NCAA playoffs

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by jayshum

Things might have been different if the game actually meant something since FSU wouldn't have been playing as described below.

"Georgia scored on nine of 12 drives and gained 673 total yards against the short-handed Seminoles, who were without more than two dozen players because of opt-outs and transfers, including five starters in their defensive front seven, their top two running backs and top three receivers."

What kind of college program are you running when 2 dozen of your players don’t show up because The freaking Orange Bowl isn’t a big enough platform to show up for?

Georgia didn’t seem to have the same problem.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

What kind of college program are you running when 2 dozen of your players don’t show up because The freaking Orange Bowl isn’t a big enough platform to show up for?

Georgia didn’t seem to have the same problem.

What does this even mean? Did all these players really just choose not to show up? I've never even heard of an "opt out."

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

What does this even mean? Did all these players really just choose not to show up? I've never even heard of an "opt out."

They probably all think they'll be 1st round draft choices and are "opting out" to avoid injury.

Transfers? Why is that even happening before the season is over?

Renders the whole thing meaningless and is a bad look for the program.

No stakes? I'm sure there were dozens of other teams across the country that would have killed to be in the Orange Bowl with their full roster.

So these players wouldn't have opted out or transferred if they were in the College Playoffs instead? Bull! I don't blame the kids. This is a top-down problem. Glad they got locked out of the Playoffs.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

They probably all think they'll be 1st round draft choices and are "opting out" to avoid injury.

Transfers? Why is that even happening before the season is over?

Renders the whole thing meaningless and is a bad look for the program.

No stakes? I'm sure there were dozens of other teams across the country that would have killed to be in the Orange Bowl with their full roster.

So these players wouldn't have opted out or transferred if they were in the College Playoffs instead? Bull! I don't blame the kids. This is a top-down problem. Glad they got locked out of the Playoffs.

Totally agree.

So much for student athletics as being a vessel for character building. I'm surprised the NFL doesn't look down on prospects who skip big games and let their teammates down for fear of being injured in a given game. It's the antithesis of what you'd expect from a future professional player.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by bk400

Totally agree.

So much for student athletics as being a vessel for character building. I'm surprised the NFL doesn't look down on prospects who skip big games and let their teammates down for fear of being injured in a given game. It's the antithesis of what you'd expect from a future professional player.

That ship has sailed a long time ago. I doubt the NFL cares and would prefer a player they are hoping to draft stays healthy instead of getting hurt before they can even draft them.

[Shoeless Moe]

Originally Posted by jayshum

That ship has sailed a long time ago. I doubt the NFL cares and would prefer a player they are hoping to draft stays healthy instead of getting hurt before they can even draft them.

How many players got drafted from Floride State last year?

[bk400]

Originally Posted by jayshum

That ship has sailed a long time ago. I doubt the NFL cares and would prefer a player they are hoping to draft stays healthy instead of getting hurt before they can even draft them.

You're probably right. But I wouldn't draft Caleb Williams high.

If you're an NFL team with a losing record and a bunch of defects -- probably in the offensive line -- why would you draft a guy who who has a clear record of bailing out on his teammates when he feels the game doesn't "count"? What kind of message does that send to all the guys in the trenches who arguably run an higher risk of injury on any given play trying to protect that guy? Or the running back who is grinding out every yard behind the same bad O-line?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Roses are Blue.

[jiw98]

If you're an NFL team with a losing record and a bunch of defects -- probably in the offensive line -- why would you draft a guy who who has a clear record of bailing out on his teammates when he feels the game doesn't "count"? What kind of message does that send to all the guys in the trenches who arguably run an higher risk of injury on any given play trying to protect that guy? Or the running back who is grinding out every yard behind the same bad O-line?[/QUOTE]

Even in the NFL teams set key players to get ready for the playoffs.
These college players are trying to save themselves from injuries to possibly be a higher draft choice. The higher the pick, the more money they make. Just look back a few years and look at Jake Butt, the TE from Michigan. He played and had a major injury. Cost him being a first round pick. If you are not playing for the National Championship I don’t blame any of the players for not playing.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

What does this even mean? Did all these players really just choose not to show up? I've never even heard of an "opt out."

Started happening around 5-6 years ago. I think Christian McCaffrey was one of the first to do it. Has become more common recently as players have decided it's not worth risking getting injured and jeopardizing future NFL and NIL earnings for a bowl game that gives them no chance of winning the national championship.