there. Now they have a chance to prove him right.

The essentially free agency that has resulted from the (NIL/Portal) is ruining college sports. Coach Bennett's stature in the game and his resignation will set off a lot of controversy....as it should. I hate that agents essentially have turned the game into an ugly greed grab. Loyalty to team, school, coaches and teammates be damned.

I wonder if that agent has negotiated better jobs/contracts Something to look into

But the coach that turned down a raise isn’t the one to try this on. He blatantly stated he is all for players getting payed but with structure. I’m sure in your example this said coach didn’t have a contract with the agent who was professionally verified, contract with the school that ensures payment on time, allowed general lines of flexibility but the ability to leave when terms weren’t met/stable. Schools totally weren’t telling this hypothetical coach he would be paid x and got y instead. Weird how all those characteristics are currently being applied with NIL right? Right? For everyone’s sake this wasn’t Saban losing control and getting upset. Bennett sees a system that isn’t working. Mike Young says the same thing. And Bennett chose he didn’t want to be a part of it under the current premises. Bennett doesn’t retire today with payers being paid through a CBA and contractual structure.

there’s a structure/rules that applies to the clubs and players. Right now college sports is a combination of the worst aspects of professionalism and amateurism.

There is nothing in the structure of the game that is keeping UVA players or anyone Tony Bennett recruits from signing a uniform, professionally vetted contract. There is literally nothing against that. No legislation, no NCAA rule, no ACC rule and as far as I know no school rule keeping him from doing so. "I want the players to be compensated" is the new "I have a friend who is ____" when your next sentences are designed to paint players compensation as something that needs to be changed so much you'd lose your job over it. If his true feelings are that he wants players to get paid AND help them with standardized contracts: 1) it would be much easier to do so from the inside 2) I look forward to him joining the players union in fighting for those rights I just sincerely don't think either will wind up happening. I am 100% with you that Bennett isn't the level of Saban when it comes to a disconnect with players rights, and certainly not in regards to cheating, but we cannot pretend he is advancing the issue of players rights by using players getting paid and having flimsy contracts as a reason he no longer wants to coach. He had every opportunity to simply say his heart wasn't in it and move on. He could attack what he sees as an injustice while on the sidelines. But no, he chose to specifically call out the NIL landscape as though it was a problem with the players, and the only thing the players are doing is exercising the same rights he exploited to get to where he was. Which he had every right to do...and the players have that right as well now

Bennett sees the system for what it is and doesn’t want a part of it - knowing in order to effectively lead a good program, you have to do those things. To me - today was himself acknowledging I am a hall of fame coach that doesn’t fit anymore. Because of the Wild West. I will always feel that Bennett knows (and probably returns, if soon enough) when contracts, CBAs etc are instituted. I think Bennett is unique in that sense that his job is to coach, not be a GM, etc and that’s what’s needed today, and he knows that isn’t him. But I also think a better defined structure would have made it more palatable to Bennett. As he said at ACC media day, there are major pitfalls in the current system - that isn’t because players can get paid. I think what he said there was more systemic than player oriented in criticism on this. We both know that sure players could sign contracts, etc, and exploitation would still occur. It always will regardless college or pro. But I think a 55 year old Hall of Fame Coach leaving the game and openly saying it is because of the chaos will do more to help reel this in more than whatever fake advisory position uva/ncaa/whoever could create for him.

I'm not sure where that sentiment is coming from that they can't If TB wants there to be a CBA, he wouldn't be leaving basketball he would have said at least one time in the last 3 years that it is what the NCAA should do. Players want to unionize, that's the first step in getting a CBA. There is nothing about college sports today that is the "Wild West" because there is not a single right the players have that coaches haven't had for the last 50 years. Not one. It has either been a Wild West for 50 years or it isn't one now. There is no in-between. If TB is leaving now due to a feeling of a "Wild West" then that's on him. The players gaining rights everyone else had shouldn't be the reason you feel everything is lacking order. And if it is, the game, and the athletes, are genuinely better off with you gone.

systems in the entire world. Truthfully, I think Bennett is maybe the most vocal proponent of player protection than anyone in the industry. In his interview with CBS sports, the amount he discussed protecting players health, making sure guys aren’t being taken advantage of. I agree completely a coach leaving players they recruited is as bad and if not worse than what happened at unlv in football. But both shouldn’t happen. And I think Bennett made it very clear too. He said in that same interview that uva lost players bc of nil. He said uva can compete in this World but HE can’t. It’s not a control thing, he doesn’t want to be a gm doing contract negotiations day after day after day. He wants to be a coach. I think it is absolutely possible to get back to what college athletics was pre NIL where players are able to payed (at various levels). You are acting like he is an animal for not wanting open tampering, where players can have a great game and be gone the next day. He just thinks it has gone too far and the entire things needs to be redone. If players can’t transfer mid season, then coaches shouldn’t either, etc etc etc. Of course a system coach wants a system he is able to analyze actual basketball to win, instead of who can play GM best. A system can be created and players can get paid - both are possible at the same time.

Because he was tired of players not being able to negotiate then I'm not really sure we can have a discussion

Stop donating to NIL and much will go away

** Edited by TomTurkey at 10/18/2024, 2:41:47 PM

to have time as the head whistle as an interim in order to earn a shot at the job permanently. I guess everything is speculation until he speaks and who knows what will be said and how transparent he will be for his reasons. Sanchez has a long history with the Bennett family and maybe TB wanted to reward his loyalty. That certainly could explain the timing

To just bolt at the beginning of the season

Uneasy feeling about this. I really wish him and his family well.

a health issue...meaning it is not his health issue....but what if his wife, kid, etc has a health issue. Will find out soon when he speaks...but wish him well, he has always been a class act and I doubt that changed recently.

closely at the AD. Bronco left unexpectedly and now Bennett. ** Edited by Hokie`79 at 10/18/2024, 10:49:33 AM

** Edited by PacklineD at 10/18/2024, 11:27:23 AM