Yeah, this deal is going from zero to infinity quickly. Lots of people thought it was unfair and inequitable that some schools were making so much while the athletes slaved away earning only a meager $200k education with preferential treatment. The haves and have nots are about to be separated decisively and permanently.
I have never liked this idea and have said from day one it will ruin college sports, at least as some of us knew it and used to love it. But Im an old guy who generally doesn’t like change. You younger guys (and gals) will have to live with what you asked for.
The problem isn’t that some of the better players will earn too much and that the riches won’t be shared equitably with the lesser players. That’s the least of the problems. The revolving door of players in the transfer portal just picked up rpm’s. Expected star player doesn’t produce and his endorsements and earning power dry up and he gone to the next opportunity. And the biggest loss will be the attitude of the typical fan. With the players concentrating more and more on me-me-me, the fans will inevitably transition to the pro ball mindset. It will no longer be about the achool, team, pride, appreciating commitment and hardwork. It is destined to become about the next star player, who’s contributing, who isn’t and how to remedy that as quickly as possible. This is no longer the game many of us grew up loving. There’s a reason I’ve always much preferred CFB to the pros. It will be impossible to tell the difference all too soon enough. The simple thought that the old way was not fair to the players is about to get buried in a pile and this deal is just beginning.
And I fully expect that Nebraska will be one of the schools that can make the transition and possibly even thrive in the new landscape. But at what expense? How many schools will drop the sport or be relegated to a lower status? What will it look like 5 or 10 or 20 years down the road? Where’s your crown king nothing?