I think for the first time ever

[Loyal Coug1]

Man I can relate to a lot of the feelings expressed here.
I’ve been a Cougar fan for over five decades.

Gawd you are old. Die already and leave those millions to the Cougs. I'm not far behind, but my latest sweety will fleece me for what I have left. Sorry kids.

 

[Fab5Coug]

I remember guys like Chad Eaton, Sasa, Gesser, etc. that bled Crimson and Gray—Eaton even had a giant Coug tattoo prominently featured on his arm. I get the sense that none of these kids are truly playing for WSU, and the only tattoos they would get is “this space for rent.” They’re only here until a higher bid comes in.

I fear guys like Ron Stone and Brennan Jackson are the last of a dying breed. Was always tough for guys to make it 4 or 5 years with a program. Will probably be practically non existent now.

 

[spongeandshoot]

Man I can relate to a lot of the feelings expressed here. For some reason, though just like a moth drawn to a flame, I keep going or watching these games. But I am getting less and less enthused about the state of college football and the Cougars place in it.
I’ve been a Cougar fan for over five decades. I’ve been through some pretty hopeless seasons, but there was always still some thing special and “Coug “ about the teams. But nowadays how “Coug “are the players who I barely know their names before they transfer? But we are somehow supposed to stay loyal? Loyal to what? There are still some people like Jackson and Stone, who are clearly invested in being cougs and that’s cool to see. But in most of college football it’s a wild West and most people just aren’t connected heart and soul to their university anymore. It’s just a stopping place.
When we lose a game now, it just feels like our less well paid Mercenaries lost to a team with better paid mercenaries. I just don’t feel the same spirit.
I actually enjoy watching big sky games now more than a lot of the major college games.

Well said.

 

[BiggsCoug]

I fear guys like Ron Stone and Brennan Jackson are the last of a dying breed. Was always tough for guys to make it 4 or 5 years with a program. Will probably be practically non existent now.

For whatever reason, WSU doesn’t have a lot of kids that make it all the way from frosh to senior. Those two guys should be held in high esteem for making it 6 years.

 

[Stretch 74]

For whatever reason, WSU doesn’t have a lot of kids that make it all the way from frosh to senior. Those two guys should be held in high esteem for making it 6 years.

You are 100% correct. And I grabbed the two of them last February at the Spokane Night With Cougar Sports and told them how much those of us that support the program appreciate their dedication and their loyalty. It seemed like the right thing to do.

 

[Coug90]

For whatever reason, WSU doesn’t have a lot of kids that make it all the way from frosh to senior. Those two guys should be held in high esteem for making it 6 years.

They did when Leach was here. That was one of the keys to his success. Pre NIL/Transfer Portal, recruit 2-3* under the radar kids that need physical development but fit your system. Pay attention to academics so you don’t get flunk outs. They get on the field as starters when they are RS Juniors and fully developed. 1 yr solid starter 1 yr potential all conference player. Rinse and repeat.

Difficult to do now, as soon as they sniff success they want brighter lights and there’s nothing they have to sacrifice.

 

[cr8zyncalif]

They did when Leach was here. That was one of the keys to his success. Pre NIL/Transfer Portal, recruit 2-3* under the radar kids that need physical development but fit your system. Pay attention to academics so you don’t get flunk outs. They get on the field as starters when they are RS Juniors and fully developed. 1 yr solid starter 1 yr potential all conference player. Rinse and repeat.

Difficult to do now, as soon as they sniff success they want brighter lights and there’s nothing they have to sacrifice.

Yes, and the ability to buy players is the nail in the coffin.

 

[Flatlandcoug]

They did when Leach was here. That was one of the keys to his success. Pre NIL/Transfer Portal, recruit 2-3* under the radar kids that need physical development but fit your system. Pay attention to academics so you don’t get flunk outs. They get on the field as starters when they are RS Juniors and fully developed. 1 yr solid starter 1 yr potential all conference player. Rinse and repeat.

Difficult to do now, as soon as they sniff success they want brighter lights and there’s nothing they have to sacrifice.

I don't think it had anything to do with Leach. The environment today is completely different than it was even five years ago.

 

[moxeecoug]

In general college sports is no longer fun and I am rapidly losing interest in it with all that is going on. I will still go to WSU games and track them but all this conference realignment, destroying rivalries, transfer portal, players quitting before a bowl game, etc has removed what was great about college sports for the sake of tv ratings, money and greed. Frankly college sports has been ruined.

 

[95coug]

In general college sports is no longer fun and I am rapidly losing interest in it with all that is going on. I will still go to WSU games and track them but all this conference realignment, destroying rivalries, transfer portal, players quitting before a bowl game, etc has removed what was great about college sports for the sake of tv ratings, money and greed. Frankly college sports has been ruined.

I'm right there with you. I already ramped down from 4 tickets to 2, and I'm 98% sure I won't get any next year. Part of the enjoyment used to be seeing kids playing and improving from year to year, and getting invested in their individual success along with the team's. With the portal and NIL, that's gone. Anyone decent jumps ship, so it's constant turnover and no continuity.

There needs to be some control implemented. The schools/conferences supposedly aren't involved in NIL (yeah, right), but there can be controls on the portal:

• All FBS programs are limited to a maximum of 70 total roster spots
• The portal window doesn't open until the season is over - it opens at noon on the day after the national championship.
• Players who quit mid-season or who opt out of post-season games are not eligible to enter the portal (legitimate injuries excepted). If they transfer, the old rules apply - they can go down to FCS and play immediately. If they transfer to another FBS team, they must sit 1 year.
• Only players on teams who have a new HC are eligible for the late portal, which opens May 1, after everyone has finished spring ball.
• Contact with any player outside of the portal window is strictly forbidden.
  • Programs who contact players improperly will receive a 1-year reduction of 5 roster spots per violation
  • If a program contacts a player improperly and that player joins that program, he shall not be eligible to play for 1 year, and sacrifices that year of eligibility. Additionally, the program's reduction of 5 roster spots lasts until that player's eligibility is exhausted.

I'm toying with the idea that each team can have an additional 10-15 "developmental" roster spots for guys in their first 2 years. Kind of like an NFL practice squad. Maybe even let them play in regional JV games like WSU used to with the community colleges. If they were placed on the active roster for varsity for more than 1 regular season game, they're no longer developmental, and the portal restrictions do not apply - they can transfer at any time, and they can be scouted and recruited by other programs.

 

[Observer11]

They need to pool the NIL money - and if a player wants to play at the NCAA level - 75% of his NIL money goes into a revenue sharing pool distributed among ALL NCAA athletes pro-rata, regardless of gender or sport.

If he doesn't want to pay into the pool, then he can play NAIA ball or JC ball or take a shot at the NFL/G-League/NBA.

It's a contract. Plain and simple. The terms for playing NCAA ball is this. If you don't like this, then go be a capitalist by yourself every day of the week.

 

[BSpike76]

I'm right there with you. I already ramped down from 4 tickets to 2, and I'm 98% sure I won't get any next year. Part of the enjoyment used to be seeing kids playing and improving from year to year, and getting invested in their individual success along with the team's. With the portal and NIL, that's gone. Anyone decent jumps ship, so it's constant turnover and no continuity.

There needs to be some control implemented. The schools/conferences supposedly aren't involved in NIL (yeah, right), but there can be controls on the portal:

• All FBS programs are limited to a maximum of 70 total roster spots
• The portal window doesn't open until the season is over - it opens at noon on the day after the national championship.
• Players who quit mid-season or who opt out of post-season games are not eligible to enter the portal (legitimate injuries excepted). If they transfer, the old rules apply - they can go down to FCS and play immediately. If they transfer to another FBS team, they must sit 1 year.
• Only players on teams who have a new HC are eligible for the late portal, which opens May 1, after everyone has finished spring ball.
• Contact with any player outside of the portal window is strictly forbidden.
  • Programs who contact players improperly will receive a 1-year reduction of 5 roster spots per violation
  • If a program contacts a player improperly and that player joins that program, he shall not be eligible to play for 1 year, and sacrifices that year of eligibility. Additionally, the program's reduction of 5 roster spots lasts until that player's eligibility is exhausted.

I'm toying with the idea that each team can have an additional 10-15 "developmental" roster spots for guys in their first 2 years. Kind of like an NFL practice squad. Maybe even let them play in regional JV games like WSU used to with the community colleges. If they were placed on the active roster for varsity for more than 1 regular season game, they're no longer developmental, and the portal restrictions do not apply - they can transfer at any time, and they can be scouted and recruited by other programs.

I like the 70 on the roster idea, but is $100,000, while not on the roster at U$C on fuskies more enticing than $10,000 and starting at WSU. In the 70s a bunch of players chose practice dummy at U$C to playing at schools like WSU or OSU.

 

[CougEd]

They need to pool the NIL money - and if a player wants to play at the NCAA level - 75% of his NIL money goes into a revenue sharing pool distributed among ALL NCAA athletes pro-rata, regardless of gender or sport.

If he doesn't want to pay into the pool, then he can play NAIA ball or JC ball or take a shot at the NFL/G-League/NBA.

It's a contract. Plain and simple. The terms for playing NCAA ball is this. If you don't like this, then go be a capitalist by yourself every day of the week.

Bingo. In addition like rev NFL have a salary cap. Also cap the coaches wages and limit them to three years .

 

[BiggsCoug]

I'm right there with you. I already ramped down from 4 tickets to 2, and I'm 98% sure I won't get any next year. Part of the enjoyment used to be seeing kids playing and improving from year to year, and getting invested in their individual success along with the team's. With the portal and NIL, that's gone. Anyone decent jumps ship, so it's constant turnover and no continuity.

There needs to be some control implemented. The schools/conferences supposedly aren't involved in NIL (yeah, right), but there can be controls on the portal:

• All FBS programs are limited to a maximum of 70 total roster spots
• The portal window doesn't open until the season is over - it opens at noon on the day after the national championship.
• Players who quit mid-season or who opt out of post-season games are not eligible to enter the portal (legitimate injuries excepted). If they transfer, the old rules apply - they can go down to FCS and play immediately. If they transfer to another FBS team, they must sit 1 year.
• Only players on teams who have a new HC are eligible for the late portal, which opens May 1, after everyone has finished spring ball.
• Contact with any player outside of the portal window is strictly forbidden.
  • Programs who contact players improperly will receive a 1-year reduction of 5 roster spots per violation
  • If a program contacts a player improperly and that player joins that program, he shall not be eligible to play for 1 year, and sacrifices that year of eligibility. Additionally, the program's reduction of 5 roster spots lasts until that player's eligibility is exhausted.

I'm toying with the idea that each team can have an additional 10-15 "developmental" roster spots for guys in their first 2 years. Kind of like an NFL practice squad. Maybe even let them play in regional JV games like WSU used to with the community colleges. If they were placed on the active roster for varsity for more than 1 regular season game, they're no longer developmental, and the portal restrictions do not apply - they can transfer at any time, and they can be scouted and recruited by other programs.

70 roster spots crushing the portal and NIL$.

The value will be just having a spot on the roster. The $$$ will be a bonus.

You will see the talent spread across the nation like lightning.

 

[PeteTheChop]

In general college sports is no longer fun and I am rapidly losing interest in it with all that is going on. I will still go to WSU games and track them but all this conference realignment, destroying rivalries, transfer portal, players quitting before a bowl game, etc has removed what was great about college sports for the sake of tv ratings, money and greed. Frankly college sports has been ruined.

Guess we could say the players have learned that trick from their coaches

 

[PeteTheChop]

They need to pool the NIL money - and if a player wants to play at the NCAA level - 75% of his NIL money goes into a revenue sharing pool distributed among ALL NCAA athletes pro-rata, regardless of gender or sport.

If he doesn't want to pay into the pool, then he can play NAIA ball or JC ball or take a shot at the NFL/G-League/NBA.

It's a contract. Plain and simple. The terms for playing NCAA ball is this. If you don't like this, then go be a capitalist by yourself every day of the week.

That sounds like a great deal for all those hard-working young men and young ladies in golf, tennis, cross country, swimming and other sports that don't generate the same NIL dollars or interest as football and men's basketball and others.

Would the folks who like to talk about "letting the market decide things" complain this was a form of socialism?

Wonder if some big money donors would stop their NIL contributions and just go back to paying athletes in the revenue sports under the table

 

[CougEd]

That sounds like a great deal for all those hard-working young men and young ladies in golf, tennis, cross country, swimming and other sports that don't generate the same NIL dollars or interest as football and men's basketball and others.

Would the folks who like to talk about "letting the market decide things" complain this was a form of socialism?

Wonder if some big money donors would stop their NIL contributions and just go back to paying athletes in the revenue sports under the table

Ummm … it is already Socialism. All sports are both Pro and Amateur.

 

[Stretch 74]

I'm right there with you. I already ramped down from 4 tickets to 2, and I'm 98% sure I won't get any next year. Part of the enjoyment used to be seeing kids playing and improving from year to year, and getting invested in their individual success along with the team's. With the portal and NIL, that's gone. Anyone decent jumps ship, so it's constant turnover and no continuity.

There needs to be some control implemented. The schools/conferences supposedly aren't involved in NIL (yeah, right), but there can be controls on the portal:

• All FBS programs are limited to a maximum of 70 total roster spots
• The portal window doesn't open until the season is over - it opens at noon on the day after the national championship.
• Players who quit mid-season or who opt out of post-season games are not eligible to enter the portal (legitimate injuries excepted). If they transfer, the old rules apply - they can go down to FCS and play immediately. If they transfer to another FBS team, they must sit 1 year.
• Only players on teams who have a new HC are eligible for the late portal, which opens May 1, after everyone has finished spring ball.
• Contact with any player outside of the portal window is strictly forbidden.
  • Programs who contact players improperly will receive a 1-year reduction of 5 roster spots per violation
  • If a program contacts a player improperly and that player joins that program, he shall not be eligible to play for 1 year, and sacrifices that year of eligibility. Additionally, the program's reduction of 5 roster spots lasts until that player's eligibility is exhausted.

I'm toying with the idea that each team can have an additional 10-15 "developmental" roster spots for guys in their first 2 years. Kind of like an NFL practice squad. Maybe even let them play in regional JV games like WSU used to with the community colleges. If they were placed on the active roster for varsity for more than 1 regular season game, they're no longer developmental, and the portal restrictions do not apply - they can transfer at any time, and they can be scouted and recruited by other programs.

As soon as I get appointed "Most Exalted Supreme Emperor of Everything" I am putting you in charge of implementing this. Immediately!

 

[95coug]

I like the 70 on the roster idea, but is $100,000, while not on the roster at U$C on fuskies more enticing than $10,000 and starting at WSU. In the 70s a bunch of players chose practice dummy at U$C to playing at schools like WSU or OSU.

I think the players who would take the money to not play are the kind of players you don’t want on your team anyway. They don’t care enough to put in the work, and in modern CFB, you’ve got to work all year.

 

[BSpike76]

I think the players who would take the money to not play are the kind of players you don’t want on your team anyway. They don’t care enough to put in the work, and in modern CFB, you’ve got to work all year.

I hope there are players like that. But then I read about nil to pay tuition at BYU for walk ons. I thought nil was for advertising. What marketing value does a walk on have?

 

[Loyal Coug1]

As soon as I get appointed "Most Exalted Supreme Emperor of Everything" I am putting you in charge of implementing this. Immediately!

And I will move to Costa Rica and shack up with Spongy.