(02-02-2023 02:56 PM)bjk3047 Wrote:  

(01-30-2023 03:00 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  It’s definitely a big change (and shock) to the previous rules governing the recruiting process, and for old geezers like me, made it difficult to rationalize how college football still qualifies as an “amateur” sport.

I think the easiest answer to that is "well...it basically doesn't." Depending on how far back you go, the argument about college football as an amateur sport could hold up.

But with the crazy amount of money trading through the hands of everyone but the actual labor these last few decades (and the brazenly evident reality that college football is NFL's de facto [very inexpensive!] minor league), the only real connection to the amateur label in practice is the fact that the athletes aren't paid a wage for their troubles.

That's where I stand too. I would rather all these guys be legit students, and all the money is gross. (Even JMU -- having to join the Duke Club to push money to the team when you buy tickets just feels like something shady is going on.)

But it's far worse to think there's all that money going to everyone but the guys out there taking the beatings every Saturday, so the NIL is a huge improvement.