His bagmen have been paying athletes under the table for years, just like the rest of college football. Reminiscent of the scene in Casablanca when the police chief (Renault) shuts down Rick's cafe telling him, Renault: I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here! [a croupier hands Renault a pile of money] Croupier: Your winnings, sir. Renault: Oh, thank you very much.

He's the first one to build the huge "front office" operation to support his football team. A front office that would rival some, or most, pro teams.

That mumbo jumbo he's spewing about how it used to be about the development and taking care of the kids is laughable.

If Va Tech Administration had any balls they would drop football and basketball immediately. Other ACC and Big 12 schools should do it as well. Watch the chaos.

Rating the more likely the player will feel “entitled”. That’s why I say let the 4 and 5 star players go P2 and let’s get back to college games for the dedicated lower skilled players that are willing to play for scholarships and pride. I for one have no problem not being part of the P2. I think it would all turn out fine if 48 schools left and let the rest of us play our own championship. Ok St vs VT for the G5 championship in Atl. Sounds like fun. Set up our own 12 team playoff.

VT is recruiting the players from 8th grade, and getting all the intel from their coaches. They know what future stars perspective are and some great players and what are important and some 4-5 players have a balanced perspectives. Therefore VT is looking for 4-5 star players that 1) want to play at VT and 2) they will know they have a competitive NIL opportunities. VT will not be heavy in players who first question out of the mouth is how much... VT is going Full blown into Power 2 perspective. They do have a very competitive NIL program, they have an amazing first class staff and institutional resources focused. VT is not the SEC world; VT is doing a P2 perspective that is balance with athletics and academics, but first class. We do not have to apologize to anyone or feel we are left behind

This one is one I'm already there with SEC and B1G. Let them go on their merry way. I also believe we're going to see significant disparity emerge within those conferences too.

they don't want to share the $$ with the likes of Northwestern/Rutgers/Purdue/Miss St/Vandy/etc and they'll be talk of uneven revenue distribution. Either that or the top teams in the P2 will just split off from the SEC/B10 and form their own super conference.

The question I ask, is who will the blue bloods beat to retain their dominance if they break away? The P2 only has their power because the are combining the best football brands in two conferences. It's about the money for now, but they will have to continue to set themselves apart from the non blue bloods, or they risk losing that advantage. It's why I think a break away league will not happen. It's also why I think that their leverage and power is fleeting. While there has always been rich programs and brands in college athletics, this experiment has never happened where the top brands are consolidated for television revenue. If the top 20% separate themselves, who will they beat consistently for those undefeated - two loss seasons they have achieved throughout their histories. I don't think the P2 would survive by themselves, which is why I think the ACC, B12, and G5 have more leverage in the playoff negotiations than any one gives them credit for. Like the really good rivalries that have evolved, the good football matchups play for something. Michigan OSU usually had a Rose Bowl on the line. Miami and VT vied for conference championships at one time. Indiana and Purdue have a very heated rivalry that is inconsequential because they never play for anything but bragging rights locally. The P2 matchups will become like the Old Oaken bucket to the national audience. Means something if you go to those schools, but unless there are national championship or conference championship implications, no one is going to tune into an Oklahoma Mississippi State game. I just do not see this ending well for some long established brands.

into consideration. And there's no indication that the P2 is doing the same.

and tune into college ball - no matter how this shakes out.

Be like would you prefer the UFL over the NFL.

NFL, etc players who pay local taxes when playing. Welp, looks like that Florida, Texas, and Tennessee are getting ready to become a lot more popular then for athletes to pick.

I'm sure Alabama has been "paying" football players long before Saban even arrived there. You don't win multiple national football championships unless you have "Alabama" money. Saban said, “I don’t think that’s (big money NIL deals, billion dollar TV contracts,...) the spirit of college athletics. I don’t think that’s ever been the spirit of what we want college athletics to be." Maybe Saban did sincerely care about his player's well being and development on the field but his school paid him $11 million a year and has a never ending appetite to make more and more money to grow their program. Maybe Saban should recommend to both the SEC and Big 10 commissioners and their university presidents that they should use the Ivy League student-athlete model if he's so concerned about "the spirit" of college athletics?

Saban's huge "front office" model for college football is what blew the top off of college football as we used to know it.

And the opportunity to play a sport at a high level with the chance at a multi million dollar career. The fact that most of these kids and their families didn't care about the education part of it is not the fault of schools, fans, etc... I always hear this bleeding heart argument of "look how much money was being moved around and the players saw nothing." That's all well and good you feel bad for the players, but the fact of the matter is that college football was great because the players were amateurs. Sure there were backroom deals, attempts, at cheating, etc... But nothing to the level we see today, and most players still were just college athletes. This whole thing has permanently ruined the sport and will probably ruin all of college athletics with it. The bleeding hearts just haven't realized it yet.

the education part? Athletes graduate at a higher rate than regular students, so whether or not they "care" is meaningless. There is a ton of value in the education they receive. That's a great deal. The problem is that rules were put into place to limit compensation to just that. That would be fine if the coaches were still required to be teachers and didn't get multi-million dollar contracts, country club memberships, free cars, free houses, and free use of private planes. Kids aren't stupid. They see that money and rightfully want some of it. How many jobs are there that have no possibility at increased compensation?

Things change, just have to adapt or get left behind.

on his house. He had a contract negotiated that stated he was to be the highest paid coach in football after winning a natty and turned it down for more in the NFL. He is the greatest coach of all time, but he has absolutely been all about the money his entire career. As far as development goes, he's medically "retired" as many players that didn't pan out as anyone. Is he saying he failed there? ** Edited by reestuart at 3/13/2024, 5:30:13 PM

These coaches are professional sports coaches in terms of comp, and it all works because the school only have to give the athletes degrees in "Family Development" or "Anthropology" as their comp. It's a joke. He can say he cares about the kids all he wants, but they want money, same as him. If NIL was how they got there, fine. If it was the school paying them, it would be something the schools could never manage. Can you imagine when it comes out VT paid players half of what Clemson did? It would be chaos. NIL moves the comp out of the school's hair, like it has always been(bagmen and alumni), but at least now it is out in the open. ** Edited by MrBayAreaHokie at 3/13/2024, 5:27:12 PM

received was a free education.

Or he can coach Division 3 if he is so torn up over this.