P5 get what they want...

[bigCasu]

I guess off the top of my head, one recurring thought is; what if these P5 schools up scholarship numbers up to say 120 per school (football)... Will that ultimately draw a kid away from a G5 conference--- maybe kid doesn't get as much-or any- playing time but gets the financial benefits.

It all comes down to whether a student athlete wants to be on a successful football team, or wants to actually play for one. If the goal is to go to college so you get noticed by the NFL, you have to actually play on the field to get recognized. The NFL doesnt draft backups.

But if a kid wants to collect rings and swag for not playing and being the 5th string quarterback, have at it.

It might be cool for a player to say they played for Baylor, Illinois, etc, until someone asks them who they are and the questioner responds with, "I've never heard of ya"

Big C,

Have to correct you here. Your statement about backups being drafted is not true. You can't be 3rd string and never get on the field and get drafted but you can be #2 on the depth chart and get drafted as long as you play or you are a star in practice who has a good pro day and/or all-star game performance.

USC backup QB Matt Cassel was taken in the 7th round. He backed up Matt Leinart his senior year.
Willie Parker, former UNC RB, had a good NFL career and he was a backup.
Also, LSU's #3 CB was drafted a couple years ago in like the 3rd or 4th round.
MIami has had a backup LB drafted.
In fact, one year USC had 4 rookie LBs starting in the NFL and they ran a 4-3 defense the previous year. Meaning, one of those LBs was a backup on their team. All 4 were drafted.
Arkansas had 2 RBs drafted in the first round one year. McFadden was the starter and the backup was Felix Jones.

I could go on and on to name more. It's not often and only happens at power schools where the starter is a top 50 draft pick but it has happened. NFL teams attend practices so they see backups.

I say that but Maine's backup RB Montell Owens was not drafted, however, he was signed by the Jaguars and was a Pro Bowl special teams player.

Watch Clemson this year. Their backup defensive ends are better than any end on our roster or any Sun Belt team roster. Just watch them. One of the backups is a senior and whenever he got on the field he stood out.

The issue here is do you want to possibly go from being a late round pick as a backup at USC or Miami or Florida State or do you want to play at a non power 5 school and start for 2, 3, or 4 years. I would rather play but some players rather get more benefits and play with 20 or 30 future NFL players on their team as opposed to just 2 or 3 on a team like ECU or App or UAB or Troy.

Bottom line is that if you are legit the NFL will find you, regardless of the level you play. A player is just as likely to get found at Newberry, Mars Hill, etc. as they are App State or USC simply because NFL teams have the resources and will find them. The reason it doesn't appear that way is because most of the talent just happens to attend the power 5 schools. Mars Hill doesn't attract the same quality of player as we do but if they develop a player into a better prospect, he will get drafted and/or make it and have a good career.

And my example to that was the 5th string quarterback. Those are the type players would be on the fence about whether to sit at Auburn or compete for a starting job at App. Of course there are backups that make the NFL. You took my point, told me I was wrong, and then made my point right back. I'm not falling for it. Good effort.

[luvyosef]

From ESPN.com ---

"Many of the Power Five conference coaches in college football told ESPN that they favor a schedule consisting of only Power Five opponents.

Of the 65 Power Five coaches from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC and Notre Dame, 46 percent (30 coaches) favored playing exclusively Power Five opponents while 35 percent (23 coaches) were opposed. About 18.5 percent (12 coaches) were undecided.

The Pac-12, Big 12 and SEC coaches favored playing all Power Five opponents, while the ACC coaches were against it by a 6-4 margin with four coaches undecided. Big Ten coaches were divided: Six each were for and against it, with two undecided.

The coaches, who were in Bristol, Connecticut, last month, were asked whether they would favor all Power Five conferences playing their respective conference schedules and then scheduling all nonconference games against other Power Five teams. Because of the tougher schedules under this hypothetical scenario, teams would not be required to reach six wins to play in a bowl.

I like what Indiana's head coach Kevin Wilson, who voted AGAINST an all P5 schedule, said, "Are you gonna be happy with .500 football?"

He's right. No way Wake is better than App 9 out of 10 times. Heck, UL-Monroe won at Wake last year and will beat them again in 3 weeks. TYpical elistist arrogance from the P5 especially Saban who is leading the P5 schedule yet has no probably whipping Western Carolina on a regular basis. 2014 will be the CATS 4th trip to Tuscaloosa in the last decade. Giving the fans what they want ain't ya Nick, excuse me, PRICK SABAN.

[WVAPPeer]

So - what do you have against Saban - because he has won 3 of the last 5 national championships? ---

[DoubleA]

"This keeps Division I together. I'm thrilled that Division I and all its virtues can be maintained, and I think this is the pathway to do so." "All its virtues?" What shameful, unbridled hypocrisy! I think I need to throw

The P5 basically has little choice but to give a bigger slice of the pie to their athletes - their hand has been forced by litigation and forces they could no longer ignore. But they have no one to blame but themselves for a collection of decisions made over time. The P5 schools slowly, but surely, converted their programs from college sports for the benefit of students, alumni and friends into downright commercial sports enterprises. Now the money has become too big to ignore, including oversized coaching and administrative salaries, facilities, and bureaucracies.

So what does this mean for the rest, outside of the P5? Does ASU, for example, aspire to become a future P5 school? Do we use the current environment to try to claw our way up the economic ladder? Or do we use this as an opportunity set ourselves apart by doubling down on the ideal of educating and developing young men and women into tomorrow's leaders? The later notion sounds idealistic, but some of ASU's biggest points of pride come in the form of former ASU Student-Athletes, who had great careers on and off the field at ASU, and then went on to achieve even greater things in the working world. Gil Beck and Rick Beasley are just two examples that come to mind. What a great legacy for ASU! I would like to think we are attracting "SAs" who have high goals, both on and off the playing field, and are coming to us for a genuine opportunity to gain a great education, life skills, and a degree. IMO, this is truly where college sports programs can pay huge "dividends" for students, alumni and the university.

This may sound harsh to some, but the P5 are no more than prostitutes who will go to most any length to build their sports enterprise and will play anybody, anytime, anywhere, at the whims of commercial TV interest. Never mind that there's an Econ exam on Thursday - ESPN calls up and says we need you to play XYZ school on a Wednesday night on national TV, and schools don't think twice in accepting the offer. They cannot resist the temptation of national TV exposure, recruiting benefits and TV money. It's mind boggling to consider the lengths UNC-CH was willing to go in name of building its commercial sports enterprise - to the point they endangered thier accreditation. Unbelievable!

[APPARJ]

A player is just as likely to get found at Newberry, Mars Hill, etc. as they are App State or USC simply because NFL teams have the resources and will find them. The reason it doesn't appear that way is because most of the talent just happens to attend the power 5 schools. Mars Hill doesn't attract the same quality of player as we do but if they develop a player into a better prospect, he will get drafted and/or make it and have a good career.

Just... No.

[fjblair]

The big 5 are little more than money whores. Money ruins everything eventually if the numbers are big enough. Government, Wall Street, corporations, medical care/insurance, professional sports and now at work on the university system. Just because you have a lot of money doesn't mean you earned it by doing the right thing. The college sports playing field has never been level and the concept of "student athlete" has always been a stretch with revenue sports but this is uncharted territory.

It is beginning to all seem pointless. I say forget the student bit and call it semi-pro university sponsored revenue generating sports team. End the classes and all that phony shit and train them like the pros.

[GreatAppSt]

NFL Beware the p5 is after your dollar.

[luvyosef]

So - what do you have against Saban - because he has won 3 of the last 5 national championships? ---

Never have liked him. If he was so interested in what his "fans wanted", Alabama would have already nutted up and quit playing teams like WCU, UTC and Florida Atlantic. I just hate to see G5 teams and conferences, which App is a part of, get squeezed because of all the p5 schools and their greed. Just one man's opinion.

[WVAPPeer]

So - what do you have against Saban - because he has won 3 of the last 5 national championships? ---

Never have liked him. If he was so interested in what his "fans wanted", Alabama would have already nutted up and quit playing teams like WCU, UTC and Florida Atlantic. I just hate to see G5 teams and conferences, which App is a part of, get squeezed because of all the p5 schools and their greed. Just one man's opinion.

I have no argument with your opinion of what the P5 is doing and what it is all about - Saban is not leading this, it is the AD's like Johnny Swofford and the Presidents who see all the $$$$ --- Saban already has his millions, he just wants to win championships ---

[Saint3333]

BS WV.

Saban is just like those guys. Remember how he left LSU and the Dolphins.

[WVAPPeer]

BS WV.

Saban is just like those guys. Remember how he left LSU and the Dolphins.

He's like every other coach who jumps for more money - if you condemn him for that, then you have a long list of a-hole coaches - Gee, I thought my point was clear - Saban isn't leading this takeover by the P5, it's being led by the ADs and Presidents, NOT THE COACHES!!!

[BeauFoster]

Guys, Saban is from West Virginia. Therefore he can do no wrong. Just accept it and move on...WV has spoken on this and you are all now wrong.

[WVAPPeer]

Guys, Saban is from West Virginia. Therefore he can do no wrong. Just accept it and move on...WV has spoken on this and you are all now wrong.

FINALLY !!! - You have seen the light ---

[Saint3333]

BS WV.

Saban is just like those guys. Remember how he left LSU and the Dolphins.

He's like every other coach who jumps for more money - if you condemn him for that, then you have a long list of a-hole coaches - Gee, I thought my point was clear - Saban isn't leading this takeover by the P5, it's being led by the ADs and Presidents, NOT THE COACHES!!!

Saban handled his decisions poorly during the process, it is well documented.

I don't care where Saban stands of the matter (he clearly stands beside them though) he isn't a very like able guy. He is like the Coach K of CFB.

[WVAPPeer]

" He is like the Coach K of CFB."

Yep - the 2 best! ---

[bcoach]

BS WV.

Saban is just like those guys. Remember how he left LSU and the Dolphins.

He's like every other coach who jumps for more money - if you condemn him for that, then you have a long list of a-hole coaches - Gee, I thought my point was clear - Saban isn't leading this takeover by the P5, it's being led by the ADs and Presidents, NOT THE COACHES!!!

Saban handled his decisions poorly during the process, it is well documented.

I don't care where Saban stands of the matter (he clearly stands beside them though) he isn't a very like able guy. He is like the Coach K of CFB.

Hey don't pick on my guy Coach K

[Saint3333]

They both talk about SOS but schedule cupcakes and few if any true road games, what a joke.

[bcoach]

They both talk about SOS but schedule cupcakes and few if any true road games, what a joke.

I'm sorry I thought you were talking the Coach K from Duke.

[Saint3333]

Coach K schedules road games at neutral sites.