Anybody just lost interest in todays College football

[LordVOLdemort]

Oh no, whatever will college football do without you?!?

Unpopular opinion, but these players aren’t just playing to make ESPN, coaches and universities millions and millions of dollars anymore. They are playing for a chance to support their families and create generational wealth. Some get to do it for 20 years and some get to do it for a season. They should be allowed to change schools and have a value on their names. No one stops you from applying for a better job or asking for a raise. No commissioner or government entity steps in and tells you that you must work for the business that you started at or that you must take a year off from working when you want to change jobs. No one tells a normal college student they can’t transfer to a better opportunity, in fact, encourage it. We should all be able to better ourselves with the hard work we display and our skill set, without limit. Everyone loves the free market economy until it messes with their entertainment.

I will cheer for Tennessee and whatever player wears the orange for as long as I live.

 

[Carl Pickens]

I thought it was just me…. Now I see I’m not alone

 

[Carl Pickens]

Oh no, whatever will college football do without you?!?

Unpopular opinion, but these players aren’t just playing to make ESPN, coaches and universities millions and millions of dollars anymore. They are playing for a chance to support their families and create generational wealth. Some get to do it for 20 years and some get to do it for a season. They should be allowed to change schools and have a value on their names. No one stops you from applying for a better job or asking for a raise. No commissioner or government entity steps in and tells you that you must work for the business that you started at or that you must take a year off from working when you want to change jobs. No one tells a normal college student they can’t transfer to a better opportunity, in fact, encourage it. We should all be able to better ourselves with the hard work we display and our skill set, without limit. Everyone loves the free market economy until it messes with their entertainment.

I will cheer for Tennessee and whatever player wears the orange for as long as I live.

Give us a break with this premadonna BS.

 

[0059862]

It is all about the money, and there are some factions of society that have been looking forward to the implosion of the game. I’ll hang in there until the lawyers and unions take over,which is coming. It is truly saddening to see this disaster live and in person

It's society in general now, not just football. Younger people don't know the difference I guess and what has been lost across the board.

 

[LordVOLdemort]

Give us a break with this premadonna BS.

Oh no NIL hurt my feelings and took my favorite players. They left bc they hate Tennessee, the school I love. who’s really acting like the *prima donna*… I’d say it’s the fans acting so butt hurt by a player having freedom of choice.

Pre Madonna is that like before Madonna became famous?

 

[Lawrence Wright]

Oh no, whatever will college football do without you?!?

Unpopular opinion, but these players aren’t just playing to make ESPN, coaches and universities millions and millions of dollars anymore. They are playing for a chance to support their families and create generational wealth. Some get to do it for 20 years and some get to do it for a season. They should be allowed to change schools and have a value on their names. No one stops you from applying for a better job or asking for a raise. No commissioner or government entity steps in and tells you that you must work for the business that you started at or that you must take a year off from working when you want to change jobs. No one tells a normal college student they can’t transfer to a better opportunity, in fact, encourage it. We should all be able to better ourselves with the hard work we display and our skill set, without limit. Everyone loves the free market economy until it messes with their entertainment.

I will cheer for Tennessee and whatever player wears the orange for as long as I live.

Athletes finally get a glass of milk from the same billion dollar cash cow that coaches, schools, major conferences and TV networks have had exclusive access to for decades…a cash cow built on the backs of those athletes.

Crazy to think in a capitalistic society, college athletes are held to a different standard when it comes to acquiring wealth.

 

[LordVOLdemort]

Athletes finally get a glass of milk from the same billion dollar cash cow that coaches, schools, major conferences and TV networks have had exclusive access to for decades…a cash cow built on the backs of those athletes.

Crazy to think in a capitalistic society, college athletes are held to a different standard when it comes to acquiring wealth.

Most fans, particularly in the south: they will work for free education (that they could in many cases acquire through grants) and THEY WILL BE THANKFUL!!

I’m never surprised by the indecency of supposedly decent ppl

 

[Lawrence Wright]

Most fans, particularly in the south: they will work for free education (that they could in many cases acquire through grants) and THEY WILL BE THANKFUL!!

I’m never surprised by the indecency of supposedly decent ppl

CFB fans in the south are undoubtedly passionate and loyal…..and can also be irrational, entitled and selfish as a result of that passion and loyalty.

 

[TheFlash1971]

I actually love this new format , yeah you have to buy your team but at least we’re not going to get boatraced by Alabama or Georgia for the next 15-20 years. As they would stock pile players . Their is a reason Saban retired , he knew his stock piling days were over, Because I’m sure Tuscaloosa Alabama and Athens Georgia is places every kid wants to go. NOT! Under the table days are over. Pony up.

 

[AstonRoyal]

Maybe we can return the favor to @London Vol and join him for a “foreign football” match in the Uk. What is the team out there with Orange uniforms again?

Well I mean I’m already a Chelsea fan so… lol and with there being like 5 or 6 pro premier league teams in London I’m betting @London Vol isn’t haha

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Oh no NIL hurt my feelings and took my favorite players. They left bc they hate Tennessee, the school I love. who’s really acting like the *prima donna*… I’d say it’s the fans acting so butt hurt by a player having freedom of choice.

Pre Madonna is that like before Madonna became famous?

Nobody is impressed with your childish ramblings

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

I have a prediction next year will be packed stadiums and huge tailgates and TV viewership and interest will be as high as ever. GBO

 

[Hairy Vols]

Meh. Not me. What I've lost interest in is high school recruiting because a percentage of those are going to transfer out. The ones wearing the orange and white on Saturdays? I'll always pull for those guys. We have become too emersed in the process and following 17 year old kids on social media is just creepy anyway. Go Big Orange! No names on the back of the jersey.

Pretty much same. I used to follow high school recruiting closely but now not as much.

What I don’t understand is that players have always been paid.. I remember hearing rumors of some players on the 98 team that graduated with a degree that could barely read.. we’ve paid players.. everyone has paid players. What’s different now?

 

[LordVOLdemort]

Nobody is impressed with your childish ramblings

Show me where I said I cared. If my opinion was meant to impress you, I’d say something like, “these BOYS need to know their place and get back to entertaining me. Nobody cares what they want, they’re the help”

But I’d spell a few words incorrectly and use the incorrect their/they’re.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

As soon as some well-defined regs are in place, it will be the best thing that ever happened to college football

 

[Ned Ray McWorkher]

As long they regulate coaches and administrators the same...

 

[BenGrimm]

It’s funny how people complain about the sport being ruined yet TV ratings are up. Attendance is up. General interest is up.

I don’t care about NIL, players have been getting paid forever. I’m actually glad it’s above board now. But the unrestricted free agency of the transfer portal needs to be addressed.

 

[xpsyclonex2002]

I'm more interested when my team is winning. NIL has knocked the shine off of college football. But when my team is winning, I don't give it as much thought. If NIL came out back when we were at our worst, I probably would have stopped watching college football altogether. I'm a college football fan. Not a fanatic.

 

[Lawrence Wright]

Pretty much same. I used to follow high school recruiting closely but now not as much.

What I don’t understand is that players have always been paid.. I remember hearing rumors of some players on the 98 team that graduated with a degree that could barely read.. we’ve paid players.. everyone has paid players. What’s different now?

Fans know how much college players are paid now.

So when Nico misses a wide open receiver or throws a pick, some fans complain about him getting that $8m NIL deal….as if these same fans would turn down $8m if they were in Nico’s shoes.

And I’m with you 100% on following recruiting. Now I just check to see who signed and who shows up for fall practice.

 

[YankeeVol]

Kinda makes you appreciate watching the service academies more these days !!! Those players are there for a much higher calling.

Go ARMY, NAVY, and AIR FORCE !

Except they can (and do) transfer as well.

 

[Lawrence Wright]

So you guys were fine 30 years ago when the conferences and networks made the sport big business and coaches were making millions and could walk way without notice? NOW you're mad? Maybe you should have been paying attention, this outcome was inevitable and the universities, conferences, networks, and coaches are all to blame. People holding onto this romantized version of the "student athlete" are living in an era that died a LONG time ago. You're stuck in an era with 3 channels. And if you don't like it.....there are lower divisions of football that are begging you to care about them.

To answer the original question though, I have been losing interest compared to my younger self probably because what happens in a game doesn't seem to be as important anymore. I enjoy it for what it is, but the days of it consuming my daily life are long over.

It’s so much easier to blame the players.

You should try that instead of making sense.

 

[DiderotsGhost]

I've lost a lot of interest, but it's in large part due to the NFL-ization of the college game, not NIL.

They changed all the clock rules to be more like the NFL, which I think has hurt the college game significantly. Part of what made CFB so unique was the clock rules allowed big comebacks.

Unpopular opinion, but I also hate the 12-team playoff. Think I could have tolerated a 6- or 8-team playoff, but this playoff is a just a complete joke. First off, there's no scenario where there are 12 teams deserving of competing for a national title. It's rare that there are 5 or 6, but not a single season where there hasn't been a considerable gap between the 1/2 teams and the 12th team. But also the format was idiotic.

Also not a fan of being able to transfer whenever people feel like it. I don't have a huge issue with NIL, but I do think you should still have to commit to a team. 1 free transfer, but after that, you sit out a year.

 

[CAVPUT]

Fans know how much college players are paid now.

So when Nico misses a wide open receiver or throws a pick, some fans complain about him getting that $8m NIL deal….as if these same fans would turn down $8m if they were in Nico’s shoes.

And I’m with you 100% on following recruiting. Now I just check to see who signed and who shows up for fall practice.

Best advice I've seen on this board in quite some time. My thoughts exactly.

 

[TMvol10]

I feel like with NIL and all the changes i find myself just not having as much interest in it. Depressing honestly. I personally think all college sports are ruined going forward. I’ll still watch the Vols but it’s just meh at this point. There’s no team loyalty, it’s just about money now.

I certainly do not pay attention from January (unless we are still playing) until August. It’s so chaotic and unorganized that there’s really no point in paying attention until August. Whoever shows up on the field at that first game is what ultimately matters. And shoot some kids will quit during the season (see Cam Carr). I used to follow recruiting, spring practice and fall practice every day. Now it’s just not worth it. And I’m afraid, at some point, my interest during the season will go down too. And that’s probably coming sooner rather than later.

 

[Delmar]

It’s funny how people complain about the sport being ruined yet TV ratings are up. Attendance is up. General interest is up.

I don’t care about NIL, players have been getting paid forever. I’m actually glad it’s above board now. But the unrestricted free agency of the transfer portal needs to be addressed.

I think you are correct. NIL isn’t a bad thing. The players should have been getting a cut when the colleges and coaches are making millions off their work. I think where most of us have a problem is the transfer portal and the unrestricted chaos. Nobody with any sense thinks that it’s a good thing for college football. Something has to change or it will erode the popularity. Maybe not immediately because old habits are hard to break. But give it time.