Millions are watching, but plenty of problems plague college football

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Every year we address the health of college football. The numbers are in for the CFP Championship Game and they show the popularity of the sport is arguably at an all-time high. The game was the second-most watched CFP game since 2011, averaging an NFL-like well over 30 million viewers. It was the eighth-most watched game on ESPN since 1979. To put that in context, it was also the most viewed non-NFL game since the 2016 Game 7 of the World Series between Chicago and Cleveland. All that in a championship game played between Indiana (hardly a blue blood school) and Miami (a “small” private school when compared to the large public ones) – with big schools with national followings like Notre Dame, USC, Texas, Michigan, Ohio State, etc. absent. That alone is a compelling statistic.

So the money side of college football is healthy and interest in the sport continues to grow by leaps and bounds. But the dark side is festering and haunts the fact that these are educational institutions first, and compete in athletic sports second. Thus, the term student-athlete. We found out recently that Miami quarterback Carson Beck, who graduated from Georgia two years ago, may have been enrolled at Georgia last year and Miami this year, but admitted he hasn’t attended class in two years and would not be at Miami next semester. Don’t think he’s the only one. Players routinely don’t attend class, transfer and don’t attend any class again at their new school. Academic standards? For an elite player, there aren’t any. NCAA football at the FBS level is a business and when it comes to academia, Power Four members sold themselves out long ago. We all know NIL and the transfer portal need to be reigned in but they are both here to stay and changes will be difficult because the money is so great.

Remember Washington quarterback Demond Williams, Jr., who signed a binding NIL contract with the Huskies only to enter the portal this year and then change his mind after Washington intended to sue Williams for breach of contract? Williams now is fulfilling his obligation at a school he wanted to leave. It happened again this week when Duke quarterback Darian Mensah, who signed a two-year NIL deal through 2026, then entered the portal on its last day. Duke sued and obtained a temporary injunction preventing him from enrolling or signing an NIL deal anywhere else until a final decision is made by the court.  Both of these players probably realized they could get millions more elsewhere to break their promise and leave. Maybe the schools would simply allow the player to leave. Even if Duke prevails, do you want a player of that character and lack of loyalty playing for you? Read between the lines – greed is the common denominator and even an ironclad contract can be invalidated or mutually terminated by the motivation of more money. It will only get worse. 

These problems exist now because the NCAA passed legislation which has created this cockamamie system. They are the originators and monitors of this now destructive path when they could’ve been the saviors. Consider them complicit. Years ago, before anyone warned of the permanent damage to the sport, warnings were made here about the “imperfections” of college football. The purity is gone; the student-athlete has disappeared and the game itself has been dealt irreparable harm.  In this respect, the sport is unrecognizable from its original form of amateur competition.  With no creative thinking in sight from the schools, the conferences or the NCAA, the sport we all know and love is on oxygen right now. Let’s hope and pray leadership and bipartisan changes are implemented to stop this avalanche of destruction.

Punch should be punished

After the Jan. 19 championship game, Miami star running back Mark Fletcher Jr. was filmed committing the most egregious act of bad sportsmanship ever seen when he literally sucker punched Indiana’s Tyrique Tucker in the face.  An obvious criminal assault and battery for the nation to see. The individuals were separated before further damage was done. Supposedly, Tucker said something derogatory about Fletcher’s deceased father which if true, is offensive and insensitive. But words alone cannot provoke a physical response unless they are threatening, an element missing here. Where’s coach Mario Cristobal on this?  It’s only a matter of time until this act is imitated in a youth league.  And where’s the police to arrest Fletcher? Was this part of the game? Is it now legal to physically assault another if he’s offended by a statement? There’s so much “smack” during a game that goes unpenalized because helmets are on and physical boundaries are followed.  But the game was over. Meanwhile, no consequences, not even a statement reflecting violence in sports cannot be tolerated. This is the society we now live in.

Until next time…

That all being said, our tenth season is now behind us. This year, we travelled to places like Iowa (first time), the Texas State Fair (the Red River Rivalry) and the usual spectacular venues like Georgia, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, etc.  Even with all that is wrong in college football, there is no better “experience” than attending a game featuring two Top 20 teams in a packed stadium. The players marching through the home crowds, the traditions, the band combined with the never-ending crowd noise, makes it a priceless memory.  

As we’ve stated before, it’s a privilege to bring all of you my thoughts and observations as I travel around the country because when you’re doing what you want in life, it’s never work. I hope you’ve enjoyed the columns and thank all of you who’ve emailed me weekly to comment on various subjects. Our column also is read from the East to West Coast and committed to piquing your interest, learning things you may have not known and most importantly, entertaining you.  Writing with passion and purpose, unaffected by bias or influence, integrity is not compromised here. I thank you for another rewarding ride with an eye toward a “commitment to excellence” (yeah, I know borrowed the phrase from the late great Al Davis but it fits here) and an ear toward listening and writing about issues which provoke both thought and enjoyment. Wishing you all the very best until the next time. I’m out!

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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Millions are watching, but plenty of problems plague college football

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