Classiest answer yet!My stance has ALWAYS been that if a player graduates, then I have no hard feelings if they transfer. It's a reward for their hard work while pursuing their degree, the ideal of a student-athlete. It's why I cheer for Ryan Young but not Miller Kopp.
Sully earned his NU degree so he's not obligated to stick around if the coaches want to play mind games with him.
I hope that Sully wins the starting job and that we get a chance to sort it out on the field when we play Iowa in October.
I'm more SEC like.
I hope we destroy him.
We are being too nice, Go to hell Sully thanks for switching a competitor.
We are too nice at Northwestern. If a QB switched from LSU to Alabama his family would have their car tires slashed.
Fine.... we won't slash his car tires. Geez....!I will never want to do anything the way the SEC or their fans do.
The SEC's way of doing things sucks.
No class. Win at at all costs. Cheat when necessary.
If a player transfers because they know they will not see the field much with us, then I have no problem. So for Sully, I see what he did as a smart move for him and I’m perfectly fine with that. What I don’t like is the ones who transfer when they are projected as a starter. In those cases, we helped develop them and when they can really help our team, they bail on us. I think that as a waste of a scholarship spot for 3-4 years.Classiest answer yet!
Yea.If a player transfers because they know they will not see the field much with us, then I have no problem. So for Sully, I see what he did as a smart move for him and I’m perfectly fine with that. What I don’t like is the ones who transfer when they are projected as a starter. In those cases, we helped develop them and when they can really help our team, they bail on us. I think that as a waste of a scholarship spot for 3-4 years.
We can’t both tout the benefit and importance of the Northwestern degree and then hold a grudge for athletes who get them and leave.If a player transfers because they know they will not see the field much with us, then I have no problem. So for Sully, I see what he did as a smart move for him and I’m perfectly fine with that. What I don’t like is the ones who transfer when they are projected as a starter. In those cases, we helped develop them and when they can really help our team, they bail on us. I think that as a waste of a scholarship spot for 3-4 years.
Goal accomplished for them, not for us. Our goal is to win games and those grad students would help us do that. In this new age of NIL, what is expected has evolved. These are paid employees and expectation has change.We can’t both tout the benefit and importance of the Northwestern degree and then hold a grudge for athletes who get them and leave.
We like to think and say that they’re at NU for the degree, and also to play football. Goal accomplished.
Except people change jobs all the time, especially if they have the opportunity to go somewhere "better" or make more money.Goal accomplished for them, not for us. Our goal is to win games and those grad students would help us do that. In this new age of NIL, what is expected has evolved. These are paid employees and expectation has change.
“Think” is the key word. I would argue that many are here to play football and also get a degree.We can’t both tout the benefit and importance of the Northwestern degree and then hold a grudge for athletes who get them and leave.
We like to think and say that they’re at NU for the degree, and also to play football. Goal accomplished.
The literal pitch is “40 years not 4.” This is what they’re signing up for. The students NU is fortunate to sign are those that value the degree — or were *strongly encouraged* to value the degree by their parents.“Think” is the key word. I would argue that many are here to play football and also get a degree.
I don’t totally disagree. It’s quite interesting tho — a decadeish ago, the B1G was unique in offering four-year scholarships. NU couldn’t just kick guys off the team without penalty, and the players had no power because they had to sit out a year. Things are completely reversed now — the programs sign players for four years, except the players can bail without penalty. (Except, again, for that degree.)Goal accomplished for them, not for us. Our goal is to win games and those grad students would help us do that. In this new age of NIL, what is expected has evolved. These are paid employees and expectation has change.
I realize that I am not fully explaining my view. I think it is time to get rid of the 85 scholarship limit and go to a 120 roster limit where all players are employees. Instead of a national letter of intent, they sign a 4-year employment contract with an optional 5th year. If they leave to go to another college program without consent of the University, they must payback a certain portion of any benefit they have received (which I assume they will get from the new school so it is compensation). They can quit or leave for the NFL without penalty but cannot join another college team without the penalty being paid. The base would be partial or full tuition, medical, 401K, and an hourly rate for time spent with team. Pay increases with performance and whether they make the 2-deep. Bonuses are paid for the team making a bowl or playoff. As a full-time employee, all outside income would need to be approved by the University to prevent conflict of interest. Of course there would be clauses for special situation and an employee review board for appeals or to renegotiate a contract.
I expect people to tear my plan apart, but I see no other way out of this quagmire that would be fair to the school and the athlete.
He didn’t want to be two injuries from seeing the field, but rather one from somebody who has a track record of being fragile. And the offense is a better fit for his game at Iowa.In a vacuum, yes.
The confusing part is him choosing Iowa, where he’s almost assuredly behind McNamara this year then in another competition for 2025. I thought he would find a MAC program with a clear path to two years as starter.
Yeah but we will curse his name and throw him into the dustbin of all the other trash Bajakian recruited QBs that have come and gone. Including the snitch.Fine.... we won't slash his car tires. Geez....!
If they are employees, then they will form a union and collectively bargain (like the NFL). The agreement will almost assuredly not include any clawback provision.Goal accomplished for them, not for us. Our goal is to win games and those grad students would help us do that. In this new age of NIL, what is expected has evolved. These are paid employees and expectation has change.
I realize that I am not fully explaining my view. I think it is time to get rid of the 85 scholarship limit and go to a 120 roster limit where all players are employees. Instead of a national letter of intent, they sign a 4-year employment contract with an optional 5th year. If they leave to go to another college program without consent of the University, they must payback a certain portion of any benefit they have received (which I assume they will get from the new school so it is compensation). They can quit or leave for the NFL without penalty but cannot join another college team without the penalty being paid. The base would be partial or full tuition, medical, 401K, and an hourly rate for time spent with team. Pay increases with performance and whether they make the 2-deep. Bonuses are paid for the team making a bowl or playoff. As a full-time employee, all outside income would need to be approved by the University to prevent conflict of interest. Of course there would be clauses for special situation and an employee review board for appeals or to renegotiate a contract.
I expect people to tear my plan apart, but I see no other way out of this quagmire that would be fair to the school and the athlete.
Not all employees are in unions. I don’t remember the professors ever picketing.If they are employees, then they will form a union and collectively bargain (like the NFL). The agreement will almost assuredly not include any clawback provision.
Every major professional sports league in the US (nfl, mlb, nba, nhl) has a union. Are you really this obtuse?Not all employees are in unions. I don’t remember the professors ever picketing.
Also, union membership is viewed more favorably now than it has at any time in the last 50 years, particularly among young people. (UAW just won a union election in Tennessee, for chrissakes.).Every major professional sports league in the US (nfl, mlb, nba, nhl) has a union. Are you really this obtuse?
No I am not but unions are decided at a local level. No group is forced to unionize. Just because professional sports have unions doesn’t automatically lump all colleges into that category. It would be solely up to the local. Especially tricky is the difference between state and private institutes. But also, where do you stop and start with colleges. FBS? FCS too? What about women’s lacrosse or the golf teams? There is always a question of which groups belong in the union. Maybe a difference between revenue generating sports and non-revenue. Will Eastern Illinois football have a union? There are a lot if questions involved. You can’t just say union and expect everything must follow that course.Every major professional sports league in the US (nfl, mlb, nba, nhl) has a union. Are you really this obtuse?
We are too nice at Northwestern. If a QB switched from LSU to Alabama his family would have their car tires slashed.
He got his degree and he left.Goal accomplished for them, not for us. Our goal is to win games and those grad students would help us do that.
Which part of “So for Sully, I think it was a smart move and have no problems with that” did you not understand? I don’t have a problem with someone graduating and going elsewhere to get playing time. But when they are projected as a starter and go to another team for NIL or fame, I think of them as disloyal. I’m not affected by whether I like a guy or not. If they are done with football or go to the NFL, then that is great. If the coaching has changed and they do not like the new one, that is fine. I just don’t like them to end up at Notre Dame instead of helping our team their final year and nothing will change my opinion on that.He got his degree and he left.
That was the deal he signed up for.
That was also the deal Northwestern football made with him.
Deciding how you feel about such issues consistently as a matter of principle, makes these things really easy. In every case, if a player earns his degree and departs, I have no problem with him doing so. It's college, after all. This way I'm not affected by whether I like the guy or hate him, whether he goes to Michigan or Iowa or starts working on Wall Street, or for Notre Dame, a la Ryan Greer, who is now with the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder as a video analyst.
The one thing you can't do is try to destroy the program on your way out the door. So, Miller Kopp and obviously Carl Richardson failed to meet that standard and are forever tainted.
Lots of Reef members are saying he was beaten out by 1-3 others, plus coach allegedly told him they were going portalingBut when they are projected as a starter and go to another team for NIL
Is it hard to figure out I am talking about Ben Skowronek and not Sully?Lots of Reef members are saying he was beaten out by 1-3 others, plus coach allegedly told him they were going portaling
Well, yeah! It would mean I had to read the actual messageIs it hard to figure out I am talking about Ben Skowronek and not Sully?
I understand everything you wrote.Which part of “So for Sully, I think it was a smart move and have no problems with that” did you not understand? I don’t have a problem with someone graduating and going elsewhere to get playing time. But when they are projected as a starter and go to another team for NIL or fame, I think of them as disloyal. I’m not affected by whether I like a guy or not. If they are done with football or go to the NFL, then that is great. If the coaching has changed and they do not like the new one, that is fine. I just don’t like them to end up at Notre Dame instead of helping our team their final year and nothing will change my opinion on that.
He could have waltzed into several starting jobs in the MAC.In a vacuum, yes.
The confusing part is him choosing Iowa, where he’s almost assuredly behind McNamara this year then in another competition for 2025. I thought he would find a MAC program with a clear path to two years as starter.
We just disagree on what “better opportunity “ means. I said IF they are projected as a starter and want to continue playing college football, they should have their loyalty to the place that developed that talent and where they have teammates and friends. In all other cases, I have no problems with them going elsewhere or doing other things. I understand in this age of NIL that we have to give them market rate but I don’t think we should have problems with that.I understand everything you wrote.
I just disagree with your specific belief that NU students who play football and get their NU degree should not transfer and get a grad degree somewhere else if they see that as a better opportunity. When they get their diploma, they are free to do whatever they want to do.
Other than try to trash the program.
My daughter is graduating from NU in a month. You're telling me that football players in the same situation should feel obligated to enroll in NU grad school if they have eligibility left? I totally disagree.
Then don’t comment on my post if you don’t read them. It is just common courtesy.Well, yeah! It would mean I had to read the actual message
Not really!We just disagree on what “better opportunity “ means.
I'm sorry, did you say something?Then don’t comment on my post if you don’t read them. It is just common courtesy.
Sorry. Can’t get me with a childish response. Try your Pee-Wee Herman type response on a 7 year old.I'm sorry, did you say something?
Not exactly what I said. I believe the 40 year not 4 mantra. NU was loyal to him and I expect the same loyalty in return. When NU breaches that loyalty (not projecting him as a starter, telling him we are bringing in a transfer for his spot, or burying him in the depth chart), I have no problems with him leaving to another team. When he is projected as a starter, then I do expect loyalty.Not really!
It seems like you are saying that you will determine for the player if his decision is for a better opportunity, without knowing the essential details, then begrudge him if he decides to leave when he could help the team.
I'm saying the graduating player gets to decide what to do and I'll assume he is acting in his own interests, just like any other student.
Beyond that, anybody who was on the team when Schill fired Fitzgerald had the right to leave immediately. Some did. The doofus fired the guy who brought them to NU. Anyone who stuck it out for a year with "the new guy" had every right to leave if he wasn't enamored with the replacement coach. And some did that. I can't begrudge those guys either.
Not exactly what I said. I believe the 40 year not 4 mantra. NU was loyal to him and I expect the same loyalty in return. When NU breaches that loyalty (not projecting him as a starter, telling him we are bringing in a transfer for his spot, or burying him in the depth chart), I have no problems with him leaving to another team. When he is projected as a starter, then I do expect loyalty.
I know I am not part of the “me” generation and I grew up expecting 40 years loyal to one company and retire with a gold watch and pension, so I am fine if my view doesn’t work with today’s kids, but I still see the world through those glasses.
Truth! Keep them coming @NUCat320We can’t both tout the benefit and importance of the Northwestern degree and then hold a grudge for athletes who get them and leave.
We like to think and say that they’re at NU for the degree, and also to play football. Goal accomplished.
We were lucky to have them both as long as we didPriebe and Heard both fall under this category. Tough to see them playing elsewhere.
Priebe and Heard both fall under this category. Tough to see them playing elsewhere.