Fellow opinions on booing in the NIL Mercenary Era?

[UrbanLiar]

Random thought that occurred to me watching the Chicago Bears boo their NFL team last night: Is it now more appropriate to boo a “college” football team in the new NIL mercenary player era we’re seeing on the horizon? I’ve always refrained from booing my disappointment at a college team because they’ve been “college students” and not compensated beyond the normal scholarship, room and board expenses, always competing hard as amateurs. What’s your opinion?

[lgt4141]

I think it is bad to boo college players anytime even in the NIL mercenary era. They are still young and not everyone on the team is getting a big NIL check. In the NFL every player is making far more money than the average person.

The best way to protest is to stop buying tickets and stop watching the games. Once the networks and the universities start losing money on college football things will change.

Personally I think the bigger change will come when the boosters paying for NIL don’t get the return on investment they expected and start adding stipulations to the NIL contracts. People that can afford to donate millions to an NIL fund don’t like to see their money wasted.

I am sure the Ohio State boosters who funded Ohio States team this year were not happy with losing to Michigan.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

Interesting thought Urban. I’ve had season tickets for 50 years and the combination of high expectations and NIL made this past season the hardest. I never booed but lots around me did and it didn’t bother me. I don’t think you should ever boo your own team but when you get paid to pay it opens you up for criticism.

[China Rider]

Boo away is my feeling. Being financially and emotionally involved gives you the right to be frank in the discussion. Sports by nature are not polite. If you want polite go to the symphony or the ballet.

[UteBacker]

The minute they became professional athletes it was game on. They want to be adults, they can get treated like adults. That said, a little booing is where I stop. I’m not going to get on their X account and light them up or anything. There is such thing as crossing the line as a fan.

[utefansince79]

I generally don’t boo my teams (no matter what the playing level). But does indeed change things when ‘student athletes’ are now essentially professionals and many are looking for a better offer every season.

I still won’t boo, but am becoming much more understanding and tolerant of those who do.

[RedRocks]

A great fanbase is another tool in the recruiting toolbox.

If a player is deciding between two schools that are otherwise equal (money, etc.), do you think they would pick the team with fans that are known to boo their players if the others don’t?

If I were a recruit with options, I would certainly consider the fans when making my decision. Who wants to put up with a rude, entitled fanbase? Ours has certainly trended in that direction lately…

Anyhow, I usually don’t agree with booing at people, but I am okay with booing decisions (play calls, penalties, etc.).

[Utah]

This is nonsense.

We boos players in Philly if they play like s**t. The players know that. And yet, we worship you if you succeed.

And Philly has no trouble signing players. Bryce Harper, Paul George, Saquan Barkley…all absolute stars who just signed in Philly.

Aaron Nola, who has been booed a lot, took less money to stay in Philly. Rhys Hoskins was devastated when he left Philly. Zack Ertz cried when he was traded.

This argument is weak ass bulls**t.

[UteBacker]

Right now I think they’re chasing $$$. Nothing else matters.

[UTEopia]

I don’t boo and I try not to yell at the TV. IMO, they accomplish nothing of value and it scares my dog when I yell at the TV. I don’t engage with athletes on social media unless it is to be positive. I hate to see fans engage negatively with recruits, current players or those leaving through the portal. I don’t believe it is a good look for the teams I support.

[TruckStopTerrors]

I’m fine with booing. If players and coaches are underperforming to a degree where you feel the effort isn’t there, I am perfectly fine if people choose to boo. Especially since these players are semi-professionals now. You’re paying for a product at the end of the day. If that product is substandard, you are entitled to voice your displeasure.

[Central Coast Ute]

I also bit my tongue when the players were just amateurs. Coaches have always been fair game. Now, I would have no issue with anyone that would boo, or otherwise call out players for poor play.

[Tony (admin)]

I boo bad officiating and bad play calling.

[Charlie]

I have spent several years coaching youth football and basketball. I have also spent years watching my kids in sports. I expect my experiences have a lot to do about my opinion about this subject. Of course, I could not at all imagine booing my kids or their teams even due to any imaginable errors or mistakes. I can be disappointed but can’t boo. It is not at all a big leap for me to consider my Utes as family so I also can’t boo them as well. I have not yet moved on to viewing them as simple paid entertainment performers. Still, I can be greatly disappointed but I don’t boo.

As it relates to the refs, I am not so consistent. If you watch youth sports, try being a coach, or try coordinating youth refs – the biggest obstacle to a smooth successful operation is parents and fans bitching, moaning, booing and riding the refs. The reason we can’t fix the problem is because those people simply do what they see fans do at the college and pro level. At the higher levels refs are paid better and have better training, at the lower levels not so much. At the lowest levels you get down to teenagers paid just 2 cents more than volunteers. Booing in youth sports is insane but we just can’t see and agree the line for it to stop. I still boo collage refs, but I catch myself and remember that it can be easier than you think to become that ‘tool’ that might not know the right time and place.

Save the stress and stay mellow and maybe not scare the kids around you.

[Utesbyfive]

I have changed my opinion 180°. I’m ready to boo really poor play. It has to be just lackadaisical or uninspired play.

[The Miami Ute]

I never boo my own team/players but I do get mad when a player makes a stupid mistake or displays what I perceive to be a lack of effort. This is a Pandora’s Box that players, the administrations, conferences, networks, media have opened, especially when you include the fact that online betting is endemic, and no one knows where we’re going to end up. We could seriously be seeing the beginning of the end of college sports, or at least college sports as practiced by Division One entities.

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