(12-17-2021 07:55 AM)ImaTiger Wrote:  

(12-06-2021 06:07 PM)Keeper Wrote:  All players should take the trip, even those who will opt out of the game. This is a reward for having played for the Tigers, and this is only an exhibition game!

This is the right thing to do and the best course of action to help recruiting.

No it's not...

They are not going on vacation.

They are going to play a football game. If you are not part of that and you want to go buy your own ticket.

I have no problem with players making a choice they feel is best for them. That is what they should do... But the trip is to play football

(12-17-2021 11:38 AM)SeñorTiger Wrote:  

(12-17-2021 10:07 AM)Browning Hall Wrote:  

(12-17-2021 07:55 AM)ImaTiger Wrote:  

(12-06-2021 06:07 PM)Keeper Wrote:  All players should take the trip, even those who will opt out of the game. This is a reward for having played for the Tigers, and this is only an exhibition game!

This is the right thing to do and the best course of action to help recruiting.

Let’s say I’m set to retire tomorrow, but there’s the corporate function coming up in a month. It’s in Hawaii and I’d really like to go. Do I delay my retirement until after, participate in preparations for said trip, be an active contributor on said trip, or do I move on with my retirement? Those are my only two choices. Suggesting they allow me to come out of retirement and make the trip anyway (at their expense) with a promise to stop by and say hello while there, would have never been an option with any company I’ve ever worked for.

I don’t begrudge Austin one bit for opting out. I understand why he thinks protecting himself from injury is more important than a trip to Hawaii. I support his decision and wish him well, but Elvis has left the building.

I understand that logic and pretty much agree with it.

However, IMO this is a decision that should be left to the coaches and players. If they want Austin there then he should be there.

I don’t care what they do, but I can imagine the first morning at the hotel.

“All current team members will meet at 7am, South Entrance, where you will board the team bus for a day of practice and team meetings. All opt-outs will meet at 8am, West Entrance, for complimentary Mai Tais. There you will meet your lovely Hawaii Bowl personal hostess who will escort you to Captain Bob's Kaneohe Bay Sandbar Snorkel & BBQ Lunch Boat Tour. Aloha.”

I’m just having fun with it.

(12-07-2021 11:24 AM)jsw3ent Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 11:01 AM)MemphisFootballFan Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 10:04 AM)gusrob Wrote:  

(12-06-2021 07:58 PM)ncrdbl1 Wrote:  

(12-06-2021 06:07 PM)Keeper Wrote:  All players should take the trip, even those who will opt out of the game. This is a reward for having played for the Tigers, and this is only an exhibition game!

Aww Hell No.

The team is going to play in a bowl in Hawaii.

If you ain't playing then in Memphis youse a staying.

If you make the trip then decide not to play afterward then you pay for your expenses.

If I were an adult on the coaching staff, I'd be eery of taking a player to Hawaii if they weren't playing. It's hard enough to be responsible for someone else during their stupid-years (16-24). Even harder if I have nothing to hold over their head, as in they're done playing for me - playing time, suspension, etc are no longer options. But.....these are typical Bowl Game concerns.

You guys can't be serious. So you are saying if Calvin Austin and JJ Russell, two high character players who have given their heart and soul to this team for years, want to opt out of the bowl game to avoid risking injury while they prepare for the NFL draft, they shouldn't get to go to Hawaii with the team as a reward for pouring everything they've got into this football program for years?

I'm really glad you guys aren't coaches.

A high character person would fulfill their commitment/scholarship by playing a scheduled game----if not they should get their scholarship pulled and billed--jmo---didn't a school out west do that ?

I think you might be a “high” character person. This game is like a participation trophy in bowl form. Calvin has been playing hurt all year. If character was an issue he would have been setting all year getting healthy for showcasing in front of scouts. He is worth more to the university playing on Sundays than the contribution he might make in a game we should win without him. The risk for an injured player who has draft potential is too high. If he was 100% I would feel different but never show my poor character by questioning the character of a home town hero who has come so far and given so much.

(12-17-2021 06:01 PM)Tigerx3 Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 11:24 AM)jsw3ent Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 11:01 AM)MemphisFootballFan Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 10:04 AM)gusrob Wrote:  

(12-06-2021 07:58 PM)ncrdbl1 Wrote:  Aww Hell No.

The team is going to play in a bowl in Hawaii.

If you ain't playing then in Memphis youse a staying.

If you make the trip then decide not to play afterward then you pay for your expenses.

If I were an adult on the coaching staff, I'd be eery of taking a player to Hawaii if they weren't playing. It's hard enough to be responsible for someone else during their stupid-years (16-24). Even harder if I have nothing to hold over their head, as in they're done playing for me - playing time, suspension, etc are no longer options. But.....these are typical Bowl Game concerns.

You guys can't be serious. So you are saying if Calvin Austin and JJ Russell, two high character players who have given their heart and soul to this team for years, want to opt out of the bowl game to avoid risking injury while they prepare for the NFL draft, they shouldn't get to go to Hawaii with the team as a reward for pouring everything they've got into this football program for years?

I'm really glad you guys aren't coaches.

A high character person would fulfill their commitment/scholarship by playing a scheduled game----if not they should get their scholarship pulled and billed--jmo---didn't a school out west do that ?

I think you might be a “high” character person. This game is like a participation trophy in bowl form. Calvin has been playing hurt all year. If character was an issue he would have been setting all year getting healthy for showcasing in front of scouts. He is worth more to the university playing on Sundays than the contribution he might make in a game we should win without him. The risk for an injured player who has draft potential is too high. If he was 100% I would feel different but never show my poor character by questioning the character of a home town hero who has come so far and given so much.

LOL---OK---I guess we will just have to disagree

(12-08-2021 12:48 AM)MvETigers Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 05:55 PM)macgar32 Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 12:17 PM)jsw3ent Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 12:04 PM)macgar32 Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 11:55 AM)jsw3ent Wrote:  Thanks for making my point---character has steadily eroded since the 60's

Treat players like that---yeah--what a shame it would be to actually hold the little darling snowflakes to their commitment --and maybe instill a little values ---the entitlement society

If a coach can take a kids scholly because he is not good enough, no one should blink an eye at a star player not playing in a glorified scrimmage.

100% agree on the glorified scrimmage . I have been saying for years that bowls mean NOTHING-ZERO---928 bowls now--500 gets you in LOL---ONLY THE PLAYOFFS MATTER--but it's still a scheduled game and players should post----using that logic- when a team is eliminated from a shot at the PLAYOFFS --all players should just opt out the rest of the season--why continue to play to try to make a glorified scrimmage --heck every player thinks they are going to get drafted LOL

The coaches have been leaving early before bowl games forever...

No one ever cared...Now that Players (The Little Guy) start doing it and now it is an issue. Seems strange.

The school has the option of keeping a coach until the bowl game is played. It just usually doesn't go that route because it's better for the program. Same as firing a coach. I guess a program should start cutting players prior to the bowl if they aren't playing to cut down on expenses to make it less strange.

How some people try to make this an issue about the "little guy" getting screwed over is hilarious.

It is not that...Just treat them the same.

The coach has an opportunity to leave for a better job (IHO)...Oh just let him go.

Player has an opportunity to leave to better himself (IHO)...And everyone calls him selfish and says he lacks character.

The coach can leave when he gets ready...The school doesn't have the right for the coach to stay...Unless the coach agrees to it. They have a clear buyout clause.

(12-17-2021 09:17 PM)macgar32 Wrote:  

(12-08-2021 12:48 AM)MvETigers Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 05:55 PM)macgar32 Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 12:17 PM)jsw3ent Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 12:04 PM)macgar32 Wrote:  If a coach can take a kids scholly because he is not good enough, no one should blink an eye at a star player not playing in a glorified scrimmage.

100% agree on the glorified scrimmage . I have been saying for years that bowls mean NOTHING-ZERO---928 bowls now--500 gets you in LOL---ONLY THE PLAYOFFS MATTER--but it's still a scheduled game and players should post----using that logic- when a team is eliminated from a shot at the PLAYOFFS --all players should just opt out the rest of the season--why continue to play to try to make a glorified scrimmage --heck every player thinks they are going to get drafted LOL

The coaches have been leaving early before bowl games forever...

No one ever cared...Now that Players (The Little Guy) start doing it and now it is an issue. Seems strange.

The school has the option of keeping a coach until the bowl game is played. It just usually doesn't go that route because it's better for the program. Same as firing a coach. I guess a program should start cutting players prior to the bowl if they aren't playing to cut down on expenses to make it less strange.

How some people try to make this an issue about the "little guy" getting screwed over is hilarious.

It is not that...Just treat them the same.

The coach has an opportunity to leave for a better job (IHO)...Oh just let him go.

Player has an opportunity to leave to better himself (IHO)...And everyone calls him selfish and says he lacks character.

The coach can leave when he gets ready...The school doesn't have the right for the coach to stay...Unless the coach agrees to it. They have a clear buyout clause.

So, a coach should just "opt out" of coaching a game because he's looking for other opportunities?

It's absolutely selfish if a player sits out a bowl game. He is only looking out for himself. That's not necessarily a lack of character in my eyes, but you can't say it's anything other than selfish.

In Austin's case, he has played injured most of the season. I see nothing wrong with him being selfish for this game because he has been anything but selfish the rest of the season. If he wants to go to the game, I support it. If not, that's his choice.

I don't like it and don't really agree, but it is what it is.

As for coaches and the whole "little guy" statement. It's a bit one sided because as you've seen this year, multiple coaches have been fired during the season, one after winning a National Championship two seasons ago and having to rebuild a team during Covid. I've seen players benched, but I've never seen a player kicked off a team for on the field performance or lack thereof. I don't think it's as lopsided as you want to believe.

(12-17-2021 11:39 PM)MvETigers Wrote:  

(12-17-2021 09:17 PM)macgar32 Wrote:  

(12-08-2021 12:48 AM)MvETigers Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 05:55 PM)macgar32 Wrote:  

(12-07-2021 12:17 PM)jsw3ent Wrote:  100% agree on the glorified scrimmage . I have been saying for years that bowls mean NOTHING-ZERO---928 bowls now--500 gets you in LOL---ONLY THE PLAYOFFS MATTER--but it's still a scheduled game and players should post----using that logic- when a team is eliminated from a shot at the PLAYOFFS --all players should just opt out the rest of the season--why continue to play to try to make a glorified scrimmage --heck every player thinks they are going to get drafted LOL

The coaches have been leaving early before bowl games forever...

No one ever cared...Now that Players (The Little Guy) start doing it and now it is an issue. Seems strange.

The school has the option of keeping a coach until the bowl game is played. It just usually doesn't go that route because it's better for the program. Same as firing a coach. I guess a program should start cutting players prior to the bowl if they aren't playing to cut down on expenses to make it less strange.

How some people try to make this an issue about the "little guy" getting screwed over is hilarious.

It is not that...Just treat them the same.

The coach has an opportunity to leave for a better job (IHO)...Oh just let him go.

Player has an opportunity to leave to better himself (IHO)...And everyone calls him selfish and says he lacks character.

The coach can leave when he gets ready...The school doesn't have the right for the coach to stay...Unless the coach agrees to it. They have a clear buyout clause.

So, a coach should just "opt out" of coaching a game because he's looking for other opportunities?

It's absolutely selfish if a player sits out a bowl game. He is only looking out for himself. That's not necessarily a lack of character in my eyes, but you can't say it's anything other than selfish.

In Austin's case, he has played injured most of the season. I see nothing wrong with him being selfish for this game because he has been anything but selfish the rest of the season. If he wants to go to the game, I support it. If not, that's his choice.

I don't like it and don't really agree, but it is what it is.

As for coaches and the whole "little guy" statement. It's a bit one sided because as you've seen this year, multiple coaches have been fired during the season, one after winning a National Championship two seasons ago and having to rebuild a team during Covid. I've seen players benched, but I've never seen a player kicked off a team for on the field performance or lack thereof. I don't think it's as lopsided as you want to believe.

AGAIN the coach has to pay a penalty for leaving early by buying himself out of his remaining contract.

Player doesn't have to pay any penalty for leaving early.

There are consequences for the coach to leave early, so there should also be consequences for the player leaving early.

Opting out is a tough decision because it means you’re leaving the team. If Joe Shmoe opts out because he’d rather prepare for the LSAT, should he get to go to Hawaii with his former team? I understand why these players are opting out but I also understand why they can’t have their cake and eat it too (if that’s how it goes). If these are the high character young men we think they are, I’ll be somewhat surprised if they want to go.