I’m not enjoying CFB and it’s not because Utah is struggling

NIL and the transfer portal combined with the absurd conference realignments have killed the joy of this for many. Honestly, I’m at the point where I think we are (over)due for college sports to be cut out of the University system. We don’t have student athletes like before…there were always issues, but now they are fully exposed and blown up to epic proportions.

If it’s a TV/Streaming all about the Bemjamins business, then let it go be that. I don’t mind if the U leases the stadium to the new Miller Utes and they make money…I’ll even buy some merch. I’ll treat them like I treat the Utah Hockey Club. As a professional commercial enterprise. But I probably won’t keep associating it with my alma mater.

I am sad to think that as NIL and transfer changes infect all the other levels it’ll be a perpetual chase to the lowest level to watch people just play for love of the game…but I’m old enough to know I’ll pass on and some new generation won’t have the same issues with it all I do…I coached some peewee football years ago, maybe that’s where I should end up investing my Saturday energy again (well wife would prefer I do house projects)…

I feel like we’re in this weird limbo period where eventually FBS will stratify into the NFL-lite division and the college division. I personally have no interest in the NFL-lite division but would follow Utah if they got in. But I’m not going to watch it, seek it out, or otherwise contribute my hard earned dollars just because TV execs think the golden goose is schools on the other side of the country that I have no connection to.

Because the connection, for me, is the only reason I keep watching now. I’ve looked at maps of the campus and it is almost unrecognizable to me (late 80’s student). I don’t have any personal connections to the current football program (I missed Luther and Sharrief by a year or so). So why keep watching? For me it’s all been about trying to recapture the feeling from when I tried to be part of the team and was friends with well over half of the team. But I don’t recognize the state of the game anymore.

I know that many want Utah to be in the semi-pro league. If I’m being honest, it really wouldn’t chap my hide for Utah to end up in a regional conference more like what I grew up with. Back to the days when I had athletes living next door to me in the dorms, I partied with, had classes with.,, they were students just like I was, they just had a different major. But now that the trend is looking like well paid employees who will be separate from the rest of us but we are supposed to identify with them? I just don’t see that as sustainable, especially when I already avoid top level play on Sundays and am not interested in chasing a watered down version.

I’m 43 years old, and I too feel like College Football is turning into something I don’t like. When you have players around the same program for 4-5 years they become more than just players, you know them and are invested in them, they too are invested in the program.
I think this teams situation this season is bringing this out for all of us to see. We loved Cam for what he did for us, and the program wanted him to have another shot. They paid him… again. Is that the source of the bad vibes on this team? Is it Isaac being played for fear of losing him to the portal? Players are going to get jealous of money, certainly they’ll quit when things seem unfair. Players are going to be p**sed if they feel someone else is entitled and they aren’t getting the same breaks. Eventually I hope Whitt will write a book, and let us know what happened this year. The transfer portal and NIL, are great for players, but the lack of guardrails by the NCAA is sinking college football.

I feel you on a lot of this. In addition… Last decade or so I’d love to sit down and watch USC or Oregon etc play and root against them in hopes it would help the Utes. I find it very hard to sit and watch Kansas State and TCU.