I get all the reasons why a player would opt-out but what I don't get is this idea that this bowl game is meaningless or nothing more than a glorified scrimmage. Go read the thread about Hyatt opting out and you might be surprised at just how many members stated that the game is meaningless etc. I simply do not understand that mentality. Every game matters and when it doesn't, what's the point?
In the grand scheme, all games are meaningless. However, in this case, a dude wants to protect his livelihood instead of playing in a bowl game against Clemson. I see nothing wrong with that. I’d almost assuredly do the same if I were in his position.
I think he’s saying from the players perspective because like you said, has the season been merely reduced to 4 teams and 2 games? To me it hasn’t, I’m still pumped for bowl games and am elated that we earned a NY6 bowl which we haven’t been to in 23 years. However, like the OP, I’m disgruntled by the opt-out philosophy and the “meaningless” attached to it by players across the country. If this game is meaningless then why play the Vandy game if you’re Hyatt? Why play if you’re Bryce Young post LSU, when your season was pretty much written? My point isn’t Hyatt specific, it goes for all teams and players who opt out. I spent $900 on OB tickets and will spend plenty more to get to Miami only to see a shell of our team and a shell of Clemson’s team.
Exactly, but to your point. The game has to have meaning and value and when fans start excepting it as "meaningless" what do you have? What's really amazing is that one year ago we would have been crazy excited about going to the Orange Bowl, now everyone is simply assuming that we will be one of the playoff teams next year and that this is nothing more than a meaningless oh well bowl game.
Some players get really pumped about bowl games, others don't want to take a risk on a game that doesn't win a championship, especially if they have no chance of improving their draft stock. If our goal is a championship, it can even be a good thing, because we get a month of extra practices for Squirrel in his position full time. For Hyatt he'll gain a lot more from training, because he's not getting any more prepared for the Draft Combine by playing in this game.
LOL no. Just the opposite. If you have read the thread about Hyatt opting out you will see many posters stating that the bowl game is meaningless or nothing more than a glorified scrimmage to justify the reason why he opted out. I am being facetious and making a point as to why it's an ignorant statement. Can't understand that logic or mentality.
What fans are accepting it as meaningless? I think y’all are confusing his stance. It’s not meaningless to the fans so we can’t comprehend why it is to the players when nothing has changed with the playoff, regarding the status of bowl games, outside of it. All bowl games except for the BCSCG could’ve been labeled meaningless just 8 years ago, because if you’re in those games you’re not playing for a title. Yet, graduating players or guys leaving early, didn’t look at them as meaningless in mass, they still played. I think the risk of getting hurt is way overblown and if that’s the logic then sit out all games vs. weak opponents where you’re not needed, or sit out the last 25% of the season if you’re team is already out of the playoff running . I like Byron Young and Darnell Wright’s mindset, that we haven’t been to one of these in a long time, them as players have never been and they’re going to go out and play it and soak up the experience.
