Explicitly threaten to leave the conference? No. But, some of what Nebraska officials have said is definitely being interpreted that way.
My employer announced that they were shutting off all business travel back in March. I was in New Mexico. They next closed our offices. I neither had a say or a choice. That is life. We don't always have a "say." Remember, at many schools they are students first.
He certainly hit the nail on the head. Of course players and coaches are going to be upset. This is their lives. Thats why I don't think there will be any changes of heart. They knew this response was coming.
Coaches and players have certain perspectives that aren't the same as the University Presidents. They also don't have a say in if we are in the conference or not. Still, I have not seen anything from the University administration that claims they actively want out or said they were thinking about leaving.
They knew exactly how they were to be compensated when they committed. They get a great education that can carry them through their entire life if they choose to use the time wisely. They also get the opportunity to earn a spot in the NFL.
However, you are considered a professional individual and are paid (and have commiserate influence over the company) based on your value, whatever that value may be. College athletes can not claim any of those things as they have long been branded and hidden behind the moniker of 'amateurism' or being 'student athletes.'
I don't want to get into a fight. but I don't have a voice in how my company is run. I am not in management. I am, however, a professional responsible for essentially running my business. The notion that college football players don't get paid is laughable to me. I was a student-athlete back in my day and there is so much compensation provided to these kids compared to other students it's laughable to me when people scream to pay them. These kids aren't Roman Gladiators, they are students! Who are expected to go to class, do their homework, get good grades AND perform at a high level on the field. Yes, it can be done. No, they don't need to "get paid" How much is out of state tuition at NU??? FFS
That's fair, they are students first. But doesn't that make the decision to separate school and athletics so weird? Sit in a classroom, sit in a lecture hall, eat in a dining hall, and sleep in a dorm in close proximity to other students - but athletics is a no go. This whole thing would make more sense if in person learning was cancelled. If you are going to allow students to assess their own risk on in person learning, you should allow the students to assess their own risk on participating in athletics.
Perhaps I unintentionally steered this conversation the wrong way because I think you're tracking this conversation too close into the area of 'payment.' That's not really what I'm getting at and is a debate best reserved for another thread.
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Let's be clear, it is their only opportunity to get to the NFL. The NCAA has a monopoly on pro football prospects, and the schools make a hefty sum of money from it. Honestly, I'm somewhere in the middle. I agree with you to some degree but at the same time the money in the sport has become obscene. Coaching staffs getting 10 million a year and the players who make them look good get squat. Not squat but let's see these coaches without all of the top end talent. Maybe there should be a football minor league. Its not fair to a kid who just wants to play in the NFL to have to dance through the hoops of going to school and Yada Yada. Thats not how any other industry in America works. If your talented enough you can seek your value on the free market. I think these kids should have that same opportunity considering people exploit them for capital gain as it stands now.
