An Inside Look at Byron Young's Decision not to opt-out of the Orange Bowl

[Volosaurus rex]

The most telling comments in this article are the following: "'I prayed on it,' Young said about the decision to play or not play. 'Honestly, I prayed on it. Everyone was telling me to opt-out. Literally, everyone told me that. And it was kind of making me scared for myself because if everyone is saying it, they might be right, you know? Coach G (Rodney Garner) told me pray on it and go with your gut. He said it would never steer you wrong. And, I promise you, right after I prayed on it, I was locked in. I told myself I’m in it.'” See Byron Young Ends Tennessee Career Sky High After Stressful Decision | Rocky Top Insider and .

 

[Tman44]

Correctamundo

 

[supersmo18]

That’s pretty awesome

 

[guido4198]

OUTSTANDING..!!
"Opting out" on your team is disgusting.
'nuff said.

 

[thehardknoxlife]

OUTSTANDING..!!
"Opting out" on your team is disgusting.
'nuff said.

Meh. What's disgusting is people who have nothing to do with football that make billions of dollars of the back of kids. I want them to play, but, they need more incentive to play. Let the guys with loaded banks pay players a lot that put up numbers in bowl games. Give em a reason. You really shouldn't get mad at someone protecting their future vs a cheap ring.

 

[VOLfrombama]

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

What Byron Young said was: "It was my decision and my coaches were supportive and told me to make it. I prayed on it and trusted my gut."

Just because I like his decision doesn't mean I shouldn't trust the "gut decision" that I don't like.

 

[savannahfan]

Meh. What's disgusting is people who have nothing to do with football that make billions of dollars of the back of kids. I want them to play, but, they need more incentive to play. Let the guys with loaded banks pay players a lot that put up numbers in bowl games. Give em a reason. You really shouldn't get mad at someone protecting their future vs a cheap ring.

The rarity in this conversation about opt-out, is the person who is NOT motivated by MONEY!! I know few people from any time period from stone age (what ever their exchange item was) to the now money driven societies. BUT, their are a few people down through history who have had other than money as their driving force. Just wish there were more of them.

 

[happy-go_vol]

Meh. What's disgusting is people who have nothing to do with football that make billions of dollars of the back of kids. I want them to play, but, they need more incentive to play. Let the guys with loaded banks pay players a lot that put up numbers in bowl games. Give em a reason. You really shouldn't get mad at someone protecting their future vs a cheap ring.

I'd say they've been compensated pretty well

 

[Lurker]

" Coach G (Rodney Garner) told me pray on it and go with your gut. He said it would never steer you wrong."


We are blessed with the presence of a very fine football coach. It is a wonder that every d-lineman in the country isn't in line to learn from Coach Garner.

 

[BigALWiLson]

I'd say they've been compensated pretty well

Sure you would. They are not given a free ride no matter how much you think they have been given. These guys are not here to play school, they are here because they are exceptional athletes and the school gets huge revenue returns for them playing here. It is a business, one that in fact until recently Had been exploiting kids and taking advantage of them. Now they can not control kids being able to make money off their own Name. NIL. The dream for almost all CFB players is to make it to the league. I do not feel inclined to b1tch and moan about said players protecting that dream.

 

[VolPack22]

Too many of these players get told what they should do by their family and friends instead of making their own life choices. I don’t mind a kid opting out but make it your decision and not someone else’s. Much respect for Young and being his own man. That’s how I would treat my son. Forget what everyone else wants for you. What do you want for yourself? Tell him if you want to opt out then that’s fine but make it your decision and don’t allow anyone to sway you one way or the other.

 

[happy-go_vol]

Sure you would. They are not given a free ride no matter how much you think they have been given. These guys are not here to play school, they are here because they are exceptional athletes and the school gets huge revenue returns for them playing here. It is a business, one that in fact until recently Had been exploiting kids and taking advantage of them. Now they can not control kids being able to make money off their own Name. NIL. The dream for almost all CFB players is to make it to the league. I do not feel inclined to b1tch and moan about said players protecting that dream.

Until they lose a game and you complain about them losing. You're silly

 

[Big Orange #1]

" Coach G (Rodney Garner) told me pray on it and go with your gut. He said it would never steer you wrong."


We are blessed with the presence of a very fine football coach. It is a wonder that every d-lineman in the country isn't in line to learn from Coach Garner.

In time my friend. These young kids need to see him put a few in the league (we know what he can do, but todays kids are "what have you done lately"). Hobbs is the first big domino this year and it will only get better. I am just thankful that coaches are teaching these young men to lean on God and prayer for these decisions and not on outside noise! What ever we have to do to keep Coach G, we need to do it!! GBO!

 

[BigALWiLson]

Until they lose a game and you complain about them losing. You're silly

Losses happen. No I'm not silly. I understand as a fan I don't have control if kids play or don't. I understand it's a big time business that is driven by fans entertainment. Accept that and see it for what it is. Take your fandom away and 10 new fans replace you. This is reality

 

[thehardknoxlife]

The rarity in this conversation about opt-out, is the person who is NOT motivated by MONEY!! I know few people from any time period from stone age (what ever their exchange item was) to the now money driven societies. BUT, their are a few people down through history who have had other than money as their driving force. Just wish there were more of them.

The people who are not motivated by money, have money.

 

[orangebloodgmc]

The people who are not motivated by money, have money.

Or something stronger.

 

[stevenrich2003]

The opting out thing is a tough decision for me. I completely see both sides. They are both valid. I believe if you made it to a bowl game with your teammates you should play. However, I also see the injury risk and the chance at life changing money that is on the line. Also, I believe you can improve your draft stock by playing. I would have been disapointed if he didn't play. I would not have been upset.

 

[stolitonic]

The rarity in this conversation about opt-out, is the person who is NOT motivated by MONEY!! I know few people from any time period from stone age (what ever their exchange item was) to the now money driven societies. BUT, their are a few people down through history who have had other than money as their driving force. Just wish there were more of them.

I would argue that B Young made himself money by playing in the Orange Bowl by means of improved draft position. A man who has confidence in himself is a powerful man. Always had been and always will be. Given his backstory, there is a team out there who will fall in love with him, much like the 9'ers and Jennings.

I always kinda found it amusing that the player who "started" this sitting out trend-Will Grier for those keeping notes, is barely hanging on the practice squad for his second (perhaps third?) team in 4 years.

 

[SpookyAction]

Byron has made himself one of my all-time favorite VOLS. He put it all on the line for the team, and lifted himself up in the process.

 

[guido4198]

The opting out thing is a tough decision for me. I completely see both sides. They are both valid. I believe if you made it to a bowl game with your teammates you should play. However, I also see the injury risk and the chance at life changing money that is on the line. Also, I believe you can improve your draft stock by playing. I would have been disapointed if he didn't play. I would not have been upset.

That's well said Steven, Thank you. It is a tough decision or at least it should be. One of my concerns about allowing "opting out" to become an acceptable, even expected part of College Football is the question: How long do folks think it will be before players "opt out" of ANY so-called "meaningless games" (in their humble opinion at least) during the season..?? Looking back at our schedule this past year it's not hard to imagine a players going to Coach Heupel saying something like "Hey Coach..I proved myself against Ball State and Pittsburgh I believe I'll sit out the meaningless Akron game and get ready for Florida."
I'm sure at this moment in history most folks believe that's ludicrous...can't happen...would never happen. REALLY..???
10 years ago....how many of you saw million dollar NIL deals being offered to kids in High School..??

 

[Raebo]

I am not going to fault anyone that wants to join his teammates in a bowl game and I am not going to fault anyone that decides that the financial risk of playing in the bowl game is not worth it to them and their family.

 

[savannahfan]

The people who are not motivated by money, have money.

I must disagree with you, I have known many people who are/were not motivated by money. Yes, they as all of us are motivated to earn enough by work to feed and cloth ourselves and our families, but they have not "craved" money as a goal/driving force in their lives...

 

[savannahfan]

I would argue that B Young made himself money by playing in the Orange Bowl by means of improved draft position. A man who has confidence in himself is a powerful man. Always had been and always will be. Given his backstory, there is a team out there who will fall in love with him, much like the 9'ers and Jennings.

I always kinda found it amusing that the player who "started" this sitting out trend-Will Grier for those keeping notes, is barely hanging on the practice squad for his second (perhaps third?) team in 4 years.

Here-in is the definition of the guy who I call a quitter..... Looking for money/glory without working for it...

 

[stevenrich2003]

That's well said Steven, Thank you. It is a tough decision or at least it should be. One of my concerns about allowing "opting out" to become an acceptable, even expected part of College Football is the question: How long do folks think it will be before players "opt out" of ANY so-called "meaningless games" (in their humble opinion at least) during the season..?? Looking back at our schedule this past year it's not hard to imagine a players going to Coach Heupel saying something like "Hey Coach..I proved myself against Ball State and Pittsburgh I believe I'll sit out the meaningless Akron game and get ready for Florida."
I'm sure at this moment in history most folks believe that's ludicrous...can't happen...would never happen. REALLY..???
10 years ago....how many of you saw million dollar NIL deals being offered to kids in High School..??

Thank you. I guess the only thing that is changing is change itself. If, you would have said just 5 years ago that high school players would be getting paid millions of dollars you would have been laughed out of any room you were in.