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West central IL | In my opinion the powers that be at the NCAA are walking a tightrope that is risking their golden goose.
At the end of the day NCAA football and basketball have always been the Triple A version of their respective sports. Baseball has an actual professional farm system. The important thing to note about that is for the most part NO one gives a hoot about triple A baseball. Because why should they? If I’m going to watch men play a game, I might as well watch the very best in the world do it, or go play myself.
Now what something like high school sports has going for it is the kids on the field have connection. It can be fun to go watch those games because your kid, or your family, or maybe a friend’s kid is playing. You can also take pride in your hometown trying to out duel the next town over.
College sports had this in the next step up. Once upon a time a significant number of the athletes grew up a reasonable distance from the college. So there was still that “hometown” feel. And other aspects helped, like the kids were attending class in the same building you went to school in years before. They’d all be alums of the same school and have that similar version of being a part of something.
With the current NIL system and very open transfer portal rules, I believe people are still TRYING to hang on to those ideas but frankly they’re deluding themselves. Players come from all over the country. Travel is pretty easy. The idea that they’re students too is a wink wink nudge nudge situation. And yes they move around so often you’re basically just renting them.
And I say all that with the idea that I don’t blame the athletes one bit. They’re producing revenue. They should get a good bit of it. And if they want to move to a situation they prefer in the rules, that’s fine too.
I just think it’s a screwed situation with no answer. And right now the ncaa wants to milk it for all it’s worth. And I think before long people are going to realize they’re expending a ton of time and emotion watching “triple A baseball”. | |
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NIL and Portal in College Sports
