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TD_24's avatar

Congrats for him getting his NIL bag. Now lets send UCLA into the sun and into the Big Ten with a 105-0 win at the Rose Bowl

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Bear19's avatar

A nice sentiment, for 1947 . . .

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TD_24's avatar

a sentiment that ironically fits my timeline as my father was born in 1953 so I'm taking this Rose Bowl sentiment all the way to the bank!

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Bear19's avatar

Nice. Would that you could cash in on your Rose Bowl sentiment trip to the bank.

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Oski Disciple's avatar

Cal lost to UCLA in 1953. Try 1947 or 1949.

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WilderThanGene's avatar

Cal and J Michael Sturdivant now have something in common. We'll both be getting paid by UCLA!

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mrjpark's avatar

He saw the Calimony and decided he wanted it too!

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Rugbear's avatar

Sturdivant will remember this day...he fucked up.

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HoodBear's avatar

Dw we will get JMart in return.

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Steve W's avatar

That's like saying Makai Polk screwed up before he went to Mississippi State and set conference records in receiving. Dude is going to rip it up under a head coach who understands offense and a quarterback coming in that looks like the next Bryce Young. The jury is still way out on whether Spavital is going to be able to do anything with Cal's O line and a new quarterback who is still unproven in the college ranks.

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Rugbear's avatar

Well, I wrote this once but it disappeared so here it is again. Chip has a great offensive mind but he runs a spread offense, not an air raid offense. Sturdivant will get far fewer opportunities to catch the ball in Chip's system than he would have had in Leach's air raid system where Makai Polk played, and the air raid system happens to be what Spavital runs. Second, who is going to be the QB at UCLA next year? No one that's really good has any experience. DTR is going to the NFL and Garbers is not that good. And, none of the other guys, even a 5* freshman, is ready to play. Meanwhile CAL just got their version of Lamar Jackson who can toss a 70 yard pass with touch and run a 4.3 @ 40. And we've brought in a number of really solid vets to fill in our weak spots and aren't done yet. To go back to JMike, I think he would have gotten a lot more chances to catch the ball in a new explosive CAL offense than he'll get at UCLA. And neither UCLA or USC will contend for the PAC12 championship anymore. Lastly, I think UCLA is going to have a rough time in the BIG10. So, good luck JMike, but I think you fucked up.

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TD_24's avatar

I do think if you acknowledge that Ethan Garbers isn't ready to succeed DTR, at the same time you can't necessarily pin Sam Jackson with Lamar Jackson, especially in terms of games played and situations that both quarterbacks have been put in. Garbers in my opinion has gotten a non insignificant amount of playing backing up DTR (almost won the Sun Bowl) while Jackson we are looking through the lens of a magic 8 ball.

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Rugbear's avatar

Sam Jackson isn't Lamar Jackson in the pros, but watch what he does at CAL under Spav. This is gonna be fun.

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GoldenSD81's avatar

Sam Jackson isn’t even Lamar at Louisville. He has potential but that’s about it right now.

What TD is saying, it is a bit premature to say that Cals QB position is better or more established than UCLA’s QB position.

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TD_24's avatar

exactly that

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Bowlesman 80's avatar

Rugbear was right about Chase Garbers, I believe.

Back when all else was "Bowers or bust."

I believe Rugbear has a proven eye for player potential.

Honestly, watch Jackson's plays. He really is electric.

https://youtu.be/z8bupP82ppE

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Jan 14, 2023
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Peetyjay's avatar

J.Mike will turn pro before UCLA joins the Big10.

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Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

He’s gone after next season.

This is all about NIL $$$. That is it.

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Steve W's avatar

Don't under sell the 5-star recruit that UCLA just brought in at QB. I predict he will follow in the shoes of Tommy Maddox, another UCLA quarterback, and light things up in his first year. And, yes, I am worried about our new 4-star guy who could not crack the 2-deep at TCU. I would rather him be a 4.5 guy instead of a 4.3 guy if it meant he would complete his check-downs before taking off. Gotta admit I have not read anything about his ability to throw balls 70 yards, though.

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goldenone's avatar

From the video Jackson can heave it 60+ yards - more than Chase and is more mobile and elusive.

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Jan 14, 2023
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Rugbear's avatar

I can guarantee you that Wilcox and his staff are talking with every player, giving them an evaluation, giving thoughts about potential and additional player development and a vision of their future at CAL. Wilcox is known to be very honest with his assessments in these meetings and so players like him. I think Sturdivant left for the wrong reasons, but it's his choice and I wish him well. I look at Jermaine Terry and we switched TE's with OSU. They got a big top rated 4* from us who couldn't block or catch well, and we got a big 3* who blocks great and, based on athleticism, probably catches the ball well.

As to me working with CAL's o-line, I'm sure Bloesch will do a great job. He played the position very successfully and started a lot of games at a good program, and he has developed some very good o-lines in his young career.

I think next year will be fun and that Spav is going to run a modified spread/air raid rather than a pure air raid system, in part because of our very talented RB room and some big TE's we are bringing on board.

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Jan 15, 2023
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Rugbear's avatar

No. Why would you think that?

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BTown85's avatar

New rule: if you portal within conference you sit for a season; outside you play right away…..I wish….

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Lynda's avatar

Of course. Why wouldn’t our top talents get the hell out of dodge for winning programs. Fire head coach no matter how nice he is. Not fair to athletes or fans or alumni. Pay the price and turn program around

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Bowlesman 80's avatar

UPDATE:

I think these Portal recruitments signal positive changes. I will go out on a limb, here, and, (*takes dose of Cal element "hopium"), hope, we win 6 or more next season. And Auburn? Gee, I'm not so sure.

But, still, the portents hold true, we back to rebuilding in a positive direction.

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CamHand's avatar

I FEEL like it's a positive direction and I want it to be better. Just curious where you see the 7 wins next season, though...

AT NT, probably win but on the road, so... 1-0

VS Auburn, can Freeze turn 'em around?, but tough compared to CAL last year no matter what... 2-0

VS Idaho... better be a win 3-0

AT OR, not likely 3-1

VS OSU, even at home they're further along rebuilding... 3-2

AT UW, not likely 3-3

VS WSU, I'll take this one 4-3

VS ASU, let's assume not fully turned around 5-3

AT UT, not likely 5-4

VS USC, even at home... 5-5

AT JrU, in spite of Taylor being there 6-5

AT fUCLA, not likely 6-6

... and frankly 3-0 against Auburn/WSU/ASU feels like a real stretch for a Wilcox team even at home.

So, no disrespect, just curiosity... where do you see 7 wins? Thanks!

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Bowlesman 80's avatar

I saw that ASU's recruiting class is pretty damned good.

I am pretty sure WSU and ASU are 50:50. And Auburn? Um, we shall see. It would not be the first SEC team we upset.

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Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

ASU and Colorado both bowl next year.

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Stanfurdstinks's avatar

With our luck, Beau Baldwin will go to the playoff next year.

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Bowlesman 80's avatar

Yeah, typed that out, then, later saw the comments about the daunting schedule we have. This schedule was likely made with us being in the top 30 by now. LOL

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CamHand's avatar

Fair enough... I'll still have some of what you're taking!

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Bowlesman 80's avatar

Uhm, yeah, looking at, even 5-7 is not unreasonable.

Shit. So much for hopium.

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SadBear's avatar

And if we were to go 5-7, the sunshine pumpers would want to give Wilcox/Spav more time since they are "turning it around", shutting down anyone critical of the team as trolls

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PawlOski's avatar

This one stings. Sure, "blood in, blood out". But Sturdivant is not a 3rd or 2nd string guy who needs another situation to showcase his skills. He is highly skilled and an important part of the team. He had a great year and likely would have had a better one next year under Spav. This is the type of player we need to start prioritizing retaining if we expect to keep pace with the rest in our conference and the college football world. Hopefully, this is a lesson learned.

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mrjpark's avatar

He was almost singlehandedly the reason we were able to keep it close with USC this year.

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PawlOski's avatar

Again, not saying he isn’t awesome or hugely valuable. But a stud QB and maybe we win that game. I’m also more bullish on JMart than anyone--probably irrationally so.

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CamHand's avatar

Yeah, I hate theoretical scenarios, but... I feel like better coaching would have been able to result in spreading the receptions around. Getting a QB who can perform in the system of a good coach... aka stud QB if you want... should get better overall results.

I agree that he was awesome (now he's dead to me but I hope he has great success every game except CAL) and was valuable... his "single-handed" result sounds more like bad coaches than the team's need for him personally. I would have loved for him to stay, but let's get better somehow.

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HoodBear's avatar

We will trade for JMart!!

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PawlOski's avatar

No one would be happier than I would. I might even be willing to throw in Stredick to make it happen. :)

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Jimmy Chitwood's avatar

Stredick is a non-starter.

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Justbear's avatar

What if they ask for Ott?

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CamHand's avatar

We counter with letting them have our NIKE deal instead?

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C98's avatar

Nah, we can wear Sketchers gear or whatever but we keep Ott at all costs.

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PawlOski's avatar

Our Nike deal might be worth less than JMS's NIL deal, and I'm not even being totally facetious.

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PawlOski's avatar

Straight-up? Yes. I'd feel better having two boom or bust QBs duke it out. Ott is very special, but that's a position of strength. Nothing raises the bar for us more than a gifted QB. Plus, we already have Stredick!!!!

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concernedparent's avatar

Yeah, no way. We could have two bust QBs and no bonafide stud RB. Our RB transfers might be more physically talented than who they replaced but they are also unproven.

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PawlOski's avatar

I'd rather give myself more chances at a competent or even great QB. The difference between having a great RB and an average one is just not as impactful on winning as the QB position is. Plus we don't even have even a modestly qualified backup at QB, which could easily derail a season no matter how good Jackson turns out.

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Jan 13, 2023
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HoodBear's avatar

Seen people in Reddit say he would be competing with Garbers. But there are now 4 QBs there. He was with us, don’t see why he wouldn’t try to be QB1 and beat out Jackson vs being QB3/4.

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Daddy's avatar

“J mike here is your pile of money. We need a really good player that is used to playing in an empty stadium.”

Chip Kelly 2023

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Clbear's avatar

Doubt he is used to playing in a stadium THAT empty.

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Rugbear's avatar

I'm just going to say I don't understand your logic. How many 5 star freshman QB's play and do well? Trevor Lawrence and CJ Stroud and who else recently? The chances of the UCLA 5 star freshman QB playing well his first year are very low if you just look at history. On the other side Samuel Jackson was the youngest guy in the rotation. Duggan was a back up and took over for the starter when he got injured and Samuel Jackson moved up to second string and actually got playing time. And, I'll take a 4.3 over a 4.5 guy ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. A 4.5 guy can be caught from behind, a 4.3 guy doesn't get caught if he's in front of you. Sorry, I just don't have the fatalistic outlook that you have. We have a new Air Raid guru at OC who got his guy who is a fucking stud and you are more worried about us performing than UCLA's new 5* QB? (Remember what happened to JT Daniels as a freshman starter? Or Quinn Ewers, the #1 recruit who didn't start as a freshman?)

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CalBear91's avatar

UCLA is such a shitty place compared to Cal, with the campus culture and football stadium so far away. As an LA native, I wish him well, but what a downgrade.

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Rugbear's avatar

UCLA is where real bears, big bears, go to take big dumps.

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GoldenSD81's avatar

This is true but even with our stadium close to campus we still can’t fill it up.

Cal needs to reserve 5,000 tickets to give away for free to families and kids in Oakland and the east bay.

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Steve W's avatar

LOL. At UCLA you don't have too drive too far to get to some very salty and fun nightlife on Sunset and Melrose boulevards, or a little farther in the other direction to warm beaches in Santa Monica. The campus itself is beautiful. Having to bus an hour way to play games in Pasadena sucks, but I would think selling the college life at UCLA would be pretty easy.

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Bear19's avatar

But he gets all that NIL money! Who cares what the campus looks like? It's not as if this kid is going to go to any actual classes.

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CalBear91's avatar

I haven't seen any real data on NIL money differences. I hear good things about what Cal is doing. Are folks just speculating that this school or that school is dangling bigger bucks?

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harmonpreservationsociety's avatar

Afraid to compete. Bruins are trash people.

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mrjpark's avatar

Afraid to compete? He competed and proved he was our best receiver, lol. There was no competing left, just starting.

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harmonpreservationsociety's avatar

jokes are hard

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mrjpark's avatar

Jokes ARE hard when they're online and surrounded by salt.

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CamHand's avatar

Man, you are SO posting my life...

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CamHand's avatar

Kinda agree with the latter, but getting tired of the former. True or not, maybe you could just change the message up a little...?

How about ... It's Huge! Getting rid of him was the best thing that ever happened to CAL football! We'll be the best team ever because of this!

It needs help but at least it's a change...?

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harmonpreservationsociety's avatar

Time is a flat circle as a Cal fan :)

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GreenvilleSCBear's avatar

Worse than USC?

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CamHand's avatar

My dad played for Clemson so... not worse than the Gamecocks, no.

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Bear19's avatar

Can you imagine your dad telling the Clemson coaches “What's my cut? How much do I get for giving my talents to you guys?”

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CamHand's avatar

My dad went into the Navy after HS for 4 years to earn a little money, got out and went to Clemson, but had to drop out before graduation because he was broke (went back in the Navy to finish 20 years, used his GI bill to eventually finish, etc.)

We're from poor Southern stock and worked hard for everything we ever got, so NO he would never say anything like that... BUT ... if someone said something similar to, "We'll pay you to keep doing what you're doing until you graduate from college." He might well have said some version of, "Thank you VERY MUCH!"

It's not IMO a fine line between need and greed, but there are bound to be some people who actually benefit from filthy lucre without earning my condemnation. As much as I hate some of what is happening, I actually thank God for giving me the strength to avoid some temptation and forgiving me for the rest... Of my many faults, I don't usually condemn people for being worldly. I'm just mostly sad...

Referencing a post above, my dad was in college in 1953, so it was a REALLY different time, FWIW...

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harmonpreservationsociety's avatar

I think 30,000' view, SC fans are worse. But UCLA fans' egos and expectations are so incredibly disparate from reality that they end up being completely insufferable.

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GlueAndBold's avatar

You know, for a time I didn't really hate UCLA. I rolled my eyes at their fans' demands and chuckled at the little brother jokes, but I would occasionally root for them in games.

I've seen the error of my ways.

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CalBear91's avatar

Hightower for JMike? Seems a tit for tat.

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CamHand's avatar

Reasonable point, but please don't also start linking to Giselle...

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CalBear91's avatar

Oh man, you've never met someone more disinterested in celebrity. I would no more think about or link to who the hell Brady dates or marries or screws than chop off my arm. I'm that way about british royalty too. Don't give a flying.

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CamHand's avatar

Bless you! Bless you!

But in case you didn't get the joke...Consider the possible link between your original post and the link on the other thread to whats-her -name... Just one of things that wasn't funny enough and doesn't deserve explaining... but thanks for replying!

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oldenone's avatar

This is the way. Get used to it. Kids will come and they will go. Sorry to see J. M. Sturdivant go to UCLA, but he had declared he was leaving awhile back. I hope he has success. Overall, Cal is doing pretty well working the system. Get some offensive lineman, improve the coaching over last season, and maybe 2023 won't be so damn painful as 2022.

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CamHand's avatar

I hope, I hope... but even with upgrades, have you seen the schedule next year? I love the idea of playing Auburn, all the P-12 powers, and the Justice League and Guardians of the Galaxy but I don't see a lot of wins there for the taking in a rebuilding year. This past fiasco was supposed to be the window of opportunity... but we're CAL fans so we ignore the facts and hope.

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oldenone's avatar

Yep, I have seen the schedule, it will be rough. Heck, after the Colorado game I was so fed up with Cal football (after like 25 years) that I didn't want to have anything to do with any of it. I did go to the Stanford game, because I just had to damnit, and that 4th quarter helped bring me back a bit I guess. We will find out if any of these maneuvers and coaching changes payoff by September; I will be at the Auburn game. I am kind of numb to it all right now. But still, Go Bears!

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CamHand's avatar

I live in Hawaii now. I admit I never attended games regularly, but I would love to be there for Auburn. Have one for me!

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Jan 13, 2023
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KetamineCal's avatar

The 1996 season, the Mooch year.

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Bear19's avatar

We have to get A LOT better at playing the NIL game if we ever hope to have a winning program.

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Justbear's avatar

Yes, if we want to stay in the Power 5 conference.

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CamHand's avatar

$ad but true... agree, agree, agree.

College football is changing. $hit or get off the pot...adapt or die...phrase it however one likes.

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O.Overall's avatar

First, I wonder at what point we can stop acknowledging that it is fair for a player to exercise a right to transfer (which it is), and just move onto discussing whether the guy is lame for doing so (which he is). It’s like, we don’t want to live in a society where you can’t cheat on your wife, but you are still a dick if you do it.

Second, at what point does the NIL stuff become unmoored to the school? Cannot sports agents and apparel companies and the like set up groups to exploit NIL opportunities? I don’t think it really has to have a tie in with a particular university. I think this stuff is still evolving. If there is one thing we are good at in America, it is figuring out new ways to make money off a given situation.

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O.Overall's avatar

One other thing —- the guy who kicked the NIL stuff off is Ed O’Bannon, many years after his playing days, in a suit over a video game’s use of his likeness long after he was done playing. If you are a guy who bounces around, you kind of are neither here nor there with any fan base, and that longer term NIL money seems much less likely.

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KJ1980's avatar

Is our only hope for the Rose Bowl to play UCLA?

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KJ1980's avatar

Sad news for our beloved Bears!

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