How Much Is a College Football player worth?

This is my reaction to the Sports Illustrated story on Josh Luchs. This morning I got to hear Josh firsthand on Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN radio. I've been reading columns all day about it. The best of which was from Pat Forde http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=5681728 . There are lots of differing opinions out there about this subject, and I want to go over several of them here. The first of which is Mike Golic suggesting some will refer to Luchs as a snitch. First of all, that term "snitch", is something that people hide behind when they've done something wrong and don't want to be found out. Right and wrong is not absolute, it is a sliding scale and we simply have to make decisions based on what is more right than wrong. Secondly,if these players didn't want to be named for taking money, they shouldn't have done it. It's real simple, own up to it, take responsibility for it and it will cease to be an issue. If you don't have anything to hide, no one can expose you. How can someone be a "snitch" that is telling the truth? Mr. Luchs intentions may or may not be good, but that doesn't mean he isn't being honest. He said nothing in his report that is far-fetched, and many of the players have owned up to it, or not denied it.

Was anyone surprised to hear the news that players are being paid? I was surprised that some think this doen't happen. I went to a small college called Tennessee Tech in the mid-90's. I had many friends that played college sports. I saw with my own eyes a few of these people take money from coaches, on several different occasions. It was never very much money, but according to the rule, it doesn't matter. Now, imagine that if this was going on 15 years ago, at a college that you hadn't heard of till you read this, what it is like today a big universities across the nation, i.e. Reggie Bush. By the way, if his benefits are worth what has been reported, imagine what the top college basketball players make.

Let's also look at a different angle. The example I gave was a coach giving improper benefits, totally different topic, and much more disturbing but still related. Josh Luchs was an agent, and doesn't care where the kids go to school. When an agent is giving them money it has nothing to do with the school, and most of the time the school isn't aware of it. Which begs the question, if the school isn't involved, why can't there be contact with the agents? They are putting money out that they may never see a return on. Whether it be injury, skill level, or life circumstances, lots of these guys will never make it as a pro in their sport. That means that the agents are the ones taking the risk, none for the college at all. Why not regulate it instead of forbidding it?

Where would the NCAA be without these players? Where would the schools be without these players? Who needs who worse here? I've hear all day, "well, the players know its wrong to take it". Yeah, well I think the NCAA is wrong to have the rule. Kirk Herbstreit said it best, some of these kids don't have ANY money at all, or any time. They can't even afford to grab a pizza or go to a movie, but make their universties millions each weekend. Don't tell me "oh, well they get a free education". That is overpriced and overrated in todays world. Tell me what major Reggie Bush could have graduated with and made as much money as he makes today? We've seen college basketball suffer since players can skip college and go pro. Recently the NBA has changed that rule to make kids have to be out of school for a year before entering the draft, and that has hurt college basketball even more. All that aside, this isn't an NBA problem, or an NFL problem, and the only reason it is an NCAA problem is because the won't change the rules? Ask any good coach how to win, and they will tell you that you need good players. I hope this wasn't to disjointed, and I hope I gave you a different point of view. Good luck college players, you'll need it.

From LSU to USC, college football was crazy good today.

What a strange day for college football. Two of the most storied teams in SEC history, Tennessee and Georgie met today. It was a homecoming for Derek Dooley, who sent his Vol team to play in the sports complex that is named after his father, coaching legend Vince Dooley. Both teams came in with losing records for the first time since 1906, who cares who won, but it was Georgia by a lot. 

South Carolina played host to the mighty Crimson Tide from Alabama. Greg McElroy was under center for the Tide, he hadn't lost a game since the 8th grade. Alabama hadn't lost a game as a team in their last 19 try's.  How quick people forget, Steve Spurrier is the original coaching genius in the SEC, not Nick Saben, and it showed today by a score of 35-21. The Gamecocks did it by beating them at their own game. Efficeny, Steve Garcia was 17-20 with 3 TD's. Power running, USC held Bama and Heisman winner Mark Ingram to 36 yards rushing, while they rushed for 110. That was the 3rd fewest yards rushing in the Saban era, ( and is it just me, or was Nick Saban loose and more fun to watch at LSU? I'm just sayin.) This was the first win for USC vs. a #1 ranked opponent in school history. 

Speaking of the Tigers, they took on Florida in the swamp. One thing we know for sure "The Mad Hatter" will always be in it at the end and make bone head call, and some how come out smelling like a rose. A great game, back and fourth lead changes the entire way. It all comes down to a field goal to tie on 4th down with 35 seconds left! What does coach Miles do? Of course, a fake field goal for a first down. A botched fake that bounces to the runner and he converts anyway! 3 plays later they score a touchdown to win. Checking Twitter soon after saw the following words trending- LSU, Les Miles, deal with devil, horseshoe, ass, and lucky.

Two undefeated's in the Big 10 met, Michigan and Michigan St. The return of coach Dantonio from his heartattack saw Sparty put Denard Robinson on lock down. They challenged him to throw, and he did, by throwing 3 picks on the way to a loss. Incedently, Michigan hasn't beaten Michigan St. in basketball or football since former Wolverine back Micheal Hart called them their "little brother".

Illinois had never won in Happy Valley, until today. Arizona lost it's first game of the season to Oregon St., who by the way have lost to TCU and Boise St. this year. Wisconsin beats Minnesota, no surprise there, but with 6:00 to go in the game with the Badgers leading 41 to 16 coach Belima goes for two. Coach Brewster let him know about it after the game too, Belima's excuse was "the card says to do it". No shortage of drama anywhere today.

Now lets get down to it. Everyone will be talking about who to rank where and why. Let me just say, no matter how it comes out, the odds are it will be wrong. Ohio St. will move to number one, but let me ask you, who have they played? I hear that question all the time about TCU and Boise St., but I honestly can't remember the last time Ohio St. played in a meaning regular season game against a quality opponent. We all know how well they fair in big bowl games lately as well. Oregon will be #2, but should stay at #3 because right now Auburn and Nebraska are better than all the top 5 teams, in my opinion. Lets just let the season play out, and hope that the top teams in all major conferences lose at least two games so TCU and Boise can play in the National Championship, and maybe next year we'll finally get a playoff.

Nebraska starts Big 12 play with a bang!

I write this with a perspective of having lived in Omaha, NE for a while, understanding the love they have for their huskers. Thursday night they opened conference play against north division rival K-State. Emotions ran high, as that would be the last time these two teams play for probably a long time, as Nebraska leaves for the Big 10 next year. Both teams came in undefeated, but that didn't matter.

When the game started it was apparent early that Kansas State was outmatched. NU was bigger, faster, and stronger. They ran the ball all over them. They lined up, ran straight ahead and couldn't be stopped. KSU even knew they were going to run it and couldn't stop them! Bill Snyder is a great coach, the only great coach that KSU has ever had, but great coaches don't beat great players. As far I could tell, KSU had one great player, and NU had 5 or 6 on each side of the ball. I don't want to take anything away from Bo Pelini, he has been a great defensive cooridinator for a long time, and is on his way to becoming a great head coach.

People who had never heard of Taylor Martinez, by the end of the night knew exactly who he was. He was 5 for 7 for 128 and one touchdown, which was a 79 pass. He had 15 carries for 241 yards and 4 touchdowns! He is a freshman by the way, and at the beginning of the year wasn't expected to start since their starter from last year was returning. An injury to him opened the door to a guy who has now become a favorite in the Hiesman race. These awards are always very political, and lets not forget the Michigan Wolverines has a great player by the name of Denard Robinson who has 905 rushing yards & 8 touchdowns this year compared to 781 yards and 12 touchdowns so far by Martinez. Who's better? Who cares? I just love watching these two play. Enjoy your Saturday everyone!

Sources: Randy Moss on trade block

via Gibson.com

Boise St. gets dumped on, again.

Well, I'll be the first to admit it, Boise St. has the toughest schedule of anyone in bottom 10% of college football. However, I don't have a vote in any of the polls that make up the BCS. A lot of people who do though, had them ranked #3 going into this week. All they did was put up 50+ on Nevada, and shut them out. They called off the dogs late, or they could have scored 70 or more.

The Oregon Ducks have a great team and played rival Stanford. The first half they looked lost and trailed going in at the half. The second half was a different story, Oregon came out and took control and won 52-31, but the game was closer than the score actually looks. Oregon, by the way came into the game ranked #4 in the nation.

What happens next is insane. Oregon jumps Boise in polls to take over the number 3 spot in the polls. I should mention, that includes the coaches poll as well. I should say, I don't think Boise could win 5 games in the SEC, but put them in the Pac-10, ACC, or Big East and they could dominate. What are these people thinking though? If Boise was good enough to be ranked ahead of Oregon, what did they do or not do to make voters say they were wrong the week before?

In college football today, there are too many arbitrary. Let's cut to the chase, and get a real champion in this sport. Does anyone care where their college basketball team is ranked until March? What about the NFL power rankings, does that dictate who plays in the Super Bowl? What about the stat hungry sport of baseball? They have the fewest number of teams allowed to compete for a title in the post season, but they do get it decided.

I love to watch college football every Saturday with my son, and I'm sure I will continue to year after year. I just hope by the time he gets to be my age the powers that be who control all the money in college football will have figured out a way to keep schools like Boise St. safe from the "so called" experts. See you next week!

Sour Saturday (Kinda)

Well, it's fall again, and that means college football season is back. I love college football, I really do. Today was a day of great games. I was lucky, I got to watch Tennessee vs. UAB, Arkansas vs. Alabama, and then Auburn vs. South Carolina. Two great games, both coming down to the bitter end. I have good friends who root for all four schools, so it's hard to decide who I wanted to win. Myself, I'm a Tennessee man, so usually I pull for whoever will help the Vols the most. This particular year doesn't matter because we are 2-2, and in the first year under a new administration. All that aside, for some reason I wanted to see the "ole ball coach", and the underdog win this day.

The first game of the day I saw the Vols take a less talented UAB team to overtime. We got outplayed really in every quarter. The effort was there, but the execution wasn't. 3rd down was very tough all day, as its been all season. Some how the Phil Simms gene pool pulled us out with a long pass in the 2nd overtime to win. Great start to the college football Saturday.

The 2nd game of the day was looking good for me, Alabama on the ropes, late in the second half. Then Arkansas shows that "they are, who we thought they were", which is a very good team with in inability to finish against the #1 ranked Crimson Tide. Ryan Mallet was having a great game, his 3rd straight 300 yard passing game, until two key interceptions late finished off the hogs. Disappointment sets starts to set in.

Game 3, war eagle comes out dazed and confused while Steve Garcia looks like Danny Werful in the first half. South Carolina played great, right up until the 4th quarter when Garcia fumbles on two key drives, and Auburn scores on both of them. Garcia gets the predictable Spurrier hook, and in comes the backup, who shall be unamed. He throws two int's on the last two South Carolina drives, either of which would've put them in postion to tie the game with a two point conversion.

That's the way it goes in college football, even if your team wins, the majority of the teams you want to lose are not going to. That is just the way it goes.