Moving onto NCAA Basketball Ch...

Now that the college football season is over, finally, I thought I would share a few thoughts on the last season and all the changes we have seen the colleges and universities go thru. It’s not gonna be a bitch session, more of a review on where are and we are going. I’m done with about what I did and didn’t see in college football this year. Complaining and listening to people complain can get tiring especially when the people complaining the most about the game have literally made millions of dollars from the very game they’re complaining about. Go figure!

All in all, I was pretty happy with the way the season turned out. The new twelve team college football format was semi successful in my opinion, it’s far from perfect but it’s getting better. There were a couple teams that many, including myself, didn’t really belong in the playoff picture but were there none the less and certainly made things interesting. Making the picks as to who would win and who would cover proved to be a challenge as I found out but I was happy enough to pick the championship game thank you very much. I just wish my entire season had gone as well. 

I’m told that next year there will be changes in the the playoff format although I have no idea what they’ll be. I have learned however that as the season progresses the selection committee will be allowed to “tweak” the format, whatever that means so for now we’ll have to wait and see. In the end, everyone agrees that twelve teams left standing at the end of the season is better than four so I’m good with it. 

Everyone who is anyone agrees that NIL and the transfer portal has changed the way the game is played forever. Players can now transfer almost at will and at any time in the season regardless of their prior commitments. Frankly I think it’s absurd. Additionally, schools can now actually pay athletes to attend at rates which eclipse even professional sports. Millions of dollars provided by “NIL Funds” are being provided to players as young as 14 and still in high school. Of course, anyone who receives NIL dollars and is under the age of 18 has a “restricted account” due to being a minor. Go figure. I’m pretty sure there are a lot of Aunts and Uncles coming out of the woodwork and jumping on Junior’s bandwagon these days. Thanksgiving just got very popular!

NIL and The Transfer Portal is at very least a revolution in college sports and like most revolutions it will eat it’s young in this case either literally or figuratively. I foresee a series of regulations forthcoming and I know everyone hates that but money breeds bad things in the wrong hands. I’ll take a wait and see attitude but I’m pretty sure that these two factors and the world of college sports are in an epic collision course. More on this as the off season progresses. 

I’m sure that many of you noticed that ESPN’s College Gsme Day experienced a huge surge in viewers this year. I’ve been watching it myself for nearly 20 years and I love it. The addition of Coach Nick Saban, who publicly stated he left coaching over NIL, has been an excellent move on the part of the producers. If you actually listen to what Saban comments on regarding recruiting, players, training, coaching and life in general can be not only entertaining but highly educational and informative. The guy gets it. I’m not sure if we’ll see him in coaching again but he’s a treasure to have around. Let’s hope his tenure on ESPN continues. I’m sure his blood pressure agrees!

So, for now folks it’s in to college basketball! Yes, the effects of NIL and the transfer portal are being felt here as well and as we get deeper in the season I’ll be discussing it more. With March Madness a little over a month away I’ll be following individual teams that I feel will be there at the end. Thankfully The NCAA Tournament has more teams then just twelve so it should be interesting. 

With all that’s coming up with The Superbowl and such I’ll just leave it at a Play On!!

Kev

Kev's Corner Our Staffs Weekly Sports perspective

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