LOSING INTEREST IN COLLEGE SPORTS

[mhs1964]

I understand but the thing is, kids HAVE ALWAYS been paid. Now it's just out in the open for everyone to see and other schools now have funds to help compete with the blue bloods.

Not millions

 

[LexingtonThoroughblade]

Things are going to reach a boiling point when the next progressive administration decides that Title IX is applicable to NIL. The Biden team tried that in their closing days and that will come up again, especially as some universities push more of it toward men's basketball and football.

 

[mhs1964]

It really does. The Big Ten ruled both football and basketball this year, it has the reigning national champ in football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball, and now seems to be moving toward the front in nearly all sports (it even has the current number one ranked baseball team).

I didn’t think the SEC would have to take a backseat to anyone in today’s era, but that does appear the direction college sports are going.

Follow the money. It’s a wealthier league. There are those who think the market will take care of the current problems. It will only move costs upward and benefit those that have buckets of money and that’s not UK

 

[Glenn's Take]

I don't think money is the issue and you can't say it is when we just fielded a team supposedly worth around $22M. I also believe many on Rafters said in years past that a program like UK would thrive in this environment. Now we're saying it won't because our state is poor? It's the coaching staff that was in place and the players they chose that's the problem. They paid millions for role players.

Here is my problem with that. If that's how it's going to be than you better just scrap the football program. Admittedly I like football more than basketball at any level. The only point of even having a program will be to get the media money from the SEC. The Kraft's don't have Mark Cuban money even if they do want to keep doing these vanity projects. Rich people don't get rich by investing a lot of money in to things that they can't even write off on their taxes.

Or he could've just read this board this season or the last several seasons or taken a gander at X and Facebook. Reddit for that matter too. How would someone feel after spending an entire afternoon on one of those four places?

I don't know who wins the great 'Anger War' but I don't think campuses are powder keds seething with anger about everything as you described. No one has recently gone on a college campus and thought, "My word! Look at this hellish, furious landscape. Everyone is so angry...about everything!" Now this board? X? Facebook? Reddit? Different stories.

Hate Facebook but do it so I'm easy to invite to things. Wouldn't consider an X account and have never even been on Reddit. I don't know who's winning the anger war but I do know who's losing and it's the people that actually think about things for themselves and have either conservative or liberal views on different things. That's who loses.

 

[Damage_inc]

The NCAA currently has no spine, whatsoever.

It’s not that. They simply have no leverage.

 

[Nightwish]

Here is my problem with that. If that's how it's going to be than you better just scrap the football program. Admittedly I like football more than basketball at any level. The only point of even having a program will be to get the media money from the SEC. The Kraft's don't have Mark Cuban money even if they do want to keep doing these vanity projects. Rich people don't get rich by investing a lot of money in to things that they can't even write off on their taxes.

Hate Facebook but do it so I'm easy to invite to things. Wouldn't consider an X account and have never even been on Reddit. I don't know who's winning the anger war but I do know who's losing and it's the people that actually think about things for themselves and have either conservative or liberal views on different things. That's who loses.

Fair points all around. There's going to be ebbs and flows until appropriate guardrails are put in place, whatever they may be. It's absurd our last team cost anything close to $22M, esp. with the results we got. But I didn't put any money in the pot so for me, all that means is right now this coaching staff has to make better choices on players and put those players in money brackets, which seems to be happening. A Stokes may be $5.5M while a role player $1.4M. From my understanding, football is doing similar and is in a good spot right now.

On hate, I'm just razzing ya a bit lol. I'm sure there's pockets of young people on some campuses who play into the hate thing. I just disagree that campuses in general are like that. There's a belief online that thousands of young people at these places are constantly furious when it's not the case. They're just trying to get by like everyone else. Although for them, they're worrying a bit more about the world and things like AI which will affect them and not necessarily a 75 year old. Not as much anyway.

 

[Dr.LutherSan]

It’s not that. They simply have no leverage.

They're handing out extra eligibility waivers like it's candy on Halloween.

 

[Glenn's Take]

Fair points all around. There's going to be ebbs and flows until appropriate guardrails are put in place, whatever they may be. It's absurd our last team cost anything close to $22M, esp. with the results we got. But I didn't put any money in the pot so for me, all that means is right now this coaching staff has to make better choices on players and put those players in money brackets, which seems to be happening. A Stokes may be $5.5M while a role player $1.4M. From my understanding, football is doing similar and is in a good spot right now.

On hate, I'm just razzing ya a bit lol. I'm sure there's pockets of young people on some campuses who play into the hate thing. I just disagree that campuses in general are like that. There's a belief online that thousands of young people at these places are constantly furious when it's not the case. They're just trying to get by like everyone else. Although for them, they're worrying a bit more about the world and things like AI which will affect them and not necessarily a 75 year old. Not as much anyway.

It's the beauty of being 57 with no kids. I don't think AI is going to put me out of a job in the next 7 years max. If it does, I can retire early. It wouldn't be ideal but I could do it.

 

[Jaime Chitwood]

You want anger about everything step on a college campus these days.

Glenn, have you ever stepped foot on a college campus?

 

[exo6desmo]

If you want your team to be five white boys from EKY they're probably only winning a handful of games and getting absolutely thrashed in a very athletic SEC with (now) older players. KY doesn't produce enough talent to field a competitive team.


I don't think money is the issue and you can't say it is when we just fielded a team supposedly worth around $22M. I also believe many on Rafters said in years past that a program like UK would thrive in this environment. Now we're saying it won't because our state is poor? It's the coaching staff that was in place and the players they chose that's the problem. They paid millions for role players.


Duke did not pay a player $7M. That was a false report by a Wisconsin troll with a social media account. I don't believe the player in question has even picked Duke yet.


So wait, are you admitting you'd rather watch a bunch of young guys who come from a similar county than you even though they'd have no shot at a national championship and would likely lose most of their games? Yeah, sounds like a blast.


Every generation does this and every generation complains lol. The Boomer thing is overplayed but where do you think that comes from? Older folks naturally complain about how the world is "now" and how awful youngsters are. And the Boomer thing really got going because folks looked around at the world and noticed old people with a tight grip on power, refusing to let go and make way for newer generations. If things are getting worse, it's not because of the 18-25 year olds.

Those titles aren't irrelevant but in 2026 go up to a basketball fan and try to get them to believe there's some sort of importance in titles from the 40s and 50s. It's history for us but you're not winning an argument by bringing up something won 70-80 years ago.

Buddy, look at who is and has been running the world. It ain't the kids. Now reread your long post where you're complaining about the world. Repeat, kids aren't running the world you currently don't seem to like. Last I checked, it's a bunch of folks of, shall we say, advanced age calling most of the shots. They just refuse to retire because they enjoy power too much.

I could do this all evening but I'll stop here for now. Hopefully we get some commits soon because some of these posts are pretty out there and getting worse.

If you wish to talk to me, do it individually. I'm not sifting through that mess of ****

 

[warrior-cat]

Michigan living its best life.

One year does not make it your best life. Someone had to win the crap sandwich.

 

[Glenn's Take]

Glenn, have you ever stepped foot on a college campus?

Not since college other than Commonwealth Stadium. I don't hang out at elementary schools either.

 

[BookofMormon]

It really does. The Big Ten ruled both football and basketball this year, it has the reigning national champ in football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball, and now seems to be moving toward the front in nearly all sports (it even has the current number one ranked baseball team).

I didn’t think the SEC would have to take a backseat to anyone in today’s era, but that does appear the direction college sports are going.

The big diff between the B10 and the SEC is the academic pedigree and wealth that comes with it. Donor's will be bigger, large endowments, they'll just be smarter around how they operate. They're all major research institutions. With this open economic playing field, they'll start dominating without regulation.

Cinderella's are already dead. Now you have to wonder if anyone but the B10 is going to be dead soon.

As I saw somewhere, in the SEC, car dealerships are the donors. I the B10, car manufacturers are the donors.

B10 has CFB three years running. Now have MCB, and WCB. UCLA 1 in BB. So they dominate the money generating sports. Wisconsin & Michigan in hockey F4. They are everywhere.

 

[Jaime Chitwood]

Not since college other than Commonwealth Stadium. I don't hang out at elementary schools either.

How do you know college kids are angry?

 

[BGCATFAN2012]

I have been a UK fan for 60 yrs and having trouble adjusting to the current climate of college sports. I'm almost to the point of not caring or watching anymore.

I miss the pre NIL days and now totally uninspired with the current college sports climate.

I don't know what the answer is for myself, but I'm totally not happy about it.

It has changed so much for me and certainly not for the better.

Its not your fault its a garbage product and nobody knows anything about the roster or if we will field a d3 squad. Im not happy either and wish this was fixed but starting to worry this is atleast the next 3 to 5 years and just hoping we field a top 20 team is a long shot.

 

[Glenn's Take]

How do you know college kids are angry?

Same way I know there are kangaroos in Australia even though I've never been there.

 

[Shaudylo]

It's really not as fun when it's just a team of one year mercenaries each year and you hardly know their names then they're gone chasing the next bag.

If they are winning we will remember the name.

Winning would cure this current feeling most of the fanbase has about college basketball.