NIL and the portal might be the final straw for me

[ProudUte]

I have been a huge college sports fan since I was a young kid. I loved the days when a young man stayed all four years at a school, i.e., Van Horn, Doleac, Miller, Jensen, Weddle, Moss, et al. You get to know the players and become big fans of them.

The NIL and portal have killed that. Now the best teams will be those with the richest donors like BYU in basketball. There is a reason Boise St. is so good this year. Boise has more millionaires per capita than any other city in America. I assume that they are ponying up.

I lost interest in college basketball over the last 5 – 10 years. Now, I am beginning to wonder if I can still follow college football. I haven’t jumped ship yet, because I have always been a big football fan. But, I admit I am getting close. I hate watching players leave our football program for a bigger paycheck. I hate that teams like BYU will pay a kid 7 million for ONE season. That is just crazy IMO. And, no – I am not jealous of BYU, I just think that this is wrong and would be wrong if Utah did it. If I was rich, I would be donating money to great causes like TtoT, Red Cross, etc. I would not pay 7 million for a single player for one season. This is way out of hand!!!

I am just an old guy who is disheartened with what has happened to college sports.

[Tednab]

We’ll see what that money translates to .. nil destroyed Utes last season .. Wilson was a dumpster fire .. rising didn’t even play.. and the Jazz still suck ..

[EagleMountainUte]

I know this is like a popular trend right now I just don’t see the point. We were fine with it 20-30 years ago when the University pocketed the money. What changed? A kid getting the money instead somehow makes it different?

It just feels like virtue signaling at this point.

I will always be fine with a kid getting his bag. I do agree with pointing out the hypocrisy of TSPP. We have know this hypocrisy has always existed down there.

[ProudUte]

I am fine with the concept of NIL. I think it is great that a kid gets paid for selling his jersey or doing an add for a local company. Paying a kid for his his NIL is fine. But, offering a kid 7 million before he has ever played a game …

I can only speak for me, and for me the entire NIL/portal thing has gotten out of hand and starting to turn me off. The best teams will be those who have the biggest donors.

[EagleMountainUte]

That is how it works. Nike took a risk on Michael Jordan and it paid off massively. 7 million invested in this kid for whatever reason seems like a short term large investment in a kid that could lead to better things.

Pointing out the hypocrisy is one thing. It just seems like you are jealous Utah can’t do it. Don’t try to make a moral argument about it when you would be 100% fine if some dumbass billionaire did that for Utah.

[22Ute22]

You have to be dense to ask what changed. Why on earth would I see any of the players an anything but mercenaries who can be poached by richer programs after every season? Utah and other non-wealthy programs have to develop these players, only for them to be bought for more money. Why would I see us as anything but a feeder program? I’m done with it tbh. I support student athletes having the right to NIL, but that doesn’t mean I have to like the outcome and continue watching.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

My sentiments exactly proud Ute. Eagle have you seen the football and basketball facilities? University pocketing the money? The excess money has gone back to improving the facilities for the players for many years. I’m fine with paying the players but most athletic departments are losing money.

[EagleMountainUte]

The facilities also took private donations to pay for those. You are over simplifying my statement to fit your own argument.

Utah has always been very smart with their money. Compared to like Arizona who takes private donations and then overspends the athletic budget. Or California who never took donations but went into the red to pay for stadium improvements.

Utah took money from donors and Olympics funding to wisely improve the stadium.

I am fine with your complaining about it I just don’t see it as a moral one when kids sacrificed their bodies to get Utah where it is at now.

[ProudUte]

It’s not a moral issue, IMO, and I do not blame a kid for looking for the most money he can get. Nothing wrong with that. It’s not the kids – it’s the system that has got our of hand.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

I was a student athlete. We shared the weight room with the student body and lived in the dorms with a meal ticket. To say the university pocketed the money is wrong. I have a grandson playing high school football and would be thrilled if he got a scholarship and opportunity to play college football.

I’m not sure what my argument was? You have a history of counter punching other thoughts.

[RUUTES]

I’ve moved my donations from the CC to academic departments. I’ve dropped my season tickets and don’t even buy more red gear (though I honestly have more than I have room for anyway).

My viewing of CFB has dropped from 10-14 hours a week to maybe 1 game. And my attitude is rapidly moving into full disinterest.

I’m getting tired of the greed and the lack of team identities and mercenary like attitudes. I’m sick of watching conferences blow up. I’m sad that historic rivalries are simply gone. And I’m bothered that kids in the English department subsidize sports teams where the players are being paid more than professors could ever dream of.

So is it the last straw? I oddly feel like I may be riding it out with Whitt…I’ve had plenty of issues with him these last couple years but I’m also interesting in seeing how the story ends.

But I won’t be spending a dime on it. Which is several thousands of dollars a year back in my pocket …well till I go to buy some eggs or a new computer I suppose 😛

[Jim Vanderhoof]

Well said

[Utes 69]

i feel the same way, I will be looking for other hobbies real soon.

[AlohaUte]

I’ve decreased my CFB watching considerably. I still watch the Utes religiously. But beyond that it’s just parts of games here or there and I’m on a personal Big10 and SEC boycott.

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