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Started By
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Why does the concept of playing sports just to play seem so strange to so many people?
Posted on 12/8/25 at 10:24 am
Posted on 12/8/25 at 10:24 am
The overwhelming social media consensus on bowls is that they are meaningless and pointless because nothing is at stake. There's no "reason" to play them.
There's this underlying idea that if no championship or money is at stake, why bother?
But using this logic 99.99% of all sport events are equally meaningless. If you start the year 0-4 why not just cancel the rest of the season.
Don't most college athletes play sports just because they like them? The rowing team is just out there because they like to row for some reason. It's fun to compete and try to win, no matter what it is.
There's this weird fixation now on "what's in it for them??" behind every single thing.
Aren't these rosters full of guys who just like playing football? Only a tiny % of players go to the NFL or make big NIL money.
Pretty sure something like Tulsa vs UTEP has never mattered in terms of championship or money but they play it.
The meaningless of bowls hasn't changed at all now vs the past, but the public perception of them changed dramatically. Everything seems to be seen through this highly transactional lens.
There's this underlying idea that if no championship or money is at stake, why bother?
But using this logic 99.99% of all sport events are equally meaningless. If you start the year 0-4 why not just cancel the rest of the season.
Don't most college athletes play sports just because they like them? The rowing team is just out there because they like to row for some reason. It's fun to compete and try to win, no matter what it is.
There's this weird fixation now on "what's in it for them??" behind every single thing.
Aren't these rosters full of guys who just like playing football? Only a tiny % of players go to the NFL or make big NIL money.
Pretty sure something like Tulsa vs UTEP has never mattered in terms of championship or money but they play it.
The meaningless of bowls hasn't changed at all now vs the past, but the public perception of them changed dramatically. Everything seems to be seen through this highly transactional lens.
10
Posted on 12/8/25 at 10:27 am to StansberryRules
quote:
Don't most college athletes play sports just because they like them
Most college athletes? Yes
Most college football players? No
Posted on 12/8/25 at 10:28 am to StansberryRules
quote:
There's this weird fixation now on "what's in it for them??" behind every single thing.
What other sport has chances for life-altering injuries?
Posted on 12/8/25 at 10:29 am to chalmetteowl
quote:
What other sport has chances for life-altering injuries?
If that’s your counter, why play any sport at all?
Posted on 12/8/25 at 10:31 am to StansberryRules
quote:
There's this weird fixation now on "what's in it for them??" behind every single thing.
So it mimics everything else in the world.
Self-preservation and promotion is human nature.
Posted on 12/8/25 at 10:31 am to StansberryRules
quote:
If you start the year 0-4 why not just cancel the rest of the season.
I don't think we're very far from that. Not canceling of the season by a program, but more "star" or NIL potential players then sitting out if they already know there's booster NIL folks at another program trying to recruit them for the following season.
Could definitely see some stud receivers or RBs sitting out the second half of a season if their team starts 2-4 or worse. Heck, even if it's just to not get injured before the NFL draft.
Posted on 12/8/25 at 10:40 am to Frac the world
quote:
that’s your counter, why play any sport at all?
There’s a reason you don’t see pickup American football games
Posted on 12/8/25 at 10:43 am to Frac the world
quote:You can tear your ACL playing just about any sport, sure
What other sport has chances for life-altering injuries?
If that’s your counter, why play any sport at all?
No one's trying to decapitate you with their own head in any other sport
Posted on 12/8/25 at 10:47 am to Harry Caray
quote:
You can tear your ACL playing just about any sport, sure No one's trying to decapitate you with their own head in any other sport
There are tens of thousands of people playing HS and D3 football with no prospect of ever making a dime for their efforts. They play anyway.
The whole mindset of sitting out of “meaningless” games is anti-competitive, similar to the idea that teams shouldn’t care about conference championship games. Of course they should.
This post was edited on 12/8/25 at 10:48 am
Posted on 12/8/25 at 10:48 am to Frac the world
quote:Because the risk is worth the potential reward sometimes.
If that’s your counter, why play any sport at all?
The concept of just playing isn’t strange to anyone. Playing a meaningless game so some fool can make millions off me isn’t something I’m signing up for in 2025, though.
Posted on 12/8/25 at 10:50 am to Crowknowsbest
quote:Because they want to play and will never get the chance to play after this level. Anyone sitting out bowl games still has a future in football and wants to protect that future.
There are tens of thousands of people playing HS and D3 football with no prospect of ever making a dime for their efforts. They play anyway.
Posted on 12/8/25 at 10:53 am to StansberryRules
Tulsa and UTEP catching strays
Posted on 12/8/25 at 10:57 am to StansberryRules
The timing of the bowl games? How many other sports have games with no shot at a championship played between semesters? There are a number of colleges that have already ended their fall semester or are currently having final exams. These students then get about 1 month off until the Spring semester. If there is a bowl game to be played, these guys are having to stick around and continue the grind for another 2-3 weeks just to play 1 more game?
And, if players are expecting to hit the portal, do they want to put their body through more practices and a game for a team they may not play for next season?
And, if players are expecting to hit the portal, do they want to put their body through more practices and a game for a team they may not play for next season?
Posted on 12/8/25 at 11:01 am to Crowknowsbest
quote:
There are tens of thousands of people playing HS and D3 football with no prospect of ever making a dime for their efforts. They play anyway.
Because HS and D3 has not been transformed into a mini version of the NFL with paid players driving the decision process
The Pro Bowl went away because highly paid professionals decided it was no longer in their best interest to go play a "meaningless" exhibition game
D1 CFB players are slowly coming to the same conclusion
Posted on 12/8/25 at 11:05 am to StansberryRules
quote:
Everything seems to be seen through this highly transactional lens
Greed ruins things. In college football’s case, I have thought from the beginning that all of this would end up killing the goose that laid the golden egg, but I guess they’re still making plenty of money for now.
I just can’t see how people will stay interested.
Posted on 12/8/25 at 11:06 am to Harry Caray
quote:
Anyone sitting out bowl games still has a future in football and wants to protect that future.
This isn’t entirely true. A lot of Notre Dame players are at their final football destination.
FSU pulled basically a proxy opt out after their snub a couple years ago, and it was indicative of a horrible culture in that program. I would be surprised if ND’s is that severely bad, but declining a bowl bid certainly doesn’t point to a really strong competitive culture.
This post was edited on 12/8/25 at 11:06 am
Posted on 12/8/25 at 11:09 am to Harry Caray
quote:
Anyone sitting out bowl games still has a future in football and wants to protect that future.
Then why have them play at all? Why not just pay them to sit on the bench?
Posted on 12/8/25 at 11:28 am to StansberryRules
I played college ball for a program that lost only 3 games the entire time I was there and you'd be surprised how many teammates I had that just didnt want to be there and would rather be back at the dorms smoking weed all day
Posted on 12/8/25 at 11:29 am to StansberryRules
quote:
But using this logic 99.99% of all sport events are equally meaningless.
Because they are now being paid
Posted on 12/8/25 at 11:31 am to chalmetteowl
quote:
What other sport has chances for life-altering injuries
Basketball, lacrosse, wrestling, baseball, soccer, virtually all sports
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