re: Perspective on players leaving for the NFL and/or not playing in the bowl game

Here is an accurate comparative scenario:

Say that you aspire to a dream career, one that is highly lucrative and very selective. The only people that are ever considered for such a career need to have key skill set, and a body of work, that is absolutely not available to the person on the street. Possibly the skills could be obtained with highly expensive personal coaching which is not at all widely available, but the body of work simply cannot be achieved individually.

Now, some institution takes you in. It offers you the use of state of the art facilities within which you can build the requisite skill sets. While these would cost hundreds of dollars an hour on the free market, you get to use them for free for 20+ hours each week and more at certain times. They offer you the opportunity to at least potentially create the body of work that you would need, of course depending on how well you develop the skills. They offer you the opportunity to be marketed for this dream job.

Now, say this institution actually uses this developmental program to increase it’s prestige. This program is important to the institution’s identity, and while it is very profitable – a large percentage of the profits go back into the program to develop other young candidates like yourself.
The cost to you of acquiring this development and utilizing these facilities is simply that you participate in this program and help the institution continue to develop its brand for four years.

Now, you’ve completed three of the four years. Well, almost 3. Your dream job is offering you the opportunity to start a year early, and your institution has given you their blessing to leave a year ahead of time to take this job should it be offered. You have an interview coming up in a few months, but a big event for your institution is coming up. One that will Impact those remaining in the developmental program, as well as the leaders of the program that has put you on the cusp of your dream. This event will be viewed by more people than typically view the institution’s events, including many potential future participants, and is important in maintaining or improving the prestige of the institution

Should you say , “ nah, frick yall, I’m good. Imma big fish now. I’m gonna skip this deal so I can practice for my interview”?

Devin fricking White.

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He owes LSU nothing ....

I'm sure that's the way Greedy is thinking.

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I think you're both wrong. I think he does owe LSU some loyalty - the fans, the coaches, the school, and mostly huis brothers on the team. But I think he weighed all that, talked with his family, and decided that family and career and being able to provide for them comes first.

You guys make everything too simple. "He's just Greedy." or "He owes LSU nothing." Life ain't like that guys. It's messy and complicated. This kid had a tough decision to make; and when it came down to it, he chose family over everything else. Who are you or I or anybody else to judge or criticize that decision - without knowing him at all?

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Don't have a problem with him sitting out, but it's how you handle the situation.You don't even tell your coaches or brothers you go to war with every Saturday before you blast it out to the world? Comes across as very self-centered and arrogant! I wish him the best, but he fumbled this situation big time!

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I agree with this. He should have handled it better.

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without resorting to emotional outbursts and whining.

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I can’t put a finger on it, but something about this reminds me of your post

No problem with players leaving early. Not playing in bowl when healthy is wrong. Buy insurance and play. Be loyal to team and school. Greedy deserves respect for hard work and making many good decisions to be in the position to even have this choice but he would not be in this position without his team or his school. How many great NFL players came from less visible schools and were drafted later because they were not as well known? Some damn good players are drafted outside of 1rst round every year. They don't have the option of skipping games. I could side with him if insurance were not an option. Respect those that helped you get here AND buy protection. Buy insurance and play!

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Buy insurance and play

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Get injured and make one million dollars instead of tens of millions? No thanks.

First time venter on this subject.

To answer your question. My perspective is I don't like it. If I'm a pro scout I question his love for the game. As a fan I question his love for the game. In my opinion it is a selfish thing to do and shows he doesn't have the necessary passion for the sport.

What bothers me most is the precedent it sets. And don't try to argue that it doesn't set one. Players will notice what is being done and follow suit because this decision will now quickly become the new normal for highly projected draft picks...and possibly more players.

Playing devil's advocate....So what does high tiered players excusing themselves do for the bowl games? Sets a precedent that they are unimportant right? If they are unimportant why should any players play? Why should fans watch if the best players are not playing? The ratings will wane and bowl's will go away.

I equate it to what we now call the pro bowl. Some players play, while others don't. The ones that do play don't play hard at all. They don't tackle, they don't assert themselves. They dilly and dally while playing 7 on 7 basically. What has happened to the Pro Bowl? Ratings are waning

LINK /

You can equate this situation to any other job... like a fire man who is line to be the next chief. So lets say a big fire occurs and this individual who is used to putting fire's out says "No, I'm next in line for a promotion, I'm not gonna risk myself putting out a fire". Maybe the fire burns someone up because he wasn't there. Should he now be chief? Or be even eligible?

Really kind of the same thing in this situation. LSU got to this position as a team. Greedy's a part, he can't exclude himself from the team.

How about college. Can you just miss a final where your grades hang in the balance? Your grades determine your placement in the job field. In the curriculum I was in anyway. Its not a choice!

My opinion might not be popular, but It disturbs me that any player would even remotely entertain the idea of missing a bowl game. You can look at the bowl game as practice. Is practice not important in honing your craft?

I guess to end my rant I think College football is the last remaining bastion of intense, old fashioned knock their d*** in the dirt non political type event. That is now going away quickly.

Agree that everyone is different and coming from different perspectives. Also, agree that it is easy to talk when you don't have any skin in the game. The loyalty to your brothers is real though. I have both lived it and seen it. I never had the opportunities of a Greedy or a Devin. I was really only playground good and could never get a look from an LSU. I coach now because my love of team sport never left. I was "Rudy" who would do anything for my team. I have had guys like this on every team I have coached. I respect those guys more than the others. When you run across a Devin that has top tier skill and top tier team-first attitude, I respect him more than a Greedy type. I would give my left nut to be in Greedy's shoes, and I would play for my team!

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I guess to end my rant I think College football is the last remaining bastion of intense, old fashioned knock their d*** in the dirt non political type event. That is now going away quickly.

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That idea died a long time ago, college football is a multimillion dollar sports organization operating in association with a university, the only reason a player gets to be on the team is to win games which maximizes revenue for the organization. Every coach, assistant coach, trainer, business person is in their position with the organization because it is the best one they could get at the time. Every play should make the best finical decision they can make regardless of the team.