Why sign HS players?

[Loyal Coug1]

If you want to be technical, you don't know that and no one else does either. WSU does not have a media deal past 2025. And the B1G doesn't have one past the 2029-2030 season. What is 25 percent of an unknown number?

Correction - WSU doesn't have a media deal for 2025 yet either. And the All-Knowing, All-Seeing, and Mighty Loyal One knows everything. You should know that by now.

 

[Loyal Coug1]

Or, in a different alignment of the same concept, do we start to see college football set up like pro baseball with major and minor leagues? Idaho and WSU become the farm clubs for Michigan, for example - kids who play well for WSU get called up to the big club. Kids who don't perform in Ann Arbor get sent down to PUllman?

When I was at WSU, some of the regional community colleges still offered football, and the WSU JV played against them. Wenatchee Valley and Walla Walla still had teams, and I think maybe Treasure Valley had one too. Spokane had just given theirs up. I can see a regional alignment (such as the idea of inviting all Tier 1 schools west of Denver) creating a situation where we could have more of a JV/varsity alignment. That could actually be pretty fun too...and might be a way to keep more of the local kids playing near home. We'll still see the star players going to bigger schools, but the kids who are going to sit on the bench for 3-4 years with the hope that someday they'll play a kickoff return in a bowl game....maybe those kids then opt to actually play against more regional competitition.

Didn't Aaron Garcia play with the JV against Walla Walla one week then had to sub in that weekend for the varsity?

 

[95coug]

Didn't Aaron Garcia play with the JV against Walla Walla one week then had to sub in that weekend for the varsity?

I think so. I think that Drew Bledsoe also played some JV early in the season before he became the starter.

I remember watching Derek Sparks playing against Wenatchee Valley and absolutely destroying them. He was a beast until he hurt his shoulder.

 

[cr8zyncalif]

Depends on how much uw is willing to devalue itself. Half share right now. Why would the other BIG members not demand uw go down to 25 percent for the next TV deal?

Particularly since by that time they will be a perennial cellar dweller in the league.

 

[425cougfan]

Or, in a different alignment of the same concept, do we start to see college football set up like pro baseball with major and minor leagues? Idaho and WSU become the farm clubs for Michigan, for example - kids who play well for WSU get called up to the big club. Kids who don't perform in Ann Arbor get sent down to PUllman?

When I was at WSU, some of the regional community colleges still offered football, and the WSU JV played against them. Wenatchee Valley and Walla Walla still had teams, and I think maybe Treasure Valley had one too. Spokane had just given theirs up. I can see a regional alignment (such as the idea of inviting all Tier 1 schools west of Denver) creating a situation where we could have more of a JV/varsity alignment. That could actually be pretty fun too...and might be a way to keep more of the local kids playing near home. We'll still see the star players going to bigger schools, but the kids who are going to sit on the bench for 3-4 years with the hope that someday they'll play a kickoff return in a bowl game....maybe those kids then opt to actually play against more regional competitition.

Some might say that's what we have now.

 

[95coug]

Some might say that's what we have now.

True…but I mean formalizing connections between teams, and player contracts within the organization.
The academic element complicates it, but I don’t think we need to really pretend that the “student” part holds any real importance anymore.

 

[UberCougars]

25% of their future NIL......

You should submit your ideas to the players union for consideration in the negotiations

 

[UberCougars]

True…but I mean formalizing connections between teams, and player contracts within the organization.
The academic element complicates it, but I don’t think we need to really pretend that the “student” part holds any real importance anymore.

Player free-will + market forces complicates it most.

 

[COUGinNCW]

There could be arguments over some of this stuff (e.g., why try to compete against the MWC with 70 man rosters out west, etc.), but I'd be for lower scholie limits applied to all conferences.

As I wrote, anything should be on the table at this point, including things like you propose here and other ideas. Can't argue with your last line at all.

To go back to it, the "no HS kids" thing, especially, makes complete sense. It would have opposition owing mainly to emotion and people pining for the past, but it's as simple as you wrote. They leave if they play. They leave if they don't. WSU is never signing HS kids who should be playing in college on day one now, and it very rarely did even in the best of times. So why sign them, feed them, house them, and train them at all? To try to claim some credit when a kid makes the NFL after playing at three other schools after signing with WSU originally? Makes no sense unless this NIL/portal system gets fixed, and I don't see it ever getting fixed in a way that prevents something much like the current environment, even if they implement some marginally impactful things like poaching fees. That won't stop anyone or result in a net benefit to the WSUs of the world.

70 man rosters would make WSU much more competitive but it really sucks that so many kids “dreams” would end before they could get started. I guess that will prepare them for life.

 

[COUGinNCW]

This...sounds fun to watch.

WSU network...your exclusive network for Crimson Lager, Cougar Gold, and Ferdinand's ice cream...

Touchdown, Washington State....and a free Grabber for the first 7 people to text 509-GOCOUGS...

How about you can place bets throughout the game. O/U by quarter, next play - pass or run etc etc.

 

[BiggsCoug]

70 man rosters would make WSU much more competitive but it really sucks that so many kids “dreams” would end before they could get started. I guess that will prepare them for life.

Go to a smaller school. Play your way to the level you wanna be at.

 

[Loyal Coug1]

Good news on the recruiting front, per our "friends" at Brand X. CJR on fire plucking these P4 transfers:

"Cornerback Beni Mwamba and DL Josh Schell are making the trek to see all WSU has to offer, as first reported on Twitter by Chris Hummer and Allen Trieu of 247Sports.

Mwamba (6-1, 190) played this past season at Chattanooga, while Schell (6-5, 275) is out of Grand Valley State."

Mwamba from Tennessee - impressive getting into the SEC talent pool. Oh wait - it's FCS Tennessee-Chattanooga. And Schell, highly rated from B1G school Michigan! Oh wait, its Division II GV State. But they are in Michigan......

Wonder which 2 current Cougs will be dumped to make room for these superstars?

 

[UberCougars]

Go to a smaller school. Play your way to the level you wanna be at.

This is the future.

Dione created the model, many will now follow.

They’ll begin building their “Luggage” at the 7-7 level then Shop the operation into Private HS for reps, leagues they can crush and a reputation . They secure a small school gig to further refine the “Luggage” then sell it into the Trade-UP-School as a package that’s already has 2 years of small conference development. NIL where the school pays for the chance at a ready made Championship run with a Star coach and Star players.

 

[425cougfan]

How about you can place bets throughout the game. O/U by quarter, next play - pass or run etc etc.

Good idea and a lot of fun. Unfortunately, even if this could be implemented, the big schools would also do it, just at a much more massive scale due to greater exposure and interest, and they also would get a shitload of money from their media rights. We're probably going to see this rolled out soon nationally anyway. You also can count on Olympia doing all it could to thwart this in Washington, likely with the tribes lobbying behind the scenes. I know, another sad trombone sound.

 

[COUGinNCW]

Good idea and a lot of fun. Unfortunately, even if this could be implemented, the big schools would also do it, just at a much more massive scale due to greater exposure and interest, and they also would get a shitload of money from their media rights. We're probably going to see this rolled out soon nationally anyway. You also can count on Olympia doing all it could to thwart this in Washington, likely with the tribes lobbying behind the scenes. I know, another sad trombone sound.

If you gave the tribes a cut it would probably fly but like you said, after a year it would go coast to coast and WSU would be on the outside looking in - again.

 

[COUGinNCW]

Go to a smaller school. Play your way to the level you wanna be at.

I get that but then there would be less opportunities at the smaller schools.

I have kids in HS and one who has just graduated. Kids who would have been given full rides 4-5 years ago are having to go to a JC or D2 if they want to keep playing. It’s really a bummer for them.

 

[PeteTheChop]

I have kids in HS and one who has just graduated. Kids who would have been given full rides 4-5 years ago are having to go to a JC or D2 if they want to keep playing. It’s really a bummer for them.

Wonder if some of those kids who missed out on opportunities will be granted extended eligibility through the courts like the sixth- and seventh year Covid athletes?

 

[BiggsCoug]

I get that but then there would be less opportunities at the smaller schools.

I have kids in HS and one who has just graduated. Kids who would have been given full rides 4-5 years ago are having to go to a JC or D2 if they want to keep playing. It’s really a bummer for them.

It isnt a bummer at all. You go where you can play or where you can make the team. D3 is always looking for guys.

What the portal has done is kept kids in school and on teams longer. Guys have an easier time finding a new place to play. If anything hurt the HS kids it was the ncaa giving everyone a 6th season.