays, etc but I suspect their salaries are probably in the vicinity of these numbers.

So yes ... thank you for playing for Tennessee but we must remember that it's a job for many of these players and they probably couldn't care less about our university or being a "Tennessee Vol", it's only about the money. I know many here are fine with this new paradigm but me, I appreciate the older players like Peyton and Al who truly gave their "all" without any expectation of monetary rewards.

Have we already gone too far with this NIL and free agency movement? Your thoughts ... be nice.

 

[GiveHim6InSC]

At this point, it’s like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube.
Praise the Lord for hunting and fishing

 

[backdoorcutvol]

Don’t think they gave their all last night.

 

[madbamahater]

Don’t think they gave their all last night.

They definitely didn't give their all last night. If this were a boxing match, It would have been a knockout within 20 seconds

 

[njvols]

In short term, it's less about what we think, vs do we want to play.

In long term, if passion of players playing for a team subsides, and fans get upset that their brands aren't being respected, then it poses a real threat to the legitimacy of the future of the sport. Not saying it would happen, but NASCAR had a tremendous niche and loyalty...you could go to races and pay $50 for a ticket and bring your six pack cooler (though they always got you at concessions) and have an enjoyable and relatively cheap outing with the stands filled to capacity. They did everything they could to expand their base and run away from their traditional fans, and now they can barely fill the bottom rung of the bleachers and have to cover or take down huge seating capacity. If pageantry and traditions aren't respected in the next iterations of CFB, the lawyers may win, but the golden goose that feeds it all will be damaged.

 

[VOLtaism]

They get paid the same if they play 1 playoff game or 4 playoff games. Coaches get a bonus for winning. Maybe they need more cash incentive.

 

[Orange931]

I wonder if set salaries by position could somehow work.

 

[Boca Vol]

At this point, it’s like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube.
Praise the Lord for hunting and fishing

This!

 

[Rocky Top T]

They should never touch that sign.. I will give my all for Tennessee. After that crap show last night!!! Because they didn't give nothing!!!

 

[Cartervol]

Pure insanity if true. We've opened Pandora's box boys and it's not closing. Ever.