College hoops

I'm conflicted…I feel the same. Once money gets involved, loyalty goes out the window. Earning cash becomes more important than team chemistry and hard work, and chasing a title often falls by the wayside. That said, colleges and the NCAA have been using these student-athletes for years. They promise a huge future, but less than 1% will make it at the national level. How many walk away with worthless degrees and end up jobless after graduation? When university coaches are the highest-paid employees on campus, we have a real problem. For my part, these kids should get something for putting their bodies on the line for our entertainment.

I feel that loss of loyalty too — players rarely stick around 2–3+ years anymore. It's basically free agency every season now. HOWEVER, your take might be colored by your team's recent struggles. I actually think college sports are more entertaining and more competitive than ever. It's not just the SEC and the traditional names who can pay players under the table anymore. Everyone can pay, so the usual underdogs are getting more talent. I mean, who had Indiana winning the CFB Championship on their radar 2+ years ago? And trust me, if players aren't producing they're getting cut. I'm an SEC alum and my team went deep in the tourney. Afterward the roster either graduated, declared, or “transferred.” Most of those transfers were probably told they didn't have a spot next season. Some got paydays elsewhere, but not at the level they'd have gotten here. My biggest old-man gripe is how the CFB Playoffs have wrecked Bowl Season and conference championship games.