[quote="Logen" post=314731]I did not see the game last night, I had a speaking engagement so I DVR'd it. Saw the score and box score and came on the board to read the pre-game thread to find out why Ponds did not play. Have not read any other game or post-game comments because I know how they will read. My thoughts went somewhere else and are really reflective of my age and the era I grew up in versus the "Me" generation.
I am not naïve to say this was an absolute because it was not, but "back in the day" team mattered, teammates mattered, commitments mattered. This culture was certainly taken advantage of by those in "authority" and one can make an argument that looking out for No. 1 is perfectly justified. As much as I hate to say it, I would have a hard arguing against that. But I couldn't help thinking that IMO, and it is only an opinion, we have had several sabotaged teams in the last few years. Jakaar Sampson hijacked one season playing selfishly for a pro contract, LoVett quit on the team last year, and while this season is far from over I couldn't help but think if Mikey Dixon really thought he was a BE player last night would have been his opportunity to prove it. I am not judging him, it is the world he grew up in and he has every right to do what he did but for an old fart like me the "modern" sports culture is slowly but surely eroding my interest. I understand we very well could have lost if Dixon were here, we gave up 48 points in the 2nd half and neither Ponds or Dixon would have likely changed that but if either were available we would have undoubtedly scored more than 71.
But honestly, it goes deeper for me than a lost game. You see in college football now, some players, and it is still rare, don't play in bowl games because of the risk of injury affecting their draft status or ending their NFL aspirations. IMO, it is only a matter of time before players do like LoVett did and "shut it down" rather than risk further injury no matter the extent of their injury.
Free agency has been a factor in my losing interest in pro sports, college has moved to its own version of roster uncertainty.[/quote]
In my opinion, the whole transfer game is a two way street. You wish for and want to see loyalty from players, and hope they have that team first mentality. But you also have to expect that same loyalty from the schools and coaches as well. Unfortunately, none of us know what exactly is said or promised to players during the recruiting process. When our coaches sat down with Dixon, I'm sure they had their plans and ideas for him all laid out, and he was promised X amount of playing time and was told how he fit into the 'big picture'. However, for whatever reason(s), those plans/ideas never materialized, and he decided to move on. This is more than likely Dixon's last opportunity to play competitive basketball, so you can't blame him for not wanting to waste that opportunity on the bench. Another example is Jalen Hurts. Two years ago he was the starting QB in the national championship game. After he plays bad in one half, he gets benched and he's not really ever heard from again (although he did stay at Alabama to finish and is now looking for a new school as a transfer). Where was the loyalty from Saban? If coaches are ready to move on to the next man up, why can't players? As far as sitting out bowl games or shutting it down. I personally completely understand and respect their decisions. Nick Bosa is going to be a top 5 pick in the draft, and if I'm him, I do not do anything that puts that at risk. Many of these players view college athletics as a means to a greater end. It is sort of like an entry level job.
