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Saban on role of NIL in his retirement

I'm a big Saban fan, and thought this was interesting...

ESPN — But Alabama's 27-20 overtime loss to Michigan in the CFP semifinal at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 was a hard one for Saban to digest. Not only was Saban upset about the way his team played, he was especially disheartened about some of the things that happened afterward -- in the Rose Bowl locker room and back on campus, when he met with some of the players.

"I want to be clear that wasn't the reason, but some of those events certainly contributed," Saban said of his decision to retire. "I was really disappointed in the way that the players acted after the game. You gotta win with class. You gotta lose with class. We had our opportunities to win the game and we didn't do it, and then showing your ass and being frustrated and throwing helmets and doing that stuff ... that's not who we are and what we've promoted in our program."

Once back in Tuscaloosa, as Saban began meeting with players, it became even more apparent to him that his message wasn't resonating like it once did.

"I thought we could have a hell of a team next year, and then maybe 70 or 80 percent of the players you talk to, all they want to know is two things: What assurances do I have that I'm going to play because they're thinking about transferring, and how much are you going to pay me?" Saban recounted. "Our program here was always built on how much value can we create for your future and your personal development, academic success in graduating and developing an NFL career on the field.

"So I'm saying to myself, 'Maybe this doesn't work anymore, that the goals and aspirations are just different and that it's all about how much money can I make as a college player?' I'm not saying that's bad. I'm not saying it's wrong, I'm just saying that's never been what we were all about, and it's not why we had success through the years."

MWC basketball to 20 conference games

Surprised there has not been any post on this. MWC will move to a full balanced basketball schedule. Every team will face each conference foe twice during the 24-25 season. I assume we will have conference games before Christmas next year. Should make scheduling for UW much easier taking away two non-conference games. San Diego State is not going to like coming to Laramie every year. :p

MWC Basketball

Wrestling- Branch interview

Good interview with Coach Branch. I was a bit disappointed with the season but this interview changed my outlook a bit. Finished last year with a single dual win. Finished this year with seven dual wins. Last year was terrible with injuries and sickness forcing seven or so different starting lineups. This year also witnessed numerous different starting lineups for the same reasons, but just a better team. Several true freshman doing well and with Jore only a sophomore, there is some good reasons for optimism. Regardless, a good interview that I believe starts at the 16:30 mark.

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A new topic: Pay for play will hurt NFL too.

Pay for play is starting to change the NFL just like it has changed college football. Players like Caleb Williams, Brock Bowers, Marvin Harrison are no longer interested in jumping through hoops and doing what they are asked at the combine and taking the power away from the NFL. Why should you go to the combine and submit yourself to scrutiny when you are an entity unto yourself for your entire college (and possibly highschool) career? Sure this sounds fine and all but I cant help but wonder if these 20 year old kids are going to think they can run their prospective NFL teams too. After all, William's father was asking around for ownership stake in the franchise that drafts him. BEFORE HE SET ONE FOOT ON AN NFL FIELD. Humility might be the new trait for combine evaluators to seek and I am not sure how much humility these kids have. Maybe I am wrong and they are just following their agent's advise and using leverage but having followed some of William's exploits I do wonder if he isnt going to really need to get knocked down a whole bunch of pegs.

Additionally, I cant help but think the old NFL veterans that went to college, played by the rules and were paid for services rendered ON THE NFL FIELD will really resent these kids. Sure there are always hiccups with change. Maybe this will all iron itself out. But I am around this generation of kids that were raised by Tiktok. They have been molded into extreme narcissism and when the going gets tough, they quit and/or throw a huge temper tantrum. After all, they are a product of their helicopter parents that sheltered them from life. Why subject yourself to adversity when you can just move on to something else? You made your fortune already in college, why bother in the NFL? I know, I know. Get off my lawn.
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