I don't know if I would use the term "erupt" to describe what Mick said. Not so sure he is advocating actually paying players as much as saying that if all this conference a go-go is about money, than the talk about the sanctity student-athletes is pretty hollow and hypocritical.

(12-16-2012 09:15 AM)JackieTreehorn Wrote:  I don't know if I would use the term "erupt" to describe what Mick said. Not so sure he is advocating actually paying players as much as saying that if all this conference a go-go is about money, than the talk about the sanctity student-athletes is pretty hollow and hypocritical.

A more appropriate headline would have been "Cronin Speaks Out". But our local reporters like to put everything in a negative light. It's subtle, but it's typically there. It's been going on so long, most of us don't even notice it.

Reporters don't write headlines and "erupts" generates much more interest than "speaks out".

Calling those comments an eruption is like drawing a comparison between popping a zit and Mt Vesuvius.

(12-16-2012 10:02 AM)Coopdaddy67 Wrote:  Reporters don't write headlines and "erupts" generates much more interest than "speaks out".

How about "Cronin goes on Spittle Laced Rampage"? Sounds even more sensationalistic and just about as accurate.

Seems to me if conference realignment is about money from football, then football players should be paid. Basketball does not bring in near as much, so basketball players should get paid much less or nothing. Since Olympic sports lose money, perhaps their athletes should have to chip into the athletic department.

At least that would be more logical reasoning than paying all athletes.

ehhh to me, most of these athletes do get paid- they're on scholarship for a $20k or so a year education (if they're from outside of ohio), and get top notch training for a career as a professional athlete. Sure there's millions of of dollars going into the school from TV networks and whatever, but it's not like our administration just takes that money for themselves- it goes into better facilities for those same athletes.

It's not just revenue sports either- I know UC gives nice scholarships to a lot of athletes that are on team sports as well.

(12-16-2012 02:49 PM)cincybearcatsgo Wrote:  ehhh to me, most of these athletes do get paid- they're on scholarship for a $20k or so a year education (if they're from outside of ohio), and get top notch training for a career as a professional athlete. Sure there's millions of of dollars going into the school from TV networks and whatever, but it's not like our administration just takes that money for themselves- it goes into better facilities for those same athletes.

It's not just revenue sports either- I know UC gives nice scholarships to a lot of athletes that are on team sports as well.

In John Bacon's book about Rich Rod at Michigan I remember him saying that they spent over $500,000 per out of state football player over their career there if they redshirt, including tuition, room and board, books, training and medical services, clothing and equipment, academic and tutoring services, etc...

It's probably frustrating for Cronin in the same way it's frustrating for Coach K, Rick Pitino, Jim Boeheim, etc. -- the sport they've dedicated their lives to is being treated as a second class citizen in these debates because it doesn't produce nearly as much television revenue as football.

I like Mick, but he needs to shut up. The American sports consumer has made the decision that football, of any type, is a more desirable product than even the best of the best regular season college basketball. Don't fault universities and television networks for that fact.

Paying players is a non-starter. The people bringing this up are extremely short-sighted. The minute you start paying players and making them true mercenaries, college sports lose ALL of their appeal. The fans will desert in droves to the NBA or NFL. Or they just won't follow sports anymore.

(12-16-2012 03:34 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  Paying players is a non-starter. The people bringing this up are extremely short-sighted. The minute you start paying players and making them true mercenaries, college sports lose ALL of their appeal. The fans will desert in droves to the NBA or NFL. Or they just won't follow sports anymore.

I understand micks point about paying players if it's only about money but I agree with you. If they did pay players how soon would a starting QB want more money then the 3rd stringer?

Why is the big 10 out of play? That always seemed like a logical move. I never got why they never wanted UC for basketball and ND for football.

If we have the season we should have, mick might have a hard time remaining a UC lifer and who could blame him.

UC basketball is the most snakebitten, bad luck program college basketball has ever seen. Just when things finally look as though they will turn for the better, boom.

(12-16-2012 09:13 PM)b Wrote:  

(12-16-2012 03:34 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  Paying players is a non-starter. The people bringing this up are extremely short-sighted. The minute you start paying players and making them true mercenaries, college sports lose ALL of their appeal. The fans will desert in droves to the NBA or NFL. Or they just won't follow sports anymore.

I understand micks point about paying players if it's only about money but I agree with you. If they did pay players how soon would a starting QB want more money then the 3rd stringer?

Why is the big 10 out of play? That always seemed like a logical move. I never got why they never wanted UC for basketball and ND for football.

If we have the season we should have, mick might have a hard time remaining a UC lifer and who could blame him.

UC basketball is the most snakebitten, bad luck program college basketball has ever seen. Just when things finally look as though they will turn for the better, boom.

B10 does not want us because:

a) We do not add television value. We do not expand their footprint into homes that they do not already have.
b) People often suggest Ohio State does not want us there, but the fact is the biggest barrier would be the other teams. There are several teams in the B10 who would have a tough time filling out a roster if they had to share recruiting with another team in the region. These schools do not have much in the terms of home-grown talent and rely on Ohio, Indiana and Michigan talent: Indiana, Purdue, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin. Even states with some talent at home rely on Ohio: Illinois, Northwestern, Michigan State, Michigan, PSU.

It is to their advantage to lock us out.

Cincinnati isn't even on the B1G's radar.

(12-16-2012 10:23 PM)Bearcat_Bounce Wrote:  Cincinnati isn't even on the B1G's radar.

Ohio State would have to shut down sports, UC would than have to become an AAU school, and maybe the University of Cincinnati would get a look.

It isn't like Cincinnati doesn't want to join a great league but they have to asked first; however, you don't need a great league to great but it sure does help.

(12-16-2012 10:53 PM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  

(12-16-2012 10:23 PM)Bearcat_Bounce Wrote:  Cincinnati isn't even on the B1G's radar.

Ohio State would have to shut down sports, UC would than have to become an AAU school, and maybe the University of Cincinnati would get a look.

It isn't like Cincinnati doesn't want to join a great league but they have to asked first; however, you don't need a great league to great but it sure does help.

All true. The TV issue is just the latest reason for UC not being considered for the Big Ten. This exclusion predates cable though. OSU never wanted another Ohio school in the league. Unlike MI, IL, IN, where there were two major universities included they wanted to own the brand in Ohio and relegate every other school to mid-major status.
Still, if UC gets stuck in the BE or some new hybrid league, the Bearcats can win big. In the past decade we've seen TCU (pre-B12) beating Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl, Boise winning BCS bowls and three basketball national championship games featuring non-BCS teams (Butler twice plus Memphis). Great programs overcome bad conferences.

TCU and Boise State are glaring exceptions to the general rule that it is impossible to be nationally successful over multiple seasons when you:

1. Don't play in a power conference
2. Don't have access to power conference level money
3. Don't have access to power conference recruits.

For every one TCU and Boise, there are two dozen Eastern Michigans or UNLVs.